Chapter 5
Previously
Everyone scrambled out of the room, Yumiko was returning back to her home while Kakashi and Iruka followed. Iruka walked side by side Yumiko, trying to find the perfect moment to hold hands with Yumiko.
"I need you guys to help me with some more unpacking…"
They arrived at her home, and they again helped her with unpacking the furniture.
"I need you guys to help Naruto later to bring his junk over here…" Yumiko face winced a little fearing she was over using her new friend.
"Wouldn't it be easier to just use a scroll?" Kakashi looked in the open room.
"Yeah, but wouldn't you want a workout after eating all that junk food?" Yumiko glanced up from looked at her case of books and CDs.
"I told you I don't eat sweets." Kakashi reminded.
'That was a total lie...' he thought.
"You'll eventually want to eat some of her other dishes though, Kakashi." Iruka smiled.
"Grilled mackerel, Eggplants soups, ramen, sushi, some other dishes... Nothing special…" Yumiko listed as she went through her paintings as she placed them on the walls.
"Kakashi seriously, at the very least, to have her repay you, have her cook one of her dishes."
"I'll think about it."
"While you two are done talking, sweep up Naruto's room, and let me know when you're done, Iruka. Kakashi please help me with these paintings."
"What's with all these paintings?"
"Let's say you might need to get to know me a little bit better, Kakashi-san." She pulled a couple of strings and a long painting of a lakeside with fishes by a Geisha touching the water.
"I'll need your help posting this up."
"What happened to doppelgangers?" Kakashi glanced at the large painting.
"I'm going to bug you for training later; I want to reserve my chakra."
"Well fine, grab me those nails." Kakashi grabbed a hammer, while Yumiko went to grab some nails. They held the painting to the wall and Kakashi focused the chakra to his feet, walked up the wall, and nailed it.
"There, finished with the sweeping." Iruka walked out of the room, he looked at the painting the two shinobi were hanging.
"Yumi-chan, your technique improved!"
Yumiko faced turned a little pink for a moment, "Arigato."
Kakashi looked at the painting, and glanced at Yumiko's hands for a moment. He looked closely at the brush strokes. "You painted this like how you would hold sword did you not?"
"Close, daggers." Iruka smiled.
Yumiko smiled for a moment, while her wolves came out, suddenly leaping on the furniture and sitting there watching.
"Hello, Tsunei," said Kakashi.
"You should summon Pakkun," replied Tsunei.
"Tell you what, you let me train Yumi, without you three watching and we'll see."
Yumiko stared at Kakashi," did you just call me using my familiar name?"
"Indeed I did." Kakashi winked.
Yumiko blinked, dumbfounded, the cleared her throat for a moment, "Alright, let's go get Naruto's things."
Iruka and Kakashi looked at Yumiko for a moment, and chuckled.
"I think it would be best, if you just stayed here for a while, we'll go grab his things." Kakashi chuckled.
"Nani?" Yumiko looked up at Iruka.
"He wants to try your cooking."
Yumiko smiled, showing her white teeth, and chuckled to herself. "Alright then."
She walked up to Kakashi placing her hands on her hips."On one condition, I won't force you immediately, but you must eat my sweets I handed you yesterday. I'll make you any dish you'd like."
She looked up at the 6'3" man, smiling as he looked down at her, he blushed a little under his mask, thankful that his mask hid it.
"Done," Kakashi looked away, for a moment, as Yumiko turned and walked away to the Kitchen, he glanced at her curves, her graceful movement, and it was as if she was a bird preparing for flight.
"You can surprise me."
"Iruka, I'll help you grade some papers as payment." She winked.
"Alright let's go." Iruka looked at Kakashi, they opened a window and jumped out, leaving Yumiko alone with her wolves, Zenmei walked to the window and closed it with his nose.
"Thank you Zenmei, "said Yumi, as she rummaged through her refrigerator.
"I heard he likes vegetables," said Yuumei.
"Tsunei, tell me if this sounds appetizing to you, spiced vegetables, with a side order of baked Mackerel, with some lovely baked seasoned eggplant?"
"Sounds good, but try something with a little more kick."
Yumiko already pulled out a sword and threw the vegetables into the air, she moved the sword in matter of seconds, and they were cut, and peeled. They fell into the mixing bowl that Yumiko held with her foot, that was held pointed, while she took the peels and held it with her sword. Her other hand was holding the seasoning.
"Curry soup?" She began seasoning the spiced vegetables; she placed the bowl onto the counter.
"No." He twitched his nose, smelling a chakra coming close.
Suddenly Naruto knocked the door, Tsumei opened the door. Naruto sniffed the air, looking at the Kitchen.
"Something smells good."
"I haven't even begun cooking yet…" Yumiko laughed.
"Can I have ramen instead?"
"Nope."
"Pretty please?"
"Nope."
Naruto glared for a moment, disappointed.
