Room 215

Chapter 3

"5:30"

-X-X-

The phone on the nightstand rang.

Kakashi slid his gaze toward the source of the noise and allowed the sound to continue for several seconds before lifting the receiver.

"Hello, Kakashi, man of few words. This is the front desk."

The distinctive rasp of the hotel owner could be heard on the other end.

"Orochimaru."

"Yes! It is me," the man responded, excitement evident in his tone. "You can recognize my voice now. Isn't that interesting? Anyway, how is your room?"

Kakashi swept his dark eyes once around his humble surroundings and shrugged. "Can't complain."

"Excellent! Yes, that is very good to hear."

Kakashi idly wondered if Orochimaru had called only to inquire after the state of his room. Was it yet another layer to that personalized experience, or was the man preluding to something beyond small talk?

He didn't have to wait long to find the answer.

"Now, there is something I forgot to mention when you checked in," Orochimaru began, his casual attitude adopting a serious undertone. "You see, being a first-time guest, it is required that you pay your bill upfront. It's not a matter of not trusting you, but it's...hotel policy!"

That was the second time Orochimaru explained his behavior with a statement that seemed as though it had only just occurred to him.

Kakashi quirked a brow. "Are you asking me to pay right now?"

"No, of course not," Orochimaru chuckled. "You only just arrived. That would be inhospitable of me. Feel free to take your time and relax first, but I will need the bill settled before dinner."

Did Orochimaru realize that was in half an hour?

With an amused shake of his head, Kakashi complied. "Alright. I'll take care of it."

"Oh, wonderful! That would be much appreciated. You can find me either in my office or at the front desk. Whichever is fine."

His words were then followed by the familiar sound of the call cutting off. Orochimaru had hung up.

Kakashi lowered the phone with a frown, mentally recounting his movements from earlier that day. Initially, his wallet was stored in his pocket, but he had moved it to his briefcase during the drive for safekeeping.

Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted the battered object lying on the table where he left it. Stepping closer, he ran his hand along the frayed and weary top, fingers skidding past the lop-sided handle. Perhaps it was impractical to hold onto something so close to its breaking point, but the briefcase had belonged to his late father, and he just couldn't part with it. It had become a silent companion as well as a reminder—one that he could take everywhere.

Sentimental reasons aside, he didn't see the point in throwing out something that was still functional. If it served its purpose, that was good enough for him.

Pulling the key from his pocket, he fit the dull metal into the lock and twisted his wrist, but the top remained closed. Kakashi withheld a sigh as he made another attempt, but a sudden snapping noise caused him to withdraw. After decades of use, the key had broken.

Kakashi shook his head at the unreliable object, though the situation wasn't entirely unexpected. He knew it would happen, sooner or later. Shrugging, he placed the key securely in his jacket pocket. He could easily replace it once he returned to the city, but until then, it seemed the only solution was to pick the lock.

Scanning his eyes around the room, he glimpsed the order sheet Jiraiya had sent held together by a paperclip and another fastened to a hotel brochure beside the phone. After acquiring both items and straightening the metal, he fit them into the lock, easily securing a hold with one while manipulating the pins with the other. A continuous chorus of clicks announced his success and the briefcase snapped open.

The satisfying sound was met by a slight smirk. Lockpicking was a skill he had picked up long before he became a detective, and it continued to aid him years later. There was nothing illegal about finding a loophole to access your own belongings.

Leaning closer, he scanned the contents of his luggage, passing over his spare clothes, but paused when his repositioning of a certain orange book nestled in the corner revealed an old photograph. The edges were tattered, and the once vibrant colors had faded, but he could still clearly make out Obito's bright grin, sitting as brazenly as ever on his desk, while he was personally donning a coy smile, his figure slightly distorted. He had purposefully moved when Minato took the photo, much to the raven's chagrin.

With a wistful sigh, he tore his eyes away and continued his search.

After locating his wallet, he retrieved it and slid the bound leather into his pocket, shortly followed by his hand. He might as well settle the outstanding payment with Orochimaru before the man decided to hunt him down and add another surprise to his visit. As he approached his closed door, he heard movement on the other side and, after turning the handle, he peered around the opening to see Tsunade standing there, boring an agitated glare into the wall as she ran a duster over it.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" she snapped, shooting that fiery look in his direction. "I'm cleaning! I work my fingers to the bone, but do you think this place stays clean? Of course not! One of our guests is a slob."

A slob, huh? I wonder who that could be…Konohamaru? That kid doesn't seem like the type to clean up after himself. Or it could be Deidara. Artists tend to drift toward a sedentary lifestyle.

Kakashi lifted his hands in surrender, adopting an innocent widening of his eyes. "Don't look at me."

Tsunade scoffed, though there was an amused upturn of her lips in place. "Oh, if I thought it was you, you'd know."

Somehow, that isn't hard to imagine.

Returning his hands to his pockets, Kakashi stepped into the hall and pulled the door closed behind him with his foot. Tsunade's presence had summoned his curiosity regarding the mysterious mute. "How's the girl doing? Has she said anything?"

"Not a word," Tsunade replied, shaking her head, before the dismay was replaced by pride as she crossed her arms and self-satisfaction shone in her eyes. "But I did find a way to communicate with her. When I asked her name again, she was unresponsive, but then I slid a piece of paper across the table and she happily spelled out 'Hinata' for me." She lowered her duster, then, with a sigh. "Unfortunately, that was all I could get out of her before she fell asleep. She must have been exhausted."

So, her name was Hinata. He had to hand it to the intense maid. Thanks to her creativity, they knew how to communicate with the girl. He could finally ask about that bracelet.

"Would it be alright if I stopped by your room to talk to her?"

Tsunade frowned. "Not right now, it's not. She's already been bothered enough by Naruto's sudden appearance." Her voice lowered to agitated mumbling, "I swear, that boy knows how to create drama, saying he's in love with someone he just met."

Kakashi chuckled to himself as he overheard the woman's disgruntled comment.

That's new, Naruto.

"Let her rest," Tsunade ordered, her attention returning to him. "Any time after 8 should be fine."

