Sparks 25
Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
Aristotle
The next morning was a blur for Kakashi. He'd gotten to the Exams buildings, saw over his students to ensure they'd gone in (where they couldn't see him) and could hear the ruckus Naruto was already causing. He chuckled to himself and walked away from the door. He'd found a bench (with good lighting and a nice breeze) and settled himself in. Things were good. For the first time in a long time - they were so very good. Experience told him things were about to go wrong. It never did last for very long. He hoped he'd be wrong.
He couldn't remember the last time he started actually making plans beyond a few weeks out, let alone thinking about what the future could be. It did come with concerns, though.
His time with Tami over the last few weeks had been so sweet. When he had gone to her apartment that night he didn't expect things to turn out like they had. He figured they'd sit and talk - she'd say something so very kind to him, he'd get tea and leave after. He didn't think she'd hold him. He couldn't even remember the last time someone did that. Excluding, of course, the times he had to be physically carried because of Chakra exhaustion. He probably indulged a little bit too much. He hadn't even really wanted to leave the next morning. There was something comforting by just being there. She was just so small compared to him, so slight. Kakashi already knew how strong he was - but there? It was like he could do more, even handle more. He had to situate himself just right, but it was worth it. She smelled good, kind of like flowers and cloves. If it had been his decision he would have stayed there all day. Well, at least for the rest of the morning. He both loved and hated Guy's abrupt wake-up call. He did have other things he needed to get done, unfortunately. He didn't want to do them - but they had to be done.
When he left, though, she'd given him the best detail.
"I don't kiss masks".
That still made him grin. It proved to him she didn't only think of him as a friend. She thought of him as something more. Kakashi hadn't seen much of her since. Their time was often interrupted by his team, or their schedules didn't line up. He already knew Guy told Asuma about his night over at Tami's. The knowing smirk on the Third Hokage son's face was evidence enough.
But there was something that was still plaguing him. Where was Tami from? He didn't know. She hadn't said. She'd been going through different summoning, space-time and teleportation jutsu. Most of it was advanced. And that wasn't all. The way she acted….
"It's hard to know where you're going if you don't know where you've been." She had told him. It got him to thinking more on her behavior. She had her memories. They were never forgotten in the first place. She often made references to things, people, even phrases he'd never even heard of before.
Gordon Ramsay?
Au contraire?
All those songs she knew, he'd never even heard of. If she made them up herself, she didn't carry anything to prove she was a lyricist.
The language she knew that he'd never even heard of. It was so very foreign. It didn't even sound familiar.
Let alone books he'd never even heard of. He had tried to find Pride and Prejudice to prove a point to her - it wasn't there. It didn't exist.
Then she had that tiny camera. As Sukea, they had found her tiny camera on her bed-side table. When he pointed it out as the camera he thought Naruto was talking about, the little boy laughed and called it a phone. It didn't even look like a phone, and he'd never seen her use it to call anyone.
If he had to guess - he'd almost bet on an alternate dimension. But the fact that she recognized him? Maybe she was from the future after all? But who did he become to cause her to panic as she did? But that didn't fit either - if he became a monster she surely wouldn't be getting close to him. Not now, not ever.
Now that he thought about it, the day that she'd arrived was strange. The Hokage was stressed. Kakashi had worked with him to know he wasn't usually as guarded as he had been. Jiraiya looked exhausted even though he covered it with smiles and a boisterous laugh. He had asked Jiraiya who she was, and he blew him off.
"She's just some girl we found. Don't worry about it." Jiraiya had told him.
The looks on all of their faces told him that she was trouble. At least that was what he had thought. That's why he thought they had called him in and why she crumbled when she saw him. She had been so afraid of him that first day. He didn't even need to try killing intent. But she told Guy it was just his reputation.
