Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Naruto/Naruto Shippuden. Only Karibi, Hayase, and Riku!

Chapter Eleven

"Kushina-neechan! Let me do it!" Said woman sighed with a smile as she watched the 10 year old quickly grab the heavy boxes for the baby's room. Karibi grinned as she carried them with ease, moving them into the future nursery that was being decorated for the coming child.

Now that there were only a few months left until Kushina gave birth, the home was busy as well as Minato. He was putting the room together and keeping up with all of his duties as the Hokage as well as husband and guardian. Thankfully, having Karibi around at the house while she was free from missions made things easier for the man. Not to mention he still had Kakashi watching their every move; yes, Minato could rest easy.

"I'm pregnant, Karibi, not helpless," Kushina joked as the young girl shook her head adamantly, setting the boxes down on the floor of the newly painted room. She smiled widely as she turned back around to her guardian and placed her hands gently on her protruding belly.

"I promised Minato-niichan that I would take care of you! So I'm going to take care of you!" The wife of the Fourth Hokage chuckled as she nodded her head, watching as Karibi moved carefully around her and exited the room.

"Where are you going now?"

"It's lunch time!" The young redhead grabbed a small, brown paper bag of food from the counter before she made her way to her room, shutting the door. Kushina stared after her for a moment before she giggled and crossed her arms.

§

"Kashi-san!" Said ANBU let out an exasperated breath as he watched from his perch on the roof, his usual companion jumped up and landed safely a few feet away from him. He watched as she strolled up to him with a bag in her hand. "Hungry?"

"This mission is supposed to be more inconspicuous than this," Kakashi pointed out with a cocked up brow as Karibi shrugged, taking a seat beside him as she handed him the bag.

"Then maybe you should be better at your job," she shot back with a wily smile, Kakashi scoffing before he opened the bag and blinked.

"Your favorite!"

"You made this?"

"Oh, no. Kushina-neechan made it!"

"You hate eggplant."

"Yeah, well I told Kushina-neechan I was in the mood for some, so be thankful," Karibi snapped, though there was little bite in her words. Kakashi merely nodded as he opened the container of soup and pulled off his ANBU mask, Karibi watching him with her knees pulled up to her chest. She rested her chin on her knee cap as she smiled happily.

They had spent almost every day together since the news of Kushina's pregnancy. He was with them day-and-night, and when Karibi had the free time, she would join him outside. No one questioned what it was she did when she went into her room and disappeared for hours, but more than likely, she was sitting with Kakashi.

The young man had found that Karibi had a way of getting things out of him without even trying. She would tell him something, and in return, he would say something back, and before he knew it, she knew almost everything about him; his favorite color, food, hobbies, music—everything. Granted, there were some things that he kept to himself, but for the most part, he felt comfortable enough with the young girl to let her past some of the walls he had built over the years. It was nice, to have someone he could be lax around. She was relaxed with him and didn't expect anything out of him, other than for him to be himself. And although he was still trying to work out the pieces of who that really was, being around the 10 year old helped.

As for Karibi, well, being around Kakashi had been natural for her. She looked up to him—was inspired by him. He was strong and loyal, and that only drove her to want to be just as he was. She wanted to be someone who could keep up with him and proudly stand at his side. He had been the first person—other than Minato and Kushina—that had really reached out to her, and though there was a lingering darkness that loomed over him, she found that it would dissipate the more time she spent with him. And that was a relief, because there were times where she thought he would lose himself. And she couldn't have that, not when they were becoming such good friends.

"You know, Guy has been asking about you." Kakashi nearly rolled his eye, but he remained neutral as he finished the last of his food with his head turned, exposed face away from Karibi's sight. And just as he finished, he pulled his mask back over his mouth and nose, his companion taking the container from him. He nodded a thanks to her before he stretched, shrugging at her statement.

"Guy does a lot of things."

"He's been begging for another rematch for something," Karibi stated as she watched Kakashi shrug again.

"He always wants a rematch."

"You should do it then," Karibi suggested as she leaned back against her hands. "How long has it been since you've last spent time with everyone?" Kakashi wasn't quite sure when the young girl had become so well-acquainted with his friends, but it seemed they all rather enjoyed her company, so he didn't care.

