Michiko debates whether going to Akimichi Grill is a good idea. It could be a nice night out for her, but she is also a kunoichi with some dark demons- which is why she rarely drinks.
Knowing fully that the pressure is always on at such events, she remains laying in the centre of her bed, hugging a pillow to her chest as she considers her options. Not going means missing out some potentially fun times with her taichou, Asuma and Kurenai (whom Michiko doesn't mind so much).
On the other hand, she is well aware that other people will also be in on the party, such as Gai and Genma Shiranui (who Michiko finds really attractive). Kakashi has attempted to use Genma as bait, something Michiko finds humorous.
Grumbling indecisively, she tries to assemble a nice outfit in her mind.
'Maybe the black top…with the black trousers?' Too much black. 'Maybe the purple one then.'
Sitting up, she stares for a moment at the well-stocked closet in her bedroom at the Sarutobi residence. She pushes herself off the bed and pulls open the massive door of the closet, greeted immediately by the fresh, familiar scent of detergent. Fishing through her assortment of mostly ninja clothes, she finds some of her more casual wear.
'How about this?'
She holds up a ribbed navy-blue halter neck top in front of her and turns to check herself out in the vanity across the room. Tugging off her loose t-shirt, she pulls on the top, appreciating the way it hugs her form and shows off her olive skin.
'Pants? Skirt? Shorts?' Shaking her head as she fumbles around for an option, she comes across a black tight fitted, knee-length skirt.
'No, I'll look like I'm dressed for an office.' Chucking it back in, she continues her fishing until she finds a shorter skirt that ends halfway down her thighs.
When she pulls it on however, she finds that her scarred legs look unsightly.
'For fuck's sake.'
One of the tougher jobs as a kunoichi is finding the balance between looking feminine and looking rough- Michiko doesn't like to shame others for their choices of dress, but often (much like now), finds herself being heavily critical of her own appearance and her own scars. Being lean, her legs have some stretch marks where her muscles have grown and formed, but she also has silvery marks of fresh skin adorning her healed cuts and wounds. Because her skin is olive toned, having paled from her time in Kiri, the scars seem to jump out at her.
'There's no way I'm parading these around.'
In the end, she opts for a pair of tight-fitted, high-waist trousers that hug her form perfectly and accentuate her behind in a very satisfying way. Finally feeling pleased with something about her appearance, she busies herself in preparing for the night with a cold shower and some scented shampoo and soap.
After drying her very long hair which she is still not used to, she dresses up. Combing her long tresses until they are only slightly wavy, she applies some mascara and a nude lipstick. Of course, there is little she can do about the large scar on her face, so she sits in front of her vanity and stares at her reflection, overcome by the sudden, heavy feeling of dissatisfaction and vehemence.
'I can't really compete with women when it comes to good looks…' She thinks bitterly.
She runs a hand sadly through her hair, feeling a furl of the bitterness deep in her chest like a nail being hammered in. She wishes the two red dots in the centre of her forehead would disappear too- her face with its scar and its red marks looks alien.
'I wish I could just look ordinary.'
She ties her hair back in a loose ponytail and lets loose some strands to frame her face, softening her appearance and attempting to distract from her more marring features.
A deep voice reverberates through her, undoing the hair-tie and letting her dark hair fall free.
"You should let it all down."
Michiko stills as her masked 'friend' materialises behind her. "Stop sneaking up on me!" She hisses, wide-eyed and frantic as her eyes dart to the window with its open curtains and the door, through which Asuma or Hiruzen could come knocking any time.
"Relax." The man says, running a finger over her bare shoulder, "I just wanted to say hello." He steps back and lowers himself onto her bed, laying back and crossing his arms behind his head.
Michiko notes that he is not dressed in his usual black cloak; leaving his shirted form open to her observation. His body is well-built and he is tall; Michiko questions how 'Madara Uchiha' could still be alive and so fit.
"I still don't believe you are who you say you are." Watching him in the mirror, Michiko feels bold enough to address him on her own. Usually, she only speaks to him when she is spoken to. Obito finds this change interesting.
"Well," He sits up, "If you agree to my terms, I might tell you."
Silently regarding his reflection, Michiko raises an eyebrow and rolls her eyes, "You could just tell me another lie." She reasons, "I can't trust you at all."
"Can't you?"
The way he asks her sends a shiver down her spine. He has saved her life and assisted her in escaping back to Konoha. He has also helped her learn more about her clan and helped her from her unidentified Root assassins.
