Songs For The Heartbroken: That's What You Get

Chapter 28

"Well, that's something I didn't expect from you of all people." He said as he sat straighter. "You do know I should report on you for treason, right?"

I stared ahead of me and into the horizon as the spring breeze blew my hair back and away from my face. I didn't want to see the disappointment in Kakashi's eye, I didn't want to be yet another reason for his heart to keep aching, he had been through enough, or to become a part of the seemingly never ending list of things that weighted on his conscience.

"Why didn't you tell me?" if you had, you could have lived the rest of your life knowing your secret would be safe."

His voice was cold, detached; he was weighing me, analyzing my every word and move. He was not my friend then, he was a shinobi. He would evaluate the information he had been given and with it, choose the best course of action. He would consider every possible scenario, putting aside all sentiment and becoming the cool headed, sharp minded shinobi he pretended not to be.

"You are one of the few people who could have talked me out of it. I didn't want you to."

He remained silent. I didn't not mind, it gave me time to think myself. Kakashi was not a man of few words, but he never spoke if he had nothing relevant to say. He knew words were as powerful as any kunai. He had had to live with the weight of his words for most of his life, and I knew he didn't want to add to that list.

Time passed slowly, and the wind blew. Kakashi's silver hair shone under the sun, and my curls got even messier. Birds chirped, and the smell of freshly mowed grass mixed with that of a restaurant down the street. It had taken a while, but the heightened vibrancy of the world seen through a Sharingan now seemed to make it more beautiful rather than overwhelming. Images were extremely sharp, colors were as vibrant as they came, and movements were predictable. Patterns were clear, faces distinct and unforgotten.

"You should turn yourself in," He said at last "not now, but when the new Hokage is elected, if it doesn't end up being Elder Shimura, of course. You still have Shisui's letter and manage to convince Orochimaru to vouch for you, you might be spared the death sentence and life as a rogue."

I turned to him. He looked vacant, unfeeling.

"Why are you giving me advice? And what makes you think I'd go rogue?"

He showed me his most plastic eye-smile and then put his arm around my shoulders.

"What makes you think I'd let you die?"

...

I sat outside ANBU HQ, letting the last rays of sunshine warm my skin before my night shift started. I missed it. I missed the sun in my face, the breeze in my hair, the smell of wet grass in the training fields in the morning. I missed team eight, Hana, Sasuke, Naruto. I missed being just Uchiha Akane.

Footsteps as silent as anyone could make them, approached me from behind. This wouldn't have phased me if it weren't for the fact that they were accompanied by the muted thud of a crane. And I knew exactly who it was.

"Uchiha-san, what a pleasant surprise to find you here. Is your shift about to start?"

To anybody who didn't know him well enough, he would have just seemed like a frail old man with too heavy a job for his age. But I knew better than to underestimate him.

"Elder Shimura, I know not to believe anything could surprise you."

He chuckled.

"Fair enough, I will get to the point then, and take no more of your time."

I opened my eyes and looked at him. I did not need the Sharingan to see underneath his mask. He was dangerous alright.

"Sasuke is graduating the academy soon; I wanted you, as head of the clan to let him know the branch of ANBU under my command would be more than willing to take him in as an apprentice."