Hi everyone. Thanks for reading this far. It's my first go at this so I'm grateful for your support. I hope you're enjoying it :)

I just wanted to warn you guys I changed a minor detail at the end of chapter 6. You can go back and read the last two scenes or read it briefed here.

Changes:

They arrive at the town mid-day.

The festival is that night and not the day after.

They didn't decide where to eat.

Happy reading :)

Kakashi

"You know it's rude to stare at people in an Onsen?" His head lay back on the side of the spring pool and he prised his onyx eye open. He slid his eye to his partner sitting far on his right side. She sunk lower into the pool covering her shoulders and her mouth as a blush crept onto her pale skin. She was henged into brown hair and jade eyes.

"I was just wondering if this is what you look like under the mask" her eyes grew wider in awe as she slid closer next to him, talking quietly. There were two older women and a few grown men minding their own business in various places around the large onsen.

He felt himself gulp as the water rippled over him as she neared.

He didn't take his lazy eye off her as she did. She peered closer to his face, inspecting it.

"I'm henged." He henged into his usual Sukea appearance, brown hair, grey eyes, purple paint down his face, over his eyes.

"But how would I know?" she asked a fair question leaning around and stretching as if she'd see more. She was still an arms-length away but it suddenly felt too close. She blinked her large green eyes. She hadn't changed herself other than the brown hair and jade eyes. The more he looked at her the more it felt wrong on her. He closed his eye and tilted his head back to the sky, relaxing.

Did the water just get hotter?

He stretched his arms on either side of him, resting on the side of the pool. His chest emerged some and steamrolled off his heated skin. He felt immediately cooler and let out a long calm breath.

"Curious?" he uttered. He felt warm and lethargic. Talking seemed like effort but the corner of his mouth twitched into a smile.

"Won't you show me?" she cooed at him and he found his eye on her again. He faltered as he saw her pouting at him, her brows pulled down. She'd henged her chest large again and was wiggling her shoulders, faining annoyance. He trained his face into his lazy grin and tilted his head back to the sky.

"Next time." He gave her a veiled promise. He laughed singularly when she huffed and sank back into the water, leaning on the warmed stone.

She got out not long after that and he tried his damned hardest not to look as she did. He lost the battle with himself as she walked up the stairs. Steamrolled off her skin and her wet hair cascaded down her back. He squeezed his eyes shut realising his Sharingan swirled as he took in the sight. He cursed himself for being a pervert and not giving her privacy. He lay back thanking a higher power that his nose didn't bleed.

"Hungry?" She jumped up from the futon and asked as he opened the door to their room. She was dressed in the plain baby blue winter kimono from the Ryokan, as was he. She was unhenged and her lilac hair was unbound by her usual twin tails. The room was much smaller this time and a large round window was set lowly on the plain wall. A smile curled his lips.

"Nope," He watched the hope in her eyes wither and die. "Don't think I am," she pouted as she had done in the onsen, but his smile faltered. It looked so different without her henge and his heartbeat faltered for a moment. He cleared his throat. "It seems busy out there. We should lay low." He took his eyes off her and removed his shoes. She moved around the small room plonking herself next to the window.

He lay down on the futon and placed his hands behind his head. It was the most comfortable thing he'd ever lain on and a satisfied sigh escape his lips. He opened his eyes and flinched as Ame hovered directly above his face as she'd knelt directly above his head.

"I want to go." She blinked through her expressionless gaze. Her breath floated onto his face. He was suddenly thankful he'd dropped his henge and his mask was in place. "We're in our own lands now, it's fine." She continued after he didn't respond quick enough.

"You're willing to risk our mission?"

"I hate to remind you, but I'm pretty sure we've failed the mission, Taichou." She wasn't wrong. The Suna nin had known of their presence and their battle with the small army can't have gone unnoticed. He sighed.

"Taichou, huh?" a slow smirk crossed his face.

