Chapter 35
Naruto groaned as he slowly regained consciousness. A single blue eye cracked open and he was met with the unforgiving light of a familiar apartment. Slowly it was all coming back to him. The Chunin Exams, the chase, Shikamaru, Sakura, Sasuke, Gaara. His hand gripped the familiar textured fabric of the sofa and he tried to pull himself into a seated position.
A gentle hand rested on his back and helped him to sit up. He blinked in an attempt to clear his vision before rubbing his eyes. "Keiko?" he grumbled as the fog in his mind began to lift. He knew that gentle hand of hers anywhere.
Keiko sat down next to him, rubbing his back soothingly, "Take it easy, Naruto. You got a bit beat up but it wasn't anything too serious." She supposed she had the Fox to thank for that. According to Sasuke, Naruto couldn't even walk after his fight with Gaara but all the medical ninja could tell her was that he had some pretty bad bruises. The bandage on his head was enough proof of that.
It was the day after the attack. Konoha as a whole was working tirelessly to try and put itself back together. With so many wounded, the hospitals were full and Naruto's wounds were seen as minor. So Keiko took it upon herself to let him rest at her apartment. The number of dead ninja was still rising but they were being reported slower now. The attack had caught so many good ninja off guard, and in turn there were many lives lost to the conflict. The loss of the Hokage was especially great, and now she had to think of a way to break the news to Naruto.
Naruto rubbed his eyes as they adjusted to the light. "What about the others?" He remembered Sasuke telling him that Sakura was safe, but what about Shikamaru? Or that puppy Pakkun? Sasuke had to be alright too, right?
"All fine," Keiko reassured, her hand brushing a few locks of blond hair from his forehead. Her eyes softened, "I hear you did well against Gaara." Sasuke hadn't been too willing to give too many details but it was clear that Naruto once again proved just how powerful he had become. Each day that passed it only made her faith in the boy grow.
At the mention of Gaara, Naruto's demeanor became more serious and there was a pregnant pause as she waited for him to speak. "He's like me."
Keiko blinked, "Huh?" She wasn't entirely sure what Naruto meant by that. By the far off look in his eyes, she knew he was being more serious than he had been in a long time.
Naruto's hand rested on his stomach, gripping at the tank top he wore tightly. "There's something inside of him too."
The silence only grew as Keiko looked at him wordlessly, too stunned to bother saying anything.
"He reminded me of myself before I met you." His gaze drifted to the floor, lost in memory.
"Naruto..." Keiko could feel something tug at her heart. All at once, she was reminded of just how lonely Naruto had been all those years ago.
"It's true. Before meeting you I was alone all the time. People wanted me to disappear, and I remember wanting them to disappear too." Of course, now that he was older he knew that he had wanted them to die. At that age, he didn't even know what death truly meant. He just wanted all the awful people to disappear. A ghost of a smile crossed his face, "Meeting you was one of the best things that's ever happened to me. Because of you, I met Teuchi and Ayame, and Iruka Sensei told me how you talked some sense into him too."
Keiko couldn't help the tickle in her throat and she had to blink away the tears. She was touched.
He didn't notice Keiko's welling emotions, too lost in his own thoughts. Naruto's eyes took on a more serious look, "I guess, seeing how I could have turned out has me feeling a little weird, ya know?" He sighed, "He was in so much pain, Kei." He understood Gaara more than he had ever understood anyone before. He was the first person to go through the same things he had. "I think I got through to him though..."
She smiled and gave a short nod, "I hope you did."
"His own dad wanted him dead." Naruto mumbled, the memory playing in his head before he forced a laugh, "Guess I'm lucky the old man put up with me, huh?"
Keiko stiffened at the mention of Hiruzen. Though Naruto didn't use his name, she knew all too well of who he spoke of. Her grip on his shoulder tightened and she closed her eyes, doing her best to reel in her own emotions before she told him.
Naruto blinked and looked over at her. He could tell she had something to say, "Keiko?"
Wordlessly, Keiko pulled him toward her so his head rested on her shoulder. Her arm around him and her chin atop his head. In a voice just above a whisper she spoke, "Naruto, the Hokage is gone."
Nothing was said at first. It took a full minute for Naruto to process the information. When he did, he pushed away from her, standing and stumbling over his own feet, "What!? What are you talking about?"
Keiko's arm was still outstretched from him pulling away. She sighed, her hands forming fists on her lap, "He fell in battle against Orochimaru."
"B-but-!" Was he shaking? He couldn't stop. It didn't seem real, it had to be some kind of joke!
Keiko stood, facing Naruto and placed her hands on his shoulders, bending down to look him in the eye, "Naruto." She said, gaining his attention.
His eyes flickered to hers and for the first time he could see the pain that lay within them. Even though she was smiling, there was a deep rooted pain there. All he could bring himself to do was clench and unclench his fists, maybe that would help him somehow.
Her smile never faltered and she squeezed his shoulders firmly, "He died protecting the village. The village he loved. The people he loved." Over the last day, she thought back to her last conversation with the Hokage nearly constantly. He was so sure he would see many more years before the end. Who would have thought that his time would end so abruptly?
