Taking Chances

Chapter 6

Kagome was sitting on the dock listening to the lapping of the water while the moon shone overhead. She wasn't ready to go home, at least out here she felt calmer. Normally it would bother her that someone is always watching her but somehow it actually felt a bit comforting because she felt that at least she was being noticed.

Today had been a day like any other; one of the academy teachers was trying to hit on her while students tried to pretend they were behaving. Iruka had as usual been pleasant and respectful of her as he always is. It just would have been nice to have someone invite her to coffee, or to sit with them and eat lunch. Some form of company would have been nice but for whatever reason, she was really struggling to make new friends.

Wrapping her arms around her legs she rested her head as she felt pathetic. It wasn't that she didn't like the village, it was more like the village just wouldn't accept her and for having literally no one, she felt miserable. She has always been a social, extroverted person. She kept putting her best foot forward and she felt like she ended up on a treadmill instead of walking down the right path.

Even if she did go to the hot springs and soak with all of the other women she usually ended up alone in some way or another. It would appear that she must be carrying a warning sign on her since she couldn't get even some girl time with the other girls. Now today she received the dreaded news.

The kids will be off from school for a couple weeks, meaning she has two weeks of nothing ahead of her. The thought of traveling popped back into her head. If she did go travel, see a few things outside of the village it might help find herself, maybe even allow her to clear her head. Either way she had a job and apartment to return to. Making up her mind she decided to speak to Lady Tsunade first thing right after work. She had a feeling that she would need these identifying papers to make things easier for travel.

Kakashi watched her from his branch, she was a bit different tonight but nonetheless lonely. It would be a good time to maybe even meet her while also keeping her company. She didn't appear to be worried about how late it was getting, nor did she look tired. With his mind made up he left the dock, appearing down there and giving her time to notice his presence.

Turning around after the dock moved at the sudden new weight she found a ninja with dark eyes and silver, spiky hair looking at her in a bored fashion. Not feeling any evil intent she attempted to ease up but really it was dark out and she finds herself suddenly in the company of a ninja with the majority of his face covered. "Can I help you?"

"Maybe, I just thought you might like some company. Mind if I join you?" She recognized him from around the village; he usually had his nose in some book or another.

Not really feeling threatened, but also beginning to not care at this point she scooted over and patted the spot right next to her, making some room for him to sit comfortably. "Sure I wouldn't mind the company."

Slowly he walked over and sat down with ease, reclining back a bit as he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She looked a bit unsure of herself but he figured that was improvement from being all depressed the other days. "Being that I already know who you are, I should let you know who I am. I am Kakashi Hatake, I hear you were a patient of Sakura's a couple months back," he smoothly started the conversation.

Recognizing the name, she recalled that he is the one Yamato would sometimes stand in for. "Oh, I've heard about you. It's nice to meet you," she held her hand out for him to shake.

Indulging her he shook her hand in greeting while his right eye crinkled up in a smile. "You seem to be quite troubled; do you want to talk about it?"

Looking a bit uncomfortable he watched her shift uncertainly as she made up her mind. "I'm sure it is probably nothing compared to another person's problems, I just can't seem to find my place here in this village. I just, I'm never usually depressed, making friends was always easy for me. I just don't get why this time I feel like such an outcast. It's like I'm constantly wearing a warning flag," she described it the best she could. With a ninja right here that seemed to know something about her she wondered if maybe he could shed a little light.

Thinking it over he too couldn't figure out why she was alone so much of the time until he realized something one day. "They're jealous. You're very attractive, you feel very approachable, and your powers feel different which is not helping matters. Let me put it this way, you're the new girl in town, quite a few guys are always looking your way and the women can't help but be jealous about the effortless attention you receive on a daily basis."

"Wait so you mean other girls don't like me just because a guy they like or are with had been checking me out or something?" She looked at him incredulously.

"Yup, that sounds about right," watching her go from sad to mad and then hurt. After a moment it was like she couldn't decide which emotion to stick with. He found it a bit amusing but he supposed he would be feeling about the same way as her to some degree.

"As for Yamato," he began, bringing her attention back to him. "As guys we can be really stupid at times, by the time we stop digging holes we feel incredibly idiotic. He will come around, I'm sure of it. I had noticed you before but it wasn't until I had seen you two out to eat together that I really started paying attention. I'm certain he is trying to find a way to say sorry. You're the first one I have ever seen him take a genuine interest in so just try to be patient and find a little humor in it. Trust me he was moping for hours that night feeling like an idiot."

She looked over at her chatty companion, she was feeling better already and even managed to giggle a bit. "Thank you Kakashi, I needed that."

"Someone needed to do something and he appears to be at a loss of what to do for the most part. I wonder how long it will take him to seek advice since he is quite wet behind the ears." He never could get the guy to be caught reading one of his books. Yamato was quite straight laced just like he himself had been for many years.

Letting the conversation drift to other topics he kept her company and learned more about her. She opened up about her past after he let on that he knows her circumstances. Her stories painted a vivid picture as she described her friends, allies, family, and the places she had been. Showed him the scar from where the jewel had actually come from her body. He laid back on the dock listening attentively and hanging on to her every word.

Who would have ever thought that such an extraordinary young woman has been right under their noses these last couple months? Watching her mannerisms he held himself in check as he too began enjoying her company but he wouldn't try anything, Yamato just needed time and he had seen the looks she was casting his way. If they get pass this bump in the road he is certain they will be a happy couple. If not then who is to tell him that he can't enjoy her company some more.

It was passing midnight when she started to yawn and he started to take notice to just how much time had passed. As the minutes ticked by and her demeanor grew more sleepy he offered to walk her home. With one foot in front of the other she sleepily made her way home with her hopefully new friend. She felt a lot better and hoped maybe he will join her again. It still upset her that people were being so petty towards her but for the time being she let it drift from her mind.

As they came to a stop in front of her apartment complex he said his goodbyes and took his exit, watching from a tree that she made it inside safely. Seeing the flowers, he watched her pick them up, plucking a card out from it that made her smile. Feeling better that she was no longer looking so sad he left for his own home to rest at.