"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." ~Robert Frost
Chapter Four: Babysitters
Over the next two days, Kabuto learned how to say "please" and "thank you" all over again with Kakashi's gentle coaching. Kakashi noted a particular improvement in Kabuto's attitude and mannerisms after he likened the consternated boy to his former student, Uchiha Sasuke.
By the end of the third day, Kakashi was growing tired of his apartment. Unfortunately, Kabuto seemed disinclined to venture into the out-of-doors, as he was still bedridden and refused to utilize the wheelchair Tsunade had provided. To combat the onset of cabin fever, Kakashi decided to take a day off, and collected several of the original rookie nine to fill in for a day.
Ino, Chouji, Shikamaru, Kiba, Shino and Hinata stood before Kakashi, feeling slightly baffled as to why the jounin would be asking them to take over his mission… until he informed them that the mission was babysitting a bedridden former Konoha ninja who was several years their senior.
"So who is it?" Shikamaru asked.
"His name is Yakushi Kabuto," Kakashi informed them. "He's undergone intense surgery and has chakra inhibitors, so he shouldn't be much trouble. Don't do anything for him unless he asks."
Hinata frowned. "Why not?"
"I've been trying to teach him the finer points of interpersonal communications," Kakashi replied. "And so, in order for this to work effectively, he'll need to learn to ask you for things as well as me. Am I understood?"
The six nodded in unison.
"So, if he was a former Konoha ninja, what is he now?" Ino demanded.
"Yakushi Kabuto…" Shikamaru mused. "Wait. Wasn't he in the chuunin exam where Orochimaru…?" He stopped talking when Ino sent a withering glare in his direction.
"He used to work quite closely with Orochimaru," Kakashi said. "But for now, he is nothing more than a patient; albeit a rather unfriendly one."
"He used to work for Orochimaru?" Kiba demanded. "Why don't you just kill him?"
"Because the Hokage obviously believes he is important. Otherwise she wouldn't have worked so hard to…make the surgery successful," Kakashi said, managing to sidestep the reason why Kabuto had undergone surgery in the first place.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. The Jounin was concealing something that had to do with this patient. However, if it wasn't information necessary to the mission, there was no point in wondering about it. Kakashi wouldn't keep necessary information from them; therefore, the information must not be vital to the success of the mission.
"You will watch him in groups of two, utilizing two-hour shifts. The rest of you will find ways to entertain yourselves. Don't break anything. I don't want to come back and find my apartment trashed."
"Where are you going, anyway?" Ino demanded.
"That's classified," Kakashi said.
"Oh, so you're going for another book," Shikamaru said dismissively.
"Anyway, why don't you six go on inside and get acquainted?" Kakashi said, changing the subject. "I'll be going now. Don't eat everything in the fridge, I might want something when I get back," he said, glancing meaningfully in Chouji's direction. "Have fun, kids."
"Sure…" Kiba drawled, rolling his eyes.
Kakashi wandered off, waving his right hand dismissively.
"Chouji and I will take the first shift. Hinata, you and Shino take the second shift, Ino, you and Kiba will take the third shift," Shikamaru said, instantly taking control of the situation.
"Yes, mother," Kiba snorted.
Shikamaru shrugged and walked past Kiba, headed for the bedroom. Perhaps this Kabuto wouldn't mind playing a game or two of Shougi…
About thirty-five minutes into Shikamaru and Chouji's shift, Shikamaru found himself growing slightly irritated. The patient had not said a word since they had entered the room. Shikamaru knew that he wasn't supposed to be giving the patient anything, so he set up the shougi board and began playing himself quietly.
Chouji quickly grew bored watching Shikamaru playing himself, especially since Shikamaru kept making strange moves that proved advantageous in the long run. Still, it bothered Chouji that he couldn't make heads or tails out of either side of the board's strategy.
What was bothering Shikamaru, however, was the fact that Yakushi Kabuto was quite possibly an excellent shougi player. Yet the young man refused to speak up, even though Shikamaru had begun to purposefully make a few mistakes in his movements, carefully gauging Kabuto's reactions.
The occasional widening or narrowing of eyes, the slight smirk that would occasionally grace the young man's lips, or the split-second shake of the head all led Shikamaru to believe that Kabuto was well versed in the game and could recognize the strategy that Shikamaru was utilizing.
As such, it was quite frustrating that the young man made no offer to play with Shikamaru. Finally, Shikamaru put the game away, deciding that Kabuto was not willing to play shougi- or at least not willing to ask if Shikamaru would play a game or two with him.
Soon enough, Shino and Hinata replaced Shikamaru and Chouji. After Hinata tried once to ask Kabuto if he wanted anything, the two quickly fell silent, an event that Kabuto appreciated greatly. He didn't want to ask either of them for anything, even if he was starting to feel rather hungry. He hadn't bothered to ask Kakashi for breakfast, and as it was nearing noon, Kabuto stomach was beginning to complain due to his neglect.
When Kabuto's stomach growled, Hinata glanced at Kabuto in concern. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," Kabuto replied sharply.
Hinata flinched slightly and looked away. The rest of the two-hour shift passed in blissful silence.
A/N: Thanks to the few reviewers who have reviewed! I've really enjoyed writing this with Midnight Anime Angel.
I hope we'll be able to get together soon to work on this some more, simply because bouncing ideas off of you is so much fun! (It doesn't hurt too much, does it?) Anyway, I really appreciate the reviews I've gotten, and I hope the story continues to be interesting!