Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Who knew... ❯ 3. BEING MORE ITACHI-LIKE?!?!? ( Chapter 3 )

3. BE MORE ITACHI-LIKE?!?!?

 

“So you mean that you slept with Itachi???” Tomoyo Inuzuka couldn't believe what her friend had just told her. Everybody in the café© turned and stared at the girl's table, some astonished and other sending death glares to the tall, dark aired girl. Asuka sweat-dropped, and kept on playing with the spoon in her cappuccino, pretending not to notice.

 

For the third time, she repeated “No, I did NOT sleep WITH that freak, I just slept at the Uchiha's, and in the Uchiha's guest room, which is far, far away from Itachi's room.”

 

“But still!” Hitomi Aburame had forgotten her piece of cheesecake and was pointing at her friend Asuka with the fork “You spent like…like…more time than I will ever get the chance to spend with him, and and…and you saw him eating!! I never saw Itachi eating!”

“Yeah, that's right Hitomi! And neither did I! That's just unfair!” agreed Tomoyo, crossing her arms and making a couple of drops of strawberry ice-cream falling on her grey long-sleeved t-shirt.

 

Asuka felt the sudden urge to be somewhere else, far, far away from them. “Eating? What's the point in seeing Uchiha eating? Did you two go nuts? I saw him eating, and he ate just like every other person! And Hitomi, put down that fork, unless you want to put it in my eye.” Hitomi seemed to consider it, but then lowered her arm.

 

“So, just to recap, you ate and spent time and slept at the Uchiha's, right?” Tomoyo counted on her fingers. “Yes. And? I still don't get why you envy me, honestly.” Tomoyo and Hitomi looked in each other's eyes, and then stared at Asuka. “We'll explain that later. Tell us everything you did the evening. And by everything I do mean everything”. Asuka rolled her eyes.

 

“I ate, and I must confess that I really liked Mikoto-san's cooking. Then I did the washing up, while Itachi tidied the room” and here the two girls squealed and jumped, while Asuka's sweat-drop grew bigger. “I spent a few time in Sasuke-chan's bedroom, while he showed me his toys and stuffs, then Sasuke-chan went to bed and - wait, you'll love that…”

 

“Love it? Love what? Just what happened???” Tomoyo and Hitomi screamed, smashing their gloved hands on the table. “…that…then Itachi came in Sasuke's bedroom and…and…he kissed Sasuke-chan goodnight.” She concluded. Her two girlfriends were astonished, but she knew better what was going to happen. She brought her hands to her ears and…

“WAAAAAAAAA!!!! Super-kawaii!!! Oh Itachi-kun is really a sweetheart!”.

Asuka laughed at this; `A sweetheart…they are calling that baka a sweetheart! But I must confess that the scene was kind of sweet.'.

 

Asuka interrupted her friend's screaming “ok, ok girls, I'm not done yet! Then, then I was reading in the kitchen, while his mother was watching TV, and he was writing in what Sasuke-chan told me was his diary…can you believe that??? The high-and-mighty Uchiha Itachi, feared by shinobis all over the world, master of the Sharingan, heir to the Uchiha clan, writes a diary like a romantic little girl! That really made me reconsider the reputation of “Uchiha prodigy” and so on he has… Then I spoke a few words with Shisui, had a small argument with Itachi on how he treats poor Sasuke chan, and then went to bed… in the GUEST ROOM, so that you won't ask me again if I slept with Itachi-baka.”.

 

Asuka was glad that she had kept the `sweet dreams' and the vision of Itachi without his shirt for herself; she feared that her friends would have gone berserk, began screaming at the top of her lungs (she knew it, it had happened already when she had graduated to jounin with Itachi) and that all Itachi's fan girls would have wanted her head on a silver tray. Yes, it was definitely the best thing she could do at the moment.

“Y…you mean *that* Shisui? Uchiha Shisui?” asked Hitomi. “Well, you are right, Shisui IS such a common name…Hitomi-chan, seriously, how many Shisui do you know?” “Uh, Uchiha Shisui, then…uh. Right.” Asuka opened her arms and gave her friend a look that meant “see?”

