Finally a new chapter is up! I'm making Toshi taking her time to know Kakashi, i think that's a very important issue to make them fit better together, and don't rush things. That'll be boring.
ENJOY!
and
REVIEW
Kakashi and I walked the long hallways of the hokages office, which I was sure maintained a lot of old secrets about Konoha. I don't know why, but I felt really uncomfortable and itchy by being in this building. It didn't bring forth pleasant memories. As my guards had risen a bit, I could feel the many chakras in the building, and a sudden tension rose in the air as we got closer to the hokages office.
Anger and confusion lingered in the air like a thick mist in front of the door to the office, and I almost felt like vomiting, not being able to retract my mood-sensing. It seemed that I wasn't the only one who could sense the mood inside that room, cause Kakashi looked for a moment like he was reconsidering this visit. It was obvious that the office was filled with ninjas, talking and yelling over eachother.
"Um, maybe we should wait?" I suggested, but was left with a silent Kakashi who was staring at the door. I sighed a bit and listened to the many voices inside and also took the time to really feel the sickness in my stomach.
"Just keep a calm façade, okay?" I jumped a bit when I heard Kakashi's voice and saw him place his hand on the doorknob and slowly turning the handle until it clicked open.
At first, this wave of anger and tension hit me in the head like a bursting bubble. But then the room when completely silent and I felt how every gaze was directed at me and Kakashi.
"Hello everyone." Kakashi greeted the many ninjas, like everything was completely normal.
He took a step in, and I followed closely behind, feeling as if I was mentally boiled by the sudden hate everyone was sending at me. People moved aside, mostly in disgust I think, and even a few people literally took a finger to their nose. I walked closely behind Kakashi, avoiding everyones eyes, only watching the back of his green vest. I could feel how they expected either me or Kakashi to say something.
It was pretty clear that I'd pissed a lot of ninjas off in my desperate escape. I looked over Kakashi's shoulder and saw the hokage by his desk in between the many people. He looked troubled, rubbing his forehead with the tips of his thumps. He made an annoyed throaty sound before he opened his eyes to look at me and Kakashi.
"I think there has been a misunderstanding." Kakashi started out.
Before I could count to one though, the whole room burst out yelling and shouting, and everything was a big chaos again.
"This project has gone out of hand!" I heard someone yell and a larger man stepped out in the crowd and manage to silence everyone with his very presence.
"Kakashi you knew that she could turn into a strong lion and yet you put her in an A-ranked prison!" He said, his voice naturally loud and deep. I'd never seen him before but he was tall and very broad.
"Yes I did but I didn't know that she was this strong." Kakashi replied irritation beginning to show in his face.
"Well you should've known! You were the one who coursed this in the first place." He accused and looked solemnly down at Kakashi which didn't suit the notorious ninja at all.
"Me? I coursed it?" Kakashi snapped back and looked back at the ninja with a nasty stare.
"Yeah! You left her alone. You should've known that, she was unstable and that it would tricker something in her!" the ninja snapped and received some backup "yeah!"s from the others in the crowd.
"You wanna do the job Hachiru, be my guest." Kakashi hissed coldly. Ow, that one hurt. I think that this was one of the rare moments that I'd seen Kakashi being genuinely irritated and mean.
"As a matter of fact I would like to. I should knock some respect into the girl." The ninja moved and grabbed my upper arm which provoked me beyond comparison. But to my luck was Kakashi very good at reading me and put his arm on the Hachiru-man's arm to force it away.
"You shouldn't. You don't know how to deal with her." Kakashi snapped with an edge of his voice so cold that it almost sent chill down my spine. He was good at demanding my attention, no question about that. The ninja removed his arm roughly, pushing me in the process as he laughed wildly.
"And YOU know how to deal with her? So far, your methods hasn't worked one bit!" he looked around the crowd as he laughed getting the others to join. My temper rose sharply. How could he tread Kakashi with so much disrespect?
"Yo—" as before I was cut off by Kakashi. Obviously I had nothing to say in this matter. I was just an object.
"You don't know a thing about her. If my 'methods' hadn't worked she would've killed you on the place right here and now." Kakashi snapped. I took a moment to consider that fact. I WOULD'VE killed them all, now that I think about it. Hachiru looked down at me taking a safety step backwards and now everyone began to yell again.
"You should just lock her away! What's the big discussion here?"
Now, I was used to people not liking me, but this many at the same time who wanted to lock me up… It was simply sickening.
"Silence!" The hokages voice was several tones higher than everybody elses, and automatically made everyone shut their mouth tight. He stared madly at everyone in the room, before he plumed down in his chair with a sigh.
"Kakashi, please speak." He said, his eyebrow quivering the slightest in annoyance.
"No one in here has been really involved with her so I suggest that you listen to me and not the others." He said and was again interrupted.
"Have you seen the damage she has done?" It was the large hachiru that spoke again.
"As I said before, you don't know anything about her, Hachiru!" Kakashi hissed, tilting his head in a way that reminded me of an angry wolf.
"You just don't want to give up on something you have spent so much time on! She'll always be a threat to the village and you know that!" Hachiru spat again, and stepped violently around another ninja as if he was about to attack Kakashi.
Kakashi's eyes were now so cold that they could petrify any civilian, and I noticed the small wrinkle on his nose that had formed. I suddenly felt like taking a step away from Kakashi and that weird aura that consumed him when he felt strongly about something.
"She has made more progress than you'll ever do in a whole life time! She may not look like it. But she has shown me that she's capable of opening up. Never having done that in her life, it took its time, and as you all should know, she's a self trained ninja. She's never had any master." Kakashi was interrupted again, by a ninja in the back with a light voice.
"You can say what you want, Kakashi, she has to be locked up! That girl is a psyckopath." My heart sunk the slightest by these words and felt bad that I was just standing there while Kakashi was standing up for me, even though he had no reason to. Actually the thought of what the other ninjas in this village would think about me, had never crossed my mind up until now.
"Obviously trying to get my point across is a waste of time. But that is something I'll have to work on as well I guess." Kakashi said, looking at directly through the crowd to the person in the back.
"Listen!—" I stepped forward and looked everyone around me in the eyes. –" How would you like to be forced to suddenly change you norms, your values, your way of life because someone thinks it's wrong? My options are to be a criminal target of Konoha, to live in a prison or to socialize with the enemy and change my whole way of living, change my mind and surpass psychological limits which I have never done before? It takes time, obviously, and it doesn't come easy, but I'm trying…" I paused a gulped once with everyone eyes staring at me with that confused look, as if they didn't know whether to hate me or have pity for me.