"I'm not sure. Why does it matter?"

"It matters because they're your friends," the 10 year old pointed out as Kakashi sighed.

"I've been busy, as you can see." Karibi laughed at that.

"That whole 'I'm an ANBU and I'm super busy with missions all the time' thing isn't going to work on me," Karibi stated, Kakashi shaking his head.

"What does me seeing Guy have anything to do with you?" Kakashi asked, and though it had sounded cold and mean, he had only been curious.

Karibi frowned as she sat up, shooting the 13 year old a hurt stare. "Because."

"Because?"

"Because I'm your friend and I'm allowed to worry about you." That had caught him off guard.

"Worry?"

"...Don't you ever get lonely?" Kakashi's gaze softened as Karibi frowned at him. "You've been here for almost over seven months. And other than me, you don't have any other company," she said gently. Kakashi didn't say much at first. He thought about her words and the truth behind them.

Yes, he hadn't spoken much with anyone else in quite some time. But that was no different than usual. After Obito and Rin's passing, he had less of an urge to be around others. He was so consumed by his disappointment and by his rage and by his sorrow and even shame, that he didn't have much of a will to be around people; he didn't want them to see him like the way he was.

But then there was Karibi. He spent most of his time with Karibi now. But that was different, he supposed. They understood each other on a different level. Sometimes neither of them had to say anything to know what the other was thinking or feeling. She trusted him with all of her heart—he knew that. And in some way, it was hard not to be able to trust someone back who trusted you so much. And he had seen her at her weakest moment—at her breaking point. So, he guessed that if she was comfortable enough to share that with him, he could at least try to do the same.

And anyways, she wasn't always pestering him for a fight.

"...For someone as cheery as you, you tend worry a lot." Karibi chuckled at that as Kakashi sighed.

"I guess rematching Guy wouldn't be so bad. Just another win under my belt." Kakashi's expression may have been blank, but the smirk was in his voice.

With a grin, Karibi stood to her feet, stretching and reaching her arms high up to the sky. "I'm off then! I promised Haya-chan and Hana a good spar today," she said as the ANBU nodded. He watched as she began to walk away, when suddenly, he surprised himself by calling her name.

"Karibi." Said girl stopped as she looked back at her friend with a raised brow. He stared at her for a moment before his expression softened. "It's not so lonely."

Realizing what he was trying to say, the 10 year old gave him a wide smile before she nodded, hopping down from the rooftop. And for the rest of the day, a wide smile was plastered to her lips.

*Two Months Later*

"Is there a reason why you dragged me along for this?"

"Hush, Haya-chan! Kushina-neechan is so close to bursting and needs to rest, Hana said she was busy and Kurenai is spending the day with Asuma."

"So I was your fourth best option?"

"Well, Guy was busy too..."

Karibi dragged Hayase down the street by his wrist as he glowered, a tired and bored expression on his face. He had been tricked by his teammate to come out; she had told him she was going to by him lunch, and instead, she was pulling him around like he was a dog on a chain. And even though she had said that she would buy him lunch after they were finished up with whatever strange task the girl had, Hayase knew in the back of his mind that she was just saying that to quiet him down.

He was the one always buying her food.

"What the hell are we looking for again?"

"I already told you!" Karibi shot her teammate a sour look as she walked into a small shop, a bell ringing above their heads. The young boy rubbed the back of his head as he watched Karibi venture further into the dingy shop, and as she did so, the man at the counter in the back of the store jerked awake from his little nap.

"We—Welcome!" he called out as Karibi smiled to him and bowed her head.

"Good morning!"

"Karibi, why did you have to drag me out here so early?" Hayase whined as the girl shot him a glare.

"If I have to explain this to you one more time, I think I might have to punch you."

"You're resorting to violence? This must be serious," the spiky haired chunin joked as his fellow teammate stuck her tongue out at him.

"Look, if you're going to keep pestering me, then I'll do this alone!"

"I don't get it," the young man of Team 2 said as he scoffed. "You didn't get me anything for my birthday."

"You forgot my birthday."

"...Alright, fine." Hayase finally relented as he began to search through the small shelves of the store.