"Um-Hm" She nodded once strongly and a lilac lock floated from her shoulder onto his cheek. She raised a single finger near her face and began in a factual tone. "As a great Taichou, it is their role to take responsibility for every and all failures during the mission." She finished as if she read it out of a textbook and continued. "Although some failures are inescapable, leaders cannot abdicate the responsibility of failure nor shift responsibility to their subordinates." A second finger flew up at her second point and she raised a third finger "As my Tai-"

"My subordinate, huh?" He interjected and his eyes darkened. He refused to acknowledge the dark places his mind took him. Her words faltered and he watched her gulp. "Subordinates are supposed to obey their Taichou."

"Have I disobeyed orders, Taichou?" She asked, something laced her voice as her eyes flashed. The sound of his title falling from her lips did something to his gut. Their gaze intensified as a moment passed between them.

More of her hair fell from her shoulder and she blinked quickly breaking the moment. She sat upright onto the back of her legs. She placed her hands on her knees.

He sat upright keeping his back towards her, propping himself on the palms of his hands.

"Are you not resisting a command now?" his tone was authoritative.

"We have to eat, at least?" she spoke with a professional tone. He sighed, too tired to fight this particular battle.

"Has anyone ever told you, you're stubborn?" he got to his feet and straightened his robes.

"Nope, no one" he faltered as he approached the front door and looked over his shoulder. She stared up at him innocently and blinked.

"Honestly?" her brows pulled down confused and he breathed a laugh as he slid his shoes on.

The streets were bustling and his insides groaned. He wasn't sure if it was hunger or the crowd that was upsetting it. She stuck close to him, her shoulder pressed into his.

Night had descended and it was still cold from winter but the atmosphere of the festival was warm. The red and gold lanterns illuminated the busy streets and chatter and laughter filled the air. Stall owners called out promoting their games and musicians laced the street.

A drunk woman with a man on her arm bumped into Ame sending her closer to Kakashi. The couple sang merrily in the street not even noticing but Ame's hand clutched the fabric of his Kimono. As an onsen village, most visitors wore the robes of the houses. He looked down to her hand clutching his clothes and he suddenly didn't care about the crowds. He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. He felt stiff and awkward doing so, but he began to steer them around the packed street. It was hard not to bump into anyone as it was so busy. He didn't dare look down at her but she didn't resist.

The noise was almost too loud to hear her over the crowd and she tugged on his robes. He watched her lips trying to read what she was saying. His eyes glazed over as he began to be distracted by their fullness.

"Crow?" she said louder.

"Yes?" he snapped out of his haze. She moved onto her tiptoes, her face nearing his.

"Want to go to that tea house?" she spoke into his ear. The feel of her breath blowing past his ear sent a small shudder down his body. What was wrong with him today?

"Sure" It came out low and husky and he cleared his throat trying to snap out of it. He dropped his arm once they were in front of the tea house.

They were seated by the window looking out onto the street. They were in a private booth and the light was dim. They'd dropped their henge as soon as they'd ordered and the waiter had left. No need to waste chakra. She watched the comings and goings constantly as the festival only heightened. The lights reflected in her eyes as she perched her head on her fist.

He shook himself out of it and scanned the menu. He found concentrating on the words more difficult than usual and re-read the mains thrice over. The waiter began to come back and they both henged back. It wasn't any effort and she didn't even move from her position.

"What can I get for you both?" the waiter watched as Ame stared out the window waiting for her to order. He stood almost as tall as Kakashi, had black short hair and bright emerald eyes. He looked to Kakashi for direction. He had the timid nature of a new worker.

"I'll have the dinner platter" he offered. "Ame?" he said after she didn't speak up.

"Sounds good," the words barely left her mouth.

"She'll have the same" the waiter's shoulders dropped, thankful. "Any drinks?" he looked to Kakashi.

"Warm sake" she mumbled. Kakashi's eyes widened. They were on a mission. He coughed trying to get her attention but she ignored it. He shook his head.

"I'll have jasmine tea." He smiled tightly to the waiter who nodded and left.

"We're still on a mission." He warned as their henges dropped. She hummed in agreement lightly but continued to gaze out onto the street.

"Ame." He warned again.

"Nothing will happen," she answered calmly, "it's OK" she almost whispered and he suddenly felt calmer himself. He felt affected by her and it was strange.

