TRAINING

Aoi's training started two days after she met Ibiki; Kakashi saying something about since she hadn't gone through formal Shinobi training like the rest of them, he would have to show her the ropes himself… which is why she was currently panting, hands on her knees, as she and Kakashi stood on one of the training grounds belonging to the Anbu forces. She had been given permission to be trained there since Kakashi still had his duties to attend to. To her utter frustration, the silver-haired teen didn't even look winded as Kakashi worked with her on her Taijutsu, or basic combat skills in fighting. Needless to say…. It was going as good as it could be.

"How… are you… so… fast…?!" she panted, looking up at him through her snow-white hair that had fallen in front of her face even though she had tied it up in a high ponytail before. Her light green shirt and brown pants she had been wearing during their 'training to get her in shape' was covered in dirt and sweat.

"I've been training as a Shinobi since I was… two? Three? Honestly, I don't remember… maybe I was four…" Kakashi mused, looking up into the sky as he tapped his covered chin in thought. Looking back at her, he said, "Anyway, I became a Jounin when I was twelve, and I joined Anbu soon after that. You just don't have the stamina built up for this yet, but you'll get there."

The two soon after took a break when Aoi started not feeling her limbs in exhaustion, her body light like she was about to pass out and Kakashi, not wanting her to collapse from that exhaustion, agreed to stop for today.

"Uhg… I can't feel my toes….." she moaned, lying flat on her back as she looked up into the sky.

"Like I said, you'll get the hang of it eventually," Kakashi chuckled, unwrapping the lunch Aoi had packed for the two of them. Then, one of the Anbu appeared to them, going to talk with Kakashi.

"Anbu Inu, Lord Hokage has called for you." Said the Anbu, his face hidden by a Hawk mask.

"What does he want this time…?" The Anbu hesitated, head turned towards Aoi who was blissfully unaware of what was going on as she ate her food. "She is under my protection, Hawk… And she's not a threat." His words still didn't seem to satisfy the Anbu, causing Kakashi to sigh in frustration. "Fine; don't tell me. I'll find out from the Hokage."

When she finally noticed that Kakashi was leaving, Aoi asked, "Wait, what about training?"

"You're tired, Aoi… go back to the apartment and get some rest. If it's another mission, I'll send a message to let you know." Kakashi told her, and she sighed, but nodded.

"Ok… And if you're back by tonight, I'll have dinner ready," she said, dragging herself to her feet. Then, to her surprise, Kakashi turned to the Anbu.

"Can you make sure she gets back to my apartment safely?" he asked him, and Hawk nodded, going over to Aoi to play bodyguard for a little bit.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

As Kakashi walked up the steps to his apartment, changed out of his Anbu attire, he mentally groaned at how sore his entire body felt, as well as his mind. Even though he had told Aoi during training earlier that she would get used to it, Kakashi had yet to do the same. Every time he came back from a mission, he always did in a state of mental fatigue that wore him down to the bone.

Just because he had been a ninja for a very long time didn't mean he would ever get used to it, and he knew several other shinobi who would say the same exact thing.

As he entered the apartment, he could smell something good coming from the kitchen, as well as hear Aoi singing softly.

"... And the Wolf said, 'Will you let me care for you?' He howled underneath the moon, and asked, 'Shall I care for you?' The young maiden smiled, her heart all aglow, as she looked into his eyes…" Kakashi followed the sound of her melodic voice, remembering her singing this once before, back in her village, and it was the song version of the story she had told him. "So they lived together as one, dancing underneath the moon… and to all who search for their love so true… So shall he care for you…"

"You should sing that song more often, Aoi," Kakashi said softly, as she finished her song. She turned quickly to face him, a gentle and happy smile on her face, as she hurried over and gave him a quick hug.

"Welcome home, Okami!" she said, hurrying back to take the dinner off of the stove. Hawk was sitting nearby, keeping Aoi in his line of sight, and he nodded at his Captain when he looked over at him. "Hawk here helped me buy groceries, and I made dinner!"

"It smells delicious, Aoi," Kakashi said, tiredly sitting down at the table while his stomach growled in hunger as the Anbu left. The two of them were soon eating, and the teenage girl was chatting about her day and how she looked forward to training again soon.

"... And Hawk even told me that if I kept training at the pace I've been going, I might be able to join Anbu at some point!" she said, as she picked up her now-empty plate to wash it in the sink. "I have some basic training knowledge from when Takeshi and I used to fight as children, so I think I actually had an easier time with the training than I would without it, and the Tora also taught me how to use weapons, mostly for self-defense, so I've got a good start there…"

Kakashi smiled softly at her enthusiasm, her gentle, yet excited, voice chasing away some of the ever-present grief that continually weighed him down every moment of every day. He had never realized that having another person to just talk to you or just talk in general would be able to chase away the darkness like this…