A/N: Guys...I haven't done anything with this story in so long. I'm so sorry! But I was rereading it tonight after seeing that I had some newer reviews from this year, and decided that maybe I could give writing it another shot. If I stay on it, I'm not making promises for regular updates. I'm 24 and I'm a senior at my second college and I'm currently paying my way through it on my own. So life is super busy. But I'm getting back into some anime, and I've also wanted to stretch my creative writing skills again. And too-even though I don't remember exactly what I wanted to accomplish writing this, I'm excited to see where it goes. Now...since it's been a while since I was really into Naruto, bear with me if I screw up something fundamental. I am open to fixing things if you want to point something out. Or you can just roll with the fact it's fanfiction. ^_^
AN 2: So, I graduated. And this has been sitting on my phone for about six months now? Life really got in the way...BUT. I have a fifteen year old sister who is really into anime lately, and to appease her I got a Naruto t shirt last week, and have been rewatching Naruto Shippuden. (Is it rewatching if you really only read the manga years ago and then bounced around watching a bunch of youtube clips?) But yeah. I'm back. I realize this has been a long time in coming, and I am so thankful to those of you who held out hope for more chapters. Those are the reviews that guilted me into coming back lol. I have lots of time to think at work, and I definitely have changed ideas around for this and have many more things coming this way. This chapter was written before I fashioned some ideas but it was already going to be a bit of a filler chapter. Next chapter, that I hope to post before this weekend, will have a few snippets that will potentially be their own side story fics later.
And without further ado...chapter 3!
Shikamaru was surprised at how normal Kakashi's apartment was. He glanced around the room again, noticing it was dust free and very neat. His brow furrowed and he brought his mug back up to sip the blissfully warm hot chocolate that Kakashi has made him.
The man himself was sitting on the other side of the small table in the middle if the kitchenette. He had his porn book open and was unashamedly reading it and letting out the occasional giggle. Shikamaru rolled his eyes and kicked his legs a bit, pulling the blanket Kakashi had draped over him just a little closer as a shiver wracked his body.
"You okay, pup?"
Shikamaru blinked and turned to look down at Pakkun. The nin-dog was giving him a concerned look. Shikamaru felt Kakashi's gaze on him and resisted the urge to look up at the man and stick his tongue out.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Almost completely dry." Shikamaru emphasized this statement by smiling, and then blowing into his cup to make the steam hit his face. He'd once seen his mother with her reading glasses purposely fog them up to make him laugh. He had wanted to have a pair solely to do the same. But, like everything else about him it seemed, his eyesight was impeccable.
"You're thinking really loud."
Shikamaru jumped and then glared at Kakashi.
"You're a pervert," He snapped back.
"Maa...I just enjoy quality literature."
Shikamaru finished his hot chocolate with a noisy slurp and rolled his eyes. He shrugged the blanket off and slid off his chair, and to show that he was well mannered unlike some people that liked to shove sleeping children into the water, walked to the sink and placed his mug inside.
"You only have one set of dishes." It was a statement. But Shikamaru has noticed it right away when Kakashi waved off his inquiry about making himself hot chocolate as well.
"Don't really have a need for more than one set," he said.
Shikamaru turned to give Kakashi a puzzled look. "Don't you have friends?"
The silver haired ninja shrugged, returning to his book. "I have a rival. I don't know if that counts or not."
Shikamaru shook his head, and turned to the living area. There wasn't much, but he had noticed a bookshelf with a few less brightly colored books on it, and a picture frame. It appeared to be the only really personal items in the entire apartment and he was curious to see what it revealed about his new Sensei.
Shikamaru looked down at his bare feet and his pants and decided that he wasn't dripping so it would be safe to walk onto the carpet and explore more. The carpet was fuzzy and actually very nice to walk on, and he rubbed his still chilled feet a few times. Then he smirked, and sat down on the floor next to Pakkun who had grabbed a throw pillow off the one recliner and was sitting on it. Shikamaru briefly regretted not wearing socks, but he pulled his now dry sleeve over his hand and focused on rubbing it on the carpet for a minute. Pakkun's eyes were shut, and Shikamaru almost felt bad.
Almost.
And then he poked Pakkun. There was a tiny zap, and the nin-dog sat up in shocked surprise.
"What the hell pup!" Pakkun said, frowning as much as he could. "I was trying to nap!"
Shikamaru cackled.
"Language, Pakkun, there's a seven-year old present." Shikamaru turned to look at Kakashi and was surprised to find himself pleased that Kakashi was amused at his antics.
