Black Day
Summary: And I'm still blindly trusting him. And I don't know why. / What does Kakashi's Black Day means to himself and his friends? What's the reason behind it and why does he change so much?
Genre: Angst
Rating: T
Author's Notes: It's the third installment! I can't believe I've made it this far (yah, I have low expectations of myself, and a short attention span)! Before this chapter begins I must thank all the reviewers for their support and kind words (okay, cliché enough for you?). But in all seriousness, thank you! You make me happy and happy me updates faster, which makes you happy, and happy readers are less likely to leave angry reviews, which in turn makes me happier. So in short reviewers make the world go 'round so keep on reviewing!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I repeat. I DO NOT own Naruto.
Please R&R…Thanks!
This hasn't been proof-read because I have h/w to do and NHL hockey to watch. I'll proof-read/revise this tomorrow.
Oh, and Gai equals Incredible Hard To Write….so he's probably OOC but it's just so hard to write a depressed Gai and have him still in character. So yah, this chapter is probably going to end up being the worst of the story but w/e.
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"Asuma," I hear Kurenai say as I let my eyes wander over the spectacular view from Kakashi's apartment. It's true that he lives in the not-so-nice-sort-of-drug-infested-bad-part of Konoha but I must admit that he has a spectacular view.
"Yes Kurenai?" Asuma asks; stopping his hand that was just about to knock on my rival's door.
"I think you should put out your cigarette," she informs Asuma, our team leader.
Did we really need a team leader for this? I wouldn't even classify this as a mission. I mean, come on, this is Kakashi. It's not like he's some crazy psychotic man that's out to kill us or anything. He's my eternal rival; this is going to take no time at all. Why do we all have to be here?
Asuma lowers his arm, sends a quizzical look Kurenai's way, and responds with, "And why would I do that?"
"Because Kakashi doesn't like the smell of cigarettes, you know that," she replies, is that nervousness showing through her voice? Why would she be nervous?
"And since when do I care about Kakashi's smell preferences?" Asuma argues.
"Asuma," she says with an exasperated sigh, "Did you forget what day it is? Did you forget why we're here in the first place? I want to get Kakashi and leave and not die in the process. Our chances of not dieing are much better if we don't piss Kakashi off, and smoking will piss him off."
I sigh slightly; she's overreacting, drastically overreacting. Nothing is going to happen, this is Kakashi after all.
"I have to agree with her," Shikaku speaks up from his position leaning on the railing.
I just keep staring at this wonderful view. Did I mention it was wonderful? I don't know why I volunteered to come along, this is pointless. More then pointless it's just insane, even for me. Why didn't someone just phone him? He does have a phone, doesn't he?
"And why do you even care? You're not even going in his apartment, you're completely out of danger you know," Asuma snaps at Shikaku. I don't pay much attention. They're all overreacting. Don't they trust Kakashi?
I'm not naïve; I know what has happened on this day before. I understand what Kakashi has done before. But this is different; this isn't just random people coming to get him. This is four Jounins, four of his friends who he trusts. He's not going to attack us, he's not going to try and kill us.
Besides, I'm winning the rivalry anyways.
"Just because I'm here for back-up doesn't mean I'm not potentially going to get killed. This isn't Kakashi we're facing today its psychotic Kakashi. But you already know that since you saw what he did to Iruka a few years ago. I for one want to take all measures possible to avoid myself ending up like Iruka, and you getting rid of your cigarette is one of those vital measures," Shikaku continues on, I still don't pay much attention.
This really is a beautiful view.
"Fine," I faintly hear Asuma relent and I turn my head to focus my complete attention on what's going on. I watch as Asuma grabs the cigarette out of his mouth and drops it on the floor, putting it out with the heel of his shoe.
"Everybody ready?" he asks and the three of us nod.
He knocks. No response. He knocks louder. Still no response.
"Kakashi!" Asuma calls out. We all know Kakashi's in there; we can all feel his presence. He's not even trying to hide himself.
"Kakashi!" Asuma calls out louder.
"Kakashi!" Kurenai yells, knocking on the door. I just watch, waiting.
What is going to be revealed when we open the door? What is hiding on the other side? I'm curious now; I want to see Kakashi's infamous 'Black Day' myself, in person.
I hear Shikaku sigh behind us and I don't bother to turn around.
However, I watch as Asuma turns around and exclaims, rather angrily, "What?"
"Why don't you just go in?" Shikaku says as if it's the most obvious idea in the world.
