"Guilty Until Innocent"
By: Shadow and Janime
Sakura slowly lowered the mini flashlight. "You can't see anything at all? Can you tell when the light is on and off?" she asked softly.
"Nothing it's all dark. I can feel the light but I can't see it," Taka replied.
"You said that you lost your sight in your left eye about five years ago?"
"Yeah, the same day I lost my clan."
"How did she lost the sight in her other eye?" Gaara asked, trying to relax.
"I'm not sure but when that woman struck her left eye, it may have triggered the fox's demon blood in her. I'm guessing since she went through the transformation too quickly it spread the damage." She looked at the curtain where her teammate sat. "It's like Naruto losses himself in the fox's chakra. His eyes change but chakra is different from blood so there were--side effects."
"Will she be able to regain her vision?" the redhead asked.
"I really don't know. I'm sorry."
The brunette sighed but tried to give them a small smile. "It's alright; I mean I've gone this long with one blind eye."
Gaara looked at Taka, noticing that she wanted to say more. "What is it?"
Taka let out a sigh. "At night time, after the sun went down, I could see through my left eye perfectly as if there was nothing wrong. It starts just as the sun goes down past the horizon; I start to see a milky-white film, and then things start to take shape. Then when sunset is complete, I can see just fine."
"Only at night?" Sakura asked, and Taka nodded.
"Interesting," said Kakashi, sitting on a chair next to Naruto's bed.
"As soon as Naruto wakes up we're going back to Suna," Hidama said quietly.
"But what if the enemy attacks again? They know what Naruto looks like," the medic reminded.
"We're going to draw them away so Konoha will be safe. If Kyuubi gets released again--at least in Suna the environment will be a challenge to him."
"Oh." She looked at her teammate sadly, not wanting to see him go so soon. "He'll, come back. Right?"
"He has a dream to achieve, Sakura. He won't give it up for anything in the world," the silver-haired jounin said.
--
Naruto walked over to the woman sitting on the stone bench. "Taka?"
She looked at him; her eyes were red with just the pupil in the center. A smile graced her face, and tears of blood started down her cheeks. Closing her eyes, Taka was then swept away by the wind into dust.
"Quite the beauty, isn't she?"
Naruto spun around and found himself staring right into the eyes of Kyuubi. The demon fox was the size of a pony rather than the huge monstrosity that had attacked Konoha nearly two decades ago.
"And I would expect no less from her," Kyuubi grinned.
"Kyuubi? Why the hell did you take over my body!" he asked angrily.
"And let you be killed? You're pathetic boy," he answered.
"Shut up! Why does Taka have the same eyes as you?"
"She's our mate."
"...WHAT?"
"Shut your mouth boy!" the fox growled angrily. "She is worthy to be our mate unlike that weak girl you're been panting after like a lapdog!"
"Hold it!" Naruto held his arms out in front of him. "First off, I've never panted like any kind of dog after Sakura. Yes, I had a huge crush on her, we're good friends now, and who knows what'll happen in the future. Second, I've only known Taka for a few weeks! There's no way-"
"You didn't seem to mind when she was licking your jaw," Kyuubi said.
Naruto's eye twitched. "That wasn't a dream…?" he asked in a flat tone.
Kyuubi chuckled. "I assure you, Naruto, if you two had not been interrupted, there would have been quite a show in the street."
He couldn't make up his mind whether to be embarrassed or angry but his face was turning beet red. "I'm 18-"
"You are both ready and have been for years now," the fox interrupted.
"-and Taka is my friend-"
"Better a friend than an enemy."
"-and that wasn't me-"
"But it was."
"Will you shut up! That wasn't me that was you! Every time you get loose I end up doing something I regret later!"
"If it wasn't for me you would have died against that child with the needles."
"If it wasn't for you I would have parents and the village wouldn't think of me as a monster!"
Silence. Kyuubi looked taken back but growled, ears flattening against his skull. "I am a demon, not a monster. You do have a family, boy. That sand badger and spirit fox love and respect you, even gave up their own safety for yours. Quick blaming everything on me. I never asked to be sealed within you but what's done is done."
