AlexandriteSky: Hey guys, I'm officially failing physics…I just don't get it. At all. It seems as though I can do organic chemistry and calculus 2 just fine, but physics may as well be another language for all I know. So if it takes me longer to update…it's because I'm trying to salvage any chances I have of not completely flunking this semester. Don't worry though, I still plan on updating just as frequently!
AlexandriteSky: A warm thanks to those that reviewed, it really does make my day!
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"You don't even know who his last master was, do you?"
From the way he froze Kakashi thought Sasuke might react, but he was surprised instead by the look of utter disinterest that slid across his young charge's face. The man looked as though Kakashi had just pointed out the weather, and dark onyx eyes pierced through him like spears.
"So?" Sasuke asked, his voice flat.
"So…eh?" Kakashi scratched the side of his head. He had long since given up trying to understand what went through Sasuke's mind; the younger man faced the world with a completely different point of view than most.
The lack of excitement was sorely disappointing though.
After all he had done to build up to the surprise, too…
"Does anything change once I know?" Sasuke continued, crossing his arms. "Does learning about somebody's who's already dead help me in any way?"
The scarecrow was at a loss for words.
"I haven't asked yet because I don't care." The raven-haired man stated coldly. "Naruto's burden is mine now. This is my life, and my bond – what does his old master have anything to do with that?"
"I guess I thought you'd want to know." Kakashi spoke, scrambling for words to cover his astonishment. Curiosity was an innate human trait; there was simply no way that Sasuke 'didn't care' about his fox's past.
"You want to tell me things as if you know more than I do about my own damn fox?" Sasuke demanded crossly.
"That pisses me off."
Sasuke truly had a magnificently horrible attitude, Kakashi decided. He was stubborn to the point of idiocy and avoided the advice of others like the plague – yet the scarecrow admired him all the same. At times like this, when normal people would falter, he charged blindly ahead like a mad man. Kakashi sometimes found himself envious of his overwhelming confidence that allowed him to never lose sight of his goals.
He couldn't help but laugh, which only served to deepen Sasuke's scowl.
"Do you have something to say old man?"
Kakashi's jaw dropped. "Did you just call me…old?"
His voice squeaked out the last word.
Sasuke shrugged. "You're getting up there."
"I'M ONLY THIRTY YOU BRAT."
The sound of Kakashi's voice resounded through the compound, and it was quickly accompanied by a thud as Kakashi leaped at the younger man. Sasuke dodged his childish antics with ease, clearly having experienced this situation before.
This was the scene that met Naruto has he walked through the front door, and the blonde developed into a fit of giggles at the look of pure and utter disgust painted on Sasuke's face while Kakashi crawled towards him.
"Fox." Sasuke snarled, noticing him. "Get him away from me. This is an order!"
The blonde looked in between the two of them nervously, his tails whisking back and forth and his face shone with poorly masked uncertainty. After another moment he spun around on the balls of his heels and hurriedly rushed back into the kitchen. "I forgot to get sugar!"
Sasuke scowled murderously.
The sugar had been lying in clear view on top of the tray that the blonde had just rushed back into the kitchen with.
Bullshit.
He turned his attention back to the man flailing in front of him and fought to reign in his temper.
"Get out." He barked, planting one solid foot on Kakashi's face and pushing the squirming man away from him.
"But Shasukeee…" Kakashi whined as best he could with half of his face mashed in. Sasuke merely responded by digging his heel in deeper, and the silver-haired man frowned deeply as he turned his back on his younger charge.
"If I leave now, I won't be able to try any of Naru-chan's tea." He pouted, grabbing the blonde who had timidly reappeared at the doorway. The blonde squeaked in a rather unmanly way, cerulean eyes terrified as he struggled to prevent the tea in his hands from tipping.
The vein that had been throbbing on Sasuke's forehead for a while now grew bigger.
"Don't call him that. Don't touch him." His voice was flat, and he took ahold of Kakashi's collar and dragged him to the front door. Once outside, he dropped the older man onto the ground like a scolded puppy. "You don't need to visit again."
Kakashi shook his head with a patronizing sigh. "Sasuke, you should know better than to try to hog Naru-chan all to yourself." He spoke, loving the way Sasuke's eyes almost bulged.
