Chapter 2: Sapuri (Supplement)

Rubbing his painful neck, Kakashi quietly headed for home. He had just gotten back from a mission, and his whole body was aching. When he got near his apartment, he saw a young woman squatting just outside his front door. "Mitsuri?"

"Sempai!" Mitsuri jumped up. "Sempai—"

"Got kicked out again, huh?" Kakashi grinned. He brushed past Mitsuri and unlocked the door. "Come on in."

The living room was neat, neater than the last time Mitsuri had seen it. A few comic books were scattered on the coffee table, but those were the only things out of place. "Ne, sempai..."

"Have a seat," Kakashi told her, nodding towards a black leather couch that looked unused. Mitsuri did as she was told and sat. Propping her boot-laden feet on the coffee table, she looked up at her fellow jounin.

"You were right when you said I was kicked out. And I suppose you know why I'm here."

Kakashi rolled his eyes. "I hope I'm wrong, but I guess you're here to crash?"

"Huaaah! How smart!" The white-haired girl pretended to bow at the equally white-haired man. "So... can I? Only until I can find a new place! Please, sempai! Onegai!"

"I don't think it's a good idea, Mitsuri." Kakashi continued to massage his neck tiredly. "Can't you stay with a female friend? How about Anko?"

"You know I don't have female friends. Well, there's Anko, but haven't you heard? She has a new boyfriend." Feeling her heart sink as she looked at Kakashi's weary expression, Mitsuri started to stand up. "I'd take a mission, but I'm still suspended. That's why I'm having a hard time saving up money for a new place." She sat back down again when Kakashi motioned for her to stop.

"Have you ever thought that your living with a man might start rumors?"

"I have," Mitsuri admitted. "But honestly, I don't care. Staying with you is OK, as long as you don't find me a bother. I mean, I know how particular you are about privacy, but I promise I'll stay out of your way! Onegai, sempai." She stood up and bowed a real bow this time. "Onegai shimasu."

"All right."

Mitsuri's head snapped up. She squealed and shook Kakashi's hand excitedly. "Really? Arigatou, Kakashi-sempai! Arigatou!" She rushed out of the building to get her things.

When she came back a few hours later, she was lugging several suitcases with her. Kakashi began to think that maybe he made a big mistake. Even without thinking hard about it, Kakashi knew it was a very wrong decision to let Mitsuri stay with him. But what could he do? He was too tired to argue, and like Mitsuri, he didn't give a damn about rumors. He was just a little worried that maybe this thing would make Mitsuri's relationship with the other female shinobi worse. Or that it might ruin her reputation. Not that she had a good one to begin with. But still... "Are you sure about this?"

"Of course, sempai!" Mitsuri stopped moving about for a second and gave Kakashi a grateful look. "I'm very happy. I knew I could trust you."

Somehow her expression and her words made Kakashi a little uncomfortable. Those words told that someone depended on him. At that sign of attachment, Kakashi began to back off. "I'm going out."

"You just got back! Aren't you going to rest?" But Kakashi had already left. Mitsuri shrugged and went on arranging her things. She didn't take out everything, just the clothes she was going to wear the next day.

---

There were only few people in the bar that evening, and Kakashi was grateful for that. He needed time alone, and it was clear he wouldn't find it at home.

"What'll you have?" the bartender asked.

"Just a beer. Whatever you have." He took the bottle the bartender gave him and sat in the darkest part of the room. That way nobody would see his unmasked face.

A few more bottles later, he began to feel dizzy. The alcohol had caught up with his tired body, and he decided to head back. I'm not looking forward to this, he thought wryly. He staggered out of the bar and nearly collided with Asuma.

"Kakashi? Have you been drinking alone?" Asuma shook his head and offered to help Kakashi home.

"I'm fine. Just tired, that's all." He staggered off to the direction of his apartment. I must be getting old. He could feel Asuma looking at him, but he ignored it. A little while later, he stood outside what used to be his sanctuary. Then he heard music coming from inside. What's that? Don't tell me... He opened the door and found Mitsuri busily playing the piano. "Piano? What Piano? Whose piano is that?" he blubbered.

"Sempai!" Mitsuri stood up in surprise. "You're drunk!"

"Where'd the piano come from?"

"It's mine. If you're wondering how it fit through the door, the legs are detachable," Mitsuri explained with a grin. Then she frowned. "You should go to your room now, sempai. You look exhausted." She pushed him towards his bedroom and helped him take off his flak vest and sandals. "Just lie down and go to sleep. I'll play something for you."

What I'm wondering... is what the hell made you think you could drag that damned piano into my house... but he couldn't talk.

She left, not fully closing his door, then she sat back on the piano bench. The piece she played was Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, and the somber notes filled the whole place. Kakashi heard, and strangely enough, it made him relax. He lied down and closed his eyes. Moments later, he was asleep.

When Mitsuri peeked into his room and found him asleep, she couldn't help but furrow her brows worriedly. She never knew Kakashi to be the drinking type. Well, not the kind that got drunk, anyway. Now that she thought of it, Kakashi had been acting strange lately. He seems tired... always tired...

Mitsuri spread out her mat on the living room floor and lied down. Tomorrow I'll look for work.

The next day...

Sempai, I'll be back later. Your food is on the table. Hope it's not cold yet. Mitsuri. Kakashi took the note from the fridge and glanced at the dining table. "Messy," was the first word he could think of when he saw what was there. A plate was covered with weak-looking eggs and stiff sausages. The rice was practically on the table. Is that creature even a girl? He thought with a small smile. "That idiot." She can't even prepare a simple meal.

His head was throbbing, but it was manageable. After he ate (and he had to force himself to eat it all), he left for the mission post.

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Hope the story's going OK. LoL . The chapters are kinda short, but I'll make the next one longer. Enjoy.