Disclaimer: NARUTO © Masashi Kishimoto
Rating: M
Pairing: Obito Uchiha x Rin Nohara

-.x.-

Incandescence

…Chapter 11…

Feelings

-.x.-

Rin had been twisting and turning in her bed all night; shoving her head under a pillow, lying on her side, her front, and even removing pillows and adding pillows every now and then, hoping that any method will at least summon sleep to overtake her.

Sadly, nothing was working. And that's because her mind would not shut up.

It kept replaying her conversation with Kurenai, and the whole incident with the black-haired female, Kuromi, as she recalled, and Obito. Why couldn't she stop thinking about it? Why was it bothering her so much?

Finally, after many failed attempts in trying to sleep, Rin sat up with a heavy sigh, chocolate brown hair spilling over shoulders and face. She looked at the photo on her nightstand and picked it up to stare at it, brushing her thumb over the glass that hovered over Obito's face.

"It's up to you. But I don't want you thinking that it isn't okay to have feelings for him."

Has she ever thought that way before?

Was she holding herself back from being attracted to Obito in any way because he was…Obito?

She knew he was a good man. Any girl would be lucky to have him. But she never saw him that way, because she only knew him as her childhood best friend that she grew up with and was like a brother to her.

She couldn't picture herself being something more with him. She hated the thought of something changing between them, and she always felt like it probably wouldn't end well if she took their friendship to the next step.

However, if that's the case, then really, why was she jealous? Why did she feel so nauseous at the sight of Obito holding that woman, and how she shamelessly flirted with him?

"The more you're in denial about your feelings, the more of a chance that there will be someone who will snatch him away,"

This whole time, Rin was lying to herself.

The heaviest thing you can ever do is to lie to yourself, and that's what she did.

Obito wasn't the clumsy, average, loud and reckless boy that she grew up with. He is now calm and collected, strong and intellectual. Sometimes he was the loud clutz that she knew, especially when he gets excited, and it was more endearing than annoying.

Rin glanced at the strawberry plushie that Obito bought her as a celebratory gift for succeeding that difficult technique she had been practicing. She instantly reached out to grab it and hugged it to her chest, staring at the cat that faced her.

Her mind replayed the day when he took her to Ichiraku… and she recalled how he listened to every word as she explained what she did during her training, and how she performed the jutsu. Anyone would fall asleep listening to all the science behind chakra control.

But Obito took it all in. He even asked her questions in astonishment, and she eagerly replied to him, clarifying all that he was wondering about. And the best part?

He was not pretending.

He was genuinely interested, like it was a valuable information that he needed to remember for the future. She never saw him do that. Obito usually falls asleep, or gets lost and confused in the middle of such a conversation.

It was so sweet… It made her heart pound in excitement and she felt her passion overflow inside her, and he made her feel like she was capable of doing anything; like nothing can bring her down.

Her arms clutched on the plushie a little tighter, resting her cheek against the strawberry.

Obito is amazing.

Just the mere thought of him made her heart flutter, and Rin felt a fuzzy warm feeling wash over her. His kind soul, his bright smile, his determination, his positive and radiant energy…

How he is always there for her.

How he supported her emotionally when she was down.

How he made her feel so confident and special, and very comfortable around him.

How he made her feel so….so…

Loved.

Rin gasped softly, her head shot up in surprise at the realization. She felt her face heat up, and her hand involuntarily lifted to cup one side of cheek. A bright streak of red colored over her nose, and her heart started to beat faster.

Obito made her feel so loved. Even though he knew she didn't feel the same way, he just wanted to be there for her in any way he can.

Was that why she was so jealous? Was she so jealous at the idea of Obito doing all that he did for her to another woman?

Like a rope snapping, her mind was now loud and clear about her heart's true desire.

She didn't want anyone to take that away from her.

She wanted him to only make her feel that way.

She wanted to indulge herself in her selfishness once more.

Her other hand instantly felt at her chest, where the quickened beats of her heart vibrated against her palm. The strawberry plushie rolled over to the side, and Rin's knees curled in under the sheets.

"I like him…" she whispered to herself as her mind replayed every other moment she had with the Uchiha.

It was now that she realized how much he had grown into her. Her life could never be complete without knowing that he was around. It was enough that she had to bear with a year of him being gone from her life. There was not a day where she truly acknowledged that he was dead. The days where she had to change the flowers on his grave were enough to make her break down for months.

But those days are over now.

He was here, with her, putting all the colors back in her life again – in a way that no one, not even Kakashi, can manage to do.

Now she just wanted to be around him all the time. She had grown used to him being by her side.

That was all she wanted.

But could she…could she ever tell him that?

-.x.-

Gripping the sheets tightly with his hands, a pained groan escaped Obito's throat as his eyes scrunched tightly and dark brows furrowed in agitation. He twitched and turned in his sleep as cold sweat trickled down his temple and forehead. He could feel his heartbeat thundering against his rib cage as he watched the horrifying images in his mind flashing like a movie scene.

