#it’s his birthday so we’re having drinks and watching naruto | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

cyhyr · 2 years ago

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There’s Happiness Here, Chapter 1

Fandom: Naruto

Rating: Not Rated

Relationships: Hatake Kakashi/OFM, Hatake Kakashi & Umino Iruka, Hatake Kakashi/Umino Iruka, Minor or Background Relationship(s)

WC: ~7275

Warnings: Choose Not to Warn (Because I don't know yet what I will need to warn for)

Additional Tags: One Night Stands, Accidental Pregnancy, Identity Issues, Miscommunication, Panic Attacks, Unrequited Crush, Co-Parenting, Hatake Kakashi is Not Okay, but he's doing his best, Cheating, Minor Character Death, Endgame KakaIru, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Hatake Kakashi-centric, One-Sided Relationship

A/N: So back at the end of April 2022, I messaged my bestie: “What if Kakashi got stuck in a relationship he thought was going to be good, that seems good on the surface, and gets baby trapped and shit idk.”

Thus, this story was born!

And now that I’m finally over my seasonal depression and we’re back to just the Regularly Scheduled Depression, I finally have the spoons to write this now. I have no update schedule, and I don’t quite know what to set the rating at yet or what to add for tags and such beyond what are there.

But

I hope y’all will enjoy exploring this story with me! Enjoy 💛💛💛

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Kakashi watches from across the bar as the group he had followed in takes another round, toasting one of their own and giving him congratulations and condolences in equal measure. He takes a quick sip of his own drink, lowering his mask with one hand and replacing it easily in one smooth motion. He can't help but smile at their raucous laughter; a new batch of Academy teachers, celebrating their last night of “freedom” before their every social interaction is heavily scrutinized. ��

And among those celebrating, Umino Iruka—Kakashi had been present when he’d asked Sandaime for permission and a recommendation to take the teacher’s exam. Hells, he’d captained the mission that had led to Iruka’s decision to leave active service and become a teacher in the first place. And Kakashi truly thinks he’ll excel at being a teacher, once he’s got a bit of experience.

Iruka takes another shot, courtesy of his fellow exam graduate, Mizuki. From what Kakashi understands, Mizuki got through the exam on a technicality; the Academy needs seven new teachers, and he had the eighth highest score. But luckily for him, one of the other candidates backed out at the last moment, saying she’d rather pursue civilian work and leave the life altogether. It’s sad though; that particular candidate had very strong scores, and from what Kakashi had heard on the gossip line she was excited to get to work with the youngest children in the Academy.

A drop of alcohol slips out of the corner of Iruka’s mouth, and his tongue darts out to lick it away. The bar is humid, warm, and there’s a light sheen of sweat across his brow and collecting in his collarbones. Kakashi forces himself to turn away.

He downs the rest of his drink, fixes his mask, and lays a handful of ryō on the bar to pay his tab. Hands in his pockets, he shrugs his way through the crowd, past the celebrating chūnin, and very nearly makes it to the door without an issue. But it’s there, at the door, that his world flips upside down for good.

“I’m all done for the night, really!”

“C’mon, you can’t be serious.”

“Shizu-chan it’s my birthday!!”

A sweet, high-pitched giggle. “Yes, but I still have to work in the morning! I’ll see you all later, promise! Happy birthday again, Kaoru-kun. Have fun!”

Kakashi holds the door open for the woman following him out, smiling pleasantly down at her when she smiles up at him.

“Thank you!”

“Of course.”

They happen to walk side-by-side down the street, going the same way. Kakashi feels the anxious pull of awkwardness, and pulls out his worn copy of Icha Icha Paradise, flipping to a random page and beginning to read while he makes his way home. He gets through half of the page before the woman speaks up.

“I’m sorry, but is that Jiraiya-sama’s work? Icha Icha Paradise?”

Kakashi lifts his brow and glances over at her. “It is. Glad you can read a cover.”

She smiles. The streetlamps highlight her warm, chestnut hair, pulled back in a thick ponytail at the back of her head. “I love that series though!”

He chuckles. “Perhaps announcing to the Village at large that you greatly enjoy an adult romance novel series isn’t—”

“But it’s not his best work, is it? Have you read The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi ? That one was so good!”

Kakashi closes Icha Icha and slows his pace. “I have, actually.”

She lights up, her grin growing as she digs into it. How the worldbuilding was so thoughtful, the characters felt real, the action sequences were riveting and the political struggles were exasperating. Naruto was amusing and funny, Tsuyu was inspiring and sweet, and Renge’s betrayal was heartbreaking to read even through the filter of Naruto’s point-of-view.

Kakashi doesn’t even notice that they’ve walked past the jōnin barracks three times, cycled the block as they discussed various books, moving on to talking about her and what she does for the Village.

“Oh, dear, I’ve talked your ear off for over an hour and never even introduced myself,” she giggles. “Kame Shizukana. I’m a chūnin, active duty.”

Kakashi nods. “Hatake Kakashi. Jōnin.”

She flushes. “Oh, gods, you—I’m so sorry, I’ve been such a bother all night and you must have somewhere important to be and—”

“No, no, it’s… it’s been nice, getting to just talk with someone. A friendly chat. I don’t… my schedule doesn’t allow for it very often.”

She smiles at him and the silence that falls between them is almost comfortable. She looks up at the sky and says, “Can I tell you something I haven’t ever told anyone else, Hatake-san?”

“Would my saying no really stop you?”

She laughs, and barrels on. “Jiraiya-sama’s book? It’s what inspired me to become a ninja. I’m from a civilian family, and it was always assumed that I would just end up marrying some big strong shinobi, keeping his house and raising his children. But I’m much happier as a kunoichi, I think. And it’s all thanks to Jiraiya-sama.”

Some part of Kakashi feels… floppy. Gooey. He doesn’t particularly like the feeling, but it’s not going away the more that they walk, and so he speaks up. “I was born shinobi, raised as such. I don’t think I ever could have become anything different.” He looks down and over at her, Shizukana , and asks, “Can I walk you home?”

She giggles. “We’ve actually passed my apartment twice already,” she says, turning them around and leading the way back to her apartment. “I just… I’ve had so much fun, getting to talk with you. None of my friends are into reading as much as me, and half of them are still civilians so I can’t talk ninja stuff with them, either.”

“I’ve been having some crises of my own that I can’t talk about with my… my friends,” Kakashi admits. “But this truly has been a wonderful reprieve.”

They stop in front of a well-lit building, and Kakashi follows her to the door. His mouth goes dry as she turns back to him and shyly asks, “Did you… wanna come inside?”

From behind, he hears the soft laughter he had followed earlier in the evening, and turns once more to the noise. Coming around a corner, Iruka and his friends stumble over each other, holding one another upright and laughing about something .

Shizukana reaches out for his hand, gently wrapping her fingers around his wrist. She’s so slight, small, demure; and she gives him the lightest tug. Kakashi turns back to her and steps inside, and once the door shuts behind him, she leans up on her toes to kiss him over his mask. He’s able to slip one arm around her waist and pull her close, pulling down his mask to kiss her properly.

They don’t make it to bed, not the first time. He takes her right there in the genkan, her legs around his waist and his hands pressing into the backs of her thighs to hold her up. She kisses him sweetly while he works them both to completion, and after they’ve finished, he lets her down and holds her at the waist until her legs stop quivering.

By the time they make it to bed, Kakashi’s finally unearthed the condoms he keeps in the bottom of his pouch. Nearly every kunoichi in Konoha has the implant, but this will be easier to clean up. They spend much of the night chatting about their favorite Icha Icha scenes and reenacting the ones that they both agree on. Just after midnight, Kakashi finally picks himself up and dresses himself.

“You don’t have to go,” Shizukana says. “I don’t mind.”

He shakes his head, and leans down to kiss her again. “It’s not you. I have a mission in the morning. If I stay, I won’t rest before I leave.”

She nods. “Alright, I understand. Can I see you again, when you get back?”

Kakashi hesitates. “ If I get back… sure.”

Shizukana bounds up to kneeling on the bed and smiles wide. “That’s so exciting! How long?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Oh,” her smile drops. “Oh, it’s… It’s really an if , then?”

He nods. “It always is an if . But if I return, I’ll come visit you.”

Kakashi finishes dressing and then steps over to the window. He looks back at her and smiles once more, “Good night, Shizu-chan.” Then he hops out the window and runs across the rooftops to his apartment, where he settles down for the first good sleep he’s had in… a long time.

*~*

His mission takes him out of Konoha for six weeks, tracking down and eliminating an unknown threat that was kidnapping and ransoming back small children of the villages around the Land of Fire. Kakashi is able to take out the entire organization, a small operation of barely thirty people, and return the currently captured children to their homes.

Only two of them were too young to be able to tell him where they came from. The mayor of one of the affected towns offered to foster the two children until Kakashi could find their parents. It took him about two additional weeks to figure out which of the reported incidents hadn’t been resolved with their child’s return, and also to travel to those people and confirm that the children currently in foster care belonged to those individuals. He brought the last two children home, was thanked profusely for his diligence, and then turned his feet back to Konoha.

Three weeks dealing with parents and small children is more than enough. Hopefully, Sandaime will have something easier for him upon his return.

He spends his last night outside of Konoha camped in a tree, his eye closed and imagining what is waiting for him back in the Village. Warm, chestnut hair, a sweet laugh, someone well-read and intelligent; a thin waist, strong legs, generous mouth—

Kakashi gets himself off to the memory of Shizukana, and doesn’t notice until he’s gasping the wrong name that his fantasy had shifted to feature someone else. He settles down to sleep feeling uneasy, but wondering if it could ever work out…

*~*

Once back within the Village, Kakashi’s first stop is to the Mission Desk to turn in the report he’d filled out on the way home. He’s patient enough, stands in line and waits his turn; and if he reads a few lines of Icha Icha Paradise while he’s waiting, he’d like to see anyone bring it up. Finally, the next available desk worker calls for the next in line, and Kakashi slips his book back into his pouch before approaching.

What luck—

“Oh, hello Kakashi-san,” Iruka smiles. “You’ve been out for a while; seven weeks, right?”

Kakashi nods. “Mopping up a kidnapping operation,” he says, offering the report to Iruka to peruse. He’s not going to check actual mission details; that’s for the archive team to study and the Hokage to receive any particularly pertinent information. Iruka glances over the report to ensure that it is complete, and that Kakashi didn’t wander in his description of what happened. As they stand there quietly, Kakashi clears his throat and says, “I didn’t get a chance to congratulate you. I heard you passed your teacher exam.”

Iruka looks up at him and grins wide and bright. “I did! Actually, the day before you left was when the scores were announced.”

Kakashi chuckles quietly. “You remember when I left, sensei?”

The flush that dusts Iruka’s nose is so very fetching. “Well, I work at the Desk, and I… well. Yes, I remember.”

He doesn’t push it any further than that. Just lets his eye crinkle with the smile hidden by his mask and says, “Either way, congratulations. You will make a fine teacher, I’m sure of it.”

Iruka ducks his head and smiles softly, going back to the report. “Thank you, Kakashi-san. I hope I can live up to your expectations, someday.” He finishes, stamps the report, and rolls it back closed before tucking it into the basket behind him marked A-rank. “Thank you for your work, Kakashi-san.”

“Of course,” Kakashi nods. “Ah, before I go, perhaps you have another mission for me?”

Iruka chuckles. “You just got back! Surely you’d like at least one night in the Village before getting sent back out?”

Kakashi winces, but makes sure that the motion is almost playful. “Sure, sure, but that doesn’t mean I can’t grab the mission for tomorrow?”

The flush is still just barely there on Iruka’s cheeks as he turns and picks a new mission from the pile of A-ranks before unrolling it and giving it a glance. The door to the Desk room opens, but Kakashi is watching Iruka, focused solely on him, and so he doesn’t notice the other person slinking up behind the Desk until they’re already behind Iruka and preparing to drape themself over his shoulders. Kakashi stiffens, feeling oddly nauseated as Mizuki kisses Iruka’s cheek and tries reading the mission scroll over his shoulder.

Iruka, though, quickly rolls it back up before turning his smile up to Mizuki. “You know you can’t look at these, you don’t have clearance from Sandaime,” he scolds playfully.

“Oh, come on, Iruka,” Mizuki scoffs. “It’s not like knowing where Hatake is going is gonna make a difference anyway. He has, what, a five-percent failure rate?”