Asuma turns back around; looking slightly pissed, and nods at Kurenai. She reaches out and turns the doorknob. The door opens. I don't think any of us expected it to be unlocked. Kakashi can be an idiot sometimes.
Asuma walks in first, after all, he is the team leader. Kurenai enters behind him and I follow behind her, I follow last. Shikaku stays outside; he's the back-up. He's there incase Kakashi tries to escape. Not that Kakashi will, after all, this is Kakashi.
After a couple steps Asuma stops walking and as a result both Kurenai and I are forced to halt also. I wonder what caused Asuma to stop but I don't have much to go on so I just wait for my eyes to adjust to the dark room.
Well this was a shock, a very big shock. And that's an understatement. I did not expect this at all. Never, not once in my whole life, did something like this enter my mind as even being remotely possible, much less happening in the here and now. Right in front of me. Happening. Now. It doesn't make sense.
I don't believe it, I can't believe it, it's not happening. I shake my head, blink my eyes, I'm screaming inside. Here is my eternal rival, Copy Ninja Kakashi, cold hearted killer, child prodigy, standing in his bathroom gripping the edge of his sink. Gripping it so tightly with his left hand that I swear it's going to break any second. His right arm hangs loose by his side but he was clutching a kunai so tightly that it was cutting into his skin, cutting deeply. I can see the blood dripping into a pool on the tile floor. He was staring so intently at his reflection.
He's not wearing his mask. I can see his face; I can see Hatake Kakashi's face. I never thought I would ever be privileged enough, ever graced with the chance, to see what lies beneath that black mask. That black mask that is currently pushed down and crumpled around his neck. I must say that he does look remarkable like his father Hatake Sakumo, Konoha's White Fang. It's uncanny the resemblance. Even I can notice and I barely remember what Sakumo looks like for I was only six years old when 'that incident' happened and I had barely any contact with Kakashi or his father. After all, they were both geniuses and I was not and I'm also younger then Kakashi so there was very little reason for me to even talk to either of them. But all children of Konoha we're taught at a young age to recognize and appreciate the legendary shinobis and Kakashi's father was one of them.
It's unfortunate he took his life. It's rumoured that Kakashi bore witness to the tragic event but Kakashi has never admitted it. Some say he was even the kaishakunin to his father when he committed seppuku but that is purely speculation. I don't believe he was the kaishakunin for he was only eight and whoever the kaishakunin was they got scared and never completed the task. Sakumo was never beheaded when his body was collected.
I hear a scratching noise; it shakes me out of my memories and I look down over my right shoulder. I see Pakkun, Kakashi's summoning dog, peek his head out from underneath an oversized chair. I look quizzically at him and he just stares at me.
"Thank God someone's here," he whispers to me, "Today's been the worst one in years, he's close to snapping. Be careful."
"And you're just hiding underneath a couch? Not doing anything?" I ask; my voice low and my attention turned back to Kakashi.
"Well I enjoy my life, one year he tried to kill me and I learnt my lesson. I stay out of the way now. It's easier," and with that he crawls back underneath the chair and disappears from view.
I blink a couple times, take a few deep breaths, and try to calm myself down. This wasn't that bad, really, it's just Kakashi. We'll just calm him down and get him to this meeting. It won't be a problem at all. Besides, his pride will probably put a stop to this in a second. Once he realizes we're here he'll stop from shame. He has to, that's what Kakashi does.
I turn my focus to the room, letting Asuma and Kurenai deal with Kakashi for the moment.
A loud crash distracts me immediately and I put my room searching on hold as I look up and bring my attention back to Kakashi. I stare at the sight before me, another shocking sight that I never though I'd see. He's just standing there, right hand frozen in a fist against the wall, kunai still grasped tightly. I look as Kurenai walks forward, concern easily visible in her face. I can't tell whether she's concerned for Kakashi, her own life, or a little bit of both.
I turn my attention back to Kakashi's small apartment. I had never been in here and I never thought I ever would. Somehow I have a feeling it's normally a lot cleaner then it is at this particular moment. Sake bottles lay everywhere and spots of blood stain his carpet, some bigger, some smaller. Broken glasses and broken dishes lay scattered, clothes thrown about, and furniture pushed over and broken.
"Kakashi?" Asuma whispers, I'm not really paying attention though. My focus is bent on the apartment.
