Dawn broke over the horizon, cracking through the clouds and pouring light in through the windows. The wind still howled, October well on its way in Kumogakure. An old mechanical clang echoed through the old heating vents of the jounin apartment building. The plastic, burnt smell drifted through. Though the sun may have breached the cloud cover for the first time in two weeks, frost covered every window, threatening to invade the small apartment.
Their bed was warm in comparison, though when she started thinking of it as 'their' bed and not 'Darui's' bed, Mina wasn't sure. In all the wonderings about who she was as a person, the one thing she did know was that he was hers. Perhaps she was meant to be with him, if she had been born in Kumo. Or if fate had altered her course and her family had settled there instead. As much as she wanted answers, she almost dreaded meeting with Samui later that morning.
"It's six a.m.," Darui mumbled under his breath when he felt her stir. The hand on her bare back started tracing small circles in the early morning light.
Raising her thigh onto his hip, she hooked herself onto him and cuddled closer. His cock was hard beneath his boxers that she wore, left over from the night's debauchery. She ground down slightly, testing to see how awake he truly was. He slipped his hand underneath the thin cotton barrier and grasped her ass, bringing her closer.
"We didn't get much sleep last night," Mina commented lightly, placing her hand on his cock. He hissed as she slowly began to stroke him.
His lips were warm against her throat as she leaned back, granting him further access to her body. Her breathy gasp when he moved his hand to an erect nipple was answered with a low grunt. He said nothing, continuing his ministrations against her breasts, and slowly rocking her with his hips.
Mina tried to lower her thigh and he held it firm against his waist.
"Leave them on," he murmured against her lips. "I like seeing you wearing them."
Bending her head down, she kissed alongside his jaw down to his pulse. She felt safe here, in his arms, with his cock poised at her entrance ready to take her, claim her. Claim her? She wondered. When did she ever want a man to claim her? But gods, did she love him. Love him?
"Condom?" he asked quietly against her throat. She shook her head, wanting to feel all of him, no barrier between them.
He was inside her now, rocking against her so hard and sure that she thought she might melt. His eyes met hers, and she wanted to blurt out everything right then. Her heart stuttered with his lips on hers, his thumb brushing her cheek. Time was immaterial under his tender touch. His rough calloused thumb stroked her clit and she bucked against him, wordlessly begging for him to continue.
Cool cotton sheets brushed against their skin. Locked in his intimate embrace, she lost track of where he started and where she ended. The coil tightened, heat flooded her entire body as he thrust inside her. The boxers grew damp with his every movement against her.
He bit down playfully on her shoulder and sucked on the side of her neck. Every kiss he left behind cooled against her heated skin. She wrapped her arms around his neck. His breathing was erratic against her ear. The pressure in her core increased as she met every motion.
"Darui?" she breathed out, knowing her orgasm was far too close to stop it.
"Let it go, baby," he whispered, punctuating each word with a hard suck against her pulse.
It was all too much, too much pressure, too much heat before the dam finally burst. He caught her moans of pleasure with his mouth on hers, silencing her. He had always been considerate of her sensitive hearing. When her orgasm faded, she gently kissed his stubbled cheek and stroked his hair, soothing him to his own release. He finally gasped out moments later, his eyes squeezing shut.
His hand brushed against her sweaty forehead as he leaned down to kiss her again. Mina wasn't sure how long they lay there, touching each other in the soft morning light. Yet, all too soon, Darui glanced at the clock and got up with a parting kiss to her lips. Mina tucked the blankets back around her body and drifted to sleep.
Of all the places in Kumogakure; Mina hated the lower levels of Raikage Tower the most. There was an incessant high-pitched whine that came from the air vents. At the base of the mountain, suspended in the air on all sides, it was the coldest building in the whole of Kumogakure. One of the chuunin that had worked here for over thirty years ate fatty fish with his lunch. Every. Day. The breakroom positively reeked of it. No doubt it was soaked into the drywall.
A level below that was Torture and Interrogation. It smelled like strong lemon polish on a good day. Though Kumogakure did not make torture a habit when interrogating prisoners, it was still an option. Generally, prisoners were all treated so well that they became careless with time, spilling their secrets casually on plush sofas over bowls of sweetened dango.
Samui's office was at the end of the hall. To get there, Mina has to pass through glass-walled cells devoid of current prisoners. Once they had spilled their secrets, they were usually shuffled to a prison deep in the mountains at the very north of the Land of Lightning. It was an impenetrable fortress, covered in ice and snow. The cliff that rose to meet it ended in the harsh northern sea. Even Darui had only been there once, and he had no desire to return.
After knocking on the door, Samui quickly let Mina in and locked it. When Samui threw her arms around Mina and squeezed.
"What's gotten into you, senpai?" Mina asked when she was finally released.
