"You? I-It's not possible."
I stared at the figure towering over my form, as the breeze made my hair cover part of my face.
Despite it blocking my view, I knew that what I was seeing was real. I looked up, meeting green eyes that I knew so well.
I heard a laugh, a very familiar laugh as how I've heard it long ago. Yet, this time, the sound of his laughter was deeper but it still held so much meaning to me. I felt my eyes water as I shakily stood up beside Kakashi. It looked too real, too real to be true. I've dreamt of this day ever since he left six years ago, and here he is, standing in front of me. I smiled, letting fresh tears flow freely down my cheeks.
"Ani! [Big brother]" I threw myself forward, as he held out his arms. The warmth of his laughter rang in my ears as he hugged me back.
"Imouto [Little sister]. For a minute there, I thought you have forgotten all about your big brother." he said.
"It's been a long time." I let go of him as he wiped my tears, turning to face Kakashi. Kakashi gave a curt nod as he stuck out his hand.
"Ichiro, it's good to see you again."
Ichiro smiled, taking his hand.
"When did you get back from Kumogakure?" Kakashi asked as his hand went back to his side.
"Earlier today, I had to send in my reports to Sandaime-sama."
Kakashi nodded.
Ichiro's eyes scanned Kakashi, then turned to look at me as a chilling smile formed on his lips.
"So, are you two together now?"
My eyes widened in shock when I surpried myself by blushing. I smacked his shoulder, earning another mischievious smile. "Ichi! You know that Kakashi is my best friend!"
He waved his hands. "Okay, no need to get defensive."
I rolled my eyes.
Kakashi took a short glance at my brother before saying: "Hey, why don't you go get the kids? I'll meet you at Ichiraku."
Realization dawned on my face when I remembered the genins. "Oh, okay. See you there." I gave a little wave as I jogged towards the meeting place.
I waited until the form of my sister started to fade before I turned to look at Kakashi. I caught his eye as I sighed.
"You know why I'm here right?"
He nodded, taking a book from his back pocket.
"Sandaime-sama told you everything?" I asked, stuffing my hands into my pockets.
He lifted his gaze for a moment before answering: "Yes. Is she aware of what is happening?"
I shook my head, looking towards the direction Maemi took off to. "No, she doesn't and I hope she never will."
He flipped a page, "So that's why Tsunade-hime came here to heal her, despite the fact that we have many skilled medical-nin?"
"Yes, she left when I arrived." I answered.
"How dangerous can she be?"
"Very. That's why I'm here incase something happens. You didn't tell her anything right?" I asked, taking a cigarette and lighting it.
He shook his head, "No, but I don't like keeping things from her."
I smiled, taking a drag as I observed him. "That isn't the only thing you've been hiding from her."
My words seem to have affected his steady breathing as he directed his attention towards me. I smiled, looking at the colors in the sky, nightfall was coming fast. I threw my used cigarette on the ground, crushing it with my ninja sandals.
"Don't worry Kakashi, she'll be fine. As long as she won't drive attention to herself and that nobody finds out." I reassured as we went our separate ways.
"Hey Maemi-sama, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked as I approached them.
"Kakashi invited me to come with you guys."
She smiled, giving out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad! Finally, another girl to be with."
I nodded, turning to look at Naruto and Sasuke. "Well, hello there little men." Naruto frowned while Sasuke's eye seemed to twitch.
"Hey! I'm not little! Believe it!"
"Hn."
I sighed, patting their heads and plopping down on the chair.
"Hey Maemi-sama?" I heard Naruto's voice.
"Yes?"
"Why do you look so beat up?"
I twitched. "That's because your sensei and I were sparring."
"Oh, did you win?"
"No Naruto, I didn't."
Silence seemed to slowly pass by.
"But you're a jounin ranked medical-nin, right Maemi-sama?" Sakura seemed to enter our conversation.
"No Sakura, I'm not. I was and still am a jounin. But I'm only a chuunin ranked medic-nin." I mumbled.
Sakura pondered for a moment before nodding, she seemed to have understood. Naruto scratched his head. "I don't get it."
I heard a TWACK!, I turned to look at Sasuke hitting Naruto.
