The Lost Uzumaki (Kakashi x OC)

Chapter Seven- Other Plans

"I fucking hate paperwork." Meilani hissed under her breath. Her pen scribbled through her incomplete files rapidly. The Kunoichi just returned from patrolling the western border, and smells of ink and green tea filled her tidy apartment. With a brush of her signature, Mei sighed in relief and carefully picked up her small blue tea cup. Her lips hovered over the liquid as she blew away the steam rising. As her lips pressed against the cup, there was a knock on the door. "Hm?"
She opened the door to find a silver-haired ninja leaning against the guard rail across from Mei's front door. Kakashi lifted his head from his copy of Makeout Paradise, and waved.
"Yo," He greeted her while using his thumb as a bookmark, and crossed his arms crossed nonchalantly.
"Um, Sup?"
Since the sealing ritual, neither of the two Shinobi have spoken to each other. However, Kakashi has found it fairly easy this past week to say a good morning or even get a head nod from his former friend. And though it is usually timid, eye contact has become a part of it.
"Well, I was on my way to see Sasuke when I remembered your help and.... Well, I never got to really thank you."
"No? I thought you did."
"Well, yeah but... I also meant for the lack of the cold shoulder."
She leaned against the doorframe, her right hand on her left elbow. "It bothered you that much?"
Kakashi looked at his shoe for a moment. "Yeah, I suppose it did."
His thoughts were on his next sentence when she spoke.
"I'm sorry."
His head tilted slightly. "Why? I deserve it."
"No, you don't. I should... Not be so petty. You're human, too."
He wasn't sure how to respond to that. They stared at one another until Mei turned her head to the sound of a group of women giggling in the streets below as they noticed Kakashi.
"If it's alright with you," he said, moving a step closer to her. Mei brought her attention back to him. "I'd like to take you out for some ramen, or sushi. It won't make up for everything, but maybe we can talk things through or..." He saw the wheels turning in her head. The slight twitch of her lips sent him into his next plan; offering gifts. "I have this nice bottle of plum wine. It's sparkling-"
"Kakashi?"
"Hm?"
Meilani opened her mouth, but the words would not form. Regardless, he was patient. And he watched her furrow her eyebrows and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I still really suck at words." Her large, round eyes showed honesty. "And talking. At least when it comes to my own feelings."
"I understand," He nodded.
"I just.... I'm scared." She admitted quietly, her left hand twirling with the ends of her hair that laid upon her back.
"Of me?" He frowned.
"Of you hurting me again." Mei clarified. "You were the closest thing I had to Min.... To dad, and you pushed me away. You hated me."
"I never hated you. I was angry for-"
"Kakashi Hatake!" Mei watched Kakashi's expression in his eye change from solemn to irritation. Mei covered her mouth to hide a smile as the vein on his temple popped out.
"Guy, how can I help you?" Kakashi glared at the man that aggressively patted his shoulder. Guy beamed with a wide smile, and then stared in horror as he swiped Kakashi's book away.
"You can start by not reading such filth around such an angelic being."
"Guy," Kakashi faced Guy. His tone laced with a deadly energy. "Give me back my book."
Meilani froze, glancing worriedly at Guy and his aloofness.
"No problem! Forgive my interruption but I believe Naruto is looking for you."
"I told him to stay on the training grounds." He huffed, snatching back his book from Guy. "Tell him I'll be there after seeing Sasuke."
Guy was already bowing in front of a flustered Mei, holding her hand as if it were a baby bird.
"Please forgive my rival, beautiful Queen! You don't need to be around such... Lewd material."
"It's not lewd... It's romantic." She corrected, finding her cheekbones to be warm. Guy's eyebrows furrowed at her words.
"How....? Oh, I nearly forgot you like to read romance." He blushed, quickly standing and scratching his head. Kakashi held back a chuckle at his reaction, inspecting the book for any damage. "Anyways, Meilani. Let's say after I visit Lee at the hospital, we go to the movies!"
Mei glanced at Kakashi's back as he turned away towards the route to the hospital, open book in hand. Mei found herself a little irritated with Guy and his timing, but it's not like he knew what kind of conversation they were having. She didn't hear what else Guy was saying, something about training together soon? She focused on Kakashi's dragging feet, and how his ear was turned slightly towards them.
"I wish you had asked sooner, Guy. I actually have dinner plans with Kakashi tonight. But maybe next time?"
The silver-haired ninja nearly dropped his book, his eye meeting hers when he turned. "You said 7, Kakashi?"
Guy looked like he was about to have a stroke.
"7, I'll pick you up at 6:45."
They both gave a peace sign before he continued his way.
"Are... You alright Guy?" Mei asked.
"I am positively youthful!" He chuckled, hands on his hips. "Actually, I have a different, more crucial favor to ask."
"Oh?"
"You see," he lowered his head. "Lee has not once smiled since his defeat. And his injury is really starting to get the better of him. I think if he were to hear about your time at the Academy it would cheer him up."
"That sounds great. I have some more work to do, but I'll visit him when I can."
"Excellent!" He gave a gleaming smile and thumbs up. "Did Kakashi say he was going to visit Sasuke? I bet you 100 laps I can beat him there."
Kakashi couldn't care less about Guy's need to outrace him, he was more impressed with how easy it was to talk to her. What the hell changed so fast?
Mei had the same thoughts as she closed her door, and she felt somewhat angry with herself. Not for deciding to rekindle her friendship with Kakashi, but for being so angry for so long. Minato and Kushina taught her better.
After delivering her papers, she stopped by the memorial with some white lilies with pink carnations and spoke to them for a while. And then to Obito and Rin, and next her old teammates. Then to her birth parents, even if they weren't in Konoha. She wondered how they'd feel about her way of life, and how life might have been if they were still alive. She then wondered the same about her adoptive parents.
A deep sigh left her mouth, and she found herself wishing to hear Kushina's laughter once more. Or to see Minato's smile. She swallowed against the tense muscles in her throat while she tried to remember her birth mother's voice.
An eagle cry was heard above; The Hokage's, calling all jonin in the village.
"I have to go.... I'll come back soon." Meilani quickly excused herself and rushed away.