The Assassin and the Dolphin
Author: jabotus
Rating: T
Pairings: Kakashi x Iruka, Zabuza x Haku
Warnings: AU – yaoi (two guys in a relationship)
Disclaimer: Don't own.
Summary: AU. KakaIru. After a failing to kill his target, Kakashi never expected to find himself drowning in the ocean. Nor did he expect to be rescued by a merman…
'…..' – thoughts
Chapter 1
It was three weeks before Kakashi saw the ocean again. The assignment had taken him inland to get rid of a political wanna-be. He was stirring things up too much for other members of his party and was involved in some illegal activities. In other words, he had dirt on them and threatened to go public if the party didn't support his upcoming campaign. The job was simple; break in, steal the proof, and kill the man while he slept next to his lover. Hypocrite. Kakashi left the woman alive. He didn't just kill anybody. Yes, she was having an affair, but bad taste in lovers was not a crime, not like being involved in drug trafficking. His wife wouldn't be so upset over his death after hearing who called the police. He saved her the trouble of killing him herself.
After some much needed sleep, he could never sleep on planes, and a hot meal, Kakashi found himself walking the familiar path to the ocean from his home practically on the ocean in New Hampshire. Though he didn't really enjoy his chosen profession, it paid better than any other job he might get outside of the marines. After Obito died, he couldn't be a part of that group any longer. He finished his contract and quit. And then had no idea what to do with his life. Quite by accident, he stumbled over a career choice, if killing people for money could be called a career, through an old acquaintance. Zabuza had been more Obito's friend than his, but Zabuza introduced him to the right people and now here he was; an assassin with more money than he knew what to do with. He had no family or real friends to spend it on. Not anymore. Even though Haku insisted they were friends, Kakashi and Zabuza really couldn't stand being around each other more than necessary. He really didn't know what the boy saw in Zabuza. However, whenever he was in New York, he would meet with Haku in a coffee shop to 'catch up.'
Kakashi let his mind drift to the strange afternoon he had. On his way home, he had run into some slight trouble. Orochimaru's men had picked him up at the airport. To avoid a scene he had gone with them to their car and met with Orochimaru himself, his pet snake wrapped around his arm. He handed Kakashi a file.
"I need you to kill this man for me." Kakashi glimpsed through the file. Nice looking guy, clean shaven, dark hair. He was a doctorate student at New York University, working in war history.
"Why? He looks clean." Kakashi replied after scanning the information.
"Because he is in my way. Why do you need a reason if the money is good?"
"I don't kill innocent people."
"He's far from innocent."
"Why don't you have one of your men do it?"
"Because I need it done quietly. These oafs lack your finesse."
"No."
"I'll pay double your usual fee."
"You must really want him dead. What did he do to you?" Orochimaru was becoming frustrated and angry. Kakashi kept a smile from crossing his features. In the mafia, Orochimaru was nothing…so far. His ambition may help him to succeed, but without knowledge of whom this young man he wanted dead was, Kakashi would stay out of it. He could very well be the son of someone higher up in the mafia. Kakashi had no plans of making enemies there.
"I think you've wasted enough of my time. Until you tell me who he really is, I won't touch the guy." Kakashi moved to get out of the car.
"Wait. I'll tell you. He's nobody. We can't find any records on him. No real birth certificate, no family, nothing. He just showed up one day to attend NYU six years ago."
"Is he a foreigner?" The glare he received indicated that had been checked into.
"He's an American, but his papers were forged."
"So what is he hiding?"
"I don't know and I don't care. I want him gone."
"Sounds personal. Mind telling me why?"
"He's dating Mr. Yamanaka's daughter." Kakashi glanced at the man to see if he was serious. Then he couldn't help the snicker from escaping his throat. Another glare.
"So he's dating Miss Ino Yamanaka. That hardly makes him a criminal. I think you're jealous and I won't be involving myself in a petty high school rivalry."
"She is my future wife. That is hardly a 'petty high school rivalry.' "
"You proposed?"
"I was going to, but then she started dating this freak. He's nobody! He will ruin her life."
"I'm sure if he causes her any trouble, her daddy will take care of the problem."
"Mr. Yamanaka is as blinded as she is when it comes to him!"
"Ah. I see."
"What do you see?"
"Mr. Yamanaka has only a single daughter. His… business will fall apart without a male heir to take over it so it will fall to his son-in-law. Am I correct?"
"So what if it does?"
"Do you even like this girl? I doubt it. If you marry her, you will be Mr. Yamanaka's heir. Once her old man dies, maybe a trip down the stairs and the business is yours. You won't need her around any longer either. I'm afraid I must turn you down. I can't get involved in mafia affairs. It's bad for my business."
"I think you will make an exception for me."
