Working

Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine.

The corridors were filled with groups of students, all heading towards their classrooms. Obito was trying to avoid being crushed by the stampede by staying as close to the wall as possible and so he didn't notice the girl standing just in front of him. Until he walked into her anyway.

"Hey!"

"Oh sorry." She spoke absentmindedly, still watching something with interest on the other side of the corridor.

What's so damn interesting? Obito followed her stare to see that she was watching a line of people waiting to get into the classroom opposite. In particular, she was eyeing up a white-haired figure currently talking to Asuma and Kurenai.

What's so interesting about Kakashi today? I mean, I know he looks ok without the mask but-. The incredibly rusty gears in Obito's brain creaked into place. He's not wearing the mask!

This never happened so it was no wonder that people were occasionally stopping to eye him up. Probably the novelty would wear off soon and people would get used to things. It was good to see him actually comfortably maskless in public. And Obito knew how weird he felt about it; it was probably costing him a lot to do this.

"I don't get why he bothered with that mask." The girl in front was currently taking to a friend of hers in passing.

"Hmm… I know. He's really not bad."

"Kinda cute actually." Wait… What?

"He's still single right?" What?!

"I think so?" He's gay! The two girls moved on, still discussing Kakashi whilst Obito stood frozen in time.

All the girls that liked him already… What if they get more interested? And what if another guy decides they're into him? And he likes them too? Obito did not like this thought.

Why is this a problem? It'd be good, right? Ugh! What is wrong with me?! For a second he stood, glaring at the wall next to Kakashi. This went on for long enough that he found himself being watched. Kakashi was raising his eyebrow at him, probably to convey that he looked like an idiot right now. Without the mask, Obito could see that he was smiling a small half-smile as he did this. A kind of knowing smile. It made him feel queasy. And then a loud bell started ringing.

Oh shit! He had to be late on top of his stupid weirdness.

-Page Break-

Because it was generally known that Kakashi always wore the mask, that he was maskless today had been discussed by quite a few people in their year group. Mostly people just were interested in why he had suddenly decided to stop wearing it.

Obito was getting bored of everyone talking about it really; he hoped they would just get accustomed to it soon. Whenever someone spoke about Kakashi, especially anyone female, he felt a growing sensation of irritation in his chest. It was just so damn annoying. Anko and Ibiki were the only two people who actually hadn't bothered mentioning it, probably because they had other concerns. Rin had obviously mentioned it, but as she had been rejected already, it hadn't been for very long.

"So, I say we divide and conquer. You take one half, I'll take the other."

"But do we get one copy each, or do we just buy one to share?"

"One each obviously. We're not savages!"

"New comic day?" Obito had heard this conversation a few times.

"Yep." Anko was busy working out her funds to ensure she could afford to waste all her money.

"We're going to buy everything and then read and analyse each one."

"That sounds…. Fun?" It would be with Ibiki anyway; Anko tended to get a bit too riled up and since Obito also had that problem, the two of them would often start wars over minor points.

"Wanna join us?"

"I have work." With Kakashi…

"Oh yeah. You're boring now."

"Hey! I think what you really mean is, I now have more money than you." He raised his middle finger.

"Then give me some so I can buy more stuff." Anko held out her hand with a determined expression.

"No. Fuck you."

"Dick." She went back to doodling absent-mindedly on her notebook and ignoring him.

Obito tried to return to his work but it was difficult when all he could think about was that everyone now knew what Kakashi looked like under the mask. It had been something that he had gotten to see but no one else had.

It doesn't matter that much. It's a good thing for him now.

"What are you looking so pissy about?"

"I'm not pissy!"

"Wow. You're such a moody ass today. What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing's wrong," Obito huffed really loudly.

"Ugh. So annoying." Anko rolled her eyes and returned to whatever it was she was doing (almost definitely not work).

-Page Break-

Obito was stood behind Anko, still glaring at her back and huffing. This had been going on for a few hours so understandably, Anko was pissed off.

"Oh my god, will you stop?!" He'd groaned a little too loudly again and Anko had turned round to glare at him.

"I'm not doing anything!"

"Yes you are! You're being a little bitch!"

"You two realise everyone's watching right?" As usual, both of them ignored Ibiki pointing out the obvious. Other people in the food line were either ignoring them or muttering; they were likely to hold things up a while.

"Don't talk to me then!"

"Go mope elsewhere!" Both were glaring right in each other's faces.

"Are you two really going to carry on?" Rin was eyeing her watch and making a point of looking at the line in front of them. "Can't you at least take it outside?"

"Come on Rin, he must be pissing you off."

"Don't be such a prick!"

