Leaves in the Wind
Chapter Twenty-seven: Ascending Nightmares
Birds flew and congested the skies with their calls and feathers. Iruka remembered one day, after speaking with the Hokage, the lingering loneliness felt even under that vast occupied sky. The feeling was still with him. Every day, even with the presence of Konoha pulsating around him, he felt isolated. He'd come out to the fields so many times to fall asleep alone under an endless, empty expanse of blue. He would sleep alone, and he would wake alone.
It changed. It changed when he opened his eyes to see a smiling face in front of his; the face of a man who didn't question the world but lived with it instead. He exuded unrelenting optimism. He said his name was 'Yukio' and 'would you mind if I joined you?' From then on, things weren't so bad. With Yukio and the Hokage and the rest of Konoha, he could sometimes forget his oath to kill the monster that had murdered his parents.
Tall, golden grass brushed against his face as it swayed in the gentle breeze. He could feel the comforting warmth of Yukio beside him. Not cold. Not like the bodies in the jaws of a demon…
They both startled when the harsh cry of a crow hit their ears, and Iruka quickly stood, scanning the fields around them. There, on a scarecrow he hadn't remembered seeing before, was the large, menacing figure of a bird. A raven, not a crow, whose dark feathers gleamed in the bright light gazed back at him. The boy blinked. He swore the scarecrow was made not of straw but of hair. Silver hair…
The raven crowed and he jerked backwards, loosing balance and toppling into dirt.
"Yukio-san!" Iruka reached out for the warmth of his friend and gasped. Yukio was not supposed to be leaking this warmth. It wasn't supposed to be dripping out of his body. There weren't supposed to be birds all over him. They weren't supposed to be pecking at his flesh-!
"Freedom comes to those who spread their wings."
Iruka cried out, but no one ever answered.
---
Linen sheets flew and twisted as the body beneath them convulsed, contorting into strained positions. Iruka's desperate, nonsensical cries became progressively more frequent and louder until finally a name emerged against all the sleep-distorted babble, "Yukio!" His teeth gritted together, another plea escaping him. "Yukio!" He repeated it as a mantra capable of saving him from his nightmare.
Unable to wrest himself from his terrors with this name, he called another. "Kakashi!"
The bedroom door flew open and Iruka immediately felt the presence of someone he'd come to rely on. Warm hands arrested his shoulders to still his thrashing and tell him he was there. "Iruka?" It was his voice, Kakashi's. "Iruka, calm down. It's a dream, no one can hurt you."
Iruka's fist instinctively lashed out, cracking across the intruder's chin before he stilled, opened his eyes and roughly pulled Kakashi into a crushing embrace. "Damn it…" he muttered. "Damn it…"
The Jounin placed a hand on Iruka's head and sat him up, holding him with his other hand. "Shhh," Kakashi whispered in his ear. "Calm down. I'm right here."
"Kakashi…when did you-?" No, never mind. It was a stupid question to ask a Shinobi. The migraine he knew would come was quickly settling in. Iruka crawled forward to sit in Kakashi's lap and tucked his face away in the crook of the man's neck. At the very least, his room was dark and Kakashi's breath was silent. It kept the pain and pressure in his mind from escalating to an unbearable point.
"Freedom." Iruka gritted his teeth together, closed his eyes and willed himself to focus on anything but-
"Freedom," the ghost whispered.
Kakashi's presence did nothing for the repeating word. It wouldn't have been so bad if lately Iruka hadn't been feeling inclined to almost- almost- listen…
"Free-"
Iruka gently pushed Kakashi away and stood, cradling his face in his hands. He took deep breaths, attempting to still his wracked nerves. Iruka felt Kakashi's gaze follow his motion.
"Iruka," his name was whispered softly, "what's wrong?" Kakashi stood as well and placed a hand on the Chuunin's back. "Iruka?"
"It's just a migraine," he murmured in response.
"I can get you something for that, if you like."
