The nape of Kakashi's itches with the burn of their stares. He resists the urge to clench his fists and instead reminds himself for the umpteenth time that attacking his classmates is probably something the village would frown down upon. The foundation of his village's philosophy being teamwork and shared comradery. It's similar to his own personal philosophy and that of his father and their clan: pack sticks together.

However…

Kakashi's eye twitches at the sound of hushed whispers and giggling coming from behind him.

These girls are not pack nor will they ever be.

Kakashi rounds a bend and before his gaggle of stalkers can catch up with him, he flips through the handsigns for the academy's clone technique. He ducks behind a trashcan and lets the illusionary clone walk by him. He concentrates on his chakra, reigning it in like his dad taught him, and forces his body to be still.

His unwanted entourage pass by his hiding spot none the wiser.

Kakashi rolls his eyes and hops onto a nearby roof. He's halfway home when he realizes the prickly feeling of eyes on him hasn't completely dissipated.

Kakashi bites back a curse he'd overheard his dad's pervert-friend say and subtly tries to sniff out the straggler. How could he so stupid, so arrogant. Not all his fangirls are brainless fanatics. Though he would be pressed to argue otherwise...

Kakashi sniffs but his scarf and the mask he wears underneath it plus all the different scents around him prove the effort useless. So he switches tactics and strains his ears. He filters through the background noise of a busy village with some difficulty. Kakashi grits his teeth and quickens his pace suddenly in a bid to lure out his stalker.

It works, his ears pick up the near soundless slide of ninja sandals on the tiled roof and a hammering heartbeat. Kakashi wastes no time and darts in the opposite direction, slipping off the roof and down onto a balcony. He hears his mystery shadow hasten to follow after him. Kakashi smirks and kawarimis with a potted plant a few meters away. Three kawarimis and three different false trails later, he finally loses his tail.

Kakashi channels chakra into the security seal matrix and makes to walk inside the compound when the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Kakashi's eyes widen and he whips his head around, shocked that a fangirl (really, you'd think he'd have learned his lesson already) was able to see past his deception, and searches the area frantically.

Nothing.

Kakashi listens for the unique rapid heartbeat of his stalker but hears nothing. Eventually, the hair on the back of his neck settles and he's forced to give up his search when the passing civilians start giving him odd looks.

Kakashi takes one last look behind and catches a flash of something dark and pale before the compound gates slide shut.

Kakashi curls and uncurls his fingers.

That night he dreams of pale ghosts and piercing gazes he cannot escape no matter how fast or far he runs. He wakes with a stifled gasp, heart beating at an uncannily familiar speed.

The beat of flesh hitting flesh beat in tandem with her heartbeat, a brutal duet. Her sensei—her aged face as still and impassive as carved stone—easily redirects her strike with one hand. She wastes no time in taking advantage of Hinata's momentary lapse in balance and hits her dead-center. Hinata cries out as the hit sends rolling across the training room.

She grits her teeth and fists her hands when a sob threatens to slip past her lips.

Crying will get her nowhere.

Hinata looks up at the ceiling, willing her tears to just go away before her sensei can see them. She takes in a few deep breathes just like Rin taught her to do and rolls onto her side.

The wooden floor is cool against her cheek. It is a nice contrast to the burning flush of shame that's consumed her face. She breathes out a long slow breath, her eyes fluttering shut as she re-centers herself. Feeling like her heart isn't about to jump out of her chest Hinata cracks open an eye just in time to catch the way her father's hands fist into his kimono, knuckles white.

"Hinata," Yuu-sensei's voice is melodic, something Hinata had found comforting at first. Her voice, while soft and feminine and seemingly suited better for entertaining visiting dignitaries, was, Hinata learned, better geared for songs of war. Ones that sang of loss, strife, and death. Beautiful on the surface but cutting and cold underneath like the hidden rapids under a frozen river.

"If you do not come at me with the intent to harm I will have no choice but to end our session."

Yuu slips her hands inside her kimono sleeves, her face the picture of Hyuuga discipline but those dulcet tones of hers were edged like the sharp blades of a butterfly's wings. "I will not tolerate you wasting my time."

