Can We Love

As it turns out, sneaking into the building was much harder than we originally thought.

For Kakashi?

Easy peasy.

For me?

I’m not much of a ninja.

I had brought Kakashi to the window of my original escape, dodging servants left and right.

He had raised his eyebrow at the tree.

I just shrugged and pointed to the window. 

“How did you not break your neck?” Kakashi asked in disbelief. 

“I’d like to say skill.” I replied, eyeing the window distastefully. 
   
“Who’s there?” A scared voice called, I recognized it as Lisa, and a head popped out of the window.

“Lisa? Oh my god! You’ve gotta help me!” I called her and Kakashi moved closer to me in a form of protection.

It seemed unconscious on his part, but I was acutely aware.

Lisa went quiet for a second, then disappeared from the window. Then she reappeared. 

“I’ve locked the door My Lady! And I requested no one come in as I pack your things. You are safe to climb up now."

I smiled gratefully at her and nodded, looking to Kakashi for help.

Kakashi slipped his arm under my legs and behind my back before propelling us up to the window.

I quickly covered my mouth to muffle a surprised yell. Slipping through the window Kakashi placed me down on the solid ground gently, looking around the room with mild interest. 

Lisa practically ran to me.

“My Lady! The Headmistress is furious! Drake demanded you be turned over to him as soon as you came by! My Lady, I fear your mother will annul the marriage to sell you to Lord Chiza!” Lisa cried fearfully.

I gasped, appalled.

Chiza was a fat old man who controlled a large portion of land just west of here. He had once asked for my hand but wasn’t willing to pay my mother the requested amount. 

“Your mother sounds like a real piece of work.” Kakashi said, glancing around the empty room.

Due to my mother's interference, I had nothing personal within the room.

Just the things she wanted, like dresses and jewelry. 

“Not like your place is any better. There’s nothing there but furniture.” I grumbled, slightly embarrassed with the scrutiny.

Kakashi chose not to respond. 

“My Lady, I have all your stuff packed, but your Mother has destroyed a good portion of it.” Lisa said worriedly. 

“Destroyed? What more could she do?” I scoffed.

Lisa worried her bottom lip. 

“She was in a fit of rage at your disappearance.” Lisa whispered, walking over to the other side of the bed.

She pulled out one of my favorite dresses, it was a simple green sewn with pretty gold thread.

Except it wasn’t how I left it.

Gasping I ran to the shredded fabric. 

“What did she do? Turn into a demon and her nails to claws?” I joked, trying to stuff down my disappointment.

Shaking my head I threw the dress on the bed.

“Lisa, I’m just here for my stuff. You said you were boxing it?”

I turned to the girl and she nodded, pushing out three boxes. 

“This is all that's left.” She said and I nodded.

Kakashi walked over and performed a sealing jutsu, making the boxes disappear.

I hugged Lisa one last time before making my way to the window with Kakashi. 

“Lisa? Why is this door locked?” Drake called from the other side, his voice slightly muffled by the wood. 

“Go!” Lisa cried and it was at that moment Drake kicked the door in.

Surprised, I froze, Kakashi standing in front of me protectively. 

“There you are! Your mother isn’t pleased with you (Y/N), she wishes to speak with you.”

I shivered at his sharp tone.

I always hated Drake, he reminded me too much of a warden.

I remember, vaguely, all the times he locked me in my room, no lights, no food, no love. Or the other times his grip was too bruising, or his lips to sneered. 
 
I flinched back as he stomped closer, curling into myself.

“Lisa go get the Lady.” Drake demanded, and I knew Lisa would follow his orders.

He held too much power to disobey.

Lisa hesitantly left the room and I watched her go.

Drake sneered. 

“The incompetence.” He said, shaking his head.

There was a glint in his cruel eyes that I recognized. 

"No! Leave Lisa alone!" I cried, terrified for the poor girl.

Drake turned his sneer to me and Kakashi. 

"Well it certainly didn't take long for you to whip this man into your faithful dog." Drake drawled, an evil smirk curling at the edges of his perpetual sneer. 

"Didn't take my mother long either. Guess it runs in the family." I bit back.

I wanted to leave, but if I went before speaking to my mother, then Lisa would pay for it.

Kakashi placed a hand on my shoulder. 

"Let's go." He urged.

Watching Drake intently.

But I shook my head. 

"I'm not a little girl anymore Drake. You can't do anything to me anymore." 

"Why? Because you kissed a man while wearing white? Because he touched you? You think that makes you a big girl? Think that makes you strong?" He laughed cruelly.

"It doesn't! You're still the same little girl disturbing the Lady and cowering under my boot!"

Rage flared in my chest and I curled my hands into fists.

Kakashi tried to step further in front of me but I placed a hand on his chest, shaking my head. 

"There you are, you wretched child! I have half a mind to sell you to Lord Chiza!" Mother screamed, barreling into the room.

