Ballad For A Scarecrow
by: Thermophile57
Chapter 4
The blond scowled at the raven-boy across from him as he chomped on another bite of his food. "Won't they be worried about you?"
Sasuke looked up from the table which he had been tracing with his fingers, looking back down as he shook his head.
"Why not?"
A sigh, "they know I'll come back eventually."
The silence that followed was not a comfortable one. Naruto pouted at the other boy, having hoped that he would have said more. "So, do you work there?"
"No, I live there." Sasuke raised a brow when Naruto's eyes went wide.
"You're related to that monster-man!?" Sasuke sighed again but in annoyance this time.
"Kakashi is not related to me. He's my guardian." Naruto frowned again.
"What happened to your parents?" it went silent again as Sasuke looked away.
"They're dead."
"Mine too." Surprised, the pale boy looked up to find Naruto giving him a warm smile that made his cheeks burn bright from the heat they transmitted. "I guess we're both orphans then."
With a small smile in return, Sasuke glanced down at the table, saying softly, "Seems like it, Dobe."
XxX
Gripping the handle with an iron fist, the pale man at the door stared at his hand and willed it to force the handle down, something that wasn't easily done when his heart called, 'open it!' as his brain screamed, 'don't do it!'
The reasons for that were the notes that so beautifully floated to his ears, a melody that he was so familiar with, he could have played it in his sleep.
It was the hauntingly sweet one that had plagued his nightmares when he was just a boy and was now bringing them back to life. It sounded as if his mother was actually sitting at the keys, playing the bright tune that echoed so uniquely in the dark, the one she would play when he would fall and get hurt or when his father was delayed a day in his journey home.
The memories brought a pinch to pick at his heart and he almost let go of the handle until he steeled himself, remembering that she was dead as he pushed open the door soundlessly.
XxX
Eyes closed and heart beating in tune with the rhythm of his fingers, Iruka let the notes flow over him and he couldn't help but rock with it, letting it slowly consume him until all he saw and felt were the keys from the grand instrument at his hands and the reverberations humming through him.
Kakashi watched cautiously from where he had silently slipped in, letting his eyes and ears take everything in.
His first assumption that it had been his mother's song playing was false and now wondered how he could ever get the two mixed up. This one, Iruka's, was lighter and clear with sharp intentions unlike the echo from the past he remembered. That one had been dark and mysterious, the sound of it making you come closer to understand whereas this one was something to approach for simply its beauty and precision.
Standing there, the tall man let out a breath he had been holding.
A sour note was hit and Iruka spun around, as if having heard. The younger man's eyes went wide and he sprung back instantly from the bench, causing it to teeter unsteadily. Kakashi darted forward and caught it just as Iruka reached out.
Heart beating with wild surprise and adrenaline, Iruka found himself staring right into Kakashi's bright crimson eyes and his outstretched hands begun to shake with intensity at being shocked to fiercely that made him withdraw. Remembering the setting, he started to apologize profusely as Kakashi slowly righted the bench with an unreadable expression on his face, Iruka backing out of the tight space he had found himself in. "I-I-I'm so sorry, Kakashi. I probably shouldn't be here. I-"
Having seen the brunet turn to leave, Kakashi shot up and snatched the wrist that was slowly slipping out of his reach, "wait!"
Eyes back on Kakashi, the duo froze, both of them hanging on thin air as they waited for the proper words to come to Kakashi.
"You don't have to…..go."
Iruka looked down and bit his lip in hesitation, looking down at the hand that grasped his wrist with a gentle grip, the cloth-like skin much softer than what would be expected. The younger man looked up in uncertainty. "You don't mind….?"
"That you play? No, absolutely not." There was a long silence that hung tensely in the air like a cloud as they watched each other with wavering apprehension. The long while lasting until Iruka saw the shocking eyes locked with his slowly fall into a warm-like calm and blink, finally looking away at the floor and noticing his hand was still grasping the brunet's wrist.