Unwilling to get into a debate with him, she stands from the stool of her vanity and walks briskly to find her heels. Obito watches her silently, staring at her for longer than he needs to, admiring her shapely form.
He has never seen Michiko looking so feminine. Deep in his mind, he prefers it. He does his best to keep such thoughts at bay, because they do not suit his ultimate purpose.
As she slides her feet into the heels and clasps the straps tightly around her ankles, she hops back to the vanity to check herself out, peering closely at her face as she adjusts her hair. She relents to let it all down, surprised at how womanly she looks.
"The scar does little to mar your beauty." Obito says, pleased by the hot flush that spreads across her cheeks at his words. He has noticed her eyeing it bitterly, and he understands how she feels- if only she knew.
She says nothing in return, wandering to her window to peer out of it onto the street, "I wonder how bad it will be if I drink a lot tonight." She murmurs.
"It won't be bad. Enjoy yourself a little." He murmurs back, although the hint of resentment in his voice is obvious, "Get wasted."
Giving him the side-eye until he turns his head to stare back at her, Michiko is tempted to make a request.
"Show me your face without your mask."
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
Annoyed, she turns her attention back to glaring out the window. Abruptly, she feels the warmth of his body behind her and hears his fingers against his mask, but she feels as if she frozen in place.
He rests a hand on her waist and leans closer to her, drifting over her shoulder, teasing her periphery with the enticing vision of his skin and his dark hair. He looks befittingly familiar, and as Michiko finally manages to whip her head around to stare at him, his mask is back on; her face collides with it, her nose bending almost painfully.
The man snickers.
"Got ya'."
And with a playful wriggle of his fingers, he disappears, leaving Michiko balking at the empty spot where he stood, her body tingling from the sensation of his hands in a manner that is less than pleasing.
Akimichi Grill is already busy with its dinner reservations and drinking parties just beginning. As Michiko arrives nervously, she peers in through the glass panels of the doorway, spotting Kurenai who seems to be chatting away to a shorter dark-haired woman. The restaurant is illuminated by bright, glowing chandeliers that leave no room for shadows or dimness.
It is almost too bright.
Michiko turns away from the door, ready to go back home, when she walks into-
Hatake Kakashi.
"Leaving so soon?" He peers down at her, his hands resting on her shoulders as he holds her in place. He takes in her appearance, his single eye appraising her and travelling down to admire the wonders that a fitted top can reveal.
Michiko, flustered from being caught retreating, laughs nervously, "Ah, taichou. Fancy seeing you here just now." She tries to come up with a coherent excuse to justify her departure, but Kakashi holds her firmly in place.
He is dressed in a dark, full-sleeved haori and trousers. The sash around his waist is tied lazily, and he looks very relaxed and oddly…handsome. She wishes she could pull down his mask- at least then, she would have some motivation to hang around for this evening.
"Let's go inside." He turns her around and pushes her gently ahead of him. Michiko has no choice but to march in, almost assaulted by the fuzzy noise that erupts as soon as the door is opened.
Akimichi Grill is not a quiet place. It is filled with the tinkling of cutlery and glasses, the bolstered voices of its slowly intoxicating patrons, and the loud and excited sounds of the various individuals that move back and forth between the booths and the bars.
The first person to look their way is the short, dark-haired girl speaking with Kurenai- Nina. She spots Michiko standing ahead of Kakashi. His face a good foot above her due to his height, peers over the top of Michiko's head at his friend and at Kurenai.
'How odd.' Nina thinks, flushing with envy. Michiko regards her with much the same feelings, but a more guarded expression. Both girls size each other up, as if weighing out the competition; but Michiko gives up the minute her eyes land on Nina. Dressed in a knee-length maroon dress, with her hair just brushing her shoulders, Nina looks pretty. She has the soft features of a graceful woman, and none of the ugly scars to rival Michiko's own.
Feeling slightly sore, Michiko half-smiles and strides to greet Kurenai with a kiss to the cheek. She introduces Michiko to Nina, and they greet each other as if meeting for the first time.
Michiko does not reveal that she recognises Nina; instead she nods politely and shakes her hand awkwardly, quickly moving away to brush past Kakashi and disappear towards the bar.
"Hey Kakashi!" Kurenai waves, beckoning him over. As he greets the two women, leaning his head down so he can hear them better, they explain to him that they haven't managed to book a private booth and will have to hunt down a table. Scanning the restaurant, Kakashi spots a vacant table large enough and points to it, sending the two women quickly to claim it as he tries to find Michiko, who has successfully disappeared.
