"Kakashi's POV."

"Megumi's POV."

Week 3

(Kakashi)

I just couldn't get rid of that guilty feeling eating at my heart. It was almost a week later and I was still angry with myself over what I had done to that sweet woman. I had made her cry. All because I couldn't hold back my desire for her. I just had to kiss that beautiful face and touch that silky skin. More than anything I needed to be inside her. I tried to be as gentle as I could so I wouldn't wake her, but she did wake up. I left quickly before she was fully awake but stopped in my tracks outside the window when I heard her sobbing. My precious Megumi was crying and calling out my name. I wanted to go back in to comfort her and let her know that it wasn't a dream, but what would that have accomplished? God, that was so stupid of me to even touch her and upset her like that! At the same time it was so hard for me to stay away from her. I couldn't stand to hear her crying like that anymore so I left to sulk in that tree by the river. I was alone with my thoughts and my guilt was a beast breathing down my neck. My rations were getting kind of low but I wanted them to make them last a least a few more days. I was feeling kind of light headed so I decided to go half a mile down stream and catch some fish to eat. I started a campfire and used it long enough to cook with then put it out. Although I felt I was far enough away from the village I still didn't want to draw too much attention to my location.

After my meal I headed back to Oto through a nearby wild rice field. The village was within sight when I stopped. I could sense five chakra signatures moving towards me from different directions. They weren't moving fast so I assumed they were sizing me up. I side-stepped an inch as a senbon whistled past my head and landed in the ground behind me with the poison end down. The eerie clang of kunai meeting kunai rang through the air as I blocked an attack from my left. I guess my attacker assumed I was vulnerable from that side since my hitai-ate was covering my Sharingan. The other shinobi assumed wrong as I pushed my attacker away from me. I was surprised by how soft and round the abdomen felt as the ninja skidded to a halt mere feet away. When my opponent stood upright I could see that it was a red headed woman who stood about five and a half feet tall. I figured out why her abdomen was so soft when I saw signs of a pregnant belly through her clothing. The four others hadn't revealed themselves yet, but I wasn't letting my guard down.

"I see you're paying attention. Unfortunately that just means you'll be more trouble than I thought," the woman stated calmly as she sheathed her kunai.

"What the hell is wrong with you, lady, fighting while you're pregnant?" I asked as she regarded me with a smirk. I didn't bother sheathing my weapon and I didn't take my eyes off of her. She may have put her kunai away but I didn't trust her one bit.

"My physical state is none of your concern. You're intruding on my territory so you'd better explain why you're here." I could sense the four other signatures moving closer.

"You already know why I'm here so I don't owe you any explanation." Surprise flashed across her face for a second before she regarded me with a cold glare.

"I see. So you're the one. Do, Re, Mi, Fa! Fall back!" The four other shinobi now made their appearance looking confused by the order. I was confused myself, but I wasn't complaining. I didn't want to get sidetracked on my mission, but if any of them tried to stop me I knew I would have to kill them.

(Megumi)

It was Uncle Jin's birthday so he decided to celebrate with some of the adults that evening. There was a lot of laughter and plenty of sake to go around. Narabi and I were the only ones not drinking because she was pregnant and I had given up sake long ago when I found out I was a mean drunk. One of the men started telling a really raunchy story about one of his female conquests when Jin scolded him. He said it was rude to talk like that in front of us women. I laughed saying that his stories were tame compared to the things I had seen and heard. That comment got all the men looking at me with a mix of expressions of curiosity, discomfort, and lust.

"Go ahead and tell your naughty stories, gentlemen. Don't mind me."

"Aww, c'mon, Megumi-san! Give us the sexy details!" Baffa slurred as he leaned a little closer to me with a leering smile.

"I don't think so, my friend. A woman has to have her secrets," I replied as I sipped my tea. I could kind of tell that Baffa liked me, and I felt kind of bad for teasing him a little. But I was having such a good time celebrating with the rowdy bunch I decided not to dwell on it. Miki's crazy stories had me laughing so hard it reminded me of the times I hung out with Suki, Jiraiya and the others in the circle. The only thing is my old friends didn't make up any of the insane tales they told.

The night was still young but I was starting to feel tired. I gave my uncle a birthday kiss on the cheek and bid the others good night. Narabi said she was feeling tired too so she left with me. Once we got far enough away from the revelry her smile was suddenly wiped from her face as she walked closer to me.

"Megumi-san, I have something to tell you. Earlier I crossed paths with an unknown shinobi just outside the village. His hair was wild looking and he wore his hitae-ate over his left eye." It didn't take long for me to figure out who she was describing. "Megumi...is he the tracker that you said that was coming for you?" I stopped walking and pressed a hand to my heart.

"Hai, he is the one. He is Hatake Kakashi of Konoha. Narabi, please don't interfere with his mission."

"If you think we'll just stand there and let him kill you..."

"Narabi, if any of you interfere I will never forgive you!" I didn't like taking that harsh tone with her, and the hurt was clear on her face, but I wouldn't stand for anyone thwarting my Kakashi's mission. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence between the two of us.

"You're in love with him aren't you?" I gave a simple nod in response. "I see...Well, good night, Megumi-san." I bid her farewell as she headed for her house leaving me alone on the narrow path. I had a feeling I would have a hard time sleeping knowing that my love was so near. I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. I made up my mind to make the best of the next several days. I actually looked forward to that last day when I would see the man I adored even if it would be my last time.

As I settled down for the night I laid Kakashi-kun's shirt on my pillow and whispered bittersweet words as I shut my eyes.

"Happy Birthday...Kakashi-kun."