"Yeah, but-!" Naruto couldn't think of anything to say. How could he be gone? Sure, he was old, but he was the Hokage! The Hokage! They were the strongest there was! Not only that, but the old man didn't deserve it. Naruto remembered all the times the Hokage had been lenient with him and stopped by to check on him when he was little. There was a time when he didn't even know the old man was the Hokage. He was just, 'old man,' and a nice one at that. How anyone would want to kill him… it wasn't right.
Keiko pulled him forward, resting his head on her shoulder. "When you protect those truly precious to you, giving your life is a small price to pay." She could feel the tears soak her clothing and his shoulders begin to shake. Keiko could only hold him to try and sooth him as he grieved.
It didn't take long for the boy to wrap his arms around her and bury his face into her shoulder as he had when he was little. He was a ninja. Ninja didn't cry. But, it just wasn't fair. Nothing about this was fair! Ninja never showed their emotions, it was one of the few shinobi rules he remembered from the academy. But, he couldn't seem to stop the tears from flowing. Had it been anyone else, he would have done everything in his power to hold the emotions in. But, this was Keiko. She was safe.
Unknowingly to Naruto, Keiko fought to hold her own tears back as well. Only a few made their way down into the boy's messy blond hair.
~0~
A singular dark eye looked up absently into the sky, the first drops of rain cool against his skin. How long had he been standing there? Long enough for the sun to rise, and for a storm to make it's way over the village all without him even realizing.
Kakashi sighed and looked back down at the memorial stone. He had been looking at it for so long the names were engraved on the back of his eyelid. He hadn't meant to be there for so long. When he arrived he had planned to say a few words and be on his way, but instead his mind wandered as it often did in this place. Thinking of all the what ifs and if onlys. What if he had been a better captain that day? What if he had realized the truth behind his father's death sooner? If only he had listened.
Every mistake he had ever made flooded into his mind. From the smallest missed detail on a report to the devastating events at Kannabi Bridge. There were so many, some much worse than others. Mistake upon mistake compiling a top one another until he wasn't even looking at the memorial anymore. Instead, he could see those events happening, as if they were only moments ago.
Soft footsteps alerted him and he pulled himself out of his stupor. He didn't have to turn to know who it was. Sensitive ears and a good memory were able to identify them as Yugao. He didn't have to guess why she was here as his eyes hovered over one of the newest names on the memorial. "Are those for Hayate?"
Yugao silently walked forward, holding the bouquet of flowers gingerly in her arms. Years of Anbu training helped her to keep her composure in front of her former Captain. Though he couldn't see it, she nodded and moved to place the flowers on the memorial. A tribute to her best friend and lover.
Kakashi turned as she approached the memorial. Careful to not look at her as he slowly moved away, "Better make it quick, the Hokage's funeral has already begun."
Her fingers brushed against a few of the petals as she said a silent prayer. "And you Kakashi? Paying respects to Obito?" Her eyes were downcast, remembering the story of how Kakashi had received his famed Sharingan. Years before, when he was still the Captain of Team Ro he had told them and sworn them to secrecy. At the time, Team Ro was the closest thing Kakashi had to true friends. It was a way to make them understand he was not the heartless killer others made him out to be. He didn't reveal many details, very few in fact. It was enough for the few of them who knew to know why Kakashi was always at the memorial. She stood and turned her head toward him, "Instead of making up excuses to be late, why don't you simply come here earlier?"
He closed his eyes, feeling the rain fall freely against him. Only just beginning to weigh down his hair, a few locks clinging to his face. "I did. I've been here since dawn." He paused, "This place makes me think of the mistakes I made in the past. And I've made so many of them." He turned his head slightly, "For what it's worth, I'm sorry for what happened to Hayate."
Yugao closed her eyes, her hands clenching at her sides as she fought to keep it together, "I always knew there was a possibility… I just never thought it would happen inside the village." She grit her teeth, shoulders beginning to shake slightly as all the things she forced herself not to think about came out. "Never being able to see him again… touch him..." She forced a laugh, "That horrible cough of his too, I'll never hear it again..."
Kakashi felt his hands tighten at his sides. In that moment he could feel the pain radiating through her words. That incredible loneliness and heartbreak. And he had heard she continued to work even after Hayate's death. "Yugao..." He said softly, implying that she didn't have to say anymore.
She looked down, glancing back at the flowers for several long moments. "Kakashi, you and Keiko..." She saw the way his shoulders tensed and she paused. Yugao had never actually met Keiko, but she had heard the rumors circulating. "Cherish the time you two have. God only knows what I would have done differently had I known what was going to happen..." Of course, she didn't know if what she had heard was true or not. Regardless, she felt obligated to say it.
Kakashi stopped, his singular eye fixated on a particular spot in the sky. He couldn't even bring himself to deny what Yugao had insinuated. In his mind's eye he saw Keiko. Her smile. He had never expected for her to become so important to him. Though she was a capable Shinobi, he wanted to guard that smile more than anything. It made the world brighter. Unlike him, he knew she made the world a better place just for being in it.
He yearned for her. Her presence was a glorious silver lining to an otherwise dreary day. His heart would flip in his chest, his palms grew clammy, and his usually calm mind became clumsy when she was near. All these feelings he read about in books, he was feeling them. Never had he expected those emotions to be so debilitating. They caused him to act almost irrational. As a Shinobi he should put a stop to them. Snuff out those feelings. But, that was the strangest part.
