Sparks 19

"Ends are not bad things, they just mean that something else is about to begin. And there are many things that don't really end, anyway, they just begin again in a new way. Ends are not bad and many ends aren't really an ending; some things are never-ending."

-C. JoyBell C.

The following year was - well, it went by far too fast. Like a good spring day that ended far too soon. While Kakashi had no luck with any teams, it seemed that Guy had. I may have poked around between my own training and running. Curiosity was practically eating me alive. His students were a Hyuga boy, a Kunoichi with her hair in buns and a boy with black glossy hair with a curl at the bottom. In the months that followed their training - well, that little boy with the curl in his hair became a near replica to Guy himself. It was so adorable.

"I swear to you, Kakashi! It's the cutest thing. It's like Guy split himself in half. There's two of them now!" I told him during one of our missions. Kakashi didn't say much about it, he mostly seemed amused by my reactions. But I also figured he didn't want to talk about it because if there were two Guy's that meant twice as many competitions for him (I honestly hoped not).

I didn't get to officially meet them; Guy was rather protective of his little clutch and so I tried my best to honor his wishes by keeping distant. I tried to not to be too nosy. Tried. I may have popped over to see how he was doing; the little boy in green was so very enthusiastic it was hard not to be entertained.

However, I wish that I could say home life was going as well. What little peace Sasuke and Naruto had vanished out of nowhere. The discontent had been growing over the span of weeks. They often fought while I wasn't around (mostly because they weren't often together around me). I assumed the ever lovely Sakura was the cause of the tension as Naruto was far more fired up about it than Sasuke.

It was one of the few days that we spent together that caused everything to boil over.

"You're not that great! 'Ttebayo!" Naruto roared one day. They had been in the living room, and their shouting. I was trying to get cleaning done, but those boys. My.

"Shut up, Stupid." Sasuke growled.

"I don't see why she thinks you're so great anyways!" Naruto carried on. Well, I must have been right. I nearly bet Naruto himself threw the first punch and I could hear them from the other room.

"If you get blood on my carpet you're cleaning it up!" I shouted. Best to let them wear the other out. Good for Sasuke's endurance (as Naruto acted much like the energizer bunny) and it was good for Naruto's technical skills to get better. I stepped out and watched them fight just in case Sasuke's patience wore thin and I had to step in. They were getting stronger, little by little. Their abilities far exceeded what their bodys would allow for now. Their minds weren't as complex and deceptive as they one day would be. As they grew, they would probably be unstoppable or near enough. I tried not to think about the weapons they were turning into for their village. I was glad that they hadn't seen the horror Kakashi had - being a war veteran and ninja himself since five. However, they also weren't as old as he. All three of them faced trauma young. Far too young.

Sasuke and Naruto were still fighting it out, until Sasuke finally pinned the little blond boy on the floor.

"Leave me alone!" Sasuke growled at him.

"Leave Sakura-chan alone!" Naruto snarled, he was trying to get free.

"I don't even talk to her!" Sasuke retorted, forcing Naruto's face into the carpet.

That was it. I was done.

I brought my two fingers to my mouth and let out a shrill loud whistle. They both jerked, turning to me.

"Both of you stop it." I ordered. Naruto glared at me and Sasuke turned his face away. "Now, if you two don't stop it this instant I'm going to deal with this. And I assure you - I yell far louder."

Naruto scowled at me. "You're on his side, aren't you?"

"I'm on my own side." I said firmly. "Sasuke - let him up. Both of you, either side of the room."

The two of them listened, but gave the other looks. I sighed.

"Care to tell me the fuss?"

Neither of them said a word. Naruto crossed his little arms, and stared at the ground.

"Right then." I grumbled. "Settle this among yourselves. Sasuke, don't provoke him. You know how to avoid it. Naruto - I very much doubt Sasuke is a love rival when he's no interest in her. Cut it out - both of you." I said. Sasuke sat down on the couch and wouldn't look at either of us. Naruto glared up at me, and walked right up to me.

"I'm going to humor you." He said in a terse tone.

"Thank you for that." I replied flatly. It was then he marched himself right out the door. The second he was out of the door frame he ran off. Eventually I tracked him down and we had a decent talk. Mostly, it was him raving about how Sasuke wasn't good enough for Sakura.

