Author's Note: Hello! So sorry I haven't updated in a...holy mother of..alright, a month. Life is being - well, LIFE, and my muse is on holidays...Anywho...Thanks to the loverly reviewer for the...um...well, review! Made me smile, and got me thinking about this again. Ta, darling! x Also, apologies for the shortness of the chapter, but it's better than nothing, right?

Title: A Stranger's Smile

Author: The Unwritten Fellowship (Princess Kanako)

Pairing: Minato/OC

Date Submitted: 26/7/13

Disclaimer: I don't own the cast of Naruto...sadly. T_T

Claimer: Chikane, Hikari, Benjirou, Daiki, Mariko, Sayuri, Keiko, Ayame, Suzume, Usagi, and anyone or anything related to them.

Summary: She was pale, sheltered, and insignificant compared to the healthy, confident women that inhabited Konoha, but when she smiled, she became resplendent. Something broke within him - a weight snapped away from where it had been pressing onto his heart. He had to protect this one - but what was she protecting him from?

Meeting? Kakashi fought his urge to laugh. This had nothing to do with the village and he knew it. Minato knew it. Hell, his assistants weren't stupid. They probably knew it.

Chapter IV - Meetings

Chikane was up early the next morning as usual. Suzume kept to the schedule she had observed yesterday. Good. She waited until her friend left, then dressed and slipped out quietly. She wanted some time to herself before her appointment.

Minato was sitting behind his huge walnut desk, signing scroll after scroll wearily. He nodded to one of the two chairs in front of his desk as Kakashi entered and sat down. Once he arrived, Minato finished with his current scroll, and asked one of his assistants to make sure he wasn't disturbed during his meeting.

Meeting? Kakashi fought his urge to laugh. This had nothing to do with the village and he knew it. Minato knew it. Hell, his assistants weren't stupid. They probably knew it.

Minato turned his attention to them. His face was like a mask.

"Has Rin told you that I expect to see a potential carer for Naruto by tomorrow?"

"Hai. And I'm telling you that it's not easy."

Minato's eyes narrowed.

"I am sorry if I gave you the impression that this would be an open meeting where opinions were welcome. It is an informative meeting. I am informing you of my intentions and my requirements."

He folded his hands on his desk.

"You will bring her here in the morning. I wish to interview her myself. I require only your cooperation, not your arguments."

Kakashi frowned behind his mask. His headache from yesterday was back.

"I can't guarantee it, Sensei. No-one in the village that I've come across is interested in taking care of Naruto when you're not in the equation as a potential-" he changed his wording as Minato glared daggers at him across the table. "Um, partner." Kakashi stood from his chair and crossed his arms.

"Are we done? I have real work to do."

A low growl told him he shouldn't have uttered the thought out loud. Oh well, it wasn't the first time Minato had been pissed at him.

As 10:30 approached, Chikane was waiting impatiently outside the financial officer's office. She knew that it would be a minor miracle if she managed to get work by Monday. Her schooling was poor and her skills useless. Suzume had been right when she said she was unprepared to be on her own. She straightened in her chair. That was why she was here, wasn't it?

Chikane refused to be wrapped up in cotton wool and coddled by others for the rest of her life. She could learn what was necessary to make a decent living for herself. She looked up as her name was called.

Seated across from a woman who'd introduced herself as Ms. Nohara, Chikane made sure her posture radiated confidence. Looking up from the paperwork before her, Ms. Nohara gave her an assessing look and folded her hands on the desk.

"Well Miss Minami, I'm sure you are aware that your prospects are less than stellar," she said bluntly, making Chikane wince. "But I have seen much worse. And with the proper qualifications, they have gone on to successful careers. Your marks, I'm sure, are a reflection of the numerous absences recorded in your file. Is your health sufficiently improved to allow for your studies to begin again?"

Chikane thought back to all the illnesses her family invented to cover her absences. She was glad that those details were not contained in her transcript. She had a feeling the interview would already be over were that the case. She decided to be partially honest.

"Hai. The doctors tell me I am perfectly healthy."

"I see. I'm afraid your circumstances don't qualify for aid or admission without remedial courses at least, to improve your academic standing."

