A/N: This chapter is more like a transition…to take them out into the chaotic leaf-shinobi-mission world. More of Rin and Obito's POV, really. Oh well. Forgive me, but the situation was calling for it. I'll make it up to ya guys! :)
I do not own Naruto.
The next day, Kakashi was awakened by a voice coupled with non-stop banging on his front door.
"Kakashiiiiiii! Kakaaaashi! Hey, you in there? Wake up!" shouted Obito with no consideration for the neighbors. Since it was just barely past 7 AM, no one was pleased with the racket Obito was making. Neighbors were shouting their abuse to Obito as Rin shrank behind Obito's back.
Obito, lower your voice!" said Rin, punching him on the back.
"Eh? They're awake already, aren't they? What's the point? Oh haha, Rin...sorry. This is urgent, isn't it? That was just my, errm, normal voice." said Obito (but nonetheless, he lowered his outrageous voice) "Why should I?"
The door opened by a centimeter without Obito noticing. A voice answered his question.
"Because if you don't, I'll make you wish you never met me."
Kakashi opened his door a little more, his eye gazing murderously at Obito from between the tiny gap he opened.
Obito recoiled a little but quickly recovered. He smiled, hoping it would soften Kakashi, and tugged Rin's hand. Rin gave a little start, unable to look at Kakashi because she was feeling the shame of Obito's early morning uproar. Kakashi opened the door fully.
He stood there at the doorway still in his sleep clothes, his hair messier than usual and his eyes droopy. He was still wearing his mask ("He sleeps with his mask on?!" thought Obito.).
"Come in" he said to the two. The two got startled and they didn't really hide it. Kakashi raised his brows and said...
"I suppose you are here to tell me that our team has a mission, and I suppose you'll give me some details about it or Obito here wouldn't be so enthusiastic and energetic for graciously waking me up?"
Rin fidgeted a little and answered "Yes.".
"So hurry and come in. I'll read it inside, and Obito can hide himself from the people he woke up." said Kakashi, sparing Obito a withering look. Obito flashed a "peace" sign at Kakashi and said "Okay!"
Kakashi went inside, gesturing for the two to follow. They followed him.
Obito and Rin have never been inside Kakashi's house before. It was unusually well-organized for a house of a teen who lives by himself. There were books stacked on bookshelves and on the couch. Kakashi led them into the sitting room. ("Kakashi likes things tidy huh? WEIRD!" thought Obito.). If they didn't know who lived here, they would have thought that it belonged to a fussy old lady.
Obito sat on the couch, followed by Rin. He picked the book nearest to him.
Icha Icha Turnover. **
Obito grinned.
"So Kakashi, you read Icha Icha too eh? Haha! Who would've thought..." teased Obito.
Kakashi, who was sitting on another chair, gave Obito the evil eye then answered, his voice menacing.
"I read it for its great story, unlike you, you perverted Uchiha."
Kakashi wanted to laugh when he saw Obito's reaction.
"Perverted Uchiha?!" Rin tried her best not to laugh. She drew a deep breath to steady herself. No laughing, No laugh- what's in that book? -ing?!
Obito looked as if Kakashi had punched him (though his words almost felt the same as that) and answered,
"I'm 15 so I can read anything for any reason I want, unlike some people who lie and cover up their real intentions with words." Obito was smirking silently.
He knew Kakashi read it for...well, it was Icha Icha after all.
Kakashi stared, unabashed, and turned to Rin.
"So...the mission?"
Rin held out a paper containing the details for their next mission. Kakashi read it and handed it back to Rin. They shall be setting out after an hour.
"Just…let me get dressed up" he said.
He went back inside his bedroom and searched for his clothes.
As soon as Kakashi was out of view, Obito leaned in and whispered something to Rin. Rin looked startled as Obito looked confused.
Looking around the room, they spotted pictures of their team on frames set upon the shelf near the unlit fireplace. One caught Rin's eye. It looks like the most well-cared for because compared to the other photos, it was more dust-free. The picture shows the first time Team Minato ever met.
Rin was hit by nostalgia. She smiled blankly, lost in her thoughts. She stood up and grabbed the photograph. She can't remember who took this photo. It was surprising to see that Kakashi somehow treasured their memories together by displaying a faded photograph. (Kakashi cared very much, he just doesn't show it. Really.)
She looked closer. Three children and their sensei posing awkwardly. Rin was smiling sheepishly. Minato has his hand on Rin's shoulder and the other on Kakashi's arm. The latter was trying to get out of the camera's range, so half of his face only got into the picture. Obito was at the middle, smiling with all his little Uchiha cuteness.
"Damn, Minato-sensei hasn't aged a bit" she thought. "Oh, Obito's goggles made him so cute then! And Kakashi!"
Meanwhile, Obito was getting impatient. Tired of waiting, he ran to the door of Kakashi's room. Just as he was about to knock, the door opened revealing a fully dressed Kakashi.
"Let's go" he said, nodding at Obito. Rin stood up and put the photograph back where it was and nodded too. They headed out towards the door.
"East gate, is it? Let's meet Minato-sensei."
Kakashi's eyes shone with subtle bliss.
A/N: There. Photographs preserve memories until they fade, if not forever. Anyway, uhh, I just wanna show Kakashi's special feelings for Minato through what happened on this chapter. Subliminal messages rock. :)
** - I just made this up to have another title for an Icha Icha book. :D Why Icha Icha Turnover? I dunno too. Makes me think of omelets. =)
