DAY THREE

It was seven in the morning, but he already looked as if he needed some sleep. Kaiko stole another glance at him and giggled. Yep, he's gorgeous alright. Imagine, her first real kiss with a man this goodlooking. It was more than she could handle. Her day began when he came knocking on her door -- his door -- and asking her out for breakfast. Yep. Breakfast. And it was Kaiko's first date, ever.
And her date, was, actually somewhat close to a hog.
Kakashi lifted his head and glanced at her pretty but surprised face.
"You gulped an entire bowl of ramen." she said, as if forcing her mind to believe that such a man existed. She had grown up in a company of men, yes, but they never ate like this.
"Gulped?"
"Yes. That is what you just did."
"So you're not accustomed to a man's appetite?"
She was shaking her head in disbelief. "You swallowed an entire..."
He couldn't tell if he wanted to laugh, to be serious, or to do both.
"I barely saw the other half of your face and you're done?!" It was funny because she looked truly shocked, and he wanted to laugh but wasn't sure if she wouldn't be offended.
"You didn't remove that piece of cloth when you kissed me." "I didn't?"
"Yes. And it's frustrating because a first kiss is supposed to be perfect." It was a lie, ofcourse. Kaiko couldn't wait for another record-breaking kiss from him.
"It wasn't perfect?"
"Certainly."
Moving close to her, he lowered his head for a whisper. "Then teach me how to do it perfectly."
Color rose to her cheeks. And to his cheeks as well. He, however, was able to hide it beneath that thin piece of garment. Whatever came into his mind to say that, he couldn't say. But he was definitely surprised by his actions.. by this "flirting". It seems that whenever he's with Kaiko, everything is a surprise.
"This is too fast." he heard himself say.
"I'm glad you know that!"
"Well, I'm sorry, really. This is kind'a new to me.."
Her brows shot up. "Oh? I was under the impression that this is your field of expertise."
He shrugged and stood up. "I forgot to tell you something.."
"What is it?"
"I will be pretty busy today."
"That's ok, we can hang around after work. Right?"
"Nope." he was shaking his head. "I won't be here. Today. Maybe until tomorrow. Maybe until the day after that. I don't know."
It felt as if someone poured a bowl of hot ramen over her head. "Really?"
He nodded.
"Where are you going?"
He didn't answer. Well, things are too fast between her and Kakashi.. it made her feel as if she had to know everything.. as if she had the right to know. And it took her a while to realize that, no, she doesn't have the right to peer into his affairs.
"At least I have you to take care of my place for the meantime."
A housekeeper. She swore underneath her breath. Is that why he took me out for breakfast? Because I'm going to take care of his place for the meantime?
"I'll be back. That's for sure."
"Okay." She stood, turned her back on him and started her way home, leaving a barely-touched breakfast.
"We'll do this again. When I get back." She heard him say, but she was too hurt to look over her shoulder.. or to stop and take the briefest glance and say goodbye. Kaiko shouldn't make such a fuss over such small things, really. She is here for a purpose, and instead of batting eyelashes and enjoying a bowl of noodles with a one-eyed ninja-hog, she should be looking for the Lazarus eye. When you get back, she thought to herself, you probably won't see me here.

She roamed around Konoha, her mind occupied with the daunting task at hand. Without Kakashi, she had plenty of time to plan her way to the Lazarus eye... wherever these people had kept it. However, planning isn't as easy as it once was. She barely knew where the Lazarus eye is... if it truly is hidden here. And where. And how the hell will she find it. But she had to find it no matter what happens. Find it, steal it, give it to the chief in exchange for her freedom. And then...
And then...?
What will happen next? Where would she go?
Nowhere.
Konoha would make one beautiful home for her... and with Anko, and the Ramen house, and Kakashi...
She stopped in her tracks.
If she leaves this place, there is definitely no way to see him again. Earlier today, she figured she was prepared for that. But now, after giving it some serious thought... she couldn't be so sure.
She tried to sneak into several quarters, but it was practically impossible... even for a girl. The "newcomer" strategy wouldn't work, and Anko is unfortunately busy to back her up. Most of the people that caught her are faces she never saw here in Konoha. They don't walk around town and play card games with Anko, or eat Ramen, or make childish jokes. And they obviously do not underestimate her for being a teenage girl. Kaiko was finally convinced that Konoha is the best place to hide the Lazarus eye.. and she can never steal it. She must go back and tell the chief that she failed her first and only mission. And they will definitely humiliate and punish her for that.

Evening, the sun had already left its sky not a few minutes ago. After aimless walking, she had finally decided to come home... no, she forgot, it wasn't her home. She doesn't belong here. The villagers are too nice and too hospitable... and too honorable. She's not like them. And she can never be one of them. She will always be a slave to the Shinrin bandits. A poor soul destined to hang onto the edge of a knife for survival.
She slowly ascended the stairs and padded until she had come face to face with his blurred door. Warm tears stung the corner of her eyes, which she brushed off with the back of her hand. It's time for her to realize that Konoha is just a dream. Leaving the group is just a dream. Kakashi is just a dream. She had to wake up sooner or later.
With eyes still blurred by tears, she opened the door and entered. Inside, she caught sight of a futon and felt the stress of today's activities sinking in. She sat down and, unable to contain the tears any longer, started to weep. Barely possessing the courage to wake up from this perfect dream, she told herself that she needed to rest. Sleep. She had to sleep and dream some more. Sweet and happy dreams.
She heard footsteps so she quickly turned around. There he was. Her dream walking toward her. This time, he allowed her a better glimpse of his face. And his eyes... sleepy eyes.
"I missed you..." he scooped her in his arms and gave her another record-breaking kiss, this time, without the cover on his face.

