Masked Rivals /A Kakashi Fanfiction\

Chapter 6

I had spent the night back in the cave where I had tucked away my clothes. I had snatched a pillow and some sheets from Kakashi's spare bedroom closet, so it wasn't entirely uncomfortable for sleeping.

I made sure to wake a couple hours before Kakashi had told his students to meet him for training, hoping that would be enough time to get back to his apartment before he woke.

I had slipped back through the window again and sat down as gingerly as possible onto the empty side of the bed, similar to yesterday morning, with one leg hooked off the side and the other laid out on the bed. I sat up against the wall with my head rested back on the headboard and just closed my eyes, letting my mind wander as I waited.

It wasn't much longer after I had arrived that his alarm made the first beep to wake him. Having gotten a little too comfy, I felt like I nearly had a heart attack at the sound and quickly hit the off button.

Kakashi stirred at the sound and rolled over, reaching across without thought to stop the noise like every morning-which resulted in his head on the side of my leg and arm across my lap, bending around my waist.

My breath caught in my throat and I held as still as possible, not really sure what my plan was for this. I was tired, let my guard down and certainly didn't have anything in mind in the case of close contact.

I guess since the alarm didn't persist passed the first beep before he reached the alarm his body relaxed and I could tell from the slow rise of his back that his breathing had deepened and he fell asleep again.

This works I thought what better way to start the day than off schedule

Although combing my fingers through his silver hair with one hand and trailing my fingers in soft circles across his bare back wasn't exactly part of the plan either.

I'm just stuck and bored until he wakes up...that's all...

Finally the sun came up and shown across Kakashi's eyes, effectively waking him up. I retreated my hand from his hair, laying it on my thigh and the other one just relaxed across his back. His body was blocking me from just laying it at my side.

Kakashi was facing my legs, so I couldn't see his eyes, but his body stiffened and I knew he was finally awake. Awake and surely assessing the situation he found himself in as he realized he had wrapped himself in someone's lap.

He slowly turned his head to see who it was, and funnily enough moving his face against my stomach and effectively covering part of his face with the hem of my shirt where the extra material bunched up and gathered from his movements.

His eyes landed on me sleepily, but I knew he was 100% awake as recognition flitted across his face.

He groaned in annoyance and rolled his eyes before quickly jumping out of bed to his closet, keeping his back to me.

Of course I thought when he turned around a moment later with a mask now adorning his face.

"Really? Your first concern is to cover your face before your body?" I asked with a raised brow and briefly lowered my eyes to his still exposed chiseled chest for reference.

Don't blush, don't blush...shit, I blushed I thought, hoping Kakashi didn't notice.

Luckily his shirt covered his eyes as he pulled it down over his head, so he didn't notice.

"I don't have time for distractions, Fig," he started as he hurriedly ran around the apartment gathering his vest, shoes and his weapons pouch, "I'm already late as it is. s**t" he swore and snatched up a pair of bells from a side table before heading out the door.

"Fig?" I asked curiously, leaning my back against the wall watching him lock up the apartment door.

He gave me a sideways glance as he pocketed the keys, then sighed.

He started down the stairs while rubbing his brow, like what he was about to say was going to result in a headache.

"You said you're a figment of my imagination, right?" Kakashi pointed out as he just continued to look ahead down the road we were walking.

I gave a little excited gasp and ran ahead, then turned to walk backwards so I was facing him.

"Aw, a nickname. You shouldn't have." I said waving a hand and acting bashful. "Glad to know you're finally listening." I winked and 'poofed' out of sight.

Shortly after the road winded down to a trail which led to a clearing. In the distance I could just make out what I assumed were his students waiting on him.

"Good morning everybody!" We both shouted with a wave as I 'popped' back next to him causing him to flinch momentarily.

"You're late!!!" They all shouted at him in annoyance.

"Oopsy" I squeaked innocently.

"A black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way." He told them.

Oooh, Kakashi's first lie about me I thought with a snicker to myself.

"Really?" I pouted with a hand on my hip, "a black cat? Is that all I am to you. I liked Fig better" I got a little dramatic, sticking out my bottom lip and turning my back to him with my arms crossed.