The kitchen and the living area are one full room, one door leads into the bathroom and the only other door leads to what I can only assume is Kakashi's bedroom. But that's not what I'm distracted by; it's the sheer insane amount of shurikens and kunais imbedded in the walls. Each one created cracks that twist and flow with each other.
This truly is the apartment of a psychotic man.
"Kakashi?" Kurenai whispers impatiently. Hearing his name brings me back to the present and I try to focus on what's going on. But I find it increasingly hard and I don't know why.
Kurenai continues, "The Hokage has requested your prese…."
I step to the right, dodging the kunai that Asuma and Kurenai just dodged. I see Kurenai shaking, she's like me; she never thought that Kakashi would actually try to ever hurt us. How wrong we were.
A silence follows, we wait. Wait for everything and nothing at the same time. Somehow I can't seem to make sense of what's going on in my head. Somehow my thoughts are too jumbled up, too confused to figure out what I should be feeling, what I should be thinking. This doesn't feel right, being here doesn't feel right. I shouldn't be here, I know that now but it's too late to go back, to late to retreat. I have to finish this mission, this mission that I underestimated. But did I really underestimate it? After all, it's just Kakashi.
I watch as his arm falls to his side. I watch as the blood falls to the floor. I watch as another small pool of his too dark blood collects on his too white tile floors.
"Kakashi, the Hokage said…"
"Get out," he interrupts her, "I don't care what the Hokage says, just leave before I hurt you. I don't need your help!"
Too bad that didn't sound sincere Kakashi. It would've if your voice wasn't shaking and you hadn't just purposely injured yourself.
"Kaka…"
"Get out!" he screams, slamming his right fist on the edge of the sink. The porcelain cracks and I watch as his blood flows in and fills the small voids. The red contrasts with the white, it would make a nice picture, the contrasting twisting red lines in a sea of white. Yes, I very nice picture. But it doesn't make a good real life image, no, not good at all.
"Kurenai," I hear Asuma whisper to her, "let me deal with this, okay?"
She nods in response and I watch as Asuma smiles at her, trying to calm her nerves. I realize now that Kurenai is too emotional sometimes, too ready and willing to put her trust in people. But am I not the same? After all, I put my blind trust in Kakashi, I believed that he would never try and hurt us. In fact, I still believe that he will never try and hurt us. But he just did try so why do I still trust him?
I don't have an answer.
Asuma walks towards Kakashi, slowly, quietly, not making any sudden movements. He walks a twisted path over and around the dirty clothes, broken dishes, blood stains, and empty sake bottles. A lot of empty sake bottles. Is that a syringe on the floor? I look closer. Yes, yes that is a syringe.
Kakashi does drugs.
I…I…I can't believe it. It's not right. It doesn't fit. It's not Kakashi. He can't, he doesn't, he couldn't. I…I don't know anymore. My mind isn't working, I can't think. This is too much, far too much. I'm required to report him now unless I ignore this. But I can't ignore this, can I? Would it be better to ignore it or to try and fix it.
Can you even fix Kakashi?
I hear a crack, the unmistakably sound of bone hitting flesh. I focus my attention to my surroundings. In this case it's knuckles hitting cheek. I watch as Asuma staggers back, head snapping to the side, trying to regain his focus. In the end Kakashi is still better than any of us, no matter the situation, no matter the circumstances.
Asuma turns his head, they stare at each other. Time passes by, slowly but yet not slow enough. I look into Kakashi's mismatched eyes and I see far too much sadness, guilt, and loneliness for one man too bear daily. There's a saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul.
There's nothing truer.
After his father died Kakashi became the outcast of our generation, the outcast of the academy. I wonder how much loneliness he's had to suffer with over the years. Does he still suffer?
Sometimes I wonder if all that guilt inside of him tears him apart. Do all those faces mold together to create some sort of psychological monster that destroys him? Does it only come out on this day? Is this the only day of every year that Kakashi faces his pain? Is it really that healthy to do that?
Judging from Kakashi I'd say it's not.
More time passes. I try to stop my thoughts from wandering down the path to childhood. Now was not the time for reminiscing, now was not the time for distraction. Beat yourself up about hurting Kakashi for all those years later, when it's safer. Right now you're a shinobi Maito Gai, a shinobi. Detach your emotions, this isn't Kakashi. Pretend it's someone you don't know; it'll be easier that way.
Yet somehow I just can't do that.
"You don't have to do this Kakashi," Asuma breaks the silence, "You don't have to suffer like this. We can help you, if you just listen to us, just let us."
