Chapter Three : Kurage's Story/ies

Kakashi was 16 years old walking trough the Marukami District near Konoha, he stared ahead of himself at the long road that had book shops at each side of the street. He smiled and took a step forward. Kakashi then turned around at the smiling Rin.

"I thought you would like this." She said walking towards him. "I'll be a few streets over to see my cousin, but I'll be back."

"Rin, thank you, I've read about this district before but because of training and missions I thought I'd never see this place." He watched the people walking with book bags and Manga at hand, he smiled and wondered what he was going to find.

"Well, Kakashi-kun, I'll see you in a few hours." She said waving and walking away.

"See you."

He walked down the sidewalk, he stopped at a window and stared at all the books on display and smiled as he saw a poster of Beach Times 3, he blushed and walked into the store. As he walked down the middle isle and looked down all the books on the wooden shelves. 'So many...' he thought to himself and walked down an isle knowing the book he wanted was going to be there. He could hear the quiet talking of the people around him. "Uh! Only one copy left." He said to himself, "Just in time." He grabbed it and stared at the red cover with the sexy woman in the front. He smiled at himself, two children ran down the isle passing next to Kakashi and accidentally bumping into him, he looked down the left and smiled as he saw the happy kids go out of sight and turned around to kneel down so he could pick the book up. As he reached for it he saw a hand over the book already. "Huh?" He looked up and saw a girls face four inches away from him, he blushed and his the one eye that showed stared at the girl his age. Her hair was long and brown and had eyes the same color, her face was pale but had a rosy pink tint to her lips. 'So pretty.' he thought to himself.

"Mine." She said snatching the book from the ground and holding it tight against her chest. She spun around smiling to herself, Kakashi got a full view of her light pink yukata with the nice yellow obi. "Beach Times 3," she picked up a bag next to that was filled with books. "Every other store is sold out and none are getting shipments until next week!" She said and jumped with joy while laughing.

"Uh, excuse me ma'am, I think that's mine." Kakashi said rubbing the back of his head.

"Hm?" She smiled. "I don't see your name on it." She said flipping through the pages and smelling the new book smell. She then got a good look at him. "What is a shinobi doing here?"

"I like to read and I had that book first." Kakashi held out his hand as if she were going to give it to him.

She took a step back holding the book tighter. "But...I have to get it,"

"I'll let you read it after me if that's ok." He said taking a step forward.

She took another step back. "But I have to leave before midnight, you can't read this before then."

"Well I am a fast reader." He chuckled to himself. "Uh, sorry, but whats your name?"

"Kurage Momochi." Kurage said. "What's your name?"

"Hatake Kakashi." Kakashi said and looked at her bag, he noticed his a book in it. "Is, is that Mistress Secrets volume 4?" He said pointing at it.

Kurage turned red. "Maybe, why?" She said trying to push the book behind him.

"I've been trying to find that one for a long time, but no store really holds it." He said.

She smiled and pulled the book out, leaned into Kakashi while holding the book near her face. "This ones amazing! Nanami-chan meets a Shinobi who's about to be the Kage of her native village."

"Really? The same Shinobi she ran into in volume 1 when she thought he was out of her league?"

"Yeah!" Kurage smiled and paused, both of them took a step back and blushed at the same time.

"Sorry." Kakashi said.

Kurage smiled, "Um, Kakashi, how about I let you read some of my books and I can read as much as I can before I have to leave tonight."

Kakashi looked at the time on the wall and then at Kurage. "Sure, why not."

"I know this perfect bookshop," she ran down the isle to the cash register and paid, she then turned around and ran out grabbing Kakashi's hand.

"Hey, hey where are you going?" He said holding his head piece so it wouldn't fly off. They were going a bit fast. "Hey you're fast Kurage-chan."

Kurage jumped up high so they could be on the roof that looked over all Murakami District. "I love this spot, I've been coming her about two years now." She smiled at herself.

"You're, you're a shinobi?" Kakashi asked her as she sat on the flat part of the room, she pulled her books out to make a neat pile.

"Yeah, well, I'm still training, technically I'm a Chunin, the only reason I didn't pass to become a Jounin Exam was because I failed to kill my opponent, but I think I'm just as strong." She smiled and looked up at him. "And you, what are you?"

"Jounin, Kurage-chan, your last name, you're not related in any way to—"

"Oh," She sighed and opened one of her books. "Momochi, I guess you've heard of Zabuza, my older brother."

Kakashi sat in front of her and grabbed one of her books. "You're not, here on a mission are you?"

Kurage laughed. "No, if I were I'd be with my best friend Mangetsu-kun," she looked down sadly. "No one really likes to read over at the Hidden Mist, not the swordsman at least, they're a bit mean, uh, you're not going to stop talking to me are you?"