He nodded reluctantly. He would have to wait more than two hours to talk to her. Now that Tsunade shared her communication method, his curiosity was burning with an unquenchable flame. His questions were going to relentlessly cycle through his mind until he could finally acquire some answers, but he would just have to be patient and distract himself with mindless activities, such as delivering money to the whimsical hotel owner.

"By the way, you work for Red Crown, don't you?" Tsunade's unexpected question pulled him from his mind. "Do me a favor and tell your boss to make products that aren't useless."

Kakashi snorted in amusement. He already knew their products were only short of being considered a scam because Jiraiya believed in their validity.

"I'm serious! That boss of yours...What was his name?"

"Jiraiya?"

"Yes! Yes, that was it. Insufferable man," Tsunade grumbled, clenching her fist. "After a broom fell apart in my hands, I called him and that man evaded all my demands for a refund, saying it must have been my fault the broom broke! He spouted some nonsense about my grip being too strong!"

Glancing subtly down at the tight hold she currently had over the abused duster, he couldn't object to Jiraiya's assumption.

He decided to keep that observation to himself, however, and instead nodded in response. "I'll talk to him."

"I would appreciate that," she stated, her intensity diminishing somewhat until it was replaced by a curt nod. "Now, I've spent long enough standing around talking with you. I need to get the restaurant ready for dinner.

The blond woman walked away, descending the stairs at a hurried pace. She seemed to always be on the move, ready to tackle the next task.

He was prepared to follow her when he heard a sudden and loud crash from down the hall. Interest piquing, he redirected his footsteps to instead follow the noise, stopping in front of a door marked Employees Only. Shrugging, he pushed open the door and quirked his brow in amusement as he took in the scene waiting behind it. A familiar bellhop was tangled in a pile of sheets on the floor, rubbing his head with a pained look.

Kakashi crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. "This is you working, huh?"

Naruto flinched, surprise shining in his eyes as they blinked up at him before recognition set in and they narrowed into an unimpressed glare. "Shut-up, dattebayo...I tripped."

Kakashi chuckled, "Yes, I can see that. I didn't know sheets could get the best of you like that."

The blond frowned, muttering incoherently under his breath. After another moment, his sulkiness disappeared as he lifted an accusing finger at his silver-haired taunter. "Hey! You're not supposed to be in here! This room is off-limits to guests."

He assumed as much from the sign on the door. "I heard a noise. I couldn't leave someone to suffer the torture of laundry."

Naruto laughed, surprisingly humored by the obvious jab, then pushed himself off the ground and rolled up the sheets. As he threw them into the hamper, Kakashi took the opportunity to look around the supposedly forbidden room. Nothing of interest stood out to him until he caught sight of a brightly colored magazine lying on an otherwise empty shelf. Pushing off the door, he advanced further into the room and retrieved the reading material, instantly recognizing it as the December Issue of a popular female swimsuit magazine.

Flipping idly through the pages, he spoke to the room's other occupant. "Is this yours, Naruto?"

"Huh?" Naruto asked, distracted by laundry. He turned around to figure out the question but waved it away when he noticed the magazine. "Oh, no. I found that in here this morning. I think a guest forgot it."

Something a guest left behind...

"Does that happen often?"

"Oh, yeah!" Naruto responded animatedly, enthused by the topic. "All the time, dattebayo. I've found all kinds of stuff. Toy trucks, hairbrushes, clothes, even a jewelry box. I've considered keeping some of the toys before, but if a lonely kid showed up looking for it, I would feel horrible. So, I give everything I find to Orochimaru! He has locks and all that in his office for safekeeping. He doesn't trust anyone, but I guess it comes in handy with stuff like that."

Lost and found items are kept in the office, hm? Good to know.

That might not be a bad place to begin his search for the box from the order sheet.

"Which reminds me," Naruto reached forward and Kakashi relented the magazine into his grasp. The bellhop rolled it up with a determined nod and placed it under his arm. "I need to turn this thing in, too."

Kakashi tilted his head as he took in the blond. Responsible was never a word he would have used to describe him in the past, but being in the hotel seemed to have been the opportunity he needed to develop such traits.

"Tell me something, Naruto...How did you end up working in this place anyway?"

Naruto dropped his gaze, looking down at his feet. "...I couldn't find work anywhere else. All the way out here, it's like my criminal record doesn't exist. They don't even have internet. I know it's wrong to lie, but I was desperate and Orochimaru offered me a place to stay on top of a job. I couldn't believe it...Of course, maybe I wouldn't have been as eager to work here if I had heard the stories beforehand."

"What stories?"

Cerulean eyes returned to his with a newfound intensity. "This place is full of them, man!"

Kakashi doubted he would receive a favorable answer. "...Full of what?"

"Ghosts."

He stared back with dull apathy. "Ghosts?"

"Yeah," Naruto nodded. His eyes shifted around the room, almost as if he expected a ghost to jump out at them. "I heard about it from this talkative guy over at the newspaper stand. A long time ago, there was an...an incident. I think it was about ten years ago. A man and his son stayed here, but in the middle of the night, the kid disappeared. I heard he was only ten years old. Poor kid...The father searched everywhere, but when the sun came up, he was still gone. And after that," he dropped his voice to a dramatic whisper, "the stories started. The murdered kid's ghost appears at night and does scary stuff. Guests hear him sobbing during the night, but when they try to talk to him, he vanishes! It was enough to keep people away and bankrupt the place."

Kakashi perked up at that. "Wait, the Dusk was bankrupt?"

Not surprising, but it was still new information.

"Yeah, it was shut down, completely abandoned, until Orochimaru took over five years ago."

Five years? From how proud the man was of the place, Kakashi assumed he had been in charge for much longer. That meant his strange naming system was relatively recent as well as the mystical rumors surrounding the rooms.

"He bought the place for nothing and bam!" Naruto flung his hands around for emphasis. "Hotel Dusk is open for business! Anyway, that's all I know. I tried getting more information once, but Orochimaru and Granny don't like talking about it."

That was interesting. Orochimaru seemed to enjoy sharing anything he found intriguing or unusual. He was the sort of man who wanted to see how people would react. Kakashi could understand him wanting to keep the hotel's sketchy past a secret for business, but why extend that to an employee?

