People say that love is not easy. However, there are many who yearn for it despite its complicated nature. They claim that it's never the same for each individual. Love can be fleeting for one or it can be everlasting for another. It can be as simple as breathing yet it can be as severe as drowning. It can be as silent as a whisper or as loud as a raging thunder. There is no simple way to describe something as complex as love.

But for me, love has always been him.

Every time I hear that word, I think of the wispy silver hair framing his face and the beautiful charcoal eyes that he has. I think of the way he always puts his hands in his pockets, that green scarf he wore when we were younger, and that mask he never seems to take off. I think of his soothing voice, which always sounds so calm, and the way his mere presence ignites a warm feeling within me. Meeting him has always been one of my most favorite memory. We were a pair of young and innocent kids, still uncorrupted by the mad world that we lived in. Back then, I had not yet realized how that fateful encounter on a seemingly very normal spring day would have the greatest impact on my life.

I was up earlier than usual that day, being awakened by the commotion inside our home. To my frustration, I noticed that it was still dark outside, as the sun had not risen yet. The whole house was already buzzing with activity since everyone was busy preparing for the luncheon my father is hosting for his friends in the village. I decided not to bother anyone since all the household staff seemed to have a lot of tasks on their hands and my presence is not really needed for the preparations. Our estate is located on the outskirts of Konoha, a little bit on higher ground, overlooking a vast expanse of untouched nature. I decided to spend my morning on the eastern side of the property, where there is a large clearing with a breathtaking view.

I sat by a tree overlooking a portion of the village where only the mountains, river, and some trees could be seen, away from the residential areas and most clan grounds. It's the perfect place to connect oneself with nature. The sky is still gray, waiting for the soft orange glow of the sun to slowly peek on the horizon.

I heard light footsteps slowly approaching, making me alarmed for a moment. I turned to look who the quiet paces belonged to, and relaxed when I saw it was coming from a silver-haired boy wearing dark-colored clothes with a scarf snugly wrapped around his neck. He seemed to be deep in thought, lightly kicking the small rocks in front of him as he walked towards the edge of the clearing where I was carefully observing him, still unaware of my presence. After a few more paces, he reached the area where I was at, he seemed to finally realize that someone was scrutinizing his figure. With hands tucked inside his pockets, he slowly lifted his gaze to meet mine. I got dazed for a moment as we were looking directly into each other's eyes, and I felt a slight tingle on my skin as his intense stare bore into mine.

I broke the silence by greeting him first, "Good morning, did you lose your way on the path of life?" I greeted him in a teasing manner to lighten up the mood. He didn't answer me and just raised his eyebrows with a questioning look. I continued the one-sided conversation since he did not look like he would say anything at all. "Well, it's just this area that is a part of my family's compound. I was only asking if you were lost, but in an amusing way."

A shade of pink appeared on the little skin his masked face showed. "Sorry, I thought this was a public area," he said in a low voice while staring down at his feet and looking kind of ashamed by the fact that he had been walking around on private property. He was about to walk away when I invited him to stay. He lifted his gaze at me, paused for a few seconds, before mumbling a small thank you. He sat down on the ground and leaned against a tree a few feet away from where I was.

We waited there patiently for the sun to paint the sky with rosy pigments to start the day. My senses have always been sharp, so I vividly remember this memory as if it just happened yesterday. The smell of morning dew, the sound of birdsong in the air, the slight wind brushing my face, and the beautiful sight of the sky slowly changing its color to shades of orange, red, and yellow as the sun rose over the horizon.

It was all smiles and shy glances.

I tried to think of what to say to start another conversation with him, but he seemed to enjoy the silence and stillness of the morning. I observed his striking profile keenly, he had a very calm demeanor that rubs off on the people around him. He looks so serene, casually basking in the warm glow of the sun, silver hair moving with the gentle blow of the wind, and the sunlight reflecting off his steely gray eyes. I never saw something as perfect as that sight before. He seemed to notice my gaze and suddenly spoke up. "I discovered this place a few months ago after my morning run. I didn't think it was private property." He said while reaching into the small bag that was strapped to his back." Here, have some of these steamed buns." He slowly made his way to where I was sitting down, opened the bento box, and gestured for me to take some.

I accepted the food and thanked him before moving slightly to allow him to comfortably sit beside me. The bun was soft to touch, with a very savory meat filling and a hint of sweetness to the bread. The masked boy seemed to be hiding his face, turning sideways whenever he took a bite. Out of courtesy, I avoided looking at him since he looked uncomfortable showing his face. We ate in silence, enjoying the food and the good view in front of us. He offered me the last piece of the tasty bread which I gladly accepted. I watched him closely as he started to put the food container back in his bag while I finished eating the remaining bun.

"I didn't know there were people living in this area." He stated, then looked at me waiting for my response. I felt my cheeks heating up, and I was certain he saw me blushing. I was feeling embarrassed that he had caught me gawking at him.

