Chapter Three- Old Times

I do not own Naruto

"Kakashi, hold still," Rin told her silver-haired friend as she concentrated her chakra in her hands. She carefully pressed the palm of her hand against his arm, a turquoise glow surrounding the area as she began to heal the sore muscles. Kakashi couldn't help but squirm as his strained muscles were being healed, the unnatural feeling of his body being fixed quickly still something that he could not get used to.

It had turned out that his arms had taken quite a bit of damage from bracing his fall. It wasn't unusual, after all he had fallen at least ten feet, if not more. He mentally fumed, embarrassed that he had to be healed from something so simple as falling out a tree. He glanced at Rin who's face was concentrated as she continued to send chakra through her hands, mending his sore muscles. He chuckled to himself as he saw that her purple facial paint had smudged all over her face.

His little chuckle did not go unnoticed by the kunoichi. She looked up from her work, confused hazel eyes meeting his mismatched ones. She wiped the bead of sweat off her forehead furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

"What's funny?" She asked innocently making Kakashi smile and shake his head before he looked away. From his ANBU pack he pulled out a blade making the kunoichi jump slightly.

"Relax Rin," he told her calmly, handing her the knife. The brown haired girl took the blade carefully as if it were the most delicate thing in the world and examined it. When she found nothing particularly special about the blade Kakashi sighed lifting his finger to point lazily at the blade's reflective nature. Rin examined the blade more carefully this time, eyes widening as she saw her reflection. She dropped the blade, hands covering her smudged cheeks in embarrassment. Kakashi smiled before shaking his head once more. He would never understand girls and their need to look good.

"How long have I looked like this?" Rin asked hesitantly, peering at the blade which had rolled onto the grass. She carefully peeled one hand off her cheek to see that the purple paint had gotten on her hands as well and had been smeered onto parts of her nose.

"For the whole time," he told her. Much to his amusement he heard Rin make some sort of a squeak before straightening up. Slowly she removed her hands from her face to pick up the borrowed blade before handing it back to him.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry!" Rin apologized quickly as she realized much to her horror that she had gotten some of her purple paint on the handle. Kakashi laughed, taking it back before placing it back in his pack.

"I don't mind," he assured her honestly, "It's just paint."

"Are you sure you don't mind? The ANBU.." she trailed off. She knew that the ANBU didn't appreciate anything that made their weapons stand out on the battle field, something that the enemy would easily recognize and the purple paint practically screamed 'look at me!'.

"It's fine, really," he paused for a second before looking back at her, "It's washable though right?"

"Off of skin yes," Rin muttered, "Off of objects?...no.."

"Shit," Kakashi cursed knowing that the head ANBU would kill him if he pranced around with a blade that was purple. The traditional ANBU colors were grey, black and white, with the occasional exception of red, certainly not purple. He also knew that he could not get rid of this one, the ANBU didn't supply new weapons to anyone, not even captains of squads.

"I'll get it off, I promise!" Rin tried to assure him, hazel eyes wide with guilt and worry at his expression. Was he angry? She knew that once the ANBU gave you a weapon you were stuck with it till it was absolutely necessary to get a new one. Instead of showing any signs of anger Kakashi rummaged through his ANBU pack once more, pulling out the now purple knife. He sheathed it before handing it to Rin.

"I'll hold you to your promise," He smiled , "I'll be expecting it cleaned when it's returned."

"Of course!" Rin promised putting the sheathed blade inside her bag. Kakashi watched her, pain tugging at his heart which had strayed too far beyond the walls that kept it locked away. She'll leave you too, just like everyone else, the voice in his head reminded him, it's better to just leave before you get too close to her again. He felt conflicted but as Rin turned to face him, he held his breath. Even with purple paint smeared all over her face, she smiled brightly at him, hazel eyes practically glowing with joy. She looked so innocent, so happy. In that moment his mind was made. He couldn't interfere with her happiness, he couldn't let her die like everyone eventually did when they became too close to him.

It's for her own good. For once, don't be selfish.

He could not stay near her. He had allowed himself to remember the days when they were best friends, back when everyone dear to him was alive, all in a moment of weakness. The only thing that he could do for her was to watch over her from afar and do everything he could to protect his village.

"I have to go," he told his friend quietly, already rising to his feet. Rin was surprised at his sudden mood swing but forced herself to smile. It wasn't anything unusual, especially for Kakashi. Even when they were younger, Kakashi always had a temper that could not be tamed. She sighed to herself. Was it something she said? Maybe he was upset about the blade after all.

She waved him a goodbye and much to her disappointment, he did not wave back.