Iruka blinked when the older man release his wrist, briefly forgetting that his wrist was ever held due to the touch being to light and gentle. He heard a small apology as the red-eyed man backed away and glanced at the piano, saying quietly, "you play so well, it would be a shame for you to stop."
So, Iruka sat down quietly with Kakashi sitting on the far bench that belonged to the organ and he continued to play. The older man simply sat in his appointed spot and listened, his eyes trailing over the room that hadn't been in for years, eyes lighting upon the corner nearest to the door as the sensation of nostalgia washed over him.
XxX
After hearing the door shut lightly behind him, Iruka flicked his head to the side just as Kakashi cast a last longing look towards the doors, hearing soft voices echo down the hall. Kakashi looked up in the same direction just in time to see the ghostly figures of the mansion's staff look up at them with a start and disappear completely, fearful of being caught.
"They haven't heard music in a long time." Puzzled, Iruka turned his head towards the man who had been silent until that moment.
"Well, that would explain why all the instruments are so dusty." Iruka's jaw almost dropped in surprise when the scarecrow-like man's lip turned up and laughed, the sound of that deep voice becoming so alive brought Iruka's own lips turning upward.
"Yes, that would be true," Kakashi chuckled out and wiped at his eyes that had almost started to leak from his laughing. The few words light Iruka had said contrasted so starkly against such the dark atmosphere that had settle, Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle. It dawned on him that he hadn't laughed like that in years and the smile on his face grew along with his confidence that surged with the moment at the smile on Iruka's face.
"Um….how about I finish giving you that tour?" Kakashi's arm sprang up for the second time today, his manners reacting again to the situation, and Iruka took hold of it before he could stick it back against his side in embarrassment.
"You're not going to finish that letter?" the slide on the brunet's lips turned cheeky and Kakashi couldn't help but lick his lips and look down in slight timidity, a smirk of his own coming out to play.
"I will but…" he looked up, the confidence from before returning as he glanced at his guest's face and said, "Guests come first."
"Well, then, tour away!"
XxX
XxX
Iruka was running at top speeds, pushing himself further and further as he glanced around. He was searching, more specifically hoping. Hoping to find what he had been looking for, he glanced behind him and stopped running when he saw no one was behind him, his breaths coming out in pants.
That was when he slipped out from the alcove he had hid in and swept over to where Iruka was bent over, hands on his knees as he focused on breathing properly. The person reached out just as Iruka stood back up and turned.
"Holy crap! Izumo! You scared me!" the brunet jumped back at the sight of the transparent man appearing right next to him, hand on his heart to calm his thundering pulse. The ghostly-man winced.
"sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," shaking his head, Iruka waved a hand at him and looked away, his eyes scanning the long, dark hall for any signs of life.
"s'okay, I just didn't hear you coming," seeing, Iruka's attention was distracted, Izumo raised a brow.
"You're looking for something?"
"Someone," the brunet corrected as he straightened up and started hurrying down the hall, Izumo close behind.
"Who're you looking for?"
"Kakashi. Have you seen him?" Izumo froze, his feet unable to move as he stared at Iruka, the other brunet noticing he'd stopped and doing the same. "What?"
The odd look on Izumo's face made Iruka wonder what he was thinking about and if what he'd said had been strange enough to make Izumo's face blank like that.
"What's wrong?"
Izumo snapped out of the reverie he'd fallen into and flushed in embarrassment, waving his arms, "Ah! Nothing's wrong! Sorry, I just spaced out…you're looking for Kakashi?"
"Ah, yeah," the unsure look on Iruka's face disappeared when he remembered the goal he had given himself. "I have something really important I want to show him!"
"Oh…well, in that case, he'd be over near the library if you really need him," Izumo thought for a moment. "Either there or in the study."
"Thank you, 'Zumo!" stunned by the nickname, Izumo waved as Iruka took off down the hall and huffed in bewilderment before grinning and disappearing in the opposite direction.
XxX
"Kakashi!"
Kakashi's head snapped up at his name. What? Who was calling for him?
