Kakashi was gone, as far as he could tell. Completely washed away before the body could be recovered. No mission was without its risks, that much was a given, but he had never truly expected his brilliant rival to be taken down so suddenly, the light fading from his eyes in an instant. And there he stood, dithering uncertainly, not sure how to respond to suddenly being...alone.
They were born to be eternal rivals. It wasn't supposed to end just like that. They were supposed to compete until the end of time, and if one was gone, was that the end of their competition?
But rightfully, that couldn't be the reasoning for the crushing feeling in his chest, as though he would never be able to see another sunrise without breaking down completely. Everything felt like a darkness closing around his heart, but that couldn't just be because of losing his rival, right? No, it was definitely something more. He'd always be ashamed to admit it, but there were so many feelings swirling inside him, and he really couldn't understand the way he was feeling, the pain in his chest.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Returning to Konoha, mission complete but his team decimated. Filing the report and wandering the streets, unsure of what to do with himself. The sound of birds chirping and water running, and the sound of someone calling for help.
Wait, calling for help? It was a long moment before he realised it was nothing he could help with. Too far, too soon, and dealt with almost instantly. Not to mention the shock from the previous events was taking hold. He couldn't do a thing in this state.
Elsewhere, in a small village to the south of Konoha, an injured man was being treated. He was battered and broken, and hypothermia was diving in, cutting him off from the world his mind so desperately wanted to cling to. He was young and attractive, and on the edge of survival, and those surrounding his frost-bitten body were uncertain if he would make it out alive or not.
~*~*~*~
Mismatched eyes flickered open, then turned away from the bright lights above them. He let out a light groan and in a second, a girl was stood there beside him, hand on his shoulder and offering a drink of water. He sat up, but didn't accept it, just looked around in confusion.
The girl bit her lip before placing the water down. "You'll be okay...my brother found you in the river. You looked pretty beat up...my name is Tamiko. What's yours?"
"I...I don't remember..." He reached up to rub his eye only to find the arm he wanted to use was bound to his chest. Injured?
"You don't remember your name?" She asked, frowning in concern. "Katsu did say you'd hit your head quite hard..." She offered her hand then, helping him stand. "What can you remember?"
He thought hard for a moment, trying to dredge up some information. Faces, laughing children, cheerful voices, and many, many injuries. The children stuck there as though they were something important, but surely too many to be his own. "I...think I work with children." He mused uncertainly.
She nodded. "That's good. We just need something to call you until you remember...Misuteri? It means a mystery."
He gave a slight nod, just wanting the girl to leave him be.
Misuteri spent his time reading and trying to recall his memories, but he found nothing. Reading was at the very least a good release for him. He was out walking, trying to figure things out when he found the ninjas hired by the head of the tiny village. He ducked behind a tree briefly, watching them from afar curiously. Faces he felt he must have seen before somewhere. Slowly, he stepped closer, uncertain, pulling his jacket tighter around him as the ninja turned to face him.
The next thing he knew, he was enveloped in a bone-crushing hug.
"Kakashi!" The person stepped back, examining Misuteri's face closely. "You...you're actually him...My Kakashi..."
He froze up uncertainly before relaxing, hands in his pockets with a bored air. "I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong person."
The man before him frowned. "With that scar and that eye...I doubt it..."
His good hand went up to his left eye uncertainly. "You...know me?"
"It's Gai! You remember me, right?"
He shook his head. "I don't remember much, sorry."
Gai's face fell. "You don't remember...us?"
Another shake of his head. "You look familiar, but...I don't remember a thing. Essentially, I've just learnt my name is Kakashi."
Gai glanced around uncertainly. "I'm your..." Rival his mind finished, but his mouth didn't catch up as a light went on behind Kakashi's eyes.
"Gai. I remember a Gai. I liked him...a lot. I don't think I ever told him."
"No...you never did..."
"Perhaps I could tell him now..."
The other man frowned. "You mean you-"
He was silenced by Kakashi's lips crashing against his.
"I think I remember you."
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