A.N. hey! thanks to Almiaranger, for being the first person to review this story! also, a big thanks to anon and Namna-dono for their wonderful reviews!
ok, this update was sort've speedy, and i've actually gotten the next one pretty much finished. i just want to try and get at least two chapters written before i update, coz then you wont all get too much withdrawels from no updates over a long time... talking from experience here XD
so, here is chapter 2. this one is completely kakashi :P
Enjoy!
Two
The morning after a storm always seems... different, somehow, Kakashi mused as he absently washed his dishes, gazing though the massive windows above his sink. Almost like a blank canvas, just waiting for the artist's brush...
Shaking the suds off the last dish, Kakashi placed it on the dish drainer and pulled out the plug. Turning his back to the crisp, early morning sunlight streaming through the glass, he wiped his hands on a cloth before tossing it carelessly over the back of a stool. Tucking his hands in the pockets of his jeans, Kakashi strolled out of the kitchen and through to the combined dining and lounge area. Glancing around, he took in the neat, ordered bookshelves and small settee, pushed back into the far corner of the room out of the way. Looking at them thoughtfully, he finally shook his head. It's too early to read. What to do, what to do...
The house didn't need cleaning. He wasn't a messy person by nature, and he'd actually tidied up what little mess there was the day before.
The fireplace didn't need to be cleaned out. Again, he had done that not a week before, and had only lit it once since then, before letting it go out the next day.
He didn't need to do the washing. Again, he'd done it all yesterday, and the only clothes he had that were even remotely dirty were his pyjama pants, and he was planning on wearing them again that night.
He looked to the stairs by the fireplace that lead up to the loft, but almost immediately discarded the idea. He was feeling too lazy to put any effort into working.
He really didn't feel like working in the shed. Although he loved his craftwork, there wasn't really anything he felt like doing today. And he usually spent the afternoons in there anyway.
A bark drew his attention once again to the window, and a smirk crossed his lips. The dogs to the rescue, once again helping decide just what to do with his life.
He'd go for a walk.
Now that he was decided, Kakashi wandered to the front door and toed on his sneakers, shrugging his coat on over the simple t-shirt he was already sporting. Pushing the door open, the tall man slipped out, shutting it behind him and heading around the back of the house. When he arrived at a small gate, he pushed it open and stepped in, only to be bombarded by a mountain of dog.
Laughing, Kakashi pushed the happily barking and tussling dogs off, rubbing their heads and counting them with his eyes. When he got to seven, a small frown touched his lips and he looked closely at the bouncing mutts. Where was..?
A small huff from behind made Kakashi turn, and his gaze fell on a small pug already waiting by the gate he had just come through. The dog's mournful gaze was fixed on his owner's face, conveying a sense of apathetic boredom.
"Ah, Pakkun. What's that look for, then?" Kakashi teased, moving forward to the little pug. He patted his thigh and all of his dogs bolted forward, crowding around the gate and jostling to be the first one to freedom.
Chuckling, Kakashi opened the gate and stood back as the dogs bolted through, dashing off into the trees. Wandering after them, Kakashi began to stroll drown a small path, almost hidden from view behind the dense foliage.
Breathing in the crisp, early morning air, Kakashi felt a small smile flit across his lips as he ambled down the track. His dogs were racing around madly, a flit of a tail or a muffled bark and the subsequent chase of some poor innocent woodland creature the only sign that they hadn't disappeared.
Last night's storm really was wild, Kakashi mused, skirting a puddle and stepping over a splintered branch. Slouching, Kakashi paused at a dividing pathway. He studied the two paths critically. Left or right? Decisions, decisions...
A bark drew his attention to the left, and he chuckled when his gaze fell on little Bisuke, chasing his tail in an insanely tight circle. Sure enough, a moment later the pup tripped over his own feet and toppled over, straight into a puddle. A startled yelp heralded his exit, and the small canine stood back from the puddle and shook furiously. Bisuke barked happily at his master, and then turned and bolted down the path.
Still chuckling, Kakashi turned and strolled down the left path, casually sidestepping the puddle. The small path was almost completely obscured with leaves and torn branches left over from the storm, but Kakashi ignored it and kept walking forwards, comfortable enough with the familiar terrain to let his mind wander.
Turning a corner, the path abruptly ended on a small, rocky cove that bordered a large river. Kakashi stepped forward and chose a large rock, perching on the edge and gazing out over the dark water. Small eddies washed against the riverside, catching little pieces of debris and carrying them down the current.
Humming softly, Kakashi stretched back and lay on the surface of the rock, cradling his head on his hands as he gazed up at the cloudless sky. It really is remarkable how little evidence there is of the storm... he thought, comparing the forget-me-not blue to the stormy skies of the evening before.
A sudden, sharp bark startled Kakashi out of his reverie, and he turned his head to the side to see what had his dogs so excited. Not seeing anything, the man sat up and turned to face the direction the bark had come from. Frowning, Kakashi squinted as he saw a flit of white moving towards him through the trees, and blinked in astonishment when he saw Uhei, his bandaged dog come bolting out of the trees. I didn't even know Uhei could run that fast, he thought in surprise as the panting dog bolted over and leapt onto him.
