Previously...
Kireina nodded and turned to Kakashi only to find him already gone. She smiled softly before going into the kitchen to help Sakura's mom.
"Konnichiwa, Haruno-san!" Kireina greeted.
Sakura's mom turned in surprise before smiling and greeting Kireina, "Just call me Hana."
"Arigato, Hana-san! What can I help you with?" Kireina asked.
"Do you know how to bake?" Hana asked.
"Yes, I do! What would you like me to bake?" Kireina asked.
"Well, I've been working on dinner all morning and I don't know if I'll be able to get to the cake. So could you be a dear and make it?" Hana asked.
"Of course! Sakura likes chocolate right?" Kireina got to work.
"Um, Haruno-san, I'm done peeling the carrots and shelling the peas. Would you like me to help Kireina-san with the cake?" Hinata asked hesitantly.
Hana smiled gently, "Actually, Hinata, why don't you go outside and help the guys out. Sakura told me you're a wonderful peacemaker and negotiator. From what I've heard about Sasuke and Naruto, I'm sure you will come in handy."
Hinata nodded and then quickly washed her hands and went to the backyard to help the guys. Sakura looked after her almost enviously before returning to her work. She might have given up on Sasuke, but that didn't mean she couldn't still dote on him! XD
On with the story!
A few hours later, the cake was in the oven, baking, and the guys and Hinata had come in and were seated around the kitchen table drinking lemonade.
"Sasuke! Come help your nee-chan," Kireina called from the living room.
Sasuke set down his drink and silently went to see what his sister wanted. Kakashi followed him to see what was up. Kireina was on a ladder holding up crepe paper to the ceiling. Kireina threw down a couple of shuriken.
"The tape won't stick the crepe paper up either. Can you throw the shuriken to pin it?" Kireina instructed him.
Sasuke nodded but looked worry. Kireina noticed this and smiled gently.
"Don't worry Sasuke. I'm sure you won't hurt me."
Sasuke took a shuriken and with a flick of a wrist, the shuriken flew through the air, pinning the crepe paper to the ceiling. This went on for quite some time and soon, a creative design decorated the ceiling of Sakura's ceiling. Kireina beamed. However her smile disappeared as she felt herself lose her balance and begin to fall. Thinking quickly she twisted her body so she would land on her hands and knees. She was about to flip herself so she would land on her feet but before she could she found herself in the arms of a certain silver-haired jounin.
Kakashi smiled merrily, "Konnichiwa (Goodafternoon or hello)Reina-chan! Are you okay?"
Kireina gaped, "Yes, I'm fine, thank you. You know I could have caught myself right?"
Kakashi's lone visible eye arched into a half moon, "Of course I knew that! But then I would miss the opportunity of being able to say you let me hold you."
Kireina scowled then hit Kakashi upside his head.
Sasuke appeared next to the two jounin, "Nee-chan! Are you okay?"
Kireina waved her hand distractedly, "Yes, of course. Thank you for asking, dear."
A loud crash resounded from the kitchen. Kireina, Kakashi, and Sasuke exchanged glances before hurrying to the kitchen to see what was wrong. When they entered, they found Naruto sprawled on the floor rubbing his head and Sakura standing above him trying desperately to keep her cool and had obviously already failed to do so one time.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto whined rubbing his head, "That hurt!"
Sakura twitched, "It was supposed to baka!"
"Oy! What'd you do this time, dobe?" Sasuke asked walking over to help Naruto up.
"Sasuke!" Kireina warned in a sharp tone.
Sasuke ducked his head guiltily before grabbing Naruto's arm and pulling him up, dragging him to their sister. Kireina checked him for injuries and after finding no life-threatening ones, reached up to pat his head then gave him a piece of candy which brightened his spirits immediately.
Kakashi sighed, "I still can't believe the three of them are all already sixteen. They certainly don't act like it!"
Kireina nodded, "I wonder if I acted like that when I was sixteen."
"I highly doubt it. An ANBU captain acting like that would mean certain death," Kakashi laughed.
Kireina stuck her tongue out at Kakashi before turning to her brothers, "Come loves, you still have to get dressed for the party! You, too, Kakashi! The clothes are at my house."
"What? We have to dress up?" Naruto whined.
Kireina laughed at his childishness, "Of course! This is a girl's sweet sixteenth we're talking about here!"
