A/N: Ah, chapter 9. This one-shot has accumulated into a full-blown story.
(BTW, you may have noticed that when Kakashi talks, there's a lot of "..." in between his words. That's because he talks in that slow drawl, making his sentences seem sorta long. You know what I mean though.)
"I'm starting to think that I'd rather spend my time in the cold...nya..." Kakashi sighed.
"You'd last 5 minutes, if that..." Asuma laughed, twirling a lock of his "cat's" hair.
"Hm...maybe...nya..." Asuma smirked as he held his pet, who was sitting on his lap, even closer. "I wanna sleep now...nya..."
"Too bad. I'm too excited to sleep."
"I can't help that..." He, almost nervously, turned away. "Besides, the chuunin exams are right around the corner, we need to prepare the kids..."
"Mahhh, they can wait. I need this now..."
"Ugh, You so don't..."
"C'mon. What are you doing that's just so important, that you can't show your best friend a good time?"
"I..." What excuse could he make? Watering the plants at this hour of the night would sound ridiculous. Then again, with the way he looked, ridiculous seemed almost normal.
"Are you...afraid of something?" Asuma could pester him all he wanted. For all he knew, Kakashi could be dieing, and no one would know. As if Kakashi told anyone anything. "If this is about her...you don't have to worry..." He was referring to Kurenai, of course. After spending some time away from her, Asuma could tell he'd lost all interest in that woman. She acted so hurt when she'd found out what he'd done, but he never said anything to her when she'd come home at off hours of the night, reeking of other ninja, such as Gai, Hayate, or otherwise. Who else did Asuma have to confide in now? Shikamaru was a kid still, as mature as he was, it was beyond him. And Asuma was sure that cologne Kurenai had stank of the other day was Iruka's, so that crosses another one off the list. It was a shame his father, the 3rd, wasn't around. Though, he'd be just as busy as Tsunade to listen. And so, he was fed up with no one caring, he'd make someone help.
"Maybe..." Kakashi looked away. "Or...it could be something else...I still don't know..." Asuma was a dear friend, more so than Kurenai or Gai even. And if refusing him meant losing that friendship, then giving himself away might be worth it, though others would disagree. It might be his lack of interest in a relationship, having gotten used to being the "lone wolf" of the jounin. There was a time, years ago, when he'd felt something for Shizune, but he dismissed it. And it disappeared. Maybe he was unable to love? If that was the case, then continuing this might only hurt Asuma in the end. "I...have things to think about..."
"You know, I'm here to listen." Why wouldn't he talk? Stubborn? Lonely? Or, maybe he just didn't know how? Something seemed awfully wrong. Even for his stoic persona. He'd never show his true self, not to Asuma, never even to Minato when he was around, but why? There was something troubling him, weighing heavily on his mind like an anvil suspended over a delicate flower. Asuma would figure out what the issue was, press it until there wasn't one anymore. There was a feeling inside him, no longer just a lust, maybe thsi was what they called "love"?
Avyuvdwsbdisbddfbf hdbion bcjfbisw THIS CHAPTER SUCKS, I KNOW D: I just *desperately* needed to update... like, a lot... But I'm deprived of inspiration right now...anyone wanna help me with the story? Like, a collaboration maybe? I dunno...anyway, will update when I know what to do :'D