"Idiot! It means that she really didn't go for the medical field."
Naruto glared at Sasuke before looking at me questioningly. "So, why did you become a medic-nin?"
I sighed, my highly trained ears caught the sound of Sakura scolding Naruto about minding his own business.
I smiled. "No, don't worry about it Sakura. I'm willing to share my story as long as you keep this between us."
"And what if we don't?"
I smirked, looking Sasuke straight in the eyes. "I'm gonna have to kill you."
He looked looked down, avoiding the peircing look I gave him, as Sakura and Naruto laughed
strangely, obviously oblivious about the identity of the kunoichi in front of them. I laughed suddenly, catching them off guard.
"No, seriously. I was such a baby when I was younger. My parents treated me like a princess. It seemed that they were content that their eldest son was a very favorable shinobi." I started, seeing the three of them scoot closer.
I smiled.
"So, being the spoiled child that I was, I really didn't care about anything other than myself. My parents loved me so much, yet, I felt very jealous of my big brother. Whenever he would come back from a successful mission, my parents would praise him. I guess that was when I realized I had chakra, the only thing that separates us from the normal villagers. My parents didn't approve of me wanting to become a kunoichi but I insisted. They would go on such a long speech of wanting their little girl to be such a lady, but I ignored them."
I sighed, catching my breath as I scanned the faces of the genins.
"So, without them knowing, my brother would train me. I was a fast learner, and he made me feel proud of myself." I paused, giving off a small laugh. "And they never really had a choice when I started going to the academy. I was an okay student, not the best, seeing as Kakashi was the top of our class. I became a chuunin a year after him and we became jounin at the same time."
"It must feel great to be a jounin, Maemi-sama. To know that you have achieved a lot and to not fear about anything."
I smiled at Sakura. "Yeah, it does feel good, but I'm not a brave girl Sakura. Despite gaining many skills and knowledge I may seem brave to those who know me, but I always fear that I might not come home..."
I looked up for a moment before speaking.
"But the thing I fear most is that I might never see those who are close to my heart ever again. Of course, like every experienced kunoichi, I have lost a lot of people who I used to care so much about and I always hope that no one else would be next."
They kept quiet, seemingly pondering on what I just recounted.
"So, returning to our topic. I was more of a fighter than a healer, in my time during the great ninja war, each team had to have a medical ninja, they wanted me to do it seeing as I had potential but I refused. We were the only team without an official medic-nin, but I was still healing my team. After that, I was recruited to join the black ops and I guess, that's really what I wanted to do."
I sighed, whispering the last sentence.
"And then one day, everything just stopped. I had an accident. Well, not really an accident, we had to chase a missing nin from Konoha and eliminate him. He was strong, one of the strongest we've ever had and I was reckless. I attacked without any real consent and defied the commands of our captain. In the end, I almost died. I was in a comma for about two months. Hence, Sandaime-sama didn't want to take any risks and dismissed me from the ANBU."
I looked at their faces, keeping a smile on my face.
"Do you still wan't to be an ANBU Maemi-sama?" Naruto asked.
I sighed mostly to myself. "Not really Naruto. I guess I would follow Kakashi and probably train my own genins in the future."
Naruto gave me a big grin, catching me off-guard. "Don't worry Maemi-sama, when I'll become Hokage I'll make you anything you want. Believe it!"
I laughed, patting his head.
"Thank you, Naruto."
"That was very cute."
I raised an eyebrow and looked at the jounin in front of me. "When did you get here?"
He shrugged, pushing me over as he took my seat. "Just now."
I rolled my eyes taking the seat beside him as we ordered.
I smiled as we waited for our orders, Sakura and Naruto was arguing about something and Sasuke looked bored. I turned to look at Kakashi as his eye scanned his book.
I blushed.
I looked away almost instantly, fearing the emotion that shocked my entire system.
I groaned, slamming my head on the bar. I heard a book snapping shut and felt Kakashi's hand on my back. I lifted my head just a little, to look at him with my eye.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I mumbled.
"I know you far too well to let that pass by as nothing."
I rolled my eyes, poking his forehead protector. "Girl problems."
He grimaced jokingly as our food arrived.
