"Hara? Hey Hara? You awake yet? Come on, get up already! You've been out for two days!" suddenly came a voice from seemingly nowhere.
"Mmhh...hmm..? Soo-hyeung? Is that you?" Harata replied on instinct.
"Really Hara? You don't recognize my voice? Geez! We've been friends since highschool!" the voice replied sounding a bit frustrated now.
Deciding it had to be someone close enough to refer to her by nickname, she continued to respond.
"Sorry. I'm just really tired. I had a really weird dream too." Harata replied finally as she tried sitting up.
"Heh heh, it's okay. I'm only teasing you. I'm just glad you're okay. I was really worried you kno- Hey! Lay back down! Your body is still too weak." the female voice ordered in a maternal tone.
"Oh, right. Sorry...wait my body's too weak? What do you mean? What happened?" Harata asked, clearly confused by what was going on.
"Well...you managed to inhale an exorbitant amount of miasma; which caused you to start hallucinating. Why were you out that far alone anyway? Didn't I tell you not to go anywhere without me?"
"Huh? Miasma? What's that? And what are you talking about? When did you say that to me?" Harata inquired, getting even more confused than she previously was.
"Miasma is like a toxic gas so to speak. And I told you back when we first met. Don't leave my side. How else am I going to protect you?"
"Toxic gas?" she questioned, unable to discern where she even was.
"Yes toxic gas. Just lay there. And don't fuss about anything. I'll just take you to the hospital in the morning."
What the hell- ?! Again?! Harata yelled in her head, then responded to what appeared to be Soohyeung talking to her.
"Wait a minute. Protect me? Why would you need to do that?" she questioned.
"Because I promised I would. But I guess you don't remember that. Regardless, please just stay put this time."
"I'll be fine, but when did you promise this? And why can't you just heal me?" Harata retorted, still feeling like she missed something.
"Heal you? I'm not a miracle worker. The stuff you inhaled is more dangerous than that paralyzing agent you dealt with before."
"Oh, I see. But what about- " she stopped upon realizing that her friend mentioned the fishing village incident.
"Wait a minute...Soohyeung...how do you know about that? That was part of the weird dream I had..."
"Dream? Good grief, the damage is worse than I thought..." the voice trailed off suddenly.
Baffled as to why her friend was acting so strange, she tried to inquire once more about what happened.
"Wait, so you're saying that wasn't a dream?" she questioned sternly.
"A dream? No it wasn't. I was there. It was very much real."
"You were there? When? I don't recall you being there at all. I was there with some kids around Akira's age and their sensei. It was a fishing village. Kinda reminded me of the Celestial village, except a lot smaller." Harata replied assuredly.
"Really? Guess I heard you wrong. So tell me, what happened in this dream then."
Hesitating for a moment, she tried her best to remember all the events leading up to now.
"This...might sound crazy but...it had to do with a village full of nothing but ninja..." Harata started.
"That is weird, but please go on. I'm quite curious now."
"Oh okay. Well, we were helping the villagers fight off some assholes who kept raiding their home. They were all very kind folk. But the highlight was- ah forget it." Harata continued, then paused again.
"Highlight? What do you mean by that?"
Hesitant to reveal what her favorite part of the journey was, she thought about how to carefully convey this without it being misconstrued in any way possible.
"The most relaxing part was hanging out with the kids' teacher on the roof. We both kinda bonded over being in positions of leadership. But it was very nice just chatting with him. He's very chill." Harata finished, waiting for her friend to respond.
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. And this 'sensei' sounds like a pretty cool guy."
"Cool is an understatement. I'd say he's on Master Yun Chang's level. Just not naive like he is." Harata finished with a slight smile and chuckle.
"Hmmmm...sounds like you think pretty highly of this guy."
Hearing this, Harata stopped to think for a moment.
I think highly of him huh? I guess that's accurate. But he deserves every ounce of that respect... she thought to herself, then finally replied to her friend.
