Crystal Lightning || (Kakashi Hatake x OC)

Arabella - Arctic Monkeys

"You have your food pills with you?"

"Yes."

"Water?"

"Yes."

"Bandages."

"Yes, but you need it more than me."

He scoffed, "Your weapons?"

"Yes, I can literally make them out of thin air."

"Show off. Smoke bombs?"

"Yes."

"Paper bombs?"

She groaned, "Yes."

He straightened her forehead protector for her, "I'm just checking. There's nothing wrong with that."

"I remember to bring everything." She rolled her eyes, "What about you? Did you bring the most important thing?"

"Um... You?"

"The scroll!"

"I'm kidding. I have it with me."

"Okay, good. Let's go?"

"Let's go!" He pets her head and turned on his heels to face his sensei up on the mountain, "We're off now! We'll be back, Minato-sensei!"

"We'll stay safe, Minato-sensei!" 

Their first exclusive mission together. They have been tasked with delivering a highly confidential scroll that they have no idea what's inside to the Hidden Rain Village. They were only told that this was a peace treaty and that combat is unnecessary. Kakashi had a bad feeling when the Hokage assigned them this S-rank mission. It must be something important that it poses a risk an ordinary team of one jonin and three genins cannot handle. He forced himself to shove his doubts aside because he knew they would get in the way somehow. He can't risk anything, he can't risk Akira getting hurt. They travelled in comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company. Their swift and discreet journey caused them to arrive safely at the border of their destination village without encountering anyone else. But Kakashi can't breathe a sigh of relief yet. There was this dark and sinister feeling when they were getting closer to the village. The Hidden Rain Village had always been a mysterious place, and who knows what lurks behind the shadows. It had fallen victim to the wars initiated by the Great Nations, so there is always tension, especially towards outsiders.

Before they pass through the border and before the sky turned grey, they decided to camp out – around forty kilometres away. They'll be safer camping out within the borders of the Land of Fire. The sun was descending down the horizon, its source of light fading in time. Kakashi and Akira were sitting on a branch, their legs dangling high above the ground. She had her back against the tree while he sat in front of her.

This is the best ending for my day. He gushed to himself. The setting sun was behind her, making the scenery look more picturesque. Sometimes he forgets how little Akira was, how dependable she was with him. Now, it was the other way around. He had watched her grow to be who she is now, and it was a privilege to have been a part of someone's great development journey. He was so proud of her.

"Does it feel weird? Not wearing your Anbu uniform?"

"A little. Almost ten years of my life, and I didn't feel a thing."

"Did you feel lonely?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you come back to me?"

"I wasn't ready and I was afraid too."

"What weren't you ready about? Why were you afraid?"

He glanced left and right, checking if there were any presence of someone else's chakra. The coast is clear. "I was afraid of dragging you down with me. I'm sorry I'm only telling you this now, but you were about to be transferred to Anbu."