There were so many conflicting elements to her story that he didn't even know where to begin. He knew she was lying at some level. However, again - those in charge already cleared her. The only thing he was concerned about was how it affected him personally. When they were partners it didn't matter. Now that he was looking at something more, he couldn't stand by. Not if she was going to leave. Not if she was still planning on leaving him. Because of those jutsus she was looking into - he was sure if she left, he'd never see her again. The thought alone was sobering.
Maybe that was the gut feeling he had; of things going wrong. She was going to leave him. This time it wasn't death that separated them, but her choosing it.
There were days he loved these new emotions, the thrill - he felt so alive. But it was moments like that, he preferred reading the dramatics on pages.
With that, he'd go and find Asuma. He didn't know if it was for a distraction or for more information. Maybe Asuma knew more about this than he did.
My morning was filled with paperwork. Temporary IDs for the incoming Genin, registration forms from other villages, getting the tests prepared. It was a lot of racing back and forth between rooms. There were moments that I swore I could feel eyes on me. My awareness was slowly getting better. I still couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from, or who was staring but - at least I knew.
I was running between the exam buildings when I spotted that boy again. The strange one I'd met at my Chunin exams. The one with the dead-eyes, round glasses and grey hair. He had a different group - but they seemed far more mature than the other contestants. I rarely ever saw him - our paths nearly never crossed. But any time I did he made me incredibly uncomfortable.
"Oh… hello Tami-san." He greeted, "It's good to see you again."
"Trying again?" I said, glancing to the front doors behind us. I knew he was a contestant already. I saw his forms. He gave a blithe smile.
"Of course. I guess this exam is just too much for me." He said.
Somehow I doubted it. Something was off about him, and I didn't like it. The exams weren't easy, necessarily. But most of it was smoke and mirrors and being professional. Fighting and tactical skill, certainly - but that wasn't all.
"Mm." I hummed. He smiled again - dull and lifeless. None of his smiles ever reached his eyes.
"But not that you had any issue. I was sure you wouldn't make it past the second exam." He said lightly. I studied him. There was something so very wrong. I didn't like it. I couldn't put my finger quite on it. He seemed the type to say something to your face but tell his friends something different.
"What can I say? I try to carry a lucky charm." I advised.
"Perhaps I should. Maybe then I'll make it out on top. Tell me, have you seen the competition this year?" He asked.
"Some." I certainly had. There was a boy from Suna who looked especially deadly - completed a B-rank mission already. Word was, he never even got a scratch on him.
"It's far more competitive than it's been in years. I've never seen such strong examinees. I wonder how you'd do against them." He said - though his tone turned a touch malicious.
"Probably horrendous. Keep that between you and I, ah? I'd rather the guys at work not know I'm completely incapable." I said with a wink.
There was something wrong here. I was going to figure out what. This one - this one was up to something. Maybe he was just being rude - but he'd been in how many exams? The way he held himself alone told me something was off. This wasn't a man who'd lost six times in a row. One didn't take a test over and over again just for the fun of test taking. And they didn't stand there proud if they were going against the same exam for a seventh time.
"I'll keep it between us. Your wards are in the exam too, aren't they?" He asked.
I froze.
Why did he care if Naruto and Sasuke were taking them?
"Oh, certainly they are. I expect they do well." I said with a polite smile.
"I'll keep an eye out for them." Kabuto said.
"Mmm - much obliged." I said, "forgive me - I've papers to run. Another time?"
"Of course." He agreed.
I continued on my way - until I was out of sight from that one. That was - why did he care about Naruto? Sasuke? I didn't know why - he just bugged me. Maybe it was paranoia, or just my not liking him - but he was up to something. The moment I could, I found Ibiki. He was getting ready to begin the first exam from his office, the written portion. It was his first time as the Proctor over it.
I knocked on his door, waiting for acknowledgement. The door was open but I couldn't help it. I needed his attention and I'd wait - this could be nothing.
"Yeah?" Ibiki grunted. I entered swiftly.
"Hey - you've a second to spare?"
