Curiosity and the Copycat
...a Naruto fanfiction story...
Curiosity and the Copycat © Mx. Irony
Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto
Takara is a Bisexual Badass
chapter two
Good Morning
"The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee and I will pay more for an ability than any other under the sun."
John D. Rockefeller
Knock, knock, knock.
The recent mission had taken a greater toll than the silver-haired jonin anticipated. Instead of snapping awake, it took him longer to rouse himself. Kakashi stirred underneath his covers; his eyes barely cracked open. After a moment of silence, they drifted back shut again. His addled brain began to fall back into the fog of sleep when he heard it again. Knock, knock.
A bleary eye cracked open.
Kakashi rolled to his side, squinting at his window. The sky was light but the clear blue of mid morning had yet to set in, still a faint and distant color in the encroaching sunrise. It was early, too early for him to be awake. He drowsily wondered how much sleep he got in that night. Honestly, he did not want to know but allowed a reluctant glance at his alarm clock.
Seven a.m.
Knock, knock, knock.
He had two questions: who and - for the love of the Land of Fire - why?
There was an unwritten rule among Konoha shinobi that even the civilians knew, a common courtesy if you will: Do not bother a ninja the morning after a mission. The Hokage himself didn't usually call on his soldiers at this time unless in emergencies or it was wartime. Interrupting that unofficial time off was reserved for the gravest situations, usually a matter of life and death.
Mostly death, Kakashi thought darkly as the knocking persisted. Even Gai did not bother him this early, and the man was up at the crack of dawn regardless of the day. This had to be an emergency. It better be an emergency.
He swung his feet out of bed, shuffling into a pair of mismatched slippers, and lumbered to the front door.
Takara blinked, curled fist inches from a full grown, completely-unrelated-to-her man's chest. While clothed in a sleeveless tank top, it was still a very tight sleeveless tank top and she could make out some of the muscle definition concealed in yesterday's comparatively baggy ensemble.
Wow. My new neighbor is really fit. Takara was more impressed than attracted at this revelation, given Hatake's age. None of the men in her life were like that. The farmhands were stockier, robust from years of hard labor, not any specialized training. Her older brother, while tall and physically strong, did not have such a define physique. Hotaka was lanky and long-limbed like her, all wiry and compact muscle. She wondered if all the older ninja were as toned as Hatake and how he managed the upkeep so late in life.
Saving the thought for later, Takara smiled wide enough for her eyes to disappear in crinkles.
"Good morning, Hatake-san," she chirped.
"..."
Takara's smile faltered. Opening her eyes, she peered at him and frowned slightly. "Did you...forget to take your mask off before sleeping?"
Earlier she assumed that it was only during covert missions or something of the like, to keep his identity secret (though that shocking mess of silver hair might defeat the purpose, but who was she to judge?). Wearing a mask outside of assignments was just...weird. Her new neighbor really was a strange guy.
Speaking of strange, there was a slight twitch to his right eye - and why was the other one closed? Did he still have it? She could clearly see the thin scar running down his left eyelid and wondered. Maybe he should get that checked before he lost that one, too.
Before Takara could mention it to him, Hatake spoke in a slow, deliberate way. His voice was low and gravelly from just waking up. "Is there something else I can help you with, Takeira-chan?"
"It's Takara." But she let it pass with a smile. "I wanted to say thank you for yesterday."
"Ah, I'm pretty sure you already have." Again and again…
By the time he walked down the three flights of stairs, hefted up the dresser (Hinamori protested when he took it himself but he insisted, knowing it would be quicker than slowing down for her to keep up while she "helped" carry it - the actual convincing took him nearly as long as it would have to climb half the stairs and he almost gave up before she relented, adding another rush of "thank you" and "you didn't have to" and "you're very kind"), climbed back up the stairs, and placed it in the apartment, Hinamori told him thank you at least twenty times. It might have been more than that but Kakashi started to ignore her halfway up.
"I know," Takara said, rushing through her words. "But I thought maybe I'd pay you back with some breakfast this morning. To show my appreciation. The farmer's market is today and I have a friend - well, kind of a friend. Morioka-san's more of a friendly business partner than a friend. Well, a friendly business partner who traveled with me all the way here, so I guess he's a friend now. Sweet man, Morioka-san. Anybody would be lucky to call him friend. He has some of the best produce from Aomori -well, from our farm anyway. Uh, that is my family's farm. And I'm already talking too much, so I'll stop now. But I just wanted to you - you know, get some breakfast. With me. If you want."
He wasn't sure he even caught all that but it sounded like... Is she asking me on a date?