It always felt too real.

It was like a time machine sweeping him back to the past – back to the day where he jumped forward to save Rin from Kakashi's Chidori – except that this time, he wasn't standing in front of her.

Rather, he was watching his best friend pierce his lightning-engulfed fist into the heart of the love of his life. He watched her blank eyes widen as her soul was ripped out of her, and the only words she managed to utter was the name of her killer.

"R…Rin…No…" Obito groaned out, his head shaking in anguish. "Kakashi…"

As he watched his best friend pull out his hand from Rin's chest, the images instantly switched to Rin standing in the center of the field, surrounded by Mist ninjas who were waiting in anticipation. Kakashi stood far apart, and Obito remained behind the bushes where he watched the scene unfold in shock.

Rin was clutching her head, and her body was paralyzed. An odd, eerie chakra were seeping out of her like smoke. Through his Sharingan, he could see that a distinct seal in her abdomen was distorted in a shape that clearly indicated that it was…broken.

The abnormal chakra this time gushed out like violent waves, then compressing into the shape of three tails furiously whipping around as Rin's body turned red –

And then a huge explosion ensued.

Her body disappeared.

And the only thing that stood in her place was…a beast.

"RIN!" Obito sprung up, hands ripping away the sheets from his body. Jagged breaths escaped in pants as Obito looked around in his room – desperately trying to keep himself grounded and ensuring himself that he is in the present.

His high-collared shirt was drenched in his sweat and he wasted no time taking it off; hastily tossing it to the side as he pushed himself off of his bed and made his way to the bathroom, where he could splash cold water on his face and hair, allowing it to run down his neck and chest.

He stared at his reflection on the mirror – once again, taking in his scars. His hand involuntarily reached up and brushed over the jagged lines, and his mind once again traveled several years into the past once more.

Starting from the day where he got those scars after being crushed by that boulder, to the day where he woke up in the Mountain's Graveyard and recovered for a year with the help of his old, ghostly ancestor; then to the day where he escaped to save Rin and Kakashi from the Kirigakure ninja.

"I swear this, old man. Once I save Rin and Kakashi, I'll pretend that none of this happened. Thanks for everything, but I am not coming back."

"We'll see about that."

He actually made it to them in time. Even though the Uchiha clan's ancestor was insistent on his belief that Obito will return to him – he managed to save the love of his life from Death. He didn't know what happened afterwards, but everything went by in a blur. He never spoke about his encounter with Uchiha Madara ever since.

Those memories used to haunt him every day after he returned, but now it was becoming occasional. That didn't mean it was less difficult to bear with.

Obito made his way back to his bed, plopping himself with a heavy sigh with his arms and legs spread out. He turned his head to the right to face his window where a full moon was staring back at him.

A full moon.

Bright, silver, and radiant. When the darkness of the night engulfs the land, the presence of the moon ensures your safety as it embraces you with its light.

Just like…Rin.

His eye glanced down at the photo of Team Minato that sat on top of his desk. He stared at Rin's younger self and he felt every tension in his body seep away.

She always did that – she always relaxed him, even just by the mere memory of her.

How could one person have so much impact on every tiny cell in his body? How was it that she was the only one who made him feel so content and that everything will be okay?

Why did he love her so much? A lot of people told him that it isn't healthy to dwell on someone who doesn't love you back, and that he should find someone else who feels the same way. He was just a fool in love and that he's missing out on all the other people that he has a chance with.

They didn't understand that it was more than just loving her romantically.

Rin was precious. Rin believed in him since the beginning. When no one supported his dreams, when he was ridiculed and struggling, she never kicked him down. She healed all the wounds that scarred him – starting from being someone with missing parents to someone who struggled to be the best that he can be. Every time he hit rock bottom, she was right there by his side.

Still, every day, he still wishes that he could be something more with her. He still wishes that he could hold her hand and brush his lips on her soft knuckles, or capture her sweet, beautiful pink lips in his and kiss her until they're out of breath. He still dreams of touching her and making love to her, their bodies connected as their hearts are driven even closer than ever. It's enough that just the simple image of Rin in his head was needed to relax him – but he also always imagined her sleeping right there on the other side of his bed, next to him, with his arms wrapped around her protectively.

But he can't always get what he wants, can he? It's been years, already.

"Every once in a while, you'll find someone that stands out in your life. Someone special – where no one will ever compare." He told Asuma while looking up at the sky. Asuma's eyes widened at his words, the cigarette in between his fingers forgotten. "You wouldn't let that person go, no matter what."

"Woah. You've really got it bad for her, Obito. I always thought you would move on one day but…I don't know if I could do what you're doing. I mean, doesn't it hurt?"

"As long as she's happy, then nothing else matters." Obito shrugged.

"Yeah," He whispered to himself as his eyes fluttered shut.

