You Can Reclaim Your Crown

Summary: No one paid her much attention, Naruto's landlady, this woman who paid visits to the Uchiha compound with baskets of bread and fruit for the little Uchiha survivor. The woman who sat down to dinner with the Nine Tails Jinchuriki...who had befriended the silent Itachi, the impassive Kakashi...and had enraptured the hearts of Kushina and Minato...no one paid her any attention, until she's forced to act as a Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village once again.

Pairing: Kagome/?

Anime/Manga: InuYasha/Naruto

Genre: Romance/Spiritual/Adventure

Rated: M

-x-x-x-

"I can't believe they actually have astrology here...science isn't exactly something you see here." Kagome looked at the date on the calendar to her right. She'd gone to the book store to get a Clone Jutsu study guide for Naruto who was having trouble with the Jutsu and was, for lack of better words, too embarrassed to ask Sasuke for help...much less herself. As she was heading to the counter to pay, her eyes landed on an astrology book, naturally she'd become curious. "Wonder what it says for me..."

"Buy it if you want to read it."

Kagome's head snapped up and she looked into the only eye available to her. "Nice to see you, Kakashi. What brings you to Konoha?"

"I live here."

"Wait...you...you live here?!" Kagome gave a mock look of surprise, "since when?!"

"..."

"I mean, I know you periodically visit, but I wasn't aware that you actually lived here. With how I rarely see you...and all."

A laugh from behind the counter caused Kakashi to roll his eyes. Or...eye, as far as Kagome could tell. "Funny, really. I'm supposed to be with the Hokage right now, doesn't my being here mean anything to you?"

"Mnn...you got lost on the road of life...again?"

Another laugh from behind the counter had Kagome walking over and paying for both books before leaving the shop. Kakashi followed her out but said nothing.

"When were you born, Kakashi?"

"September fifteenth."

"..." Kagome flipped through the pages of the book to find the sign matching his birth date. "Hmn, a Virgo's strengths...they're loyal, analytical, kind, hardworking and practical...yeah..." She glanced at Kakashi as they rounded a corner and made their way through Kagome's personal shortcut to her inn. Trees for a good eight minutes left her with peace and quiet on most days. "They like animals, healthy food, books, nature and cleanliness...well, you're never at your house so I don't see how it can get messy to begin with." She laughed as he turned away. "Dislikes rudeness, asking for help, and taking "center stage"...not off. Not at all..."

"Sounds about right,"

"I like the weaknesses."

"I have weaknesses?" Kakashi leaned in to look at the page.

"Apparently your shy?"

He leaned in closer to Kagome, "am I?"

Blushing, she continued, "...you worry too much...you're also overly critical of yourself and others...this one is my favorite...all work and no play." She felt a hand on her wrist, gentle in touch, he took her by the hand and pulled her close. "I'm not trying to instigate anything, Kakashi. I'm only teasing you."

"I'm well aware..." He let his forehead lean against her shoulder, "I'm always gone, I know. I'm a coward...I've never once shown myself to Naruto, and I left you to watch over him all on your own."

Kagome shook her head, bringing a hand to his head band, she untied it. He made no move to stop her. "Take a day off from being Kakashi Hatake, the super ninja...be the shy, worrisome, self-critical...playful...Kakashi Hatake, just for a little while. I promise, it won't be so bad."

"...I was supposed to meet with the Hokage."

"The Hokage can wait,"

"...don't let him hear you say that."

Kagome smiled, she knew that Kakashi was well aware of her dislike for the Hokage, which is one reason she never bothered with the old man. "So what are you going to do?"

"..."

Kagome saw the conflict in his eyes and smiled sadly, placing the hitai-ate in his hand, she laughed solemnly, "send the old man my regards." She turned and left Kakashi standing and staring after her.

It was quiet for a moment when a shuffle of leaves caught his attention and he saw a head of blonde hair run out of his sight. Raising a brow, he wondered just how much the little Minato look-a-like had heard before shaking his head and placing his forehead protector back on, tugging it carefully over his eye and taking off towards the Hokage's tower. Kagome knew he couldn't put their Hokage on hold for too long, she understood that, and he knew she'd be okay waiting a bit longer...or...he at least hoped so.

-x-x-x-

"Let's see, it was...October...tenth. Naruto...Naruto...Naruto...Ah! Naruto!"

"Yes!"

Kagome jumped and turned to see the twelve year old running after her. "Where's Sasuke. I thought you both were training today...what happened?"

"Ah...Sasuke's fan club happened! Sakura and Ino are both really cute...especially Sakura...but they're so...annoying! They always interrupt us just as we're about to start sparring, or practicing Jutsu and Chakra control. You know, we thought we'd give it a try, walking on water...Sasuke's really close! He's like his...uh, hehe...never mind."

