Chapter 10: Free

Kakashi opened his eyes, wondering if he was still dreaming. The warmth of Seika's body was still fresh in his memory. He turned over, but his bed was empty. He groaned.

Over half a year had passed since their first night together, but waking up next to her hadn't gotten old, and he doubted it ever would. He keenly felt her absence now. It was strange to him, how he could live his entire adult life without the express need of a woman, and yet now, a few weeks without Seika was torture.

Maybe I shouldn't send her on so many missions… he thought grumpily. This predicament was entirely his own fault, after all.

He flung back the sheets and stood up, stretching, before meticulously making the bed. He glanced at the clock. It was still early, but he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. Today was the day the whole shinobi world had been waiting for: Naruto's wedding. For Kakashi, it also harkened Seika's return.

A few weeks prior, he had tasked Seika with finally returning Kubikiribōchō to the Village Hidden in the Mist. It was a fitting mission for her: a way of finally saying goodbye to Zabuza. She had asked to do it, and Kakashi was glad to help her put that chapter in her life behind her. Still, when he gave her the sword, a fleeting worry about her safe return had crossed his mind. He didn't doubt her abilities - he knew from experience that she could take care of herself - but he wished he could have gone with her.

In addition to enlisting Seika to help around Konoha and returning her to active duty, Kakashi had also enlisted her as one of his training partners, and boy, did she keep him on his toes. Other off-duty Leaf shinobi often came to observe them during these training sessions, and he wondered if they were secretly hoping they might see him get his ass kicked. It happened occasionally. Seika was a cunning kunoichi, and she made him work hard for his victories. He wished more than ever that he still had his sharingan…he no longer had the ability to copy her tricks. Fighting like that was the only time they ever argued. She was often upset by his neverending list of copied jutsu, while he grew frustrated at the fact that he'd never be able to copy hers.

He smiled, remembering the last time she'd yelled at him. More of Wolf came out when she was on the battlefield, that brash obstinance that sharpened her softness. He supposed that more of Kakashi probably came out, too, the indifference she so detested.

"I prefer when we're fighting on the same side," she told him once after he had stifled her attacks. He gloated about the victory just a little bit, to which she replied, "I can't stand you as an opponent, but you're a fantastic ally." It was his favorite compliment.

Perhaps that's what they were destined for - the ease in which Sukea and Seika intertwined combined with the way that Kakashi and Wolf abraded against each other. Every couple needed their yin and yang. To him, the balance he found with Seika was intoxicating.

In any case, now that he had experienced what fighting her was like, that wasn't what worried him. And yet, worry settled in at the corners of his mind.

I'm worried about her because I love her.

This thought hit him out of nowhere, and Kakashi made a verbal exclamation of surprise. Thoughts like this didn't often cross his mind, but he supposed Seika had a unique hold on him.

He looked again at the clock. She would make it on time. She was escorting the Mizukage back to Konoha for the wedding, after all, and she wouldn't fail that mission. He, on the other hand, had a number of other tasks he had to finalize before the reception that evening. He left his quarters, heading towards the Memorial Stone and hoping that for once, he wouldn't be late.


Somewhere far from Konoha…

"We're going to be late."

Seika glanced at the Mizukage. "We'll be on time." She tried not to let her voice betray her doubts.

"That storm really threw us off track. We should have taken the airship when Tazuna offered it," Mei complained.

"I'm not sure we would have fared any better in that contraption," Chōjūrō told her, frowning. He had vehemently refused on behalf of the Mizukage. It was a well kept secret that she had a disdain for heights, even if she wouldn't admit it.

Mei, Seika, and a couple other Kiri shinobi were breathing heavily, taking a quick rest from rushing at a breakneck pace towards the Village Hidden in the Leaves. A storm had pushed their ship off course, taking them an extra half day's journey south of the Land of Waves, where they had intended to land. They were pushing themselves as hard as they could, but at this rate, they would miss the wedding entirely.

Think, Seika, think! The route they were now on would take them north, then west, towards the village. They could cut off time if they went straight towards Konoha from their current location, but there was no path, and the tallest waterfall in the region blocked their way.

Seika looked around at the forest, feeling sentimental amidst the old growth trees. She'd spent a lot of time traveling back and forth between Konoha and Kiri, but this area, closer to the Land of Tea, was where she often trained with Zabuza and Haku. Zabuza would set up games to play with Haku when he was little, disguising training by stretching the boy's imagination. She remembered one now, realizing in retrospect that he had used the same strategy to teach her, too.

"I have an idea." A smile played at the edge of her lips. "Mei, do any of your guards possess a kekkei genkai for ice release?"

