Author's Note: To make up for the very delayed previous chapter I've edited and finished 9 for all you wonderful readers earlier than planned! And I have a bit of an announcement, a few people have asked about how Kakashi and Toshiko met, something I never originally planned to get into, but I've now decided to incorporate it in a few flashbacks. I've already started drafting it and so far it's been fun to write about!
Anyway, feel free to review/fav/follow it really means a lot to know people are enjoying my fic and I'll try to reply to any questions, also if you have a Kakashi fic you'd like me to read/review post it in the comments!
Thanks To: golden-priestess, Harry Abbot, Tusceline, dollinchains, dragonkiss89, killjoy282, Iluvcandyiluvcandy, catshare96, BloodPrincess8
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any characters, story, ideas that are associated with it. What I do own is my OC Toshiko Akatora and any other OC's that may turn up.
=^.^=
9
The sun was shining high in the sky when Team Tiger, or so Ryousuke had named them before their first ever mission, arrived back to the Leaf village early the following day. At which point Maname rounded on Ryo and Tosh, demanding they both get checked at the hospital before handing in their mission reports. This received much grumbling from the two but eventually they did as they were told, knowing full well that the tall blonde medic would not take no for an answer, and waved a goodbye to Hiro and the three of them walked towards the large white building they had unfortunately grown quite accustomed to visiting. Once inside, Maname signed the two battered and bruised ninjas in and lead them to a couple of rooms to await their prospective doctors.
Toshiko sat on the edge of a crisp white hospital bed, her legs dangling idly over the side. Maname sitting next to her in the examination room whilst a doctor checked her vitals. "Everything seems to be normal, except for your chakra levels. Which, as Miss Asano said, are higher than usual. Your body isn't used to the extra chakra and that's what is causing the muscle pain you're currently experiencing."
She perked up at the positive conclusion "So it's nothing to worry about? I mean, has it permanently altered my chakra?"
"Not at all, it should go back to normal eventually. You currently have two options; you can take it easy for a few days and wait for the balance to restore itself, or alternatively you can make use of it and have an extended training session." The doctor said with a smile. "You're free to go."
The doctor excited the room, writing down notes on a clipboard as he went, and the dark haired kunoichi uttered a sigh of relief. Everything had turned out ok after all. Her friend, mimicking her relief, turned and smiled, "That's great news, although a little on the odd side as we still don't have an explanation. Personally I'd suggest opting for a bit of R&R after that mission rather than training. Now that I know you're ok do you mind if I go and check on Ryo? He's in the room next door."
"Of course, you better make sure he hasn't escaped out of a window, he hates this place more than I do… if that's even possible." She replied with a chuckle.
Maname jumped off the bedside, blonde curls bouncing energetically as she did so, "Oh, there's no chance of that, I made sure he was in the room with the broken window that doesn't open. He's not getting out until I say he can." She grinned wickedly, heading for the open door.
Toshiko sat in the cool, quite room, mulling over the words of the Doctor. She was ok, better in fact, somehow she had more chakra at this moment in time than she'd ever had at full strength. Ok it might not be permanent, but something like this could decide the outcome of a fight, if she could control it, that is. How did it happen though? It can't have been Kenta, as the shock on his face in that moment was double what she had felt. It also didn't exactly work out to his favour, considering he was no longer in the land of the living. No. She, Toshiko, had done it somehow. Her brown eyes rested on the open palm in her lap, focusing in particular on the birth mark. The colouring had changed ever so slightly since the fight, it was darker than it had been; the outline of the two overlapping diamonds appeared more defined now.
She jumped as a heart achingly smooth voice spoke allowed, "So, which woodland creature did you piss off this time?"
Startled, she snapped her gaze up at the doorway and her eyes locked with Kakashi's, he was leaning on the door frame, as effortlessly cool as always. Letting out an exasperated sigh, she chuckled and said "Never a simple 'Hello, how are you?'"
His singular visible eye glanced upwards thoughtfully as he replied "I thought about it... But where's the fun in that? Also I'm dying to know if you angered a gang of grumpy bunny rabbits. And "How are you?" just didn't get to the point quickly enough."
"Ugh." Cried the kunoichi as she threw herself backwards onto the surprisingly comfortable medical bed. "There were no grumpy rabbits, or angry mice, or any other small woodland animal for that matter. Will you ever stop teasing about that?"
The reply he gave was short and sweet, "No."
"And why not...?" She enquired.
Suddenly Kakashi was standing next to the bed, leaning over her with his head cocked to one side so that that mysterious face of his was but a few inches away from her own "Because I like seeing you get all flustered Tora, it's cute."
