Freefall (Kakashi HatakeXOC Part1)

Surprises

I let out a yawn as I sit upright and pull my hair out of my face. By now, it's been about a year since we lost Obito. Minato has helped me move past those feelings, which I was thankful for. 

Though today I should be happy, it was my birthday. I didn't really feel all that happy, kind of bored actually. Birthdays weren't something I particularly cared for, they were never fun and always gloomy. And on the other hand, I haven't had any fun on birthdays since my mother died. 

I throw the blanket off to the side and take my time getting up from bed. My muscles were aching from training a lot lately. Minato had us practicing for three days with hardly any breaks. It wasn't as if I didn't mind the training, I just would have liked more time to catch my breath. 

With another yawn, I left my room and trudged to the kitchen. I saw Kakashi was already there, he was seated at the small table. There was a paper in his hand he was reading from, and a small stack of more papers in front of him. 

I walked past him and started looking through the cabinets for something I was in the mood to eat. We didn't have much food, which was okay, especially considering it was just us two and neither of us have eaten much lately. I was hoping I could find something fast then go back to my room, I wasn't really in the mood to talk right now. All I wanted to do was eat, then go take another nap. But, I couldn't have been that lucky, because Kakashi asks,

"What do you want for your birthday?"

I glance at him, but keep looking around,

"Nothing, you don't have to get me anything." 

I spotted a box of crackers and decided that I didn't want this conversation to go on anymore, so it looks like I'm having crackers for breakfast. Great. Grabbing the box, I closed the cabinet and started my retreat back to my room. I would have been in the clear, if not for Kakashi saying,

"Well, Minato-Sensei already got you something. It's too late for nothing."

I stopped in my tracks and turned around to look at him,

"Do you know what it is?"

He shakes his head, his attention was still on his papers,

"Not a clue, but he did want to see you when you weren't busy,"

Kakashi looks up from his paper,

"And it doesn't seem like you're doing anything important right now." 

I groan, I was hoping to spend the day inside, but I guess that's not gonna happen. 

~

"I want her to experience the things she never has before, Kakashi. Do you understand?" the Third asks and Kakashi nods slightly. He replies, 

"Hai, Lord Third. I'll get to work right away."

"Good, I've got high hopes for this, I'm counting on you. You're dismissed."

Kakashi turns to leave the office, as he gets to the door, the Hokage adds, 

"Kakashi, I know you want to fulfill your promise to Obito. But, there is a limit to how much you can do for her."

Kakashi opens the door and replies,

"I understand that, but I want to do what I can." 

~

My feet were killing me, I met up with Minato a couple of hours ago. But all we've done is walk around the village in circles. 

"What are we doing Mina-Sensei? We've been walking forever!" That came out more as a whine, which is kind of what I was hoping for.

He looks down at me with a smile on his face,

"Don't worry, we're heading back to your apartment now. If you're feeling tired, I'll carry you the rest of the way."

"Yes, please," Hey, if he was offering I'm not gonna pass up a chance to get off my feet for awhile. 

Our walk slows to a stop and Minato stoops down on one knee. Ah, so he's going for the piggy-back approach, wonderful. I wrap my arms around his neck and he puts his hands on the back of my legs, you know, just below my butt. He stands up straight again, and I wrap my legs around him.  As he starts walking, I can't help but bring up one hand to twirl some of his blonde hair around my fingers. He didn't seem to mind.

I lay my head on his shoulder and close my eyes, my mind wanders back to what my life was like before I met him. I used to live with my parents, well, that was before Okuri was forced inside of me. My mother was only one of the many victims of my fathers' twisted mind. I'm glad he's gone, I'd hope he's rotting in hell right about now. 

I remember wandering around in a forest, I was lost, with no one to look after me. I was out there for a long time, so I was forced to learn to live on my own. But, a little over two years prior to now, Minato had found me, and took me to the Hidden Leaf. 

He's taken me, a complete stranger and freak, under his wing to care and look out for. I'm so grateful to him for that, I probably would have died out there if I was alone any longer. Silence is golden, as people say. But too much of it can drive someone mad, which is almost what happened to me. Minato has steered me away from that dark path I was so close to going down. He's already set me in the right direction, given me friends, and most importantly, he's given me a home. 

~

We soon arrived at the apartment, Minato sets me on my feet. I go to open the door, but he stops me and says,

"Today is your birthday, Keira, and I wanted you to have some fun." 

I shoot him a puzzled look and reply,

"Okay?"

He then nods towards the door, I open it and we step inside. There was a sweet scent in the air, which was quite enticing might I add. I looked around, something was different, well, other than the lights being off. Walking forward slowly, I nearly had a heart attack from people jumping out and yelling,

'Surprise!' 

I was pretty much clinging to Minato's arm, I'll admit it, they scared me more than anything. Minato laughs quietly at my behavior, then says,

"It's alright, Keira. I invited all of your friends over so you could enjoy today." 

I let go of him,

"Oh, sorry about that then." 

"There's no need for that. Now, go, have some fun,"

Minato puts a hand on my back and pushes me towards the others. Normally, I'd back out of a group situation right then. But I was getting used to the idea of these people being my friends, and it made me happy. 

Looking around the group, I noticed there actually wasn't very many people here. There was Kakashi, Rin, Kurenai, Asuma, Gai, Kushina, and Iruka. Iruka was still kind of new to me, but he's still friendly nonetheless.

Gai slings an arm over my shoulders and pulls me into the group, everyone crowded around me. Truth be told, it was kind of suffocating, yet at the same time it was kind of...nice.

If I had known all these people would have been my friends a few years prior to now, I wouldn't change a thing about it. 

The rest of the day went by too fast, but I didn't mind. Some of the things they got me included a new weapons pouch, one of Minato's specially marked kunai, a necklace, and a long red scarf. I tried telling Minato I couldn't accept his kunai, but he insisted I take it. Kakashi was the one who gave me the scarf, he said I looked good with it on.

I'll admit, I had a lot of fun that night. It was the most fun I'd had in years.