A part of him liked it.
For years, he never expected to feel this way about anyone. It's why he engrossed himself in books. To live vicariously through the characters. Filling that void within him for human contact. Before he had even realized it, Keiko had been filling that void. Now, seeing Yugao like this had him thinking;
What if Keiko met that fate?
Just the thought of it sent a sickening chill down his spin and into the pit of his stomach. His chest tightened slightly.
He was in too deep. Far too deep.
"Kakashi?" Yugao called to him, having already walked past him. "You coming?"
"Oh, yeah." Kakashi said, following her to the funeral. He spared one last glance over his shoulder to the memorial and the white flowers laying there.
~0~
The funeral was over. A somber occasion that left a bittersweet taste in her mouth. Most of it was a blur as she was too fixated on the picture of the Hokage to pay attention. Even when Kakashi had arrived, all she could do was nod at his presence, too lost in thought for anything more.
Her feet carried her into the training grounds and down a familiar path. It had been a long time since she came out this way. Even after all this time, she could still remember each tree and all their markings. Even though the rain had stopped, the grass and leaves were still wet. Droplets of water falling on her as she made her way through the heavily forested path.
She came upon a familiar clearing with an equally familiar pool of water. This entire place was like walking down memory lane. When she first arrived in the village and started her training, it was perfect for her to get away from others and train in private. The body of water offered her the perfect place for her to work on her Water Ninjutsu, and later her Ice Release. This was where she first created the Jutsu she was most known for, Blizzard.
Keiko walked up to the pond, her foot making contact with the water and a sheet of ice forming on the surface. She stood upon the calm body of water, the ice slowly encapsulating the entire surface of the water. Channeling her chakra like this was soothing. She couldn't speak for others, but when she was practicing she always felt more at ease.
She walked along the ice easily as though it were normal ground. Her eyes scanned the trees and she remembered Itachi. It was so long ago now, and it was the reason she had avoided this place for so many years. There were so many memories tied to this place, why she felt the need to return there now, she didn't know.
Perhaps, it was so she could let herself go.
Her hand tightened into a fist, and in one powerful strike she focused her chakra into her hand and brought it down onto the surface of the ice at her feet. The force of the blow sent large sheets of ice flying around her and there was a momentary crater. Ice and water flying. She didn't have her swords on her, but that didn't matter. To blow off steam she didn't need them.
Keiko wasn't sure how much time had passed. Ice covered the small clearing in patches, some of it had already begun to melt. Keiko stood, panting as the cold was even beginning to nip at her own skin, ice even clinging to her. Throughout the entire exercise, she could think of one thing.
The Hokage was gone.
She had already shed tears for the old man. But even now, they threatened to fall. And, fall they did.
Keiko remembered when she first met the Hokage. She had looked up to and respected him. Only a few days after coming to the village at the age of ten he welcomed her and she proclaimed her desire to be a Shinobi of the Leaf. He had smiled at her. Though he didn't say it she knew he believed in her abilities.
The only time she had any resentment toward him was when she learned about Naruto and his neglect. Slowly, she had forgiven Hiruzen for what he had done. She understood why he did what he did even though she strongly disagreed. After all, Naruto didn't hold any negative feelings for him. If he didn't, why should she?
In the last few years she had grown closer to him. He grew from being a leader who she respected, to a friend. For him to have lost his life, even while saving the village, it was a hard pill to swallow. Even as the tears fell she could take solace in knowing that he had lived a full life. She would miss him dearly, but she knew they would meet again one day.
"Wow, never thought I would see you cry."
Keiko stiffened at the familiar voice and hastily wiped her eyes before turning. "Anko, what do you want?"
Anko stood still, watching Keiko with an unreadable expression as the silence between them grew. Finally, she spoke, "Just surprised to see you have more than one emotion. I thought I was the only one who could get anything out of you." She purposely looked around at the ice around them, kicking at a solid chunk of it at her feet.
After everything that was going on, Anko and her shenanigans were the last thing she wanted to deal with. Keiko scoffed, "I really am not in the mood for your games, Anko. So, could you please get to the poi-"
"I wanted to say thank you."
Keiko stiffened yet again, all animosity in her face and body gone and replaced with shock. Anko, thanking her? What was the world coming to? What could Anko possibly have to thank her for?
Anko crossed her arms and looked off to the side. "For helping me in the forest. I never thanked you."
Silently, the wheels in Keiko's head began to turn, she never expected a thank you. Especially not after a month.
The dumbfounded look on Keiko's face only served to amuse Anko, but she wasn't done yet. "I always hated seeing that smile of yours." Keiko opened her mouth to respond but Anko held up a hand to stop her. She moved closer, the two women standing face to face, "I saw all the shit you went through and thought, how can she hold it together so easily? How could she do what I couldn't, ya know? Eventually, it became a kind of game. See how far I could push you before you cracked." Her grin grew, remembering how Keiko would shriek when she found a snake, or how she would squirm uncomfortably under her touch. It had all been a game, and a rather entertaining one at that.
She paused, crossing her arms over her chest and her grin faded slightly, "The Hokage said something to me before he died. He said you knew what I went through better than anyone else. How it feels to be alienated, treated like an outcast... Maybe there's some truth to that."