"One." He said with a frown. I closed his door softly.
"There's something off about that one participant - Kabuto." I said, "He was at my exams."
"So?"
"He's just - he doesn't strike me as the sort to need to go through the exam more than once." I insisted.
"So maybe he's a coward." He said, leaning back in his chair. I breathed out evenly.
"No. He's not. I can't say why he's this way, but-"
"Do you have solid proof he's up to something?"
"No."
"Then don't waste my time." He stood up, gathering his things.
"Just, keep an eye on him." I insisted. He turned to me for a moment, his hand on the door.
"Fine. I'll assign someone to keep an eye out. But don't interfere any further." He said finally. I stepped back, both stunned and relieved. I was sure he'd ignore me.
"I hired you because of your skills. Why would I ignore it when we know somethings going to happen?" He asked.
Ah, yes. That made sense.
I bowed my head and he left soon after.
"Get back to work, Walker." He called as he went.
I sighed, shaking my head.
Grand.
So I then continued my duties. I looked after most of the behind the scenes things. Seeing after those who'd left, filing paperwork - the boring stuff. I was in the process of heading to take my lunch when I saw a suna boy walking with a Chunin exam proctor to the bathroom. I watched them go in stunned silence. That man wasn't on our staff. I was sure of it.
"Let it go." One of the others in the hall whispered to me. "They're allowed to cheat however they want so long as it's not unbearably noticeable. And it gives us less work too."
I clicked my tongue. I rather wished I would have thought of something like that. I wonder what skill he used.
Fantastic.
It was then when I ran into Kurenai.
"Lunch?" I asked her.
"I don't think I can yet." She said weakly. I looped my arm through hers.
"Then I suppose we'll just have to hang out for a time." I said.
Kurenai and I found a spot to sit and chat. She was, over all, concerned for her team. However she did keep giving me odd looks here and there.
"You're so - tactile." She said with no warning.
"Ah?" I didn't quite know what to think about that.
"It's not a bad thing, I just don't know how you can be like that so often." She said. I shrugged.
"I forget you all aren't very into pda here." I said.
"PDA?" She echoed.
"Public displays of affection." I elaborated.
"Oh," She said softly, "speaking about that…."
She fidgeted for a second. I eyed her, wondering what was going through her mind. She didn't look at all comfortable.
"Be careful how… how open you are with Kakashi-kun outside of the village. Or even inside." She advised. I blushed - I must have been very apparent. I didn't mean to be.
"You're still growing as a Kunoichi. You're strong, but you're not… if one of Kakashi-kun's enemies or any enemy sees how close you are, they could…." She drifted off, giving me a meaningful look.
I hadn't quite thought of it, to be honest.
"We've noticed he's different. Especially since he got his team. But I," She bit her bottom lip before continuing, "if something happens to you too, I don't know what he would do."
I hadn't even quite realized that part either. The line of work we were in was deadly. Things could go wrong in an instant and not pan out. Let alone - Kakashi had lost everyone and everything ever close to him. If I died, he would - what would he do?
Then that brought up another point.
If I left, what would he do?
I didn't even want to think about it. I'd be among a list of people who let him down. It was…
"You're right. I hadn't quite thought this through." I said to her. I could see her shoulders drop in relief. "Thank you."
"Any time." She said.
I didn't have a responsibility to just me. But to him too. How cruel would it be for me to get close to him, to spend an entire night holding him and to just leave?
How cruel could I be?
I had to make my decision and fast. And - I would do right by Kakashi no matter what it looked like. He wouldn't have sway over my decision but - I'd tell him the truth about it all. Go from there and figure it out. He deserved that much. He needed that much.
"Hey! Walker! Get over here." Yelled a familiar voice. Ibiki.
Uh-oh. My boss. Was I late returning from lunch? No - I had five minutes.
"Again - Kurenai, you're a gem. Thank you." I said and rushed over.