But I'm trying! Hinata wants to yell. I am! I'm trying so hard why can't you see that? Something that feels vaguely like indignation sparks briefly in her chest before it is swiftly tempered by the humiliating knowledge that her best efforts are not enough. Not for her sensei. Not for her clan. And Especially not for the elders who held her fate in their gnarled, wrinkly hands.

Hinata braves a glance over to her father. He is watching her keenly, hands back in his lap and loose, his expression passive like the marble sculptures decorating parts of the compound.

Hinata grits her teeth, the bones creaking, and shakily gets to her feet. Her body is trembling like a leaf caught in a spring breeze, exhaustion and hurt sowed deep in her bones, and yet she stands. She can feel her father's eyes on her back.

She might not be enough for everybody else but maybe...maybe she can be something for her family, her father. For him, she will try. For him, she will get back up no matter how many times she is knocked down. To stay down and accept defeat would be an insult not only to her clan but her father.

Hinata says nothing while she gathers herself because she knows better than to speak in Yuu's presence after a scathing lecture on Hyuuga proprietary, how it was unbecoming of someone of her ' status' and 'noble bloodline' to stumble over their words 'like some blithering nitwit'. That if she can't speak properly, well then, she shouldn't speak at all.

Hinata activates her byakugan before falling into the traditional Gentle Fist stance. She tries to ignore the bright pillar of chakra behind her, watching her. A small part of Hinata wishes he wasn't, that he would leave her to suffer her humiliation in peace with only Yuu as her sole witness.

But wishes have no place in this cruel world, the gods unaware or even uncaring to her desires.

And so.

Her father watches on.

Yuu dips her chin in acknowledgment. Hinata's back straightens at the sliver of something—approval? acknowledgment? derision?

"Very well."

Hinata nods back, perhaps a little too quickly if the downward twitch of Yuu's mouth is anything to go by, and charges forward. The sound of her bare feet slapping against the floor is deafening in the too-quiet room.

"You are too slow." Her teacher swats her attack away. "You need to be quicker, smarter, stronger, harder. " She punctuates her statement by jabbing the tender flesh of her biceps, causing the muscles there to spasm despite the lack of chakra and successfully thwarting whatever counter-attack Hinata had planned.

Hinata clenches her teeth against the pain and tries again. This time managing to twist her body around the hit aimed for the tenketsu in her neck. She quickly shoots out a palm at Yuu's unprotected stomach.

Yuu sidesteps the attack, leaving Hinata to fall flat on her face on the ground.

"Again," Yuu says from behind her. Hinata can do nothing but obey despite the throbbing in her nose and the sting in her eyes. She springs back to her feet, spinning around and charging in quick succession in hopes of catching her teacher off guard if only for a second. A second is all she needs—

Yuu spins out of the way, her robes fluttering soundlessly behind her like the ribbons on a kite, and deftly hits all of the tenketsu in Hinata's arms and neck.

Hinata staggers to a stop, her breathing ragged. Her arms hang limply at her side.

"Again," Is all the older woman says.

Hinata pushes past the pain, both thankful and ashamed that Yuu is not using chakra, and tries again, aiming for the chakra points in the woman's legs. Yuu bats her hands to the side easily as if shooing away a pesky fly. Before Hinata can retaliate or even get her bearings, Yuu's hands are flying around her. Her dainty hands jab and dig into her tenketsu, forcing her to stumble back.

"You are too slow, too naive, too weak, too soft." Yuu jabs the inside of Hinata's bicep again to further drive her point home. It takes all the strength Hinata has left not to immediately cry as the assault continues because it hurts and she knows all of this already.

"These are not the traits of a Hyuuga. These are traits of the weak ."

Hinata sees the blow coming but her arms are too sore and heavy for her to lift and defend herself. Yuu's palm hits her chest. The blow vibrates in the air around them before Hinata is sent flying backward. Pain blooms in the back of her head and Hinata blinks uselessly against the black spots in her vision. Her dojutsu deactivates on its own, her strength spent at last.

Hinata faintly recognizes the sound of her father's voice over the heavy beat of her heart as it crashes over her ears and fills her head, making the throbbing there worse.

Slowly the spots fade from her vision and sound from outside filters over her frantic heartbeat.

