"Pssst, Aoki! Did you see that?" A nurse elbowed her coworker behind the reception desk.
"What, Kitty?"
"Wasn't that the Hokage?!"
Aoki's head popped up next to Kitty's. "What! Where?!" She looked out into the hall.
"There! He just came out of 191."
Both nurses craned their necks to look at Kakashi walk away down the hall.
"Wow," Kitty said, checking out his butt.
"He looks good dressed down!" Aoki agreed.
Instead of the usual flowing Hokage haori that hid everything, the Sixth was wearing fitted black jeans and a black shirt under a peacoat that stopped at his hips. He still had his mask on, but of course that mystery only made him more attractive.
"What was he doing in 191?" Aoki hissed. Kitty flipped through the registry book.
"191 is that Jomae b -"
"Whatcha lookin' at, naughty nurses?" A male voice from nowhere caused Kitty and Aoki to scream and jump in surprise.
Another nurse popped up from behind the cubicle wall.
"Same!" Kitty shook her fist at his blond head. "We've told you not to do that!"
Same shrugged. "Like I care what you two think. Keep lazing around. Your butts are getting wider by the second."
"Stop looking at them, then," Aoki stuck her tongue out at him.
"Oh please. I'd stab my eyes out with senbon first. I was looking at the Hokage's, same as you two chicken chokers."
"How dare you -" Kitty started to say, but just then Administrator Karin walked up.
"What's this ruckus? I wanted these filed-like yesterday! And this reception area is not up to handbook standards. Director Tsunade is already on my ass about this schedule mixup…"
The unpredictable redhead glared at the three nurses and pushed her glasses up. "Find some work to do, you three, or I'll find some for you and I guarantee you won't like it."
"If only Sasuke would take pity and sleep with her so we wouldn't have to deal with her spinster mood swings," Same said under his breath as he ambled away with a pill cart. Aoki covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Karin's face whipped around, scarlet eyes flashing. "What's so funny, Aoki?" The Administrator burned Aoki and Kitty with her gaze.
Kitty managed to say something. "It's the Hokage, Karin ma'am!"
Karin turned to her. "Oh? What now."
"He was just in 191 again."
"Seriously. What did he screw up in my ICU now?" Karin glared peevishly at 191's viewing window.
"He took the patient dinner," Masa said matter-of-factly as he passed. "Call the paparazzi," he added sarcastically and zipped around the corner out of Karin's line of fire.
"Dinner?" The Uzumaki clan redhead's interest was piqued. She'd figured the Hokage's attention for the spy from Jomae had something to do with security, not socializing…
Karin frowned.
Aoki held up her phone. "I just got a text from my friend at the lingerie shop," she whispered. "Lord Hokage and Guy Sensei were in earlier, and bought several gifts!"
Kitty gasped. Karin's jaw dropped. She would have to see about this gossip herself.
"Aoki, what are you doing out on the floor with your phone on?" Karin snapped. Aoki scrambled to put it away. Kitty started filing papers at high speed.
Karin looked sharply at both of them. "Notify me when our little guest in 191 wakes up from her beauty nap,"she ordered, emphasizing each word with a tap of her fingernail on the reception desk.
"Yes, Administrator!" Aoki and Kitty said simultaneously.
When Karin was out of earshot, Aoki whispered to Kitty, "What do you think that was all about?!"
Kitty shrugged. "She couldn't get Sasuke, maybe she's after the Hokage now. It's probably just like the Mizukage - they say he attracts redheads like flies, you know."
Aoki's mouth formed a surprised oh! They worked in silence for about thirty seconds, then started debating what flavor macarons to buy on break.
…
"Guys. You will not believe what me and Sakura just heard." Naruto was grinning like a Cheshire cat.
They were sitting in the dango shop with Shikamaru, Choji and Ino.
"I'm not sure we should tell them, Naruto!" Sakura scolded.
"What, don't trust us, Sakura?" Ino challenged.
"This is a very delicate situation," Sakura informed her haughtily.
Shikamaru sighed. "Just get on with it, will you? I can't afford to be here much longer at the rate Choji's eating."
Six dango disappeared into Choji's mouth. He smiled and chewed happily.
Naruto looked at Sakura. "Sakura, if we're supposed to protect the king and queen, don't you think we need some help? It's getting a little out of hand."
Sakura considered, then nodded. "All right. But you're all sworn to secrecy!"
"Swear," said Ino eagerly.
"Swear," said Shikamaru in the most bored and lethargic voice possible.
"Can we get more dango?" said Choji.
Naruto laughed. "Okay. Sakura and I found out that Kakashi sensei -"
"Kakashi Hokage," Shikamaru corrected.
"Yeah yeah whatever! Kakashi Pervyface had anbu track down Hanare from Jomae the other day and bring her back here. She's in the hospital right now."
"Who?" said Choji and Shikamaru.
"Oh, I remember her! The green-haired spy from a few years ago, right?" said Ino. "I heard a rumor they hooked up, but then there was the prisoner exchange -"
"Kakashi Liarpants told us she'd done herself in by jumping off a cliff when he cornered her," Naruto sulked and grimaced.