Naruto couldn't argue. The demon was right. Neither of them had a choice in the events that had led them both to this point. The blonde let out a frustrated sigh.
"Come," Kyuubi turned, "walk with me."
Naruto fell into step next to the demon. Silence remained for several paces before Naruto spoke, "So why did you pick Taka to be…"
Kyuubi turned his head slightly. "Our mate?"
"Do you have to say that?"
"Your mate, then. My blood flows in her veins."
Naruto looked at Kyuubi with wide eyes. "Your blood?"
"Yes," Kyuubi turned his head forward. "It was fifty years ago, just before the Shadow of the Fallen Moon Clan attacked Konoha. A few of them came after me. I escaped but not without injuries. They planned on injecting themselves with my blood to make them stronger. Before they did, they decided to test it on an unborn child first--a female."
"Taka's only twenty-two," Naruto spoke, "so it had to have been… her mother."
"Her grandparents escaped before her mother was born," said Kyuubi. "However, Taka's grandmother died in childbirth, just as her mother died giving birth to her."
"Oh. But that doesn't make her my mate."
"Deny it all you want but she belongs to you."
"You're stubborn for a fox."
He just smirked at him. "She is worthy."
"I don't care she's a friend and if you take over my body and do that again, I'll...!" Naruto faltered. What could he threaten the nine-tailed fox with? "I'll..."
"Boy, nothing scares me. Not even that man that sealed me away."
"I'll tell mother!"
His crimson eyes widen and his superior attitude dropped. There was something about that woman that made her interesting but also frightening at the same time. He frowned at the blonde vessel. "Fine."
The young ninja gave him a cheesy grin. Childish it may have been, but it worked.
--
"Is your sight coming back?" Gaara asked.
"Partly," Taka answered and turned to the kazekage. "I can see you somewhat--like a shadow. I should have it back after the sun sets."
"That's good," Kakashi said. "Fortunately, no one in the village suspects that Naruto has returned. Right now they're assuming that the Fallen Moon is looking for him, which they are, but are too late in locating him here."
"The sooner we leave the better," Hidama said quietly. "Tsunade has already given the order to guards at the gate to allow us departure no matter what time."
"So if Naruto wakes up soon maybe my eyesight will have returned fully," said Taka.
"We can use that to our advantage. I want us to try and make it back to Suna in half the time it took us to get here."
"That's pushing us a bit far," the jounin pointed out.
"If you get low on chakra I can loan you some of mine." The pale woman looked at him and smirked. "How do you think Temari, Kankurou, and I made it to Suna in an hour and an half?"
A soft grunt was heard and everyone turned to watch as the disguised blonde slowly opened his eyes. He blinked a few times before slowly pushing himself into a sitting position. He said nothing as he looked around the room, his gaze lingering on Taka, and opened his mouth. "I'm sorry."
Gaara merely rested his hand on his shoulder in reassurance. "We're going back to Suna. Are you well enough to travel?"
"I will be in a little bit." Naruto looked at Taka. "How's your eye?"
"Stopped hurting; once the sun sets I'll be able to see."
"Her sight returns at night," said Kakashi.
"Can't say that the look of my eyes will," Taka smiled. "They'll remain discolored."
"Kyuubi's blood," Naruto said.
She became silent. "You know about it?"
"Kyuubi told me."
Hidama had to bite her tongue to keep from saying anything. "We need supplies. Kakashi, come with me."
"Alright. See you guys later." Without another word the two left, leaving the three alone.
"I need to speak with the hokage for a moment. I'll meet you at the gate when you're ready, brother. Taka." Nodding to them the kazekage was gone in a swirl of sand. Now that only left the blonde and the brunette.
Naruto sunk back into his pillow, focusing his gaze on the blanket.
"Did I lick your jaw?"
Taka's question was so forward--not to mention blunt--that Naruto stammered and his face turned red.
