Chapter 3!
Now with 30% more plot!
Title: "Traditions and Partitions"
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
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"All right." Kakashi-sensei exclaimed once Naruto joined us at our team's rendezvous point. "Let's start the overview."
We would usually meet here, at the water tower, a half hour or so earlier than the departing time so that we could go over the mission information as a team.
I'm usually the first student at the meeting place… I've always prided myself in being punctual and attentive.
But...
... this time, I made sure to get there after Sai, who was always second since his ANBU training also included punctuality.
I felt kind of childish for avoiding Kakashi-sensei, but I just had to think a little bit before going back to the way things were before.
A lot's changed in the past couple days.
…ok... maybe not, 'a lot'...
But something was different. I just couldn't really pin-point what it was.
"Haruno, you all right?" the voice of the person who was just tumbling around in my thoughts snapped me out of my staring contest with the map of Kawa no Kuni, the Land of Rivers.
"Eh, yeah!" I reassured him as energetically as I could, which wasn't very impressive. I couldn't help a bit of shock. He used my last name.
That's a little formal for a student of four years…
Especially when he was calling me by my first name so casually only yesterday.
And... I didn't like the way it sounded.
It just sounded weird.
"The feudal families in this region of Kawa no Kuni have been fighting a constant battle for power, but recently one family has allegedly hired an assassin who has already killed three members of the opposing clan so far." He explained with his serious tone as I was trying to devote all my attention to what he was saying and not just the sound of his voice.
"So, it's an assassin this time!" Naruto sounded hyper already.
Kakashi-sensei ignored him politely.
"There was a spy in the accused family who said that he was involved in the hiring of the assassin." Kakashi explained. "It's our job is to investigate the situation and capture the assassin."
"All right! Let's get goin'!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly, already running off to the Konoha gate.
The rest of us followed with less enthusiasm.
I made sure to keep some distance from Kakashi-sensei.
He probably wouldn't care anyways...
By the time this mission is over, everything should go back to normal…
I tried to convince myself of that as I continued to watch the distance between Kakashi-sensei and me as we made our way to the gate, too.
… Later ...
We left Konoha at 10:00am….
We arrived at the feudal family's mansion a little under 13 hours after we departed.
Good time…. Really…..
The entire voyage here was uninterrupted by any drama between me and Kakashi-sensei….
Or talking of any kind…
...I felt a little... put off...
But I distracted myself from that feeling by looking around the room we were seated in. An extravagant room with really expensive, traditional furniture. I didn't know that the clans we were working for were so... rich.
Well, if there was anything I loved about these types of 'rich' missions, it was that we were fed a lot and were given a warm place to stay during the night.
"Thank you very much!" The anxious underling of the Feudal Lord nearly shouted with gratitude as he bowed to Kakashi-sensei.
"No, it's fine." Kakashi explained with a nervous smile. "It is our job, after all."
"And we are humbly grateful for your help." The underling continued, paying no regard to Kakashi-sensei's correction while dabbing the sweat beads off of his balding forehead with his portly hand.
"Um... About the room arrangements... " Kakashi segued. I guess he couldn't take the groveling anymore, either.
"But, of course!" The underling motioned his plump hand for one the maid-servants.
After that we were led through the grounds to the side-building reserved for respected guests.
I wasn't used to this type of special treatment.
But I guess I could get used to it.
I smiled to myself as I followed the group through the moonlit courtyard.
We stopped in front of a large sliding door.
"Here are your quarters." The aging servant said in her monotonous voice.
Kakashi-sensei entered, followed by Naruto and Sai, but just as I was about to walk through the doorway, the servant cut in front me.
"I'm sorry, but our house believes in keeping up the strictest traditions." She pardoned her action as she was starting to close the door on me. "Young ladies do not sleep in the same room as young boys and men. You have a separate room already prepared." She explained further. But that didn't help my confusion as to what exactly that had anything to do with us.
As I was about to find my voice, a hand grabbing at the sliding door interrupted my retort, and distracted the servant-lady from enforcing her 'traditions'.
We both looked up at the third party who just entered the one-sided conversation.