"When I thought I was let down by Kakashi, the only person whom ever made me see life in a better, one I actually felt had some faith in me—" I kept my eyes away from Kakashi, slightly embarrassed by admitting this, and clenched my jaw. Silence filled the room, but everyone still stared at me like they were debating with themselfes in their minds. It wasn't very ninja like to admit the things I'd just done. I felt Kakashi's gaze burning at me. Ironically enough, I wanted to run out of the room and away from all the tension that was fixated around me. I couldn't believe I was turning this soft.
"That's it! Everyone, OUT! Except you two!" the hokage stood up and looked at everyone as if he had a headache but was trying to look serious at the same time.
Everyone turned to him in shock and embarrassment, but it seemed though that no one had any more objections and left the room, bickering over me. I listened to the footsteps, and soon the room felt more comfortable to be in. I wasn't just me, who was my own worst enemy now, but also the ninjas of the village. The hokage sat down in his seat with a bump and folded his hands, looking as if he was suppressing some frustration. I glanced surreptitiously over at Kakashi, hoping to catch some kind of face kind of face that would indicate what he was thinking. But his normal relaxed exterior was up again.
"Kakashi, what do you suggest that we do with this girl?" The hokage asked and broke the silence.
"Hnnn." Kakashi sighed and looked thoughtfully at the floor beneath his feet before he answered.
"First of all I like to keep 'training' her. Putting her back in prison would be a waste and a big mistake. I was thinking that maybe she could get her own apartment or—" He was interrupted by the hokage.
"And how can you be sure that she won't run away or do harm to anyone?" the hokage asked, as if I weren't even there. Great… I sunk a bit in my stance and clenched my fist. It was just harsh to just stand by and watch other people make decisions for me. Kakashi glanced over at me. I caught his eye and they weren't cold or angry as I had expected. They carried a concern, a deep pondering that made my cheeks heat and my eyes look away.
"I don't know, but I think that we should give it a try." Kakashi said, before he looked back at the hokage. The hokage was silent for a bit while he was thinking it all through and finally seemed to come to a conclusion.
"It's be too big of a risk. I'm sorry but that simply can't happen. The best option is to keep her in prison when you aren't around." The hokage looked sincerely sorry about that decision as he looked at Kakashi.
"There must be some other option. Her progress will only be slowed down greatly if we put her in prison again. And it's like she takes a step back whenever she's put alone in there and I can't keep—" Kakashi wasn't able to keep that relaxed façade he'd just put up again, anymore. My heart began to pound as I waited for the last words I was afraid of hearing.
"I can't just watch as she tears herself apart every time she's being left alone in there." Kakashi's eyes were narrowed and tense and it was clear that some kind of mental battle was going on between Kakashi and the hokage.
"Kakashi, this is a mission – a project! You have to see beyond that. You are a fully fletched ninja, even one of the best in Konoha. You'll have to continue with her wherever she's being held!" the hokage was again standing up behind his desk, shouting frustrated at the stubborn Kakashi. It seemed that the two of them was getting equally frustrated with each other. Small wrinkles had again formed on Kakashi's nose as he stood there, glaring with those lazy eyes at the hokage. I was actually quite surprised by Kakashi's behavior. He was usually so calm, normally not showing any kind of emotion. But just as I began to wonder I saw what I'd seen in his mind. I could see the young Kakashi in his adult face, determined to avenge his lost comrade. Of course, he wasn't going to abandon one more – me:
The grey spiky hair, the piercing dark eyes… His feeling rushed into me from the back of my mind. The exact same ones he had felt that particular day I'd seen. I was sure that he didn't feel that strongly about me, but something on that line. I couldn't force my eyes away from him and I seemed to get caught between memories and reality. I knew that I was somehow under the influence of Eiens chakra right now. I felt as if I could relate to Kakashi's feelings and wanted to comfort him, but I couldn't relate. I'd never experienced something like him, even though I felt as if I had. But I snapped out of whatever state if mind I was in, when a particular sentence caught my ear.
"Well, she could live with you." The hokage now looked calm again and I looked obliviously between the both of them, probably having missed a pretty important conversation.
"W-with me?" Kakashi stuttered, and changed back to his normal mode, except for the fact that he looked a bit scared more… scared.
"Now, that's a brilliant idea!" the hokage said, and leaned satisfied back in his seat.
"I-I-I don't think that—I mean, I need privacy!" Kakashi waved his hand in front of him to excuse himself while he chuckled nervously.
"What do you say, Setsuki?" Thank you. Finally the hokage wants to include me in this conversation.
"Uuum…" I probably looked just as stupid as Kakashi did at the moment.
"Um… Well it would be better than prison, but isn't it, perhaps, a bit innapprop—" the hokage cut me off (I'm getting used to it by now)
"You see Kakashi? That's a good alternative, even Toshi likes it!" the hokage said.
"But…" Kakashi looked a bit troubled. Maybe not the reaction I had hoped for. He looked more like he didn't want to discuss anymore.
"Great then. She'll be under observation at all times." The hokage looked pleased and relieved as he nipped at his pipe.
Kakashi's face was priceless. Simply priceless, as he walked down the street. He looked a bit sick, and a bit resentful at the same time, definitely not having planned this. I, myself was a bit troubled as well. Not only because I was carrying my stuff and Kakashi's groceries, but also because it felt extremely awkward about; Firstly, moving in with somebody. Secondly, moving in with somebody who didn't quite want you to move in and thirdly, moving in with somebody I actually couldn't threaten to move out. Kakashi didn't make it better by blabbing awkwardly about how I had to take my share if I was going to live in his apartment. Not like I chose to move in, and I didn't even listen anyway. I was busy with watching my steps, cause it actually WAS kind of hard to see anything when I was carrying everything in front of me in my arms. His mood had changed from friendly to somewhat annoyed. Not that I blamed him, I wouldn't won't me living in my apartment either. It was opproximately the only place he could be himself and relax. Slowly a street came into view and in the end were a big grey apartment building, not exactly the kind of home I would've imagined Kakashi to live in.
"Right Toshi?" Kakashi interrupted my thoughts.
"Um... Yeah sure." I said bluntly and without knowing what I was actually answering to.