In a flash, faster then my eyes can follow, Kakashi moves forward but Asuma reacts faster. A second passes, maybe a couple more, and than Kakashi freezes. Asuma's behind him, kunai at the front of his neck.
I sigh with relief; Kakashi still has his reactions and instincts intact, still stops when his life is in danger. I guess old habits die hard and thank God for that. It seems this is under control now; it seems it won't be long until we convince Kakashi to come to this meeting.
"You don't fight with kunais," Kakashi whispers to Asuma. He sounds almost confused, maybe even shocked. Perhaps shocked that Asuma managed to get the best of him?
"I know I can't fight you with my trench knives. The secret to defeating you is to fight out of my comfort range, to fight how you wouldn't suspect. Plus, in your psychotic state you're not the great Copy Ninja Kakashi I know," Asuma replies calmly. I suppress a shudder; he shouldn't have said that last sentence.
"I'm not psychotic!" Kakashi screams, his anger growing with every breath he takes, with every second that passes by.
He snaps, grabs Asuma's wrist and elbows him in the face before any of us even register what's happening. I try to step forward, try to move, try to take action but I'm frozen by shock. I'm frozen by my blind trust that I just can't shake.
What's wrong with me?
Kakashi pushes forward, breaks free from Asuma's grasp and stumbles right into me. I don't think he even noticed I was here. I wish I wasn't here.
Everyone knows that Kakashi doesn't give a shit about this rivalry I've practically forced him into. Secretly I don't care much for it either; it's just that I can't stop it now. I continue it more for Kakashi's sake then for mine. I know Kakashi will always be better than me, at least in the physical sense. But mentally and emotionally I'm leaps and bounds ahead of Kakashi and this rivalry still stands today simply for Kakashi. Simply because I think, no, I know that Kakashi needs something in his life that will always be there. Something he knows he will never lose, never fail. This rivalry is that something, this rivalry is the constant in Kakashi's life: the something that he will never fail at and that will always be there.
He tries to push away from me but I grab his wrists. My hands literally swallow his tiny wrists, has he even eaten anything in the past few weeks? I look him over; really try to look him over without editing his appearance in my head. He's far too skinny for a shinobi, far to skinny for Kakashi. He struggles for a few seconds and I realize that he's much weaker than he normally is, usually he'd be able to easily break free from me but today he can't.
That scares me.
Asuma steps Kakashi and wraps his arms around Kakashi's stomach. He wraps his right leg around Kakashi's and I understand what he's trying to do. He's trying to calm Kakashi down by rendering him completely immobile. So I do the same, I wrap my right leg around Kakashi's left leg and tighten my hold on his wrists. I pray that this works, I pray that we won't have to hurt Kakashi to calm him down.
Kakashi just keeps on struggling, struggling for a very long time. We just stand there, watching and waiting for Kakashi to stop his struggling. Waiting for him to realize that he can't get rid of the both of us.
"Let go of me," he growls, yes, growls like a dog. I can't believe how weak and pathetic he sounds right now. I can't understand what's happening to him?
"Why are you here!" he shouts, "Why did you come along! Did you just want to see me at my weakest? See me when you actually have a chance of beating me!"
I just look at him, I don't respond, I don't know how to respond. How do I make sense of this? This isn't Kakashi; this isn't what I'm us to. The Kakashi I know isn't like this, the Kakashi I know doesn't getting drunk, doesn't do drugs, doesn't hurt himself. I don't get this, I don't understand this.
And I realize that I never understood Kakashi and I never will. He's foreign to me, his different in every single way. We're completely different and there's nothing I can do to help him because he not only doesn't want help but I don't eve understand him enough to offer help. All I can do is report him after this, tell the Hokage he does drugs and get him the help he needs.
"Gai?" he whispers, not bothering to hide the confusion in his voice.
I never thought I would ever be forced to intervene in someone's life, much less Kakashi's. I don't even know if intervening would help him or make him worse. I don't know anything anymore; I don't trust my judgment when it comes to Kakashi anymore. I…I just don't get this. This isn't my forte; I was never trained in this. I never learnt how to deal with this.
Pain, it breaks my train of thought and I blink. Focusing my attention on Kakashi I realize he broke free of my grip, I must have loosened it without realizing it. I try to grab him again but it's too late, he's already in full motion. He breaks his left leg free, using surprise as his advantage, and twists around. He places a well positioned kick in Asuma's stomach and uses the force to push himself back and away from us. The whole thing takes no more then three seconds. I watch as Asuma stumbles backwards, trying to regain his balance. I turn myself around and look at Kakashi, trying to register what just happened, trying to register how his so quick when he's psychotic and completely drunk.
