A/N: Okay let me just complain for a sec. What the hell is with making spelling mistakes in my stories...I swear it hates vowels or something. The first few chapters will be updated soon, so if you want you can reread them. There will be some minor changes as well corrections to all those annoying spelling mistakes the computer made for me. I'm really not that bad...well I lied ha ha ha but I know how to use the spell checker so, please don't hold those mistakes against me.

Please I can't stress it. Review. I love feedback and I feel bad about harping but serisouly it would help me develop my characters. Especially Akane. You can ever tell me what you think should happed, that would be kind of fun right?

Thank you all who have been continueing to review. I know some of you are busy and I thank you for your time.

Eventually I would like to make this a fan comic, which I'll be putting on my homepage

Well I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do.

Chpater 16: Stroll in the Market

Walking through the market was something he usually found enjoyable. This market in particular he hoped to later return to when his mind wasn't on other things.

People worked much harder in this village than back home. They made Konohoa look like a little sleepy village out in the countryside. In fact he saw damage not much different than that, which had occurred in his home village. Were these people at war? Or were they under attack like Konohoa? He'd have to ask later.

Some buildings were burnt from scorches of fire, jutsu or otherwise. Some had huge holes still needing repair. There were also many children and families out on the streets. Still there was something different from those he saw in other villages.

He watched a family as Nariko spoke to an apothecary she knew.

They were well fed and well clothed. The only thing they were missing was a home. They were just regular civilians, and yet the local shopkeepers and shinobi gave them jobs just because they could spare some money and because they cared. It was rare for people to be so kind in a larger village. Naruto was a good example of just how rare kindness was in Konohoa given certain circumstances.

In Konohoa this occurred at times but many left the village, ashamed of falling through the cracks. These people however were strong; they remained even though there was nothing left for them and persevered. They found jobs and worked hard and over time they are able to find a new home.

He himself never lived that way but as a shinobi he felt it wasn't much different. He hated his home and seldom lived there. Why? It was empty; there was no one there for him. All he used it for was sleep between missions and possibly to cook the occasional meal, provided he had the groceries.

When he had team seven he spent more time there. He even allowed them to visit if they needed his help but still aside from his team the only person to enter his home was Iruka.

Why he let the chuunin in the first place was beyond him. Maybe it was because he felt he could trust the man or because he was suspicious of him. The latter was more the case at the moment.

Iruka was hiding something and he was going to get to the bottom of it. Same for the woman, Akane…she was strange.

There was something about her he couldn't figure out. Her physical appearance was average, there was nothing there he was worried about. Her chakra was another matter. He had followed her around her home and watched every movement and even every facial expression. Not once did she use any form of chakra, it was as if she had none. However when he snuck up one her one occasion her chakra flared, and not just a small flair like that of Iruka, but a dangerous one.

She was jumpy and only to him. The major question was why? What had he done to make her like that?

With that in mind he started to rummage outside the missing man's room and made it to hers before he was told he was leaving with Nariko. What he found there sent shivers down his spine.

Her room was not clean. He was expecting that. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Except one minor detail. She had one sword…a very strange sword. One similar to one he had once owned and avoided to fix.

He knew from his past that the woman he had been looking for had one such sword. So going on a whim he searched thoroughly and found it's partner.

She carries two swords like the woman from years ago. Either it's a coincidence or it's her. I have a suspicion it was her. Her control over any situation fits the part.

The two swords weren't all he found though. As he searched further he found her armor, the same as his. This became another answer to his question. And yet looking more he found the last thing he thought he would. The mask.

It was beautiful if you could call it that. The face was that of a bird, silver gold and red covered this mask making it seem almost otherworldly. Just like the woman's. It was hers.

I'm not too sure if it is hers though from the look of it, it wasn't used in a long time. Maybe she found it and kept it.

Somehow he knew better. No one kept ANBU masks just because they thought they were…

"What do you think Hatake-san?"

"Huh?" He looked back to Nariko. There she was holding up some fabric. It was beautiful. The background was white with a stunning red and orange pattern. The hem was sown with a solid red border covered in silver flowers. He was breathless. The people in this country knew how to make designs as well.