He was also almost entirely convinced that Tsunade was this Granny person, but he couldn't understand the context. She couldn't have been much older than thirty—perhaps a generous forty—but she wasn't old. Perhaps her nagging reminded Naruto of what it might be like to be nagged by a grandmother.

"Hey...Kakashi Officer, can I ask you something?"

Naruto's tone was more uncertain and hesitant than it had been during their conversation. He was going to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe he wasn't about to ask if he believed in ghosts.

"Sure, Naruto," he nodded. "What is it?"

"It's kind of a weird question, but I just have this feeling and I need to get it out, you know?"

Kakashi stared pointedly at the nervous blond, urging him to continue.

Naruto took a deep breath then released a long exhale. "Okay, dattebayo. So, um...are you not a detective anymore?"

He blinked, surprised by the question, but contained any further reaction.

"What gave you that impression?"

Naruto scratched his head, directing his gaze to the side. "I'm not really sure. I can't put my finger on it, but I told you earlier that something was different about you. I was just wondering if that was it."

Kakashi sighed. He was a private person by nature and didn't feel comfortable sharing his history with other people. Not unless it was necessary. Even so, Naruto was...a friend? He wasn't entirely sure what position the little troublemaker held, but he cared about him. Perhaps there wasn't any harm in telling him the truth—a nondescript explanation with minimal details.

"You're right, Naruto...I'm not. I quit the force three years ago."

Naruto's eyes widened. "What? You're serious?! I didn't think that was actually what was going on! I thought you were the kind of guy to be a cop for life."

You and me both.

"So...what happened?"

...

"Kakashi, don't—"

"Damnit, Obito! Why the hell did you do it?!"

"Don't move."

A silhouetted figure turning, Obito's weapon drawn, the piercing sound of a gunshot, the crash of the river and water pouring onto the docks.

"Kakashi, for right now, I don't want you worrying about any of this. Go home and rest."

"…This is my fault, Chief. I take full responsibility for the fallout."

...

Kakashi sighed but shrugged away the loaded question and his memory. "There was an incident. I messed up and people got hurt. Staying didn't feel right after that."

Naruto's eyes widened, a mix of realization and sympathy swimming in his blue gaze. "Damn...what are you doing out here, then? Were you trying to get away?"

"Not exactly," he shook his head. "My former boss set me up with a job out here so I could look for someone."

"Look for someone?" Naruto frowned. "But, you're not a detective anymore."

Kakashi felt a small smirk form at that. Naruto's mind was something else. "Not like that. I'm searching for my ex-partner."

"Your partner?"

"Yeah...Obito," his gaze dropped briefly. He rarely said it out loud, but every time he uttered the name of the friend who had abandoned his own principles, he felt that familiar wave of regret and frustration, but he had long since learned to maintain his composure despite those feelings. "I don't think you ever met him. At that time, he was shot and disappeared into the river. He's been missing ever since."

"That's a long time to be searching for someone...but I get it," Naruto nodded, offering a sad but stubborn smile. "Losing a friend hurts bad, dattebayo. If that happened to me, I don't think I would ever stop looking. I would want to believe he was alive until I had undeniable proof."

Want has nothing to do with it. He's alive. I know it.

"So, you lost a friend, too?"

"...Yeah." That grief-stricken expression returned as Naruto once again lowered his gaze. "It was also three years back, actually."

Kakashi nodded. He had suspected as much. It must have been that friend the pickpocket constantly referenced back in the day. The friend he couldn't leave behind. If he was dead, though, that explained why Naruto refused to stick around in Manhattan.

After a silent moment passed between them, the blond lifted his head with a sudden grin and declared, "Anyway, I've got work to do! You should probably head out, too. It would be bad if someone caught you in here."

Kakashi felt a tinge of sorrow for the boy with the bright smile. He knew he was an adult now, but that innocent dreamer he first met on the subway was still a prevalent image. In the past, he had tried to protect him from the anguish of a life of crime, but he had failed. He had kept his distance, only stepping in when absolutely necessary. He wanted Naruto to come to the right decision on his own, but instead he had lost his friend and was forced to abandon his home. The kid had suffered his entire life, yet he was still the first to push aside his sadness for the sake of a smile and the possibility of a brighter future.

"Alright, let's go."

With a nod, he followed Naruto out of the room.

As the door shut behind them, they immediately stopped in their tracks. Standing in their path was a young woman with a unique shade of pink hair. Kakashi wondered if it was natural. If it was, then perhaps his own wasn't so unusual.

The woman was startled at first, teal eyes wide and mouth agape, but when she glanced at the magazine in Naruto's possession, her demeanor shifted to annoyance.

"Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?" the pinkette demanded, placing a hand on her hip and raising the other to point accusingly at Naruto. "Reading that in public? Don't you have any idea how inappropriate and disrespectful that is?"

Kakashi mentally remarked that it was only a swimsuit magazine. There were more inappropriate things he could be reading.

Naruto leaned over to whisper in his ear, unfazed by the scolding. "That's Haruno Sakura. She's staying in the room across from you."

Oh, joy...

"She's very pretty, isn't she?" he continued, his whisper loud enough to travel the expanse of the hallway. "I would pursue her myself, but alas! My heart is already set on another!"

Sakura's eye twitched. Kakashi smirked. That must not have sat well with her.

"I've just about had it with you!" she predictably exploded. "You were flirting with me the entire way up to my room, and now you're suddenly in love? I pity the poor girl a pervert like you has set his sights on!"

Out of breath but with an intense glare in place, Sakura stormed off.

Kakashi shook his head, releasing an amused chuckle, and turned to Naruto.

"Are you really serious about falling for Hinata?"

Naruto blushed, pursing his lips. "I think so...but I've never felt this way about anyone, so I'm not really sure, dattebayo." His eyes lit up, then, as he fixed Kakashi with a hopeful and pleading stare, reaching up to tug on his jacket sleeve. "You're old, right? You have experience? Share some wisdom with me!"

Naruto was under an interesting delusion if he believed that age equaled experience.

With a huff, he pried his arm away from the blond's fingers. "I'm not about to share my romantic history with you, Naruto."