"Then why'd you inspect us and all that before we left the house?" Naruto stuck his tongue out.
Kireina stuck her tongue out back at him, "Young men should always look nice no matter what."
The four of them left the Haruno resident. Kireina paused on the way out the door and turned to Hinata.
"Hinata-chan, why don't you come with us? You're about my height, I'm sure you would fit into my clothing. We can dress you up, too!" Kireina invited.
"A-Ano, w-would that b-be alright?" Hinata asked; her stutter back.
Kireina beamed and held a hand out which Hinata hesitantly took, and then 5 ninjas of Konoha set out towards the Namino house. When they got to the house Kireina herded the boys into their separate room telling them their clothes had already been laid out by Yuki. Kireina directed Kakashi toward the guest room and then took Hinata into her own room. 10 minutes passed and Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi were all waiting downstairs for the appearance of the two ladies. Sasuke wore a black button down dress shirt with khaki slacks and Naruto wore a blue dress shirt with black pants. Kakashi stood next to them secretly reading another copy of his book. He wore a silver dress shirt with black pants. His mask had somehow turned silver as well and his hitai-ate was still tilted crookedly over his Sharingan. None of the three guys had kunai or shuriken holsters but all three hid the weapons elsewhere. You could never be too prepared.
The guys heard footsteps on the stairs and immediately straightened up, Kakashi putting his book away hastily. Hinata and Kireina appeared on the stairs. It looked as if Kireina were trying to coax Hinata into the living room. Hinata's face was bright red and it wasn't from makeup. She wore a simple black strapless dress that reached to her knees with tiny white flowers embroidered onto the hem of the dress and she had a white, filmy scarf wrapped around her neck. Her forehead protector was tied around her left arm. The black contrasted nicely with her pale skin and eyes while the scarf accented the blue highlights in her black hair. Kireina beamed. She had finally managed to convince Hinata to allow her to put light makeup on her and the effect was terrific.
Kireina herself was wearing a shimmery silver spaghetti strap dress that reached a little below her knees. She had a white shawl wrapped around her shoulders. The ironic thing was that her dress was the same shade as her eyes and the streaks in her hair as well as the same shade as Kakashi's hair, mask, and shirt. The thing that surprised the three young men at the bottom of the stairs the most was her hair. She had let her hair down and because it was always in a bun, it fell in soft waves around her face and shoulders reaching to almost mid back. She still had about half of her hair pinned up in a bun though with the ever present chopsticks and hairpins.
"Eh? Reina-nee-chan! When did you get that forehead protector?" Naruto asked pointing at the protector around her neck.
Kireina laughed and said teasingly, "I've had that for a long time Naruto. What kind of ninja are you if you didn't notice it?"
Sasuke stared at the leaf symbol and grinned, "You've had it around your waist huh? It was above your sash!"
Kireina beamed, "Good Sasuke! That's right. You all probably didn't notice it because the knot on my sash always blocked the metal plate so the protector always blended in with the black of my skirt."
Hinata had started to do the finger thing again and in a split second, Sasuke was by her side with a hand holding her fingers to stop the action. Hinata stared at him blankly.
"When you do that, it lets everyone know you're nervous," Sasuke explained.
Hinata blinked and then slowly dropped her hands.
Kakashi laughed, "Look! You two match!"
Everyone looked at Sasuke and Hinata and saw the matching colors.
"And you, my lady, are my match," Kakashi winked appearing at Kireina's side holding out an arm.
Kireina opened her mouth to retort but then decided to let it pass and instead slipped her arm through Kakashi's.
"Come here Naruto! You can be my other 'date'! Sasuke will be Hinata's," Kireina grinned.
Naruto happily obliged grabbing Kireina's offered hand while Sasuke and Hinata shyly joined arms.
Kireina beamed and thought, 'My happy little family.' Then the group of well dressed ninjas left for the Haruno residence once more. When they reached Sakura's house, Naruto bounded up to the doorway and eagerly rang the doorbell. Sakura opened the door to welcome her guest.
"Sakura-chan! We're back!" Naruto cried.
"Hi guys! You all look wonderful! Especially Hinata-chan and Kireina-sensei!" Sakura complimented. (Inner Sakura: -squeal- Sasuke-kun looks SOOO HOT!)
