A/n: Yes…It's the next chapter. Uh huh…I don't own anything.
Sakura: We know.
Naruto: Yeah. If you did own the show it would suck.
Sasuke: Suck badly too.
Magic: (Glares) Every chapter you gotta start stuff. Every chapter. I'm gonna maim you. (Pucks up machete)
Naruto: What's that for?
Sasuke: Oh God. (Grabs Naruto and Runs)
Sakura: You guys…this chapter we meet the Yoshimitsu family. Enjoy.
Chapter 2- Arrival
He packed the last of his things inside the bag. He had the basis. From clothes to toothbrushes and other things everything he needed was packed in to fit. He had also made sure to pack enough as well. There was no sure length of how the mission was. Days, weeks, maybe even months. Regardless the amount of time, it didn't matter. What mattered was that the following mission, if done well, would bring big much profit to the village. And recently the country had been in mild debt.
Kakashi looked out the window. The snow was still falling. They'd be traveling in the snow. The journey wouldn't be too long either. They'd try to reach their destination as quick as possible because of the cold weather.
"It's almost seven." He said to himself. He picked up his pack and gazed at the calendar before he stepped out. January 19th…she left on September 19th. It was exactly four months since he had last seen her. How she's look now? How was she? How would she respond when he arrived? All this he wouldn't know until he got there. As he took one last look at the calendar for the New Year he sighed. It was a new year…she possibly could have begun refresh and over him.
'Knowing her…she hasn't. She didn't…she just couldn't bring herself to get over it so quickly…she's always bearing a grudge.'
He closed the door to his apartment and left. Now his travels were to begin.
For the first time Kakashi was actually early for a mission. He had arrived ten minutes before his students (or rather former students) who seemed absolutely flabbergasted when they saw him there. Sasuke's eyes were especially wide and Naruto keep examining Kakashi as if to go on with 'who are you and what have you done with Kakashi-sensei?'
"Kakashi-sensei, you're…well…early." Sakura said. She looked at him oddly.
"Yes. I want us to hurry. It's rather cold out here." He held his blue scarf closer to his neck and smiled. "But I shouldn't get too cold wearing this." He smiled.
"Well it was a rather expensive scarf." Sakura smiled back. The group headed through he gates of the village as to travel through the snow. The weather would make it difficult.
"Well…?" Kirara asked as three young women who stood behind her. Inside the Yoshimitsu household the maids and housekeepers made preparation for the arrival of their guests. "I told you to make sure that was fixed." She frowned and turned her head to face them. "How incompetent are you?"
"Ma'am…the carpenters said they couldn't finish the repairs quickly with the recent storms. The cold weather is making it harder for them." The smallest one said. She had dark hair and brown eyes. Her face was round and her eyes fairly narrow. She appeared adult, yet childish. "But they are working as hard and as fast as they can ma'am."
"That's not what I want to hear." Kirara's cold blue eyes seemed almost death defying. She looked at the three women before and stepped forward. She looked icily to the older one. She was about the same height as Kirara with deep brown eyes and brown hair. "You are the oldest. Act like it instead of having these two make up for you. I don't tolerate incompetence. You and I both know this well. Too well. Make sure your slackness doesn't show up while the Konoha shinobi are here, understand?"
"Yes." Kirara turned her back to them once more and with a wave of her hand they exited the room. "Yui please come in here now." She called. The blonde stepped into the room. Kirara walked towards her and smiled. "Yui, how have you been lately?"
"Fine. I suppose. "
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"You know the Konoha-nin will arrive between this evening and tomorrow morning. You are aware of that, aren't you?"
"Mother what is the reason in you asking me this?" I was busy---"
"Yui, I don't want you to be hurt by his presence here."
"..."
"The group which is coming…Hatake Kakashi is apart of it. Team Seven I believe." Kirara searched her daughter's face. In her green eyes one could see the sadness. Yui was more than hurt. "I don't need you to be miserable when around him. You are too strong for that. Moreover hate will bring you down lower. I need you to be the best when your time to care for this village comes."
"Mother you underestimate me."
"No. I know you. You'll let this haunt you."
