Uchiha Avenger

Chapter 21

"Are you sure that will be okay?" Kakashi asked as Ayame nodded, walking beside him.

She shivered slightly against the breeze as they stepped out the restaurant.

"We'll be back again, thanks for the food!" Ayame smiled over her shoulder, Guy falling beside them.

She crossed her arms and shivered, feeling a jacket on her back. She looked back at Kakashi who's vest was missing, realizing what he had done.

"I've told you before I don't need your help!" She snapped.

"You're cold." He commented.

"And I'll stay cold; I️ don't want anything from you."

"Why can't you just except friendly gestures and shut the hell up?" He snapped.

Ayame reached out to push him but he caught her wrist and pulled her face closer to him. He glared down at Ayame, earning an equally heated stare in return.

"Hey, Hey!" Guy pushed them apart. "We're all friends here."

"I'm not friends with him." She pointed to Kakashi. "He's done nothing to deserve my friendship."

"Except possibly save your sister's life! My reputation was affected by that and if I remember, you begged me for help!"

"I didn't need you, Dumbass! I used you!" She screamed.

"You won't even give me the chance to show you I've changed! You automatically assume things about me that aren't true! I'm not the same Kakashi you knew as a kid!"

"I'm not the same little girl you knew." She gritted her teeth.

"You may not be but your still weak." He stepped forward, Ayame stepping back. "You're scared of me and everyone else in the village because you're afraid we won't accept you. You may know all these jutsus and think you're strong but your weak!"

"I'm not weak!" She snapped, her hair rising along her back.

"You're weak mentally." He stated. Ayame roared, a bubbling chakra forming around her. As she lashed out for Kakashi he caught her arm.

"That's why you let that thing inside you constantly take you over."

The chakra faded from around her as she stared up at him. He had caused her reaction again, but this time Kakashi had stopped it as well.

"Go to hell." She gritted her teeth and turned. She was too enraged that she didn't even realize she was still wearing Kakashi's jacket until she got home.

As she laid down, trying to think back on her childhood memories about friends. She frowned, burying her face into her pillow.

Ayame ran home, sobbing softly in the confinement. She wiped her eyes quickly, hearing footsteps come around the corner. She looked up to see Manzo.

"Why are you crying?" He hummed, squatting down. Ayame fled to his arms, resting her head against his chest as she sobbed.

"I-I can't!" She wailed. "I don't know what I've done wrong-M-my friends keep laughing at me. They pour their milks on me and throw rocks at me and laugh at me and-and- Papa I'm tired of it!" She wailed.

"Ayame." He started, stroking the top of her head gently. "Lift your head."

She looked up slowly, feeling his thumb underneath her eye.

"Don't cry. Tears shouldn't be wasted over unworthy people who do nothing but bully and torment you. If you cry in their presence, it will only make them feel stronger and show they have an effect on you."

She nodded, rubbing her eyes until they were glossy and red.

"Now, look at me ." Ayame turned to meet his gentle gaze. "Those are not your friends. You say they throw things at you?"

"Rocks." She nodded. Manzo took her hand.

"Does anyone try to stop them?"

"There's a little boy...he's really smart." Ayame looked away. "He'll stop the rocks sometimes but he's never spoken to me. He'll scold them sometimes too and tell them to stop and most of the time they'll listen but..." she shook her head.

"Sakumo's Son?" Manzo whispered, looking back at Ayame. "Even though he has not spoken to you, hat boy shows more qualities of being your friend than anyone else at the academy. He's protected you multiple times and seems to be showing some form of concern towards you. Next time, make sure you thank him the next time you see him, okay?"

"Yes sir." She nodded.

"And Ayame." She looked up as he placed a hand on her head. "Don't let those kids knock you down. Remember who you are."

"Yes sir!" She beamed and leapt into his arms once more.

"Kakashi." Ayame sat up, looking around. It was morning and Sayakah was gone, leaving Ayame alone in the bed. She sat up and yawned.

Ayame got dressed and headed out, holding onto Kakashi's jacket as she walked.

Midway, she spotted his grey hair. Ayame slunk after him silently, following him until he had made it to a grave. She recognized it at Obito's, Rin's right beside it.

Ayame couldn't help but frown, watching as he stared down a the two graves.

"So this is where you go, huh?" She stepped forward, Kakashi looking back.

"Why are you here?" He turned back to the grave. Ayame fiddled with the jacket.

"I never did tell you thank you." She whispered. He looked back.

"For what?"

A breeze fell over them as Ayame chewed on her lip.

"For always looking out for me. Even last night when you...stopped me." She bowed her head. "Thank you for....for being my first friend."

"I won't pressure you into liking me." He turned. Ayame fell silent and as Kakashi began to look back he felt her arms wrap around him and her head against his back.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled. "You were right when you said I never gave you a chance, but now I'm ready to start over." She paused. "Will you give me another chance, Kakashi Hatake?"

Kakashi fell silent and as her grip loosened he turned. Ayame stared up at him as he smiled.

"I was your first friend?" He smirked.

"Why did you have to ruin it and be all cocky?!" Ayame yelled as he chuckled, tilting his head back.

He stuck his hand out.

"To a new friendship?"

"To a new friendship." Ayame shook his hand.