Kakashi’s hackles rise and he just about opens his mouth to answer, but Iruka beats him to it.

“Hatake-san has a zero-point-eight-percent failure rate, and that’s a generous estimate. Better than your fifteen-percent, Mizuki. Back up, please, and wait until I’m done assigning this mission.”

There’s a flash in Mizuki’s eyes, but it’s there and gone too quick for Kakashi to figure out what it was. But, the man steps back with his palms up in a placating gesture, and Iruka reopens the scroll and turns it around on the desk to let Kakashi read it.

“Is this one alright, Hatake-san?”

Kakashi nods. “It’ll do. I’ll need to put together a team before I leave though; is this time-sensitive at all?”

Iruka checks the request sheet that came with the mission and then nods, “Yes, but it’s very generous. They’re requesting that the mission be completed before the end of next month.”

“Then, maybe I’ll see you around before I leave?”

Iruka grins and says, “That would be nice. If you don’t mind, there’s—”

“Iruka,” Mizuki whines. “C’mon, I don’t have long before I have to get back to my post, and your break was supposed to start five minutes ago. Hurry up .”

“Right, yes,” Iruka murmurs. “Sorry, we’ll have to make plans some other time, Kakashi-san.”

“That’s,” his voice catches in his throat, and he starts again, “that’s alright. Some other time. Best go visit with your friend.”

Iruka’s smile turns soft and sweet, and oh it hurts to see him so happy but for someone else. “Boyfriend, actually. But thanks. I’ll finish the paperwork for you when I’m back from my break, if you could just sign here in the book?”

Kakashi quickly scrawls his name on the line next to the mission’s call number, takes the scroll, and gives Iruka a final salute as he stands up and goes to Mizuki. Kakashi watches from the side as Mizuki wraps a hand around his waist and leads them out of the room. Iruka looks back over his shoulder and waves to him as they turn the corner. His heart flips, and his stomach turns, and Kakashi leaves to go out into the Village.

Ah, well.

There’s always the other cute brunette he can go visit.

*~*

He paces back and forth across the rooftop opposite Shizukana’s apartment building, wondering if he even should go and knock. Likely, the girl forgot all about him, after almost two months of his being gone coupled with them having only met the one time.

Plus, he and Iruka had something going on earlier at the Mission Desk. Tension, or whatever. And gods, he’s so damn attracted to Iruka it’s ridiculous. Shizukana is sweet, and she’s pretty enough, but…

Then again. He did say he’d come back, if he came back. And, well. If nothing else, maybe she’d be interested in having sex again. It was very good the first time, and he can only imagine that it’ll be just as good the second time.

He pulls himself together and hops over to her door, hoping that there’s not a social construct he’s missing here where he should have brought flowers, or extra condoms, or whatever. He knocks, and then steps back and waits. And when the door opens just a little bit and Shizukana’s big brown eye peeks around the wood of the door.

He waves, “Hello again, Shizukana-san. I’m… I’m back.”

The door opens the rest of the way and—well, he was expecting her to be happy to see him, if she remembered him at all. But the look of sheer relief that floods her face is a little bit… odd.

Before she can say anything else, he drops his voice to a cautious murmur and asks, “Is now a bad time? Are you alright?”

The relief doesn’t fade, but her lips do open up in a genuine smile. “No, no, everything’s… everything’s alright! Would you like to come inside?” She steps back and brings him inside, and he steps out of his sandals as she shuts and locks the door behind them. He shrugs out of his vest and she clears a spot on her rack where he can hang it up. He turns to her, expecting another frenzied encounter like their first, but she just smiles shyly at him and asks, “Tea?” before moving along to the kitchen.

He sits down on her couch and waits for her to get back. This isn’t going at all like he thought it would. Gods, he hopes he’s not going to get a love confession. They only spent one night together, and she’s only two years younger than he is. Neither of them are ready for something so life-changing as love , and to be honest, Kakashi is fairly certain he’s incapable of the emotion anyway.

She does, finally, come back with two cups of tea, handing him one of them. “I didn’t add anything sweet,” she says. “I remember you mentioned that you don’t like sweets.”

He thanks her and then takes a sip. Hot and smooth, slightly bitter; it’s oddly perfect. He raises a brow at her while she simply cups her mug and stares down at the steam silently. “Shizukana-san,” he starts, “if you have something to tell me, then please just—”

“I’m pregnant.”

The words hit him like ice, over his head and down his back and all he can seem to say is, “…What?” over the ringing and roaring in his ears as the words seem to echo behind his eyes.

“I haven’t been with anyone else,” she continues quickly. “It has to be yours.”

Kakashi carefully sets his cup down on the table in front of them before his shaking hands force him to drop it. Then, he sits back. “You haven’t been with anyone else since me, or…?”

“Well, no; but also, I hadn’t…” She blushes furiously and admits, “You were my first, not counting missions…”

He stands up to pace, stalking around the living room in a circle.

“You’re pregnant.”

“Yes.”

“And I’m the…?”

“Father. Yes.”

He stops and stares from across the room at her, finally losing his temper, just a little bit. “Why didn’t you get a morning-after treatment?!”

“I didn’t think I needed to! We used condoms!”

“Don’t you have the implant?”

She looks down and away, sheepishly. “Well, I…”

He groans. “We fucked unprotected the first time,” he says. “Every ninja with a uterus above the age of sixteen is supposed to have the implant!”

“I never got one because I—I was scared that it would make me… want .”

“That’s not how they work, though!” Kakashi says, exasperated. How could any kunoichi, let alone a chūnin, believe something so conservative and old-fashioned?

He continues, “They’re supposed to protect us from situations just like this. What if it hadn’t been me, but some enemy nin in the field??”

She starts crying, quiet tears slowly drifting their way down her cheeks as she sets down her own tea so that she can cover her face with her hands. “I don’t know what to do,” she admits. “I tried going to the women’s health clinic, to schedule an abortion. But they did some scans and asked me if I knew who the father was, and when I mentioned your name—”

“They denied your request,” Kakashi sighs. “It’s because I’m the last of my clan. Legally, any children I… help to create… can’t be aborted unless the health of either the child or mother is at risk.”

“I’m sorry,” she cries. “I shouldn’t have said anything to them. I’m so sorry.” She sniffles and looks up at him with a wet half-smile and says, “I mean, it’s not all bad, right? We’re… we’re going to be parents!”

Kakashi stills and his mouth goes dry.

Oh gods .

He’s going to be a parent. A father.

“Where… is your toilet?”

Shizukana wipes her eyes and points aside, confused. Kakashi doesn’t explain, just throws himself into the water closet and kneels over the toilet, pulling down his mask at the same time as the first heave of bile and vomit rises. He does his best to throw up quietly, but he has a strong stomach on the battlefield and that’s really it . When he’s finished and flushed, he hears Shizukana on the other side of the door, asking if he’s okay.

He’s not.

He’s very much not okay .

There’s a small window above the toilet, just barely big enough that he could flicker out through it. It would leave Shizukana alone in her home for a time, but Kakashi needs to leave. He needs to…

Fuck.

He needs to get his affairs in order.

He’s going to have a child.

He opens the window and flickers out into the Village, and once the fresh air hits him he runs .

*~*

His feet eventually stop at the entrance to the old Hatake Compound, and Kakashi groans and scrubs his face with his palm before opening the long-closed gate and stepping inside. The perpetual twilight of the clan barrier sets the overgrown gardens in a wash of pink and orange, the shadows long and lonely stretching out from each bush and tree. Kakashi hasn’t been here in years—well over a decade now. Hands in his pockets, he strolls along the stone path through the empty Compound.

Someday, this place will have life in it again. And that thought, above even the idea that he’s to become a father, scares him so much. He’d just finally accepted that his ancestral home would remain abandoned until reclaimed by the Village, some day long after his death. But now…

Now it’s supposed to become a home again.

Kakashi can’t—he can’t live here. Not with the ghosts of his memory pressing in on him from all sides.

Maybe his child can inherit this place and live here when they’re grown. He’ll have to see about retaining a gardener and getting the buildings back up to livable condition. But that doesn’t have to happen today.

No, today he needs to finally find the old Hatake seals, their Clan lineage scroll, and arrange for Shizukana to have access to the funds she’ll need to… to take care of their child. He finds the scrolls he needs in the main house, the one he enters by holding his breath and hoping that he’s fast enough that he doesn’t need to breathe in the smell of rot and death that still lingers on the edge of his memory.

The lineage scroll falls and rolls open across the floor and Kakashi sucks in a breath as he stares at it. A once mighty family tree, focused down through the years and reduced to one final, pathetic limb. The last name on the scroll is his own. Kakashi stares at his father’s neat handwriting, the characters that make up Hatake Kakashi , and follows the little line leading backwards from his name to his father’s, and the line that connected his father to his mother.

Hatake Kakashi. Hatake Sakumo. Hatake Airi, his mother.

These were supposed to be the last names ever written on this scroll.

And now.

Now Kakashi will have to add his own line. He’ll have to write Kame Shizukana next to his own name, and draw the line to the next generation, to where he’ll place his child’s name.

Their child.

Kakashi scoops up the scroll and runs outside, dropping everything haphazardly and slamming his knees on the ground while he fumbles for his mask. He holds his stomach with one hand, hoping that he won’t throw up again, and monitors his pulse with the other. He feels his heart pounding in his neck, his eye goes blurry and his cheeks become wet, and he can’t take a good breath in.

He can’t do this.

He can’t .

He doesn’t know how; and this isn’t something he can simply read up on and do his best. There’s a small human who will be relying on him, Shizukana will be relying on him, and if he fucks this up it’s not just a failed mission and a decrease in his mission rating. He could hurt them both if he…

Fuck.

He doesn’t have time for a panic attack. He has shit to do.

He forces chakra through his heart to make it slow down, sucks in a breath and holds it for a few seconds before letting it hiss out through his teeth slowly. He stands up, looks back at the scrolls on the ground, and cleans everything up. Righting his mask over his face, he leaves the compound with the pieces he’ll need going forward.

This place is no home for him, and certainly not for raising his child. But maybe someday they’ll bring him back here, and when that day comes, perhaps Kakashi can make it through the day without the pressure of memory.

The next place he goes to is the bank. He only knows Shizukana’s name and address, so it’s difficult to add her as an authorized user to his accounts. Ultimately, he sets up a trust under Hatake Child with a note that the name is to-be-determined, and makes it so that Shizukana has access to that account in particular. She’ll still need to come in and personally sign some paperwork before she can make withdrawals, but Kakashi finds himself able to breathe just a little bit easier after moving his money around and making sure that the child will be financially taken care of.

While at the bank, he also speaks to someone regarding a home purchase, but iterates that he’s not sure yet the particulars of such. He’s assured that with his funds he should be able to purchase any house in the Village, or even have one specially built to his needs and wants. Kakashi is fairly certain that a custom house won’t be necessary, but he takes the information anyway.

It’s late when he finally returns home, scrolls and brochures from the bank end up scattered on the table. He should have gone back to Shizukana, to at least let her know he’s not abandoning her. But he… he can’t, not yet.

He needs to sleep off his mission he only just got back from. Sleep off the panic attacks he’s had on and off all day. Sleep away the anxiety and the frustration and the anger, until all that’s left is a clear head and a steady hand. He lays down in his futon and closes his eye, begging his body to relax enough that he can fall asleep.

*~*

Saturday morning comes and he sits up, exhausted. He didn’t sleep much at all, save a few long blinks. But at least he doesn’t feel…

Well, no. He’s still terribly anxious, his heart fluttering in his chest and his stomach cramping with the desire to turn over. He hasn’t eaten since yesterday morning, before he got back from his mission. The few sips of tea at Shizukana’s house don’t count—he vomited that up so soon after ingesting it.

What he needs to do today is much harder than collecting some scrolls and seals from the Hatake lands. He gets up, uses the bathroom to wash and relieve himself, thinks for half a second about making something to eat but then casts that thought aside, and then heads out into the Village. His first stop is the Mission Desk—and what does it say about him that he’s rushing across the rooftops to the Hokage Tower, to the Desk, running because his one-night-stand is going to have his child in about seven months, and still there’s a part of him that is excited at the prospect of seeing Iruka again.

The Mission Desk is deserted this early in the morning, save for the lone chūnin filing scrolls and setting up for the day. Kakashi approaches the Desk and clears his throat; Iruka turns around and smiles so brightly. “Back so soon, Kakashi-san?”