"Uh, erm…yesyoudid," Naruto said quickly.
Taka chuckled at his reaction. "I didn't want to say anything in front of the others. It's embarrassing enough."
"I thought it was a dream.
"So did I."
The conversation with the fox kept drifting back into his mind yet he still didn't want to accept it.
"Taka..."
"Yes?"
"Kyuubi... said something to me, about us."
"I can only imagine what it is but go on."
Naruto took a deep breathe and decided to just let it all out while they were alone. "He said that you were our mate and nothing against you but I'm too young--okay not that young but I'm not ready to get married or anything like that. Don't get me wrong I think you're pretty but I think of you as a friend and it was Kyuubi's fault 'cuz when he takes over I don't have a say in the matter-" He finally stopped his rambling when he felt Taka gently place a finger over his lips. He watched as she slowly sat on the edge of the bed, gathering her thoughts he guessed but he waited. nervously his hands clenched and unclenched the blanket.
"You're cute, Naruto, I'll admit to that," Taka smiled at him. "But I like you too much as a friend. And I don't want to ruin that." She tapped his chest. "So the next time you talk to Kyuubi, tell him thanks for the offer but not interested. I don't care if his blood is in my veins."
Naruto sighed in relief. "I will."
Taka moved back to her bed. "I'm going to take a nap. Wake me when we're ready to leave."
"You got it."
Naruto watched her until her even breathing told him that she was asleep.
Kyuubi stirred.
Naruto lay down on his bed and turned so that his back faced Taka.
Don't even think about it, fox.
--
"Sovan and Diavna are dead?"
"Killed by Naruto and Taka. Diavna disregarded your orders and forced the demon's blood within Taka to react."
"After the mistake we made with her five years ago, that was the reason why I didn't want her to go berserk. What of Naruto?"
"Apparently Kyuubi reacted to Taka's rage."
"And?"
"Taka killed Sovan, and then Naruto tore out Diavna's throat."
"Were they any witnesses?"
"No but they were stopped before they could do any damage to the village." A pause. "It would appear that none of the villagers know that the fox was in the village the entire time."
"I see. No doubt they will leave Konoha now. Follow them but do not attack. This time, obey my orders or I shall be the one to spill your blood for all to see."
"My lord."
--
"You know it's kinda weird having both my eyes like this," Taka said as she looked at reflection and sighed. "At least I can see at night time."
"An advantage it is," said Hidama.
"Advantage?" Taka gaped at the pale woman. "It's more like a disadvantage if you ask me."
"But you said that you see much better at night, even before you lost your sight during the daytime," Hidama pointed out. "It's an advantage over your adversaries."
"I suppose…"
"I've always believed that a weakness can become a strength." At this she touched her armored wrist briefly and picked up her pack. "Ready?"
They slowly headed to the village gate, their packs filled with their belongings hey had brought and some food for the long trip ahead. But as they neared the gate they saw a kind of large man dressed in red with long white hair talking with the blue-eyed brunette.
"It's good to see you still alive, kid," Jiraiya said.
Naruto grinned a toothy smile. "Better believe it! I'm never giving up!"
Taka groaned as she finally recognized that man. "Gods not that damn pervert!" she hissed angrily.
Hidama said nothing as she continued walking towards the group. "Are we ready to go?" she asked.
"Just one thing before you leave," Jiraiya approached Taka. "I would like to apologize for my request earlier."
Taka eyed him suspiciously. "Alright…"
Suddenly, Jiraiya wrapped his arms around Taka, dipping her and gave her a long kiss.
Naruto's mouth dropped to the ground as Gaara and Kakashi stared with shocked wide eyes. Hidama's hand moved to her sword just as Jiraiya and Taka stood upright.
Taka just gave him a blank look. "I have a question for you."
"Yes?" Jiraiya smiled.
"How did you ever manage to get laid with a kissing technique like that?"
Naruto clamped his hands over his mouth to stifle his laughter at Taka's question and the look on Jiraiya's face. Gaara cracked a grin and Kakashi chuckled.