"—her enemies will not be as merciful as I was today. If she does not discard this ridiculous fear of bloodshed then I'm afraid she has no place leading this clan."

"Enough." Her father orders. Hinata leans up on her elbows. Her father's back is to her, shielding Yuu from her view. "If we are talking about places then know it is not your place to speak ill of my daughter, this clan's rightful and only heiress. It is her birthright and hers alone."

Hinata shivers at the dangerous edge that has sharpened her father's usually kind voice. Her father is young, just barely out of his teens, but already his presence is shaping up to be one that you do not cross lest you want to have a bad day.

"That is all for today. You are dismissed, honorable elder Yuu."

"Very well, good day, Hyuuga-sama, Hinata-sama," Yuu replies tersely. Hinata catches sight of the tail end of her obi before the woman leaves.

Her father turns around and looks down at her. Hinata averts her gaze on reflex, face quickly hot.

"Oh, Hinata," her father murmurs and gently scoops her up into her arms. He runs cool fingers through her hair. Hinata winces when the pads of his fingers slide over the tender spot on the back of her head.

"Come," he shifts her so she's cradled in the crook of her arm. Hinata hides her face in the fabric of training kimono, no longer able to handle the concern and pity in his pale eyes. "Let's have your mother look at your wounds."

Hinata presses her lips in a thin line so the sob crawling up her throat does not escape and nods against her father's chest.

Hiashi sighs and pats her head before walking to their quarters. He takes three steps when Hinata finally breaks. He stops. His hand comes down onto her head again, gently combing through her hair. Hinata forces her arms to rise and her cramped fingers clutch his robes tightly.

"Hush now, little one," he soothes, "all will be well."

Hinata muffles her cries against him as her father continues to shush and pet her, murmuring words of comfort every so often. She chokes back a sob when she realizes that not once does her father say that elder Yuu is wrong.

Kakashi hates parties.

"—yeah, the first Hokage is definitely the coolest!" One of the older kids boasts, leaning his elbows on a stool with a confident grin. The other minor clan heirs and heiresses Kakashi has somehow been grouped with nod and egg him on. Kakashi half-heartedly pays attention as the boy continues, "Especially when he beat up evil Madara-teme at the—what was it called, eh? The place with the big statues?"

"The Valley of the End," Kakashi mutters. The boy whose name Kakashi doesn't bother to remember but whose been eternally dubbed Idiot in his mind snaps his fingers.

"Oh, I remember now! It was called the Hilltop of Beginnings! Yeah, that's it."

Kakashi resists the urge to facepalm.

"—well, him and evil Madara-teme duked it out but since the First was so strong, especially with that badass kekkai genkai, uh, the Plant Release—"

('Plant Release?!' Kakashi mouths to himself in quiet disbelief.)

"—and totally kicked that evil Madara-teme's ass to the moon and back! But not before evil Madara-teme pulled a fast one and..." Idiot grins wickedly and lifts his arms, fingers wiggling like crooked worms. Kakashi rolls his eyes at the dramatics. "...he summoned the most terrifying, cruelest, and horriblest of all the beasts—no no, wait—monsters."

"Who?" Someone whispers, completely absorbed by the (shitty) tale the older boy is weaving.

"Who? I'll tell you who."

The group leans in to better hear Idiot as his volume drops low. Kakashi can (regretfully) still hear him and does not move despite the others pushing against him in their effort to hear better.

"Why it was the Nine-Tailed Demon Dog, the Kyuubi no Inugami!"

The group's mirthful shrieks and exclamations of surprise drown out Kakashi's groan.

"But Shodai-sama was no wimp and he beat up and trapped the nine-tails into his girlfriend, Uzu-something, and totally killed evil Madara-teme!"

"Woah, that's amazing!"

"—kun, Did he really do all that?"

"So cool! I wish I could grow up to be as strong as Shodai-sama!" A girl cooed. Another girl snorted.

"As if you could be as strong as him. You don't even have the Plant Release."

Kakashi's eye twitches.

Girl #1 girl sniffs, nose upturned in a haughty display, "I'll have you know I'm very good with plants. Kaa-sama says I have a green thumb ."

