Masked Rivals /A Kakashi Fanfiction\

Chapter 11

The next morning was...well beyond awkward to say the least. As I made my way from the cave to where I sensed Kakashi's chakra, I felt like I was going to go crazy. I wracked my brain all night, but I honestly didn't know what I was going to do or say. For now, I just kept myself, cloaked while I hopped up into the branch next to him.

He was crouched in a tree again, communicating with his students through a headset while they worked on their current mission.

"What's the distance to the target?" He asked them.

Oooh, target. Maybe things were getting good. I leaned forward on the branch trying to peer through the tree limbs to see if I could see anything.

"Go!!"

Nearby I heard a commotion of shuffling amongst the trees and and Naruto yelling, "Gotcha!!"

"Good, lost pet 'Tora' search mission..."

All that for a cat?! I couldn't help but 'pop' back up as I fell from my perch and rolled on the ground laughing Yep, things were not getting good

Kakashi eyed me wearily as he dropped down from the branch and landed next to me "Complete!" He cheered to them over the headset. I could tell he was holding back a chuckle from my contagious laughter.

No fun I pouted.

He turned to gather the others, then paused and turned back to me with his visible brow raised. "So..." He drawled out as he clasped one hand over his mic.

And there it was, let the awkward commence.

"Yes?" I asked him, choosing to take an innocent i***t approach.

"Last night..." He ran his hand over his face and through his hair as he searched for the words to come up with. Understandable of course...how do you ask your imagination if last night was real?

"At the bar?" I asked, pretending to poorly guess what he was going to ask.

"No...after the bar." He reluctantly got out with a sigh.

"After the bar? What happened after the bar?" I asked 'curiously'...again, innocent idiot...although at this moment I feel like the 'i***t' part is right on the dot for describing me.

"What happened..." His brow dropped and jaw clenched as he studied my face. Just like the first day, he tugged at his hair then ran his hand back over his face again. "Never mind." He sighed again, then finally turned back to catch up with his team.

Once his back was fully towards me, his shoulders slumped forward and my gut wrenched. Have I taken things too far? When this all first started I was so angry with Kakashi...angry at my life...that I would have said 'no'...but now after I've spent every day by his side. Watching him. Getting to know him. Being there for him and him for me...yes this was too far.

But even if I were to end this...I still have no life outside of this here in Konoha...outside of Konoha or outside of Kakashi?

I angrily kicked a few rocks in my path as I shuffled slowly behind Kakashi arguing with myself. Even if I did decide to unveil myself and try to start a life in Konoha, something in my gut told me this wasn't the right time. I needed to wait a little longer for the moment...and maybe until then I'll slowly lessen my presence to Kakashi and slowly ease away from his 'mind'.

About 10 minutes behind them I caught up with them as they turned in their mission to the Hokage. Thinking I had already cloaked myself again from Kakashi, I crossed the room and perched on a window sill. I listened as Naruto argued so bluntly with the Hokage, not realizing the whole time that Kakashi was watching me and the breeze that blew my hair all around me as I watched the sway of the branches just outside.

"I...I apologize..." Kakashi finally spoke up. He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck realizing he had allowed himself to lose track of the conversation at hand.

"But you know what?!! I'm not the trouble making brat you still think I am!!" Naruto shouted.

"Ok. If you want it that much..." The Hokage said, finally giving in to Naruto's ranting.

I got curious at this and finally looked over to where the conversation was happening. Kakashi slumped forward even more, looking both surprised and dejected at the Hokage's response. It made me chuckle which earned me a quick glance from Kakashi.

Oh s**t, I forgot to...I did my best to keep the surprise off my face and quickly 'popped' out of sight like I should have done earlier.

"I'll give you a C-rank mission. It's a protection mission of a certain individual."

"YAY!" Naruto cheered from his spot where he had plopped on the ground during his whining. "Who?!! Who?!! A Feudal Lord?!! A Princess?!!!!" And there he goes again getting ahead of himself.