Karibi had shown up at his front door and after his mother had let her in, she had stormed into his room while he slept and intruded on his sleep. He was a rather late sleeper when he had the chance to be, and seeing as he and his teammates had been thrown into mission-after-mission, he wanted to take advantage of the one day he was free and sleep until his heart was content.

But then Karibi had appeared and ruined everything.

"What exactly are we looking for?"

"Well...what would you want if Hana bought you something?" Immediately, Hayase's cheeks began to redden as he snapped his head in the 10 year old's direction, gapping at her as if she had just shouted out his deepest, darkest secret.

"Wh—Wh—What are you talking about?" Karibi stopped sifting though books as she turned to give her friend a knowing look from across the store. She placed her hands on her hips as she smirked, Hayase staring at her with wide eyes.

"Oh, Haya-chan! Did you really think I wouldn't figure it out?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" he snapped as he quickly turned back around, fiddling with a hat he had found. He heard Karibi giggle, and he instantly wished he was back in his room with the covers over his head.

Like a shadow clone, Karibi suddenly appeared at Hayase's side, causing him to jump as he yelped at her. She gave the boy a spritely grin as she leaned against the counter with the hat-stand. "Haya-chan. You don't have to pretend with me." The young boy stared at his teammate stubbornly at first before his expression began to relax and his shoulders drooped. He sighed before rubbing his face with his hands before he nodded his head; Karibi was so good at getting him to talk, even when he tried so hard to pretend like there was truly nothing to talk about.

"...Swear you won't say anything to her." Karibi began to giggle profusely, making Hayase cringe. "Karibi!"

"I know, I know!" she assured as she pat his back. "I won't say! But really, I need you to imagine a gift that you would like to receive from Hana so I can use that for inspiration."

"...Wait a second..." The reels in the 12 year old's head began to twist and turn. He narrowed his eyes as he eyed Karibi carefully, the young girl innocently sorting through scarves; perhaps she could buy one for the occasion. "Asking for a guy's opinion...asking me what I would want Hana to get me?" He began to laugh as he pointed a finger at her; this time, it was Karibi's turn to blush.

"Are you trying to get a present for that no-good Hatake?" Karibi shot a look at her teammate at that.

"Don't call him that," she snapped. "And maybe I am." Hayase gapped before he began to laugh once more, holding his stomach as it began to cramp.

"Oh, man! This is great!" Karibi glared at her friend as he wiped a tear from his eye. "You like the guy that much? From what I've heard, he's been known to act sort of like an as—"

"You don't know him," Karibi defended as she turned and began to sift through more random things. "He's not like what people say...well, maybe he is a little. But there's more to him than that," she stated as her gaze softened. "...He's kind." He had been her first friend, after all.

Hayase stared at Karibi for a moment before he sighed and shook his head. "If it means that much to you—I think I might have an idea." Karibi's expression brightened completely as she wrapped her arms around her teammate's neck.

"Haya-chan! I knew you wouldn't let me down!"

With a tired sigh, the young boy nodded. "Let's go. The sooner I do this, the sooner I can go back to sleep."

§

It was dark now, and although Kushina was safe and sound inside, there was someone else who was still missing.

Kakashi gazed out at the village from the rooftop of Minato's home, and as he did so he tried to keep a blank expression. He stood with his arms crossed, waiting almost impatiently for the chunin to return back to her home. In usual instances, Kakashi was able to keep an eye on both of them, seeing as they spent most of their time together, but there were days where Karibi went about her own business or where the ANBU would have to follow Kushina elsewhere; his original mission was to protect the jinchuriki. Still, it was growing later and later, and the 10 year old was usually rather meticulous about being home on time.

Waiting with his arms crossed over his chest, the shinobi narrowed his eyes, trying to ward off the slight irritation he felt; if there was one thing about Karibi he knew, it was that she could be reckless when she wanted to be.

"Kashi-san!" Speak of the devil.

Turning around, Kakashi raised a brow as he gazed at Karibi, the girl smiling widely as she held her hands behind her back. He gave her a suspicious look as he glanced up at the night sky. "You're late."

"I didn't realize I had a strict curfew," she shot back playfully, continuing to smile as the gray haired boy before her rolled his eye.

"What are you up to?" he asked slowly as the girl began to chuckle before she skipped up to him. She stopped a step away, breaching farther into his personal space than anyone had in a long time. He blinked in an almost innocent way as Karibi continued to smile happily at him before she spoke.

