Beyond The Lines. [Kakashi x OC]

A Disruption of the Norm (1)

It was always unsettling to slightly deviate from what's been planned, but completely straying from schedule was something Alcie hated with a passion.

Alcie's days have always been structured and organized, and rarely has she done anything spontaneously. Of course, it's inevitable to face some unforeseen events in life, and there must be at least a bit of flexibility to one's schedule, but what Alcie has faced in the span of her existence has never been as drastic as what she was facing at that moment: somehow finding herself in the middle of an unfamiliar forest.

Earlier in the day, she was merely going about her life as always: Alcie woke up at around 6 AM, did her morning vanity rituals until it was 6:40, before eating breakfast and finishing at around 7:30. Afterwards, Alcie's schoolwork began. The university she attended switched to online classes since a pandemic hit and everyone was required to quarantine, but Alcie was able to adjust herself fairly well. It took only a few weeks to completely settle into her new schedule.

Since it was Monday, Alcie had a lecture at 8 AM, and another one at 2 PM for a different class. The times the lectures ended would vary each day, but not completely that it greatly affected her schedule. After her first Zoom, Alcie worked on other classes' homework for a couple of hours, taking 5-minute breaks every twenty-five minutes, before finally readying herself to eat lunch once 12:30 PM arrived.

That's right, the last thing she remembered was eating lunch in the dining room with her older sister, while reading one of those time-travel Naruto fanfics on Wattpad. What happened afterwards, and how exactly Alcie ended up in the middle of a forest were questions she had no answers to.

It would be great if she could stay calm and patiently think of a scheme to help herself out, but she felt it difficult to find ground after suddenly being thrown into an unfamiliar environment without any idea of how to return home or even get out of the woods.

Sighing, Alcie eyed her surroundings warily.

Every tree looked the same to her, and there was nothing to indicate which direction was safest to take. If only there were roads near her, then that would be a good start, but alas, Alcie was regrettably not so lucky.

"Okay...so maybe I should just start walking somewhere..." Alcie recited her thoughts out loud. "But it'll be bad if I encounter any wild animals that could attack me. And," Alcie worriedly looked down at her bare feet, "it'll be hard to travel anywhere like this."

Ah, fuck... This sucks ass.

I don't even know how I got here.

I don't think I got kidnapped or anything, did I? I was literally just at home...

What happened after I ate lunch...?

Nothing could answer Alcie's questions.

Frustrated, Alcie began her departure, heading towards her left, hoping it would somehow bring her somewhere safer. It was the first time she decided upon something without a plan.

Alone. In the woods. By some strange circumstance. What a haunting setting put upon her. Alcie was tempted to dismiss it all as a strange dream, but the ache of her legs and feet from all the walking made it impossible to deny the distasteful reality.

Maybe it would be better to die. Alcie quickly shook her head afterwards. No, of course not. Not until I figure out where in the fuck I am. I refuse to die in the middle of nowhere.

In honesty, Alcie was not someone who particularly enjoyed her life. To an extent, she felt content, but there was a constant apathy within her. Life itself was something Alcie couldn't romanticize, and so she lived her days in a cyclic manner, following somewhat strict routines without any intentions of actively pursuing individuality.

Or perhaps the active pursuance of one's identity just seemed like an exhausting choice to Alcie. She didn't quite understand why anyone would bother struggling for it.

She simply existed, and whatever felt right to her she would accept easily-- like when she'd found out she preferred women over men when it came to romantic relationships.

Yet there she was, in some unknown forest, despite her preference for the mundane.

She didn't even know how long she's been walking. How large was this forest? Alcie could see no end to the mass of trees before her. Pausing her journey, Alcie crouched down with a defeated sigh.

She had no clue on how to get out of this situation.

Predictably, a wave of hopelessness came over her, and Alcie broke down crying, burying her head into her crossed arms that rested on her knees. The sun was moving West, and although Alcie had traveled since the sun was high in the sky, she could find no exit or, at least, other people to ask help from. Her stomach grumbled from hunger, but Alcie continued hopelessly sobbing, ready to give up and possibly die.

That was, until she heard shuffling among the trees and bushes not too far from her. At first, she expected it to be some rodent or small animal. Next, she worried it would be a bear or some dangerous beast, but once Alcie stood up to approach the source, she could make out voices not too far from where she stood, possibly belonging to a small group of people.

People...!

Excited by this discovery, Alcie desperately ran towards where the group could be, paying no mind to the splinters and wounds her bare feet suffered through.

As she maneuvered her way across trees and bushes, a sudden grabbing of her arm pulled her back. She stumbled and fell against someone's chest, the grip on her arm strong, before something sharp and metallic was directed to her neck. Alcie shrieked in surprise, her eyes wide once it finally registered in her mind what was happening.

"Who are you, and what are you doing out here?" The voice was deep with the words dragging in a lazy tone. Alcie had no idea what the person looked like, but they were unmistakably taller and stronger. Not to mention the quick arrest they made on Alcie, and the strange weapon against Alcie's neck, all suggested a person with some skills in combat.

Alcie's tear-sticken face contorted into that of horror.

I...I can't make any bad moves or...! Alcie's eyes traveled down to the weapon against her neck. It was rhombus shaped, with a sharp point directed to her neck. The other end stretched into a handle that the attacker's gloved hand held onto.

That's a...kunai...? Alcie didn't understand why this stranger was using a kunai knife in this day and age.

"Answer me," There was impatience in their voice, and their grip on Alcie's arm tightened. Alcie could barely keep a pained noise from escaping her mouth.

"I-I was...I don't know why I'm here...!" Alcie's voice was high-pitched and shaky from fear, her heart pounding. Her free hand was resting against her side, but Alcie wasn't sure what to do with it. She was also too scared to turn her head and see who had come to terrorize her, just in case they'd mercilessly slice her neck up if she made any movement.

"You don't know?" Strangely, there was no malice in the stranger's voice, and their grip softened as well.

"Y-Yes...! I was lost...but then I heard some voices in this direction and thought..." Alcie gulped, losing her focus. "I thought there'd be help..."

"I see," they finally let go of her arm and lowered their weapon while Alcie backed away from the stranger, massaging the reddened area of her arm caused by the stranger's strong grip. However, once she caught sight of who had apprehended her in the middle of nowhere, Alcie audibly gasped.

With spiky silver hair, a mask covering the lower half of his face, and the forehead protector bearing Konoha's symbol over his left eye, stood Hatake Kakashi in all his glory.

...Holy shit.

To be continued.