Keiko was trying to keep up with all of this. It seemed so sudden and out of character. At least, compared to how Anko usually acted around her. "What are you trying to say?"
She was surprised when Anko stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Keiko's shoulders and began pulling her along with her. A grin playing on Anko's lips, "Even though I'm in a sentimental mood, I think I'm gonna need a drink to get into all the details."
Keiko's eyes went wide, "Are you sure that's the best idea? We were literally just at a funeral a few hours ago." Not to mention, the thought of a drunk Anko was one she wasn't entirely sure she enjoyed.
Anko's grin only grew, "We're Shinobi. There's going to be a crowd because there was a funeral."
She couldn't deny that, but she still tried, "I don't drink."
"You'll watch me then." Anko shrugged.
~0~
At the bar, Keiko sat at a booth waiting for Anko to return with her fourth drink of the evening. She sighed, how did she get herself into this mess? Her fingers massaged her temples as she waited for Anko to return. While she was curious about what Anko wanted to say, Keiko couldn't wait to get home and go to bed.
Across the room at the bar, Anko eyed the drink the bartender was making mischievously. She had stuck to her usual drink, but she knew this place had special ordered exotic alcohol in preparation for the Chunin Exams. With so many foreign customers you had to be sure to meet everyone's tastes. If this worked like the bartender said, tonight was going to be even more interesting.
Anko grabbed the two drinks and made her way back to the booth, placing the dark beverage on the table in front of Keiko as she sat.
Keiko looked up in surprise and her face soured, "Anko, I told you I don't drink." She eyed Anko's drink, "that's your fourth drink, feeling up to telling me now?"
She scoffed, taking a drink from her own glass. "It's just tea, don't be such a bitch. Not my fault you don't know how to live a little."
Red tinted Keiko's cheeks in annoyance. Biting her tongue, she grabbed the drink Anko had grabbed for her and inspected it. She couldn't be too careful. Taking a sip, her eyebrows shot to her hairline. "Not bad."
Behind the rim of her glass, Anko grinned, "So, why don't you drink anyway?"
A quarter of the tea gone already, she rested her cheek on her palm. "I used to drink. But those days are behind me now."
So, she wasn't going to tell her. She had hoped for something juicy, but it didn't matter. After a long pause, Anko leaned on the table, arms crossed. "You know Orochimaru was my Sensei."
Keiko was a little taken aback, absentmindedly stirring her drink with the straw, "It's not exactly a secret."
Anko shrugged, "Well, when he abandoned the village, I went with him. I didn't realize how much of a moron I was until he put this mark on me."
When she paused, Keiko nodded, "So, you returned to the village."
"Yeah, a lot of people weren't happy with me. Called me a traitor. It wasn't the warmest welcome…"
Keiko found herself sympathizing. "I imagine not."
She shook her head, "No. I went a long time feeling resentful. The Hokage could have turned me away and made me a rogue, but he didn't…" Her voice grew soft, remembering the old man. He had been one of the only ones to understand. Her grip on her glass tightened, "Only those who truly knew how twisted Orochimaru was bothered to be around me. To everyone else, I could drop dead." Anko watched as Keiko took the last sip of her drink. Keiko had been watching her intently, slowly sipping the drink. "That's when I saw you."
Blue eyes blinked. "Me?" She blinked again when she took another sip and it was empty.
"Yeah," Anko said, raising her hand to gain the barman's attention. The man nodded in response and she continued, "I saw you were being threatened by some other Chunin. Damn, how long has it been?" She scratched the back of her head trying to remember as another set of drinks were set on the table. "Nine...Ten years ago?" She waved a hand, "Anyway, even after they talked down to you, called you horrible things and said you were nothing more than fodder for a team… you smiled." Her eyes narrowed at the memory. "I realized then that you were able to hold yourself together, after all the shit I heard you had been through. Then there was me, who was just nearly holding myself together at the time."
Keiko sighed, her eyes portraying her sympathy, "Anko-"
"Hey," she cut her off, pointing a finger at her for emphasis. "I'm not done. You wanted me to talk, so let me." She took another drink, leaning back, "When we went on that mission to get Ibiki… I'd heard about how you could be on missions. When what's-his-face fell behind and nearly died, I was set on leaving him behind. But you weren't having any of that. You," she said pointedly, her voice growing agitated at the memory, "were a disrespectful brat who couldn't follow a simple order. Ya just did what you wanted."
The woman in question leaned back and laughed awkwardly. It wasn't that she did what she wanted, she did what she thought was right. It was ingrained into her at a very young age. Do the right thing. Help people who can't help themselves. It was in her nature to at least try.
Anko's voice grew quieter. "But, you did what I couldn't. You were willing to risk your own life when he would have left you to die. I wouldn't have been able to do that for someone I knew hated me."
Keiko, now half way through her second cup of tea, sighed. She felt light, maybe it was because Anko was opening up to her. "Why tell me all this now?"
Silence hung in the air between them for a moment, "Just something the old man said."
The two kunoichi talked on and on for longer than either of them planned. Their conversation swiftly changed from somber and serious to lighthearted and joking. Anko tells Keiko about all the different pranks she had planned to pull over the years but just never found the time. To anyone who didn't know then, they were talking as if they were old friends.