Mei watched Seika warily. "One. Why?"

Seika's grin grew devilish. "One is all we need."

A few minutes later, Mei's scream pierced the open air, causing a flock of ravens to scatter from their perches at the top of the waterfall. The Mizukage's voice rang out even beyond the roar of the waterfall, which was saying something. Chōjūrō had jumped as well, and the two were now falling in open air.

"Now!" cried Seika, jumping off the top of the waterfall after them.

The Kiri shinobi next to her leapt, simultaneously forming a series of hand seals, turning the churning mist from the raging water into platforms of ice that formed below the falling group.

Seika, too, had moved her hands through a series of seals. She took in a deep breath and exhaled, her wind release picking up into giant balls of air that balanced below each great ice platform and keeping them floating in midair. She deftly landed on one of them and assessed how the other shinobi were doing. She could tell Mei was upset with her. Chōjūrō was glaring at her as well, and Seika wondered if he, too, had a secret dislike for high places.

Mei stood up, dusting some frost from her dress. "Why did we have to jump first?" she asked.

"It's more fun that way!" Seika gave in to the playful urge inside of her and let the ball of air under Mei drop about six feet, eliciting another cry from the Mizukage. It was highly unprofessional, given Mei's status, but Seika hadn't had this much fun with her old friend in years.

Seika allowed the platforms to descend more slowly towards the base of the waterfall, and then she changed up her tactics once the ice was floating on the river. Modifying her wind release jutsu, she began propelling them quickly downstream. Chōjūrō pitched in with his own water release, and soon the group was flying at a much faster pace towards Konoha. They'd get as close to the village as they could on the river and then travel the rest of the way on foot.

"You shouldn't have done that, especially in front of my guards," Mei rebuked. "It makes me look old and weak." The normally cool and collected woman was still a little shaken from the fall.

Seika scoffed. "They don't think you're weak, and you're definitely not old." Mei's guards were devoted to her, especially Chōjūrō. It was no wonder. The Mizukage was gorgeous, a visionary leader, and surprisingly kind. Her ability to bring out Chōjūrō's confidence amazed even Seika. She had a hard time not comparing the man's soft-spokenness to the generation of swordsmen that came before him, but Mei saw past that and towards his abilities, which far exceeded some of the previous members of the Seven.

"I'm sorry though…" Seika said, referring to the waterfall incident. "I used to do that with Haku. Zabuza would challenge us to reach different places along the cliffs, and together we would create floating platforms and jump through thin air. It was a competition, because whoever reached the top first would win, but we still had to help each other to get there."

Mei's frustration at Seika's antics deflated upon hearing this admission. "It's been a long time since I've heard you talk about Zabuza and Haku so openly."

Seika's gaze wavered, the only indication that gave away her surprise at this observation. "It's been a long time since they died," she deflected.

"You're moving on," Mei mused.

Seika blushed. "I haven't forgotten them."

"No, but you're allowing yourself to live again. It's refreshing to see. What prompted this?"

"What do you mean?" Seika asked, her cheeks tinting slightly red.

Mei's eyes narrowed upon seeing this involuntary rush of blood. "Are you seeing someone?" she asked rather sharply.

Seika averted her eyes back to the river. "I don't know what you're talking about!" she said forcefully. Mei had always been a little too invested in Seika's love life. She had had some choice things to say about Seika's deep admiration for Zabuza, and Seika knew the woman would also have some strong opinions about her relationship with the Hokage.

"Tsunade-sama will know," Mei muttered. "I'll just ask her when we get there."

"If we get there on time," Seika retorted, but she knew they would. Their route was now clear.


Kakashi was standing with Tsunade near the entrance of the reception, greeting some of the foreign dignitaries, when he saw Mei walk in, Chōjūrō in tow. Seika was nowhere to be seen.

"I'm glad you made it," he said when the Mizukage approached him. "I heard there was bad weather."

"We were half a day delayed, and we wouldn't have gotten here without Seika. That girl has some tricks up her sleeve," Mei said with a wry smile, making Kakashi wonder what had happened on the journey. "Also, Kakashi-sama, I'm grateful for the return of that sword, but it is a mystery to me how you got Seika to deliver it. You know her history with it, yes?"

Kakashi nodded.

"Zabuza's had a hold on her life for as long as I've known her." Mei gave an impatient sigh. "I tried to dissuade her from chasing him when she was a teenager, but she wouldn't listen. She never does when I give her advice about men."

"She hasn't been listening to me, either," Tsunade broke in with a flip of her head.