"I don't make ramen all the time. It's mainly in a rush. You can have it tomorrow ok?"
Naruto looked hopeful, as the crazy sixteen year old began to place his boxes onto the floor. "Where should I place this?"
"I'll shtow juu Nalu-shama!" Bounced Zenmei, the little chibi pup.
"Wow! You're going to grow big soon!" Naruto petted the wolf on the head.
"Let me shtow juu!" Bounded Zenmei, happy there was a younger human to play with.
"Alright, alright show me my room!" Naruto laughed as he picked up the boxes.
Meanwhile, Yumiko finished making the seasoned vegetables; she let them sit out for a while, as she prepared the mackerel. She threw it into the air once more and the pulled out her sword and used a few quick movements. There wasn't any splatter, or messes, onto the counter, dropped the outside skin, the fish's guts, and head. Yumiko pulled out a tray and caught the remaining fish onto the tray. She threw some seasoning onto it and a little olive oil here and there. She turned the knob for the oven and began to bake the mackerel. Iruka and Kakashi knocked on the door, carrying many boxes of Naruto things. Tsunei opened the door, while Yumiko glanced up and smiled at the two people entering the room, while she began to prepare the next dish.
"Kakashi, I'm making season vegetables, baked season mackerel, and baked eggplant, is there anything else you'd like?"
"Eggplant Miso soup," Kakashi looked at her seriously.
"Come on Kakashi, that's a little too simple why not something different?" Iruka nudged him.
"No it's alright. I want to see his face tomorrow after he eats it." She giggled as she washed the tofu and boiled the water.
Naruto came out of his room and saw the two senseis. "Woah you got these two sensei to help!?" Naruto stared at Yumiko.
"She's a woman full of surprises." Iruka rolled his eyes winking at Yumiko.
Suddenly Yumiko threw a spoon at Iruka's head, just light enough to make him scream in pain.
"You're lucky I didn't use a dagger." Yumiko placed the tofu onto a cutting board and cut it into small blocks. "Naruto show them where to place the boxes would you?"
Naruto obeyed the request and commenced the crazy unpacking. He used a load of doppelgangers and began to decorate his room in matter of seconds.
"No more than 5 Naruto!" Tsunei yelled.
Yumiko began to prepare the seaweed, while she took out the baked mackerel and replaced it with the eggplant. Kakashi and Iruka watched her cook while she began to prepare the Miso Soup. She threw the tofu into the air. She used her knife and cut the seaweed and pulled a pot out with her foot. She caught the items into her pot and set it on the stove. As a result of the madness, Kakashi and Iruka stared.
"What the heck is wrong with you, Yumiko?" Iruka stared, while his mouth was wide open.
Kakashi just stared as he saw her form of cooking, using ninjitsu –training- while cooking? It was preposterous at first, only then he realized that she was the type of Kunoichi who didn't like to waste her time doing things that wouldn't benefit her.
"Well at least she's beginning to warm up for training." Naruto came out of his room with his doppelgangers that went away, "if you look at it, she's like Rock Lee."
Kakashi chuckled, in agreement with Naruto's statement, "looks like it."
Meanwhile, Yumiko was pulling out the salt, the pepper, and other seasonings for the miso soup, she stirred the bowl while she began to pour the seasonings into the pot. Everyone sat on the stools on the counter, watching her cook.
"Hey while you guys are done watching me be all motherly, could you clean up the boxes?" Yumiko said while stirring.
Kakashi sat there, while Naruto and Iruka went off to clean up the boxes. Yumiko stopped stirring, and let go of the ladle. "You are highly interesting." Kakashi said to her, while looking at her face.
"Should I be offended?" Yumiko raised an eyebrow while she checked on the mackerel.
"Probably not."
"Yumiko-san, what am I supposed to do with the empty boxes," questioned Naruto.
"Place them in the room across from yours."
"Aright, let's go Naruto." Iruka went ahead and walked on to the room, with Zenmei following with a box in his mouth. Yumiko smiled, watching the little pup, while his parents sat on the rug, watching Yumiko, looking at one another glad to see her smile for once with humans, than with them. She took a half of the cooled mackerel and placed it into a container, while leaving the other out for dinner.
Naruto and Iruka returned from the room and went off to get more boxes, while they sniffed the air, ravishing in the lovely smell of the mackerel. They went off to get more boxes into the room.
"Kakashi, I expect some criticism out of you." She winked, while she went off to get the eggplant out. Kakashi in return replied by staying silent and went off to assist Naruto and Iruka. Yumiko took out the eggplant and divided it into two, giving Kakashi a portion into another container. Meanwhile, she stirred the eggplant soup, and sampled it, making sure that she did not over use the salt. She blew on the spoon, and sampled it. She turned off the stove and was pleased with her work; she began to clean the dishes, and the counter. The three 'stooges' returned and smelled the food, their stomachs were growling.
