Struck: A Kakashi Hatake Fanfiction

Chapter Sixteen: "Moonrise" Wildwood

I stepped into the already bustling bar and glanced around, looking for an open seat. I shrugged out of my coat as I made my way to an empty table in the far corner, asking the bartender for a sake as I passed.

I'd just taken a sip of my drink when someone cleared their throat behind me.

"Care if I join you?" the Stone shinobi asked with a grin. He looked about my age, messy brown hair, handsome face.

"And you are?" I gave him an arched brow.

"Your date—Ichigo Hayashi," he said confidently as he slid into the seat across from me.

I shook my head and gave him a smirk. "I'm Emi."

"So Emi, what brings you to our village?"

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I was headed to grab some food and passed by Emi's door. My knuckles had almost reached the hard wood when I stopped myself, remembering the look she'd given me earlier. Maybe... I should just stick to my usual dinner-for-one tonight. I let my hand fall and continued down the hallway.

When I stepped back into the cool night I was instantly grateful for the warm miso I'd just enjoyed. I was strolling down the quiet street back towards the inn when I heard a familiar giggle ring through the night.I couldn't help but smile as my eyes darted in that direction. When I spotted her, Emi was just stepping out of a bar followed by a man—no, a shinobi.

He quickly took her by the hand and drew her towards himself as they stood in the street. A breeze blew by then and the hem of her long coat billowed in the night as she put a hand to his chest, saying something too quiet for me to hear. But by then, I no longer had the desire to listen to the voice that so recently began to haunt my dreams. An unfamiliar and unfriendly heat roiled deep in my chest. I turned away.

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"Touch me again and I'll slice that cocky grin right off your face," I said quietly with a pleasant smile, pressing the tip of kunai I'd hidden under my hand into his chest. I'd tolerated his advances until I'd secured the information I needed, but now, I'm fresh out of patience.

He chuckled. His smirk didn't fade but he did free my hand and step back. "My my, I've heard that Leaf Kunoichi have attitudes, but I'd hoped it was just rumor. How disappointing." He pursed his lips then. "Well I guess at least one of us got what they came for. Run along now, blondie. I'd hate to see your pretty face show up on a missing poster."

My eyes narrowed as he blew me a kiss before turning to leave. When I was finally alone, I exhaled and unclenched the fist at my side, stretching my fingers. I pulled my jacket tighter around my neck as the chill set in around me and set off towards the inn. I was ready to see Kakashi. Er...to fill him in, that is, so we can go scope out the warehouses Ichigo had told me about.I shook my head. Okay...Maybe I was also just ready to see him.

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I let out a sigh when I heard the soft knock on the door. I sauntered over and cracked it open. She was looking up at me with that damn smile and those eyes.

"Hey there, Hatake," she clucked.