Another smile that made Kakashi squint. If he wasn't ready for the sun, he definitely wasn't ready for that bright grin.
"...do you know what time it is?" he said slowly, as if speaking to a child.
Takara recited the exact time matter-of-factly. He stared at her for a moment. Fidgeting, she tilted her head to the side in a gesture that reminded him of his ninken Uhei.
Kakashi leaned against the door frame, slouching. "Don't you think it's a little early?"
"No, not really," she said simply. "I mean, the sun's already up and all."
Barely, Kakashi wanted to say but he held his tongue. His usually half-lidded eye appeared more tired than usual as he sighed. He rubbed the back of his head, mussing up his hair further. Takara had the sudden urge to comb it down like she would her little brother's bed head.
"Why, is this early for Konohagakure?" Hinamori asked. At the look Kakashi gave her, she finally caught on. "Oh! Did I - were you?"
The rosy hue of deepening blush matched the warm coloring of her hair. She leaned closer and whispered, "Were you still sleeping?"
Just as quietly: "Kind of."
"Oh. Oh! Oh, I'm sorry, Hatake-san!" She bent over in a series of small bows, invoking a sweatdrop from Kakashi. "I had no idea. At the farm, we're up before the sun is! See, this is actually kinda late for me. I wasn't really thinking. It's such a habit. I forgot that not everybody gets up at the same time. Well, not really forgot. I just didn't think about it - how stupid of me. I'm not really sure what shinobi schedules are like anyway. Do you like, stay awake the entire night or something? I guess that would make sense. Cover of darkness and all..."
Kakashi interrupted, "Don't worry about it."
"I am so sorry." Hinamori cupped her hands over her eyes and smacked her face against them multiple times. She was beating herself up more than Kakashi ever would have, to his amusement. Literally! Wonderful. This might have made up for the early wake up call but...he was not quite content yet.
After all, she did keep him up most of the night with her racket.
Offhandedly, Kakashi added, "I just got back from a long mission yesterday and was tired, is all..."
Slowly, Hinamori lifted her face from her hands. Her voice came out as a weak croak. "...how long a mission?"
"About a month, give or take," he said in a nonchalant tone. In actuality, it was closer to a week.
"A month?" she gasped. "Oh gosh, no wonder you slept in late. You must be exhausted! I can only imagine how you felt when you just got back -." She stopped, realization dawning. Her mouth fell open and she covered it with her hands, horrified. "Oh, my gosh, and I made you do all that work yesterday! I'm sorry."
Another series of bows, this time accompanied by a chant of apologies.
"Don't worry about it. I managed to catch a couple of hours of sleep." Kakashi watched the guilt bloom across her features with a degree of satisfaction. This was even better than if he had merely snapped at her.
Hinamori mumbled another apology. Her eyes were downcast like a scolded pup.
"I suppose if you still want to go get breakfast..." He trailed off, waiting. One, two, three...
"No, no, please forget I mentioned it!" Hinamori flapped her hands. "You need your rest. We can do that some other time."
"I really don't mind," Kakashi said smoothly while simultaneously backing into his apartment.
"I insist." She looked up at him imploringly. "I really am sorry I woke you up, Hatake-san."
There was such raw honesty in her voice that it gave Kakashi pause. Face red, her eyes were so wide and green as they swam with guilt but they were no less direct, meeting his gaze head on.
He did not linger long.
"See you around."
"Good-bye, Hatake -"
The door closed.
"San," Takara finished lamely. She bit her bottom lip. "Sleep well…"
Konohagakure was quiet in the early hours of the morning. Its bustling streets of yesterday vacant, there was such a sense of calm that it almost felt wrong to disrupt it. Only the sound of bird calls filled the air. Takara recognized a crow among them: aho aho aho!
"So stupid," she groaned. Standing outside the apartment building, she burrowed her face into her hands and found her cheeks were still hot. Attempt one at befriending weird new neighbor: failed.
No one was up this early except for her! She continued to berate herself after the failed morning greeting. Why did she have to mention that she came from a farm? So stupid! He probably think I'm some kind of country bumpkin now. Back at home, it was not unusual to greet neighbors in the morning. Granted, most neighbors lived a few miles away, but occasionally there were some visits. Unexpected callers was a part of life there. It was how they checked up on one another, a sense of safety in the remote area. It was a comfort the Hinamori family after the incident.
At least Hatake-san was nice enough about it. Thinking back, though, Takara remembered the irritation apparent in his eye. Oblivious her hadn't even taken the time to notice, so caught up was she in asking a (kind but still strange) stranger to a meal with her.