Kakashi sighed heavily and came to halt in front of the big grey building. Two floors up, Kakashi stopped and searched his pockets for a key as I stood and took in the view of the hallway. A narrow one with wooden floors and not very well kept. I'd always imagined that I had his own house, or mansion for that sake.
"You seem so absent minded." Kakashi glanced over at my, as he still searched his pockets.
"Eh, did you say something?" I asked a bit distracted, and really not wanting to answer his questions right now.
"No… But that just confirms that you haven't listening to anything I've said." Before I could answer he seemed to have found his key.
"Ah, here they are." He said out loud and looked a bit the keys as if they some kind of pet who had been hiding from him… Saved by the bell I thought and felt a pocking curiousness beginning to tickle me. His apartment was probably huge, with lots of furniture, a big bathtub, giant kitchen and everything else a high ranked ninja like him probably could afford. A nice guestroom for me with a big bed and my own bathroom and… a… desk? Kakashi's door opened and revealed a small space with a desk up against the right wall next to the window. The room was otherwise a military green, with a few notes sticking to the wall here and there. Kakashi trudged inside, the wooden floor making a familiar cracking sound under his feet. How disappointing. How utterly disappointing this apartment was. I peeped more inside, and moved sideways to get in the narrow door because of all the groceries. A wide bed came into sight… It was pretty clear that Kakashi lived alone.
"Well, welcome your temporary home." Kakashi said and plumed down on his bed and folded his legs.
"This is definitely better than what I'm used to. But I honestely thought you lived more…" I looked for the words but he came first.
"More luxurious? Well… I don't need that." He said like he had read my mind, and scratched the back of his head.
"Well, um… yeah." I mumbled in response. An awkward silence fell upon us but Kakashi was as usual good at pretending that everything was normal.
"So—o, where do I put these. I mean you don't seem to have any kitchen." I asked and looked dryly around.
"Oh, just place them there." He answered and pointed to the bare floor by the right wall.
"Okay." I said with a shrug and carefully put the bags down and turned around.
"How do you even cook. And… Where do I sleep." I just occurred to me that he probably wasn't very willing to share his bed with me, even though it easily could fit two people.
"Well, there is a kitchen which I share with the others who live here, and we share bathroom too. But usually I just use a separate hotplate. I'm not the best cook though, but I eat healthy. And as for the other thing you were asking. You're going to sleep on the floor on a madras." He said the last thing with a smile in his eyes like he was teasing me.
Hell if I was going to sleep on the floor with such a nice and wide bed, just beside me. I could probably trick him into sharing someday.
"Oh… Sounds fine, it's better than what I'm used to anyway." I lied (it didn't sound fine) and took a better look at his apartment. There was a set of narrow shelves by the door, probably a recent addition as it was completely empty. A trunk was standing on the other side of the door, in the bed-side. A calligraphy-style picture of a "scarecrow" face was pinned by the window above his books, which served pretty well to emphasize his name, which meant scarecrow. There were 4 wall hangings which appeared to be a picture of a mountain, the character for nin, a large abstract artwork, and a wall calendar. Kakashi should have lots of money based on the number and quality of missions he had probably been on. He should be able to afford a larger apartment, which indicated the following possibilities: One. He was a miser (though he had treated me ramen), Two. He was rarely home and was usually away on missions, so being practical he maintained a small space, and three. It was his first apartment and he had been too lazy to move… The last possibility was the most logical one, Kakashi's personality considered.
"Oh good… Hn?" Kakashi looked at my pondering face, and probably wondered what was going on.
"I'm just thinking." I said to answer his unspoken question.
"That's something new." He said and chuckled at his own humor and pulled out one of his Make Out Paradise.
I narrowed my eyes at him, though he didn't seem to notice, and for the first time I actually began to 'see' Kakashi. He was apparently lacking of concern of what people thought of him, as he read x-rated novels in public, in front of his students, and even during training and battle. That idiosyncrasy seemed to sometimes causing him to be a subject of ridicule, like when Naruto called him a perv. Maybe he was like that because he was trying to prevent forming close relationships with any woman; who would approach a guy who reads books like that in public? Still, he seemed very liked in the village. Maybe he knew how to treat women because of that book. Or was he the type who depended on his looks and leadership? His kindness, when I firstly began to train with the team was probably superficial as well, though it had worked on me surprisingly well. I would be the first to admit that.
It was stuff that had lay in the debts of your consciousness and had now reached the surface. It wasn't usually anything I dealt with, analyzing other people, but somehow it fascinated me that this anti-social, private man, who would rather have people think he's a lazy idiot, like his purported best friend, rather than reveal his true nature - actually was taking some kind of interest in me. Whether he, himself knew his own true nature was questionable. But he reminded me of myself at some points.
"You really are absent today… Come on, am I that good looking?" he asked, peeping up from his book and surprising me by suddenly breaking the silence.
I tore my eyes away from him, slightly embarrassed that I'd been staring at him, and began to think again. He was just such a mystery, especially his personality. I could feel somewhere, in my mind a craving for gaining his trust, to open him up and to earn the same love and affection that his childhood friends had earned. I'd felt it when I'd entered his mind. I wanted to go back and change that day for him, or be his friend. But he was avoiding getting too close to anyone unfortunately, and I knew that if I wanted him to change, I had to do myself. That was going to take a hell lot of time. He once was competitive and bullied Obito; He was stubborn and arrogant, as demonstrated by his insistence on using his chidori against his old sensei's advice. Small puzzle pieces began to fit together, though there was still some missing. I glanced over at him again. He sat peacefully and read his book. He had removed that green vest and the headband revealing his left eye. I shook the never answered questions out of my head and moved from my spot. I walked over to the window and noticed that the night hung over Konoha like a black carpet filling the sky with visible stars shining down on the big city. By Kakashis bed, two small frames with pictures were standing conveniently beside his beloved books.
"Is this Obito?" I took up the frame and pointed to the black haired boy in the frame who a wide smile plastered upon his face, standing right next to the young Kakashi.
"And Rin?" I pointed to the brown haired girl with tattoos on her chin, standing on the other side of Obito.
Kakashi peeped up from his book and looked at the frame as he reached out to take it up carefully. His eyes softened the slightest as he brushed the frame off of dust.
"Yeah. Incredible that you can remember their names." He smiled softly as he still looked at the frame.
"Incredible? I wouldn't call it that… Honestly it's just hard to forget your memories." I answered. I had to suppres a nervous feeling that was spreading in my body. I knew that this conversation was a bit out of the comfort-zone for both of us and I noticed how he put up his relaxed façade as I had predicted.
