Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto only my characters.

As always a big thank you to my Beta cheekylips.

Chapter 24 The Canine Cavalry

When morning arrived, Maiha woke and found Sakura sitting on her couch. "Oh… Sakura," she looked away slightly remembering the prior night's events. "Thank you for taking care of me last night."

"You're welcome, it's the least I could do after that whole situation." Sakura paused for a moment before approaching the dark-haired girl. "Are you… okay?"

Maiha exhaled heavily, knowing her friend was worried. She leaned up against the door frame of her bedroom before answering. "I don't know Sakura, I'm totally confused." She paused. "If I go, I won't be happy and if I stay…" she exhaled again, mauling over her next words. "Things were just starting to get back to normal. Maybe I was just meant to be alone. I just... I don't want to think too much about it at this moment."

"Oh Maiha," Sakura sighed sadly seeing her confusion and sadness.

"It's just…" Maiha shook her head stopping the verbalization of her thoughts, "If you don't mind Sakura, I think I'd like to be alone. Again, thank you for last night."

"If there is anything I can do, please let me know," Sakura offered.

"Don't worry too much Sakura I'm just going to start about my usual routine and then tie up some loose ends." The older girl forced a fake smile onto her face trying to ease her friends worry.

Sakura saw right through it and though she wanted to stay to offer Maiha support, respecting her privacy, Sakura left the apartment.

Maiha attempted to pull herself together after shutting the door. "Okay, shower, off to the flower shop, the memorial and then to see Katsuro." She did wonder about Kakashi but the memory of last night just irritated her and brought hurt along with it so she just pushed it out of her mind and set about her tasks.

Arriving at the memorial Maiha set the sunflower down at its base and sighed. "Oh Ai, what a mess. I never thought I could be in a position like this. Then again I never thought I could fall in love with a man that I had been so close to throughout my life. I really wish you were here, I actually think one of your lectures about reality would do me some good right now." Maiha poured her heart out but the pain still seemed to linger. She stayed and spoke to the wind a bit longer before heading off to tie up those loose ends.

"Good morning Maiha-san," Katsuro greeted her pleasantly though his manner was somewhat apprehensive.

"Morning," she answered with little emotion.

"I would like to apologize for my behavior last night. I am sorry to have upset you. I hope someday you will be able to forgive me."

"Though it's hard for me to not be upset with you after treating me like that, I can't stay mad at you. I just hope you learned from this experience and will treat your wife with more respect," Maiha finished with a stern look.

Katsuro's face hardened. "So you have chosen him?"

She shook her head. "I have chosen Konoha." Her expression softened. "I can accompany you to the village gate if you like." Katsuro eye's filled with understanding and he nodded his head.

When they reached the gate, Maiha gave each of the men a hug "Take care you two, have a safe journey back home. I'll see you again someday and you'll have to introduce me to the lucky lady," giving them a wink and a wave.

Katsuro smiled slightly and bowed, "Till we meet again, Maiha-san," and the two samurai walked out the gate back to the Land of Iron.

After parting with the two men, Maiha's thoughts centered on Kakashi and how much it hurt for him to strain their relationship as he did. What is his deal lately? The more she thought about it the angrier she became, and eventually reached the point where she was physically shaking. I've got to work some of this anger out otherwise I'll take it out on people who don't deserve it. She headed to the training field to let out some her frustration.

After leaving Maiha's apartment Sakura had taken it upon herself to check on Kakashi. When she walked into his apartment it looked like someone had just dumped him on his bed. He was still in the same clothing as the night before and still asleep. Sakura sighed shook her head and then shouted "Get up!" as she kicked him out of bed.

For once, he wasn't the agile ninja of reputation and he crashed on to the floor letting out a big "Oomph!"

"What the hell were you thinking last night you idiot? Why would you treat Maiha, like that?" Sakura yelled as she leaned in.

Kakashi looked up at Sakura momentarily to see her arms crossed and glaring at him. She stood upright noticing she had caught his attention. "You really screwed up this time I think she looked even more hurt than the night she saw you and Madori at the dock when she first came back to the village."

"What are you taking about?" Kakashi grumbled annoyed holding his head as he sat up.

"You know exactly what I am talking about Kakashi. I saw the whole thing. I wasn't sure at the time what I had walked in on but after I talked to Maiha I figured it out."

