The group was now on their way back to Axel after bidding the princess goodbye, though Kazuma looked a bit sleep-deprived to Kakashi. He didn't dwell on it, and they were now split into two carriages. One housed Kakashi, Kazuma, and Aqua while the other held both Megumin and Darkness.

"Hey, Aqua." Kazuma asked, his arms folded as he turned his head to look at her to his left. Kakashi was across the both of them.

"Mm? What?" Aqua had been drifting off to sleep, as usual.

"Since you're a Goddess and all supposedly, I wanted to ask you some things."

"Okay! Wait! What do you mean 'supposedly'?!"

"How come you don't have a halo or something? Aren't you guys supposed to be all holy with the golden ring on top?"

Aqua looked confused for a moment, before seemingly realizing what Kazuma was talking about by snapping her fingers.

"Oh! No, that's something only certain people in the Heavenly Realm get. Like the Supreme Deity and the angels that work for Him."

"Don't you work for him?"

"It's different?"

"You don't sound too sure about that."

"Why are you asking about that anyway? You've never cared before."

It was true. Kazuma had never cared to ask her about where she used to live, not to mention he hadn't been an overly-religious person anyway up until he had met her. Though, as they say, seeing was believing.

"I got curious. You didn't even say I might go to Hell or something when I died."

Aqua laughed, amused by the idea. "Oh please, you have to be really messed up to get sent down there. You'd have to be someone who killed people on purpose, did tons of horrible things, especially if it ever includes children. Kids get you double negative points."

"So, what about me, then?" Kakashi asked, lowering the book that was previously obscuring his face.

Both Kazuma and Aqua looked towards him, surprised he interjected himself into the conversation.

"What do you mean?"

"I've done all those things, maybe more." Kakashi leaned back into the uncomfortable wood, though he showed no signs of discomfort. "So, why wasn't I sent down?"

A silence permeated the carriage, and all that could be heard were the wooden wheels rolling along the dirt road.

"I can't say for sure, but I guess someone in Heaven thought you were worth using. Although, from what I remember, how your actions are judged depends on where you come from. There are worlds where things are completely desolate, and with attacks on people being so common, sometimes there is no other choice but to hurt someone, you know? So, maybe in your case it didn't count against you."

Kazuma looked shocked for a moment before shaking his head and recovering. "Wow, you almost sounded like you know what you're talking about for a minute there!"

Aqua pouted. "Hmph! I take my duties in the Heavenly Realm very seriously!"

"It didn't seem that way to me! You were just eating chips while your fat ass sat on your stupid throne!"

"You take that back! They're toned! Look!" Aqua moved to the further end of her seat and jammed her right foot right past Kazuma's face. "See? See?"

"Get that smelly thing away from me!"

"How dare you!"

Kakashi just sat there, impressed at how quickly they came to argue with one another. It reminded him a lot of his team.


"Asshole!"

"Idiot!"

"Douchebag!"

"Dead last!"

"Boys! Stop fighting! And Obito, you need to learn to watch your language!" Minato, his sensei, had chastised them. It was mortifying for Kakashi to be reprimanded by a superior, much less someone he looked up to, but he let Obito act so dumb! How could you call yourself a ninja and you can't even be bothered to show up on time?

"Sensei, if Obito just trained on his own time instead of complaining, he would be a chunin by now. Instead, he'd rather blame everything on everyone else. It's sickening."

"I do train! You can't tell with your head up your own ass-"

"Obito." Minato gently said.

"Oh, sorry. You can't tell with your head up where the sun doesn't shine, but my fireball jutsu has gotten tons better since you last saw it. And when I get my sharingan-"

"You always go on about your stupid bloodline. What? Plan to be mediocre until you have it?"

"Stupid?! The sharingan is the pride of the Uchiha!"

"And yet here you are, with no sharingan. Sure your eyes aren't defective?"

"That's it!" Obito leaped at Kakashi, who jumped and did the same, and both started wrestling on the floor.

Off to the side, Minato looked to Rin, who looked upset at the whole exchange. Sighing, he knelt down to her and spoke to her for a bit. Kakashi never did learn what they spoke about, and he hadn't cared to find out then. After that, he swiftly separated the two of them and challenged them both to a spar so they wouldn't have the energy to fight with one another.