"You really shouldn't." He was less convincing.

"I've never been to a festival" she admitted as if it wasn't the strangest thing on earth. He felt his brows rise.

"Never? Not even in Konoha?" she shook her head and her eyes shone, watching the window. The restaurant was lively and musicians played an Erhu soothingly.

"I have seen them from my window." She spoke in a dream-like state. "What is everyone celebrating?" He watched her in the dim light, and couldn't seem to bring himself to look away from her.

"Must be the end of Winter and the start of the New Year. I'm sure Konoha celebrates it too." In fact, he knew it did, but she didn't want to be condescending. "Do they not have this in the Land of Birds?"

"I don't know," she offered. "Maybe." Her henge slipped up again and he mimicked her. She turned to the young lad who placed their black and red trays in front of them, and then their drinks. She looked up to the waiter and asked.

"What is this festival for?" Her eyes were round and innocent. His eyes widened and a blush crept on the young waiters face.

"You must not be from near here?" he asked. "It is our Lunar New Years festival." Her eyes widened in awe. "The celebrations last for 16 nights. It's the best time of the year." He smiled at her innocently and she returned it. "Is that all?" he looked between her and Kakashi for confirmation and he nodded.

Their henge dropped and they ate wordlessly. She chewed little and slowly as she kept her eyes on the scenes. He'd never seen her eat slowly and he took the opportunity to lower his mask and eat. He slid it up when he chewed and down when he needed more. The atmosphere and music floated around them as they sat amongst the festival. They finished their food and he pushed his tray to the side, focusing on his tea.

His hand lifted to lower his mask to drink but her head snapped towards him. Just in time, he pulled it back in place.

She smirked at him momentarily and then her expressionless mask returned. He scowled at her.

"I never used to be curious about what was under your mask, you know?" her tone was filled with mirth and her eyes started to shine with it.

"Past tense?" he jibed. Her lips twitched as she brought a small saucer of warmed sake to her lips. He found himself leaning over the small table between them. "And now?" something passed through her eyes.

"I'd probably do anything to see what's underneath." How she spoke wasn't suggestive but it wasn't entirely innocent either. He felt warm and his gut coiled. His head began wandering.

"There's nothing I want that you could give me" He leant back nonchalantly. It might've been the biggest lie he'd ever told. She blushed hard and gave him a look as if she could see right through him. She poured more Sake and sipped at it, watching him over the saucer.

"Do you not trust me?" she almost purred to him.

"You already saw my face." His head tilted to the side and her eyes widened. He watched her concentrate on when he was referring to.

"You were beaten to the point of being unrecognisable." He flinched at her directness but looked back up to her. Her eyes looked like liquid silver and it distracted him from the horrors threatening to be remembered. Her lips curled up as she spoke "you looked like a watermelon that had been sat on by an elephant." She laughed at her terrible comparison and he found himself unable to repress the laugh that escaped him.

"Really?" he laughed. "A watermelon? Sat on by an elephant?" he shook his head and placed his elbows on the table, swirling the tea in his cup.

"Unless that's what you usually look like." She laughed again, the sound of it sent a wave of something unfamiliar over him. "Maybe, that's why you wear the mask" she began laughing harder and her hand hit the table once as tears began to build in her eyes. He shook his head and laughed, watching her laughing at her own joke.

She settled and sipped at her Sake.

"Here," she offered as she poured another.

"Ah, I shouldn't" he put his hand up to refuse.

"I wouldn't want to get drunk and be taken advantage of," she looked at him blankly, "Is that what you want?" his eyes widened.

"Of course not," he found himself saying.

"Then drink," she smiled too sweetly, her eyes closing as she did. He sighed falling into her trap.

"Turn around."

"Why?" she pouted. He gave her a look.

"Please," he hated how desperate it came out but her face faltered and she gave him privacy. He sipped the warm liquid and his body welcomed it. The warmth hit his stomach spreading through his abdomen.

"Warm sake in the winter is one of my favourite things," she admitted, looking out to the festival. He pulled his mask back up and watched her.

"Why are your eyes different to the Hyuga?" her eyes spied him curiously.