"But she's alive! And here in the village again. And Kakashi's been to see her," Sakura said excitedly. Ino was nodding, already having caught the drift. Shikamaru still had no idea what was going on, and Choji was amassing dango sticks at an alarming speed.
"And now," Naruto's eyes sparkled mischievously, "We just heard from Ayame who heard from her friend at the underwear store that Kakashi and Guy sensei were just in there a little while ago, buying a present!"
"That's impossible," Shikamaru snorted. "Kakashi Hokage has been with me since he left the hospital this afternoon…"
Sakura, Naruto, Ino, and Choji gave Shikamaru a look.
"He… he had meetings right up until 5:30…"
Shikamaru thought back to how docile and compliant the Hokage had been, actually contributing to the meetings.
A shadow clone.
"Aaargh, what a drag!" Shikamaru slapped a palm to his forehead.
…
"Oh, you're awake," Karin feigned surprise as she entered Hanare's room.
Hanare looked up quickly. She'd been lost in thought, examining the pattern on the robe Kakashi had given her.
"Please excuse my intrusion, I'm the Administrator here and we're planning some changes to the ICU. I just need to make some notes if this is an OK time."
Karin zipped over to the far side of the room near the daisies without waiting for Hanare's assent.
"Oh - of course. Don't let me stand in the way of your work," Hanare murmured, pretty sure this Administrator wouldn't let much stand in her way in general - her chakra felt abnormally strong and aggressive.
Well given Tsunade's reputation, it makes sense she'd hire powerful nin to run her hospital.
"I'm Karin," the red-haired woman smiled a vulpine grin at Hanare. Her eyes were red, too - a unique shiny red that reminded Hanare of cinnamon candies.
"And you are… Hanare." Karin raised an eyebrow. The woman hadn't been admitted with a name since the anbu didn't know her identity. Someone had scrawled her name carefully, in retrospect, on the clipboard. It looked like a man's handwriting. Kakashi Hokage's?... Karin wondered.
"Yes," Hanare said, wondering what the Administrator's real purpose in being here was. Something about her was starting to make Hanare nervous again.
Karin pretended to inspect the IV and the thermostat. Hanare generally felt more comfortable around men because they were easier to play. She'd spent the majority of her professional hours around men, and knew all the tricks.
Women were harder. Women seemed to feel that Hanare thought she was better than them - which was true, sometimes… and they intuitively knew when she was holding back. They seemed to hold it against her that she'd never truly open up.
And Hanare could always feel the way women were competitive with how she looked and the effect she had on men. She always felt like she had to go the extra ten miles to gain a woman's tentative friendship.
And frankly this Karin person didn't much seem like friend material.
"How do you know the Hokage?" Karin asked suddenly as she flicked dust off the blinds with the end of her pencil.
"I don't, really," Hanare demurred.
"Really. The staff said he's been spending a lot of time here since you've been admitted. I figured you two must be old friends or something."
"Old acquaintances, if that." Hanare smiled blandly at Karin.
Karin laughed. "Every time he comes in here half my staff gets the vapors. Guess the Sixth is just the type everyone has a crush on."
Hanare felt an odd pang. Nope. Not gonna give her anything, she thought grimly, still morbidly curious as to where this train wreck was headed.
"Oh?" Hanare said in a tone of polite, ignorant interest.
"Well I'm sure you've heard about the Mizukage…?" Karin made like she was checking the air vents.
"The Mizukage?" Hanare repeated as vapidly as she could.
"Oh yeah. Been throwing herself at Kakashi for years is the rumor." Karin snickered. Hanare noticed how she'd dropped using his title. Does she know him well, or does she just want me to think she knows him well…
"It started when he stayed in her palace overnight, on a mission." Karin glanced at Hanare. The green-haired woman looked interested, but not jealous. "Or so I've heard."
"Oh, my!" Hanare covered her mouth with her hand.
"There was the rumor about the girl he rescued from the Momoya gang…"
Hanare listened and gasped at the appropriate times.
"Even some talk about him and Anko…"
Hanare had no idea who Anko was.
"There was even gossip about him and Tsunade, after a jutsu implantation ritual."
Hanare didn't have to fake her surprise at that story.
"And then there was the whole thing with the prison warden…"
"Prison warden?"
Either this gal is a real pro or she doesn't give a damn about Hatake, Karin thought. But she'd learned very early on - the hard way - that only perseverance would earn you the real story, for better or for worse.
"Yep. Konoha's own Warden of Hozuki Castle, ice queen Kahyo." Karin snorted. "Kakashi got her that position. After they supposedly hooked up aboard a burning blimp. She was one of the terrorists he was supposed to arrest! Then for his very first act as Hokage he goes and makes her Warden, reducing her death sentence to lifer as long as she serves."
Hanare raised her eyebrows. "Wasn't it a scandal?" she whispered confidentially at Karin. Karin nodded. "But no one can ever prove or disprove anything with him."
