A Soldier’s Coming Home
I sat in my room looking through my old letters as I did a lot since October. It’s November now, a month later.
The letters seem so un real now that he’s gone, and the worst thing... they can’t bring him back. My eyes are so sore from crying almost constantly.
I loved Kakashi sensei, and he loved me, and now he’s gone. I know I have to pick up the pieces and move on, but I can’t seem to do it yet.
My friends have tried to cheer me up, but nothing’s worked.
It still all seems like a dream, a nightmare. One that won’t end no matter how hard I try to wake up. Trust me I’ve slapped myself silly trying to. Nothing. I’m still here, still without him, and still crying. And I have a feeling that’s not going to change anytime soon.
It’s right in the middle of fall now and the trees are losing their leaves gradually. Their rustling is just about the only thing I can hear now. Other then my own sobs, that it.
“July 28th Dear Zelda,
So there’s a song like that, huh? Sounds nice. I wish I could hear it. Maybe you can play it for me once I get home. So am I your travelin’ soldier? Ha ha.
I’ll keep the lyrics in my head and my heart. It’ll be our song. Is that alright with you? With Love,
Kakashi Hatake,” I read aloud.
Yeah, our song. That came true. I wiped a tear from my eye as I leaned back against the wall and tried to piece together my memories and the song.
♪Two days past eighteen
He was waiting for the bus in his army green ♪
He was waiting for the bus in his army green ♪
I was working at the Konoha Café one day when Kakashi sensei came in.
“Oh, hey Kakashi. Haven’t been here in a while,” Shichiro, the owner, said to him.
“Yeah, sorry. I’ve been busy lately,” Kakashi said.
“ ‘S alright,” Shichiro said.
“Zelda!! Got another customer!” he the shouted.
“Coming!” I called from the back.
I quickly dashed out from the back.
“Yes sir?” I asked.
“Take Kakashi to a table and get his order will ya?” Shichiro asked.
I glanced as Kakashi sensei and said with a smile, “Yes sir. No problem.”
“Right this way, Kakashi sensei,” I said taking a menu then leading him to an open table.
He sat down as I handed him the menu.
♪Sat down in a booth in a café there
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair ♪
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair ♪
“Do you want me to come back in a little or do you want to order? It seems like you’re a regular customer,” I said smiling.
“Sort of. I was hoping you were working today,” he replied looking down.
“You were?” I asked confused. “How did you know I worked here?”
“Shichiro told me, one of the days you had off. He said you’re his best employee,” Kakashi explained.
“Wow, I would’ve never thought that,” I said laughing a little to myself.
Kakashi kept looking down, but soon said,
“When do you get off? Or can you take a break soon?” he asked seriously.
“Uhh, sure,” I glanced at the clock, 7:38. “Is 7:50 soon enough?”
“That’s fine,” he said finally looking up at me.
♪He's a little shy so she gives him a smile
And he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
And talking to me,
I'm feeling a little low
She said I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go♪
And he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
And talking to me,
I'm feeling a little low
She said I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go♪
I walked over to the railing surrounding the roof and leaned on it and asked,
“Isn’t it a great view from here?”
“It is,” he agreed.
It was quiet for a moment then he said, “Zelda, I need to talk to you.”
“I’m going on an important mission starting tomorrow in the morning and I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.” I turned around and looked at him shocked. “Lady Hokage told me that I have to check in every once in a while. I want you to get the messages from the gate and deliver them to her,” he explained.
“Why me? Shouldn’t Naruto or Sakura? Not saying I don’t want to, but Sakura’s training under Lady Tsunade and Naruto knows her better then I do. They’re actually your students,” I said.
“Who better to do it then my number one fan?” he asked smiling.
I looked to the side and blushed as my ears twitched once.
“I hope Shou won’t mind. That’s his name isn’t?” he asked.
“That’s right, but don’t worry. We broke up, it just wasn’t working. We’re just going to be friends now,” I said. “There never really was a connection between us to begin with.”
“Oh I see,” he said.
“Yeah,” I said.
“I’m sure it won’t be too long until I’m back,” he said then walked over to the rail and leaned on it like I had. “Who knows, maybe I’ll send something just for you.” He smiled as the wind blew over us making his silver hair dance. Some sakura cherry blossoms drifted off the trees and swirled around us.
My face reddened and I nodded softly.
♪So they went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I got no one to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you ♪
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I got no one to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you ♪
Dear Zelda,
June 4
I’m sorry I couldn’t say much in my last letter. It wasn’t really a good spot for me to stop and write. I’m still doing good. There’s been no problem’s on the mission so far, and I’m still getting closer to finishing it.
I told you that I would tell you what I had been thinking about, didn’t I? I’m in the town I mentioned before so I can write a long letter. I’m not sure how much I need to say to get my point across, so that’s good.
Zelda, ...I’ve realized something while on this mission. I’ve lost just about every important person to me. My sensei and my teammates, and now even one of my students. I was afraid of letting anyone in, afraid of being hurt more by loss. Everyone important to me has left me. Everyone...but you. My eyes widened.