"That," she said as she leaned on the table, "is a secret" she tapped him on the nose and placed her head in the palm of her other hand. He felt a blush creep below his mask.

"A secret for a secret?" he purposed and she nodded to him, giving him a fake smile, "name your price?" he asked.

"I want to see-"

"Not my mask" he warned. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Fine" she sighed. She hummed thinking of what to ask. "Share something with me you've never told anyone." She asked and excitement reflected in her eyes. Red tinged her cheeks and he wasn't sure if it was embarrassment or the sake. His guess was the latter. She sipped again from the little saucer. It suddenly occurred that they shared the same cup and warmth crept up his neck and his cock twitched in his trousers. He cursed himself and willed himself to relax but he couldn't seem to take his eyes off her lips around the rim of the saucer.

"Taichou?" Oh god. Maybe it was the sake. "Kakashi?" she whispered. He cleared his throat.

"I'm thinking," good save.

"It can be anything." She blinked at him innocently. "Anything very secret, if it's not good enough then I won't reveal my secret." She smiled at him tightly.

"Fine, fine." He leant back and began to think but heard the waiter approaching. Their henges slipped up in unison.

"The bill, sir, ma'am." He slipped the paper on the side and left them be. Kakashi's lips stretched into a smirk slowly. Her eyes narrowed at him.

"Ah, it looks like I've forgotten my Ryo." He gave an eye creased smile to her. "I'm sure my favourite subordinate can cover this." It wasn't a question.

"I'm your only subordinate." Her face darkened. He brought a two-hand seal up over his chest. "Don't you dare-"

He poofed from the table and made it back to their room. The smile just didn't seem to want to leave his face. He removed his shoes and brushed his teeth before settling on top of the futon, his arms above his head.

It wasn't long before Ame came storming through the door of their room. A feline glare set in stone there. She kicked her shoes off and stood above him. He cracked his eyes open and smiled up to her innocently. Her scowl deepened.

"You owe me,"

"Do I?" he asked. "How about a secret?" he offered. She narrowed her eyes contemplating it.

"Fine." She quipped and sat facing him, next to the futon.

"Hmm," he sat up as he thought, he looked her dead in the eyes as she sat expectantly. "I regret I never thanked you that night." Her head moved back as slight shock washed her pretty features.

"Ah yes, I've been meaning to scold you about that. I'm not sure if you're aware but breaking into a drunk young woman's house isn't OK," she smirked, "just for future reference." He laughed at how she remembered it.

"Your door was wide open" he laughed. She scowled at the truth.

"Well," she thought, "doesn't mean you can enter unannounced" she reasoned.

"I knocked!" he insisted, she rolled her eyes as if he were lying, "I called out to you even."

"Really?" she looked back towards him starting to realise he might be right.

"Yes really," he laughed lightly. "I assumed you'd heard me, I didn't realise just how drunk you were, it seems"

"I wasn't that drunk" she argued.

"Yeah yeah" he waved her off, "I was a bit out of it too, if I'm honest" the air shifted as he admitted it. "It had been a hard few days"

Warmth suddenly covered his hand. He looked down to see her slender hand covering his. She squeezed it once and returned it to her lap. He looked up to meet her eyes but couldn't read her expression.

"Now then," she said upbeat, "what will you trade for the secrets of my eyes." She smiled at him warmly but he watched as it slowly fell. "There's no one alive on this earth that knows, you know." Her voice was distant and it did something strange to him.

"You have so many secrets" he whispered before he knew the words had escaped. Her eyes bore into his onyx eye.

"As do you, infamous Copy Ninja Kakashi" her small smile seemed sad. "Now, spill" she adjusted her position, getting comfy for the story.

"Most of my secrets are pretty dark, I think, I don't know where to start."

"How about your Sharingan?" she offered.

"Ah, this." His hand traced the scar over his eye. He saw her hand twitch and wondered if she wanted to mimic his action. "Ok."