"No, I just pictured Zabuza's little sister being like him."

"Yeah we're exact opposites." She laughed to herself. "But, he's nice, to me at least, I know he's done horrible things, like when he killed everyone who was about to graduate to become a genin."

"So then those rumors were true."

"I was only seven when that happened," she then handed Kakashi Mistress Secrets 4 and smiled. "Kakashi-kun, I know our villages aren't fond of each other, and I know you would like to get some information out of me so you village might get some insight about the Hidden Mist, but I must stay loyal to the Mizukage and especially my brother, if you got to know him I think you'd really like him," Kakashi didn't really look at her. "But aside all of that, I hope you and I can become very good friends." She gently smiled and giggled.

Kakashi blushed, 'so cute' "I hope we can become good friends too." He opened the book and began to read. Kurage did the same.

The sun began to set and the street lights began to light up. The store owners began to turn the neon lights of the store signs on, giving the whole street a beautiful red glow. Kakashi and Kurage were back to back, Kakashi would sift his eyes to the side from time to time as Kurage was leaning more comfortably against him. He looked at the pile of books and saw Kurahe and him read many of them before the book soon came out. Kurage yawned and stretched, she suddenly got up and almost made Kakashi fall back. He looked up at her and saw she was staring out at the Murakami District. The glow of the night lights reflected on her soft skin, a breeze blew though her hair, she tucked a lock of it behind her ear and smiled.

"There's no place like this in the Hidden Mist." She said still looking ahead of herself.

"That's too bad, every village should have a place they can come to and enjoy books like this." Kakashi stood up.

"Hey Kakashi." She said without looking at her.

"Hm, yeah?" He turned to her.

"You know, it the book Kawai Hotel, when Yuka falls in love with a girl from an enemy village."

"What about that story?" He asked her, he remembered he really liked that story.

"And then at the end of the book everyone accepted their love, even the five kages."

"Yeah."

"Do you think that could happen in real like?"

Kakashi looked down at the glowing lights. "I don't know, maybe."

"I hope maybe something like that could happen, it's sad to think it can't, but with all the wars." She smiled at Kakashi. "What if we end up fighting each other one day?"

Kakashi smiled back. "Let's hope nothing like that happens."

"Uh!" She ran towards her book bag. "I have to get back, she began to stuff the books in her bag."

"Oh, I see, well then, are you planning on coming back here?" He asked her.

She got up walked towards Kakashi, she grabbed both his hands. "We can't write to each other, especially since you're a Jounin, but do you really want to be my friend?" She asked him.

"Of course—"

"Then promise me to come back here in exactly three months!" She said seriously.

"I'll try—"

"Promise!"

Kakashi stared for a moment. "I promise, in three months I'll be here, right here."

She smiled and looked at the book Beach Times 3, she picked it up and stuffed it in her bag. Kakashi looked shocked. "What are you doing?"

"I knew you weren't going to read it, so I taking this to make sure you'll come back." She said with a smile.

"I really wanted to read it." He looked said, she giggled making him blush. 'She's so adorable.' he thought.

"Well Kakashi-kun, I'll see you soon, but I have to leave, and please come back." She said waving and ready to jump away, she then slowly stopped and looked at Kakashi seriously, she ran up to him and gave him a hug. "Bye!" She then disappeared.

"Wow...she is fast." He said to himself. "Uh! Rin, I almost forgot!" He jumped down.

It was March 6th, Kakashi was 17 and Kurage was about to turn 15. Both were laying down on the rooftop they always met up at. Kurage had a stick with pink dango on it, she pointed up at a cloud. "That one, is it shinobi made or real?" She then stuffed a dango in her mouth.

"Fake, probably made by a visiting genin." Kakashi said and yawned.

"Have you become a teacher yet?" She asked with a mouth full of dango.

"No, I want to though."

"I don't want to be a teacher, besides Mangetsu and I are always on Missions to get rid of trash from Suna and Rain Village." She then tossed the stick to the side. "Isn't it nice, to not be in war." She rolled over on her belly and looked at Kakashi. "No our meetings can be a little longer then a hello and goodbye." She smiled at him.

Kakashi looked at her, he always liked it when she smiled. Kurage covered her mouth with her sleeve and blushed. "Kurage-chan, you've been going on more and more missions haven't you?"

"Mm, Mangetsu said he needs all the experience and drags me along with him," She laughed again and looked up. "I hope Mangetsu will be strong like my brother, I think he would even be a good Mizukage."

Kakashi had nothing to say about that, the Hidden Mist was something Konoha was not fond of, and if Konoha found out he was constantly meeting up with a shinobi from the Hidden Mist, he might even get in huge trouble. But at the same time he knew he wasn't doing any harm.

"You're so fond of the Swordsman." Kakashi said.

