Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

The classroom door quietly opened as two people came in. Iruka finished his instructions to the class before addressing the two who came in
Iruka~Kakashi, what brings you in?
Kakashi~A new academy student. Hokage wanted me to escort her around for a week or so. She uh…needs time to adjust…
Iruka~You must’ve just moved then? Uh…
Ann~Ann. Yes sensei. I don’t need an escort. I’m very capable.
She wore a bandaged mask, and her pink bow clip was the only thing that made her less scary
Kakashi~We already explained why I need to escort you
Ann~I don’t like being touched
Kakashi~You’re going to have to suppress it. Children your age likes physical affection and will hug you
Ann~I will break them
Iruka did his best to hide his mortification
Iruka~As if I don’t have enough special kids…Ann, go ahead and sit in that front empty seat on the far end. Hinata is shy, so she won’t bother you
Ann~Yes sensei
She followed his instructions. Once she was seated, Iruka did his best to whisper
Iruka~What the hell was that all about?!
Kakashi~A Chuunin was trying to help escort her down here first and she flipped him and broke his wrist. Hokage hopes that I can help assimilate her
Iruka~Then why is she not with the older kids? She’ll kill these guys
Kakashi~No, only break
Iruka~Kakashi!
Kakashi~We already explained she can’t kill anyone and that she can’t hurt anyone either outside of sparring exercises.

When recess came, ann waited for everyone to file out before she got up to follow. Kakashi was soon next to her
Ann~You don’t need to follow
Kakashi~my orders were clear
Ann~I don’t need protection
Kakashi~I know. I’m supposed to protect others from you
Ann~Very well…
Kakashi~You act much older than six
Ann~I used to live outside the village gates
Kakashi~You must be tired then, having to be this way
Ann~I don’t know what you mean
Kakashi~pity. Just sit and watch the other students a while
They sat together for a few minutes, just observing. Ann turned suddenly and almost struck another student had Kakashi not stop her
Kakashi~Ravi, now is not a good time to sneak up on me
Ann blinked a few times then broke free from his grasp
Ravi~We just wanted to make a new friend
Kakashi looked at her, then at Naruto, and finally Sasuke who was forced to join
Naruto~She looks ready to hurt us
Sasuke looked up and made eye contact with ann
Sasuke~More kill…
Ravi~A new sparring partner!
Ann~Let’s see
Kakashi~Ann!
She jumped off the table trying to kick Ravi, but she redirected ann and continued into a backhand. Ann blocked and then swung her over, mindful not to break anything this time around. Ravi still managed to land on her feet but at this time Kakashi separated them
Kakashi~You two are touble together
Ann~Name’s ann
Ann~Ravi. I like to make rockets
Ann~Nice. This might not be so bad
Ravi~It’s always fun. You just need to stop looking for a fight
Kakashi~Absolutely trouble

After recess, Iruka took a moment to introduce Ann. She wanted nothing more to say, so she went to her seat afterwards. Iruka continued the lesson and then let the kids practice on their own.
Kakashi~She got into a scuffle with Ravi. They’re best friends now
Iruka sighed with worry.

After school, Kakashi continued to follow Ann home, and they just so happened to be with the group from earlier.
Naruto~Why are you guys following us?
Ann~I live this way
Kakashi~I have to follow her
Ravi~Why don’t you walk with us then?
Ann~I prefer being able to see everyone
Sasuke~Then why isn’t sensei in front of you?
Ann~He’s already proven that I won’t accidentally kill him if he forgets to get my attention first
Naruto~W-what?
Ravi~Wow. You must’ve trained really hard to have reflexes like that
Ann~Yeah…Trained…
Kakashi gave her a look
Sasuke~But you’re already aware you’re not allowed to kill anyone. Why would you still?
Ann~Muscle memory. I was taught to kill first, ask later
Kakashi~Ann, lay off. They’re still innocent
Ann~Very well
She didn’t seem to notice the looks that the other three shared. Even Ravi was shook from the response
Ravi~Ann?
Ann~Don’t ask for an answer you might not want to hear
She paused then continued
Ravi~How does the difference of us in front verus us beside you make a difference?
Ann~If any of you decide to attack me for whatever reason, from the front I have enough time to remember to not hurt you. If you’re beside me, I might remember too late because I will already be moving
Kakashi placed his hand on her shoulder. Ann was in the process of gathering strength to flip him when he gave her pulse of electric chakra
Ann~What the hell?
Kakashi~You need to learn subtly.
Naruto had lost more color, Ravi was in awe, and Sasuke stared at her
Ravi~That just means we need to help you
Ann~You’re not scared?
Ravi~I am! But you’re honest, so I think there’s hope
Ann~You’re so weird…Ah, sensei, store
Kakashi sighed~You three, get home safe. I need to escort this one still
They parted ways so Ann could shop