In the ladies toilet, Michiko takes a moment to find her breath. Being in such a crowded place has left her feeling unsightly. Deciding a drink should help, she exits the stall with some determination and washes her hands quickly, ignoring the woman beside her who is visibly startled by the scar on her face.
Before she can lose her patience with the staring, Michiko dries her hands and exits, making a beeline for the bar with her little purse in hand. Elbowing her way in, she waits patiently for the bartender to catch her eye so she can shout her order at him over the noise.
All the shoving of the other patrons makes her uncomfortable, and just before she can give up, someone arrives behind her and places an arm between her and a particularly pushy individual, securing Michiko from another shove that might send her into a murderous spree.
"Hey hey, Michiko!"
Recognizing the voice, Michiko looks over her shoulder with a soft, shy grin at none other then: Genma Shiranui.
"Hi Genma!" She is surprised to hear herself sounding enthusiastic, and a little…ecstatic. Putting it off as being a result of his 'nice vibes', she leans back into him as he leans forward to hug her awkwardly. They laugh, just as the bartender lands his attention on them, recognising Genma.
"Oh hey man, what can I get you?"
Glancing at each other, Michiko shrugs, "I want something that can make me forget where I am." She jokes, watching Genma's cheeks darken as he chuckles. He leans over her and orders a whole bottle of traditional sake for them.
"We can share." He suggests, "It's pretty strong. I don't want Asuma to whip my ass for getting you too drunk." He chuckles, knowing fully that Michiko is too old for him to really be worrying about that. Smiling, unsure of why she feels so giddy, Michiko leans away from so she can get a really good look at his face- she has been fond of it for most of her Academy years, after all.
"How have you been?" She asks, consciously tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. Genma looks down at her, his eyes subconsciously flitting to her lips as he speaks.
"I've been better." He grins, "It's been a rough couple of months. You know how it is with your uncle."
Michiko nods, moving out of his way so he can take the little tray the bartender has set on the bar for them; it holds a clay bottle of traditional sake and two little cups.
"So, you and I could both use some forgetting then, eh?" Michiko attempts to joke, making Genma shake his head teasingly at her, "You bet."
"I think everyone's managed to get a table in the corner there." He gestures with his head, letting Michiko lead the way. As they reach the table, she greets Asuma with a hug. Guy is overexcited to see her, lunging up from his seat and seizing Michiko in a strong hold.
"Ha…It's nice to see you too!" Michiko manages to choke out, just as he releases her. Everyone seems to be caught up in the spur of the moment, chuckling at one another as they duck into their own conversations. Genma pulls a chair for Michiko next to him.
Kakashi is nowhere to be seen, and neither is Nina, Michiko notices.
Soon the pair join them at the table with their drinks in hand. Interestingly, Kakashi has gone for several glasses of beer, distributing them between himself, Kurenai, Nina and Asuma. Michiko wishes she could be part of their little posse, eyeing her taichou with a hint of longing that she does a quick job of concealing.
As Genma fills their cups, he eases into the conversation, talking to everyone at the table as Michiko listens quietly, occasionally sipping from the small stoneware cup. The sake burns down her throat, eventually lulling her into a comfortable state.
She feels herself slipping under the influence as Kakashi moves into the chair beside her. She is tempted to look his way or engage him in conversation but chooses ultimately to ignore him. Kakashi on the other hand occasionally glances her way as he talks to Nina who is across the table.
"Oh come on!" Guy exclaims, "I'm much faster than Michiko!"
Suddenly realising she is the topic of conversation between Genma and Guy, Michiko leans forward to tune into the conversation, "Eh? What did you say?"
"Genma-san thinks you can drink faster than I!" Guy exclaims, bringing his fist down on the table competitively as Michiko laughs incredulously, "Oh there's no way you could beat me Guy!"
"Oh no…don't challenge him!" Genma jumps in, "Here." He pushes his own cup of sake, now refilled, towards Guy as he fills Michiko's, "On the count of three!"
And so begins the chugging, Kakashi watching with curious interest (and perhaps, concern) as Michiko downs cup after cup. Once her fourth cup is down, she rocks back in her chair and lets out a victorious laugh as she defeats Guy in her speed.
This is followed by a very drunken hiccup.
Kakashi chuckles at the sound, endearingly rubbing Michiko's shoulder as she laughs too. They both turn to look at one another, their gazes heavily dusted with drunken tenderness.
Nina pulls Kakashi back into the conversation between her and Kurenai and Michiko returns her attention to Guy, who is moping about losing.