"You're fine, Naruto. He is like Itachi, but with that being said, Itachi isn't all bad...I know, for some reason, I don't believe that what happened that night...was all Itachi...I can't. Because I know Sasuke truly loves his brother, I want more than anything, for his brother to be innocent. I will continue to have hope in Itachi. For Sasuke..."

"...even if you say that...you found Itachi that night...you told me."

"Ah, I know...but I also told you he let Sasuke live. Some part of him couldn't hurt his baby brother. He loved Sasuke too much, he wanted him to live...I think whatever happened that night, is something neither of us would understand. There's much more to it...there must be."

Shuffling his feet in the grass, Naruto nodded his head at the book in her hand. "What were you reading a while ago?"

"Oh! I was looking up your sign! You are a Libra."

"I am?"

Kagome laughed, "Born on October tenth,"

Naruto frowned, "is a Libra good?"

Kagome smiled, sitting against a tree, she tapped the ground beside her and Naruto sat next to her. "I think so. It's fitting. A Libra is Cooperative, diplomatic, gracious, fair-minded and social...which is all that you are, and if not yet...all that you'll come to be. I know, because that's how your father was, and you are your fathers son."

"All of that sounds like good stuff...I mean, everyone has faults, right?"

"Well, sure. A Libra is indecisive, avoids confrontation, carries a grudge...self-pity…but that's not all Libra's. You for instance are very decisive, a trait which comes with your headstrong determination...that is a gift from your mother. Libra's are known to like harmony, gentleness, sharing with others and the outdoors...that's you...yes?"

He nodded his head, thinking about the traits Kagome said he shared with his parents.

"They dislike violence, injustice, loudmouths and conformity...though, you are a bit of a loudmouth, the other three are things I hope you never indulge in."

"I want...to make them happy...no...I want to make them proud."

Kagome laughed, "...be happy...that will make them happy." Placing her hand on his head, she played with his hair before standing, "to make them proud is something entirely different. For them...it might be difficult."

"...what?" Naruto stood up, "what? I can do it!"

"Then, I'll tell you the last thing your mother said to you..." Kagome felt her heart swell as she chose her words carefully, a familiar aura appeared in the tree above them but she stood firmly on what she was about to say. "Take care of yourself... Make sure to have dreams... And the confidence...to make those dreams...come true..."

"...my mom...said that?"

Nodding, Kagome looked up and her eyes landed on Kakashi who had closed his eyes, no doubt lost in the memory of that painful moment. "Mind you, there was much more to it. Your mom talked...a lot. The basics, you know. Don't be a picky eater, grow up big and strong, bathe daily, stay warm...don't stay up too late and get plenty of sleep. Make plenty of friends...not that you need a bunch, just a few that you can really trust. Your mom was bad at this, but study hard, her words...not mine. Also, if things don't go well, don't get depressed. Respect your teachers and your seniors...so much more. She wanted to be here with you Naruto. She wanted so much to be the one to tell you these things." Her tears broke free from her eyes and fell aimlessly to the ground.

"...Kagome?"

"Hmn?"

"You knew my mom and dad...really well, didn't you..."

"About as much as anyone else did, Naruto." She said this while staring up at the sky, her eyes looking away from the boy.

"That's not true. It's why you took care of me. My whole life you've been the only one that was there, the only one that never once turned away from me. Who cared for me and...loved me...in any form of the word. You made sure I was eating well, and sleeping regularly, that I had friends and was respectful." He moved closer and pulled the book beneath the astrology one she'd been reading out. "Making sure I practice and train hard. You watched out for me for my mom and dad...because you were close to them..."

"I did what I could to ease your suffering..." Kagome sighed, "but so much more is to come, your future isn't one that will be easy, Naruto. It pains me to say this, but sooner or later, I'll have to let go and you will be on your own. I will however...always be here for when you return."

"...always?"

Kagome smiled, "I've only ever made this promise to one other person, and I intend on keeping it. I promise...I won't ever leave your side...except for when you are on missions...I'll be here, running my complex..."

Naruto smiled, "that's right, you're a civilian, then I'll keep you safe no matter what. Believe it!"

"Now, go find Sasuke and get some more practice in, you're test is tomorrow, and I want you to do well. Here..." she held the book out to him and he took it thankfully with a grin. Running out of the small forest by the complex, he disappeared off towards the Uchiha district with newly born determination.

Leaves swirled around her and she felt arms wrap warmly around her.

"You talk...entirely too much."

Kagome laughed and turned around to make a snarky comment, but was silenced, by a pair of warm lips.

-x-x-x-

Me: I don't think it's cruel. I think it's 12:30 am and I think I have to wake up at 5:30 am...so by no means was this meant to be cruel. I love all of you, and I seriously hope they're were no spelling or grammar mistakes. I'm soooo tired, and I keep having to erase things and rewrite them because I CAN'T SPELL WHEN I'M TIRED! So, I love you all, good...night….!