For the Sake of My Lover: V
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Ancient memories that were more shadow than light flitted through the corners of his mind as he stalked along a narrow mountain trail through the homeland he had not seen in years. Kakashi grimaced as the large, puffy clouds that gave the land its name drifted overhead and momentarily blocked out the sun.
The mountain dropped off in a sheer cliff to his left and at the bottom a river glittered in the suddenly revealed sunlight. The distant rushing of a waterfall played in the Jônin's ears, accompanied by the cries of the birds of prey that wheeled overhead. Pausing for a moment to watch the graceful spirals of the hawks and falcons, Kakashi allowed a small smile to steal over his lips; he had so loved watching these birds as a boy. It was one of the few things he truly missed about The Land of the Clouds.
Kumo no Kuni was a rocky, mountainous land perpetually covered in a mix of shadows and sunlight because of its namesake clouds. They too were undying and ringed the upper altitudes of the mountains like crowns. Despite an outwardly harsh appearance, The Land of the Clouds was home to much life, animal, plant, and human. Villages and even a few larger cities were tucked away into the rocky crevices and paved roads linked them all together.
Shepherding and some minimal farming kept the smaller villages' people alive while those in the cities mined and sculpted the rock that came from their mountains; many of them had created names for themselves and made Kumo no Kuni rock a prized possession among the other lands.
The gems they mined were also highly coveted in the other lands; their skill in cutting and setting also helped this trade flourish. So all in all, in spite of outward appearances, The Land of the Clouds was a prospering land full of riches.
A hunter's cry reached his ears now as one of the birds took a sudden dive. This sudden motion startled Kakashi out of his daze. Running fingers through his already mussed mop of hair, he continued down the precarious path, treading the way with the footsteps of one who has walked a path many times and had it imprinted in his heart as well as his head.
And as the way began to slope sharply upwards, Kakashi raised his guard and became ever more aware. Strange behavior for one returning to his hometown after nearly two decades of absence, but it was all part of the life of a ninja. Though the chances were slim, his brother might have returned home after his surprise attack on Iruka, and the silver-haired Jônin did not wish to take any chances.
The cliff was left behind as the path began to twist and turn sharply, taking Kakashi deeper into the rocky heart of the mountain. Rounding a bend, his senses were suddenly assaulted by sights, colors, smells, and sounds that he had not experienced in years. His feet stopped of their own accord, and he found himself in s sort of half-trance as his eyes took in what he saw.
A tiny village lay sprawled out before him, and from the looks of things, it hadn't changed much since he was last here. The small waterfall tumbling down the mountainside behind the establishment still gurgled and chuckled to itself, spilling over rocks and forming the small river that gave the town both electricity and water.
Mountains that sloped down into a valley of rolling hills formed a bowl of sorts that cupped the village within its hollow. Wildflowers in a myriad of colors carpeted the grass both in and around the buildings with their slate roofs and stone walls. Sheep and goats were scattered all throughout the valley, the soft sounds of their bleatings swirling on the wind that breezed through the few trees and swirled their leaves around.
And as the wind wrapped around him as well, Kakashi continued down the path as if the breeze itself were propelling him. The rocky little trail soon turned into a wider dirt road, leading straight down into the heart of the sleepy little town; he found himself almost hesitant for a moment. What would the people think of him now? Most people did not leave the village for extended periods of time, and most of them had never been outside Kumo no Kuni. It was considered odd to even want to leave.
But shaking off these misgivings, for they were not of the ninja way, Kakashi allowed his wayward feet to carry him right to the outskirts of the town before he forced them to pause.
Chickens wandered aimlessly underfoot and children darted in and out among brightly colored skirts and tan trousers. Kakashi was surprised to see several faces he recognized; they were older now of course, but he could still match them to a faded name or family.
"Kakashi?!"
Cringing, Kakashi stepped out of the shadows he had been standing in and looked around for the source of the sound.
"Kakashi!"
His name came again, this time from another mouth, and soon from another and then another. Not too long after that, he found himself surrounded by a gaggle of people and a cloud of chickens. Trying his best not to use his jutsu on them by pure instinct, he smiled and shook the seemingly millions of hands that were offered, and prayed it would all end soon.
"We haven't seen you guys in so long!" one older man, whom the Jônin recognized to be the mayor, said.
"We?" Kakashi asked in reply, sounding confused.
"Yeah, you and your younger brother!"
"Saizou? Doesn't he live here, though?"
"Oh no!" a woman answered this time. "He left about a two years after you did and we haven't seen him since."
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Sighing tiredly, Iruka picked up the last fallen paper from the floor and tossed it into the trashcan. It had been an exhausting day, one that made him wish Kakashi hadn't left with even more fervor. Grabbing his vest, he awkwardly locked the door behind him with his one good hand and started off towards his empty home.
As of late, his footsteps had become heavier and heavier and his gloom had settled over him like a dark storm cloud. It had already been almost a week since the older man had left, and he was beginning to wonder if he had been injured or even killed.
But no, he had to have greater faith then that in Kakashi and his skills. He had to believe with everything he had that the Jônin was still alive, that he would return to him. It was this hope that kept him going everyday and forced his feet to move, no matter how slow. It was this hope, that kept him alive.
Sighing once again, he pulled out another key, this one for his house, and fit it into the lock.
"Master Iruka?"
Jumping nearly three feet into the air, Iruka whirled around, the beginnings of his limited jutsu already jumping to his lips.
He was met by three younger ninjas, two boys and one girl, and they did not look very happy.
"Master Kakashi was later then usual today!" the blonde haired boy exclaimed.
"So late, that he never even showed up!" added the pink haired girl.
The other boy remained silent, as if he did not want to be here, but had been dragged along by the other two anyway.
"Naruto! Sakura! Sasuke! Don't scare me like that!" Iruka exclaimed.
"We're sorry, but-"
"No we're not!" Naruto cut in, jumping in front of her and jabbing his finger into Iruka's face. "It was good to give the man a scare, maybe now he'll act like a normal person!"
Growling, Sakura shoved the shorter boy out of the way and continued. "Where's Master Kakashi? He didn't show up today. Our last mission was nearly a week ago and he had told us to take some time to rest. But when we went to meet him today, he never showed up! Is something wrong? Did something happen to him?"
"Well…uhh…"
Three pairs of eyes were focused on him, seemingly expectant. What should he tell them?!
Clearing his throat, the Chûnin decided to tell them the truth…most of it. "He had some sudden…er…family business to attend to. He'll be back whenever he manages to sort everything out." Well, it was the truth, just with a few omissions.
"Oh…" the female ninja looked worried, and several creases furrowed her brow. "Is everything ok?"
"Well, it should be, once Master Kakashi works things out," Iruka answered her, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Ok, well, thank you." She turned away, still looking as if she were deep in thought about something, while Naruto followed close on her heels. Sasuke, however, remained behind, standing in front of Iruka and staring up at him with his usual annoyed look.
"Yes, Sasuke?" Iruka asked, somehow managing a smile.
The shorter boy merely stared at him for a moment longer, then shook his head. "It's none of my business…" he mumbled, then turned and followed the other two.
Breathing a sigh of relief, the older man slipped into his house and shut the door behind him, grateful that his knees hadn't given out on him. Did Sasuke know about them!? Was that what that had been all about?
Shaking his head, he decided he had more important things to worry about, and firmly closed off that line of thought. Come back soon, Kakashi…come back soon…