Kakashi began to talk and he found for once he wasn't able to stop. He began to tell her about the mission that went wrong, and how he led his team, he introduced her to Obito and Rin. Began to talk about how he used to think only the mission mattered. Mattered more than his comrades, his friends. Told her that Obito changed all of that. Told her about how he lost his eye, how Obito sacrificed himself and saved him. How Obito gifted him the eye for becoming a Jonin. He didn't mention his father or why he used to think like that, but, he found he didn't mind telling her. He found he liked remembering Obito and telling her of his goodness, of Rin, too. It felt like he was keeping their memory alive. They'd always be a part of him.

She listened the whole time, smiling when he did, mourning when he mourned, he found her hand came to permanently rest on his, squeezing it for reassurance.

"So, that's how I got this." He opened it momentarily revealing it. She watched it swirl in his eye in awe. She removed her hand and placed it back in her lap. He missed the warmth of it. The temperature in the room had dropped with the night and it wasn't warm.

"I think I prefer your teammates to you," she grinned fully for the first time he'd seen. His chest ached as his features dropped in surprise.

"I think I do, too" he smiled at her and she looked him in the eye, her features returning to blank and unreadable. "Your turn,"

"Hmm," she thought. "Next time. It's late" she began to turn her back to him, and lie down.

"Oh no, you don't." He reached out for her outside arm and spun her back to him but pulled too hard and she fell into his chest. They both looked at each other with large shocked eyes and reddened cheeks. They froze at that moment and her warmth began to seep into him through their clothes.

The air changed and his eyes fell to her lips for too long. He felt the heat curl deep in his belly and watched as her teeth bit her lower lip. The skin beneath his kimono ignited and electricity flowed where her body was pressed into his.

"Taichou?" she whispered and his eyes flared a little as her voice broke through the moment. He cleared his throat and released her arms. She slid off him back to the floor. His breathing was unsteady and he trained his face to be neutral. He finally looked over to her, her face was somewhere between dazed and expressionless.

"Maa, you're lighter than you look" he jabbed to diffuse the situation. Her eyes seemed to come back to reality.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a smooth talker?" she jabbed back sarcastically.

"Just about everyone I know," he smirked arrogantly.

"Mustn't know many people then"

"You're wrong there, Ame-channn," he moaned, faining hurt, his hand covered his heart, "I know many people"

"You must have a habit of befriending those not in their right mind then" she scowled and smiled falsely.

"Maa, I can't disagree with that, do you know any ninja with their minds intact?"

"I can't say I do" she agreed and mirth danced in her eyes.

"I divulged a very secret, secret of mine," he crossed his legs and leant in to hear hers. "Your turn" she looked as if she were cursing herself.

"Fine," she sighed. "Ok," she hesitated and he couldn't figure out if she knew how to say what she needed to.

"You can trust me," he regretted it as soon as it came out. A wave of guilt washed over him as Hiruzens orders echoed in his head. The guilt grew as her trusting eyes sparkled for him.

"My eyes, they're different to the Hyuga," he nodded, "as you know." She started. "In essence, they're one of the same. Just with a few key differences."

He listened intently.

"They see chakra in the same way. They just have extra," she hesitated to think of the right word, "gifts," she said it like she didn't believe in it.

"Gifts?" he asked quizically, leaning in unconsciously. She hummed.

"Yeah," she looked away from him, and back towards him. "I don't know how to tell you."

"It's ok" he offered and it seemed to be the thing she needed to hear.

"I… my eyes… they can see things."

"Things?" his heartbeat picked up.

"They can see things, things that are about to happen, things that you are thinking, they can… they can see your fate." She watched his expression.

Her words didn't register for a good few moments and silence hung heavily between them.

They can see your fate.

"They what?" he whispered in disbelief.

"It's only a glimpse, I never get the full picture. Sometimes they don't even make sense."

He sat agape taking in the information.

"I've heard some decedents of the Otsutsuki clan have gifts like these," her eyes widened, "but nothing to this degree." He gulped.

"I've heard similarly. The Hyuga clan helped me control it, in secret, albeit reluctantly." She looked at her fingers as she picked at her nails.

"I didn't realise it was this big," he uttered, "I'm sorry if I pushed you to tell me something you didn't want to share. It must be hard to live with this ability." He offered sincerely, regaining normal thought. Her eyes met his wide.