"Oh gosh." Michiko manages another hiccup, "I don't think I have ever reached this point of inebriation before."
Her comment leaves Asuma, Genma and Guy laughing- they are all still a bit more sober than her. Sorry to be left out of the intriguing interaction with Michiko, Kakashi does a quick job of downing his beer before standing up, albeit rockily, to get some more.
"Who wants beer?" He asks, glancing around the table as Michiko raises a hand, "One for me taichou!"
As he nods and turns his attention to the others, he overhears Genma say "Is he always taichou to you Michiko? I swear I've never heard you call him by his name."
With a drunken giggle, Michiko leans towards Kakashi, "It's practically his nickname, isn't it…taichou?"
Perhaps it is the endearing nature of her tone, or the fact that Michiko looks so loose and carefree, whichever it is, it sends a hot flush through Kakashi's neck and his cheeks- he even feels the tips of his ears burn.
"Yes. It is pretty much a nickname." He says agreeably, departing quickly to fetch the beers before he becomes enveloped in a conversation again. He is reminded of Michiko's captain-kink, and the thought leaves him feeling flustered.
Watching him go, Nina observes his gait, keenly aware that the jounin is not drunk at all. She then turns her attention to Michiko, who is comfortably chatting away with Genma and Guy. At first, Nina was jealous that Kakashi was seated next to her, but her envy was assuaged as she realised Michiko was more interested in giving Genma and the others attention than the Hatake. The way the two ignore each other and keep their conversation minimal is intriguing.
Wondering what sort of person Michiko truly is, Nina takes the leisure to listen keenly to her jokes- they border on obscene and her language is quite colourful, sending the men into fits of laughter. She seems to be enjoying their attention- until the doors of Akimichi Grill open and a group of dark haired, well dressed men enter the bar.
Michiko spots them before anyone else, since she is facing the door, and all the colour drains from her cheeks. Her reaction is so abrupt that Nina is compelled to look over her shoulder at whoever she seems to be staring at.
'Uchiha.' She notes, trying to identify whether any of them are familiar to her. Whoever she thinks she has seen must have frightened Michiko, because the girl is now pale and looks ill.
She excuses herself to go to the toilet, taking her little purse in her shaky hands as she wobbles onto her feet and strides, with an impressively stable gait for a drunk woman, towards the toilets. Nobody else seems to have noticed the look on her face- but Michiko doesn't come back for a good 20 minutes.
In that time, Kakashi returns with the beers, stares questioningly at her empty seat as he places her glass, and asks the others where she has gone.
Nina is the first to speak up, "I think she went to the toilet- she looked a little ill." She gestures with her head towards the group of Uchiha that have taken their seats not too far from their table. They are laughing amiably together, sharing a snack bowl and a round of drinks- having paid no heed at all to the Sarutobi.
Kakashi's gaze seems to rest on them for a few minutes as he quickly realises what drunk Michiko might have imagined- it sometimes happens to him too.
'Maybe she thought Shisui was here.' But he shakes his head knowing that's not what could have scared her.
'Obito.'
Of course, Kakashi has been in her place many times before. He stands quietly, contemplating whether to sit at the table or to check on his friend, but as soon as he moves to go, she appears again.
The colour has returned to her cheeks and she looks…chirpy.
"Hi!" She waves at him, "I'm back!" Announcing her return as she takes her place, she stares curiously at the beer, "Is this mine?"
"Yes." Kakashi stares oddly at her, exchanging a concerned look with Nina who does the math quicker than he does- Michiko is more drunk than before.
'She probably went and got herself another drink…' Kakashi has never seen his ex-comrade in such a state before. It seems too…adventurous for her usual nature.
'She has been a little different since her return from Kiri…'
"Great!" She takes a large gulp, resting her head in her palm as she busies herself in listening to Genma and Guy's conversation.
Nina notes that Michiko makes a point to keep herself half turned-away from Kakashi, and she wonders if it is intentional.
"So, Kakashi-kun…" Nina starts, just as Michiko turns her head and smiles politely at her.
"Sorry, I don't want to interrupt you both!" She says apologetically, "Thank you for healing me that day, Nina."
Nina smiles uncertainly, surprised by the sudden friendliness and informality in the young woman, "Oh, no worries. Just doing my job." She nods her head politely as she speaks, aware that Kakashi is glancing from one woman to the other with growing awkwardness.
Acknowledging Nina with a smile, Michiko returns her attention to the other men, continuing to ignore Kakashi. Nina finds it odd, considering the two are so close.
