Sunshine

one after the other

It was weird to see the times changing so drastically. While it did hold close to the past, the outfits looked different now. Slightly more modern than what I was made to wear before growing up. But it wasn't so close to the leaf village style. I was happy to throw my old outfit into the fire and wear my new one. It was a very simple half-kimono with a simple swirl pattern on the blue fabric.

Kakashi commented on the clothing of this time being a little silly looking. "The Meji period is nearing its end; the Taisho era will begin soon. The outfits will quickly start to resemble what we used to wear in the village, or what we will wear." He explained it in a hushed voice, as he was now wearing pants! The outfits of the men around us seemed to have changed much more than the woman's. The men wore pants and had more modern changes, while the women still mostly wore kimonos. Although they no longer went to the floor in many layers,. Now it was just to the knee's.

It blew my mind to think how much time had passed since being reborn. Kakashi took my hand as we made our way down the busy street. I held onto the strap of my small backpack with my free hand and let him tug me along. I tried to remain calm as the men seemed to stare. Kakashi patted my head and said, "No worries, look, isn't this cute?" He held something up to my face. 

My focus was drawn in by the pink object. I took it with my free hand, looking at it in awe. It was a glass orb with a little white bunny in it. It was much like a snow globe; as I turned it, sparkling things swirled inside of it. I felt like I was mesmerized by the sparkling orb.

Kakashi just smiled down at me, seeming happy to have succeeded in distracting me. "I will get the horse and carriage here." 

I nodded, barely looking away from the orb. I love it. I smiled for the first time in a long time. "Thank you." I whispered it emotionally. 

He gently pinched my cheek before taking me toward the place he wanted to go next. He spoke with a few men while I sat just a few feet away. He glanced my way every few seconds. A young boy walked toward me smiling and I was at Kakashi's side within seconds. He looked up at the boy and then down at me. He continued to talk to the men holding me by his side.

The men he talked to didn't seem to be bothered by my sudden clinging to Kakashi. They finished their discussion, and then Kakashi picked out a horse and a small covered wagon. Kakashi paid the men in coins and then lifted me up onto the wagon seat.

There was one man who remained; he was much older than the rest, and he was handing Kakashi a bag of horse feed. "Such a cute young lady. Keep your little wife close in these times; it isn't safe to travel." He said the first part sweetly and the second part more worriedly. I was scared at first, but I felt... true worry from him. I blinked a few times, realizing that it must be the abilities Kakashi had told me about. This old man was thinking of his daughter when he looked at me. 

I smiled at him a tiny bit, but I still felt fear deep in my chest. Kakashi glanced at me, then the old man; he must have seen the intentions as well. "Trust me, a lesson learned already." He whispered it, then looked at me with such a sad look again. He smiled then. "She is a cute little wife, isn't she?" He nearly purred that now.

The old man looked like he went through the waves of the conversation; he was a sharp old man. He looked at me with almost pity but didn't let it remain on his face. He smiled at Kakashi's words. "You are heading out of the area; I was wondering if you could give me a ride to the next town? I will be heading home; its just me and my daughter. You are welcome to spend the night and have a warm meal." He offered.

Kakashi looked like he was going to refuse; I felt bad. "Sure." I said it quickly, and Kakashi gave me a surprised look. Isn't it okay? or am I being to trusting?