Iruka shook his head, hair falling over his shoulders as he undid the bind. "I'll live with it." He considered making some tea, but the idea was immediately discarded. "What about Yasuo-kun and Isamu-"
"Why do you ignore what is being so freely given?"
Iruka gulped. "-Isamu-san?"
"The twins visited Yasuo-kun. It turns out that a woman was also murdered, but we don't know more than that." Kakashi's arm slipped all the way over Iruka's shoulders and he turned him towards the bed. "You should sit down, Iruka…"
He allowed Kakashi to steer him to his futon and gently push him down, but all the while, his eyes were trained on his curtained window.
The Jounin followed the strict gaze and he understood. "The birds are talking to you again, aren't they."
Iruka nodded. He thought he saw the shadow of a bird pass by but then… The Chuunin turned his head, choosing instead to settle his gaze on one of the many photos on his wall.
Kakashi's warm body left Iruka's side. The Jounin walked over to the window and lifted the edge of the curtain. A line of dusky light stripped across the floor and up Kakashi's body. He leaned forward, tilting his head to one side to see further. "There's nothing here." His fingertips slipped away from the cloth, and the line dissipated into nothingness.
"I know," Iruka muttered, flopping back against the sheets and smothering his face beneath a pillow. "That's part of the migraine…"
His companion laughed lightly and stepped away from the window. He left the room, returning with a bottle of painkillers and a glass of water. Kakashi kneeled down in front of Iruka and popped off the top of the bottle, spilling a small collection of white tablets in his left hand. "Here, kill it while it's young." He presented one pill to Iruka.
Iruka's face peeked out from under the pillow to stare at the offering. It was waved away.
Kakashi sighed, and his finger popped into Iruka's mouth.
The Chuunin felt the tablet on his tongue and instinctively swallowed. His eyes narrowed, and he bit Kakashi's finger. "Ammit, Kakathi! Go reef ur book. I'm ot itha moob!"
The Jounin pulled his hand back, laughing at the flush forming in Iruka's cheeks. Nevertheless, he stood up and respected the request by starting for the door.
There was an exasperated sigh and a thud, possibly Iruka banging his head against the wall, possibly Iruka trying to throw something at him and not succeeding. Possibly both. "Wait…you can stay if you want…just keep your voice down or I swear I'll use you as my class's new shuriken target."
Not that the children could hit him if they wanted to, but Kakashi got the point. He sat down on his own futon set up next to Iruka's. "Ok."
"Freedom is so easily begotten."
Iruka flinched, grabbed his pillow and shoved it over his head again.
The Jounin silently observed this action. He pulled out his book, laid down on his stomach with feet in the air, and began to read.
"Even you desire to be free. You can't hide it from the birds. They see all. They never lie."
"Which painkillers did you use?" Brown eyes reappeared from within the shadows beneath the pillow.
Kakashi held up a small bottle with a red label and shook it. There was a gentle rattling inside. "It may make you a little drowsy, but they're really effective."
"A little drowsy isn't enough." A tanned hand extended toward the Jounin.
Kakashi's grey eye turned to him, and he considered. "Alright." He tossed the bottle over to Iruka. "Only one more, Ok?"
Iruka shook three out of the bottle into his palm.
Kakashi was immediately in an upright position, and he snatched the pills away from him. "What are you trying to do, kill yourself?" He pocketed the bottle and handed one of the three to Iruka. "I understand what you're trying to do, but I'm serious when I say they're really effective."
"I'm aware of this Kakashi, they were in my medicine cabinet." The Chuunin tossed the pillow to the side and fixed the Jounin with a mild glare. He'd been taking those things for years and his limit certainly wasn't four… "Give me the bottle."
"No." Kakashi handed Iruka the glass of water, pointing at the single pill in his hand.
"Just give me the bottle, Kakashi." Iruka swallowed both pill and liquid.
The Jounin looked over Iruka's condition and let out a deep sigh, handing him the painkillers.
One more pill was withdrawn and taken. "It takes more than the normal dosage to knock me out," Iruka muttered lowly.