It seems almost too intentional.
As the night continues, Michiko does not progress any further with her drunkenness- she seems to reach a saturation point that she is unwilling to cross. Guy on the other hand, is a drunken mess, slurring challenges at Kakashi from across the table as the other man spurs him on.
Genma has resigned to lean back in his chair, one arm thrown over the back as he watches the exchange with a drunken flush across his face. Michiko and him often catch one another looking each other's way- but both of them know it is a bad idea- especially considering that Genma is her uncle's bodyguard when he is on duty. He knows fully that she is staying at the Sarutobi residence after the attack in her apartment- it is too big a risk to take.
Genma has also realised that Michiko has no recollection of his squad rescuing her some four years ago when she was kidnapped. While it irks him, he is also curious about the somewhat mysterious woman.
In his opinion, Michiko has returned to Konoha bolder than before. Her appearance is different, as is her demeanour. He always remembers her being cautious and withheld, but especially in such an intoxicated state, she seems to burn fiercely like a flame striving desperately to survive. He can't help but wonder what she has seen and experienced- Asuma has given them enough hints, and he knows enough of the Hokage's business to know she was in hell.
Unbeknownst to him, as Genma watches Michiko, Kakashi watches him with a stern, watchful gaze. The Hatake readies himself to escort the more drunken of their lot home, wondering if it will end with Nina at his apartment- the way it usually goes with women. He has a nagging sensation that Nina is sharper than most women and won't jump at the opportunity to get into bed with him- she seems to have more long-term interests.
Soon, Michiko has excused herself to get another drink, closely followed by Genma, who takes the opportunity to place a hand on her back as they push through the crowd towards the bar together.
Kakashi has seen the small gesture, and now his eyes keep wandering back to the bar, where he can see the top of their heads very close together as they talk and joke and laugh, drunkenly. He feels the flurry of jealousy in his chest for a second, before Asuma has pulled him back into another conversation about Guy.
Lost in the loud conversation, Kakashi is distracted. Nina observes as his gaze keeps wandering to the bar and is a little disappointed when Kakashi pushes himself out of his chair and goes to join the other two. She is sharp enough to understand the dynamic between the Hatake and the Sarutobi- perhaps they are both attracted to each other but avoid addressing the matter.
Deflating, she turns to Kurenai and smiles, immersing herself into a conversation to distract from her epiphany.
Genma and Michiko eventually locate themselves on two barstools, glasses of wine in hand as they have a more private conversation away from the table.
Genma, for one, is interested in whether Michiko will be staying in Konoha. He has always been friendly with the girl, since she is his close friend's cousin, and has always considered her to be a good woman. He knows enough, through the Hokage, about her mother's clan and he does not find the two spots on her forehead alarming, nor does he pay any heed to the scar across her face.
It helps. Michiko feels more comfortable and loses the consciousness she felt earlier.
"So you'll be staying here?"
"Yup. I'm going to be like you now- bodyguard to the jinchuuriki."
"Oh, Naruto? He's such a cute kid, but he is so naughty. We had him in the Hokage's office for a few days when your uncle was trying to arrange someone to babysit him. Apparently, he gives everyone a hard time."
Taking a sip of his drink, Genma is distracted by the arrival of Kakashi, who orders a beer over their heads and tunes into their conversation, "Oh, look at you two. Private table, eh?"
Teasing the two, he doesn't miss the flush on Michiko's cheeks as they grin awkwardly at each other. He feels a little possessive, unwilling to leave the two here alone, "Why don't you come back? Guy misses you." He says to Genma.
The other male doesn't miss the hint in his voice; 'Not this one.'
But Genma has never had any such intentions, so he pays no special heed to Kakashi's unspoken warning. Sliding off the stool, he gestures with his head to Michiko who follows, and as they fall into step behind Kakashi, they exchange a cheeky look knowing fully well that Kakashi has cock-blocked them.
They walk past the group of Uchiha, and Kakashi slows down so that he can walk beside Michiko.
"You alright?" He asks loudly in her ear, leaving the girl to nod reassuringly, "I'm fine."
"What happened?"
Genma has wandered ahead of them to talk to a group of people he recognises at another table- some friends of his. Michiko eyes him as he moves away, reverting her attention to Kakashi.
"Eh?"
"Nina said you looked ill."
"Oh, it's nothing." Michiko covers quickly, "I just had a moment."
"What kind of moment?"