He did a great impression of a fish out of water before sputtering. "I-I have you know I am one of the greatest lovers of all time! Why women just flock to me in droves!" he exclaimed.
"Yet you publish the driest and most pathetic books I've had the displeasure of reading," the other woman sighed.
The Toad Hermit looked at her and in that moment he got another grand idea and opened his mouth to ask but stopped when she held up her hand.
"Don't bother asking because I won't accept. Besides, even if I did accept I'll end up looking like some weak and pathetic child with no respect or dignity. Talk to me when you gain some real skills." She nodded to the group. "Let's go."
Naruto couldn't help it and broke out laughing which was soon followed by Gaara's own laughter. Taka was smiling and Kakashi merely patted the author on his shoulder then the group of five was off. Jiraiya could only stand there with his jaw on the ground.
"Oh man!" Naruto was still laughing. "Did you see the look on his face? That had to be the best line I've ever heard!"
"I've been waiting a long time to use that," Taka admitted. "I heard it from a friend of mine a long time ago. She said it to some guy who kissed her out of the blue even though she was getting married…" Taka's pace slowed as the horrific memory followed the happy one.
Naruto saw that her mood had dropped. "You okay?"
"…Orino was the one who said that," Taka explained, "and a week later… I was in Suna."
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Gaara said in a sincere tone.
"It's alright. It's still heard for me to accept that they're gone."
Kakashi chose that time to look at her over his shoulder. "It's hard when you lost someone close to you. It's harder when you lose more than one person at the same time. But they're in a better place now," he said before continuing on looking forward. True words spoken from a man who had seen too many loved ones die before their time.
Hidama looked at the jounin from the corner of her eye. "It is never easy."
Naruto reached his right hand out and gently took Taka's left, giving a quick squeeze and she returned it without looking at him.
Gaara saw the action between the two but remained silent. He didn't want to bring up what Hidama had said almost happened when Naruto and Taka had lost their control. He looked off to the side and stopped as a shadow moved.
Hidama noticed his interest. "What is it?"
"I thought I saw something," the redhead answered.
Everyone stopped. "Where?"
He pointed to the area he had been watching and they waited but nothing stirred. "It may as well be an animal or something."
"You may be right. Let's increase our speed a bit, at least until we hit Wind Country." Using a tiny amount of chakra they continued.
In the shadows of the bushes where Gaara had pointed to, a lone figure slowly put a seven-pointed shuriken back into his pouch.
--
"Still standing," Naruto grinned, "guess Kankouru and Temari did okay."
"We'll know for sure after we get inside," Gaara said and waved at the two guards standing by the gate. They returned the gesture and one ran off to announce the return of the kazekage.
As the group moved deeper into the village Kakashi had a good look around, having only been here once before but for a rescue mission. It seemed like their home village only slightly smaller and the buildings looked like they were made from sand. He noticed that a large cliff face made up a third of Suna's barrier and could see the kazekage's tower had been carved from it. "Impressive," he commented.
Gaara heard this and couldn't stop the smile. "No one believes we can survive out here but we've proved them wrong. We've made do with what we have and will continue doing so," he said with a hint of pride in his voice.
"Suna is a great place. I find myself fortunate to have been brought here when the patrol found me," Taka added with a nod. Naruto chose to throw in his own two bits.
"Well I like it. Even if there's nothing but sand for miles around," he grinned, placing his hands behind his head.
Taka poked his ribs making him jump slightly and he glared at her. She stuck her tongue out and Naruto then put his right thumb against his nose and waved his four fingers at her.
"No matter how old they get," Kakashi smiled behind his mask, "children never grow up." Or grow up too fast, he thought as he watched Gaara separate the other two.
As soon as they reached the Kazekage's Tower waiting for them was Temari and Kankurou. They stopped and nodded but it was clear to them that they were happy to have them back. Especially their younger brother and leader.
"How was everything here?" Gaara asked, easily slipping back into the role of leader.