"Come on. Time to grade the paperwork." He grumbled. I followed him closely and started working. I could only grade those who I didn't know - so the entire rookie 9 were out of the question. I was in the middle of grading one when I heard Ibiki chuckling to himself. I glanced up.
He was standing there, a sheet in his hand and his other hand around his mouth in amusement.
"You're going to get a kick out of this." He said. I came over. The only thing that was filled out was the name.
Uzumaki Naruto.
My face fell.
He didn't answer a single question. Nothing.
"Little punk had the nerve to go off on me, saying he'd be Hokage even if he was a Genin for the rest of his life." He said with a grin.
I raised my eyebrows - Naruto, what do you think you're doing?
"Cute kid." Ibiki said and went over to collect the next paper.
I could only stare in shock. He said what now? I couldn't believe what came out of Ibiki's mouth. Naruto's? That had him written all over it. He was certainly hard headed enough to make it happen himself.
I would have thought that after the test phase that I would have been fine. The exam was taken and all of Team 7 was off to the next phase. The forest of death - or whatever they were calling it. I should have been fine. But I wasn't. I was nervous - we knew things were going to go wrong. I hoped it wouldn't be there. Anko was heading it over. To say I wasn't thrilled about it was an understatement. She found me after the prospective Chunin were released.
I tried to leave.
She, however, was rather chatty.
"Oh look, it's wondergirl." She greeted me.
"Anko." I said politely.
Please just leave, please just leave. I said to myself over and over.
However Anko didn't, of course.
"The kiddos are off onto their next biggest challenge yet. They could die." She grinned at me.
"Thank you for the reminder." I said dryly.
"Too bad that Uzumaki kid has no survival instincts." She said again, continuing to try to goad me.
"That's truly unfortunate." I said. Just be boring and she'll leave. Hopefully. Maybe. She snickered and threw her arm over my shoulder.
"You're fun." She said with a grin.
"I'm completely boring, luv. Put people to sleep, even." I said confidently. She grinned at me.
"We should hang out more." She said.
Nope.
No way.
Not on any earth, in no dimension.
"Oh - is that someone calling my name?" I asked, sliding away and out from under her arm. She frowned at me.
"There's no one calling for you." She said suspiciously.
"Time to get your ears checked, ah? Bye." I said quickly and took my leave. I could hear her laughing behind me.
The next five days were - stressful. Things were going wrong the entire time. There was news that dead bodies were found outside of three participants. Orochimaru had made a move, but no one was canceling the exams.
What was he even after? I had thought that he just wanted to murder the Hokage. Perhaps out of some deep seeded problem he had with his old teacher. When I heard reports that there were things going on in the Forest - it took everything I had not to go in on my own.
It'll be fine.
I was waiting in the final building - just waiting on news. Any news. Passing - failing - anything when Kakashi found me. It wasn't him, exactly - but a clone. The lack of a heart-beat told me that much. I was sitting in one of the waiting rooms. My job was done - for the time being.
"They've made it through." The clone said. I breathed a sigh of relief - then noticed his clone didn't look at all relieved. So I waited for him to continue, "Orochimaru marked Sasuke-kun with a cursed seal. He's chosen to continue to fight in the preliminaries but…."
Oh no... that - that wasn't good.
"A seal - what does that do?" I asked. The clone bowed his head, his hands in his pockets and a shlump that I hadn't seen in months returned to his figure.
"It entices the user with power. I'll be dealing with this after - but Sasuke-kun is in the middle of a battle right now."
"You're letting him continue?" I questioned.
"If it goes too far, I'm going to stop it." He assured me. I breathed out evenly. I told him I'd trust him. I would.
"Okay." I nodded, and stood up. "Is everyone else…?"
"They're fine. Everyone is fine." He said firmly.
"Okay." I repeated. "Could you - can we go?"
"Yeah. I'll take you there." He agreed, and showed me the way.