Pakkun was grumbling under his breath. He grabbed the pillow with his teeth and pulled it to the corner opposite the shelf. "Try that again and I'm biting you."
Shikamaru grinned. "I'm so scared," he said. Pakkun's eyes narrowed but Shikamaru had had his fun and letting out a contented sigh, stood back up and walked the few steps to the shelf.
Most of the books on Kakashi's shelf were biographies of famous ninja or old textbooks that didn't seem to have been used in years. But one book caught his eye. It was at the bottom, and was simply titled "The Thief." Shikamaru reached down and pulled it off, and was intrigued by the cover. There was a picture of dirty hands holding some type of amulet. That was all. Intrigued, Shikamaru turned the book around to read the back.
"So...you like fantasy, porn, and biographies?"
Kakashi stood up from the table, looking at the book in Shikamaru's hands briefly.
"I haven't read that one in a while. But it's good," he said has he walked over to wash the mug Shikamaru had discarded. "If you want to read it, be my guest. My Sensei actually gave it to me as a gift when I was actually your age."
Shikamaru blinked and opened the cover of the book.
To Kashi, from Minato.
Shikamaru smiled at the discovery that he wasn't the only one to call Kakashi that.
Looking up, he spied the Fourth Hokage, yellow hair and all, in the picture that was framed on the shelf. Kakashi and his two teammates looked to be twelve in the picture, and it appeared as though Minato was trying to get the boy that was wearing goggles to look at the camera along with Kakashi. Both looked grumpy and the brown haired girl's smile was a nice contrast.
He liked the picture.
Remembering what Kakashi has said about not having friends, he hesitated, but finally asked. "What happened to your teammates?"
Kakashi had just placed his one coffee mug back into the cupboard. "They're dead." He said it with an air of dismissal and finality so Shikamaru decided not to venture down that train of thought.
"I'll borrow the book if that's okay."
Kakashi walked over, his frame hunched and his hands stuffed in his pockets. "That's fine. I said you could." Then as if a switch was flipped, Kakashi suddenly clapped his hands together, causing Shikamaru to jump. "Okay! Let's do some talk about chakra control."
Three hours later, they were outside and Shikamaru was sweating at the effort to make not one but multiple leaves stick to his arm. It was Kakashi's way of being extra he supposed.
"Tomorrow you can go ahead and do some tree walking," the man in question said lazily as he peeked over his book. "But I figured today we could be lazy. And don't forget our D ranked missions too."
Shikamaru frowned. He had heard about the D ranks and wasn't looking forward to menial work. He had to put up with that already at home with his mom thank you very much.
"Kakashiiiiiii!"
Shikamaru jumped at the loud voice and lost all of his leaves as he was suddenly aware of a giant green...thing...in their presence.
"Kakashi my rival!"
Shikamaru stared, remembering Kakashi's earlier statement.
Kakashi barely glanced up from his book. "Huh? Oh, Gai. How are you?"
"My rival, so cool!" The green clad man, for Shikamaru finally realized he was wearing a green leotard? struck a pose and his teeth actually sparkled as he grinned. "I just heard a rumor from the folks in town that you have taken on an apprentice!"
"Huh? Oh yes. He's there. Shikamaru? Maito Gai. Maito Gai? Shikamaru."
Gai turned to the stunned student and posed again.
"He is so small!" The man yelled and Shikamaru gaped at him. He could have sworn there were actual tears welling in Gai's eyes. "But I am sure that having such a novel teacher who was also a young genius will help such a student do very well! And now I must strive to be just as good to have my own student that young! Always beating me my rival!"
"Maybe running more laps around the village will help you become more worthy." Kakashi said as he lazily turned a page without looking up.
"Yes!" Gai struck another pose. "I shall do this, but on my hands!" He turned around and grinned at Shikamaru again. "It was so nice to meet you Shikamaru! I am so glad my rival has you as his apprentice!"
And as quickly as he was there, the strange man was gone.
"What the heck was that?!" Shikamaru exclaimed. He was certain that his retinas had been permanently scarred by the color green.
Kakashi simply shrugged. "My rival." Shikamaru face palmed.
From a nice distance away, Maito Gai watched the pair bicker. He didn't always do the macho guy act, but today he wanted to make an impression on Kakashi's student. And from what he had observed already, the young one might be very good for his rival.
"I am looking forward to seeing how this affects you my friend," he said quietly. And with a smile, he ran off to do his rounds on his hands.
All smiles for this chapter. Next one, the angst will flow.
Just a little note, The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner is a real book and it is my all time favorite.