Chapter 11: Frustrations
After his shower, Kakashi made his way to the Hokage Tower. He was still pissed off about the whole situation. While he knew he couldn't go against the Hokage's orders, it didn't mean he'd just comply without at least showing his dislike. It was still his house. His clan's property. Which meant he was the only one that was able to make any decisions that had to do with it. The Hokage must've known that, before making this decision. So why?
Arriving outside the office of his leader, he was called in right as he knocked. He must've been expecting him then.
"Hokage-sama," Kakashi greeted while giving a smaller bow than he usually would. He didn't mean to be disrespectful, but his displeasure of the situation was hard to reign in. It was almost consuming him.
"Kakashi, please, sit." The Sandaime ordered, eying the silver-haired teen.
Kakashi looked at the Hokage a moment longer, before slowly walking towards the chair in front of the desk, all the while keeping eye contact with his leader before he sat down. He knew he was going to get reprimanded for this behaviour, but going behind his back like that hurt his pride as a clan head, even if he wasn't actually an active clan head. There was no way this would happen to any other clan head, it was just downright disrespectful, which is exactly what he felt. He felt disrespected.
The Hokage didn't say anything at first, just looking at him. Honestly, it was a good tactic. The emotions that were raging through him slowly settled again, making him think a bit more clearly.
"Better?"
He slowly nodded in response, not yet feeling ready to start talking yet.
"I understand that you're not happy with the situation. Frankly, I had hoped to explain it to you before you ran into her at your house." The Hokage started. Kakashi had to refrain himself from raising his eyebrow. Even in that situation, the choice would've been made for him. Not with him.
"The fact of the matter is that she needs to be watched, but also needs to be protected. We've thought long and hard about it and the best way is really to put her in a house where she can be watched by a shinobi."
"With all due respect, Hokage-sama, I understand that she needs to be watched and protected. What I don't understand, however, is why it has to be in my family home. Why this hasn't been discussed with me prior to letting her stay in. That house is... A place I don't want to be in. A place I don't want anyone else to be in. And how the h-" Kakashi stopped himself, feeling himself getting agitated again. "How did you manage to get her through the wards? She shouldn't be able to stay there without feeling the pressure of the wards."
The Hokage hummed at that. Letting Kakashi get some of his frustrations out before responding. "We had a long discussion on where to put her and really, there aren't a lot of places she could stay. She needs to be with someone who speaks her language and knows of her unique situation. That narrows it down as to who she can stay with. And I'm sure you agree that considering everything, the rank of a mission like that is an A-rank."
Kakashi took everything that was said to him in silence, mulling it over. He noticed that the Hokage hadn't said anything about discussing this with him. It was to be expected. The Hokage's decision was final. And taking everything into account, he had no choice but to agree with the decision the Hokage had made. He still didn't like it, but he knew he was right. However, that still left the question-
"As for how we got her through the wards, well, honestly, we didn't. Inoichi explained he had felt the wards after entering, which became more uncomfortable overtime. But he expressed that he hadn't heard Granger-san about this at all. So it would seem the wards don't have any effect on her, or the boy."
"But that's not possible. The wards are really old. No one should be able to just waltz through them like that." Kakashi frowned at the knowledge of that. It meant the wards definitely needed to be altered, to make sure people like her weren't able to just enter without any issues.
"Honestly, Kakashi. I'm at a loss with this as well. It seems that people like her, the wizards I mean, don't exactly follow the same rules as we do on that front. But nevertheless, I know it's your home and I don't want to make this into an order. But I will if I have to, Kakashi." The Hokage said with a firm voice.
Kakashi already expected the Hokage to give him that order. He supposed he would just have to deal with it. "Yes sir. But what about my missions? I assume my team and I are still going to be sent out on missions?"
"Naturally, Kakashi. Your team is too valuable to take you off the roster for something like this. So yes, you will still be going on missions, but not back-to-back. I will need you here as well."
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
"Now, about the arrangements." The Hokage started explaining everything they had told Hermione. What rules she had to abide by and what was expected of her. He also told him about the information they had gathered from her while she was in the hospital, which Kakashi filed away in his mind, it would probably come in handy later. Lastly the Hokage expressed his request that Kakashi would teach her some of their language, to make it easier for her to communicate with people if he wasn't in the village. He also told Kakashi that she wasn't supposed to have her wand, which was apparently the weapon she had used.