Girl #2 scoffs, "Well if that's all it takes then maybe I have the Plant Release—"

"It's called the Mokuton, you idiots," Kakashi growls, his chest and throat vibrating the intensity of it. The group quiets down, all eyes on him. "They fought at the Valley of End because Madara was a traitor and he didn't—you can't just summon a bijuu! " Kakashi hisses, "Especially not the strongest on of all the tailed beasts, the Kyuubi no Kitsune whom Lord First didn't trap it like some common fox! No, his wife, Uzumaki Mito-sama, sealed it inside of herself—"

"How'd she do that?" Girl #2 interrupts, nose scrunched in confusion.

Kakashi breathed out harshly through his nose.

"She used a ninja art called fuuinjutsu, anyways—"

"The sealing arts?" Kakashi's molars gnash against each other and Idiot interrupts him next. "What does art have to do with ninjas?"

"The Hokage's girlfriend was an artist?" Someone whispers.

"I dunno."

"Oh! I get it!" Girl #1 suddenly cries, fist in the air. Kakashi winces at the loud volume. She looks at him with bright eyes.

"She used, like, one of those storage scrolls to seal it away, right?"

Kakashi stares at her.

And stares.

This girl honest-to-gods- thinks that Uzumaki Mito, Uzushio's most talented seal mistress and their revered Princess of the Whirlpools would seal a bijuu, an ancient chakra beast of unfathomable power, into a storage scroll?

A bijuu.

In a storage scroll?

He could have excused such stupidity if the girl had been of civilian background or even from a low-class shinobi clans (fuinjutsu is a dying art and not most people know about it) but alas he cannot because this moron is the heiress to one of Konoha's most prominent shinobi merchant families.

Kakashi quickly pretends he didn't hear her (for his own peace of mind). He spins on his heel and walks away.

"Hatake-kun?" Girl #1 calls after him. "Where are you going?"

"Eh," Kakashi hears Girl #2 speak, "let him go. Hatake-kun is kinda a buzzkill."

"Genuises." Idiot sneers like the word is something nasty. "They don't know how to have fun."

"Yeah."

"True."

Kakashi huffs and quickens his pace.

He really hates parties.

Especially parties full of self-centered, idiotic busybodies whose arrogance stemmed from the unfortunate fact that their last name held some clout. That the position they were born (not earned) into gave heft to their empty-headed words and uneducated opinions.

He'd rather cut off his own foot than stand by and listen to another minute as the clan heads around him weave insults and passive-aggressive quips into conversations like a tapestry artisan weaving delicate flowers into their work. Threads of contempt, over-inflated pride, and complacency their user's material of choice.

The only reason Kakashi and his father (who was just as reluctant as he was but better at hiding it) are even here and haven't ditched is because of a technicality. The technicality being that as the last adult member of their clan, the title of clan head has fallen on his father's shoulders and the title of heir to his. And as the default clan head and heir, their attendance today is mandatory. Something about fostering good relations between all the clans of Konoha and whatnot.

Not attending would be an insult to the other clans and Kakashi knows his dad would rather show up and endure an hour or two of pointless chatter and veiled insults than suffer years of upturned noses and underhanded tactics. And if his father is willing to walk straight into the maws of these vultures then so too will Kakashi. Because they're pack and pack sticks together.

Kakashi picks up a small meaty treat from the table and gives it a cursory sniff.

Smells good.

He grabs a plate and piles a few of the treats onto it.

Even so, Kakashi can't wait for his father to give the signal and so they can finally leave this forsaken party. He's already tried the whole mingling and making 'future political connections' thing. Unfortunately for him, all the heirs and heiresses in attendance are either much older than he is, already rank chuunin or higher ( sweat iron tired and blood determined dirt) and in no mood to entertain an academy first-year like him (no matter how skilled he is). That or they're much too young, still swaddled in their mother's arms (milkcontentsourpowder) . And the ones his age…

Kakashi casts a side-eye to the group he'd previously tried and failed to join.

...well, they're all morons.

He's more than ready to put this get-together-from-hell behind him. He's had enough social interaction to last him months.

