The Spaces In-Between

Journey Home

Kakashi was feeling edgy as they packed their bags to start back home.  It had been an incredible week of play and he had never been so relaxed.  Yet now, all he could think about was the miles upon miles they would be travelling with a psycho ready to target them.  He was confident he could take the man one-on-one but what if he had a bigger group with him this time?  A group with better combat skills than the last.  Who was this man?  What did he want?  Why had he targeted them?  It could not be Y/N they were after.  She was unknown in this world and had no enemies.  It had to be because of him.  That bothered him on a deep level.  He had made many enemies in his years.  The unknown man might not even be the leader but rather just a henchman.

Y/N wrapped her arms around his waist, stilling his movements.  He should have known she would sense that he was concerned.  They had been so closely connected for so long but after this last week, that connection was so deep it was as if they were completely intertwined now.  He spread his hands across hers.  They both had been through so much, both together and apart.  Why couldn't they just be like other couples?  Why was there always an element of danger lurking just between the shadows.

"I love you, Kakashi," she said softly behind him.  "Relax, it will all be okay."

"Y/N, you're my one weakness.  If something happened to you, I couldn't live anymore.  I just couldn't bare it."

"Hey, I can kick some ass too Kakashi Hatake!" she reproved him with a tisk sound.  "We are partners and we will fight as partners.  It is not all on your shoulders.  I just need to practice again on my Ninjutsu.  If you remember I used to be pretty damn good at it."

Kakashi chuckled, "Yes, you were."  He gave a heavy sigh and turned around to face her.  "Okay, baby girl.  I will try to relax."

Y/N stared into his eyes for a long time.  The amount of love she felt for him was overwhelming.  She could not believe how many years they had lost but she would be damned if she lost any more.  She hoped that they could have a child together, despite her advanced years.  To carry a piece of him inside her would be a dream and a constant reminder of all they had been through together.

"Let's go home," she said softly.

Kakashi was still on high alert as they started out on the road.  He was keeping his sense extended as far as possible.  About half-way back, he was startled as he sensed a familiar presence.  He came to a stop, narrowing his eyes on the trail ahead.

"Come on out!" he called, then smiled as Yamato dropped out of the tree.  "What are you doing out here?"

"Naruto was notified by the village of what happened on the road on your way to the Hot Springs.  He thought I should wait for you in case there was any further issues."

Kakashi felt so much relief then his shoulders slumped a little and he clasped his old friend hard on the shoulder.  "Thank you, Tenzo."

"Will you stop calling me that," Yamato said with a roll of his eyes.  "How many times do I have to tell you that?"

Kakashi laughed then turned towards Y/N.  "Yamato, meet Y/N, my wife.  Y/N this is one of my oldest friends, Yamato."

Y/N ignored the offered hand and gave him a large hug.  "Thank you for being Kakashi's friend all these years."

Yamato rubbed the back of his neck and was blushing a bit when she finally released him.  "Um... welcome?"

Y/N chuckled as she looked at him.  He didn't seem to be used to anyone hugging him.  She remembered him from the show.  He had taken over for Kakashi with Team 7 for a time.  He had a quirky sense of humor but was very serious most of the time.  She remembered that he had been kept in a tube for most of his childhood then taken in by that psycho Danzo.  She still got mad when she thought about that man.  She had cheered with Sasuke had killed him.  That man had caused almost every problem that the village experienced.  Had Danzo not had tried to destroy the Akatsuki in the past, Pain would never have come about and Kakashi would not have died briefly.  She had died inside when she saw him dead and had thought that she had lost him forever but thanks to Naruto and his intervention, Kakashi had been brought back and she had been given another chance with the love of her life.

Like Kakashi, Yamato had not had a good childhood.  She hoped that one day a good woman would come along for him as well.  He deserved it after the hell he had gone through as a child as an experiment then later, a tool for Danzo.

Kakashi nudged her out of her thoughts as the three of them started back down the path again.  He gave her a questioning look.  "I was just thinking about what I saw on the show before coming here is all."

Kakashi was thankful for Yamato's presence.  Between the three of them, he was confident they could take on any threats that might present themselves.  He wondered what had brought a cloud of shadow over Y/N's face earlier.  Which part of his life was she thinking about just then.  He was thankful that she knew everything that had happened but he could not help wondering what memory had risen in her mind.

"So tell me about the group that you encountered," Yamato said after several minutes of silence.

"The leader was a Hyūga... a rogue one.  We will need to talk to Hiashi when we get back to the village and question him about any of his clan that might have a vendetta to the village or myself."

"You think it was specifically aimed at you," Yamato stated.

"It is the only thing I can think of.  Y/N is new to our world and has no enemies here.  There is no reason to believe that they are targeting her.  I on the other hand have many enemies still alive in this world.  This Hyūga might not even be the principal agent but rather just a pawn for someone else.  I do know that I never saw him before which makes me think the latter than the former."

Yamato's expression grew serious when he was in thought.  "We should not discount Y/N, Kakashi.  Just because she is new here does not mean someone might not want something out of her.  We should keep all options on the table before we remove them."

Kakashi and Yamato went over everything that had happened as they walked back.  Y/N remained silent, wondering what anyone would want with her.  She agreed with Kakashi, it had to be about him.  In all his years of fighting, there were any number of people that could be seeking revenge.  She was nobody except to Kakashi.  She had no ties.  There was nothing she could offer.  She knew that Yamato was being cautious but she felt no concern for herself in the matter.

In the distance, the gates of the village came into view after a few hours on the road.  Y/N was relieved to see them and was excited about going home.  That was until they reached the village and reporters descended on them.  Yamato ended up using wood style Jutsu just to create a path for them to escape back to Kakashi's home.  Even there, a few reporters were around.  Kakashi gave a groan.

"And this is why we did everything quick and got out of here for a week."

Y/N shook her head in wonder.  "Maybe we should just make a statement to satisfy them and possibly they will leave?"

Kakashi face palmed then gave a heavy sigh.  "Very well, we can't avoid them forever."