As the Uzumaki's excitement deflated, Kakashi felt a spark of inspiration and smile to himself as he leaned closer. "But I can share wisdom."

Naruto crossed his arms. "How can you share wisdom without telling me about your personal experiences?"

"Unlike you, I read," Kakashi retorted simply. "In the book I'm currently enjoying, there are several signs that represent the main character's true feelings. Every time he sees his love interest, his heart starts pounding. Everywhere he looks, there she is. He would sacrifice anything for her, but the most telling moment, when he knows for certain that he's in love, is when his lover is kidnapped by the rival love interest who turns out to be the main character's former childhood friend who is then revealed to be his brother. It's so intricate and engaging...Anyway, you get the point."

"The point that...I have no idea what I'm supposed to do!" Naruto exclaimed, frustration surmounting as he ran his hands through his hair. "What if she doesn't like me? She doesn't even know me!"

Kakashi actually rolled his eyes that time. How could it be that everyone dismissed the wisdom hidden in those stories? They were missing out on so much.

"Naruto," he placed a hand on the frantic boy's shoulder to calm him. "You asked me about your feelings, which I believe are genuine, but why don't you take some time to think on it? And maybe cool it with the head over heels talk. She doesn't know you and you don't know anything about her either, so take some time with that too."

Naruto nodded silently along as he spoke, determination pouring out of him the more he listened. "Get to know her...Yeah! I can do that! Great idea, Kakashi Officer! Uh...I mean, Kakashi."

Kakashi furrowed his brow slightly. The loss of the nickname had suddenly made him feel...disappointed. He hadn't expected that. There was nothing to be done, though. He wasn't an officer anymore.

"Nah...I don't like it, dattebayo," Naruto decided, shaking his head in disgust. "It feels weird calling you by your first name like that. I'll stick with my name! Even if you quit, to me, you'll always be the same cop who arrested me a hundred times."

That was dramatic. It was closer to five times, but he didn't expect Naruto to keep track.

Kakashi smiled fondly. "I appreciate that. Let's keep that between us, though. Orochimaru is suspicious enough without knowing my past."

"Man, I hear you. This secret could ruin my butt, too. I'll just refer to you by something else when we're in front of other people." He winked and lowered his voice, "It's like having a code name...undercover."

Kakashi shook his head then and nodded toward the stairs. "Get moving, kid."

Naruto saluted once with a grin before running down the stairs. As his footsteps faded, Kakashi heard a door opening beside him. Turning, he saw the older woman from before stepping out of 211. Had she overheard their conversation? Even if she hadn't, it was probably a good idea to teach Naruto a lesson in volume control.

"Yoo-hoo! Pardon me, young man."

I was right about the energy.

"Me?"

"Yes, that's right," she nodded. "I was wondering if you could help me. Do you know what time the restaurant opens?"

Ah, a simple request. She also wasn't behaving suspiciously around him, so it seemed his secret was still safe for the time being. "Yeah, it opens at six. You might want to stay in your room until then. Don't want you climbing stairs if you don't have to."

The woman adopted a mildly offended frown in response. "Is that so? I'm sturdier than I look, but I still appreciate your consideration. My name is Chiyo. Everyone calls me Grandma Chiyo, though, so feel free to use that, if you want. What is your name?"

Unlike with Tsunade, the grandmother nickname made sense.

"Hatake Kakashi."

"And what room are you staying in, Mr. Hatake?"

"215," he slightly inclined his head in the direction of his room.

The woman's eyes lit up then. "Ah! So, you're the rascal who's staying in Wish."

Oh, no...

"Rascal? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no," Chiyo shook her head, laughing once. "It's just such a lovely name for a room, and I was hoping to stay in it for my visit. Instead, I'm in Angel, which I'll admit is also very nice."

I guess old ladies like the names. And she has a wish she wants granted. Well, that's something...

"Why did you choose to stay here?" he inquired easily, slipping a hand casually into his pocket while he waved the other conversationally.

"Well, aren't you a curious one?" Chiyo smiled, "If you must know, I have some very dear memories of this place."

Kakashi arched a dubious brow. "What kind of memories?"

The old woman laughed once more, shaking a reprimanding finger in front of her. "That's a secret! The best memories are the ones you keep locked up in your heart. That's what makes them special. They're not the sort of things you share easily."

He couldn't say he related to that belief. He kept every memory locked up, dear or otherwise.

"Well, it was very nice to meet you, Kakashi. Maybe I'll see you at dinner." Chiyo then returned to her room, shutting the Angel door softly behind her.

Half-expecting another interruption, Kakashi made his way to the ground floor and entered the lobby, finding two identical doors on the far wall separated by an ancient vending machine. A sign bearing the words Front Office was posted on the door to the right. He stepped closer and walked, relieved when the long black hair and slitted yellow eyes peered out. Now, he didn't have to find him.

"Oh, it's you," Orochimaru's golden irises flared with recognition and delight. "Are you here to settle your bill?"

"Mhm," he nodded lazily. "How much?"

"I think fifty will do it."

Kakashi pulled out his wallet and counted out the appropriate amount before passing the money to Orochimaru. "There you go."

"Thank you for taking care of it," the man stated sincerely, tucking the cash into an unknown location within the folds of his shirt. "Oh, yes, and I head about that mix-up of yours. I am terribly sorry about that."

Kakashi shrugged. "It's fine. We figured it out, and the right package was delivered eventually."

"I am delighted to hear that, but you were on the receiving end of our mistake," Orochimaru explained with a hand flourish. "Allow me to make it up to you. Let's see…Ah! Yes, dinner! It will be on the house tonight! Tsunade-hime makes a delicious steak."

Tsunade-hime? She's popular with the nicknames, isn't she?

"I'll even throw in dessert for you. How does that sound?"

He wasn't partial to many desserts or even always in the mood for sweets, but he was willing to try it. "How can I say no to free food?"

"Only a fool would do such a thing," Orochimaru stated with an amused chuckle. He then stepped away from the door and closed it behind him. "Now, you'll have to excuse me. I'm going back to my room, so the office will be closed until…whenever. Whatever time I decide to come back."

The snakelike individual then proceeded to lock the office and creep down the hallway, disappearing through the door on the opposite side of the vending machine.