'I can't believe how strange this woman is, she can cook, clean, and act very well when it comes to devotion to training. It's remarkable to find a woman like this.' Kakashi glanced at Yumiko, the small beautiful doll, washing dishes. 'I'm curious about her abilities, maybe being a teacher for this Kunoichi wouldn't be so bad.' Kakashi walked over and began helping Yumiko wash the dishes; he rolled his sleeves, and removed his gloves.
"Allow me to help the hostess." Kakashi said in a tone that appeared as if he was interested in her.
"I highly doubt anything I request of you would make a difference. Even if I said please don't you'd probably stand there and help out anyway." Yumiko pouted in a way to show that she was challenging his authority.
Iruka sat there, heartbroken, realizing what his best friend had come to. She fell in love with Kakashi, and not him. He recognized it immediately, but he understood. He couldn't fulfill the empty space that was left between them all those years. He still loved her, with all his might, but unfortunately, she didn't feel the same way. He sat there, propping his chin with his palm, watching the two.
Naruto walked in and nudged Iruka, "Looks like Yumiko fits in fairly well."
"Naruto, let's go get more of your things from your place. We'll leave these two alone." He winked at Yuumei who looked up from the floor. The two remaining shinobi went for the door, when suddenly; Yumiko jumped across the counter, and pulled Iruka's ear.
"I know you want to leave…" Yumiko grabbed Naruto's shoulder.
Kakashi stayed quiet and washed the spuds off the dishes and placed them on the rack, enjoying the moment.
Iruka unfortunately did not know the next words she was going to say.
"But you got to eat dinner?" Iruka asked hopefully.
Yumiko smiled mischievously, "Close, after you two go get the rest of Naruto things, come back over here and eat dinner before it gets cold."
She kicked them out of the door, leaving it open for Tsunei to follow them.
"Well it appears that we are alone, Kakashi-san"
"Indeed." Kakashi dried his hands, and wore his gloves.
"Then is it too much to ask to actually see you eat the food?"
"Probably," he walked by her, brushing against her lightly, to the couch. He inhaled her scent, she smelled like water lilies. It was relaxing, and it comforted him.
Yumiko smiled, recognizing his reaction to her, she took a small pot, and poured some miso soup in, and she secured it and placed it next to the container of mackerel, next she took the eggplant and peeled the skin off, she placed the skin into a large bowl with raw meat, and took the remains and sliced it into small pieces later placing them into a bowl.
"It's interesting your paintings look like this." Kakashi was examining the picture the posted up before.
"What do you mean?" Yumiko said while placing an eggplant into a container for him.
"Well the brush strokes DO look like you played with daggers, but it's got exquisite detail."
"Thank you." Yumiko placed the container next to his other 'food to go'. She placed some dried apples and vegetables on top of the bowl of raw meat.
"Oh Boy!! Oh Boy oh boy oh boy!!" Zenmei jumped up and down when Yumiko placed the bowl onto the ground.
"What are we supposed to do first, Zenmei?"
"Wash your paws?" He began to do the bug eye play-with-me-I'm-adorable-look.
"Not quite, it involves something with your elders…?" Yumiko picked him up.
"Oh! I know!" He bounced out of her hands onto the floor, and he ran to Kakashi.
"Kakashi-shencei, would you pleez eat dinner?"
"I think Yumi-san was asking that you ask your mommy to eat first..." Kakashi smiled, while he lounged on the couch.
"Oh…" He ran over to his mother and asked her, she in turn walked up and headed over to the bowl, and began to eat. Yumiko later pulled out another bowl full of raw meat, only it was meant for the diet of a small pup like him. The small pup went over to his bowl and wagged his tail while he ate. Kakashi chuckled in delight watching the Kunoichi and the canines.
"So it's funny watching me is it?" Yumiko said, playfully.
"That depends, why do you have Ichi Ichi Paradise books in your room?"
"Why are you looking in my room?" Yumiko blinked for a moment, befuddled at this sudden stalker feeling.
"I'm sorry did I offend you?"
Yumiko sat beside him, quietly, keeping her hands to herself, as well as keeping his arms away from her. "No you didn't." Her eyes looked cold for a moment.
"Gomenasai, my Love." He whispered into her ear, blushing under his mask as he said it.
She stared at him.
Her eyes looked tired and blue like the ocean.
"It's not very nice to play with a woman's emotions."
Kakashi stayed quiet, shocked at her reaction. 'Is she bipolar? Or did I offend her by peeking into her room?'
"Look, I didn't actually look in your room…"
"Alright then, I apologize for my disrespectfulness."
Yumiko looked up at one of her paintings; she stared at the detail and the lines she made. It looked like she was furious. She glanced at the details of the home she drew, she smiled for a moment.
Kakashi looked at her; she had eyes that changed with her emotions. She was a woman full of questions, and yet she wouldn't answer any of his.
"Would you like to go train?"