It was cute albeit repetitive. When he finally calmed down he turned to me and he practically broke my heart with what he said next.

"Tami-Chan, is this what it's like to have parents?" Naruto asked quietly. I worked my jaw, not knowing how to even answer him. How could I?

"Maybe. But you'd have both. And the dad would come home after a long day, and he'd want to hear all about your day instead. Your mom would be telling him about all your little activities for the day. If you behaved. Then you'd sit down for dinner together. If you had a sibling, you might argue with them." I said softly. That was the ideal. Few ever got it. I hadn't.

"That sounds nice." He said.

"It does, doesn't it?"

"Do you think you got that?" He asked, looking up at me curiously. I had to do my best to not make a face. My past was - awful but Uncle was grand. But, according to that author? No, I was just a miserable fool. But what I thought? What did I think?

"I don't know." I honestly said. Naruto hummed. Looking back at it, that might have been where his plot all started. However, it didn't happen for a little bit.

Before that event, Kakashi and I were through some series of missions. This one was in the middle of the Land of Water. It wasn't so bad except the very moist cold air went right through to soak one to their bones. It wasn't so bad, but between walking on water when the waves were choppy and uneven and the enemy popping up like a perversion of Whack-a-Mole right under the waves, it was exhausting. The final match we had before any kind of reprieve happened was the worst one yet. Never would I have thought Kakashi was the one to try to force me to leave but he tried to suggest it.

"Tami-chan, you need to leave." He tried.

I pulled a trick out of his hat, and turned to look at him.

"I'm sorry. I missed that, what?" I asked between the battle.That man had the nerve to curse at me! He glared, clearly out of breath and tired of the nonsense too.

"Walker Tami so help me." He growled. If it weren't a life or death situation I would have laughed at him. How's that for flipping the script?

"I'm not leaving." I bit out, dodging another attack. I did not have the taijutsu skill to keep this up for long. Nor the strength. The endurance? Yes. But that did me little good now. Finally he seemed to accept that I wasn't going anywhere.

"Move fast, get high and use your Canary Call from above. When they're distracted I'll finish it." He explained. Kakashi then grabbed me, and quickly gave me a boost into the air. I was high up in moments and he fell below the waves. As directed I used my call, doing nothing more than a shrill scream. Being high up amplified my call. By the time I fell below the waves myself, Kakashi was already up and fighting those remaining men. A couple had the wherewithal to do what Kakashi had done, but it was far less than expected. I got up and out of the water and went back at it. Not much was left for me to do, after Kakashi was done. He was already falling apart. I could see the toll this had taken on him. That eye of his had quite the recoil. He was breathing heavy and hunched over.

"Use your cards. All of them." He ordered. I pulled out the tagged cards and he had smoke bombs in his free hand. Between the both of us, the explosion was big enough to rock them and the smoke large enough to hide us. We escaped quickly in the resulting confusion, limping our best.

I couldn't for sure say who was leaning on who when we finally found a place to hide. We found a cave within a cave somewhere not even listed on a map. Kakashi was able to pull the water from our clothes but not anything else - he'd done far more than enough. We would have set up a fire had it not been for our being hunted down. Instead I set up the area to at least be a little bit more comfortable. I had gotten my blanket out and spread it on the ground before us. At least the ground wouldn't sap away what little warmth we had. Kakashi mostly watched me in mild amusement as I moved around in the low light. I had to set up my phone's flashlight to help (it was hiding in my bag).

"What?" I finally asked.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting everything cozy."

"In a cave…?"

I sent him a smile but didn't respond. I didn't have much energy to begin with. I grabbed my second blanket (a thinner one) and sat next to him.

"I can take the first watch. Better chance to get a good amount of rest. I can stay up. Scream if I see anything." I said softly.

"Tami, you're terrible at telling when you're being followed." He muttered.

"I'm getting better." I defended.

"It took you thirty minutes to figure out I was tailing you two weeks ago." He said.

"Oi, rude." I scoffed. "And it's still better."

"If the enemy takes thirty-five minutes to attack." He countered, leaning back on the cave wall.

"If I promise to focus on just awareness will you rest?" I asked him.