"As long as she's happy…"

-.x.-

Obito stood on the ledge of the window of one section in Konoha Hospital. He had his arms crossed as he leaned back on the wall, observing the interior of the room. In that room was a class of medical-nin, standing in a line as they faced the instructor. All of them were writing on note pads as they focused on the demonstration before them.

Among them is Rin, and the instructor of her class is her father. Her father was gesturing at a set of wall scrolls that consisted of anatomical diagrams of the human body. Obito watched Rin concentrating on every word her father spoke, while her hand scribbled on her notepad like it had a life of its own. She was a very talented ninja, and with her intelligence, she was capable of succeeding and advancing in her field. Her commitment to being a reliable medical ninja was evident, because even though it takes roughly three years to learn the most critical information and applying them, she still wanted to explore further researches and details that can be useful in certain cases.

He recalled the days when they were under the tutelage of Minato; Kakashi and Obito were usually the ones who went for the offense, but Rin only stood by, observing and formulating strategies rather than attacks. Her reason was valid, because she took an oath that no medical ninja should stand in the front lines. She was meant to conserve her chakra and always be at the ready for healing and treatment.

Obito had been smiling freely the whole time he had been watching her through the window, but as he turned his sight away from her, his smile faded.

His mind flashed an image of the nightmare he had – Rin turning into a beast – and a sinking feeling clawed at his gut.

All this time, the beast within her had been dormant thanks to Minato and Kushina's skills in Sealing Techniques. Rin's status as a jinchuriki in the village had been kept a secret except from him, Kakashi, Minato and Kushina, and Konoha officials.

Things have been stable ever since Minato became a Hokage; there weren't any threats of a new war or any tension among clans.

A soft breeze blew by while Obito gazed up at the sky with a frown as he was lost in his deep thoughts.

Will this peace always be maintained? How long will it be before everything gets disrupted?

Whatever could happen, Obito needs to make sure he has what it takes to fight against it – he needs to make sure that he has what it takes to protect Rin at all costs.

-.x.-

"Can we help you, ma'am?" Two Konoha Police Force guards questioned a black-haired woman dressed in a sleeveless, dark grey yukata who stood outside the entrance of the KMPF headquarters.

"Yes," she nodded with a polite smile. "I was wondering if you knew whether Uchiha Obito is currently available."

"Who's asking?" One of the officers replied, quirking a brow. "We cannot allow the entrance of civilians unless they have a valid reason such as filing a case or issuing a police investigation."

"Ah," her right hand reached up to rub at her left arm as she looked at them sheepishly. "Well, my name is Takeda Kuromi. Unfortunately, I don't have anything to file. You could say that I am a friend of his."

The two officers glanced at each other before looking back at the blue-eyed female and shook their head. "Sorry, we cannot allow you to enter. If you're a friend, then it's either you wait here, or come back some other time."

Her brows furrowed as she tensed up. "What? Can't you at least tell me if he is around? Or what time does he get off work?"

"We do not share such information to those who are not a member of the Police Force." The officer responded sternly.

"But I am his friend!" Kuromi exclaimed, her fists clenching at her sides. "He knows me! He saved my life!"

"Ma'am, we need you to calm down. We made ourselves very clear about the rules."

"But you are not even trying! If you could go inside and tell him that I am out here, then this will be over. I need to see him!" Kuromi glared at them, her hands flying as she spoke in aggravation.

"Ma'am, enough now." Both guards tensed up and glared at her. "The rules are clear."

"That's ridiculous." Kuromi scoffed. "I'm not an enemy. I'm asking for a simple request!"

"We are busy now." The guard spat out. "Leave."

"No, I won't, not until you comply with my request." She crossed her arms and raised her chin.

"Ma'am, do not make us resort to using force. This is the last time we are repeating this, we cannot tell you about his whereabouts unless you're—"

As they spoke, much to Kuromi's delight, Obito exited the doors of the entrance. His modified forehead protector gleamed as the sun's ray hit the metal, and his passive expression shifted to a curious one when he heard a familiar voice.

"Ah! There he is! Obito-san!" Kuromi squealed happily, and the guards turned around to face the Uchiha behind them.

"Hm?" Obito blinked twice as he regarded the raven-haired female. "Kuromi-san?"

"This woman claims that you are a friend of hers, and she insisted upon seeing you." The first guard spoke up, gesturing to Kuromi as she stood there, beaming at the sight of Obito.

"She was very stubborn, too. She wouldn't stop arguing with us about the rules." The other officer said with a frown. "Do you know her?"

Obito nodded at the question in response, and stepped closer to the female. "Yeah, I know her."

Kuromi grinned smugly at the officers, who ignored her. "See?"

"Well then," Obito faced the two guards who stood with their arms crossed and bowed to them. "Thank you for your hard work. I shall take my leave now."

The officers bowed back and resumed their position as Kuromi and Obito walked away from them.

"So, Kuromi-san," Obito started. "What brings you here? I haven't seen you since we last met, so what was all that about?" His brows then furrowed in concern. "Did something happen?"