And just like yesterday, he did his best to ignore me and carried on with his 'lesson'.

"Your assignment is very simple. You just have to take these bells from me. That's all there is to it." He jingled the bells for them to see, "if you can't get them by noon you go without lunch. I'll not only tie you to one of those stumps, but I'll eat right in front of you."

"Me too, right? You packed enough that we'll be eating right in front of them... right?" I interjected, tugging on his sleeve to make it a bit harder for him to ignore me.

I was close enough to tell he had a little half smirk under his mask at the fact that no one noticed the shuffle of his arm, because he had already been jingling the bells to start with before I messed with him. Did he plan that? I wondered.

"There are three of us, so how come there are only two bells?" Sakura asked.

"Well, that way at least one of you will end up tied to a post and ultimately disqualified for failing to complete the mission. That one goes back to the academy." He continued.

"Damn, Kakashi. That's cold. You know what, don't sweat worrying about my lunch. One of us has got to have a heart, so I'll graciously give mine to the loser." I commented, deciding to stick with the dramatics a little more.

Annoyed eye twitch, success!

Then Naruto lost his cool and instantly went for Kakashi on the attack before he even said 'go'.

This is going to be interesting I thought deciding to cloak myself and sit back to watch for a bit.

After everyone scattered to hide and creep up on Kakashi, Naruto finally charged at him again.

Kakashi started to define taijutsu and reach for his weapons bag which made it seem obvious he was going for a kunai or shuriken and then... it's another one of those books I couldn't help but deadpan and sweat drop at his too casual actions.

""What the-!" Naruto looked as thoroughly confused as I was.

"What are you waiting for? Make your move." Kakashi insisted.

"But, I mean...why are you reading that book?"

"Why? To find out what happens in the story, of course-" He answered nonchalantly.

Not really paying attention to the rest, I 'popped' back up behind Kakashi with an idea. Since I was behind him he didn't notice me, and once he squatted to dodge Naruto's punch, I seized the opportunity and hopped onto his back. My knees held tight against the sides around his mid chest and my head was just higher than his with my arms lazily slung around his neck where I was positioned.

"Ooh, I want to know, too. What happens next?" I asked him as I peered down at the book to read from over his shoulder.

But he quickly closed the book and positioned himself behind Naruto.

"Aw, no fun." I pouted about the book, but continued to watch perched on his back in curiosity when I noticed he made the sign of the tiger.

"Naruto! Get out of there quick, he's going to destroy you!" Sakura yelled from the bushes in warning.

"She's no fun either." I huffed in her direction.

"Too late. Leaf village secret finger jutsu!" Kakashi shouted before planting his two fingers against the kids bum.

I lost my grip and deadpanned on the ground behind Kakashi, certainly not having suspected he was going to do that.

After throwing Naruto in the river, he stood back up with his book back in hand. Opening it up to read, he used the book to glance back at me and I swear I heard a chuckle when he spotted me on the ground.

Then, after Naruto shouted at Kakashi for a bit and his shadow clones jumped from the water grabbing his attention, I cloaked myself to watch again.

He managed to 'sneak up' on Kakashi from behind and get a far as grabbing onto his waist. Then one of his clones went in for the punch and bam, Kakashi was gone.

You might be able to fool children, but you can't fool me I thought as I scanned the area for his chakra and felt his presence hiding in the tree just above while Naruto was too busy beating himself up.

I flipped up into the branches and squatted down next to Kakashi where he watched the action below.

"Secret finger jutsu? Do you use that on the ladies as well or is it just little boys?" I asked jokingly as I 'popped' into his peripheral.

"I- uh..." He stammered for a moment, a little thrown off at the suggestive nature of my question. "It's a silly trick to be used on a silly fool like Naruto. There's nothing more to it than that." He whispered, then jumped down to catch Naruto as he went for the bell obviously left on the ground.

"You're still no fun." I pouted. Then with a rumble from my stomach, I decided to give Kakashi a break from me and find myself something to eat since I hadn't had anything since last night.