*Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in it. I simply borrow them for my own musings and fantasies and do not get paid for their use in said musings or fantasies. –Nira

I've been on a writing spree lately! Can't you tell by the WAY more frequent updates? I'm not sure how long my muse will be around, so I'm just rolling with the punches. I decided to change things up a tiny bit, and I hope you all still like it. I promise it's still a Kakashi romance… eventually. Until then, please enjoy the twists and turns along the way. They're gonna be juicy! ^_^ - Nira

Chapter 15

Kakashi had trailed the three, watching their training session from a safe distance. He was impressed by how good she was at teaching and the patience that she showed for Naruto's shortcomings. She'd make an excellent Team Captain, he thought. The three of them seemed to really enjoy their time together, almost as if they were a family, but as they were leaving, something came over Yuriko that made her withdraw almost completely, her expression becoming convoluted and pensive.

From listening in on their conversations, Kakashi concluded that Yuriko had been very close with someone named Eiichi as a child by how fondly she spoke of him. Neither Naruto or Iruka had asked who Eiichi was, but all of the stories that she told of them as children had been filled with laughter and joy with the only sign of sadness being the occasional flash across her eyes as she spoke. He wondered if her withdrawal all of a sudden had anything to do with him, but she'd built her walls back up so quickly that even Naruto was perturbed though neither he or Iruka said anything about it and simply watched her go.

After leaving Naruto and Iruka, Yuriko went home, but after dinner and a shower, she lay in bed, restless for hours. When she couldn't take the empty silence of her apartment that only amplified the thoughts racing through her head, she got dressed again and left. Her mind was screaming for her not to get too comfortable with anyone, especially men because it hadn't ended well before, but also to try trusting people in order to make friends and not be alone all the time and that maybe this time will be different.

Kakashi had heard Yuriko leave again and felt compelled to follow her. He'd gathered minor details throughout the day, but nothing worth reporting about, he thought, and nothing to answer any of the questions he'd had about why Yuriko looked at Iruka the same way she looked at Naruto. He wasn't sure if he'd engage her or not, and if he did, he didn't know what he'd say, but still, he followed.

Yuriko seemed to be wandering aimlessly through the nearly empty streets. There were a few people collecting outside of bars and late night restaurants, but for the most part, the village had gone to sleep. Yuriko was lost to her conflicted thoughts, but it soon became clear to them both that she was slowly making her way to the Hokage monument. When they'd arrived, she stood at the base, looking up at the stoic statuesque faces and grinned to herself before walking a bit further to a spot that hadn't yet been carved with a face while Kakashi watched, curious as to what could have brought her all the way out here or what it could have been that had made her grin, even if it was only briefly.

She tapped the toes of her shoes to the ground a few times each, crouched into the starting position a runner takes at a track and field event with her fingertips on the ground, closed her eyes and took a deep breath before snapping them open with a determined expression and bolting up the face of the cliff. Kakashi's eyes widened in shock at her speed. It was almost as if she'd transported, she was so fast, and she made it seem effortless as her chakra enhanced feet barely made a sound with each step. When she'd reached the top of the cliff, she pushed more chakra into her step and launched herself high into the sky.

Gravity quickly enforced its power and she began free falling toward the flat of the cliff and fast. A flash of panicked concern overtook Kakashi and he steeled himself, ready to do something—he wasn't quite sure what exactly he'd do, but he'd think of something to save her from plummeting to her death. Before he could do anything, Yuriko weaved a few hand signs and the cloud jutsu that she'd used in their fight the day before formed below her. She fell silently into it about ten feet from the ground as if it had been a pillow poised and ready to catch her if Kakashi couldn't. It floated there in midair and she just lay on her back, staring up at the sky and stars while the wind gently blew around her. Not wanting to examine from afar anymore, Kakashi's heart rate slowed to normal and he moseyed his way to the top of the cliff via the path and sat at the edge, looking out over the city.

After a moment of silence, Yuriko spoke up; "Couldn't sleep?" she asked, sensing his presence.