Kuromi smiled at him brightly and fiddled with her black locks. "Well, it's nothing, really. I just thought that I'd find you here. I thought…well…maybe…"

A rosy blush colored her pale cheeks as she glanced away shyly. "We could…we could be friends?"

'And maybe more.' She thought internally.

Obito smiled at her gently. "So you came all the way here just to start a friendship with me? That's interesting."

She lifted a hand to press her knuckles against her lips as she giggled at him. "Of course, Obito-san! You saved my life. Surely I wasn't going to forget that. You've made me and my family very happy, and for that I am grateful."

Obito felt a blush burn on his cheeks, and he chuckled at her as he shook his head. "There is no need! It's my job, after all."

"I know this is all so sudden, but if you're free, I was wondering if you would like to have a drink with me. We could have some tea and just talk."

"Huh? Me and you? Right now?" Obito blinked at her with a clueless look. This was new. No other female who is a stranger to him – well, kind of a stranger to him, has ever asked him out like that.

Kuromi nodded her head. "Sure!"

If Obito was going to be honest, he really wasn't used to hanging out with anyone other than Rin or Kakashi, and some of his other friends. Not only that, he was going to meet up with Rin in a while.

That didn't mean Kuromi didn't spark a sense of curiosity in him. Sure, he wasn't used to spending time with someone he didn't know so well, but that didn't mean Obito opposed the idea. It did look like she just wanted to be his friend as her way of showing him gratitude for saving her from a traumatic experience.

He then looked at her apologetically, raising both hands up. "Ah, I'm sorry…you see, I am currently going to meet someone right now. So how about next time?"

Kuromi nodded her head happily at the acceptance of Obito, and she giddily walked next to him.

"Then how about tomorrow? In the dango cafe next to Yakiniku Q, let's meet up over there!"

A nervous sweat slid down Obito's temple. What was he supposed to respond to that? He didn't understand why she was very insistent on seeing him, even though there was nothing wrong with it. He has to admit her daring behavior was fascinating.

"I…uh…" A hand lifted to rub at his neck to ease his discomfort, before lowering it and shrugging at her. "Alright. Tomorrow seems good."

"Obito!" A voice called out to the Uchiha, and they both turned to face the source.

It was Rin jogging up to him with an apologetic smile on her face. Her long hair whipped behind her with every step and her hands pressed together as she got closer.

Obito perked up and walked a few steps forward in an attempt to reach her.

Rin's steps slowed as she came face to face with her best friend, and bent down to catch her breath.

"I'm so sorry for being late," Rin sighed. "There was an emergency at the hospital."

Obito shook his head and grinned at her. "Don't worry about it, I just finished work."

"Oh, that's good!" Rin beamed, "I—"

She paused in her speech when she saw someone very familiar standing behind Obito, looking back at her curiously. She instantly recognized the woman.

"Ah, hi," Rin bowed in politeness. "I didn't notice you there, I apologize."

Kuromi bowed back and smiled at her lightly. "That's alright. I'm Takeda Kuromi, it's nice to meet you."

"Nohara Rin, it's a pleasure to meet you too."

Kuromi looked at Obito and quirked a brow. "Obito-san, pardon me if I am being rude, but is she your girlfriend?"

Rin had to admit that she was unsettled with the sudden question, but before she could say anything, Obito beat her to it.

"Ahaha, no, no. She is not my girlfriend," he chuckled. "She is my very close friend. She is a talented medical-nin who works at Konoha Hospital." He missed the disturbed glint in Rin's hazel orbs as he spoke those words so pliantly. Normally he would be a fumbling mess when someone points out anything that has to do with his feelings for her, but this time, he didn't.

Why didn't he?

And Kuromi's relieved expression wasn't making it any better.

"Ah, that's so cool!" she heard the raven-haired girl speak in a superficial sweet tone. "I'd like to know more, but I have to get going." Kuromi backed away sheepishly. "I'm looking forward to spending time with you. I'll see you tomorrow!" She winked.

Obito nodded at her and waved his hand. "Ah. Likewise. See you!"

Kuromi bowed at the two of them and took off in the opposite direction.

Rin just stood there, blown away by the words she just heard. Her heart felt heavy, and her throat constricted. However, she didn't want to jump into conclusions so suddenly, but if there was one thing she is sure of, it's that the whole interaction was definitely not normal.

'Spending time together? What? Did they…Could it be…?'

She couldn't help but face Obito fully and question him.

"Obito, what was all that about? Who is she?" She hoped her voice didn't give away any hint of desperation. Just when she was starting to have feelings for him…

"Well, she's the girl I saved from one of my missions. She seems nice, doesn't she?"

'Too nice…and very bold.'

"Yeah, but I mean…" They started to walk as Rin tried to form her questions without sounding too weird. Since when did she have to watch what to say around Obito?

"I mean, what was the whole…spending time together…thing?" Rin cursed herself inwardly at her awkwardness. Her hand came up to clutch on her arm and squeeze it.