"Well, they're dead now. Don't bother with it." He said bluntly, like they didn't mean a thing to him as he handed me the frame. I looked at it, and looked at the young Kakashi, standing there with that indifferent look.
"You look so sad though." I said and leaned my head a bit to the side to take a better look at him.
"I'm smiling under the mask." Kakashi answered with his eyes set on the page he was reading. He sounded so casual.
"Sure you do." I mumbled, a bit annoyed that he just cut the conversation off like that.
Nope; he wasn't easy to open up. I strangled a snicker that was working its way up my throat. I was trying to open HIM up? Come on! I felt quite good about my analysis of him and smiled proudly at myself.
"Oh well… Do you mind if I take a look at the kitchen?" I asked bluntly after a few seconds of being in another world. He peeped up from his book again, with that grayish eyes he had and opened his crimson eyes too. I couldn't believe that I still got equally astonished every time I saw that eye. I should've gotten used to it by now. But it was so dangerous, and yet a completely harmless and fragile thing.
"Hmm. No I don't mind. I might as well go to bed. No sleep for 3 days takes a lot of stamina." He said and moved his gaze to the book again, and I found that I felt slightly disappointed that I didn't have his eye contact anymore.
The trip to the kitchen was nothing in particular. A nice enough kitchen though; small, old and a bit nasty, but definitely better than a fireplace in the woods, and nothing like the big mansions. There weren't that many apartments in the building either. Actually, when I thought about it, there was kind of creepy and silent. I scratched my ribs bored, before I opened the door to Kakashi's place. The lights were out, and there was no figure visible in the darkness, except for the figure of the plant (which was called Mr. Ukki apparently) that stood in his window which the moonlight hit through the window. A black steep in Kakashi's bed showed that he was laying down under his covers, facing against the wall. I could only see his spiky silver hair pop up from behind the cover. One of his memories flashed in front of me again as I felt myself soften by his peaceful figure. It was no doubt that Uchiha Obito was the great influence in Kakashi's life. Although in adulthood Kakashi called him his best friend, in actuality, their relationship was adversarial. They were like "oil and water" where Kakashi was the serious genius from a disgraced clan, and Obito was the buffoon from an elite clan, the Uchiha with the advanced bloodline sharingan capability. The bitterness that Kakashi felt after his father's death was probably exacerbated by being paired with someone from such a respected clan as the Uchiha. His father's suicide was ultimately a selfish act, leaving behind a young son to fend for himself! I knew that survivors often felt guilty that they should have done something to prevent the death, angering at the person for leaving them, or angering at others for causing the death. I'd seen that before. Yet Kakashi granted Obito the adulated status of "best friend" despite their not having been friends in the conventional sense. Kakashi's survivor's guilt, was probably heightened by Obito's sacrifice, and by the fact that he had treated Obito shamefully, resulting in denial of their true adversarial relationship.
What more was that he not only controls his emotions, but also how people perceive him. The mask created an aura of mystery and privacy. The scandalous books read in public created an image of a perverted buffoon, contrary to his younger character and more like his deceased friend's personality. Yet despite often being called an idiot, in serious occasions, he rises to the forefront as a respected leader in control of the present situation as other jounin look to him for leadership and advice… I shook my head. I was becoming seriously too aware of him and I knew that he cared much about those "close" to him even though he didn't show it much. I saw that he had put out a futon for me to lay on.
That night I woke up to sound of rain a pulsing rain that tapped the window rapidly. It was heavy rain, and I looked up to see the rain run down the window. Everything seemed to silent despite the rain. I could faintly hear Kakashi's breathing and suited myself more under the covers. Never in my life had I felt so safe and comfortable and welcome before. To actually have a nice shelter – an APARTMENT to live in was beyond comforting, and I was laying beside one of the strongest ninjas in this village… I was laying in my clothes (I didn't have anything to sleep in) and I quickly fell asleep again.
"Toshi?" someone's voice wrung in the darkness of my heavy sleep.
"Toshi, come on. We're getting late." Instinctively I grabbed the foot that was about to nudge me in the side.
"mmh… " I muttered and rolled to my other side.
"Seriously, get up." Kakashi said and nudged me in the back.
"Okay okay." I muttered irritated and slowly sat up and opened my eyes to the sharp morning light. Kakashi was peeping rudely at my face, but right now his face was only a blur of grey and skin-color. Right… I was staying in Kakashi's apartment. I pulled the sheets higher above my shoulder and embraced myself.
"Jeez it's cold in here." I mumbled and rubbed my eyes again to open them some more. I probably had the most bad morning hair anybody could have.
"We've been sleeping over. We're about two hours late." Kakashi was fully dressed and looked fresh as if he had been up for hours. With no sleep in three days, HOW could he?
"Two hours? You're such a lazy idiot!" I cried and jumped out of my covers.
Kakashi scratched his neck and took a step backwards. I began to wrap my old bandages around my leg in a hurry before I took on the heavy green vest.
"Hold on a sec." I stumbled across the floor and over to Kakashi's deck where he had a small refrigerator placed under.
"I just need something in my… stomach." I came to a halt when I opened the refrigerator and saw that he only had some milk and some carrots. Kakashi laughed nervously
"Eh, if you're looking for something to eat, you have to cook something, and that would take too long." He scratched his neck. Sigh, of course, what could I expect from such a lazy ninja?
"N-no breakfast?" That was is. I'd gotten way too used to being served breakfast every morning in the prison. If usually only ate once a day.
"Hey, you're supposed to be a ninja, right? You can live without it for a while. Oh, and by the way; you might want to wrap those bandages properly around you legs." He pointed to my legs and I peeped, retarded as I was, down se the mess hanging loosely around my feet. Just laying there, ready to be stepped on.
"Dammit."I cussed and bowed down to redo my bandages. I actually felt kind of awkward and nervous, like I had some kind of performance anxiety. I listened to Kakashi's silence and became more and more stressed as my hands wanted to wrap the bandages faster than my brain could actually grasp. This only resulted in some clueless attempts to bind the bandages properly and the more I tried the more anxious I got.
"Here let me help." Kakashi strode over to me in a pinch and kneeled down in front of me. I caught a butterflie which suddenly flew up through my stomach and up my throat. He gently pushed my hands away and dragged my leg a few incher closer to himself.