He took a minute to shake the cobwebs free from his head, looked around the room and then sighed heavily as the memory of what Sakura was talking about and the reality of the prior evening set in. "Madori followed me to the dock that night, I was waiting for Maiha. I had no idea that she saw us together but that would explain how she was acting the next day." He paused before asking solemnly, "How is she doing?"

"Physically she is fine. I helped her along with some healing jutsu to decrease the effect of the alcohol on her body so she is up and about this morning. She said she was going to go about her normal routine and then 'tie up some loose ends,' as she put it. I would take that as she was going to see Katsuro."

Kakashi turned his head away and there was a moment of silence. "So what are you gonna do Kakashi?" she scolded him.

"Sakura," he began in a defensive tone with a closed eye and a slanted eyebrow, which quickly softened as he exhaled sadly, "I don't know." She could see that he had realized his mistake and although he couldn't know the depth of the hole that he had dug she could see that the understanding of his folly was clear. He sprang up from the floor, "I have to see her, even if she doesn't want to see me. I need to tell her that I know I messed up. I don't expect she'll forgive me but at least I can apologize."

"To tell you the truth Kakashi, I don't know what you can do to fix this. She was… she seemed…"

He leaned in slightly hanging on her words waiting to hear Maiha's condition.

"Heartbroken," Sakura finished sadly.

That word, he was unprepared to hear it and he gritted his teeth as he winced knowing he had dealt the blow. "Damn it!" he spat out frustrated clinching his fists. "I've got to try something," he spoke over his shoulder as he rushed out the door to find her.

"Kakashi wait!" Sakura attempted to stop him but he was already out of sight. She exhaled talking to the empty room "You're just going to make it worse if you force her."

Maiha was at the training field being completely destructive trying to get her aggression out. She was throwing everything she had out at targets, trees and anything that could sustain damage. She had used her chakra charged katana and took down an entire row of large trees on one side of the training field. The shearing force from her wind jutsu tore up the ground around her making a site of utter devastation.

Kakashi quickly found her. He was very familiar with the distinct feeling of her chakra and the levels at which she was giving off and the destruction from her attacks signaled her temperament. He approached her and she stopped her activity feeling his presence.

Maiha glanced over her shoulder, "Kakashi leave," she demanded. "I don't want to see you right now."

He continued toward her without regard of her request.

"Kakashi I mean it, go away. I have no interest in talking to you."

"Maiha, I need to talk to you."

"I said go away," sweeping a weak wind gust toward him, trying to show that she was serious. Standing tall against the wind he moved in closer as it dissipated. Maiha continued as the emotional build up brought tears to her eyes, "I don't want to see you right now."

"Well I need to see you."

"I don't want to hear your voice," hers broke as she began to move away from him.

He noticed her attempt to evade him. "You're not going anywhere this time; I won't let you push me away again."

She took in a quick breath as the memory of why she had left so suddenly two years prior flashed through her mind. During her recollection, he transported in close, took hold of her arms and made her look into his visible eye. She resisted and the situation resulted in an emotional physical struggle between the two. He was still a little off from being hung over but he could still overpower her as an elite. Kakashi quickly pinned her to the ground in order to force a conversation between them.

"Let me go," she growled trying to push him off of her.

"Not until you talk to me."

"Didn't you hear me? I don't want to see you, I don't want to talk to you and I don't want to hear your voice, so just leave me alone!" she cried out, tears flowing from her eyes her voice breaking between words.

"I'm… sorry," he drew out letting his weight up off her. It pained him to see her so emotional because of his actions. She pushed him away and moved quickly out from underneath him. He took the blow watching her rise to her feet and walk away. "Where are you going?" he asked walking after her quickly with outstretched arms.

"Away from you."

"Maiha we have to talk about this and..." He continued to close the distance in-between the two.

Maiha stopped, exhaled forcefully, and turned back around to face him as he reached her. "And what Kakashi? Haven't you already done enough?" The emotion in her voice stung his ears and the look on her face pulled at his heart. Tears were still streaming down her face, "Kakashi, I can't… I can't do this anymore. You just need to leave me alone."

"Maiha," her name softly slipped out of his mouth.

"Please Kakashi," Her voice was quiet, almost pleading. She averted her eyes from him.

"Maiha, you know I can't."

"Kakashi, I don't understand what is going on with you but I need space right now so please, at least give me that."

"Maiha," he reached out to wipe the tears from her face.