"Quiet. We had thought there might be an attack but none came," the blonde explained.
Gaara nodded in response. "Anything else?"
"Just a message for Taka. Kimiko asked that when you return to see her--she needs some help watching her children; her mother has become ill and moved in with them."
Taka closed her eyes and sighed. "I had a feeling this would happen."
"Konoha was attacked during our visit," Gaara looked at his siblings, "Taka was wounded and now she can only see at night. During the day she is blind."
"I thought your right eye was different," said Kankurou.
"I can watch them," Hidama spoke up.
Temari looked up sharply at the woman. She respected her as a ninja but she didn't think she could handle children. "But-"
"Taka needs to rest but she also has to get herself familiar with the surroundings during the daytime. Naruto will help her if she needs it. Gaara needs both of your help to protect this village in case the Fallen Moon Clan decides to attack. Kakashi-"
"I'll join you," he spoke up. "It'll give me something to do."
"... Alright but remember what I said about those books."
"Didn't even pack one," the jounin raised his right hand and placed his left over his heart.
Should I tell him there's a bookstore next to the ramen stand? Naruto thought.
Hidama looked impressed. "Very good." She turned to Gaara. "I don't suppose there's a vacancy nearby."
"The same place you had when you were last here," the kazekage answered.
"Thank you." Hidama nodded her head and motioned for the other three to follow her. "Taka, I want you to move your belongings into my place for the time being."
"Alright," the young woman said. "I don't have much so it won't take too long."
"That's fine. Naruto, remember what I said."
"Don't follow Kakashi's bad habits?"
She looked at him.
"Okay okay, I remember no ramen." He pouted.
"We'll meet later," the redhead told them.
"Alright. Watch your guard." After going to the house she used to stay in and depositing their things, the group split up. Hidama got the directions to Kimiko's house then she and the Copy Hound were off. Since it was mid morning Taka and Naruto decided to walk around Suna to get her familiar with the city again. Gaara went with his siblings to the Kazekage Tower and to update the council during his absence. They all promised to meet up later to discus strategies and have a late family dinner.
--
Kakashi sighed as he stood atop the sharp cliff that surrounded Suna. He had been there for quite a while but he wasn't enjoying the wondrous scenery as the sun was slowly beginning to set. He was thinking about a certain pale shinobi that didn't belong to any village or country.
"Hidama," he said softly, his mind drifting back to when they arrived at the woman's home.
Kimiko was a pretty lady with the very faint signs of motherhood catching up with her, dressed in nice kimono and her hair pulled into a bun. She was surprised when she answered the door to find two strangers instead of Taka but invited them in. The home was large but crowded with toys and training weapons everywhere as half a dozen children ran around the place, causing chaos like children were prone to do. The jounin thought maybe this wasn't a good idea but the pale beauty didn't seem the least bit fazed.
"We'll watch over the children while you take care of your mother," she said calmly.
"If Lord Gaara and Taka trust you then so should I, but should you need anything I'll be upstairs." The mother bowed and went to tend to her sick mother. As soon as she left though one of the youngest--he assumed maybe four years old--took one look at Kakashi and started crying. He didn't know what to do so he squatted before the child and smiled, thinking that kid would relax but that seemed to make it worse. Now what?
"It would help if you removed the mask," Hidama said and picked up the child, holding her in her arms like she had been around children all her life. "It's okay little one, your mother is taking care of your grandmother," she said softly. The little girl sniffed, rubbing at her eyes.
"I want momma," she whimpered.
"I know but she'll be back. Now, can you tell me your name?"
"J-Jade."
"Such a pretty name! Now, would you like to help me out?" she asked, smiling as she tenderly wiped the drying tears away.
"I'm too little. They told me I'm too little to do anything." By 'they' she had clearly meant her siblings. "They call me baby."
