Burn
"The family you come from isn't as important as the family you're going to have." - Ring Lardner
Chapter 14
Natsu had managed to make it out of Konoha. He didn't even pay attention to where he went after he left. He found a nice tree and sat there as he gained back his breath. Rhino was dead. He couldn't kill Tami. He was as good as dead. He had tried. He really had - but killing Akane when he was young did something to him. His poor little sister... And then, Tami was... Maybe he'd have to kill her later. Maybe then Danzo would allow him back into the only family he ever knew. Maybe if he went and found Tami and begged, she'd present his case before Tsunade-sama.
Natsu was lost. None of it seemed enough. None of it would work. Tsunade would see his actions as treacherous. Danzo would never allow him to live after his repeated failures. In a day - Natsu had lost everything. He lost his village, and lost his place within Root.
He had nothing. Natsu breathed in a shaky breath. It was all for nothing. He pulled off his headband and slashed the emblem right through the center.
"I have no home." He murmured.
X
As much as Kakashi wanted to stay at the hospital, he couldn't. He had to go and continue his work. He shouldn't have left without seeing if he could track Danzo. He left quietly the minute he could. He had been about to head out when Oliver had stepped into his way. Kakashi didn't know what he was expecting, but the brief nod wasn't it. Kakashi simply gave him an eye smile before vanishing.
His first action was to summon his Ninken - using Pakkun to try to hunt down Danzo's scent. He followed the Ninken for a few miles out into Fire territory, headed to the land of Waves - and then Pakkun stopped. He sniffed a couple of places and made a face.
"I can't find anything else." Pakkun grumbled. The two tried to find footprints - it seemed someone had covered their tracks.
"We moved too slow." Kakashi said quietly. It was disappointing - but he wasn't surprised. While they had been prepared, Danzo must have had a backup plan in the works. Kakashi headed back to the village, bounding from tree to tree as he went. There were still things that needed to be done.
He first checked in with the Anbu who had taken over taming the fires at the old Root hideout. He had done what he could while he was there, but his mind had been elsewhere. He summoned up the water dragon and helped reduce the fires.
He had been on his way back to the hospital when he saw Ibiki. He had been about to continue on but he had called to.
"Hatake! Look at this." Ibiki shouted. Kakashi nearly wanted to pretend he didn't hear him, but Ibiki was spiteful enough to take that out on Tami. He dropped down.
Ibiki stood by a dead masked body - Anbu or Root? He couldn't say. Then he saw the split Anbu mask.
"You know, I thought when Jiraiya said she could fight he was just making it up." Ibiki said, a wide grin on his face. He rubbed his chin and kicked the dead body.
"She did this?" Kakashi asked. Ibiki smirked back at him.
"Looks like she learned how to fight."
The body looked like it was dealt with efficiently. Tami hadn't once killed anyone outright to save herself while they worked together. Kakashi had been the one that had to step in each time. She had killed a few by accident or simply out of necessity.
Tami had managed to come to this part in her journey as a Kunoichi. She survived.
"Didn't you teach her….?" Kakashi tried, glancing up at the man.
"Yeah. But you know what she's like. Thought too much." Ibiki stated.
Kakashi hummed. He moved over and bent down to pick up the broken piece. The porcelain mask had been split in half. Owl. It was Owl's mask.
She had faced two skilled Root and lived.
He'd never been more proud of her.
"Told ya she'd be ok, boss." Pakkun spoke up. Kakashi smiled weakly at his summon. He glanced at Ibiki before heading on toward the hospital.
He found Tsunade outside of the hospital, she was barking out orders. She turned to him and scowled.
"You don't have good news, do you?" She said.
Kakashi sighed and shook his head, "Danzo escaped early and left someone pretending to be him. I tried to hunt him down but the trail went cold."
Tsunade stood there for a moment, her hands on her hips as she absorbed the information. She cursed and slammed her fist against the building. Kakashi couldn't help but stare at the crack that started to form.
"I'll see you Monday morning. Do what you can. We need to get this mess handled." Tsunade ordered.
Kakashi spent the rest of the night helping with cleaning up. It was a few hours in until he saw his Tami. She was up and about, chastising Junpei.
"Do tell, are you just going to stand there and pretend to help?" She snapped, jabbing Junpei in the chest with a pointed finger, "I've met props more useful!"
Kakashi blinked. It had been a long time since he had heard her yell at someone. It had been a long time since it was him. For some reason - he didn't like her yelling at another man. He blinked.
"Bun-chan! I am helping! I'm managing!" Junpei insisted.
Yup, Kakashi decided. He didn't like it. Call him jealous, but he wanted his Tami's attention for himself, alone. Especially right then. She looked healed - though she still looked like she had been dragged through the dirt and snow. Kakashi knew their relationship was meant to be quiet. He also knew half of Konoha gossiped about them. For just that minute - he didn't care. He went right up to his Tami-chan and tossed her right over his shoulder. She gasped, trying to brace herself against his back.
