Chapter 7: Shh! My Secret Arrest Isn't Going To Go Public, I Hope!

'I can't see the light anymore I closed the drapes and shut the door Things have gotten way too heavy Far too much for me to carry. I feel like I'm alone As I'm staring at the phone My story won't be heard Not a single word'

"Naruto Ninpocho; Shihou Hapou Shuriken no Maki!"

Iruka gasped,

"Naruto, yamero!" Iruka's heartbeat tripled, he was too late to interfere. Luckily Kakashi was already on his way, he jumped in front of Yeazakura, surrounding her. With only two clones of his own he deflected all the kunai, soaring their way. The clinging sound of metal against metal opened her eyes, somebody was fighting, no, protecting her? She tried to focus her eyes on the nearest thing to her, which appeared to be Kakashi's Jounin vest. He's had the same one for over ten years, and mostly she's only seen the back of it unlike now. The rain of kunai had stopped, she lowered her arms from a defensive stance in order to investigate her surroundings. She saw Kakashi's chest move up and down violently, inches from her face, she heard his panicked breath from under his mask. Afraid and insecure she tried to look him in the eye, inch by inch she raised her gaze. His weary voice restored some painful memories,

"Are you alright? Yeazakura?"

The tears in her eyes were too much to fight back, she clamped onto his vest and let them run freely. Her sobs became uncontrollable yet they remained almost inaudible,

"Kakashi, I'm so sorry! I never meant to hurt you, or anybody else for that matter!" Kakashi sighed deep, he snaked an arm around her shoulder and placed his hand on her head before he took a deep breath, "I think you're hurt the most, Ibiki-san told me a bit about your 'mission'. Though, I'd like to hear the rest from you."

Iruka couldn't hear their conversation but still he felt anger rising. The way he pulled her close, nuzzling into the nape of her neck. How dare he just take her for his own? All over again?! He clenched his fist tighter and tighter, until he almost drew blood from his nails, the ones he dug into his own palm. Naruto was astonished by what he saw as he approached Iruka whilst looking at Kakashi and the young lady.

"Iruka sensei, what's going on? Isn't that Sakura's sister?" the boy said, he noticed his previous sensei had his eyes focused on the ground with a pained look on his face. "Sensei? Are you-?"

"I'm fine Naruto," he said with a sudden smile, "Just peachy, I'm glad we finally got her."

Naruto knew in an instant that his smile couldn't be any faker.

Shikamaru stood up,

"Hmpf, well I'm confused. And I'm not gonna ask, that's too bothersome." He crossed his arms and just walked away, resuming his busy day of doing nothing.

As Iruka stood at the side, he was joined by Ibiki, Izumo and Kotetsu. "I'm sorry Iruka, you probably won't be able to get clearance to interrogate her yourself."

Iruka scoffed before he jumped off,

"I thought so…"

Naruto looked at him as he fled from this too confusing matter, he recognised his pain, "Sensei..."

Defeated, not knowing what to do he turned away from the schoolyard, and kept on walking.

"Kakashi, what's going to happen now? I don't want to be interrogated anymore…" the young woman muttered into his vest.

"I understand, you've had enough of that. But there's one more mission we have to do before you can relax." His voice soothed her, she looked him in the eyes with disbelief.

"Another mission? We? I can't do it Kakashi, no matter what it is…" she tried to turn away from him but her determination was too weak, his arms too strong.

"I'll be with you all the way, it'll be fine." he said, she could see his mask take on the form of a gentle smile. She ran her fingers over the fabric, there where his scarred cheek was supposed to be. Instead of that stupid mask.

"I wish I could see your smile for once." she said softly.

"I could say the same for you, all I've seen so far were angry looks and tears." He returned the caressing feeling, over her bare cheeks.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you, and that I ran you over. I was running away from Iruka. Oh my god! Iruka!" Sudden realisation struck her, she tore away from Kakashi and looked around the school yard. But to her disappointment there was no determined Chuunin with a high ponytail. Only her surrogate-father and her surrogate-brothers accompanied by a little blond Genin. She sighed deeply,

"Is it too late to apologise to him?" Kakashi stepped forward, he placed his hands on her shoulders. His heart tried to speak up but he kept his lips firmly together. It was wiser for not only himself, but also for her and Iruka if he didn't speak about this. After all, Iruka wasn't completely filled in. Only trouble could be caused from this. He shook his head slowly, then embraced her in a loose hug. She placed her hands on his arms around her, only to let her head hang low.

