A FLAME IN THE DARK
As the sun lowered over the western hills the air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers and the earthy aroma of the surrounding forest. The sky grew slowly darker, but the sweltering heat of the past week was retentive, it seemed to stick to the very air. Kakashi felt warm and uneasy as he followed the snaking path into the heart of the woods to the hidden hut, but when he knocked on the door Blood Tiger welcomed him even warmer, as always. But she seemed to share his sentiment, being dressed in a light sleeveless shirt and loose flowing pants. Her hair was tied higher up than usual to allow her skin to breathe.
"Why don't we share the back porch tonight?" She suggested, and Kakashi nodded as he pulled his black gloves from his hands and stuffed them into his pocket.
"That sounds like a good idea." he agreed, and they made their way out the door that led to the garden where the breeze of the forest might ebb the fever of mid-summer. Rikimaru was not here tonight, perhaps preferring some place colder.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kakashi found himself seated on the deck of the back porch of the tea hut, where collections of pillows and potted plants dotted the deck and a bamboo chime hung from one of the rafters. He took in the space of the garden, feeling the breeze on his face and hands, desperately seeking respite from the lingering heat of the summer day as he listened to the soft thuds of her bare footsteps on the wood inside. The air out here seemed a little bit lighter, but still rich with the scent of plants and the dark musty fragrance of the forest. The garden of the tea hut was larger than he first thought, the lush grass that was a deep summer green bordered by thick shrubs and trees. To his left near the deck were several planters where new tea sprouted in the summer heat, and the north-eastern border was walled by what must have been part of the cliff where the Hokage faces in the village was carved. He thought that the hut was further away from Konoha, considering the rather lengthy walk; but then again the trail took quite a few turns. Then her footfalls emerged from the inside of the hut, and she set a tray on the deck. Blood Tiger observed Kakashi closely as she settled onto the porch beside him, noticing the tension in his posture despite the serene surroundings.
"It's quite warm tonight, isn't it?" Blood Tiger remarked, breaking the tranquil silence between them. Kakashi nodded in agreement, his attention drawn to the horizon where the sky was painted in shades of orange and pink by the setting sun.
"Yes, it is," he replied quietly. He felt hot and sluggish, like his very muscles were melting away under the warmth, but was delightfully presented with a large glass of amber liquid, small cubes of ice bobbing in the fluid.
"It's still tea, but it's iced this time." she said with a smile, and he took the glass happily.
"Oh, thank you. This heat will be the death of me." he sighed, enjoying the cool of the glass against the open palms of his hands.
"I believe you, under all that padding." she gestured to his jackets.
"How's the team doing?" she asked, and he took a moment to enjoy the coolness that flowed into his stomach.
"Good. They've been busy with simpler things like planting, weeding, dog walking, cleaning, and the like. Tracking down lost pets, or catching strays." he explained, and she nodded.
"And you just supervise?" she continued.
"I've passed that stage long ago. They need it more than I do." he said.
"Not 'missions' yet?" Blood Tiger asked as Kakashi sat slightly back, hoping the breeze might find its way under the fabric of his jackets.
"Not right now. But Naruto tends to take on the more arduous parts of the chores." Kakashi chuckled.
"He sounds ambitious." she noted.
"He is. He wants to become the Hokage. I'm curious to see how far he goes." he said, setting the empty glass on the deck next to him.
"You're welcome to take off the jackets, Kakashi-san. You can breathe here." she invited calmly as she refilled the glass next to him as her free legs sway gently over the grass under the deck, and he pondered that for a moment. The warmth was maddening and she was very much aware of that, but the thought was enticing.
"You're sure?" he asked, and she smiled.
"Of course. You'll melt otherwise." she teased.
Kakashi stood for a moment and he reached up and removed his jacket. As the thick fabric slid off his shoulders, Blood Tiger's gaze fell on the tattoo on his arm—the crimson flame that marred his skin. Her eyes widened imperceptibly, recognizing the symbol for what it was. She glanced up at Kakashi, noting the slight tension in his movements. Kakashi met her gaze, a flicker of surprise crossing his features as he realized what she had noticed. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You know what this is?" Blood Tiger nodded, her expression understanding.
"Yes, my grandfather told me about it." she replied simply. He glanced away from her, feeling the air shifting around them. The ANBU were feared, and kept secret for a reason. And he spent ten years in that shadow. He was as deep in those roots as one could go... but when he returned his eyes to her, she was smiling.
"It's okay. You're welcome here, Kakashi-san. No matter what." his heart lifted. What he felt in the air was not apprehension, but simple acceptance.
"I was a Captain, long ago. Before I became a teacher." he revealed as he retook his place, and she handed him a refilled glass of cool fruity tea.
"I'm glad. There is no darkness without light, and no light without dark." she mentioned as she brought her own glass up to her lips.
Kakashi's heart swelled with gratitude as Blood Tiger's words washed over him, soothing the doubts and insecurities that had plagued him for so long. He took a moment to savour the refreshing taste of the cool iced tea, allowing her words to sink in.
"There is no darkness without light, and no light without dark," Blood Tiger's words echoed in his mind, stirring something deep within him. It was a simple truth, yet one that resonated with him on a profound level.
"Blood Tiger..." his voice was but a whisper above the moving breeze, and he glanced at her, meeting her wondrous eyes in the dusk-lit space that night. Eyes that flooded every nerve... that saw into the very cells of your being.
"Um... Doesn't it concern you, to have a man in your home that has killed before...?" he asked tentatively, her calmness to his presence was so inviting it was near unnatural.
"Did you want to kill?" she suddenly asked, and he looked away from her searching for words. It was a difficult time, the Third War had just barely ended. What he did, he just did to do it. Because it had to be done.
"Maybe I couldn't care not to..." he confessed, thinking that would be the last he'd see her, but somehow she chuckled.
"Not really an answer to my question." she guided, and he took a deep breath, savouring the scents around him.
"Did I want to..? No. But I did, because it was expected for where I was." he sighed, deciding she deserved a truth. He felt a coolness to his arm, just a slight brush that was soft and comforting. The back of her fingers gently caressing over his skin, and then she smiled, so softly.
"That is all the difference." she said.
"Thank you, Blood Tiger," Kakashi said sincerely, meeting her gaze once more.
"For understanding." Blood Tiger smiled, her expression radiant in the fading twilight.
"You're welcome, Kakashi-san," she said.
"Here, in this sanctuary, you can be yourself. There's no need to hide. Your past doesn't exist, and neither does your future if you don't want it to for the moment." her purple eyes, captivating even in the shadows left behind by the sun's retreat, was calm and quiet. Pools as deep as the edge that no man ever knew, a place where he could drift in silence without any fear or caution or care.
And as they sat together on the porch of the tea hut, enveloped by the tranquillity of the forest, Kakashi felt a sense of gratitude wash over him as they shared stories and thoughts. Just different things. Every-day things. Plants, food, clothes, chores, seasons, songs... In Blood Tiger's acceptance, he found a refuge—a place where he could set aside the burdens of his past and simply be.