"Kakashi-sempai?" Junpei asked. Bear also leaned over, probably staring in shock. The two men still had on their masks. Oliver's eyebrows raised as he took the sight in. Maya just stared at him, unimpressed.
"Hatake! What are you doing?" Tami screeched, trying to right herself.
Yes. That was better. He smiled gleefully to himself. Much better. He waved to their friends and left. His Tami squeaked as he leapt away.
"Kakashi!"
He smiled. Instead of taking her to her place, he took her to his. He didn't want to share her that night.
"What are you doing? Hatake, so help me!" She carried on.
The minute he entered through the door, he set her down. Her eyes flashed as she adjusted her clothes.
"Darling, truly, I thought we were trying to keep things quiet! That Bear fellow had nothing but questions, and-"
Kakashi pulled down his mask and pulled her in for a kiss. This was even better. She melted for a half second before pushing him away.
"Darling." She began tersely, her hands on his chest. "You can't just pick me up and cart me off!"
He just did. He didn't care, but he just did.
He just smiled at her, pulling her closer. Her eyebrows lowered as she sent him a scowl. It wasn't serious. There - this was better. Much better. She could clean up, he could make her dinner - they could cuddle. That was all he wanted after the last two days of chaos and being without her for a month.
"You can clean up in the bathroom." He told her.
Her eyebrows raised higher, her hands on his shoulders.
"My love…. Did you just carry me to your flat over your shoulder to have me use your bathroom?" She asked.
"Ah… well." Kakashi began, looking away. Maybe he had gotten carried away. She sighed, looking up at him. He saw her evaluating him, her gaze flickering across his face. Her mouth pressed together and finally she shifted to dust off his shoulder.
"Darling, I don't think I've any clean clothes here." She said as she straightened his jacket.
"You could wear my sweater again." He offered. He really liked that she had done that - the female lead in Icha Icha Fantasy had worn her love's coat. He figured it was about the same. The female lead gushed how she felt loved and protected. He wanted her to feel the same, especially now - especially around him. And it didn't at all hurt that the night he returned seeing her in his sweater he particularly enjoyed the sight. She looked so cute and comfortable!
She flushed, "I don't think I could wear just your sweater."
For just a minute, the thought of her standing there with damp hair and only wearing his sweater appeared in his mind. He could see her looking at him shyly, a coy smile playing on her lips. The bottom of the sweater barely covering-. He flushed.
"Shorts. I have shorts." He managed to get out. He wasn't taking his mask off for the rest of the night. She blushed as well, her gaze shifting away. She smiled weakly and began to trace a seam line on his jacket.
"So… I get a shower. And you get me a sweater and shorts and then…." She said, glancing up at him curiously.
"Dinner and rest." He said - that was all he could really handle right now. Anything more, and he might not be able to keep his promise to her. He just had to keep his mask on. He didn't trust himself enough to kiss her anymore that night.
"Shall we talk?" She tried.
"Tomorrow morning." He insisted. Her lips twitched - he glanced down at them but forced his gaze back to hers. He let her go, helping pick out a shirt and shorts for her to wear.
He had thought her changing out of her dress behind a screen had been difficult. Hearing his shower running and knowing she was -.
Food. He needed to make food. She'd be hungry. He was hungry - make dinner. Kakashi forced himself into the kitchen to get something started for them both.
His Tami came out a half hour later, her hair still damp. His sweater on her looked loose, draping off of her form. He could barely see the shorts-. He looked away.
"I made dinner." He said softly. She came over and placed a hand on his back to look at what he made. He had cooked chicken and rice - something simple for them both.
"It looks gorgeous," she began, leaning into his side, "did you mean it? No serious conversations, my love? There's a few we need to have."
"Not tonight, Tami-chan." He insisted, moving her to the table and chairs to sit. Was it weird he wanted to propose? He couldn't piece together why. Maybe it was that she was wearing his clothes. Maybe it was that she was stronger now.
'I need to fix my father's tanto.' He thought. Would she even know what he was doing if he proposed? She's smart. She'd figure it out.
She smiled and went to help set up the table for them both. They mostly ate in silence. His Tami seemed exhausted, her eyes fighting to stay open.
He guided her to bed after he got his own shower. He had stubbornly kept his mask on. She wouldn't kiss him if it was on. He wouldn't be tempted. It was a good plan. Until she noticed it.
After they had laid down and he turned off the lamp, she placed a hand on his jaw.
"Darling, that can't be comfortable." She told him softly.
"It's fine, Tami-chan." He insisted.
"Are you cold? You haven't worn it to bed in some time."
"Maa."
"If you're sure…"
She kept on asking. Kakashi couldn't take it anymore. He wanted to take off his mask, but if he kissed her it would lead to other things. Maybe she didn't realize how close he'd come before now? Especially now. He decided to comment on it.