Hinata blushed and stuttered a thank you, her hand unconsciously tightening her hold on Sasuke's arm. Sasuke let a very tiny, unnoticeable smile appear on his face before returning to stoically look at Sakura. Sakura had on a white strapless dress that stopped at her knees with a pink sash around the waist.
Kireina beamed at Sakura, "You look lovely as well, dear."
Sakura stepped aside from the doorway and let the group in. It appeared that they were the last ones to arrive. There were already people sitting in the living room dancing, talking, and laughing. Kireina spotted a small crowd near the center of the living room. Their little group headed over there to see what the attraction was and all were surprised to see Lee break dancing on the floor except all you could see was a black and green blur. He was moving too fast for the human eye to possibly comprehend. Gai stood next to his spastic student cheering him on. When he looked up, his face lit up as he saw Kireina. He dashed over to her side and took the hand Naruto had abandoned when he went to look for his other friends.
"Kireina-san! You are looking lovely today! The springtime of youth is obviously upon you! Let us celebrate and dance!" Gai proclaimed.
Kakashi cleared his throat and blinked at Gai. Gai only just now noticed the pairs' hooked arms.
"Yosh!" Gai exclaimed jumping back and pointing a finger at Kakashi, "My eternal rival has beat me once again! But never mind that! I will defeat you next time!"
Kakashi and Kireina sweatdropped as Gai continued to babble about the springtime of youth. Kakashi edged away from theenthusiastic Taijutsu master, gently leading Kireina away. The two jounin wandered to the table where there were platters and platters of food set out.
"What would you like to drink, my lady?" Kakashi asked merrily.
Kireina laughed, letting the "my lady" comment slide this one time, "Anything will be fine."
"I'll be right back," The silver-haired man said.
Kireina took this time to look around the house. She spotted Naruto and Sasuke engaged in a glaring contest with Hinata standing next to them biting her lip in worry. Kiba and Akamaru were talking to Shino. Neji, Ten Ten, Ino, Shikamaru, Chouji and Sakura were sitting in a circle playing some sort of game. Asuma and Kurenai stood next to each other near the stairway observing everyone, their hands brushing each other's occasionally. Kireina smiled at that. After many efforts from Kireina and Kakashi, the jounin sensei of Team 10 finally got up the courage to ask up the jounin sensei of Team 8. Just then, Kakashi returned to her side holding a glass of clear liquid.
Kireina glanced suspiciously at it, "What is that?"
Kakashi winked, "Soda with a little champagne."
Kireina narrowed her eyes, "What's your definition of a little?"
Kakashi merely smiled innocently before taking a sip from his own glass. Kireina hesitantly took a sip from her glass before choking on it.
"Kakashi! This is not a LITTLE! This is a lot!"
Kakashi rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "Sorry! I must have given you the wrong glass. I think I gave you mine because mine only tastes like soda."
The two adults switched glasses and Kireina sighed contentedly. Later that night, after all the guests had gone home, Kireina, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto stayed behind to help Sakura clean up. Kireina looked up at the banner they had pinned up high on the wall. She looked around to see if there was anyone around her. Sakura and her parents were cleaning up the kitchen and Kakashi and her two boys were outside cleaning up the games and other trash. When she was satisfied no one would see what she was doing, she closed her eyes for a brief second, then levitated herself upwards to the banner so she was floating in the air in front of it. She held out her hands and the senbon that had been used to hang the banner flew out of the wall and into her hands. The banner floated slowly to the ground with the help of Kireina's levitation skills. She heard the guys come back in and quickly dropped to the ground sticking the senbon into her hair where they became hairpins. Naruto burst through the door arguing with Sasuke. Kakashi followed the two boys at a much more leisurely pace. He noticed the banner folded up on the floor.
He raised an eye brow at Kireina who smiled innocently. Kakashi narrowed his eyes and walked over to her.
"How did you get the banner down?" Kakashi asked her.
"I pulled the senbon out," Kireina replied innocently.
"How did you get up there? The ladder is outside and it takes a great deal of chakra to lift an entire person and hold them there long enough to remove the senbon."
Kireina sighed, "It's just something I can do. When I was 8 I discovered I had the ability to levitate things including myself. If I wanted to move something though, I had to use chakra."
Kakashi gaped at her, "Can you move when you levitate yourself?"
Kireina nodded, "It's just like walking except on air."
Kakashi continued to gape at her, "What else are you not telling us?"
Kireina remained quiet at this and finally said, "There's a reason I'm not telling you."
