Chapter 22: Just a Moment

It wasn't hard to imagine what could be coursing through his mind.

Sometimes when she would bother to sense him near, she reminded herself of the inevitable conversation that would need to take place.

And while she would sleep, she thought of what she could say or what she wished she could do to make it all go away.

Seven days had come and gone, but Kakashi had yet to ask a single question about what they had both seen and about what she had done to help Aang as he sunk into the dark water.

She herself wasn't even sure why she had done what she had done. She wasn't sure how she felt about any of it.

"Morning."

He would nod in her direction, lead her to the mines, observe her progress for a little while, and then be on his way.

Dread wasn't an unfamiliar feeling, but perhaps the fact that she felt something unfamiliar about him was what unhinged her and made her feel bare.

He had now become the only person to see her side of the world, a world where shadows were more familiar to her than any visual memory.

"Are you paying attention?"

"Mhmm, " she hummed out as she continued to throw the shuriken at the target Itachi had placed earlier.

Her aim had improved significantly over the past few days and though both Itachi and Kintsugi did not express it, their time together had become a much-needed break from the harsh reality they were finding harder and harder to escape.

Itachi stared at her glazed-over eyes, knowing full well she was not paying attention.

"Stop."

"What?"

"Being distracted."

"He's right you know," Kisame muttered from where he sat, arms crossed and eyes closed as he tried to rest against a tree.

Kintsugi grunted in response as she stretched out her limbs, suddenly flicking a shuriken in Itachi's direction. She figured he would dodge it either way but she hadn't expected him to return the gesture.

Just as quick, he ended up cutting her arm in the same place as before.

"You're clearly not paying attention and if you're going to bleed, bleed for better reasons than trying to fool around."

"That sounds cheesy," she snorted as she wiped the growing pool of blood off, ignoring the sting of the torn, dry fabric against the wet wound.

"If you-," he had started to say before both Akatsuki turned their heads to something in the distance.

The look Kisame pointed in Itachi's direction didn't go unnoticed.

"You should go," Kisame suddenly said, quickly standing to his feet as he gave a knowing glance.

"Why?" she paused as she felt the ground further out beneath her feet, stopping once she could faintly hear the names of those that had just returned in the front gates.

"Uzumaki," Itachi stated.


Re: Peace of Konoha

H-,

Tsuande is en route and should reach our village within the next few hours of having written this letter.

I do not think I need to stress the importance of what this coming change will do to our efforts. It would be in all of our interests to prepare what we need as soon as possible. I would have volunteered for the position myself if it weren't for the obstacles, but we will see. Perhaps we'll get rid of the hag if she proves worthless.

P.S. Mining has been successful. The girl in charge is becoming of great importance to our cause. I'll make sure she integrates.

- D


"Hatake," Kintsugi muttered with surprise as she sensed how his hair was sticking up in all directions, more than usual if that was even possible.

"Can I come in?"

"Uh, sure, give me a sec" she whispered with sleep still in her eyes.

The day had been a mess for everyone with the arrival of the new Hokage, and though Kintsugi didn't care much about whoever took office, she didn't want whoever took charge to interfere with her business in the mine, much less outside of it.

The sun had set and she had desperately tried to go to sleep, but all she could feel was a paralyzing cold seeping through her bones. She couldn't sleep after that. Not without the heavy dread in the pit of her stomach reminding her of Aang every moment she tried to rest.

"Why do you have so many knives?"

"They're decorative," she shrugged as she carefully tucked 24 individual blades back into a wooden box. She had been sharpening them before Kakashi had knocked on her door.

"All of these?" he scoffed as he held a long thin, curved knife up to the light.

She glared at him as she snatched the blade back.

"Right. Well, I know it's late-"

"It's 1 in the morning."

"I know it's early, " he corrected, "but I've been asked to escort you to the Hokage's office."

"No, thanks," she puffed out as she dropped down on the couch like a rag doll.

A part of him wanted to laugh at her, the tired part of him wanted to lie down on the couch as well, and the shinobi part of him caused him to pull her up by her arm, a loud hiss sounding out from her lips as he unknowingly pressed down on her cut from earlier in the day.

"Let go," she groaned, going limp.

She would have fallen directly on the floor if not for Kakashi supporting a part of her weight with both his arms.

"This is ridiculous. Get up."

"No."

"Kintsugi."

"Hatake."

They glared at each other before Kakashi went limp himself, both of them falling right into the couch as Kintsugi let out a surprised yelp.

"Get off, you're crushing me!"

"No, thanks. This is much more comfortable."

"How is this comfortable? Your elbow is LITERALLY stabbing my stomach, get off."

"Are you coming or not?"

"...get OFF."

He turned slightly to look down in her direction, brow lifted in question.

"Yeah, yeah...just get off me will you?" She said and then grunted as Kakashi pressed her head into the couch as he stood up.

"You're trying to kill me."

"Yeah. I am. Now let's go. We're already late."

"Isn't that already your signature go to?"

He ruffled his hair a bit more, noticing the deep lines of sleeplessness in her eyes as he walked towards the door.

"Hmm, what should my excuse be this time?"

"You should tell them you got stuck on the toilet," Kintsugi muttered, running a hand through the mess of her hair as she picked up her keys.

"You're right, I'll tell them you got stuck on the toilet."

She frowned, but she couldn't hide the smirk that kept trying to find a place on her face.

Kakashi was loyal. And he didn't need to prove that to anyone, especially Danzo.


A/N: Let's just pretend that what I just wrote in this chapter is all accurate. I've had major writer's block for this and what better way to procrastinate than to write another fanfic? I wrote one for the Korean TV show called Sweet Home titled Seasons of Haru on Wattpad.

Is this a self-promo? Yes, yes it is.

It's in my Wattpad profile if you want to read it. Much better than whatever I just barfed onto here.