"Maa." He murmured, closing his eyes. He was asleep moments later. I draped my blanket over him. He should have gotten out his own but he must have been dead tired. Although he didn't say if he accepted my promise, I did so anyways. I needed the practice. I closed my eyes and did my best to focus on the surroundings. It was something to do with chakra awareness. I wasn't too grand at it.

I hated doing this.

But I must.

I preferred focusing on one thing at a time - whittling it down before moving onto the next. Precision and speed like a bit in a power drill. Instead, this felt like a slow moving log-mill. Far too much information to focus on anything.

I could sense Kakashi's low and muted reserves beside me. The echo of the cave itself, and the land above. Again, the process was slow and there was far too much to really get a hold on anything but if there was something happening - we wouldn't be caught too unaware.

Kakashi was far better at this than I. He could do it without his eyes closed. In fact I think he was always aware. Me? I needed a good moment, and no distractions.

Everything was fine until, well, I could hear Kakashi breathing heavier. It had only been an hour and a half, if that. Barely anything for a good rest. I opened one eye to peek and see how he was. His fingers were twitching, his brows were furrowed and it looked like his jaw was clenched. Ah, nightmare again. He would get them from time to time.

"Kakashi." I hissed, placing my hand on his shoulder. "Kakashi - wake up."

He jerked forward, breathing in with a hiss. He folded in on himself for a second. I placed a hand on his back.

"Hey. Welcome back." I told him, "It was just a dream."

He grunted, his fingers running through his hair. "Yeah. Yeah."

"You okay?" I asked. He only grunted again. "Want to be distracted? Talk about it?"

He only looked at me - that was the only answer I needed. He never wanted to talk about it. He had them sparingly. He wouldn't say what they were about.

"Any requests?" I moved closer to him. I pulled my knees in.

"Maybe you should-" He muttered, gesturing to something unknown.

"I'm going to sit right here and distract you." I said with a smile. "I'd play a game but -"

I froze when I saw him straighten. He looked so tired though - why was he interested?

"Right then, easy game. We'll need a place, and who we'll be. The game is that you have to ask only questions. You start; pick who I am and where we are."

"Wait - what do I win?"

"Bragging rights, what else? What do you win in Guy's contests?" I asked.

"That's not fun." He grumbled.

"Fine - if you win five times, you get a favor. Same for me." I said. He hummed his agreement.

"Suna. You're a shopkeep."

"I've never been to Suna. And you're just saying that because I used to be a cashier." I said. He just stared. "Fine. You are… a circus lion tamer who is out of steak for his lion."

"That's incredibly specific." He said flatly.

"Not my fault you didn't take advantage." I said with a grin. His gaze narrowed.

"Fine. Go."

"Can I help you today?" I said charmingly.

"Do you have a sale?" He countered in a snap. Ah. Speed was his game.

"What kind of sale?"

"What do you think?"

"Wouldn't you know?" I said immediately after.

Kakashi went to talk but nothing came out. He glared at me.

"I win." I said, dancing in place. His eye narrowed again. I could see the gears whirling in his head.

"The land of waves, in a bank. You're a bank robber who's forgotten their gear." He said quickly.

The man learns fast. Fair.

"You are the getaway horse-keep who carries hay." I said.

"What are you doing?" He began with no warning.

"Have you seen my knives?" I returned with a smile.

"Why would I have seen your knives?"

"Didn't you bring them?"

"Why would I?"

"Don't you always?

"Would you like some hay?" He asked, switching up the course of our conversation.

"No -..." I froze and frowned at him, "rude."

Kakashi sent me an eye-smile. We played a handful more rounds. Our final score was 3 for me, and 5 for him. He was exceptionally focused on winning. Maybe it was more than just friendliness that continued his participation in Guy's competitions.

"So - your favor?" I asked lightly. I didn't even know what he would want. What would he want?

"I think I'm going to hold onto it for now." He said, leaning back against the wall. "I'm going back to sleep now. Wake me if you need me."
"Sure." I replied. Of course he would hold onto it. I wondered what he had planned for it. I went back to trying to focus on my awareness - it was three more hours when Kakashi took over and I was able to sleep myself. As soon as I was done we were off and it was another case completed for us.

It was upon my return that I noticed something was off with Sasuke and Naruto. Sasuke was in a huff but wouldn't say. Naruto was - well. As a child, I had been a bit mischievous - had I known better, I would have said he was trying to pull me into one of his plots.