"Ah, you see," Obito daftly responded, and a sense of relief washed over Rin. Obito was still unaware of what that girl was up to. As much as Obito had changed and had become a more calm, collected, and an intelligent shinobi, for the first time, Rin was happy that he was still dense.

"Well, it's pretty funny actually. She was arguing with the guards about wanting to see me, and she said that she wanted to be friends."

'Friends, huh? Really, Obito?' Rin anticipated the next part of the story.

"She insisted to meet her for tea to talk and stuff, I guess she wants to get to know me better; after I've saved her life and all." He finished with a shrug. "It was really kind of her, so how was I supposed to say no to that?"

"Oh yeah," Rin responded, her eyes darting to the side since she failed to conceal the ineptness in her tone. "Really kind."

Even though Obito was clueless about Kuromi coming on to him, she couldn't deny how much it was getting under her skin. Obito and another girl…spending time together…she hated the thought of that more than anything.

"So, you're seeing her tomorrow?" Rin hated herself for asking that question, but she couldn't help it. She knew all too well how these things start out. Subtle hints of flirtation, masking an unofficial date for a 'friendly hangout', indirect questions to rule out the possibility of the person having a partner or an interest in someone else…well, in Kuromi's case, she was really direct with it.

"Well, yeah, after my duty."Obito said passively, before a wide smile stretched on his lips. Rin's gaze lowered as she felt her insides shake in anguish. He is actually going to see her…they're going to sit alone together, have their tea, and she would try to get closer to him.

Was Rin too late…? Was all her hopes crashing down on her now?

And most importantly…did she have the rights to feel this way? Who was she to stop Obito from meeting new people? Maybe they were just going to be friends! Maybe Obito wouldn't like her back…maybe…maybe…

All the maybes that Rin was trying to tell herself was futile. There was no use in lying to herself. It is glaringly obvious that Kuromi was infatuated with Obito because she sees him as her knight in shining armor.

What more can she do? Rin had just admitted to herself that she feels attracted to him. She had just started to notice her best friend as someone...more than than a friend. It's not like she was going to confess her feelings immediately, especially when even she didn't know what to do about it.

Still…

"Hey, isn't it great how you can impact someone's life like that? Just by leaving something good that they'll always remember you by. It's such a good feeling." Obito pondered.

"Yeah," Rin muttered absentmindedly as she threw herself into her thoughts. "It sure is."

Obito noticed the change in her tone and raised a brow at her.

"Rin, are you okay?"

Rin looked up at him and masked her disappointment with a cheerful tone. She inwardly cursed herself for not being careful about her change in behavior. "Huh? Oh, yeah! I'm fine!"

Obito pursed his lips. "Alright…you zoned out for a second there."

Rin shook her head and waved off his concerns. "No, don't worry. Really, I'm okay!"

Obito then smiled at her and nodded. "That's good."

Smiling has never felt more painful for Rin.

-.x.-

The excitement in Kuromi's cerulean orbs were evident from the moment he walked in and greeted her with that light smile. Now here she was, sitting across from him as she sipped her tea elegantly while Obito chewed on his tri-colored dango.

Not being with Rin after duty has never felt more strange and unusual for Obito, but he would be lying if he said that he didn't spend the entire time analyzing what on earth he got himself into. He pretty much expected things to move on from the last mission, where she would stay with her family and do the best that she can to be around them, yet here she was, looking for him and was adamant about talking to him – even being his friend.

But when he saw the excitement in her eyes, he realized that it was kind of like how the old folks he helped around started to recognize him and got to know him better.

He just didn't expect the same thing from someone young and…well, attractive like her. Any guy could see that she is a beauty.

Hence, so far he came down with the conclusion that there was nothing wrong about basking in the pleasant feeling of being recognized, and Obito simply decided to seize that opportunity. It wasn't a date anyway, so there was nothing wrong.

Absolutely nothing wrong.

"Thank you for coming, Obito-san. You've really made me happy." She said shyly, gazing at him under her fluttered lashes as a pink blush colored her cheeks.

"Ah, you're welcome. I'm happy to be here." He said nonchalantly, flashing her a light smile as he set his empty skewer down.

"I know this was all so random, but you see, I just couldn't forget that day. I mean, one day I was out delivering medicine, and the next thing I knew…" Kuromi lifted a hand to fiddle with her black locks. "I was terrified when I got kidnapped. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it alive. They were really…scary." Her tone lowered as she looked down sadly while her mind replayed that horrifying day.

Obito looked at her sympathetically. She really seemed to be affected by what happened back then. He couldn't blame her, she was just a normal girl going about a normal day until it got disrupted by a bunch of power-hungry criminals.

"I understand," Obito spoke gently, minding his words over the sensitive subject. "I am glad we managed to get you out of there before it was too late. Your parents must have been so worried."

"Yeah," a smile then grew on her lips as she looked at him again, with delightful sparkles gleaming in her bright blue eyes. "My father was so happy when I returned. It's all thanks to you, Obito-san."