It is unusual for Kakashi to probe so much; Michiko almost feels uncomfortable, but knowing her taichou only means well, she shares with him a little. "You know what kind of moment. Happens when you're drunk, and you see an Uchiha that looks too much like him."
"Yeah. That happens to me a lot." Kakashi says a bit more quietly. They stop walking to stand in the middle of the Grill, Nina watching them from over her shoulder in the far corner where their table is.
"You aren't too drunk are you?" Kakashi asks again, recalling the memory of tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. His fingers twitch as he is tempted to do it again.
Looking up at him with wide, dilated pupils, Michiko shakes her head and laughs, "I'm pretty drunk."
"How will you go home?"
"I'll walk."
"I'll walk you." He says firmly, "No buts or ifs or whatevers." He adds, placing a finger to his mouth as if to silence her.
Smiling wryly, Michiko leans closer to Kakashi and whispers teasingly, "I don't think Nina will like that very much. You should walk her home, not me."
"We'll both walk her home. Then I will walk you home."
"And who's gonna walk you home, taichou?"
She sees the grin under his mask, her eyes distracted by the shape of his mouth as he insinuates something that makes her blush furiously, "Whoever said I was going home?"
Maybe it is a reference to their half-baked, joke-flirting at Ichiraku's the day before. Maybe it's something more than that. Michiko is too drunk to think deeply about it, and instead giggles flirtatiously, tossing her hair behind her shoulder as she returns to their table.
Kakashi remains rooted in his place, wondering what the fuck has come over him.
As he watches Michiko return, Genma has managed to sneak up on him and pats the jounin on his shoulder, "Take it easy Kakashi, your boner is showing."
As the man moves away to follow Michiko with a mischievous snicker, Kakashi glances down to check, relieved to find that the other ninja was only joking.
Progressively, their party gets more drunk than before and by the time they are leaving the restaurant, Kurenai and Asuma are linked hand in hand, stumbling dangerously against one another, Guy is nearly passed out, leaning on Genma who is stuck escorting his friend home. Nina is drunk enough to stumble slightly, politely holding Kakashi's arm for support. Michiko follows behind them, attempting to quickly to cut from the Hatake. Unfortunately for her, he pauses just as she moves to sneak away from him and whips around to call her out.
"Michiko!" Kakashi calls drunkenly, "Come on."
Michiko deflates. Abandoning Kakashi with Nina would make Michiko feel a little guilty - but she really doesn't want to third-wheel them.
"What's Kakashi's business with you?" Genma asks with a grin, "He seems awfully protective."
"I don't know honestly." Michiko shrugs it off, "It might just be an Anbu thing. We're all slightly possessive of one another- bonds you for life, it does."
"Well…you better get going."
With a wave of hands and some loud, slurred farewells, Guy and Genma stagger off in the opposite direction along with Asuma and Kurenai. This leaves Michiko to follow Kakashi and Nina. She lags behind them, watching the pair as Nina hugs his arm and peers up at him, her laugh tinkling through the quiet night every now and then.
Rolling her eyes, Michiko can't control the sudden urge to leave the two- surely, they wouldn't even notice her absence if she-
"Michiko." Kakashi has stopped to turn back, holding his hand out as he beckons her, "Walk faster."
As he turns back around, Michiko mimics him, clearly irritated. She picks up the pace either way, hugging her arms as they meander through the lanes, to eventually arrive at Nina's apartment. Michiko lets Kakashi walk her to the door, choosing to lurk at the end of the lane with a slight pout, annoyed that her taichou has made her walk all the way here. Soon her head will start to ache.
"If I'd been on my own, I would've been home by now." She mumbles, feeling the swirl of nausea in the pit of her stomach. "Could've eaten something too." Grumbling as Kakashi bids Nina goodnight, Michiko watches as the girl shyly stands on her tip-toes and gives Kakashi a kiss.
Flushing at the sight, Michiko tears her gaze away and glares out into the street.
"As if I needed to see that."
Unsure of what exactly is irritating, Michiko kicks a lone pebble.
"Sure is taking his sweet fucking time."
"What was that, Michiko?"
Whipping her head around to glare directly at her taichou, Michiko frowns. "Nothing."
Turning on her heel to start walking in the direction of her home, she does not turn around to check if Kakashi is following her. Eventually, wearing heels gets the best of her and she stumbles awkwardly, her head spinning slightly as she tries to regain her balance. Kakashi takes her by the elbow and steadies her, without a word.
Pulling her arm out his grasp obstinately, she shoots him a glare.
"What's wrong with you?" Kakashi asks, perturbed.