"What were you thinking? Ditching the wedding! Do you know how embarrassing it was? That I can't control my own child." She spat the words like poison in her mouth, though I suppose it had worked its way into her bloodstream long ago. 

"Just like that useless father of yours! You no good for nothing-" 

"It was my fault. I apologize, your daughter was merely going along with my whims." Kakashi smoothly interrupted, effectively silencing my mother.

Drake eyed him in contempt.

Mother sniffed and looked away.

"My daughter is a prestigious young lady, you will do well to remember that." She said, almost completely hiding her growl.

She looked back at me, eyes sharp. But then they widened and she was striding forward too fast for me to react. 

"What is that! Is that that piece of trash your father gave you? I thought I had that removed years ago!" She screeched, eyes burning.

Jealousy curled at her nose in an ugly way, ruining her perfectly crafted face. 

"You insolent little brat! Your father always did treat you better than you deserved, giving you something like that! I had to wonder if you became his new toy and he was rewarding you with a pretty collar!" She spat viciously and I gasped, scandalized at her accusations.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Kakashi reach for me, but Drake got in the way.

While I was busy paying attention to Kakashi I didn't notice my mother reach up and snatch the necklace from my neck, breaking the delicate chain. 

"No!" I cried, lunging for it.

Mother stepped back, an enraged scream working its way from her chest.

I saw her hand come up and I braced myself for the pain.

But the pain didn't come.

Instead, Kakashi stood between us, holding her wrist in an unforgiving grip.

I saw Mother flinch but Kakashi seemed to ignore it.

Mother held the necklace to her chest protectively, but Kakashi was undeterred, ripping the necklace from her grasp. 

"Mah, she is my wife now. I would appreciate it if you watched your tone with her." Kakashi’s voice was light, but the undertone was fierce.

Mother wrenched her wrist from his grasp and Kakashi let it go. 

"She is my daughter you-" 

"Not anymore. You gave her to me. She's mine now, and I don't appreciate you trying to change that. Tell Lord Chiza he missed his chance."

Then Kakashi turned from her, giving me the necklace before swooping me up.

The next second, we were back in his apartment. He let me go and I fell to the couch, exhausted.

I watched Kakashi unroll a scroll and watched in awe as the boxes poofed into existence.

He picked the boxes up, most likely putting them in my room. I got up to follow him, both of us silent. 

I hadn't been to my new room yet. But I wasn't surprised to see it almost bare, only a bed and a desk in the room, just like the rest of the apartment.

Part of me was sad I wouldn't have anything personal to add to the room.

Kakashi started opening the boxes and putting the dress into the closet.

The silence was deafening, making it impossible to speak and impossible to bear.

Once he was done I expected him to leave, but instead, he just stood awkwardly.

Deciding enough is enough, I cleared my throat. 

"Look Kakashi…what happened back there…thank you." I finished lamely. Kakashi nodded and I clutched the broken necklace to my heart.

Then Kakashi was walking out of the room, his shoulders tense and a dark aura about him.

Sighing when the door fell shut I walked to the closet, pulling out a purple nightgown.

It was silky, a spaghetti strap that hung across my body loosely. It was cut at the sides, open for my legs to move around freely.

Somehow I had forgotten I was braless throughout the whole ordeal and I flushed at the thought.

Once all dressed I debated between putting on a new set of underwear or not, the sides of the white lace clearly showing through the slits of the silk gown.

Before I could decide the door burst open.

Attempting to cover myself I brought my arm to my chest and tried to pull the silk over my exposed hip.

Kakashi paused by the door, eye roving.

Then finally, his eye caught mine and we stared at each other.

I was caught in the way his eye darkened and his body tensed.

He strode forward and I fidgeted in anticipation.

He stopped a few inches from me and leaned down.

Fluttering my eyes closed I held myself tighter, breath quickening.

He brought his lips to my ear. 

"You made a rule remember?" His voice husky and making me shiver. 

'Fuck the deal!'

My body screamed and I felt myself trembling.

I reached out to touch him but his hand found mine. He turned it over and dropped something in my hand before walking away.

I couldn't see, but I would bet everything I have left that he was smirking devilishly.

Heat exploded across my cheeks and I fought the urge to scream.

Trembling, in embarrassment, rage, or arousal I couldn't be sure, or perhaps it was all three, I looked down to my hand.

Everything washed away, leaving a warm feeling aglow in my chest. 

In my hand, was a beaded silver chain with a dog tag hooked to it.

Softly examining the tag I couldn't help the giggle that ripped out of my throat.

The tag read 'WOLF' softly engraved into the metal. Under it was the occupation, 'ANBU' it read.

I traced the engraving with my nail, smiling at the words.

Then I walked to the desk where I had set my broken necklace down, and gently worked the charm from the broken silver, before sliding it onto the beaded chain of Kakashi’s dog tag.

Then I hooked the necklace on, wanting the comfort of the cool metal against my skin, before climbing into bed and letting sleep take me.