"If you really don't want to be intimate before we get married, then I need to keep the mask on." He said finally. She stiffened beside him. Cracking one eye open, he saw his Tami stare at him. Her eyes were wide and her mouth fell only the slightest bit open. There was a cute blush creeping across her cheeks. So, she really hadn't realized it? Again? His poor Tami - she didn't realize how long he'd been waiting for her. He was still waiting for her even now. He guessed it was her way of unknowningly getting back at him for all the times he was late to their missions. He chuckled, deciding to press the issue. Kakashi knew he shouldn't have teased her more. He couldn't help it. He rolled to loom over her, sliding his hand against her back to pull her against him. She gasped just a little bit and he grinned. It almost felt like payback.
"Tami-chan, did you forget?" Kakashi asked, murmuring into her ear, "you're in bed. With a man. Alone. Did you think I only wanted to rest?"
He ran a free hand down her side to her thigh, shifting his knee between her legs. She froze, her eyes widening as she finally understood. She looked up at him, stunned. Her breathing had increased, too. He grinned.
"I - I didn't..." She was so still, so flustered, he couldn't help but feel a little vindicated. His Tami hadn't even realized what she did to him. Was she that oblivious to him? Or had he been hiding it that well?
"I've been hiding it, Tami-chan. I'm not infallible."
Her hands found his shoulder as he nuzzled her ear. Had it been his way, he would have taken her that night. He would have proposed in the morning at breakfast, and been married by lunch. They'd spend the rest of the day in each others' arms, not worrying about missions or Uncles, or anything else. Her face burned bright red as he slowly pulled away. He was trying to behave himself. But she was making it difficult.
"I'm... Darling, I hadn't..." She stuttered as she looked up at him, trying to find her words. Kakashi smiled at her and leaned up, pressing a kiss to her forehead through the mask. Kakashi felt a surge of satisfaction. She looked just as flustered as she had made him years ago! It was good enough for now for him. He could wait, but he didn't want to wait much longer. If he did, he'd have to be more distant with her - and neither of them wanted that.
He caressed her side lovingly with his thumb before laying back down. Now he felt better, though his Tami still seemed flustered. She still lay beside him just as stiff as she had been a moment ago. He decided she deserved just a little bit of him teasing her after how long he pined for her. It wouldn't hurt, and she now knew not to take advantage. He didn't think he could hold out forever. He had been hiding this from her for a time.
Kakashi cuddled against her side, only feeling a little guilty that it took her a moment more to relax again. He fell asleep easily, feeling proud of himself.
X
Tsunade stood in the mess that was her hospital. Nurses were running around, her shinobi were running around trying to fix the mess. She groaned, pinching her nose. She should have guessed the rat would run. He was a coward. She had been sure he'd try to sweet talk his way into her office like he did so often with Sarutobi-sensei. She had thought he'd sweet talk her, and then force his Root to attack.
Tsunade rubbed her neck as she left the mess.
She made a bad bet.
'I guess that means this can't get worse. At least for right now.' She thought. She'd have to uproot the Root, and find Danzo. Only part of that equation would be difficult.
For now - Tsunade went to find Shisui. He was still in his room, laying on his bed, his arms folded behind his head.
"Hello, Hokage-sama." He called out.
Huh. So he knew who she was without announcing herself.
"Shisui - how are you?" She asked him, moving to the end of the bed. He pushed himself up by his knuckles, and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Okay. A little rusty. I can't sense Shadow clones as easily. They don't make enough noise." Shisui confessed, "But I think I did pretty good."
"That wasn't what I meant." Tsunade drawled. She shook her head as she thought about it. He must want to go back out into the field, "We can release you tomorrow. Inuzuka Reina has already offered to help you back home."
Shisui sat there, his mouth pressed into a thin line. His face turned away, toward the door.
"Will I be allowed to return to the field?"
Tsunade's mouth fell open for a moment. He wanted to get into the field again? He didn't even have his eyes anymore. How could he?
"Shisui… I think it would be careless of me to allow you to go back into the field." Tsunade said.
"I just fought Root. Again. And I won." He said, his voice terse.
"With a full Anbu guard."
"With a guard. I didn't return to Konoha to just sit at home. I could have stayed on the farm."
"You can't see."
"I can sense just as well."
"I'm not clearing you for work, Shisui." Tsunade sternly told him.
Shisui's shoulders fell. He scowled as he sat heavily on the edge of the bed. He let out a long, deep sigh.
"I'll make sure your paperwork is ready for the morning so that you can go." Tsunade said. Shisui grunted but didn't move to get up. She left him there, barely believing he thought she'd let him go and do missions again. She needed good nin, but she couldn't just let a man without sight into the field.
In the mean time, she needed to get the paperwork out of the way. The Clan heads needed to be notified. And, more than likely, the Elders were already in her Office waiting to lecture her. She was almost done with it all, but she chose this - for Naruto.
At least she no longer needed to share the village with a schemer. Danzo was gone. With hope, the Fire Daimyo would stand his ground and not yield.
