For the next week, I train with my team to understand Naruto's fighting style and for him to learn mine plus Sakura's new techniques. Naruto was a very unique character and always fun to be around. Sometimes I did find him a bit overwhelming with his outgoing personality but he knew how to have fun and was easily likable. I admired his determination towards his goals and he always used my goal to be a great queen to push me while training. He thought my goal was just like his to become the best Hokage. I also used my new rule for myself and only ever spoke to Kakashi during training. Even the two times I ran across him outside of training; I was a wimp and turned around taking a longer route to get where I needed to. I could tell that Kakashi saw this, and so did Sakura. She thought I was being stupid and should go back to just acting like we did before the kiss, but I didn't know if that was doable. I told myself avoiding him outside of training and missions was what I had to do.
I sit at my dinner table with Naruto and Sakura while they eat breakfast. It was a Monday so I didn't need food but it was before training and this was our new routine. We chose either my place or a small restaurant to eat breakfast, sometimes Sakura and I would cook. If there was training, we would always eat breakfast together.
"So it doesn't have to go into your bloodstream?" Naruto asks, still trying to understand how my Kogosie worked.
"No, I can use blood given to me via mouth as well, while it does go into my stomach it digests into chakra," I explain.
"Weird." He says. "But you directly took the blood into your vein the first time we fought. So how does that work?"
"I treated it as my blood at that point. Making myself use my blood tires me out but I can turn it into chakra as well."
Naruto is about to ask another question when there is a knock on the door.
"I'll get it. Rest a bit more, Kane." Sakura says when I sigh. She was always so helpful on Mondays when I was tired. She opens the door to our Sensei. "Kakashi Sensei, are we late for training?" I laugh at the thought of him ever beating us to training and look at the clock; we still had a good 30 minutes.
"No, Sakura we have a mission, we are to be at the Hokage's in 30 minutes," Kakashi explains.
"Our first mission all together!" I exclaim excitedly looking at Naruto.
"Awesome!" Naruto pumps his fist in the air. "Let's go!" He jumps up, almost spilling his food.
"You have time to finish your food, Naruto, calm down." I laugh out while getting up to stretch. I let out a groan when my neck pops.
"Are you going to be ok, Kane?" Kakashi asks from the Genken.
"Of course, sir," I say, barely looking at him. I can see Sakura sigh next to him as his eyes narrow on me. I turn away and start to clean up the breakfast stuff.
I glare at Sakura as we make our way into Tsunade's Office; she knew my rule of trying to stay two feet from Kakashi when I was around him, yet she purposefully put me next to him on our walk over, She grins as she feels my frustration towards her actions, Tsunade's voice pulls my attention.
"Come in!" She yells and I realize I missed the knock, and I turn around to see Team 10 walking in. Ino and the others wave to us as we all move a bit to allow them some room as well. "So now that both teams are here we can go over the mission. As you can see this is going to be a joint mission. In Kusagakure the princess has been kidnapped." She explains handing over a file to Asuma. "Team 10 your job will be to locate her and get her home safely; as you know Kusagakure is skilled at diplomacy and information gathering they do believe that Otogakure may somehow be involved in the kidnapping. Team 7 your job will be to assist team 10 but also, Princess Shinokane, you are to be standing in for and doubling as the missing princess." She turns to me as she hands two folders over to Kakashi. He opens one and I see a girl with similar features to me. I was a tad shorter than her according to the file and her hair was blond instead of white but we did look similar to each other. I could pull this off if you didn't know her well. "The reason we will be having you act as Princess Rona is because her chosen suitor from Takigakure will be visiting and with tensions between the two lands being as high as they are we can not have them finding out that the princess is missing."
"So I am to placate the suitor and the family so that they don't think the princess ran away?" I was confirming my suspicions as I held my hand out for the file on the princess.
"Correct." She answers. I look through the file seeing all the information about the princess, her likes, dislikes, personality etc… was in the file. "Sakura, you will be acting as her handmaiden. Kakashi, you are her guard as always. Naruto, you are back up for team 10."
"Sakura, can you help me memorize all this information in the 5 days it will take to get there?" I ask her as she leans over to look at the file as well.
"Of course." She says taking one of the many pictures out of the file. "You look very similar to the princess, make-up will easily change most of the differences and you should be able to fit in her clothes, however, your hair isn't the correct length or colour. How are we going to change that?"