She turned her face away from his hand. "I need to go now," Maiha drew out solemnly, turning to walk away. "Don't bother with me, go spend your free time with Madori. I'm sure she needs some attention."

"We are not together anymore," he answered without emotion.

Maiha slowed her pace almost halting on hearing his admission. Shaking off the want to stop she picked up her pace again proceeding to her apartment leaving him behind standing in the field. She was exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster that she had been on that morning and confined herself to her apartment for the rest of the day. Away from the outside world and the pain that lingered within it.

Kakashi had returned to town and aimlessly walked around the streets with his hands in his pockets thinking of what course he should take next. Not coming to any conclusions on his own he sought out help from Sakura once again. He found her at the medical building going through her patient's charts for the day.

"I can't help you Kakashi, I don't know what she is thinking and I can't even imagine what she is feeling right now. Give her a little space but not too much. Although she is emotional right now she is sensible," Sakura advised.

He exhaled and shrugged dejected, "At this point I don't know what else to do." He ran his hand through his silver hair and swept it back forward again quickly in frustration. He gave himself a moment to respond respectively. "Thank you for taking care of her last night and for tolerating my badgering for help."

Sakura put a hand on his shoulder, "She is my friend too Kakashi, but at this point I believe you should be thinking about all that has happened from whenever your relationship changed and what she really means to you. Then… go from there. You need to think deeply about this Kakashi, you have to understand this, from her point of view." With that Kakashi sighed and turned to leave. "You know if it makes you feel any better, she did make sure you would get home okay last night and she did show concern for your welfare this morning. I just decided not to take it easy on you," she finished with a smile. Sakura had finally put all the pieces together, she could see it but they were still in the dark.

He exhaled heavily dropping his head to look at the floor. "I'll admit it Sakura, I deserved it. Now I just need to figure out how to make it up to her."

That evening Kakashi set out on his own personal mission, he was an observer and keeping the space in between them as she requested was his objective. It was the night of a full moon and he hoped it would bring her out of her apartment so that he could see if she was okay. It would be difficult, his need to interject, to help to protect. Protect? Protect her from what? His own blundering. Kakashi thought hard about Sakura's advice. The way I feel about her, yes it's different. Different how? How does she feel, how could she feel about me? Ugh why is it so hard to think about this?" Interrogating himself was getting him nowhere and he exhaled in frustration.

Maiha emerged from her apartment as darkness fell and the sound of her door shutting brought Kakashi out of his inner torment. Just as Kakashi predicted, she made her way to the dock. Upon her arrival she sat on the end, laid down on her side and ran her fingers along the surface of the water. In a way it made her feel a little closer to Ai than just sitting on the end staring out over the water.

Kakashi watched from afar. Her actions didn't sit well with him, she was hurting and he knew it, but even worse he had caused it. Keeping her wishes and to his plan, he did not engage her, instead he summoned Pakkun.

"What's up boss?" the pug stared up at him lazily.

"I need you to go and check on Maiha for me."

"Umm okay, something up?" the pug asked confused considering their relationship.

"No I just, well yeah but it's a long story. Just go and make sure she is alright for me please."

"Okay Boss."

Pakkun trotted down to the dock and after reaching it walked out to Maiha. It took a minute for her to realize he was there.

"Maiha."

She turned her head away from the water toward the voice. "He is worried about me isn't he?"

"It seems so. I don't know why he wanted me to check on you but he seems rather concerned."

"I'm sorry he made you the middle man Pakkun. Kakashi has made a bit of a jackass out of himself. He really hurt my heart by what he has done. I just don't want to see or talk to him right now." She exhaled. "The fact that he sent you to check up on me tells me that he won't let it go but at least he is giving me space like I asked." Maiha pushed herself up from the dock to a sitting position.

"Would you like me to stay with you for a bit?"

Maiha gave a weak smile, "I'd like that Pakkun, thank you." She moved back from the edge of the dock and crossed her legs creating a spot in the middle for him to settle in. He made himself comfortable in her lap, like he used to when she was young as Kakashi summoned him to keep her company. She petted him gently. It seemed to soothe her and Pakkun didn't mind the attention.

After a while he decided that he should report back. "Maiha, as much as I am enjoying your attention, I should be getting back to him, wouldn't want him to get jealous," he poked fun at Kakashi.

"Thank you Pakkun," she gave a slight smile.

"You're welcome Maiha," and he trotted back up the dock to Kakashi.