"I'm sorry I didn't visit you earlier. It's been busy around here, unfortunately. We found a couple of Konoha shinobi at our borders. We had a jounin team deliver a missive to Raikage-sama and had to verify its contents."
Mina put her hands on Samui's shoulders. "I understand, it's okay."
Samui gave her a brisk nod before picking up a folder on her desk.
"To be honest, I was surprised to get your request, at first. I would have thought you wanted to put everything behind you. But then I thought about it again. If it were Atsui, I would want to know too."
She handed over the dossier with a sad smile.
"This is everything I could compile on 'Kakashi Hatake,' the Hatake clan, 'Sakumo Hatake,' and 'Kaminari Hatake.' It's all there, color coded by person and known events. I even grabbed what bits of unconfirmed intelligence we have for you."
Mina ran her finger over the string tying the folder closed.
"Thank you."
Samui nodded again before opening her office door again.
Before Mina could walk out, Samui put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, Mina?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't know what you're planning on doing after you read that but, I just wanted you to know, I'm proud of the kunoichi you've become."
Mina turned around and hugged her. "Thank you."
The folder felt like a pile of lead in her pack as she walked through the open hallways of Raikage Tower. Even though Samui had given her the dossier, Mina was still not granted the authority to read intelligence files. She turned left, the smell of ozone and bergamot lingered, and she quickly turned around and went right instead. Looking behind her cautiously, she released the breath she was holding before a strong arm snaked its way around her waist. She landed against his chest with a soft oomph.
Her heart thudded in her chest. She didn't think she would be able to lie to Darui. Not outright, anyway. He knew her far too well, knew her tells.
"Darui," she greeted, turning around in his arms.
"You're up to something," he stated blandly, with his hands on her hips.
Mina kissed him briefly. She moved against him, hiking a hand underneath his shirt. Goosebumps sprang against her fingertip when she ran her index finger down the center of his abs. His hair was soft in her hand when she pulled him down for another kiss. His lips gently caressed hers, taking control.
"What are you doing, Mina?" he whispered huskily in her ear. He bit down gently on her earlobe and kissed the side of her head.
"Kissing you," she said coyly.
Steps came from down the hall and he stepped back, keeping a possessive hand on her hip.
"J, nice to see you," he greeted, raising a hand.
The other shinobi raised his hand in greeting.
"Darui, Mina," he greeted. He glanced at the hand Darui kept on Mina's hip. A slight smirk appeared on his face.
"Looks like I just won the pot," J muttered to himself while walking down the hall.
"What pot?" Mina asked Darui.
Darui shrugged in response. He kissed her cheek and left to return to his office.
Mina walked back to their apartment in a daze. Her fingers were numb from the cold by the time she opened the metal fire door to the building. She barely remembered starting the tea kettle on the stove.
"Who are you, Kakashi?" she asked herself. She gingerly untied the folder, laying its contents on the coffee table in the living room.
Glossy photos reflected the light coming off the icicles outside the living room window. He was younger in these, perhaps twenty. His visible eye was dark, hollow. There was a shadow over his face, but the photo was clear. He stood in front of a pile of bodies, Iwa-nin, it looked like. Blood was still on his hands, a lightning jutsu fading from the right.
Name: Kakashi Hatake
Known Alias: The Copy-Nin; Friend-killer; Kakashi of the Sharingan
Village of Origin: Konohagakure
Known Status: Active; Alive
D.O.B.: September 15, 41
Rank: Jounin
Registration: 009720
Classification: Assassin
Secondary Classification: Tracker
Known Close Associates: Obito Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, Gai Maito, "Tenzo" (true identity unknown)
Personality: Calm; Cold-blooded; Calculating
Current Bounty: 1 billion ryo (Kirigakure, Iwagakure)
Standing Orders of Raikage: FLEE ON SIGHT
Notes:
Known as the counterpart to one Obito Uchiha. Up until two years ago, they were frequently seen on missions together. Jounin Hatake has since taken command of several genin teams, listed as Team Seven. His current team is reported to be comprised of Sasuke Uchiha (KG potential), Naruto Uzumaki (suspected jinchuuriki), and Sakura Haruno (civilian-born). Team Darui reported their ages as approximately 13-14 y/o. At that time they also reported a 'hands-off' teaching method was exhibited.
Known summons include a pack of dogs, different breeds. These dogs are known to be vicious trackers. Shinobi is known to have absorbed the chakra of his enemies. Genin Team 72 reported encounter in which Kakashi ate the raw heart of a deer. (Intelligence note: Jounin-Sensei Kenkyo later came to correct the report saying his genin have greatly exaggerated.) No known lovers or living blood relatives.
