Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This story is purely a work of fanfiction.
Nina- is my original character (I do own her)
Chapter 109
"Hey Shikamaru!"
Aw man. This is not what he needed. Could he even tell them? Should he? Dammit.
"Hey Shikamaru, how about some bbq?"
His rotund friend and teammate, Choji fell in step with him. He was the emotional one of the group, the news wouldn't …
"Not right now Choji. I … I have a report to write up."
A half-truth; hopefully he would by it.
"Oh, I see. Well, maybe later then."
"Yeah."
He pat Choji's shoulder, stuffed his hands into his pockets before scaling the buildings so, he could continue along the roof tops as to avoid anyone else.
A few rooftops in, he felt the gravity of what he'd just witnessed rise from his chest and catch in his throat. Dammit. Asuma wasn't even here for him to blame it on his cigarette smoke. Looking to the sky that was filled with heavy, grey clouds. Figures. What a drag.
It started as random spots and quickly turned to a torrent, soaking him through.
Lucky save. Shikamaru knew if Temari was here she'd be giving him a mouthful about being a cry-baby. What the hell was the next move?
Asuma was dead. He teacher, mentor, shogi partner and friend. Protect the King. If only it were that simple.
Begrudging the wet weather, he scuffed the top of his sandal on the roof top and then trudged on towards… well, wherever his feet would take him.
It should have been me. Be it as it may, it was a foolish want. Selfish.
Shinobi Rule 25: A Shinobi must never show emotion.
That had been ingrained into every fibre of their being as a shinobi since the very beginning, and with each step Nina felt less and less.
Her name was being shouted from the dumpling house. The voice was loud, cheery and full of unwavering enthusiasm. That voice belonged to only one person, Guy.
Guy hadn't seen Nina in quite a while, so when he spotted her in the crowded streets he beckoned for her to join them.
"Pfft. I don't think she's interested, Guy."
"Nonsense." He set his eyes on the kunoichi again. That look. It was…
"Probably still sour about whatever didn't apparently happen between her and Hatake." Genma mumbled with half a mouthful. "Come on, Nina. There's other guys out-"
"Enough, Genma."
Guy eyeballed Genma who was very much taken aback by being hushed. Guy knew that look; pose and whole vibe. His heart sank. What had happened to cause Nina to be like that? His rival surely wouldn't be responsible? No. It was something much darker.
His memory played back the multiple times he'd tried to encourage his eternal rival to join them in a similar fashion in their younger years; only to be met with that same coldness.
Did that mean someone had died? Was his long-standing rival …?
"But, Guy it's-"
A tall figure appeared before them both, his head cocked backwards, his eye following Nina's movements.
His friend's expression was solemn; sad even. Kakashi looked genuinely sad and not just the remorseful kind he'd carried around with him all these years.
"Kakashi?"
"Asuma's dead."
The shock halted all of Guy's senses and Genma was choking on his mouthful. It couldn't be true?
There was a resounding silence other than the rain that was now beating down on the roofs and ground outside.
"Sit down and I'll explain."
Kakashi relayed the information necessary, mindful to avoid any classified information. It was pretty clear cut and his audience made that evidently clear. There were no immature snipes for Genma; about time he got a little wiser, and Guy looked like he would burst into tears at any moment.
"And that's the long and short of it. I caution you to say nothing. I am sure arrangements are being made to make the formal announcement soon."
Kakashi gazed to the streets outside of the dumpling house; it was still pouring.
"It's like the day when old man Third passed, don't you think?"
It had been the first profound thing that Genma had uttered in a long time; something that Kakashi actually agreed with him on.
"Mhmm."
He probably should be going. Where to? Well, that he hadn't decided. A shower perhaps. After all, he'd just dumped his mask, chest and arm guards and left.
He stood up from the table and headed towards the exit. A solid hand came to land on the flat of his back. It was Guy's. What he had to say next wasn't anything he wanted Genma to hear. It was strictly between them.
"Guy."
"Hmm?"
With no need to caution him; his friend mimicked his own hushed tone.
"I never did thank you."
"What on earth for?"
"Everything." Kakashi inspected the skies above. "You helped me find my way back. You never gave up on me."
Kakashi Hatake was … he was thanking him. In all their years. Heh.
"Think nothing of it, my friend."
Kakashi stuffed one hand in his pocket and laid out his other hand for the raindrops to fall on his palm. The water droplets pooled and steadily overflowed over the sides and dropped to the ground below. Taking his mind back to another memory.
Reality blurred with memory, distorting until the memory became unobstructed. He'd been hunched over Nina, with her on the flat of her back, her hair mixing in the muddy water. Away from everyone… and all of this.
He blinked a few times
"About your other problem."
Problem? He'd have to be a bit more specific than…
Taking the words from my student, but I think they're applicable to your situation. "Kakashi, the lotus of the Leaf Village blooms twice."
Hmpf.
Kakashi knew he wasn't referring to taijutsu. Not even close.
"Is that so?"
"Yes my friend. It is most assuredly true. And if Asuma were here, I think he would agree with me too."
Yes, he'd been incredibly fortunate.
There was a final tap to his body, this time to his shoulder.
"I believe in you."
"What was all that about?"
"That Genma, was something between my eternal rival and myself."
"Hmpf."
"Sometimes even a genius needs advice."