"Freedom is-"
The Chuunin groaned and squeezed his eyes shut. Why had he never switched to something faster acting?
Kakashi looked away from Iruka. His jaw was set tightly and his lips were tugged in a small frown, though Iruka saw nothing; the mask hid it all. Kakashi wished he at least knew what Sensei was telling Iruka, what words he was tormenting his companion with. It hurt to watch the Chuunin squirm, to watch him fight against it on his own.
"I'm…running away…" The man offered one of his half smiles. "It's either distraction by work or escape by sleep and even then…" It seemed the harder he tried to empty his mind, the faster the frequency of the 'freedom' rambling accelerated.
"That's not the only way to hide," Kakashi said softly, staring down at his book. He flipped through a few pages, obviously deciding to skip something and read ahead.
"Elaborate?"
The Jounin sighed, shutting the book and shutting his eye simultaneously. "It's nothing. I'm just concerned."
"You? Sharingan no Kakashi worried?" Iruka sat up slowly, eying the masked man.
"Don't act so surprised," the Jounin murmured. His words were not playful or sarcastic.
"Mm." Iruka sensed this and ended the pseudo-conversation by leaning in, kissing a clothed cheek. "Thank you."
Kakashi smiled and turned his head slightly. "No problem," he responded.
Iruka fell back to continue struggling with the voices assaulting his mind.
There was a brief scraping at the window.
Kakashi glared at it and glanced back to Iruka, who flinched at another scraping noise. He scooted over to him to sit close. Iruka's eyes landed on him, still holding a glint of fear that only a shinobi would be able to determine. The cushion shifted with Kakashi's weight as he laid down next to Iruka, and he sensed the Chuunin fractionally relax. "It's fine," he reassured him.
"So they're really there this time…" He couldn't suppress the shiver that ran up his spine as small, sharp talons raked against glass, procuring a high pitched screech.
Kakashi lifted a gloved hand and placed it on Iruka's cheek. "They're only playing with you. We both know that if they wanted to get in, they would."
Iruka leaned into the touch, severely wishing he were unconscious. The effects of the painkillers were very slow in manifesting; he was still wide awake and paranoid. "If I could go out there and-"
"No, more birds would come. It would be a waist of energy." But the Jounin smiled at Iruka's empty threat. His fingers trailed down Iruka's neck, pushing a few stray strands of hair out of the way. It trailed back up.
Iruka's shoulders relaxed. "He may not need to send them. Any more of this and I'll…" Go insane like Isamu? He shuddered at the unwelcome images assaulting his already nerve-wracked brain. The Chuunin reluctantly smiled as fingers threaded through his hair.
The tapping and scratching continued. "Just don't let it get to you," Kakashi said, continuing his touch. Umber bangs slipped into Iruka's eyes, and the Jounin brushed them back. "Please don't let it get to you."
"That's easier said and much harder to do."
CRAWWWW!
The Chuunin jerked away from his partner and shot a dangerous glare at his window, torn between the option of opening the damn thing, killing every feathered demon he could and the shame at the realization that he might actually do it. "Kakashi…don't let me near the window."
"I won't," he promised.
More persistent scrapes and knocking at the window drove the academy sensei to rummage around on the futon for his bottle of painkillers. He could handle one more. However, Kakashi shifted to allow him to search further…. "I know you hid them." Kakashi almost laughed when narrowed brown eyes were settled on him. The man's hair was disheveled and a few strands were sticking up. He just didn't look as intimidating as he should have.
"No I didn't," the Jounin blatantly denied.
"Is it in the desk?"
"Yes."
"Wrong answer. You never got off the futon." Iruka scooted closer, fully intent on retrieving some measure of relief.
"It doesn't seem as though you're in pain anymore, Iruka. They've served their purpose." Kakashi grinned up at him.
He wasn't necessarily in pain, but the desire to be sleeping overrode anything else. The Shinobi just wanted peace. "I need that bottle, Kakashi." Both hands were out, Iruka had crouched and looked ready to spring.