As he said that she wasn't allowed a weapon, Kakashi thought back at when he saw her at his house. She definitely did have a wand. So, if she's not allowed one, how the hell did she get that one? He didn't want to keep this from his leader, but he figured he'd talk to her first. See where she got the one thing she wasn't supposed to have. As for teaching her, he really did not want to interact any more with her than he already had to, so that'll be fun, he grumpily thought to himself.
"Also, she will basically be confined inside the house, unless she absolutely needs to leave. If you're not home, another Anbu will be assigned to keep an eye on her. But if you are, it's all up to you. Nothing changes for you. You will still keep your identity hidden from her, at all costs. As far as she will know, you are two different people."
"Of course. What's the time frame of the probation?"
"This will be for at least a year, if it were to come to that. This, of course, would depend on our ability to find out a way to send her back."
Kakashi nodded in understanding. It was to be expected. He would have a hell of a year, that's for sure. But it's what they would have to deal with, there's nothing he could do about it..
"And, what of the other captives?"
"They're still confined at the moment. We found that certain seals keep them from leaving their cells, so that's taken care of for now. We're still gathering information, however, and also trying to figure out what it all means. Once we know more, I'll make sure you will be briefed on that. Now, that's all. You're dismissed."
"Yes sir," Kakashi responded as he stood up. He bowed before flickering away, appearing in front of his old house. He figured he'd talk with her first. He'd pack the stuff in his apartment tomorrow, to move back here. He steeled himself as he mentally prepared himself for the conversation they were going to have. There were many questions he had. But he also had to be sure not to give his identity away.
Letting out a sigh, he walked inside, feeling the wards. The wards let him know no one was there, but he knew that wasn't true, as he noticed Hermione and the boy sitting in the garden. He stayed silent as he watched her play with him. He thought about how to start the conversation he needed to have. He had realised that him being blunt wasn't at all appreciated by her and she had no issue with telling him so.
"Dada," he heard the boy say, as he looked and pointed at him. Kakashi blinked in surprise at that, before shifting his eye to Hermione, who had looked over her shoulder in response.
"No, Teddy, that's not 'dada'," she explained to the boy, softly shaking her head.
"Dada, dada!"
"Teddy, please." Kakashi heard her voice waver as she tried to stop the boy, "that's not 'dada', sweetie. 'Dada' isn't here. He's- he had to-. He had to go visit your mommy." She ended up saying.
From the tone of her voice, it was clear she was trying her hardest not to cry. It made him wonder, though. He had gathered that the deceased man was the boy's father, but her connection to him hadn't been clear. Hearing her say that the man went to visit the boy's mother, told him that she wasn't his mother then. Not that he had expected it, she was about his age after all.
"Granger-san," he said, making her turn back to him.
"Let's talk." He nodded his head towards the kitchen. He didn't wait for a response, expecting her to follow his order as he turned and walked away.
"R-right. Let me just put him down first." She got up, lifting the boy up as well, as she made her way to the bedroom.
Kakashi entered the kitchen and grabbed the kettle to make some tea. He figured they might as well have something to drink during their talk. Maybe it would make her a bit more compliant. As he worked in the kitchen, he noticed all the cleaning she had done since she's been here. While he didn't mind his house being cleaned, he still was annoyed by the fact she had been rummaging through his stuff without his permission. Who knows what she'd found while cleaning?
A moment later, Hermione showed up, hovering in the doorway. He didn't look at her as she stood there, working on preparing the tea. Thinking of how he should start the conversation, she surprised him by starting first.
"Do you need a hand?"
Finally looking at her, he shook his head. "No. Do you have a preference?"
"Ah, green tea, please."
Nodding, he put everything together. Grabbing both cups, he nodded at the kitchen table, silently asking her to sit as he put the cups on the table. He took his seat on one side, as she sat opposite of him, noticeably the furthest seat away from him. He lifted one hand, leaning his head in his palm. With the other, he used his finger to tap on the side of the cup, letting the silence drag on. He kept his eye on her the entire time, waiting to see what she would do.
She was the one to break the silence. "So, you said you wanted to talk?"
"Don't you think we should?" He asked with a blunt voice and raised his eyebrow.
"Wh- No, that's not what I'm saying. It's just- Earlier today, before you left you said you wanted to talk. So I thought maybe you'd want to start."
Kakashi hummed. He had said that, hadn't he? "How about we start with the fact you're not supposed to have a wand?"