"It's very nice Nariko-san, What would you make out of it?" He wanted to know. Why would she buy this?

"Hmm well I was going through Akane's clothing and I saw she had nothing nice, I thought I'd make her a kimono, or a dress. I'm settling on a dress. A kimono she'd ruin faster."

He didn't catch the last few things she had said.

This for her? She must love her a lot.

Grabbing the fabric from her hands he realized it was silky; soft to the touch yet very strong and durable. As he held it he thought of Akane wearing it.

She would be stunning in this.

Glancing at the price Kakashi froze.

Okay, that's too much for her to spend. I can't let her buy this.

"What you don't like it?" Nariko sounded hurt.

"No, no, I do. It's very nice."

Nodding to the man at the counter Kakashi relished Nariko's face. Her eyes wide and her jaw agape, she was a sight indeed.

Kakashi chuckled and handed the man the money.

"It cost to much so I decided to take care of it. It's the least I could do for the hospitality you are giving my team and I." He smiled. His single eye curving like it usually did. Nariko continued to stare. He knew they were only letting them stay because they knew Iruka, but he felt better to not take it that way.

Shaking her head she came back to her senses. "Hold it. Did you just buy that because you liked it or because I said it was for Akane?"

"I don't know. I'm kind of fond of this design to tell you the truth. I'd like to see her in it. I think it would suit her."

He felt Nariko's eyes bore into his. He wanted her to stop staring. What he said was the truth. He felt it would do the younger woman justice. Then a thought occurred to him.

How did I not see this? If I can get close to her and gain her trust then I can find out who she is.

He had to take more time to plan this out.

"Uh huh sure you do. I think you like her." Taking a step back Kakashi tried his best to avoid the accusing finger.

"I…no I do not." He answered evenly. Something inside was fluttering he wanted it to stop.

Here we go, even her name makes me feel like this. I'm getting tired of this.

"Well either way you saved me a lot of money."

Why he bought it he now had no clue. It was almost total impulse. But still to see her in it would be something to see.

"Tell me something." Nariko came next to him and guided him down the street.

"Alright, what is it you wish to know."

"How is it you can spend so much on the fabric without worrying?"

Is that all? I was wondering if she'd start asking me more about Akane.

"Well I've saved up quite a lot of it from all my missions."

"You mean you don't have someone back home to spend it on?" She looked disappointed.

"Nope." He smiled.

"Why not?"

"I'm usually away on extended missions and I'm barely even in my own home. Having a social life just wasn't that important to me."

Nariko stopped and stared. "That's so sad…How can you possibly live like that?"

He wasn't too sure what to say to that. Never had he even discussed his life and how busy it was. He had to think of something fast.

"Well I live from day to day like everyone else." He smiled through his mask. "My purpose is to protect my village. The people there are the one's I care for. I have no need for anything else in my life. As long as if the people in the village I call home are safe then I am content. What more can I ask for."

Yes. What more. If I ask for more it'll be taken brutally away from me.

Nariko looked as though she were in deep thought. "Akane is the same way. Not once have I seen her with anyone. Iruka was the closest and even then she seemed to push him away at times."

This confession caught him off guard. Akane was similar?

That's strange. What could possibly make her like that? She has a family and friends who care about her.

"I guess it was because of her training."

"Her training?"

She must have been trained separately from the rest of the shinobi in this village. That would explain the total control she has.

"Yes. There are few like her but when they do appear we send them away to be trained by certain teachers that teach them skills normal people cannot."

"That's a very unusual custom. I've never heard of this practice. Can you tell me more, maybe about her teacher?"

"Well there isn't much I know about him. No one knows where he taught her. No one has even seen him except for Akane. I do know he died years ago, and the jutsu he taught her she had never used."

"So they're probably forbidden techniques."

"I think so. Akane never talked about her training. I know it was hard on her and she has a few scars from then, none of them nice."

"That sounds like the teacher was quite strict." He was interested now. If he could get her to show him a forbidden jutsu, or even if he created a situation in which she had to use it, he could copy it and analyze the effects. Chances were slim she would fall for either though.

