Chapter 12: Food for Thought 1
Kakashi: 7 Iruka: 6
"So, what do we need again?"
"1 pound of rice from Ayame-san's stall, three good sized Hamachi, four natsumikan from Fukina-san's garden, four whole enokitake mushrooms, four lengths of Somen noodles, half a bowl of miso and some Iyokan. He also said to get some more Gyokuro if you want some."
Iruka frowned, moodily kicking up dust as they walked. " 'Kashi, why are we getting all this food? It's all really expensive, and Arashi-sensei just went shopping yesterday."
"I know. But this is different. He's in love with Megumi-san, and invited her over for dinner tonight. He's going to make her dinner, trying to be romantic."
"But Kakashi, Arashi-sensei can't cook!"
"I know silly, that's why we're getting all this food. We're going to help him!"
"We?"
"You, me, and your Mom. She already said she would."
"But isn't Arashi-sensei on a mission?"
"Yes, but he gets back this afternoon. He probably won't even remember his date until an hour or so before she arrives, and by then we'll have the table ready."
"…You want this date to go well, don't you?" Iruka's voice was laced with taunting suspicion, and Kakashi felt himself grow defensive.
"I like Megumi-san. She's really nice. And she's a jounin, not like the civilian women Sensei flirts with."
The two friends walked in silence for a time, Iruka thinking hard about that. He knew that Arashi did flirt with civilian women, and that they often came home with him. He also knew that civilian women would treat Kakashi like a child, probably pinching his cheek or ignoring him completely. As a jounin of the Hidden Leaf, Niroka Megumi would know Kakashi as both a chuunin and a mature 7 year old. She would be much less likely to treat Kakashi impolitely, and the Niroka clan was famous for their weapons craft. There was more than "she's nice' that was driving Kakashi, Iruka thought with a grin. A lot more.
SHOPPINGSHOPPINGSHOPPING SHOPPINGSHOPPINGSHOPPING SHOPPINGSHOPPINGSHOPPING SHOPPINGSHOPPINGSHOPPING
Between them, it took them three hours to get all the ingredients. Kakashi was all about quality, making sure each item was in perfect condition before he even considered purchase. Iruka, however, was about price. He could pinch a penny until it broke, mostly because his allowance was very small, and he wanted the most for every cent. This led to a bit of head clashing, but they managed to compromise in almost every situation. It took them awhile to carry everything back to Arashi's house, but they managed. Salen was in the kitchen, ready to prepare the food. She set Kakashi to his own list of tasks: getting water, lighting the stove and scaling the fish. Iruka was set to washing vegetables, and Salen began the cooking. It took some time, longer than Kakashi liked, but they did it.
By the time Arashi stumbled through the door, oblivious to the world, everything was done. The jounin collapsed into bed without even noticing the set table, leaving Kakashi to keep the food hot. The chuunin let him sleep for three hours, until he judged it prudent that he awake.
"Sensei? Sensei, wake up."
" 'Kashi….it's too early. Leave me alone…."
"Sensei, Megumi-san will be here in an hour."
In an instant Arashi was in the shower, bemoaning sleep and wishing that he could forgo missions in the face of true love. It took him half an hour to get the soreness out of his muscles, and fifteen more minutes to decide what to wear—he settled on his best jounin uniform. Only when he was toweling his hair dry did he realize that there was five minutes until his date arrived and no dinner ready. And of course, at that moment the doorbell rang. With trepidation, Arashi walked into the living room.
" Kakashi, quick! Go to Ichiraku's and…and…or not."
"Arashi, did you cook all this? You never told me you were a chef!"