Chapter 6

Obito got a letter in the mail from the Sand Village. It had been two years since Madara and Rin's "death". He'd managed to visit them a total of five times since, and this was the third letter he'd received.

It took about a week and a half for him to realize he had mail to read. Without someone living in the apartment with him it was too quiet for his taste, and he found himself drifting around more than spending time in his own apartment.

People seemed to attribute this to not wanting to live in the last place his dead brother lived, and he let them think that.

He didn't get letters from Madara or Rin very often, but when he did it usually meant big news, so he quickly went inside to read it.

Dear Obito,

No changes in address, or worries of recognition this time. For once, I'm writing you with good news. Wonderful news, actually. Rin is pregnant! I waited to write you until we saw a medical ninja for more information, even though Rin wanted to write to you as soon as the test came out positive. I think she actually thought about telling you before me, honestly. I only know she didn't because I haven't heard from or seen you about the subject yet.

We went to the medic again yesterday, and the test was correct. We're going to be having a baby girl! You're going to be an uncle. I'm hoping you'll be able to visit soon to see us.

Obito! Isn't it the most wonderful news you've ever heard? This is Rin, if you couldn't tell by the hand writing. I had to wrestle the letter away from Madara. Selfish bastard's trying to keep you all to himself.

I can't believe that I'm going to have a baby. I've always wanted one, but I never thought it would happen so soon. I think we're ready though. Madara's going to be a great father, you'll be a lovely uncle, and I'll try my best to be a good mother. I think I can do it.

Hoping to see you soon! –Rin and Madara!

"So, why don't you tell me more about this?" Kakashi suggested. "Why would you're brother kill your family?"

"No clue. I'm hoping to find that out when I find him. If this had happened a few years ago I'd think it was because of the threat against Rin. It makes no sense now. He's got Rin, and they have a baby coming. Coming very soon, actually. She should be born in just a few weeks. I was going to try to find some way to get to them in time for her due date." Obito told him.

"Maybe something happened to Rin or the baby and that's what set him off."

Obito stopped dead in his tracks at Kakashi's spoken thought, causing the other man to have to backtrack a few steps.

"No. Couldn't be. Nothing happened to her." Obito said, although it sounded more as though he was reassuring himself of that than telling Kakashi.

"Only way to find out is to find him." Kakashi pointed out to try and get Obito moving again.

"Why would something have happened to Rin? Why would you think that?" Obito demanded instead of moving. He hadn't even allowed such a thought to go through his mind when he was trying to figure out what could have happened, but now he couldn't make the thought leave.

"Because you said there were threats made. If the Uchihas found out they weren't dead, they could have killed her, and that could have set Madara off. He would have let you live because he would know how much you care about her, and thus that you had nothing to do with it." Kakashi reasoned, looking like he wished he hadn't said anything. "But you know him better than I do. You'd know more than me if that sounds like something that could have happened."

Obito would have liked to say it didn't, but he knew how Madera got when it came to Rin. There had been one time a guy had called her a bitch and she'd had to convince him not to start something over it.

And then there was the time someone thought it was okay to touch her inappropriately. They'd been in the hospital for quite a while when Madara found out.

So yes, to a degree that seemed logical, but Obito still didn't like the idea of it.

Honestly, some part of him was hoping there would be an explanation that didn't involve Madara killing the Uchihas, despite logic telling him what had happened.

So, he wasn't thrilled with the idea of something happening to Rin and the baby.

"Do you believe me? About me not having done it?" He asked to change the subject as he continued walking.

Kakashi seemed to consider his answer. "I think if you were really willing to kill an entire clan, you would have at least tried to fight off the ninja coming after you. I think that you don't seem like a killer. And I think I would have dragged you back to the Leaf Village if I thought you had actually killed the other Uchihas. So, let's hope you find your brother so that I don't have to have been wrong about you."

"I know him. It won't be hard to find him." Obito assured him. He already had a few good ideas of where to look when they got to the Sand Village.

"But he knows you too. Which means it won't be hard for him to avoid you." Kakashi pointed out.

"We'll see. He's never been very good at doing that." Obito replied.

When they were younger Madara's way of letting Obito know he was mad at him was to avoid him. It was usually up to Obito to find him and try to resolve things. So, he knew Madara's pattern in avoiding people.

"If you're sure. I just don't want this to be a waste of my time."

"Oh yeah, I'm sure your time is super valuable." Obito rolled his eyes as he spoke.

"You'd heard of me without me committing mass murder, so I must be doing something worthwhile with my time." Kakashi countered.

"Must have been, I think you mean. All past accomplishments. That lightning trick is pretty cool, but you seem to have blown right off the map afterwards." Obito said, shrugging.

"Do you understand how being an Ambu works?"

"Calm down, Steve. No one's saying anything about your Bond like career." Obito waved him off.

"You kind of are."

"Ah, but you can't argue it without admitting you are an Ambu." Obito told him with a grin.

"You already know I am." Kakashi argued, frowning at him.

"Yeah, but we're on a very public road."

"I would notice someone coming."

"Let's hope so."

It wasn't a solid argument by any means, but it worked. Kakashi stopped trying to validate his job to Obito, and Obito stopped teasing him about the subject.

