Sunshine

Don't take drinks from strangers

I stood behind Kakashi as he worked in the field. I was carrying water and had more of a work outfit on today, so I didn't stand out so much. Kakashi was finishing on the last section of the field for today. I hummed as I followed after him. I felt pretty useless right now, but I knew that I was sort of lucky that he was even letting me go into the fields with him. 

He glanced back at me, smirking; he must have heard that. He chuckled and turned back to what he was doing.

I noticed he missed one and ran over, picking up the bundle, and was absolutely shocked at its weight. God, I thought it looked bigger than the other people's bags, but that was insane. I huffed and carried it toward the wagon. Kakashi heard my struggle and paused, straightening up and wiping the sweat from his brow. He reached down, picking up the two bundles like he usually does, and tossed them in the back like it was nothing.

"You're going to hurt yourself." He said it, lifting the bunch from my strained arms. I pouted, having almost made it, and he stopped looking down at me, amused. "Ah fine..." He placed it back in my arms. I grunted and went back to my struggle. I managed to make it, but my arms had become so fatigued from carrying it. 

I heaved and managed to toss it pathetically into the cart. I felt my face heat up. I was proud that I had made it, but as Kakashi tossed a few more onto the wagon, I felt embarrassed. I placed my cheek in my palm, tilting my head and staring down at the bundle. 

"I am seriously out of shape." I said it, looking at Kakashi. He had the last four bundles. We stared at each other. I tried to fight a laugh but lost. I snorted and laughed, "Jesus Kakashi! and you got so upset in the past because I figured you out?!" I said it running out of breath.

He stared at me wide-eyed for a moment, then rolled his eyes, tossing one of the bunches to me and the rest in the wagon. I was still laughing as I caught it and fell backward onto the ground. I huffed a laugh aloud even as I lay with the bundle on top of me.

He let a chuckle out, lifted the bundle off me and smiled down at me with such affection in his eyes. "Well, I suppose you are right, and I'm glad you find me so amusing." He said it, not looking away from me, and tossing the bundle over his shoulder into the wagon. He pinched my cheek and then just smiled at me. "I love seeing you like this."

I wiped a tear from my eye and smiled at him, "Like what?"

He held me up and brushed me off. "So happy and free. Being able to see you finally growing into something not so scared and on edge all the time." He reached out, touching my forehead, and an image came into my mind. A version of me that was almost ancient now—tiny, short-haired, scared, and stressed-looking me. Did I always look so terrified? Faces flashing through my mind—me slowly losing the fear in my eyes—it was odd to see my face from so many angles. He pulled his hand away, and the images vanished.

I blushed looking up at him; there had been images of me from when I hadn't known he was there. I reach out, taking his hand, placing his hand on my face, and closing my eyes, focusing hard to try to do the same. 

He gasped a little.

I thought of him as well; from the beginning, I saw the look in his eyes when we first met and went forward as I slowly fell in love with him. When I saw him for the first time in so many years, both times. 

"Mori..." He said my name so softly. His head went to the top of my head as I finally let his hand go. "I have no idea how you just did that." He whispered confused and shook his head. Then he looked almost regretful. "I really looked scary back then. Poor little Mori." He leaned down, kissing my forehead. "Also, am I so big to you." He said it, smirking down at me. 

I blushed and reached out as he held his breath. I hugged him tight and then jumped away from him and raced past him, hopping onto the wagon. It wobbled, and I steadied myself only to realize he had been the one that stabilized me. Whether he meant to grab me that way or not, I felt him slowly let go of my hips.