Cut and Polish
Jade
"Aids in healing and renews hope; the ultimate symbol of serenity, wisdom and balance; alleviates anxiety and fear based emotions; known for good luck and prosperity."
Kakashi couldn't help but nod his head in time with the beat as he listened to the studio band play. Sarutobi-san had provided the best that the agency had to offer. He was sparing no expense to make sure that Kakashi's first single hit the top of the charts. He rubbed at his left eye absently as the main guitar hit a wrong chord and they had to start over. He dug his gloved hand into his pocket for his eye drops, nodding to his new manager, Namikaze Minato, he excused himself to go find a bathroom. The musicians didn't need him to be here when they were just recording the track.
People stared as he sauntered down the hallway. He was the picture of calm, he walked down the hallways of Shinobi Talent Industries as if he were an old pro and not some upstart newbie in the business. In truth, he wasn't that comfortable wearing the leather and fishnets. But his stylist, a woman around his age named Anko had assured him that he would get used to it and that clothes like this best fit the style of music that he wanted to perform. But that didn't make the leather pants any more comfortable to wear at the moment. He had fisted around the small bottle of eye drops in the pocket of his, trench coat? Duster? Jacket? He wasn't sure what to classify it as, but Anko had forced the sleeveless thing upon him insisting that it was 'Hot!' And it had big enough pockets to carry his eye drops, his wallet, and his book. Anko had frowned at the book when she saw it and forbidden him form reading it in public. Apparently idols weren't allowed to read porn.
He passed by the waiting room where they were keeping the contestants for the acting portion of the 'New Talent' competition. He frowned when he saw Sarutobi-san and several other judges in the room arguing. Was it over already? He continued down the hallway, stopping at a fork in the road finally finding a bathroom to the left. He stood in front to the mirror and screwed the cap off of his drops and pulled back his eyelid. Two drops after he woke up, two drops before he went to bed and two drops anytime that the red eye irritated him. Kakashi wasn't exactly sure what had caused the silver grey eye to change to a blood red color after the accident, but all of the optometrists that he had seen about it were amazed that he could still see through it at all. And the drops soothed it anytime it itched, so he didn't really mind. As the drop fell in he blinked rapidly, frowning when some leaked out over the lid, spilling down his cheek like a tear.
He gripped the sink hard. Scrubbing at his cheek until the liquid was gone. Hanging his head, he stared mournfully down the drain before slipping the drops back into his pocket and dragging out his wallet. It was an ancient cloth thing, with a symbol from some obscure anime emblazoned on the side. There were two plastic cards inside and a picture, but no cash. He leaned back against the wall, sliding down the tile until he was sitting on the floor. The picture had been ripped into fourths, then later lovingly taped back together. He couldn't remember what he was feeling when he had ripped it, but he remembered how he had been fighting back tears when he put it back together. The two boys in the picture were smiling wildly, dressed in the most extravagant clothing they could find at the local thrift store they stood alone on a stage. Both held microphones. Kakashi felt himself smile as his thumb flicked over the face of the raven haired youth.
"I made it Obito. And I'll make it to the top, just like we promised."
Standing, he put the picture and wallet back into his pocket, leaving the bathroom as he ducked his head and wiped more leaked eye drops off of his cheek. Maybe he would Sarutobi-san about the new actors. But something on the floor caught his eye and he froze. There was a red stain splattered on the floor. He shook his head, trying to keep his fingers from shaking. It was probably just dye or paint. There was a drip trail and he forced himself to follow it just to show himself what a fool he was being. He stopped at the door glaring at his shaking hand poised over the knob. People spilled into the hallway behind him from the waiting room, a busty blonde was stomping angrily towards the bathroom. Kakashi forced himself to move, he was in front of people now! Anko had told him to keep the cool, aloof persona in front of people! He wrenched the door open, eyes searching for the paint bucket that wasn't there. Instead he saw the bloody body lying on the floor and the persona shattered and he screamed. Because he didn't see the brunette boy lying on the floor, it was Obito! He didn't see the wrecked storage closet, he saw the twisted remains of his motorcycle and it was all his fault!
The blonde woman shoved him aside as she rushed into the room, screaming at him to go get help as she gently touched the boys face yelling his name. "Iruka! Oh God, Iruka! Answer me damnit!" He snapped out of his terror at the name and fought for control of his body. This boy wasn't Obito, he was slashed across the bridge of his nose. Not across his throat. This boy was still alive! That thought brought Kakashi to his senses and he rushed off in the direction he had seen Sarutobi-san going, everything about his persona forgotten as he ran, screaming for help...again.