Then she quickly left to the kitchen to see if there was anything else that needed help with. When the group finally left, Kireina and Kakashi remained quiet most of the time answering only when Naruto or Sasuke talked to them. When they reached home, it was almost midnight.
"Kashi-kun, why don't you stay the night?" Kireina suggested, "It's getting late anyway."
Kakashi politely declined saying, "My house is only a little ways away. I wouldn't want to trouble you."
"Nonsense," Kireina's tone turned business-like, "You look tired already and it would be no trouble. The guestroom's already been made up for an emergency like this."
Kakashi scratched the back of his head before grinning sheepishly, "All right, if it's no trouble."
Kireina beamed at him and quickly unlocked the door of their house to let them in. Sasuke and Naruto were sent to shower and Kireina busied herself making tea for Kakashi. She placed the cup of tea in front of him and then quickly went to change into her pajamas. When she came out Sasuke had finished showering and was sitting at the kitchen table talking to Kakashi about training. She settled herself next to Sasuke half-listening to the conversation while her mind wandered back to her and Kakashi's conversation earlier that night. Naruto joined them shortly after and Kireina remembered what time it was.
"All right boys, time for bed," she chided gently.
"Reina-nee-chan! It's only 12:30! We're already 16!" Naruto whined.
Although Sasuke didn't say anything, he secretly agreed with Naruto although he would rather die than admit that. Kireina shook her head.
"Ninjas need plenty of sleep," she scolded.
"But we have no mission tomorrow! We get a holiday! Tsunade-baa-chan said so," Naruto pouted childishly.
Kireina had long since given up on getting Naruto to show Tsunade the respect a Hokage should receive.
"You should always prepare for the unexpected," Kireina reminded him, "What if Cloud decides to attack? You wouldn't want to be caught off guard and tired would you? Then I wouldn't let you take part in the action."
Naruto hesitated before high tailing it out of there and up the stairs. A few seconds later a "Night Reina-nee-chan!" sounded from his room. Sasuke followed at a much slower pace taking time to push his chair back underneath the table and wish the two adults a goodnight.
"Sasuke!" Kireina called.
Sasuke turned around in question. Kireina waved him over and he hesitantly walked over to her. Kireina gave him a hug and then kissed him on the forehead before bidding him goodnight. Sasuke seemed to be in shock but when he came to, a light blush covered his cheeks and he murmured a quiet goodnight before going to his room.
Kireina POV
I sighed inwardly. 'My poor baby. He's gone through so much in the past few years. So many people lying to him. I can only hope he'll forgive me for being one of them.'
I was so lost in my thoughts I completely forgot I wasn't alone until I heard someone clear his throat. I snapped out of my thoughts and noticed Kakashi looking at me worriedly.
"You okay Reina-chan? You seemed a little distracted just then." Kakashi said.
I quickly put on a smile, "I'm fine Kashi-kun. I'm just a little tired. Would you mind if I turned in now?"
Kakashi shook his head, "Not at all."
I stood up and gave him a quick hug before leaving the kitchen. Once in the safety of my room I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding in. I went to stand in front of my mirror and pulled down the collar of my pajama top. There it was, glaring at me like it always did. I glanced out the window. The stars twinkled at me as if taunting me.
"Forgive me Sasuke, Naruto, Kakashi. I don't mean to lie to you, but this is something no one can know the full truth about," I murmured quietly to myself.
I quickly released the collar allowing it to cover the small silver star seal that had been placed a few centimeters below my collar bone. I got into bed and willed myself to sleep refusing to allow myself to think about the seal.
Kakashi POV
I stayed in the kitchen a little while longer after Reina-chan had left, pondering about our previous conversation. I was curious to see what secret Kireina was hiding from all of us, but in the end decided to sleep instead. I quickly washed my cup then headed to the guestroom next to Kireina's room. I paused at her door wondering once again who the young woman behind the door really was. I shook my head and continued onto the guestroom and after removing my mask and hitai-ate, stuck one of the two pillows over my face and went to sleep.