He saw her freeze at that, looking at him in shock. Deciding to keep quiet, he kept staring at her, waiting to see what kind of excuse she would come up with. He noticed she was easily read by her facial expressions. She went from shock, to panic, to nervous and ending with determination. Oh? He thought. Let's see what she comes up with then.
"If you know I'm not supposed to have it. Then why didn't you report it?" She said looking at him, not giving him an explanation as to how she got it.
"What makes you think I haven't reported it?" He shot back.
"So, you did report it?"
"I didn't say that. But I didn't say I haven't either." Hermione huffed at that, making him smirk. She was making it too easy for him, really. "How about you just tell me how you got it? I know your wand was taken from you," of course he did, he was the one that took it. "So it's clear you're not supposed to have one. Did you steal it back? "
"Wh-What?! NO! No! I didn't steal it back!" She said loudly, placing her hands on the table and leaning forward. "I don't even know where you guys put my wand, so how in Merlin's name am I supposed to steal it back?"
"I'm sure you have your ways. But if that's not your wand, whose is it?"
That question made her pause. For the first time since they started the conversation, she broke eye contact, looking at the table with a sad frown. She pulled her hands back towards her and started fidgeting with her hands.
"It's Remus' wand." She said softly. "It was with his personal effects that were given to me after I said my goodbyes. And I know I should've said something, but…" She shrugged, staying silent.
Kakashi studied her as she kept looking down, at her hands. He supposed he understood why she didn't say anything when she found the wand. If their roles were reversed, he'd have definitely done the same thing. It didn't excuse the fact that she withheld this information. He knew that the moment he told the Hokage about this, it would result in her getting locked up, or maybe even executed.
"But?"
Hermione didn't respond, besides shrugging again. As he looked at her, he noticed her lip tremble, which made him sigh.
"You're going to have to tell me. If you don't, I have no other choice but to take action."
"Look, my friend died okay?!" Hermione shouted, tears appearing in her eyes. "My friend died and the only thing I have of him are his clothes and his wand. And I- when Teddy grows up, I want him to have his father's wand. So that he at least has something that belonged to his parents. So yes. Yes. I took the wand and I didn't say anything. For him. And if that's something that you're going to imprison or kill me for, then so be it."
He looked at her as she was breathing hard at the end of her outburst. His brow furrowed as he not only saw the emotion on her face, but he felt the hurt. The pain. He stood abruptly, placing his hands on the table as he kept his eye on her.
"What are you doing to me?" He demanded, totally bypassing everything she had just said.
"What? What are you talking about? I'm not doing anythi-"
"Don't lie to me!" He interrupted, raising his voice. "What the hell are you doing to me to make me feel all this?!"
Hermione stood as well, taking on the same pose as him, "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"I don't believe that for a second. First the feeling when we touched. Now this? I've never had anything like this happen to me ever."
"Well, I'm sorry about that," she replied curtly, standing straight. "But I really don't know what you're talking about. If that's all you wanted to talk to me about, I'll go back to my room. I don't need to listen to you talking to me like that."
Kakashi felt like he was about to burst in anger. There's no way she doesn't know what he's talking about. Just no way. In his anger he picked up his cup and smashed it against the wall. Biting back a shout, he clenched his fist and walked out of his house, slamming the door as he left. Fuck her. A second later he appeared on the training grounds, headband moved up to reveal his Sharingan, the Raikiri chirping in his hand as he tore through a tree. He didn't stop there, working himself into exhaustion as he kept on destroying everything on the grounds.
He was just so done. Done with this whole situation. With being forced to become a babysitter after all, to give up his house for that. To be forced to stay in said house. He knew he was a tool, that all he was good for was to follow order and complete missions. But did they actually have to go this far?
And that woman. He felt so much frustration and anger when it came to her, with everything she made him feel. He didn't care that she claimed she didn't know. They both knew that she did know. She knew exactly what was happening but instead decided to lie and pretend she didn't. He could see it in her eyes, she was a really bad liar.
Not long after he started letting himself go on the training grounds, he felt his team approach. They didn't interrupt him as he kept on going, ignoring them. They were probably there to make sure no one else decided to be a hero and bother him as he was in this mood. Not that anyone was that stupid. That's what he'd like to think. But of course, there was someone that was exactly that stupid. Of course there was.