"What's this?" Over in the doorway, an old and seemingly drunk man stumbled through the doorway. "They're all a bunch of super brats. Especially the shortest one with the super stupid-looking face. Are you really a Ninja? Hey!!" He drawled leaning against the wall as he eyed Kakashi's team.

"Haha!! Who's the shortest one with the stupid face...I'll Kill you!!!"

I startled myself, almost accidentally slipping through the window when I burst out in laughter at Naruto's reaction. Priceless.

"I am the super expert bridge builder Tazuna. I expect you to provide me super protection until I get back to my country and complete the bridge." He explained to them.

After that, Kakashi told the team to gather the necessary belongings and to meet at the village gates in an hour and then they were off.

Back to his country? Well, I could use a bit of adventure and I really need to stretch my legs. But first...just in case...

I jumped out the window, on purpose this time, and made my way to the cave I had been hiding all my belongings in. I grabbed a satchel and stuffed my ninja outfit and mask bandages in it. I had a feeling I should bring this with me just in case. I found it while being bored and nosy one day collecting dust in a drawer in Kakashi's spare bedroom. I guessed it to be his old weapons bag for missions based on the several puncture marks and holes from kunais and shurikens.

Then, figuring when it came to a client that Kakashi would certainly be the first to arrive at the rendezvous point, I ran back to his apartment for one last bite before we hit the road. I tucked away some of the fresh fruit he had out on the counters into the pouch as well. If anything, I was doing him a favor by taking them. No one could expect that fruit to still be fresh by the time he came back considering he was traveling to another country.

Once I caught back up with Team 7 and their client, Naruto was giving his famous speech about how he was going to be Hokage one day to the old man. After he was done, Tazuna just gave a wry remark which resulted in death threats from Naruto again.

Poor Kakashi... Don't know if I could restrain myself if I was in charge of such an...exuberant...personality.

As we followed Tazuna's path, the walk soon turned into a lesson about countries, their cultures and customs and the occupancy of Ninjas and Shinobi villages.

While they were busy with their lessons, my eyes just wandered anywhere and everywhere to try and fill my brain and boredom; since technically no one could see me or hear me even if I talked. The sun rays on this bright summer day struck my eyes and I averted them to the ground.

A puddle? That shouldn't be there...

I looked over to Kakashi and could tell he had seen it too and was probably thinking the same thing. I knew for certain this time I was still cloaked, but Kakashi glanced my way when I looked to him and I could have sworn for a moment that our gazes locked like he was looking right into me. It gave me a chill and I couldn't help but give him the satisfaction of 'popping' out as we continued this staring contest.

I actually caught him off guard by doing this and quickly won as he shook his head of me in his thoughts and continued on.

Suddenly two ninjas rose from the mysterious puddle and had Kakashi wrapped in their chains then tore him to pieces.

I should've known better with all my years of training, but my senses were starting to wear a bit with how long I'd been constantly keeping this jutsu up for as well as masking my chakra. As my knees gave out and I dropped to the ground, I could barely hear myself calling out his name over the cries of his students shouting it as well.

"What's wrong?"

I thought I might have a heart attack when I heard Kakashi whisper in my ear. My head snapped to attention to observe him crouched just behind me. Even though his eyes were already back on his team observing as they handled the two mysterious Ninja, I could see the smirk under his mask and knew it was because, in a way, he had just done to me what I had done to him so many times.

I huffed, gave his shoulder a shove then 'popped' back out of the picture.

Kakashi shot a raised brow and snicker in the direction he assumed me to be in, then darted back into the action. And it was just in time, too.

They were rounding on Sakura and Sasuke as they held their ground to protect Tazuna. In an instant Kakashi had them both finished off in his grasp.

He had this whole thing played out the second he saw that puddle, didn't he? And I should have known. But I didn't realize because I've spent too much and allowed myself to grow weak.

I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to refill my chakra and restore my senses. I kept up my chakra barrier, but distanced myself enough to keep from being seen by anyone so I could completely drop my cloaking jutsu for the time being. Just before, I quickly changed back into my ninja gear and mask just in case I was spotted. Then I dashed off through the branches keeping close from a distance as they made their way across the country.