Learning to Live Again
By Ammie Hawk
Disclaimer: Welp, I think that says it all…
AN: Okay folks, we've come once again to the twelve days of Christmas. I have most of the chapters completed, but still have a couple to go so wish me luck. Anyway, let's get on with the reason you're actually here and the first day of Christmas present to all of you. I hope ya'll enjoy.
Chapter 4: Interrogations and Language Barriers
As Kakashi led his nephew away, all eyes turned to the little redhead. Gaara just stared impassively back. It was Choji, however, who finally broke the tension.
"Well," the tall redhead said, "I have reservations for Bar-b-que, if anyone wants to come along."
"Naw, you go," Shikamaru shrugged. "My mom made dinner, and you know how she gets. Gaara and I are expected to be there."
"I should go as well," Neji shook his head. "I have some paperwork to put together for Lady Hokage."
"I'm on a diet," Sakura said with a mild look of disgust.
"Aren't you always, Billboard Brow?" Ino scoffed. "I'll go with you, Choji. I can order a salad. You're buying, right, Choji?"
"If you're only getting a salad, I think I can manage," he laughed as the two teammates walked away.
The pinkette rolled her eyes and walked away in a slight huff. The other two Leaf shinobi shared a look before heading off in the opposite direction of the medic.
"So we going to your place, Neji?" the lazy Chunin asked.
"Yeah," the pale eyed teen nodded.
Gaara didn't say anything as he allowed the pair to escort him to Neji's apartment. He knew as soon as they reached their destination they were going to start questioning him. He didn't mind answering, it was just a part of his past that he had never shared with anyone before. There were the obvious reasons; it had been a top secret mission he had been assigned and it was also one of his father's many bids to get rid of him, but those aside, it had been the happiest six months of his life, prior to meeting Naruto.
His thoughts were interrupted as Neji unlocked the door to the apartment. The three of them made their way over to the living room. Neji and Shikamaru sat down on the sofa while Gaara remained standing and stared out the window at the gathering dusk.
"So," pale eyes locked on the redhead, "Gaara, care to explain what that was back there? How did you understand him?"
The former Sand shinobi took a deep breath before turning to face his companions, "As you know, I am the son of the former Kazekage, because of this, things were expected of me. I was taught several languages when I was young, among them Chinese, Russian, French, Spanish, and English. Kakashi's nephew speaks English, more specifically the accent suggests Great Britain. I recognized it because I spent some time in the British Isles a few years ago on a mission."
"What kind of mission?" Shikamaru frowned, aside from Kakashi's brother he'd not heard of a ninja being sent outside the elemental nations.
"There was a break in at a bank," the redhead shook his head. "There was no sign of the intruder or evidence how they had gotten in. My father was contacted and I was sent. The culprit was not found, even after I was there for six months. It was my first failed mission."
"But why would a shinobi of your caliber be sent for something as simple as a break in?" Neji asked.
"The clients were wizards," Gaara sighed. "They use magic, similar to how we utilize chakra."
"There's no such thing as magic," the lazy Chunin scoffed.
"You can believe what you will," he shrugged. "But I was there. I know what I saw. I actually still have a contact there. In fact, he tried to contact me for a mission a couple years back, but I was already imprisoned at that point and could do nothing."
"I thought you didn't do well with people," the pale eyed Jonin frowned. "Naruto was an exception because he's just like you."
"So is Remus, in a way," the redhead shook his head. "He is not a jinchuriki, but his monster is just as powerful as any of the bijuu, only more out of control. He's what is known as a werewolf, and we learned a lot from each other over the years. I should probably write him and establish that line of communication again."
"That's all well and good, I'm sure we'll hear more about it later," Shikamaru rubbed the back of his neck. "In the meantime, can you teach us English? It seems it might come in handy for more than just talking with Kakashi's nephew."
"I believe that would be wise," Gaara nodded. "I also know a jutsu that will help expedite the process. However, it will take time, not as much as it normally would, and I will warn you, I am not an easy instructor."
"Didn't think you would," the lazy Chunin sighed. "This is so troublesome."