"What is this?! I went and killed all these toads and all I got was a couple dozen thousand eris? This is bullshit!"

"I'm sorry sir, but with the abundance of them, the guild has no reason to pay so much for them. They're meant for beginner adventurers, so-" Luna began, but was quickly cut off.

The angry adventurer didn't allow her the time to finish. "No! Pay me what I'm owed! I'm not leaving until you give up the goods!" He slammed his fist on the counter as he did so, leaving a dent in the wood.

Luna was annoyed, but couldn't really do anything herself to the man. He was one of the more higher-level adventurers in town. Really, he should have left Axel for harder challenges, but he was known to enjoy feeling like he was a top dog, at least when Mitsurugi wasn't in town. At this moment, the sword hero was still at the capital.

"Sir, if you keep causing a ruckus, I'll have to ask you to leave. If you don't, I'll be forced to call the guards."

"The guards? Pah! Let them come! Those pansies won't keep me in jail for long! And then, I'll be right back here, and I won't be so nice to you!" He laughed at her threat. "Although, if money can't be paid to me, I can accept... other forms of payment."

Luna felt a vein on her forehead about to burst. This man was the last person still there, and she had to close for the night. "You pig!" She went to slap him, but he grabbed her wrist and twisted it painfully.

"Ah! Stop!" She cringed in pain.

"Make me!" He smiled.

A finger tapped him on his shoulder, "Gladly."

"Huh?" The man turned around, only to stare into a red spinning eye. His eyes went slack, before he started screaming in terror. He fell on his behind, before scrambling to get up and run away.

"Well, glad that's over." Kakashi said, calmly walking over to Luna while reapplying his headband back over his left eye. "Are you alright?"

Luna was surprised and almost speechless at how quickly Kakashi handled the man, but had the decency to blush when Kakashi asked her again.

"Oh, um, I'm fine. Thank you very much!" She held her wrist close to her body. "What did you do to him?"

"I just put him under an illusion. Makes you see your greatest fears, but I don't actually see what he sees, so it's anyone's guess as to what had him running so scared. Funny thing is, he won't even know it wasn't real until way after the fact."

"That's... pretty scary." Luna said wearily, she had heard of Kakashi's exploits in the capital, though she was hesitant on how true they were. Kakashi was such a calm man, it was hard to imagine him going on such of a slaughter as the papers described.

"Oh no, it's really not all that strong of an ability if you know about it beforehand." Kakashi told her. He sat down at the table close to the counter and beckoned her over to join him. Figuring she could spare the time for someone who just saved her, she obliged him. "All you need against anything is to know its weakness."

"So you have weaknesses?"

"Everybody does. But enough about that, do rowdy ones like that guy come around often?"

Luna sighed. "No, well, at least not during the normal operating hours. With all the adventurers that are usually here, no one in their right mind would do anything too outrageous to the staff. It's when there's no one around that we ever need to be weary."

"That's surprising. This city seems pretty peaceful from what I've seen." Of course, Kakashi knew there had to be some bad eggs, you could not be a true society if everyone was an upstanding citizen. If there were no criminals, Kakashi would be even more on edge than if there were.

"This town is really nice, but the adventurers usually don't see it. They're so busy out of town doing quests, and they're usually armed so no one would dare try to mess with them. It's the citizens like me who need to care, unfortunately." Luna then rested her chin in her hand, with her other arm resting on the table. "Actually, that reminds me, why are you here? I'm happy you were, but it's really late so I don't know why you would be."

"Ah, that's the question, isn't it?" Kakashi closed his eye in supposed deep contemplation. "Are you sure you're ready to hear that answer?"

"No need for the suspense, Kakashi." If Luna were honest with herself, her heart did pick up a beat or two.

"Then I'll say it." He opened his eye, and stared seriously back into Luna's eyes. She swallowed deeply at his intense gaze. "I don't know when you guys close."

It took a moment, but Luna eventually started laughing, which Kakashi joined in on with his own more subdued chuckles.

"But in all seriousness, I just wanted something to drink and eat. Didn't want to bother cooking after coming back from our trip."