After the loss of his younger sister, Kaminari Hatake, his sensei, Minato Namikaze, and teammate, Rin Nohara, Kakashi was known to be a malicious shinobi. All three losses occurred within the span of twelve months. No mental health care was sought or given based on reports gathered en masse from Konoha General. See also attached files on teammate: Obito Uchiha. He will not hesitate to execute foreign or even Konoha shinobi. His fighting style is described as flashy albeit efficient and deadly. The Raikage's standing orders are to not approach unless directly ordered by the Raikage himself. All jounin leaders are required to report whereabouts and last knowns upon encounter.
Mina put the heel of her hand against her forehead and breathed out. As she continued to read the encounter reports, it painted the picture of a cold and heartless shinobi. Nothing in the thick file showed the kind-hearted, yet reserved, brother she remembered. This Kakashi was cold, calculating, distant from even his own comrades. His one saving grace appeared to be Obito Uchiha. Ignoring the temptation to read Obito's file as well, Mina picked up another mission report about Kakashi.
Mission Report #003425
Date: May, 1, 60
Time: 1300
Shinobi: R of Kumogakure; CL4573
Location: Land of Hot Water, North of Bamboo Springs
Team R of Kumogakure came upon the corpses of ten Kirigakure shinobi. Most corpses received a penetrating wound to the upper left chest. Upon further inspection, one survivor was found. Medic Hayai rendered aid to the best of his ability. Survivor expired within fifteen minutes of our arrival. When questioned about the cause of the incident, survivor simply said 'Copy-nin.' 'Cyclops watched.' Per the Yondaime Raikage's protocol, all corpses were sealed in storage scrolls for transport to Kumogakure.
After storing corpses, R found intelligence regarding ongoing operations in Kirigakure. Due to flee on sight orders regarding both Kakashi Hatake and Obito Uchiha, Team R immediately evacuated the area.
'Ten people while Obito watched?' Mina shuddered. 'Obito must've been trying to stop him and gave up…'
"Who are you, Kakashi?" she asked quietly, flipping through more reports of similar incidents. The tea kettle whistled in the background and she paperclipped the information on Kakashi Hatake together again. Mechanically, she pulled a mug out of the cabinet, pouring the hot water in until it overfilled the top. With a muttered curse, she quickly grabbed the kitchen towel that was hanging on the oven door.
She slowly bobbed the tea infuser into the mug, her mind raced. Every time she thought of Kakashi her heart broke. The report had said he broke only after his sister, his sensei, and his teammate died within the space of a year. His teammate…
"Oh gods, Rin," she muttered. The first tear fell. Followed by another until she couldn't hold back the sobs. She slid down the kitchen cabinet to the floor. With a broken cry, she pulled her knees to her chest. She could remember the girl with the brunette bob, purple tattoos on her cheek; pink glittery nail polish she had kept on the bedside table. Rin was far too sweet to have lived a shinobi life. According to the file, she had died far too young.
"Rin is dead," she repeated through the tears. "Rin is dead. And I…I broke him. I broke my brother. No wonder…he was in shock."
"Ne, Mina, how about I show you how to revive an octopus!" Rin said, stooping down in front of a skinned-knee six-year-old. "That should cheer you up!"
Mina wiped her eyes roughly. She had almost reached the top of the tree that time, only to fall thirty feet to the bottom. Her knees had scrapped against the rough bark as she tried to catch herself. Rin's chakra was cool against her skin as she healed the minor injuries.
"Really?" Mina sniffled. "But Yakushi-sensei said I wasn't ready."
Rin giggled at that, holding her hand out. "Yakushi-sensei isn't here," she said with a conspiratorial wink.
Mina blinked. Time was lost.
They were standing in front of the Hatake kitchen table. Scrolls were strewn lazily all over the floor. Sweat poured down Mina's back while Rin kicked her feet up on a chair. She had a ramune soda in her hand, she always claimed the fizz helped with concentration. A beauty magazine was spread on the table next to the open medical scroll. Though, Mina had never found supporting evidence.
The octopus suddenly jerked as Mina poured her chakra into it. She glanced up and beamed at Rin who was smiling back at her.
"You did it!" Rin cheered. "Great job!"
Without a second's hesitation, Rin cut the octopus' arm with a kunai.
"Wha?!" Mina shouted. Her hands waved in the air in panic. "Why'd you? What'd I do?"
Rin simply shrugged. "Heal him."
Mina's eyes went wide. Not wasting another second, she poured her chakra into the new wound.
"Okay, stop," Rin ordered, swiping Mina's hands away from the arm. She took Mina's right hand into her cold left and pressed the younger girl's fingers along the joint. "You fused his skin to his muscle. You feel that scar tissue, how it's raised like that? You panicked."
"How do I fix it?"
"Stop panicking. Take a calming breath."
Mina breathed in.