Kakashi winces and fishes out the scroll from his pouch. He sets it down on the desk as Iruka comes over and takes his seat, but looks up at Kakashi with confusion. “I’m afraid I can’t accept this mission after all,” Kakashi says, pushing it towards Iruka.

The look of confusion dissolves into a frown as Iruka lays his hand over the closed scroll. He reaches for his assignment book and flips to the section with the A-ranks, and crosses out Kakashi’s name on the assigned column beside its call number. “Is everything alright?” he asks as he does this.

The ringing begins again in his ears, numbing pain behind his eyes, and the chill settles back over his shoulders. It’s not as bad as it was yesterday, but Iruka’s wide eyes looking up at him with such blatant concern, along with how alone they are in this room, makes his anxiety shoot up once again. Gods, nothing is ever going to be the same.

For the first time since leaving Shizukana’s home yesterday afternoon, Kakashi says it aloud. “I’m… going to be a father.” It’s no announcement, not a loud phrase, but simply saying it to someone else makes it so real.

Iruka’s eyebrows go all the way up, looking nearly as stunned as Kakashi feels, before he fixes himself and resets and smiles. Kakashi can tell that the smile is forced, but he’s not sure why Iruka feels the need to force himself to smile in this situation. “Um, well then, congratulations, Kakashi-san!”

Kakashi is able to nod, feeling the rise of vomit in his throat, and says quickly, “I’ll… come back for a new mission once I’ve… I’ve…”

Iruka chuckles softly and shakes his head. “This is wonderful news, and I’m sure the Hokage would love to hear of it, once your partner is ready to share their status. Don’t worry about taking a new mission right now, you have more important things to take care of.”

“I just… right. You’re right,” Kakashi stammers. “Thank you. I do need to go and see Sandaime anyway.”

“But make sure your partner is ready to announce,” Iruka chides him gently. “And take a deep breath. You look like you’re about to topple over with how stiff you’re holding yourself.”

Kakashi loudly sucks in a breath and Iruka laughs and smiles at him for it. The pit of anxiety in his stomach eases just that little bit, hearing Iruka’s soft laughter and basking in the warm glow of his smile.

“I… thank you, Iruka.”

“Of course. It's no problem at all.”

“I have to… go. I’m sorry.”

Iruka waves his hand. “I’m sure there’s plenty of things you need to do. Nine months can go by very quickly. If you ever need help, with anything, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.”

Kakashi can’t find the words to properly thank him again, and so simply nods and turns away to leave. He’ll see Iruka again soon enough; fatherhood or no, he’s not planning on giving up his duty and profession. As Iruka works here at the Mission Desk, Kakashi will continue to see him.

*~*

Kakashi wanders the Village, trying to muster up the confidence to go back to Shizukana, but finds himself instead outside of the Nara compound. It’s unlikely that Shikaku is home today, especially in the middle of the day, but there are only a few people he thinks he can ask about this and get a straight, firm answer. He waves to the two at the Nara gate, and they let him stroll inside without any interrogation. The main house is in the center of the compound, and Kakashi approaches slowly upon seeing Shikaku and his young son sitting on the porch with a shogi board between them.

Shikaku notices him before the boy does, humming and grumbling, “Well, you’d better come on inside. Yoshino just put away lunch, but you don’t look like you can stomach much anyway, hm?”

Kakashi shakes his head silently and waits while Shikaku wins the match. The man smiles fondly down at his son while he studies the board to find where he went wrong. Then, Shikaku gives him an inviting wave of his hand and brings him inside. Kakashi follows, and feels the boy’s eyes on him as he passes.

“You look like shit,” the kid says in a bored tone.

Before Kakashi can say anything, Shikaku growls over his shoulder, “Watch your mouth, brat. Go find your mother, see if she can find something for an uneasy stomach.”

He can hear the kid mutter something under his breath, but they’re already inside and gone down a hallway before it can properly register. They turn into Shikaku’s study, and Kakashi drops onto the floor beside the chabudai, bracing his forehead against his raised knees while he waits for his stomach to settle once more.

Shikaku is watching him barely hold himself together, but he can’t find the energy to care right yet. He feels ill; worse than he did this morning.

A soft knock at the door sounds out in the room before it slides open. Nara Yoshino comes in and sets a pair of chopsticks and a bowl, lightly steaming, on the chabudai beside Kakashi. She says nothing to him, but he can see that she and Shikaku exchange some sort of look before she leaves again.

“You do look like shit, though,” Shikaku finally says to him. “What’s going on, kid?”

Kakashi can’t find it in him to touch the food, even though he’s sure that Yoshino will have his head later for wasting it. The bowl has soft rice and steamed vegetables, along with one slice of pork. He’s sure that if he did have an appetite, it would be delicious.

His father used to often remind him to eat the meat offered at mealtimes, not just the rice and vegetables. He usually suffered through it because it meant that Sakumo would take him to the park after dinner, or let him have extra time in their dojo. And that’ll be him, too, someday soon—bribing his child to at least taste everything offered on the table before they can run off and play.

“How did you react, when you found out?” Kakashi asks, unable to lift his head.

“Hmm?”

“That you were going to be a… a father. How did you react?”

Shikaku shifts, perhaps a bit uncomfortably, but he answers, “Well, we knew it was possible. Choza had announced his wife’s pregnancy, and I had a good feeling about Inoichi and his partner as well. We were trying to have a child, to set up the next generation of our clans. When Yoshino told me, even though we were actively trying, it was still a surprise.”

Kakashi draws himself in tighter. Maybe this was a mistake. He and Shikaku are nothing alike in this regard, he had wanted Shikamaru, had actively tried to create him. Kakashi and Shizukana’s child is a complete accident—

“If I’m completely honest with you, Kakashi, when Yoshino told me I was going to be a father, I was scared shitless.”

Kakashi perks up a little bit, peeking over his knees. “But it was still… Shikamaru was still planned?”

“Well, as planned as these things can be, I suppose,” Shikaku allows. “Every child is a surprise, I think, even if you plan for them.”

A surprise doesn’t even begin to describe it. Gods, Kakashi can still hear it, plain as if she’d just said it to him: I’m pregnant. I haven’t been with anyone else. It has to be yours.

“Kakashi—?”

“My father,” Kakashi starts, horrified briefly as his voice breaks. He starts again, “My father k-killed himself before I could ever ask him… if I was a surprise. If he… If he wanted me.”

Shikaku gives him a few moments to pull himself together before he says, “Sakumo always spoke well of you. I don’t think anyone who knew him for more than an hour could get out of the conversation doubting his love for you. Even if you were a surprise, your father wanted you, Kakashi.”

Kakashi shakes his head, feeling like something is trying to claw its way out of his chest. “He left ,” he manages to spit. “How am I—? How am I supposed to do this when I didn’t have—?!” His phrase breaks off with a choke, his breath and pulse coming fast and making him lightheaded.

A firm hand rests on his shoulder and Kakashi listens carefully as Shikaku guides him out of the panic attack. Deep breaths, refocus your chakra, listen to my voice , all of these things Shikaku says in a low, careful tone as Kakashi shakes and gasps for breath. “I’m going to pull down your mask, to let you take a good breath,” Shikaku warns him before he does it. His thumb strokes the base of his skull and Kakashi lets out a pitiful whine as he leans into Shikaku’s side. “What’s going on, Kakashi?”

For the second time today, Kakashi murmurs, “I’m going to be a father,” and it feels like being struck across the face, leaving him in a state of vertigo. His ears start ringing again. “It was an accident, I barely even know the girl, but she can’t—can’t get rid of it, because I’m the last of my clan. Or I was, I guess.”

Shikaku nods and lets Kakashi stay against his side. “Your anxiety is understandable, in this situation. Are you going to stay with her, raise the child?”

Kakashi shrugs. “I don’t know. I don’t know her, but she… she’s growing the next Hatake.”

“Maybe don’t phrase it like that,” Shikaku chuckles softly. “From my experience, women don’t like their pregnancies to be referred to as ‘growing a child’.”

Kakashi lets himself smile, just a little bit, just for a moment. “But as for the child,” he says, his smile fading, “I think… I think I do want to be involved with them. Help raise them. I’m not sure how to do that if I’m not… involved, with her.”

“You need to go and talk to her, then,” Shikaku says. He pushes Kakashi to sit up and then grabs his jaw to make Kakashi look at him. “For what it’s worth, I think you’ll be a great father.”

“I had a really shitty role model,” Kakashi mutters. “What’s to say I don’t… leave them, the way he left me?”

Shikaku sighs. “If it ever happens that you feel like following in Sakumo’s footsteps in that regard, you come to me and I’ll set you straight. I can promise you that.” His demeanor hardens then, and he continues, “But don’t you dare say he was a shitty role model. He raised a fine young man, for the time he had in this life. And if you turn out to be half the father Sakumo was to you, then your child will be just as fine as you.”

*~*

For the second time in as many days, Kakashi paces nearby Shizukana’s home. This time, though, instead of wondering if he even should go and knock, he’s wondering how he should approach this. He does need to go and tell her that he’s committed to raising the child with her. However, he also needs to impress upon her that he’s not willing to get married to do this, or even to tie himself down to her at all.

He’s committed to the child, not to Shizukana. This will be fine. She’s a ninja, she’ll understand.

He flickers back to her door and knocks, and although he can tell that she’s inside because he can sense her chakra thrumming within the apartment, she doesn’t come to let him inside. On a whim, he tries the knob and finds the door unlocked, slowly entering with the full expectation that something is horribly wrong and that someone has already come for her because she’s carrying his child—

But instead, she’s simply curled up on the couch, hugging a throw pillow and crying quietly into the cushions. Kakashi crosses the room and kneels down in front of her, checking for injuries, “Are you alright? What’s wrong, what happened—?”

“I’m sorry!” she hiccups. “I’m sorry, I knew you wouldn’t want the baby, I’m sorry, but I just thought that maybe we could—could be happy and… and…” She devolves into sobbing again.

Kakashi, confused and alarmed, gently puts his palm on her waist to try and soothe her. At the same time, he also pushes a slight amount of chakra into her abdomen to check on their child; the embryo is fine, as far as he can tell with his limited knowledge of medicine. “It’s alright, I… Can you explain why you’re crying, though?”

She rubs her eyes and looks up at him with the same kind of confusion he’s been giving her. “You left!”

He cringes, because she’s right; he did leave. And now that he knows why she’s crying, coupled with the likely addition of pregnancy hormones, he feels awful for doing so. But still, “I’m sorry,” he says. “I panicked. I shouldn’t have left, but I did and I’m sorry.”

“I knew you didn’t… That you wouldn’t want anything to do with me,” she whispers wetly, “I didn’t expect that you… I just wanted you to know.”

The relief he feels must be similar to the kind she felt upon seeing him yesterday. She doesn’t expect anything from him, which is perfect; he’s not ready for a relationship, certainly not with someone he barely knows. Thank the gods she already understands.

“I do appreciate you telling me,” he says. “I just… I’m here to let you know. That I’m going to stay; that I want to be in the child’s life. I… I’ll never leave them, not willingly.”

She sniffles and sits up, Kakashi’s hand slipping from her waist to her lap. She smiles at him shyly and asks, “R-really? You’ll… with me?”

Kakashi nods. “I want to help you raise this child, if you’ll let me. Whatever way you want me to help, I’m prepared for—be that simply a silent financial beneficiary or a more hands-on co-parenting situation.”

Shizukana nods rapidly. “I don’t mind, really! Whatever way you think is best!” She flushes as she continues, “I… I have a doctor’s appointment in two days, to verify the due date and such. Would you like to come?”

He fidgets a bit, and she takes his hand on her lap and threads their fingers together. After a deep breath and a loud exhale, he nods. “That… yes. I would, if you truly want me there.”

“It’s your baby, too, Kakashi-kun,” she giggles wetly. “And it’ll be the first time we get to see them!”

Kakashi nods and accepts her leaning forward and kissing his cheek. That’s… fine. She’s affectionate, and high on pregnancy hormones. He’s not sure why he had been dreading telling her that he wanted to be in the child’s life. She’s smart, and she understands.

He never should’ve worried. There’s a reason he liked her so well.

He figures that the idea of moving and perhaps buying a home for their child can be put off for another day. They have seven months before the birth; plenty of time.

“Would you like to go and get dinner?” he asks.

She nods. “Oh, let me go and clean up first,” she says.