"Oh! I would offer to get you something from here, but I already sealed everything up. But I'd hate for you to go home hungry after coming all this way..." She thought about something for a moment, before coming up with a solution to the problem.

"That's alright, you don't have to do anything more-"

"How about I treat you at my home?"

Kakashi's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure? I'd hate to intrude and take up your free time."

"You won't be! It's been a long time since I've had anyone over."

"Alright, if that's what you wish. Lead the way." The pair got up and walked off side by side as Luna closed the guild for the night.


Dust had been having a bit of a rough night. Not only had he gambled away all his quest money, but Rin had rejected his request for some more spending money. So now, the two of them were on their way home from a small fetch quest that they decided they would turn in the next day. They were on their way home when Dust pulled on Rin's sweater to get her attention, pulling her into some foliage to hide in.

"What's the big idea?!"

"Rin! Look! Look!"

The girl with the odd tail did so, and she saw Kakashi and Luna, the head guild worker, walking together. They were talking with one another and Luna had a visible smile on her face.

"So? It's just Miss Luna and Kakashi."

"So?! Why are a man and a woman walking down the road together at night? Tell me what you think that means, Rin!"

"That they're friends?"

"More than that! Luna never hangs out with anyone, much less after a day at the guild. Everyone knows that! She's like the ultimate bachelorette in town besides Wiz."

"That doesn't mean they like each other, Dust."

"Wait... wait! Look! They stopped!"

"He's probably just walking her home. You wouldn't know about that since you're the opposite of a gentleman."

"I resent that. But-"

"Is he?!" Rin whisper-yelled as she moved even closer.

"They just both went inside!"

"Oh my God! Miss Luna is... is-"

"Gonna get fucked!"

WHACK

Dust held his head in pain after Rin smacked him upside the head. "Ow! What the hell was that for?!"

Rin had a blush on her face, clearly not used to the image of someone she looks up to doing such things. "Don't talk like that around a girl!"

"You're not much of one to begin with-"

"I'll kill you!"

"Ah! I'm sorry!" Dust quickly ran away with Rin giving chase shortly after, threatening him of removing his manhood.


"Here we are, I'm sorry I didn't get to prepare for visitors beforehand." Luna said sheepishly, beginning to organize the dining room table.

"It's totally fine. Let me help." Kakashi went to begin but Luna held a hand to him.

"That's gonna be a no, mister. I'm treating you, so let me do it!"

Kakashi held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright." She directed him to take a seat as she went to begin cooking in the kitchen, and Kakashi took the time to admire her humble abode. He didn't know how much someone in her position got paid, but it was somewhere around decently well. It wasn't too big or too small, from what he could tell.

Right as he walked in, the living room was front and center with a small fireplace in the center, and a medium sized couch in front of it. There were two chairs to the side that he assumed were for guests. The dining room was on the left, with the kitchen being further ahead of it. To the right of the living room was what he supposed were the bathrooms and bedrooms. The entire home had a nice wooden cabln feel to it (even though the material only mimicked wood), which surprised him. It was old-school, even for him, and it wasn't often he saw a women pick it for her home.

As Kakashi got done letting his eyes wander, Luna returned to him, bringing him some bread to eat while they both waited for the food to cook. He took it in his hand, but was hesitant to remove his mask in front of her.

Sensing his discomfort, she turned around in her seat for him. Thankful she got the hint, he quickly ate the bread before lifting his mask back up.

"You can turn around now."

She did so. "The food will be done in twenty minutes, but I'll have to check on it halfway through. It's this recipe that my mother passed down to me, I hope you like eggplant." She cringed inwardly at not having asked if he was allergic to it.

"Actually, that's my favorite."

"Thank goodness, then I'm sure you'll fall in love with it."

"Bold words, but I'm an easy enough man to please."

Luna scoffed, completely skeptical. "I would have thought the same, but with how much of a local name you're becoming, I thought you'd have women throwing themselves at you by now."

Kakashi scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Unfortunately, that already happened. I've never had to say no to so many people before."

"That just goes to show that it isn't easy to make you say yes."

"It's more me than them. Romance isn't exactly something I've ever concerned myself with."

