"Kakashi!" the ninja twitched when he heard his named.

"Gai…" he sighed.

"Hey, how're you?" the latter asked. "Where're you coming from?"

"Hokage Tower," he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Oh?" Gai raised his thick eyebrows. "How come?"

"Mission," he impassively said.

"So soon?" Gai was taken aback; his eyes widening even more if that was possible.

Kakashi blankly stared at him.

"Okay…" he widely smiled. "What's it about?"

"A previous mission of mine," he replied.

"Kakashi…" Gai softly said. "That's not a one man mission."

"I know," he growled. He was getting annoyed with telling him all the details.

"Ah, so you are teamed up with someone!"

"Hm."

Suddenly, Gai's stomach growled. "Wow, I'm hungry. I've been working out all day. Wanna go grab a bite to eat?My treat!" he proudly grinned.

"Hm," he nodded.

Ten minutes later, they were face to face in one of Konoha's best restaurants. In front of them was a multitude of dishes and bowls.

"Behold Konoha's best food!" Gai ceremoniously said.

Kakashi took a bowl of rice and started eating.

Gai sweat dropped. "Only rice…"

Kakashi didn't reply, but then again he wasn't the talkative type. Gai shrugged and started eating.

"So tell me who is the sad, I mean happy ninja you were teamed up with?" he asked.

"I don't know," he replied.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Gai was outraged.

"I don't know her name," he said playing with his chopsticks.

"Oh, so it's one of our lovely kunoichis. Well that shouldn't be hard since I know most of the ones who graduated around the time we graduated. Describe the fair lady."

Kakashi grimaced. "I don't know."

"Height?" Gai asked.

"Tall, I guess."

"Weight?"

"Oh, she's slim."

"Hm…that doesn't help much," he tapped his lips. "Eye colour?"

"I didn't look at that!" Kakashi raised his eyebrow in disgust.

"Hair colour, then?" Gai's eyebrows furrowed.

"Light purple, I think," he impassively said.

"Light purple....light purple," Gai brainstormed. He paused. "Spiky?"

"What?" Kakashi narrowed his eyebrow.

"Spiky light purple hair?" Gai asked.

"Yeah," he placed his empty bowl aside.

"Does she by any chance have a strange mark on her jugular?" he narrowed his eyes.

"I didn't see," he frowned at the idiotic question. "I don't bother with stuff like that!"

"Okay, then," Gai carefully continued. "Could you describe her as quiet?"

Kakashi shook his head. "I can describe her as anything, but quiet."

"So you consider her rather…loud?"

"Hm."

Gai gulped. "If I'm not mistaken, but I hope I am, you have been assigned to a mission with Mitrashi Anko!"

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Isn't that a food's name?"

"No, my friend," Gai shook his head. "It's Konoha's craziest ninja's name."

"Hm."

"Oh, boy, are you in for a ride. That girl's a complete nutcase," Gai shook. "She may be pretty, but hell, once she opens her mouth…"

Kakashi's eyebrow furrowed. If that was the case, then she might compromise his mission.

"You know," Gai whispered. "She used to be Orochimaru's student."

Kakashi carefully eyed him.

"I think that's why she's…" he gestured. "That way."

"Hm. Since she's Orochimaru's apprentice she should be somewhat strong," he rubbed his chin.

"Oh, I guess she is. But, I tell you, she's a ticking bomb. Going with her, it's like a suicide mission," he cringed.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "I think you're overdramatizing."

"Say you kill you enemies. You'll surely end up killing each other in the end," Gai chuckled.

"Hm," he quietly got up.

"Kakashi!" he heard Gai call.

He looked at him.

"Maybe she'll show a thing or two on how to live your life," he ginned.

And with that he left. He shoved his hands in his pockets. He doubted that anyone could change him. He was too scarred. He was determined to arrive earlier the next day, just to prove her how distracted she was. Maybe he could just leave without her. He could say that she didn't show up.

And he was right. There was no sight of her as he reached Konoha's main gates. The village seemed deserted. All its inhabitants were fast asleep. Before leaving, he turned and looked one more time at the monument where his sensei's smiling face was carved. He did not know when he will return. He stopped by the black stone monument before leaving to pay his last respects.

"Hey, you're late!" an annoying high pitched voice blasted in his years.

Twitching, he twirled on his heels only to be nose to nose with Anko who was hanging upside down by the gate.

"Took you long to notice me," she angrily continued.

"Hm," he stepped back disturbed by her closeness. "How long have you been there?"

She jumped and was now face to face with him. "A while."

He checked with his watch. "It's not even seven."

"I'm always early," she stressed each word.

"Hm," he took off.

"Hey!" she ran after him. His legs were a bit too long to match hers. "So where are we going?"

He didn't look at her.

"I'm talking to you!" she jumped in front of him. He sidestepped her. She didn't allow him. "What's wrong with you?"

"You are annoying," he poked her on the forehead and continued to walk.

"Hey," she gave him a kick in the back.

He fell. She did have some strength in those short legs of hers. He got up rubbing his back.

"I do not care if you are Kakashi fucking Hatake. I was assigned on this mission too. I want to do this mission too, so unless you're going to cooperate or I'm going to break your bones. One by one," she growled.

He yawned. "Are you done, yet? God, you're annoying. Never, not even in your wildest dreams ever imagine that I will take orders from someone like you," he coldly said.

"I'm not aiming for that. I'm talking about teamwork," she stressed the last word. "Familiar much?"

He looked at her. "You want teamwork? Fine. Stay out of the way."

She jumped him, crushing him against the ground.

"What are you doing?" he yelled trying to push her weight off him.

"Someone has got to knock some sense in that dense brain of yours. We could do it my way or the hard way!" she gripped his wrists.

He stared at her. She glared at him. They were quiet for several moments trying to catch their breaths. He leaned his head back.

"What do you want?" he asked. "No, really, what is it that you want? What is it that you seek?"

"Acknowledgement," she quietly said looking at her reflection in her nails. "And trust. The trust I was once offered. I want it back. Because I know I'm worth it," she got off him.

"I may be no saint. I might as well be the devil. But I'd rather be something than nothing," she continued. "Hallow. I'll never be that."

"You speak as if you know me…" he growled. "Act as if you do..."

"Then prove me wrong," she grinned. "I dare you."

"Hm," he started walking. "Okay," he cleared his voice. "We're going to a village not far away from here where I last fought them."

She grinned. "Very well then."

And so the journey began. yay! Your reviews were great! I hope I won't disappoint!