References to events in chapter 20 of the story here.


"The grass looks greener, but it's just green painted cement."

...

"That was completely your fault!" Kakashi yelled as he and Shou went after their enemies. "You're an idiot!"

"What?! I told you to stay where you were!" Shou cried. "They wouldn't have escaped if you just listened to me!"

"Your plan wasn't going to work!" Kakashi said angrily. "So I moved!"

"It definitely would have worked!" Shou said. "Believe it or not, I know what I'm doing!"

"Well, I don't believe you," Kakashi said resentfully.

Shou rolled his eyes. "You're such a little brat," he said. "Get off your high horse."

Kazuki… I wasn't this annoying when you were my Senpai, was I?

Of course you were. I was just nice about it.

"I'm not on a high horse!"

"You are," Shou said. "Quit looking down your masked little nose at everyone and stop blaming me!"

"I just don't want anyone to die!" Kakashi defended. "I'm not taking that risk."

They were only several weeks into the new arrangement and the two of them were beyond ready to strangle each other. Kakashi hadn't felt Shou's angry chakra again since the first day, so he was finding it easy to insult him without fear of decapitation.

"Bleh… I really dislike rescue missions," Shou said, ignoring him as they got closer to the enemy's location. "Who the hell bothers with kidnapping a feudal lord's nephew? The ransom would be chump change compared to his son's. If a person is willing to give up their life for money, they should at least go all out..."

"You're the one that volunteered us for this," Kakashi reminded him.

"That's because you and I need practice together," Shou said. "You suck at coordinating with others and you don't listen to me at all… We're off to a bad start already."

Kakashi scowled beneath his mask.

"Up here!" Pakkun whispered.

"Shh… We're hunting shitheads," Shou said heavily.

They slipped silently closer to where their enemies thought they were safely hiding.

"You take the one on the left," Shou said. "I'll get the two on the right… You can manage that, correct?"

"Yeah," Kakashi said shortly and they split off into the trees.

Shou took down his targets easily enough, but found that Kakashi had stopped, kunai in hand. The third man was holding the unconscious nephew with a kunai of his own at the boy's throat.

"Back off or I'll kill him!" The man screamed.

Shou closed his eyes with a deep breath.

How annoying.

"Why did you hesitate, Wolfie?" He sighed, stepping forward.

Kakashi's mouth fell open disbelievingly beneath his mask, still not accustomed to the nickname Shou had taken to calling him recently. "Are you serious?!"

"I'll kill him!" The man repeated.

Shou crossed his arms over his chest. "They never said we had to bring him back alive…"

"Shou, what the hell?" Kakashi said. "You're such an asshole!"

"Maa…"

Kakashi snarled furiously. He couldn't stand how relaxed Shou was all the time. He'd spent enough time with the older ANBU by now to realize he didn't care about anything or anyone. His voice always went back and forth from bored to fakely happy and light, but always staying smooth and careless. It didn't make any sense and the only time it changed was when he was yelling at Kakashi. The guy was listless and cynical, foul and completely merciless towards his enemies, and Kakashi wasn't sure if he had all of his marbles either since he sometimes muttered to himself. He was quirky, unpredictable, and enigmatic, leaving his Kohai jumping through hoops just to keep up with him on most occasions. He never knew what was real with his Senpai and it was beyond frustrating.

Was this Shou's true personality? Or was it all an act to keep others away?

"Look, kill your partner there and I'll let the kid go!" The man said to Kakashi.

"Ahh… Now don't tempt him," Shou said wearily. "He might actually do it."

"I should," Kakashi said sourly.

"You should have just killed this guy right away."

"I didn't want to risk the kid!"

"Ughh. You worry too much," Shou said exasperatedly. "Don't let your enemies bully you around. It's not appealing."

"I'm not!" Kakashi said defensively.

Shou turned to face him fully and jabbed a finger at him. "The only person allowed to control you is me, got that?" He said. "Follow my rules, stray."

"I'm not following rules if it means letting someone die!" Kakashi cried.

"I've poisoned him!"

Shou rolled his eyes. "You're ruining all my fun," he said painfully, ignoring the man. "I'm not going to let him die and my rules are different from any others. I don't give a fuck if you follow other people's rules, but you'll follow mine."

"Your rules are weird!" Kakashi said impatiently. "How am I supposed to tell if you're right?"

Shou sighed again. "I know you don't trust me and I probably wouldn't either," he said calmly. "But I certainly prefer you eventually do, because you acting on your own gets me in trouble and it's annoying."

"Are you even listening to me?!" The man yelled. "I've poisoned him!"

Shou turned back to him. "You haven't," he said simply.

