I own nothing, unfortunately, except a Tobi mask and an Akatsuki ceramic desk organizer, oh and a poster. (Ok, I'm bragging, lol, sorry)
I think I'm getting addicted to writing this story, I am released chapters way more often than my biweekly promise.
Chapter 8: Kyoudai (Older Brothers, Younger Sisters)
The midday sun shone down on the travellers, warming them through their cloaks. Sakura admired the foothill landscape, with its deep ravines, stunning waterfalls, and steam clouds rising from volcanic lakes in the canyons below them. A short exclamation of surprise caught her attention.
"*gasp* you're thirty-six!" Ino exclaimed.
"You don't have to be so loud about it." Raido replied; the un-scarred side of his face grinning.
Ino coughed a little, seeming taken aback. "Well, er, I thought Kakashi was older than you."
"Hehe, nope, I'm older." Raido said scratching the back of his head embarrassed.
"Huh, then that makes you twenty years older than me." Ino muttered. "You know, you could actually go as my dad."
Raido was silent for a while. Then said, "I really don't think I would fit the role of a father…"
"Why?" Ino asked impishly, "It's not like you couldn't have found a wife if you wanted, that scar alone would snatch the girls!"
Sakura stopped in surprise at her friend's careless wording. Kakashi slowed down, pretending to read his book, but raised an eyebrow in disapproval. Ino's next statement made Sakura want to shake the blonde by the neck.
"Well not I of course but I have ridiculously high standards…" Ino's smile disappeared when she realised her breach of tact and saw the jounin's strange expression. "Umm, not that I- er, I wasn't saying that I think you are- or that I have fee- umm, er, umm," she bowed quickly. "I'm sorry! I let my mouth run away from me."
Raido smiled and was about to reply when he was interrupted by Ino's continued tirade of how horrible she was. At this point, both Sakura and Kakashi were just standing and watch dumbstruck, amazed at how many syllables could come out of her mouth every second.
Finally, the scarred ninja snatched her by the shoulders, raised her up to eye level and said, "It's alright." He smiled fully, making even his scar crinkle a little.
Ino didn't say a think about how creepy his scar looked when it crinkled like thin paper, she just gave a genuine smile back.
Sakura sighed in relief, they had spared from another argument period.
And so the trek continued, Raido and Ino up front, exchanging facts and memorising them. Sakura and Kakashi were in the back walking, just walking. Sakura looked up at the white haired jounin. She liked how he looked as a civilian, it made him seem more approachable, like he was a friendly guy a person might just happen to run into at the market or in the park and end up in an hour long conversation. But at the moment he could have been miles away from her. He just kept reading the book, like he always did on missions of this level. But for some reason it bothered Sakura this time.
Raido and Ino sure are taking their role seriously… Sakura thought. But here I am with Kakashi, who I've known for over four years, and I don't even know what his favourite food is. Furthermore, I don't know much about his everyday life, I've never been part of that, so how would a little sister of Kakashi act? What would it be like to be a little sister?
She wanted to think of something to say, but nothing was forthcoming. The silence between them was too thick for her to cut.
"What's your favourite colour?" Kakashi said.
Sakura looked at him in surprise, he still had her nose stuck in his book, but his eye looked sideways at her, asking for a response. "Red," she replied.
"Hmm, makes sense…" he said dismissively.
What's that supposed to mean?
"Favourite food?" he continued interrogatively.
"Dango,"
"Favourite animal?"
"Umm, I suppose dog," She was certain that she saw his mouth twinge into a smile under his mask, but for just a moment.
"Gemstone?"
"Sapphire,"
"Flower?"
"White lily,"
"Place?"
"The bridge, oh wait, that's gone…" she thought a moment longer, "The lake shore, or the roof of the aviary."
"Bracelets or necklaces?"
"Necklaces of course- wait what?" she stopped and looked at him.
He glanced over his book at her. "Just wanted to confirm what I knew about you."
"But, I've never told you about those!" Sakura exclaimed. "How would you know any of that?"
"Just observations I made, seems I scored a hundred percent too." Kakashi replied plainly.
