The coming chapters have been...difficult to write. But it's a journey!
Enjoy!
"ARE YOU UCHIHA SHISUI, RIVAL OF MY ETERNAL RIVAL?"
Shisui is patiently waiting for his dinner when he is assaulted by the loud, exuberant voice of Might Gai. He barely has a moment to respond when the green form that halts in his periphery rushes to the other side of him. A small gust of wind follows his movements. Shisui rests his chin in his palm, elbow on the countertop as he turns to his left.
"I am Shisui, yes." He levels Gai's vivid gaze with his own ever-serene one, recognizing Konoha's Green Beast without a sliver of doubt. He is, however, unable to place who the Green Beast's eternal rival is.
"Pardon me, Gai-san. Who is this rival of yours?"
"Maa. Gai-san, it's really not the-"
"THIS MAN!" Gai dramatically gestures to Kakashi, who proceeds to stare at him with the same bored expression.
Finding this odd, Shisui moves to speak but Gai beats him to it with a finger pointed his way, "I CHALLENGE YOU!"
"I accept." Shisui counters, chin still resting in his palm, a small smile gracing his lips. His tone is smooth and cool.
Cheeks flushed, Gai takes a moment to digest Shisui's acceptance- he doesn't even wait to hear what he is being challenged to. What a rival.
Sufficiently charmed, he turns his fuming cheeks to Kakashi.
"Where did you find SUCH A YOUTH?!"
"…" Kakashi scratches the back of his head. He already has too much on his mind. Shisui notices the strain in the Hatake- it only reveals itself for a second as his eye twitches at Gai's words.
'Probably is a good time to step in.' Shisui turns his attention to Might Gai.
"Before we begin, however…" Shisui sits up, peers curiously first at Kakashi and then at Gai, "What gives you the impression that Kakashi is my rival?"
There is a darkness in the Uchiha's eyes that can set any man on edge- "What if I told you…YOU were my eternal rival?"
Kakashi has never seen Gai blush with such intensity in all the years that he has known him. The young boy is abashed and his eyes are glittering with admiration.
"Really, Uchiha-san?"
Shisui chuckles at his reaction.
In the two weeks since Michiko's disappearance, Shisui has spent a considerable amount of time with Kakashi. Both remind themselves that they are only working together to find her, exchanging information and aiding the investigation.
Kakashi watches Shisui as he laughs easily and goes along with Gai's antics- he finds that there is something strange about the Uchiha that he can't put his finger on.
'He's so calm… It's like he isn't worried at all.'
He knows that isn't the truth, and that Shisui hides his emotions, he just can't shake the feeling that something is wrong with the other boy.
'Sometimes it feels like he's not really here.' Kakashi muses for a moment, 'As if Michiko isn't really missing…'
He has to admit though- whatever little they do know about her is because of Shisui's efforts with the Konoha Police Force.
"Taichou."
Brought out of his reflection, Kakashi turns his attention to Tenzo, who has stealthily ducked into Ichiraku's.
"Hokage-sama has sent for us," He gives Shisui a guarded look, but the Uchiha is too distracted by Gai to notice it, "Without Uchiha-san."
For the most part, Tenzo is not quite comfortable in Shisui's presence and he is secretly relieved when Hiruzen's orders specifically exclude the boy.
He understands that Kakashi wants Michiko recovered, but he doesn't understand why Shisui must be so involved in her recovery.
'Because they are close.' Tenzo recalls Kakashi's vague statement, unable to piece together the hint he has given him.
Kakashi slips quietly from his stool and they exit, together. Ichiraku-san sees them go and cancels their order with a shake of his head.
Shisui, despite Gai's ministrations, is keenly aware that Kakashi has left.
When the two Anbu arrive at the Sandaime's family residence, they are dressed in their gear and masks adorn their faces. Their arrival is well timed.
Asuma slides the door open with a 'thwack', an unlit cigarette between his nicotine-stained lips and his brow furrowed as he scoffs and mumbles something that is entirely incoherent. Startled by the two men, he pauses and his nostrils flare for a second. The movement doesn't go unnoticed by the two at his door, and Tenzo shifts his weight onto his right foot.
"Kakashi. Tenzo. Old man's inside." That is all the acknowledgment the Sarutobi heir gives them, moving to push past them.
Sensing the familial tension, they let him pass without any comments. He sits himself on the porch and is lighting his cigarette when Tenzo moves to slide the door shut.
The Sarutobi's estate is old and it is very recognisant of the era in which it was first constructed- some odd 70 years ago. It is built at the top of a hilly residential area that has three other family-homes; one is abandoned, the other belongs to the Hyuuga and the third…is lived in occasionally by Tsunade-hime, Hashirama's granddaughter.
Kakashi has always visited Asuma and Michiko in the official Hokage residence and only has a few, vague memories of the Sarutobi estate.
The entrance is humble- a simple doorway hidden behind lush bushes, but the inside of the house carries the tasteful elegance of old wealth. There are several portraits of Sarutobi family members, some framed ancient maps, and several sculptures of...monkeys.
Kakashi spots a small portrait of a young Michiko, staring plainly back at him from a corner of the wall. He only places the face as hers because the expression is one she usually makes when he is trying to get on her nerves.
The Sarutobis, being vassals of the Senju, hold a high status within the ninja community. The heirs-apparent of the line however, have always been incredibly modest and unassuming. Kakashi is suddenly uncomfortable.
To the right of the doorway is a large portrait of Biwako Sarutobi, beneath it are two large vases of wilting lilies. The dark wooden floor gleams from the obvious care put into conserve it, but it is littered with yellowing petals, some that look like they have been stepped on multiple times.