And why hadn't I said something yet? Why'd I not protested against this sudden kindness that was beyond his usual kindness? It was odd to have him help me with a thing as simple as bandages. I tried to suppress that soft spot inside which was itching and telling my brain things that I did not want to listen to. I sat down when I pulled some more in the bandages, and then peeped at his concentrated face, peeping at his focus on me and my legs… The spiky grey hair I was curious to feel and that grey visible eye and wanted to look into. I clenched my hand trying not to blush or make some odd sound. It would be embarrassing.
"Why are you gapping? Is this weird?" without me noticing, he glanced up at me. I was gapping? I closed my jaw tight and concentrated about something intelligent to say.
"Um… Well, I don't know." Bravo Toshi, BRAVO! That was so well said, that Kakashi probably got almost scared of your intellect… How utterly stupid! I slapped myself mentally and watched as he continued with the bandages.
"There you go." He said after few minutes clapped my left leg once and stood up again.
"Thanks." I muttered, feeling a bit too proud to actually seem happy about it, even though I felt kind of humble.
"No problem, I'm sure you can do it yourself next time. Come on we're leaving." He said, as he moved to the window, ready to jump out.
"I CAN do it myself you know." I muttered in the same instant he sprung from the window. I stood a bit and looked as he jumped over the roof tops, and jumped myself with a sigh.
… I stood completely silent, as I watched the three kids yell at their sensei (well mostly Naruto and Sakura). My mood had fallen just a bit, due to the fact that I felt a bit submissive towards Kakashi and had a broken pride after the "bandage-incident" (and also I wanted to avoid the massive wave of rage that was directed towards Kakashi.)
Pour Kakashi, I thought with a sigh and felt a headache begin to press. I slapped myself mentally again, trying to get rid of my broken-pride feeling. Despite the fact that he had been so nice to me, I still couldn't let my guards down fully. Amazing though, that Kakashi could stand there without defending himself, or getting mad. Maybe he really WAS easy going by nature. I looked into the ground annoyed. It was such an annoying thing, trying to figure him out. It was like thinking about how the universe was put together. Naruto's voice suddenly broke my thoughts.
"I know why you're late! You think I don't know what adult people do when they're alone? Huh? Huh?" he was pointing madly at Kakashi while blowing air harshly out of his nose.
"Euw Naruto! You're such a pervert! How can you think so badly about Toshi? She would never be with someone like Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura took a grip of Naruto's neck trying to push him down.
"Why don't we just start the training?" Kakashi said with a sigh.
Besides some minor changes in the kids usual behavior, probably because of what had happened yesterday, everything seemed to be surprisingly casual. The weather was getting warmer as the morning grew by, and it only made it harder to train. I fell exhausted down in the grass at the training spot, Kakashi had chosen for today. I was so out of shape… again! It wasn't like Sasuke was that hard an opponent, though I had to give him some credit for being so strong and talented in such a young age. He didn't quite fit the level of his other teammates, who were a bit more to the childish side… That damned heat wasn't helping on me much with my training.
"Come on Toshi… Just because you one this match, it doesn't you can take your time to relax." Kakashi blocked the sun by peeping down at me, leaning over so he had eye contact with me. I brushed off some sweat on my forehead and under my nose before answering.
"Kakashi, it's impossible to train in this heat." I said and took a sighed deeply, feeling the grass tickle my fingers. Okay, I honestly didn't have any motivation to train in this heat today.
"There is nothing you can't do, Toshi. I'm sure you have surpassed much worse than this." He teased and offered a hand to help me up.
I muttered to myself and took his warm hand, and was swooped up in one strong movement.
"Thank you." I said and stickered a bit, suddenly getting a bit lightheaded while making sure that I didn't stumble into him.
"You can fight against Sakura if you want to?" Kakashi teased again.
"Shut up, I can fight Sasuke." I said looking grimly ahead, while brushing more sweat off my forehead as I took my battle position. I weren't going to admit that I was out of shape, even though Kakashi probably already had figured it out.
"Hmpf, so cocky." Sasuke said dryly and took his battle position as well.
I peeped subtly to the side and saw that Kakashi already was resting under a big tree, reading his beloved book. The air around him was blurry because of the heat, and small insect and butterflies flew around here and there. The sight was very peaceful and warming (mentally warming!) and I got a sudden urge to go over there and sit next to him and take a nap against his shoulder…
"Ugh!" I barely caught Sasuke's foot which flew at me, directed for my face.
And so was my morning and midways afternoon occupied with training, and putting on sunscreen…
"Kakashi-sensei can you assign us to any missions already?" Naruto walked, as the last kid left, beside Kakashi.
"Mm, I'm waiting until something which can match your strength comes up." Kakashi answered without looking away from his book.
I looked away from both of them, knowing that Naruto already felt much better about himself, and didn't have any more complains. How easy he was so get rid of. Tired, I looked around me as we trduged down the sandy roads of Konoha. The sun was still burning, and with no breeze I felt the urge to just take off all of my clothes and sit under a waterfall. The heat was simply unbearable. I combed my fingers through my hair which was up in a sad ponytail, and then glanced over at Kakashi and Naruto. Except for the fact that Naruto had ran off to some place.
"Oh!" Kakashi stopped in his track, his eyes wide, as if he had sensed something I hadn't. I immediately went in to an alert-mode and looked around me taking a battle-position.
"What is it?" I hissed, skimming every rooftop and corner I could see.
Kakashi continued to stare wide-eyed at his book, and my suspiciousness got the best of me, seeing that he was still reading his book. My arms dropped to my side and I stood there looking annoyed and dumb-founded.
"… Kakashi?" I said, trying to hide the irritation in my voice.
In an instant, he disappeared and reappeared on a wooden bench further down the road, his face buried in his beloved book… Something very exciting was happening in that book I could tell. I sighed and walked over to the bench and took a seat beside him, annoyed that he got me so alert, and by the fact the he could've chosen a bench with some shadow. I stared at the broad sand road before me, trying to ignore the sun. No one was out in this weather. The only thing I could hear was the humming of the cicadas in the distance. The road ahead was blurry in the heat, and boring to look at… I closed my eyes and melted into the bench with a sigh and then opened my eyes again and looked into the sky by using my hand as a shade. There were no clouds to been seen anywhere near. I sighed again and heard footsteps echo in the street. A girl walked around the corner carrying a bag of groceries. She had black hair; shoulder length and looked small and fragile. Most of the girls in this town had black hair. She looked as if she was the same age as me, except she still looked younger…
"Sound like Chinatsu's footsteps." Kakashi's voice broke the silence. I glanced over at him to see that he was still reading his book.