Looks like I'm going to have to follow her longer, and hopefully she'll drop a few clues.

Walking further Kakashi stopped at one of the stands. He had no clue why it caught his attention but there was a reason.

There among various objects he saw a necklace. It was simple nothing major to it except three silver feathers. It reminded him of Akane's hair. She always had three feathers tied into her ponytail. He made up his mind in seconds and bought it before the older sister noticed. She would have objected in an instant if she had seen.

I'm going crazy. I can't believe I just did it again. I need to get away from this place.

"Nariko-san?"

Nariko stopped. She wasn't worried but concerned nonetheless.

"Is it alright with you if we go back and get something to eat?"

"Sure."

He knew what he was doing was out of character but if he stayed at the markets any longer he would do more things that were out of character.

Entering the kitchen Kakashi spotted Iruka at the island with a salad. The man seemed to be lost staring at his salad.

"It probably won't jump into your mouth." Nariko said smartly. Needless to say Iruka jumped.

"I hope you left some." Kakashi decided to add to the effect. Iruka of course stared at him dumbly.

"Eh…yeah…Um over there, there's enough for everyone." He smiled as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Where's Akane-san, by now she should be starving" He felt bad asking since the second he did Iruka's face fell.

"She went on a mission. She has no clue when she'll be back. It could be weeks.

So she's on mission. This could give me a chance to follow her while she's busy.

"Ahh…it doesn't matter, we have to leave tonight." Iruka added smiling.

Damn it. He's more organized than I am.

"Today?" Kakashi asked.

"Yeah, I told you we'd be leaving today a few days ago."

"Hmm I guess time does fly." Kakashi said as he rubbed his chin as though in thought.

This makes it harder on me. I'd have to follow her at the same time as we search for Kaji…Either way I'll make sure someone keeps tabs on her.

"Maaa, I have something to check then before I eat…Better yet I'll bring it with me." Grabbing a bowl and helping himself to the salad, Kakashi made a retreat for 'his room'. As he went he could hear Nariko.

"Does he always do that?"

"I think so. No one has seen the man's face. At least until you did. I guess he likes his privacy."

"He's a strange one."

"No kidding."

Kakashi chuckled as he closed the door.

Setting the bowl on the floor and sitting next to it, he summoned the only 'person' who could follow the woman without being seen or noticed.

"What is it now?" Pakkun asked as he looked round the room. "You must be on mission."

"Yes I am." Kakashi tried not to sound annoyed. It was very obvious he was on mission; he didn't need the confirmation from the pug. "I want you to do something very important for me."

"When is it ever not?" He really wanted to stuff his salad in the dog's mouth.

"I need you to follow the woman who left her scent on this." Holding the mask out he let Pakkun sniff it.

"There's a catch?"

"I believe so. She may have the same skill level as I do, so stay hidden and try not to be noticed. If she sees you and she is who I think she is, you won't have a chance to get away."

"Ahh…this is that woman you once cornered on a cliff?"

"I think so. Please don't remind me of that day again."

It was a particularly bad day. He had cornered her on a cliff. Him above and his hounds below. Somehow the woman had managed to create a decoy that fooled most of the pack but left Pakkun behind. He wasn't impressed when she threatened to kill Pakkun

"I'll take that into account."

"Good. I want you to report to me every three days."

"Isn't that over kill?"

"No. I suspect she'll be close by. Iruka said he'd need her help so whatever this mission is, it's probably to keep her away from me, which is why I'm suspecting she's the one who owned this mask."

"Makes sense."

"Good I suggest you leave now."

"Understood."

Just as the pug uttered those last words he loped down the hall leaving Kakashi to his salad.

A/N: Okay someone is having problems. He seemed to have lost all control over himself ha ha. Nahh I think of Kakashi as a nice guy, and he does have a heart even if he pushes it aside a lot.

I think what is happening here is he admits to the 'funny' feeling he gets when she's around but he still can't figure out why its happening.

Unfortuately his little plan to get closer to her failed, she's gone and he can only track her. Poor Kakashi it's just not working out.

Well tell me what you think about this so far.

Review or email which ever works. Please!