He spends only a second or two in a crouched position, facing us before twisting around, jumping up, and running for the door. I still haven't gotten a hold of my bearings; I'm still too slow for Kakashi. It seems his genius instincts are intact even when his sanity isn't.
I thank God that our back-up is still here and never left. I thank God that our back-up is Shikaku and not some idiot like the rest of us. I watch as Kakashi runs for the door, unknowingly running right into an inescapable trap. He freezes, confusion plays across his eyes as he watches Shikaku walk in the apartment and close the door behind him, Kage Shibari no Jutsu in full motion.
And I wonder if Kakashi has ever copied that Jutsu, if his ever copied the shadow binding technique. And then I wonder why the fuck I'm thinking about such stupid things right now.
"The Hokage requests that you come now, he doesn't wish to make everyone wait any longer," Shikaku reports in his ever bored tone.
"Bastard," Kakashi mutters, "When did you get here?"
"Just now," Shikaku lies in response. I guess he doesn't want to get too involved in this, "I wouldn't be here unless the Hokage sent me, I'm not too inclined to get you pissed off and get myself murdered. I like living, its semi-fun, not that you would really know."
Kakashi makes no verbal response, not surprising, and I can't see his face so I have no idea as to what he's thinking.
I sure hope Asuma knows what to do next because I have absolutely no clue.
"Kurenai, why don't you actually do something?" Shikaku continues. I don't bother to turn and look at Kurenai; I don't bother to see what her response is. I just keep myself focused on Kakashi and try to keep my mind from wandering because a wandering mind can lead to the failure of a mission. And in this case it could quite easily lead to death.
"Go in the bathroom, find a medic kit, and bandage Kakashi's cuts before he bleeds all over his apartment. You do have a medic kit right?"
"Yes," Kakashi responds. Why is he so cooperative all of the sudden? Has he finally realized that he can't win? I guess so; I guess there is still come part of the real Kakashi left, even on his black day.
We stand in strained silence, the only sound coming from Kurenai as she searches the bathroom for the medic kit. A few minutes later I listen to Kurenai as she walks past Asuma, past me, and over to Kakashi. I don't acknowledge that she's there; I don't break my focus from Kakashi.
As Kakashi truly accepted defeat or is he just trying to fool us? I have nothing but my blind trust to tell me whether to believe him or not. And even though every part of my mind is screaming at me not to trust him I still find myself trusting him.
Why?
I watch as Shikaku's arm moves up and he twists it around so his palm and forearm are facing up. Kakashi's right arm copies to movement. Kurenai's hands shakes as she cleans the cuts and bandages them. A couple minutes later she finishes.
And I'm still blindly trusting.
She moves away and Shikaku lowers his arm, Kakashi's moving along with his. We wait, wait for nothing and everything. I listen to Kakashi's labored breathing and my nervous breathing. What happens now? I don't know and I can only pray that Asuma knows.
"Kakashi," Kurenai says, her voice portraying her nervousness and cutting through the silence, "When's the last time you are anything? You look far too thin."
The shock must have shown on my face because Shikaku looks quizzically at me before turning his focus to Kurenai. I look at her, trying to decipher what the meaning behind her question is. Is it some sort of plan to try and make Kakashi realize that we're worried about him and trying to help him? I don't know for sure but it's the only conclusion I can come up with that makes any sense.
I can only hope that it will work.
I don't know," Kakashi finally replies after letting the silence stretch on, "It's also none of your business. I can take care of myself. I am an adult you know."
"Kakashi," Shikaku begins immediately after Kakashi stops talking, "If I release the Kage Shibari will you try to get away again?"
I blink, letting the words soak into my brain. Was this a good idea or a bad idea? The sensible part of my mind, the shinobi part, is screaming at me; trying to tell me it's a horrible idea. But the friend part of my mind, the me part, is telling me it's a good idea, telling me it will show Kakashi we trust him.
And I'm still blindly trusting.
"No," he answers. It sounds genuine to me, "You guys win, I can't defeat you all."
Shikaku release the Kage Shibari and we watch, waiting, listening, prepared for the worse. But it seems Kakashi was genuine and that he isn't going to try and escape. I let a small sigh of relief escape and I breathe a little more calmly, a little more rhythmically.