Keiko's mind grew muddled. A sloppy smile plastered to her face as she rocked from side to side. She hadn't felt this way in a long time. As if the world itself was bobbing around her. It was nice. She didn't have a care in the world.
"Keiko? Anko? What are you two doing here?"
Both women turned toward the voice. Keiko instantly beamed at seeing the familiar faces, "Kurenai! Asuma! On a date, I see?"
Asuma took quick notice of Keiko's flushed cheeks and glazed eyes. He blinked, not quite believing it himself, "You're drunk."
Keiko blinked, looking down at the four empty glasses in front of her. Then slowly raising her gaze up to meet Anko. "You…?" She asked, not finishing the sentence.
Anko shrugged, grinning, "It got you to take that stick out of your ass, right?"
She tilted her head to the side. There was a voice, almost a whisper in her mind that said to be mad. That voice was quickly silenced. She had forgotten how nice it felt to just let go. To not care.
Everyone watched as Keiko stood up from the booth and shrugged dramatically, "Oh, what the hell, one night won't hurt!"
Kurenai blinked, sharing a troubled look with Asuma. Keiko never drank, at least not anymore. Red eyes glanced at the table, seeing the numerous glasses and her face paled. How much had she had to drink?
When Anko stood to join Keiko at the bar, her sleeve was pulled on by Kurenai. "Anko, what do you think you're doing?"
"What? Can't a few girls have some fun?" She winked at the older woman, "Want to join us?"
Kurenai's lips formed into a line. She was well aware of Anko's flirtatious and straightforward personality. The kunoichi didn't even have to try, and when she was drunk it was all the more apparent. "Keiko is against drinking, why would you let her?"
Anko shook the hand off of her shoulder and waved a hand toward Keiko who sat happily at the bar with her new drink. "She doesn't exactly look against it right now."
The older woman watched the younger two sit at the bar, their conversation continuing on. This wasn't good. A strong hand rested on her shoulder and she looked over, seeing Asuma giving her that reassuring smile. It was more of a grin than anything, but it still made her heart flutter.
She gave Asuma a small smile in return. A small hint of color touched her cheeks remembering the time they had spent together at his place just before this. It was a somber day, but they had found a way to make it just a little brighter. Kurenai walked forward toward the bar, Asuma just behind her. "Come on you two, is today really the day to be drinking?" Kurenai tried to reason. She prayed Keiko wasn't too far gone quite yet, but knowing Anko she must have slipped her something strong.
Anko turned around in her seat and opened her mouth to say something but stopped short. Instead, she climbed onto the chair and then onto the bar itself and gave a shout to get everyone's attention. The bar wasn't at max capacity, but there were still many Shinobi who were there, now all looking at Anko.
She raised her glass, "To the Hokage! A brilliant Shinobi, right to the end! May he kick ass in death as he did in life!"
There was thunderous applause from the other bar patrons while Asuma and Kurenai didn't seem too impressed by the action. Anko stepped back down and gestured widely, "I would say that proves my point."
Kurenai glowered at the younger woman. "That doesn't prove anything."
"Well, hello everyone, fancy meeting you here." A new voice said.
Keiko turned sharply, gripping the counter tightly to force the world to stop spinning where she wanted it to. Her smile grew, "Izumo, Kotetsu!"
Izumo took a seat next to Keiko, leaning back against the bar, "We were gonna come by for a bit when Anko made her toast."
"Very elegant." Kotetsu said lightheartedly with a thumbs up, making Anko grin in return.
"So we thought we would say hi." Izumo finished.
Kotetsu leaned back against the bar on Keiko's other side. "So, Keiko, first time I've ever seen you drink. Just trying to unwind?" His tone shifted and he could see Izumo roll his eyes at his friend's attempt at flirting.
Keiko shrugged, sipping at her drink. "You could say that." She flashed him a smile, "Are you offering me a chance to unwind, Kotetsu?"
The Chunin laughed, "Well, I-"
A sudden hand on his shoulder made him stop and Anko's head appeared over his shoulder. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Kotetsu. What would Kakashi think?"
Keiko paused, a wistful smile playing on her lips as she looked down into her drink, "Don't know why you would say that. We aren't together or anything."
Izumo blinked, "So the rumors are false."
Kotetsu took a different approach, "So I got a chance."
Asuma chuckled and teased, "Yeah, no way Kakashi would want a lightweight who can't handle her liquor."
There was a pause all around them while Keiko slowly shifted until she was turned around completely on the stool. Her glossy blue eyes met Asuma's and he was surprised at just how determined they were. There was a heavy silence as they all waited for her to do something. Nothing happened, until the bartender dropped off Izumo's drink. Before the Chunin could grab it for himself, Keiko reached behind her and grabbed it, bringing the cup up to her lips and downing the entire glass in one go.
Izumo gawked at the audacity, while the others were just downright surprised at the move. The entire time, she never stopped looking at Asuma, that challenging look in her eye. Perhaps, even more surprising, was that she didn't even make a face. She might as well have drank water.
Keiko slammed the cup down on the bar and wiped her mouth with her free hand. In her most steady voice she proclaimed, "I am no lightweight. I can prove it too. Come on, I'll take you right here. I'm not like Kakashi or Guy, I can throw a damn kunai straight. Just as soon as you stop swaying!"
