"What do you mean they said that you didn't have 'sufficient experience' or whatever the hell they told you?" Suikazan demanded the next morning. He was working on a car that was at least three decades old and explained to Kisame "it's a miracle that she still runs, but she does."
"It's because you're a really good mechanic." Kisame said.
"Cut the crap Kisame, I know I'm a good mechanic, and so are you! You're an excellent mechanic, but you don't have the 'experience'? What the hell? What else did they say?"
Kisame awkwardly shrugged. "That I could apply to a vocational tech school for two years and have the right paperwork—"
"Bullshit!" Suikazan shouted. "Fuck paperwork, you have the skills, you have the experience! I have the right mind to walk down there myself and give them the paperwork if I have to!"
Kisame stayed quiet in the face of Suikazan's wrath. He remembered a time when he possessed the same fiery anger as Suikazan did. But that was when he was seventeen. Here in front of him, sat a seventy-three year old man who had surely overcome more hardships in his lifetime and still had plenty of fight left in him. Kisame admired Suikazan for that.
"Kisame," Suikazan said, leaning on one knee.
"Yes?"
"Do me a favor and run down to that sandwich shop and by me a sub, will ya? My blood pressure's high and I need something to eat." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. "And buy yourself something too while you're at it, okay? You can keep whatever change. Put it in your piggy bank or something."
Kisame accepted the twenty dollar bill, confused as to what sandwich shop Suikazan meant. "What sandwich shop? Do you know the name of it or at least what street it's on?"
"I don't care, Kisame, just pick one. Go to that one by the bridge, you can't miss it." Suikazan groaned.
Kisame shrugged, turning to leave.
"Kisame,"
"Yeah?"
Still leaning on one knee with a hand over his eyes, Suikazan fished a set of keys out of his pocket and tossed them to Kisame, who caught them instantly. "Take my car. Otherwise, it'll take me forever to get my sub."
Kisame stared at the keys and pushed them into his coat pocket. "Be back in a few."
The sandwich shop was only a couple blocks away from the bridge, just as Suikazan said, capping off a row of brick apartment buildings on the corner. The shop was almost identical to the set of apartments it sat adjacent to – a two story brick structure with a stone stoop leading up to the front entrance. The only difference was that the bottom floor might have been renovated to include a large glass window to show off the inside of the shop. The top floor was still probably rented out as an apartment, giving Kisame a dash of hope.
Walking up the few stairs that led to the store's entrance, something caught Kisame's eye, instantly elevating his spirits. Taped on the opposite side of the window pane was a sign that read "Help Wanted."
Things are starting to look up for our valiant hero, aren't they? (Just kidding, Kisame's no hero...or is he?)
Until next time!
~Sasori33-001
PSThe next chapter's an Itachi chapter, for all of you Itachi lovers out there~