The wire, tugged at a little, acted as the perfect conductor for a straight line of devastating flame. The forest torched, burning out as the enemy appeared to be effectively scorched.

"Keep hesitating like that and nothing will ever get done."

Kakashi Hatake landed from the pedestal he lingered on previously. Blue electricity died out around his right hand, smoking slightly. "I wasn't hesitating."

"What do you wanna call it?" Anko snickered teasingly, releasing the cord into thin air. Gave a fleeting look to the ashes. "aren't you supposed to be good at these types of things?"

Their team consisted of two other elite Jōnin members, currently searching for the target she had just eliminated.

"I found them first," Kakashi pointed out, both eyes on display. "I don't feel like doing all the work."

"Let me tell you something, Hatake!" She riled on the spot, "not one person on this team is in need of your 'leadership', I promise. I'm the last one to need anything from you. My tracking is just as expert, with or without that unnatural cheating eye of yours."

He seemed only mildly startled by her outrage. "Cheating?"

Anko, a strictly single-minded woman, hardly cared to gather solid knowledge on the Sharingan itself. Wasn't her business, but the eye posed quite the unique advantage in battle. It was a perplexing artistry that soared way beyond her. An intimidating capability with an intimidating master.

"You heard me," She affirmed the stance confidently. However, she couldn't bring herself to hold eye-contact with him for more than a few seconds. She wanted to, though. Irises bled into a shade of fine ruby, jet-black rings circling in between. Unusual-looking. Almost scary, which was probably the overall purpose anyways.

"Criticizing what you don't understand. I used to believe in that same philosophy, years ago," Kakashi sighed through his nose, "you're too emotional."

She could deny that all day, but the accusation wasn't completely false. Though not always forward, her competence was something she had always been proud of. "Okay, next argument?"

"I'm not the type to quarrel."

"Good, because you're wrong," Anko craned ahead, not detecting their teammates. She didn't get along with him too well. She saw what happened during the attack. He stalled on purpose before even activating the Lightning Cutter. Like it was something he debated on going through with. He lied. It happened fast, but she knew what she saw. He was supposedly the most ruthless and callous member of the ANBU. Did he have to think about it so deeply every time? If so, he really wasn't suited for such a branch, and Guy was right to doubt him.

Kakashi certainly wouldn't be used to being told he was wrong.

"You don't know if you should leave ANBU or not because you're protecting the village. And even though you're not bad at it, the organization is too physically demanding. And I'm guessing here, but it goes against your own self-established morals. So it's hard to let the Third down and quit. Because you feel like you're disappointing him. Right? Am I close?"

Anko walked with her chin high up, satisfied with the impression she left. She eagerly waited for a response before realizing there was no active presence beside her. Where did he go?

Retracing steps, she found Kakashi slumped over the ground. In pain? He definitely wasn't injured, but shockingly immobile and maybe comatose. "Hey, you okay?"

She knelt at his side, alarm flashing across her face. "What the hell? What are you doing?" She shook him, but only because she wanted to make sure he didn't miss what she said before.

His hand flew to his left eye, something that confused her. "I'm alright, Anko."

Dragging her hand over his to see, she figured it had little to do with the Sharingan. The skin around it felt hot to the touch. How would that make someone collapse from exhaustion? Some kind of strain?

"Your eye..?" Anko covered it with her right palm, amazed at the fever. The eye itself didn't come across as damaged in any way; she never noticed any signs of ongoing fatigue.

Kakashi pushed himself up, pulling the corner of his headband down to conceal it. "The Sharingan depletes my energy at a rapid rate."

Clutching his shoulder in case he were to fall backwards, she felt stupid for not understanding exactly how.

"Especially the overuse."

And all this time she thought the ability harbored only positive side effects. So he wasn't the ultimate user of every flawless technique. "I didn't know."

Kakashi was weak against her grip, breathing unevenly. "I'll be fine."

"Sure?" She asked, anxious suspicions subsiding. "can you walk?"

"Yeah," He could, possibly with moderate assistance. Thankful she didn't ask for more of an explanation. "it's been a while since this has happened."

Anko reluctantly let go, surprised when he proved to stand alone. She wasn't a sturdy frame to lean against, but she would catch him if necessary.

"If you feel unsteady," She said as pellets of rain proceeded to sprinkle over them. "just hold on to me."

The early morning sun remained clouded by fog, appropriately driving her muddled thoughts. She recalled memories at peculiar times, and Genma's doubt for the situation added to irrational fears. Kakashi would take on infinite responsibility by becoming Hokage. Nothing would be the same. In the village or between them.

Maybe it was because she lacked so much sleep, but her feet lead her back to the memorial. Only to find another woman visiting as well.

"Kurenai," Anko whistled softly, "you're losing so much weight."

Both kunoichi smiled at one another, "Oh, thank you."

She always thought that Kurenai was the most accurate model of a beautiful woman. Prettily done makeup, acute sense of style, lustrous hair. A true bachelorette.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm taking Mirai into town today," She said in a sad voice, "and I don't think a grave site will be on our list of stops."

"I'm sorry," Anko expressed heartfelt sympathy for her friend, "if you want to be alone, I'll go."

"No, please stay. We don't talk like we used to," She continued, "Even though Asuma is buried at the cemetery.. I feel him more.. here. You know? It might sound crazy, but he told me if were to die in an honorable manner, everything would turn out okay. Protecting the village is what we live for," Kurenai was heavily burdened, but no tears fell.