"Nightmares…" he lied, but he knew she'd believe it. "You?"

"Thinking too much…"

Another silence stretched between the two of them, the only sounds coming from the wind blowing through the grass and trees, and the crickets' asynchronous symphony. Yuriko could feel that she was slowly falling apart as the silence dragged on. She wanted to spill everything from her head out into the nothingness just to get it out, and she wanted to tell someone but was terrified that it would be taken the wrong way or that if she told Kakashi, he could possibly use whatever she said against her for one reason or other. Kakashi could feel the air become more and more charged as the silence dragged on, but he didn't want to be the first one to give in to the tension in the hopes that she'd break and tell him what was on her mind.

"Senpai?"

Yuriko's voice sounded meek and Kakashi bit back the victorious smirk that so badly wanted to turn his lips up and grunted a "hm?" in response.

"You admitted the other day during 'I Never' that you've been in a romantic relationship before, right?"

Kakashi glanced up at Yuriko's cloud, wondering why she was asking and where her inquiries would lead the conversation but went along with it anyway. "I have in a way, yes. Why do you ask?"

"Did you ever let her see your face?"

It was Kakashi's turn to be conflicted: should he tell her the truth, or lie? Would his answer be what turned the conversation one way or another? What would she confess to him either way? Would she confess anything at all? And why did it matter if he'd let her see his face? What did his former relationship have to do with anything?

"No…" he sighed after what felt like forever. He figured that honesty would be the best policy in the long run. "I didn't…"

"Oh… why not?"

"We weren't together long so we didn't really get to know each other very well, and I hadn't reached that level of trust with her yet."

Yuriko nodded, seeming to understand completely, but she remained silent, returning to her own thoughts as she processed the information and applied it to her own situation.

"If you'd stayed together longer, would you have shown her?"

"Maybe… I honestly don't know. Why do you ask? These questions are a lot more personal than the usual questions you ask."

"Time…" she responded. "I have to remind myself that things take time."

'And that maybe it's okay to let someone in sometimes…' she finished mentally with a slight smile.

Like usual, Kakashi was left with more questions than answers, but apparently, whatever she was thinking about, his answer was enough to help her come to some kind of conclusion. That would have to be enough, he thought, a slight grin gracing his lips and a warm feeling in his heart replacing the gnawing discomfort from before.

Yuriko awoke later than usual due to her late night, but she quickly dressed, ate breakfast and headed out with a basket to collect her herbs in. Her intention the day before was to gather ingredients for her tea, but she'd enjoyed the change of plans for the most part. She made her way through the village, well into its daily routine already and as she was walking toward the main gate, Iruka happened to catch a glimpse of her and called out her name, jogging to catch up.

"Are you alright?" he inquired when he'd reached her, and Yuriko examined him, decoding his facial features and body language. "You just left last night and I was worried that I'd done something wrong or made you uncomfortable again."

His eyes showed concern, his brow was furrowed, and his stance was tall and strong and Yuriko let slip a small smile beneath her lavender sash. "You're way too kind, Iruka-san," she blushed, looking down. "It wasn't you, it was me. I don't usually spend that much time with people so I needed to regather myself. I'm sorry to have worried you."

Iruka sighed, relieved that he hadn't messed up again, but now more concerned than ever about Yuriko. He wondered how long she'd been alone and what could have happened to make her steel herself against the world so much.

"I saw you walking and just wanted to check on you. I'm glad you're okay."

Iruka's smile was warm and genuine as he rubbed the back of his neck, and it brought a deeper blush to Yuriko's cheeks. Iruka noticed her downcast violet eyes, reddened cheeks visible above the lavender sash around her neck and face, and shy demeanor and his own cheeks flushed at the realization that she was… captivating. Her hair was braided to the side and hanging over her shoulder, her yellow sundress with purple butterflies around the bottom was bright and festive and blew gently in the breeze, and the violet sash around her waist accentuated her curvy yet petite waist. The wicker basket hanging from her arm and how shy she was in the moment gave a very homey, country-mouse air about her, but he knew a fierce warrior lurked within.