"You're the first person that didn't call them a gift."

"I don't think knowing someone's fate is a gift, especially around Shinobi" he confirmed. She looked like she might cry but she didn't.

"I didn't mind," she offered, "telling you that is. If I didn't want to I wouldn't have." He smiled at her softly under the cloth of his mask.

"Neither did I" he answered truthfully.

"It's nice to be able to tell someone, I feel like I have to be dishonest and hide it from everyone" Dishonest… He gulped.

"Is it difficult to control?" he asked. She nodded.

"It is, when I use my byakugan, it feels like a lion scratching the other side of the door, trying to get to me"

"Does it happen sometimes?" he queried. She looked back at him.

"It's never happened with you, Taichou." She confirmed and he felt guilty that he was relieved.

"But, it does happen?" She nodded again.

"Yes, it has happened. With my previous team-" she stopped herself and he didn't feel like he wanted to press anymore. Before he knew it his hand reached out and placed itself on the top of her head. He intended it to be soothing but he felt ridiculous. Red stained her pale cheeks and her mouth gaped slightly. He gave her his usual closed-eye smile and she brought her own hands up and covered his on her head. She smiled lightly back at him before they both slipped back.

"We should get some rest." He offered. She nodded and rose to her feet, making her way to the bathroom. He got up himself and grabbed his pack, setting it near the futon and lying down, using it as a pillow. She faltered as she returned to the small room.

"Taichou?" she asked. "But, your back?"

"Onsen did its job, besides, what kind of captain lets their subordinate sleep on the cold floor." She looked like she wanted to argue but didn't. She turned the light out and slipped into the futon near him. In the darkness, he felt like the distance was suddenly too close. He could hear the beat of his heart in his ears and hear her breathing close to him.

"Taichou?" she whispered, her breath running over his face.

"Ame?"

"Thank you"

"For what?"

"For not thinking me a monster." She uttered near to his face.

"Oh you're a monster alright, a real little devil" he breathed a laugh and she didn't reply for a moment. "Will I have to check under my bed before I sleep at night?" he joked, worried he'd offended her. He couldn't see her face in the darkness.

"I'd never be under your bed, Taichou." He blinked a few times and his Sharingan involuntarily opened. She had her eyes closed and nestled into her pillow. A soft smile played on her lips at her own joke. He gulped ignoring what it all did to him. He needed sleep but he wasn't sure how much he'd get now. "Stop staring at me and go to sleep." His eyes widened further and he lay on his back at her command. He heard her breathe a laugh before it eventually evened out.

He lay in darkness as his mind swirled. He'd told her parts of him that he'd not told anyone, in exchange for information for the Hokage. But he wasn't sure if it was for the mission anymore. Guilt kept him awake more than anything. He couldn't think straight as it ate away at him. It wasn't until the sun poked through the round window that he got up. It felt like torture having to be in the same room with her.

He left and headed towards the baths. He slipped into the spring water as the sun rose, the cold air bit at his exposed skin but the hot water soothed him a little. He felt horrific. He wasn't sure if she could ever partner up again if he betrayed her. It was obvious it was already difficult for her, she was so against it. He sighed as steam danced above the onsen water. The pool was empty except for him, and he was grateful for the solitude.

His chest was heavy and he wasn't sure how he was going to spend the rest of the day with her.

He sat in the waters for too long but made his way back eventually.

"I don't know why I expect you to be on time anymore," she smiled warmly up at him. Too warmly. She was dressed and ready to go and he slid past her wordlessly and retrieved his pack. He entered the bathroom and changed into his gear.

"Ready?" she asked. He nodded towards her and went for the door. "You ok?" he hesitated and looked at the open door.

"Yeah, fine."

They were hurtling through the trees and hadn't stopped since they began. He knew they hadn't eaten but just needed to get home, back to the village before he explodes. Ame chatted absentmindedly next to him. He'd barely managed two words to her today but she was in a chatty mood and he couldn't take it.