As the days passed, Ann was slowly able to lower her guard around her new friends. She still tried to get rid of Kakashi while at home though
Ann~I still don’t like you watching me
Kakashi~I have to know where you are at all times. We’ve been over this Ann.
Ann~I haven’t gotten any sleep because of you!
Kakashi~Neither have I! They can’t find me a replacement for longer than an hour at a time because everyone else finds you terrifying
Ann~And you don’t?
Kakashi~Ravi has tried blowing me up a bunch of times, so a child accidentally killing me isn’t new
Ann groaned and turned over away from him
Kakashi~Did you used to sleep with your previous guardian?
Ann~Why do you ask?
Kakashi~If you allow it, we can try that. Do you trust me?
Ann~Well…you’ve never given me a reason not to…
Kakashi got up from his chair and got comfortable next to her before letting her wrap her arms around him
Kakashi~Are you still okay with this?
Ann~Something’s off
Kakashi~Unless you can tell me what, get some rest.
She sighed but pressed against him more. A few minutes passed of them laying together before he absent-mindedly started running his fingers through her hair. He didn’t stop until she took a sharp intake of air
Kakashi~Ann?
Ann~S-s-shutup…
Her voice was thick and sounded wet. He also felt her trembling
Kakashi~Ann…you’ve been bottling up your emotions? Geeze…And I thought you were just stubborn…
He sat up and pulled her into his lap, hugging her tight and running his fingers through her hair again
Kakashi~You’re just a kid. You don’t have to act like a shinobi all the time. You’re safe here. We’ll make sure you’re safe. You don’t have to keep your guard up
She slowly let herself go and started crying. It wasn’t long before she was clawing at his shirt inbetween sobs and an occasional scream of anguish. Kakashi sat and held her as tightly as comfortable, until her sobs turned to soft, irregular snores. He laid back down with her and finally got some sleep.

The following morning, Ann was still in his arms when he woke. He sighed and gently shook her awake
Ann~Huh?
Kakashi~It’s morning. Time for school
Ann~Yes, sensei.
She immediately crawled over him to get to the bathroom first. Kakashi sighed and went ahead to get breakfast started. By the time she returned, he had already served breakfast for her and eaten his own.
Kakashi~We woke a bit late, so after you eat, we’ll need to leave right away
Ann~I don’t want to go today
Kakashi~Are you feeling sick?
Ann~No…just…drained…
Kakashi~Ah…Yeah, that’s common. You wear a mask anyways so no one will be able to tell
Ann~I don’t want to deal with other people either
Kakashi~you still deal with me
Ann~because…you’re not people…
She pouted as she ate
Kakashi~That means a lot Ann, but I’m still going to make you go
She sighed irritably and rolled her eyes at him as she finished. Ann went back to her room and got dressed.

Kakashi~I thought she’d start lowering her guard…Looks like she just brought it back up again…Hopefully it’s only because she’s agitated that I still made her come to school.
He continued to watch her stare the other students down and actively avoided Ravi, Naruto, and Sasuke. Kakashi sighed and followed along when he let her get far enough. At recess, Ann was still avoiding them
Ravi~Is there something wrong with Ann? She hasn’t really been herself today.
Kakashi~I think she’s just trying to get over something. She had a hard time getting to sleep last night.
He stepped in front of them and blocked a kunai that came from Ann’s direction.
Naruto~T-there’s something attached…
Kakashi quickly kicked the kunai away and looked back to check on Ann’s location. She hadn’t moved, and the kunai did not blow up.
Sasuke~Why’d you kick it?
Kakashi~Uh…Reflex…I was expecting the worst because that was my reflex.
He picked up the kunai and unwrapped the paper attached.
Kakashi~If you say anything more I will kill you.
He sighed again and pocketed the kunai and note.
Kakashi~This is well past most people’s range of hearing. I wonder what kind of training she had. You guys go on and play. Let Ann be by herself for today. She’ll come around when she’s ready.
The nodded sadly and went together to their classmates. He made his way to Ann
Kakashi~It’s dangerous to throw kunais like that
Ann~You shouldn’t talk about other people behind their backs
Kakashi~They were worried about you. Ravi thinks of you as her best friend
Ann~You don’t need friends
Kakashi~That’s why you’ve been distant…
Ann~This is how I’ve always been.
Kakashi~Keep telling yourself that. I already saw what’s underneath your mask. You’re still just a girl. You’re still just a kid. You’re in the academy because you don’t have to be a ninja yet. There’s no need for you to act this way yet. You’re allowed to be just a kid.
Ann~There’s no place for people like you and me in the confines of this façade. We are soldiers. We don’t have friends. We don’t have emotions. We kill who we are told to kill. We are solders. We are tools. We can be thrown away and replaced.
Kakashi~It’s a shame that you were forced into that. We’re a lot alike. But what you do during peace time can help shape you to be a better person
Ann~We are not people sensei…
Kakashi~Neither are we tools. Don’t put this wall back up just because of a moment of humanity. That isn’t always weakness. It’s only a weakness if we don’t take care of it in the right way.
Ann~What do you know about what is right and what is wrong?
Kakashi~Not a lot. But sometimes you just know. It sometimes goes against every fiber of your logical mind, but it makes you sick to your stomach if you try to do things by the book. Don’t you feel that right now? You heard how worried they were of you
Ann~That doesn’t mean anything…
Kakashi~It will soon. Don’t try to fight it when it happens. You might end up hurting yourself.
Ann~Did that happen to you?
Kakashi~Yeah…three or four times…Having friends helps ease the transition. Consider it Ann. It’ll make your academy years go faster and much more interesting.
Ann~Being an assassin is easier then…
Kakashi~Maybe in a time of war. It’s been years since the Third Shinobi War, and the great villages are adjusting well. I don't believe we’ll be getting into another conflict that will need children in combat.
Ann~my dreams say otherwise.