"Yeah, even the Mizukage thinks they're good for the village, well, as long as you ignore their violent nature." She rested her head on her folded arms and stared at Kakashi who was looking at her. "I think someone wants to take the Mizukage out of power."

A woman screamed as Kurage stepped on a girls back, she cocked her head to the side with a sad face as she watched the girl was trying to reach around so Kurage might stop. She lifted her foot and the girl tried to crawl away.

"Hey, hey, hey, where do you think you're going?" Mangetsu said kneeling down in front of the girl. "Ah, she's cute." He said holding her chin. The girl had light blond hair and green eyes, but she wasn't exactly cute since her face was twisted in pain.

"Please...spare me." she begged.

Mangetsu smiled. "Sorry, but you saw our faces, Konoha can't know we've been spying on ANBU." He laughed and pulled out a kunai.

"I paralyzed her, Mangetsu, don't you think thats enough?" Kurage asked staring down at the women. Kurage and Mangetsu were wearing all black with their head pieces on their head making it clear they were from the Hidden Mist.

"Maybe." Mangetsu said and held the kunai to the girls neck. "But she's only 13, right?"

"Ye-yeah." The girl managed to say.

"What's a life worth without walking, don't you think you'll be a burden?"

"Wa-wait!—" she screamed before her head was completely cut off.

Kurage's eye last fluttered as she examined the body. "Poor girl, only a genin." She said.

Mangetsu wiped the kunai clean on the girls cloths and stood up. "Kurage, next time you should just cut their legs off."

"I don't want to make a mess." She stared at the blood pour from the girls body.

Mangetsu stepped behind Kurage and stopped her from turning around, he held her shoulders so she could look down at the girl. "See that, I put her out of her misery, misery that you were going to cause her." He took a step forward and wrapped both arms around here, she was about to push him away, he then held her tightly. Kurage's eyes couldn't get off the body of the dead girl, she set her hands on his arms to try and pull him off, but he didn't move, chills ran through her back as she felt his cold lips on the back of her neck. He then whispered in her ear, "I know where you go all the time."

"Uh..." She froze as she thought of sitting on the roof with Kakashi.

"I know all about those little dates, about those hours you spend together," He smiled. "We're best friends, I thought we didn't keep secrets from each other."

"Mangetsu...please, don't tell the Mizukage."

"I won't and I won't stop you from seeing that Konoha garbage either, but from now on," he set a finger under her chin, "you have to listen to whatever I say, understood?" Kurage tried to nod but didn't want to since his finger was still in place. Mangetsu then shot around with a kunai at hand, Kurage slowly turned around to see what it was.

"Uh!" Her eyes were wide as she saw a girl with short brown hair standing and looking at the dead body of girl, there was purple marks on her cheeks that made Kurage recognize her instantly. 'no way, Kakashi's partner is here?' She thought with clenched teeth. "Mangetsu, lets get out of here now!" She began to grab his arm but it went right through because of his liquid form. She looked desperate at Rin and Mangetsu.

Mangetsu smiled, "Now, now, Konoha-Kunichi, don't try and run away." He said and ran towards her.

"You're from the Hidden Mist?" Rin said out loud and began to pull out a kunai as well.

Kurage watched as Rin ducked when Mangetsu tried to slice her head off, he then sliced down cutting a bit of her shoulder and she jumped away and was near Kurage. Rin thought Kurage would attack so she started to trow two kunais at her, but Kurage only moved out of the way and watched where they landed. She turned back to Rin and saw she was charging towards her with a short sword. Kurage didn't know what to do and she didn't want to hurt her either, but Rin stopped with wide eyes. Both Rin and Kurage looked down, there was a sword sticking through Rin's stomach. Mangetsu then pulled it out and smiled at Kurage, he didn't wipe the sword and only examined it. Rin leaned forward and Kurage caught her.

"Mangetsu...we could have at least knocked her out." Kurage said.

"Kurage-chan, Kurage-chan, we're playing, remember?" Mangetsu smiled at her, it faded as he felt a chakra signature. "Well, well, look who it is." Mangetsu said looking towards his left.

Kurage's eyes were wide, her mouth wide, and her arms trembled as she could feel Rin's dead body. Kakashi slowly stepped out of the shadows, there was a few other shinobi behind him who stared specifically at Rin. Kurage dropped her and took a step away from her, she then looked at Kakashi and then at Mangetsu.

"Mangetsu, we don't have a chance, lets go!" She shouted and ran towards Mangetsu.

"Don't let them get away!" Kakashi said running towards Kurage, he pulled out a kunai and tried to stab her.