Yuriko looked up, noticing that Iruka had gone silent and his body had stiffened. His expression had changed and he was staring, but not in the creepy, hungry, perverted way that she'd caught other men staring at her as if they were undressing her with their eyes. Even the thought made her skin crawl. His eyes were slightly widened and his mouth hung open slightly, and he seemed to be holding his breath. It felt like he was more awestruck and admiring a work of art than visually molesting her.

"Why are you staring at me?" she asked, stiffening in nervousness.

Iruka immediately averted his eyes, occupying his attention with a rock on the ground visible just past Yuriko's head, but his cheeks remained rosy. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. You just… You look really pretty today."

It was silent for a long moment as Yuriko processed what he'd just said and her own turbulent feelings. "You're too kind, Iruka-san… it's difficult for me to accept it…"

"Why? Hasn't anyone told you that before?" Iruka asked, dismayed that she couldn't accept his compliment when he meant it in all honesty.

"Only once since I was young. A friend said it," Yuriko half smiled, remembering when Kurenai had told her that she was pretty without her mask. "The others had ulterior motives or didn't really mean it."

"I mean it."

The radiating smile and pinkened cheeks poking above her scarf as she turned away was enough of a "thank you" for Iruka, and he couldn't help but grin himself.

Yuriko had been out all day, collecting ingredients for her tea and purchasing the rarer items that didn't grow in or around the village from traveling merchants. Kakashi had told her that he'd had nightmares, so she decided that she'd give him the last of her tea and just make some more for herself. When she'd gotten home just after sunset, she bumped into Kakashi who seemed to have just gotten home from training, his hair weighed down with sweat, and dirt and mud caking parts of his uniform and exposed arms. Yuriko found herself distracted by how toned his musculature was but quickly pushed the thought out of her mind. She had a task to complete and a lot of work to do before it was done.

"Good evening, Yuriko-san," he called, his voice tired but eyes kind as he acknowledged her and took note of the basket of herbs, flowers, fruits, and roots hanging from her arm.

"Evening, senpai," she smiled in return and made her way inside.

Not expecting anything more from his neighbor and teammate, Kakashi entered his own apartment, showered and dressed in his loose-fitting black sleeping pants with his mask pooled around his neck, and his beloved book open as he lazed on his couch. Shortly after he'd gotten comfortable, he heard a knock at the door and sighed in exasperation, replacing his mask before wandering over to answer it.

He opened the door and was confused and slightly aggravated to see that there was nobody there, but as he was turning to close the door again, something on the ground caught his eye. There was a small brown leather pouch with a note tied to it with ribbon. He looked to the note, hoping that it would give a clue as to what the pouch contained and/or who it was from and read in neat, very pretty handwriting, "One spoonful for every eight ounces of water. Steep for five minutes and drink while still hot before bed. I hope it helps. –Yuriko."

Kakashi smiled to himself and brought the worn leather bag inside to his kitchen, placing it on the counter. He stared at it for a moment, wondering if it would actually help anything before deciding to give it a try, not seeing anything he could lose in simply trying it and made himself a steaming cup of what he was assuming was an herbal tea that she'd gone out to gather ingredients for. If it worked and helped stave off the nightmares, he decided that he'd have to do something for her as a sign of his gratitude.

He got comfortable again, reopening his book, and began reading, sipping the tea quickly but still enjoying its floral undertones with a touch of citrus sweetness. He'd only gotten through a chapter by the time he'd finished the tea and already felt his eyelids drooping and his body relaxing into the couch as if it would be too heavy to move from that spot. With effort, Kakashi stood and ensured that his house was locked before giving a mighty yawn, making his way to his bedroom, and falling ungraciously onto his bed. He hadn't even had the energy to pull a blanket over himself before he had succumbed to the sleep, his final thought being that it was at least effective in doing that if it didn't help stave off the nightmares. Either way, he'd have to thank Yuriko.