Sparks 12

"Mysteries create wonder and wonder is the basis of men's desire to understand." - Neil Armstrong

Over the next two months, I became better acquainted with the female portion of Konoha. I wish I could say that most were like Kurenai. Unfortunately they were not.

The women of Konoha were a, ah, unique breed. I couldn't explain it beyond that. Many in my encounter, mostly those girls in Naruto and Sasuke's class, were rather boy-crazy. Mind you, it certainly wasn't The Beatles level of insanity. However they were certainly attentive to little Sasuke. Naruto couldn't get attention from them no matter how hard he tried (I was starting to hear over and over how beautiful Sakura was). Well, all but this little Hyuga girl (I'll get to that).

Because I was helping Naruto further with his abilities I found picking them up after school was easiest. It also helped Sasuke get involved too. He started joining me in watching Naruto's progression. While it did antagonize Naruto to some degree, it helped fuel him. One day (about a month ago) when I went to pick them up they were held back by their teacher Iruka. I leaned against the tree, waiting patiently when what seemed to be the entire portion of the female students made their way to me. They kept their distance, save for Ino and this little pink haired girl who wore a red bow in her hair. They seemed the most bold.

"Uh-uh, we were wondering…." One of the other girls I didn't know stuttered. The moment I locked gazes with her she lost her courage and looked away.

"Does Sasuke-kun ever talk about any of us?" Ino asked right out. I could see fire in both her eyes and the others. The little pink haired girl nodded enthusiastically. Their poor little child-hearts. I don't think they quite understood the object of their affections.
"Well - Ino, it's good to see you again. Do tell, how are you doing? Your father?" I tried to distract her, but she scowled.

"Fine. Now, tell us! We want to know." Ino said with a snap. Their poor little hearts! They would crumble if they knew Sasuke's only loves were justice, Batman, and scowling at Naruto. I don't even think he realized women existed yet.

"Well, Sasuke is very private. I would hate to disclose anything we have talked about in confidence." I said, edging away from the question. There was no way I would put myself in the middle of this. The entire gaggle of girls nearly swooned. Oh no.

"I told you he liked me, forehead-girl!" Ino sighed happily.
"You wish, Ino-pig!" The pink-haired girl snapped, and turned away to swoon.

"She looked at me." Ino said.
"You asked her the question! She looked at me right after!" The pink haired girl insisted. While they were arguing among themselves over who Sasuke loved more, I slipped away. I found Sasuke leaving the school and headed him off.
He looked up at me curiously, "What's wrong?"

"Your fan club wanted to know your hearts' desire." I said, rubbing the back of my neck. My - I still couldn't quite believe it. I had never fallen over a man like that. I couldn't imagine behaving like that over any man. Not even for the famed Mr. Darcy would I ever.

"What did you say?" He asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

"I said that you were private and what was shared in private would stay as such." I explained. He nodded knowingly, watching them with a disturbed look on his face.
"They don't even know what love is." He grumbled, irritation evident in his voice. That shocked me. I turned to him and my mouth fell right open.
"What did you-?"

Sasuke stared back at me in pure boredom. Ah. Nope. Today was not the day that I was going to start trying to uncover that bit of detail.

"Where's Naruto?" I asked.

"He was called back for misbehaving." Sasuke shrugged.

"And you?"

"They wanted me to take the exam." He explained.

"And you -?" I repeated.

"I don't want to yet." He said simply.

Sasuke was an odd boy, but he knew what he wanted - even when no one else had a clue. I could see now what Hiruzen spoke about - how easily Sasuke would break away from Konoha. I could also see how Kakashi wouldn't have been equipped to deal with it. Sasuke was so subtle in everything he did, he was a complete mystery. While Kakashi was the same, they were very different in that Kakashi seemed to blame himself for everything. His posture said it, his visits to the Memorial Stone and Graveyard said it - even in his behavior after the tree and flirting incident (he was still distant. He wouldn't come within arms length. It took him weeks to look me in the eye again).

Sasuke - well, he was angry at the world. He was scowling and glaring enough at others as if they had slighted him. He never truly turned that look on me, however. While he wasn't always entertained by my antics and would scowl and glare it was never serious - it was almost playful. Sasuke knew what he wanted. He had probably already plotted out the next five years of his life somewhere in that mind of his. From his behavior? Women and childish crushes weren't on the list. I had a feeling what was on said list - getting back at his brother. What he was planning? I couldn't say.