Kakashi slumps into his seat, his plate of assorted finger foods sliding down his chest. He pushes the plate onto the table with a weary sigh. He picks up one of the little sandwiches, gives it another quick sniff, and pops it in his mouth.

At least the food is good, he thinks to himself, chewing. Kakashi is lifting his mask back into place when he catches a familiar scent. He pinches the dark fabric away from his nose and tilts his head, trying to figure out what about this scent has caught his attention. Kakashi closes his eyes, putting a bit more effort than he normally does as he shifts through the smells of strong perfumes (Kakashi's nose wrinkles in distaste), different foods, and people.

Dangosweat and sweetsaltyozone.

Kakashi presses his palms down into his chair and lifts his head up higher.

Firechamoille and smoketomatoes

He shakes his head. No, that's not right

Dogsoldblood and peachesmeat.

No.

Earthlavendertea —wait! That's it!

Kakashi's eyes snap open and he turns his head in the direction the scent is coming from the strongest. Curious (and more than a little bored), he gets up and lets his nose lead the way. He weaves through the throng of people. He minds his manners, muttering a quiet 'excuse me' and determinedly avoiding eye contact as he passes through.

Stop. His nose tells him. Kakashi stops. There, it says, straight ahead. Kakashi slips just to the edge of the party and leans against a tree. His mystery target is in range and he is free to observe.

What he sees confuses him. It's a girl. No, woman, gives that she's wearing what Kakashi recognizes the fine silk robes as those belonging to a clan's matriarch. The woman turns to address someone and this allows Kakashi to spot Hyuuga crest embroidered tastefully into the back of her kimono, blending nicely into the soft whites and purples.

She's...pretty, Kakashi notes absently in the way someone might comment on nice painting. But she's different too. Not in a bad way as she possesses the natural cool beauty belonging to her clan—the whole lot seemingly carved out of the same block of marble—but her hair is deep blue (Kakashi's never seen blue hair before and it's odd given that Konoha is home to more than a few odd colors. His hair is grey and he's only five.) and her eyes are not the milky white of her clan but…

Pink? Purple? He's not sure, really.

But none of that really matters. What he's more worried about is his nose. Because something must be wrong with it if it's leading him to random women.

Kakashi sniffs again. He hones on the woman's scent. He frowns when that sense of familiarity invades him yet again. It doesn't make any sense. He's never even seen this woman before. And he'd have to have seen her if his nose was this familiar with her scent.

Kakashi pushes off the tree with the intention of returning to his previous hiding spot and waiting for his father to whisk him away when his nose twitches, the woman's scent wafting back in. He gives off a low, frustrated growl at his clearly malfunctioning nose and starts walking. He looks down at his nose, cross-eyed now, and glares at the offending appendage.

I'll-deal-with-you-later, he thinks at it.

Just before he leaves he spots something out of the corner of his eye. Curious, He turns his head and finds himself looking back at the Hyuuga's matriarch. Another frustrated growl leaves his throat and he goes to turn around again...only he sees something now. Kakashi turns his whole body now and takes a step closer.

A hand. There's a small hand, its grip tight on the woman's kimono. And then there's more. Blue bangs poke out from the side which is then followed by a pair of eyes identical to the Hyuuga woman. Those eyes meet his and Kakashi's breath cuts short.

Lavender, his nose parses at the same time Kakashi thinks, it's her! Oh gods no, it's her. Her being his new fangirl, the one that's been spying on him for the past three months now.

Watching him. With those all-seeing eyes of hers.

Kakashi shivers.

So far he's been lucky that their paths haven't crossed outside the academy (even then she just watches, tucked into between her two friends, never once approaching him but. Always. Watching.)

It seems his luck has run out.

Childish horror fills Kakashi and he takes a step back. Her eyes widen and she steps out from behind her woman who is obviously her mother.

"W—watch out!" Her warning is very nearly swallowed by the background chatter of the party but Kakashi hears it.

Not that it does him any good.

Kakashi collides against one of the servers. The server, being much taller and sturdier and probably used to this kind of thing, escapes the altercation with a distracted apology before zipping off to perform their assigned duties.

Kakashi does not have that same fortune. While he managed to swerve out of the server's path successfully, he'd lost his footing at the last second and landed squarely on his butt.

