Disclaimer: Naruto does not in any way belong to me, it's the property of Kishimoto, etc.
Written for the prompt "Like two doomed ships that pass in storm we had crossed each other's way: but we made no sign, we said no word, we had no word to say" on comment-fic on livejournal.
Spoilers for chapter 604.
crossroads
Maybe, Obito thinks with sudden clarity, there is a reason for this.
The endless hissing of the rain has disappeared, faded to nothing in the wake of the roaring in his ears. His gaze has tunneled, narrowing in on Kakashi and Rin. Kakashi's arm thrust through Rin's heart. The image of Rin's face is seared forever in his mind, that confused, devastated expression-
Maybe Rin has betrayed the village, or maybe Kakashi has- but Obito cannot imagine either of them betraying each other or Konoha any more than he can imagine himself betraying them.
"...Kakashi..." Rin says, gasps really, and Obito can see the moment her chakra snuffs out and he can feel her presence disappear, leaving an empty shell behind.
Kakashi stands motionless, the Chidori sputtering out in tandem with Rin's life.
An eternity - just a moment, really, not more than a minute surely but still endless - later he steps back, his hand sliding out of Rin's chest with a sickeningly wet sound. Rin's body slumps, limbs splayed randomly. Obito stares at it, determined to remember; Kakashi does the same, though why, Obito doesn't know.
Kakashi's (Obito's) eye looks wet, but it could just be the rain. Maybe he regrets what he's done. Maybe he doesn't. Kakashi is as unreadable as he has always been, untouchable and unfathomable-
Spiral guy covers Obito's face, leaving only his eye visible. "Maybe we should go," the clone suggests in an undertone, and Obito finds himself a little surprised to learn that the clone can feel an emotion other than the cheerfulness he usually exudes.
Maybe he hears Spiral or maybe he finally sees Obito standing there, but Kakashi immediately drops into a combat stance as he turns to meet him.
Does Kakashi intend to kill him? As he'd done with Rin? Obito doesn't know. He opens his mouth to say something, maybe to demand that Kakashi explain himself, maybe just to shout. Nothing comes out, though; what is there to say?
Obito gave Kakashi his eye. The Sharingan perfected Kakashi's Chidori, and Kakashi had used that technique to kill Rin.
Maybe it was a mistake, Spiral said there were dozens of enemies and now there are none, but-
Maybe Obito doesn't care about the possible reasons behind this. Behind Kakashi killing Rin. Nothing could possibly justify this. The Sharingan can see through most techniques, and there surely isn't anyone in the vicinity powerful enough to fool it. So Kakashi must have known what he was doing.
Kakashi and Obito stand there, the falling water slowing and then stopping as they stare each other down. Obito doesn't say anything, but then neither does Kakashi.
Another presence approaches. It doesn't escape Obito's notice that he and Kakashi both look in that direction automatically. The killing intent that the individual is giving off would have made Obito's knees weak, but Spiral's strength keeps him upright.
By the time Obito turns back to Kakashi, the other boy has disappeared into the trees, and Rin's corpse with him.
Obito stares after him, then turns around. "Let's go back," he says, and even though his voice is muffled by Spiral covering his face like a mask, it still sounds unnaturally distorted.
"Yeah," Spiral agrees uneasily, and they run back the way they came.
Maybe Obito should have listened to that old man.