The man in question shot a puzzled glance down toward Kurenai. He was standing perfectly still. Just how drunk was she? What was in those drinks?
Kurenai stepped forward, "Now, now, Keiko, there's no need for any of that. No one here thinks you're a lightweight."
Anko steps forward, pushing Kotetsu out of the way so she could stand right next to Keiko, a hand around her shoulder. "Yeah, not at all. With everything you've had I'm surprised you haven't thrown up yet! You're a champ!"
Keiko crossed her arms, nodding in agreement. It might have been years since she last had a drink, but she wouldn't have them telling her she couldn't handle it! It was a strange sense of pride. One she might feel ashamed of in the morning, if she remembered.
"I would much rather hear about you and Kakashi." Anko said slyly. "Tell us, are the rumors true? You two a thing or what?"
Keiko blinked, looking down at the ground. "I don't know..." She looked up, tilting her head to the side as she peered up at the ceiling. "We haven't gotten a chance to talk about it. Not since he almost kissed me."
At that moment, Asuma gasped so hard he nearly inhaled his cigarette, Kotetsu fell off of his chair, Izumo spit his drink, and Anko and Kurenai were frozen.
"What?!" All of them said in unison.
Keiko covered her ears at the loud shouts all around her. Did they have to be so loud?
Anko held onto her shoulders and shook Keiko lightly, "Oh my God, I thought that bastard was gay! He almost kissed you? What's he look like? Is he handsome? Or is he disfigured?"
Kurenai yanked Anko away from Keiko with a heavy sigh. This was just perfect. Just like in the past, Keiko had no filter. Drinking gave her a false sense of freedom, that much she knew. With Anko there, there was no telling what Keiko would spill.
"I didn't see his face." Keiko said simply.
Anko laughed, "So you're saying he tried to kiss you and left the mask on?"
Keiko shrugged, "Probably doesn't even count if the mask was on." She turned around to face the bar, where Izumo was profusely apologizing for the mess the bartender was cleaning. "I'll take another!"
~0~
Kakashi walked along the streets of Konoha aimlessly. He had stopped by Keiko's apartment, intent on speaking with her about what had happened but she was nowhere to be found. He tried to piece together where she could be and checked a few different locations before he finally just decided to go on a walk.
He still wasn't sure what he would say to her. All day he had tried to formulate what he would say to her and his mind came up blank every time. He sighed heavily. Kakashi hadn't faced a challenge like this before and it was certainly throwing him for a loop.
A loud holler and shout caught his attention and he blinked. He stopped where he stood and looked up to find a rather popular bar was packed. This was the bar they had gone to the night Keiko kissed him goodnight…
He could feel his heart skip at the memory and he shook his head lightly.
After a moment and a heavy sigh, Kakashi made his way over to the familiar bar. There wasn't anything else to do so he might as well see what the fuss was about. Kakashi made his way over to the bar, stepping inside and weaving through the people who didn't even bother to look at him.
"Kakashi."
Said man turned to the voice and leaning against the wall was Asuma, smoking a cigarette. Kakashi walked up to him, looking around, "What's all the ruckus about?"
Asuma pointed across the room, "She's had a bit too much to drink."
Kakashi followed where he pointed and after a few people moved out of the way he saw her. Keiko was...arm wrestling? He witnessed her in a struggle against a man he didn't recognize, but a ninja based on the headband on his arm. After several moments and a grunt of exertion, Keiko slammed the back of the man's hand into the table so hard the man stumbled and fell to the floor. The cheering picked up again and Keiko raised her fists into the air in victory.
For a moment, Kakashi could only gawk at the sight. Shaking his head, he turned to Asuma, "Drink? You mean she's drunk?" Asuma shrugged and nodded, taking another drag from his cigarette.
Anko appeared out of the crowd, flashing a large grin, "You can thank me for that. She needed to get that massive stick out of her ass. Learn to relax." She laughed when the crowd cheered yet again, "Never thought she could get this loose!"
His eyes narrowed down at the woman, "Anko, what were you thinking?"
She was a little taken aback by the venom in his voice, "Hey, easy, don't get mad at me! Besides, I loosened her up for you!" She slid closer to him, nudging his side with her elbow, "Finish what ya started, am I right?" She winked up at him, her eyebrows raising suggestively.
Kakashi leaned back a bit and scowled. What was she talking about? He heaved a heavy sigh and looked out over to Keiko, taking in her appearance. She was still in the black outfit she had worn to the funeral. Her hair was flung behind her to not get in the way of her challenges. He noticed easily that her face was flush and she moved purposefully. As if just the slightest misstep would send her tumbling. He then noticed how her top had loosened. She usually kept it firmly in place and modest, but now it was all too clear to see clear plump flesh peaking out. When she leaned forward to rest her elbow on the table, even more was shown. The hungry looks of the men around her were all too apparent now.
In an instant, he disappeared, making Anko and Asuma blink in surprise. Not a moment later, he reappeared behind Keiko and gave the man who approached a dark glare. With a yelp, he turned and fled, like a dog with its tail between its legs.