"Nothing." She snaps, doing her best to walk ahead of him.
"Slow down Michiko, you'll fall."
"I won't."
"I said slow down."
Using his captain voice always works, Michiko shoots him another vile look as she obeys, walking a little slower so that he can keep up with her.
"What's gotten into you? You were fine when we were at the bar."
"Yeah because we were at the bar. Now I'm out here in the middle of the street watching you snog a stranger."
"Yare yare…You don't have to be jealous, Michiko."
"I am not." She growls, "Why did you have to cock block Genma?" She finally asks, annoyed.
"I didn't." Kakashi says calmly, "He needed to escort Guy home."
"No, in the bar. When we were sitting together. You ruined our moment."
"Because…Genma is a great guy but you need to sort things out with Shisui."
"I have sorted things out with him." She protests, "It's none of your business anyway."
"Isn't it my business?" Kakashi snaps, "You want me to let you traipse around hitting on random men?"
Halting in place, Michiko turns to fix Kakashi with an intense glare- but he is no less riled up than her, "I wasn't traipsing around. I was just talking to him!"
"You were hitting on each other." Kakashi raises his volume just a notch, "Everyone could see it."
"Does it look like I give a fuck what everyone sees and thinks?!"
"You should." He quips, glancing away from her as he thinks guiltily of his own jealousy.
"Tell me what that was about- I know it wasn't about Shisui."
"It was about you." Kakashi responds smoothly, feeling his patience wear thin. He wants to get out of the street and go home, but Michiko is adamant on arguing in the middle of the road.
"Was it about me? I think it was about you. I think you can't stand seeing me talk to other men." She spits, pointing an accusatory finger at him. Kakashi stares at it, feeling his blood warm as she eggs him on, "You've got issues you need to resolve Kakashi, none of it has anything to do with me. Since day 1 you've been on my case, it's you that has problems!"
"It has everything to do with you. You're the one giving me problems." He warns, taking a step towards her, "If you just listened to me without questioning me so much, that would be great."
"Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do?!" She takes a step closer to him as well.
"Why can't you see that I care about you?!" The veins in Kakashi's forehead become visible as his voice strains against his self-control. He is doing his best not to yell, but he is loud. Loud enough for Nina to hear the faint sounds of a scuffle and curiously peer out into the street from her bedroom window.
"Since the day you landed on my squad, the only thing you've done is been a pain in my ass!"
With the lights off inside, it is impossible for Michiko and Kakashi to see her watching them.
"What?" Michiko has finally regained control of her tone, staring incredulously at the man before her- but it is too late for Kakashi now. He is not the kind of man that loses his temper, but when he does…
"All I've done is kept an eye on you to have your back so that you don't end up doing something that will make you feel bad later. But of course, I don't have to do any of that since it bothers you so much that I care!"
Swallowing a dry lump in her throat, Michiko listens carefully to Kakashi's slightly slurred words.
"If you want to fuck around, fine! Fuck around! See if I give a shit!"
When the he finally falls silent, the street is filled with the sound of crickets, and cats fighting in an alley nearby. Something clatters loudly, but the two shinobi do not twitch.
Hurt by Kakashi's yelling, Michiko blinks away the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She doesn't comprehend what has made her so sensitive, feeling very much like a wuss when the first tear escapes down her cheek.
In a small voice, she asks, "I never asked you to do that. Why do you care so much?"
Caught off guard, Kakashi's anger is dispelled the second he realises Michiko is crying. Panicked, guilt unfolding in his chest, he takes another step closer to her, but this time Michiko doesn't move or react.
Taking her face gently in his hands, he thumbs the tears, "Oh no Michiko, please don't cry." Mumbling almost incoherently in his intoxicated state, Kakashi suddenly finds himself sobering up at the sight.
Knowing very well that he has been able to make her tear up on several prior confrontations, Kakashi mirrors her small, quiet voice with his own, "Why is it that I always manage to make you cry?"
Pulling her towards him, Kakashi envelopes her smaller form in his arms, pressing her body to his as he attempts to comfort her. Both of them sway in place, still under the influence of alcohol. Far above them, a broken-hearted Nina has pulled her gaze away from the window in anger.
"Please don't cry." Kakashi whispers into her hair, "I don't want you to be upset."
Letting her tears soak Kakashi's grey haori, leaving little wet stains, Michiko hiccups. "I'm fine. I'm not crying anymore."
Quietly, pulling away from him slightly, she peers up at him in the orange light of the streetlamp above them. "I'm sorry I got so mean."