Mei gave Tsunade a subtle glance that was not lost on Kakashi. "So she is seeing someone?" she asked with intrigue. "She wouldn't tell me who. It's been a long time since I've seen her so…happy."

"There's a photographer that comes to town every now and again, but while he's away she's been flirting with danger," Tsunade replied drily, narrowing her eyes at Kakashi.

He shrunk down an inch, feeling suddenly uncomfortable between these two women.

"That's nothing new," Mei said. "Seika and danger go hand-in-hand like hot water and tea. How else do you think she became such a good assassin?"

"What an interesting analogy," Kakashi picked up, trying to change the subject. "I didn't know you and Seika had such a close relationship."

"She's like a little sister to me. Zabuza wasn't the only one who watched over her in Kiri, despite what she might have you believe."

Kakashi found his appreciation for the Mizukage growing. She'd been rather flirtatious the last time they'd met, but she was a good kunoichi and an excellent Kage. She would have been a good influence for Seika, especially given that the girl's only family for most of her life was Zabuza. Kakashi still wasn't quite sure where the girl's kindness came from given Zabuza's influence and hold over her, but he found himself very attracted to that mystery.

"Where is she?" he asked.

"Said something about needing to pick up her gift from home. She should be coming soon."

But Kakashi did not see her, even after Naruto and Hinata made their entrance. Nor had she walked in by the time the music started and people were beginning to dance. He sighed, glancing at the time. He'd have to wait until later to greet her. At the moment, he had another duty related to the wedding for which he was already late.

Some time after Kakashi left the reception, Seika walked in. She carried a box towards the table holding gifts and set it down, taking an envelope of money from her pocket and handing it to Konohamaru.

"What did you get them?" The curious boy asked, eyeing the box.

"A tea set," Seika answered. She opened the lid of the box and let him peek inside. He frowned.

"It's cracked. Isn't that a useless gift?"

Seika smiled knowingly. "Just because something is broken doesn't mean it is useless."

She pulled the teapot from the box and turned it carefully in her hands. The light cast a gleam on the golden streaks that crisscrossed the cracks in the shiny glaze of the black pot.

"Wow!" The girl next to him, Kazamatsuri Moegi, exclaimed. "It's so pretty!"

Konohamaru's frown grew skeptical. "Why wouldn't you just buy them a new teapot?"

"It's a reminder that beautiful things take hard work. There are times in their relationship when things might feel broken, but there is always hope. The pieces are worth picking up and putting back together if both of them are willing to work for it. Despite appearances, this teapot is stronger than it was before, even if it doesn't look 'whole.'"

"I think it looks more unique and beautiful this way," Moegi chimed in.

Konohamaru crossed his arms, still skeptical. "Isn't love supposed to be easy?"

"Real love takes lots of sacrifice," Seika said softly.

"But it's worth it, in the end," came another voice behind her. She turned around.

"Sukea!" She was surprised to see this disguise, today of all days. "What are you doing here?"

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tsunade pointing and whispering to Mei.

"I'm helping take photos of Naruto and Hinata. It's nice to see you."

For a split second, and thrown off by the disguise, Seika thought that he was referring to the months that had passed since she'd seen this particular face, rather than the few weeks she'd been gone from Konoha.

"It certainly has been a while."

Sukea smiled. "I have a few minutes," he said, eyeing the grassy area where others were dancing. A ballad was currently playing, and a handful of other couples were swaying in time to the slow music. "Would you like to dance?"

Seika nearly said yes, but stopped, a twinkle in her eye. "I'm actually waiting for someone," she said coyly.

"Oh!" Sukea said in surprise, before a knowing smile graced his face. "I hope he comes soon."

"He's usually late," she replied, winking at him. She placed the pot back in its box and left the gift table, making her way to Tsunade and Mei. The photographer pointed his camera in her direction and took a photo of the three of them before waving goodbye.

"Sukea's here?" Tsunade noted, raising an eyebrow at Seika.

"That's the photographer?" Mei broke in, glancing between Tsunade and Seika. "I didn't expect him to be that good-looking. He's different from your normal type."

"What do you mean, my normal type?" Seika sputtered. "I've never had a type."

"Exceptionally strong, annoying as hell, uninterested in women, keeps his face covered…" Mei listed off.

Tsunade rested her elbows on the table, eyes dancing playfully. "Sounds about right."

Seika went scarlet, and the two women laughed.

"If it's not Sukea, who is it?" Mei asked, but Seika remained silent, and thankfully Tsunade did, too.