Huh.

Fascinating.

"Hey, hey! Tami-chan! I wanna go to that Yakitori place. Can we go there?" Naruto asked me, there was something in his smile that made me wonder.

"I suppose. I guess we could go now if you -"

"No! No! Not now, can't go now! I'm already full on Ramen! 'Ttebayo! What about tomorrow night? At 6? We can meet there!" He carried on with a nervous laugh. Yep. He was up to something.

"You don't want me to pick you up after your class?"

"Nah! See you!" He laughed and waved goodbye. He ran off. I turned to Sasuke with a raised brow.

"Care to tell me?" I asked. He scoffed and turned away.

"He's stupid." He muttered and left too.

At least they were unified in one thing; not telling me. I could only guess what Naruto had planned.

I arrived at the Yakitori restaurant and sat down. I waited for him to arrive but there was no whiskered little blond haired boy anywhere. Instead - instead, Iruka arrived. He came over to me and looked around.
"Have you seen Naruto-kun?" He asked.

"Oh? Looking for him too?" I sat back - I hoped it wasn't what I thought this was.

"Yeah. He said to meet him here." Iruka scratched the back of his head.

"Right. Well, I'm also waiting on him." I said. It took Iruka a couple seconds to freeze and turn red. I gave him a weak grin, "We've been set up."

Iruka turned a brighter red and laughed nervously. He itched the top of his nose with the side of his finger before turning back to me.

"I guess - I guess we'll wait together?" He hedged. I gestured to the seat across from me and he sat down. I wondered what Naruto thought he would accomplish from this. That must have been what Sasuke had been talking about.

"I guess Naruto is up to something." I sighed; it wasn't like him to be late. He was pretty timely. Usually. Which told me either something happened or he wasn't planning on coming. My money was on him not coming. My money was on him setting me up for a blind date.

Apparently my lack of a love life was even noticeable to a twelve year old. It just was that I had to leave. It wasn't even something on my radar. What, with my penchant for giving the wrong man a chance - well, it was best if I didn't date. Far better. Why Naruto thought this was a great idea, I didn't know. Perhaps he thought that meant I would stay.

"Yeah. Probably." Iruka agreed.

I sighed. "Well, I'm not one to play into his schemes. We should probably get going."

"Yeah." Iruka said, though he looked a little sad about it. "I guess. But what if he shows up?"

There was a chance Naruto might. I heaved a sigh and leaned back in my seat.

"I suppose that is so a possibility." I muttered.

We sat there and talked for a time. He was decent but something about him seemed off. I couldn't quite put a pin in it but there it was. I wasn't interested in figuring out what. Mostly I just wanted to go.

But he talked me into ordering as neither of us had dinner. I was picking at my food when I looked out the window.

Oh.

Shoot me now.

Kakashi was standing there staring at us.

I wanted to curl into a ball and hide somewhere. I didn' even know why. When he saw that I saw him, he sent me the fakest eye-smile I had ever seen. I didn't even know why, but I knew I was in trouble. I could feel my face turning bright red. I turned to Iruka who was watching me with concern.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Ah-" I began but couldn't finish. I laughed nervously. That was when Kakashi decided to grace us with his presence. I sat there trying to hide. I knew what this looked like. It wasn't what he thought it was! He was going to tease me! I didn't even know why I hated the idea of him being there but there he was.

"On a date?" He asked - I could hear the false cheer in his voice.

"Oh! Oh, no. No, we're waiting on Naruto-kun. He said he would meet us here." Iruka explained with a smile.

"I see. That would be why he's hiding in the bushes." Kakashi pointed out the window. Sure enough there was a familiar burst of blond hair peeking out of the bush near the window. I buried my face in my hands. So he did set us up. I didn't want to think he would do that, but - here we are.

Kakashi slid in next to me and sat right down like he owned the chair itself. I could see Iruka getting a touch uncomfortable too.

"I-I'm going to check on the food." Iruka said, getting up to move away.

The moment Iruka was out of earshot, Kakashi started in.

"So, he's trying to put you and Iruka-kun together?" He asked. I groaned and buried my face in my hands again.
"Please, just don't. Just don't." I begged.

"I wonder why..." He said lightly.

"Hush." I said.

Kakashi sighed, turning away from me to stare blankly at the ceiling.