"It should be fine." The smooth voice ensured with a hostile-looking smile. "My students have been on many overnight missions together, and co-ed camping's never proven a problem. These boys may seem troublesome, but they are gentlemen around ladies."
He was definitely a sly talker…but, I wouldn't go so far as calling Naruto and Sai 'gentlemen', Kakashi-sensei.
"That doesn't mean that sleeping in the same room as a full-grown man could be just as civilized." The servant debated, her voice growing frustrated and embarrassed.
My frustration was already rising, too.
What did she expect!
. . .
My head clouded at the realization of what she was insinuating could happen.
I-I wasn't so weak as to be a victim like that!
I felt my face heat up.
Kakashi-sensei paused at the worst moment.
Every moment of his silence that passed, I felt my heart beat growing stronger and harder.
Why wasn't he saying anything against that accusation?
He should've said something by now, something to prove her wrong. That sleeping in the same room as him would be... um... 'civilized'.
Finally after a few more seconds...
"I won't let that become a problem either." His voice suddenly turned kind of rough. "More importantly, if you want your master to receive the best protection, you can't separate our team. We need to maintain constant communication."
His argument seemed to waver the lady's stance.
She hesitantly nodded her tightly-bunned head and opened the door again.
He leaned away from the door, resuming his normal upright posture as if he wasn't just crouching a little too defensively a few moments ago.
"Thank-" I tried to thank Kakashi-sensei, but he was already walking over to the boys, who were peeking over here curiously.
"Ok, ok. Time for bed!" He said with a cheerful tone.
Could he really change the mood of his voice that easily? He sounded so serious just now.
Maybe he was just acting before... or he's acting right now...
I confused myself with that thought for a moment as I made my way farther into the room.
"Eh!" Naruto complained.
"Even ninjas need proper sleep…" Kakashi-sensei trailed on with his carefree explanation as I took off my backpack, still wondering what Kakashi must really be feeling underneath his casual smile... Question of the Century...
In the end, the servant dragged out a partition from the closet and set it in the middle of the room, successfully separating me from everybody.
We couldn't disagree after already making a fit about sleeping in the same room, besides, I could always walk around it if there was an emergency.
I grabbed my backpack, and unbuckled my blanket from it. I still wanted to sleep with my own blanket even though the futons were supplied. Just a knack of mine I guess, but it helped me sleep easier.
I couldn't get the issue out of my mind.
She really thought that by simply sleeping in the same room as the boys that things were going to get out of hand or something?
It was just so strange that anyone would think about something like that.
I never really thought about it, till just now.
Even though these guys can be clumsy and annoying, I would trust then with my life if I had to.
Because we're a team.
That thought still didn't keep my mind from wandering to an awkward place:
It's not like any of the boys would do anything weird anyways… I mean... even if Naruto can act like a perv sometimes, even he wouldn't do anything. Sai doesn't even recognize me as a girl, practically. And Kakashi-sensei... well, of course he... wouldn't... he... um...
"Hey, Haruno."
There it was again. That voice, that name… just the wrong side of that name.
It still sounded bad with his voice.
Then again, he never used to say my name so frequently… usually he'd only pick up a sentence with context, never addressing me or anything... so the fact he was using my name was something good at least.
Wait.
Why would that be good?
As those thoughts whizzed through my brain before I could think through them logically I quickly turned around, letting the blanket float down onto the futon messily.
My eyes found him quickly.
He was leaning lightly against the partition.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei?" I asked a little loudly on accident. I was just surprised since he kind of interrupted some really weird thoughts of mine and because... this was the first time he talked to me, individually, since...
"You alright? Something on your mind?" He walked over to me, a few steps.
He was always the type of teacher that would just sense when things were bothering his students, and ask about it… at least, whenever he actually cared or something... other times he would just let us deal with our own problems if he knew we could.
But I was surprised he couldn't guess what was bothering me.
"Nothing… just a little nervous about the mission, I guess." I lied.
"We've been through more dangerous missions. I can't imagine you getting nervous over a single assassin." He verbally nudged the truthfulness of my answer.
"Heh, I guess you're right." I caved. "I've just been over-thinking useless things... I think." I elaborated vaguely, as I turned to my futon, my back was to him.