"Well boss, she said that since you sent me she knows that you are concerned about her but, she doesn't want to talk to you or see you right now."

"How is she?" he asked solemnly.

"She seems rather depressed Boss. I don't know what it is that you did but she said that her heart is hurting."

Kakashi exhaled and slumped forward slightly before continuing frustrated, "If she won't let me talk to her how can I make this situation better?" He paused. "I guess I will just have to keep the space between us for now."

"She did mention that she needed that boss, and seemed like she appreciated it."

"Thank you Pakkun."

"No problem Boss, good luck," then he disappeared.

Maiha left the dock quite a while later and returned to her apartment. She took a long hot shower, hoping that it would wash some of the sorrow away, though the only thing it provided was more time to dwell on the situation. She dressed and made her way to the kitchen. Maybe some tea will help me feel a bit better. She put a kettle of water on the stove and stood lost in thought as she stared at it waiting for it to whistle. Her attention was soon diverted after hearing a scratching sound coming from her door. Intrigued, Maiha made her way over and slowly opened it. There in the doorway stood a four legged figure with a big droopy face. Bull, the largest of Kakashi's ninken, had paid her a visit.

Maiha exhaled with a slight smirk, "He roped you into this too huh?" She looked down noticing a small tin box of tea in front of him. "You're a good boy for putting up with him, come on inside and I'll give you something for your trouble." Maiha crouched down and looked at the little tin box for a few minutes deciding if she wanted to pick it up or not. She put two fingers on the top of the tin and slid it to the side of the door leaving it outside.

Kakashi was shocked that his attempt at a peace offering had failed. He bowed his head and sighed pathetically, "You are hurt aren't you Maiha."

She leaned over, "Okay Bull I have some beef jerky would you like some?" His mouth began to water, "I'll take that as a yes," she smiled and gave him a generous amount. "So what do you think, do you want to hang out a bit and make him wait?" Bull looked up at her as his tongue smacked his lips. Maiha picked up her cup of tea sat down on the couch and patted the cushion next to her. Bull hopped up and laid his head on her lap and she rubbed his belly. He enjoyed her attention and his massive tail thumped on the couch. "Oh Bull I don't know what to do. I know I will probably eventually forgive him but right now I think he needs to realize on his own that he can't keep being so ambiguous to my feelings. But then again, he really doesn't know how I feel does he." She exhaled. "Maybe I should just give up. He has said that there are restrictions and I just haven't listened to him. But two years away still couldn't extinguish the feelings that I have for him it only made them stronger. I just have to go back to my original way of thinking and just be happy when he is happy with his life and that's that."

Bull hung around for a while just listening and enjoying the attention that Maiha was giving him. She patted him on the shoulder, "I guess you should be getting back to him, but before you go, let me give him a message. Maiha scribbled down a note on a piece of paper and stuck it under Bulls collar. "He knows that I can be upset with him but I can't resist you guys," she said with more of a lifelike smile. "Shame on him, but it was great to see you anyway." She let him out the door knelt down and slid the message under his collar. She put her head on his "Take care big guy," and ruffled his jowls. As she gave Bull his goodbye Maiha discreetly slid the tin of tea in the door closing it as he trotted away. She leaned up against the back of her door as she loosely hugged the tin, "Oh Kakashi you know me to well, I can't stay mad for long it's just not my nature."

Bull sauntered off toward Kakashi and he received him with an inquisitive look ok his face. "I am assuming she gave you some attention too. The wagging tail and the smell of beef jerky give you away. Ugh… I guess I shouldn't complain though." Bull sat down in front of Kakashi. "It's ok you can go Bull, thank you for helping." Bull scratched at his collar with a paw until the rolled up piece of paper fell out. "What's this?" Kakashi picked up the note unrolled it and read, 'Thanks for the tea but I am still upset with you and don't want to talk right now.' He looked quickly to her door where she had slid the tin over earlier that evening and noticed that is was missing from its discarded spot. "Huh," he smirked under his mask, "I see you guys are wearing her down. Very good, thanks Bull I can't get to her right now but you guys can. I appreciate your help." With that Bull disappeared.

The more Maiha thought about it, her anger began to dissipate. "Maybe a good night sleep will clear my head; it has been a long day." She retired to her bedroom, slid under her covers and soon drifted off to sleep.

As always thank you for reading and following along I appreciate your time.

Up next… The apology attempt, the canine cavalry continues its efforts and a 'special' mission.