After a minute of silence in which each girl was absorbed in her own thoughts, Tomoyo spoke. “You mean that you really don't understand why we envy you?”

“Honestly, I don't.” Asuka replied, expecting an explanation from her friends.

“Ok. Asuka. Take a look around. See those guys over there?” Hitomi pointed with her fork (“Hitomi! Again! Put that damn fork away!”) at a table where 5 boys were laughing and seemingly having a good time. “Yes…oh, hi Hayate!” she turned to face her friends again, then sipped her cappuccino and was rather disappointed when it came out to be cold. “Well? Notice anything?”

 

Asuka took a look again. “Ehm…yes, Kensuke has a couple of new scars on his arm, Hayate is staring at that blonde girl and…uh, yeah, they are drinking their cappuccini and not letting them go cold…mine became a swimming pool for penguins.”

 

Tomoyo rolled her eyes, while Hitomi let her head fall on the table. “And you are an ANBU? My Asuka, you really don't get it?” Tomoyo sounded exasperated, but so was Asuka. “No, I don't, so why don't you go straight to the point? Uchiha Itachi is not really on top of my “to do-list” today. So, please. Why is it such a big deal spending time with Itachi-baka?” “Don't call Itachi-kun that” Hitomi hissed. Asuka shot her a cold glare, but was getting really annoyed with that conversation.

 

“See, Asuka-chan, none of these boys is nearly as strong, powerful, mysterious, kind, cool, wealthy, heir to one of the most important clans of Konoha, and last but not least the most gorgeous creature Kami-sama created. And getting him would be like…the biggest score a girl could ever sign.”. At this Asuka really lost her temper, but being her friends the one who were talking she bit her lip and tried to stay calm.

 

“So? All you see in that poor Itachi is a prey for your future wealth??? Please, you are talking like my grandmother! What are you?? Kunoichi or baby girls? And even if you get him, what would you do? Be the proud mother of little Uchihas who will inherit their father's jerkness??? I pity him, if that's all girls can see in him. I'm sorry but I really do not agree with you guys.”.

She had tried her best, but she had sounded bitter than she had wanted to. “I…I'm sorry girls, I didn't mean to sound this rude. It seems that I am a bigger jerk than Itachi, after all!” she apologised, sticking out her tongue.

 

“Don't worry, we got used to your outburst.” Sighed Tomoyo. “If only your fanboys could see you when you have these “attacks”…” added Hitomi.

 

Again, Asuka stick out her tongue “But you're the only ones who know me this good, and you should be honoured of that…(Hitomi begins throwing cheesecake pieces at her friend) Hitomi chan will you stop it??”. Asuka raised her arms to block the cheesecake pieces, then stood up and picked up her navy blue haversack, which matched with both her long sleeved t-shirt and her sandals, while her shorts were white. “Now, if you ladies excuse me, I have a training session with *my* Kakashi-sempai…” “Again!” Hitomi interrupted her, moving a few black locks from her face, “You are always surrounded by bishies! You are…awful, simply awful!” Asuka chuckled, then spoke “Did I mention that I will train with Gai-sempai, too? Ah, why don't you comment on my luck now? Gai-sempai is just…so…so…” she pretended to be looking for the right adjective, but Tomoyo anticipated her “…weird! All that youth stuffs…he's quite scary sometimes…”. Asuka agreed with her, but after all Gai was a good boy, and an awesome teacher when it came to Taijutsu.

 

“Bye bye girls! Oh, why don't you come training, too?” suggested the dark haired girl, who was combing her hair into a high ponytail.

“I'm going to train tonight…with my father and Shino…that little boy really is something, he may get stronger than me if I don't pay attention.” Said Hitomi thinking at the little Aburame who was very skilled indeed.

 

“And I have to take care of my Aki, he still didn't recover from the chuunin exam, and it's been like a month, so I'm a bit worried.” Tomoyo, being a member of the Inuzuka clan, was really fond of her canine comrade, and was rather worried for her companion.