"…"
"Besides, I don't think he needs both hate from you and I." Kirara walked away from Yui and sat down at the desk in the room. She crossed her legs and picked up a pen sitting on the desk. She began tapping the pen against the hard and smooth wood. Yui's eyes followed the moving pen. The sound was driving insane.
"Why do you hate him? You don't even know him. There's no reason for you to detest him." She said behind gritted teeth.
"Oh? He hurt, and crushed my daughter's sprit, heart and soul. I have all the reason to loathe him. No man hurts my child."
"Mother, you're overreacting." Yui bite her lip. She was becoming irritable.
"I think I'm actually being very nice about this all. And you know me. I'm not nice."
"Mother—"
"I just want you to be strong about this. Don't cower in the presence of anyone. Even a man you once loved…or still do."
"No. I don't love him any longer."
"It's funny how you expect me to believe a lie that you don't believe yourself."
"…" Kirara continued to tap the pen.
"Does it drive you to anger?" She asked her daughter. Yui's eyes narrowed and became rather sharp. Kirara smiled to her attempt to glare at her. "Does it Yui?"
"I'll be leaving now."
"Be gone then." She finally stopped tapping the pen. She brought it to her chin and closed her eyes.
"Yes. I'll see you at breakfast." Kirara waved her hand and Yui left the room. As she walked down the hall, Yui encountered the three maids from before. The three stared to her and smiled weakly. "…" She stomped down the hall and when she turned the corner she sighed. 'Can I really face him…?'
Sakura smiled to the woman at the inn. The day was ending. Night was close, which meant it would be too cold to travel. They'd stay until morning, and then continue. As the group followed the small woman who owned the inn Sakura couldn't help but sigh. She worried how Yui and Kakashi would respond to each other. Four months wasn't enough to really get over such a break up. Would Yui explode I anger as always or would she…
"Sakura, are you okay?" Naruto asked. She looked up from the wooden floor and smiled slightly to the blonde boy.
"Huh? Yes."
"Alright then. I'm going to bed now. I'll see you in the morning." Naruto headed into the room the he shared with Sasuke. Sakura stood before the door of her room. Her eyes traveled around the small hall and looked to see out the snow the continuously falling snow.
Snow. White. Pure. But at the same time…sad. Empty. Cold. Cold like emotions gone dead. It was amazing how the weather had been so in touch with Kakashi's recent behaviors. With her own recent feelings. It was almost like the nature of which she lived in…knew her. Them all. And almost like the earth surrounding them could feel their pain. Sadness…depression…it could feel all of that. Almost.
"But not quite." She opened the door and entered the room. She sat on her bed and sighed.
Kakashi lay in his own bed. He was grateful that most of the times he had his own room. Personal space was a great requirement for him…and all his broken thoughts and feelings. He wanted to proceed in life without regrets. He hated to admit to himself he was an old fool. An old empty fool…Gai was right about it all along.
Still…somehow…things which one would regret would meet him and try and welcome him with open arms. 'Welcome oh regretful one, how may I help you hate your existence.' Those sort of feelings. Those feelings he hated. He tried so hard to refrain from that. Yet the fate which he had threw it to him nevertheless. It had be to wrong. Some greater force in the universe had to make it so he'd go see her. It clearly didn't like him. Maybe it was punishment for all his wrongs in life. He had done some terrible things, so many. Still…
"Yui…" he rolled over in the bed and looked at the ceiling. White. "Just like the snow." He closed his eyes and imaged her standing there in the snow. Her hair let was in a neat bun and her lips still shining from the lip gloss. Her cheeks were rosy and she looked like an angel that waited him. She wore a white gown and the snow feel upon her. "Kakashi…" She called. He could hear her words and her voice. It was filled with sadness.
With those being his last thoughts Kakashi drifted of to sleep. Would she appear so to him when he arrived? How would she look? How would she act? How would she feel…?
As team seven walked towards the entrance of s small yet busy looking village a handsome blonde stood before the gateway. His slender figure made him appear to be as tall as a tree. His dark winter coat made him appear appealing and mysterious.
"Oh my…" Sakura said and blushed furiously. She speeded up her pace and Naruto and Sasuke frowned.
"I don't like the looks of that guy." Naruto mumbled.
"Me neither." Sasuke responded. Kakashi raised and eyebrow. Was this the welcoming they'd receive?