The three women spent the rest of the reception talking around the table, empty drink glasses building up as the hours passed. Finally, the last song started. Mei was complaining that no one had asked her to dance, and Tsunade was explaining all of the reasons why men found female Kages unapproachable, when Seika finally spotted Kakashi across the lawn. He was relaxed, his hands in his pockets, and he was looking up at the blooming trees. Seika wondered, briefly, how on earth she had fallen for this silver-haired shinobi. More often than not, her life still felt touched by darkness, but she was grateful for moments like these, when her heart was lifted by the presence of someone she loved. It was like seeing the sun's rays on a cloudy day and remembering that somewhere up there, the sun was always shining.

He lowered his eyes and found hers, and a shiver of anticipation worked its way up her spine. He meandered towards their table.

"Ladies," he greeted, acknowledging the other two women, before turning his attention to Seika. "You look lovely," he told her. His eyes deliberately wandered down her body, eliciting an annoyed 'tsk' from Tsunade, but he couldn't help himself. The hem of her dress hovered just above her knees, and her bare legs were enticing.

She blushed, bashful under the Hokage's gaze.

"Thank you, Kakashi. It's good to see you, too."

They looked at each other for a long time, neither speaking. Mei and Tsunade exchanged a sideways glance.

Finally, Kakashi asked, "Would you care to dance?"

Mei's jaw dropped.

"I wouldn't have pegged you for a dancer," Tsunade said under her breath.

"I'm not," Kakashi said, cocking his head. His eyes never left Seika. "But I'd make an exception tonight."

Seika took Kakashi's hand, and he led her to the dance floor, leaving two baffled Kages behind them. However, apart from Mei and Tsunade, everyone else ignored them.

"Genjutsu?" Seika asked.

"It's minor," he replied as he took her waist in his hand. "If anyone cared what you or I were up to, they'd see us."

"You mean like Guy?"

Kakashi turned his head and saw Guy gaping at them. Kakashi's eyes crinkled closed as he grinned. He waved to his green-clad friend.

"Let me help," she said, and she quietly formed a couple of hand seals, adding another veil to his genjutsu.

Kakashi and Seika weren't necessarily hiding their relationship, but neither were they choosing to reveal it. Instead, they kept to their secret ways, remaining private in their displays of affection and professional in the way they addressed one another in public. No one had yet seen Seika sneaking at night to the Hokage's residence to plant three small 'raps' at his window, nor had they noticed the slight changes in Kakashi's spending habits, such as buying more food at the market than was feasible for one person cooking alone. It was inevitable that the information would get out, but both of them desired to delay the unwanted attention as long as possible.

What the villagers had witnessed was a working relationship between the two. Seika, after Wolf's funeral, began to work with the Hokage's office, organizing the tasks and companionship she provided to the village into a more official capacity. She had gone back on active duty as well, and Kakashi was assigning her to missions that would help reform Konoha. He appreciated her ideas, and she was glad to step behind his leadership.

"How was your trip?" he asked.

"Eventful." Seika told him about how they managed to cut off half a day to get to Konoha on time.

"Interesting teamwork," he considered. She would make an enjoyable traveling companion.

"One day it would be fun to travel with you," she said, echoing his thoughts. "Do Hokages get vacation?"

"Yes, but if I leave town, I'm required to travel with an entourage."

"Even for a short weekend trip with your girlfriend?" She was toying with him now.

Kakashi pulled her closer, pressing his nose into her hair and taking in a deep breath. She smelled lovely. "Especially then. Besides, who said I have a girlfriend? I'm still a bachelor in the eyes of the village," he reminded her.

"Then maybe we should start doing some more things together in public," she said carefully. Her eyes glittered in invitation. "Court me, Kakashi."

Kakashi's eyebrows lifted as he considered the request. "I think we're already well beyond the stage of courtship."

Seika smiled, biting her lip. "The village shouldn't know that, though."

"No," Kakashi sighed. "It's not very fitting for a Hokage, is it?"

They danced together for a few moments, before Kakashi continued the conversation. "Are you ready to tell people about us?"

Seika frowned at that thought. "No…but I think I'm ready for people to start noticing. How long do you think that would take?"

"I suppose it depends how much they care." Based on the village's reaction to the rumor of his romance with Kahyō, he was certain they cared quite a bit. Still, if Seika was ready, he was too, so he released his genjutsu.

Too soon, the song ended and the reception was over. Naruto and Hinata had long since departed, but almost all the guests stuck around to enjoy the music, the dancing, the drinks, and the company of one another. Snippets of conversation about where to go for the afterparty were being thrown around as people gathered their personal belongings and got ready to leave.

"Let's go for a walk," Kakashi suggested, reluctantly letting go of Seika. He took her hand in his and led her towards the exit.