 

“Ok, if you need me you know where to find me! At the training ground near the memorial, if you don't remember…with Kakashi-sempai!” she stressed particularly the word Kakashi, knowing that comments would come from her best friends.

 

“Hei, pay attention on the training, and not on Kakashi-sempai!” scolded Tomoyo, heading to the Inuzuka district, on the opposite direction as her friends.

Asuka grinned and replied “I can't promise you that…bye, Tomoyo-chan, Hitomi-chan!”

“Bye!” replied her friends waving.

 

*** at the training ground ***

 

Asuka was sitting under a tree, waiting. She was used at Kakashi-sempai being late, but Gai usually was already at the training ground, by the time she used to come.

She was thinking about what happened a couple of days ago, and she was brooding on all that Itachi thing. He was a jerk. Sure, he was handsome and strong, but nothing more than that. Personally, she didn't like very much being around him, he was always way too cold, and she couldn't stand the absence of facial expression that her friends interpreted as “cool and mysterious”. And he always left Sasuke-chan on his own, and was cold, and haughty, arrogant, cold, presumptuous, vain, snob, and did she mention cold?

 

He should be more Kakashi-like… Except for his legendary laziness Kakashi was bright like a summer day. Ok, he read that perverted orange book in public, and Asuka knew about his friend, and she knew that he couldn't forgive himself for whatever had happened, and she knew all these things without using the Dokushinjutsu (mind-reading jutsu), not that she would use it on a friend of hers, and she could still see the sadness in his lone eye, and he hid his face under that damn mask, still…still he was kind-hearted, thoughtful, warm, smiling… yes, Kakashi sempai was really the best guy one could fall in love with.

 

She smiled thinking at *her* Kakashi-sempai, completely lost in her dream world when…

 

“YOUTH!!!” “AAAAH!” …

 

Breathing hard for both the screaming and the tachycardia, she turned to see Gai-sempai in his trademark good guy pose, with the light shining from his smile and leaves still swirling around him. Suddenly, she felt ashamed of herself. She was an Anbu, dammit! She couldn't get lost in daydreaming and not noticing somebody's arrival! What made it all the worse, was that she had been “fooled” by Gai-sempai, who was the loudest ninja she knew…out of the battle field, of course, but still the Green Beast of Konoha had this unhealthy habit of showing up in very theatrical ways.

 

“Ohayo, Gai-sempai…”Asuka greeted after recovering from the shock.

“Ohayo, Asuka-chan, youthful, beautiful blossom! You shouldn't let sad thoughts ruin your youthful smile! Come on, repeat with me…YOUTH!”

Asuka couldn't help but stare at her sempai…`He gets weirder and weirder as days pass by…' she was utterly silent, too absorbed in the vision of Gai in pose to speak.

Gai waited patiently, not moving from his pose. `He must have trained hard to get such a balance and stability…wonder if he's a wooden kawarimi? Or if I accidentally used the Ishigan (stone eye) on him? Nah, I would have noticed…and he would be paler…'

 

Gai kept on waiting and smiling. Finally, he spoke. “I said: you shouldn't let sad thoughts ruin your youthful smile! Come on, repeat with me…YOUTH!” and again, his smile was shining and glimmering in the light, blinding the poor girl.

 

“Y…youth?” she repeated. “That's right, youthful blossom! Youth! Youth is the answer, youth is the power, youth is…everything” and he assumed an inspired expression, while waves crashed on the rocks in a marvellous sunset.

 

“S…sempai, I think it's better if we get started…Kakashi-sempai has not arrived yet, so…” Asuka tried to distract Gai from his youthful speeches.

“AH! My eternal, youth, brave rival! Seems like I defeated you! I arrived before you! That's 32-31 for me!” Gai was lost again in his thoughts, making Asuka's face fall. “S…sempai…” she called him. “Indeed, my youthful student ( `°_° I'm not your student…' Asuka thought, tired of the whole situation, too tired to speak, too). Let's begin with our Taijutsu…mmm…what do you want to start with?”