"I refuse to cut or ruin my hair with dye, I can buy a wig of that colour and length from a shop I know on the way there in Gurīntaun, just past Tenchi Bridge." The others raise their eyebrows at my snapping. "If we push a bit further on the fourth day we will reach there and be able to rest," I explain as I beg with my eyes to the Senseis leading the mission.
"Sounds like a plan then," Asuma says, looking to Kakashi for confirmation.
"Ok. Let's meet at the gate in an hour then." Kakashi nods and I sigh in relief that I don't have to ruin my hair.
"I knew you take a lot of pride in your hair but I didn't know you were that protective of it. Princess!" Ino exclaims as we leave the office.
"Ino…" I go to chastise her for calling me princess but Kakashi interrupts me.
"You're going to have to get used to it again and allow us to get used to calling you that as well." I stare at him and then sigh, he was right.
"Right, but anyway Ino, our clan takes a lot of pride in our hair, especially the royals of my clan." I try to explain.
"Let's go get packed up then, Princess," Sakura says, we look at each other and cringe, we both don't like it. "How long do you think this mission will take?" She asks the Senseis.
"Hopefully no longer than a week there," Asuma answers
"Almost two weeks of calling you Princess, that sounds horrid." She mumbles under her breath. I nod agreeing.
"It's for the mission, we can do it, Princess," Naruto says power walking and practically dragging us by the hands down the street leading to our apartment complex.
I grab my pack from next to my bed and toss it onto my bed knowing that since this wasn't a normal mission I was going to have to pack more. I pack some more of my undergarments and exchange my normal hygiene pack for my bigger one then I turn and look around my room, and realize I don't have what I need. I sigh and grumble to myself as I grab my pack from the bed. I lock all my windows and lock my apartment. At the store, I buy way more makeup than I was used to hoping that Ino and Sakura would be able to help me use it to disguise myself and they can keep it after the mission as well. I finally buy some rations for the trip there and make my way to the gate. I am the first there and sit waving to the Jonin on gate duty. I start to pack everything in my pack when I feel a presence near me. I look up to see Sensei leaning against the wall next to me reading his book.
"Hello, Princess." That is all he says when he notices my stare.
"Hello, Sensei." I nervously say as I look around hoping one of the others would show.
"Is that makeup to help with the disguise?" He asks, I jump when I realize he is squatting down so close to me. He was pulling the shopping bag to himself.
"M…Mostly," I answer as he pulls out the contour pallet.
"Hmm… Do you know how to use it?" He asks. I nod when he looks at me. "Ok, remember to put this and the wig in the mission report so you can be reimbursed for it." I look up at him in shock.
"I can do that?" He raises his eyebrow then laughs his eyes giving the squint I love when I know he's smiling.
"Yes, Kane, you can." He answers. "Does your clan not reimburse you for your missions?"
"Well we do others but my money is royal money technically so it comes from clan funds."
"Ah, that's a bit different." He says sitting down, I just nod and go back to packing away the products into my pack.
I flinch for the third time as Sakura pats the contour brush into my face.
"Stay still, will you." She gives an exasperated sigh as I try my hardest to stay still.
"Sorry," I mumble.
It was the second day of travelling and she was trying to perfect the makeup look for me to look exactly like Princess Rona. We were sitting around finished eating and perfecting the look before we lost all the light. She pulls away from me and turns my face inspecting her work.
"Favorite colour?" Ino says from her seat quizzing me on all things about the princess.
"Oh, Yellow," I answer as I think for a second.
"Correct."
"Hmm… Ino, come here." Sakura calls out to the blond. "Do you think I got her cheekbones even?"
Ino turns my face right and left 4 times then stares at the picture of the princess.
"Kane's cheekbones are a tad higher. You need to lower them more, but it's a great application." She says as she holds the picture next to my face.
"Ok, I'll do better tomorrow." She nods and starts to put away all the products.
"Favorite food?" Ino asks as she puts the picture in the file we carried.
"Onigiri, can I go wash this off now?" I ask as I feel my face start to itch as I wasn't so used to so much of it on my face.
"You know you're going to have to get used to it right," Shika says from his spot on his bed roll. "Just wear it till we go to bed then wash it off."
