Struck: A Kakashi Hatake Fanfiction

Chapter Fourteen: "The Night We Met" Lord Huron

A scream. My chidori. Deep green eyes spilling tears. I jolted awake, finding myself in an empty bed. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. It was a dream I'd had a thousand times...but this was different; it wasn't Rin but Emiko that died by my hands. And I wasn't sure what that meant...

The bathroom door opened and the blonde kunoichi came to join me on the bed.

"You okay?" she asked as she sat down next to me. She pulled her knees to her chest and tilted her head to study my face.

"Hmm?"

"You just look..." she trailed.

I gave her a wink. "I'm fine," I said.

I'd spent the day following up on my contacts from yesterday, trying to see if I could find anyone that had any information on them. Everyone I'd spoken with had seemed a little too tight lipped for my liking. If Emi wasn't able to get any leads, we were going to have to go check out this Konton whether I liked it or not. I was staring at the bowl of food in front of me, not feeling especially hungry. My mind had been restless all day.

Rin...I never thought anyone would come into my life that could rival my memory of her. No one had ever even come close. Of course that's because I'd never let any one get close... not until Emi. I sighed. It was all beginning to give me a headache. I think we're spending too much time together, damn you Tsunade. Last night we didn't even...we just talked. I had hoped that after we'd gotten it out of our system that night, she wouldn't be on my mind so much. But I just feel so...at ease when I'm with her.

With Rin...we never got any time... But it's not as if I deserve another chance...

I need you today, Obito. Minato sensei. Father. All these years and I still don't know how to live without them.

After I finished eating, I took a stroll down the road, trying to clear my head. It was chilly today, it feels like the winter is settling in on us now. I was passing by an alley when I heard my name.

"Kakashi!"

I turned around and saw Emi, her face looked pained and my body stiffened in worry. She was cradling something in her arms and a streak of blood was dripping down her pants.

"I—I didn't know what to do with him," she cried as I closed the distance between us. "He's hurt...and—" The puppy in her arms gave a yelp when she moved to show him to me. I exhaled in relief and my body relaxed, at least this is something I can actually fix.

"Let's get back to the inn," I said as I guided her in that direction. She nodded, the panic in her eyes starting to ease.

XXXXX

I gently laid the dog down on the towel Kakashi had placed on the bed. The pup's honey brown eyes never left me for an instant. I didn't have any idea how to help this dog, but when I saw him lying there...I just knew I couldn't leave him. My father would be scolding me right about now.I know we're on a mission but... Kakashi doesn't seem to mind.

He did a quick summoning jutsu and a small pug appeared before us. "I didn't know your summons were dogs," I said in surprise.

He shrugged. "You never asked. But this little guy is in luck," he said as he turned to the new dog.

"Pakkun, we need some supplies." He moved closer to the injured pup and gently inspected his leg. "Looks like a broken leg, but he's also got a deep laceration here as well."

"On it, Kakashi," Pakkun said before he disappeared in a puff of smoke. He reappeared moments later and the two set to work on the pup. I sat on the bed behind the little guy and rubbed his ears, cooing softly when he cried.

An hour later, the pup was bandaged and curled into my lap as I stroked his short sandy fur.

"It's kind of funny," I started. Kakashi brought his attention up from his book. "Ryoto and I always wanted a dog, but we moved around so much our parents never let us have one. And now this little guy shows up and...I really don't know why I even brought him back with me. I'm sorry, Kakashi."

"It's no trouble, really I'm glad we could help him. Besides, he seems to have taken a liking to you. You know if you want, we can send him on with Pakkun later, just until we get back to Konoha. Maybe the pack can train him to be your ninken," he said with a crooked grin, sending a flutter through my chest. Will I ever grow tired of that devilishly handsome face of his?

"Never would have pegged you for a dog guy, Hatake," I answered with a smile of my own.

XXXXX

I should leave or at least move over to the chair. But I can't seem to find the will to move her head from my shoulder. She was in my room after all. We'd been going over what we'd found out about our contacts that day, which turned out to be nothing, when she dozed off.

The puppy—Yuuta she called him—was curled in a ball at the base of her neck, squeezed into the space between our bodies. He was letting out the tiniest little snores.

When I saw her carrying that pup... She acts tough, but she's got the biggest heart. And the sweetest goddamn lips...

She stirred awake after a few minutes and yawned. Yuuta nuzzled into her neck further.

"Here little guy," she said as she gingerly lifted and cradled him in her arms. "Sorry, Hatake. Didn't mean to fall asleep on you." Her cheeks were tinged a light pink and her hair was mussed when she sat up. "We'll head to my room and let you be," she said as she made to stand.

"Emi," I said sitting up.

She turned her head to face me, but I didn't have words. With one hand I pulled her face to mine and gently pressed my lips to hers. Her fingers trailed softly down my bare cheek as she returned my kiss, her touch raising the hairs on the back of my neck. Our lips parted, but neither of us pulled away; I was lost in the depths of her eyes.

Her lips curved into a sweet smile. "You know...you're not what I expected, Kakashi of the Sharingan."

XXXXX

He gave me a smirk in response. "Well, you're exactly what I expected, little Emiko Akiyama."

"And what's that?" I feigned offense.

"Trouble," he grumbled.

I let out a laugh and punched his shoulder.