Time passed. Things were…fine. As fine as it could be in its most generic sense. Kakashi reprimanded his team for what they did, but didn't ask for them to apologize to her. In fact, when Sakura suggested the idea, Kakashi just said "It's fine." He didn't want to think about her or their discussion.
After Kakashi's discussion with Tsuru, he found himself before Rin's grave. He always found himself back at her grave. Back at Obito's—the boy who gave Kakashi his famed sharing—grave. Back his father's grave. Back at the graves of everyone he's ever let down in his life. One day, Tsuru would become one of those names in stone he would have to look down at. If it were to be the other way around, Kakashi wondered if Tsuru would look down at his name.
Time always felt like an illusion to Tsuru. These days, it was often blurry between all the acupuncture appointments, physicals, and finding a job! Looks as though no one wants to hire a terminally ill, unmarried twenty-something woman who's needs are a whole lot greater than what these jobs are asking for. While she was getting allowances from the government and Hyo and her parents had left quite a bit of what was left. In short, it was enough to survive for now but not enough to last.
Tsuru sipped on a small carton of soy milk almost like a child in the hospital bed. One thing that was good was that her whole family was full of ninjas so anything medical related was free for Tsuru.
A nurse gently knocked on the door then slid the door open. She held a clipboard in one arm and a tray in the other with an injection. A very large injection with a very long needle. The longest she had ever seen in fact and Tsuru had seen a lot of different needles in her time.
"Are you ready for your injection?" the nurse asked with an all too amicable smile.
"W-w-what kind of injection is that?" Tsuru asked. "I thought I was just going to get a vitamin injection."
"This is a new injection!" the nurse replied cheerily. "Fits an incredible number of different vitamins and necessary protein to promote muscle growth and bone density! Modern medicine is truly phenomenal!"
"Right…I'm going to go to the bathroom first, if that's okay."
"Of course! I'll be waiting!"
Tsuru smiled as she walked out of the room, but the second the sliding door shut closed and the blonde woman broke into a sprint for her life. The woman dashed down the hall way and jumped into a random room.
"Are you okay, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked politely handing her sensei a basket of apples provided by her mother.
"Yea," Kakashi answered sitting up in his own hospital bed. "Just a little tired, thanks."
"You push yourself too hard, sensei!" Sakura scolded. "What would have happened if you had fainted in the middle of a battle?"
"Aw c'mon, Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed. "You gotta give it to him, that fight was amazing!"
Sasuke merely "hmph-ed" in what everyone could only guess as an acknowledgement.
Kakashi laughed sheepishly.
Suddenly, the door to Kakashi's room slid open and slammed shut. The team of shinobi turned to see a small child. A little girl dressed in a hospital gown with yellow hair and bright blue eyes opened wide with fear. Kakashi couldn't help but think of Tsuru and felt as though he was seeing Tsuru when she was a child.
"S-s-sorry," the child squeaked. "I-I-I just-"
"OUTTA THE WAY!" Another voice yelled as an older woman also jumped into the room. The child jumped out of the way just in time for none other than Tsuru to stumbled and fall to the floor, slamming the door shut once more. Immediately Tsuru's eye matched Kakashi's.
It was always like this. Tsuru always just fell right back into his life…Literally. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all felt the strained tension between the pale woman and their sensei as the two stared at each other wide eyed.
A chill went down Tsuru's spine as she felt two menacing presences approach the door. She held her breath as the already abused door slammed open once more.
"Tsuru-san," the voice was a ghostly growl.
"Koyubi-chan," another voice called in a similar tone.
Tsuru and the little girl named Aka turned slowly to face their dooms.
Noise, she always brought noise with her. Everywhere she went, Tsuru made noise. It took everything in Kakashi not to laugh. Thankfully he had a mask on to hide a small smile.
The two sat beside each other on a bed with their heads down and hands in their lap. The two looked as though they could be sisters or just different versions of each other from different points in each other's lives.
"You two can't just run away and avoid procedures that are meant to help you!" one nurse yelled. "Tsuru-san, it's imperative that you take this shot! It could mean another year of living for you!"
"And Koyubi-chan," the other nurse began to lecture, "you cannot keep running away from your blood test! We have to monitor your condition!"
Neither responded to the nurses, instead Koyubi tugged on Tsuru's sleeve.
"Nee-san," the girl whined, "Are you scared of needles too?"
The rest of the room grew silent and watched with sad eyes.
"What's happening?" Naruto whispered the question to his peers.
Sakura shot him an intense and very serious look immediately shutting the boy down. While he didn't fully comprehend the situation, he knew that Tsuru was not well.