Luna's mouth opened slightly in surprise, "You mean you've never been with anyone before?"

"No, I've never had the time for it, being in the military at such a young age."

"How young were you when you started?" She asked curiously.

"If memory serves, I was about five years old."

"FIVE?! What kinda place were you living in?!"

"I don't see the problem. Tensions were running high at the time, and war was on the horizon with neighboring villages, so when they saw me ahead of the older students, they rushed me forward."

"But still, to have to have done such adult things so soon.." Luna was sickened at the idea of child soldiers. "It's not right."

Kakashi just shrugged his shoulders. "It wasn't, but that's what happened. Is it any different to the adventurers here?"

"Excuse me?" Luna sounded offended at the implication.

"Not to be argumentative, but surely you can see the parallels between what I did for my village and how kids here go out and defeat monsters."

"It's not the same, they aren't fighting a war here. Only those called to the capital are even allowed to fight directly in the war against the Demon King."

"Megumin was there."

"W-what?!"

"When we were in the capital, there was an attack nearby, I'm sure you heard of it."

"Well, yes, that's the one that made you the talk of the town."

"They allowed all able-bodied adventurers onto the field. That included her, a young girl who was only fourteen years old."

"But... that's so... to allow someone like her to fight. I understand she has that powerful magic, but it's different when fighting an army versus the toads near the town."

"The world is cruel in that regard, isn't it?"

Luna didn't know how to respond to that, but thankfully the pot started making noise, which was her signal to go check on the food. She sat down once again when she finished.

"It's almost done. Just a little longer now."

Kakashi nodded at her, before looking around the home once more, thinking of something for conversation.

"You live alone?"

"Oh, yeah... ideally, that wouldn't be the case."

"Is that right?"

"I've been waiting for a man to come sweep me off my feet but considering the kind of men who are around me, that being the adventurers, I doubt that'll happen anytime soon." She laughed soullessly to herself, almost sounding bitter about the whole thing.

Kakashi put his hand on his chest in mock hurt. "Even me? I'm hurt."

She smiled at him, "Oh please, you're different from those guys."

"How do you figure?"

"You've offered to help me when you didn't need to, for one. Not many people look at all that paperwork I do and then agree to help. Even if I'm struggling, no one jumps at the opportunity, you know?" She sighed happily at the memory. "Even now, just getting to relax and talk to someone outside of work is really nice."

"I hear you, it's easy to get lost in the day to day."

"Ha! Tell me about it! Though it happens to everyone, some people in the guild don't even know my name, I'm just the 'busty guild lady' to some." She seemed upset at that. "Am I really so forgettable?"

Kakashi wasn't exactly the person to come to for reassurance and comfort, but he would try for her sake.

"With a hair style like that, it would be difficult to forget you." He meant it, people in this town such as Aqua had unique hair styles he had never seen before. Rarely did a ninja back home ever bother to style their hair more than improving it from bed hair.

Luna touched her hair at his mentioning of it, "Do you really like it?" She asked with a blush.

"I'm not one to lie unless it's for a job."

"Thank you, I don't get many genuine compliments."

"Not even from your coworkers?"

"It may not seem like it, but the girls and I have a strictly professional relationship, contrary to popular belief that we're all best friends. At least, that's the case for me. They've invited me out before, but I never have time to go since I run so much on my own."

"Do you at least have a hobby?"

Luna grinned at the question. "You can't see it, but I have a bookcase in my room full of literature. I'm especially a fan of romantic novels, so if you have any recommendations, send them my way!"

"Romance, you say? I might have just the thing," Kakashi commented as he reached into his pouch and pulled out his favorite series of books.

Luna took the offered book. "Make-out Paradise? Quite the name."

"Trust me when I say it is a work of art."

"And you're okay with me borrowing it? I see you with this book all the time, it must be important to you."

"True, you won't find this book anywhere else in this country, so do take care of it."

Luna felt touched by the gesture. "Thank you, Kakashi. I'll start on it when I can."

"Return it when you're finished. Take your time with it. It's an experience, to say the least. That's a signed copy from the author."

Noticing said signature on the cover, Luna couldn't make out what it said. "What language is this?"