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Remus Lupin sat in the kitchen of twelve Grimmauld Place, the current headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, waiting in silent trepidation as Albus Dumbledore paced angrily around the room. The entire Order had been summoned for an emergency meeting, but the aged headmaster had not said anything for almost fifteen minutes now, and everyone was getting restless.
"Why did you call us here in the middle of the night, Dumbledore?" trust Severus to get right to the point. "Some of us actually have important matters to attend to."
"Harry is missing," the old man turned to address the assembled crowd, his eyes not holding their usual twinkle.
The uproar this simple announcement cause was almost deafening as practically everyone began shouting at once. Dumbledore, however, held up his hands and silence fell once again.
"I can assure you that he was not taken by Voldemort or his Death Eaters," he shook his head. "No, his Muggle relatives have somehow hidden him from even the most advanced magic."
"How is that even possible, Albus?" Minerva McGonagall asked with a frown.
"I do not know," Dumbledore finally took a seat at the head of the table. "All I know is that when I realized something was wrong, I went in search of Petunia Dursley and found her in Tokyo."
Remus could've sworn he saw a smirk cross the face of Sirius Black out of the corner of his eyes, but when he turned to face him, his face was blank.
"Why would they take him there?" Molly Weasley asked, confused. "It seems a bit extreme to take him to Japan."
"Japan is known for its ancient and mysterious magic," Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody scratched at his lopsided nose. "Maybe they discovered something there that would hide the boy."
"They are Muggles, Moody," Severus sneered. "They know next to nothing about magic, and these particular Muggles hate and fear it. They would not seek out any form of magic, especially not to help their nephew. What surprises me, though, is that we haven't heard anything from the mutt. Cat got your tongue, Black?"
"No, Snivellus," grey eyes narrowed into a glare. "I was just thinking of everything I need to have to be ready to leave for Japan as soon as this meeting is over."
"Sirius, I cannot allow you…" the headmaster began.
"Save it, Dumbledore," the escaped convict cut him off. "You lost the right to tell me what to do when you lost my godson. So unless you plan to have me arrested and admit that you've been aiding and abetting me for the past year, you'll shut up and let me go about finding Harry."
With that, he pushed to his feet and left the room. Remus glanced around at the others before following his friend from the room. He caught up with the other just as he reached the door to his bedroom.
"Sirius, what were you thinking, talking to Dumbledore like that?"
"Not here," Sirius grabbed his arm and dragged him into the room.
He practically tossed him onto the bed and then began making his way around the room, grabbing several items and tossing them into a magically enhanced knapsack. Remus had just found his voice when the other stopped moving.
"Kreacher," Sirius said before Remus could say anything.
"Sirius," the werewolf sighed as they waited for the house elf to appear.
"Look, Moony," his friend shook his head, "I don't care if you tag along, but if you're going to come, I suggest you go pack. I'm gonna leave as soon as I finish with Kreacher. Kreacher, goddamn it, get in here! That's an order."
A loud CRACK filled the air and a small creature with large bat like ears and a snout like nose appeared. His bloodshot eyes assessed the two men with unveiled distain before he sank into a low bow at Sirius' feet.
"Master called for poor Kreacher?" he asked in a low raspy voice. "Ungrateful brat always trying to…"
"Just shut up for five minutes, Kreacher."
The elf's mouth snapped shut with an audible click.
"Now," Sirius took a deep breath, "I want you to go to the kitchen and get me some food, nothing gross, but enough to last two people for about two weeks. Now, this next part is very important and I need you to listen carefully: I'm not kicking anyone out while I'm gone, but I want you to monitor everything they do, especially the meetings, and report everything back directly to me. Understood?" the small bald head bobbed in the affirmative. "And, you know what, Kreacher," he said, more as an afterthought, "as a reward for all this, I'll let you gather anything that you feel needs salvaged from the restoration project they've got going on. Just know I will go through it all when I get back. Have some fun, cause some mayhem, you know, things you're good at. Now go."
The elf disappeared with another accompanying CRACK. Sirius then turned back to his friend.