"So, if you don't think I did it, what's with the time restriction when we get there?" Obito asked when the silence started to bother him and he got tired of Kakashi reading his porn book.

"If I take too long getting you back people will think you killed me and come searching. If we don't find him soon, I'll try and get some leeway in continuing the search after we get back."

It was good to know Kakashi believed him enough to plan on continuing their search, but Obito didn't really plan on going back without Madara. He didn't want to put Minato in that kind of position. As his former teacher, the Hokage would look like he was letting personal bias interfere with the job if he sent ninja looking for someone who was accepted as dead years ago. Also a former student.

No, if they didn't find Madara the first day there, and Obito was sure they would, he would have to leave Kakashi somehow, and go looking by himself as he had planned to do in the first place.

He wasn't about to mention that though.

"It's a reasonable enough plan. It just doesn't leave a lot of time."

"You seem confident enough in your ability to find him that I'm hoping the amount of time won't be much of a problem."

"Let's hope you aren't over estimating me."

Obito spotted a small town alongside the road, and after looking at the sky for an idea of the time, decided that was probably as good a place to stop for the night as any.

"Do you want to go there? We can find something to eat and a place to sleep." Obito suggested.

Kakashi shrugged in reply and Obito took that as a yes.

They ended up finding a place to eat after checking out a room at the local inn. Just one room because apparently, while Kakashi didn't think he had killed anyone, he didn't trust him to not run off and try to find Madara by himself. Obito could only argue that logic so much. It wasn't like he minded sharing a room with Kakashi anyway. When he told Kakashi as much Kakashi told him that Obito had an arguing problem. Probably a truthful observation.

The mean went by pleasantly enough. Obito did most of the talking, but Kakashi was actually paying attention since he answered most of the things Obito said.

Obito still didn't get to see his face. Any time Obito glanced at the rowdy crowd on the other side of the room Kakashi managed to eat something without Obito seeing him. Obito was starting to get a little worried about what was hiding under there. He stood by his promise to see Kakashi's face eventually. He was going to damn well do it.

Things did get a little interesting after eating, however.

Obito was headed towards the restrooms. He figured he'd give Kakashi the chance to actually eat something, instead of just sneaking in bites of food when Obito wasn't looking.

He didn't quite make his destination though. An arm snagged him around the waist, pulling him closer to one of the men in the noisy group. Handsome, but obviously drunk.

"You're not half bad looking." The man said, looking Obito, who had easily moved out of his grasp, up and down.

"Quite the compliment. Does that usually work for you? If so, you might consider the self-esteem levels of your victims." Obito told him conversationally, leaning against the bar.

"Victim is such a harsh word, sweetheart." Obito was calling the man Tristan in his mind. Tristan said this with a grin, leaning forward in his seat towards Obito.

Obito smirked at him. "I don't know if I'd call myself sweet, but you can call me Mikado."

"Is now a good time to start calling you that or would you rather I tried it out in bed?"

"No thanks. I like my conversations to be with people sober enough to remember what was said." Obito said with a shrug.

"Like your boyfriend, giving us the evil eye, over there?" Tristan asked, glancing at Kakashi, who was indeed glaring at them. Interesting.

""Not my boyfriend. We're just traveling together." Obito returned his attention to Tristan, but could practically feel Kakashi's glare now that he knew it was there.

"If you're not with him, how do you feel about joining me tonight? I've got a room at the inn down the street." Tristan said, giving Obito a toothy grin.

"Sorry, got a policy about sleeping with people who are totally wasted. It says not to do it." Never seemed quite right if they were too intoxicated to think through if they would regret it latter.

"You sure? I sober up pretty quickly. And if it's performance you're worried about with the drinking thing, I can guarantee alcohol doesn't affect that." Tristan said, winking.

By this time Kakashi had walked over.

"I think it's time for us to leave." He said coldly.

"I'm having a conversation." Obito protested. He didn't particularly care for said conversation, it was sort of amusing, but he wasn't invested past that. He just didn't much like Kakashi telling him what to do. And it was kind of rude to tell him to leave when he was talking to someone.

"I can see that." Kakashi gave Tristan a disdainful look. "And I'm saying it's time to leave."

"Well, you can. I'll meet you latter. I was actually just getting an invitation to a different room." Obito informed him loftily. At least Tristan didn't mention that Obito had rejected that offer.

"You're not taking it." A tone that could freeze oceans.

"You're not in charge of me." Obito shot back.

"Seeing as we aren't headed towards the Leaf Village right now, I'd say I am."

Obito let out a humorless laugh. "Oh, yes, forgive me for not realizing that using my plan to go to the Sand puts you in charge. An easy mistake to make."

"Listen, buddy, if he doesn't want to go with you, he doesn't have to." Tristan interjected to Kakashi.

Obito grinned at that. "See, he gets it."

"I get it." Tristan reiterated.

"How do you think people here are going to react to hearing your name?" Kakashi whispered to Obito, who tensed up immediately.

"Before or after I punch you in the face for being a manipulative bastard?" Obito asked him, but complied anyway.

He waved goodbye to Tristan before walking out with Kakashi in silence.

"If I didn't know better, I'd call what you just did jealousy." Obito commented when they got to the room. Maybe he really did have and arguing problem.