Obito felt embarrassment crawl up his back. Well, it's not like he was the only one out there. He didn't understand why she kept making it about him. Sure, he was the one who broke in and saved her so quickly, but there was also his team who took down the rest of the crooks.

He picked up his tea and cleared his throat, then responded with the only best answer he could think of. "As long as you're safe, then that's all that matters." He then took a sip and glanced to the side in an attempt to mask his shyness – he hated to admit this, but he sure sucked when it came to girls and he could only pray that it wasn't obvious.

Little did he know what his answer meant to Kuromi. It only pumped her up more as her smile blossomed into a happy grin.

They spent an hour chitchatting and drinking their tea while sharing dangos, and Obito learned a lot about her. He now knew that she was trained in toxicology and herbal medicine by her father, and that they owned a pharmacy – which explains her delivering medicines, and that her father prohibited her from becoming a shinobi ever since the death of her older brother from a mission.

He did reduce talking about himself so much. His younger self would have probably yacked on until the other person would grab the chance to run away. But he wasn't like that anymore. Obito only mentioned that he grew up with his grandmother before she passed away, and that he was under the tutelage of the Fourth along with Rin and Kakashi, and that his injuries were from the Third Shinobi World War. Why and how he recovered was definitely his secret so he didn't care to even mention them. He didn't even mention that he was an ANBU member, instead he only said he spent his time training until he got into the KMPF, and here he was.

Obito learned the deep value of privacy and the importance of anonymity throughout his time in ANBU. Always speak less and keep your words short.

Yet the mystery only thrilled Kuromi; she didn't even bother prying any further, and she steered him into a conversation about various topics that they debated about, and this only made Obito more comfortable. She seemed like a decent person, and she was also quite intellectual. He liked that in a woman.

However, while Obito was undeniably enjoying his time talking to her, at the back of his mind he was questioning why he felt so disturbed yet empty the more time passed by. He was missing something - it was the certain excitement or thrill that comes when exploring something that tapped onto your curiosity, and he didn't know why he didn't feel it.

Eventually, they decided to call it a day. Obito decided to pay for the snacks (it was his way of being courteous), much to Kuromi's delight and he escorted her out. He also offered to walk her back to her house, which turned out to be a few blocks away, and of course, Kuromi wouldn't resist that.

"Thank you so much for today, Obito-san. I must say, I really enjoyed myself!" Kuromi exclaimed cheerfully.

Obito felt pleased and chuckled at her sheepishly, hoping he doesn't trip over his words. "Same here, Kuromi-san. Thank you for inviting me out! I had a good time."

Kuromi's gaze lowered shyly as she shuffled her feet. "I really would like to do this again."

"Hopefully next time you'll know where to find me so you wouldn't have to get in trouble with the guards." Obito replied jokingly.

Kuromi's eyes narrowed deviously and in a sweet tone she said, "Oh trust me. I'll know where to find you, Obito-kun ."

Once he heard those words, something suddenly clicked inside Obito. He watched as she turned around and walked away from him and entered her house, only briefly turning around to wave at him before she disappeared from his view as her door closed.

Any normal man would be giddy and his tongue would stick out like a dog if he ever heard a girl talk to him like that.

But instead, in that very moment, Obito's mind decided to flash an image of Rin.

As he remembered her, the cocktail of emotions he was feeling earlier whirled up inside him like an incoming storm once more.

He felt distraught, empty, and agitated all at the same time, and it wasn't because he didn't enjoy his time with Kuromi – in fact, he had a very pleasant time.

Rather, he now can put a finger onto why he was feeling that way, and it was because…he missed her.

He missed Rin.

-.x.-

Night time draped itself over Konoha. Rin was standing by the railing of a bridge, staring down at her reflection on the crystal clear water. Koi fish were found swimming, their movement sending ripples. Earlier, Rin was in the hospital library, reading scrolls and tomes that her parents have listed down for her to study after her shift. She managed to complete a good amount, before her mind decided to drift off to places that she didn't want to think about.

Sadly, it was about Obito and that girl. Rin had tried to distract herself as much as she can by trying to will her mind to focus on the books before her, but it was really hard, and hence, she needed to step out for fresh air and to clear her mind.

For the first time in a while, she felt like that little girl who was fawning over Kakashi, who occupied her mind day and night as she tried to figure out ways to get his attention. The only difference was that she had more advantage towards him compared to the other girls because they were on the same team. She was able to get closer and get to know him better. However, Kakashi was also very direct about his feelings. Love and infatuation never mattered to him. It was always duty over love.

However, with Obito...he was her best friend ever since their childhood. They were best friends before Kakashi entered the picture. She only saw him as her brother figure while idealizing a whole world of romance with Kakashi, even after she became aware that Obito was in love with her. Rin never really thought about why she never felt attracted to Obito; it was simply because he lacked certain qualities that she found in someone else.

No, she never doubted Obito's abilities and potential. She truly believed in him and his dream to be a Hokage. Obito's perseverance and resilience in training only proved that to her. She loved that about him, and because he had no one else to support him, she was more than happy to be that person.