"How can you be so sure?!" The man demanded.

He shrugged.

"Shou!" Kakashi hissed.

"Don't move Wolfie-chan~" Shou cooed as Kakashi prepared to leap forward. "You're following my orders, remember? It's not hard..."

"Then give me a damn order!"

Shou slumped tiredly. "How's your aim?" He asked.

"Good," Kakashi said at once.

"Hmm… Aim for the shoulder then, would ya?"

"Huh-?"

"Now~" Shou said cheerfully.

He sprung forward in the blink of an eye and Kakashi hurriedly threw his kunai into the man's shoulder, causing him to reel sideways in pain. The bottom of Shou's foot made harsh contact with the man's solar plexus sending him stumbling backwards and on to his ass. This caused him to release the boy and Kakashi ran forward to catch him; he had a feeling Shou would have just let him fall on his unconscious face. Shou advanced on the man slowly as he hurriedly scrambled backwards.

"Shit!" The man wheezed, managing to leap clumsily to his feet.

He thrusted his kunai out at Shou and Shou jerked sideways to avoid the strike, grabbing the man's forearm. He twisted and swung him into the nearest tree, the guy's face slamming into the bark with a sickening little crunch. He bounced backwards with the force of the blow, blood spurting from his nose, and Shou held his arm up to swiftly clothesline him, sending him face first into the dirt.

Kakashi watched in (what he would never admit to be) fascination. Shou's movements were quick, smooth, and downright graceful, yet completely careless and lazy at the same time. Kakashi had never seen anything like it. His Senpai may have been tall enough to be a little gangly, but he carried himself in a way that would have looked awkward for anyone else and Kakashi wondered if he could ever hold himself up the same way.

"How boring," Shou said, slouching with listless agitation as he stomped lightly on the back of the man's head. "This guy was all talk."

Kakashi checked the boy's pulse as he tried to wake him.

"Ahh… Did you see that, Wolfie-chan?" Shou said, his tone turning lighter once again. "We just did something together! How un-fucking-believably sweet!"

Kakashi glared at him. "I don't know what poison he used."

Shou waved him off. "He didn't use one," he said.

"How do you know?" Kakashi asked quickly.

"Three reasons," Shou said, nudging their enemy over onto his back so that he could bind his hands with rope. "First off, he wouldn't get reward money for a dead boy, second, I've been poisoned myself enough times to know what it's like-"

"There could be other poisons out there that you don't know of," Kakashi insisted.

Shou shook his head. "I'm embarrassed to say that I know more about ways of killing people- poisons included- than my own cock," he said, though he didn't sound even remotely embarrassed.

I doubt that, Kio.

"-and third," he continued, ignoring his imaginary lover. "I could sense the kid's life-force and it was fine."

"What do you mean you could sense it?" Kakashi asked in confusion, trying not to think of his Senpai's cock.

"It's part of my clan's jutsu," Shou said vaguely as he plucked the kunai from the man's shoulder.

"Your clan's jutsu…?"

"Let's get going," Shou said shortly. "And unfortunately for me, they said to bring at least one of these lumps back with us alive..."

He took the end of the rope and started dragging the bleeding man behind him through the dirt and Kakashi picked up the young boy, hurrying after him.

"Shouldn't we wake the kid at least?" Kakashi asked. "And you can go now, Pakkun," he added to his nin-ken. "Thanks."

"Right," the dog said gruffly, perfectly happy to get away from the constantly bickering duo and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"No way," Shou said, wrinkling his nose and doing nothing to deter the man behind him from bumping his head on a few rocks as they went. "I don't want to hear a sniveling little brat the whole way back... One is enough."

"Che. I hate you," Kakashi said darkly.

Shou snorted. "Then please, please go tell the Hokage I'm a terrible person so he'll put you on a different team."

"I will!" Kakashi snapped.

"Yay…" Shou murmured, pulling out his latest copy of Icha Icha and began reading as they walked. Kazuki peered eagerly over his shoulder.

Ohh, we're at a good smut scene, aren't we? Hurry up and read, Kio!

"Ugh- Don't read that gross stuff in front of me anymore!" Kakashi said in disgust.

He'd found out the hard way the week before when he asked Shou about the book he was reading and was unfortunate enough to get stuck with Shou happily reading it out loud for him.

"Mmm…" Shou hummed and looked up at Kakashi. "But I-I really love you…" He said in a timid, girlie voice. "I'm willing t-to do anything to p-prove it, Master-"

"Shut up!" Kakashi cried, blushing.

"Rōku-san was right about you," Kakashi said as they got closer to their destination. "You don't care about anything. This boy could have really been killed. How can you always be so calm?"