The battle had just ended when we arrived on the scene. Before the clone even reached the arena he was dispersed. I stepped out and saw Kakashi and Sasuke at the bottom of the arena. He'd just won his match from the looks of it. Good. I looked him over. Sasuke was exhausted but well, considering.
"Hey! Tami-chan! Hey! We're over here!" Naruto called to me, waving his arms wildly. I chuckled and waved back. He was cute when he was all excited. I was gaining curious eyes, though.
"I'll see you, ah?" I told him. I caught Kakashi's eye and he motioned where to meet him. I went down the stairs and met him and Sasuke in the hall. Sasuke still looked winded.
"Breathe in using both your nose and mouth. Breathe deep and slow." I told him. Sasuke gave me a look. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He grumbled.
"You're not fine. Come on. I need to seal that." Kakashi said. I followed after them to a secluded spot, watching over the process. Seeing him work - it was quite a spectacle. However, knowing that he was using his own blood…. I watched in concern.
"I'll be fine." He said when he passed me. His hand was still bleeding but I trusted him. I knew him enough to know he wouldn't let me fuss over him while tending to Sasuke. There were little writings everywhere - the ground all the way up to Sasuke and around the mark on his neck. "He's going to need you in a second."
Sasuke jerked, glancing back at Kakashi in concern.
"Don't worry - it'll be over soon." He said. "That seal is only as strong as your will, Sasuke-kun. The moment you waver - it will break."
Ah.
I knew that tone. Kakashi had once popped my arm back into place using that tone. He told me it wouldn't hurt at all. Bit of an understatement there.
I could see the concern in Kakashi's face, the stress and worry in his stance. This - this was serious. Far more than I had thought before.
I watched as Kakashi finished up and started making the signs to complete his work. A way to seal a seal.
I forced myself to be calm as I watched Sasuke scream out in pain. Sure enough, Kakashi was right and it didn't take long at all. For us. Sasuke? He cried out and fell soon after. I moved forward, picked him up and held him tight. He didn't fight me in the least. He was out cold, probably before he even hit the ground. Kakashi went to move forward but stopped the moment he heard another voice.
"You've gotten stronger since we last met." A smooth voice stated.
I didn't like the sound of that. From how fast Kakashi moved around, he didn't either. A man who I'd never seen before stood there. He was tall, wore dark colors and had a wide mouth. There was something of a snake-like look to him. If I had to guess - this was Orochimaru. He looked downright devious, smug and looked like a man about ready to win the greatest prize of his life. I held Sasuke a little bit tighter, angling him to be behind Kakashi as I looked on curiously.
"Orochimaru." Kakashi said.
Ah.
On the money.
"I'm not here for you." The man said. From the look of him - he was from the Sound Village. I remembered the intel we had gathered. Of course he would be; that village was to the north.
"What do you want with Sasuke?" Kakashi asked.
"A little unfair to ask that, don't you think? You benefited from the Uchiha's strength. I want the same." He replied, his voice silky smooth. Ugh - I wasn't a fan of this one. He was about to tell us his master plan. Smug little thing. Hated him already.
"What are you planning?" Kakashi asked.
"I'm sure you already know." Orochimaru grinned.
Experimentation. Whatever that man wanted with Sasuke was certainly well situated in that.
"He's not going anywhere with you." Kakashi said sternly.
"You think I have to take him? He'll come to me willingly. He wants justice, at any cost. He'll come to me. You don't have the power. I do." Orochimaru smugly stated.
"Not to interrupt your marvelous monologue on your evil plans, but if you think either of us are going to allow Sasuke to meander on into your slimy little clutches - you've another thing coming, luv." I said.
Orochimaru chuckled.
"Look at that. Two of you, now. I never would have-" The little snake himself paused, his head tilting curiously at me. He was studying me in a way I didn't like at all. From the tension building in Kakashi's shoulders - he didn't like it either.