Kakashi's face wrinkles as the scent of fried sugar invades his senses. He hears quick footsteps approach him. The sickly sweet smell is quickly replaced by the smell of flowers—of lavenderlavenderlavender.

"Are you o—okay?" The little Hyuuga asks him. Kakashi shakes his head and a sweet roll falls off his head and onto the floor with a faint 'plop' .

They both turn to look at it.

"Yeah," he replies in monotone. "Just fine." Kakashi looks away first and gets to his feet. This catches Hinata's attention.

"Oh, um, th—that's good."

Kakashi nods and makes to beat a hasty retreat.

"Ano, wait, Hatake-san!" She whisper-shouts. Kakashi hurriedly wonders if he can get away with pretending not to hear her but her next words stop him, "You have, ah, something…" she trails off, nervously stepping forward. Kakashi's whole body tenses as she reaches a hand towards him. He pushes down the instinct to smack her hand away and instead goes to step out of the way of whatever it is she's trying to do.

But his classmate is faster than he gives her credit for. Her hand goes up to...his head? She swipes gently at his hair and the too-sweet scent comes back as dried sugar rains down from atop his head. Kakashi watches dumbly as the grains bounce off him and onto the grass floor.

The girl quickly steps back from him once she's finished and clasps her hand tightly in front of her.

Remembering his manners, Kakashi mutters a quiet 'thank you'.

"You're very welcome!" She squeaks and then bows quickly.

Kakashi squints.

She's embarrassed, the flush on her cheeks very pronounced. While this is all very standard fangirl behavior...there's something off about it, about her. And then the answer clicks onto place when his classmate bows again with a mumbled apology.

She's not embarrassed because she's talking to him (well, she is a little, but Kakashi's been watching her as much as she watches him and he's learned that she's a naturally timid person), no, she's embarrassed by her 'bold actions'.

"It's fine." Kakashi cuts through the girl's stammered apologies. "I hate sweets."

Her eyes widen, "You do?"

Kakashi blinks slowly. He thought him not liking sweet things was common knowledge to his fanbase?

"B—but why? " She asks and looks up at him, genuinely appalled at his open hatred for all things sugary.

Kakashi shrugs awkwardly. He's never had to explain this before.

"I don't know. I guess I prefer salty things."

The bluenette nods in acceptance but the confused furrow in her brows does not lessen.

Is it really that odd? Kakashi knows other children their age prefer sweet things...but Kakashi's never really been like most children, has he? Kakashi shakes his head. His father doesn't really like sweet things either so it must not be that weird.

A bout of loud laughter has Kakashi flinching, his sensitive ears ringing. He catches the girl taking a step back, her head shrinking back into her shoulders and her knuckles going white with how tight she's clasping her hands.

Kakashi doesn't know what comes over him. He just knows it's too loud and crowded here.

"C'mon," Kakashi says just loud enough for her to hear. "Follow me."

The girl stares at him and Kakashi is about to retract his invitation and just leave when she shakily replies.

"...o—okay."

Kakashi turns and begins navigating through the crowd. His head jerks down when he feels something clamp down on his sleeve.

It's a hand. A tiny, pale hand.

Kakashi stops walking and slowly trails his gaze up to stare at the girl. She's not looking at him, her head bowed and long bangs obscuring her expression from him.

"S—sorry, I—I can let go—if you want," her fingers curl deeper into his sleeve, contrary to her words. Her breath hitches and dread coils in Kakashi's belly.

Oh, please, Kami-sama, please don't let her cry.

"I—I really don't like p—parties very much."

Huh.

Kakashi squints at her.

She's...she's actually...not that bad...

...for a fangirl.

"Me either." He replies before continuing their trek. Kakashi is mindful of her hold on him and makes an effort to ensure her hold on him is not broken.

They make it back to his spot. It's a table located just close enough to still be a part of the party but far away enough that no one will disturb them. Not on accident, at least.

Kakashi tries not to sigh in relief when his classmate lets go of his sleeve. Kakashi sits down at the table and she follows suit. Having succeeded in their shared quest for quiet and him not wanting to taint it with (shudder) small talk, he opens the pouch at his side and takes out his book.

