Prompt: Growing Things


Kakashi knocked on the door that sat in front of him. He waited the usual 15 seconds and turned toward the door surprised. Unless the owner of the home wasn't there, they always answered the door in 15 seconds almost consistently. Had Kakashi not been paying attention he might have walked into the door, out of habit, that was usually opened for him. Kakashi gave in and knocked again, the owner had said to come over whenever, so why wasn't he answering?

Kakashi frowned through his mask, concerned by the unusual behavior of the other man. He looked at the house once more before deciding he would find a way in, especially to make sure that the other man hadn't hurt himself sometime in the afternoon.

After checking the door to find it locked the copy-nin glanced around the front of the house not seeing an easy in without breaking a window. Hoping he'd have better luck with the back, he walked around the side of the house, stopping when he heard the sound of frustrated grunts near the back door.

Turning the corner Kakashi caught sight of who he'd been looking for. The young ponytailed teacher sat on the ground in-between piles of dirt and roots using a kunai to frantically cut through something that was hidden in a hole in front of him.

"What are you doing?" Kakashi asked confused at Iruka's current state.

Iruka startled up straight, dropping the kunai in the hole. He sighed as he reached down to grab the weapon. "I was thinking about growing some plants and vegetables. This is where my Mom's garden was when I was younger, so it seemed perfect, but it's turning out to be a nightmare."

Kakashi walked closer choosing to go ahead and sit down on the porch just behind the younger man.

The silence lead to Iruka continuing his story. "Usually old plant roots just serve as more nutrients for new plants, but something in this garden took over the bed. Now I'm having to remove all it's roots, and it is being quite difficult," he growled out as he jammed the kunai into the dirt again.

They sat in silence a little longer. Just as it grew onto the edge of uncomfortable Kakashi was the first to talk, "Would you like some help?"

Iruka turned to look at the man behind him, he smiled softly, "I'd love some."

Kakashi's single visible eye curled into a half moon, as he too smiled, joining Iruka in the garden bed.


The first of 10 short drabbles based on summer, although it's for something over on dA I haven't posted them over there, just felt like doing them for fun and sharing here.