She could feel the beating of her heart drum louder and louder inside her chest. She could feel her cheeks begin to burn and tingle as she struggled to remember how to breathe properly. He was so close at this moment, the tip of his handsomely pointed nose nearly brushing her own. It was all too much; her emotions were so mixed and confused. Why was he this close? And gods did he smell good, it was the all too familiar scent of freshly cut grass and campfires that teased her senses in a subtle way. *Stupid grass, I hate you! 'Kashi is a friend… a friend for crying out loud! Oh but… at the same time I can't deny that I'm curious, I just can't help it, I want him to take me in his arms and…ARGH!*
"I... Err..." Toshiko mentally shook her head, attempting to dispel the commotion inside her mind. Flustered, she tried to sit up "I need to see the Hoka-"
Unfortunately, she had neglected to take into account exactly where her friend was standing, and he in turn hadn't expected her to move so suddenly, resulting in a shockingly awkward collision... Her plump red lips made contact with his, only separated by the thin layer of dark fabric that masked his face.
The accidental kiss lasted no longer than about three seconds, but it seemed more like three hours to Tosh as her chocolaty brown eyes met Kakashi's and she saw her own shock and surprise mirrored in his.
After the longest few seconds Toshiko had ever experienced in her adult life, she did the only completely rational thing her understandably muddled mind could think of, she slid around him and legged it to the door muttering some nonsense about the Hokage and being late as she fled.
Kakashi just stood there, alone in the hospital room, with a slight dazed look in his eye. The mask barely disguising the slight pinkish tint that had crept onto his cheeks. The copy ninja raised a gloved hand, lightly touching his hidden lips with a finger, he then slowly spoke aloud to the unoccupied room, "Interesting."
=^.^=
Jumping and dashing over the rooftops in the late afternoon sun, the sky a most beautiful pallet of crimson and orange with hints of lilac, birds filled the air with secret conversations to each other, but Toshiko hardly took any noticed the picturesque beauty of her home. She couldn't get the stark, clinical hospital room out of her mind. *Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods! How the hell did that happen? I'm so embarrassed, that was awful...* well, no not awful, not awful at all. His lips had warmed and tingled her own, she had felt the flutter of metaphorical butterflies inside of her and she yearned to do it again and again- only she couldn't, they were just... Friends. Mates. Pals. None of which were imbued with romantic connotations. *He doesn't think of me like that, it's just light-hearted teasing with him, and nothing more... Ugh I feel so stupid at getting worked up about it.*
Finally the tiered terracotta building of the Hokage's tower came looming up ahead and Tosh, pushing her tangled thoughts to oneside, teleported to the ledge outside his personal office and knocked on the open window. A gruff, aged voice answered, "Toshiko, there is a perfectly good door, you know."
"I know, but this is quicker." She smiled warmly at the old man.
Eyes brimming with wisdom and a deep, genuine kindness looked at her, "Hmm, it seems some of Kakashi's bad habits have rubbed off on you. You two spend a lot of time together, don't you."
Her denial came stuttering out, "I err, well I wouldn't- I mean it's not like we're, actually we hardly... Heh." A nervous laugh escaped her mouth and her right hand rubbed the back of her neck, "Yeah, I guess we do."
Hiruzen had silently let her ramble on with a long, slender grey eyebrow raised, there was an amused hint to his voice "Hmm. Just as long as you don't adopt his time keeping. Shall we go over your mission report?"
Toshiko nodded as she started to go over the details of the last few days. She left nothing out, even mentioning how the tree fall hadn't exactly been planned although it had turned into the perfect distraction. By the end of it the Third looked pensive and remained silent for a few minutes before finally speaking. "When you were last in this room we discussed how your clumsiness had been affecting missions, either resulting in failure or injury. You are still too clumsy and I urge you to continue working on this, however my terms were if something went wrong due to that clumsiness, and this was not so. I will not be suspending you from active duty Toshiko, take a couple of days to recuperate with your team and I will have a new mission for you by then. Now, unless there is anything else you may leave."
Closing her eyes she drew in a breath of warm sweet air and exhaled, it was good news. It was, but... "I must go."
The old man looked up from the multitude of papers on his desk and gave Tosh a quizzical look, "I did say you were-"
She cut across him "No, I mean, I must leave the village to train, like we discussed." She let out a breath before continuing. "This last mission, the mark on my hand, hell even the clumsiness, I've come to the conclusion that it's imperative that I find out more about this... this power? Or whatever it is. I don't even know if it's dangerous to my health let alone how to control it. I'm grateful that you haven't taken me off of active duty, truly, but I would like to ask for the time off all the same."
The Third silently took in all she said, resting his elbows on the large mahogany desk at which he sat, fingers entwined just under his lined, and bearded chin. "And you are certain this is what you must do?"
With a determined confidence she answered him "I am, lord Hokage."
"Hmm. Then I will grant you permission. When do you plan to leave?"
"In a couple of days, after I've recovered fully and had time to prepare for the journey."