"Right. Of course." I say as I go to scratch my neck. Ino grabs my hand.
"Correct and no, no ruining it." She says and the others laugh.
"Wouldn't you be used to all this girly stuff anyway?" Naruto asks. "Being an actual Princess."
"We all thought so at first as well, but she surprised us all with her minimal makeup, clothing, jewellery and non-formal ways. At least it makes training her easier." Kakashi says shocking me.
"Oh, I remember when you came out of Lady Hokage's Office the day you found out that you were tasked with training a princess. He was so worried you would be the stuck-up type that we are all used to. He was so happy when he found out you weren't that type the day you got to Kohona." Asuma explained. I looked at Kakashi as he nodded along.
"Well, I'm glad to have made you happy, I guess that means that I will be saying sorry now as Princess Rona seems to be a tad more spoiled than I and you know I'll have to act that way as well here soon," I tell them all.
"It's okay, we know it's not you." Sakura shrugs as she bends over putting my pack away as she is finally done putting away the make-up. Her necklace falls from her shirt and I remember mine. I look down at the file and notice that the Princess wears more gaudy jewellery than a simple star.
"Sakura, do you have a small bag I can put this in?" I ask taking off the necklace with a frown. "I won't be able to wear it on this mission. Sorry." I hastily explain when she frowns as well but she finally understands and nods, pulling her pack with her and rummaging through it.
"It's okay, I understand." She says as she holds her hand out to me, I gently place the necklace in her palm. "I'll keep it safe till we get back on the road home." I nod with my hand gently on my neck where it used to lay.
"Wow, it looks almost identical," Ino says as I walk out of the wig shop with it on. "How did you know of this place?"
"Through trading with my clan, we sell her dyes that we make with our herbs," I answer, it's the first place I thought of since I know she cares about the quality of our products.
"Your clan's trading business must be great to know of random places like this." She says feeling the wig. "IT even feels real." She shakes her head.
"We should get back to the hotel; I'm sure the others have dinner ready and we need to make sure we have everything perfect," Sakura says, I nod, taking off the wig and putting it away in the box. I pull my braided hair out of its pins to let it fall down my back as we walk.
When we return to our hotel we open the door to find the others sitting around the table patiently waiting for us.
"Did you find one that will work, Kane?" Kakashi asks, I nod nervously as I put the box down. Sakura plants herself in the open seat next to Naruto and Ino sits next to Shika out of habit. I can tell when Sakura smiles at me sheepishly that she left the only seat next to our Sensei open on purpose.
"Good, we got a mix of barbecue and fish for dinner," Asuma states, completely unaware of my inner turmoil of trying not to strangle my teammate. I take my seat next to Kakashi and wait for him to pass the bowl of rice and other foods.
"So Asuma Sensei do you have a plan in place to find the Princess? Do you think their intel is right? Is it the Otogakure trying to keep both the lands from signing the peace treaty?" I ask, trying to fill the silence around the room as we eat.
"Assuming the intel they gave is correct, it does point that way. I have a plan forming but need to have a couple of questions before I know it will work." He answers after taking a drink. I nod from the information we did have; it seemed that the Otogakure were upset that Takigakure refused to marry their prince to someone in their village; even though they had no royalty.
The first two days of acting as the princess went perfectly. I even somewhat convinced her mom; they were grateful we were all there. The princess's room was as big as my apartment, she had a lot of clothes mostly and for once I was grateful for my minimal lifestyle.
I wake up on the third day tired and exhausted; it was a Monday. I grumble, turning over in my bed and trying to go back to sleep.
"Princess Rona, it's time to wake up." I hear someone's voice that I don't recognize. I can hear them trying to turn the knob. I sit up quickly in a panic; I was not dressed nor had any makeup to look like the princess.
"Do not come in!" I say in my stern princess voice. The knob thankfully stops moving and I can hear people starting to talk outside the door. A soft knock comes again and I hear Sakura's voice.
"May I come in Princess?"
"You may," I answer and she skillfully enters quickly and closes the door behind her so no one can see me.
"Sorry, that was the other maid who thought I was off today and I told her that until the Prince leaves I will be working," Sakura explains. I nod and sigh in relief. None of the staff knew that the Princess was missing; this was to just keep the gossip low.