Not a second after he finished that thought, he felt someone behind him approach him. Not as enthusiastically as he normally would, but it would seem the guy did have at least some common sense.
"I'm really not in the mood, Gai." He called out, not bothering to face him.
"I've noticed, Kakashi." Oh? He must realise he wasn't joking around if he didn't even call him his rival this time around, or even start spouting nonsense about his youth or whatever.
"Then why are you here?" He turned his head towards the man who was once again dressed in his green spandex, eyeing him over his shoulder.
"Am I not allowed to be here?" The man asked, instead of answering.
Kakashi sighed in response, shaking his head and looking up to the sky. Couldn't he just be left alone? "You can do whatever you want, Gai. Just don't get in my way."
He turned back again, fully intending to continue wearing himself down. A second later, he ducked, narrowly missing the leg that Gai swung at his head. As he crouched, he turned before kicking up towards Gai. Soon after, they were trading blows, left and right.
Out of nowhere Gai's fist made contact with his cheek, sending Kakashi halfway across the field. Groaning, he blinked dazedly at the sky. Apparently his rival didn't let him have a break, as he charged right at the silver-haired teen.
He jumped up and did a quick backflip, dodging the blow the green beast had aimed at him. Raising his arms, he got into position and braced himself for Gai's attack which came a moment later.
Both teens started going faster, hitting and kicking harder until they were a blur. While Kakashi had a lot of rage to work through, he wasn't planning on losing to him. Not without putting up a good fight. Of course, he set himself up to lose, as he had already exhausted himself before Gai had arrived.
Not even five minutes had passed, before his longtime rival managed to land another hit, this time with his shin against Kakashi's head. He flew towards a nearby tree stump, hitting it with his back as the impact made his body curl backwards before falling to the ground on his stomach.
He stayed down, catching his breath as he felt his whole body ache. God, Gai never held back, did he? He might have even cracked a rib, he thought as he felt sting in his chest every time he took a breath.
"You done now, rival? Or do you want to keep going?"
"N-no," Kakashi managed to breathe out. "I'm good."
"Alright. Come on then, let me help you up."
He turned his head, glancing at his friend with both eyes. Before closing his left eye and slowly nodding, "yeah, okay." He twisted his arm to lift himself up, before reaching for the outstretched hand that was offered to him.
As he got dragged onto his feet, he felt he couldn't properly stand, so decided to lean against the tree stump instead. "Gai," he started, as he looked at the teen who just royally kicked his ass. "Thanks."
"Of course, my friend. I felt the killing intent you emitted, so I figured I'd come and check. Make sure you were alright. You want to talk about it?"
"No." He really didn't. He didn't even know what was going on. So how the hell would he be able to talk about it? Looking up at the sky, he noticed it had darkened considerably. Feeling the exhaustion set in, especially with his Sharingan exposed during the fight, combined with the alcohol consumption of that same morning, he started to long for his bed.
"If you're sure." Gai relented. He knew how stubborn Kakashi could be after all. "You know where to find me if you change your mind."
"Yeah."
He was tempted to just go to his apartment, ignoring his house and its new occupants entirely but he knew he couldn't. He'd definitely be reprimanded by the Hokage if he did that. If he wasn't already getting reprimanded for his actions just now. Losing control like that wasn't something that usually happened to him. Not to mention he left his house while he was supposed to keep an eye on them.
Back to the house it was, he thought with a sigh as he steadied himself. He checked his surroundings and was surprised to learn his team was no longer there. They probably figured he was in good hands with Gai. Which he was, so they weren't wrong with that assumption.
"You'll be okay getting back?"
Instead of replying, he nodded. Placing his hand on the man's shoulder in thanks, before using his last remaining chakra to body flicker back to the house.
He stumbled through the door, barely managing to take off his sandals, as he slowly made his way to his room. As he walked through the house, he passed the kitchen where the source of all his current problems sat eating dinner.
In the corner of his eye he saw her look at him in shock, probably from the state he was in. A moment later, the shock vanished from her face as she continued to watch him, now with an unreadable look on her face. Deciding to just ignore her, he kept walking, making his way towards his room.
Kakashi slowly looked around the room as he closed his bedroom door. He really wanted to take shower, but he had no towels, toiletries or clean clothes here. He'd do that tomorrow, in his apartment, as he still had to pack his stuff anyways. Yeah. Tomorrow. Closing his eyes, he drifted off.