Kakashi glanced around once and, after confirming no one else was coming through the lobby, nodded. It was a perfect opportunity to poke around the office. He could scavenge the lost and found for the item on the order sheet, and there was also a chance he could find information on the mysterious guest with his name.

Withdrawing the paperclips, he easily picked the lock and crept in, closing the door lightly behind him. The office was simple, just like the rest of the hotel. There was nothing of apparent interest on the couches or coffee table, but the desk looked promising.

Moving closer, a calendar immediately stood out to him. The month was flipped to July and the 25th was circled in red ink. Why would that date be important to Orochimaru? He had thrown off his calendar for its significance. Tearing his gaze away, he noticed room keys hanging on the wall beside the desk. They must have been the spares, but 215 was missing. He arched a brow at that, sincerely hoping Orochimaru wasn't about to show up in his room unannounced.

He shuffled around a few more items on the desk. They were mostly newspapers, dated several days back, but hidden beneath one was a notebook titled Supervisory Log. Lifting the heaving tome, he opened to the most recent date and flipped backward through the pages to find anything useful but stopped once he reached December 26th.

Tidied up the cabinets. Items left behind by guests are now in Drawer 3 while guest registration cards were moved to Drawer A. I also discovered a peculiar imbalance in my coffee table, so I—

And the rest of the entry carried on in a similar manner, describing his defeat of the table's instability. Kakashi snapped the book closed and returned it to the original position on the desk. Turning, he found the filing cabinets and easily located the one marked A, which was conveniently unlocked. As described in the log, the drawer was filled with guest registration cards. They were labeled by month and year, so he easily picked out the one from June and scanned the pages until he found the one with his name on it.

…Here it is.

The name Hatake Kakashi was written on the form in a suspiciously familiar script. The handwriting was almost a perfect replica of his own. As his eyes scanned the rest of the page, he noted that his counterpart had stayed in Room 217, but an alarming revelation temporarily pushed aside that detail as he took in the listed address. It was for a place he knew well, a diner in Manhattan that he had frequented with Obito.

...

Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he watched the man in front of him lift yet another forkful of French Toast only to let it fall back onto his plate, strawberry syrup enveloping the pastry.

Something was very wrong. Late last night, Obito had sent a text, inviting him to breakfast at their favorite establishment. While the sudden request and location were nothing out of the ordinary, the nature of the text was unusual. Obito's messages almost always included exclamation marks or emoticons, but they were absent if he was in one of his moods. Of course, the Uchiha had been in a mood for some time, but that was his first warning.

The second came in the form of the Uchiha's entrance, who slid into the booth across from him with only a nod as a greeting. The French Toast was a good sign, but he had also ordered a coffee. Obito hated coffee.

And finally, the current display, which further confirmed his suspicions.

He could either address the problem point-blank or take a more round-about approach to convince Obito to talk to him. He decided on the latter.

Nestling further into the comfortable cushions of the booth, Kakashi crossed his arms and assumed a playful smirk as he remarked, "This must be a new record for you, Obito. You're usually such a glutton."

His classic teasing, which usually created a predictable outburst of irrational aggression, didn't even seem to faze the distracted Uchiha. Kakashi resisted the exhale he felt in the back of his throat and relented on a different tactic to break the haze he was observing.

"How's Rin doing?" he asked. He had brought up Rin to uplift Obito's mood, but he was also genuinely curious. It had been some time since he saw the brunette, too caught up with work for socializing. She had planned an outing for the two of them to go Christmas shopping, but he, unfortunately, had to cancel at the last minute when he was called into the office. "I haven't talked to her since I stood her up for that shopping trip last week. Is she still mad at me?"

Obito's eyes shifted at the mention of her name, breaking his listless stare out the window to instead rest longingly on the bracelet clasped securely around his wrist.

"...Rin is fine," he responded after another moment, his voice low and distant as he slowly traced the personalized message etched into the metal. "She's just busy. She understands why you canceled…but I sometimes wonder what the limit is to her understanding…"

Kakashi frowned, concern increasing as he observed the troubled detective.

"Obito…are you alright?"

The question seemed to break Obito from his trance as he snapped his attention to Kakashi, meeting his gaze for the first time that day. "Yeah…I'm just stressed."

Kakashi considered questioning further. He knew he was lying but didn't want to push him. If Obito needed to talk to him, he would.

Another moment passed before Obito pushed away his untouched meal with a sigh and rose to his feet, pulling a small wad of cash from his wallet and placing it on the table. "That should cover yours, as well, since I dragged you out here."

Kakashi's eyes widened. Obito had a big heart, and he had been known to be painfully generous on occasion, but he rarely exhibited such behavior with his silver-haired friend. That wasn't their relationship. There were several instances of the Uchiha denying any coverage of his bill on the—not incorrect—theory that Kakashi would take advantage of it if he ever gave in.

Obito lingered a moment longer, regarding Kakashi with an impassable blankness in his onyx gaze, before he offered a slight quirk of his lips. "Thanks for getting breakfast with me, Kakashi."

He decided to withhold commenting on Obito's plate and point out that only one of them ate breakfast. He had a hunch it was more about the company than the food.

Obito turned to leave when Kakashi's voice stopped him. "Are you and Rin coming to the Christmas party tonight?"

A silence fell between them, the question hanging in the air. Kakashi patiently waited for a response while his eyes focused unwaveringly on the tense form in front of him. He couldn't see his face, and he wondered what could possibly be going through Obito's mind as he considered his answer. Why did the question seem heavier than it was intended?

For most of the time he'd known Obito, the man had been an open book—every emotion freely presented and experienced—but lately, there had been an impervious wall blocking even his most basic thoughts.

"I don't think so," Obito finally replied, a sudden hardness to his voice.

Kakashi blinked and watched as his friend retreated further into himself, drawing his arms closer by shoving his hands into his coat pockets. His posture was rigid as he sought unknowable protection from his surroundings. "…I'm sorry."

...

That was the morning before the shooting. It was the last time Kakashi had actually spoken to his partner. In hindsight, he regretted not being more forceful. There were countless signs that he hadn't addressed, choosing instead to respect his friend's privacy. Perhaps he could have prevented the devastating situation that occurred only hours later if he had been more willing to overstep that boundary.

