So, as it says in the summary, this is a sequel to When We Could Die Tomorrow. I've tried to write it so new readers can gather pretty much what's going on between Kakashi and Tenzou. Still, I'd suggest you read the previous fic. It's short, anyway.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
….
The Taste of Life
….
"Yamato." Sempai studies my face for a moment, then smiles. "You look terrible."
Sometimes I really have to wonder what goes on in Sempai's head. Is that something you say to someone whose heart you've just broken? He does realize that's what he's done, right? I know I was pretty inebriated when I sprang that kiss on him last night, but at the time, he took it seriously… or to be more specific, he rejected me seriously. Has he convinced himself since then that there was nothing more to that kiss than temporary alcohol induced insanity?
Whatever he really thinks, it's clear enough that he intends to act as though that kiss meant nothing to either of us.
OK, fine. No… not fine, but I'll go along with it anyway. I don't really have a choice. The note I found pushed under my door when I got up telling me to meet him here gave me a few hours of foolish hope that I'd somehow misunderstood him last night, but now I know that was just wishful thinking. By teasing me just like he always does, he's telling me that nothing has changed, or ever will change between us. At least not for the better. There's only so much that Sempai can pretend not see, and if I insist on showing my feelings for him openly, it will eventually drive a wedge between us as friends and colleagues. I won't risk that.
I close my eyes and allow myself one sigh before I slip into the act he's expecting from me. I cross my arms across my chest, tilt my chin up, and glare at him in mock anger. "Of course I look terrible. I'm hung over. What did you call me out here for, Sempai? If it's not important, I'm going home…"
"Tsunade-sama has assigned us a mission. Naruto, Sakura, and Sai are meeting us at noon."
Ah. I thought it was a little weird that Sempai asked me to meet him precisely at 11:55. And I thought it was even weirder that he was actually here, waiting for me, at the appointed time. So he didn't want the kids to be there when we met for the first time after…
…I wonder if he was considering my feelings or his own. Either way, I'm grateful.
But I can't keep thinking about this. I'm supposed to be acting normal, not staring into space. I try to concentrate on what Sempai said. A mission. A mission for Naruto, with both me and Kakashi-sempai along for the ride. The implications finally hit me.
"A lead on Sasuke? And there must be pretty significant danger involved…"
"Possibly on the first count. Definitely on the second."
"Sempai, just what's going…" I'm cut off by the arrival of the rest of Team Kakashi.
"No way! Kakashi-sensei's actually here on time!"
"It's a good thing you couldn't convince Sai to take you up on that bet, or you'd be in trouble this month."
"Uwahh… You're right! And I was thinking it would be easy money…"
Sakura shudders. "Believe me. Gambling is not easy money."
"Oi. I'm not Tsunade-baa-chan!"
"But apparently your luck is just as bad. It's probably that necklace she gave you. If I were you, I wouldn't bet while you're wearing it. I mean, to actually lose on a bet that Kakashi will be late… that's a sure sign that something's wrong…"
"Oi!" Sempai interrupts in his own defense, "Even I can be on time when it's important…"
I feel my cheeks heat up in spite of myself. I can't help but be pleased that Sempai considered meeting me to be "important." Naruto and Sakura are less impressed. They're thinking back on all the long waits that have marked meeting them as unimportant.
"Yamato-taicho."
I glance at Sai. It's the first thing he's said since he arrived, and now I find him studying my face closely. Far too closely. I get a bad feeling about this. After all, there's no one like Sai for saying the wrong thing. Before I can divert his attention to some safe topic, like the mission, he obligingly fulfills my worst expectations.
"Have you been crying?"
There's dead silence for a moment. I can't look at Sempai, but I can feel his tension. Finally, Sakura lets out a little, nervous laugh. "Don't be ridiculous, Sai." She gives him a friendly cuff on the shoulder that makes his knees buckle. "Of course Yamato-Taicho hasn't been crying!" It's clear that she agrees with Sai's diagnosis, but I'm grateful to her for at least trying to maintain the pretence.