"There was this one time when-"

"Ame stop," he clenched his eyes shut as he halted on the branch. He couldn't do it. Why did she have to be so happy today? Why did she want to talk to him today of all days? Anger built inside of him but it wasn't at her.

"I can't-" he spoke through grit teeth, he couldn't look at her. He jumped to the forest floor and heard her follow him. He turned his back on her. He couldn't look at her, face her even. "I've got something I need to tell you. I shouldn't but I can't-." He couldn't finish his sentence. He slid his mask above his head, where it rested.

"What is it, Taichou?" concern and suspicion laced her words heavily.

"The mission we were assigned, as a team, wasn't my only mission." Each word spilled out slowly.

"What are you saying, Kakashi-san?" he could hear something in her voice, was it panic? Dread filled every fibre of his body. He squeezed his eyes shut tighter.

"The Hokage, he assigned me my own mission." He turned to her, facing up to it. She stood with her mask over her head, her face had gone pale and in her silver eyes, fear lay. "There are so many unknowns around you," he began and her eyes grew wider and her breathing picked up, "there has been suspicions around you," he danced around the truth, "I was ordered to observed you, assess you, find out about you, and report back to the Hokage." She jerked back like she'd been hit. He clenched his fists by his sides. Moments passed until she stumbled back once, then another, and she hit the back of a tree, it took all her weight as if she couldn't even stand.

He took a step towards her,

"Don't" she warned, her voice was low and dark. He took two more steps. "Don't!" she cried this time.

"Please, Ame," he begged and reached out for her.

"Don't touch me!" she formed a two-finger seal in front of her face and a tornado of fire whipped around her. He stumbled backwards and his eyes grew wide. He forced himself to focus.

"It was an order," he pleaded, her figure looked weak, her hands trembled. He watched from the other side of the vortex of fire.

"I trusted you," she whispered. "I trusted you!" she shouted and picked herself up. She stood strongly, her face fierce. He swears he could see tears falling down her face.

"Please," he didn't know what he was begging for, to stop? To forgive him? He didn't know. He reached forward and she cried as she pushed the vortex further from her, pushing him away from her. But he didn't.

He reached forward for her, his hand and then his arm stretched through the fire. His eyes didn't leave hers even when he couldn't fight the grimace. Even when the pain stole his breath from him. The smell of his burning flesh made him dizzier but he didn't stop. His hand reached for her and found her arm.

Her eyes were wide with shock and fear. They slid down to the hand on her arm and tears flooded down her face. She sobbed singularly. As she did the jutsu cancelled. Neither moved until she looked up to him. The pain in her face twisted something in his chest. He pulled her into him.

"I'm so sorry, Ame" pain laced each word. She remained still, lifeless even. He hugged her tighter his cheek resting on the top of her head. "I never wanted to hurt you," he whispered. He squeezed his eyes shut as she fell apart in his embrace. Her body trembled and he took the full weight of her. He crushed her against him, taking the brunt of her shaking. He savoured the feeling of her in his arms, even if it wasn't in the way he wanted.

He didn't know how much time had passed but the sun began to set and her body stopped trembling. She weakly shifted in his grasp and he loosed his arms.

"Let go of me" she spoke quietly, she sounded tired. He released her and she walked off without looking at him. He watched her walk through the darkening forest as if she carried the weight of the world. Each step seemed to fight her.

His chest hurt. He hated himself.

It was truly night now. She had begun to run after a while, slowly, but she still ran. He didn't pressure her, he didn't attempt to talk to her. He knew she didn't want it.

He watched as she slowed and walked in front of him through the gates of Konoha. She held her arms behind her, her hands gripping each other. He noticed she still wore his gloves and it pulled something inside of him. She was so quiet. Her lilac hair flowed softly in the gentle wind. All the stars were out as the cloudless sky illuminated the darkened path.

He watched as she slipped into Konoha, disappearing into the village without looking back. And he let her.

I took a day or two off from writing to write my Masters Thesis (Lol crying rn) - but I managed to draw the scene where Kakashi spills the beans.

PLEASE REPLACE THE (SPACE) with a . to follow the link. Hope you guys like it :)

www Pinterest co uk/pin/524669425348535278/