Even at the time, he knew Obito wasn't apologizing for missing the party. He was far too serious for that, which had eventually become his natural state. A heaviness had been building in his partner for months, ever since he was assigned that final high-profile case. His endearing wide-mouthed grins and lighthearted laughter had gradually been replaced by hollow smiles and tense silences. His constant light and positivity had disappeared. An inexplicable change had occurred that Kakashi could only relate to the events that had transpired on Christmas Eve.

Was the apology that morning a sign of his imminent betrayal? Was Obito's conscience eating away at him while they sat together in that diner?

Kakashi's attention returned then to the registration card he still held in his grasp. Six months ago, Obito had stayed at Hotel Dusk. Who else could it have been? From Orochimaru's description of the other Kakashi to the sentimental address, all chances of the imposter being anyone else were slim. He also had a strong hunch that his deduction wasn't wrong.

Obito's presence in the hotel only left more questions. Why choose that diner? He was clearly dedicated to his role—even going so far as to emulate the Hatake's handwriting—so why didn't he simply use Kakashi's former New York address? For that matter, why use Kakashi's name at all?

He cleared his mind of those thoughts for the moment, returning to the task at hand. He couldn't waste time hypothesizing over impossible questions. He didn't know when Orochimaru would return, and it didn't seem wise to arouse the man's suspicions further.

Kakashi replaced the registration book in the drawer and slid it closed before scanning the remaining cabinets. He easily located 3, but unlike the others, it was sealed with a combination lock. He pondered possible options for Orochimaru when his gaze wandered to the desk calendar, the circled date standing out against the white backdrop.

His curiosity invigorated, he entered 725 in the combination and the cabinet opened. Once again, he wanted to understand the significance of that date, but there was no time. He forced himself away from possibilities and peered inside the cabinet. He recognized the swimsuit magazine from earlier, but the only other object inside was an ornate red box.

I think this is the one from the order sheet. The description was vague, but I haven't seen any other red boxes lying around.

Lifting the box from its confines, he observed the item closer. The woodwork was simple, with intricate black lines adorning the locked lid. He hoped the customer already had the key. Finding the box was easy, but keys were a different story.

He did a final sweep of the office and, determining he had been in the office long enough, slipped through the door. A flash of yellow appeared in his line of sight and he instinctively stepped aside as he heard a gasp of surprise. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Naruto almost fell into the closed door before he regained his balance and turned to stare at him with wide eyes.

"Whoa! I didn't even see you!" The blond laughed at himself, running a hand through his spikes before he seemed to remember where he was standing, and his jollity transitioned to concern. "Were you in the office? Wait…What were you doing in there? Were you…talking to Orochimaru about me?"

Does he think I was gossiping about his past?

"Relax, Naruto," Kakashi responded calmly, waving away his concerns. "I was taking care of some business. It had nothing to do with you."

Relief washed over his face as the ever-dramatic bellhop placed a hand over his heart and took a deep breath. "Oh, good! I almost had a heart attack, dattebayo!"

Somehow, I doubt that.

Naruto's expression changed, then, as he dropped his hand and looked at the ex-detective curiously. His mood swings were as unpredictable as ever. "Kakashi Officer…would it be too nosy of me to ask what happened? When we talked, my mind came up with a bunch of crazy theories, but I don't want to assume anything bad…Can you tell me?"

He should have seen that coming. Naruto could be just as curious and nosy as him, if not more so. His vague answers were a tempting teaser of the truth that left the blanks open to the imagination, but he knew all too well the obscure directions that kid's mind often went in. One minute you could tell him the sky was falling and the next he would ask how cars worked. His mind was a mystery. He was also creating his own mystery by leaving Naruto in the dark. He usually enjoyed being in that position, but perhaps he could make an exception.

"I told you before that I messed up," Kakashi began, shrugging as he observed Naruto's reactions. "My partner and I were investigating a series of art thefts in Manhattan. Did you ever hear of Akatsuki?"

Naruto's face paled instantly as he shrunk back. "Did you say Akatsuki?!"

Kakashi arched a brow at that unexpected reaction, but perhaps he shouldn't have been surprised. Akatsuki was infamous in the legal world and their reputation would have been more renowned within the underground of Manhattan. It wasn't outlandish for the fear to pass down the chain to a lowly thief. "I'm guessing you're familiar."

"You bet I am!" he answered loudly, glancing suspiciously around before lowering his voice. He seemed to pick up on the need for discretion with their current conversation. "So…you were undercover with them?"

"No," Kakashi shook his head. "I was in the office drinking bad coffee. I handled the case on paper while Obito worked undercover."

Obito was always better at those types of assignments…much better than I thought. He could deceive anyone. It was almost like he was born to put on a different face.

Naruto nodded once before his cerulean irises widened with realization and he threw his hands into the air, resting them on his head. "Oh, man! So, he was the one…Now it all makes sense…I never thought running into you would clear that up."

Kakashi hardened his gaze, feeling himself grow increasingly exasperated with the unreliable statements spewing from the blond's mouth. "Clear what up, Naruto?"

Naruto lowered his hands, letting them swing aimlessly at his sides as he stared silently at the ground. He remained speechless for another moment, before releasing a long exhale. "Three years ago—"

"There you are!" Tsunade's aggressive and demanding voice exclaimed from the lobby entrance.

Kakashi groaned. The woman had horrible timing.

"Oh, shoot," Naruto muttered, pressing his mouth into a pout.

Kakashi looked behind the despondent blond to see Tsunade standing with her hands on her hips and a stern frown pulling at her red lips.

"So, this is where you've been wasting your time?"

Naruto's eyes snapped into an obstinate glare at the accusation. He spun on his heel to face the maid and defend himself. "I wasn't wasting time, dattebayo! I just finished mopping the restaurant!"

"And you think you're done after that?" Tsunade questioned, crossing her arms. "The tables still need to be set for dinner and the cakes haven't been cut yet. We're about to open! I won't stand for your laziness, Naruto."