"Seriously, Remus, if you want to come along, go get your stuff," grey eyes held brown. "You have about five to ten minutes before I'm out the door. If you're coming, I'll explain everything once we're out of here. I don't trust anyone here, not with Harry's safety."
"Fine," the werewolf sighed, pushing to his feet. "I'll meet you downstairs in five minutes."
"No," Sirius shook his head. "Meet me back here. I don't want to risk anyone following us."
Remus nodded and made his way across the hall to his room to gather his things.
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Harry woke with the sun the following morning. He felt exhausted but the bright sunlight, coupled with his new unfamiliar surroundings, made it impossible for him to go back to sleep. With that realization, he climbed out of bed and located some clean clothes in his knapsack. Once he was dressed, he made his way out of the room and toward the kitchen, where the enticing scent of food was pulling him.
He was surprised, when he entered, to see not his uncle but the brunet he'd introduced as his boyfriend. Iruka, he thought his name was. The man turned from the stove, unsurprised by his appearance, with a kind smile on his face.
"Good morning, Harry," he said quietly. "I made breakfast," he indicated the stove. "I know you can't understand me, but please, have a seat?" he motioned to the table.
Harry nodded, showing he understood, even though the words were completely foreign to him. He pulled out a chair and took a seat. The man's smile grew as his instructions were followed. He turned back to the stove and grabbed a plate from one of the cabinets. He piled it with food and placed it before the boy, along with a pair of chopsticks.
"Eat," he encouraged, moving to the doorway. "I'm going to go wake up, Kakashi."
The teen only vaguely understood what he was getting at, but decided to turn his attention to the food in front of him. Iruka nodded and continued out of the room. He made his way down the hallway to the room he shared with his boyfriend. He entered quietly and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Kakashi," he called quietly, marveling at how peaceful the other looked in sleep. "Kakashi, it's time to wake up."
"Mmm," his non sharingan eye peeked open. "No."
In a move that caught the younger man off guard, he wrapped an arm around his waist and dragged him down on the bed, moving so that he was pinning him beneath him.
"Kakashi!" Iruka protested. "I have to be at the academy in half an hour."
"Hm," a smirk graced the handsome face, "looks like we have some time then."
"And your nephew is in the kitchen," the Chunin frowned.
"Harry's awake?" Kakashi jumped up and began throwing on clothes. "I thought for sure he'd sleep in. Is he okay?"
"I left him eating breakfast," Iruka propped himself up on his elbows to watch his normally composed lover scramble around like a teenager, feeling he should be a bit offended with how easily he'd been distracted but not able to manage it. "He should be fine for a bit. But it is hard to talk to him when we speak different languages."
"I promise we'll work on that," Kakashi flashed him a smile before pulling his mask into place. "Just not right now. You have work and I have to talk to Lady Tsunade." He finally held out his hand for the other, "Come on, let's go."
The brunet shook his head but allowed the Jonin to pull him up and together they made their way back to the kitchen. They both frowned slightly as they entered and saw Harry sitting at the table with his hands folded in his lap and a full plate of food in front of him.
"Something wrong with the food?" Kakashi asked, making his way to the stove to get his own plate.
"No, sir," the teen answered quietly, "I just had nothing to eat with."
"Didn't Iruka…?" his one visible eye narrowed as he scanned the table. "Ah, I see." He turned back to the counter, "Your mother had the same issue. Jirou used to get a kick out of it, but I think she sent me, ah ha!" He held up a fork in triumph. "You'll have to learn to use chopsticks eventually, but as you just got here it's something we'll work on. Now, eat up. Iruka's actually a really good cook."
"Thank you," he took the utensil. "And tell Iruka thank you too. It does look good."
"Eat," the silver haired man chuckled, lowering his mask to do just that. "As long as you finish it, he'll know."
Harry nodded and began to eat. The two men shared a smile before starting in on their own food. They ate in silence and before long they were all finished, and the dishes gathered by Kakashi, who immediately started washing them.
"Well, I'm off," Iruka went over and gave Kakashi a kiss before grabbing his bag and flak jacket and heading out the door.