"Ok, my turn then-" Sakura said. "Colour?"
"Blue,"
"Animal?"
"Dog,"
"Gemstone?"
"Amethyst,"
"Flower?"
"White lily…" he replied distantly.
"Place?"
"…"
"Well?" Sakura prodded.
Kakashi remained silent, as his mind went to the place he frequently did. He felt tightness at his chest when he thought about that place.
Sakura looked at his face questioningly and pain seemed to wrap up in her stomach when she saw his eye. It reflected something between sadness and anger, regret. Just looking at that emotion filled eye made Sakura have to look away. The silence weighed down, seeming ten times heavier than what it was before.
"I'm sorry…" Sakura whispered.
Kakashi was snatched back from his reverie by her solemn response. Crap! I made her feel awkward. That was stupid! "I'll take you there someday." he said, smiling at her.
Sakura looked back at him and smiled. But again she saw his eye, the regret still seeming pour out of it. Silently she moved a few feet closer to him as they walked, hoping that somehow her presence might make his thoughts return to happier times.
The four travellers came around the corner of the hillside path, and there before them was the town.
"We're here!" Sakura cheered.
They all admired the red roofed building that seemed to stack one on another on the steep slope. Any flat space was a garden and, judging by the puffs of steam that rose into the air, was a hot spring.
"Finally!" Ino yelled, grabbing Sakura's hands. They both cheered and leapt in joy.
The team hastened their steps until they found themselves in the bustling town centre. They glanced around at the colourful booths, the chatting shoppers, and the street performers. As they passed a small band that was playing a lively tune, Ino pulled aside, whispered in the musician's ear and then struck a pose.
Oh dear, Kakashi grumbled.
Ino launched into her dance. Her skirt would fly outwards like an umbrella then twisted in, seeming to advertise her figure. A crowd gathered rapidly. She spun, her blonde hair flying every which way to the fast beat of the drums. She released her locks from her pony tail as she continued the dance with only her upper body, seeming to float on an invisible sea as her body slithered like an eel. The decorative coins and beads on her dress tinkled with every twitch of her hips.
Kakashi would not have let her make such a display, but he was rather impressed with her talent. If anything, it'll make them look even less like ninja on a secret mission. He looked at the overwhelmingly male audience, and felt like laughing inwardly. Then he glanced at Raido's face. He elbowed him hard in the ribs.
Raido looked at him in surprise.
"At least look like you are her brother." Kakashi whispered.
The scarred ninja cowered in embarrassment then put on a "brotherly" face.
Kakashi heard regular thumping to his right. Sakura was tapping her foot to the beat and nodding her head. For a moment Kakashi thought how he would have liked seeing her dance. He caught himself before he imagined the spectacle in too much detail. He looked intensely in the direction of the performance, though actually he was thinking more about the source of the repetitive beat next to him.
Ino dashed up to Sakura, grabbing her hands, "Come on; join me!"
If Kakashi was a dog, his ears would have just stood at attention.
"No, I can't dance! You know that." Sakura refused.
Kakashi grumbled darkly to himself about not getting to see Sakura dance, and simultaneously scolding himself for thinking like Jiraiya. I needed to quit those books years ago… he thought regretfully, never realised they would twist my mind this much.
Ino made a mock injured expression then returned to the dance. With a final crescendo, the music stopped.
Finally, Kakashi thought in relief. He watched as the band tried to give her half of the considerable tips and offered to make her a permanent member. She refused gracefully, insisting she had such fun.
As she rejoined with them Raido said, "That was nice of you, if only you could have been like that a few days ago."
"You started that fight with your attitude, brother." She replied saucily.
Sakura and Kakashi looked nervously in unison. But they were relieved when that was the end of the discussion. The four of them continued towards the opposite edge of town when they saw the Souma Onsen.
"This is it," Kakashi said.
"Aren't we supposed to come here after the errand?" Sakura asked.
"Oh we aren't here for bathing," Kakashi assured her by whispering in her ear.
For some unknown reason she felt strangely warm. What was that? She thought nervously. Then the close proximity was broken.
