Hey there, and welcome to chapter 2 of this awesome story. Well, I think it's awesome.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Chapter 2: Friends

As usual, you wake up early and take care of your morning schedule. Which would be to shower, brush your hair and teeth, eat ramen, then start jogging to the training area. When you reached the training area, there was someone standing in front of the tree you usually cut up without really noticing. You knew who it was immediately. Well, not who it was, but what he was. "Hey there. Got a mission for me?" You couldn't help but smile. The guy learned to not sneak up on you, but to wait for you, or to just be out in the open.

The anbu turned around to you and you noticed that it wasn't the guy who usually came to give you a mission straight from the Hokage. His mask design told you that he was the guy who usually patrolled the outskirts of Konoha. What was he doing here? "Yes. It's a pretty important one." For him to be in Konoha, it should be pretty important.

You were about to ask him what it was about, but then stopped dead in your tracks. His voice was different. You spoke to him before you went home and fell asleep, and his voice was deeper than what it was now. Actually, his posture is different as well, now that you take a good look. This wasn't him. Just who was it? Without changing your voice, and also remaining calm, nonchalant, you asked him the routine question. "Must be. Give me the details, would ya? I'll get right on it." You figured if it were actually him, he would shake his head at you, trying not to crack up, and end up slapping you on your shoulder.

Instead of doing what he usually did, he spoke. This was most definitely not your patrol buddy. You've joked around enough with the guy to know if it were him or not. "Well, there's been a leak of information that may prove important. You need to go check out the border between Konoha and Sunakagure." His voice was calm, and also official. If this were actually your buddy, he wouldn't behave like this. Even if the Hokage caught him goofing around.

Without a second thought, you started walking up to him. Time to see this impostors face. "Well buddy, shake before I head off." You smiled, giving off the impression that you always do this. He actually reached his hand out to you, to shake. Before grabbing his hand, you shot your hand up and snatched his mask from him. You caught a glimpse of silver hair. Not spiky, so Kakashi wasn't messing with you. The guy then vanished. Just then, a horrible feeling hit you dead smack in the head. You rushed out of Konoha, and started searching for your buddy. He wouldn't take his mask off so easily. He kept it on just for the fun of it when he was on a break. He wouldn't have just given it to someone! Just when you were about to turn back, and retrace the route, you caught a glimpse of red out of the corner of your eye. It wasn't thick, so it wasn't blood. It wasn't thin either, so it couldn't be just hair. Oh no. You darted over and saw your buddy on the ground, dead. His red hair was soaked with blood. He didn't look determined. He looked scared out of his mind. That guy did something to him before he killed him.

You shot through Konoha and went straight to the anbu headquarters. The guy that usually gave you missions straight from the Hokage was just walking down the hall. You ran to him, and before he could ask what was wrong, you told him what had happened. At first, he thought that you were playing a joke on him. But then you rushed back to your dead friend with him behind you, and he believed you. They were friends. Not the best of friends, but they were friends nonetheless. And now, he saw his friend dead. He brought you back into Konoha and told the head of the anbu. He's known to only tell the truth, unless he's laughing. So the leader believed him right away.

After a few hours passed by, the body was taken care of, ready for a funeral. It wouldn't be a big one, but at least it was something. Everyone then had to carry on with what they had to do for the day. You wanted to just go home, and rest. You wanted to be alone while you thought about your friend. When you reached the small lake, you saw Kakashi sitting at the waters edge, reading his book. You went over to him, and sat down.

As soon as you sat down beside Kakashi, he lowered his book and looked at you. You knew he was going to say something stupid, but then he shut himself up, and actually said something worth saying. "Are you alright?" You nodded, but he didn't believe you. He put his arm around your waist and pulled you to him in a hug. It wasn't much, but from him, it was something. He never really got close to anyone. You enjoyed being his friend. He always listened to you when you had something to say. Though that was just about never. Usually all you did was joke around with him. You hugged him, letting him comfort you the best way he knew how. It was nice, to actually have someone there.

After a while of silence, you moved back from him, and smiled. "What's wrong with you? Are you sick?" He gave you a confused look, so you continued. "I've never seen you act so nice before." You smirked. Your attempt to try to lighten the mood, was working. Even if only a tiny, it was something.

Kakashi laughed at your comment. Then he slapped your back. "You're right, I guess I am pretty sick."

You wished you could see his face. Seeing him smile, smirk even, would lighten the mood so much more. You would never be caught alive saying that you liked him. But hey, you do. You have for a few years. Instead of behaving differently around him, you just act normal though. That's probably why he'd never guess that you liked him. Hey, after all, he wouldn't like you even if he forced himself to. He's only a friend after all. With that popping up in your mind again, you sighed. "Yep. Reading the type of books you do, who wouldn't be?" Joking around came so naturally for you. If only you had what it took to actually tell him how you really feel about him. Being afraid of rejection isn't easy. It's complicated. Really complicated.

From his eyes narrowing, you could tell he was frowning. Then again, you would've known he was frowning anyway. After all, you spoke about the forbidden topic. "Hey, this book is not bad. It's a very interesting book." The moment of fun was over. At least, that moment of fun. You could always get another one going.

With a small smile, you slide his book away from the waters edge. He looked at you questionably, then you shoved him into the water. You started laughing, glad to be having some fun. Then, while you were laughing, he pulled you into the water with him. "Hey!" You yelped as you landed in the water. You got your head above the water, then pushed him in completely. It was fun. But then he grabbed your ankle and pulled you under the water with him.

After a good hour and a half of messing around in the water, you got out, soaked to the bone. Kakashi got out, also soaked to the bone. You smiled at him when you noticed that his hair was down, and wet. You never saw his hair wet before. He always managed to keep it dry, and slightly spiky. He looked good with wet hair. "Take a picture. It'll last longer"

You smirked slightly, hiding your embarrassment. You didn't realize you were staring at him. You knew that he'd think that you're joking, so you figured you might as well say what came to mind. "Maybe I will." You smirk at him, and he only laughed a little. If only he knew...

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Well, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I promise that later in the story, it just gets better! Well, if you really liked it, then please review it! It would be greatly appreciated. ^_^