Takara tugged at a piece of her long, orangish bangs, twirling it into a tight coil around her fingers, her gaze lowered to the dirt road. Sighing, she looked around the village. Everything is so different. The farmer's daughter wondered how it was that a village - no, a city in Takara's eyes - like Konohagakure could be so silent while the small village near home hummed with activity by this time. The complete stillness of it made the skin on the back her neck prickle into goose flesh, that feeling of being watched returning.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. While the morning's awkward encounter still lingered in the back of her mind, Takara decided that there was no sense in regretting. She made a mistake and learned from it. Big deal. End of story. It never was her habit to linger on the past too much; it did nothing for the present.
The past was in the past, she told herself.
The summer sun beat down on the tall, silver-haired man but still, Kakashi did not move. Hands stuffed in his pockets, he continued to stare at the concrete slab.
He noticed the early signs of weathering on the Memorial Stone. The stone was worn, cracking on the edges despite meticulous steps taken to maintain it. Some of the older names, names carved into the stone long before any comrades of his own were genin, faded after years of exposure to the elements within the changing seasons. They were becoming harder to make out from even a small distance. Having been there so many times for longer periods of time, Kakashi no longer had to read through each name before he found the one he was looking for, the one he always came here for.
Uchiha Obito.
"How was your first night?" Morioka asked after he unloaded another basket of pears.
Heaving another two crates of produce onto the table, Takara huffed and blew a piece of orange bangs from her eyes. It stubbornly fell back into place, even with the rest of her hair was tucked into a messy bun. "Good. Where did you say you wanted the pears again?"
"Next to the peaches, please," Morioka said as he watched her lift pounds of produce. Like a little worker bee, that girl. The old man found it easier to step aside and watch her work as it became progressively more impossible for her to accept a no, especially when she insisted on paying him back.
With little else to occupy himself, the old man continued to ask about her first night. The girl's father would be full of questions about how his only daughter was faring when he got back to Aomori. "Just good? Everything alright, comfy cozy?"
"Hm? Oh, yes. Very comfortable." She counted each of the pears, making a quick mental tally. "A quarter of these are near overripe; there're already some there. We'll have to sell those first, maybe at discount. Get them out of the fresher stock."
"Right, right. Did ya find everything you need? Not missin' anything, are ya?"
"No, sir, I don't think so - save the under ripe peaches for tomorrow or maybe the day after."
Morioka frowned. "I was plannin' to sell 'em at Touka."
"They're under ripe but not that under ripe." Takara squeezed a peach, fresh and unbruised. She offered it to him. "Feel for yourself."
He did so and felt the give of its skin underneath his fingers. Sighing, he agreed.
"We can sell them for more money here than Touka," she assured. "And it'll save you a trip - time and extra money."
He raised his eyebrows, thoughtful. "Good point. Were ya alright gettin' all them boxes up the stairs?"
"Ah…. Ah, we need to resort the cherries. Get more per basket."
"What about - more cherries per basket? How am I s'posed to make a living that way?" Morioka asked, immediately distracted from his interest in Takara's new living situation.
Takara straightened and placed her hands on her hips, looking over the array of produce on sale. As if to herself, she nodded. "Quality over quantity. And with less supply, there'll be more demand."
"Still cherry season!"
"We're in the south. It's too hot for a cherry season. One medium bag would sell for five smaller bags if you price it right but will have slightly less. People pay more if they think they get more."
Morioka's bushy gray brows furrowed as he scrutinized her. "You know your stuff, Hina-san."
Turning her head to the side, Takara cleared her throat. "I just pay attention, that's all. It's interesting."
"What?" Morioka snorted. "Selling fruit?"
"Business."
"Why would a nice girl like you worry 'bout a thing like that?"
Takara smiled politely. "Why would a nice girl do anything, Morioka-san?"
"No need to take it that way, Hina-san. Was only askin'."
"It's fine," she said quietly, turning back to her work. When she spoke, her voice was louder. "Now what do you say about showing Konohagakure where the best fruit in the Land of Fire comes from, hm?"
Kakashi's eyes were so focused on his book that he failed to notice the bag hanging from the door handle until his hand touched it. Pausing, he glanced down and stared at the unexpected delivery, as if not entirely believing it was there. What may have been an entire bushel of apples gleamed from the top of the bag, threatening to overflow. They looked washed and polished, reflecting the light. Peeking out among the red fruit was a folded piece of yellow paper. Sensing no traps, Kakashi plucked the paper out of the bag and gently unfolded it with a twitch of his thumb.
"...huh."