"I can't believe she let herself sway that easily into his arms again. Did I mean nothing to her?" With his hands in his pockets, Iruka walked along side the river. He sighed as he kicked a little rock which rolled straight into it. As he looked over the railing he could see the rock was being taken along with the flow, "I guess it is that easy huh?"

He looked towards the lake, where the river ended. He could see a couple standing on the little isle in the middle of the lake. They were standing on its highest point, enjoying the early sunset holding each other. The rays of the sun barely skimmed the top, just below their feet. "Why didn't we have those moments? Why did we only share lies?" Iruka said from the shadows below, he sighed once more and decided to let it go. It was dinnertime as he headed home, not that anybody was waiting for him there.

"Why did you run away? Why were you so afraid?" her surrogate father asked.

"I was foolish. I know that he'd rather had a son. I know I am the biggest disappointment in his life! I wanted to prove him wrong! He always looked down on me."

"Now why would he do that?" the Hokage said. "Because none of you know the complete story, and neither do reason he holds a grudge against me." she sighed deeply, she felt her throat acting up again along with her eyes.

"Why would your father hold a grudge against you?" the third repeated. Ibiki added, "We all know how violent and mean he may seem, but you know. Even though he never said it, he was always quite proud of you." It seemed like Ibiki was trying to convince her of his white lie, ineffectively. "Because, In his eyes I will always be a disappointment. The first time I failed the final exams, the Genin exams. I never had time to study, I always had to do chores, useless things that held me back..."

At first she thought she finally had them silent by proving her point, but as she opened her eyes they proved her wrong. The two men had a smile at first but then laughed from the heart, " Yeazakura-chan, he doesn't think of you that way! I have pictures to prove it…"

The old man smiled warm, though his smile wasn't returned.

"Then how come I was beaten and abused?! Scolded at for no reason? I still remember the way his belt feels across my back!"

The third and Ibiki exchanged a look, "Yeazakura-chan, why didn't you tell us before?" Silence struck the conversation.

"I thought I didn't have to… With you and your crystal ball. Haven't you ever wondered why I never wore short sleeves? Why I never went swimming with the other kids?"

The men had no answer to this, the only reason they could think of was that she was shy, she always seemed that way. But apparently she wasn't 'shy'; she had low self-esteem problems, caused by traumatic events and the scars to show for it. "Would you consider confronting your father? You're an adult now, if anything happens, you're strong enough to take him on by yourself now."

Doubt passed through her mind, "I don't know, he already killed me once before, I'm afraid he'd do it again."

Another look was exchanged, a sad one deciding on drastic measurements.

Chapter 8: Shh! My Secret Apology Was Seen By Everyone, Not So Secret Then?!

After all these years, I still don't love him. I've said it before, I know that. I just hope I don't run into him, as I haven't yet! His stupid hair, that stupid smile! And that ridiculous green jumpsuit!

"Alright then, you may leave Yeazakura." The third said.

"But, what are you going to do about it?!" Zaku's drastic attempt to provoke them seemed to go without fruit.

"It's not something you should worry about, let alone know. We'll inform you tomorrow, before you'll be debriefed for your mission." Yeazakura swallowed hard, she bit her tongue in order not to say anything foolish. She sighed inwards and nodded, but as she had reached the door she stopped to look back, "Where do I sleep tonight? The hospital has discharged me and I can't go back to my father, or you-know-who."

"In that case you'll have to find something yourself, Yeazakura. We cannot help it." The old man smiled as she departed. The sad look in her eyes didn't leave just yet.

"Need to keep walking, need to find a place. A place to eat." she said to herself as she walked around, clutching her stomach in hunger. She averted her look to the ground, "Why can't I just go home?"

Mindlessly he strolled down the street, around the corner is where his last meal of the day would take place. His mind wouldn't let this issue go, no matter what his heart pleaded. It cried for him to stop, to get over her and find love for himself. But why couldn't he? He turned around the corner, the street was busy as usual as he looked up. As he exited the alley he tried to keep his head high, only to bump into… her. "Oh, it's you Yeazakura…"

She could read the blank expression from his face, was he indeed done with her?

"I-Iruka-kun, -san! I-" she tried to tell him so much, she felt the words fly only not from her lips. They were petrified, unable to say anything sane.

"What? You're not going to run this time?" Those words had a cold ring to them and their meaning, the coldness ran down her spine. Her eyes closed slowly as they sank their gaze towards the ground, her messy hair fell in front of her face hiding her every expression. "Never mind, I'll do it this time."

