The Red String of Fate

Rinne Festival - Kakashi

The festival was beautiful, especially as it began to get dark. Paper moon lanterns were everywhere, lighting the booths and streets. Mizuka held onto his arm lovingly as he introduced her to people in the village, or as they spoke to old friends. It made his heart swell to see she that she was just as proud and happy to introduce herself as his wife as the night he proposed to her at the cherry blossom festival. Despite the difficulties of the of the first couple of weeks of her arrival, things seemed to be calming down for the moment. She seemed comfortable and happy to be back in Konoha. They looked at booths and talked and Kakashi pointed out things that had changed in the village. Until Tsunade approached them, drunk and in fill festival regalia, followed closely by Shizune holding Ton Ton. She came up and put Mizuka in a big bear hug.

"I'm so glad that you two made up! I was so worried I'd ruined your coming home, especially after you asked me to arrange everything so you could return to Konoha. Take good care of her, Kakashi. She's precious to me."

Tsunade kissed her on the cheek and walked off. Shizune quickly said hello and followed. Kakashi was speechless.

"You... asked to come back? I thought Tsunade asked you to come back because the Akatsuki were at large..."

He could see Mizuka turning bright red.

"Why wouldn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to put too much pressure on us to make this work. On you. I figured it would be easiest on both of us if the reason I came back wasn't us."

"You came back... for me?"

She spoke quietly.

"Yeah, I did."

He hugged her close, the guilt creeping in already.

"You shouldn't have given up your life in Tenchi for me, Z."

She looked up at him.

"I did it because I love you. And I'm ready now. I'm 30 and I want all of this with you."

She reached up on her tippy toes and kissed his lips gently, but he was too lost in thought to respond.

"Kakashi, you didn't make me give up anything. I'm here because I want to be here. I feel satisfied with my work in Tenchi and I'm ready to move on. To be your devoted wife in Konoha. I'm just sorry it took seven years to complete my nindo there."

He looked down at her; he couldn't help but smile.

'I hope you're not just saying that."

"I'm not. I love you so much."

He fell to his knees, embracing her. He felt her arms envelop him around his shoulders. She was home to stay.

***

As the festival was winding down for the evening, Kakashi and Mizuka stepped away from the crowd, walking along one of the blossoming tree-lined paths covered in paper lanterns. Other lovers sat along the path or strolled hand in hand, admiring the lanterns. Kakashi embraced his wife, speaking tenderly in her ear.

"Are you glad you're home?"

"Yes. I actually am. And I can't wait to start our own home together. We get to begin the next chapter of our love, and I'm so excited."

"You know, this reminds me a lot of the night I asked you to be my wife. Paper lanterns, blossoms, and that look in your eye you've always gotten at festivals."

"Probably because I find them romantic."

Kakashi led her to a bench under a blossoming peach tree, sitting down and pulling her onto his lap. She leaned back and put an arm around his shoulders, resting her head against his. He turned and pulled his mask down to his chin, kissing her softly and tenderly.