I looked back at the girl with a bit more curiosity, as she walked across the street closer to me and Kakashi. I tilted my head a bit as I looked at her; at first sight she seemed to be day dreaming and somewhat absent, but I jerked when she suddenly let out a small yelp as he eyes suddenly landed on Kakashi sitting beside me. I glanced a bit confused over at Kakashi to see if he was doing anything unusual but he was just reading his book. The girl, Chinatsu apparently, started to continue though, her eyes glued to Kakashi so much that it was almost embarrassing. I don't think she noticed me one bit… My hair color must've been bench-color that day.
"Who is she?" I asked with a cocked eyebrow. Did she really have to boost his ego by staring so much?
"Hn?" Kakashi peeped up from his book and met her gaze with a lazy and brief glance as if he had already forgotten her.
"Oh, she's the girl who works in the bookstore downtown. I see her often as I come to buy books." He explained and looked down in his book again.
I noticed in the instant Kakashi had looked at her, that she yelped again and looked away embarrassed, blushing madly. Wait… Processing… Did she like him? I looked at her confused, disturbed that there was a girl in town who liked Kakashi. I thought a bit about it and found it no wonder that civilian girls like her would die to get a husband like Kakashi. Especially in her age… When she slowly was getting to know a handsome and strong ninja like him, it would almost be impossible for her not to desire him. On top of that; he was a village legend and notorious around the country. He would deffinetely bring her family money and fortune. How sad that she didn't know how Kakashi REALLY was. She was probably wondering how to get him to like her at this very moment.
"Oh." Was my only reply to his explanation about her as I leaned forward and placed my chin in my hand.
How sad that someone like Kakashi could be so messed up by being a ninja. I left my thoughts and saw that the girl came to a stop and looked at Kakashi again. I furrowed my eyebrows by her awkward behavior and saw how she took a deep breath in and manned herself up and marched over to us, for each step looking more and more nervous.
"H-hello Kakashi-san." She greeted and bowed slightly; her voice light and girly. Kakashi peeped up from his book.
"Hello there Chinatsu-chan." He greeted with a smile in his eyes. The girls blushed by his very attention and looked shyly away for a few seconds, considering her next words.
I cocked an eyebrow of the ridiculously awkward tension that screamed out of her, which Kakashi didn't seem to notice at all.
"Oh Chinatsu, I don't think you've met Toshi yet." Kakashi nodded his head to my side, and the girl looked as if she had suddenly seen a ghost. I smiled to her sheepishly, knowing I looked like a total retard; sweaty and tired from the training.
"Oh oh, I'm so sorry I didn't say hello to you Toshi-san." She spoke fast and bowed apologizing to me.
"Um, it's okay." I said, waving a hand back and forth to pacify her panic.
"A-are you Kakashi-san's girlfriend?" She spat out. Okay, could she be more obvious? Her eyes glimmered at me as if she was admiring me… I here I felt like an unattractive tomboy compared to her girly-ness.
"G-girlfriend? Nooo way!" I spat and moved away from both him and her. Her eyes grew bigger and a bit relieved.
"S-sorry Toshi-san." She said and bowed once again.
"Nothing to be sorry for." I muttered a bit grumpy and waved her away. I don't know... I felt kind of irritated by her relief that I wasn't his girlfriend. If I weren't mistaking, I thought I could hear Kakashi chuckle a bit.
"Oh um… I just wanted to hear if you have seen the new 'Make Out Paradise' Kakashi-san?" she turned to him and looked hopefully at him.
"… You mean BRAND new?" now Chinatsu had Kakashi's full attention and that seemed to take her a bit off guard.
"Yes. We just got it home yesterday." She smiled happily for having his attention.
"Why didn't you tell me right away?" Kakashi's eyes were basically spitting fire as he stood up almost knocking his book down and taking her by her shoulders. She looked as if she was about to faint because of being so close to him… Kakashi disappeared in the same instant, leaving the poor girl almost falling backwards. Thanks to my new found 'life' I automatically got up and grabbed her before she fell.
"Wh-where did he go?" she asked baffled.
"Probably the book store." I said, more to myself than to her.
I occurred to me that he had left me completely alone with no observation but this girl. Did he trust me already? Have faith in me? He WOULD be the most suitable person to have faith in me…
"B-but the bookstore isn't open." She gasped dramatically like SHE had done something terrible. Jeez… She was way to soft for my taste.
"I better go open it in a hurry!" she said, suddenly determined to do something admirable for him.
"… Where will you go Toshi-san?" she asked as is she had known me for a while now.
I looked a bit dumb-founded at her. Why did I have anything to do with this?... I guess I was going where Kakashi was going? Maybe it would be a bit faster if I carried her… I mentally grimaced by me, being so helpful. On the other side, if it helped Kakashi it would justify my actions. Yeah, that way it would be okay!
"Here I'll take you, it'll be much faster." I said and turned around and got down in my knees so she could jump on.
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly let you carry me! That would be so rude of me." She said and looked kind of scared. I rolled my eyes with a sigh.
"Just get up already." I commanded, slightly impatient.
"A-are you sure?" she asked again. I looked annoyed ahead, not answering before I turned me head and gave her a glare that gave her all the more reason to be on my back rather than on the ground.
I'd forgotten how bummed I was after training in the heat as I raced along the rooftops with Chinatsu on my back. It was nice though, because the speed made the air that much colder against my skin.
"You must know Kakashi-san very well." Chinatsu suddenly sounded a bit sad as she spoke.
"Um, what are you basing that assumption on?" I asked her.
"You guessed he would be at the bookstore… I wonder why I didn't think about that. But you're a ninja, so that's probably something that comes naturally to you." She said the last thing trying to sound happy. No offence, but it didn't take a ninja to figure out where he was heading, based on how he reacted to what she said… I choose not to answer to what she'd just said.
"How old are you Chinatsu." I asked the insecure girl.
"Oh um, 18." She answered lowering her head behind me, because of the speed.
"I'm 19…" I answered simply.
"19?" she sounded somewhat amused by this fact.
"Mhm… Do you like Kakashi?" I had to ask.
"W-what?" she asked, tensing up.
"do you LIKE him?" I asked monotone. There were a brief pause between us before she choose to speak.
