Kakashi looked at the ripples created by the rock he just threw into the lake behind Akio's mansion. He still couldn't believe he was half demon, a blood thirsty, man eating, home destroying demon. At first Kakashi was confused, then he was a bit scared, now he was right down pissed. He grabbed another rock and chucked it inside the lake in anger, growling in anger. As if the weather was mimicking his mood, dark clouds were decorating the sky, a chill was in the air and a distant storm was coming closer.
"Aren't you cold?" Akio asked he walked towards Kakashi with a jacket in hand, throwing it casually to Kakashi as he turned to face him.
Kakashi simply grunted as he placed the jacket on and looked back towards the lake.
"Even with the jacket, when the storm hits you're going to get drenched" Akio stated
Kakashi shivered and rubbed his hands together "Just a few more minutes"
"Mind if I join then?" Akio asked
Kakashi shrugged in indifference as Akio sat down next to him. "Kakashi talk to me"
"What do you want me to say, exactly?" Kakashi replied sarcastically "Oh, I'm a bloodthirsty lunatic but it's ok"
"No actually I want to know why it's troubling you this much?" Akio replied "It just doesn't seem like you and considering you have a jinchuriki for a student should make you realize that it isn't that big if a deal"
"Naruto has a demon sealed inside him" Kakashi answered "but he himself is one hundred percent human. I'm actually half demon, it's not the same"
"Yes, but the Kyyubi manipulates him, or attempts to at least" Akio explained
"That's true however, he's protected himself from the Kyyubi's will but I have to protect my human half from my demon side's, my own side's will. It's just…"
"It's as if you're escaping from yourself" Akio offered and saw Kakashi nod
"You're not in anyways a demon" Akio assured him
"What happened to, 'you can kill so freely and without emotion that you're vulnerable to the demon's will'?" Kakashi pointed out
"A demon is bloodthirsty" Akio explained "You are just devoid of emotion, a sign that you're on your way yet not quite there, exactly half and half"
"That makes me feel so much better" Kakashi replied mockingly
"I'm not trying to sugarcoat this for you" Akio stated "I'm just telling you the plain truth as it is"
"Sorry" Kakashi muttered and sighed as he threw another rock in the lake
Akio was surprised, Kakashi never apologizes in this manner, usually it's the apology laced with humor and a well you let this go tone. A sign that Kakashi is in fact deeply troubled by all of this. Yet before he could say anything Izumi called them to come inside for dinner.
Kakashi stood up and placed his hands in his pockets, slouching towards the house in silence. Akio breathed deeply and followed pursuit.
"Sorry it's only ramen" Izumi smiled "We went out today thinking that you wouldn't be back till tomorrow and didn't have time to make anything else"
"Ramen is perfect, Izumi san" Masami smiled "It tastes unbelievably well to"
"Don't worry about Izumi, whatever you cook is always great" Akio smiled as he pushed the chair back and sat down to enjoy his meal.
Kakashi like usual ate everything extremely quick and then asked to be excused
"Non-sense" Izumi replied "You just got back and I want to hear all about the mission"
"Well, it went smoothly as you can see, barely any injuries, just a few minor scratches" Akio replied as he blew on the noodles to cool them down
"I'm glad you did so well, Kakashi" Izumi smiled
"Yea less work for me" Masami smiled as the others laughed besides Kakashi
"Kakashi are you ok?" Izumi asked him in concern
"What, oh I'm fine" Kakashi replied with his eye curved smile "Just tired"
"Oh you should've told me I would've let you leave" Izumi replied quickly
"No it's fine, really" Kakashi answered rubbing the back of his head "I guess I'll turn in though, see you tomorrow" and with that he left to get some sleep.
Akio stared at the clock hanging on the wall opposite his desk as it chimed at 11:00 pm, his mind focused on his charge. Kakashi's attitude was bothering him to say the least, he expected either anger or frustration, not this quiet and lifeless Kakashi.
With a frustrated sigh, Akio kicked his chair back and walked towards Kakashi's room. Once he reached the door he monitored Kakashi's chakra and noticed that it was stable indicating that Kakashi was either asleep or emotionless at the current moment. Deciding to find out, Akio knocked on the door twice and entered the room.
He found Kakashi sitting cross – legged on his bed, deep in meditation. Akio noted that Kakashi hadn't even noticed his presence, his breathing coming out in even breaths, his hair swaying gently from the night breeze coming from through the window.
"Kakashi" Akio shook him gently watching him slowly come back to consciousness. "What are you doing?"
After Kakashi blinked a couple of times and took in his surrounding, he turned to Akio with and with a lazy wave of his hand replied "Meditating"
"Are you trying to confront the demon side of you?" Akio asked knowing the answer already. And true to his intuition, Kakashi nodded his head in reply. "It won't work without the undoing of the seal"
Kakashi sighed and pushed his hair back
"I can undo it if you want" Akio stated nonchalantly. He watched as Kakashi turned back to him in surprise, clearly not expecting that.
"Really?" he asked suspiciously eyeing Akio critically looking for any hint of lie or humor.
"Tomorrow" Akio nodded to which Kakashi sighed in annoyance "You need rest, go to sleep and tomorrow I'll undo your seal after you explain things to Kioshi"
"Huh? Why" Kakashi asked "Not that I mind but just curious"
"You're partners now" Akio replied with a smile
"Eww not like that" Kakashi shook in horror at the sheer idea "We're friends"
"Stop being an idiot!" Akio reprimanded sending a glare at Kakashi's way "You know that I don't mean partners in that sense you pervert!" Despite being angry, he was actually revealed to see Kakashi reverting back to his normal self.
Kakashi chuckled and apologized, undoing his legs from the cross and stretching them out a bit.
"Go to sleep" Akio ordered "If not then I won't undo the seal" and he turned to leave. Just as he was about to close the door he heard Kakashi comment in annoyance
"Bribing me with something that is my right" Kakashi muttered in indignation "Leave it to Akio to do something so inhumane"
Akio closed the door and shook his head in dismay, Kakashi was sure a handful. With that he went to his own room to sleep as well, he needed his sleep as well for what is to come tomorrow.