The Jounin merely grinned.
It broadened when he found himself pinned to the futon by a mentally harassed ninja, one hand squeezing his wrist the other feeling over, around and in his clothing. "Damn it, Kakashi! Just give me the bottle!"
He laughed, squirming to one side as Iruka's hand landed on his stomach. "You don't need them anymore!" he protested.
"Yes I do! They don't work fast enough!" The Chuunin paused at Kakashi's pants. Okay, didn't need them that badly. "You're right, I don't." He slid away.
Kakashi's trapped wrist turned and caught Iruka's. He pulled him back.
Iruka noticed a nearly well hidden mischievous glint in Kakashi's eye. The Chuunin immediately deployed evasive tactics. Iruka yawned, eyelids falling. He let himself go limp next to Kakashi.
"Hey," Kakashi rolled to the side and batted the man's head. "I know you're not unconscious, you looser."
True, but he wished he was. Iruka lay there unmoving, breathing regulated.
Kakashi leaned over him. "Irukaaa," he whispered in the man's ear. He heard a momentary hitch in the patterned breathes. "Rukaaa," he whispered again. "If you don't wake up, that means I can have my way with you."
The Chuunin's brow twitched, but he remained still. Kakashi wouldn't. He was a perverted bastard at times but even he wouldn't…
"You give me too much credit," Kakashi said to the contrary of Iruka's bet. He laughed lowly. "I know you're awake, Iruka."
He wouldn't…
A hand brushed against Iruka's stomach.
The game was on. Iruka rolled over, lying flat on his stomach, adding soft snores.
"Hey! Iruka, you idiot." Kakashi laughed, pushing on the back of Iruka's head so his face was smothered by the pillow.
Iruka fought back a low growl. This was a trick he'd often deployed on the unwary back in his days at the academy. He wouldn't be falling for it. A grunt of dismay was quickly followed by a sharp punch to Kakashi's gut.
"Oof," Kakashi was pushed to the side, and his hand slipped off the back of Iruka's head. Kakashi punched him back.
"Liberation from all things binding."
Iruka took the hit and rolled over again, this time lying on his side. He would fall asleep…he would sleep…didn't have to do anything, just wait for the painkillers to work and-
"Freedom is-"
Oddly enough, if he just focused on feigning sleep, the scratching at the window didn't bother him. The Jounin let him remain in silence, untouched and unspoken to. Iruka waited for the inevitable. He was determined to keep up this front lest he possibly be molested.
Soft, warm lips pressed to his.
Which, it seemed, might just happen whether he was 'awake' or not.
"Bastard," Kakashi murmured into his lips. "Quit hiding from me."
"Why must you hide?"
Iruka's brows furrowed, but he refused to respond.
Kakashi let go of a soft sigh. "Come on, Iruka, stop." No responce. "I'm not going to stop unless you admit to being awake." He kissed him again, leading a trail across his cheek and then down his neck.
The brief, fluttering gestures numbed Iruka's mind as well as the screeches and scratches at his bedroom window. He let himself slip away from it all and relaxed into Kakashi's touch. As if the birds felt this happening, the clicking intensified. Iruka shivered both from touch and sound; his soft, artificial snores ceased.
"Iruka," the Jounin said softly. "Wake up."
He was rewarded with a clouded, half-lidded brown eye. It gleamed in the dim light of his room, the one place he had never felt safer and more threatened before in his life. "What?"
Kakashi looked down at him. His breath had marginally strained with stress. "You're running away from me."
"…No I'm not," Iruka murmured, letting his lid fall closed so he could hide in the darkness only he could see. It was almost a fascinating thing, the ability to close your eyes, shutting out the visible world, cutting down on the danger and increasing it simultaneously.
"Liar." Kakashi pressed his index finger to the man's forehead.
Both eyes opened. "I'm…trying to sleep." The rattling at the window ceased. Iruka's heart leapt with anticipation, and within seconds the hellish noise restarted.
Kakashi slipped to the side and placed his head on the pillow next to Iruka. He watched him intently.