"Thank you, Sakura," I say and yawn. She pulls my blood bottle out of a bag I just now realize she's holding and hands it to me. I smile my thanks at her and down the bottle, cap it and hand it back. I slowly make my way to the wardrobe and grab out the first kimono I see and toss it on the bed. "Can you find something to go with that?"
"Sure. It is a pretty one." Sakura says as she admires the kimono, I turn to look at it. It was a simple silver kimono but had intricate swirls through it. I sit in the vanity trying to wake up as she starts to pull out black and silver accessories to go with it. I stretch and yawn as I finally grab my brush and brush my hair putting it in a braid and wrapping that around my head to put on the wig.
"Have we heard any updates from team 10?" I ask as Sakura comes to help me with the make-up.
"Not yet, but Kakashi is hoping to hear something back today." She answers.
"Ok." I sigh and can't help but yawn. Sakura pauses while I do. "Sorry."
"It's fine, hopefully, today won't be too hard on you."
"Mmm." I agree as a knock is heard.
"Who is it?" Sakura asks, standing.
"It's me, Sakura" We hear our Sensei through the door.
"Give us one second." She answers back as I stand and get dressed quickly into my undergarments and a slip. Sakura then helps me into the dress part of the Kimono and ties it. "Ok, you may enter."
"Good morning, Sakura, Princess," Kakashi says as he closes the door behind him. I grumble my best morning to him as I sit back in the chair. "Late start I see." He says with a chuckle.
"You could say I am copying my Sensei," I say sarcastically without thinking. Sakura pauses on the makeup as she and Kakashi start to laugh. I join when what I said registers.
"Well, I told the prince and family that you were not feeling too well, probably a stomach bug. So that you don't have to do much today and you not eating will have an excuse."
"Oh, thank you, Sensei," I say and Sakura glares at my moving. I finally sit still for her and let her finish. I can't help but look behind her to where Kakashi is standing leaning against the wall. He makes eye contact when he feels my stare. For some reason I can't look away, he tilts his head and then smiles at me.
"Done." Sakura gains my attention again. She smiles a knowing smile at me before she turns and grabs the accessories off the bed to help me into those.
"Oh, there she is, I am sorry you are not feeling good, Princess." Prince Ajj stands from his seat and pulls out the seat next to him for me. I give a slight nod.
"Thank you," I say as I sit. "It's okay, hopefully some mint tea will help, do we have any?"
"I believe we do, I shall fetch some for you Princess." A maid answers and runs off. I turn to the prince.
"I hope you don't mind just staying in today, maybe we can explore the library today?" I say as nicely as possible.
"That sounds… Lovely, I guess." He hesitates in answering. I smile a bit.
"I take it you don't read much?" From the princess's file I knew that she liked to read but sadly did not get much time to.
"No, but how about I walk you there then I can spend time with your father today and I'll check in on you later, hopefully, you feel better enough for a walk in the garden after lunch?" I turn to the princess's father to see if he would agree to that.
"That sounds lovely, father?" I ask. He nods.
"I'm fine with that." He answers. "You get the doctor though if you start to feel any worse." He says in a caring voice. I smile and nod my answer; thankful for a relaxing day with no walking and having to keep up the facade much.
Sakura, Kakashi and I spent all morning in the library. I had never seen so many books in my lifetime and was quite jealous of the princess at that moment. I found so many books on plants, herbs and poisons. I copied a lot of the information down asking Sakura to find me some paper and a quill. We had lunch brought for all of us into a small meeting room next to the library so we didn't have to move far. I am sitting at a desk copying more information down when a maid walks up to me.
"Princess, Prince Ajj would like to know if he can accompany you now." She says startling me out of my studies.
"Oh, of course," I say looking out the window to gauge what time it was, probably around 3 pm. I stand and collect all of the papers and notes I made; I hand them to Sakura to hide in her bag, grab a random romance off a shelf, flip to a random page a fourth of the way through and sit in the lounge on a couch. The door opens about a minute later with the prince entering.
"I hope you are feeling better." He says as I look at him and sit up.
"I am, thank you," I answer politely. "How was your morning with Father?"
"Not too bad, we talked politics." I raise my eyebrow at him, forgetting for a minute that this was not a monarchy.
