The song lyric, entitled "High", was an original of Speaks. Love that song.
Chapter 3
Kakashi turned on the lights as soon as he had entered the house.
"Do come in," he said to his guests, "Asuka, Master Hokage said that you'll be staying here in my house while you still have no accommodations of your own. As for your escorts, they're welcome too."
He entered the kitchen and started preparing dinner. Instead of doing the jutsu training that afternoon, Kakashi spent the time listening to Asuka shout and whine and plead with the two to return to Konan but to no avail. They still were going to stay with her. He shook his head. A bachelor with kids in his home? Tsk. Unheard of. Yet, it is happening to him. Maybe he should keep all his collection of Icha Icha Paradaisu. It wouldn't do for any of the kids to read it.
Asuka sat on the sofa and pinned the two with a look. "I told you not to tag along. I can very much finish my mission alone, thank you."
"But, Hotoki-hime, as your seishis—"
"I told you not to call me by that name here in Konoha, Kira-kun," she interrupted.
"My apologies, Miko-sama," he said bowing, "still, as your seishis, we must protect you. At all costs. Even if it means traveling here and tagging behind you and listening to you complain."
Asuka crossed her arms on her chest and opened her mouth to speak. However, she was interrupted by Kakashi who chose that moment to stick his head out of the kitchen partition and announce dinner.
The four ate dinner quietly and after that, the ninja directed each of them to their rooms.
Asuka sat on the windowsill and stared blankly at the stars. She was homesick and she wanted to cry. Every minute she spent in Konoha, her mind wondered if her big brother, Bushin, had gone and attacked Konan. It's not her fault that she was favored. Given a chance, she'd switch places with her brother. Just because of this stupid prophesy, the relationship between them had eroded to the point that Bushin had chosen the opposite side and left the palace.
Sighing deeply, Asuka jumped through the windowsill and landed gracefully at the ground. It was almost time. She walked briskly toward the falls. It's for her safety, she knew, why she had to undergo this. Still, it weighed down on her like a pile of bricks and always left her tired. Very, very tired.
At last, she had reached the waterfalls. Sitting down beneath a tree, she closed her eyes and rested.
Kakashi was taking a nightly stroll along the street of Konoha. Sleep had eluded him and he thought the night breeze would just be the thing to put him to sleep. As he was walking, he heard a soft, melodious voice singing. He followed it.
Will it ever be
Im trying so hard to find sweet serenity
Are you still afraid
Just close your eyes and dream
The feeling fade away
Time won't flow
Everyone knows
When the pain fades away
Dreams won't die
Tears in our eyes
You've got to hold your head up high
Ye...yey
Hold your head up high...
Just take it sometime
And I'd given up the will
To change your state of mind
Just try and understand
Its not so hard to see
That i am just a man
Time won't flow
Everyone knows
When the pain fades away
Dreams won't die
Tears in our eyes
You got to hold your head up high
Ye...yey
Hold your head up high
Will it ever be
Im trying so hard to find sweet serenity
Are you still afraid
Just close your eyes and dream
The feeling fade away
Time won't flow
Everyone knows
When the pain fades away
Dreams won't die
Tears in our eyes
You got to hold your head up high
Ye...yey
Hold your head up high
Ye...yey
Hold your head up high
"… hold your head up high," she bowed down her head in despair. It's hopeless, I'll never find them on time.
The trees parted, revealing the falls and a beautiful woman sitting on a rock at the center of the pool of water. She had long wavy hair the color of purple yam; it coursed down to her waist. Her white kimono flowed about her and she has a curious six-stringed instrument on her lap. The moon beamed upon her as if on approval. She was a goddess. Ethereal. Unreachable.
Kakashi stepped on a twig, the sound was an explosion on the silence. The goddess looked up, startled.
"Who's there?" she asked, her voice a soft tinkle of the sweetest bells.
He hesitated, unsure if he'd reveal himself or not.
"Please, show yourself." She flinched at the tremor on her voice. Hopelessness is weighing her down and she hated it.
She's scared, Kakashi thought. Why else would there be a tremor on her voice. He stepped out into the open.
Hotoki's eyes widened in surprise when the intruder showed himself. She had been expecting other persons. But him? Why him? Would he recognize her? No, it's impossible! The kid was a far cry from her.
Kakashi stood at the bank facing her. "Miss, are you all right?" he asked her worriedly.
A voice inside her wanted to shout no but she held on to her sanity. It's pointless to tell him so. He can't help. Slowly, she nodded her head, sending a positive reply to his question.
Kakashi stared at her. Something… something doesn't feel right here. He looked around; the silence remained unbroken. His gaze returned to the lady. "What's your name?" he asked her.
"Ho-Hotoki," she replied, "and you are?" Stupid question, she thought, you already know who he is.
"I'm Kakashi, Hatake Kakashi."
"Oh…"
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm looking for peace and quiet and I found it here."
He sat at the rock by the bank. "Yeah," he agreed, "it is quite peaceful here."
The two fell silent, though neither thought of it as oppressive. Instead, they were quite comfortable with each other. It's as if they're communicating without speaking.
A beep sounded and the two looked up, startled. Hotoki looked at her watch and sighed. The place had felt so much like home that it was a pity to leave it and return to her masked state. She looked sadly at Kakashi. "I have to go now," she said, standing up.
Kakashi stood up too. "I'll walk you home."
Hotoki shook her head. "No thanks."
"But it's dangerous for a lady to walk on the streets alone," he protested.
The goddess smiled. "I won't be walking home."
"But how—"
Suddenly, Hotoki sprouted angel wings and Kakashi all but gaped at her.
"I'm flying home," chuckling lightly at Kakashi's expression; she flapped her wings and alighted. "Goodbye, Kakashi-san!" she waved at him and flew off.
Kakashi watched until his sight couldn't follow her anymore. Turning around, he headed back to his house.
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In a shadowy place where the light of the moon couldn't reach him, stood a lone figure whose eyes also followed the angel's progress. Drawn by the unusual melody, he left his sleeping comrade and followed it. At first sight, he was drawn speechless by her beauty. He heard her name when that Copy Ninja asked her. Hotoki. As beautiful as her face. He does not know where she came from or how she came to know such beautiful melody. One thing's for sure, he must have her. No matter what. With a fast hand movement, he was gone as suddenly as he arrived.