"What the fuck are you -"
"Naru-chan, it was nice to meet you! I'll bring my partner with me the next time I visit" Kakashi called over Sasuke's shoulder at the blonde, who nodded and waved in response after a second's hesitation.
"I said don't call him -"
"Sasuke. Please remember my words from earlier, okay?" Kakashi asked seriously, resting one hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Let me know if you need anything – I'm always here for you."
"Kakashi, I swear to god if you don't stop -"
"Well, I guess I've overstayed my welcome!" the scarecrow chuckled, his back straightening. He walked back whistling, his eye arching upwards at the sound of Sasuke's frustrated roar which caused the very earth itself to tremble.
His right hand tickled his hitai-ate ever so slightly.
Was it okay to not tell him?
Kakashi shook his head. Sasuke had chosen his fate when he had chosen to bond with the Kyuubi – he now shared the burdens of the Bijuu, and it would be only a matter of time before Sasuke himself came to understand what that responsibility meant.
Even Kakashi didn't tell him, Sasuke would find out for himself soon enough.
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"Hello, My name is Kabuto! Thank you for accepting my request for a bodyguard." The man greeted pleasantly, holding out a hand to Sasuke. Kabuto had a kind face with eyes that were crinkled from smiling too much, and he shouldered a large bag that seemed to have been filled to its absolute maximum capacity. It was practically half his size, and the man struggled to hold it as he ever-so-slightly swayed back and forth under its massive weight.
Sasuke looked at the offered hand with disinterest. "Hn." He walked past the man without a second glance. "Don't thank me. I'm only doing as I'm told."
Naruto blushed slightly as the raven-haired man stalked away. Sasuke had been particularly moody since Kakashi's visit, and it seemed as though his irritation was practically bursting at the seams.
"Sorry about that." He smiled up at their client. "Sasuke's a little pissed right now. I'm Naruto!"
Kabuto's eyes slowly swept over him starting from the tips of his ears down to the length of his tails, and Naruto swallowed nervously as the man's face became guarded.
"Interesting." The man hummed. "You are an Anima?"
"Mhmmmm." Naruto nodded, wondering if it was really so strange. What did he expect after asking help from ANBU? A startled cry escaped him as Kabuto removed his large bag and threw it on him, the man's eyes narrowing as he watched Naruto struggle under the heavy weight.
"Carry that for me and keep up." He spoke coldly before rushing to catch up with Sasuke, who had been silently watching from a few feet away.
Stunned, Naruto could do nothing but stare after his retreating back.
…the fuck!?
His two tails waved dangerously with irritation as he slowly stood, his small form protesting against the large bag.
Foxes weren't made for heavy lifting!
First climbing trees, now this…
What the fuck were people even thinking nowadays!?
"Kabuto was it?" Sasuke's deep rumble returned him from his thoughts, and Naruto looked up to see that Sasuke was now standing with Kabuto.
"Yes!" the man replied, his face slipping back into its overly pleasant mask.
Naruto's eyes narrowed.
He smelled something rotten.
"I would recommend that you remove a few articles from your luggage for the journey." Sasuke spoke impassively, his gaze unflinching as he pinned Kabuto with a hard glare. "It is burdensome for me if any of us are compromised during a dangerous situation."
"Ah." Kabuto's smile grew smaller. "Ah. Of course."
Without a word he snatched the bag back from Naruto and quickly sorted out the things that he could do without (why the fuck had he even tried to bring his mattress?) . By the time he was done, the bag was only half as heavy as it was before, and after zipping it up he carelessly tossed it back to Naruto.
What an asshole.
The blonde's gaze darkened, but a single warning glance from Sasuke told him to bear it. A client was a client, and would be treated as such; it would only cause trouble for Sasuke if he were to make a scene. The fox could only imagine what Sasuke would do to him if the mission went sour because of his temper.
Naruto grit his teeth.
Sasuke was so making him a bowl ramen once they got back from this mission.
Scratch that, ten bowls.
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AlexandriteSky: I've always held a special hatred for Kabuto…I love you all for reading this far, please review like always!