As she walks away, he watches her go and wonders how she will look in the months to come, swelling with his child, and thinks that somewhere, buried underneath the panic and the stress and the anxiety, there’s happiness to be found here.

| Next >

Tips appreciated 💛

#my writing #Hatake Kakashi #Kakashi/ofc #kakairu #umino iruka

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kyotakumrau · 4 years ago

Text

2020.12.21 The World You Live In at Zepp Tokyo, 2nd event report

Fujieda again started with greetings, introduced himself and Takabayashi and then asked for applause for the band members.

And we got quite a surprise!

Kaoru and Toshiya came on stage!

Thus making Tokyo the only place where band members changed for each slot/session. As much as I'd love to see Kyo again I was happy as my friend only went to Tokyo and she's Toshiya's fan😊

F: please introduce yourself.

Kaoru: you already did lol. I'm Kaoru.

T: I'm Toshiya.

F: the last video you just watched was different from other sessions. The trailer for the concert film screenings that will start from February. It's something only you know right now. As you can imagine from the title it will be something similar to this, with the band members coming for the talk after.

K talked a bit about the situation as well.

T: it's still difficult to hold concerts, but this is something we can do. So I hope you will look forward to it.

Next F started the 'merch items introduction corner', he passed the items to the members.

K: I was watching the 1st slot and we talked about them in Osaka, too. (he talked more about the items and what members said)

F: yes, everything can fit in the pouch so it's a very useful item. You can buy all merch items and put then in the pouch and take home like that. Let's look at Toshiya's big pick key chains (he pronunced that very carefully😂)

They talked about members signs and company logos when suddenly K requested to have to lights in the venue set brighter so he could see everyone.

After that F announced they wil start with questions from the fans, passed the part of papers to others, but K gave his to F saying it's better if he chooses.

T: ok, I have a good one! 'It was Die's birthday yesterday, did you send him a birthday message? And are there any memorable presents you've received in the past?'

T: I got a bicycle. I was really happy at first, but then it was stolen from the parking area.

F: when was it?

T (I didn't catch it but from the context it must have been quite early on in their career)

F: during the tour?

T: yeah, we were always giving each other something for our birthdays, every year, but as years passed it got more difficult to choose something good and we then just stopped.

F: how about you, K?

K: I got a Mickey Mouse, about this size (he showed us with his hand, about 1m tall).

F: 'how do you deal with feeling tired?'

K: I go for a massage.

F: only during the tour?

K: anytime.

F: when the most? When writing songs?

K (laughing): but we're always writing songs

T: for me it's sauna.

F: do you often go when just staying at home?

T: for example after the gym

Ta: 'what did you eat most often during the stay at home period?'

K: ...what did I eat, what about you, Tooru?

Ta: sausages.

The whole venue kinda rotfled 🤣🤣🤣

F: that's cute😆

Ta: it's something I can usually only eat at home.

K: ...something I was really into...(still thinking)....(thinking)

F: for me it was Jiro-ken ramen.

T: at home?! So you weren't really staying at home?

F: I gained some weight after the overseas tour. I started to diet then, and one day a week, a cheat day, I could eat whatever I wanted. My cheat choice was Jiro, either at the restaurants or to take away.

K: ...what was it for me...

F: maybe nabe you talked about before? (in Osaka)

K wasn't impressed 😆

T: canned mackerel for me.

F: for when you drink etc? No, just like that?

They all laughed here a bit.

Suddenly K jumped in with a new topic.

K: in Osaka you talked about the theme behind Kyo's outfit, you said it was pink but he pointed his green hair as the main point.

F: that was difficult.

K: tbh I also thought the main idea was pink (he also talked about Kyo's use of Kansai dialect)

T: 'what were you able to do after becoming an adult?'

F: there's a lot of food people start eating when they grow up.

T: food topic again? 😆

F: for example for me it was raisins.

T: as I get older I can drink more. When we just debuted I couldn't drink at all.

F: drinking wine?

T: おっさんだから・'cause I'm an old guy.

K started talking about the food he couldn't handle when he was small but the next question kinda made me forget it 😅

' 'wet cat food is actually quite good, have you ever tried?'

F: I have a cat and sometimes when I give my cat wet food some will get on my fingers. I'd just lick it. You know some of it, the mackerel or tuna, it looks so good.

T: please send me a video when you eat cat food next time.

😂

(but to be fair most of canned cat food in Japan is 100% fish🤷‍♀️)

K: 'when you can tour again what local specialities do you want to eat?'

F: motsunabe in Fukuoka

T: miso type?

F: of course (if not Shinya would kill him)

K: what did you eat in Sendai?

F: bento

K: in Nagoya?

F: nothing special

T: we had normal bento, but it was miso katsu (Nagoya's style cutlet)

F: but if it's not in a restaurant it's not the same. Anything you want to eat, T?

T: Beki soba from Niigata.

F: have you tried it before?

T: when we went there on a tour, I really like soba.

They talked but more about food, tare katsu, okonomiyaki from Hiro and Jiro again.

T: is Jiro really that good?

F: 😍

K: I've tried it before, but it's (just) okay.

F: it's all about how the noodles taste (type of flour etc)

(more food talk, choosing between salt and tare options)

K: 'what's your favorite onigiri (rice ball)?'

F: how about you, K?

K: I don't eat onigiri.

T: Me also, but if I have to choose it's sujiko/salted salmon roe.

K (about not eating onigiri much): right, you only eat soba.

T then told us the story how much he loved salmon roe even as a child. When he was quite small he went shopping to the local supermarket with his grandmother. When he saw salmon roe in the shop he just started eating it directly from the shelf/container. Of course when his grandmother and supermarket staff found out it got very noisy, but because he was so young it was forgiven.

(back to onigiri topic)

Ta: salmon for me.

F: oh that is nice, I love the most tamago-kake-gohan rice ball (TKG is a very simple, traditional Japanese breakfast dish - just rice with a raw egg eaten with soy sauce, sometimes other toppings), the Newdays chain is selling them

K: the chain operates only in this area, no?

F explained that there are Newdays in other places too, fe Sendai. He also really got into explaining all pros incl the tasty gooey filling inside of the rice ball.

K (imitating F) oh that's nice 😂

F: 'it got so cold recently, what's your favourite season?'

T: spring or fall, I don't hate winter but I definitely don't like summer.

K: fall. (he said as this year wasn't too cold he could go out a bit during breaks)

F: so 2~3 weeks ago was your fav time.

K: here in Tokyo at least.

F: 'as we're staying home much more now do you have a recommended tv series or a channel?' (not just a movie)

K: Cobra kai.

F: ah, you tweeted about it.

K: it will be on Netflix next month, the 3rd season.

K talked about The Karate Kid (Japanese title 'Best Kid').

F: I don't know it.

Ta: me too.

K (shocked): you're serious???

T: I know, of course.

F: 'Best Kid'? 'Best Fit?'

T: just stop it🙃

F: how about your recommendation, T?

T: The BOYS on Prime.

K: I haven't seen it, but it seems interesting.

T: it is! I also like BOSCH. I'm just watching like after work and so on.

After that K talked about how cinema with the capacity reduced by half was nice because you could put your bag on the seat next to you etc, but recently came back to the full house (Demon Slayer did that...)

F: 'how do you feel being in front of people first time in a while?'

T: I'm sorry it has to be done this way

F: don't say that😆

(missed K's reply)

T: it's tiring to be in front of people.

F: but we do it in an interesting way.

T: yeah.

T: 'what's your favourite game? Even including older ones like famicon?'

K: games?

T: Spelunker on Amicon😆

T/K in agreement: where you die so quickly

K: PS5 is so popular, I didn't win.

F: it seems Kyo won once but the information he submitted had a mistake.

K: I applied for Sony's lottery and Big Camera's.

F: you don't want PS5, T?

T: recently I don't play.

K: what about the... what was it Tsushima?

They all reacted with 'ah'

F: what kind of game is it?

K: don't ask me😅 but it looks interesting.

T: it seems to be very popular abroad.

F: 'what's your favourite way to eat ozoni?'

(A new year soup with rice cakes)

Ta: the soy sauce based soup, with grilled mochi.

F: but what ingredients do you add?

K: isn't that way too detailed??

Ta (tries): spring onion etc

K listed grilled mochi, spinach, carrot etc. Then he told us about his family tradition to properly make rice cakes for New year, pounding was so loud even if you wanted to watch tv, you couldn't. But then they had enough for a month.

T: soy sauce style.

F: with miso or?

T: I said soy sauce.

F: what ingredients?

T: rice cakes, spinach, and what is that... (he started to make circles with his hand) ...?

F: naruto?

T (yeah that/nods)

F: in my family we do soy sauce, rice cakes, carrot, fish cakes etc.

K (ignoring F comment that they should finish now, in a teasing way): what about osechi, which dishes do you like?

F: konbu maki or kurikinton.

K: how about you, T?

T: that egg dish that is kinda like this (he gestured the shape again)?

Ta: tatemaki?

F: datemaki!

T: I think it's datemaki.

K: I like that beef roll with carrot and green beans inside (its 牛肉の八幡巻き)

F (making very dreamy face): Aaaaaaah that😍 green beans are so good.

F: ok, thank you all.

K: what about Tooru (Ta)?

F: it's time, sorry.

Last comments.

Toshiya: thank you all for gathering here despite the COVID situation. It's difficult to do concerts now so we tried doing film screenings. In difficult times like this it's not only about the band members, there's our staff and also the venues. I'd love to play concerts again, please wait for us.

Kaoru: it is a difficult situation to share my personal opinion... if we can't do the concerts in a way everyone can enjoy... enjoy, it will affect our relationship of mutual trust. I think this (COVID) situation will continue for some time still, so I think it's better to go with the film screening events. But we will keep checking the situation. Please stay healthy and I hope all of you will come to watch it.

#dir en grey #the world you live in #kaoru #toshiya #薫 #zepp tokyo #fujieda #takabayashi

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imuser304 · 4 years ago

Text

Best Birthday Ever

Rock Lee x Genderneutral!Reader

the love of my life's birthday today!! Happy birthday, king!! *smooch*

Prompt: SURPRISE PARTY!!!

TW: None! just sappy & cute

(Not following the Naruto plotline)

Let's just say he's turning 16, for the sake of convenience.

WC: 4148

"(Y/n)!" Lee called from their apartment door. They came out quickly and opened the door, knowing today was a special day. Lee was turning 16, and boy, were they excited. Lee was their best friend at the time, and not only that, but like the way these stories go, (y/n) had developed quite the set of feelings for the sweetest boy in all of the five great nations.

They were still only wearing their pajamas when they opened the door. "Happy birthday, Lee!" they exclaimed, wrapping their arms around him, Lee immediately reciprocating their touch.

"Thank you, (y/n)! I appreciate it! I came by to see if you would come train with me!"

"Of course," they let him out of the hug and grinned. "Let me go change, I'll be ready in just a minute. But you can come in and wait if you'd like," they offered, opening the door a little more. Lee came in, and closed the door behind him. "Okay, I'll be right out."

Asking (y/n) to train was how Lee was trying to show his affection. Spending as much time as he could with them, and as often as he could, alone with (y/n). That was one of the reasons, anyway.

Lee surveyed their apartment, the books on her shelves, the mug on the coffee table. There was also the weights he had gotten them for their birthday a year before, and from the looks of it, they had been getting used plenty, and that made him happy. Someone who shared his interest in getting stronger. That's what made him happy.

The rest of the group of the teens in Konaha at the time, (including (y/n), excluding Naruto and Sasuke) had been planning Lee's party for weeks, because everyone knew that Lee wasn't going to do it himself. He had no clue he was going to even have a party, in fact, so far, other than the quick reminder from (y/n), Lee had almost forgotten it was his own birthday.

The whole group knew (y/n) and Lee had feelings for each other, even if they themselves didn't know. So, Shikamaru, being most of the planner and the one who would set the party plans up without fail, made sure that (y/n) would keep him distracted until the party.

(y/n) came out of their room a few minutes later, dressed in their nicer set of ninja gear, knowing it looked better on them than their usual Chunin attire.

"You ready, Lee?"

Lee didn't, or couldn't reply. He thought (y/n), even if their attire wasn't that different, looked stunning on them. Maybe it was because it was different than usual.

"Lee? you're staring?"

"Oh! I am very sorry! You just look radiant today!"