Asuka thought a bit. Having the greatest master of Taijutsu in the village sparring with you was a very good chance to practice those trainings which usually are not often or easily performed by everyone. “Judo! The Kime-no-kata!”. She exclaimed. “Wonderful choice, my youthful blossom! Let's make the most of our youth and train!” Gai was delighted. (If you don't know, the Kime-no-kata is a long kata, or a series of movements practiced solo or in pairs, made of self-defence and attack techniques both unarmed and with the use of knives and swords. Yup ^_^ I practiced judo ^_^)

 

After a good hour and a half, they were greeted by a “Yo!”. Both jounin stopped their kata to look at him. “Kakashi-sempai! You're late!” screamed Asuka pointing a finger accusingly at him. “I must agree with Asuka-chan, my eternal rival Kakashi. And I also inform you that with this youthful victory on you, we go 32-31 for me.” Added Gai.

“See, while I was coming here I saw this kitty on a tree and I couldn't help but save it; the old woman who owned it then invited me for tea and…” “LIAR!” Asuka interrupted Kakashi's explanation. “You already used this excuse last week, before I left for the mission!”. Kakashi seemed lost. But then he smiled, and changed argument by replacing Gai in his kata with the young girl.

“I am better at fighting than at kata, so would you mind, Asuka-chan?” asked the white-haired jounin, still smiling.

“Not at all, Kakashi-sempai. Are we going soft? I heard that you are just back from a hard mission too, sempai.” The girl inquired.

“Of course not. You are the best tester for my new jutsus, being one of the few who can resist my attacks. Even if I suppose that the Uchiha boy may surpass you, you know?”

He knew that being compared to the young Uchiha ticked her off, and this made sparring with her more interesting. He lifted his hitai-ate and waited for Gai to start the match. Yes, to fight her, the Sharingan was definitely needed.

Gai walked until he was facing both jounins. He raised his right arm and proclaimed: “Ready…steady…GO!” both Kakashi and Asuka disappeared. “Go, Asuka-chan! Show to my eternal rival what's your real strength!” shouted the Green Beast, before beginning with a solo kata.

 

Asuka was hiding under the earth surface, her eyes closed and her inner eye open wide. She was using the Dokushinjutsu, a kekkai-genkai of the Yoshizumi clan that consisted basically in mind reading. At a higher level, the Yoshizumi were able to read, or as they said, to listen to every single creature in 2km. With the Dokushinjutsu they could read the mind of their opponent, and copy the technique they were about to use, even if it was not as powerful as the Sharingan. There was just a simple difference: the Sharingan “burned” the jutsu in the mind of the user, while the Dokushinjutsu could only copy it while it was performed, and needed practice as all the other techniques to be used again. Now, Asuka was using it to scan the surroundings and look for Kakashi, as the man was very good at hiding his chakra.

 

`A squirrel…Gai thinking about definitely defeating Kakashi…Hayate sparring…another squirrel…' suddenly her eyes flashed open `Gotcha!!' And she disappeared from where she was just in time to avoid a direct attack by Kakashi. Yes, because the inconvenient of the Dokushinjutsu was that a small flux of chakra was shown in the process of “scanning” the place around the user.

 

“Uma, tori, hebi, tora, tori, uma… Suiton! Suiriou no jutsu! (Water element! Water prison!) ” Asuka released her jutsu, which hit Kakashi hard, and imprisoned him in a bubble of water.

Kakashi was trapped; Asuka came closer and spoke coldly “Itachi would have never used a water technique to imprison you. He would have burnt you to death, even if it was just sparring.”.