"I think...it goes beyond just thinking highly of him honestly..." she answered.
"Goes beyond? How so?"
"Well, I like being around him a lot. I get kinda bummed when I'm not with him. He gets a kick out of scaring me shitless, but I think that's kind of endearing. He's definitely mischievous. Just the other day we accidentally-- " Harata suddenly stopped, feeling flustered for some reason.
"Really now? You like being around him that much? And what happened the other day?"
"I- well...um...I almost fell...but he caught me in his arms, and ended up breaking my fall..."
"Oh that was nice of him. I'm sure he didn't want you to get hurt."
"But he knows I'm not completely human. A little fall won't hurt me. But even still he caught me. I'll admit...I felt safe being held like that. He's really strong." Harata went on, feeling her face flush more.
"Maybe he just reacted without thinking?"
"Him? React without thinking? That's funny. He's too sharp for that. He can read people like an open book." Harata finished with a slight chuckle.
"So you think he's that intuitive? He seems like he could be a bit absent-minded to be honest."
"Absent-minded? Probably. But everyone has their quirks. Besides, his awkwardness is kind of adorable. He's a truly special person." Harata replied almost defensively.
"He's...special to you?"
"Yeah he is. So is everyone else I've met there so far. But he especially went out of his way to help me. Even when he didn't need to."
"Did he? Well...maybe you should tell him that...I'm sure he'd appreciate it greatly."
"Nah that's too embarrassing... Besides, I'm sure his friends tell him that all the time." Harata replied immediately.
"Too embarrassing? Awww...well I still think he'd appreciate hearing it from you."
"You really think so?" she said in an unsure tone.
"I'm positive. Poor guy probably doesn't think he is. But he sounds like a sweetheart."
"Swee- yeah, heh, I think that'd describe him fairly well." Harata agreed, thinking of how kindly he treated his squad.
"I wonder though...what would you do if he ever ended up holding you in his arms again?"
Ever ended up holding her in his arms again? Why would she ask such a weird question? she pondered in her head.
"I guess I'd let him if it was necessary, but he'd have no reason to do that, so it doesn't really matter." she replied nonchalantly.
"Oh? Wouldn't be a reason?"
"No there wouldn't be. Why are you so focused on that anyway?" Harata questioned.
"No reason in particular. But Hara... be straight with me..."
"Huh? Ummm okaaay...? What is it?"
"Do you have more than just feelings of admiration for him?"
"More than just feelings of admiration? Where'd that come from?" a baffled Harata asked.
"Please, just give me an answer. I think you need to think about it yourself too. But...what if he feels that way about you?"
"Okay- no...I don't. And I assure you he wouldn't develop trivial feelings like that." Harata tried.
"Not even just a slight chance?"
"No not even a slight chance either. So just drop it please."
"Ooookay. But honestly, he sounds like the perfect guy for you."
"Perfect guy? Yeah I'd say so. But I wouldn't stand a chance with him." Harata finished.
"I see. Well this has been very insightful. Why don't you get some rest now? You could definitely use it."
"Oh...thanks." she replied triumphantly, feeling as though she'd finally gotten her point across, as she felt her eyes getting very heavy.
"Just so you know...you're wrong...I know he'd love to settle down. He just needs to find the right one..."
The bright sunlight filled the small room, as Harata began to stir in her sleep. Though once she woke up finally, she realized she was in an unfamiliar setting.
Huh? Where...am I? she wondered silently to herself.
It didn't look as if she was in a hospital, but it still was pretty inviting. Also rather tidy. But she didn't recognize this place at all. It definitely wasn't the inn she had been staying at.
"Where...?! Where the hell am I?!" she shouted abruptly, then froze upon hearing someone step inside the room she was in.
Feeling apprehensive, she turned around slowly only to see a very dressed down Kakashi with his arms folded, standing in the doorway.
"Oh, you're awake?" he calmly asked, studying her carefully.