(Y/n)'s face went red at the compliment, but doing their best to hide it, she crossed to the door. "We should go now," they chuckled, and left.

After 30 minutes of sparring, specifically with weapons to get to know their tools, (y/n) had an idea, sparked by Lee using his nunchaku in their battle.

They were both taking a break, sitting in front of each other while drinking some water, and Lee re-wrapping his forearms and hands.

"What is it, (y/n)? you look like you are thinking."

"Oh I- I wanted to... ask if I could try your nunchaku? You make it look so easy. It's mesmerizing."

"I assure you, it is not as easy as it looks. But of course! There is nothing more youthful than learning a new skill!" Lee handed them the sticks and they both stood up to see (y/n) make an attempt to use the tool they had never even held before.

They held them out, away from their face as an instinct, afraid of hitting them self. After a few minutes of Lee watching (y/n)'s failed attempts, they turned to Lee and blushed, a little embarrassed of how terribly they were doing.

"Maybe you could show me the ropes?"

Lee had been waiting for them to ask, not wanting to invade on teaching them self.

"Of course! first I guess, maybe you are holding them wrong." He fixed their hand, and adjusted their wrist a little, "Maybe do not hold them so tight?"

They loosened her grip, feeling the weight of them strain their hands. Lee backed up, and they tried again to swing, still holding it out too far.

"I'm... still doing it all wrong. What else can I fix?"

Lee approached them, standing slightly behind, holding their arms. "May I?" (Y/n) had no clue what he was asking, but being so close to him was so warm and comfortable, they figured it would be fine.

Lee slid his hands down to their wrists, holding their hands over the nunchaku, but also pressing their bodies together. Weather or not it was on purpose wasn't totally clear, but it's not like (y/n) didn't like it.

"I think when you swing them, you use your hands, and that is making your movements sloppy. So try-" Lee began moving their hands, but used his wrists more than the muscles in his hands. "try swinging with your wrists, it gives you a wider range of movements, and is easier to control," he explained, leaning in a little closer. "And I think you should close your eyes."

"Wh-what?"

"You trust me, right?"

"Well, yeah, but if I close my eyes, I'll hit myself or you-"

"No you will not. Just relax, you will be okay, I will stay like this to show you why. Ready?" they could feel him breathing, and just how fast his heart was beating with their back pressed to his chest.

"...Okay, Lee. I trust you." (Y/n) closed their eyes, letting Lee guide their hands and arms. He slowly pulled their arms back closer to them while swinging the sticks around.

"I think what you are missing is trust. Not that you do not trust me, but you do not trust your weapon or yourself. With nunchaku, at first, they are a little frightening. But after using them for a while, they become an extension of yourself." While he was explaining, he was moving her arms, and even starting to walk around so (y/n) could get comfortable. (Y/n) had been taking slow, deep breaths while listening. They had never been this close to Lee, it was a whole different experience, feeling his body around theirs as he guided them in training with a tool they were completely unfamiliar with.

There were a few minutes where neither of them said anything while Lee was moving them around. The only thing heard was the nunchaku swishing through the air. There was nothing to say, it was just... comfortable. They moved in unison, and eventually, without noticing, their breath had also fallen in sync.

(Y/n) whished Lee would just stop training for a moment and just hold them, but it seemed that would be... out of the picture. It took everything they had not to burst into flames and melt to the ground.

It only lasted a minute longer, though. Lee let them go after reminding them to keep their eyes closed and just move the way they were comfortable with. (Y/n) knew it was Lee's birthday today, but he made them feel special.

Not that Lee didn't. Lee felt about the same way as (y/n), if not even more warm inside. They were everything he wanted in a partner, and if he was even just a little smarter, he would realize that he was in love with (y/n). Finding ways to be alone with them, and be physically close was always something he strived for, finding he always had the best time when they were around.

"I think I get it now..." they mumbled, opening their eyes, continuing to swing their wrists.

"You definitely got the hang of it, (y/n)! How youthful! Now it is a matter of training for battle!"

They stopped swinging, letting their arms drop to their side.

"Actually, can we just spar normally one more time? I'm getting sorta hungry, I didn't eat breakfast this morning-"

"You didn't eat breakfast!? (Y/n)! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Why would you skip it?"

"Well... I kinda went to bed sorta... really late, then I only woke up a few minutes before you came around, and I figured you ate already, so I didn't want to keep you waiting for me? Is that a good enough reason?"

"No! I would have gladly waited for you to get enough nutrients for morning training. Also, what were you doing up so late?"

"...I can't tell you. You'll see later, I promise!"

"Okay then, it is time for you to eat. Let me pay-"

"If we're getting lunch, let me pay for you, it's your birthday! I would feel bad!"

"Well, (y/n), I want to pay. It is always my pleasure!"

"Okay, how about this. We spar one more time, and whoever wins, gets to pay. How does that sound?"

"Okay, but I assure you, I will win!"

"Alright then, I guess we'll have to see about that," they teased, moving to the middle of the training grounds. Lee was entranced by their youtfulness, and was distracted enough by their fighting spirit to forget what he was doing. "You coming?" they called out, beckoning him to get ready.

"Yeah, yes! I am coming!" He snapped out of his daze, and ran to match up with (y/n). "Are you ready?"

"Whenever you are!" They both nodded after this, and began.

Almost immediately, Lee disappeared from view, though, (y/n) knew his movements perfectly. Lee was behind (y/n) about to sweep their legs out from under them. They sent some chakra to her feet to push off the ground as they jumped to avoid his attack.

"Easy to predict, Lee!" they shouted in the air, pulling their leg out to hit his shoulder, assuming he would move before they touched the ground. But he didn't, and (y/n) landed a direct hit, without really meaning to.

Within the same second, Lee moved quickly away to try and attack while they were both on their feet. The match continue on, Lee almost completely unable to land a hit on (y/n). It wasn't usually like this. Lee, on average, would beat her four out of five times.

After a few minutes of boring do over moves, (y/n) lost their footing, and started to trip to the ground, but not before grabbing the collar of Lee's jumpsuit, and pulling him down too.

Faces now impossibly close, they could feel his hot breath on their cheek. Lee had her pinned down to the ground, the strangest of tensions resonating between them.

[Lee's POV]

They are- beautiful. (Y/n) is usually beautiful. But now more than ever. What about them is so different from this view? What is happening?

[(y/n)'s POV]

He's pinned me. He's pinned me. He's pinned me. He's pinned me. He's pinned me. He's pinned me. He's pinned me. He's pinned me. He's pinned me. He's pinned me.

Holy shit.

Kiss me. You dummy. I won't make the first move. I won't do it. Kiss me. Do it.

[3rd person POV]

"I am sorry! I did not mean to- well, uhh-" Lee immediately got off of (y/n) freeing them from under him. Both of their faces were bright red and embarrassed, (y/n) slightly resentful.

"You win, Lee. Where are you taking me?"

"...hmm... how about that tea shop in mid town, with the really good dango?"

"Sounds nice. Let's go there."

Was (y/n) a little mad? yeah. Did Lee pick up on it? No. He could never.

They spent most of the day together, (y/n) often asking what Lee wanted to do. He always replied with the same "whatever makes you happy," because truthfully, whenever (y/n) was happy, Lee was happy. And yet, he still didn't realize exactly how they were feeling about each other. If (y/n) admitted they liked him, he would realize it in that moment, that that's what was happening, to him too.

They ended up spending quiet a lot time at the library. (Y/n) wanted to brush up on their medicine knowledge, and optimize the food pills they had been making. They had worked with the Nara clan, and the Akamachi clan, but there was still something missing.

Lee sat next to them with his book, learning about different types of taijutsu, seeing how he could improve his own. But every time he read or saw something interesting, he would show it to (y/n), and talk about how he could improve himself from what he read. This led to short shoulder touches, close faces, lots of smiles and furrowed bushy brows, and accidentally brushing hands. Every little thing made both of them red and embarrassed, but they didn't stop.

"Here, Lee, look at this," they whispered, pointing to a passage about chakra forms. "Did you know, that when a chakra user is embarrassed, or nervous, or... in love, the form changes, and it's either spiky, or fuzzy. Fuzzy is associated with happiness and good, and spikey with anger and mostly anxiety. I just... thought it was interesting."

"It is! I mean- you could not really tell with me unless I opened the first gate, but, it is still neat!"

Just then, the clock struck five, and it was time to get Lee to his party. "Lee, I want to show you something," they said softly, putting the books away. Lee followed right behind, and they left.

"What is it?"

"You'll see when we get there," they giggled and grabbed his hand to pull him along. Lee wasn't expecting (y/n) to hold his hand the way they did, but he held on tighter, liking the way it felt to have their hand in his.

They soon arrived to a park. At the moment, it looked normal, nothing weird going on here. Sort of. "What are we doing here?" he asked, squeezing their hand tighter.

"SURPRISE!!" Everyone popped out of the bushes and under the playset. Lee flinched back for a second before realizing what exactly what was happening.

His face grew into a grin, and without (y/n) noticing, laced their fingers together, making them scoot a little closer.

"Do you like it?" they asked quietly to Lee before everyone started crowding him.

"Did you do this, (y/n)?"

"Well, I helped, but a lot of the actual planning was left to Shikamaru." Lee's smile wouldn't fade. It was glued to his face, seeing everyone gathered together. Gai-Sensei stepped to Lee, and grabbed Lee into a hug, pulled his and (y/n)'s hand apart.

(Y/n)'s eyes cut to their now cold hand, only just realizing how warm Lee's hand was, and how cold they were without his.

"Lee, my boy! You're growing into a fine young man!"

"Thank you, Gai-Sensei! You have done well to teach me!" Lee had noticed it too. His hand was empty, and it just... didn't feel right. In that moment, he had finally realized his feelings for (y/n).

'Oh. I like like (y/n). Do I love them? Is it too soon to know?' He thought to himself, letting Gai go. 'Maybe I do love them-' His thought was interrupted by another. 'Do they like me? Would they ever like me?'

"Lee," (y/n) snapped him out of his own mind, trying to get him to look at something. "Look what we got for dinner!"

Karashi was standing over a pot of curry, a few besides him, with various amounts of spicy curry to match everyone's pallet. It had been a long time since Lee had his last plate of the curry of life and rice. So as much as the party was a good surprise, having the curry of life for dinner? Lee felt like he was on top of the world. (Only, with his new found feelings, he was missing something.)

"Karashi! it has been a long time! You came all the way here for my birthday?"

"Of course! Anything for a friend. And, you get the first plate!"

Lee looked at (y/n) and grinned.

"Yeah, maybe that was my idea..." they laughed, only for Lee to scoop (y/n) into a hug, and thank them over and over. "Lee, you're- I can't breathe!" they choked out.

"I am sorry!" he let them go, staring deep into their eyes. "I am just... very happy!"

"I know that. Go get some curry already!"

"If I get the first plate, then you have to get the second!"

"...Why?"

"I- Because I... I want you too!" He exclaimed, urging (y/n) to follow him.

They got their curry, (y/n) chosing to get the mildly spicy, and Lee with the spiciest. Everyone else also got their food, but of course, Lee was back for seconds in no time.

About 45 minutes after everyone got their food, everyone had completed their meals, and felt full and satisfied. (Y/n) turned to Lee, who was up, talking to Neji and Tenten while everyone else chatted. "Sorry to interrupt, but Lee, uhh-"

"What is the matter, (y/n)?"

"...Presents or cake first?"

"Oh. Are we doing them now?"

"Yeah, we were hoping to."

"Hmm... then cake it is!"

Lee grinned wide again, and finally decided he wanted to grab their hand. Before they walked away to the table where the cake was, Lee brushed his hand along (y/n)'s fingers, which made their heart skip a beat, and their face turn red. Lee waited until they brushed their fingers to the back of his hand to sneak his fingers into the cracks between theirs. Neither of them said a word about it, but everyone saw. Lee picked up their hands, and without thinking, stuck them into the pocket of his jumpsuit.Sakura was lighting the candles, and it was time for Lee to be sung to. After a quick chorus of the song, he blew out the candles atop a vanilla cake with white icing and the words "happy 16th birthday, lee!" in dark green icing, the same color as his suit.

Then, of course it was time for presents, where he made (y/n) sit next to him the whole time. In all honesty, they weren't even sure what they were. There hadn't been a confession, or a kiss. So far, it was just hand holding and blushing a lot. Lee didn't even know if (y/n) even liked him back, and felt the chance that they were holding his hand out of pity was high, though, he still liked the way it felt.