'I'll have to play this right. Now that Shisui is here and is a witness, we can protect Itachi's cover story. Danzo took advantage of his state and helped destroy the Uchiha with the use of ROOT. I might have to tell the truth to a few. The Elders will have to know….. This is a mess.' Tsunade groaned to herself, rubbing the side of her neck. This was a pain, but in the end it would be worth it.
X
My Darling was getting his just deserts, and he seemed pleased about it. The little thing he pulled last night; I wouldn't admit the dream he caused. The little troll. Though - for parts of it, he seemed very serious. I didn't quite realize I had been making things that difficult for him. Now that I thought back on it, he did often have to shift away from me while we cuddled, and at times didn't want to kiss too much. I'd make it up to him at some point, in some way.
The next morning, he was already out of bed by the time I awoke. He stood in the kitchen, quietly working on what I assumed was breakfast. I lazily got out of bed and made my way over to him, wrapping my arms around him from behind.
It took us a while before we actually talked. My Darling didn't seem worried about it. But the thought Uncle put in my head was pressing and-.
"Forgive me for coming across rude when Tsunade-sama had suggested we go find Itachi." I blurted.
"Huh?" Kakashi looked up at me from his plate. We had just finished eating, and he had been about to take the dishes away.
"Uncle might have pointed out that I probably could have had more tact when I was saying my piece." I managed.
My love just blinked at me, "oh."
He got up and put the dishes away. I stood to help him, he just glanced back at me for a second before taking my dish from me.
"Oh?" I asked.
"I… know you tend to be more blunt when you're focused. The mission was a success, and you managed to fight off two Root, even killing one." He said, giving me a one-shouldered shrug as if it wasn't even a big deal.
"I.. Ah?" I tried. My brain might have short circuited.
"I wasn't really prepared to have Itachi focused on you, but you managed to do well enough."
I had thought this conversation would be more - in depth? I stood there, staring at him. He was just pleased as punch, cleaning the dishes as if nothing had happened. There had been that situation that we had to talk about and then the next had been -.
"I know about Minato." I said.
Kakashi paused, looking over to me. He had even froze mid scrub. "Aaa… Minato-sensei?"
I pulled a face and nudged him over to help with the dishes.
"I might have realized that Minato looked suspiciously like a certain jovial mischievous blond we know." I said.
He sighed, and looked down at me, "Is it too late to be angry about you being blunt?"
"If you would rather be angry…?"
"And you're not mad that I hid Minato-sensei?"
I tried not to laugh. He only wanted equal ground. I shook my head and bumped my hip against his.
"I'm not angry. It makes sense why you were so protective. And it makes sense why it always seemed like you avoided those boys." I continued on softly.
He sighed, leaning against the sink. He glanced over at me, "I think I'd like to be angry about you being blunt."
"Oh? Would you rather I not-?"
"I don't want to talk about Minato-sensei. I don't think I ever will want to." He said finally.
I did wonder when I'd come across a subject he would refuse. I smiled weakly and kissed his cheek gently.
"Perhaps another time. Perhaps never." I murmured in light agreement. Some things are too sensitive to talk about. I had some of those. I helped him clean the dishes in silence, half way though I playfully splashed him. I caught him glancing out of the corner of his eye - he used a plate to direct some water at me. The troll. Despite myself, I laughed.
"Oh, Darling - I'll get you for that."
"For what?" He asked as if he'd done nothing wrong.
"Mmn, I suppose you'll have to figure it out, ah?"
We split up not too long after. I had to check in with work - and then I planned to hunt down Uncle. And my Darling probably had his own things to do. I imagine Gai wanted to see him.
The moment I stepped into the T&I it was pandemonium.
Ibiki had stormed through the hall, pointed right at me and growled, "honesty room. Now."
I wanted to vomit.
Walking lightly, I followed after the angry Ibiki. Maskless Anbu stood in multiple rows in the honesty room. Inoichi stood there with Mozuku, quietly talking to each other. Shinobu had been talking in low tones to one of the unmasked Anbu.
"If you won't expose Danzo and where he went, we will torture you until you renounce him!" He growled.
"You fished out Kabuto. Get to work." Ibiki snapped at me.
I licked my bottom lip and tried to figure out where to start. The men - no, most of them were boys - stood dispassionately, their eyes glassy and listless. Empty. Each and every one of them. Empty.
I thought of my Darling. I thought of Sasuke - Kabuto, too. I couldn't just afford them the dignity of being interrogated away from the honesty room. Those before me would take it as weakness, not as me extending a courtesy.
I moved carefully, stepping over to the end of the line - away from the barking Ibiki. Reading these Root-potentials before me would be difficult, but not impossible. I needed their sole attention - Ibiki being on the warpath would do nothing for me.
"Right then, luv." I began with a wide smile. The eyes of the man before me barely flicked towards me. He looked like the living dead. "Time to begin."
