Chapter 15

The mission was a success. While it had not gone as smoothly as Kazumi would've liked, Team 6 came together in the end.

If she didn't know any better, she'd think the kids enjoyed themselves.

Funnily enough, Emiko seemed more content than her teammates. Her role at the estate sale was that of a clerk. She could be quite persuasive despite her petulant behavior; most of the high-ticket items sold well as a result. To reward her efforts, the eldest Yoshida son gifted Emiko a piece of costume jewelry. The onyx solitaire pendant now hung from Jun's neck.

At the end of the day, Kazumi chose to walk her students home. Hiroshi didn't live far from the Academy, so he was the first one to leave the group. Jun's stop – which was in the more affluent section of town – came next. When they reached the large, stucco house, Kazumi hung back and gave the girls space.

"Thanks for this," Jun said, touching the stone. "It's really pretty."

Emiko rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, well – it looks better on you." Her cheeks were pink. "I'm glad you like it."

Jun pulled her friend into a hug. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah," she agreed. "See you."

Kazumi approached as Jun dashed up the steps. She waited for the girl to enter her house before speaking. "It was kind of you to give Jun the necklace," she mentioned.

"It's whatever," Emiko replied. "I don't wear stuff like that anyway."

The gesture seemed more meaningful than she let on. Even so, it wasn't Kazumi's business to pry; if Emiko wanted to confide in her, she would listen when the time came. "Hey," she said, kicking a stone, "are you hungry?"

The red-headed child shrugged. "Kinda."

"Well, if you're up for it…" She jabbed her thumb in the direction of home. "My parents own a ramen bar a few streets over. I'll buy you a bowl."

The dynamic in Emiko's household differed from that of her peers. Both of her parents worked full-time and were rarely home before eight o'clock at night. Though the two rarely saw eye-to-eye, Kazumi couldn't justify leaving her alone. She wanted to foster a connection – even if she had to bend over backward to do it.

"You'd do that for me?" Emiko stopped walking and looked up at her teacher.

"Sure would," she affirmed. "Come on. It's this way."

The noodle house was somewhat busy when they arrived. In the interest of time, Kazumi led Emiko to a table by the window instead of waiting for the hostess. She didn't need permission; Kazumi could waltz into the kitchen and make something herself if she wanted to.

"Your parents really own this place?" Emiko dropped into a wooden chair.

"Yes," she said. Kazumi slid a menu across the table. "Actually, they took over when my grandfather died. It's been here about 50 years or so."

"Wow."

"Yeah. 'Wow' is right." She smiled and scanned the room. "Mom and Dad must be in the kitchen. I don't see them yet."

Emiko propped her elbows on the table. "There're so many choices," she mumbled. "I don't even know what to pick."

"If I can make a suggestion," she offered, "Niku Soba is my favorite."

"What's in it?"

"We make ours with a tonkotsu broth. Add in some green onion, a few slices of pork belly…it's delicious."

Emiko wrinkled her nose. "Tonkotsu is pork bone broth…"

"Trust me," she insisted, "you won't even know it."

The rat, tat, tat of a cane reached her ears. Kazumi looked over her shoulder and immediately locked eyes with her grandmother. Though she no longer worked at the restaurant, Mai Nakamura enjoyed socializing with the clientele.

"Ah! If it isn't my favorite granddaughter," she crooned. "Who's your friend?" Mai did not wait for an invitation. She helped herself to the third seat and settled right in.

Kazumi smirked. "I'm your only granddaughter."

"Don't confuse the issue with facts," she quipped. "Are you going to introduce me?"

"Mm – sorry, obachan. This is Emiko. She's one of my students."

"Well, hello Emiko," the old woman said. "It's nice to meet you."

It was a lot to take in. Emiko replied, "You too."

Mai drummed her fingers on the handle of her cane. "By the way," she added, glancing at Kazumi, "your friend came by a few days ago. He said that he borrowed a book?"

She'd have to be more specific than that. "Friend?" she questioned. "Who're you talking about?"

"Kakashi-kun, of course."

How interesting. Emiko closed the menu and dangled her feet beneath the table.

"Wait – what? He did?"

"Mmhm." Mai nodded sagely. "Must've been Saturday – no, Friday. It was busier than usual. Lots of festivalgoers."

Her cheeks turned bright red. The door…it made sense.

"He was up there for a while. Don't be coy." She leaned forward and whispered, "Your secret's safe with me."

"So…" Emiko cradled her chin in one palm. There was a mischievous glint in her eye. "You and Kakashi-sensei, huh?"

Kazumi suddenly wished that she hadn't brought Emiko along. This was how rumors got started. "No," she corrected, "we're friends."

"Friends? Or like…friend friends?"

Mai snickered. Emiko's curiosity must have amused her. "Well, you girls have fun," she said, standing. The cane was an improvement; she wouldn't have been able to get up otherwise. "Don't let me take up any more of your time."

