a/n: Sorry about not updating quickly…I was having 'writer's block'. Yep, anyway, I'm happy that you guys still found the fic interesting. I'm so proud of myself. Anyway, I still hope that you will still find this chapter still interesting. This is the last chapter. The next one will be the epilogue. Thank you for the reviews and the support you have all given me. I will not keep you waiting any longer. Here is it is!

Chapter 10: The day you said goodnight

I woke up early that following day to help Akiru prepare for the finals later that day. The morning passed quickly. It was already sunset. She was already changing her clothes for the finals. I guarded the room (as always). I had to be careful. During the stay in the ship, a lot had already tried to assassinate her and also the other participants. I knew I had to take precaution since it was the last chance the Oto can attack the participants. I still didn't know why they had to kill the participants when they could just get the artifact…

I was excited for the finals to be finished. Though I couldn't believe it myself, I was planning of asking her…to you know…well, to stay in Konoha…or have tempura. (I just love tempura) I might also know a thing or two about her past. Though I still don't know anything about her I still wanted to be with her. And even if I may not look like it, I would not only protect her because it's my mission, I will also protect her because I wanted to…and what can I say…I like the girl…

I laughed at myself and blushing hearing what I said to myself. I stood in front of a full body mirror to fix my tuxedo I was wearing. I put on my black vest then fixed my hair. (But, it was still a bit puffed. Big deal, I like it that way!) I looked at my blue eye and to my left red eye. I just smiled. Then, I asked her if she was ready. She came out and I was stunned again. Of course, I didn't make it obvious.

"Why don't you remove your mask?" she asked.

"I don't want to…" I refused

"Come on, just this once!"

I didn't agree on that because some things are not meant for the whole world to see. I just smiled behind my mask. While we were walking towards the dinner hall, one of the facilitators gave her a piece of paper. There was something written on it.

Please wear something that would symbolize your kagure.

I thought for a while on what she could wear. I gave her my head protector. She tied the ends of the band and blinked a few times in front of the mirror. (Gee, all women must be like that.) She arranged it in such a way does to her head protector. She looked nice and I smiled.

"You look great…" I commented. (Well, I had to say something!)

"You look great too!" She replied.

We continued walking towards the dinner hall. She walked a meter a head of me. A lot of people were already in the dinner hall, when we arrived. As a gentleman and a shinobi, I offered her a seat and sat beside her.

The host of the pageant stood in the front stage and began talking.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen."

The entire hall applauded.

"Now that we have seen these young ladies showcase their talent and beauty, let us see how good there are with words." The speaker continued.

He called on the five remaining participants (including Akiru, of course) to come up the stage. He then explained the mechanics.

"They were asked to wear an item that would represent their village. They have to explain in three minutes or less."

The four other contestants said their speech. (Honestly, the speech was either empty or a cliché.) Then, it was Akiru's turn…

"A pleasant evening to everyone!" she opened her speech. "The object I have chosen is a head protector."

She pointed to my head protector on her head while saying that. I was very nervous, deep inside because she might not know what to say and probably make a fool out of herself. She isn't a jounin to know these things. But, what happened was contrary to what I expected…

"How can this thing symbolize Konoha? From the word itself, head protector, Konoha protects the people, especially those in need, to protect the weak."

Was I hearing right? These words from her mouth, I didn't expect she could say those words. I continued listening…

"Also, ninjas were this to show that they are faithful to the village. This is a sign of loyalty."

But what she said last really shocked me the most.

"And the last is the symbol engraved. This shell-like figure means concentration. Concentration on what, you ask. Concentration in everything we do to fulfill our dreams! Thank you and good night!" she bowed after.

The whole hall gave Akiru again a standing ovation. I didn't expect that those words came from her because; only ninjas with a high rank have the capacity to say that…

I rushed to her at the backstage telling her she did a good job. But my real motive wasn't that. I wanted to know who she really is.

"Who are you really?" I asked her calmly.

She didn't answer.

"Are you a spy from sound?"

She shook her head.

"Are you a shinobi from another village?" I asked again still calm.

"No, I'm from Konoha…"

"Then who are you?" But she just looked at me coldly, an emotionless expression.

Just then before I could ask another question, a few security personnel came. The other ninjas came too.

"A letter was sent to us, a bomb threat."

A what! I read the letter.

Hello…

Looking for the bomb? It's in the golden apple…

The other jounin searched the area for anything suspicious. I saw Akiru again. She was thinking deeply about the letter. I approached her again.

"Do you where's the bomb?" I asked again. She opened her palm in front of me signaling me to wait. After a few seconds she began to talk…

"I got it…" she exclaimed. "I know where the bomb is…"

"Where?"

"It's in the artifact! That's the golden apple…"

"What do you mean?" I mean was she sure if her deduction was correct.

"In one of the myths of ancient Greece, a man named Paris was asked to judge the fairest of the three goddesses namely; Aphrodite, the goddess of love; Athena, goddess of wisdom; and Hera, the queen of the gods. The winner was Aphrodite because she brided the mortal with the most beautiful mortal, Helen. The prize being the fairest was the Golden apple."