Tsuru grabbed the Koyubi's small hand and held it in hers. The chakra signal from Koyubi was weak, but it was still there. Subtle, but still trembling with life.
"I am scared of needles," Tsuru answered, "but I've had so many, I've kind of gotten used to them over the years. Yet, somehow, they always get bigger and the fear always catches back up."
Koyubi held her down lower in shame and said barely audibly, "I really don't want to get my blood drawn. Besides, what the point? I'm probably going to die anyways and it's better that I do."
While everyone else's expressions were downcast, Tsuru merely frowned. She held up her right hand and flicked Koyubi's pale forehead.
"Ow!" Koyubi yelped in pain. "Why'd you-"
Tsuru wasn't going to have it. "Listen here, Koyubi-chan! You're right, knowing that you're to die earlier than everyone else is scary. But what's the point in waiting for it to come when you actually don't know. When I was eight I was told I wouldn't live passed the age of fifteen. Then at fifteen I was told I wouldn't live past twenty and look at me now! Twenty-six! I've outlived the doctor's prediction by eleven years now. I've spent my entire life counting days until I died and when it never came, I realized how much time I've wasted. Koyubi-chan, you dont' have to be or live like me. There are things you can still do. These deadlines are as fixed as predictions told by a silly fortune teller. There's nothing we can do about our demise, but we have to find ways to make our lives worth living."
He watched Koyubi's face brightened at Tsuru's words. Kakashi thought he briefly saw Tsuru look at him and he remembered why he had fallen for the fragile woman in the first place. She was a fool, but a fool with a reason. He envied her ability to brush away the imminent pain and see the light in the darkest times. She even saw something in his own pathetic self.
Tsuru tightened her grip on Koyubi's hand. "But first, we have to stop running from nurses and do what they want us to do so we can stay as strong as possible." Koyubi's gulped and her tiny fall fell once more. Tsuru noticed this and offered, "Then how about this? We'll get both our procedures done together. We'll hold each other's hands really tight and give each other some courage."
Right then a third nurse walked in and said brightly, "Kakashi-san, we'll need a blood sample from you before we discharge you in a few says. Oh!" The nurse exclaimed surprised at the number of people and nurses in one room. "So many people getting things done today!"
Tsuru made eye contact with Kakashi who kept his one red eye closed. It was a vexed but pleading look asking him to come sit beside Koyubi. She was willing to put aside their feud for this child.
"Well then," Kakashi let out breathily as he got up from his bed. The man half limped towards Tsuru and Koyubi and took a seat on the other side of the little girl. "I'll give you some of my courage too, if that's alright with you." Kakashi leaned just slightly closer to the girl and whispered.
Tsuru visibly pouted at the silver-haired fox. Koyubi blushed at the sight and proximity of such a handsome man.
"A-are you scared of needles too, mister?" Koyubi asked shyly.
Tsuru waited for Kakashi's answer with sharp ears as the man leaned down to whisper into Koyubi's ear. "Shhh, it's a secret. Or else I'll never hear the end of it from my students back there!"
Koyubi giggled and whispered back, "I promise!"
"I think we're all ready," Kakashi told the nurses who all eagerly took the three patients' arms and proceeded with their work at last.
Koyubi's hand tightened around Tsuru's as the two girls hid their faces into each other in an uncomfortable embrace. With Kakashi at the other end, Tsuru felt that this was what having a her own family would feel like. What it would feel like to be a mother with a loving spouse and a child. This was what it felt like to be normal.
Tsuru raised her face slightly out of Koyubi's golden hair to look over at Kakashi who was calmly watching the blood leave his vein. Of course the shinobi noticed this and looked right back at her. At first, Tsuru forgot why she fell in love with Kakashi. After all, he was pigheaded, selfish, and cold-hearted. However, all those negative qualities made her forget about his dependability, sturdiness, loyalty—not counting that one time—and true care for those he found precious.
"All done!" the nurses said proudly and the three smiled widely at each other. Tsuru's and Kakashi's nurses left the room on their own accord, trusting that the adults could handle themselves. Koyubi hugged Tsuru and bowed to Kakashi respectfully before walking out with her own nurse.
Tsuru had completely forgotten she was in a room she wasn't supposed to be in. Not to mention the three preteens standing behind her. She recognized them as Kakashi's students, but never introduced herself. However, and more importantly, how did she just happen to land in Kakashi's room?
"Um," Tsuru stammered. "Sorry. I'll leave."
Just like that, Tsuru exited Kakashi's room.