Soon the four of them were sitting and being served tea by the hostess. Her grey hair was tied up gracefully, allowing some of her silver locks to tumble along the sides of her face. Despite her greatly advanced age, she radiated a strange beauty that had all of them captivated.
Once she was finished she spoke quietly with even metre. "We have received the message from Tsunade-sama. The preparations have been made."
Sakura and Ino sat at attention at even the mention of their teacher.
"What are the specifics?" Kakashi asked.
The hostess nodded deeply and continued. "We are not yet fully prepared, but we have the serums that she wanted. You will pick those up from a man in a yellow coat on the outside of the village when you leave tomorrow. The other items and ingredients she requested will be sent via pack wagon. Though they are of comparatively little value and are of no concern to your mission."
Sakura spoke up, "Ma'am, I request that I and Ino inspect the shipment thoroughly, we want to be certain they are what Tsunade-sama ordered."
The woman smiled warmly to her, "Yes of course, we were expecting as such. You may do so immediately."
"Thank you." Sakura said bowing, then getting up. She turned back to Kakashi, "We will be a while, so you could book the rooms at the onsen if you want, Takeshi-sensei." She winced realising she just mixed his fake first name with his title. If we were in other company the cover would have just been blown. She shrugged apologetically.
He crinkled his visible eye in a typical smile and replied, "Alright, use the radio if you need anything."
She nodded then both her and Ino bowed to the hostess and were guided down the hall by one of the maids.
"Such a good girls you have." the hostess said after they left. "And you taught the pink haired one, judging how she called you "sensei". You never struck me as a medic too."
Kakashi shook his head, "No, I merely taught her initially, after that she was Tsunade's personal apprentice."
"Well, you left a good impression." The woman replied. "Just make sure she gets used to just using your first name."
"Yeah, indeed, old habits die hard. She's been calling me sensei forever now, even though I'm a taichou."
She shook her head vigorously, "Having been a ninja myself, don't discourage that. It's a sign of great endearment for former students to still call you by that title. Taichou is so impersonal." However as an after thought the woman added, "Unless you wish her to be less personal…"
"Oh no, not all, we're on good terms…" Kakashi really didn't know why being called a teacher bothered him. He still felt fine with Naruto calling him that, but whenever Sakura said it, he felt this weird feeling in the pit of stomach, something like anxiety but closer to guilt, and he did not know why he felt it every time she said sensei, with that smile and the green eyes. Then he realised he had paused so quickly spoke up, "ah, we should be going and book that room."
The hostess bowed farewell and the two jounin headed out the door.
"So, the vacation starts here does it?" Raido commented happily.
"Don't get too relaxed," Kakashi cautioned. "We are still on a mission." then he added meaningfully, "So only pretend to be chummy with Ino-san."
"What?" Raido replied indignantly. "What do you take me as? She's hot, but totally not my type, I don't go for the young ones."
Kakashi raised his eyebrow in suspicion, but his sharingan readily informed him that he was telling the truth. Some how that made him feel like a hypocrite, and he really didn't understand why. "That is reassuring, ah, we're here."
They both entered one of the typical onsen store fronts. Raido emitted a low whistle. Saying the place was nice would have been a gross understatement. The wall dividers were all beautifully embroidered and a sign on the wall had a long list of available services.
The front desk was manned by an intensely beautiful young lady with exotic red hair.
Raido hurriedly walked up to the desk and said nervously, "Umm, hello ma'am. We're here to check in, party of Inoue and Sawara."
The woman smiled at him warmly.
So pretty! Raido thought.
"Pleased to meet you," she said, bowing politely. Then she pulled out the reservation file and put on a pair of ovular reading glasses, brushing back a stray strand of red locks.
So HOT! Raido corrected.
"Yes, this is it." she confirmed looking at the file. "Are the rest of your party, Inoue-san and Sawara-san on their way?"
"They had some errands to do." Raido explained, staring intently at her.
She made a glimmer of suspicion at the scarred man, "Would you care for an upgrade to the honeymoon suite? We happen to have two rooms available."