"Hatake San?! Why are you here?!" she shouted in shock at seeing him outside of his normal instructor gear.
"Why am I here? Well...I live here. Unless I got the wrong house again. But I'm pretty sure I live here." he answered in a half joking tone.
"Live? You...live here...? I...see..." she stammered, feeling so confused, yet ashamed.
"I apologize if it's not to your liking, but it was fairly late when I found you, so I just brought you back here." he replied, noticing the look on her face.
"Oh no! I...I'm in your debt! Again! It's just...I...can't remember what happened..." she corrected, hoping he would tell her like before.
"Well, you snuck out against Lady Tsunade's orders, and went too deep into the forest. You came under the influence of a very strong hallucinogen. You were trying to follow after something, but I stopped you, and after you collapsed, I carried you back to my place. I was too tired to go anywhere else, but you would've gotten lost if I wasn't tailing you." he finally finished.
In complete disbelief, Harata just sat there staring at nothing for a while, attempting to process how she could've been so stupid.
Why did I do something that ridiculous? Not to mention in the process of my sheer stupidity, I inconvenienced Hatake San...she scolded herself silently.
"Are you- " he started, but was cut off by Harata.
"Apologies..." she interrupted abruptly.
"That was...very stupid of me to do. I understand the consequences. I have to leave right?" she continued, not wanting to look him in the eye.
Suddenly she heard him chuckling, and looked up confused.
"What's so funny? Did I say something weird?" she tried as he regained his composure.
"No...sorry. It's just how serious you were...I couldn't help but laugh. I'm terribly sorry." he said apologetically, as her face went blank.
"So I don't have to leave?" she asked pleadingly.
"Not unless you want to. But you'll have to eventually once you find your friends right? That's why you snuck out last night, correct?" he interrogated, as she put her head down dejectedly.
"...yeah..." she mumbled, feeling even more ashamed than before.
"Lady Tsunade didn't put that restriction on you only to protect the village. We have enemies. She did it to keep you safe as well. But don't worry, I won't say anything. I'm sure she knew you would do that sooner or later. That's why she assigned me to keep an eye on you all the time." he finally explained.
Wait what? So she trusts me? It wasn't because she thought I'd try attacking them? As if I'd be able to defeat a bunch of assassins anyway...she thought to herself.
Then she felt the edge of the bed get weighed down, breaking her train of thought as she looked over to see Kakashi sitting down.
"I should get off your bed so you can rest then..." she said suddenly, scrambling to get up, but immediately falling back down.
"I'm actually on my way out. And your body's still too weak from breathing in that gas, so just stay put. Don't fuss or you sleep on the floor." he warned, as she sunk into his pillow, nodding her head compliantly.
"I'm going to take a bath. Then I'll be heading out. I made some food if you get hungry. You can eat and take a bath once you're feeling up to it." he said, grabbing his headband off the side table by his bed.
"And one more thing..." he started, as Harata gave him her undivided attention.
"Don't even think of trying to leave. I expect you to still be here when I get back. I'll grab your things from the inn." he said as he turned and walked out of the room.
All she could do was lay there in silence and obediently agree to his rules. It was her fault anyway. He probably didn't trust her to stay by herself anymore. Not that she could blame him.
"Gas huh? I really should've paid more attention when we learned about that in the academy..." she said to herself, as she glanced around his room, her eyes coming to rest on a strange looking mask hanging on his wall.
What is that? It's kinda creepy. No chance in hell I'd have a cursed looking mask like that hangin in my room. she thought as her eyes came to rest on a picture of Kakashi as a kid, along with two other kids, and an adult.
"He wore that even as a kid? That's dedication. Wait, why the does that guy look like Naruto? Guess that was his sensei." she said through a yawn, feeling her eyes get heavy again.
"Maybe, I'll just...rest for a little longer..." she mumbled through another yawn.
But upon feeling her necklace poking her in the chin, she lazily took it off and set it on the side table by Kakashi's bed, before nodding off to sleep again.