He swiveled his head to look down the rows of books. Seeing no one but being able to hear the slap of boots on floor, he stood and made his way over to the end of his row. He just poked out as a mass of flesh smashed into him and sent them both flying into the next bookshelf.
"Gah!" Kakashi's eyes went wide once they opened again to watch the shelf teeter uncertainly back and forth. Head spinning, Iruka pulled himself off the taller man who sighed at seeing the bookcase stabilize, his eyes blinking until he no longer saw stars.
"You know…" Kakashi said in slight shock. "That you have to whisper in libraries, right?"
He watched as Iruka flushed and said murmured a sorry as he took the hand Kakashi offered when the silver-haired man had gotten to his feet. Kakashi nodded in acknowledgement, furrowing his brows as he asked, "you wanted to see me?"
"Ah! Yes, I did!" Iruka's face brightened up at his earlier purpose and grabbed the other man's wrist, scampering out of the room with Kakashi in tow, "I have to show you something!"
The taller man, stumbling behind Iruka, asked wearily, "what is it?"
The younger man simply shook his head and continued to pull Kakashi until they reached the music room, confusing Kakashi even more as Iruka left him standing by the piano to race to the long wall of windows.
The blinds were thrown wide and Iruka spun around, grinning as he called, "Tada!"
Iruka blinked at the absence in the room. "Kakashi?"
A hand shot out from behind the grand piano and a wobbly voice called, "over here…."
"A-are you alright?" Iruka hurried over to see the older man collapsed on the ground, hand covering his eyes.
"Y…yes….it's just…. they're photosensitive…. My eyes."
"I'm so sorry!" Iruka gasped and ran back to the windows, about to shut them when Kakashi called out.
"Wait! ...wait…. I'll…..be alright. Just give me a few moments…."
"Are you sure? You don't have to-"
"No, I'll be alright." With a deep breath, Kakashi slowly pulled away his hand, the light stinging his eyes as he tried to pull them open and winced at the pain that stung the backs of his eyes like needles but the pain became bearable once he saw the concern on Iruka's face when the younger man came back to kneel next to him.
Kakashi pulled himself onto his knees with narrowed eyes and looked over the piano just enough to see the brilliant light that emanated from the ground as the thick snow covered the ground like a soft blanket. He couldn't help but be astounded by the colors and movements that he hadn't seen in years.
The stinging grew too overwhelming and Kakashi had to sit back down on the ground next to the remorseful brunet who bit his lip. "I'm so sorry, Kakashi. I wasn't thinking….it was just so pretty and…"
"It's okay," Kakashi smiled slowly at Iruka and said, "thank you for showing me…it really is beautiful."
When seeing Iruka grin at him, his heart fluttered in his chest like a swarm of butterflies and, after Iruka closed the drapes and lit the candles around the room with the box of matches Kakashi had taken to keeping in his pocket, he sat on the bench of the piano and motioned to the instrument, saying, "would you mind playing? My head's hurting but your playing's always helped."
"Really?" the younger man was slightly stunned at the statement. He'd hardly ever heard compliments from others before. Iruka's face lit up and he slid onto the bench to the older man and played.
It was a long while before he stopped and they both left the room smiling, heading towards the study as Kakashi explained he had to send another letter to a man named, Jaraiya, again and need Iruka's help.
Kakashi didn't even spare a glance towards the lonely violin in the corner this time.
XxX
XxX
With a swipe of his cape, Mizuki spun around from his front door and stalked into town, a grin that was leaning more towards evil painting his features as he strutted down the street.
Everything was just falling into his lap.
After milking the blond boy for information, he was feeling the best he had in days. He had been trying to court Iruka for months, no, years with no luck of even getting a smile in his favour from the pretty brunet but now….
Chuckling to himself, the man practically skipped up to the steps to the Mayor's home and knocked confidently on the door. As soon as the mayor opened the door, Mizuki pushed his way in with grand ceremony as he said, "Mr. Mayor! I have been informed from a reliable source that there is a monster of a man who has kidnapped the beloved schoolteacher Umino Iruka!"