Overall, both Kakashi and Sasuke were incredibly smart. They both were geniuses in their own right and they were similar in ways. But they were vastly different in how they handled their affairs.

Soon enough Naruto ran out and joined us for our day.

It was nearly a week and a half later when I finally met the little Hyuga girl. Naruto was sick with food poisoning (he seemed to think expiration dates were vague suggestions), and I had spent the day cleaning out his cabinets, and refrigerator. I went to ensure he got his school work that he missed at the end of the day. I was in the process of leaving when I heard this little voice.

"E-e-excuse m-me." A tiny voice said behind me. I turned and saw the most adorable little girl. She was the same one Naruto had taken a picture of months ago. She stood there with her maid by her side. Ah. She was a child from money. Old money, if I remembered it correctly. Her clan was well established in Konoha. I saw the maid and I held back a wince, thinking about my nanny from so long ago.

"Yes? How may I help you?" I asked politely. She perked up at that - just because I chose to be a sassy little thing didn't mean I couldn't play the game.

"I-is Naruto okay?" She asked me in a high lilting voice. By the little blush on her face, I could guess where her concern stemmed from.

"Nothing water and a day's rest won't cure. Would you like me to let him know you were concerned?" I asked. I knew the answer, judging by her behavior but I just had to see. She jerked back and waved her hands at me, shaking them in a no fashion.

"N-no! No, please! It's okay. I just wanted to know." She stuttered and hid herself behind her hair. I glanced at the maid who seemed just as amused as me. I knelt down to look her in the eye. She didn't shrink back - good. She had something of a backbone behind all that stuttering and timid-ways.

"I won't tell, then. But I will say that I am incredibly happy to see someone truly wants to be his friend. It makes me rather glad, if you don't mind my saying." I told her. She bashfully looked away and nodded. The maid then urged Miss Hinata away and I watched her go. It was fascinating. Naruto may think he was alone save for me, but he certainly wasn't. A select few certainly loved him dearly. My only wish was that they made it more apparent to him.

My time with Kurenai was profitable in the two months. She insisted on teaching me some Genjutsu but while I could do so - I was decent. It was a strange concept. More often than not it involved hurting someone or manipulating their perceptions to cause them pain or harm them in some way. It was like a weaponized magic trick. I didn't know how I felt about it, but it felt wrong to turn that on Kurenai. In battle? That was another story, but just practice was rough. Now, that other woman I met - I may have felt differently.

I met Mitarashi Anko while on one of my walks. I hadn't any idea who the woman was. But she knew me.
I was wandering around one day when she came out of nowhere, eating dango as she studied me like I was some curious creature she had never seen.

"So you're the Hokage's pet project?" She asked, looking me up and down with a calculating eye.

"Mm - I'm under all sorts of microscopes." I said in a playful tone. She scoffed, taking another bite of her sweet.

"Didn't go to the academy. Somehow got Morino to train you. You're not even from Konoha or even a Clan. And you're teamed up with Hatake." She listed off all the while staring me down.

"To be fair, little of it was my choice." I said, trying to be polite. She was a kunoichi. We were outnumbered five to one easy. I remembered Kurenai saying we should look out for each other. I don't think this one believed in that principal.

"I don't see the fuss, personally." She said, finishing off her treat.

"Personally, same." I gave her a cheeky grin, "Between you and I, I've always seen myself as boring, below the notice of most. Now, I do have things. Ta~!"

I left her there, hoping to get away from that incredibly strange woman. However she threw her kunai at me. Had I not seen the reflection in the window beside me, I could have been hit if not grazed. I spun to see her smiling deviously at me.
"You're going to be fun." She said with a wicked grin.

Grand.

It wasn't until later that I found out her name when I spoke with Kurenai. I was hoping to keep away from Anko by nearly any means.

Overall, the women of Konoha were a strange breed. I hoped more were like Kurenai, but she truly was a gem. Fair, rare and valuable indeed. Now if only my other friendships were in as good a standing.