The silence between them is surprisingly...okay. A little awkward because Kakashi's never done this before, never shared his quiet with anybody else.

It's…

...it's nice.

Kakashi doesn't know how much time has passed. He only knows it's enough that he's managed to forget his companion, completely absorbed in his book.

—some plants such as orchids do not need soil to grow-they get all of their nutrients from the air —

Kakashi actually jumps when his classmate speaks.

"Ano, Hatake-san, what are—oh! I'm sorry! I didn't m—mean to scare you."

"You didn't scare me." Kakashi quickly defends, ashamed that he'd forgotten that there was a whole other person with him. Looks like he'd have to work on his awareness. "I was just...surprised."

"Oh, um, then I am sorry for surprising you."

"It's fine."

He makes to go back to his book but she's still watching him. It's then he remembers she'd been about to ask him something before he was...surprised.

"...was there something you wanted to ask me?" He prompts when it's clear she won't break the thickening awkward silence.

Her cheeks pinken and she nods slowly. Her eyes go to his book.

"Yes. I, um, wanted to ask w—what book... you're reading?"

Kakashi doesn't break eye contact, lifting the book for her to read the obvious title.

Botany for Shinobi (6th ed.) by Senju Hashirama

Her expression, shy but curious, shutters closed and she ducks her head down. Kakashi tries to ignore the guilt flooding his chest when she stutters out an apology.

"Oh. Right. I—I'm sorry for bothering you."

Kakashi sighs deeply. Her eyes peek out hesitantly from behind her bangs. Her expression further crumbles when he walks away.

Kakashi stops at a tree a few feet away and plops down onto the ground. He hears a sniffle in the direction of his classmate and swallows down his panic. Kakashi clears his throat to get her attention and awkwardly pats the spot next to him.

Watery eyes stare back at him, then to the spot he'd just patted, and then back at him. Kakashi resists the urge to fidget because Hatake Kakashi. Does. Not. Get. Nervous.

Especially not because of some girl.

"Hatake-san?" Comes her warbled question.

Kakashi props open his book on his lap if only to give his hands something to do.

"You can read it with me."

He says and looks down at the page.

"..."

"If you want." he tacks on awkwardly as the silence stretches between them, this one much more uncomfortable than the previous companionable one.

Kakashi hears the crisp of grass crunching beneath her feet and the slightly accelerated pace of her heartbeat as she walks over to him. He feels her warmth as she settles next to him. Close enough to see the book but far away enough as not to invade his personal space which he is thankful for.

This, however, does not stop him from being able to scent her.

This close, the heavy smell of lavender should have acted as a deterrent. But there is something else beneath the flowery scent (did she roll around in a field before coming here?) that distracts him, something subtle; something that is distinctly hers.

LAVENDERearthsweatcinnamonLAVENDERdirthoneytea

It's...nice.

Kakashi blinks slowly, his mind sluggish, and he breathes her in.

...it's really nice.

Kakashi spares a look at his classmate. Her cheeks are a darker pink now and her gaze is determinedly fixed on his book. She must sense him watching her because she looks back up at him. Her blush darkens and she sends a small, nervous smile his way before returning her attention back to words on the page.

Kakashi follows suit, blinking rapidly to dispel the odd state he's found himself in.

Yup. Something was up with his nose. He'd ask his dad about it later.

The next hour or so is spent like this. The peace and quiet that's wrapped itself around them is disturbed only by the occasional shout from some rambunctious heir/heiress and the soft flutter of paper whenever Kakashi turns a page. Her reading pace is slower than he likes but he manages.

This is nice, Kakashi thinks and peeks over at his companion. She does not notice his eyes on her this time, captivated by a diagram of the complexity of a tree's root system how it operates.

This is nice, he thinks again.

She's nice, his brain amends. Kakashi turns back to the book but his focus is no longer on the words. I wonder...is this what having a friend feels like?

Because if it is...well...maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have one. Even if she's taking forever to read this—

"Pup? It's time to go—oh." Kakashi tilts his head up as his father comes to a stop in front of them. He looks kindly down at them. "Who's your friend, Kakashi?"

Friend.

