My Next Door Neighbour (Kakashi x OC)

13 // Arrival of a friend

The next morning when I wake up, Hiro is still asleep on the futon beside me. He looks so peaceful and his breathing is deep and steady. He begins to wake up and peers up at me now, smiling.

"About last night," I begin. "It wasn't bad but it can't happen again. You've become a friend and we live two very different lives, so I think it would be for the best." I feel nervous but I need to address this elephant in the room.

The smile disappears from his face, but he doesn't seem upset. "That's understandable, I agree. I'm sorry for being so forward, but I think you're quite pretty." I let out a small sigh of relief as his tone remains kind and friendly, and his compliment is still quite flattering.

"Okay that's good, I'm really glad we're on the same page about this."

After getting ready, we head towards the dining room, where the sliding doors are opened onto the garden. On a long table in the center is a beautiful breakfast around which are seated Jourin and Saki as well as Hiro's family. His father Hirama sits at the head of the table. On one side are seated the children in order of age, Hiro beside his father. I am sitting in front of the youngest, Hiro's little sister Rika, and in the middle is their brother Hisoke.

Over breakfast, Saki fills me in on the current situation. A messenger pigeon arrived in the middle of the night from Konoha explaining that another ninja would be sent given the situation and the important package we will be transporting. We were not only delivering something but bringing something back as well...

It occurs to me that the meal feels very serious and other than the update that Saki gave me it is quiet. I find it odd for such a large group of people to sit in silence like this but I don't question it. At the end of the meal, we Konoha ninja thank our hosts for the meal and excuse ourselves as the others begin to get up as well.

Because of my injury, I spend most of the day resting, but thankfully being reunited with my comrades includes being with a medical ninja again. Jourin uses ninjutsu to help heal the wound and ease the pain, allowing me to head to the garden in the afternoon. Rika is seated on a bench weaving small clover flowers. I seat myself next to Saki in the sun and breathe in the fresh air, taking in the sight of the colourful garden.

Hiro comes out to join us and when he does his little sister runs up to him to give him the flower crown. Rika shows us all how to weave the flowers and gets us to make wreaths all afternoon, even Hisoke abides albeit a bit stubbornly.

As the sun sets, the garden turns golden and a cool night breeze sets in. The others head inside to avoid the cold and I find myself alone with Hiro, each of us with flowers in our hair.

"The flowers suit you," compliments Hiro. I smile at him.

"Likewise, the white flowers contrast well against your dark hair and robes," I tease in response. I pull my own green kimono closed a little tighter to stay warm against the breeze. Hiro moves beside me and the moon begins to rise as the last rays of sunshine fade over the horizon.

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.:Kakashi's POV:.

It was after 7am when I went to see the Hokage. I thought it only a little strange that I was being summoned at this time.

"I'm sorry to ask this of you on such short notice, but we have a group of shinobi in need of reinforcement. Nothing is dire at the moment, however they were to transport a specialized shinobi sword that many a nation would desire. One of the ninjas sent has been injured therefore you will be sent to ensure top security during the swords' transportation." Sarutobi's face becomes stern and shadowed.

"It is a risk to travel with an injured shinobi, but taking extra time for recovery risks the other nations discovering that we are transporting a powerful weapon. I hope you are able to work out a balance between the two."