"Is it that obvious?" she suddenly sounded all dreamy.
"Yeah… You probably wonder why he seems so distant." I said and was interrupted by her.
"You noticed that as well? I've always wondered why he was like that, I mean I know a lot of girls have an eye for him even though it only has been a few years back he started being more in public… And what about the mask? He's known to be really handsome behind that mask—" she continued and I had to block her out for a moment.
He'd probably been an ANBU at the time he wasn't that much in public as he is now. Also it amused me that other girls had an eye for him. I don't know why but it just seemed so… so shallow and naïve. He was reading those BOOKS for crying out loud! They all desired him but didn't even know what he was like. I doubt any girl could put up with that none-caring attitude for long. Well, perhaps he WOULD be different if he actually loved someone… The girls in this town probably didn't care though. It was his status and his general kindness (and his looks) that dragged them to him. I accidentally cut Chinatsu off in her speech.
"But have you never noticed that he doesn't seem to get too close to anyone? It's not that you all aren't appealing, but it's just how he is." I stopped and continued.
"You know, there's a lot more to him than what you think. His past, his personality… That's how ninja's are. We've seen and experienced things that you can never imagine or forgive. Now and again, we just try to stay alive and have a normal day, you know." I paused again
"He really is nice, but some things he has experienced has also changed him for good, and affects the way he lives." I couldn't believe what I was telling. That I actually had this in me.
"Oh… I-I never really thought about that." She sounded sad. Great now I'd made her sad.
"You must be close to him though, since you know all that." She said. I'd never really thought about it that way.
"Not really." I said, not knowing whether I was lying to her or myself. I remembered how disappointed he had looked when I had entered his mind. Even though I knew exactly how he felt because of it, I would probably never get to share it with him.
"There it is." She said and pointed to a building in the center of the city.
I landed strongly on the ground crouching a bit, right beside Kakashi who was as glued to the window.
"Thank you god, that you took Chinatsu with you." He said now taking ME by the shoulders while shaking me a bit. He looked absolutely desperate, it was almost embarrassing to me. Chinatsu was barely off my back as I tried to get free of his grip.
"Jeez, chill Kakashi. I've never seen you so excited before." I said and finally got his hands off of me. And he KNEW I would come… sigh.
When Chinatsu opened the door to the store Kakashi basically disappeared again and reappeared by the small desk where he was supposed to pay for his book. The store looked old as I entered and took a peep at it. I scanned to rows of books as Chinatsu prepared for the payment.
"Ninjutsu basic: The flow of chakra – your way of becoming a true ninja." I read out loud and cocked an eyebrow.
"Konoha history. How to make scrolls…" I stopped and looked at that book. I'd never made any scrolls in my life. Not even an explosive tag. It would be kind of interesting to learn some day.
"Toshi!" Kakashi ripped me out of my thoughts and I spun around on my heels and looked at him in question.
"Yeah?"
"Now would be a perfect time to show some gratitude and give me some money for my hard work with you." He shook his empty wallet over the desk. It seemed he had forgotten to bring money.
"G-gratitude? Should that be the reason?" I hissed, reminding of the fact that I still weren't here by choice.
"I've been by your side from the beginning right?"he said, looking at me with eyes filled with begging.
I frowned a looked at him annoyed. It wasn't fair to use those cards.
"You still think I'm concerned about you because I have no other choice?" he didn't look angry, but just a bit… amused. I pushed my lower lip forward and looked to the side.
"H-how should I honestly know?" I muttered and continued "Where should I get money from anyways?" I said. Kakashi sighed and turned around suddenly with a whole other expression.
"Chinatsu-chan, can I owe you?" his voice was suddenly a lot calmer and controlled. Like, very sweet and seducing. Chinatsu blushed slightly and her eyes flickered away from him. I felt like puking, that was simply a nasty trick. Poor girl.
"Um… I-I guess you can." She said and took the money he got.
Come on… How could it be so EASY for him? It was rather pathetic on her side that he had such power over her. If I weren't being too suspicious I would dare say that he was using the feelings she had towards him. Or maybe he was just taking advantages of the fact she had no experience with flirting or love, whatsoever. Not that I had any experience, but it was different with me! I had the power to NOT be blinded or to do as he says (or so I would like to tell myself). I'd encountered many flirtatious nasty men before and I'd always just kicked their asses, and I'd never really let anyone in… Maybe I was incapable of falling in love?
"Toshi, you're daydreaming again. Come on." Kakashi stood in the door of the store, waiting for me with his new book in his hand.
"Um, sure. I'm coming." I said and glanced briefly over at Chinatsu and nodded her a goodbye.
Once again, I trudged down the streets with Kakashi, the only difference that Kakashi now was reading a NEW book. I think that most people would've found this kind of trudging around pretty boring, and probably me as well… But it was like I couldn't recall that feeling anymore. I actually felt good just walking in silence with him. It was like his presence satisfied me, like I felt at peace. I looked into the ground narrowing my eyes until a small wrinkle formed at my nose. Unbelievable that this man I met in my old hometown would turn out to be my friend, and someone I actually liked to be around. But I still had too much pride to be completely honest and relaxed around him. I glanced over at him and saw that he was glancing over at me as well from the tip of his book.
"What's wrong?" he asked lowering his book. I felt a bit uncomfortable with the question.
"Um, just a bad thought." I said, and looked ahead again. He looked at me for a moment and it seemed that he (to my relief) decided to drop the subject.
"Apropos thoughts: I was thinking that you need some new clothes." He smiled with his eyes.
"Wow, you're actually removing your eyes from that book, JUST to tell me that." I said, a smirk crawling across my mouth.
"Why don't we go over there and buy something you would like to wear? We can pick some the ninja clothes off on the release of Konoha ninja clothes and remedies. It's basic clothes for everyone… If you haven't noticed." He said and closed his book.
"R-really? But I thought you didn't have any money." I looked at him in astonishment. It was probably one of my first times when I had enough money to buy over one piece of clothes.
"Here you go. I've been receiving you money and have been saving them up for you. I wasn't sure what you would do if you were handed money at the time you got under my wing." He held out a pocket propped with coins.
I couldn't believe my eyes. Were all that money for me? I didn't dare to reach out for so much money, afraid that I would break them or something.
"I-I couldn't possibly walk around with that much money." I said, and bend my head a bit, feeling humble towards Kakashi.
"Seriously this isn't that much money. I think the hokage is a bit tight-fisted. Take it." He said, his hand lingering with the pocket.