"I don't think so, Orochimaru." Kakashi stepped out of the car. Nobody made a move to stop him. The three men who had escorted him to the vehicle slid inside and he watched it drive away.
Kakashi took a deep breath of the salty air and ran a hand through his unkempt hair. He hoped he made the right decision back there. He hated to make an enemy of anybody in the mafia, even if they weren't the head of the pack. Killing Miss Yamanaka's boyfriend could cause him more trouble than having Orochimaru pissed off at him. Oh well, he would do his own research on the young man any way. It would fill up his time until the next assignment. For now, he was going to clear his mind and relax. Maybe his shell had failed to come back to him this time.
The salty air was cold but fresh as he neared the shore a few days later. Early December was too cold for most people to come to the beach, so Kakashi wasn't surprised to see nobody walking along the beach some 1200 yards away from the rocky cliffs he was heading for. It would be a few more months before people returned to the beach, but when they did, he would loose his solitude for the most part.
Though he would be too far away from the beach for their noise to reach him over the sound of crashing waves, he could still see them from his rock. It made his solitude that much worse. He didn't like being alone – who did? But he didn't have any family and as for making any friends, most people once they saw him couldn't even look him in the eye. It wasn't that he was hideously ugly or anything; it wasn't even the peculiar scar that started above his left eyebrow and went in a fairly straight line halfway down his cheek. No, it was the left eye itself that disconcerted people. Where all other people had white, his left eye was blood red instead. Add the scar and he made a rather intimidating figure or so he was told. At least it gave him some respect in his job, where in every day life other people shunned him.
The freaky looking eye was the result of a mission gone awry early on in his military career. He had been young and cocky and nearly lost his vision and his marine status. If Obito hadn't been there, Kakashi would have lost his eye completely. Thanks to his friend's quick thinking and knowledge of herbs growing in the rain forest, the eye was saved and Kakashi still had 20/20 vision even if his eye was permanently dyed a red color.
Reaching the cliff, Kakashi easily swung his body over the ledge and climbed down to his favorite spot. He wasn't even there yet and already his mind had wondered off to think of his now deceased friend. Once at the bottom, he stepped over to the edge to take in the view. Eyes trailing to his feet, he truly was not surprised to see his shell had returned yet again. What did surprise him was the bowl of salt water sitting next to it, complete with a swimming clown fish. Perplexed, Kakashi sat down and lifted the bowl up. It was old, very old. The rim was broken off in places and it felt like it had been sitting at the bottom of the ocean for a long time it was so slimy. The small fish swam around in circles, seemingly confused at its small prison.
Kakashi set the bowl down in front of him. The shell was one thing, but a bowl with a fish in it? Somebody had to have put it there for him to find obviously, but why and who? Kakashi could only figure it was somebody who knew he came here. He glanced over towards the beach. He could see a couple walking along the beach and farther down, a man running with a dog at his side. None of them were watching him. He tried to recall seeing anyone unusual staring at him, but he couldn't, though he remembered a few times when he felt like somebody was. A prickling on the back of his neck, but there was never anybody in sight and people always stared at him so he dismissed it. Either this person was really good or using binoculars so as to remain out of his sight. There was also the possibility he became too caught up in his own memories to notice anybody watching. None of the possibilities were comforting. The fish could only mean his watcher wanted him to know he was being stalked. In his line of work, this could not be a good thing so until he found this person or they came forward, he would have to stay away from the ocean.
Sending a longing gaze at the ocean, his only source of comfort these days, he felt a tug inside at the thought of not being able to come here every day. He would have to solve this problem quickly or move yet again. He hated moving, but it kept him from being hunted down. He had only been in Maine for about six months. Two years was as long as he ever stayed in any given location. His last home had been in Florida. Perhaps it was time to go inland, especially if a potential enemy had discovered his hobby.
The more Kakashi thought of leaving, the more upset he became. This was his sanctuary! And now some stranger was invading his little peace in the form of rock and salt water! How dare they break up what little tranquility he had left! When he felt pain in his hand, Kakashi glance down to see he was bleeding…and his shell lay in pieces, some still embedded in his hand. 'Damn it! Well at least, this thing won't ever be returned to me,' he thought bitterly as he plucked broken shell from his hand. Kakashi ripped off a piece of his sleeve and wrapped his hand up. Once he returned home he would clean the wounds and bandage it properly. He was used to dealing with various injuries himself and this was nothing compared to ones he had obtained while on the job.
During this time, the sun had begun to dip below the horizon, its orange and red light reflecting off the water. The beach had emptied of its previous occupants. 'Probably to families and a warm meal,' Kakashi contemplated. He had only an empty home to return to. Well, now he had a fish. Kakashi peered into the bowl again. He didn't have time for pets, even something as simple as a fish. Sometimes assignments kept him away for weeks at a time. A fish couldn't go that long without food. He would have to let it go.