"I'm staying."

"What?" I questioned, staring at him.

"If it's not a date, it shouldn't matter." He said firmly.

"Don't worry about me. It's fine. I can handle this." I tried - why would he want to watch this embarrassment? To further torment me?

"I'm not worried about you." Kakashi said.

That was when Iruka returned and I understood somewhat. The concern was for Iruka.

The rest of the night was spent in awkward stilted conversation while the silver-haired man himself seemed to just bask in it. Finally when it all came to a close and we were leaving, things took a turn.

I was going to head home alone when Iruka stopped me.

"We should walk you home. It can be dangerous at night."

Konoha?

Dangerous?

In what world had Konoha ever had turf-wars, gang violence, police shootouts, or any other things like that? Well, they did have ninja. I supposed that evened the playing field.

"Don't worry. I have it, Iruka-kun." Kakashi said, standing by me. Iruka's shoulders dropped but he smiled weakly.

"Oh. Okay - I'll see you guys later." Iruka said and quietly left. We stood there watching him go.

"Right then. Go on, vanish." I said, watching Kakashi with a calculating eye. He never cared before - why would he now? More often than not we returned from missions late at night. He instead didn't say a word, only started walking in the direction of my home.

"Are you coming?" He asked when I hadn't joined him. I sighed loudly and followed him.

"You've never cared before. Why on earth now?"

"I promised." He said simply.

Right. I couldn't explain the disappointment sitting in my gut. I sighed and crossed my arms around my middle.

He didn't walk as fast as he usually did. It was like he was drawing this out for some reason.

"Why do you think you two were set up?" Kakashi asked.

"Mm - we've been talking about families. Naruto probably thought that - well. He probably thought if I and someone else, Iruka were together I wouldn't leave and he'd have a surrogate family." I said sadly. He hummed, staring off into the distance.

"Why Iruka-kun?" He asked.

"Out of all the people Naruto knows - Iruka's the only one near my age and who actually truly cares about him. It's a surprise he hasn't tried something like this before." I murmured.

"So it's not-?" He cut himself off, watching me.

"Oh, oh no. Not at all. Iruka is - he's grand but he reminds me of a little brother. And - well, I've terrible taste in men. Show me a bad bet and head over heels I go." I said lightly, trying to poke fun of myself. Kakashi watched me carefully as if trying to piece me together. Weren't we all?

"Do you remember anything then?"

"Glimpses and just the vague inclination to jump head first into bad ideas." I scoffed. Kakashi snorted and he came close to me.

"Nothing else?"

"No - locked vault, me." I said softly, looking at the ground.

"It's a shame. Might remember something important." He sighed as we continued on our walk. He was dedicated to his promise, it seemed. He walked me right to my door. I stood there trying to figure out what I wanted to say to him. The words were on the tip of my tongue but I didn't seem to even know how to say them. I didn't even seem to know the words themselves.

"I-I, ah… Good night. Thank you." I murmured. He sent me an eye smile and he left as I walked into my apartment.

From then on things seemed to shift in our partnership. I couldn't put words to it, but it happened. I didn't have time to dwell on it though. I had other things to think about. Like what the author said.

After a couple more months, more toads arrived and more scrolls came. I didn't - well, I was so worn with the idea I barely looked at them. Thinking about home now brought up what Shoma had said. He was wrong. He had to be wrong. But, if he were wrong, why did I feel sick when I saw the scrolls?
I had to go home.

I owed Uncle.

I was happy there.

Everything was good there.

The world made sense there.

It didn't matter. It didn't matter if that author thought I was happy or not. I didn't matter if I loved it there in Konoha. It didn't matter. I didn't belong in the world I was residing in. I simply didn't.

From then on, my effect on the world around me was more noticeable. More obvious to even me. In fact, it showed up in the smallest of ways.

It showed up in how Sasuke sometimes asked me about Batman - about Ra's al Ghul and the League of Shadows. How Bruce Wayne chose his rules and why. He was especially focused on why Batman refused revenge when he could have chosen it. Sasuke never would have known about Batman had I not told him. There were no tales on caped crusaders who had a moral compass. There were no stories to tuck orphans in at night. Life in Konoha was to battle, honoring one's village and fighting for a cause larger than yourself. It was - it wasn't the only thing that proved my being in Konoha was out of the norm.