"W-what?"
The Jounin sighed and his grey eye disappeared. "I can't do anything for you," he murmured.
"You can." Iruka gestured to the window. "Distract me; make this go away."
Kakashi looked to him, breathing steady and nearly contemplative.
"At least until the painkillers start working." The Chuunin glanced up at his ceiling. "I'm tired. Physically, mentally. I know when I'm at my limit. I know when I'm beat." His lips curved into a small smile. "You could read aloud from that book if you wanted. Just as long as I…" Iruka paused, faltered, and his expression fell. "Kakashi, I'm sorry.…You've already been trying, haven't you?…"
"S'fine," he said softly, brushing Iruka's hair to the side.
Iruka caught Kakashi's hand in his own, placing it at the base of his neck and closing his eyes. His breath stilled, and finally it left his lungs with the words, "I never thought this sort of thing was right…." His tone became nearly inaudible. "Then we…" cheeks flushed from the memory and returning phantom touches. The velvety voice promising freedom flickered in and out of the reminiscing. "We…"
Kakashi's lips touched his and the voice in Iruka's mind died away. He pulled back slightly, nose to nose with the man.
Finally Iruka advanced on his own, reaching behind Kakashi's head to begin untying his hitae-ate, pressing a desperate kiss on the man's forehead as the fabric was pushed away and again on his lips.
His partner moved into it, pushing the gesture a little bit further. His hand lifted to rest on Iruka's cheek. A deep breath escaped Kakashi's lungs when they gained an inch of space.
"We all….freedom…"
He felt a warm, steady hand on his shoulder. Though Iruka was trembling, his hands were stilled, and though sleep was beginning to manifest in his eyes, they were still bright and alert. Slowly, Iruka released him and rolled away. Kakashi was graced with one of the sensei's less infamous smiles; the sweet though troubled curl of lips.
Rapid, now desperate, clicking on glass permeated the silence stretching between them.
Kakashi smirked and reached out again, placing his hand on Iruka's chest. He felt the Chuunin's heart flutter, and he counted the beats.
Iruka's hand cupped over the one resting on him. "Kakashi…"
"Mm?" He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Iruka instinctively mimicked the breath. "Thank you."
---
Kuro moaned piteously, clawing at his brother's retreating form. "Nii-san! Nii-san come back!"
"It's over." The younger Harogami muttered, hastily re-clothing himself and rummaging around in the dresser. He knew there was a pack of cigarettes in here somewhere. They had been left untouched for the past three years, but he didn't care. He needed it and he needed it now.
"Don't open those."
Kuro cursed as he was forcefully dragged back to their futon. His golden eyes remained trained on the dresser that contained his precious tobacco. "What the hell is your problem! You're so damn clingy today!"
"And you're so damn angry. I'm tired of killing people. I want to relax for a while…"
He regretted the words as soon as the sharp sting of his brother's hand registered. Elder Kuro turned his burning cheek away, staring fixedly at the floor. "Idiot! Don't say things like that! You're going to get us killed. Disloyalty is suicide!"
"Sensei would never kill us! We're family!"
"And? Do you know who that woman was?" At a pitiful shake of the head, he grabbed a fistful of hair and jerked his sibling upright. "Sit straight, don't act meek. That woman was from the Kazahaya clan. Our clan."
"She didn't have golden eyes," Elder Kuro pointed out.
"We don't all have the eyes, Kuro-kun." He pushed his brother away, watching with vague satisfaction as the man's limbs tangled with the sheets. "That comes with infection by an immediate family member. You and I are first generation; we can operate independently."
"But why would-?"
"Just shut up and don't question it." Both Harogami glared at one another before the elder, as always, relented.
"Fine…but I don't think sensei will kill us."
Younger Kuro rose, determined to get his cigarettes. "He might not, but that doesn't mean he won't have someone else do the job." He paused, foot tapping against the wood. Even he was beginning to doubt sensei's will…such a hypocrite. "We would have been the ones to kill Suien had the Takigakure girl not done so before us. You know that."