His voice sounded nothing like it used to, it sounded distant like he was unapproachable, so cold and bitter. As he walked on past her he intentionally bumped into her shoulder, letting her know he didn't want anything to do with her anymore. But was he sure he wanted that himself? She felt his shoulder, his arm brush past hers, it felt so cold on that summer evening.

She tried to catch her breath as she turned around, "I'm sorry, Iruka."

"Hm?" he had stopped yet not turned around, slightly looking over his shoulder he was interested by what she had to say. His back still turned to her, "I'm so sorry Iruka! I never meant to hurt you, chikushō!"

Her voice crackled as it started to gain volume, her eyes started to tear as she lost control. Neither of them noticed the people on the street, looking at their every move, staring at them, pointing and whispering. "I never should've involved you in all of this! Not like this. It wasn't my intention to hurt anyone! I just wanted to proof him wrong, at any expense."

Yeazakura broke into pieces, she grabbed herself trying to hold it together. She met with disaster as she fell to her knees, the look in Iruka's eyes softened slightly. Who knew one little cold reaction could cause a meltdown, "What are you apologising for?"

She bowed so deep she could practically taste the ground, she gathered all her courage, "For everything! I apologise for just now! For this afternoon! I'm apologising for 7 years ago! Please Iruka... Moushiwake arimasen."

If he wanted this to succeed, he'd need to be persistent. He sighed slightly and shook his head, with his back still turned to her she stood up. She felt the bitter side of his heart for the first time ever as she saw him walking away without a word. There was nothing she could do now, only mourn the death of their friendship as she ran into the opposite direction.

As the man stood upon the rooftop, witnessing this heartbreaking moment, he addressed his young disciple, "Boy, it is time for us to interfere. This is not the way a friendship should end."

"Friendships should never end sensei!" the boy said with spirit in his eyes.

"That's correct! So let's fix this! You go after him, I'll reason with her." The boy saluted his sensei before he jumped off into his direction.

The lake reflected the moonlight in such a gentle way, the rays that landed on her skin showed how dead she was on the inside. As she lay sideways on the dock she ran her fingers over the smooth surface of the water, creating wrinkles that made it all the way across the lake and the little isle in the middle. She pondered over how big the effect was, of something so small. Be it a cold word, or an even colder stare, no matter what the intention was the effect can be immense. She leaned over the edge of the dock and met herself in the water's reflection. A teardrop fell from her cheek onto the water, its wrinkles spread across blurring her own reflection. "Perhaps this is how it has always been. A gigantic lake linking us, amplifying every said word…"

Behind her the dock creaked slightly, "What are you doing here? Have you come to watch me drown in self-pity? To gloat about it?" She did not receive an answer, only a huff. She turned from the water and towards her guest, "Is that the proper way to greet an old friend?"

"Iruka-sensei?" the boy said, he walked into the booth and took a seat. "Ah, Lee. How are you doing? I hope all is fine…" Iruka's voice was not like its normal self, it was careless and monotone.

"Iruka-sensei, me and Gai-sensei saw what happened, half of Konoha did actually… It doesn't have to end that way you know."

Iruka dropped one of his chopsticks into his soup, he rubbed the bridge of his nose in an agitated fashion, "You know Lee, if you knew the whole story, you might understand why we don't quite communicate, she and I." He looked away to think about it himself, why couldn't they?

"But all she wanted was for you to accept her apologies! Right? The only words from her were 'I'm sorry'…"

"No, you're right Lee. But I'm not sure if I should accept them, and even so, am I really ready to?" the man looked at his previous student, one that became a ninja with success regardless of his setbacks. His eyes showed more determination than his own would ever hold. "Sensei, as long as you know… She doesn't want to lose you as a friend. You mean a lot to her."

The Chuunin sighed defeated, "How do you know that? You've never even met her…"

"I saw it in her eyes! They showed much determination like mine! She doesn't want to give up! But if she must…"

He saw the sad look in the boy's eyes, 'I understand, but do I want to…'

The man had stepped closer into the moonlight, Zaku's eyes shot up towards his hitai-ate. 'Rock? This ninja is far away from home...' She stood up slowly to her wobbly feet, "I don't know who you are, 'friend', but if I were you I'd leave before the guards find me, Iwa-scum." He just looked at her, slightly confused. He noticed her knees were getting weak, the redness in her eyes and the way her voice crackled. With a gasp her knees buckled and she fell to the floor, within a second he had caught her, "Easy now Zakura, don't exert yourself."