Kakashi has gotten it in his head that we would be leaving the village soon and death would be raining on our heads. He was probably right about it, being as he knew far more than I. So he had insisted on meeting up to spar. He was clearly fighting with the proverbial hand behind his back in the times that we did. I was only thankful he didn't lord over me like Ibiki had done. I kept some secrets to myself, namely the Canary Call and my ability to detect illusions with a whistle (I just whistled more to set him off my trail. He strangely seemed annoyed by it, I can't imagine why). By-the-by, the illusions he came up with were horrendous and gruesome. That man needed a therapist like I needed a way home; desperately.

Anyways, a girl had to have her secrets and I wasn't willing to give mine up so easily. My Canary Call was getting stronger, but I ensured to strengthen it alone on my own. I wanted it to be a secret weapon of sorts.

Kakashi rarely commented on my fighting style, only giving some feedback on improvements. He kept it curt; the friendliness I had gained with him was lost on the battlefield. He was all business when it came to fighting. I thought back to what Owl warned me about - truly, this man would be justifiably terrifying if he really cut loose. Right now, he was like a caged leopard, watching his prey silently from treetops (his favorite hiding place, as I found out).

Overall, I think he was getting cross with me. I was beginning to be able to predict which tree he would be in on nearly any field. One day he asked me how I did it; he didn't like my answer. A woman's intuition. One can't replicate that. Truly, I don't know how I knew either, but I just did. Part instinct, and part knowing him.

In fact, last Thursday we had been locked into a spar. I was fighting his clone while he was hiding in a tree watching. I never did try to break said clone - I had the chance to hone my skills against a genius ninja. The last thing I wanted to do was up the ante on his terms. Better to get used to the level he thought me at than show him I knew his little trick.

I was doing my best to not try anything distracting or sexual (even though I desperately wished to use that move Black Widow always used), and use our kunai to clash. The cheat himself had another clone appear under ground, and leapt out to attack me. Two on one!

I was irritated enough to jump out of the way and caught him through the brush he was hiding in to pull him into one of the lovely genjutsus Kurenai taught me. Because I relied on his chakra and not my own to create the genjutsu (just a touch), the delay wasn't as bad. I chose one of the lovely plant ones she taught me. Once I better understood the subject I hoped to change them to suit me. The twin clones watched me curiously before attacking again. Suddenly, the two were poofed away and the real Kakashi stood there with that red eye of his exposed. I still didn't know what it did. It looked too flashy to just be some fancy accessory of sorts.

"You did it again." He complained.

"So I did." I replied, pushing my hair out of my face. Was he angry, or-?

"You knew where I was, you could have attacked me directly." He said simply.

"I could have." I agreed. I didn't want to, though. I just learned a new little ninja trick - they can hide in the ground! I never would have known it had I not done what I did. I wondered how to do that. I'd have to figure out. Kakashi was the holder of all sorts of little jutsus he shared with no one. He was like a 401k for ninja skills - jutsus went in and none came out.

He stared at me; by this point he had figured out how to muffle his reactions to become unreadable again. He seemed to use it when he didn't want me to know anything. I certainly didn't. I hadn't a clue what was bouncing though his head.

"Find some new offensive jutsus. Genjutsu will only get you so far." He advised.

"And the genjutsu?" I hedged. I was hoping that it was decent. I avoided using it on him thus far. He was an elite shinobi- I didn't want to be laughed right out of the training facilities. Better to be thought a fool than to prove it. He was quiet for some time before answering.

"It was fine. Kurenai?" He asked.

"She sends her best." I gave him a grin. He looked away and scoffed lightly. He wrapped up the cession a little while after. I was going to have to find those Jutsus. I was neither a clan family member nor anyone of note in Konoha. I'd find my way.

But it seemed Kakashi was right in the end, as one day the Hokage informed us that we would be going on a C-ranked mission for the first time. There was a death reported on a prolific man, and someone wanted to make sure it was complete - a Saito Kanaye. The problem? He was born in one city and died in another.

"You will have to be discreet. Alert no one and bring the information back when you can." The Hokage informed us. I flicked my gaze to O'Captain my Captain and he still stood in his slouch. I took the packet and flipped through it. I could see from the shift in Kakashi that he wasn't pleased but he remained silent. It looked pretty standard - they wanted at least verification the body was his. It meant I would have to pluck up birth records and find birthmarks or dental records if this world even kept it. Then and only then find the body to match it. Which meant work. A week? Two? I'd be gone for my birthday. April 25th. I would have to leave Naruto my camera. Hopefully Sasuke didn't require my brick of a phone too. I passed on the papers to Kakashi, who only accepted them. We both silently accepted the mission and left the same. I chose not to comment on the sudden stress between his shoulders. I think he was hoping our first serious mission would be simpler. As had I. However, it took a long time to get to this point - I wasn't going to take it for granted. The fact that I was out for two weeks (potentially) meant that I could find other jutsus while away.