"That still depresses me, Nii-san…I miss Suien-kun…"
Younger Kuro jerked aside a pair of pants in the dresser drawer. Ah, and there they were in all their packaged splendor. Kuro liberated the tiny box from an assortment of clothing and other objects he wished his brother would keep somewhere else. "Kuro-kun, shut up and sl-"
"Do listen to your brother and put those back."
"Sensei!" Elder Kuro chirped, leaping off the futon to execute a proper bow.
Shit. "Sensei…" Reluctantly, younger Kuro replaced the cigarettes and shut the drawer, stepping away, buttoning his shirt with his back to the window. He could feel the presence of the hawk. With a look to his window, he saw the majestic bird. Damn thing was huge. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough."
"Sensei, would that be long enough where you were unfortunate enough to catch some rather unpleasant-"
"Yes," the hawk responded curtly.
Amusement in their leader's tone caused the hairs on the back of Kuro's neck to rise. He absently grabbed his brother's long pony-tail and yanked, pulling the man to him. "Get some clothes on, moron." Once Elder Kuro was shoved away, he returned his attention to the window. "So, does personally greeting us imply another mission?"
"I'd hardly call this personal. And, by the way, you do realize that what you're doing is considered sacrilegious?"
Kuro chose to ignore this. "Well, Sensei, what do you want?" He was momentarily blinded by two pale hands sliding over his eyes.
"Are we going to be killing anyone else?" Elder Kuro pouted as his brother pushed the hands away.
"No. It's not a mission." The bird spread its wings and began preening. Elder Kuro watched in fascination but his brother scoffed at the obvious mockery. "I would have intervened earlier but-"
"Sensei," Younger Kuro began politely. "If you would please spare us what we already know and tell us what we need to do for you."
"I want Matsuhara Tekki out of custody. Tonight. This has to be done quickly and precisely. I want no interruptions. If Shinobi that you have not incapacitated try to stop you, you will kill them immediately. Should Sharingan no Kakashi become involved at any point, leave him alone."
"If we leave him alone he's just going to come after us. You can't leave that demon alone."
Elder Kuro laughed lightly. "But we can have fun with him, right?"
"No." Avian eyes swept over the room. "But should you succeed, and you will my Kuro-kun, you will meet me here."
Both Harogami bowed to the bird on their window sill. "Yes, sir." They intoned as one.
"Have three mats ready and some tea. I will be thirsty after this is over."
They stilled, bodies rigid with sudden fear. Even younger Kuro appeared disturbed. "Sensei?"
"I will personally be coming to receive your report. Remember, I like my tea black." The bird leapt away from the open window and thrust its wings downward to skyrocket into the air.
Harogami Kuro raced to the window, each brother clamping hold of the talon marked wood. They watched in silence as the enormous shadow vanished beyond the trees. Kuro felt his younger brother's hand squeeze around his wrist.
"Sensei is…" The eldest expected his sibling to slap him again and slip away. When nothing happened, he glanced up quizzically.
He was greeted with a light punch in the arm. "Just shut up and get the kettle."
---
For twenty blessed minutes, Yasuo was left alone to sleep. Another five after that, he only had to vaguely ignore Isamu's ranting from within Kakashi's bathroom. He thanked the gods he was still half-awake with eyes firmly shut when he heard the bathroom door open and he just knew Isamu hadn't come out with even a towel on. He'd only chance opening them when he was absolutely certain the man was DRESSED.
"Yasuo-kun, have you seen my hitae-ate? I seem to have lost it. I know I brought it with me…"
The boy sighed and glanced up. Isamu was peering over the back cushions of the couch to stare down at him. "Iunno," he yawned and stretched. "D'ja leave it in the bathroom? Kitchen?"
"No, I checked."
After blinking blearily at the former Shinobi, Yasuo found himself blatantly staring. There was something different about Isamu-sensei today… Ah, no bow…no kimono.
"It isn't in my bag either." Isamu was clothed in his old uniform.