"Hah! He said that?" Shou laughed, tucking his book away. "He's such a twat. That's not true at all. How rude."

Kakashi gave him a skeptical look, knowing perfectly well Shou didn't mind what anyone thought of him.

"Ahh… Well, maybe…" Shou said thoughtfully. "I care about- no, wait… Mm… I'm sure there's something… Uhh… Coffee is good…"

"I can't tell when you're joking or not," Kakashi said wearily.

Shou stopped in his tracks and turned to him. "I'm the most serious when I'm joking around," he said.

Kakashi blinked.

"No, I'm kidding," he said, walking again. "Actually, wait… I'm not even sure… Maybe you should only panic if I panic…"

Don't be deliberately freakish, Kio.

Shou snorted.

Kakashi sighed heavily. "You're annoying, Senpai."

"I know," he said, unfazed. "But I was trained not to care about anything. You have to be impartial. I suppose I've forgotten how to turn it on and off…"

"You were being too careless," Kakashi said sulkily. "I think you're just lazy."

"Perhaps…" He said honestly. "But getting upset in that kind of situation doesn't help. You have to be thinking clearly, 10 steps ahead of your enemy. You're good at that, but you're too high strung. If you relax you'll be even better."

"I can't relax knowing someone could die," Kakashi said, shaking his head.

"Okay, then don't relax," Shou said. "You can pretend though, right?"

"Why?"

"It throws people off when you come across as too careless or cheerful," he said. "It's distracting and annoying like you said. Then when you go to snap their neck they'll be too shocked to struggle."

Kakashi frowned. "Does that really work?"

"Usually," Shou said with a shrug. "But if not, your calm, clear mind should already be ready for your next step."

"What the hell is this?" Their enemy grumbled and Kakashi jumped. "I feel like I'm in a classroom."

Shou looked back at him. "So you're awake then," he said. "Oh, and this is like a practice mission," he explained airily. "Wolfie-chan is still new."

"A practice mission?!" The man cried in dismay.

"I know. How embarrassing for you," Shou winced, pointing at Kakashi. "I mean, look how little he is."

Kakashi would have punched him if he weren't holding onto such an important person.

"This is bullshit!" The man snarled.

"It sure is," Shou said grimly. "I do all this work for the village and what do I get? -A poke up the ass in the form of a stray puppy. I thought they were going to let me pick someone for the team myself."

Kakashi was scowling at him. "I don't want to be with you either," he glowered.

"It's a tragedy for everyone then," Shou sniffed.

"I wish you would stop breathing," Kakashi grumbled.

"Oi! I'll breathe on you!" Shou snapped, pushing his mask up and grabbing him.

"Kyaa!" Kakashi gasped when Shou bit his ear, sending a shock of something unfamiliar down his spine. It had his cheeks flushing and goosebumps erupting over his skin. His Senpai's breath smelled of cinnamon and honey.

"Ahh, did you like that, Wolfie-chan?" Shou snickered as he shoved the boy away.

"Fuck off!" Kakashi growled, nearly dropping the kid in his arms.

Shou grinned at him and it was a doofy, crooked smile, but Kakashi couldn't look away. He felt butterflies stir in his stomach and for some reason his heart was pounding erratically in his chest.

What the hell is going on?

He'd never had these feelings before and whatever they were, he didn't like them one bit. Shou was confusing and a total jerk.

I'm demanding a new Senpai from Minato-Sensei as soon as we get back!


"I want a new Senpai," Kakashi demanded when he was through the doors of the Hokage's office.

Minato blinked. "Kakashi…"

"He's an asshole and I don't like him," Kakashi said resentfully.

"Why don't you try talking it out?" Minato suggested.

"I refuse," Kakashi said shortly.

"Well, I refuse your refusal," Minato sighed heavily as he placed his pen down. "What happened?"

"I have an entire list of complaints about him," Kakashi growled.

"And he has a whole file on you," Minato said.

"W-What?!" Kakashi sputtered. "No way!"

Minato snorted. "I'm just kidding," he grinned.

Kakashi glared at him. "I'm being serious, Sensei. He treats me like a child!" He cried. "-And he's always calling me a stray puppy or mongrel or Wolfie!"

Minato kept smiling. "I don't think it's meant as an insult."

"How is it not?" Kakashi asked incredulously.

"Shou likes strays," Minato said. "…And mongrels and wolves."

"Che…" Kakashi grunted. "He bit me."

"H-He what?" Minato said, trying to keep a straight face.

"He bit me, Sensei," Kakashi scowled. "-Don't laugh!"

"Pfft- I'm sorry," Minato snickered.

"He's terrible," Kakashi said. "And a weirdo."