"Well that's not nice but you're the right size to me. Now first, can you tell me their names?" And so it went on. True to word when Hidama did need help she turned to the little girl who refused to leave her side. The other children, especially the oldest, didn't like how this stranger was invading their home and even tried to scare her off by throwing their training kunais at the back of her head but were shocked when she caught them easily in one hand while she was playing with the girls and their dolls.
"You four have a good aim. Training to be ninjas now?" she asked without looking at them.
"Of course! We're gonna be the best to protect our family and village!" the oldest, Kumo, yelled at her.
"If you want to protect your family maybe you should start by being nicer to them."
Kumo growled and lunged at her but he never saw her move. He blinked and found himself flat on the floor, the kunais keeping him pinned to the floor through his clothes. Hidama gently set the doll she had been holding down and turned to look at him. "Some advice, never charge at your opponent like a wild boar. They could be stronger than you and you would have wasted your life in vain." The other boys just stared at her then quickly bowed down to her.
"Teach us, sensei!" they pleaded.
"No." Before they could ask why she pointed to Kakashi. "He'll teach you."
"We don't want him we want you!" one of them whined.
"He doesn't look that strong!" another insulted. The two boys winced when they felt a stinging slap on the back of their hands and looked up to see the woman glaring down at them.
"More advice, never insult your elders. They have lived longer than you and experienced more. Besides, he was once the captain of his own ANBU Squad and has learned possibly over a hundred jutsus during his battles."
The jounin blinked, unsure what he heard was right but soon found himself surrounded by the boys, staring up at him in awe and fascination. He looked at Hidama but she had returned to playing with the girls, the oldest boy silently glaring daggers at her back (when had she released him?) so the Copy Hound looked at the boys and sighed. "I guess I could teach you a move or two-" That was all they needed as they fairly dragged him out of the house. Kakashi didn't teach them much besides learning to use chakra in small doses and to better their aim, but he told them stories of his previous battles during his youth. By the time lunch was ready the boys were seeing him in a new light. Even Kumo was showing him more respect than when they first arrived.
Hidama had made lunch for the family--a pot of stew, fried rice, and sliced bread; she helped the youngest children eat their food but afterwards she told the children to clean up while she took two plates up to Kimiko and her grandmother. Once dishes were cleaned and put away, leftover food stored away, the Copy Hound found himself telling more stories to all the children. Of course he left out some gory details but the children were listening to every detail with rapid interest. When he looked up he noticed Hidama watching him quietly but she just smiled. Not a smirk but a real, genuine smile.
"Alright it's time for bed so pick up your toys and weapons," she told them. Of course the kids complained but obeyed as they picked up their items and headed to their rooms. Another interesting battle was when it was time for the little ones' baths that it took both of them to get them all washed yet by the time they were done they were almost soaked. But what really shocked the silver haired jounin was when he witnessed Hidama acting just like a mother herself.
He had just finished tucking the boys in, making sure their weapons were put away and closed the door, heading to the living room when he hard something coming from a room just down the hall where the door was opened a crack. He stopped and peered inside. His partner was gently rocking a baby no more than several months old in her arms, singing softly as the baby suckled from a bottle. He noticed that her face was completely relaxed, her eyes a soft blue instead of ice, and her hair was loose around her body, curling around her feet. She slowly sat down on a worn rocking chair, moving her hair to the side so now it pooled around her form. She set the bottle down and held the baby over her shoulder, gently patting his back. When the baby burped she gently cleaned him up but began to hum softly. Kakashi didn't recognize the song as first but slowly the words began to come to her.
"What does the free fall feel like?
Asks the boy with a spark in his eye
Know why the nightingale sings?
Is the answer to everything"
She gently wrapped the baby in the blanket and held him closer to her chest, letting him rest his head over her heart as she softly hummed. She didn't seem to mind as a tiny fist reached out and curled around some strands of her moonlit hair. Her voice reminded the ninja of an angel, the soft tone slowly wrapping around his mind that it took him a while to realize she was singing again.