"So - tomorrow at 7am?" He asked, turning to me. He just looked tired.

I sent him a smile, "How about I find you, ah? Skip the pleasantries."

"Maa," He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I might be doing things."

"Mmm - things, ah? I suppose reading in trees constitutes as things." I teased. He gave a weak shrug, and I could see a tiny hint of a smile around the underside of his eye. "Well, find me then. I'm quite sure I've far less things. I do suppose I'm far less popular than the grand Hatake Kakashi himself."

He spared me only one last look before walking off. I could have sworn I saw a little bit of amusement twinkling in his eye.

Perhaps working with Hatake wasn't the worst thing to happen to me. Maybe. He certainly was a character but he was nowhere near the psycho I had thought he was originally. He certainly needed a therapist but considering what he'd probably seen and gone through - I don't think he was as hard off as Hiruzen tried to make it out as. The Hokage had probably hoped to sway my opinion to be more inclined to help Kakashi by setting him up as the latest sob story. After all, it worked for Naruto and Sasuke.

Quietly I set off for the rest of my day, going through the rounds to get prepared. Now that Kakashi would simply find me, neither of us would be wasting time (why we didn't do it this way sooner was beyond me). My day went as expected, and things went okay for preparation. Naruto ensured that he had my camera far before I finished telling him my plans, while Sasuke said he didn't need anything as he knew I'd be back. I was glad for that - I might need my phone for its other purposes. I might have to let Kakashi in on that little mystery (I'm sure it would be fine), but at least the job would get done. Although I'm sure it would bother the man to not know what I had and was using, I doubt he would do much. Maybe try to get his hands on it? Perhaps. But the idea of working without a camera to compare photos and intel - it would have to be done by pure memory. I'd rather Kakashi's curiosity than the headache being without would bring.

I kept my other supplies simple over all. I kept my bag packed beside my bed, ready for what the next morning would bring.

The next morning brought surprises I didn't quite expect - if one could believe that.

While I was trying to make myself visible in Konoha for a certain partner of mine, a friendly face came to find me before the masked one. Guy's exuberance was always overwhelming, but there was something in his posture and written in his face that I knew his visit was a serious one.

"What a youthful morning it is, Tami-chan!" Guy greeted me with the energy only he possessed. I paused - I still didn't know how to deal with him. I didn't know how Kakashi did either. For the most part he seemed to ignore Guy's outbursts.

"Indeed. I suppose the day would be considered young." I answered with a smile. He grinned at me for just a hair too long - it was then I knew. He didn't just happen upon me - he had something bouncing around in that head of his. For the most part, Guy was simple but loud. I could easily guess the reason for his seeking me out, but only he could provide the why.

We ended up at a park bench somewhere nearby. It was a cute little area, but rather open. It didn't take much or long for Guy to get to the reason why he was there.

"I heard you can get to the beneath the underneath." Guy began, his eye twinkling with determination. He knew I could. First hand. But, Guy was a strange man. I knew questioning it would get me no where.

"You're a ninja. I heard you can do the same." I countered. I was sort of amused - he had such a curious way of doing things. He was a fascinating man, to be honest.

"Yes, but you can do that with ninjas." He said - there was a level of pride in his voice that I wasn't sure where the source was coming from. Was it for me? Or his estimation of my ability.

"You want me to tell you about Kakashi, don't you?" I asked, leaning back against the bench. He stared at me in shock.
"Tami-chan! How did you know?!" He gasped at me and I gave him an amused look.
"Luv, he's at the top of your list of concerns." I said knowingly. "That is why you challenge him so often, isn't it?"

Guy's jaw dropped. "How-?" Suddenly he gave me his best sparkling smile and his signature thumbs up, "You are great at this!"
I tried not to laugh, covering my mouth with my wrist. Reading Guy was like reading a clock - the signs were clear and often in bright red font.

"I aim to please." I said. Guy scooted closer to me, watching me closely as if I was going to drop Kakashi's latest secrets. I kept quiet, studying him. It took a moment for him to start twitching.