Without a word, he refolded the note and slipped it back inside. He slipped the bag from the handle. Full of fruit, it was heavy in his hand as he opened the door with the other and entered his apartment.
A minute passed.
The neighboring door opened and Takara poked her head out, peeking through the gap. Seeing the bag missing, she grinned and softly shut the door but not so soft that her neighbor didn't hear. She was as loud as the first night.
She turned the key in the keyhole and slid it out. Jiggling the knob, Takara nodded when she was satisfied that it was securely locked. Yesterday she forgot and was grateful that no one broke in. Not that there was anything of real value to steal...
Hearing the swing of a door, Takara peered to the side and instantly brightened.
"Good morning, Hatake-san!"
The man gave her a lazy wave, eye focused on an orange-covered book. "Morning."
"What are you reading? Battle tactics? An enemy village's profile?"
"Just a novel I picked up," he said, most of his attention riveted on said novel.
Oh. Takara's cheeks burned, embarrassed. "Ah… Um, I guess there's that, too."
"I guess so," Kakashi agreed.
"I'm sorry."
"You do that a lot," he observed.
"Sorry?"
"Apologize. It's kind of annoying."
"I'm sorr -" She cut herself off and chuckled quietly, self depreciating. "Oh. I guess you're right. I don't usually do that. I'm just...er, a little new at this."
"Hmm, what's that?"
"Meeting new people."
Kakashi lifted his eye from the page briefly. "My, that must be difficult."
"It's actually not so bad. I met some really nice people yesterday at the market."
"Good." His only visible eye crinkled in what Takara hoped was a smile.
"Well, see ya." The Konoha ninja walked down the hallway. He heard her clumsy civilian steps loud behind him and soon there she was walking beside him again. She was quick, Kakashi noted ruefully. He credited it to her long legs.
"You're up earlier than yesterday. Did you get enough sleep?"
"Yeah, I did." No thanks to you. "Thanks for asking."
"You're welcome. Oh, and how about them apples?"
"Pretty good. Thanks..." His eye was intent on his book.
This made Takara smile broadly, pleased. "You're welcome! They came straight from Aomori - like me. Actually, they were grown on my family's orchard, also like me, so... We both made the journey to Konohagakure together which is kinda funny if ya think about it; a little bit of home came with me. Well, besides some of my stuff. Or rather all of my stuff. Actually we all - that is, me and the apples and some other produce - came with Morioka-san. I told you about him yesterday? The merchant? I helped him out yesterday morning at the farmer's market. It was nice - the farmer's market, not me helping out. Though that is nice, I suppose, but I really just wanted to return the favor to Morioka-san for coming with me all this way. Well, he was coming anyway but thanks for letting me tag along. That was nice. Of him. He's still here. At the market. It's going on all week, I think, but you probably already knew that. Or not, which is fine. But I hope you would because it really is a nice market and the weather is just beautiful now and it'd be a nice for anyone to visit."
Kakashi paused.
"Hey, we could go right now if you'd like. I'd gladly treat you. Are you doing anything?" She looked up at him with big, hopeful eyes. Once again, he thought of Uhei when he was a puppy.
Kakashi sweatdropped. He rubbed the back of his neck, resisting the urge to sigh. "Ah, sorry, Takeira-san, but -"
"Takara." Her expression noticeably fell, almost enough to make him feel guilty.
"I already have plans."
"Oh, okay." Her smile returned, a weaker version of its original. "It was pretty sudden anyway. Another time, 'yes?"
"Sure, maybe," Kakashi said non committedly, taking advantage of his own long legs to move ahead of her. Still, she pursued him.
Definitely her legs. She must have had only five or so centimeters less than him.
At his glance, Takara explained, "I'm going the same way."
They walked down the stairs step by step, Kakashi resisting the urge to use the body flicker technique to escape. The little civilian girl continued pestering him with questions:
"How long have you lived in Konoha?"
"Pretty much my whole life."
"Ah, me, too! Uh, not quite. Obviously. I mean I lived in one place my entire life, too. Well, until now. You know what I mean! How long have you been in this apartment?"
"A while."
"Do you like it?"
"It's fine."
"What's your favorite thing about it?"
"Haven't really thought about it."
"Ah, do you prefer being outside then?"
"Makes no difference to me."
"What about in the winter?"
"It's fine."
"The summer?"
"Also fine."
"Was it hard when you moved out from your family's home?"
"...not really."
"Ne, Hatake-san, how old were you when you moved in here?"
"About fourteen."
"Oh, that's - wait. What? That's a little young. Almost the same age as one of my brothers actually and I can't see him functioning at twenty. Do you have siblings?"
"No."