It even came in the form of the newest Icha Icha book. I didn't pay attention to Jiraya's work. However my partner did. I would have remained blissfully unaware had it not been for him.

Kakashi bought it the minute it was available. We were supposed to be going on a mission, but he took near forever to come get me so I had to look for him. He was in his apartment, his nose stuck in his book and stubbornly wouldn't leave it (the mission wasn't time sensitive, so it was easily forgiven). The cover showed a couple and a little blonde fairy. It was named Icha Icha Fantasy. I knew from the title alone where the inspiration came from. Through pestering Kakashi I was able to find out what the details of the book were.

Apparently, the little fey was in love with the male protagonist and decided to help him win his true love, although it caused her deep heartache. The female protagonist was hard won and took intricate choices from both the fey and male protagonist to win her heart. It was clear that the fairy was inspired by myself. According to Kakashi, it was an amazing book. Full of drama, near misses, and an explosive end. It detailed the ins and outs of how hard love could be, as well as how magical. Part of me had hoped that Jiraiya would at least do me some justice on a character inspired by myself. However, he chose not to. At least I knew he didn't write it after the debacle with Shoma. I can now say I was written in two series. One about my life, and one I never asked to be a part of.

The year crept forward and I knew - I knew this was when Naruto would graduate. While he was still struggling with creating clones and convincing transformations (they tended toward a caricature rather than an exact replica) I knew it in my bones he would make it. He made it without me, certainly. There was no way he wouldn't now with me. I couldn't put into words how proud I was of them both. Sasuke still leaned toward the gloomy grump but he was coming along well. Naruto was getting far better - his studies were still poor but he'd catch up. I knew he'd catch up. He was smarter than Sasuke gave him credit for, and intelligent in a creative way.

Part of me grieved the fact that I wouldn't see them grow into the men they were already becoming. I knew already there was no way I could see their show once I left. It would tear me in half. There were - there were other reasons why I couldn't. Reasons why I wouldn't. It might have something to do with my partner. I tried not to evaluate the reasons there. Respect for his secrets? Maybe knowing I didn't deserve to know his future if I didn't stay in his present. I didn't know.

It was in the middle of spring when I was heading home alone. I had just finished dinner with Sasuke when I found that someone had made themselves home in my apartment again. My kitchen light was on and there was noise coming from the kitchen. I slipped a kunai in my hand and snuck forward.

Ah. I should have known.

The Hokage again. I hadn't talked to him directly in nearly two years. I saw him, of course. What with being scheduled missions and general work I did see him often. Rarely did we talk like how we did when I first arrived. He was in my kitchen, again, getting a pot of tea ready on the stove.

"Good evening, sir." I murmured, slipping my weapon away.

"Ah. Tami-chan. I was just getting the tea ready." He said gently.

"How can I help?" I asked.

"We'll get to that. Your tea?"

"Top left - in the back. I had to hide it. Naruto tended to try to brew it too often and I had to hide it. He likes to mix flavors." I said. Hiruzen chuckled, getting the tea he wanted out. I watched him for a moment before continuing, "Shouldn't I be doing this? One would think this is backwards"
"I can do this. Keeps one humble." He said as he set the kettle to steep.

We both sat down at the table, the kettle before us.

"I'm sure you know why I'm here." He murmured.

"Soon they'll be graduating." I replied, staring at the tea pot. I didn't think that three years ago I would be here still, and two years ago it was him in my kitchen. I had hoped to be long gone. And yet.

"They will be. And you'll be entering another team until you go home." He said in a firm tone.

"Will - will Kakashi still be over their group?" I asked.

"Oh? I thought you hated him." He said playfully.

"Well, he's not the worst." I said.

"I intend to still put them together. As well as Haruno Sakura. I can see why I planned the team that way in the first place. They make a good group. Solid. I had hoped that pairing you with Kakashi would erase more of the darkness within him but - at least he's not as tortured." He said evenly.

I didn't know how to feel - I would still see him around, then. Here and there, at least. I didn't even know if he'd still want to hang out. It seemed he waited for others to force their presence on him rather than search them out himself. I didn't want to overstay my welcome.

"Ah." I murmured. "Sakura, then? The little girl Naruto's always talking about?"

"Yes. It will be a good motivator for him - to try to impress her. And that sense of competition should help Sasuke as well."