All defiance deflated from the bellhop as he hung his head and nodded. "Okay, okay. I'm going." Before he took a step, however, he closed his eyes and spat out his tongue playfully at her. "Don't get so worked up, Granny. You'll get wrinkles." He then scampered off to the kitchen, laughing as he moved before she could react.

Kakashi watched him leave, frustrated that they were interrupted when Naruto was about to open up, but it might have been for the best. They were standing in the middle of the lobby where anyone could waltz in or eavesdrop. He turned back to Tsunade only to catch her eyeing him suspiciously.

"Something on your mind?"

"I'm just thinking about you and Naruto. You seem…close. Do you know him from somewhere?"

Kakashi stared back at her, maintaining his bored stare despite the internal eye roll. Was everyone working in the hotel strangely observant? He had seriously underestimated the place. He would need to be more cautious or they might discover more facts about him than he was willing to share. His connection to Naruto was a safe unearthing, but their specific history would best-kept secret.

"Yeah," he shrugged. "I know him."

"I knew it!" Tsunade declared, her hazel eyes lighting with pride. "I knew my senses were leading me in the right direction." A frown then set on her features as she seemed to contemplate something before a hard stare tinged with diluted worry met his lazy one. "Do you happen to have any idea what he did before working here? He hasn't said a word about his past, and it's concerning. He's a bright young man…even if his work ethic could use some improvement. Don't tell him I said this, but he brought a much-needed light to this place. You must know what I'm talking about."

Kakashi smiled, understanding better than most. "Yeah…I do."

Even though his interactions with Naruto in the past were limited to arrests and warnings, he hadn't been able to resist the positivity circulating around him. In a way, it reminded him of Obito. The Obito of the past, at least.

"That is why I want to know what he's convinced himself he needs to hide from us," Tsunade continued. "Whenever I bring it up, he completely shuts down and gets this sad look on his face. I can't help him if I don't know what the problem is."

Kakashi contemplated the sincerity in her words. She was clearly concerned for Naruto, and he got the impression that she wouldn't cast him aside because of his past. Maybe Naruto wasn't aware of that, though. He could be awfully dense.

"I'm sorry," he shook his head, feeling genuine remorse for disregarding her concern. "It's Naruto's secret to tell. I can talk to him if you want, but I think you should hear the truth from him."

Tsunade clicked her tongue. "Very well. It was worth a shot. Anyway, I need to take care of the restaurant. I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon." Waving behind her, the woman walked off in the direction of the restaurant.

In the next moment, a text chime alerted him, and he glanced down as he pulled out his phone.

Hanare: Call when you can, darling. Jiraiya wants to talk to you.

Kakashi's brow creased in confusion. The message sounded urgent.

Sighing, he repocketed his device and made his way back to his room. If he was going to have a chat with Jiraiya, he wanted it to be in private. He also had to drop off the red box before Orochimaru caught him with it.

After shutting the door behind him, Kakashi deposited the box on his bed as he sunk into the mattress beside it. He took a moment to appreciate the stillness of the room before retrieving his phone to dial Jiraiya's number. Lifting the handheld to his ear, he only had to wait until the first ring ended for Jiraiya's explosive voice to reach him. He was right about the call being urgent. Usually, the man took much longer to answer.

"Kakashi!" Jiraiya greeted loudly, though it was absent of any underlying laughter. "I hate to get right to the point, but I need to ask you something. Is there a kid named Uzumaki Naruto working at Hotel Dusk?"

That was not at all what he was expecting.

He lifted a brow. "Naruto? Yeah, he's the bellhop here. I knew him back in the day."

"You knew him?" Jiraiya's tone turned more inquisitive. "What's his story?"

"He was an orphan who rode the subways picking pockets," Kakashi explained. It was a short story, but he didn't want to waste time on it. He didn't want Jiraiya to drag this out. "Why? What's going on?"

"Well," the older man began as a metallic squeak sounded, most likely from him leaning back in his chair. "I just got back from an interesting meeting with an old friend of mine. He's in charge of the LAPD's Akatsuki Task Force."

Task force? So Jiraiya knew people on the Akatsuki case. Why did he keep that from him?

"We were having ourselves a couple drinks, chatting about our mutual failures with the ladies when he suddenly mentioned Hotel Dusk and this Naruto character," Jiraiya continued. Knowing him, he was perfectly aware of the questions swarming in Kakashi's mind with every new piece of information, but he was relentless. He would continue as if nothing was wrong. "Seems Akatsuki has been looking for him."

Kakashi lowered his face to his hand. He was having difficulty processing that last tidbit, and he wasn't sure if it was because he was concerned for Naruto or if he just couldn't comprehend Akatsuki targeting someone like him. "That doesn't make sense. Naruto is strictly small-time. Why would Akatsuki care if he lives or dies?"

"Three years ago, some kid named Kiba was found dead outside a warehouse in Manhattan," Jiraiya explained, but that only added more questions. "By the looks of it, he was involved with Akatsuki. Not enough to be considered an official member, but he worked for them from time to time, mostly as the guy in charge of handling bribe money at drop-offs. When he died, there was a big payoff, but the money disappeared."

"What does this have to do with Naruto?"

"Kakashi, if you would give me two seconds, I'm about to tell you," Jiraiya chided easily. "Word on the street is he was a good buddy of your pickpocket."

Kiba was the friend Naruto was trying to protect back in the city, the one who died. If that kid was connected to Akatsuki, then perhaps Naruto knew more about the organization than simply a fearsome reputation.

"Here's where it gets interesting," Jiraiya's tone adopted that conspiratorial air that only came out when he was unraveling an intricate mystery. "When Kiba died and the money vanished, Naruto also went missing. That disappearing act looked suspicious to Akatsuki, so Naruto is their only lead. They've been looking all over for him, trying to get their money back, and we think they've finally tracked him down."

Kakashi rubbed at his temple, closing his eyes as he tried to concentrate on the information rather than his disbelief with the situation.

Akatsuki…I never thought I'd be hearing that name in this place.

"They're incredibly resourceful if they found him all the way out here, but if they know where he is, why is he still breathing?"

"They think he's just a pawn and there's someone else calling the shots."

