AUTHORS NOTE: Oh I just love these little banters! But you know what I love even more? Reviews!
XOXOX
Hidden Feelings, Hidden Lives
Chapter 25: Lost On The Path Of Life
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"Lady Hokage," Shikaku Nara nodded at his superior, trying desperately to keep his calm. The woman was furious. Her normal pale complexion had turned a bright red, her eyes had narrowed to the point of barely being visible and the line of her mouth was tight and thin.
How did I ever get sucked into all of this…? All I wanted was to have a part in my son's life. For him to talk to me. And now I'm standing here, next to Kakashi who looks just fine despite the fact that he was crying in my kitchen only fifteen minutes ago. Despite the fact that he was muttering about blood and whores and monsters, he looks perfectly normal. Well, whatever we call normal when Kakashi's involved. 'Shikaku, I've been doing this my whole life.' How the hell did no-one ever notice!
"I sent the ANBU after him, what the hell are you doing here, Shikaku?!"
"I- I decided to escort him myself, since I was the reason for Kakashi's delay," Did his voice really sound so insecure? Could they just chalk it up to standing in the vicinity of a real-life dragon?
"Not so," Kakashi wiggled on his toes, "Shikaku was just trying to be courteous by letting me hang out in his kitchen, my being late is in no way his responsibility."
Shikaku sneaked a peek in the younger ninja's direction.
What the hell does he think he's doing?
Tsunade's eyes narrowed even further, "Explain."
I didn't think her eyes could get any narrower. And she's growling, that specific tone she uses when you're about to be dead meat. I hope that whatever Kakashi's got planned is gonna work, because I am fresh out of ideas…
"Would you believe me if I told you I got lost on the path of life?"
He's gotta be kidding me!
"No. Now explain!"
"I got lost on the path of life. It's true, whether you believe me or not. Shikaku can even vouch for me, right, Shikaku?"
Don't tell me you're planning… to tell the truth?!
"Shikaku, what happened today? And no lame excuses like this guy. I want the truth and I want it now!"
Yep, I'm dead.
XOXOX
Shizune felt like she'd never been so relieved before in her life.
He's okay, he's fine. He's just being Kakashi, there is nothing wrong with him.
She was certain no-one in this room would share that opinion, though, they were all too wrapped up in how very wrong it was to have to be fetched by ANBU in order to show up for a meeting, four hours late. But to Shizune, all that didn't matter anymore.
He's fine.
XOXOX
"Lady Hokage, I…" His eyes sought Kakashi's, but the younger man wasn't paying any attention to him, instead looking out the window behind Shizune.
"Yes…?" Tsunade was impatient, always had been. And these two were pushing far beyond the limits of said patience.
"I- I really think Kakashi should be the one answering this."
"Hmm?"
The jounin looked up for a second before turning his gaze back to the window. Which only served to anger the Hokage further, if such a thing was possible.
"He already did, Shikaku. Now I'm asking you."
"It… Is a personal matter, Milady. I don't believe I'm the right person to answer these questions."
"Regardless, that's what I'm asking you to do."
Out of the blue, Kakashi moved. Walking up to Shizune until they were only inches apart. His voice was almost seductive as he spoke, "Shizune, would you please excuse us for a moment?"
Is that the voice he uses to pick up guys at the bar? Hell, I would go with him if he asked like that! Shikaku felt a blush creep up, but his was nothing compared to the bright shade the Hokage's assistant suddenly sported. She excused herself quickly, almost running for the door.
"That's better," Kakashi said, his tone normal again, "Wouldn't do to break a woman's heart over something like this."
He's really going to do it… He's going to tell Tsunade… Wouldn't that make her the fourth person in only a couple of days? After keeping quiet for… What? Some fifteen years? He must still be in shock, there's no way he'd do this if the guy was in his right mind. Should I stop him? Could I even stop him at this point?
Kakashi walked over to the Hokage's desk. Sitting down on top of it, just beside her chair, he folded his legs over each other and leaned back a little. For the longest time he'd been practicing this little trick and it hadn't let him down once. He lowered his voice to the kind of sexy, hoarse tone that always worked wonders and began talking.
"I must have been about fourteen years old when I first fell in love. I'd been temporarily assigned to another squad, and I thought I had found the finest human specimen on the entire planet. Not too pretty, but definitely easy on the eyes, with the added bonus of not being pretty enough to attract the kind of attention that I found unwanted. Curly, gorgeous hair framing a heart-shaped face. With eyes, oh, to die for. And lips that were so extremely kissable I simply could not –"
He leaned it for the finale, almost whispering in the Hokage's ear, "Help myself."
Leaning back again, the copy ninja's posture changed. He'd dropped the sexy tone and pose, instead shielding himself.
"That day I got beaten up so bad I couldn't even move for almost a week. It should be in your files somewhere, I believe I told the doctors I got into a scuffle on a mission. Anyway, that was the first and the last time I allowed myself to fall in love. Because most guys seem to have some… issues with it."
Tsunade, flushed as Kakashi had whispered in her ear, started to pale as the story progressed. But she still had questions that needed answering, like…
"Kakashi, what the hell were you doing, today."
"Today…? Well, today I came to see you, of course."
"And after that…?!" There was a thinly veiled threat in her voice.
"After that? I went to see Shikamaru."
Shikaku watched in horror as Tsunade took a deep breath, obviously trying to calm herself down.
He's gonna push her over the edge, he's gonna drive her so crazy she'll lash out and kill him… But I gotta say… This is kind of fun…
"Kakashi!" She was almost screaming at this point, all restraint out of the window, "Why were you so godforsaken late I had to sent the ANBU to go pick you up?!"
She was standing, hands resting atop the desk – one on either side of the silver-haired jounin – face millimeters away from his. Kakashi didn't seem fazed by this at all.
"But I believe I already told you, lady Hokage…"
"No. You. Didn't!"
"Did too."
"Did not!"
"Didn't I?"
"No!"
"Ah, I'm so sorry. I was late because I got lost on the path of life."
So dead. Kakashi's you've doomed us all…