The Mitarashi comfortingly wrapped her arm around hers. "Asuma couldn't have went in a more heroic way. Team 10 will carry on his legacy."

"I know," She nodded, sniffling. "I know that.. I would give anything to spend one more minute with him. I miss the way he looked at me."

Anko couldn't relate, having never truly loved anyone. Something so simple as the way someone looked at you reflected love? It sounded ridiculous, but she had faith in Kurenai Yuhi. She would love again, if she opened herself back up. Her feelings were just too raw. She couldn't allow herself to move on.

"You two won the cutest couple, no contest. Sneaking around, thinking nobody noticed. I waited years for the first move to be made!"

She blushed, "I know, like two stupid kids. Too scared to make it public."

"We supported you guys from the sidelines, whether you knew or not. I spread a lot of gossip."

Kurenai rolled her eyes, a playful mood changing into one serious look of longing. "If I learned anything.. It's to cherish the time you have with those few who are special to you. I wish I'd known how precious time is. So love who you love and don't be afraid. Talk to each other, be good to each other, regret nothing.. always forgive."

The words of wisdom spoke directly to Anko, who could only admire how tough her friend was. "I wonder what he would think of the war and how everything played out in the end."

"Someone from our class getting to be Hokage," The graceful smile returned, "he would be ecstatic. He'd be right alongside Guy cheering Kakashi on."

Anko glanced at the Memorial Stone once more, "I can't believe everything that's happened. This is all so crazy."

"I don't think a lot will change," Kurenai said thoughtfully, "he doesn't seem like the kind to stir things up."

"No, that's not it."

"We had a little celebration last night," She went on absentmindedly, "to congratulate him, you know. It was a little get together. However, I can't say I approved of all the drinking happening between teams."

"Everyone got together?" Anko whined, upset she missed out on anything. Parties were her scene. "And I couldn't be there, damn it!"

"I'm sure he would have liked some to be there who weren't. Jiraiya, his teammates, the Fourth, Asuma.. All these years and I still find myself feeling sorry for him. I hate that.. the loss could be seen among the crowd. But I'm glad we got a chance to celebrate something for once. We haven't been together in a while. Our generation is never in the same place any more. I wish you could have made it."

Sooner than later, she discovered herself at a window that was rather familiar. Not ever locked like it should've been.

"Hey there, Anko."

She did a quick take around the room before slamming it closed. Should've just used the door. He was hunched over a desk, completely motionless. "How did you do that? Know it was me without looking?"

"Nobody else comes through my window."

"Right," Anko threw herself on the bed, staring at his back. "So you expect me."

"No."

"You don't?"

"Depending.."

"On what?"

"A few days have gone by," Kakashi said tiredly, "where I haven't seen you and you haven't seen me. I know you, so your actions stay reasonably foreseeable."

"You make me sound like some tedious broad."

"I'm not sure that description fits."

"Stop killing your brain cells with that stupid book!" She commanded suddenly, deserving more courtesy than that.

He shifted from his chair, dropping a pen. "I'm not reading."

"Then what are you doing?" Anko nosily scrutinized over him.

Kakashi waved a paper at her, "Inauguration speech."

Her mood soured significantly, eyes narrowing. "Wow."

"Harder than I thought," He gestured to the ones crumpled up, littered everywhere except the wastebasket.

Anko was least interested in papers. "Kurenai told me about last night. I really hate that I missed it."

The former Copy-Ninja raised his brows. "You would've been there if you could."

"Yeah," she tilted her head, "was it fun?"

"I think it was supposed to be a surprise, but I knew from the start," Kakashi said more to himself, "Guy dropped too many hints."

"Damn it," She repeated for the second time in the same day, "There's a party and I get to spend it away."

"It was nice," He bent after standing, bones popping. "you would've enjoyed the drinks."

Anko refused to dwell on it any longer, moving so he could sit beside her. Hoping he didn't believe she'd deliberately miss out on something momentous primarily because she disapproved. "Guess what I thought of today?"

"What's that?"

"That time we were partnered together before you left ANBU," She stripped out of the flak jacket for comfort purposes, readjusting her black undershirt. "Remember?"

"Yeah?" She could tell he hadn't expected what she said to be so deeply rooted in the past.

"I don't know if you could tell or not," Anko got lost in space. "but when you collapsed, it really freaked me out. I didn't know why at the time. Because I guess I thought you were invincible or something."

Kakashi listened earnestly, her view particularly fascinating to hear. "I took notice."

"Back then I swore I didn't care for you," She closed caramel-colored eyes.

"You've done a good job up until now of convincing me you never did."

"I was kinda wrong," Anko delicately clasped the sides of his face. He usually waited for her to make a move, but that grade of composure grew on her. It was wrong of her to ever think she was better than him. "my point being, I didn't like you the way I do now. I like you so much, though."

Valuing the confession more than she knew, he had never anticipated her to share so randomly. "I scared you that bad?"

"Yes," She dropped both hands and turned away. If he didn't already know she liked him a lot, he wasn't as smart as people gave him credit for. Because she was at least semi-aware of his attraction to her.

Kakashi fought through the recollection of old memories. "You said I should hold onto you."

"If you feel unsteady," Anko quoted correctly, "just hold onto me."

"Well, I did."