Tucking the bowl under one arm, Kakashi climbed up the rocky cliff. It was more difficult with only one arm which made him wonder how the person got it down there in the first place. At the top, he shifted the bowl to his uninjured hand, and walked down to the beach.
Maybe it was time for another trip to New York City. He could see if he could find out more about the man Orochimaru wanted dead. A few days searching through government internet databases had brought him no information. The guy really did seem to have appeared out of nowhere. He hadn't said anything to Orochimaru about taking the assignment, but simple curiosity and boredom had him searching for more information. If nothing else, he could stop by and say hi to Haku and piss off Zabuza. Then he remembered Haku was a medical student at NYU. Though the chance Haku actually knew young man was slim, but if he was indeed dating the head of the New York mafia's only daughter, Zabuza might know something about him.
Nobody was in sight as Kakashi reached the sand and went down to the water's edge. Glad he had worn his sandals even in this chilly weather, Kakashi waded into the water. Once knee deep he lowered the bowl and watched the clown fish swim out to sea. At least he had an idea of where to go now.
Kakashi glanced up once more at the ocean. The setting sun's light dancing on the rolling surface of the water distorted the view somewhat, but there seemed to be someone out in the water. 'Crazy fool. The water's too cold for swimming unless you're a member of the polar bear club,' Kakashi reflected. His own feet were going numb and he'd only just waded into the water less than a minute ago. His eyes followed the lone figure who seemed to be coming closer to the shore. Then all of a sudden, the figure's arms rose up and began splashing around.
'Is he drowning? A shark attack?' Even as Kakashi realized risking his life for a stranger who was dumb enough to attempt swimming at this time of year was one of the dumbest things he'd ever done in his life, he was already moving into deeper water. Yanking off his sweater so it wouldn't weigh him down, he didn't see the people who had stepped onto the beach. He felt the bullet though.
The impact of the bullet into his left shoulder sent him face first into the water. Somehow Kakashi managed to get a lungful of air before he went under. He was in deep enough water to be completely submerged so he used this to his advantage, possible his only one. The salt stung his wound, but ignoring the pain, Kakashi propelled himself forward. If he lived he could curse himself later for not watching his back…hell for lingering in an area he knew was being watched. He would love to know who was shooting him in the back, but considering his position that would be difficult. More bullets sped through the water around him, but none hit him.
With every stretch of his left arm, pain exploded anew in his ripped shoulder muscles, but he swam forward. Kakashi could hold his breath longer than the average person thanks to his marine training, but not forever. The burning in his chest was almost as bad as in his shoulder before he finally went up for air. Not sure how far away from shore he was or if he was being pursued, he wouldn't take the risk to look. Turns out he didn't need to, as another bullet splashed into the water inches from his head. Then another grazed his arm still in the water. Snatching another gulp of air, he dived back below the surface.
The water really was too cold for swimming. Kakashi would have to get out soon as he was becoming numb all over and not from blood loss though that may be a problem very soon. But if he went to the shore, he would be shot…unless he went to the cliffs. Maybe there was somewhere he could climb up out of the water where they couldn't see him. He'd have to get over there quick though; hypothermia was setting in fast.
Surfacing again, he glanced back at the shore to get his bearings. The cliffs were to the left. There were four men in suits on the beach. He didn't know if they had any guns that could reach him at this distance, but they had stopped shooting for the moment. They knew he had been hit at least once. They probably also had an idea of how cold the water was and knew he couldn't stay in it for much longer. All they had to do was wait for him die. Well, he wasn't ready to die just yet!
Diving back underwater, he swam to the left. His movement became more sluggish by the second. He couldn't feel his fingers or feet any more. He had to be near the cliffs by now. Kakashi went up for air, his teeth chattering as his body shivered in a feeble attempt to increase his body temperature.
The cliffs looked as far away as they had just moments ago. His strength greatly diminished, he stayed above water this time, only to be grabbed by the tide and drawn back. Kakashi would never reach the cliffs. At least the cold numbed the pain in his shoulder. He had to try though. He couldn't die like this. With that last of his strength, Kakashi kicked his feet. His sandals felt like they weighed a ton each. Their weight was slowing him down, but he didn't have time to take them off. Barely noticing his forward movements had ceased, Kakashi then slipped under the surface again. His body stopped shivering; his body temperature was beyond being warmed by this method. He still held his breath though. Why, he wasn't sure. The cold water didn't feel as cold anymore now that he stopped struggling against it. It actually almost felt like he was burning, not freezing.
Everything was beginning to go dark on the edges. Though as the darkness closed around him, his mind registered a grey tail moving past him. His last thought was shark, even as the last thing he felt were two arms wrapping around his chest. Then all senses were lost to the dark.