There was a moment of silence. I was only waiting for his words.
I wished I could see what expression he had during that moment.
Then, I swear I could feel something graze my shoulder, but it was only for a moment.
"If you need to talk-" He started, but was interrupted.
"Hey, SAI!" Naruto shrieked. "Push your futon further away! It's too close to mine!"
"Ok, fine." Sai said quietly.
"Farther!. . . . Farther! . . . . FARTHER! NOT CLOSER!" Naruto ordered.
We both looked over to the partition, listening to the little argument. I laughed a little.
Kakashi-sensei walked over to the 'boy's side' without another word.
I was left in the dark… wondering what he was going to say...
I quietly picked up my blanket.
"Hey, you two." He disrupted their spat with a mature tone.
"Kakashi-sensei, are you sure Sai shouldn't be on the other side of the partition, too?... For our protection." Naruto joked… at least I think it was joke…
"You want Sai and Sakura on the same side of the partition?" Kakashi repeated Naruto's suggestion in a weird way that made me freeze. I never heard his voice sound even slightly suggestive like that.
I was suddenly aware of my heartbeat for a moment.
This was never a problem before that servant lady had to get all 'traditional'!
That partition was like the elephant in the room and it was totally blowing this situation out of proportion!
Before I could carry on my internal rant any further I heard Naruto's voice start whispering:
"Well, maybe I could go over to Sakura's side by myself, the-" I reached for my backpack, it was improvised ammunition that would make a nice sound when it collided with Naruto's face, but it wasn't necessary.
By the time I looked over, backpack clenched in my fist, Naruto was childishly crouching to the floor in pain, while Kakashi's fist was still out in the air where the top of Naruto's head was a few seconds ago.
After I registered the rare situation, I had to say something.
"No!" I shouted stupidly. But it got the point across.
Naruto looked over at me with an embarrassed expression.
"Hey, what was that for Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto whined. "Sakura, it's not what you- What're laughing at Sai!"
I crawled into my futon, smiling a little.
I could hear Kakashi's soft, deep laughter start up, too, as Naruto was frantically trying to get back some respect he thought he had before.
I wonder why Kakashi decided to take care of Naruto's pervy side (which he no doubt inherited from Jiraiya) this time…
I don't think it was the good food, or the warm futon that improved my mood, but it was pleasant to drift off into sleep to the sound of his laughter.
I wonder what he was going to say before Naruto interrupted….
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"That doesn't mean that sleeping in the same room as a full-grown man could be just as civilized."
Those words repeated in Kakashi's mind as he was finally settling down to sleep.
He had broken up Naruto's antics, and had finally prepared his own futon, by which time everybody was already asleep.
He knew he had handled Naruto's joke a little too violently for an adult… but his fist seemed to move on its own… it just instinctually needed to hit Naruto for saying that about his teammate… about Haruno... Sakura.
It should be okay to call her by her first name in his mind, right?
His thoughts kept revolving around that phrase.
"…doesn't mean…full-grown man…civilized"
Did he look like the type of man that would do that?
He took off his vest with a single motion, and crawled into the covers.
It was always best for a shinobi to train themselves to fall asleep exactly when they wanted to, and to remain a light sleeper, but Kakashi couldn't clear his mind as quickly as he should've been able to.
I would never let myself do anything like that.
But now that that woman brought it up, I can't get it out of my head.
I was so cautious of myself I couldn't even touch her shoulder when I would've with any other student anyways.
It wouldn't have meant anything… but I can't seem to trust myself around her when I'm like this…
He reached over to his little satchel that he placed at the end of his futon.
He rummaged through it, brushing aside the cold metal kunai to find his salvation.
Well, if I'm getting too thoughtful about my personal situation, I can always drown my worries by reading.
He flipped open the worn-out, dog-eared, green book featuring a white figure sitting beneath the playful lettering : "Icha Icha Tactics"…
He released a warm sigh through the thin fabric of his turtleneck.
If only everything worked out so perfectly romantic as in these novels…
…. He didn't realize till he was drifting into sleep that he hadn't turned a page since opening it, or that he hadn't actually finished reading a full paragraph.
He couldn't stop thinking about the other side of that partition…
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