"So," Sakura hesitated. "have you two figured things out?" Sakura was unsure of what the status quo of Karachi and Tsuru. Previously, Sakura's intuition told her that it wasn't okay. However, that whole scene with the Koyubi child said different.
"Sorry guys," Kakashi blatantly ignored Sakura's question. "I think I'm going to catch up on some rest. Thanks for visiting."
His students did as they were told leaving Kakashi alone with that little orange book that he found no pleasure in at that moment. Actually, he had tried reading it over and over again but none of what was written felt real anymore. Granted, it's a work of fiction written by an outrageous man. However, Kakashi often relied on it to fill in the gaps of his youth. Things he'd missed. Thing's that he could have thought of to make things better with Tsuru. Yet, none of it could help because this was real life.
They pretended with Koyubi that nothing was wrong. He felt like they were so good at faking it in that moment. It seemed so natural even to him despite the fact it was all a lie.
Tsuru stood on the roof of the hospital looking out at the village. She and Hyo used to sneak up here when they were young and have picnics together. They often wondered what the future would look like. Places like Amegakure had steel buildings that rose into the clouds and Tsuru would wonder if Konoha would ever become a city of such modernity. If she would live to see the day of movie theaters in comfort of her own home. New modes of communication that would make messenger birds obsolete. An entire library in the palms of her hands. A world of science fiction and pure imagination raced through Tsuru's mind. A world where people like her Koyubi could be saved in a matter of a single surgical procedure or an injection along with a quick and painless recovery.
Kakashi hid behind white sheets that flowed in the wind. The hospital rooftop was often used to dry fresh laundry. Like the sheets, he saw Tsuru's silvery blonde hair flow with the wind. She was looking out at the village in silence. Maybe, this was a bad time.
"I know you're there," Tsuru called the man out. "I can feel your chakra."
"You caught me," Kakashi said while walking up the woman to stand next to her. Instead of looking out at the village, Kakashi looked up at the clouds drawing out shapes in his mind.
"Thanks," Tsuru said after a moment of silence. "I'm sure Koyubi-chan was grateful."
"Don't thank me. You're the one that really helped her."
Tsuru looked over at the man who looked peacefully up at the sky. He wore a a blue sleeveless top showing off his red tattoo that marked his involvement with the ANBU Black Ops. It reminded Tsuru of Kakashi's strength, power, and skill. He had once lived to assassinate on command. Cold-blooded Kakashi.
"I stopped being an ANBU soon after you left," Kakashi answered her question as if he read her mind. "It hasn't been too long actually. Just three years."
His answer made Tsuru's heart swell a little with happiness. "I'm glad you're out of there," Tsuru said.
"Well, if the Hokage ordered it, I'd go back without question. But things have been good lately. Not perfect, but good. Konoha deserves to see some peace."
"So do you."
"And you too."
"Kakashi, I-"
"Rin," Tsuru shut her mouth and her heart dropped at the sound of the name. "Rin was my teammate when I boy. Her and Obito Uchiha. My sensei was Minato Namikaze, the Yondaime." Kakashi took his eyes away from the sky to face Tsuru with both eyes open. Tsuru shivered at the sight of his uneven eyes. A scar ran through the blood red eye that visibly looked out of place. It was a beautiful yet fearsome thing to look at as she felt its dark presence. She reached out her slim fingers to try and touch him, but she put her hand back down at her side.
"You don't have to tell me this," Tsuru reassured.
Kakashi disregaded her requestion. "We were sent on a mission during the war. I had just become a jonin and I was going to lead my first mission to blow up Kannabi Bridge—a vital bridge in Kusagakure that provided Iwagakure's line of supply.
Minato-sensei left me in charge of this task with Obito and Rin while he went to save a group of trapped Konoha shinobi. At one point, Rin was captured. Back then I didn't believe in teamwork or comrades. When my father passed, I had abandoned all of his principals because those were the very things that put the great Sakumo Hatake to shame. I refused to be anything like my father who pathetically took his own life."
Tsuru had heard the tragic tale of Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang, whose talent and skill matched that of the Legendary Sannin. The man who saved his friends when he could have single handedly turned the tide of the war and come out a hero. The man who was shamed for breaking the ruled and was ultimately bullied into suicide.
"So, I abandoned Rin," Kakashi said this with so much spite in his voice. So much spite for himself. "Obito, who loved Rin, told me that 'those who break the rules are considered scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum.' We went separate ways. He went to save Rin and I went to finish the mission.
As idiotic and foolish I thought Obito was, his words changed me. So I went back to save Rin. I lost my eye in battle and I lost Obito. We were fighting an Iwagakure shinobi who brought the cave down. I pushed Rin out of the way of getting crushed by a boulder and the last thing I remembered was a rock coming down on me. Weird thing was, I never felt it hit. When I woke up, there was Obito crushed under the very rock that was meant to kill me.