"Just the one I used back home, the author's name is Jiraiya. He called himself the 'Great Toad Sage'."

"Why would he call himself that?"

"Let's just say he had lots of pet toads."

"He domesticated them?!"

DING

"Oh! That's my cue!" Luna got up and put the food on two plates for both of them. She put his plate down first, and then hers. "Enjoy!"

Kakashi was impressed, a casserole using eggplant was a treat, and he couldn't wait to try it out. Just as he was picking up his utensils that Luna had just given him, she made a noise of alarm.

"Sorry, I guess I'll eat on the couch while you eat here." She made to move, but Kakashi reached over and held her arm.

"No, stay, it's fine." His grip was firm but gentle to Luna, and she couldn't help but wordlessly oblige him. "I shouldn't be so closed off to someone who let me into their home like this."

"So, does that mean..." Luna started, she had thought about what he looked like underneath all his face coverings. Her imagination did run a bit wild at times, and there was even a big bet on what he looked like under it. Some people believed he was stunningly good looking, while others thought he had hideous scars underneath. Luna could never settle on one specific look.

"Yes." Kakashi began lowering his mask, and to Luna, it felt like an eternity. She waited for his full look with baited breath, and once the mask slipped past his nose, the suspense felt suffocating. Once it was fully down around his neck, Luna was shell shocked. He was... not what she imagined, but also exactly what she would want.

"If you keep holding your breath any longer, you might just pass out."

Indeed, Luna had been holding her breath, and she took a deep one to compensate. She blushed heavily at being called out. "I-I wasn't staring!"

Kakashi laughed, and Luna noticed just how deep his voice was now that she basically had the full picture. Too bad he still had that headband on. Scrambling to not look more like a love struck school girl, she began to eat.

Once they were finished, Luna asked him, "So, how did you like it?"

"It's probably the best thing I've eaten in years."

"How do I compare to the greats in your life?"

"There is only one woman who immediately comes to mind that ever cooked for me, and her name was Kushina Uzumaki."

"Was she your mom?"

Kakashi let that idea into his head, and then realized how terrible it would be.

"Thankfully not. She was my teacher's wife." Kakashi looked up wistfully. "She was always full of energy and crazy, but she would defend the people she cared about against anyone. Frankly, I would never want her as my enemy."

"So she was a ninja like you?"

"That's right," he nodded. "One of the best in the village in her time. Something happened and she passed away, along with my teacher, but I at least got to teach her son for a while."

"What was his name?"

"Naruto Uzumaki, he's an unpredictable kid, but he's got a heart of gold. Don't know how the ninja world didn't change him like it did me, but he's better for it."

"Sounds like you miss him, why don't you visit?"

Kakashi's heart sunk a bit, "That's not possible right now. Although, if everything goes according to plan, by the end of this whole journey I'll be able to head back home."

"For your sake, I hope everything goes well." Luna looked a bit sad.

"Yeah." Kakashi decided to pick up the dishes before Luna could protest, and began washing them in the kitchen sink.

"You really can't help but keep your hands busy sometimes, huh?"

"You could say that." Not that she had any clue what he was actually referring to. No, that information stayed with him.

Luna spoke a bit louder, to be heard over the running water. "Now that we've talked about your home, how are you adapting to life as an adventurer?"

"Well, it's been quite the experience."

"What abilities have you gotten so far? You must have gone up multiple levels since you've started!"

Kakashi looked sheepish. "If I can be honest, I haven't really bothered checking it."

Luna gave him a deadpan expression. "You can't be serious."

"Sorry." He finished washing the dishes and turned to face her fully.

"Just make sure to actually utilize those abilities of your ninja class, they'll help you during your adventure."

"It's just hard to get used to. Never had to worry about my 'level' before."

"Well, you better start getting used to it."

Kakashi agreed, and began to walk towards the front door as Luna followed.

"I guess it's time for me to leave."

"I guess so."

It was horribly awkward, with Kakashi not knowing if he should just walk out, and Luna not wanting the night to end.

"If you don't mind, Kakashi, maybe you could visit again sometime? We could talk about your book... or something."

Kakashi gave it some thought before giving her an affirmative.

"I'd like that."