Among the Flowers
Among the flowers, Izumi felt safe. With the familiar presence of the silver-haired by her side, she felt completely at peace, as though there could come no harm to her. His hand lay by her side softly, fingers twitching every once in a while when he moved or spoke. His chest rose and lowered in tranquility, a sharper breath rushing past his lips every once in a while. Izumi found their meetings comforting.
The revelation of her sensei was playing in her mind over and over again as Izumi tried to make sense of the entire situation. Her sensei, a Jinchuuriki, more specifically, the Jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tails. Unbelievable. A tailed beast, sealed inside a woman so loving, so fierce? Izumi shook her head at the thought. The tailed-beast knowing for its hatred was living in a woman constantly emitting kindness everywhere she went. The contrast was absurd and at the same time fitting. What better to fight anger with then kindness, after all.
Kakashi peered over at his friend, only to notice her far-away expression. "What are you thinking about?"
Izumi startled at his sudden question, choking on the air she was breathing. The brunette sat up quickly, coughing and pounding her fist on her back, cheeks burning red in embarrassment. When she could feel another hand join her own, patting her back, she felt even more embarrassment climbing up her neck.
"Are you okay?"
She waved him off, sending him an awkward smile. "Just fine. You caught me by surprise, that's all."
Kakashi looked at her warily, but didn't comment on it. Instead, he laid back down again, staring up at the blue sky again. "So, what were you thinking about?"
Izumi let out a small sigh and mirrored his action, unconsciously scooting closer to the silver-haired. "Many things."
"Tell me then."
She knew she couldn't tell him about what she had thought, it was a secret, after all. She herself wasn't even supposed to know and while she did indeed tell Kakashi everything, it was something she couldn't share with him.
"I'm glad Chihiro, Obito and Rin are also Chuunin now," That was no lie, Izumi truly was glad that the three of them had managed to become Chuunin. "Now we can get higher ranked missions, that's pretty great."
"Finally. I can't do another C-Rank mission," Kakashi peeked at his friends, his brows furrowing. "But weren't you with your team on a B-Rank mission already?"
Izumi nodded. "Yeah," Their escort mission. The mere thought of it sent a shiver down her spine, making her shiver involuntarily. "Wasn't our greatest mission, to be honest."
"What even happened during the mission?" Kakashi only knew that once Team Eleven had returned, they were all injured and immediately brought to the Konoha hospital. While Izumi had stayed there only for several days (on each he visited at least once), her teammate Chihiro on the other hand had to be hospitalized for a longer time.
"We were ambushed and then attacked. I don't really remember much of it," When Izumi spoke, she wore the far-away look on her features again, making Kakashi think that the mission was what she had been thinking about. "I got stabbed somewhat during the fight, and then I passed out. When I woke up, Sen healed me. The fight is rather blurry. I think I used Mud Release several times but … I'm not sure."
Kakashi sucked in a breath. "I'm just glad that you are okay."
Izumi couldn't help but smile at his admission. "Were you worried about me?" She teased, turning towards him with a smirk playing on her lips.
He didn't play into her teasing and instead remained serious. "I'm always worried about you, Izu."
His sincere tone made Izumi's heart feel heavy. "You don't have to be. I'll always be fine. Just like I promised you."
"You won't ever lose me, Kashi, I promise you." Izumi's voice wavered, and her bottom lip quivered slightly.
"How do you know that, Izu?" Kakashi's voice cracked yet again, this time more severe.
Izumi looked at him determinedly, cerulean eyes glossed. "I'll make sure you won't. I'll fight tooth and nail to make sure. I will never leave you."
"I remember."
"Do you think you can promise the same? That you'll never leave me, Kashi?" Izumi couldn't even bear the thought to lose him. To her, Kakashi was so precious, someone she held in her heart dearly. He was on her mind, in her thoughts and a constant presence in a life ever since they met over eight years ago. Suddenly not having him in her life anymore, the presence of his gravity-defying silver hair and dark charcoal eyes would leave a lasting damage, something she felt as though she could never recover from.
"I can try."
Izumi frowned. "Not try, but do." Even if it was a lie, he needed to tell her, she needed to hear those words. For once, she wouldn't mind him lying.
Kakashi stayed quiet for another moment, mulling over in his thoughts how he was going to formulate his reply. "I will do my best." He replied in all honesty, his eyes reflecting the same sentiment.
"I'm also always worried about you," began Izumi. "And with you taking the Jounin exams soon, I can't help but worry. Mom and dad are also worried. They don't want you to overdo yourself."
Several times already, had the two Yamanakas expressed their worries over Kakashi's progression as a Shinobi. While each time he had come over for dinner, training or a sleepover they had praised him to no end, showering him with all the affection and adoration they could give him, concern for him always lingered in their blue and green gazes. He had noticed it already when they carefully proded about his own and Izumi's mission or told him to be careful each time they saw him off.
"Tell them that they don't have to worry about me. I will pass the exam with ease."
Izumi gave him a pointed look. "You know, that's now what they are worried about, Kashi."
"I know." He shuffled on his spot in the grass, angling his body more towards his friend.
"Once you pass the exam, which I know you most definitely will, just make sure to stay safe."
"I will."
"Good. That's all I need to hear," Izumi angled herself towards him, giving him a broad grin in response. "That reminds me, I wanted to ask, how is Pakkun doing?"
Just last week, when they had trained together, Pakkun had joined their session. He had settled himself at the side of the training ground, his still too-big head settled onto his small pink paws stretched out before him. With a lazy expression he stretched out his hind legs also stretched out comfortable. In remembrance of one of their first meetings, Izumi had brought him more than just one piece of steak to munch on. She had reasoned the excessive amount of food by arguing that 'a pup like him needed to eat whatever he could'. The response had delighted the dog, who yepped in happiness, meanwhile his owner scowled a little, keeping himself from scolding his friend for pampering his ninken.
"Pakkun asked me to ask you to bring him more steak."
Izumi snorted at that. "He did what now?"
"I think the steak he got from you last week wasn't enough." Kakashi couldn't help but think back at the mountain of steak been presented to his ninken, which apparently 'wasn't enough'.
"I see," mused Izumi. "I will bring him more."
Kakashi let out a small laugh. "Should I be worried that you prefer Pakkun over me?"
"I mean, he is a dog, Kashi. How can I not resist his adorableness?"
He frowned at that, turning away from his friend in mock hurt.
"I'm kidding," giggled Izumi, gaze trained on the sky. "You are my favorite and always will be."
For a moment, Kakashi merely stared at the girl beside him, his gaze fixated on her. He wasn't sure why he was doing so or what led him to be fixated by her, but he knew he didn't mind. The way her chest fell and rose again with every breath and the way her short hair was picked up by the soft wind, partially resting on her gentle features, all reeled him in. Once she turned her head to face him, he quickly looked away, acting as though he hadn't just stared at her.
What he failed to notice was how Izumi, too, stared at the silver-haired when he kept his gaze on the cloud-filled sky above. She was mesmerized by the sight of him, entranced. Before he could catch her, she turned her head away, mirroring his position, to also look up at the sky.
Izumi couldn't help but wonder whether Kakashi had always been that pretty.
Yeah, probably.