She doesn't want to think about what he's said too much. Michiko writes it off as being drunk.
"I'm sorry I did too." Kakashi slurs back, his tongue feeling heavy in his mouth. He pulls Michiko towards him again, holding her firmly in place as he buries his face into the side of her head. Breathing in her familiar scent, he feels a comforting sense of fulfilment as Michiko holds him too.
"Let's go home." He whispers, pulling away and tugging on her arm, until her hand finds its way into his. With their hands clasped together, Michiko finds some semblance of balance and only sways a little as she walks. Her head starts to spin, throbbing mildly.
"I think both of us have had too much to drink." Kakashi comments, his own words heavily slurred and his eye lidded.
"Yeah." Michiko responds, clutching his arm as she steadies herself and walks in the comfort of his drunken support.
As they make their way down the empty road, Michiko feels a sudden wave of drowsiness and halts in place, "Kakashiiiiiiiii." She slurs.
"What is it?" Stopping next to her and peering into her face, Kakashi blinks groggily at her.
"I'm getting drowsy. I think I'm going to pass out."
"Oh. Well. Come on." Letting go of her hand, he squats with his back to her and gestures for her to climb on. Michiko obeys, resting her chin sleepily on top of his head as he piggy-backs her. Kakashi is not dangerously drunk, like Michiko. He is sober enough to carry her weight and manage his own- but he is intoxicated enough to not understand where he is going.
Eventually, they end up outside his apartment, and when he realises that he was meant to take Michiko home, it is too late.
She is fast asleep.
Carefully unlocking the door, he sets about the tedious task of carrying her in without hitting her head against the entrance. Kicking the door shut behind him, he carries her to his bedroom, grateful that he is generally a neat person, and drops her callously onto it.
Splayed across the blue covers, Michiko's soft snores fill the room as she curls up in the middle of the bed, drool escaping her parted lips.
Kakashi stares despondently at her, removing his own haori and his mask as he sets about preparing himself for bed.
Drunkenly changing into more comfortable clothing, he shamelessly strips in the middle of his bedroom, too drunk to care about Michiko waking up and seeing him naked. As he tosses his clothes into the hamper behind the door, he pauses in front of the mirror to stare at his naked, scarred body. Without his mask, he appears to be more inebriated than he had initially felt; his cheeks are reddened, his lips puckered and warm, his eyes are heavily lidded and bloodshot.
Once he pulls on his loose pyjamas, he fetches a bottle of water from the kitchen. In the lightless apartment, his pale body glimmers in the dark like ghost. As he returns to the bedroom to assess the situation, he debates sleeping on the couch.
'Fuck if I care.'
Carefully, he rolls Michiko to one side of the bed, leaving the drunk girl snoring against his pillows. Now there is enough space for both of them.
Realising her shoes are still on and cringing at the thought of her getting shoe dirt on his clean sheets, Kakashi does a quick job of prying them off, working the straps with a bit of a struggle with his thick fingers. Once the shoes are disposed of, Michiko is free to sleep as she likes.
Satisfied, he props up his pillow against the headboard and sits up for a little while, drinking water to make sure he can start sobering up before he falls asleep- Kakashi has the terrible habit of waking up drunk, after all.
He watches Michiko's sleeping form as she curls up, fascinated by the way she seems to murmur incomprehensibly and twitch every now and then- it reminds Kakashi of the way his summons, all dogs, sometimes dream and run or twitch in their sleep,
Bemused, he exhales heavily, thinking about the missing Anbu reports and the missing Kiri-nins' bodies.
With a painful pang, his head begins to ache, signalling to him that he should not think of anything that will cause him more stress than he already has. Pressing his temples with his free hand, he leans his head back against the headboard and drifts off to sleep.
With the bottle held loosely in his hands, his neck snaps up immediately. Grumbling, he puts the bottle on the bedside table and lays down, listening to the sounds of Michiko's soft snores as he finally nods off to sleep again. Eventually, Michiko rolls into him and wraps her legs over his but Kakashi is so deeply immersed in slumber that he does not move an inch.
Outside, the night sky is dark and starless. Crickets sing to it and cats busy themselves fighting and yowling into the lightlessness. Somewhere a crow squawks once before it is silenced by slumber, and Nina, the young nurse, sits on her couch with a hot mug of black coffee, glaring bitterly at the small journal in her lap.
While she wants to believe that Kakashi and Michiko are old, close friends, she cannot shake the sight of their embrace- it is imprinted on her vision.
She does not want to come between them anymore.