Yo. Thanks to "Smiley Face" for the review. Later.

The Hardest Lesson

When Akira returned, Kakashi could see that it was getting dark outside. He was sitting in the corner near the door where his old clothes were before Akira burned them. 'He even burned my headband and shoes…not to mention my book!' He let out a long sigh as Akira knelt down next to him.

"Have you made your decision?"

"Yeah. Ow! Yes, otou-san."

"That is good because I am about to teach you the hardest lesson of all."

Kakashi raised his eyebrows at Akira's words, wondering what he could possibly teach him. 'I've learned to walk around like some lowly servant…what other nonsense does he want to teach me?'

"Do you know what this lesson is, Kakashi-kun?"

He shook his head, earning himself yet another whack. 'He's going to knock me senseless…'

"No, otou-san."

"It is quite simple to understand, but very hard to learn. A human being's very nature goes against it. It is the lesson of obedience, one that you must master quickly and completely."

Akira stood and Kakashi followed, unsure of what to do. Akira gave him a bundle of clothing, puzzling him.

"Go left down the road until you get to the river. It is not far. Once you get there, turn right and head down that road. My sister's house is the third one on the right. This should take you no more than an hour. Now get going!"

Akira nearly shoved him out the door and onto the street. He clutched the bundle tightly, not knowing if he should take the opportunity to run. 'If I go, the treaty is void…and they'll kill me if they find me. I can't go back to Konoha. If I do, the Hokage will consider me breaking the treaty an act of treason, and I'll be a criminal. I'll end up running from both countries. I have to stay here whether I like it or not.' He considered his delivery a chance to win Akira's favor and practice walking. He looked down at the floor, straightened his back, and began. He had to walk slower than usual and found it difficult not to bump into people. The fact that he was barefoot didn't help. He bumped into a large man when he went back to the river after delivering the bundle, and he mumbled a quick apology before realizing who it was. He uttered his name and got his attention before he could stop himself.

"Zabuza-san?"

The Mist shinobi turned to look at him, and Kakashi swore he could see the amusement in his eyes.

"Kakashi-san? Is the famous Copy ninja really a servant now? Only servants wear an obi. I guess you're 'Kakashi-kun' then, aren't you?"

Zabuza was snickering, his hands on his hips in a mocking posture. Kakashi ignored his mockery and asked the obvious question.

"How did you survive after our battle? I figure since the Earth and Water countries are allies, the Rock shinobi would be after you."

"Simple. You buried me alive, so I dug myself out and hid until I was completely healed. I snuck over here on boat and on foot. Took forever, but these shinobi won't come after me. This country is so poor that they don't have the extra resources or shinobi needed to take me out. It was worth the trip. So, what are you doing here as a servant?"

"That's not so simple. This country was threatening war against my own, so the Hokage made a peace treaty. In return for not attacking us, the Earth country gets to have one male Jounin from Konoha. That male Jounin happens to be me."

Kakashi did a mock bow to emphasize the sarcasm in his last sentence, and Zabuza snickered again.

"Look where serving your village got you. Don't tell me you don't regret coming here, because I know exactly what your position entails. You screwed yourself over."

"You can't stay in your own country. What does that say about you?"

"It means that I'm nobody's dog, unlike you."

Kakashi back-handed Zabuza without hesitation, his anger at a boil as a result of the previous day's events. However, he didn't expect Zabuza to return the gesture with what felt like ten times the force. The downward motion of Zabuza's swing resulted in Kakashi falling to the floor. He could feel the blood pooling in his mouth. Zabuza stood over him, his expression threatening Kakashi in more ways than one. 'If I fight him here they'll consider me hostile and void the treaty. How am I supposed to defend myself if I can't fight? I need to get back to Akira's place, and quickly.' He began walking back as soon as he stood up. The problem was that he couldn't run without tripping himself, and Zabuza was following him. Akira opened the door when he knocked and noticed Kakashi's bleeding lip.

"I see that you've done your task in good time, but what happened to you?"

"Your servant got smart and slapped me. I punished him for it."

"Well, since you've already punished him for his actions I suggest you leave."