"Good. Another. We're medics, Mina. We can't afford to panic. When chaos surrounds us, we have no choice but to dive into the middle and save our team. Their lives depend on our ability to keep a cool head."
Mina nodded in understanding.
Rin's hands glowed as she unsutured the octopus' skin from its muscle. "Now try again."
Sweat beaded on Mina's forehead as she focused on healing first the muscle and then the skin. Rin smirked as she looked up from her magazine at Mina's progress. The front door opened at the same time the octopus moved its healed arm.
"Look, nii-san! See what Rin-nee taught me?" Mina gushed, scooping the octopus into her arms to show Kakashi. He hadn't even had time to take off his shoes when the octopus jumped from Mina's arms and wiggled its way to the front door past Obito.
"Catch it, Obito!" Rin shouted, jumping up from her chair. Obito stood stunned at the top of the outside stairwell. He stared in confusion as Rin ran barefoot after the octopus. "Obito! It's not ours! It's Yakushi-sensei's!"
Obito cursed under his breath and ran to catch the wayward sea creature as it slipped down the apartment stairs. To Obito's chagrin, Kakashi caught it before it made its way to the street. Obito glowered at him, crossing his arms over his chest as Rin praised Kakashi for his speed.
Hours passed, the tea grew cold as Mina sat on the kitchen floor. The door outside slammed shut before she came back to herself.
It felt as though she was watching someone else walk to the living room. Someone else pulled the most recent picture of Kakashi Hatake out of the file. Someone else's hands seemed to close the folder and bind it. Someone else hid it in between her mattress and box spring. Someone else moved her body to the bathroom and locked the door. A stranger stood before her in the mirror. The stone counter was cold underneath her hands. It bit into her conscience, bringing her to reality. The woman in the mirror wasn't her, it couldn't have been.
"Who are you?" she asked. The woman stayed silent. Red, tear-rimmed eyes stared back at her.
As Mina's grip on the counter turned bloodless, the woman in the mirror grew angry. Her face contorted with rage as silent tears marked a steady path down her cheeks. Frizzed curls escaped what was once a neat twist. Pink lips curled in a snarl.
"WHO ARE YOU?!" Mina screamed, reaching up and banging her fists on the mirror. The reflection fragmented, the glass fell in pieces from the frame. Blood dripped from the cuts on the sides of her hands. Mina squeezed her eyes close to escape the woman's haunting image.
"Who am I?" she whispered. "Who am I?"
The sound of her watch ticking filled the small bathroom. Seconds passed by slowly as the crimson from her wounds flowed into the sink below. She exhaled quickly and focused on each breath. The next breath came easier. She breathed in again picking up the scent of Darui's cologne this time as it lingered on the counter surface. Exhale. The next breath was even easier. Lavender mixed with bergamot and antiseptic stolen from Kumogakure Municipal Hospital.
'Not stolen,' she reminded herself. 'Reappropriated.'
She almost smirked at that. Darui had looked so disappointed when he found out what she was filling the unlabeled spray bottle with. She simply told him that as co-head of the Emergency Department, it was imperative that she remain disease-free. Thus, it was truly a hospital expense and not a personal one. He had pinched the bridge of his nose before walking away.
"Darui," she whispered, looking at the destroyed mess in front of her. "Oh gods."
Panic seized her and she quickly moved to heal her hands. The glass chinked as it was thrown into the bathroom waste basket. Little by little, the pile grew until it was entirely cleaned up. She wrinkled her nose when the lemon smell of the bathroom spray filled the bathroom. He would never be able to smell the remnants of blood underneath the artificial fragrance—but she would. Her brother would have too.
Thoughts of her brother and the Sandaime Raikage collided and spun in her head amidst the sounds of broken glass as she took it outside. Though Killer Bee had saved her life, the Sandaime Raikage had kidnapped her. This was a reality she couldn't escape. As painful as it was to even think that he had sealed her memories, the truth of it was there in Killer Bee's own recollection. Kumo had helped massacre an entire people and allied herself with other nations to do it. The screams that Gyuuki imparted with that memory rang in her head.
Her brother, though, the sarcastic and loving Kakashi she remembered? Turned completely mercenary, cold-blooded. She couldn't erase the shock on his face from her mind. She was a ghost come back to life to haunt him. Her mere presence had caused him pain, but not any more than her absence.
The memory of him was so painful that she almost wished she didn't have it—almost. He always knew the answers to everything. He was safety, comfort, home. She missed him. More than anything she wanted her brother back. And she could not in good conscience stay in a place where she didn't recognize the woman in the mirror.
AN: Thank you for reading! If you have time, please leave a comment.
I did it again. Posted a chapter out of turn (chapter 8:The Octopus was the missing chapter). To prevent this from happening again, I relabeled the chapters.
Thank you guest reviewer for commenting!
Beta'ed by: CherryBerry12