"Tami-chan! Please tell me! Is he okay?" He asked suddenly, tears running down his face out of nowhere. My goodness, how did Kakashi deal with him? I couldn't just tell Guy what I knew about Kakashi by my estimations. Knowing Guy, it would cause all sorts of issues for the man and I wasn't about to unload that on Kakashi. I was a tad mischievous, not cruel.

"You are probably his closest friend, why don't you start? Nothing specific, mind. I rather leave those up to him." I asked with a smile. Guy leaned back, rubbing his chin in thought.

"Well, he's no longer reading books about death." He muttered.

"Ah… well, that's a good sign." I said in response. Death? It would further explain why Kakashi seemed to have one foot in the grave while the other was soundly on Konoha soil. I already had my guesses on that.

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Guy asked suddenly.
"I think he needs time. I think he needs a friend who he trusts and can confide in." I said simply.

"I can be that!" He said seriously, his eyes burning. I raised my eyebrows at him challengingly until Guy said "what?"

"Guy, has he done so thus far?" I asked gently. Guy went to say something but his mouth fell open and he froze. He crossed his arms after, staring at the ground in thought.

"Do tell, why did you come?"

"I want him to go back." Guy muttered. "He used to be kinder - happier."

Ah. A well meaning friend who probably didn't understand the levity of what Kakashi was dealing with. Or maybe - maybe Guy did. He'd seen the effects after all of these years. Those years certainly hadn't been kind to him.

"Was this before everything happened? Whatever it was?" I asked. Guy nodded, he still hadn't looked up at me. He was staring at the dirt as if it held the answers.

"We all lost people. But it's hit him harder than anyone else." He said, I could see the seriousness written in his body language. "I will be there for my rival. Just like my students, just like all my friends and comrades, I will be there until the end."

"Kakashi may never be who he used to be. But he'll certainly become who he needs to be with friends like you around, ah? Just be you, luv. He'll come around when he's ready to. Not a moment sooner. Maybe he will confide in you. What do I know?" I said. Guy turned to me, his eyes burning bright with a focused energy I couldn't place. He snapped up, seeming empowered out of nowhere.

"I, Maito Guy and Walker Tami will be the best friends to Hatake Kakashi! Our hearts will burn with the power of Youth!" He shouted. I leaned away, glancing around. People were starting to stare and I was about to take a leaf from Kakashi's book and just vanish. The only way this could be more awkward was if - ugh. Never mind.

There Kakashi stood, his bag hoisted over one shoulder as he evaluated the scene before him. I caught his eye and I mouthed "help me". He gave his signature eye-smile, turned away and walked off. My jaw dropped and I stared at his back in shock. Rude! But somehow, not surprising.

Eventually Guy went on his way and Kakashi found me again.

"What was that about?" He asked as we headed out.

"Ah - well," I paused trying to think of the best way to phrase the interaction, "Guy just needed reassurance that all was well."

"On what?" He asked. I gave him a long hard look and he hummed. He turned away and focused on the road before us. "With the mission, where would you like to start?"

"We need birth records to compare it all to. Dental, if they have it. Pictures even. Maybe a specific scar to help? Perhaps a tattoo?"

"Dental?" Kakashi questioned, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

"Mm - every person's bite is unique. Though I doubt they'll keep records on it. Perhaps fingerprints?" I asked, while turning to him. I was trying my hardest to think of things a ninja wouldn't be able to replicate. He didn't seem to know what I was meaning. He didn't ask this one, but what little of his face was exposed I could see it burning to be found out.

"Everyone's fingerprints are unique as well. So unique that they can be used as identifiers. Even in cases such as identical twins. By-the-by, they're made while the baby interacts with the womb. Purely unique." I explained. He hummed along.

"So we'll visit his place of birth first. How would you even get..?"

"One can hope he enjoyed pottery as a child." I said with amusement. Kakashi ahhed and pulled out the notes to read them.

"It looks like we're heading west to the Land of Wind." He muttered, pulling out a map. I looked away - I didn't care for that map. It looked like nothing I was used to. It was only another reminder I wasn't home. Although it was rather funny, Kayane to the West. I smothered a grin.

"If we run, can you..?" He asked, I gave him a one shoulder shrug.