"Well hello there." The man smiled. The cold winter air blew his short blonde hair about his face. His eyes were sharp, his nose was perfect and his lips were alluring. The cigarette which he had between his fine looking lips only emphasized on his 'coolness'.
"Hi…" Sakura blushed more. She was halted when he made an advance towards her. The blonde took a step toward her and
-–FLOP!--
He had fallen face first into the snow. Sakura blinked, dumbfounded and he three males behind her sweatdropped. 'He's not cool…he's an idiot.' Theyall thought at once.
"Hahaha! Sorry! My bad." He got up and dusted the snow off himself. "I didn't mean to do that." He placed his hand behind his head and began to laugh nervously.
'Great. An idiot escort.' Thought Sasuke.
The blonde cleared his throat as an indication to the end of his silly behavior. "Yoshimitsu Yuri." He bowed deeply. "Pleased to meet you all." It would had appeared the joke was over and he was now serious. His tone of voice changed drastically and showed although clumsy he was man who knew what business was at hand.
Each introduced themselves and Yuri quickly turned to a silly grin. "Great! Well now that's outta the way so let's head to the estate." He lead them thought half the village and after about a fifteen minutes they reached the grand Yoshimitsu estates.
The property was elaborate an beautiful. As the doors opened to greet those who arrived, the group saw the most elaborate in households. "Wow...to think we'll actually be staying here." Naruto said with astonishment in his voice. "This is cool…"
"…so…incredible." Sakura said as she looked around. Her eyes were wide like that of little girl who was playing princess.
"It is very beautiful." Sasuke said. He didn't want to appear as uncool as his comrades so he kept the turning heads and 'ooo's and ahhs' to himself.
Kakashi took note to how great the place was. He said nothing but looked around. It seemed heavenly, a grand estate covered in snow. He was really impressed. With Yui living here…she shouldn't be too upset. 'Maybe she isn't upset at all…'
As the group entered the home they were greeted by maids who took off their coats and shoes for them. They also took their possessions and belongings off as well. "They'll be put in rooms for you all." One of the maids said. She hurried off with the other housekeepers and was gone down the hall.
"I'll be giving you all a tour. This way please." They all followed and Sakura and Naruto were amazed by the home's inner beauty the same way they had been by the outer. After about a half an hour of seeing the household Yuri came down to one of the home largest rooms. "And this is the living room. MY family awaits you all inside." He slid open the room doors and the four of them gasped when they saw. It was the most elaborate and formal room in the house. An elaborate fireplace and paintings on every wall. Drapes made of silk and there in the center of the room sophisticated furniture.
Yoshimitsu Kirara sat in the sofa, hair well done and deep red lipstick painted her lips. She wore a kimono made from fine chirimen silk which had stunning floral and abstract designs toward the bottom. She looked to them almost with no expression. "Greetings." She said. The way the fire played with the light of the room made her appear almost wicked.
Yume who had her hair done in two buns smiled sweetly. "Hello." Her kimono was depicted with beautifully stylized crane designs in orange-red and ivory. It was also lined with red fine silk.
"Welcome to our home." Yui was breath taking. Her hair was in a mid-center bun. Lose strands danced around her face. Her lips were painted a deep red and her jade eyes were cold and stern. Her cheeks were tinted with a rose color.
Her body showed well in her kimono. It was from fine damask silk illustrated with lovely floral motifs and abstract designs. The colors of the kimono had orange-red, mustard yellow, blue, gray, and peach against the dusty pink background. Just as Yume's kimono Yui's own was lined with red fine silk as well.
Underneath his mask Kakashi bit his tongue. She looked incredible. So many thoughts ran through her head and his. Seeing each other was like breaking glass.
"Team Seven of Konoha." Kirara said as she arose from her chair. "Good morning." She walked towards Kakashi and bowed. I hope I can trust you with my family's lives."
A/N: THEY HAVE ARRIVED! DRAMA BEGINS!
Sasuke: Now everything will be a problem.
Sakura: Yeah .How will they handle it?
Naruto: (Trying to look cool in a corner) How will we handle ours?
Sasu/Saku: What?
Naruto: (snaps out of his silliness)Nevermind.
Magic: Later.