I nodded while she was explaining. But before I could ask her again of her background, she was called. She went in front of the stage and waved lively like before. It was time to decide who the most beautiful is. And the prized artifact would be handed. Was she planning to defuse the bomb on her own? She's insane. I run towards the stage but I saw someone in my peripheral vision. Kabuto? Damn…

The moment arrived. They were about to announce the winner. Drum rolls could be heard. And to my surprise I heard, "AKIRU AMANO!" Damn! She really was planning to get rid of the bomb herself. I tried to go to the stage but the facilitator stopped me. I watched as she walked on the stage. I thought again, I couldn't save the person I cared for.

Then, as she walked to the edge of the stage, she threw the necklace (it was the relic). She made hand seals. "MIZU NO TAMA NO JITSU!" Then, a ball of thin substance (water probably) enveloped the necklace. The necklace exploded inside the ball but it wasn't able to contain the explosion. Some debris fell to the audience. I forced myself through the stage. And in doing so, I knocked the facilitator out revealing a Sound head Protector.

I rushed to the stage the total hall was in chaos. In front of me was Akiru. Behind me were more Oto Shinobis. Beside me were the frightened participants being carried away by their respective protectors.

"Who are you really?" I asked her again.

"You knew me, Kakashi-kun." she replied.

"Are you a jounin?"

"Yes, I am. Tsunade-sama sent me." She replied again.

Then, in the entrance of the hall stood a familiar white-haired ninja wearing glasses having a musical one-fourth note on his forehead. He was holding a necklace identical to what Akiru wore before it exploded. It was Kabuto…

I knew Akiru wanted to follow her. Though I wanted to stop her, what can I do? It was her mission, not mine. And besides, there were still some Sound ninjas behind me. Who's going to take care of these losers? But before she jumped down the stage, I asked her my last question…

"Where did we meet?"

"Under the cherry blossom trees, twenty-one years ago…"

Then, she disappeared following Kabuto.

Under the cherry blossom trees, twenty-one years ago? No, it could be her. It just couldn't be. After all those years, she was still alive? No, it was just impossible. But, if was still alive I could have sensed her presence…And besides, I found her without a heartbeat or breath. It wasn't possible. It just couldn't be. I repeated those words a few times in my confused head. I remembered. The technique…yes, could she have done the technique successfully? If she did, she should be at least, a lot younger than me…thirteen years…Then, I thought of a girl thirteen years younger than me. It hit me, Akiko Mizuhara…

Could it be that the three Akis I know are one person? What was Akiru Amano's favor on the Fifth Hokage? Is it possible that Hokage-sama cursed the side effect? There were many questions in my mind. I wanted answers to these questions.

I turned around and saw five Oto shinobis. I knew couldn't runaway from them. I had to face them head on…

"RAIKIRI!" I knocked two of the ninjas unconscious. I still had three to get rid of. In the end, I managed to knock them all down. It must have taken twenty minutes or so. My body was wounded from the attacks they gave me. My hand had been aching a little from the punches I gave them. I rushed to the exit where Akiru left. Hopefully, I would make it on time…

I went outside. I saw cherry blossom trees, all blooming to their fullest. Then, quarter a mile away from me, I saw two shadows moving. I immediately ran towards that place. I felt the cool breeze of zephyr blow on my face. The damp green Bermuda grass stroked my torn tuxedo. I looked up the night sky; I saw the pale blue moon shined. It was weird though because during those moments I already had an unusual feeling inside me telling me not to go. Perhaps my mind already sensed by impending doom. I ran faster, but before I reached the place I saw earlier, I was able to lay my eyes on her for the last time…

"KAKASHI-KUN, GET OUT OF THE WAY!" she yelled at me. But I wasn't able to get out of the way. A small needle hit my neck and I became immediately paralyzed. I lied on the grass motionlessly. She picked me up and placed me beside a trunk of a cherry blossom tree. Then, she whispered, "Watch me." I looked at her eyes, the sharingan. It was really her. She battled the silver-haired Otonin fearlessly. Then, just when I thought Kabuto was about to attack me, Akiru came running to me causing her to be hit by a kunai in her stomach and land a few meters away from me…

I closed my eyes and remembered everything that has happened to me; from the death of my parents to Obito's death, from sensei's death to Sasuke's runaway, and finally from Akiru's death to mine. I knew it. I was about to die and I deserved it…

I knew. I wasn't meant to be alive anymore. Once again, I saw her die before my very eyes. She lied there a few meters away from me. And what's worse is that she died to protect me. All I could do was sit under these cherry blossom trees and cry. I didn't need to just stop showing my face; I did to stop living in this world. I am just a burden…

But what is this thing that drives me? It calls me and tells me to live. A voice whispers to my mind persuading me live. Is this the voice of kami-sama telling me that it is not my time to die? Or is this voice my inner voice enlightening me to fight for my life? Whatever it is, it is giving me the desire to live…

a/n: This is the last chapter. The epilogue is the only thing left to write. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. 'Till the epilogue, BYE BYE! P.S. Don't for get to review…