"Of course." I smile back and stand. I put the book down on the table. "Would you like to take a walk in the garden now?"
"That sounds lovely." He says. I can tell he's just being polite. I turn to Sakura when she speaks up.
"I'm sorry, Princess, will you need anything from me? I must get your formal dinner attire ready today for the official announcement."
"Oh, of course, no I won't need anything. Thank you, Sakura." I smile at her as she bows and leaves. I turn when the door opens and a guard brings a note to my Sensei. Hopefully an update from team 10. I think as he opens and reads it. "All ok?" I question when he pockets the note and starts to follow us out to the garden.
"Perfect, Princess." He answers, getting my hopes up that this charade won't have to go on longer than necessary.
Prince Ajj and I spent about an hour walking through the garden. We were just randomly talking about things and I was mentally almost spacing out trying to remember the princess's information. I knew he could see something wrong, I felt bad.
"Why don't we get you back to your room so you can rest for a bit before the big dinner." The Prince I smile sadly at him.
"I'm sorry," I say while nodding.
"It's okay. If you want, we can just spend time in your room." He leans down whispering in my ear. I can tell he is trying to not have Kakashi hear. I do my best to giggle, even though part of me blanches at the idea. I wonder if Kakashi would get jealous. I think turning my head to see him in my peripheral vision.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I whisper back.
"You could always dismiss him." Prince Ajj says nonchalantly, I gasp fully turning my head to him and seeing Kakashi fully paying attention now.
"I'm sorry I can't, he's under my father's order to never leave me alone unless in my room with only my handmaiden," I explain, as we reach my room door. I turn to the Prince smiling but he continues till he is close enough to lean into my ear.
"Come now, we are due to be wed." He whispers to me. I can feel another set of eyes watching us; as the prince's hand cups my cheek, the other is just above my left hip.
"I… we…" I stutter but it is too late, he is kissing me. I knew Kakashi was watching but I freeze, not exactly knowing what to do. A small part of me wants him jealous if he is at least that means he cares, but if he isn't I was risking a lot for nothing. I lift my hands to his chest fighting the urge to kiss back and I push just as I hear someone clear their throat. Prince Ajj steps back smiling, he turns and walks away as if he didn't do anything. I blink several times before shaking my head and finally look at my Sensei, his face is clear of any emotion and I can't tell what he is thinking or feeling.
"You know in either scenario you are not supposed to let that happen." Kakashi's voice was the same, void of nothing. I flush in embarrassment and turn, opening my door and walking in. "Kane…" I hear as I go to shut the door, but he stops me holding it open, I huff in annoyance and take a couple of steps in and turn glaring.
"Neither was our kiss!" I finally retort, getting angry at myself for this stupid stunt.
"That's not the point, Princess." He says, as he steps into the room shutting the door behind him. My glare deepens at his formality.
"Well, it did, so get over it!" I pull my wig off, turn and throw it onto the vanity and start taking out the pins from my hair. "Now if you don't mind…"
"Were you going to make me stand there and watch?" Kakashi interrupts me. I look at his reflection in the mirror across the room, he still shows no emotion.
"What does it matter, Sensei, it's not like you care." I shrug and as I remove the last pin and my braid falls to my back, I can see his one eye follow the braid.
"Do you think that?!" I jump startled as Kakashi is suddenly closer, his one eye finally showing an emotion, anger. I turn slowly around and try to take a small step away from him but his hands catch my hips. His grip is hard, but he's not hurting me.
"Kakashi… I…" I shake my head not knowing what to say or even do. In the year and a half that I have known him, he has never snapped or gotten angry at me. I meet his gaze again and a familiar want rises in me. I blush and look away, trying to step back again but he pulls me into a hug, instinctively I wrap my arms around him as his warmth envelops me. We stay like this for what feels like forever, neither letting the other go.
"Kane… I do care, but you know why this won't work." He finally whispers into my ear. Well, there goes all of my ability to ignore him. I think as I squeeze my eyes shut harder trying to ignore the rush of feelings in me.
"I know… but, I just… can't… ignore this…" I say and breathe deeply trying to rationalize my thoughts. I finally pull away and meet his gaze again, his onyx eye finally shows something and it is a dizzying set of emotions. In what feels like a moment of Deja vu I am pulling off his mask but this time there is no hint of hesitation.