My Next Door Neighbour (Kakashi x OC)

10 // The River

❗tw: there is some fairly mild but kinda graphic blood/injury mention in this chapter❗

By late afternoon, we are well on our way to the Northern border.

As it turns out, all of Hiro's family are merchants and he's the eldest of three children, having only started contributing to the family business two years ago when he turned eighteen. His family sell weapons, more specifically swords, and only of the highest quality craftsmanship. However, for a wealthy merchant Hiro is quite humble. Even his attire of silky, blue robes lacks the usual ornamentation that someone of his high status would usually have to show off their grandeur.

We settle for the night in a small clearing, making a campfire at the center and setting up two tents next to it; Saki and I in one of them and Jourin with Hiro in the other.

"We should reach the river by late morning tomorrow," states Saki, looking over a map in the fire light. "After that it should only take us another two hours until the border."

"Excellent! Everything is going according to schedule then!" exclaims Hiro optimistically.

"In the mean time we all need nutrients and rest," continues Saki, handing each of us one food pill. I swallow mine dry and find myself missing Kakashi's cooking, wishing I could have his french toast instead of this bland food pill.

And then I think of Mara and how Kakashi is with her and taking care of her, just as he had taken care of me when I first got back to Konoha. I bet he's made her pancakes and she's eating it right now.

With a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, I excuse myself and head to bed in silence, thoughts of Kakashi and my sister still swimming through my head.

☆☆☆☆☆

The following morning when I leave the tent, I find that the grass is covered in dew and that the end of a light mist is slowly lifting from the forest.

Jourin is already awake and gives me a fresh cup of tea as we sit around the early morning campfire. We are shortly joined by Hiro, already dressed with his bag packed and over one shoulder as he seats himself.

"Did you sleep alright?" I ask them, sipping my tea.

"Surprisingly well! I don't normally go camping," replies Hiro. Jourin nods in agreement, smiling at Hiro's excitement.

Once Saki wakes up, we each take a food pill before finishing tea and packing up our belongings and the tents, ready for another day of walking.

After thirty minutes of trecking, we reach the edge of a gorge. Over the rocky cliffs lies the roaring river, the water gushing and swirling quickly downstream.

"There's only one bridge across, we'll have to be careful though because these parts are known for bandits," declares Saki as she analyzes the map while we walk. "Hiro, I think it's best if Jourin carries your bag. If we are attacked by bandits, you're the most likely to be targetted and if anything bad does happen we would still be able to deliver the parcel," she adds.

Both of them obey her without question before we continue to the bridge.

When we finally reach it, my stomach lurchs. A thick fog has settled above the water, envelopping the rope bridge and hiding the other side of the gorge.

Jourin tentatively steps onto the first wooden planks of the bridge. The wood cracks unnervingly under his weight, but doesn't snap and he proceeds across, the bridge creaking and swaying as he slowly edges forwards.

Saki and Hiro follow, as do I, albeit a bit reluctantly as I look down at the spiraling mist below. We keep walking.

By now, the fog has completely surrounded us, and it brings with it a heavy and ominous silence, only broken by the sound of the rushing water below.