Hours. We went through hours of work. I questioned and restated phrases - drawing anything out of the boys or men before me had been like pulling teeth with dental floss. Half of the Anbu there weren't Root, a good chunk we couldn't quite figure out. Whatever Danzo had done to them had messed with either their memory or ability to react. A good chunk of the more talented children had so obviously been a part of Root, that vile man had a seal on their tongue preventing them from talking. The common denominator had been that they were Orphaned. I wanted to vomit all over again. The children torn apart by war, he used. I don't know why he hadn't gone after Naruto or Sasuke - perhaps it was because I had been in their lives? Or was it for the very same reason Sarutobi tried to dissuade me? I couldn't say. Inexplicably, I felt guilty. I had been able to help two orphans. Though it were these that truly were the invisible sufferers in Konoha. They'd been taken advantage of.
Had I known - maybe I could have done something? No. No, at the time I had my hands full.
Danzo - Danzo deserved death for this. I hadn't even an idea of what sort of life these children led. Clearly, even Kakashi knew a sliver of it.
I wanted to scream by the end of the day. Or cry. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I had to sit outside of work for an hour to decompress. I didn't want to move from the bench. I had intended on going to find Uncle - but he seemed to have found more first before I even got up to look for him.
In the end - I could see the effects of the fall out throughout the village. They all seemed so unsettled. I had already heard the murmuring about what Danzo had been reported of doing. Trying to operate his own ANBU behind the Hokage, as well as assisting in the elimination of the Uchiha. Some speculated that Danzo had used Shisui as a test for Itachi. They weren't entirely wrong. It was sobering over all.
"Rough day?" He asked after reaching me. His hands were buried in his pockets as he looked me over. He frowned but didn't say much. He sat down heavily beside me with a groan and stretched out. I let out a long tired sigh.
"That rat of a man spent his free time terrorizing orphans." I confessed, "Sarutobi knew. He knew that vile man had Root and just fired him from the council."
I had thought so much better of Hiruzen. I remembered how poised he had been, how much attention he had gave me - the worry for Naruto. Was it just a ploy? Or had he not…. Kakashi seemed to have thought highly of him. But - I wasn't sure if I shared that sentiment. Hiruzen let Danzo run amuck. He created a power vacuum by letting him operate.
"You sure you want this? That's what you're signin' up for here, Tams. The closer you get to the office, the darker the rooms you find." Oliver said, though it didn't have the usual firm undertone that usually laced his words. For the first time, he sounded like I - like I was an equal.
I took a calming breath in and shook my head, "I've made my choice."
Uncle grunted softly in reply. Surprisingly, he didn't argue with me.
It also brought up another subject - Kakashi, one day, would become Hokage. Should his Bride never appear - was I prepared to be the wife of a Hokage? I loathed the politics, but I'd have to entertain the Daimyo, put on a happy face for the people of Konoha - entertain. Neither of us liked the song and dance - but I knew my Darling. He was willing to pay the price for Konoha. I'd have to do the same. And it meant I had to play the game. I breathed out slowly.
"I suppose you're right. I need to tame my attitude. My - my darling has a long career here, even if I decide to retire. I'd rather not embarrass him, being a mouthy little thing." I murmured.
"So wonder-boy's the one, huh?" He asked, "always wondered who it'd be."
I turned to my Uncle, my mouth falling open a little.
"He's not anything like the other two. Bob was an idiot. That other one was a tool. You got some guy who naps at the drop of a hat, reads smut, and looks like a good wind will knock him over." Oliver began, rubbing the back of his neck as he continued on, "D'you know that Punk came over and told me off?"
I stared. He had? I'd been trying so hard to ensure he didn't have to! I could handle Uncle's attitude. I didn't want Kakashi to worry about it.
"He did." I murmured.
"Came over and warned me that I was ruining the time I had left with you." He said, leaning back on the bench. He raised his eyebrows, his lips quirking. "Tams, I'll say this. You could've done worse."
For half a second, my mouth fell open. Uncle..?
"You do like him!" I exclaimed.
"Don't know what you're talkin' 'bout, Tams."
"You do. You've never even -. Uncle, don't pretend!"
"I'm serious - a good wind, right over. He looks like his namesake."
"Uncle!"
He never did say anything more. I didn't even think they talked much. Kakashi had mostly ignored Oliver's antics. Why on earth had Uncle changed his mind?
Once I gave up asking, Uncle slapped his thigh and forced himself to his feet.
"Well. You comin', Tams?" He asked, nodding to what I thought was home. I stood up to follow. Uncle walked with me slowly as we just talked. He asked a few questions - if I wanted to write a few letters to family and friends for him to deliver and what I wanted done with my things. We chatted about Charles - he was seeing a librarian of all things.
"I never thought I'd see a woman snap sense into him." Oliver grumbled softly. I hummed. How strange to think Charles had someone. I wondered what that would be like - had I been able to meet her.
I had been so lost in thought, I hadn't even realized Uncle stopped.