"Why?" She jumped out of the way, Mangetsu chuckled to himself, Kakashi turned around and saw Mangetsu had already killed the shinobi who came with Kakashi. Kurage didn't know what to say. Kakashi raised his hand to lift his headband. Mangetsu clenched his teeth, he knew both Kurage and him combined weren't ready for this and he grabbed her arm.

"Let's go." Mangetsu said, Kurage could only nod and looked back before she made a few hand seals so they could appear back at a shore of the Hidden mist. The sound of waves began to fill the air around the two teenagers, Kurage was still, she was looking down at the waves touch her feet.

Ringo began to walk towards them, Kurage and Mangetsu turned as he was near them. Ringo looked into Kurage's face. "Are you alright, Kurage-chan?"

Kurage looked down again. "Yeah, just a troublesome mission, perhaps I haven't trained as much as I should have." She tried to smile but Ringo wasn't buying the act, he then looked at Mangetsu.

"You haven't hurt her in any way have you?" Ringo asked Mangetsu.

Mangetsu stepped next to Kurage and wrapped and arm around her. "We're the best of friends, just as always, right Kurage-chan?" Kurage only smiled.

"Mangetsu, Mizukage wants to speak with you." Mangetsu let go of Kurage and began to walk away.

"Fine, fine, I'll be there." Mangetsu then disappeared.

Ringo watched Kurage begin to step forward, as she passed him he pulled out his swords and and electric charge ran trough her whole body.

"RINGO WHAT THE HELL!" Kurage screamed at him.

"There's the Kurage I'm so used to seeing." Ringo half smiled.

Kurage smiled and looked down. "Hey, does Mangetsu really see me as a friend? Only a friend?"

"I didn't know you were interested in relationships," Ringo said and looked out into the foggy bay.

"No, no I'm not asking that."

"But then again, all the Swordsmen seem to have a fondness of you." Ringo began to walk towards her and stopped so he could stand next to her, "Zabuza brought a surprise, he's at your home."

She clasped her hands together and her eyes twinkled. "Did he get me a kitten?"

"Kurage-chan," Ringo said the looked into her eyes. "You just came from a mission looking as if Mangetsu was killed," Kurage stared at him. "And so quickly you act as if nothing had happened to you," she lowered her eyes, Ringo moved a piece of her hair out of her face and brushed a finger on her cheek. "Kurage-chan can forget about anything so easily, will you forget us when we're gone?" Kurage set a hand on his so she could still feel his warm hand.

"I'll never forget you, none of you."

"I don't believe you."

She held onto his hand even tighter, he ripped it out her grasped. Kurage didn't know what to say, when she really thought about it, maybe she really didn't care about anyone. "I really do care about you, all of you."

"The surprise I mentioned, is a student, Zabuza brought a student to live with you two, his very own apprentice." Again, she didn't know what to say. "The boy looks oddly like you, hair, eyes, and all, but he seems to be a bit more loyal to Zabuza."

"How so?" She asked.

"He saying he's Zabuza's tool, that he's only going to live for Zabuza." Kurage couldn't deny, she loved Zabuza, but she felt she's been living as she pleases. "Kurage-chan, you can't live for someone, you're too free, just like Mangetsu, that's why you two are always together, constantly leaving and coming as you please."

"A student..." She then covered her mouth in shock. Then find someone who can be your student. She remembered saying that to Zabuza a while back.

Ringo began to walk away. "I'm going to the Mizukage, see you in a few hours, Kurage-chan."

The wind blew through her hair, she looked down again, she felt horrible. "I've been seeing pain and suffering every since I was a child..."

Kurage was almost seven, she looked around at piles of dead bodies, most who were killed by Zabuza. Zabuza looked around and spotted Kurage, he didn't say anything and only jumped away to fight more shinobi. A little boy younger than her began to cry with a missing arm. Another shinobi came and shoved a kunai in her hand. "Do us all a favor, kill the survivors." He then jumped away. She watched the shinobi jump away and she began to walk towards the little boy.

He kept crying. "Hey, shh, stop crying or I'll have to kill you." Kurage said, the boy wiped his eyes and looked up at the pretty faced Kurage. "Shhh, I'll try to find a place for you hide." She grabbed the boys hand, but then she flinched as the boys arm was cut off. She looked up and the boy began to scream, Mangetsu was standing over his head and soon stomped on it. The small boy was then silent.

"Kurage-chan, follow orders, I don't want to fail this mission." Mangetsu said and walked towards an other survivor.

"You can't blame me for just trying to laugh a little..." she said, Kurage turned around and began to walk towards the her home, she wondered who was going to be there when she arrived.

A/N: Hope this wasn't too long, or was it too short? haha jk, anyway I hope you liked it, I don't want you to think im not trying, anways I'm about to read The Crow, well, once it's done downloading. Hope It's a good story. I keep saying, hope...hope, hope, hope. Haha.