The Curse Of Hatred ~Book 2~

Chapter 11: Confide

The weekend came and passed. Kakashi came around a few times to show off his knew Jonin uniform. Besides that small interaction and some party planning with Katsuko and Kurenai who were over excited. Yuzuki had no energy to be involved so she let them be. The only disappointing thing that whole weekend was every time Kakashi came to see her, she got her hopes up. She hoped he would ask her on their date again, but he never did. All he did was hang around all day from the moment the sun came up until the sun went down. Kakashi just wanted to be around her. He took her for granted before and he wasn't about to make that same mistake. It was still heartening.

That early Monday morning, Yuzuki walked Sasuke into the Academy and watched him trail inside with his head down and every other student staring at him like he was a ghost walking back into school after nearly two weeks of being absent. The looks the parents gave Yuzuki didn't go unnoticed either. They looked at her with distain and whispered amongst themselves.

(Did you hear what the Uchiha Clan did?)

(They were murdered in the night by Itachi Uchiha. What a terrible tragedy.)

(She shouldn't be alive.)

They couldn't begin to understand, she told herself, they don't know the truth. Yuzuki went to turn away when yellow hair caught her eye. She stopped seeing Naruto sitting under the tree by the swing. He seemed to be staring at her from around the tree hoping he wouldn't be seen.

Yuzuki turned her head curiously and Naruto ducked behind the tree again. She smiled softly and continued on her way. Naruto dared to look back at the girl who walked Sasuke into school. Was it his sister? He didn't know Sasuke had a big sister. Naruto had heard the adults talking. They were all supposed to be dead except for him. They were all meant to be dead except for the person who slaughtered the clan. He heard them talking. She was supposed to be dead.

(She was dead) so they said.

Yuzuki walked back home finding it difficult to climb two flights of stairs. By the time she reached her door her side was throbbing. As she inserted the key she noticed the neighbour down the hall was staring at her. An old man with a rolled up newspaper spread in his hand. He just retrieved todays news.

Yuzuki quickly pushed her way into the apartment and slammed the door closed. She couldn't escape the eyes that followed her everywhere she went. She slumped on the lounge and lifted her shirt to examine the bandage. It was clean. No blood.

At the moment it felt like stitches busted open.

A gloved hand reached over her shoulder offering her a glass of water. "Is it hurting you?" Kakashi's voice said. A smile came to Yuzuki's face and she craned her neck to see him standing  behind the sofa.

"What's with you people not using the door?" she accepted the water.

"There's a door?" he remarked flipping over the lounge to sit beside her. Yuzuki shook her head and took a sip of the water.

"Didn't you have a mission?"

"Yeah, but it can wait. I just came to see you." an arm snaked over her shoulders. "Did you take painkillers?"

Yuzuki leant her head back on his arm. "They don't last long." she said. "I don't know why. My father said I always had a fast metabolism, I guess."

Kakashi looked down at her. "You haven't spoken about him since... You know. Are you feeling alright?"

"Yeah." she nodded.

"I mean, about him, and all."

"Oh." she looked into the water cupped between her hands. There was mixed feelings about her father. She loved him, so she thought, until his true colours came to light. Did he really love her this whole time or was he just raising a weapon. "I'm not sure anymore."

Kakashi hummed curiously. It became silent between them, Yuzuki stared down at the glass of water and Kakashi stared down at her. "The Hokage questioned me." he revealed and her gaze turned to him. "He asked me if I knew where that dagger was."

"I already told him you don't know."

"I said I didn't know. Should I know?"

Yuzuki shook her head. "Katsuko doesn't think that's a good idea. The Elders are on the hunt for it. They'll never find it, of course. I don't want to make you a target."

"Oh please." he scoffed. Yuzuki sat up and turned to him confused. "I know you too well. We're teammates remember. I know exactly where it is and you don't even have to tell me."

"What? I seriously doubt it..."

"Nekabaa."

Yuzuki's expression dropped. Her first instinct was to turn to the windows and search for chakra signatures that would tell her someone was spying on her. She didn't sense anyone. Turning back to Kakashi who she never recalled telling who was in possession of the dagger. She crossed her eyebrows. "How do you know that? Did you follow me? Because I swear if you did-"

He shook his head. "I don't have to follow you. It's obvious. Nekabaa supplied the Uchiha with weapons and supplies, and you wanted to hide a very dangerous weapon, oh and let me guess, Itachi knows?"

"I hate you sometimes."

"For what, knowing you better than you do?"

"If you knew, why didn't you tell the Hokage?"

Kakashi shrugged. "I thought I would confide in you first. Trust me. We're teammates remember?" he said softly gripping her cold hand in his warm hand. "Don't you remember what I said?"

Confusion crossed her features. "When?"

"When I came for you in the Land of Waves. Do you remember what I said when your grandmother asked me who I was?"

Yuzuki's eyes fluttered around trying to remember. She bit her lip shaking her head when her eyes finally landed on her feet. "I don't know."

Kakashi sighed wishing she would remember. It was awkward for him to say and he felt embarrassed having to repeat himself. "I said, 'I guess I am your boyfriend." he reminded softly feeling his cheeks go red beneath his mask.

Yuzuki paused for a moment before raising her eyes. "You did?" Her memory sparked. "You did!" she said. Then she realised the tension forming in the air between them. She suddenly felt a little awkward. "So, what does that make us then?"

Kakashi chuckled rubbing the back of his neck. "Whatever you want." he was afraid she would turn him down.

"... Together." she hummed in thought. Kakashi's heart thundered in his chest. He liked the sound of that. He nodded. "Yeah, okay."

She pushed for a smile and a little nod. "Okay." and he smiled underneath his mask. She glanced down to their joint hands but said nothing. She was comforted by the feeling.

"How about this Sunday, we go for Dango like we originally planned?"

"What about Katsuko's party?"

"You mean your party?" he corrected. "She's just planning it. I'm also going to guess you're doing nothing tomorrow."

"Correct as per usual." she chuckled. Her little laugh made him smile. He liked to hear her laugh at his dumb remarks. "Don't you have a mission?" she reminded. Kakashi's eye widened and he jumped up.

"I completely forgot!" he headed for the window.

"The door!" she pointed.

Kakashi stopped and hurried for the door. Why was she so angsty about people using the door. "Dango tomorrow night?" he questioned opening the door.

Yuzuki smiled. "You've got yourself a date, Hatake."