The redhead put a hand on the vase of daisies. "I mean, I can see how he can be charming - I mean, when he carried me on his back after the battle with Sas -"
"Excuse me?" Hanare heard herself say it before she realized she was saying it. Damn.
Karin turned sharply toward her, a victorious smile starting on her thin lips…
"Excuse me - I passed gas," Hanare said.
Karin's expression changed from exultant to disgusted. She went over and cracked the window.
Hanare giggled, cheeks pink. "At least it's just us girls, huh Karin?"
Karin stared at her. Maybe I had her pegged wrong after all.
"I'm sorry," Hanare continued, eyes large and apologetic. "You were in the middle of a story. The Hokage gave you a piggyback ride?!" The green-haired patient's tone was admirous.
Karin strutted a bit, feeling good. "Yeah, he sure did! Sasuke, that rascal, had ordered Sakura to kill me to prove her loyalty. Kakashi showed up in time to stop that mess, and when we came back here, he carried me on his back the entire way since I was in a weakened state. I mean, I was technically a prisoner, but it was still sort of -"
"Romantic!" Hanare exclaimed. "Then what?"
"Well… then the intel division took me away." Karin laughed self-consciously. "I kinda hoped he'd stick up for me and tell 'em to back off, but…"
"How rude of him not to!" Hanare frowned on Karin's behalf. The redhead sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Truth is," she said in a low voice. "I've always been all in for Sasuke." Hanare nodded sympathetically. Karin sighed. "But I admit I'm attracted to Kakashi. I think a lot of people really are. But he doesn't give anyone the time of day. So people make things up. I've never seen or heard of actual evidence of him being involved with someone, at least not since I've been here…"
"Perhaps he's just very discreet," Hanare offered.
"Pfff. There'd be something," Karin said, giving Hanare a knowing look. Hanare shrugged.
"What a mystery," she said softly.
"There's only one thing everyone knows for sure," Karin said. She stood up.
"What's that?" Hanare said.
Karin opened the cabinets over the counter to check the inventory. "He spends hours visiting Rin Nohara's grave."
Karin shut the cabinet with a thud. Hanare felt tired. Like she was running a distance race.
"I think he mentioned Rin," Hanare nodded.
"His old teammate," Karin sighed. "At least she was a medic!" The redhead laughed. "Yeah. Hours. The rumor is that's why he's always late to things - because he's standing there talking to Rin. And apparently he buys her flowers… takes these huge bouquets and just lays them on her stone. I've heard they're the expensive stuff, too. How is it fair the KIA girl gets the hot guy and the flowers, too, huh?" Karin chuckled.
Hanare was silent. Karin watched her. Then the green-haired woman yawned.
"Sorry. It's not the gossip. It's me," Hanare smiled up at the Administrator. "It's been a long week so far. You're right though. Life certainly isn't fair!" She giggled.
Karin smiled at the strange patient. She found herself thinking she wouldn't mind staying longer to chat with the Jomae expat…
Just then her pager went off.
Karin glanced down. "Damn it all. Tsunade. Up my bum… It was nice talking, Hanare. Sorry I overstayed. People are always saying I don't know when to quit." The redhead sighed.
"They probably say that because they don't have your joie de vivre," Hanare smiled kindly, tired to the bone.
Karin paused on her way out. "Thanks," she finally said. She adjusted her smart black glasses and grinned at Hanare.
"Rest up now. You never know when the Hokage might be back to try and start a rumor with you." Karin winked and left.
As soon as the Administrator was gone the smile melted from Hanare's face. She rolled over onto her side and curled up.
So many women. Where there's smoke there's fire. Or was it just idle gossip? Hanare realized fully just how little she knew about Kakashi Hatake. So much speculation. But then, it seemed his own village didn't know much about him, either…
Hanare knew Karin had initially showed up to intimidate her and to try and find out if she had designs on Kakashi. Karin hadn't pulled any punches and Hanare knew every bit of that gossip was real gossip.
And it had no bearing on real life, but it still hurt. Hanare was ashamed that it still hurt her, still made her feel anything in any way.
She pulled the silk robe a little tighter around herself. She was glad Karin hadn't asked about it.
I usually eat alone in my apartment. Thanks for having dinner with me… Hanare.
What was the truth?
The truth was the rumors didn't matter, and who or what Kakashi was in his private world didn't matter, because what did matter was Rin.
Hours. At her grave. Talking.
It was such a sweet image that it pained Hanare to think about it too long.
Do I just wish it was me in her place, is that why it stings?
If I had been executed, would he have found my grave? Sat with me? Brought me flowers?
No.
Hanare was certain about her assessment.
Thanks for having dinner with me… Hanare.
Kakashi was lonely, but it wasn't her place to comfort him.
That hurt, too.
I'll go mad if I stay here.
Hanare hid her face in a pillow and plotted her discharge from the hospital until she felt herself getting sleepy again.
She made a meager wish for a nice dream to get her through the night.
I leave tomorrow.