Still, despite all of that, she didn't want to ruin the friendship they already had, and it was clear that Obito thought the same way. Besides, she already knew everything about him and was more focused on attracting Kakashi's attention rather than spending time with the Uchiha, like she had been doing ever since he returned.

Yet Obito always thought about her, even though he knew she liked someone else. She always came first to him...He was the one who was unrelenting about saving her life during that awful mission that almost costed his life. He was the one who put her first - who put his friends first before any duty.

And years later, he was still doing the same.

It was only expected for her to suddenly develop feelings for him, especially when she started seeing things from a whole new perspective by shedding her old, teenage views. She saw a side of Obito that she didn't think he had before.

A loving, kind, and warm side that engulfed her and made her feel so special and so appreciated just by being in someone's life. He made her feel so loved and wanted - and nothing else feels greater than being wanted by someone.

And then Kuromi came along.

It's funny how she could relate to Kuromi in a way - they were both saved by the same man. One of them was more courageous about pursuing that man though, and it wasn't Rin.

Rin felt like her life suddenly turned into a dark comedy - right when she got over someone who didn't love her back, and developed feelings for the one person whose flames burned for her since the beginning, someone had to swoop in and try to snatch him away. Karma was biting her in the ass for her selfishness.

Her fists gripped on the railing, and she bit her lip. Obito was surely out with that girl, and anything could have happened between them. Her heart felt heavy as the thoughts were raging in her mind. Maybe Obito realized that he would rather be with someone who recognized him like that and he decided to take his chances with Kuromi. Maybe Obito could no longer stand her and decided to spend more time with that woman. Maybe that woman managed to seduce -

Rin instantly shut her eyes tight and shook her head. 'No, stop it. You're overthinking! This is getting out of hand! Why am I acting like this?!'

She heaved out a heavy sigh and gazed up at the bright, full moon. She was acting as if she didn't know him. She should know Obito better than that; but that doesn't mean nothing could happen.

Seeing him right now would make her feel better. She just wanted to talk to him, and walk beside him - just being with him made her feel good. If only he was here right now...

"Rin?" A low, astonished voice called out behind her, startling her. She let out a loud gasp and whipped around-

To see the one man who had been occupying her mind this whole time.

"O-Obito! You scared me!"

Obito chuckled and raised his hands up apologetically. "Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to sneak up on you, but I also didn't expect to find you here."

Once Rin had calmed down, her hazel orbs gazed at the Uchiha who stood before her, taking in his features. He had his modified forehead protector removed, which indicated that he had finished his duty. His black hair fell over his forehead in a fringe, and his hands were in his pocket. His stare was gentle on her, and she could see delight shine in his eye, and she felt a sense of warmth and joy course through her. She loved it when he look at her like that.

She also noticed his build; wide shoulders and a lean, fit upper body, his uniform only accentuating his masculine appearance, all with his facial scars that made him look so manly and handsome.

Her heart raced at the acknowledgment, and suddenly she felt so shy that she had to avert her gaze to the side as a blush colored her cheeks.

"Ah, yeah. I was just out...you know, I thought I'd take a walk after all that studying." She said casually, and her hand lifted to tuck a strand of her long hair behind her ear. "What about you?"

Obito shrugged and replied, "I just finished my patrol duty. I was on my way home until I found you."

"O-oh..Well, um, I wouldn't want to keep you long. You should go on your way." She smiled at him nervously, and she didn't know why she felt like that. She never felt anxious in front of Obito before. She never felt like she had to choose her words carefully around him, or pray that she didn't sound like an idiot. It all started to happen after the realization that she liked him, and all of a sudden she was shy around him - as though he could read her mind.

"Nah." Obito walked forward and placed his elbows on the railing, leaning over it. "Why would I do that?"

Rin's breath hitched, and she cleared her throat. She threw her hands behind her back and stood right next to him, trying to appear as casual as ever. She knew Obito wasn't stupid enough to notice any change in her behavior. She'll be damned if he begins questioning if there was something wrong with her, when she wasn't even ready to deal with her feelings for him that were already overwhelming her.

"I mean, don't you have something to do back home?"

Obito shook his head. "Nope. Even if I did, it could wait. Why would I choose that over being right here with you?"

'Oh, Obito...' Rin thought, feeling her heart flutter at his words.

"My, my." Rin giggled and shook her head. "You're so silly."

Obito only chuckled at her and turned his attention to the starry sky.

"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?"

Rin followed his gaze and smiled at the sight before her. "Yeah, it is."

Obito then smirked and looked at her fully. "But you know what's even better?"

Rin blinked at him a few times with a clueless look. "H-huh?"

She felt a hand gently grab onto her wrist, and the next thing she knew, she was following after Obito, the two of them turning the corner as they dashed along the street.

"O-Obito!" She called out as she tried to keep up; and his hand slid from her wrist to her hand, and she felt electricity stream into her. "Where are we going?"