That made sense, at least. Naruto wasn't the most intelligent person he knew, but he wasn't a complete idiot. He knew better than to steal from Akatsuki…maybe. That troublemaker could be irrationally bold, antagonizing all the wrong people, but he would never intentionally provoke a gang that wouldn't hesitate to retaliate. His friend was a different story. He had never met Kiba, but he might have tried a daring move that resulted in his death. He was stupid enough to get involved in Akatsuki.

"Oh! And this next tidbit is especially juicy!" Jiraiya's excitement was palpable. He would call him a gossip if the man didn't tend to keep the information to himself. "The money this Kiba kid was carrying when he died? It came from fencing stolen art."

Kakashi's eyes snapped open. "…Hang on…So, the money came from that mess Obito was involved in?"

"Could be," Jiraiya agreed. "Which means Naruto might have some dirt on Obito we never heard before."

Naruto was the last person he expected to be hiding a clue about the missing Uchiha. He was surprised to see a face from the past in a hole in the wall hotel, but he had been willing to write that part off as a strange coincidence. Naruto wasn't connected to Obito. Or so he thought.

Kakashi sighed lowly, "Yeah…maybe."

"By the way, have you found the item on the order sheet yet?"

"Yeah, I took care of it," Kakashi nodded. It was fortunate that he found the box so quickly. He could focus on the pressing mysteries without his job interfering. "Don't worry."

"Good! Business before hunting ghosts, you know?" The man laughed, booming and expected. Jiraiya's jolly mood had returned. "Alright, that's it for now. I'll be in touch."

The silence from the phone told Kakashi that the call had ended, but he remained unmoving. What was it about Hotel Dusk? Since the moment he walked through the front doors, he was met with nothing but secrets and pieces of his partner's trail. Obito's presence resonated in the walls, taunting him. Perhaps Naruto was right, and the place was haunted.

Naruto…I think it's time we had a talk without interruptions.

A new determination flaring in him, Kakashi slipped his phone into his pocket and left his room behind. He knew Tsunade had pulled Naruto into the restaurant, so there was a strong chance he was still in there. He just needed a few minutes to sneak in and wrestle some answers from the former thief.

He shouldn't have been surprised to find his path blocked by Orochimaru ascending the stairs. Every time he moved, he was running into someone.

"Oh, hello!" Orochimaru greeted. "Good evening."

"Hey," he returned dismissively. "Do you know where I can find Naruto?"

"Oh, the child? No idea. He should be in the kitchen setting up for dinner, but if not, I would try his room," Orochimaru supplied unconcernedly before inquisitive gold eyes slithered to capture his stare. "Speaking of him, Tsunade-hime filled me in on your…history. You and the Naruto child are old friends?"

"Something like that," Kakashi nodded. He didn't feel like delving into his past with the person he was currently trying to locate. "Anyway, I need to talk to him, so would you mind directing me to his room?"

"It's on this floor, actually." Orochimaru chuckled, as he swept his hand toward the door between Konohamaru's and his own. "Honesty."

Kakashi blinked. If Tsunade knew Naruto was hiding something, then no doubt Orochimaru was aware. He must have thought placing Naruto in that room was a clever joke.

"You let him stay in one of the guest rooms?"

"I didn't have anywhere else to put him," Orochimaru countered, almost sounding defensive. "Tsunade-hime already occupies our only employee bedroom. I did the best I could to accommodate our bellhop. If you find him and discover his work is incomplete, drag him downstairs, will you? It's not assault if I tell you to do it." With another raspy chuckle and delight glowing in his eyes, Orochimaru strode down the hall.

Actually, it's still considered assault.

Oh, nevermind. He didn't care what laws Orochimaru wanted to break.

Turning, he adjusted his path to lead him toward the specified door and knocked twice. If Naruto didn't answer, he would try the kitchen.

In the next moment, the door swung open to reveal the familiar blond on the other side, face scrunched with annoyance, but he released a relieved exhale when he recognized Kakashi. "Oh, it's only you! I thought for sure it was Granny trying to pull me back into the kitchen. She always thinks of something else for me to do after I'm done. I tell you what—"

Naruto stopped himself when he noticed the serious expression Kakashi was awarding him.

"Oh…You have that arresting face on. What did I do this time?"

"We need to talk, Naruto," Kakashi answered simply. He glanced once around the hall, then added, "And I don't want anyone overhearing."

Naruto's lips pulled into a frown as his brow furrowed, but he complied and pulled the door open further. "…Okay. Come on in."

Kakashi stepped passed him, briefly taking in the unsurprising mess of a room, before turning back to the blond as the door closed with a soft click.

"So…what's up?" Naruto asked hesitantly. He circled the area by the entrance, shuffling his feet as his eyes wandered.

"Why don't you tell me?" Kakashi insisted, crossing his arms with a pointed stare at the nervous bellhop. "When I mentioned Akatsuki earlier, you looked like you were going to be sick."

"Well, yeah! Those guys are terrifying."

Kakashi lifted a brow. "And your friend was involved with them?"

Naruto's eyes widened, incredulity reflecting in his gaze and posture. "W-what? How did you know? Who told you about Kiba?"

When Naruto was talking to him in the lobby, what was he going to say? Was he prepared to tell him the truth about his past? Was it possible he would have received answers without demanding them? Not that it mattered. The moment from before was interrupted and now they were in this moment—a moment where he would learn the truth.

"I may not be a detective anymore, but I still have connections." He sighed, calming in intensity. He didn't want to scare the kid, but he needed to know the severity of his predicament. "Listen, Naruto…According to the LAPD, Akatsuki is looking for you."

"What?!" Naruto fell to the floor, landing hard on the cold surface with a drawn-out groan. "Man, why is this happening? This is exactly why I had to leave New York in the first place!"

Kakashi hesitated a moment, before he lowered himself into a crouch, leveling his dark stare into those hysterical irises. "When your friend died, a lot of money went missing. Akatsuki thinks you have it."

Naruto shook his head despondently, as he muttered, "That's impossible. I don't know anything about their money. I never even saw it."

Kakashi sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, resting his palm against his forehead. "I believe you, Naruto, but do you know who does have the money?"

"Yeah…it was the guy who shot Kiba. It was Tobi."