Normal POV
Kakashi woke up in the middle of the night to the feeling of danger. He quickly put his face mask and hitai-ate on before going outside to investigate. He met up with Kireina just as he stepped out of the room and knew she had felt it too. Kireina's eyes were wide open and she walked making no sound. Kakashi followed her just as silently. The two of them crept into the kitchen. Just as they entered, the sound of a window breaking upstairs filled the silent house followed shortly by Naruto's enraged shout. Kireina flew up the stairs, Kakashi close on her heels. The two jounin burst into Naruto's room to find him rubbing his head screaming at a rock. Sasuke stumbled in still rubbing sleep out of his eyes.
"What happened?" Sasuke asked groggily.
Kireina bent over to pick up the rock noticing a note tied to it. After reading it, she pressed her lips together tightly in anger and handed the note to Kakashi. The note was messily written and it was dark but from what Kakashi could make out, he was able to tell it was a hate note directed to Naruto and surprisingly, Sasuke.
"Come on," Kireina muttered, "Whoever threw that rock is probably still around here somewhere."
She and Kakashi hurried out of Naruto's room only to smell smoke. Kireina's eyes widened and she raced to the top of the stairs. The unmistakable glow of fire was rapidly increasing from the kitchen and living room up the stairs.
"Shoot! The rock must've been a distraction!" Kireina cried.
Kakashi was surprised to see the fire move so quickly and then he noticed the faint smell of gas.
'They must have poured gas to make the fire move faster,' Kakashi thought, 'Whoever did this obviously planned for a lot.'
Kireina had whipped into action. She grabbed Kakashi and shoved him towards Naruto's room.
"Kakashi! Take care of my boys for me!" she instructed, then headed down the stairs.
Kakashi quickly caught her arm. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked sharply.
Kireina sighed, "I have to get clothes you and I can change into and maybe save a few things that I can't lose."
Kakashi shook his head, "I'm not letting you go down there! You'll be killed! What do you need? I'll get it."
Kireina shook her head this time, "Don't worry about me Kakashi. Get my boys out of here. NOW!"
She wrenched her arm out of his grasp and before he could react ran down the stairs before the fire could consume them. Kakashi watched in amazement as Kireina held out a hand and seemingly pushed back the fire. She turned around and looked up at him and winked.
"This is my secret," she said, "Now get them out of here!"
Kakashi hesitantly returned to Naruto's room, "Come on guys. Let's go."
Sasuke frantically tugged at Kakashi's arm, "Where's my nee-chan?"
Kakashi shook his head, "She'll be fine. She told me to get you guys out of here."
"Did she go downstairs?" Naruto asked incredulously.
Kakashi sighed and nodded, "But she'll be all right. I saw it for my self. Now LET'S GO!"
He made sure Naruto and Sasuke were holding onto him before he teleported the three of them out of the house onto the front lawn where a crowd had gathered and there were several ninjas using water jutsus to protect the houses around the burning one.
"Is everyone out?" one of them asked.
Kakashi shook his head frantically, "No! Kireina is still in there!"
The ninja frowned, "She needs to get out of there quickly! The house is going to burn down!"
Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto gaped at him before Sasuke started to run towards the house. Kakashi quickly grabbed his arm.
"Let me go!" Sasuke cried, struggling against Kakashi's hold, "I have to save my nee-chan!"
"No! It's too dangerous," Kakashi commanded softly.
Sasuke sagged against his sensei's hold and actually started crying. Naruto clung onto Sasuke and Kakashi and cried as well. Kakashi gently put the two boys on the ground then stood up.
He quickly performed a series of seals and yelled, "Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu!"
A large dragon made of water appeared and spit balls of water that swept over the burning house, but only put out some of the flames. Kakashi performed more seals yelling, "Suiton: Tatsumaki no Jutsu!" Water spouted out of the ground putting out more flames. Sasuke did some seals as well performing a "Suiton: Mizu-gan no Jutsu" to help put out the fire. However, no matter how many flames they put out, more seemed to take its place. Until finally they were both out of chakra and exhausted. Sasuke watched in horror as the left side of the house collapsed.
"That's not the side she was in was it?" he asked frantically.
Kakashi shook his head sadly, "I don't know where she was going to go."
Sasuke gripped Kakashi's arm tightly and Naruto gripped Kakashi's other arm nearly cutting off his circulation. Kakashi didn't notice though. He was too worried about Kireina still trapped inside.
Naruto screamed when the remaining of the house collapsed and the fire tried to spread. More ninjas had arrived though as well as the Hokage and several citizens were using hoses to put out the fire. When the fire was out, Tsunade hurried to Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto who were staring in shock at the burned down house.