Chapter 14: I'll Open the Door for You

Kohana was released from the hospital shortly after Gai's visit. Tsunade came by to finish her final check up, and offered her keys to her new apartment, which she would soon realize, was located next to Kakashi's. She frowned, not knowing whether it was planned or not. But, for some reason, it didn't irritate her.

Her neighbor, however, was still not back from his mission, and so Kohana dwindled away her time decorating her room and kitchen. On the 3rd night of her stay in the newly furnished house, she found herself exerting all of her energy in opening a jar of tomatoes.

"This shouldn't be this hard", she panted as small beads of sweat wet her forehead. Despite her efforts, the jar didn't seem to want to open. She finally gave up, the last of her patience draining away, and she shouted at the stationary jar, "Fine! Don't work, you stupid thing!"

"My, my. What a temper", a voice said with amusement.

Kohana whipped her head up. "Kakashi", she spluttered, "How did you get in here? I locked my doors!"

He ignored her, and walked forward, grabbing the jar and twisted the lid. She scowled at the now open jar.

"You really need to exercise", he commented lightly.

Kohana's cheeks burned, "I do!"

Kakashi raised his eyebrow, "Is that so?", he questioned, his tone skeptical.

This time, Kohana ignored him, and voiced her previous question again.

Kakashi answered, "Locks won't prevent me from coming in."

Kohana argued, "You can't just come in here whenever you want. This is my house. So you can knock on the door like any other normal person!"

"But, then you won't open the door. Because, Kohana-chan, I was under the impression that you still hated me."

Kohana looked away from him. She couldn't explain to herself why she was unable to experience those feelings of detest she had before. Maybe it was the way he spoke now. His words no longer reeked of arrogance, and to her surprise, she heard compassion and respect. She remembered during their excursion, on their way back, they had taken to the road for a short while. Though no one recognized her, everyone had stopped to bid Kakashi greetings, and Kakashi sheepishly responded back. It was a shock to see him conversing in that manner, when what she remembered of his social skills often involved avoiding people and arguing with superiors regarding rules and what not.

Or maybe it was Naruto. Though she never had a full conversation with the boy, she wouldn't soon forget the look of respect that shone in his eyes as he regarded his Sensei. That was what troubled Kohana the most, because Naruto was so much like Obito – she knew that already before even getting to know him. And unlike Obito, who clashed with Kakashi in every interaction, Naruto seemed to love his teacher. Kohana wondered if Obito would have accepted Kakashi now, and her gut told her that he would have.

Or maybe it was all those years she spent apart from him. The time that allowed her to mature from an emotional girl into a balanced, young woman had certainly helped clear her mind. During many evenings in Kochi, she would recall Minato's words about Kakashi. And if she admitted the truth, she often questioned herself if she had reacted properly, if she had spoken and lashed out too soon.

That was why, she was glad that when she saw him for the first time in many years, she hadn't screamed at him and that she hadn't asked the Hokage to be transferred somewhere else. Because after all the she heard about Kakashi in these past few weeks, she wanted to know for herself. She wanted to know how much he had changed, because he did change, and her 23-year-old mind could no longer deny that.

And so she quietly said, "I will. I'll open the door for you."

Kakashi blinked a couple of times and smiled, "Arigatou."