"Just follow me; I promise you'll like it!"

They were now leaping over houses and buildings to hasten their speed in order to get to the destination that Obito wanted to take her to. Rin had no clue about what was going on in his mind, but she also trusted Obito and she felt that same rush of excitement he had as she anticipated where he wanted to go.

They ended up facing the Hokage Mansion, pausing for a little while. Rin quirked a brow at Obito, who was only staring forward, and she asked him, "This is the place?"

"We're close. Are you ready?"

Before Rin could answer, once more, she felt him hold her hand, and they dashed forward together, leaping onto the roof of the Hokage Mansion, and throwing themselves into a sea of trees. Rin struggled to keep up with Obito, who is involuntarily faster than her as they moved from one branch to the next. She had every urge to question where they were going further as the only thing she could see was just trees upon trees, but instead she only decided to follow him compliantly.

Eventually, the sight before her cleared and she was facing a rocky surface, and she only found herself moving upwards, jumping where Obito was going until they were on a somewhat flat ground where they could walk properly. She realized that they were standing on top of the Fourth's head - or rather, his hair that was jutting outward.

Rin watched Obito stand a few feet away, staring forward. She moved to stand next to him and the sight before knocked every breath out of her lungs.

This was by far the most magnificent view of Konoha that she's ever seen. She could see the whole expansion of the Land of Fire - every mountain, every river, every building that had golden lights glowing like festival lanterns floating in the air, the beautiful forests that were spread out across the land, concealing the beautiful village that she was born and raised in. The moon was shining so radiantly above them and she felt like she could stretch out and touch it, or even gather some of the beautiful twinkling stars that were scattered in a constellation. A gentle and fresh breeze kissed her, brushing over her long chocolate brown hair like soft fingers.

Obito was right. She had never felt more relaxed in her life - like all her worries were taken away by the wind.

"Obito...this is amazing.." She whispered in bewilderment, sitting down and stretching her legs forward. She could only imagine how Konoha would look like during the day.

"Isn't it?" The whole time, Obito was staring at her and observing all the emotions that shone in Rin's eyes. He also followed her and sat down next to her, with one leg stretched out while the other was bent, and he rested his elbow on top of it.

"How did you..." Rin didn't continue her question since Obito answered for her as he looked upon the village.

"Everyday since I was a kid, I would be staring up at these faces, imagining my face sculpted right here. And ever since I came back, I would climb up here to look at Konoha, and allow myself to get in touch with the land that I grew up in. The land that I thought I'd never see again. It was my escape from all the problems that I was facing, such as the anxiety about my physical health and the Uchiha clan's resentment towards me." Rin's heart squeezed as she listened to him intently. She hated how he had to face all the bitterness from his clan when he returned, as if he didn't have enough going on. But Obito was so brave that he only persevered through it all, and she had never felt more proud of him.

"Standing here," he continued. "I would picture myself as the Hokage, watching over the village as its protector. The village would be my family. Everyone would love me, admire me, and they would feel safe just by knowing that I was right here to shield everyone from harm. My only wish is that all my hard work will make my dreams come true."

"Obito..." Rin whispered, and Obito looked back at her. His eyes widened when he felt Rin scoot closer to him, pressing her side against his as she rested her head on his shoulder. Rin could feel his shock, because she was also surprised with herself, but in this very moment, she didn't want to think about anything and would rather engulf herself in the warmth and intimacy that emitted between them. Her mind was clear; the cloud of worries and unpleasant thoughts dissipated. All that was left was a very tender moment that would be imprinted in their hearts.

"You are truly an amazing person," Rin said softly as a genuine smile stretched on her lips. "And I know that your wish will come true. I will always be right here, watching you every step of the way until you become the Hokage that you've always wanted to be."

"Rin..." Obito was at a loss of words, and he felt his throat grow tight with emotion, and his heart was drumming so fast it might as well fall out of his chest.

Rin's smile only brightened and she had a pink blush glow on her cheeks.

"Thank you..." Obito whispered, watching Rin's eyes close in content.

-.x.-

...To Be Continued...

-.x.-

Author's Notes:

Phew! Omg this took forever to write! I've been taking things out and putting things in every now and then and trying to figure out how this chapter will allow the story to move onto where I want it to go.

I am so sorry again for the delay! I hope that everyone is doing okay since recent events have only been more stressful lately. I hope that you all are taking care out there!

Anyways; I REALLY hope you all would be satisfied with this chapter. This is the longest that I've written! And I couldn't resist the drama with Kuromi, hehe. What is a romance story without someone to stir up a little bit of drama, huh?

I did the best I could to not let things be rushed here, but now Rin has moved passed the whole 'he is just a friend' thing, and sees Obito as more. Finally, huh? I sure hope nothing was out of character, though.

Please leave a review and tell me what you guys think! I will do the best I can to not delay the next chapter. ;)

To those who reviewed, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'm really happy you are all enjoying this story. Stay tuned!