bChapter Two after all this time! Sorry for the wait, I've been really busy. Well, now it's time to continue on then! The Naruto characters and whatnot are not mine, but the plotline and everything else IS! So be nice and no stealing!/b
CHAPTER TWOKaiya continued on her walk through Konoha, watching the early morning sun remove the dewdrops from the grass, and the growing village come to life as the sun moved higher into the sky. As the bustling shops were now open, she looked for a place that she could eat. Finding a small, quiet restaurant not far from the park, she sat, ordering tea and a rice cake. She relaxed as she sat before a small table, the rice cake in front of her, with the hot tea in her hands. She had placed her hat on side of the table opposite her, revealing her long, silky black hair, tied in a half ponytail. Sipping at her tea, she sighed; it would be a good day. She still had to go feed the horses before she set out for the exploration of the village that she was setting herself up for, but that in itself wasn't a chore. Everything else for the day was set to learning where, and whom, she could associate herself.
It was then that a tall man with silver hair that seemed to defy gravity entered the tea shop. He ordered the same as she, except double the rice cakes. His mask was above half his face, which gave her an eerie sense of him, but the relaxed atmosphere as he walked in and chatted nonchalantly with the cashier as he ordered seemed to calm her. He walked in a non-threatening manner, taking the table beside her to sit and read his little orange book. She knew the book's genre, but thought nothing of it. Every book had it's readers. She took in everything; just as her Daddy had told her before they headed for this village or any other- Know your friends, learn your enemies.
The relaxed atmosphere of the tea shop gave her reason to relax a bit, seeing as the man was now so enraptured in his hentai novel that he didn't even seem to notice her sitting in the table right beside him. She sipped at her tea, letting the hot liquid ease itself down her throat. She judged the way to handle every possible situation, but for the ones Daddy worried about, she was always prepared. This time though, she wasn't worried about Daddy's rule; the air was just too calm.
"So you're Kaiya Kaniwa; the one we've all heard about," the man said, shifting the one visible eye to her without moving his head.
"Hai, and you are?"
"Hatake Kakashi."
She gave a smirk at that, "The copycat ninja. Daddy's told me much about you."
He gave a slightly surprised look, as far as she could see, from behind his mask, "Oh really? So Koriama hasn't forgotten me, has he?"
"Of course not."
She spoke in a dark, soothing manner that complimented the sweet calmness in the small tea shop.
"Why aren't you a ninja, Kaiya? They all thought you would be, seeing you with that sword so young."
"Things happen; I still have my sword, I just don't go looking for a fight."
"Do you remember me, Kaiya?"
"From then? A little. I remember a few key things, but I was very small the last time I saw you, Hatake-san."
"It seems a waste to have worked so hard to be a ninja if you aren't willing to use it."
The words stung, just like all the other words she'd heard before. He thought she had just given it up, finding something better, like a child with a new toy.
"If you'd like to argue that point, you can argue it with Daddy. Things happen, Hatake-san, life happens."
"Hn," Kakashi sighed, as Kaiya sipped at her tea.
"I didn't give it up; it was taken from me."
Kakashi gave a confused look, as the girl nibbled at the rice cake in front of her.
"I'm not some little child with a better toy to play with. I loved being a ninja; I would do it again in a heartbeat, if I was able. But I'm not. So I won't, and don't," she said.
Her heart hurt; she already wanted him to leave her alone. He had never raised his voice to her, here or before, but he knew just what to say to hurt her more than any sword.
"You seem able."
"Daddy doesn't see me as able."
At this Kakashi was very surprised; he had known Koriama for all of his twenty eight years, and knew that he had always been excessively proud of his daughter for becoming such an accomplished ninja. Why in the world would he stop her now? She was at her best; there was no reason to doubt her abilities now!
"I wouldn't believe that your father would make you retire from being a ninja."
She sighed, "I'm not here to argue over a point with you, Hatake-san. If you want to argue, go talk to Daddy. I have to go feed the horses."
There was no raising of voices, no shouting of words, but in the end, the head hung was hers. She put on her hat, left the bill and the cash on the table, and started out towards the barn in her nice navy dress. Kakashi, on the other hand, headed out the opposite way, towards the Hokage's office, where he knew Koriama would be getting his reports of the crops.
Kaiya wasn't at all happy about Kakashi's speaking to her in that manner. He didn't have any clue about what happened…he didn't know why her Daddy had become so protective. He had no right! She stomped her way to the barn, her heels eventually hitting soft dirt and sinking in with the force of her foot.
She came to the front gate of the barn and stopped. Leave the bad feelings at the gate; it's what she'd always been taught. She breathed and counted to ten before walking easily into the gate and meeting Chipper Doc in the stall, his big head sticking out over the door.
"Hey, Pretty boy."
Her horse whinnied in pleasure at her arrival, and at the knowledge that she would bring food. She threw some hay in the stall and some feed in his bucket, just as she did with the other horses down the rows of the barn. Her daddy's gray horse kicked at the stall door, impatient for his feed. She went through them all, one by one, watching each horse intently to find its temperament. She rubbed her hand against the black horse's head, and it's red eyes closed in approval. All of the horses seemed of good temperament, and to match their owners as well. Starting tomorrow, those Jounins would get quite the wakeup call…and that included Kakashi.
She sat back on a stack of hay bales opposite the tack room and watched the horses eat; she needed a few minutes to calm down before doing anything else.
…Gee, thanks Kakashi, ruined my one day off…
The same big red head lifted over the stall door again, looking at her and whinnying. She walked over to his stall and rubbed his head. He nuzzled against her shoulder. He knew she was upset; horses could tell that type of thing better than any breed of people.
She took a breath and rubbed the horse's head again. His ears perked up in pleasure, telling her to be happy.
"Would you go back into the ninja business with me, boy? If we could?"
The horse nodded his head high and neighed, before placing it down against her shoulder once more.
"I would go back…wouldn't I? If I could?"
She looked to the horse for an answer; he pushed her a step back with his muzzle and gave a low neigh. He knew that they, as partners, had been through more than most ninja in their lifetimes. But that one time was enough to throw themselves out of ninja life for good, both of them.
She got home at six, well before dark, and just in time to wash up for dinner. She keyed the lock, and as the door opened she could smell the food that Daddy had prepared for them. She stepped inside and was greeted with the wonderful food, and a not so wonderful dinner guest.
"Kaiya, Kakashi's come to have dinner with us tonight. You're plate is ready and waiting."
She hid her look of anger, sadness, and shame, as she sat down at the table with what she knew would be a long, drawn out, and uncomfortable conversation at the dinner table.