`Clever, to be only thirteen.' Kakashi thought. `But I know how to get out of here…' “Yes, he would, and that's why he would win over you. What is it, Asuka-chan? Do you fear that I might defeat you in a longer fight? Is that why you imprison me, instead of fighting?”. Asuka was furious. “Never! No way that I fear you, and no way that I would be defeated by that jerk!” she shouted, releasing the water prison. Kakashi moved fast, running and moving his hands and performing hand signs. But Asuka was faster. Her eyes turned completely black. `Ishigan! Dammit!' Kakashi had seen it coming thanks to the Sharingan, but the only way to stop a Yoshizumi from using the Ishigan on you is tearing their eyes apart, and in his current position he didn't even consider the possibility to blind his comrade.. He had moved his mouth to speak, too; but his mouth wouldn't move. She had used the Ishigan on him, and he was completely petrified. He couldn't turn away from her black eyes, because even his eyeball wouldn't move. It was a miracle he could breathe and that his blood was circling, or else he would have died. But he knew her, and she would never do such thing; instead, the precision with which she controlled the effects on the jutsu on him denoted how skilled she was. Her eyes were of a deadly black, impossible to penetrate and as fearsome to look at as the Sharingan's; they were almost… hypnotic…Kakashi felt that if he kept on looking straight into them he wouldn't have lasted for much longer; he feared that he was going to lose his mind. She came closer to the white haired jounin, and hissed at him:

 

“Who wins, now, Kakashi? Do you still believe that I fear you, or that the Uchiha might defeat me? Are you scared, sempai? Can you feel it? Of course, you feel nothing. You are petrified. Your own body won't answer to your brain. Do you want me to go farther? Do you want me to behave as Itachi would, and use the Kyousei no jutsu (obligation jutsu) on you? I could release just your right arm, and command it to rip your heart away from your chest, and to tear it up. Would I look stronger, like that? Because I believe that that's what Uchiha Itachi would do in my place.” She turned her back at her sempai. “You are defeated, sempai.”. That said, she released him.

 

Kakashi massaged his limbs, which hurt because of the block they were imposed.

“You are right. If it is only sparring, training, it's better to hold back a bit. But in real fight, Itachi may win, because he is not afraid of killing as you are.” The girl opened her mouth to speak, but Kakashi went on. “Yes, I know that you had to kill before, and that probably you would behave differently. I was with you, and I witnessed the shock it caused you, and tried my best to help you. You were too young. But being…crueller than you are, Itachi may win, that's it. And Asuka…” she looked him in the eye. “Yes, sempai?” he smiled and put a hand on her shoulder, making her blush. “You shouldn't get angry so easily. Itachi never loses his temper.” Asuka nodded. “Hai, sempai.”.

 

Gai had stopped his training to watch the fight. Now that it was over, he gave a thumb up to Asuka, and his trademark smile. “You were awesome, Asuka-chan! Your youthful energy defeated my eternal rival! Well done! And Kakashi, I think you are getting older. I haven't seen your youthful fire shine, lately. It's a shame.”

 

Kakashi thought whether it was better to punch his friend in the face and remind him that he was only 21, or ignore him. Obviously, being Kakashi Kakashi, the laziness prevailed, and he ignored the green jounin.

 

“Asuka-chan, it is dinner-time, and it seems to me that we trained enough. Want to join me for a ramen at Ichiraku? My treat.” Asuka turned to face her sempai, with sparkles in her eyes. “Ka…Kakashi sempai…yes! Yes, I'd love it!” she exclaimed trying not to look too happy...her sempai, her Kakashi-sempai had asked her out!! Well…no. he didn't really ask her out; he just asked her to join him to dinner. But that made her happy enough.

 

“Gai, join us?” asked the white haired man. “I'm sorry but I must decline, Kakashi. My eternal rival, Asuka-chan, goodbye.”. And he disappeared in a swirl of leaves, leaving Asuka and Kakashi alone.

 

They started walking in the direction of the village, both silent. Asuka was feeling bad, very bad. She knew she had exaggerated with the Ishigan…after all, Kakashi-sempai was her friend. She sighed. `Yes, my friend. F-R-I-E-N-D. And nothing more than that. But he's a friend, and it means he cares, and that should be enough for me. So, Asuka, just apologise. C'mon, it's all about opening your mouth and tell him that you're sorry. Yeees…like that…dammit. It won't open. And I'm not blocked by Ishigan, so nobody can release me from the spell that keeps me from speaking. Ok, three…two…one…0,75…0,5… man, I do be a baka. Baka baka baka. It's just Kakashi. Yeah, right, *just* Kakashi. Again. And this time I will speak, or else I'll run 50 laps around the village with Gai-sempai. Great, I'm spending too much time with him, and now I'm *thinking* like him, which is even worse than if I spoke like him. Ok. Three… two…'

 

“Asuka-chan, what ramen do you want?” Kakashi inquired.