He awakened his Sharingan for the very first time. He used to threaten me that once his Sharingan awoke, he would be able to surpass me. But when he finally did, that was the end for him. Obito asked me to take his remaining eye and use it to protect the one he loved, Rin.
The mission was a success, but I couldn't keep the last promise I made to my best friend. About a year after Obito's death, Rio was kidnapped again. This time, they sealed something in here, the Sanbi. They were going to send her back into Konoha and unleash the beast to wreck havoc on the village. At the time, Konoha couldn't afford anymore damages after the Kyuubi attack. Frankly we were at our weakest and Rin kept begging me to leave her. Kill her even.
Even though I kept telling her that I wouldn't let anything happen to her, I didn't really have a plan on what to do. On top of that, we were surrounded by enemy ninja. Completely outnumbered. In the midst of battle, Rin ran herself into my hand. I put a whole in her heart and her face was the last thing I saw before waking up in the hospital."
Kakashi saw Tsuru raise her hand again. He thought that she reached out to touch his eye so he closed it, but she instead wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him into an embrace. He was too shocked to return the gesture, but she just held him there.
"I'm sorry, Kakashi-kun," she said his name like she used to and Kakashi's heart skipped a beat. "I haven't been very fair to you."
The man finally put a hand on the small of Tsuru's back holding her closer and said, "No. Nothing excuses everything I've done to you."
Tsuru pulled away to face Kakashi once more. "Some people say that true love is fate." Kakashi just listened. "I want to thank you for everything. For telling me this. But if this is true love, Kakashi, then it isn't something as kind as fate. It's a curse.
If some god out there put us together, it was a cruel god who wanted to watch us both suffer. We're playing this cat and mouse game where we don't know who's the cat and who's the mouse. We're running circles like two idiots waiting to see who dies first."
"This isn't a game, Tsuru," Kakashi eyes narrowed and his tone was critical. "This is real life and we're not kids. We can't keep pushing away our feelings for our own selfish reasons. "
"But I can't do any of this!" Tsuru yelled. "I can't give you anything, but more pain! Even if we're happy together, it's all temporary because we'll hurt each other in the end. It's better just to end it before-"
"Before what? Before you die? Before I die? Didn't you just tell a little girl to find something worth living for? To stop questioning and thinking about when she's going to die?"
"Call me a hypocrite! I don't fucking care! You're not the one who only has a year left to live!"
Kakashi's world blurred for a second from shock. There was an overload of emotions running through his entire body and all he could muster to say was, "A year?"
"I'm not back in the village because I'm better," Tsuru explained. "I'm back because they asked if there was anything I wanted in potentially some of my last days and I said I wanted to come home. I wanted to try and live like a normal person. That's my last wish."
In that moment, Kakashi realized that everything Tsuru was saying to Koyubi were all things she was actually saying to herself. Maybe, they were cursed forever and someone sadistic force was enjoying the little show they were putting on for the whole universe to see. However, Kakashi wasn't a superstitious person. He believed in coincidences but he didn't believe in such a thing as fate.
Just a few years ago, Kakashi would have never done what he was about to do. He would've heeded Tsuru's warning before even hearing her say it, but Kakashi was done being stuck in his past mistakes. He was tired of thinking about what he couldn't have and pitying himself for it. He was tired of protecting other people by hurting them and himself in the process. He wanted her and that was final.
Kakashi grasped Tsuru by her shoulders. He took one hand off to pulled down his mask. Tsuru often tried recalling his face from the time he had first kissed her. Now, she remembered it clearly.
"Don't try to everything on your own," Kakashi's voice sounded pleading and firm at the same time, "and let me help you."He leaned down closer so that their noses touched.
Tsuru was a woman who was stuck in her own future. Unable to do anything about her predetermined fate. She kept saying she wanted a normal life, but her perspective was skewed. Tsuru thought that a normal life meant living in a house with a job, but she completely forgot about connections. People. Friends. Family. She had been alone this whole time in Konoha because she shut everyone out. Then here he was. Chasing her, giving her a chance at what she wanted, and welcoming her despite knowing that they were fighting time.
Neither Kakashi nor Tsuru moved. Kakashi waited for her permission and Tsuru took her time to make her decision.
"Are you sure?" Tsuru asked.
"You're the one that sounds unsure," Kakashi joked making Tsuru pout.
Tsuru grabbed him by the collar of his top and crashed his lips into hers.