"Don't you know?"

"...Know what?"

"You can't be that dim-witted!"

"Who taught you to talk to your elders like that?"

Without a second thought, the redhead pulled her arms out from behind her back, and as she did so, she held tightly to a small box in her hands. The ANBU in front of her blinked as he stared down at it, having not expected it at all.

"What is this?" Karibi frowned before she grabbed Kakashi's hand and held his palm out. She set the wrapped box in his hand, closing his fingers around it and holding his hand in hers.

"Happy birthday!" Today was the day Kakashi turned 14.

Eyes widening, the young man gazed down at the small, rectangular box. He gazed at it for a few seconds, taking note of how neatly it had been wrapped and just how perfect the shining silver bow was. All the while, Karibi watched him closely for a reaction, her eyes catching every movement—every twitch he made.

"...Aren't you going to open it?" Kakashi blinked, snapping out of his stupor, and looked up to Karibi as she stared at him with an excited glimmer in her amethyst eyes. He turned his attention back to the gift in his hands before he began to hold it with both hands.

"How did you even know it was my birthday today?"

"Of course I know!" the young girl exclaimed. "Minato-niichan was disappointed he couldn't do anything for you. He's going to be stuck in his office until late. And obviously, Kushina-neechan needs to get rest," she explained as Kakashi looked down the the wrapped box.

"I wanted to get you something in the spirit of things!" That was when Kakashi broke.

"...Why?" Karibi faltered as she heard the fragile tone in his low voice.

"Wh—What do you mean?"

"...Why are you doing all of this?" It wasn't that he disliked Karibi. It was the fact that he truly enjoyed having her around that was truly killing him. His days seemed brighter—better with her with him. He forgot about the darkness that lingered in his mind, and the ache in his heart for all of the things that had been stripped away from him lessened with each passing day. But it was all terrifying. Because the more Karibi stuck around, the more comfortable he would get. And the more comfortable he became, the tighter he would hold on to her. And he knew exactly what would happen then.

Just like everyone else, she would be ripped from his clutches.

"Kakashi, it's just a birthday present—"

"But it's not just the birthday present," he snapped as his composure began to crumble. "It's the lunches, it's the late nights, it's the early mornings—it's the days you choose to spend with me rather than with your friends."

"But you are my friend—"

"No!" he shouted. "No, I'm not!" Karibi stared at him with wide eyes as she took a step away from him, withdrawing from him like someone would after burning their finger. The 14 year old trembled with rage and despair as he squeezed tightly to the present in his hand.

"I don't have any friends!"

"Yes you do—"

"No! No I don't because in the end, I just kill them all!" And there it was. Out in the open for everyone to see. And as Kakashi unraveled before Karibi, he couldn't have felt more pathetic. Because she had merely been trying to be herself—trying to do a kind and generous thing for him, but it was just too much. He didn't deserve it. He didn't deserve the gift or the food or her time. He was a killer, a monster.

And each kind gesture from the young girl was tearing him apart from the inside-out.

Karibi stared at Kakashi as his entire body shook, his head hanging low and his eyes drawn to the ground. She could hear the box in his hand crumpling, but she paid no attention to that.

At first, she wanted to runaway. His words had been like the edge of a kunai against her skin; they had stung. But the more she stared at Kakashi, the more she realized just how much like a wounded dog he resembled. He was shaking all over, and his eye was wide—pupil constricted. His breathing was rather forced and she could see the hinges in his mind falling out. And in that very second, instead of leaving him and letting him fend for himself, all she wanted to do was help him.

And so she would.

"...Kakashi?" Karibi called out gently, said ninja shaking his head at that. "...Kakashi, you're not a monster," she said as she took a step towards him. She flinched as he took a step away from her, holding his hand out and motioning for her to stay away from him.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what got into me," he said quietly as the girl quickly shook her head.

"Please, don't—"

"Thank you for the gift." As the masked ninja began to turn away, Karibi panicked. Her eyes widened before she used her chakra to quickly appear at Kakashi's side. Without thinking, the redhead reached out and grabbed the birthday boy's hand, pulling him back.