"Taking a step to a world unbound
Spinning my fantasies all around
Freed from the gravital leash
I swear the heaven's in my reach"
By now the baby was deep in sleep but she didn't stop. Moving as fluid as water she stood, careful not to jar the sleeping child and slowly walked over to the crib. She gently opened his fist to release her hair but let him wrap those tiny fingers around her own finger. She smiled and gently brushed the fingertip over his cheek, her soft voice singing the third verse.
"Dancing with the spirit of the air
In this ocean so open and fair
Making love to the gods above
On my maiden voyage so bold"
Her eyes changed to pain and hurt that she closed them tightly and leaned her head back. He wanted to go in and wrap his arms around her, to take away the pain he knew she was harboring, to kiss the tears he saw ready to fall but he didn't. She sang once more, her voice carrying a sad tune that even the sleeping child noticed and whimpered in his sleep, turning into her warmth.
"Landing safely to the blue lagoon
Don't know if this is the earth or the moon
Joy of living is no more a mask
The Eden I found will forever last"
She looked back down at the child and gently laid him in the crib, gently pulling her finger away and covered him with a light blanket. Noticing a stuffed monkey that had seen better days she laid it next to the little boy and covered it as well. Her eyes still had a sad look to them but he noticed what looked like relief in them. Like someone had removed most of her burdens from her heart and soul.
"Migrating with the geese
My soul has finally found peace
Doesn't matter that man has no wings
As long as I hear the nightingale sing..."
Her voice trailed off on the last word but she didn't move. Leaning over she gently kissed the baby's forehead and smoothed back the downy soft hair. Straightening she lifted the side of the crib until it locked and look at the baby once more then silently left the room. Kakashi moved silently yet swiftly to the base of the stairs just beyond her sight but he could still see her and hear her movements. She turned off the light until all that was left was a small lamp that shed a very soft light over the sand colored walls and closed the door but left it open a crack. Leaning against the wall she sighed heavily though a bit shakily and rubbed at her right wrist.
The golden wrist guard was simple, covering the back of her hand and extending to the middle of her forearm with a single strap holding it on. She seemed to wince as she flexed her fingers then began to carefully rub at the inside of her wrist and hand. She could feel the deformed bones beneath the scarred skin and the nerves screaming in pain even at the light touch. She slowly crossed her arms over her chest so that her right rested over her shoulder with her left holding her side, and closed her eyes.
"I will never be the same person I used to be," she said softly.
Kakashi opened his eye as the flashback faded from his mind but not his heart. It made him realize how little he knew of the woman. All he knew was that she was highly skilled--with the skills to be hokage herself--was a mother to Naruto and Gaara, that she was older than she appeared to be, and she didn't liked to be touched (the ache in his arm was finally going away) but that was all. If she didn't belong to a village how did she learn what she knew? If she knew the four previous hokages, why didn't she even become a citizen of Konoha or even Suna? How could a woman who fought like an army of assassins be so gentle and motherly around children of a complete stranger? What happened to her to have to hide such haunted eyes like that? Why wear that wrist guard continuously ever after battles and times of supposed peace?
"Why do I want to find out more?" he asked himself. His only answer was the sun finally setting, the darkness slowly swallowing the colors of pink, purple, red, and orange but even as he watched the moon take it's place he saw how the stars reminded him of Hidama's hair, the moon her flawless skin, the sky her mysterious eyes. He was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the agitated voice of his student.
"Kakashi-sensei, hurry up and come in!" Naruto yelled from the window. "Taka and mother won't let us eat until you come in and I'm starving!" he complained.
He appeared in the room, scaring the poor boy enough to nearly fall out of the window and rubbed the back of his back as he smiled at the awaiting group. "Sorry about that. I was contemplating the meaning of life and didn't realize how late it was," he explained.
The blue-eyed fox vessel glared at him but sat at the table. It wasn't ramen but it certainly looked good even with all the vegetables. "Finally I can eat!"
Authors' Notes: The song Hidama sings is actually from the great band known as Nightwish and the song is called 'Know Why the Nightengale Sings?'. Their music is great so I highly recommend buying their CDs!