Lily: sorry that i haven't updated sooner. i was on a road trip, y'know, family reunion crap.
Phantom: then her mom was all pissy about us spending so much time on the comp...
Fly-Girl: then we had to scan some stuff for her dad...
Lily: so... yeah.

Unfinished Solo Duet
Chapter Four
I can't tell, this light so old

The next morning, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura waited in the frigid air for Kakashi to show up. As usual he was late. After Naruto and Sakura had yelled at him and Kakashi had come up with a really bad excuse, they got down to the real work of the day.
said Kakashi, I've decided, that to test your skills, each of you will fight against me, by yourself. After the match I'll tel you what to work on and you go home and practice.

Fighting against Kakashi? Alone? This would be interesting... Sasuke smirked. Kakashi and him all alone in the forest... stop that. God. Where did that come from? Focus only on your work, Sasuke. Don't let anything get past you.

Sakura went up against Kakashi. Her cunning allowed her to actually hold a good match against him for awhile, using copies and shadows of herself to fight him. But Kakashi soon located Sakura's really form, hidden under the snow.
Very good, Sakura. I want you to go home and practice on your strength, or some strength jutsu at least.
Sakura nodded and began to shuffle through the snow towards her house.

Naruto managed to fight Kakashi longer than Sakura, at one moment, pinning him down with three of his dopplegangers, but Kakashi quickly threw them off and caught Naruto. Naruto probably could have fought longer but he kept laughing and giving away his hiding place.
Much better, Naruto. I want you to practice being quiet. Go see how long you can stalk Iruka or something, just be quiet.
Naruto pouted and began to head back to the village.

It was Sasuke's turn.

Sasuke and Kakashi stood in the snow, neither wanting to make the first move, both thinking of plans. Suddenly, Sasuke dived into the snow covered ground, remembering what Kakashi had done the first time that they had fought. Huh, thought Kakashi, he learns fast. Kakashi pushed his headband up, revealing the crimson glow of his Sharingan eye. Kakashi listened for Sasuke's thoughts.

I'll come up right under him, knock him off his feet and then go for the chest, that might work. Pity, I might have to stab him, he really is nicely built, would hate to ruin- stop it. Focus.

Kakashi wasn't sure whether to laugh or grin stupidly. So, Uchiha Sasuke might have a crush on his sensei... very nice. Kakashi stepped back a little ways, preparing for Sasuke to jump up from under the snow. Just as predicted, Sasuke leapt out of the snow, some of it still clinging to his hair and flesh, making him shimmer, looking unearthly. Kakashi grabbed Sasuke's ankle and pulled him downwards. Sasuke tried to hide his surprise as he kicked Kakashi's wrist, flipping backwards. Then he spotted it. The Sharingan eye. That made sense, no wonder Kakashi had known what he was going to do.

Sasuke threw out several shuriken as he landed on the powdery ground. Kakashi leapt up and flung the shuriken back, Sasuke leaned back, dodging them. (Lily: ha ha. I watched the Matrix again...) Sasuke began to do the symbols for Breath of the Fireball and Kakashi began to copy him. Sasuke was so concentrated in his work that he didn't notice. Sasuke whipped his head up and blew out a monstrous, only just noticing the fireball coming his way. The fireballs met in midair, sending out sparks to land, hissing in the snow.

Sasuke jumped backwards and used a tree to kick off. He held his kunai sideways, aimed at Kakashi. To Sasuke's surprise, Kakashi jumped forward, into the path of the kunai. The knife's edge sliced through Kakashi and he vanished. A doppleganger?! thought Sasuke. His feet skidded in the slushy snow, seeping between his toes.

Sasuke felt something warm circle his waist. Sasuke gasped and began to wriggle against whatever it was, but his arms were pinned to his sides. Sasuke whipped his head around, only to end up nudging it against something solid and warm. What in the world? he thought. Sasuke's raven eyes connected with knife steel and blood red. Kakashi. Kakashi was holding Sasuke, backwards, against his chest. He's hugging me, thought Sasuke, he's hugging me, of all people. Oh god. What do I do?

Kakashi laughed to himself. Sometimes Sasuke's mind could be very like Naruto's. Was it just the cold that was causing Sasuke's cheeks to flush pink like that, or was it something else? Kakashi really wished Sasuke would stop squirming like that, it was making his body begin to react in a way that wasn't exactly appropriate for the moment. As if Sasuke had read Kakashi's mind, he stopped moving and relaxed back into Kakashi's arms. Kakashi caught a flicker of thought from Sasuke. Might as well enjoy it. It may be the only time he ever touches me like this. Oh, no it won't be, thought Kakashi, not if I can help it.
said Kakashi, placing his cloth covered chin on the top of Sasuke's head, are you going to come to the winter festival?
What? thought Sasuke. What does that have to do with anything?
No. I wasn't planning on it.
It'd be nice if you went.
No, it wouldn't be nice. The winter festival is for families and friends, I have neither. My family died the day after that festival. I'm not going.
No friends? You have plenty of friends, Sakura, Naruto, despite what he says, Iruka and me, to name a few. As for family... well, lots of people think of their friends as family, I know I do.
I still don't want to go.
Naruto doesn't have family and he's going.
Sasuke was silent.
Iruka's taking Naruto along as his... family. continued Kakashi.
Sasuke was still silent.
Come on, you'll be missed. said Kakashi, beginning to struggle for words.
By who?
Um... well, Naruto will... ah... I will miss you. Kakashi said the last part very quietly, so that only Sasuke could hear. The cloth of Kakashi's mask brushed against Sasuke's ear, making him shiver against the older shinobi's body.
He'll miss me, thought Sasuke, what's that supposed to mean? Does he mean as a student? Or... something else. Kakashi had heard the thought and replied accordingly.
Not just as a sensei with his student, of course. You're more than that, Sasuke, much more...
Sasuke shivered again. What could it hurt? He might even enjoy himself.
Fine, I'll go.
Good! I'll pick you up in two days at seven, just before the real fun starts at the festival.
Sasuke nodded, his hair brushing across Kakashi's cheek. That had sounded like a date...

Kakashi let Sasuke go. Sasuke stayed facing away for a moment, trying to get the blush to subside from his face. He turned around to face Kakashi.
By the way, Sasuke. I think it might be a good idea for you to study the Sharingan jutsu. You might be advanced enough to learn it.
Sasuke nodded and began to head back home, actually impatient, wanting the short winter days to hurry up.

Kakashi looked up at the frost encrusted trees. A small drop of icy water hit his cheek and slid under his mask, into his mouth. The ice was beginning to melt.