"Tams - you comin'?" He asked. He stood right in front of a restaurant. I stopped, tilting my head as I tried to piece this together.
"Ah?" I tried.
Uncle grunted, and shrugged, "Suit yourself."
He walked right in, leaving me there on the street. I stared, unable to - we were supposed to be heading home.
I followed after him.
"Uncle, where are you-?" I asked as I chased after him. He was already almost at a table when I caught up. "Uncle-."
"Congratulations, Tami-chan!" Gai shouted. Gai - Gai?
There, in the booth, were Kurenai, Asuma, Gai and my Love. Oliver moved to sit down beside Asuma, leaving me to be able to sit by Gai and Kakashi.
"Congratulations on Jounin, Tami-chan." Kurenai said, her eyes lighting up when she saw me. Asuma raised his glass to that.
I stood there for a minute, trying to gain back my barings.
"Tams - the waiters need t' get through." Uncle told me.
Oh! Oh - I was in the way.
I slipped in beside Kakashi. Gai leaned over and grinned widely at me.
"I knew you could do it." He said.
That meant… Out of all of them, Gai had been cheering me on for my entire Kunoichi path. I grinned back at him.
"You indeed did. From the first day, ah?" I said.
"Yosh!" He cheered, "I told you that your tenacious heart would see you through! Not even Kakashi thought so!"
My love sent him a sour look. I couldn't help it - I laughed.
"Rather sure I doubted me, too." I said cheekily, "I still can't believe I chose to train under Morino Ibiki!"
"Me either. He was a terror in school." Kurenai commented. Asuma snorted.
"You weren't the one he picked to chase around with knives." He commented dully.
I didn't want to know. Truly, I didn't want to. It sounded painful.
After the beautiful dinner with my friends, we chatted outside for a minute. Kurenai had asked to go to the bath house with me, which I needed something fierce after my day. Uncle stood off to the side, his hands in his pockets beside Kakashi. They seemed to be talking in low tones but they both stopped the minute I got close. They never should have met. I had the strangest feeling that both men could team up. I didn't like the sound of that.
I moved toward my Darling but he nudged me gently toward my Uncle.
"You should spend time with your family while you can." He advised softly.
"Yes, but you're my family too." I murmured back. I didn't even need to see the crinkle at the corner of his eye to know he was smiling at me. His whole face changed to pure bliss. We would have said more - but Gai's unique brand of enthusiasm interrupted us both.
I had intended to talk with my friends a little more, but we all had things we needed to do. My Darling and I parted, him heading off with Gai and Kurenai wandering off with Asuma.
I stretched my arms out as Uncle and I headed back.
"Upset you can't play hanky-panky with Lover-boy?" He started jokingly.
I scoffed, gently smacking his arm, "We've done nothing of the sort."
"Every night he's been back, you've been gone."
"Uncle!"
He cackled. That man cackled at me. How on earth had Uncle went from nearly loathing the man to teasing me about him?
I couldn't say. But - I didn't mind.
We headed home, Uncle sitting down on the couch when we got back home. He patted the spot beside me. The set in his frame told me I might not like the conversation - his lips pressing into a fine thin line confirmed it.
"Tams," He began after I sat down, "I'm headin' back soon."
"I know." I murmured. Surely it would be soon. Tsunade had the scrolls I pieced together, the theories, all of it. Surely she had the connections to ensure it was perfect.
"I talked t' Maya. She wants to stay." Oliver continued softly, "So. I'm headin' back on my own."
This felt like it was the end. I turned my head away as I mulled it over.
"You could stay." I said weakly, "we could get Charles too. We could stay."
"Tams… I'm not stayin'." Oliver said gently, "I can't. Charles got a life. I got my company. And - I can't do this. This life would drive me up the wall."
I pulled my knees up to my chest and leaned against the armrest. I knew that would be the case, but I couldn't help it. I smiled weakly.
"I - suppose." I murmured, "and father might pull his head out of his…. You know."
Oliver's lips twitched and he rubbed his five-o'clock shadowed chin.
"Yeah, I wouldn't count on it. After you were gone for two weeks, he carried on t' anyone who would listen how terrible it was to have his only beloved daughter missing." He drawled.
"I suppose I can be the only beloved daughter when I've no siblings." I said sourly. I wondered how he could lie so effortlessly through his teeth! Beloved Daughter, indeed. He probably hadn't even noticed me gone, without Uncle even asking. Father did sometimes demand me attend his parties, even going so much as bribing me. Sometimes I entertained it - for the bribe money, of course. I wasn't so proud to not be practical.
Uncle grunted in agreement, patting the back of the couch.
"So - you got plans tomorrow?"
"Mm - Kurenai. Do you?"
"Me? Nah. You know me, Tams. I like being bored on the weekends."
What was he planning?
X
Years. It had been years since Kakashi had fished during the winter. He had gone after becoming a Genin and Chunin out of necessity - needing the money. His father had taught him to fish nearly as soon as he could walk. At least he had been able to feed himself after….