Maybe it was wrong to dream too much.. Believing that something great is going to come soon enough. It's wrong because it's not right, it's not right because it's false. When you dream, it gives you the strength to wish and hope for the future.. that somehow, something good will happen when in reality, there is nothing worth looking forward to. Dreaming is wrong. And painful. But why do we keep on dreaming? Well, it does feel good to dream. It gives a temporary sense of euphoria. It gives you the courage to live even when there's nothing in your life that is worth living for.
The sadness was too much. She was through staring at Kakashi's ceiling. She was through with holding back her tears. She was through pretending that there's nothing wrong with what she's doing, with whatever game she's playing. She wanted to release it all… but… there is no one who would understand. Not even Kakashi. He would definitely hate her for the rest of his life once he finds out.
"Are you alright?"
He was awake. And he noticed.
"Is there something wrong?"
She shook her head and bit her lip. She couldn't speak.. or at least she tried not to. It seems to her that, once she opened her mouth to explain, she would chatter endlessly and spill out every little secret she tried so desperately to hide.
"Then why are you crying?"
Her mind slowly wandered over what had happened between them and shook her head.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No! No.. No..." she trailed off. Kakashi sat up and hugged her. Kaiko cried, letting out all the tears she had struggled so hard to keep. She's always crying and frankly, she had grown used to this kind of thing. Cry and it'll go away. Cry and it'll feel better. But now, it doesn't work that way anymore.
"It's me... Not you. Definitely not you."
"Shh.. it's okay. It's okay. Just breathe slow.."
She did as told and was calm after a short while. Wrapping her arms around him, she pressed her right ear close to his chest and listened to the sound of his breathing. It's wrong to dream, but sometimes, dreaming is the only road to happiness. At least she was able to feel something like this for once in her life.. and perhaps in the lonely days to come, this memory would help her go on.
It was with those hopeful thoughts that Kaiko found the road to dreamland.

Blinding light. They call it "sun" and it was such a regal sight to behold! It emanates too strong a light, that whenever she looks straight at it, it temporarily robs her of vision. But she couldn't help staring at it… the sun was too beautiful.. too dominant… too noticeable. And she liked it.. even if it renders her blind for a moment… even if she couldn't see for a while. Afterall, it's just a short while anyway.
Someone took her hand. She turned to see who it was, but found a cloak instead. A ragged cloack shaped like a man… no, a woman?! Its voice crackled, like sound of fire burning wood. And its frightening. She didn't want to hear something like it again. Find the eye that never weeps.. it she said. Now Kaiko was certain, it was a she. Find the eye that never weeps, and you will find your place.
She looked at the cloak. Puzzled. How can you even say that, she asked. And then she realized, she wasn't a young girl anymore. The one staring at the cloaked figure was a woman. Her brown hair tied at the nape. How can you even say that, tell me!!
For quite a while she thought the cloak was unfortunate enough to live with only one hand.. until another cold, bony hand shot out from the ragged garment and grabber her by the shoulders. It shook her, rocking the every fiber of her being as if to wake her up from a deep slumber. And with that strong force, Kaiko realized that the cloak was shaking as well. Shaking. And the cloak finally fell off, revealing a hideous face that Kaiko couldn't help but stare at. She had long, silver hair running down to her back, and was so thin her pale, ghost-white skin seemed to cover nothing but bone. And her eyes were protruding, as if the skin was too tight and the eyes were forced to leave its sockets. Wait a minute…
Find the eye.. the ghostly figure resumed…
She struggled from its grasp but it was too strong. The grip was vise-like, and she couldn't break free. Kaiko was so frightened. The once-cloaked figure was staring at her with only one eye.

She opened her eyes. Another bad dream. She looked around, felt her surroundings, and was able to touch something warm and breathing. It was dark, aside from the faint glow coming fro this evening's full moon, but she knew. The one breathing was her Kakashi, sleeping so silently. She sat up, propped her other hand on the matress and watched his steady breathing, then she caught herself smiling. Maybe they're taking this romance thing is full throttle, not minding the brakes hidden somewhere, but she had no other choice. Five days. With or without the eye, she must leave. The bandits will find her, anyway, wherever she goes.
Something twinkled, and it ripped her attention off her sleeping savior. In the pale moonlight, she saw a strange glittering object beneath the puddle of clothes next to the matress. What was it? Something that reflects a yellowish gleam. Quite a generous twinkle considering the faintness of light in this dark room. Yellow. Its twinkling rivals that of the evening stars.
Yellow.
Kaiko froze. Time stopped. Something that rivals the stars... She could only name one object in the entire world that can be compared to the twinkling jewels of the evening sky. Who would've thought that the eye is just one person away from her?