Emiko giggled as the old woman shuffled away. "I like her," she admitted. "Can I come back tomorrow?"

The sun had set by the time Kazumi escorted Emiko home. A large, multi-family apartment loomed before them. "That's me," she said, pointing to a unit on the second floor. The windows were dark. "I've got a key, though, so don't worry."

"I'm not worried," Kazumi replied. She felt a pang of sadness about the situation. "I'll wait here until I see the lights turn on."

"Pfft." Emiko clapped a hand over the doorknob. "Are too. Why else would you stay?"

She had a point. Kazumi slid her hands into her pockets to keep warm. It was a crisp fall evening – the kind that called for sweatpants and cozy socks. Unfortunately, it would be a while before she could don either. Kazumi had one more stop to make that night.

At last, the lights flicked on. That was her cue to leave.

Konohagakure was shrouded in the foggy hues of twilight. Kazumi moved at a good clip, intent on reaching her destination before she lost the light completely. "I hope you're home," she muttered, glancing at the commune. The large, white building lay beyond the next block. Many ninja lived there, but only one of them would receive a visit from her.

The studio apartment sat empty save for the woman waiting in the dark. Kazumi lounged on Kakashi's bed, playing with the bobby pin that she used to unlock his door. It was only fair; if her suspicion held true, he broke into her apartment first.

In a way, she hoped that it did. There would be no excuse for her behavior otherwise.

Click. Finally.

"Huh." A voice came from the hall. "That's odd…"

The door opened to reveal a very haggard Kakashi. Before he reached the light switch, Kazumi called out to him. "Evening."

"Umi!" he gasped, fiddling with the switch. An artificial glow filled the room. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm sorry – I thought it was standard practice to drop by unannounced," she replied. Kazumi sat up and sighed, supporting herself with one arm. "My mistake."

Kakashi latched the door and leaned against it. The walls were paper thin; if they spoke quietly, no one would hear them. "I don't follow. How'd you even get in?"

She held up the mangled bobby pin. "Ta-da." Her tone was thick with sarcasm. "I heard that you dropped by last Friday. Figured I'd return the favor."

"Oh, that." He blinked in rapid succession.

Kazumi draped her legs over the side of his bed. "Yes, that." She watched him expectantly. "Care to explain?"

"Well," he began, "I borrowed a book last week – you know, the day I slept over."

"The morning after, you mean," she corrected.

"Yeah." He crossed his arms. "Anyway…I came to return it, but you didn't answer the door."

"What happened next?" She stood and advanced on him. Her steps were slow yet purposeful.

"I left." There was nowhere to go. Kakashi held his ground and looked her in the eye.

Inches separated them now. "See," she whispered, "my grandmother said the same thing – that you 'borrowed' a book." Kazumi closed the gap between them and placed her hands on his chest. Deft fingers toyed with the small, silver zipper on his vest. "She also told me that you were upstairs for a 'while' and insinuated we had sex."

His breath hitched. Words eluded him when it mattered most.

"So, I'll ask again," she said. "What happened next?"

There was no way around it – not in his current state, at least. "I-I let myself in," he admitted. Sweat dotted his brow. "And I put it back on the shelf. I didn't want you to know it was missing."

Shit.

"I'm intrigued," she mused. "Tell me: which book was it?"

"I-It was a journal, actually…"

The color drained from her face. Only one journal on the shelf had writing in it. The novel that she had been working on – erotica, no less – was deeply personal. "Asshole," she winced. "That wasn't for you!"

Several seconds ticked by before he answered. The best he could come up with was, "I know."

"But you read it anyway," she croaked. "And you borrowed it." Kazumi slipped away, crestfallen, and turned her back. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"I wasn't." He took advantage of the situation and adjusted himself. The smallest sigh of relief left his lips when the pressure subsided. "I was looking for your lesson plan," he conceded. "I'm sorry, Umi. I shouldn't've-"

"Don't." There was nothing to talk about. Some things, she discovered, were best left unsaid. After a long, uncomfortable silence, she made eye contact. "I have to go."

Kakashi was in no position to argue. "Alright. I'll get the…yeah." He unlocked the door and held it open for her. "Goodnight, Umi."

Hot, briny tears dripped down Kazumi's cheeks as she stepped into the hall. Those pages contained her deepest fantasies; some scenes were even based on real events. The novel was an escape – not a piece of writing she hoped to publish. It never occurred to her that someone else might read it. After all, her one and only roommate was a cat.

Kakashi hadn't shut the door yet. He sulked in the entryway, hoping she would say something – anything – to affirm their friendship. "Are we okay?"

"No," Kazumi sniffled. "But we will be. Just…give it time."

How much time was anyone's guess. One thing was certain, however: it would be a long, sleepless night for them both.