I looked amused at him and reached out for the pocket feeling as if I was handed something very precious, almost waiting for him to do something spontaneous.
Kakashi was kind enough to just stand by as I went crazy in a shop with lots of clothes. At first I wasn't quite sure about what to buy. I didn't want to use all of my money so I bought some basic clothes; sports bras, underwear, one normal bra (my first one actually), some practical trousers, some tank-tops, socks and so on… After that we made a quick stop by the ramen shop (even though it was a bit too hot to eat ramen). Per usual, Kakashi managed to not show his face and even though my curiosity was burning up, I'd never know how he did it. Moving on we went to pick up some ninja clothes and for the first time in a long time I actually had something the suited the weather!
"Gosh, Kakashi don't you do anything else but read in your spare time?" I asked him as he sat in his bed back in his apartment.
He peeped up from his book, when Toshi asked him a question.
"Read, write reports." He answered only having heard her question halfway.
Toshi seemed to have softened up pretty quickly by being able to walk around with him. It wasn't quite what he had pictured, but it suited him very well. When he looked at her, her eyes was so full of trust. He didn't know whether or not he was comfortable with that. He knew that in the end his words weren't enough to decide her future, it was up to the hokage. Not to mention that it was bad enough that he at the same time was beginning to feel attached to her. It was as if she made his every day a bit more exciting, without getting annoying. He promised himself that he wouldn't get too attached, like starting to develop serious feelings or something like that… It was just impossible not to get too involved with her, considering the whole situation. Besides that; he knew she was attractive to men, she just didn't know herself, or she didn't notice whenever someone checked her out with a satisfied smirk. At the same time was she very dangerous and like an unpolished diamond, rough and beautiful but not completely aware of her potential, both in looks and strength. She had never learned to focus her skills and think more tactical. In a way, he didn't want to turn her into a coldblooded ninja. He actually liked how she was now, showing emotions, like when she gets angry or embarrassed or simply humble. It was only when it came to showing affection and more physical contact she had a lock down.
"What do you write about me in those reports?" she asked, standing by his bed, looking innocently down at him. He was sitting in his bed by corner closest to the window, one of his favorite spots.
"You know. Stuff… About you." He answered and smiled peacefully to her.
"I hope it's good stuff." I said and smiled back to Kakashi. It felt odd to smile genuinely, but I felt very relaxed and happy at the moment.
"Depends on how you behave." He said teasingly.
"I'll behave well this week then." I said, still smiling.
Kakashi looked up at me in a different way. His eyes held some sort of amusement and admiration… Or… Well I shouldn't go around thinking that he would look at me that way.
"We'll see." He answered simply and continued with his book. I looked at him for a moment and then pocked his bed with a finger to check the softness.
"So soft…" I mumbled to myself and looked at bed, not knowing whether or not I was allowed to actually sit in it.
"Yeah and it's mine." He replied, not looking up from his book. It was only polite to stay out of other peoples beds… But this was another case. I placed a knee on the bedside to check Kakashi's reaction. Then I crawled onto the bed and sat the feeling the soft sheets and the softness of it.
"You're so lucky to have a bed." I said in envy as I stood like a cat on the bed, brushing the sheets with my one hand. I looked over at Kakashi to see what he was thinking, but he was just reading his book.
Why on earth did Toshi have to crawl into bed like THAT? That way she crawled was in a way tempting, and the 'problem' was that she didn't even know that. Being his student AND roommate, not to mention a ninja he was bound to stay away, and it was only girls he could have one stands with he stayed to. Toshi was far from that kind of material, but it was just the way she acted in the moment. Very discreetly she lay down and curled up like a cat that was sleeping. Her blonde long hair lay over the sheets like a golden river. If ANYONE, like Gai would take away her innocence he wouldn't know what he would do to that person. Kakashi gulped by the thought and was too distracted from reading his book.
Nice sheets. Nice bed… I rolled over when something disturbed my sleep.
"…Toshi…have…M—" I was barely sensing that someone spoke to me. I grabbed the sheets harder trying to stay in my dream state and withdrew myself to something more solid I could hug harder…
"Toshi…" the voice sounded confused now. I nuzzled my face into the sheets and breathed in Kakashi's sweet sent. I then blinked a couple of times tugging myself more into the sheets. I was so tired upon this day.
"Wh-what." I asked half awake and suddenly felt that the sheets which seemed to be a bit harder than usually, shook a bit back and forth.
"I want my bed back, could you move to the floor… please?" Kakashi said.
My eyes flung open when I realized that I was wasn't hugging the sheets, but was hugging Kakashi from the side. Like a two magnets repelling each other I flew backwards, detaching my arm from around Kakashi's waist, falling backwards and landing on the floor, head first, with a thud.
"Ow." I winced and rubbed the back of my head, my legs still on the bed.
"You sure are a heavy sleeper." He said with a grin. I opened one eye still rubbing my neck and discovered that he was only in his top-like thing with mask attached.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked, and I could hear that undertone of tease as he lay there on his back lifting his upper body with his arms to take a look at me over the edge. Though the light was dull I could see the outlines of his muscles from the moonlight the shone through the window. I tensed up. Please, someone kill me, I thought. I'd been totally snuggling up to Kakashi and hugging him and enjoying his body so close to me without even knowing! Like… Like I was his girlfriend or something. I wanted to run away and kill myself. But I had to keep a cool face… Great now I'm blushing.
"I-I slept very well until you woke me up." I stuttered, and dared to look up at him again, trying, no failing, in not looking embarrassed. He sighed.
"When will you stop lying? I can tell when you do." He said now smiling to me.
"What? I-I'm not lying." I stuttered again. Could he really tell? I mean when he woke me up I felt quite comfortable by lying so close to him… NO! NO I DIDN'T!
"I know that I may feel very nice to sleep on, but it just seems unprofessional. I mean I'm a teacher, you're a student." He teased, almost about to break into laughter.
"Oh just shut up! Go to sleep already." I said and propped down properly on my own bed just before another blush crept into my face. I hated that I reacted this way and became so vulnerable. It was like I didn't know my own body. I hated it when he teased me that way, because somehow, deep down, it actually hurt a bit when he said such things, and I knew that I meant it. Kakashi chuckled a bit.
"I will. Goodnight Toshi." He said his voice now low and kind.
"Goodnight." I said with a sigh and drifted slowly to sleep.