Akira forced Kakashi to bow with his stick as Zabuza returned the farewell, since Kakashi wouldn't do so on his own. Akira slapped him as soon as Zabuza was out of sight, grabbing his chin afterwards and forcing Kakashi to face him.

"A servant never does such a thing! It's unacceptable!"

"He—"

"It does not matter what his action was. It is your reaction that matters. Let's get you cleaned up."

Akira took a damp cloth and tried to wipe off the blood, but Kakashi turned away from him. He was too mad to even face him. Akira sighed, took a step back, and put his hands on Kakashi's shoulders.

"Face me, Kakashi-kun. Turn your body towards me."

Kakashi slowly, and reluctantly, turned towards him.

"Good. You must relax your expression. You are never to show hostility towards anyone, especially your master. Relax all the muscles in your face."

He took a deep breath and tried to relax. It wasn't too hard for him, but he could feel his old self slipping away every time he obeyed Akira. He was becoming a different person, little by little, and he actually feared it. 'I-I can do this…as long as Konoha is safe, I can do this.' Akira slowly nodded and let go of his shoulders.

"One last thing. Look at the floor without moving your head."

He had to fight with himself to look down, his emotions boiling inside of him. He was extremely angry, a little sad, and a bit scared. He was angry at himself and the Hokage for letting this happen, sad at the fact that he might never see his friends again, and scared of what he would become by obeying Akira.

"Perfect. I'll clean up the wound so it won't get infected."

Akira began wiping off the blood from his bottom lip, which had split when Zabuza hit him. Akira stopped for a moment, his hand holding the cloth still hanging in the air.

"Your breathing is erratic, Kakashi-kun. What's wrong?"

Kakashi blinked, swallowed, and said nothing. He refused to show any signs of weakness in front of Akira. 'He's not my friend, and he's certainly not my master. He never will be.' Akira put the cloth down, turned on some old-fashioned instrumental music, and held out his hands. Kakashi looked up at him, his expression slightly confused.

"Go on. There's something I'd like to tell you."

He hesitated at first, but he eventually grabbed both of Akira's hands. He was surprised when Akira wrapped his arms around his neck, and he could feel Akira's arms around his waist. He blushed, embarrassed by the gesture that had too many meanings, and noticed that his master was a little bit taller than he was.

"Do you know why I wanted a servant, Kakashi-kun?"

Kakashi almost shook his head, but his headache reminded him of the whack he had received earlier.

"No, otou-san."

"I wasn't always alone, you know. It's been about a year since my wife died, her life taken by a strange disease. I got lonely, living here all by myself, so I asked for a servant. Instead, I got a proud Leaf shinobi who knows no humility and has terrible manners. I don't regret it, though. My wife had that same fire you have, and I can see her in that eye of yours."

Akira had the most heartfelt smile on his face, his eyes beaming with an emotion Kakashi couldn't explain. He looked at the floor again, but Akira lifted his head.

"The pain we both feel is the pain of loss, Kakashi-kun. I have lost my wife, and you have lost everything. Your friends, your home, and your way of life…you have been reborn in a sense, but you are not alone. For now, we are family…and that is all we have. If we cannot trust each other, then we will truly be alone; that is the greatest pain of all. I never had children, Kakashi-kun, so you are like a son to me. This new kinship, a relationship of sorts…it is all we have. I promise I will make the best of it."

He said nothing, letting Akira give him the hug he so dearly needed. He could face the future now, as uncertain as it was, and just be still in the middle of all the recent chaos. That night, as he tried to sleep in his futon, he thought of having a family. Again. Akira had helped to rekindle Kakashi's inner flame, and he could feel the warmth he thought he had lost. He dreamed that night of what he had lost, like Akira, and what he had gained.

'Thank you, otou-san.'

TBC

Mazuiko: Do not worry, Zabuza will be back! Next chapter, to be precise. I just wanted to show everyone that Akira is not just some slave-driving old man. The 'father-son' bond is formed and Kakashi learns something new! Yay! In chapter four, we will go on to the beginning of a complicated but beautiful relationship…Zabuza and Kakashi! Here are the definitions for this chapter.

Futon: A Japanese bed. Flat on the ground and has no frame. Made as a thick cloth instead of a mattress.