Suddenly, Orochimaru grinned widely.
"You're not from here are you?" He said in a knowing tone.
Uh-oh.
"Late to the game, are we?" I began lightly, "I'm not from Kohona but I'm part of it now."
"I wasn't talking about Konoha, little girl." He said darkly. He moved forward casually towards us. Kakashi jumped into action, charging up his Chidori. I got myself ready too. How did he know?!
"Stop right there! You're not coming any closer! On my life, I will kill you if you do!" Kakashi swore.
"Strong words. Do you really think you can stop me? Come on. Go ahead and try." Orochimaru disappeared in a blur.
There was no warning but I could feel a single hair being pulled from my head. Kakashi jerked around but was too slow. I'd never seen Kakashi ever be too slow. The snake-like man stood behind us a fierce grin on his face. I could see a single strand of my hair wrapped around his finger. He didn't say anything else before he just vanished into thin air. His grin was as unsettling. His words? Him hinting he knew I wasn't from this world? That was even worse.
It took Kakashi a moment to pull himself together. It took me even longer.
"Come on - we have to get him to the medical ward." Kakashi said. I could tell he was upset - I was too. What did - why did Orochimaru want my hair? Was it a power-play? Or something else that I just didn't quite know about?
I picked up Sasuke and carried him behind Kakashi. The Copy-cat nin himself sent a clone to watch over the rest of the matches in his stead. He was especially focused on other things right now. I could see it so very easily. Soon enough, Sasuke was under the care of a professional medic with anbu guarding him. We both stepped away. He was concerned. But not just for Sasuke. He was worried for me too, as I later found. I followed him for a time. He was leading me out to a private location. No one was there. Not a soul, not a whisper - nothing.
"You need to tell me the truth about who you are." Kakashi said out of the blue. He turned to me. I could see the serious set in his brow, the stiffness in his shoulders. I should have known this would happen. It was only a matter of time.
"I do." I agreed. I pursed my lips and looked away. "I can't yet."
"Why not?" His tone was frustrated; agitated, even. I doubt it was with me. But, then again, maybe it was.
"There's - there's a lot to the truth. So much. I don't - I can't even put it into words." I said.
"You're from another dimension. Maybe even another time." He stated. My jaw fell open. Well that was the sum of it. He guessed so fast. With the world being as it was, maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised.
"There's more." I admitted quietly.
"More?"
"Mm. I can't - I need Jiraiya for that part. I don't think - were I to tell you everything you'd think me mad."
"What else can there be?" He asked.
"A lot." I said softly, not meeting his gaze. He moved in close, but didn't touch me.
"Does it involve me?"
"Yes and no."
"Which is it?" He sounded frustrated - I understood why. I was being vague. He wanted answers, but I didn't even think I could explain it to him without sounding insane. It was insane. There were days I doubted myself. Why wouldn't he?
"It doesn't deal with you directly. It's just… very indirectly. In the most indirect way possible." I said. I glanced up at him.
"It would be why you reacted like you did when I met you." He said - his tone was softer. "You're going to tell me the truth about that?"
"Of course. No matter what, you will know." I swore. He stepped away for a moment, his back straightening up. I watched him as he regarded me. He looked so very tired. I could see the pain in his eye. I already knew what he was going to ask before he asked it.
"Are you planning on leaving?" He asked.
"I-I … I don't know. I haven't quite figured it out yet. I haven't even found a way back yet." I stuttered. I didn't even know if I could find a way back.
"But you'll tell me - before you go?" He questioned. I could hear just the tiniest bit of desperation in his voice.
I licked my bottom lip and nodded. Of course I would. But… but that wasn't the problem.
"I will. The honest truth - everything." I agreed.
The problem was I doubted I could go. He was already so very important to me. He had been for such a long time. And now he was talking about my leaving. It bothered me more than it should. It almost felt like my decision had already been made. I just wasn't strong enough to admit it.