Kakashi stood out in the cold waiting for the older man to show up. He had been scared he might lose track of time or get carried away by helping someone in need.
Oliver had arrived almost five minutes before the scheduled time. He had a fishing rod and the equipment. Kakashi expected that this meeting would be a test. He was ready.
"Been waiting long?" Oliver asked.
"Maa. It's fine, Walker-san."
Oliver grunted and the two walked in silence. Kakashi's mind began to whirl. Had the test already begun? He didn't think he'd mess up at all - he was good at tests and challenges. He wasn't stupid like that Ryuji guy, or that other one.
Oliver and Kakashi didn't speak for the longest time. They set up in one place on the river with deep still waters. Oliver had a folding chair that he had brought with and set up. He didn't do anything else except fish.
Kakashi glanced over at him from the corner of his eye. What was he doing? They were just… fishing. He didn't mind it, but he hadn't expected it. He expected Oliver to question him. He expected something more substantial.
"So when you gonna tell my Tams you can understand us?" Oliver said in perfect English.
Kakashi froze. He stood there for a long minute as he processed the sentence.
"What was that, Walker-san?"
"You know what I said." Oliver replied again, turning his face towards the Shinobi, "Didn't take you for a coward, Hatake."
Kakashi slowly looked at the man and frowned. That was a touch too far. Oliver smirked and sat back in his chair, adjusting his legs as he turned to look out onto the cold river.
"You know you got a twitch in your shoulder when you get stressed? Noticed half the time you ignored me while Tams and I were trading barbs in English it'd show up." Oliver carried on as he stared out into the water, "I thought at first it was 'cause you weren't all that interested in Tams but didn't like me insulting you."
Kakashi pulled back, looking over at Oliver.
"You thought I didn't want Tami-chan?" He repeated.
"You didn't even try to talk to me. Ignored me most of the time, and passed out on the couch the other half. You were sweet on her, but not one time when we were arguing did you try to stand up for her." Oliver listed off.
"You're her family." Kakashi said simply, "I couldn't."
"So you want her gone?"
"No. I'm aware I'm selfish to want her to stay with me. I didn't want to upset her."
Oliver grunted, almost as if he figured it out on his own. Kakashi didn't doubt it. He breathed out, ignoring the fog his breath made in the cold air.
"You didn't hurt Tami-chan. You insulted me, but I didn't really care as long as you didn't go after her." Kakashi explained. He'd said much worse about himself. Oliver, while annoying, was easy to dismiss. Especially after dealing with Naruto.
Oliver grunted again. He fell quiet and Kakashi wondered if they were done there. He should probably head in soon. He wanted to read Icha Icha Paradise again, and get ready for dinner that night. He planned to come over to cook for Tami. He had wanted to make her the fish he caught that morning, but it might not happen.
"So, you gonna make my niece an honest woman?"
Uhh - what? Kakashi turned to look at the old Detective.
"Don't look at me like that. You marrying her or what?"
"Maa. That's not your business, Walker-san."
"Don't Walker-san me, Hatake. I'm leaving my niece in your care. It is my business."
The weight of that statement hit Kakashi. He won. He hadn't been dismissed by the man. And that meant, to some degree, Oliver accepted him. Kakashi breathed in a little deeper. His favorite character accepted him.
"I need to fix my father's tanto first." He admitted softly.
"That a custom here?"
Kakashi hummed. It was. He wanted to make her breakfast one morning and present it to her - after Oliver had left. He wasn't going to have a romantic morning like that planned around her Uncle being there.
Oliver looked over at him. A frown creased his face as he sat back, rubbing his chin in thought. Kakashi didn't know what the man was thinking about, but soon enough Oliver put his fishing rod down and pulled out his wallet. From one of the billfolds, Oliver pulled out a ring and waved the man over. Kakashi curiously stepped over.
"Here. It's not pretty, but Tams'll get it. I have to save the other one for Charles, but you can have this. If your tanto idea goes south and Tami don't get it - get down on one knee and give her this. She'll get it." Oliver advised.
It was a plain gold ring - nothing fancy. Kakashi turned it over in his hand as he studied it.
"Thank you."
"Welcome to the family." Oliver said, sitting back, "Wish it were under different circumstances, but you're one of us now."
X
Kurenai and I had managed to find Shizune and drag her away from work to join us both. It wasn't long before we were all soaking in the bath - I sank in deep, planning on getting good and pruny. Now, if I had my copy of Pride and Prejudice, all would be well.
"I had been overseeing Sakura and Ino yesterday. I think they finally stopped arguing." Shizune said. I hummed softly, knowing the pain. I had often come to poor Kurenai to carry on about the three boys I had to handle.
"That's good. It's so strange that they don't get along." Kurenai murmured.
"They've both had interest in Sasuke. Rather hard when your friends' love life could lead to heartbreak." I murmured. For some reason - the subject of Sasuke didn't hurt as much anymore. I hoped he was well. I hoped he escaped Orochimaru. I hoped I would see him soon.