The word does something funny to his stomach. Maybe it was the sandwich he'd eaten earlier.

Kakashi gets up and his companion copies him, standing just slightly behind his shoulder.

"This is—" Kakashi's eyes widen as it just now hits him he has no idea what her name is, only that she's a Hyuuga.

Fortunately, said girl comes to his rescue, shuffling out from behind him.

"Hyuuga Hinata." She bows respectfully at his father. "It's a p—a pleasure to meet you, Hatake-sama."

Hinata. Kakashi repeats in his head. Hyuuga Hinata. Yes, that makes sense. He thinks he'd heard that loudmouth Uchiha screaming the name a few times. He hadn't known it was hers, though.

Sakumo's voice is warm as he responds, "Well then, it's very nice to meet you, Hinata-chan."

Hinata's cheeks turn a ruddy red and she nods her head quickly. The lines around Sakumo's eyes soften and his smile gentles into something fond. It's the same face his father makes whenever they see a cute dog.

And Kakashi...gets it. He looks over and watches her face steadily grow darker as his father silently coos and gushes at her, his hand petting her head.

He squints at her. She's...cute, Kakashi guesses. Like his ninken. Tiny, warm, and with big, puppy-dog eyes.

"Hinata?" A young woman's voice calls out. A little way behind Sakumo is the same regal-looking Hyuuga from before. She quickly makes her way towards them.

"Hahaue-sama!" Hinata cries happily. The woman's—Hinata's mother—face breaks into a relieved smile.

Her eyes go from his dad (who has thankfully stopped petting Hinata, gods, he's embarrassing) and then to Kakashi, and her smile settles into something polite yet pleasant.

"Hinami-dono." Kakashi's father greets kindly with a slight bow. Hinami returns the bow.

"Good evening, Hatake-dono." She extends a hand to her daughter who accepts it readily. Kakashi watches as Hinata presses herself into her mother's legs.

Hinami bows again towards his father, thanking him for looking after her daughter. She turns to face Kakashi and smiles warmly at him.

"Thank you for keeping my daughter company." Kakashi nods stiffly, unsure how to respond. Hinami doesn't seem to mind. She looks down at Hinata and gently squeezes her hand. Hinata's eyes widen and she steps just far enough away from her mother to bow at Sakumo, bidding him goodbye.

Kakashi blinks when Hinata turns to him.

"Thank you for t—taking care of me, Hatake-san."

Kakashi isn't sure what to do or say. They stare at one another silently. Hinata fidgets in place.

His father nudges him slightly and helpfully says, "Say goodbye to Hinata-chan, Kakashi."

Ah. Right.

Kakashi nods at Hinata. "Goodbye, Hinata…chan."

Her face goes bright pink. Kakashi barely manages to make out her stuttered goodbye. His father and Hinata's mother exchange knowing smiles. Kakashi squints suspiciously up at them. His dad herds him away before he can question him. He hefts Kakashi onto his shoulders and Kakashi grins behind his mask.

The journey back to the Hatake compound is not unlike the amiable silence Kakashi had shared with Hinata.

"Your friend." His father pipes up as they enter clan grounds. "She seems nice."

Kakashi looks up at the moon above them. It's late. Much later than when they usually leave the annual gathering. He suspects, no, he knows his father had done it on purpose so he could spend more time with...his new friend.

Friend.

Friend.

Is that what they are now?

Kakashi blinks up at the moon.

Is that all it takes to make friends?

He's surprised. It'd been easy. Too easy. All they did was sit and read. Is that all it really takes?

Kakashi thinks that, no, it isn't. At least not with other people. But with Hinata? Yes, that's all it takes.

He can see them being friends.

Whatever that looks like.

"Yeah." Kakashi agrees distractedly. "She is. Nice."

A pleased growl rumbles in his father's chest, tickling his legs that dangle against him.

"I'm happy you're making friends."

Kakashi doesn't look away from the moon. There's something about it tonight that's just...calling to him. Maybe it's the wolf blood that runs thick through his clan's veins or the fact they remind of a certain girl's eyes. He doesn't know. And he can't find it in himself to care.

"Me too, dad," Kakashi replies quietly. "Me too."