He slowly brought her onto the dock, as she sat she looked into his beige eyes. They were emitting a certain kindness, something familiar. She couldn't break eye contact, "I know you, right?"

He simply nodded and embraced her, "It's okay if you don't remember, the jutsus do that to you."

He watched from the shadows, the embrace enticed him to rethink his following action. He seemed to be on a good foot with her, should he let the stranger convince her? He looked again with care, as the moonlight shone upon the man's hitai-ate he recognised the symbol, 'Rock? In Konoha? Does this mean war?'

He clenched his fist, the embrace also enticed him to interfere from pure jealousy. He saw Yeazakura move, for the first time in 10 minutes. She placed her hand on the Rock-ninja's arm, she nuzzled her head into his chest. The smile on her face suggested she felt safe, that she knew this person, 'Perhaps she has given him a change of heart. Perhaps an old friend from her painful days…'

He shook off his thoughts, the good, the bad and the plausible ones. He crawled back into the shadows keeping a watchful eye, if something might ever occur.

"That's quite a situation… I think a lot of people are waiting for your apologies." he said, the smile on her lips faded as they curled up to pout.

"I know, I already tried to apologise to the one I hurt the most… He didn't accept it though."

"Maybe it was the way you asked him to-?"

"I grovelled in the dirt for him." Her eyes looked stern into his, showing pain but mostly sadness. "I'd do it again if he asked me to…"

"Do you love him?" That was the most dreaded question in her life, she loved him yes, but only as a friend, she told herself. Her heart had found itself another home, "No, not in the way you loved her. Iruka is-, was, my best friend."

They both had looked away, the memories reminisced were not pleasent ones, "I'm starting to believe that ship has sailed, and on its way it sank to the bottom of the deep blue sea."

He placed a hand on her shoulder and gripped it tightly, "Just build another ship, one that is stronger, faster… More durable." She smiled at their analogy, in return he laughed at her smile. With his other hand he reached into a back pocket, whisking out a few ryo bills, "Here, this should be enough to eat and sleep tonight and tomorrow. It's not much, but it'll do." She looked at the money in awe, this was more then he ever owed her, "Thank you so much Kei, I'll consider this as your payment of your debt."

Their smiles were different in the moonlight, they were more honest. He looked up at the shadows near the dirt path, "Someone's coming, I have to leave now… Hang in there musume-chan."

Before she could blink she figure had left, she could still feel the warmth of his hand on her shoulder. She turned towards water again, this time her reflection was slightly happier as she saw an old face bring new memories.

"Gai-sensei, what are you doing here in the shadows? Didn't you have a talk with that lady?" the man smiled with his arms crossed, "There was no need boy, another old memory talked to her. C'mon, we can leave now."

"Hai sensei…"

With her back towards the approaching man, she could only hear his weary footsteps. As the dock creaked again she turned her head, her cheeks once more decorated with tears, sudden ones that had no right being there, "Iruka…"

She felt herself get weak and submitted to him once more, she bowed so deep her forehead touched the dock. Her hands were neatly folded in front of her. He had come closer and sat on his knees in front of her. He reached out towards her shoulder, she slowly rose her head. As he lifted her chin to raise her stare he found her eyes were closed, he stroked her hair then brushed it aside, "What do you want me to do Yeazakura? Tell me…"

His voice changed again, it was almost back to normal as it still had a hint of anger. She looked up at him into his eyes through the tears, "F-forgive me, Iruka? It's all I can think of…"

"I'm guessing there's a lot more behind this then just wanting Kakashi's attention when we were young right?" he smiled slightly and unsure of himself but slowly a tiny smile broke through Zaku's tears. He closed his eyes and nodded once. The smile on her lips was greater than ever before, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him amazingly tight. "Thank you Iruka! Thank you so-"

"On one condition."

Her tears halted as her friend from then cupped her cheek, in a fashion he had never before,

"I get one kiss from you, from the lips I touched only once, and probably never will again after this."

These were a few of the words she reckoned to never hear from him, ever. Seeing as she didn't protest against this, did she mind at all? Even as she looked at him, leaning in and closing the gap between them there was no interfering from her end. She let it happen, seeing as she wasn't a woman in a relationship, it wouldn't matter too much according to her conscience.

With just about the same force she started to kiss back, Iruka got more than he bargained for as his tongue slipped between her lips during a sudden gasp. But there was doubt involved. Did he do the right thing? Shouldn't he have waited a little bit longer? In his mind the words she whispered to him didn't remotely resemble 'thank you', but it was all he got to hear.