He opened every gift, getting a wide array of tools to work out with, and obviously he absolutely loved every one of them. Now the only thing he hadn't opened was (y/n)'s gift. It was finally time for him to, and it almost made (y/n) nervous.

"Here, I painted it myself, I hope you like them." they handed Lee the neatly wrapped box, which he opened carefully, not to rip the paper.

Then he opened the box to find a new set of nunchaku with hand painted lotuses on the side, and covered with a few layers of clear coat the wouldn't come of while using them.

"I love them!" He exclaimed before even pulling them out of the box. He set it on the ground and pulled (y/n) into a hug, thanking them for everything.

"I don't know what I did to make you so excited, Lee." (y/n) hugged back, leaning on his shoulder as they sat.

"You have done a lot of things! I am just happy you are such a good...?" A good what? He didn't want to say friend. He wanted to be more than friends, and if he said friend, it would block out the idea otherwise.

"I'm... a good friend?" they asked, letting Lee go, pretending they wasn't saddened by what he didn't say.

"Umm... yeah. I suppose so." Everyone who was watching them mentally or physically face palmed, because it was obvious that they were more than that.

After awhile of playing party games and talking, the party started to wind down, and everyone helped clean up. After the area that was used was clean, people started to leave, until it was just (Y/n) and Lee alone, again.

They moved to the swing set to hang out. Lee was trying out his new nunchaku, though, he was more just admiring the pretty design.

"You're probably tired of me by now, right?" (y/n) asked as they watched Lee. It was dark out now, and they probably needed to start heading home anyway.

Lee shook his head and sat on the other swing next to (y/n). "There is no way I could get tired of you, (y/n)."

"But you've been around me all day, and I know sometimes I can be pretty annoying-"

"You being around me all day is what made my birthday this year the best. I like being around you," he said, and looked to the ground under him, deciding now would be a good time to say it. "I... I like you, and not... not as a friend..." he stuttered out, still unable to look up at (y/n).

(y/n)'s heart jumped out of their chest now that he had actually said it. "Lee I- I have another present for you."

"Y-you do not have to-!"

"Relax, just close your eyes and I'll give it to you, okay?"

"...O-okay..."

(y/n) stood up and walked to Lee, then bent down, and push some of the hair from his face to kiss his forehead. He immediately opened his eyes in surprise, and his cheeks turned red.

"Keep your eyes closed!" they giggled. He closed his eyes again and took a deep breath. (y/n) held his face, then brought their lips to his, gently waiting for a response. (Y/n) pulled away, and he opened his eyes again, and before they could step back, he pulled them back into another kiss, cupping their cheek, and slowly standing up.

"I like you too, Rock Lee."

"Thank you for the best birthday ever, (y/n)," he chuckled, and held them close, keeping their foreheads together. "I do not know what else I could have wished for."

"So then... are we... dating now?"

"I would hope so!" he laughed. "I will take you on a date tomorrow after training. Or for dinner. But I should walk you home now and make sure you get home safe." Lee gave one last quick squeeze before letting go.

"You would do that even if we weren't dating," (y/n) giggled, then did the same awkward finger brushing thing before Lee grabbed their hand and didn't let go.

"That may be true, but even so, it is different now."

So Lee walked (y/n) back to their apartment, and talked the whole way there. (Y/n) had been hit with a rush of exhaustion, and just wanted to sleep now. "Hey so uhh- Lee... I was wondering something?" (y/n) started as they approached her apartment door.

"Yes?"

"Since... well... I guess I was wondering if you wanted to spend the night... wait, I didn't mean- I mean... we- we could cuddle?" Lee's eyes went wide at the idea, he was so ready to cuddle, other than he desperately needed to shower and change his clothes.

"I would love to! I can run back to my apartment, and get a shower and change, then be back here in a half hour! Is that alright?"

"Yeah. I'll do the same. See you in a little bit," (y/n) gave him another quick hug, then he disappeared.

(y/n) was able to shower and get ready for bed before Lee got back. But once he was back, he wouldn't let go.

A few minutes later, Lee was comfortably laying, (y/n) right on top of his chest, listening to his heartbeat in the dark room. His arms were wrapped warmly around them, and both of their eyes were closed. (Y/n) was already half asleep while Lee stroked their hair, skimming consciousness himself.

'best birthday... ever.'

#rock lee #naruto #narutoshippuden #happy birthday rock lee #rock lee x reader #rock lee my king #curry of life

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chestnut-b · 4 years ago

Text

Himawari Chapter 11

Just like Iruka had, he stared at the dish in his hand. A firefly was resting on its edge, and its glowing reflection on the shining surface of the sake reminded him of a freezing, cloudless night on the northern coast, when he’d watched a full moon rise above the sea.

He remembered thinking; Iruka would have liked to see this.

After a silence that felt like an eternity, Kakashi heard a drip, followed by another. It wasn’t the kind produced by flowing sake, or the ones that signalled the arrival of a blessed rain after a drought.

It was a lonely, hollow sound.

Chapter 11 of a Demon Slayer AU

“Honestly, Iruka-sensei, I’m disappointed in you.”

“Hmmmm?”

Kakashi had moved through the forest with little trouble, much like Iruka had told him the first time they met. The Hashira had even bypassed the formalities at the gate, avoiding any manner of children or slayer on his way in.

He’d so looked forward to springing a surprise on the teacher, only to find him under the shade of that familiar tree, lying on his back with a book covering his face. The dappled light of the late afternoon sun that fell on his figure danced in tandem with the breeze.

“I come all the way here hoping to catch you off guard, only to find you sleeping on the job.”

“I’m technically on my break, Hashira-sama.” his voice was muffled under the book, but it did nothing to hide his amusement.

With a hand braced on the tree, Kakashi leaned over, plucking the book from where it rested.

Eyelids fluttered open, revealing a pair of dark eyes filled with mirth, along with lips that stretched into a wide, pleased grin.

“Welcome back, Kakashi-san.”

Without thinking, he replied.

“Ah, I’m back.”

Kakashi offered a hand to Iruka, who took it after only the shortest pause, and he was pulled to his feet. The man favoured Kakashi with a curious glance.

“Quite a bit of luggage you have there. If I didn’t know better I’d have thought you ran away from home.” He teased.

“Not quite sensei, but someone told me that might have been your kind of thing.”

Iruka looked at him with dawning realisation, but then had the sense to look a bit embarrassed about it. His cheeks, along with the tips of his ears, took on a reddish tint as he straightened the last of his uniform.

“So you did meet sensei.”

“I did.” Kakashi confirmed, beaming. He reached a hand out, fingers brushing the side of a reddening ear. He felt Iruka jolt slightly at the contact, but he quickly withdrew it, twirling a freshly plucked leaf between his fingers.

“Thank you.” the teacher murmured, flush deepening.

Well, Kakashi thought, at least he’d gotten one of the things he came for.

“You’re so lucky, sensei. Not everybody gets the chance to have a Hashira serve as courier for them.”

Iruka blinked at him.

“I come bearing gifts.” he announced, with an air of grandeur.

“Wha-”

His query was cut off by a deep, gruff bark, and the sound of delighted, squealing children.

“Senseiii! There’s a new dog come to visit!!”

Soon a hulking brown mass in a blue happi appeared, trodding its way towards them with Naruto and Lee clinging to its back.

“Wow.”

“That’s Bull, isn’t he adorable?”

Iruka nodded dumbly, a little stunned, but his expression quickly grew stern.

“Naruto, Lee, off. Right now.”

There was a petulant whine, but they did as directed. Bull looked a little relieved, and blinked at Iruka expectantly.

“Word gets around sensei. He wants to know what the fuss is about.”

Iruka laughed as he crouched, circling his arms around the dog’s neck.

“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Bull.” he greeted cheerfully, giving the scruff of his neck an eagerly awaited rub. The hound made a low, pleased sound.

A bell began to ring in the distance, diverting Iruka’s attention. He returned to the tree, grabbing the wooden sword that had been resting against it before directing a slight bow Kakashi’s way.

“My apologies, Kakashi-san, I would have offered you some tea, but it’s time for class. You’ll have to excuse me.”

Kakashi waved a hand. “I’ll catch you later, sensei.”

He walked up to the man, and leaned in close. He could feel Iruka’s wariness skyrocket, along with Naruto’s annoyed stare boring into his back.

With a cupped hand, he whispered into the teacher’s ear.

“Just so you know, we’re drinking tonight.”

“Eh?”

“What are you two whisperin about?!”

Kakashi turned to Naruto with a finger over his lips.

“Oh, it’s a secret between us adults, sorry!” He winked.

“Please don’t tease him like that.” Iruka sighed.

He turned to the boys.

“Quickly, or we’re going to be late.”

Lee sprinted ahead with gusto, and Iruka followed soon after, albeit at a leisurely pace by comparison. Naruto stayed just long enough to stick a tongue out at Kakashi before running to catch up with the other two.

The Hashira watched them disappear around the corner, and heard his hound, who must have been left feeling a little deprived, let out a soft whine.

“Bull, don’t get greedy.”

The hound’s only reaction was to blink at him slowly, clearly skeptical, and most definitely unimpressed.

-------------------------------------------

Dinner was just as he remembered, a rowdy affair.

Kakashi took his usual seat beside Iruka, and though he’d smelled it first, his hopes were confirmed when he found grilled mackerel, and a steaming bowl of eggplant miso soup waiting for them. Nothing extravagant or fancy, but they were his undisputed favourites.

“I may have told them to prepare a little something to welcome you back, Hashira-sama, we hope it’s to your liking.” said the voice next to him.

In between regaling the corp members with stories of the past year, or indulging them with bits of harmless gossip about the other Hashira, Kakashi, for all his dignity and restraint, couldn’t find it in him to refuse the bowl that was casually nudged in his way.

-------------------------------------------

Before they’d parted after dinner, he’d told Iruka to come by when his young charge was finally asleep. Even the assurance of a Hashira’s presence a room away wasn’t quite enough to dispel his worried expression, which he found a little odd, but eventually he gave in, nodding awkwardly.

So Kakashi waited. He’d sent Bull off earlier on another run, and now that he was alone, chose to bury his nose in a fresh manuscript that had been generously left behind for his perusal.

It was fairly late in the night when the silhouette finally appeared outside his room.

“Come on in.”

“Please excuse my intrusion.”

Iruka stepped in, sliding the door shut behind him. Kakashi was suitably amused to see his friend grimace upon spotting the orange book in his hands.

He grinned in return, and gestured to the open doors at the other end of the room. It led to what was once a lovingly tended garden, now overgrown and wild. He heard Iruka’s breath catch when he finally spotted the light of dancing fireflies among the weeds and bushes.

“Take a seat, sensei.”

“All right. But just so you know, I make for terrible drinking company.” He warned, stepping outside.

Kakashi soon settled beside him with a tray and the bundle he’d been tasked to deliver. He offered the teacher a wide, but shallow sake cup of a fine make, and Iruka’s eyes widened in recognition.

“Isn’t this Kotetsu’s?”

“I might have borrowed it…...without asking.”

Iruka shook his head, smiling. He took the small dish from his hand, the tips of their fingers brushing in passing. It was left by his hip before his attention was directed to the bottle that remained on the tray. He reached for it, intent on carrying out his serving duty.

Or at least, he’d tried to, before Kakashi grabbed his wrist in a gentle hold.

Iruka glanced at him, confused.

“I believe it’s a subordinate’s duty to pour for his superior.”

“Well, technically speaking, I’m not your superior.” he explained, releasing his arm.

The teacher placed his empty hands in his lap with a muted smile.

“Ah...I suppose that’s true.”

Kakashi felt the sudden urge to kick himself. He didn’t need to ask to know what was probably going through Iruka’s mind.

I’m not even a real member of the corp.

Even though that really wasn’t what I meant. He thought regrettably.

“I hate to disappoint, but I’ll be doing the pouring tonight. You can relax, sensei.”

Between them, there was a brief silence.

“Kakashi-san, I didn’t get to ask, but what’s the occasion?” He asked softly.

It was here that Kakashi paused. To say something like “We’re celebrating your birthday” to a man who was so keenly aware of his waning mortality seemed...inappropriate.

He hoped Sarutobi had a better idea.

Kakashi reached into his haori and fished out a sealed envelope, which he then passed to Iruka. He watched him unfold its contents, and as soon as he’d read the last of it, his lips quirked into an amused smile.