"As long as you don't get fancy."

And with that we were off. We took the trees for the most part. Kakashi and various other ninja seemed to have a thing for it. I still got a little queasy if I looked down but as long as I focused on the horizon line I should be fine. If I did go down, I couldn't say for sure how Kakashi would act. He was rather stand-off-ish for the most part. He knew me well enough to know I handled okay on my own. I knew he would at least check to see if I was okay.

The man ran like every other ninja - in that strange, arms straight back run. He only spared a passing glance at mine, which made far much more sense (thank you very much).

Getting to The Land of Wind barely took a couple of hours by run. When we hit sand, we started walking.

Who named these lands? I needed to know. Mind, it wasn't nearly as uncreative as, say, Mount Doom. But hearing the name Land of Wind made me near homesick for the Windy City. I was thankful that where we were headed was nothing like the City from home. This one was situated in a little oasis. The town was a quaint one, small - they had a tiny little hospital and a cute little city hall. It, like any other city I'd seen, hadn't any paved roads and the people's clothing were clearly lower class. They regarded us both with a touch of fear and distance.

Kakashi and I found a little bed and breakfast to room up in. Same situation that I had with Jiraiya - two beds thankfully. I wasn't interested in arguing with the man over who would get the bed. I would have preferred separate rooms, but it seemed the standard was to remain as a group.

We waited until late at night to do anything. Seeing Kakashi move in shadows was a little unsettling. He moved so swift and so quietly, he was barely even a flicker. My leopard analogy was far too fitting. I wondered where he learned it - was it natural to him, or did he pick it up while in the Anbu? I couldn't say one way or the other. He, as usual, kept back and let me work. I slipped out my tools and made short work of the door lock.

"I know a jutsu that could help." He murmured.

"I hear tell you know quite a few jutsus." I replied back, opening the door. "Do tell, is it a collection of sorts or do you just pick the fun ones?"

He didn't respond to my remark and I opened the door.
"Diva's first." I told him. He slipped in silently and I followed him. I closed the door behind us and there we went. I slipped my phone into my hand, knowing we'd need to once we hit the basement.

His hand suddenly engulfed in flame as we went down the stairs. At least he would be able to find things while I wasn't around. My only concern was the smell of fire could potentially bring some notice to our activities. But by morning the smell should be long gone. The room was full of boxes - it was probably sorted by year rather than by Clan or family name.

"You take the left, I'll take the right?" I murmured. His eyebrow quirked at me, looking me over. "I've my own ways."

"Maa." He sighed and left me to start looking. I moved over to my side, opening my phone and using the flashlight feature. Sure enough - it was by date. I started sorting through the boxes trying to find anything in the right year.

"What is that?" A voice asked in my ear. I jerked back, seeing him behind me. He still somehow managed to do that to me.

"Would you not?" I hissed at him. He had the paper in his hand, he was staring directly at my phone. "It's mine."

"Yes, but what is it?"

"It's mine, also known as not yours, made in the ever illustrious city of none of your business." I told him. He just met my gaze with a dull look. I went to snatch the papers from him but he held them away from me, out of reach (How dare he be taller).

"Mine." He said simply. I scoffed and tried to jump to get the papers. That man was going to drive me insane! I had to move in close to even try. He had the nerve to hold them up higher, staring down at me in mild amusement.
"Hatake, so help me." I whispered/scowled at him. He reluctantly handed the papers over. I still had to fight them from his grasp. I huffed at him as I finally had them in hand. The moment I had them in my hand he backed away to good usual distance. I used the flashlight to hover over the papers to see what we had.

Saito Kayane

Sure enough, Kakashi had found the right papers. I started digging through what he had. There wasn't much written, but he had a mole on his back and a birthmark behind his left knee. That we could go off of.

"Here, hold your flame a little closer." I murmured to him. Kakashi did so, even though he was casting me odd glances. I could see him cautiously inch towards me. I nearly told him I wasn't going to try anything - but I chose to keep my mouth shut. I had decided to not bring the incident up unless he did. I ignored his antics, and opened my phone with just sliding my finger against the pad on the back. It jumped to life once more, and I could feel his curious gaze upon me and my little device. I turned off the flashlight and started taking pictures of the pages in my hand. Never knew what we might need. As the device made the shutter noise, I could see Kakashi lean in to watch. It was the closest he'd gotten to me since (besides sparing, which didn't count).