Chikane felt her heart sink. Remedial classes. That meant that her plans would be delayed. At least a year, maybe more. Ms. Nohara observed the young woman's disappointment with a slight smile.

"There is, however, a program designed for people in your situation. It would mean a lot of hard work on your part. It won't be easy. Tell me what your academic interest would be if we admitted you."

Chikane began to feel hope again.

"I haven't decided yet. I thought to decide on a specialty once I got started and found what I liked or what I was good at."

Ms. Nohara nodded.

"A good choice. Your biggest deficiency seems to be math, but there are several careers that don't require any of the higher math classes." She flicked through the file before her, pausing as something caught her eye. "I see you've cared for children."

"Hai, Nohara-san. Mostly my younger brother, but sometimes my nieces," Chikane supplied.

"Is childcare something that would interest you?"

Chikane paused, her brow furrowed slightly.

"I suppose it would," she answered thoughtfully. "I hadn't really thought about it before."

"I see." Ms. Nohara shuffled some papers on her desk. "And where are you staying, if you don't mind my asking?"

"The Naka inn."

"I see."

She pulled out some papers from her desk-drawer, filled out a couple of sections of each and handed them to Chikane.

"When we are done, take these to the testing center. The tests you will be taking will determine the areas in which you are still below level. The program is simple. Your financial aid will be approved on a semester by semester basis. As long as you qualify academically, you qualify for aid. Your first two semesters will be a probationary period. If you fall below academically acceptable standards during this period, you will not be allowed to continue."

Ms. Nohara typed some information into her computer. When she finished, she took some pages from the filing cabinet behind her.

"These are your admission papers. Take them to the registrar. Your ID will identify you to the system as a student on the program. You will sign up for the normal curriculum according to the requirements for graduation. Once I have your test scores, I will let you know what additional classes you will need in order to be successful in your core classes. If necessary, we can adjust your schedule at that time. By the time you are finished with your tests, the system should be updated so that you can purchase your books with no problems."

Ms. Nohara looked at her watch.

"Do you have any questions?"

Chikane's head was spinning. She was in. For the moment, that was all that she focused on. Ms. Nohara smiled.

"If you think of any later, let me know. I'm here to help. I have another appointment and you have tests to take."

Chikane wanted to hug the woman like a giddy schoolgirl, but tried to retain at least some semblance of maturity.

"Thank you, Ms. Nohara. I appreciate the chance you have given me. I won't let you down."

As soon as the girl had left, Rin poked her head out of the door and called for the next person to come in, beckoning the secretary to approach her.

"Send for Kakashi Hatake," she murmured, "Tell him it's urgent."

"Where did you go today?" Suzume asked as she set down a tray on the low table. Chikane paused for a moment, before continuing to brush out her damp hair.

"Exploring the village," she replied truthfully, leaving out her enrollment in school and benefit payments. "I think I'm starting to get my bearings."

"That's wonderful, Chikane-sama," Suzume beamed. Chikane chuckled wearily.

"Just Chikane, Suzume-san," she protested for what felt like the thousandth time, "I left that life behind."

"Excuse me, Suzume-san?" a maid slid the screen open, bowing as she did so. "There's a man here to see Minami-san. Jōnin."

Suzume looking inquiringly at Chikane, who shrugged.

"Send him up," Chikane offered as she started to braid her hair, "I'll see what he wants."

"Hai, Minami-san." The maid bowed again and slid the door shut. Suzume eyed her former charge warily.

"Anything I should know about?" she asked.

"Iie."

"You can cancel if you don't want to be left alone with him."

Chikane met Suzume's gaze in the mirror, her green eyes serene.

"He is a Jōnin. I think I can be alone with him for a couple of minutes. It's not like he's going to hurt me."

I don't think he will, anyway.

Suzume watched her as she wove the strands of hair together.

"Are you sure?"

She smiled.

"Hai. It'll be fine. Don't worry, Suzume-san. I need to start interacting with other people eventually."

Footsteps sounded in the hall.

"If you need me, just call."

She nodded.

Suzume opened the door and nodded in greeting to the man who stood behind it before leaving. Chikane stood there looking at him. He closed the door behind him. She swallowed nervously. Her visitor didn't exactly look friendly.

To be continued...