CHAPTER 2

"I wonder when Kakashi will wake up," says the girl.

"I'm more worried about Sasuke," Gai replies.

"And Naruto," Asuma adds, twisting a burned-out cigarette in the ashtray.

"Right, even though Jiraiya-sama is with him, he could totally lose it if his opponent's a beauty," comments Gai. With the million-dollar smile, he points his thumb at his face, "I think I'll go after them. They need a beautiful angel to protect them. You two take good care of Kakashi." He then disappears in a puff of smoke.

"Beautiful angel?" the girl turns to Asuma, hoping to get for an explanation. Instead, he just shrugs in return.

Kakashi is in coma?!?! I wonder how badly he's injured. Is he going to live? If you are so concerned, why don't you go visit him? Shut up, the purpose of coming back is not for him. Then what's the purpose? To help protect the village. The war's ended though. Geez, why am I arguing with myself?

I throw a glance at their table. They are leaving. I debate with myself a little longer and decide to follow them after I left some tips on the table. We make a left turn, then a right, then another right turn to a small alley, and I lost track of them. Once an ANBU, now a crappy ninja.

I feel something sharp on my neck – a kunai. "Who are you?" asks a voice. Damn. I lowered my guard. I grab the arm quickly and make a twist. Her eyes widens when she senses me behind her in a flash. Not giving her an opportunity to react, I kick her against the brick wall. The collision makes a big crack on the wall. There is someone else. I spin around, and see a kick coming. I block. Once. Twice. And I fall. "ARG~!!" I let out a grunt.

"Makiko?"

I look up, rubbing my arm where it was kicked. It was Asuma.

"Your skills have dulled," he comments with a victorious smile. "You used to be able to beat up at least three Jounins on your own."

Does this guy annoy me or what. "Ya, and you weren't able to beat up anyone else other than Thick-Brows," I retaliate verbally. Asuma frowns.

"Why were you following us?" Asuma asks as he helps me up.

"I … came back to help out, not knowing that the war's already over," I look away, avoiding his eyes. "I was about to leave. But then I saw you guys at the teahouse earlier...so I decided to check things out." I try hard to make up an excuse for myself.

"I see. You overheard our conversation and you wanna check Kakashi out," he says as-a-matter-of-factly. Asshole. I glare at him for a second and my glance shifts again. He smiles, "You could've just asked. He's dying to see you. Liiterally." I throw him an evil stare. That wasn't funny at all.

"You alright, Kurenai?" Asuma asks the red-eyed ninja as she stands back up.

"Ya, I'm fine," she then looks at me. "Who is she?"

"She's Ka-"

"I'm just an old friend," I interrupt before Asuma had a chance to say that name. "My name's Haki Makiko. Nice to meet you."