“Be sure to make good use of the time afforded to you, he says.”

Nope, the old man was not helpful, not in the least.

This is going just swimmingly isn’t it.

“How late am I?”

“Hmm, about two weeks.”

Kakashi sighed dramatically as he picked up the bottle. He could feel Iruka watching intently as he poured for the both of them. Clearly, it was not something he was used to seeing.

Iruka said his thanks before taking the cup in his hand. Kakashi nodded, taking the other one.

“To eighteen years of dodging fate.”

“That’s just depressing, sensei. How about, ‘To not dying?’”

“I suppose I could drink to that.”

They toasted and took the first drink in one go.

“Mmm, delicious.”

Iruka hummed in agreement.

For a while, they drank in companionable silence, with Kakashi pouring dutifully. But Iruka was not an experienced drinker by any means, and so took his slowly, gazing at the fireflies in the garden between sips.

“I wonder if sensei’s still mad at me.”

“He did mention something about ulcers, but no, I didn’t get that impression.”

Iruka laughed. The scar on his face was now stark against his slowly reddening cheeks. Looking over the rest of him, he realised even his signature red cord and earrings were nowhere to be seen. Tucked behind an ear, his dark hair was loose, spilling past his shoulders in gentle waves over the top of his yukata and haori.

It was still Iruka, and yet not the one he knew.

There was a stirring in his chest, a feeling that he might have labeled unease, but he wasn’t so sure. It might have just been the sake, warming his blood. Before he could come to a conclusion, Iruka’s eyes flicked, catching his, and instinctively, he looked away, with the odd feeling like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t have.

Not long after, there was a fond sigh.

“Konohamaru’s going to be a handful.”

“Troublesome sons seem to be a running motif in the Sarutobi clan.”

“That does seem to be the trend.” he mused with a measure of self-awareness, taking a noticeably larger sip. He then turned to Kakashi and presented the empty dish, which was filled once more.

“You’ve known Asuma a long time?”

“For as long as I’ve known their family.”

“Hmm...I must say, you looked pretty cute as a kid. With that hairstyle and all.” Kakashi chuckled.

It induced a strained, throaty sound, and he turned to see Iruka rub the bridge of his nose along the scar.

“So you saw that one.”

“The Senju have their share of odd traditions, but so do many ancient bloodlines, I’m sure.” He said in consolation.

Kakashi briefly recalled what Tenzou had shared; that the Senju women generally lived longer, and were believed to be stronger. Thus, the act was seen as a prayer for health and vitality. All their descendants would be dressed as girls till the ages of seven or eight.

A tradition that Iruka’s mother carried with her, even as far away from home as she was.

“It seems Asuma hasn’t been back in a while.”

It made Iruka grow quiet, and he looked down to stare silently at his cup. It took a while before he spoke again.

“No, not since he found out about Naruto.”

“Ah.”

Then Iruka whispered something under his breath. It was so soft, that Kakashi wasn’t entirely sure if the man had meant for the words to leave his lips.

He suspected it had to do with how Asuma had acquired that knowledge.

Kakashi knew that not everyone was as open-minded as Hiruzen. He’d taken the child in, despite the fact that his wife had lost her life on the battlefield that day. She’d insisted on accompanying the Kakushi, providing aid on the sidelines.

Their squad ended up being ambushed by a Lower Moon.

“Kakashi...is he doing well?”

He might have raised an eyebrow at the lack of honorifics, but he ended up attributing that to the sake too.

Normally, he didn’t make the effort to keep up with the rest of the Hashira, and so whatever he knew, he knew from quarterly reports, or the squawkings of Gai’s occasional messenger.

“Well...Asuma’s keeping himself busy. I heard he’s taken on apprentices of his own.”

Yes, and unlike Kakashi, the Flame Pillar was very much dedicated to keeping the rank and file members on their toes, the Kakushi included. If the slayers in this outpost thought he was bad, well, they clearly hadn’t gone through one of Asuma’s training sessions.

Or Gai’s, for that matter.

“I think Sarutobi has plenty to be proud of.”

“......Thank goodness.” Iruka said quietly, with obvious relief.

Kakashi thought it a good time to bring out what the elder had saddled him with, if only to lighten the mood a little. He reached behind him, and handed the bundle over to Iruka, who put down his dish before taking it from him.

The Hashira silently hoped its contents would fare a little better than Sarutobi’s greeting had.

“Don’t keep me in suspense now.”

“Mmm.”

He watched Iruka’s fingers, just slightly clumsier than usual, undo the knot of the furoshiki. Soon, like the petals of a flower, the bundle was soon open in his lap.

Carefully packaged were some finely wrought throwing knives, a few books, a generous package of tea, and lastly, a shallow paulownia box.

The teacher removed the lid, revealing another envelope. There was not a single crease, but it had started to yellow at the very edges. Clearly, it had been written years ago, and stored with great care.

The words “To Iruka” were brushed in a graceful, elegant script.

Iruka inhaled sharply, almost as if he didn’t dare release his next breath.

Slowly, he ran his fingers down the characters almost reverently, and picked up the letter in his hands. They were trembling, If not due to the sake, then at least, from the wave of emotion that clearly overwhelmed him.

“I’m sorry…...could you?”

“Of course.”

Kakashi took the envelope from his hands, gently undoing the seal and removing the contents. He handed the folded paper to Iruka, who held it in his palms just above his lap. When he finally gathered the courage to unfold it, Kakashi felt the need to look away, and so he did.

He remembered thinking; Iruka would have liked to see this.

It was a lonely, hollow sound.

“Iruka?”

There was no reply to the call of his name. Kakashi watched as the man rose shakily from his seat and walked barefoot into the grass, the fireflies shifting to allow him passage. He gazed at the floating beads of light wordlessly, the letter in his hand hung limply at his side. But his shoulders started to shake and without warning, the teacher dropped to his knees.

Kakashi had already sprung from his seat, ignoring the spilled sake and fallen dish he’d left behind, but it was the sound of crushing, tearing paper that froze him.

The next instant, he was crouched before the man, gripping his trembling wrists with a strength he’d not fully intended, causing Iruka to drop the torn pieces in his hands. Even then, his head was bowed, eyes hidden behind a curtain of dark locks.

When he finally spoke, it was with a voice so pained, Kakashi couldn’t will away the ache that gripped his chest.

“For all the pain my family’s caused…everything I’ve done...”

“There’s no way I’ll be going to the same place as them.” He whispered mournfully.

Iruka leaned into him, resting his forehead on Kakashi’s shoulder. The Hashira released the hold on his wrists, and with some hesitation, wrapped his arms around the teacher’s back, drawing him closer. He was now keenly aware of the cheek resting close to his ear, the warmth of the body and beat of the heart against his chest.

It was the first time in living memory he’d held anyone this way.

“Even now...I’m still wanting to go back…” his voice had lost its strained edge.

A place to return to...

“So why not go then?”

“...Can’t. It’s so...incredibly far...”

Kakashi moved to gather the man in his arms, and lifted him as he stood. Iruka was so far gone, that instead of bristling or fuming like he’d done the last time, he seemed to lean into his hold.

“Maybe we can go together one day.”

There was no reply, but he seemed to feel the cheek resting against him rise in a small smile.

Kakashi wondered at the words that had just left his own lips. He wasn’t in the habit of making impossible promises, or any kind of promises for that matter, but then again, it seemed to be a night of many firsts for him. He found that the prospect of seeing the same view his father had, when he still lived, was not something he minded.

Not wanting to risk waking the man up, or worse, having to answer to Naruto, Kakashi settled for placing the man in his own futon. With the back of his hand, he cleared the bangs from Iruka’s tear-streaked face, flushed and still warm. When he reached to move Iruka’s wrist under the blanket, his hand was caught by warm, gentle fingers.

“I did...try to warn you.”

“Maa...you’re probably better at tea anyway.”

There was just the tiniest, sleepy laugh, and Kakashi smiled. He returned the touch with a gentle squeeze of his own, before lifting the covers over his shoulders.

Kakashi stood and walked to the open doors, but before he stepped back out into the garden, he turned to look over his shoulder, and whispered under his breath.

“Happy Birthday, sensei.”

-------------------------------------------

Iruka,

If you’re reading this, you must have just turned eighteen, the same age I was when I met your father.

Happy Birthday.

Up till now, you must have suffered, not just because of the karma our family has wrought, but because I’ve always known your path will not be an easy one. It will always be our greatest sorrow, to know we cannot walk beside you through it all.

The night I finally met you, a firefly landed on your cheek. If you’d been born a girl, I would have named you ‘Hotaru’, and your father would have scolded me, but he would have been happy all the same. In all the years I’ve known him, he’s never smiled like he did that night. How cruel he was to have hidden that from me.

Really, the two of you will always be my most precious gifts.

Fate has dealt us a difficult card, Iruka, but you’ve been blessed with a strong body and a kind heart. We know you will use them well.

For you and I, our lives are much like the fireflies, painfully short, but beautiful all the same. Don’t be afraid of happiness. Whatever path you choose, your future is your own. Cry, smile, laugh, and live a life you can be proud of at the end of it.

But take care, not to rush to meet us, for we’ll be waiting patiently, however long it takes, for the day we see you again.

Know that we love you, and that you will always be our pride and joy.

Also, don’t give Jii-ya too much of a headache.

A small one is fine, but remember to be kind to the elderly.

Your mother,

Umino Kohari

-------------------------------------------

At the edge of his awakening consciousness, he’d registered the sounds of soft breathing at his side.

When he opened his eyes, he was met with a sight that was familiar, and yet not. Instead of a snoring, blonde child, there was instead a head of mussed light hair and a set of closed eyes. The one normally hidden by an eyepatch was bisected by a long scar that ran from the top of his eyebrow, down his cheek, and under the mask. So close, he could see the long eyelashes, dusted in silver.

Moving silently, Iruka sat up in the futon that he knew now, was obviously not his own. He rubbed at his forehead, hoping to dispel the last of the lingering headache that plagued him. The room was thankfully still dim. There was only the barest beam of light entering the room from a gap in the doors, along with a small draft of cool morning air that smelled of grass and dew.

He turned to look at the man beside him. Kakashi lay on his side, curled on the bare tatami and covered only by his haori. That he’d not stirred from his slumber the moment Iruka awoke was a testament to his exhaustion.

He didn’t realise the trip back had taken so much out of him.

Iruka gazed at the Hashira’s face for a moment longer, before the sound of shifting paper brought his attention to the low table across the room.

Shifting the blanket from his legs, he rose slowly and walked towards it on the pads of his feet, passing by the wrapped furoshiki on the way there.

His eyes traveled across the desk.

A candle that had long burnt out.

An ink well and brush, still wet.

A stack of writing paper.

An envelope, gently opened.

Lastly, torn pieces of a letter, smoothed out, and put together like a puzzle.

Iruka’s head started to pound as flashes of the night before started to play in his head.

That’s right. I’d destroyed it with my own two hands.

Reaching over, he picked a few sheets from the stack, his hands freezing as realisation dawned on him.

They were copies of his mother’s letter.

He picked up the envelope, thinking it looked strangely full with its original contents displayed on the desk.

Iruka pulled out the sheet, briefly registering another smaller piece that had dropped onto the floor, but he’d ignored it, choosing to unfold what was already in his hands.

He took in a sharp breath.

Aside from the age of the paper, every stroke and character was an exact, perfect copy.

I heard the Sharingan could copy techniques almost flawlessly, but this...

He turned to look at the man behind him, and felt a surge of fondness blossom in his chest.

What did I ever do to deserve this?

Placing the copy back into the envelope, together with the torn pieces on the table, he bent over to pick up whatever had fallen moments ago.

Familiar, frayed yellow edges of one of Sarutobi’s photographs.

He flipped it over, and immediately, his lips stretched into a smile as he ran his thumb over the face of the sleeping toddler in the picture.

You’re so lucky, sensei.

Iruka thought of Naruto, and he thought of Kakashi.

He thought of his parents, and he thought of Sarutobi.

I hate to admit it, but you win this time.

Walking back to the futon, he slipped the now sealed envelope into the furoshiki as he passed.

Iruka picked up the comforter from where it lay, and placed it gently over the sleeping Hashira. Silently, he kneeled beside him, taking in the scar, and the lines of exhaustion that ran under his eyes.

Later, he would ask himself what possessed him to do what he did.