"WHAAAAAAT?!"
XxX
"This is terrible…" the man was mumbling to himself as he paced nervously back and forth in front of his fireplace, Mizuki nodding all the while.
"I know sir…. With Iruka-Sensei missing, the children will have no chance of getting an education," the other man's head snapped up at that, his eyes widening even more than before.
"There's a monster on our doorstep and the children will be knowledge-less…." Those thoughts ran around the major's head and Mizuki couldn't help but smile to himself before falling back into character with a sniff.
"And Iruka had just agreed to marry me too…." the lie was easily swallowed by the older man.
The major shook his head and said resolutely, "measures must be taken…."
"Sir, I have friends up near the Village of Sound and I think they may be willing to deal with our monster problem," at the sight of the major's lit up face, Mizuki grinned. That was just what Mizuki was waiting to hear, the words that dinged on the microwave of his life, indicating that his meal was perfectly cooked….meal meaning life, of course.
In reality, he didn't give a shit about Iruka. Sure, the guy was cute and smart but none of that really mattered to Mizuki, just having Iruka was going to make the whole town jealous and he would be the man most lusted-after once Iruka was out of the way.
"Really?! That would be a miracle if you could get them to help us battle this monster!"
"They owe me, Sir. They have too much pride to refuse this offer."
"Good thinking, my boy. We'll heave off as soon as we can to find the beast." Mizuki stood and grabbed the older man's hand and they determinedly shook each other's hands.
"And kill it," the enthusiasm in the air began to build up until they were both grinning at each other, the air tense until something popped into the mayor's mind.
"Oh, and save your fiancé, too."
"Ah, yes, Iruka," the momentary lapse of conversation that came to pass was quickly overlooked by the two of them as Mizuki grabbed his coat.
"I'll be off then to fetch my friends." He turned back to the mayor as he said darkly, "I think it would be most beneficial if you also warned the villagers, sir."
"Ah! Yes! Of course!" With those words, the both quickly departed the old man's house and went in their separate directions.
XxX
Iruka frowned. "I don't know….this arrangement seems pretty important."
"It is." Kakashi sighed and picked up his pen, intending to write but having nothing to actually put down. "I mean, for them to sign the treaty with the other town would mean easier access to both towns. Being the ambassador for the Konoha division, I have to ensure that the treaty is beneficial for both parties and that they're both happy with the signing."
Iruka's frown deepened and he tipped his head back against the neck of the chair he sat in by the fire. "So, in other words, you're a….entertainer?"
"What? No, more on the side of…making sure that they get a good impression of each other."
"Oh…so, a matchmaker, then?" a huff of a laugh escaped the older man and Iruka threw him a grin.
"Yes, I guess you can call me that for the time being." Iruka frowned again and turned in his seat to truly face Kakashi.
"Well, why don't you throw a party or something?" Kakashi's threw Iruka a look that said 'really?'
"Iruka, I haven't had anyone here beside you in years, much less anyone from the outside. I wouldn't be able to hold such an event even if I had." Iruka watched as Kakashi's face turned sad and self-pitiful and he couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for him. The feeling passed as a new one made itself know: the urge to help him.
"Well, then!" Iruka stood, walked over to the desk and smiled down at Kakashi, making the older man shiver at the devilish look. "You'll just have to be the 'mysterious host' who only appears occasionally."
"But I-"
"No buts!" Iruka waved him off and turned his back to the helpless scarecrow. "You're going to host a party and it will be amazing!"
The brunet turned back and flashed Kakashi a wink, "you can even wear a mask if you want."
Kakashi, feeling tired and weary at the idea, slouched in his seat and watched with a small smile as Iruka walked out.
XxX
MAKE WAY FOR THE PLOT DEVELOPMENT!
Hehehe…you've all been so patient…here is thine reward.
DOUBLE UPLOAD!
On upload for FAIW and one for BFAS! ;D
Enjoy, review and have a nice day!
~T bear