Asuka's eyes widened. Ramen? Wait…she took a look around. She was sitting at the Ichiraku??? That means that she had walked all the way from the training ground to Ichiraku, and she didn't notice? Plus, she had been alone with Kakashi, and wasted all her perfect chances to apologise! Great! Just great!

“Asuka-chan?” this was Ayame, the ramen girl. `Wake up, Asuka!' she thought to herself.

“Oh, yeah, sorry…a small miso ramen, please…” she ordered; then she noticed. “Kakashi, are you not eating? I mean, how can you eat without taking your mask off? Do you use genjutsu? Because if you did, I would notice” `yeah, right, just like I noticed that I was sitting here at the Ichiraku, and how I noticed Gai's arrival this afternoon…I'm thinking too much.'

“Don't worry Asuka-chan, I have my means. And no, I do not use genjutsu; it would be a waste of chakra casting a genjutsu every time I eat. Moreover, there would be no guaranty that smart dark haired kunoichi wouldn't see through it.” Kakashi explained, with his eye smiling anime-style.

 

Actually, he really had his means. After all, he was the Copy Nin, he was known for being a genius that rivalled only to Itachi's. Asuka was almost sure that he ate when she was greeting Iruka-sensei and Ayame was in the back gathering soda for Naruto-chan. But still, he must have his throat burnt, because the ramen was very, very hot.

 

She was talking with Naruto-chan, the other child she treated as a little brother and cared deeply for. Since his father had married Sadako-san, she barely even saw her own little brother, Shin . That was why she hated to be at home. Sadako-san didn't like living in Konoha, because being born in Suna all her family lived there. Asuka's father travelled a lot as a diplomatic, and he always brought Shin along. Of course, she was not completely alone in the Yoshizumi district. Her grandparents, her uncles and cousins and other relatives lived there, too, but without her little brother, her father and her mother her house seemed empty and hollow. She hated to wander through the vast corridors alone. She hated to hear the sound of her steps echoing in the rooms. She hated to go back home and find nobody to wait for her. Yes, she was luckier than Naruto, who was really alone. But she sometimes wondered if it wasn't worse losing, than never having.

 

Ruffling the messy, blonde hair of the child, she asked him about the academy, about his friends, and she felt sad for him when he blushed and told her that almost nobody played with him, and he really didn't know why. She went down on her knees and kissed his forehead. “Naru-chan, you always have me, and Iruka-sensei, and Kakashi-sempai over there, and my friends as well. I know it's not the same, but just try to be patient and wait, one day they'll understand what they're missing, and they'll regret it. But don't hate them, Naru-chan. Pity them, because we know how much you're worth it, and they are too blind to see it.” Naruto grinned and seemed to be about to answer, but something caught his attention. Then he said “Ne, nee-chan, see that girl on the other side of the street? The cute one.” He was pointing at two little girls, giggling and chuckling together. “Which one, Naruto? The blonde one or the girl with the pink hair and the red ribbon?” Naruto seemed to lose his patience. “Nee-chan! I said the cute one! Ino, the blonde, is always bullying that Shikamaru and that Chouji…Sakura-chan is the cutest little girl ever, she is kind and she likes flowers. See? Isn't she cute? Ne, nee-chan?” Asuka chuckled, and then looked at Naruto with malice. “Hai, Naru-chan, she really is cute…and tell me,” she said raising her little finger “is she your girlfriend?” Naruto blushed like mad. “Well…not yet! She likes that brooding boy…the one who always dresses in black…all the girls have a crush on him, and the older ones like his brother” Asuka really was about to laugh. He had made a perfect description of the Uchiha brothers. “Are you talking about Sasuke, Naru-chan?” Naruto seemed to think a bit but then admitted “I don't know his name. But I know his older brother…he has a silly name, something about weasels…he always looks at people as if he were better. Hey, you don't have a crush on him, do you? Because Iruka-sensei is better if you are looking for someone to crush on. Well, Sakura-chan likes that pale boy, now. But I'm going to conquer her and she will like me!”