No matter what it was, no matter what the danger or cost, if you could be there for me, you were. On my team’s mission when I needed help, you begged Lady Tsunade to come. When Itachi returned to the village you fought him to avenge and protect me even though you knew that you could very well die, that your curse mark could take over. You didn’t care. When Itachi had me in his Tsukiyomi you weren’t afraid to come and try to save me, although you didn’t know what was going on and I told you not to. When I was in a coma after that battle, you went with Guy to help Jiraiya and Naruto reach Lady Tsunade, even though you can hardly stand him. You fought with the Sanin and Kabuto in order to help Tsunade return faster and be able to heal me. When I was in the hospital, you were by my side every second that you possibly could be. You’ve protected me from everything from jutsu to weapons to even words. Whenever someone starts insulting me you always protect me by saying how great I am.
I don’t think that anyone has ever been with me more then you have. I don’t think I’ve grown closer to anyone since my teammates then you. Not even my students are that close to me. I can see now that you truly care about me, and although I tried to keep my distance... maybe there was something stronger then my will at work. I’m not quite sure what it is yet, maybe fate, destiny, or something beyond that. But whatever it is, I’ve realized that I’m glad to have met you and gotten to know you as well as I have.
I know that this may seem strange but... I think that maybe... I’m starting to fall for you.
I gasped as my eyes began watering.
Whenever I want to sleep in or take a break and read my book I picture you and the way you looked the day before I left. With the wind making your hair wave along with it and the cherry blossoms dancing around us. Once I picture that I know I have to keep going and get home as fast as possible.
This may be my best and hardest mission yet. Not only did I realize a lot, but I’m spending more time away then I ever would’ve liked if I had known this before.
Thank you for all you’ve done for me, Zelda. Thank you so much. Wait for me and I’ll be back as soon as possible, I promise.
With love,
Kakashi Hatake
Kakashi Hatake
P.S. Please write back and tell me what’s on your mind.
♪So the letters came from an army camp
From California then Vietnam
And he told her of his heart
It might be love and all of the things he was so scared of
He said when it's getting kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile
Don't worry but I won't be able to write for awhile ♪
From California then Vietnam
And he told her of his heart
It might be love and all of the things he was so scared of
He said when it's getting kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile
Don't worry but I won't be able to write for awhile ♪
“It’s...” he stopped to sigh once more. “Kakashi’s,” Flare said.
“A messenger was sent to the village yesterday saying that it was reported that he died. Anbu went to check, and it was confirmed. They’re bringing his body back tomorrow,” Flare explained.
♪One Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the Anthem sang
A man said folks would you bow your heads
For a list of local Vietnam dead
Crying all alone under the stands
Was a piccolo player in the marching band
And one name read but nobody really cared
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair ♪
♪I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never endWaitin' for the soldier to come back again ♪
The Lord's Prayer said and the Anthem sang
A man said folks would you bow your heads
For a list of local Vietnam dead
Crying all alone under the stands
Was a piccolo player in the marching band
And one name read but nobody really cared
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair ♪
♪I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never endWaitin' for the soldier to come back again ♪
Suddenly there was banging and commotion downstairs. I put my letters away in the box I had kept them in since I started getting them. Then my room door slammed open and Izumo ran over to me and grabbed my arm.
“Come on, you... you have to come right now!” he said out of breath.
“I don’t want to, Izumo. Sorry,” I said and pushed his arm off.
“Look, Zelda, you’re coming with my voluntarily or I’m dragging you there myself. Trust me, you going to want to see this,” he said honestly.
I believed him, so I stood and he took my hand and began running down the stairs dragging me along behind him.
We ran all the way through the village and up the hill towards the front gate. Kotetsu was standing in front of the gate looking into the distance excitedly.
“Do you see it?” Izumo shouted. Kotetsu shook his head “no”.
Izumo and I finally got up to Kotetsu and stood next to him.
“What’s going on you guys? Why did you drag me out here?” I asked.
“Look,” Kotetsu said and pointed out to the horizon.
I looked, with a puzzled expression. I stared for a few minutes, but still didn’t see anything. But soon there was something! Something coming over the horizon slowly. It was silver hair, that’s all I could see so far. Silver hair that leaned to the right and bounced up and down as it got closer.
I stood staring in shock as the trees began bending in the wind. Autumn leaves blew off and danced across the area taking a small scrap of paper from Kotetsu’s hand with it.
“K...Kakashi sensei,” I said just above a whisper as his whole form appeared in front of the gate. His hands were in his pockets and he walked casually forward.
I ran forward automatically tears forming once again in my eyes.
“Kakashi sensei! Kakashi sensei!” I shouted as I ran.
His pace increased as he pulled his hands from his pockets. I ran to him and jumped into his arms. He put them around me and held me close to him.
“Oh my gosh... I thought I’d never see you again. Everyone said you were dead,” I cried into his chest.
“I know, it was all part of my plan. I didn’t want you to worry. I told Lady Tsunade that I wanted you to be informed from the beginning,” he explained. “Didn’t she tell you?”
“No! I thought you were dead this whole time! Kakashi sensei...” I cried more as he stroked the back of my head lovingly.
I leaned away from him slightly and looked him in the eye. I rose up on my toes and slowly reached toward his mask. I pulled it down below his chin and stared at his handsome face for a moment. Then I jumped forward and his lips met mine.
The wind blew again more leaves blew off and the scrap of paper went with them.
♪“Never more to be alone when the letter says
A soldier's coming home”♪
A soldier's coming home”♪
-----------------Owari The End-----------------