Yasuo immediately shot to an upright position and he peered over the couch to look down at Isamu's feet. He was wearing regular sandals too, not the wooden clackers. "Isamu-sensei… what are you planning?"
"Planning? Nothing, Yasuo-kun. This is what I always wear." He paused. "Well, I used to always wear it. But kimono are far more comfortable…" As predicted, the man went on a tangent about kimono versus uniform while hunting his hitae-ate which he believed to be somewhere in the living room. After he finally gave up, he flopped onto the couch, bouncing slightly before settling in. "Are you well rested Yasuo-kun?"
Yasuo blinked, then nodded. "Uh, yeah…" he glanced to the window. It was just a few minutes past seven thirty PM. The last rays of light were quickly slipping out of view. "Isamu-sensei…" He looked back. "What are you going to do?"
"What am I going to do? What are we going to do, you mean." The man smiled pleasantly. "We are going to visit Tekki-san!"
"No, we're not." Yasuo shook his head.
Isamu nodded. "Of course we are!" His expression miraculously shifted into that of a stern, high-class Jounin. "You want to learn genjutsu right?"
That was a threat. Yasuo immediately shrank. "Of course I do, but-"
"Good, now-" The grim solemnity vanished. "-tea first!" He leapt to his feet, bee-lining to the kitchen. "How would you like it today? Cold? I have ginseng tea now!"
Yasuo grimaced. He didn't like tea… "I'll have it cold," he murmured, heading for Kakashi's room. He just knew that he'd need to bring his kunai with him tonight. Whatever insane plot the insane man had planned, it was probably best he came along with him anyway. A second pair of eyes never hurt…
"No weapons allowed Yasuo-kun!"
This made him stop in his tracks. His held tilted backwards and his eyes narrowed at the ceiling. This was going to be a lesson, he just knew it. He would grab his kunai later without Isamu noticing. "Isamu-sensei, I'm having a hard time agreeing to do something pointedly illegal. Shop lifting was bad enough, even after I paid the man back. However, Tekki-san is-"
"I wouldn't worry about that. You'll be going with me."
That was part of the problem. Yasuo sighed and turned around in the hallway. How confident was he in the genjutsu he'd just learned? He'd only used it once, and it lasted only a minute or so. What about escape? Evasion? Ninjutsu and Taijutsu? Just enough to get by, he was sure.
Yasuo looked over to the living room and saw a black hitae-ate sitting on arm of the couch. "It's there," he pointed.
"Oh. Well, it wasn't there earlier." Isamu swept by, grabbing his hitae-ate and lovingly tying it around his neck. The indented black bird seemed almost menacing…"Tea's almost ready. Well, Yasuo-kun? How do I look? It's been a while!"
"You look like a Jounin," Yasuo muttered. They were so dead. He knew it. They were doomed. Ibiki's team would be there this night, and they would be caught, and they would be in a whole world of trouble. If Iruka found out about this, he'd kill him.
The man paused, tracing the metallic surface of his band. "Wait…I grabbed the wrong one." His face became crestfallen. "This-" Isamu quickly untied it, flinging it back at the couch. "This isn't the right one. Yasuo, watch that tea. I'm sure I must have brought my hitae-ate…it must be here somewhere…"
The boy resentfully walked into the kitchen and glanced at the tea pot. "Did you check Kakashi-san's room?" It was the only other place he hadn't scoured. Steam started to rise from the pot and he shifted it on the burner.
A cry of joy moments later confirmed that indeed, Isamu hadn't bothered with the Jounin's room. "Well then, we're ready to go as soon as we've had some tea!"
Yasuo took the stolen kettle off of the stove and poured some of the steaming brown liquid into two cups. He only filled his own half way and took it in his hands before Isamu had a chance to glance. "And why are we trying to see Tekki-san tonight?"
"Because I want to see how he's doing." His sensei answered simply.
Yasuo should have expected some mundane answer such as that. He sipped the rest of his tea and set it on the counter. "Alright then."