Kurenai ahhed and Shizune sighed.
"Yeah… yeah, they mentioned that. None of the girls in my class were ever that bad." Shizune said. I hummed along. Never had I been.
Kurenai's lips pressed together.
"Most of the girls weren't like that in my class. I - well." Kurenai looked over at me.
What had I to do with this?
"There was one girl." Kurenai said. I sat a little bit higher out of curiosity. Shizune leaned in, scooting closer.
"Nohara Rin was like that. With - with Kakashi." Kurenai said, glancing at me. She sighed softly.
Ah. Her.
"Has - has he talked about her?" Kurenai asked me. Sorrow flickered in both she and Shizune's face.
"He… he did say she liked him. Said some other things too. I hadn't thought much of it." I said. In fact, I tried not to. The fact she used my Love to kill herself was something that still burned me. The man lost his father, his friend and then she used him in that manner. Cruelty. I don't know what the others knew, but I doubted my Love wanted his business out and about. And yet again - here I was, listening to gossip about him.
"She was the reason Obito befriended Kakashi." Kurenai said softly, "Kakashi had already graduated, but Sarutobi liked bringing him in to show us jutsu styles. He wanted to foster some kind of competitive nature in us. Rin was infatuated. She'd…."
Kurenai paused and then looked at me with a small smile, "Kakashi was on his own back in those days. She used to go over and visit him all the time. Obito was in love with her - always went with her. They all became really good friends."
That left a sour taste in my mouth. How sweet it was that my Love had friends - how terrible it had been how he lost them all.
"Ah." I murmured, sitting back against the edge of the bath. Once again - it simply explained how he had gotten to be so broken.
"Well. He's definitely different from the last time Tsunade and I visited." Shizune added in, "he always seemed so angry and bitter."
"You should have been here," Kurenai started, her eyes lighting up. She sent me a teasing grin, "Tami-chan would come in every other week complaining how Hatake was such a terror!"
Kurenai shifted into what I assumed was a carbon copy of myself, delicately placing a hand to her collar bone, "Kurenai, that man is nothing but headaches! He simply induces them. We went to the Land of Iron, of all places, and that man sat in the corner of the room reading his book while I had to do all the dirty work. You're fine, Walker-san! I couldn't do better! I'm about to take his book and shove it down his masked mouth."
Shizune got a good case of the giggles as she covered her mouth with both hands. Despite myself, I laughed along. Kurenai was rather good at acting. Maybe she, Gai and I could come together and do a bit. That would be fun.
"Oh, Tami-chan, I'm sure it's not that bad." I said, waving my hand like Kurenai used to do, acting as if I understood the mystery that is Hatake, "he's always been a little strange. But Hokage-sama knows best."
We dissolved into giggles. Maybe I had been a little over the top. But again, what a Gem was Kurenai. We settled in, back to relaxing, until Kurenai spoke up once more.
"I almost forgot to say…" She murmured softly, leaning closer. A blush creeped across her cheeks, "Asuma… Asuma presented me with his family sword."
Shizune's mouth fell open. She covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes crinkling.
I blinked. Obviously it meant something. Was it Clan business?
"What did you say?" Shizune asked.
"Oh, he's so old-fashioned - he wanted an answer then, but I asked for time. I don't know if I'm really ready for that step yet."
I blinked. What did he-?
"He proposed?" I asked, gobsmacked. What did a kunai have anything to do with it?
Shizune and Kurenai paused, looking at me strangely.
"Oh… oh, you don't know." Kurenai said, placing her fingers to her lip. She glanced at Shizune who seemed just as stunned.
"Men - give you a weapon?"
"It's really old fashioned," Shizune said, waving her hand, "most guys just ask, but - traditionally, some guys present family heirloom weapons or just a weapon they use."
I stared - really? I supposed it made sense. I sat there as I thought about it. What would my Love do? I couldn't quite say. I could see him just one morning turning to me and saying, "maa - Tami-chan, wanna get married?" But I could also see him going through the whole song and dance. Well - if he ever did ask.
"I'm glad to hear Asuma's doing right. Do tell, shall I give him the shovel speech?" I asked Kurenai.
"Shovel-?"
"Hurt Kurenai and that's the last thing you'll ever do." I said cryptically as if I were speaking to Asuma himself.
Kurenai burst out into laughter which caused us all to. I did so enjoy girl-time - including our newest member, Shizune. She was a welcome addition.
End Chapter
AN: And here we are. I have had so much fun writing this. I hope you guys enjoyed it. This chapter and the next will be pairing focused - but I'm trying to move it along so it's not too much. I try not to indulge in it too much, as I know it can drag and distract from the narrative. But, it's what I've been planning to do for some time.
I don't think I'll be able to update within the next week. I'll be moving and getting my life situated in my new place. With hope, everything goes well. I'm really excited about it all.