"You two are so stupid." Rin walked straight past them to get food; a more major priority.

"Hey!" Rin turned around to stick her tongue out at Anko before carrying on. "I blame you."

"And I blame you!" It wasn't his fault he was unsettled today.

"Right. That is it." She shoved her bag into Ibiki's hands and then grabbed Obito by the collar and started pulling him along.

"What are you doing?"

"Dealing with this!" There wasn't much use in struggling; she had that determined glint in her eye that made all resistance pointless.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll find out." It wasn't the most dignified of journeys since he was practically crab-walking along the corridor and being pulled into walls. Luckily he wasn't taken very far before he was suddenly thrown forwards and flung into a small group of people.

"Oi Kakashi. Deal with this pissy princess." And once she had made this pronouncement, Anko went off to enjoy her lunch in peace without the negative air.

"Having fun?" Obito slowly looked up at Kakashi who seemed bemused by the sudden appearance. Asuma and Kurenai looked more confused at why he was there.

"No." It was hard to make eye contact with Kakashi right now. It was even hard to look at his facial area in general.

"Is there a reason you've been dragged here?"

"I don't know." Stupid Anko. Obito didn't know what to do. He was sort of failing to think up anything to say even.

"Right. I'll see you guys later." Kakashi started gathering his things together.

"Have fun there."

"Good luck." With what? He didn't get a chance to question Kurenai on this before Kakashi had grabbed his arm and started guiding him elsewhere. It seemed it was his fate today to be led around the place.

"Why are you dragging me?"

"We're going somewhere." I guessed! Obito then noticed a girl eyeing up Kakashi and narrowed his eyes.

"Ugh…"

"What?"

"Nothing." He avoided the look Kakashi gave him and tried to focus on the floor. The floor never frustrated him.

Up until the moment he was suddenly pulled to one side and through a doorway. When the door shut behind him, he realised they were now in some kind of storeroom.

"What's this?" He'd never been in there before.

"Rarely used supply room." Kakashi perched himself on a pile of printer paper whilst Obito sunk down to the floor. "So are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"No." There wasn't anything wrong. Obviously.

"Obito." Kakashi's voice had gone a little stern. Obito looked up at Kakashi who had crossed his arms. "I don't want any bullshit. Just tell whatever it is so I can go back to enjoying my food."

"It's nothing important."

"Then you won't mind telling me about it." …Damn. I've been trapped. Truly Kakashi was a worthy adversary.

"Why aren't you wearing your mask?" Kakashi blinked in surprise.

"My mask?"

"Yeah. Why haven't you got it on?"

"…Because you were right." Now it was Obito's turn to be surprised. "I shouldn't let it rule my life like that so I figured…. If I could go without the mask in other public places, might as well stop here."

"That's good…" He did honestly want to feel happy for him.

"It is. So why is it bothering you so much?"

"It's not bothering me!" Technically not a lie.

"So why did you bring it up?"

"Because it's related!" Kakashi gestured that he should probably continue with his explanation. "Those girls are really annoying!"

"What girls?"

"You didn't notice?!" Girls did seem to like Kakashi so he was probably used to it but he couldn't be that oblivious as to not have noticed the extra attention.

"I usually ignore people. You know this."

"So you don't care that all those stupid girls keep talking about how sexy you look without the mask!" It was technically only those two girls but it still annoyed him.

"Nice of them to notice."

"It's annoying!"

"Why?" Good question.

"Because it just is! It really pisses me off whenever they talk about you!"

"Oh…" Kakashi went silent and Obito gulped loudly. It felt like it had been a bad idea to tell him all that and he regretted it almost instantly. He's gonna think I'm so stupid… Well, more stupid then he already does anyway. Obito faced downwards in an attempt to avoid acknowledging the situation. If he didn't acknowledge it, it didn't actually happen.

"Obito." He froze. "Look at me."

"No."

"Come on." Kakashi sounded a little irritated so Obito chanced a glance back up. Kakashi was looking down at him, the mask covering the lower half of his face once more.

"Why are you wearing that again?"

"I don't want to make you feel bad." And now the guilt was increasing.

"Don't do that! I know how hard it is for you to go without." Obito sighed.

"So why were those girls annoying you?" Kakashi sat next to him, pulling the mask back off his face as he did.

"I don't know…" It made no sense to him.

"I do."

"You do?" Obito leant closer to him. "Tell me!"

"Nope." Kakashi smirked, reviving Obito's irritation.

"Why the hell not?!"

"I think it's better for you work it out on your own."

"You know I'm too stupid to do that!"

"You said it, not me."

"Gah!" Stupid jerk Kakashi.