Keiko hadn't noticed him yet and stood straighter, hands on her hips. "Pfft, I'm not that scary!" She turned to call out another challenger for her fun but was met with a masked face. Instantly, she beamed, "Kakashi!" Before the Copy Ninja could respond her arms were flung around his neck and she pressed herself against him. Her cheek rubbed against his as her feet barely brushed against the floor.
While he was sputtering, trying to think of a cohesive sentence. There was a massive uproar from the crowd around them and his mind immediately sharpened. He had to keep it together. At least while there were others around. A few calls rang through that he could make out, such as, 'Get some!' and 'That lucky bastard!'
He sighed heavily, picking up Keiko as if she were a feather. One arm behind her back and the other under her knees. All the more noise Keiko made was a gasp and her flushed face grew darker. Those blue eyes of hers peering up at him in surprise. He was taken aback by just how glossed they looked. How much had she had to drink? "I'm taking you home."
Keiko nodded silently and bumped her head against his shoulder, content with where she was. The overly loud and vivacious demeanor now gone as she seemed to relish in his hold.
More cheers erupted from the bar and in a single moment they were all silenced by a single over the shoulder glance as Kakashi walked out the door.
The trip over to Keiko's apartment was a quiet one. He hadn't counted on finding her drunk like that. He had wanted to finally talk to her about his actions the other night but at this point he didn't think it was worth it. At every turn, something seemed to interrupt them. Even if the rest of the night was quiet and calm, she was drunk. By the looks of it, this night was going to be very hazy for her at best.
"Kakashi?" Keiko asked, not bothering to try and hide the slur to her voice.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think I'm a lightweight?"
The question was puzzling. "No..?" He had no idea what brought on that question. But, after he thought about it for a moment, he remembered just how much she had been able to put away in the past. Guy had told him at one point that Keiko had cleared out the bar on a few occasions. Part of him assumed that was an exaggeration on Guy's part, but it did give some weight to the amount that she used to drink. "How much did you drink?"
"I stopped counting after… six. That tea was amazing."
Tea? What kind of tea was she talking about? He supposed he had Anko to thank for it, as she said. Now that he thought about it, what on earth did he miss? Keiko and Anko weren't friends. But now they were drinking together? What was the world coming to?
When they arrived at her apartment, Kakashi let her stand and she fumbled around on her person for the key. Upon finding it, she unlocked the door and made her way in, kicking off her sandals and making her way over to the sofa where she sprawled out with a large sigh.
Kakashi chuckled at the sight as he listened to the muffled incoherent talking she did into the cushion. He shut the door and removed his own shoes before moving into the kitchen. A minute later he walked over to Keiko and helped her sit up, handing her a glass. She took it wordlessly and downed it without thinking. Once it was gone, she frowned and looked up at Kakashi as if he had betrayed her. "That was just water."
He took the glass and sat it on the coffee table. "Water is what you need right now." Kakashi took a seat next to her on the sofa, his gaze hard as he watched her, "Keiko, why were you drinking? Did the Hokage's death upset you enough to make you relapse?" He couldn't think of another reason to make her get into it so hard.
She shook her head, "No. I'm sad, but I know he died doing the right thing." She sighed, sinking further into the couch cushions, "I didn't even know I was drinking at first. Wasn't until Asuma said I was drunk that I realized it."
"Yet you kept going?"
Her eyes were unfocused and she looked up at the ceiling, "Yeah… It had been so long, it just felt right in the moment. I forgot how nice it feels to just let go. No worries at all. Like, what would one night hurt, you know? I could have stopped at any time." She suddenly sat straighter, a determined glare fixated on the wall, "If I go tomorrow I could stop myself just as easily!"
"No." Kakashi said sternly, his hand reaching out for hers and he lowered her fists to her lap. "You're not going back. You went so long without it for a reason."
Keiko frowned, "Yeah, but I'm better than I was then..."
He shook his head, "Do you have any idea what Iruka or Guy is going to think when they hear about tonight?"
She paused, "Way to go?"
"No."
There was a long pause between them. So long that Kakashi contemplated just getting up and leaving. Right before he was about to, she broke the silence with a question he had never expected her to ask.
"Do you like me?"
His breath hitched and he looked over at her. Blue eyes filled with uncertainty as she waited for a response. He sputtered, "O-of course, I like you."
She shook her head, "No. Like, like-like me."
Not even the characters in his books asked the question in such an elementary way. Not to mention, this was not a conversation to have with her while she was this inebriated. Lord knew she would end up saying something she would regret. "Keiko, you're drunk. Let's not-" His words caught in his throat instantly.
In one smooth motion, he was pinned on the couch. Keiko above him as she straddled his waist and her hands resting on the back of the couch on either side of his head. She swayed and his hands rested on her hips to steady her. His one visible eye was incredibly wide as he rapidly worked to try and make sense of the situation that he was now in. "I think you do like me, Kakashi."
She leaned forward, her head resting on his shoulder and her lips brushing against his neck. Even through the thin material of his mask he could feel them. A shiver like no other ran down his spine and she noticed. He could feel her grin through the mask as well and his involuntary reaction seemed to only spur her on more. She pressed her body against his and Kakashi leaned his head back, closing his eyes as he tried to keep himself from falling apart at the seams. His hands gripping her hips tightly, too distracted to concern himself about leaving marks.