"I'm not going to let you go without a fight. You or Sasuke-kun." Kakashi said simply. The tension in his voice caused my heart to squeeze. He - he was so sure I would leave. He moved in close, one of his hands wrapping around my waist as he pulled me close. His other hand lifted my chin and I looked him in the eye. My hands were on that - that insufferable flak jacket of his.
"Tami-chan, close your eyes." He said softly. Without another word I knew what he was planning.
I shouldn't be doing this.
We shouldn't be doing this.
And yet...
I closed my eyes. The hand on my hip left and in mere moments joined the other on my face - he pulled me in and our lips met for the first time. I shouldn't be doing this. But I couldn't help it - I wouldn't stop it. He was so gentle - so kind. His touch was barely above a whisper, just a sweet caress. My hand slipped up his jacket and curled around his neck. My fingers buried themselves in the hair at the base of his neck. That was when our kiss turned more heated - more needy. His mouth worked against mine, expressing what his words couldn't. I pressed in, responding to every movement he made. I could feel our hearts beating out the same hurried rhythm. His fingers curled themselves in my hair and I lost all track of time.
This was all my world was until we parted. Just us - just him.
When we finally pulled away, I kept my eyes closed for a couple breaths. To give him time. I leaned in against him, nuzzling him and that stupid jacket. Neither of us said a word. For the moment, nothing needed to be said. It would come soon. For this moment we had each other. It was enough.
"I have to go." Kakashi stated; his voice was thick.
"I know." I admitted. I finally looked up at him - his mask was back in place and he was as mysterious as ever. His gaze was burning again. Regretfully I pulled away and watched him leave.
I was a fool.
My choice was already done. I just hadn't said the words yet.
I'm so sorry Uncle.
Tami admitted it. She finally admitted it. To the truth Kakashi had been guessing about for years. All he had to do was wait for Jiraiya and he'd finally know the truth. He was sure with all the action going on that he would be in town soon if he wasn't already. He heard whispers of his arrival. He'd have his answers. But right now - right now he had other responsibilities. He needed to get back to his team.
They had shared their first kiss and he could still feel her touch on his skin. He had hoped that their first kiss wouldn't have been after Orochimaru's plot had manifested. Had it been his way, it would have been in a romantic setting. A candlelit dinner, maybe he could cook for her and impress her. But with the way she responded to him he couldn't regret his choice. He wouldn't.
Kakashi wouldn't let her leave him. Not without a fight. Not without her knowing. If she was still planning on leaving, and their talk didn't happen for some time - he wanted that kiss on her mind. It needed to be. He needed her to think about him. Who they could be together. It might have been even the slightest bit underhanded for him to do it. But he couldn't make himself regret it. Not with her taste still on his lips.
All they had to do was last the Chunin Exams. He, Tami and Team 7. It would work. He would make it work. He'd have to train Sasuke - give him alternatives to the power the boy already strongly desired. He'd have to show him the dangers of Orochimaru and how nothing good would come of it.
He'd keep his new family safe.
Kakashi had no other choice.
AN/: So as you can tell this chapter is a little bit shorter than the others. I figured considering the contents, you'd all be a little bit more forgiving. :P Maybe. I wanted to post this before I left to visit my family (In the five years I've moved away from home, I've seen them once). I don't know when my next update will be. Honestly, it might not be for some time. Depending on when I can write. I plan on being back home on the 7th. We'll see if I can update at all. :P Probably, knowing how much I enjoy writing this.
So! Thank you guys, for all the love; the favorites, follows and the amazing reviews. I hope you enjoyed this. We've been building to this moment for a while now. I'm sure some of you would have wanted their kiss way earlier. I had planned for it to be even later on, but I felt like right then was the right time for them as a couple so I went with it. They are so attracted to each other it was kind of hard to put it off for this long.
So, as always - stay safe, and have an amazing time.
See you next time.