"Then I will make arrangements for a temporary replacement for your teammates. I wish you good luck on your quest, you are dismissed." He looked back down to his papers as she turned to leave by the same way she had entered. "And one more thing, Toshiko." The kunoichi looked back at the old head of the village, a finger pointing towards the large oaken doors at the opposite side of the room, still engrossed in his papers. "The door is over there."
"Err, yes sir..." She sulkily walked away from the window.
=^.^=
Toshiko let tired feet guide her through the village, the idea of actually leaving weighed down on her mind like both Gai and Lee's training weights put together. This strange discolouration on the palm of her hand, currently hidden in a temporary bandage from the hospital, was something she knew absolutely nothing about and that sent shivers coursing down her spine. The only thing she knew for certain was that that woman would know, she must do, because Tosh had seen a similar mark on the older woman's own palm.
She walked on down the bustling high street, the sky was a velvety midnight blue canopy dusted with starlight and the night lanterns had been lit along the rows of buildings casting a warm orange glow over the villagers as they went about their business. Toshiko loved the village at night, the chattering sounds emanating from restaurants mingled with laughter and music from bars, and the streets filled with friendly faces. It felt so inviting, so much like home. She stopped to take it all in, a heavenly aroma of food filled her nostrils making her turn towards a little restaurant across the street. The fabric curtains hung halfway from ceiling to floor, concealing the two customers seated at the bar. Without meaning to, she had ended up in front of Ichiraku's, so she headed over and ducked under the heavy off-white curtain.
"Toshi-Sensei!" Cried the golden haired boy grinning from ear to ear.
"Naruto! Where are your manners? It's Toshiko-Sensei to you." A flabbergasted Iruka exclaimed.
"She said I could call her that! Right, Toshi-Sensei?"
"Hey guys." Toshiko flashed a smile at the two. "Relax Iruka, I said it was ok, I quite like the nickname to be honest."
"Oh, well in that case, I guess it's ok then." The Chunin let out a short chuckle. Taking note of her dishevelled appearance added, "I heard you were out on a mission, did you just get back?"
Sliding onto a tall vacant bar stool, situated on the other side of Naruto, she reached for a menu, "Yeah, I've literally just been to the hospital and to see the Hokage, then ended up here. Didn't even realise how hungry I was. Ooh beef, perfect!"
"Toshi-Sensei wanna know about my mission? I bet you do, right?" Naruto excitedly jumped up and down on his stool, it was clearly a rhetorical question, she was about to hear all about it whether she wanted to or not.
"Sure, what was it this time, dog grooming?" She teased.
Naruto pulled a face, "Nooo senseiii, it was S-ranked!"
The kunoichi raised an eyebrow in mock surprise, "Oooh an S-rank, of course. So, nin-dog grooming? I hear Pakkun is very particular about shampoo brands..."
"Toshi-senseiii, seriously it WAS an S-rank, we fought against this ninja called Zabuza, well I fought his friend Haku; they were awesome. Then Sasuke passed out, and I had to save him, and in the end we teamed up against the REAL bad guys, who were..."
He was so excited and caught up in his own story that he'd hardly noticed the look of utter shock that spread across his audience's face, "Zabuza, Zabuza Mumochi...? A team of Genins fought the demon of the hidden mist... and live?"
She didn't think it possible for his grin to be any wider but somehow he managed it, as a laugh issued forth from his lips, "Told you you'd want to know. So you've heard of him?"
"Naruto, every Jounin has heard of Zabuza, he's in the bingo book. So how exactly did you take him out?"
"Err, well, actually it was Kakashi Sensei, but me and Sasuke fought his friend Haku, I was sad when he died, he kinda looked like a girl and had the coolest kenka genka-"
"-I think you mean Kekkei Genkai, kid." Toshi interjected, she always found his habit of mispronouncing ninja-terms to be highly amusing.
"Err right, yeah what you said, anyway he made these ice mirrors and and..." Animatedly he carried on, describing his fight in great enthusiastic detail.
It was late by the time Naruto finally finished recounting his teams' adventures in the mist, so Toshiko bade them goodnight and was about to leave when Naruto called to her with a cheeky grin spreading across his face "Hey hey Toshi-Sensei, are you going to find a certain Sensei for some... Alone time?" Putting great emphasis on the word 'Alone'.
"Err why would you say that? You know, it's not like Kakashi and I spend all out time together, hardly any actually. Why do people keep assuming that we're joined at the hip? It's not even like that, I mean I don't… and he definitely doesn't…"
"If you say so but I didn't even say Kakashi-Sensei's name, Toshi. See ya!" He jumped up from his stool, laughing as he walked off.
The kunoichi stood there dumbfounded, what had just happened? Had she been outsmarted… by Naruto? Bloody hell, it really had been a long day.