Ketsueki no Tsuki

03. Lost

"Well," The Hokage signed the report and rolled it up, "It's good that you've almost recovered. A few days and you'll be good to go."

'I must thank him after this-' Tsuki made a quick mental note.

Kakashi had been away on an emergency mission but he was scheduled to arrive.

'Well', she took her crutches, 'I'll see what I can do.'

The kitten had left two days ago, as it had healed and grown well. And the memories were still fresh.

And some things no matter how many times they happen, are still no less painful.

Like losing someone. Without notice. Just waking up and calling someone's name before discovering an empty bed, and consequently waiting long enough to know they won't be returning.

She remembered the first time she'd discovered that the water was her friend.

And look of horror on her mother's face before she was handed the letter and the secret pact, and made to go away.

She was seventeen. She didn't want to leave her home. She tried to stay, to make people like her. And it took her mother's death for her to see, that the world is no place for someone different, something new.

Her train of thoughts broke off when she came across the familiar little furball.

But it didn't remember her. Not anymore.

She shook herself, and went along.

----------

The Artisan village (ninja weapon supplier village) was deserted, and the founder's coffin empty. The rumours were true.

The Hokage upon listening to him promptly gave the next mission - all jounins and chuunins were to search and rescue the villagers, as well as gather more information. Because the ultimate ningu (weapons that ninja carry during battles - swords, knives, detectors, absorbers and smoke bombs) was a multi-planar chakra absober, with the founder's revived form as the medium.

'I'll check up on her in the meantime.'

She had been waiting for him.

"Wait... Is this..."

"Salt-broiled saury and miso soup with eggplant," Tsuki seemed proud.

"...I... I didn't know you'd... Wow... "

"Heh, For some reason I still remember."

Kakashi pulled his mask up as Tsuki looked away. Tracing the past seemed meaningless.

"Have some with me."

"Oh... Yeah, sure," Tsuki pulled a chair, "how long do you have?"

"Tonight. How did the checkup go?"

"I'll be okay in a few days."

"... Tsuki..."

"...?"

"You're very nice."

Tsuki smiled, "thankyou. You're not so bad yourself!"

A chuckle.

"Heh, thank you, too."

Tsuki took a look. What she had feared, didn't happen. She was at peace.

----------

"Kakashi,"

"Yes?"

"You've been in a lot of pain, and although it's true you made mistakes and went the wrong way about it, but even then, you've been trying too hard to search for relief. I'll have you know, the person you are now makes for more than all of your past mistakes. You don't need to dwell, go back, or look back into the past. You're free. You have been, for a very long time now. Stop hurting yourself."

"But , I can't take it back, can I?"

"...?"

"All of the time and lives, wasted. Their blood is on me, Tsuki. Your blood, is on me."

"... But they never blamed you. And I... Well, it doesn't matter-"

"-It does, Tsuki."

She felt a void as she couldn't dare to look up.

"That's where you're wrong. It does. Because all you ever did, was be there for me. And now that I know what it's like, I wish I could take it back."

"... Or you could be there for me, from now on."

Neither of them could nelieve what she was saying.

"We could be friends."

He didn't know what to say. Because all this time that he had spent in remembering her, he had also realised, that she was truly beautiful, and deserved a lot of admiration and respect. She was too good.

"I'd like that very much, thank you."

"You're welcome!"

Night came before long, and he left with others on the mission.

----------

A week later, Tsuki had begun her preparations to leave. They'd grown quite close in these past few days.

It was time.

"Say, when do you expect to return?"

"Six months, at most. It's not much."

A gaze.

"I'll stay at yours."

"Home?"

"Mm..."

"Thank goodness."

She laughed. Like a clear mountain stream, the rippling, flowing sound. Her head thrown back. And a pleased face.

And he chuckled. Soft like the breeze and low like silence. It had to be felt, not heard.

"Say, Kakashi,"

"Yeah?"

"... It was nice meeting you again. I'll come back soon."

"Well, I'll see you soon!" He bade her farewell.

"Yeah, so long!"

And she turned back, and walked away.

And he stood for a moment to watch her long, blue hair.

And she promised herself she'd come back.

And he wished to be a closer to her someday.

----------

The place was small, almost hidden. But he had received verified news.

A villager, intrigued, was coming his way.

"Hello, have you by chance seen this person?"

It had been a year and she'd been last spotted in this area. There hadn't been news, and... Well, he'd been worried.

Because she'd grown more than a friend. Much more.

The villager looked closely at the photograph. His expression changed soon.

A kid had been playing nearby. He walked up too.

'He's remembered something.'

"This woman!" The kid exclaimed as the villager nodded. "Yes, she was a ninja!"

"Was?"

"Yeah. We found her dead some six months ago."

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Well, that's the end of it. Thankyou so much for reading, really ❤.

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