Asuma walks past me and towards Kakashi. He puts his right hand on his left shoulder, "Come on Kakashi, let's go."
He nods, I relax with relief. We've won, we've calmed him down, we succeeded.
Asuma starts to walk past Kakashi but he doubles over in pain, clutching his stomach. I blink; I hear a crash and look towards the sound. A broken window and no Kakashi.
"Fuck!" Asuma yells and I turn my attention back to him. I can't see what happened but I can see blood dripping on to the carpet. A kunai? Must be.
Are you okay?" Kurenai asks, suddenly beside Asuma, concern etched in her face.
"I'm fine," he grunts out, "Gai, go follow Kakashi!" His voice breaks me out of my trance and I barely hear him when he continues, "Get him before he kills someone!"
I nod and run over the window, jumping through it I land on the balcony surrounding the apartment and I take a look at the amazing view once again. It seems like hours ago when I first admired this view but in reality it couldn't have been even an hour yet. I walk over to the railing, put my right hand on the top of it, and vault over. Landing in a crouched position on the grass three stories below.
"And you really should have your Sharingan covered, it's using too much of your Chakra," I hear the Hokage say as I land.
"I give him a minute before he passes out," I add for no particular reason. Maybe prove to myself that at least we've accomplished something, even if we've failed at everything else today.
Kakashi turns around and stares at me, his eyes unfocused. He does look like he's going to pass out at any moment. But I know Kakashi and I know his body, he won't pass out. Just give him a few minutes and his strength will return. It always does.
I hear Asuma, Kurenai, and Shikaku land behind me. We all straighten up at the same time. I watch as Kakashi's eyes get drawn to what I can only assume is Asuma's wound, but I don't look to see. I'm too afraid to break my focus, too afraid to screw up yet again. I watch as Kakashi's right hand balls into a fist and I can see anger flash across his blurry, unfocused eyes. I think he's close to becoming uncontrollable, close to killing us all.
And yet somehow, for some reason, I'm still blindly trusting him.
He blinks a few times and I see his eyes regain their focus. It's now or never, we have to calm him down or someone is going to end up dead. He turns around, ignoring us for the moment, and focuses on the Hokage.
I sigh in relief, if there's anyone who Kakashi trust completely it's the Hokage. If there's anyone who might be able to talk some sense into Kakashi's twisted and distraught mind it's the Hokage.
"I'm sorry Kakashi, I would've left you alone if I could've but we need you at this meeting. Can you please come? And can you please stop trying to murder everyone who's trying to help you?" The Hokage whispers. I can hear the grief in the old man's voice.
If there's anyone who understands Kakashi it's the Hokage. If there's anyone who can calm Kakashi down it's the Hokage.
Kakashi looks away from the Hokage and my gaze follows his. Together we watch two birds building a nest in a tree. We wait; he lets the time pass by. He doesn't care that the rest of us have schedules, he doesn't care that people are waiting for him. He never cares about punctuality and all that shit, never has. He lives on his own time schedule and he doesn't change it for anyone, not even the Hokage.
And we all understand that.
"Fine Sarutobi," he whispers. I turn my head, breaking my focus off the two birds and bringing it to Kakashi's silver hair. He keeps his head turned; he keeps his focus on the two birds and away from everyone else.
"I'm sorry," he murmurs, barely audible above the whistling wind and chirping birds.
He drops his gaze to the ground; refusing to look at anyone. Effectively cutting himself off from the world. Is he ashamed? Is he scared? Is this another failure he's going to add to his already too long list? I don't know and I'll probably never ask. It's not my place to meddle in his life. It's not my place to try to fix an alcoholic, drug addicted, fucked up, distraught, and amazing shinobi prodigy.
And I'm still blindly trusting him.
And I don't know why.
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Kaishakunin: is an appointed second whose duty is to behead one who has committed seppuku at the moment of agony. ßßß Thanks wikipedia!
Seppuku: is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. In the world of the warrior it is a deed of bravery that was admirable in a samurai who knew he was defeated, disgraced, or mortally wounded. It meant that he could end his days with his transgressions wiped away and with his reputation not merely intact but actually enhanced. ßßß Thanks wikipedia! Again!
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Author's Note: 3rd chapter finished, yah! So, whose POV should I do next? Kurenai's or Shikaku's? (Note, Kurenai already has one vote from the last chapter).
I'm looking for a beta for the next three chapters of this story and for the sequel. Oh, and I'm planning on making the sequel really, really long, I've already started it and I hope to have it up near the end of the month.