He didn't know whether or not to be thankful to be without the flak jacket. On one hand, he was easily able to feel her body against him, feel her warmth and all the sensations that came with it. On the other end, he desperately wanted it. It would have been a barrier between him and temptation.
Her lips nuzzled into his neck, making their way up to his exposed ear, "Why else would you try to kiss me?" She chuckled and the feeling of her warm breath so close to his ear had his heart beating like a hammer in his chest. It was like a high he wouldn't be able to get enough of.
"Keiko, that's enough."
She nipped at his ear, "If you want me to stop, make me."
He couldn't. Every touch she made put him further under her spell. He had wanted this for so long and he never thought it would be possible. Never did he think it would happen, let alone like this. Her lips parted from him and her hands slid from the back of the couch up to the sides of his face. In that moment he realized something.
She wouldn't remember any of this. He had been around enough drunken Shinobi to tell when someone was past that point, and Keiko had passed it. Everything from here on would only be remembered by him, or at least she would think it was a dream.
Keiko smiled down at him, "It doesn't count if there's a mask, right?"
Huh? What was she-
The world came to a screeching halt. Time stopped and he would be damned if it started again. She leaned down and brought her lips to his. It was a simple and innocent touch of the lips and yet it turned his body to stone and his blood to fire.
She broke away from him slowly, undeterred by how still and quiet he had become. Her thumbs softly caressed his cheeks. A warm and loving smile spread across her face as she said three simple words, "I like you."
It was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Keiko yelped as she was flipped over, her back making contact with the cushion of the couch and Kakashi hovered above her as she giggled. "Keiko," he said to grasp her attention, "you don't know what you're saying."
She tilted her head to the side, her black hair easily fanning out around her head like a dark halo. "Course I do." Her hands reached up and cupped his cheeks, "I've liked you for a while."
His hand came up and grasped her smaller one, "If you didn't have more alcohol than blood running through you, you wouldn't be saying that."
"...Maybe you're right. But it doesn't make it any less true." She grinned with a giggle. "I've even dreamed about what it would be like to kiss you after you left me hanging."
Lord help him.
This was either a blessing, or a disaster waiting to happen but he couldn't stop himself from making that leap. He studied Keiko for a few more moments, taking in every feature before he spoke, "Do you want me to?"
She blinked, "Huh?"
He lowered himself down, until much like she had to him, his lips were tracing up the side of her neck. She too shivered, but the audible moan she let out was enough to make his head spin. Her hands came around to grasp at his back and they grasped his shirt tightly. One of her legs was trying to wrap itself around his own. Did she have to be so tempting?
"Do you want me to continue?" He whispered in her ear to which she nodded her head furiously.
He could feel her heart beating as quickly and as strongly as his own as he reached up and pulled down his mask. He placed a soft kiss to her jaw, her chest inflating with an audible gasp, and moments later his lips found hers.
Kakashi did his best to keep the kiss simple and slow but with every move they made against one another he lost himself. His hand came up to tangle in her hair while the other slipped around her waist. He lost track of how long they stayed like that. He felt like a man who had wandered the desert for ages, and rediscovered water for the first time. He couldn't get enough.
Finally, through sheer will he pulled himself away from her, quickly placing his mask in place and resting his head on her chest just below her chin. Both took a moment to catch their breath and Keiko looked up at the ceiling in wonder, "Whoa."
Kakashi found himself agreeing. This was the last thing he had expected when he brought her home. Slowly, guilt began to chip away at him. It was wrong to do this when she wouldn't remember anything. Deep down he knew he was taking advantage of her but he couldn't help himself.
'I like you.'
It wasn't the first time a woman had confessed to him. But Keiko was the first one to have his entire world come to a halt because of it. She wanted this as much as he did and he reasoned that this would be all the more he would get. Tonight was a taste of a dish he would never have again. For her, it would be a wonderful dream if she remembered it at all, and for him, a memory he would cherish until the day he died.
He sighed, he could feel her chin on his head and he could hear her heart beating erratically in her chest. It was surreal to think about and he closed his eyes before attempting to get up.
Before he could move, he felt Keiko's thighs tighten on his hips and her hands dig into his hair, "No," she said softly, "stay."
He sighed, relishing in the feeling of her fingers running through his hair. Closing his eyes he allowed himself to relax into her. Only until she fell asleep. Then he would leave.
Even as Keiko drifted into sleep, Kakashi stayed awake. Yugao popped into his mind, and the pain of losing Hayate. He raised his head to look at Keiko's sleeping face, softly brushing a few strands of hair out of her eyes. If he lost her, he didn't know what he would do with himself. With every fiber of his being he knew he would protect her. He couldn't allow another person to die needlessly because of him. He had already lost so many, one more and he would break.
~0~
Many buildings away stood a man hidden in the shadows. A spyglass held to his eye as he smiled at the sight he had just witnessed. He took out a card from his pocket and looked at the pretty face upon it, chuckling. "Keiko Takahashi… perfect."
Finally, after 35 chapters, the first kiss. I hope it was worth the wait! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter for you guys and can't wait to hear your feedback! (Would you believe me if I said my original plan was to wait a bit longer?)
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Posted - 10/10/2021