Minato continued to chuckle. "I know he can be a little harsh and… eccentric at times, completely cynical, and I've never actually seen him take anything seriously, but he's surprisingly good at what he does."

"I can never tell what he's thinking," Kakashi grumbled. "And his training sessions are totally unreasonable."

"Oh?" Minato said with raised eyebrows. "How so?"

"Well, if he even bothers showing up- he either just falls asleep or spars with me. –And when I say spar I mean he beats the hell out of me. He blasted me across the training grounds the other day with a water jutsu!" Kakashi said, making a sour face as he held out his arms to show him an array of bruises and cuts. "I think he enjoys hurting me. It's the only thing he takes seriously," he said. "And I'm working really hard, but he's always demanding more from me. Nothing's ever good enough."

"Hmm…" Minato hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe I was just too easy on you…"

Kakashi gapped at him. "You're defending him!" He accused.

"I won't pretend like I don't know you antagonize him as well," Minato said sternly. "You can be quite difficult when you want to be."

Kakashi gave him a withered look, but he didn't say anything.

"You've already improved so much under his guidance, Kakashi," Minato continued. "He told me you're very good when you actually listen."

"He… He did?" Kakashi said uncertainly. "But he's always criticizing everything I do!"

"The more he pushes, the better shinobi you'll become. He knows what he's doing," Minato said promptly. "Now…" He said, growing more serious. "About your first ANBU mission. You really messed things up by acting on your own and Shou got into a lot of trouble with Danzo for it."

Kakashi looked away sullenly.

That's when he started calling me Wolfie…

"In fact, Danzo is still raising hell about it," Minato said wearily. "He's been trying to convince me that Shou is a traitor to the village."

Kakashi's head snapped back up, his eye wide. "That's crazy!"

"I know," Minato said. "Shou's been working in the ANBU under the Sandaime since he was 12."

"So he was a kid too," Kakashi said grumpily.

Minato smiled. "Yes, Shou was-"

There was a knock at the door and Minato sighed.

"I'm sorry, Sensei," Kakashi said softly. "I shouldn't be bothering you when you're busy..."

Minato shook his head. "It's okay," he said. "Come in," he called.

The ANBU leader, Rōku came into the room and closed the door behind him. "Oh, Hound," he said, in mild surprise. "How are things with Shou?"

Kakashi scowled. "He's a jerk, but he's also perfect at everything. I could never be that good and I'm holding him back," he said bitterly. "…Oh, and nobody warned me about what he does around water."

Rōku snorted. "Hah! I nearly forgot about that," he chuckled.

Minato raised his eyebrows in question.

"He really likes swimming," Kakashi said unhappily. "To the point where he strips off all of his clothes and dives into any remotely large body of water we come across on missions. –And when I say all of his clothes, I mean all of them. I've seen his naked butt more times than I care to count."

Minato gave a disbelieving laugh.

"It's not funny!"

"Sorry, Hound," Rōku grinned. "We'll have to make a point to put you guys on missions that aren't near water."

"Please," Kakashi said painfully.

"And yes, Shou's talented," Rōku said. "I won't deny that, but he's far from perfect."

"How do you mean?" Kakashi asked.

"You have skills he doesn't have," Rōku said. "You understand diplomacy and patience, while Shou doesn't know the first thing about communicating with people properly. He has absolutely no tact at all and he speaks his mind too freely. His Senpai was amazing with negotiations and since he's gone now I never send Shou out on missions like that. He doesn't understand people at all. He makes decisions based on practicality and not human emotion, which isn't always the best way of doing things. You on the other hand, know what the hell compassion is. Shou wouldn't get it even if I beat him over the head with it."

"Beating him isn't very compassionate…"

"Plus," Rōku chuckled before continuing promptly. "He's ten years older than you. Experience makes a big difference. Ten years from now you'll be a completely different shinobi. You'll be unstoppable, as far as I'm concerned and I look forward to your progress."

Kakashi was speechless.

"Anyone patient enough to put up with Shou is going places, I promise you that," he added.

Minato gave Rōku a grateful smile as Kakashi's cheeks flushed from the praise.

"We both know it's hard for you right now, but you're not the only one that's ever lost someone," Minato said, turning to Kakashi.

Kakashi's chest tightened.

"Shou will never let anything happen to you," Minato said.

Kakashi bit his lip. "He doesn't like me at all."

"You don't know that."

Kakashi gave him another withered look.

"Okay, so I don't think Shou really likes anyone," Minato admitted and Rōku shrugged awkwardly in agreement. "But he doesn't like anyone dying either, so trust me and stick with him."

Kakashi nodded slowly. "Yeah, okay…" He said reluctantly.


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