Raido shook his head vigorously, "Oh, no, no, we're here with our sisters, a farewell present if you will. They're getting married."
The lady's countenance to Raido immediately warmed. "That's so sweet," she exclaimed, "Hey, I have some coupons here for spa treatment, I'm sure it would make them really happy."
"Th-thanks!" Raido said happily as her hands brushed his as she handed the tickets to him.
"Would you like to be roomed with your sisters?" she asked.
"Ah, no, we'll let the girls have their time together; it'll be a long time before they'll see each other."
Ino and Sakura leaned in the door into the reception hall.
"Looks like Raido is flirting with the receptionist, how cliché." Ino commented.
"Poor Kakashi-san looks bored." Sakura said examining his almost hunched over stature, most likely out of thorough disgust of the other jounin's antics.
"Hey, want to do something fun?" Ino suggested.
"What?" Sakura asked.
Ino whispered the suggestion and Sakura smiled.
The two walked in quietly. The receptionist glanced at them and Sakura raised a finger to her mouth. The receptionist's eye twinkled a little but she returned her attention to Raido vigilantly.
"So," Raido said, "Will you have any free time this oof!"
Ino tackled him from behind, rubbing her face in his neck while gushing about what a wonderful brother he was.
At the same time Sakura tackled Kakashi from behind, "You're not reading that book are you?" she asked playfully
"Hey gerroff!" Raido ordered.
"What's up brother," she asked, "flirting with yet another innocent bystander?" He blushed furiously but his protests were cut off when she directed her attention to the receptionist. "Oh, at least this one's pretty! Sorry about my brother, he's been bitter every since Orihime dumped him."
"No, no, it's quite alright." the receptionist said waving them off.
Sakura had quite a different experience. When she tackled Kakashi, he stood straight up first then he slowly turned his head sideways to look at her with one, dull eye. She immediately felt like she had done something wrong and inappropriate. She blushed in shame and looked away from him.
"I'm… sorry." she whispered.
Kakashi seemed to break out of his trance when he heard her words. "Oh, no, erm, apology accepted." He winced at his reply, which sounded colder than he wanted to.
Sakura nodded dutifully, more like a subordinate than a sister as she was supposed to be.
Regret bubbled up in Kakashi's stomach, but at that moment he couldn't find the words to say. Sakura had just been acting according to her cover, and he probably made her feel like she had just broken her grandmother's vase.
After a brief awkward silence Sakura cantered over to the other duo, laughing at their antics. Kakashi's regret fell even deeper, as that beautiful laughter, was not because of him.
Finally the four of them were escorted back to their rooms by an older maid, probably in her forties, but still gorgeous with raven black hair tucked up into a classy hairstyle. Raido sent one more shy wave back at the receptionist, which Ino quipped about how adorable it was.
After they left the redhead receptionist raised her sleeve and spoke into a small microphone hidden there. "They've arrived, begin preparations." She lowered her arms, a dangerous glint in her eyes.
And CLIFF HANGER! Finally we can get some suspense! As Sakura would say, "Cha!"
Kakashi is feeling pretty dang guilty at this point, poor chap. Sakura's reaction was kind of not covered here, but no fear, next chapter shall have that in full. I realised this story was too cheerful, I must rectify this ASAP.
This "arc" should only last for six more chapters or so, (yes, I have it all planned out, be proud of me.) Then I'm going to get back to being relatively close to the events in the manga.
Also, if you noticed, this story is now in the "romance" genre and not the "friendship" one… who was I kidding anyway?
Also, for those who'd review (I really wish you would) please give me your rating of who is most OOC and who is least, your opinion really matters to me and does effect some of the content. So please review!
Playlist for this chapter: Mayonaka no Orchestra by Aqua Timez, Home Sweet Home by YUKI, and Darekaga by Puffy. Also if you want to chat sometime and talk about anime, foreign language, or fanfiction, my Skype is Patruelis, name Patrick Noël. Congrats, now you all can stalk me.
And, if any of the rest of y'all had problems with the infamous error type 2 which keeps one from updating stories, the solution is on my profile.