Asuka smiled warmly at her little friend. “I'm sure you will, Naru-chan. Now I have to go. Be a good boy and don't play too many pranks on Iruka sensei…promise?”

Naruto grinned “Promise that I will try, nee-chan! Bye bye!” and that said, he ran away to catch up with Iruka-sensei, who was waiting for him.

 

Asuka turned to face Kakashi, who was reading his infamous orange book. Stealthily, she neared him and stretched her neck until she was able to read what was written.

She had read just a couple of lines, when her face became tomato-red. Ayame choose that exact moment to appear, and asked her worryingly if there was something wrong. The young girl didn't know what to say, she opened her mouth but the words wouldn't come out, so there she was, with her mouth open, her face red, and a finger pointing at Kakashi. Kakashi closed the book and looked at her. “There's a reason if these books are for mature people, Asuka-chan” he said smiling. Asuka shook her head. “No! No! No! This was not for mature people! This is a book for perverted hentai fanatics! You…just how can you read that in public? Now I understand why you wear that bloody mask! You want to hide your perverted grin and your perverted blush from everyone else!!!” she was now panting, because she had spoken without pausing or breathing.

Kakashi stood up and took her under her arm. The dirty orange book had disappeared, and after greeting the Ichiraku owner and Ayame, Kakashi was now dragging a shocked girl along.

 

After 50 meters, he stopped and looked at her. “Better now?” Asuka nodded, feeling more than stupid. Why, just why was everything going wrong that day?? They made her believe that something good was about to happen, but then it all came down crashing around her. Were “they” plotting against her? She just wanted to cry, it was just too embarrassing making a fool of her in front of the boy…well, the man she liked.

Kakashi stroked her hair and told her “ok then. Let's go.” And he began walking; but seeing that Asuka wouldn't follow, he stopped and explained. “I'm walking you home, sleepyhead. Come. You may be an Anbu, but I think it is rude asking a lady out and not walking her home.”

Suddenly, all her sadness disappeared. She sped up and caught up with him, smiling happily.

 

“Ne, Kakashi-sempai?”

“Yes, Asuka-chan?”

“I'm sorry for exaggerating this afternoon, when we were sparring. I meant you no harm.”

“It's fine. I'm a big boy, I can resist the outburst of a teenage girl.”

“Kakashi-sempai?”

“Hn?”

“You really are a jerk when you want to.”

“Thank you, Asuka-chan. And you are the sweetest, kindest girl I know.”

“I know.”

 

They were silent for the rest of the walk, but they didn't seem to mind.

When they arrived at the door of the Yoshizumi district, Asuka stopped and faced her sempai, smiling.

“Arigato, Kakashi-sempai! I really enjoyed being with you!”

“So did I, Asuka-chan. Goodnight, see you tomorrow at the training ground. I want the return match.”

“I suppose it is useless to ask you to come on time…so I won't even ask you. Goodnight, Kakashi. I mean, Kakashi-sempai.”

She was about to turn when she felt something on her cheek. It was a soft, warm fabric. Her eyes widened, and her heart skipped a bit.

It was true, she was awake, no morning light would come on her pillow and wake her, for that had happened for real.

He was already a few steps away, when she saw him raising a hand and heard him say “Sweet dreams, Asuka-chan.”.

 

She turned around, and ran, ran, ran as fast as she could towards her home.

When she slammed the door shut, she leaned her back on the wooden door, and let herself glide until she was sitting on the ground, a hand still on her cheek.

 

Right where, she still couldn't believe it, he had kissed her.