"And for Sakura? The benefit?" I asked.

"She has the markings of a fine Kunoichi if she applies herself. She'll come along. I would ask for you to help but-" He eyed me sideways.

"I have to find my way home." I said. We both knew this. But it seemed impossible. The Hokage fell quiet, and poured the tea in the cups between us.

"We're trying to keep things as close to what you saw as possible. Changing very little. We're letting the future come to us, while knowing a little of what it holds." He said softly. I hummed but couldn't find a way to speak.

"You are still welcome to stay. Konoha has become your home. It would be a shame for the work you had done to stop now." He said. I played with my teacup before me. I suddenly wasn't thirsty and didn't want to think about it.

"I have little choice." I murmured.

"So be it. You'll be assigned the last mission you'll work with Kakashi tomorrow. It should be a fitting goodbye." He explained to me. "You were specifically requested."

I scoffed and turned my cup. What care had I? It didn't matter. Although I wondered who would request me? I turned my head and continued to fiddle with my tea cup.

Hiruzen and I spoke very little after this. He left quietly after a handful of minutes. I barely could bid him goodbye. I couldn't say what turned my mood, but it had. I wasn't looking forward to our last mission together. I didn't know how to feel. I'm sure he would be thrilled, not having to deal with me. He would have the team he was destined to have - the one he was meant for. It would be good for him. Cathartic even. But I didn't know where that left us. And I didn't know why I cared. Surely it was just the change in something that for a time felt so very unchanging. I couldn't sleep. At all.

The next day came and I found out why I had been specially requested.

There was a tavern/gambling hall in Katabami; it was a mining town and it just so happened that their singers had been killed one after the other. After the death of many of their singers and none other willing to take to the stage - they were desperate. After hearing about my singing ability through the grapevine and where I was (the title Konoha Canary gave little question to this) they requested assistance. They wanted both me to be in cover as a singer, and the death of who ever was responsible for the deaths of the others. We didn't have much to go on besides the paper work that they had sent Konoha. I was able to request further information from them (state of the dead bodies when found, details on them as a person, etc etc). When we were ready we departed and made our plan.

Kakashi was kind, scheduling the time to leave for the case for tomorrow. He told me to get some sleep.

I tried.

I wanted to sleep.

However, that was the night Sasuke decided to spend the night. Normally he never caused much ruckus - but this time... This time was worse. He woke up in the middle of the night, screaming. I ran to the living room to see what had happened. A nightmare. Another nightmare. It was rare he had them around me. Even rarer for him to admit them.

I woke him and spent the rest of the night comforting him.

It was then he finally opened up to me about his brother; Uchiha Itachi. The other one Maya seemed to like. I never thought my old roommate was a fool - until I heard what Sasuke went through. What his brother caused.

That thing that had the nerve to even get near Sasuke was a monster. He murdered his entire clan - that I knew. What I didn't know is that he forced Sasuke to watch it all. That little eye, the Uchiha blood line ability - it was better than just a fancy looking eye. It can pull people into genjutsus near impossible to escape from. It can stretch mere seconds into decades. It can copy jutsus and made the Uchiha clan so very strong. It also explained why Kakashi was able to steal jutsus so easily - so well. But that wasn't all. The creep then challenged Sasuke to getting stronger - to kill his friends to even dream of the chance of taking him down. He then told Sasuke that he wasn't worth killing. As if a child could go up against him. As if he should.

I could barely wrap my mind around that - the pain Sasuke had to have been going through. It was the first time he'd actually let me hold him for any length of time. By the time morning came - it was far too early and I was far too tired. But the show must go on. I had to do what I must. It had to happen. It must happen. I had a case with Kakashi and I was determined to see it through. Hopefully we would end on a good note.

AN:/ This chapter was a little bit more simple, a bit shorter than usual (sorry guys!). I didn't have much planned here and I wanted to get to our lovely last mission which changes some things. It makes Tami realize some things she doesn't know yet. She really doesn't know about her own feelings on things, and tends to focus on other people and reading them and not herself. I don't know if it's going to be one big chapter or two chapters yet. Depends on how it works out.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and i'll see you next time :3

Thank you again to so many kind reviewers, the favorites, the follows! You guys are absolutely amazing. Love you all!