Chapter 4

Yuuko had honestly thought that she had gotten over her past. The lies, and pain she had to endure while staying with her father had hurt her, yes... but she had exepted it a long time ago, and she had shed her tears over it. But seeing Kakashi again, the one who had given her hope that not all was lost. That maybe her father could act as a true, caring parent. Which didn't happen of course, and she had been foolish to believe that Orochimaru would ever change. But Kakashi had taken care of her, and had shown her how a true father acted. It made her sad that Orochimaru could never love her the way Kakashi did.

Answering his questions had been painful. Accepting his warm hug, full of caring had been hard, but it was the least she could do to show him that she indeed cared for him as well, and that she was grateful to have met him.

The memories had hit her and they made it hard for her to keep her eyes dry.

She left the Uchiha residence feeling guilty for once again not fulfilling her promise to Sasuke. But she was a mess, and just needed to calm down before she would be able to teach anything.

The fresh air calmed her senses and the quiet wind dried her eyes, as she took a walk in the woods. She finally sat down near a tree and tried to relax, to cleanse her mind of the nightmares that were her memories. She sat there for hours in silence until she sensed someone nearing her. Closing her eyes she concentrated in hiding her chakra so the person wouldn't know she was there. But no such luck.

"Never knew, you were a fan of nature."

The familiar voice, that suddenly came just two feet from where she sat made her gasp and open her eyes in shock. She turned her head and met with a pair of midnight blue eyes.

"Ketricken."

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Entering this pitiful village had been easier than she expected. All she had to do was knock a Konoha ninja unconscious, take his hitae-ate and march in through the gates, looking as confident as she could. The security here lacked of discipline and she couldn't see how Yuuko would want to hide here for two weeks. Ketricken was glad, she decided to came early. She searched the other girl's chakra pattern, found it and tracked her down. Seeing Yuuko sitting there, meditating in the middle of the woods wasn't exactly what she was expecting.

"Yeah, I know my own name, thank you very much." Yuuko seemed to be surprised and maybe even slightly disturbed to find her best friend here.

"W-why are you here? I...I mean you shouldn't...YOU'RE EARLY!" Ketricken watched calmly as the girl struggled to find the right words to express her confusion and ... anger?

"Woah, woah," She headed over towards her as she calmly explained, "No need to yell at me, Miss I'm-Too-Powerful-To-Hide-Myself. I came early because I was worried. And I still am, for you dumbass have no idea how weak the security here is, do you? I mean, I practically just waltzed in here and I wasn't even stopped so they could confirm my identity. If you want to hide yourself in Sound, you have to work a little harder for it, got that?"

Ketricken crouched down so they were on the same eye-level and waited.

"Bu-I-You-You have no right to order me around."

She raised an eyebrow and Yuuko blushed. "I mean, I don't have to listen to you."

"You do want me to hide you... don't you?" Ketricken looked at Yuuko straight in the eye and could see some doubt beginning to form there. She sighed and plopped down, sitting indian-style putting her elbow on her thigh and resting her chin in her hand. "For the love of god, what did the old geezer tell you then?"

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"It doesn't matter what Sarutobi-sensei said! I had these doubts from the start!" Even though the Hokage had deepened them... but Yuuko thought it would be better to leave that part out.

"And what exactly do you doubt? My sincerity? Loyalty? Friendship? What?"

Ketricken had always been the calmer of the two. Yuuko knew she was hot-headed and tended to make irrational decisions, and Ketricken calmed her with her coolness. Even now, when she was obviously doubting someone she had called her best friend many times and who had saved her life once, Ketricken didn't seem to be fazed by this at all. Okay, maybe she was a little annoyed.

"Your loyalty I guess. I mean, it's not like I don't trust you, it's just hard for me too see anyone as anything but Orochimaru's spy. I mean, god, can you blame me?"

"You're not pulling out the look-what-I've-been-through-card, are you? 'Cause honestly I'm getting sick of it. I helped you, I am your friend and I have had to stand your bitching and moaning for too long now. You and I both know that I hate Orochimaru just as much as you do, hell, maybe even more and that I have every reason to. So if you don't want my help, fine! It's not exactly like I'm making you except it." Ketricken rose and turned away, "If you'll stop being such an airhead and think for one second, maybe you can see that I really want to help you because I care. So if you're ready to trust me again I'll be in the village until next week. Then I'm leaving for Sound."

Yuuko watched as Ketricken walked away from her, wondering why had she ever doubted this amazing person. Ketricken, who has protected her so many times before. When she was out of sight, Yuuko closed her eyes and clenched her fists.

I knew it. I knew I could trust her. Sarutobi-sensei, you were wrong. This time I won't fail.

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He hadn't wanted to leave, but it had been obvious that Yuuko wanted to be alone so he did leave. And headed for the training grounds that were beside the river. The perfect place to read his book. Well, he would have headed there but a certain red-head caught his eye. The young woman was sitting at Ichiraku's waiting for her ramen. She had shoulder-length red hair, a slender frame and a pretty face. Well, to be more precise she was stunningly attractive and Kakashi hadn't met a girl like her in a long time. Smirking pervertedly under his mask he headed over there."Mind if I sit here?"

Ketricken turned around to see a white-haired jounin gesturing towards the seat next to her.

"No." Her ramen was placed in front of her and she lost interest in the jounin as she attacked her food. Ketricken hadn't eaten anything for two days now, for the worrying kept her busy.

"Haven't seen you around here? You a transfer?"

She ignored the way the jounin looked her up and down and swallowed before answering, "Might be."

"So where are you from?"

While chewing, Ketricken took her time to think this over. This man was either flirting with her, or suspicious. And she wasn't exactly sure, which she would prefer. The man looked quite old with that hair-color. Plus, if she would perhaps say Sound, which was the truth, then even if he had been flirting he would then certainly be suspicious of her. So a little white lie was necessary.

"Mist."

"Really? So.. what's your name anyway?"

Finishing up her food, she turned to him, held up her hand for him to shake and introduced herself, "Hitsuga Ketricken. And you?"

He shook her hand. "Hatake Kakashi, it is indeed a pleasure to meet you."

Time stopped. "Ha-Ha-HATAKE KAKASHI!?" She couldn't help it. Her best friend's former guardian was flirting with her!

"Yes, so I guess you've heard of me-"

Ketricken didn't let him finish that sentence for she fished some money out of her pockets threw it on the table and ran. No way in hell would she let him flirt with her. He was like fucking thirty. And Ketricken's seventeen. And no, she doesn't go for older men.