Sempai clears his throat and engages in diversionary tactics. "I asked you guys to meet here because we've been given a mission. Naruto. Sakura. Before I go further, I want to warn you that it's too early to get your hopes up…"
They know instantly where he's going. Sakura looks like she's seen a ghost. Naruto looks like he's seen the light of God. He's crushing Sempai's shoulders in a white fingered grip as he asks hoarsely, "A lead on Sasuke?"
"Maa, maa." Sempai gently unlatches his student. "Didn't I just tell you not to get your hopes up yet? But there is a possibility that it's Orochimaru's handiwork."
Naruto falls back to a less invasive distance, but his eyes are still burning with a blue fire.
Sakura recovers enough to take her role as the sensible one. "What's Orochimaru's handiwork? And what evidence is there that he's involved?"
"Hmmm… Where to start. Do you two remember the mission a couple years ago with the Kaima?"
Naruto looks blank and scratches his head, but Sakura nods almost immediately. "You're talking about the mission Naruto went on with Anko-sensei? Orochimaru had been conducting research on human modification in order to create under-water ninja, but by the time they found the lab, Orochimaru had lost interest, and the man in charge of the project was acting on his own. Furthermore, that was a long time ago, and even then Orochimaru's trail was cold. I don't see how that incident could help us find Sasuke now."
"Ah!" Naruto's fist hits his palm with a smack. "Isaribi-nee-chan!"
Sempai smiles tolerantly. "That's right. Isaribi, the kamikakushi. During the time the lab was active, people from the neighboring islands would disappear, and the residents came to believe they were kamikakushi, spirited away by the gods. That's why I brought this up. We've received reports that something similar is happening again, only on a larger scale. There's a village in the Country of Typhoon where over a hundred people have disappeared, for no apparent reason, in the last few months. People are saying the god of a nearby abandoned shrine is to blame, but the village headman isn't convinced. With just that it seems like a bit of a long shot, but…"
I catch a little disappointment in Naruto's face, but he straightens his back and squares his shoulders. "I don't care if it's a long shot. If there's any chance that this will help me find Sasuke, I'm going!" He plants his feet and crosses his arms.
"You're going whether you want to or not, Baka-Naruto," Sakura chides, but she's smiling. "We've already been assigned the mission!"
"Ah," Naruto laughs and scratches the back of his head. "Right. I guess I've gotten used to having to force Tsunade-baa-chan to let me go on these things…"
I sigh. "Tsudande-sama probably figured she'd save herself some pain and just assign the mission to you from the start."
Sempai chuckles, and the sound sends shivers running up and down my spine. "Something like that, yeah." I've known Sempai for a long time. I've gotten to know all of Sempai's many quirks and foibles. I've detected more than one fatal flaw. I've suffered through years of disappointed hopes. So how is it, I'd like to know, that Sempai can still make me feel like this? It's not bloody fair!
But business before misery. "I'm not familiar with the Country of Typhoon. Do you have a map?" I force myself to look Sempai in the face, and appreciate for once that there's not much face to see. It's easier that way.
Sempai nods, fishes a scroll out of his vest, and hands it over. I unfurl the first section and scan the roughly inked map. The country of Typhoon is an archipelago strung out between the peninsula projecting from the Southeastern corner of the Fire Country and the islands of the Water Country.
Sakura and Sai step closer, and I angle the map for them to see.
"Why was this request made to Konoha rather than Kiri?" Sakura asks for all of us.
Sempai's eye gleams. "Ahhhh. Naruto interrupted me before I got to the best part. The request was brought to us, because around the time people began disappearing, a stranger was seen who matched the description of one of Konoha's nukenin…" He pauses for dramatic effect. Naruto and Sakura are leaning forward in anticipation. So am I, I realize, as Sempai's sardonic eye flicks towards me for an instant. I straighten up toot suite. Damn the man.
Finally, he decides he's left us in suspense long enough.
"Yakushi Kabuto."
….
And the adventure begins!
I'd really like your input, so please review!