"It's a camera." He whispered.

"Perhaps." I said vaguely. I could already hear the interest in his voice. Hiruzen had already seen to anything relating to that show was gone from my phone (there had been one photo of Maya in her room with a poster in the background that he personally saw to the destruction of). If he did somehow manage to dig through my phone there wasn't much he would find. Nothing he could understand in the very least. Even though he was a genius, I doubt he would get far with the device.

I turned off the device and slipped it into my back pocket. We placed the papers back and all of the boxes as they had been before.

"Shall we?" I asked him with a grin. Suddenly his fire extinguished and we were bathed in shadow once more. It took a moment to get used to the dark once more. He was already climbing the stairs and I followed him out.

We headed back to the inn; he chose to enter the window and I followed suit.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a tiny camera?" He asked suddenly.

"There's things you don't need to know. There's things I don't need to know too." I said, pushing my hair behind my ear. "Is there a problem with it?"

Kakashi watched me - I couldn't tell what was bouncing around that head of his. His body gave nothing away and his face remained impassive. I couldn't even detect a clenched jaw for goodness sakes! He just turned around and got ready for bed. He ignored me from then on, choosing to solely focus on his tasks before him.

Men were strange.

I did my nightly rituals, and he was asleep before I was even done. I watched his sleeping form for a moment before heading to bed myself. He slept like a soldier ready for battle - stiff and on his back. He went to bed with that ninja sweater and his mask on. Again, I had no care to see his face, but wouldn't he at least be uncomfortable? Or had that mask become so central to who he was that he couldn't even sleep without it on? It wasn't up for me to know. I don't think I would ever understand him. He was just so odd.

I got into bed and pulled the blankets around me. I put my phone under my pillow; if Kakashi wanted at it he would have to be sneaky. I didn't care in the least, knowing he probably wouldn't be able to do much without my help getting in (if I woke up to my phone locked out, I would be very upset). Who knew what he was going to do? Who even knew what he was thinking? I suppose it didn't matter, over all. Were I supposed to understand him I certainly would have been able to before then.

Kakashi's eye snapped open the second he heard Tami breathing deep and steady breaths. He waited for a time, so that she was in a deeper sleep cycle. She was far too trusting. He slipped out of bed quietly and made his way to her side with the help of the light of the moon. His curiosity was eating away at him, and she didn't help matters with her dismissive speech. The only problem was, her little camera was under her pillow. He would just have to sneak it out. It wasn't impossible. In fact it was child splay but considering - he was just glad it wasn't in her back pocket. That stunt she pulled gave him uncomfortable dreams for a week after. Surprisingly - she never even mentioned her behavior after that. Better yet, she never mentioned how he responded. He knew she could read him to some degree. She had to have known he- but she said nothing. She always did strange, but kind things like that for him. Just when he thought he had her figured out, she would change the rules and flash that grin of hers at him. He wouldn't doubt that he would have dreams now that they were sharing a room. The way the moonlight shone into the room, highlighting the curve of her face and - no, stop.

As quickly as he could he slipped his hand under the pillow to retrieve the small camera. He paid no mind, doing his best to focus on the task. She looked so at peace there, so trusting that he - he forced the thought to stop. Soon he had the device in hand. It was such a deceptive thing - it looked like a small thin brick but it barely weighed a thing. He turned it over in his hand to get a better look at it. There was a little dip in the back and the front had different textures - all very foreign to him. It was the strangest camera he had ever seen. He echoed her earlier movements and slid a finger against that back pad. It pushed back against his finger. It was like it was alive, a small buzz. The strange scribbles on the screen shook and - nothing. Something popped up on the front of the camera's screen to warn him, but he couldn't read it. When it disappeared, he could see a photo of her with Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke. It was far more detailed than he'd ever seen a photo be. It was as if he was staring into a window itself.

Interesting.

When she had done that motion, it turned right on. Now, with him, it wasn't working at all. Hmmm. What was it she was talking about earlier? About fingerprints? Huh. Kakashi could see her hand resting by her face. She looked so innocent there, nothing like the sharped tongued woman he knew. Surely she would be angry with him if she knew what he was doing. She would give him that look. Her eyes would flash an emerald green and - no.