"I have three. All boys. Can't imagine what it's like to have none. A lot quieter, that's for sure," Takara said thoughtfully, folding her hands behind her back as she walked. She glanced at her companion from the corner of her eye. He was still looking at his book but his eye was not moving, she noticed.
"Do you like to read a lot?"
"Sometimes."
"Me, too. If I have the time spare, that is. What kind of books do you like?"
"This one."
"Um...any others?"
"Mostly this one."
"That sounds like it would get boring."
"Actually..."
A happy look flashed across Takara's face. Aha! There it is. After some prodding, she finally found the topic that her neighbor could get into and they could hold a real conversation. It only took a little more poking around than usual but she got it.
Unfortunately, they were already nearing the exit. Kakashi almost heard the hallejuah chorus.
"Looks like this is where we part," he said.
"Hm? Oh… Looks like it." Takara's shoulders drooped. Just when she getting somewhere, too.
She followed him out the door. The street stretched out in front of them, empty but for a few milling villagers. Kakashi was already walking away.
"Hatake-san!" she called.
The man's head turned over his shoulder as he stopped mid step, eye half-lidded.
"Do you know where the post office is?" Takara silently prayed that it was in the same direction he was going. She did not want to be alone in this large village.
He jabbed a thumb in the opposite direction. Her eyes followed his finger and she pursed her lips, frowning slightly in disappointment. Great.
"Thank you - " When she turned around, she stopped.
He was gone. Scanning the road ahead, Takara could not find a head of silver, unruly hair that surely would have stood out among the other villagers.
A bright smile. "Good morning!"
"Ah, morning."
"Still reading that book, I see."
"So I am."
"Must be a pretty good book."
"It is."
"What's it about anyway? H-hey! Hatake-san, wai - please, wait up!"
"Good morning, Hatake-san. Guess what I learned yesterday?"
A disinterested glance. "What's that?"
"Did you know that a group of ninja are called a stealth of ninja? Or an ambush of ninja."
This time, he granted her a longer side glance. "Is that a fact?" he drawled.
"Mmhmm. I think stealth is a better fit, don't you?"
"I suppose."
A fading smile.
"Good morning, Hatake-san."
"Hello, Takeira-san."
"Takara." An automatic correction, now a part of her morning routine.
"Oh, sorry. I forget."
"Mmhmmm." A disbelieving look. "Doing anything interesting today?"
"Not really."
"Would you like to walk with me for a bit? I was curious about this one - "
"'Fraid not. Something might come up."
"Oh... Okay then. That's fine."
"Morning, Hatake-san! How are you this morning?"
"You said morning twice."
"Huh? Oh. Yes, I suppose I did. How are you anyway?"
"Fine."
"Ne, Hatake-san?"
"Hm?"
"What do you do all day anyway?"
"This and that."
"Oh, what's that?"
"Training, mostly."
"Oh, really? I actually heard the other day that there were these training grounds. Is that where you go?"
"Sometimes."
"Hey, think I can come see some time? Maybe - just to see what the place looks like. And I'm kinda curious what ninja do for training."
No. "Mm, sorry, Takeira-chan. It can be dangerous for civilians."
"...it's Takara."
"Good morning, Hatake-san."
"Morning."
"..."
"..."
"Have a good day, Hatake-san!"
"Later."
Kakashi briefly glanced up from his book.
Author's Note: You know what the most frustrating thing is? Having literally an entire story outlined, everything from season one of the series to a little beyond the ending to the story's completion outlined, and not being able to get through the first introductory chapters. Seriously. I know the most of the middle and all of the end but it's the beginning that always eludes me, whatever the story. I even have Takara's own character arc mapped out and all the names of her relatives from her siblings to her aunts to random cousins to that one kid who bullied her in the third grade to - yeah, I have a lot. Just not the beginning. It's annoying because I want to get to the fun part of the story and I want you guys to get to read it. But first there has to be the build up to an actual friendship and well, I think we all know who is really making this difficult.
Damn you, you anti-social hedgehog! Why must you make this so difficult for me?!
Fun fact: real life Aomori prefecture in Japan is also located in the north of the country and is Japan's largest producer of apples.
My answer to the golden question from chapter one: I am a tall, blue-eyed brunette with a random tattoo on one of their big feet (hoping to add more soon).
This chapter's question: in your own interpretation of canon, what do you think it'd be like to move to a Hidden village? Is it even possible? Could someone from another country even do that? Also, if you could choose, which Hidden village would you choose to live in? Looking forward to your answers! And again, thank you for reading and sticking with this story. I hope to make it worth your while. Remember to follow, fave, and review!