"Where's he going?" Harry asked, slightly confused.
"As I explained earlier," his uncle shook his head, not turning away from his task, "not that I expect you to remember everything, this has been a lot to take in, Iruka is a teacher at the Academy. He's off to mold young minds and train them in the way of the shinobi."
"Right," the bespectacled teen nodded. "I'm sorry, I forgot."
"It's okay," the silver haired Jonin chuckled. "Now, as soon as I'm done here, I figured I'd show you around the village, and introduce you to the Hokage."
"The Hokage?" Harry frowned.
"She's the leader of our village. She's also a great medic and I'd like her to take a look at you at some point in the near future, probably not today, but soon."
Harry didn't know what to say to that so he remained silent. Within ten minutes, the dishes were done and Kakashi was dressed in his usual style including his mask, flak jacket, and hitaate covering his right eye. Harry was curious about why he covered his face and what had happened to his eye as he hadn't covered it during breakfast, revealing the long vertical scar running over it, but had kept it closed the entire time. But years at the Dursleys had taught him better than to ask. So he continued his silence as they made their way out of the house.
As they walked through the village, the teen was surprised at how many people greeted his uncle. He was obviously well liked in the village. Though they greeted him amicably enough, no one really came up to them. This changed, however, as a cloud of dust made straight for them as they were almost to their destination.
When the dust was almost upon them, it stopped and settled, revealing a tall man with black hair styled into a bowl cut and clad in a green jumpsuit, orange legwarmers, and a flak jacket.
"My great rival, Kakashi!" he smiled, showing gleaming white teeth, and reminding Harry strongly of Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Did he win Witch Weekly's most charming smile award, too?" the bespectacled teen muttered quietly.
"I don't think so," his uncle chuckled. "Harry, this is Might Gai. Gai, allow me to introduce you to my nephew, Harry Potter."
"Ah, this is your charming nephew," Gai's smile, if possible, got even bigger. "He is so full of youth. It is an honor to meet you, young Harry."
"Unfortunately," Kakashi cut in, "he does not speak our language. And we are on our way to see the Hokage, so we should be going, you know how she hates to be kept waiting."
"Rrright," the green clad man winked and gave them the thumbs up before taking off once again, kicking up another dust trail in his wake.
"Who exactly was that?" Harry blinked after the strange man.
"That was Might Gai," Kakashi shook his head, "Konoha's Sexy Green Beast, his own choice in moniker, no one else's, and my self-proclaimed rival. He's a talented shinobi, and a decent enough guy, though a bit eccentric."
"He kinda reminds me of an old professor I had," the raven haired teen shook his head. "But he was a fraud."
"Gai may be a lot of things, but a fraud is not one of them," his uncle laughed quietly. "Anyway, we should see Lady Tsunade now."
Harry nodded and they continued on their way. A few minutes later, they arrived outside a set of large double doors guarded by two masked figures. The sentinels made the teen nervous, with their blank faced masks, but Kakashi just nodded at them and knocked on the door. A voice called from within and he pushed the portal open.
Inside the room, behind a large desk piled high with stacks of paper, was a comely blonde woman with the biggest boobs Harry had ever seen. He quickly averted his eyes so as not to appear rude by staring.
"Ah, Kakashi," she pushed to her feet and walked around the desk, "so you've returned. And this must be your nephew."
"Yes," the Jonin nodded, "this is my nephew, Harry Potter. Harry, this is Lady Tsunade, the leader of our village."
"Wait," Tsunade cut in in English, "you wouldn't happen to be The Boy-Who-Lived would you?"
Green eyes widened at the question and he reached up automatically to flatten his bangs. Her brown eyes followed the movement and a faint smirk graced her features.
"Judging by your reaction, it would seem you are," she shook her head. "He would be part of your family, wouldn't he, Kakashi? Well all that aside, welcome, Harry, to Konohagakure."
Ammie: Okay, so there it is. I know it's slow, but hopefully things will pick up in the next chapter or so. Anyway, please let me know what you think.