He carefully slipped his fingers around her slim wrist to bring it closer. His fingers moved against her palm and eventually splayed against her own. While quietly pulling her hand in, he was able to confirm what he already suspected. The woman hadn't worked a hard day's labor her entire life. She had no calluses, no rough patches, and barely any marks. Her hand was soft and gentle like he remem- don't go there. He suspected she had never seen a hard day's labor when she struggled with some of the odd-jobs they were assigned. She could not hammer a nail or level a board. In fact, speaking of nails - hers were near pristine. Her fingers were long and elega- no; stop it.

How was she a lost woman when her hands themselves spoke of her being well off? She had to be valuable to someone. How did Jiraiya even find her? How did she even become part of his network?

No.

It didn't matter.

Kakashi placed the small camera in her hand and pressed her finger against the little pad. The camera jumped to life, and he tucked her hand back by her head. Tami murmured in her sleep and turned. She had a strand of hair in her face and he - . He forced his gaze away.

Kakashi sat down on his bed and started fiddling with the little device. There were all sorts of little things on the device's window? Screen? The front? He didn't have the words for it, but he fiddled with it anyways. He found that he could move the screen with a slide of his finger. If he tapped the little pictures on the window, other things would open up. It was interesting. Who made such a device? After a little bit of playing with the thing, he found it was more than a camera and light. In fact it had books! At least the covers of books - countless covers he had never seen before. However, he couldn't understand a single thing on the screen when he tried to read them. Her device taunted him just like she did. It was cruel for a book to be there and be left unread. He wanted to know what was there but - he couldn't. He wouldn't be able to fully understand her strange little camera, but his curiosity was sated slightly. If only dealing with her was as simple. He returned the little camera back to its place under her pillow. His gaze may have lingered a little bit too long. He tried not to. He ducked his head as he backed away and went back to bed.

He really hoped the first C class mission they went on was closer to home. Then they wouldn't even be in this position. But here they were, and there he was - struggling. He had hoped by then, his little infatuation would have been gone. It should have been gone. He never had to struggle like this before.

Kakashi watched her for a moment before holding back a sigh. He got back into bed, hoping he wouldn't have the dreams he had after her little stunt. She was beautiful. He had to admit that now. After everything, he could at least admit that. But that's all it would ever be. It's all it could ever be. He refused to admit to anything else. There was nothing else to admit. She was looking for her family - she probably had someone waiting for her, even if she couldn't remember. Seeing from how she spoke, the way she held herself, even her very hands said she was a kept woman. Even if she knew some questionable skills, she was well taken care of. She might even be from a Clan outside of Konoha. Maybe one he never heard of. Maybe one he had the unfortunate luck to have met during a mission. She might even be the daughter of the head of a clan for all he knew. One who was already promised to someone else. But the biggest problem for him wasn't even that.

What could he ever even offer her? He could be killed in action in a month, a day, maybe next year. He couldn't imagine why she chose this life. Just seeing that little camera all on its own spoke of money, and influence. She had to be in a higher class. She even taunted him on that level once. Where had she gotten the camera in the first place? There were so many questions that he had about her.

And then there was him. Kakashi didn't even think he had anything left to give. After losing everyone who had ever gotten close to him (besides Guy) he doubted he could go through it all over again. It was best if he kept his distance. He would protect her like he would any other comrade, like any other friend - but that's all it could ever be. She had to have someone out there looking for her. If it was him, he wouldn't stop looking for her until she was found.

Idly, before going to sleep, he wondered if this was how Obito felt - how Rin had felt. Having an interest but knowing you couldn't do anything about it. Would Rin hate him if she knew he was infatuated with an outsider? Especially when the best he had been able to muster up for Rin herself was loyalty and a protectiveness that didn't pan out? Guilt ate at him as the thought flickered past his mind. No. He couldn't do anything. He wouldn't. The woman across from him deserved better. Rin deserved better too, and look where it got her.

AN:/ another chapter! And probably more soon enough, with all this shutdown business going on. The next two chapters were supposed to be one, but this was drawing itself out into something far longer than I anticipated. I hope you guys enjoyed this. I had so much fun with it myself. I didn't expect Kakashi to have THAT much thoughts on his current situation, but here we are.

Thank you guys again, for ALL of the follows, favorites and reviews. It thrills me to no end that you guys are having fun with this too! Stay safe out there, and I'll see you in the next chapter.