Seika lifted her own layer of genjutsu, not knowing that Kakashi had already released his, and they walked away from the reception, hand-in-hand, neither realizing that their innocent touch was now visible to every eye behind them.

And every single eye was on them.

A cacophony of whispers and pointing fingers ensued, especially as those who were slightly more drunk than others tried to confirm with their friends that what they were seeing was real.

Watching them from her view with Tsunade, Mei smiled wryly, feeling happiness for Seika, but also more than a hint of jealousy. A crowd quickly appeared at their table.

"Tsunade-sama!" exclaimed Sakura. "Is Kakashi-sensei dating Seika-san?"

"How would I know?" Tsunade replied, crossing her arms.

"You were with her all night! I thought she might have mentioned something."

"He sure got over Kahyō pretty fast," Ino said in an accusatory tone.

Sai smiled at her, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I think that the physical presence of a lady is more enticing than a mental one." Ino had the decency to blush.

"There is a great level of mutual respect between them," Yamato said. "I've watched them training together…it is a sight to behold."

"I know," Sakura agreed. "Her chakra control rivals Tsunade-sama's."

Tsunade scoffed. "I wouldn't say that," she retorted, growing angry.

"What do you think, Shikamaru?" Yamato asked. "You see them in the office together more often than I do."

Shikamaru was rubbing his chin in thought, his other hand holding Temari's. "He's never given any indication that he's interested in her."

"That's not surprising," Temari said.

"What do you mean?" Shikamaru asked her.

"I mean, Kakashi-sama's just like you. Logic-driven. No emotion. Besides, if Kakashi-sama had any emotion, he certainly wouldn't wear it on his sleeve." It was Shikamaru's turn to turn pink.

Lee joined them, pushing Guy in his wheelchair. "I always thought she was dating the photographer, but it seems my eternal rival has outrivaled him, too!" Guy said loudly.

"Well, she must be pretty special to have gotten Kakashi-sensei's attention," Sakura said dreamily. "I've worked with her in the medical ward, but I don't know much about her."

The rest of the group looked at each other, this realization dawning on them as well. They all knew Seika, but none of them really knew her.

"Mizukage-sama, you've known her longer than any of us," Yamato said. "What do you think?"

Mei enjoyed the attention as all heads turned in her direction, as if the group finally remembered that two Kages were in their midst. She hated being overlooked.

"Seika is an observant person," Mei said carefully. "She notices things that most people overlook. I can guarantee that she knows more about each of you than you probably realize. Perhaps Kakashi-sama is just the first to observe her in the same way."

She smiled coyly, exchanging a mischievous look with Tsunade. "Let's find a bar," she said, "and I will tell you all about Seika." Mei wouldn't tell them all of the girl's secrets, but an embarrassing story or two was sweet, sweet payback for not learning about Kakashi from Seika's own mouth.

Blissfully unaware of the chaos that was blazing behind them, Seika and Kakashi enjoyed a lovely moonlit stroll through Konoha.

They paused in an empty square, and Kakashi pulled down his mask, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed her.

"One day we'll travel, just you and I," he said.

Seika ran her hands along the lapel of his suit, moving her fingers up and around his neck and raising her eyes to meet his. "When?"

"Hmm…" He leaned in for another kiss, getting too distracted by Seika's warm and tender lips to continue thinking about time. He was enjoying the feeling of having her in his arms again. "I suppose when I'm no longer Hokage," he said between kisses.

"When will you stop being Hokage?" Seika asked, getting distracted herself. Kakashi's hands were starting to rove as he kissed her. He pressed his fingers into her thigh and grabbed a fistful of her skirt.

"When Naruto's ready," he muttered. His lips became more assertive as his desire grew. He just wanted her to make out with him, not ask more questions.

She smiled, not quite ready to give him what he wanted, but his lips did not stop even then. "And how long will that take?" she asked, pulling her head away from him to ask this question.

Too long, he thought, moving to her neck since she wouldn't give him her lips. At the moment, he wanted to spend all his waking hours exploring her body, not filling out paperwork or planning missions. He couldn't wait to get somewhere more private. "Maybe a few years, if I'm lucky."

She opened her mouth to ask another question, but he shushed her. "We can talk later," he whispered. He kissed her below the ear, just behind the top of her scar, and felt her shudder. He chuckled at her response. Knowing all of the places she was most sensitive certainly had its perks. He grabbed her hand and took a few steps backwards, pulling her along after him. A smile played at the edge of his lips.

"Now shut up and follow me."

He'd always wanted to use that line on someone.