The scent in the air is the sickly-sweet of decay. A bug is buzzing loudly in one of the partially budding flower-heads.
Kakashi feels depressed.
Opposite the entrance are three galleries, all vanishing into dark corridors. A movement at the end of the middle corridor alerts Tenzo and Kakashi to Itachi Uchiha's presence.
"Taichou. Tenzo-san. This way." The young Uchiha pauses briefly in the middle of the gallery as the others hurry to follow him, walking carefully past the decorative pieces in this corridor. Kakashi passes a mirror, only his silvery hair visible in the faint dark, and he wonders, 'Why don't they have any lights on in here?'
He is so distracted he nearly misses that Itachi has turned right into another hall and walks through a door into what appears to be a massive drawing room. It is also dark in here.
'Seriously. Would it kill for them to…light some candles maybe?'
Disoriented temporarily, Kakashi guesses that alone he might get lost in all the rooms and hallways, especially in the lightless-ness of it.
There is another door on the left of this room. An old chandelier hanging inside casts a dim yellow glow onto the floor.
Hiruzen is watching the two boys, eyes scrutinizing them over his clasped hands. His elbows rest on the elaborate desk; monkeys are carved into the thick legs. Their wooden eyes look faintly ghost-like as they stare at him.
The windows are open and a smattering of the lights of Konoha paint a serene view behind Hiruzen.
Despite the ventilation, the air is thick with tobacco, and there is an overflowing ashtray on the desk. Kakashi suspects that if the windows weren't wide open, the room would be too hazy to see anything.
"Michiko is alive."
Kakashi feels a knot in his chest again and shoves his hands in his pockets, wanting to throw a glance towards Shisui, but resisting. His eye is set intently on the man before him.
"She summoned Enma, who wasn't able rescue her," Hiruzen sounds and feels irritated, "But he did get their location. Shisui's suspicions were correct, all along. She was kidnapped and has been given to Orochimaru."
Hiruzen clears his throat, lighting another cigarette. "They are close to Kirigakure."
The pipe he usually smokes is laying on the desk, a light layer of dust visible on its dark surface.
'I thought I would never have to send anyone there again.' Even he is uneasy. His stoic face betrays little expression.
Itachi is the first to break the silence, eyes set intently on the Sandaime.
"Will we carry out the recovery mission?"
Hiruzen taps his cigarette over the edge of the ashtray as he mulls over the plan in his mind, "No."
Itachi expects as much and resumes his silence. Hiruzen spares the three boys a glance.
"Sandaime-sama," Startled by the interruption by Kakashi of all the people, Hiruzen's sharp gaze falls on him, a hint of impatience in the twitch of his eyelids. He nods for the boy to continue, "I think as her squad, it is our duty. We are skilled enough- anyone else would have fewer chances of success."
Silence prevails again. Tenzo wonders why their squad hasn't been chosen for this mission and feels a minute twinge of guilt.
"Actually," Bemused, Hiruzen snuffs the remnants of the cigarette and laces his fingers together as he leans back in his seat, "There is a squad more capable for this mission. If you reviewed the squad stats as is your duty, Kakashi, you would know." He rests his entwined hands on his stomach, as the back of the seat creaks.
Another silence descends, Kakashi feels many things at once- irritation, guilt, surprise- and then he feels nothing at all. He has been keeping an eye on the stats and he knows exactly who will be sent on the recovery mission. Expression stoic, he indicates his agreement with a single nod.
Before anyone can speak up again, the bushes outside the open window begin to shake as if they were having a fit. Startled, the four men turn their attention, watching the branches that peep above the sill quiver and shed a few leaves. The frantic rustling is followed by the hiss and screech of a cat.
The top of Asuma's head appears and ducks out of view as he cusses loudly. The cat screeches even louder.
Asuma stands up from his place in the bushes and fills up the window frame as he leans in. In his hand is a scraggly, black kitten with an elaborate bow around its neck. He extends his hand towards Itachi. The kitten in question looks absolutely miffed.
"This little boy is one of yours, I assume."
Asuma has a little red scratch on his face, but he is grinning victoriously. Seeing Itachi, the kitten panics and begins to squirm, desperate to set itself free.
"Let me go you fucking imp. I'll claw out your liver and-"
Appraisingly, Hiruzen raises an eyebrow and his tone is sharp, "What exactly is going on here?"
The kitten paws the air.
"I'm certainly not fucking talking to any monkeys."
It manages to twist and nip Asuma's fingers and he yelps, releasing the black ball of fur- it disappears in a puff of smoke.
"I apologise, Sandaime-sama." Itachi says abruptly, embarrassed, stressed and unsure of how to cover up his friend's mistake. The kitten is undoubtedly an Uchiha summon- the attitude and the language is an obvious indicator. More specifically, Itachi recognizes it as Shisui's.
Kakashi is amused to find that Itachi's cheeks are a shade of pink.
"Maa. Looks like someone was a little eager to get involved." His single eye arches into a curve as he uncharacteristically smiles. Hiruzen simply shakes his head.
"The recovery squad will be on it's way very soon." Hiruzen exhales slowly, dispelling his anger, "Itachi, bring Shisui to me now. The rest of you are dismissed. Stay on alert until the other squad returns."
The three Anbu nod and disappear in a blur, taking the window on their exit. That route is much simpler.
Asuma stares into the office, watching his father.
"At least tell me who you sent."
Ignoring his son, Hiruzen lights another cigarette. The younger Sarutobi clicks his tongue at his father's behaviour. There is already enough angst between them, and Michiko's absence has escalated the strain of their relationship.
'Please come home soon…'