"Woah, boy! What's got into you?" Kakashi asked, reaching up to fondle the dog's ear. But before he could touch him, Uhei had jumped off the rock and was running back and forth in front of him. When Kakashi only looked at him, puzzled, Uhei grabbed the leg of Kakashi's jeans and gave it a yank.
"Uhei!" Kakashi scolded, trying to pull his clothing from the errant canine. A growl made him look closer at his dog, and Kakashi frowned as the canine continued to tug on the pants. Uhei yipped when he felt his master's attention focused on him. The dog let go of the pants and skipped back, barking. Turning, Uhei dashed back the way he had come.
Kakashi stared as his dog ran off down the riverbank, then shrugged and began to follow. Must have found something they want me to play with…
Kakashi had been walking for barely a hundred metres before he came upon all eight of his dogs, crowded at the edge of the river around what looked like a pile of debris. Kakashi's brow furrowed as he slowed, eyeing the pile cautiously. If his dogs were that excited, he wasn't sure he wanted to know what it was. It's probably some animal that got swept away in the storm, he thought, stopping a few feet from the dogs.
Kakashi sighed. He'd better check. He didn't want the mutts dragging some stinking pig carcass all the way home. "All right, boys, out of the way," he commanded, sweeping one hand to the side. All of the dogs obeyed soundlessly, which had Kakashi frowning slightly. They were well trained, yes, but to obey him without a sound..?
Something's got them spooked…
Now that the dogs were out of the way, Kakashi could get a better view of what they had found. Frowning slightly, he reached forward to touch a pile of what looked like muddy grass. Gripping it tightly, he pulled and was rewarded with the exposure of what was unmistakeably a human hand. Freezing, Kakashi stared down at the small, tan hand that, now that he was looking closely, was joined to the larger pile by what he had thought was a log.
Shit… well, at least they didn't drag it home…
He knelt down and peered at the body, trying to look past the mud and leaves that seemed grafted to the pile.
Half of them are still in the water, whoever it is. Hmm…
Kakashi reached forward to what he thought was the face, and brushed back the filthy strands of hair that had stuck to the face. A mixture of mud and what looked suspiciously like blood caked the face, covering any distinguishing marks that would tell him if it was a man or a woman.
Reaching for the shoulder, Kakashi carefully rolled the body over, and was rewarded with a flat chest. A boy, then.
Touching the boy's cheek gently, Kakashi ran his fingers along the jaw line, melancholy settling over his thoughts. He froze when the lips parted, just barely, and held his breath, gaze fixed on the lips. Is he..? Kakashi immediately pressed his fingertips to the youth's neck, going completely still. There! A small, thready beat announced the life in the boy.
"Well, well," Kakashi said softly, eyeing the boy with interest. "You're certainly a tough little thing. Guess I can't leave you here." He eyed the slim form thoughtfully, then fitted his arms under the boy's armpits and dragged him out of the water. He frowned slightly when the boy's shoeless feet emerged, but dismissed it as them having been lost in the river.
Eyeing the soaked, muddy youth and then comparing it with his casual t-shirt and jeans, Kakashi slipped off his jacket and placed it on the ground beside him, inside out. Leaning down, he carefully moved the boy onto the jacket. As he did this, his dogs stood back and stared, not making a single sound.
Wrapping the jacket around the small form, Kakashi lifted the boy's back, wrapping one arm around his back and placing the other under the youth's knees. When he stood, the boy's head fell to the crook between his neck and shoulder. Kakashi frowned slightly as he contemplated the jacket wrapped form in his arms. I don't know how old he is, but he's way too light. I don't think even healthy ten year olds are this light.
Looking up, Kakashi blinked as he found himself under the scrutiny of eight pairs of eyes. Blinking, Kakashi stared at the dogs. They stared back.
"What?" he said defensively, shifting his grip on the boy to make him more comfortable to carry.
A small huff from his feet made him look down, and he found his eyes caught by the uncommonly curious eyes of Pakkun. Kakashi blinked, and then gestured to the boy awkwardly, shrugging his shoulders.
"I'm going to take him back to the house. We can't leave him out here," he explained, not finding it odd to be telling this to a dog. Not at all. Nope. Oh, who was he kidding? Of course he was crazy; he was explaining his actions to his dogs for god's sake!
Pakkun seemed to contemplate the youth, before tilting his head in acceptance. He turned to the other dogs, who had been watching the interaction with interest. Now they all turned to fix their gaze on the smallest, yet undisputable leader of the pack. A small huff from Pakkun, and all the dogs skipped off back towards the path, completely ignoring their master and his burden. Pakkun turned back to Kakashi and seemed to sigh, before following his brethren.
Kakashi blinked, stumped at his dog's actions. He shrugged, and then began to follow them. It wasn't his fault his dogs were so weird.
Really. It wasn't.
A.N. so what did you guys think? i hope i stood up to standards :P i really like kakashi, but he's a bit hard to write... so, he may seem a big sarcastic but also apathetic to iruka's condition... at least, that's what i got when i was writing it. i reckon, since i'm a bit off with writing characters properly, i'll roll with his almost uncaring persona... it could even fit in... hmm...
so, back to business! i really hope you guys review. it makes me smile reeaaallly big! :D and if ya'll wanna give me tips on writing kakashi's and Iruka's personalities, i'll be awesomely happy!
REVIEW PLEASE!