I tried to answer him without stuttering, "My family's house is in this area. We only visit every spring and never stay for too long before, but now we decided to live here in the village again."

He answered nonchalantly, "Oh, that's why I never see anybody around here before." I noticed his facial expression changed a bit. He looked like his thoughts were occupied and he seemed to be hesitant to say something. "Do you think your family would mind if I come here sometimes?" he finally asked, looking at me with hopefulness in his eyes.

"My father will probably increase the security around the entire property in the following days, but I don't think he will mind at all. Since you asked nicely, I'll tell him." I said as I softly gazed at him. He looked happy by my answer, and it kind of showed in his eyes even though the mask covered his smile.

"Thanks, I always rest here after my morning exercises. I love the view of the sunrise from this spot." He said while looking around. I saw him relax his posture and lay down on the ground with his arms behind his head. I tried to come up with words to say but I couldn't think properly with him beside me. Only silence was heard while we enjoyed that moment. I stole a quick glance at him before noticing his eyes were shut. I finally decided to lie down next to him and contentedly watched the clouds drift by as the sky was painted with radiant colors.

I tried not to be obvious that I was looking at him, alternating my gaze between the sky and the cute boy resting on my side, but I couldn't stop myself from openly staring at his masked face. I've come to realize in that moment that there were many things so intriguing about him. Like how can he look that good without even showing his whole face? Or how is his presence able to make me contemplate and be lost for words to say?

Almost half an hour passed by, and he seemed to be so comfortable that he never even moved a bit from his spot. I noticed the steady rise and fall of his chest before glancing at his face again, for what must have been the hundredth time that day. Then he suddenly turned his head towards me and opened one eye, as if to catch me shamelessly admiring him. He broke the silence by chuckling lightly, and embarrassment slowly appeared on my face, shown by the red tint across my cheeks.

He asked in a playful tone, "Is there something wrong with my face?" I bit my lip and thought about what to say to save myself from further embarrassment. But he followed up with a remark that made my insides flutter with a burst of emotion I had never felt before. "I don't mind your stare. Your purple eyes look beautiful."

I probably looked like a tomato because I was certain my whole face had turned bright red from the unexpected compliment. I was speechless because it was the first time that a boy my age had ever said something so nice and heartwarming to me. He stared at me for quite a while, looking directly into my eyes before speaking again in a hushed tone.

He whispered, "What's your name?"

"Sumire." I answered as I pushed myself up from the ground to sit down. I congratulated myself mentally for managing to force out a calm response despite the frenzy of emotions I was feeling at that moment.

My name literally translates to a flower – a perennial species of violet that can be found throughout the Land of Fire and blooms during the spring season. Our gardens are adorned with them, mostly in the alluring shade of purple, but there are also a few blue and white variants. It is a dainty beauty, very delicate and easy on the eyes. Its floral scent emits a sweet and gentle fragrance. If you refer to the Hanatokoba, the language of flowers, giving someone a sumire typically meant that the giver wanted to express their sincerity or love, and hope that the same will be shown to them in return.

He stood up from his spot and reached for the bag at his side before looking down at my sitting figure. "Sumire, your name suits you well." He said quietly, almost in a whisper.

He started to walk away, his gentle steps barely making any sound and his silhouette slowly receding as I watched him move. I thought about how easily his words affected me and how he was able to make me feel uncharted emotions within the short amount of time that we had together. Although most of that time was spent in silence and glances, rather than actual conversation.

I was able to snap out of my thoughts, I stood up and shouted at him to make sure he heard me despite the distance. "Hey! I forgot to ask your name." I felt nervous because he might not give me a response and the thought of not knowing his name kind of made me feel sad.

He halted his steps and turned back slightly, with half of his face towards me. He made eye contact and gave me an eye smile. "Kakashi," he said. Then he abruptly added before turning around, "See you around."

He started walking again, and once more, I was lost in my own thoughts. Now, I finally had a name to the face that seemed to easily give me a warm fuzzy feeling. A name to the voice that made me experience emotions I had never felt before.

Whispering softly, I said, "See you around, Kakashi," unsure if he had heard me. He lifted one arm and waved his hand slightly without turning back.

As young as I was at the time, I did not know that the emotions I felt in that moment would develop into something more than just a passing infatuation for a boy I barely knew. Standing there, with both hands on my chest, my heart raced faster than it should have as he disappeared into the trees bordering the area.

I was never a morning person, but after that encounter, I looked forward to watching the sunrise again.

This was how our tale started.

A momentous encounter between two innocent kids. A dyad of souls bound to experience the highs and lows of love. Two unique individuals who met by chance and grew closer by choice. A pair who drifted apart and eventually found each other again. We were like magnets that were infinitely attracted to each other, unable to resist the pull no matter how hard we tried.

This for me, is love.

Love has always been him.

Kakashi.