"Just wait!" she snapped, nearly losing her temper. She huffed and puffed, Kakashi gazing back at her with a slightly wide-eyed look. She gripped tightly to his hand as she shook her head. "If you were really a monster, I would not be your friend..." Karibi stared at the 14 year old's profile as he stared at his feet, avoiding her stare.

"I remember it perfectly, you know," she said quietly as Kakashi's jaw clenched. "Those boys were being so mean and cruel...and then you jumped down and you drove them away, and you know what?" she asked as the young man slowly looked up and met her soft and warm gaze.

"...What?"

"You were the one who made me braver." Kakashi's voice was lost as Karibi grinned at him. "Those things you said—I'll never forget them," she said as she nodded.

"...I know that it was your mission to follow me, but helping me? Giving me the courage to finally open up to Minato-niichan and Kushina-neechan? You did that on your own." Kakashi gazed at Karibi as she smiled, giving his hand a squeeze. "...To know what is right and choose to ignore it, that's the act of a coward...a true monster. You are not that." Karibi stared hard at her friend as he looked away.

Those words would ring in his mind until the end of his days.

"You have no idea," the boy said darkly as he shook his head, yanking his hand away. "The things I've done..." Karibi grimaced as the silver haired ninja closed his eye.

"...Whatever happened in your past...I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I don't know everything, and maybe I never will...but what I do know is you can't keep holding on to what was." Kakashi stared at the ground with a solemn gaze as Karibi stared intently at his back. "If you keep looking back on the mistakes you made in the past, you will never learn for the future. And you will regret that, Kakashi. Because you're better than this." Karibi was so sure of herself as she spoke, and it made Kakashi want to believe in her words.

"You deserve more credit than you give yourself," she stated evenly. "The fact that you've held on to this guilt for so long—that you've beat yourself up for the past for this long, this proves you aren't a monster." Karibi hoped that what she said reached him.

And it had.

Staring at his feet for a few seconds longer, Kakashi's gaze slowly fluttered to the slightly smashed box in his hand. He began to relax before he untied the crumpled bow, pulling open the squashed top of the box. His onyx eyes widened as he slowly pulled out a silver chain from the box, holding it up and staring at the dog-tag on it. It glimmered brightly from the street lights and stars, and as he gazed upon it with the utmost awe, Karibi couldn't help but smile.

As if nothing had happened, the chunin stepped up to Kakashi's side with a genuine smile. He continued to stare at his present before Karibi spoke up. "Do you like it? Haya-chan helped me pick it out," she explained as the ANBU's gaze softened before he turned his head to the right to look at his companion. He smiled and nodded as he carefully pulled the necklace around his neck, holding the tag with his name engraved on it. His eyes softened before he looked up and smiled underneath his mask; it was small and almost unnoticeable, but Karibi could just make it out.

"...Thank you." Kakashi watched as Karibi nodded

"You're welcome!"

And although there had been a lot left unsaid, and a lot of things that were still unsettled, it was alright. Kakashi figured that he and Karibi would deal with it when the time came.

Together.

Just like I said, I'm here with another update today! Thought I would get it posted before the holidays, seeing as I'm not positive when I'll be able to actually update again. I think this is the first chapter where these two fall into a bit of a dispute, which is a bit different for them, but I think it's well needed! Everyone fights, even if its with their closest friends. I think people that are close tend to fight, not the most, but the hardest, if that makes any sense LOL Things will begin to unravel soon, and once that happens, there will definitely be more Naruto/Karibi action as well as Kakashi/Karibi action, so just hold on to your seats!

And like usual, thank you for reading, following, favoriting this story :) It is all very appreciated, and I hope my hard work will show through the writing!

Reviews:

Juliedoo: Hello! I'm glad to see you've been reading and I'm happy to hear that you like the relationship development between Kakashi and Karibi. I know it's a bit slow, but like many say, all good things come to those who wait XD When I picture Karibi, I picture her being a very bright person, so when she hears good news, I picture her having a very enthusiastic reaction, and at her age, anyone who is like that is always adorable LOL Being able to see a snippet of Minato and Kushina being happy is always heartwarming...unfortunately, we all know how it ends :( If only life wasn't so cruel! Hope you enjoy this chapter and I hope you will read and like what I have planned in the future! Thanks for reading and reviewing!