Perhaps he’d blame it on the lingering effects of sake, or the fact that once again, he’d been gifted the chance to hear his mother’s voice, even if it was just in writing.

Iruka ran his fingertips through the silver hair that covered Kakashi’s scarred eye, and carefully, silently, leaned over.

When he’d finally stepped out into morning’s first light, he didn’t notice the hooded, mismatched gaze that followed.

-------------------------------------------

End of Chapter 11

-------------------------------------------

Author’s Notes:

Ahhhhhhh! A nice meaty chapter to chew on. (almost twice as long as usual!)

These things just end up writing themselves after a while, seriously.

If you feel like, there’s a great song that I essentially wrote this chapter to (and also essentially a theme song for the entire story), I’d implore you to check it out. It’s “Moratorium” by Omoinotake > listen here <

Enjoyed the chapter, art or the song? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Terminology & Fun facts:

‘Hotaru’ - The Japanese name for fireflies. The other fun fact is that fireflies are also called “lightning bugs” *coughLightningHashiracough*

See you in the next chapter!

#kakairu #iruka #kakashi #iruka umino #umino iruka #iruka sensei #demon slayer au

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degrassi-fanatic · 4 years ago

Text

Happy Birthday

From all the way over in the living room, Sakura can hear the bickering voices of Lee, Tenten, and Gai, as well as the perpetual clinking and clanking of cooking equipment. With the exception of Team Gai, who were stationed out in the kitchen to prepare the food for this evening and Hinata, Kiba, and Akamaru, who were out to pick up the cake, the rest of Konoha 11 (and then some) were situated outside in the living room as they worked hard on readying everything for the party.

Choji and Shikamaru have taken it upon themselves to rearrange the living room; pushing, pulling, and rotating furniture until they have what they deem an adequate amount of space for everything and everyone.

Their wives, Karui and Temari inflate balloon after balloon until they have accumulated a massive pile of pink, silver, and white on the floor in front of them. Meanwhile, Shino and Kurenai hang up coordinating reflective pink and silver streamers from the ceiling, stopping every so often to pull away both Kurumi and Aiko-chan from trying to yank at the frail pieces of cellophane.

In a corner, Sai and Sasuke struggle to figure out how to play the music through the speaker system. To their right, Naruto is stuck on babysitting duty and attempts to keep watch on all four kids (plus one ninken puppy and one pre-teen) with a one-year old baby hoisted on his hip uncomfortably. He seems to be struggling quite a bit as he tries to keep all the kids from tugging on Kurumi’s tail.

“Kakashi-sensei,” Sakura says as she finishes taping off her end of the ‘Happy Birthday’ banner, “Go help Naruto with the kids.”

“Maa, I’m not good with—”

“Oh, cut the crap, sensei.” she interrupts, not wanting to tiptoe around today, “Don’t act like I haven’t seen you doting on Akari.”

“Fine.” Kakashi huffs out.

In under a minute or so, Kakashi teaches Naruto how to hold a baby properly and has all of the kids engaged in some entertaining yet blissfully quiet game (that doesn’t require them to pull on Kurumi’s tail.)

God, Sakura needs to learn how to do that.

From behind her, she hears Sasuke groan in frustration over the lack of progress on the speaker system.

“I don’t know why we have to go all out for Akari’s birthday.” he complains as he shoves whatever he was working on into Sai’s hands, “She’s only turning one. It’s not like she’s going to remember it.”

“Oi, idiot,” Shikamaru says, wiping sweat off his brow as he sets the coffee table down somewhere new for the umpteenth time, “It’s Ino’s birthday too.”

“Oh, right, Ino-buta’s turning….” he trails off as he tries to calculate the years only to inevitably give up, “How many years old?”

Balling her hand up into a tight fist, Sakura punches Sasuke in the back. At the touch, the man doubles over, letting out a loud hiss before attempting to straighten up again.

“Don’t call my wife Ino-buta!” Sakura exclaims, “Only I can say that!”

“She calls me worse!”

His retort is readily ignored (even though his claim is true). Sakura simply rolls her eyes and glances down at her watch.

Which was definitely a bad idea because soon she’s hyperventilating.

A wave of panic washes over her as she realizes what time it is. Tsunade-sama is supposed to bring Ino back to the house in no less than ten minutes, and they haven’t finished up yet; Lee and the others were still in the kitchen, Shikamaru and Choji have only just settled on the placement of everything in the living room, the only thing Sai’s figured out about the speaker system is how to turn it on and off, and Hinata and Kiba aren’t even back with the cake yet—

“Hey,” she hears Sasuke murmur, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”

For any other birthday, Sakura wouldn’t have cared this much about getting everything perfect but this wasn’t just any other birthday; today was Akari’s first ever birthday, and it was the first time Ino would be sharing her birthday with her daughter.

“Ino will like whatever you do for her.” he reminds her, “And Akari literally won’t remember this.”

A laugh escapes through Sakura’s mouth.

She takes a moment to close her eyes and breathe; in and out, in and out. Then, she opens her eyes up and turns to look at Sasuke, giving him a nervous smile.

He was right, though she loathes to admit it.

Ino wouldn’t care if the speaker system was being janky. Or if the cake was a little late. Or if the arrangement of the furniture in their living room was impractical.

All she would care about is the fact that her wife was trying to give her a good first-shared-birthday-with-their-daughter party.

Before Sakura can utter her thanks to Sasuke, Tenten strolls into the living room, carrying trays of food, while Lee wheels Gai into the living room behind her.

“Finally done!” Tenten exclaims as she drops the food onto a nearby table, “And with no help from those two!”

Her ears tune out of the conversation/argument/whatever going on at hand. Instead, she mentally ticks off food from her list of things to finish up.

Then, her ears tune back in to hear the soft beginnings of hers and Ino’s favourite song playing through the air. She whips around to find Sai giving her a thumbs up and a non-practiced smile before quickly flicking the machine off.

With the music finally being taken care of, that only leaves the—

Her train of thought is interrupted by the front door bursting open to reveal Hinata rushing into the house, holding onto the cake, with Kiba and Akamaru following behind closely.

“We’re here!” she exclaims, a little out of breath, “And I am happy to report that neither Akamaru nor Kiba have licked the cake!”

“Alright,” Sakura murmurs to herself, “Decorations are up. Food’s here. Drinks are in the fridge. Akari is in clean clothes. All our guests are here….”

Then, why does it feel like she’s missing something?

Setting her hands on her hips, Sakura takes a glance around the room. Is it the presents? No, they’ve got a pile of those. Do they need more decorations? Probably not, considering that every available surface/wall is covered in something pink or white. Maybe, it’s the—

“Sakura!” she hears Naruto exclaim, “You’re not dressed yet!”

She looks down to realize that he’s right; her hair and makeup may be done but she’s still in a baby-food-stained sweater and sweatpants.

“Thanks, Naruto!” she says over her shoulder as she races down to the bedroom to change.

Once she’s in front of the bedroom door, she yanks the door open and swiftly kicks it shut in a quick succession of movements. She finds her party clothes right where she left them out on the bedspread.

Years of shrugging on clothes in the dead of night to fight enemies, and the recent months of having to figure out how to change quick enough without Akari realizing she’s left the room, has left Sakura with a knowledge of the best techniques for a wardrobe change. In only under a minute, she finds herself dashing back into the living room wearing a loose, red floral dress.

Just in time too because the moment she steps into the living room, Kakashi is flicking off the lights and everyone is crouching behind something.

For a few moments, the only sounds are of the ninkens’ loud breathing and the hushed, excited giggling of the children.

Then, Sakura hears an exchange of soft murmurs between Ino and Tsunade-sama, as their footsteps begin to get louder and louder the closer and closer they get to the front door.

Peaking over the chair she’s hiding behind, Sakura can just barely notice the way the doorknob twists as the door opens up.

As soon as the lights are turned on, everyone in attendance jumps up and out to scream ‘surprise’.

The birthday girl yelps as she places a hand to her chest. It takes her a moment to register everything that's going on but when she does, she lets out a loud laugh as she thanks everyone. Her eyes immediately go searching until she finds Sakura’s own.

She walks past all of their guests and beelines to Sakura. With a hand on the back of her neck, Ino tugs her in for a soft kiss that Sakura sighs into. She can practically feel all of the party planning tension leaving her body.

Eventually, after all of the cake cutting and all of the dancing and all of the gift-opening, the night begins to wind down. At least it has for the adults, the kids on the other hand have no qualms about dragging their Uncle Shino into some game they’ve made themselves.

For what feels like the first time all day, Sakura finally gets to hold her daughter in her arms. She sits next to Naruto, away from all of their other friends who are conversing over food. More to herself than to her daughter, Sakura quietly hums along to the song that's playing as she rocks Akari to the rhythm.

Although, it seems like Akari's attention is elsewhere. She keeps trying to crawl into Naruto's lap and after the fifth attempt, Sakura decides to let her have what she wants; which just so happens to be the necklace hanging from Naruto's neck.

As Naruto realizes what's going on, his eyes immediately light up. He scoops the baby into his arms so her short little arms can reach his dangling necklace.

“This is the First Hokage’s Necklace, Akari,” he explains in a high-pitched-baby-talk voice, “Do you want to be Hokage? Do you, Akari-chan?”

All Akari does in response is smile and lightly thwack Naruto across the face with her fist. He doesn’t seem to mind though because he only laughs at her antics.

“So you and Kakashi thinking about—”

“What!” Naruto exclaims, garnering the attention of their friends for a moment.

“C’mon,” Sakura says as she jostles her shoulder with his, “You guys are the only couple without kids.”

The tips of Naruto’s burn bright red, as does the bridge of his nose.

“If I ever have a mini-me, the village is definitely going to burn down to the ground,” Naruto mumbles, ducking his head down to hide the flush on his face, “Or at least, be overrun by sexy no jutsus constantly.”

Sakura tries to get that disturbing image out of her head.

“But, if you have a mini-Kakashi,” she says, “Then, the village is definitely going to prosper.”

Out of seemingly nowhere, Kakashi pops up next to the couch with two plates full of food. He sets one of them down by the side table.

“I heard my name.”

Kakashi's sudden appearance and all of the baby talk must have done something to Naruto's brain because the next words to come out of his mouth are—

“Do you want to have kids!”

Sakura smacks herself in the forehead. Then, again, what else should she expect from Naruto, of all people? Subtly was not his most refined skill.

“That’s my cue to leave.” she says while pushing herself off the couch.

The mumbling of Naruto and Kakashi’s conversation fades away as Sakura makes her way over to her wife, who is leaning against the wall and eating what must be her third slice of cake that night.

All of that baby talk with Naruto must have done something to Sakura's head too because now she can only picture Ino holding another baby in her arms as Akari totters around her legs.

Shaking her head, she tries to dissolve the image from her mind. The two of them do not need another baby; they’ve already got their hands full with one and they’re both working adults with full time jobs and two kids would require much more time at home or at least paying for a daycare would run them dry and that—

“Ino?”

“Hmm?” she murmurs around the fork in her mouth.

Oh God, Sakura wants another baby.

“I want another baby.”

She pulls the fork out of her mouth with a pop. Soon, she’s setting aside the plate, in favour of tugging Sakura down to lean on the wall with her.

“Yeah?” she asks softly, barely audible over the sounds of the party.

“Yeah.”

“Okay, then.” she says smiling widely, with pink frosting stained teeth.

Reaching down, Sakura clasps her hand around Ino’s before pulling it into her lap; she fiddles with Ino’s wedding band absentmindedly as she looks out to the rest of the living room. Her eyes wander around from scene to scene until they settle on the sight of Kakashi and Naruto huddled around Akari.

“By the way," Sakura adds, "Naruto and Kakashi are probably going to have a kid soon too.”

“I don’t want to think of the implication of our baby and theirs being in the same class at school.”

#sakuino #haruno sakura #yamanaka ino #naruto #~fic~

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shewritestheblues · 4 years ago

Text

The Elevator Bae x Chapter 4

Chapter FOUR

Erik x Black OC (Phoenix)

---------------------

Reruns of Martin plays in the tv as Phoenix whips up her pancake batter. She has turkey bacon and hash browns done on the stove. A knock on the door turns into a beat brin made on the door.

Ava!

Phoenix swings the door open to find Ava and Mica holding up orange juice and liquor.

“What’s brunch without liquor?” Mica says walking in. She immediately looks through the cabinets for a pitcher and begins missing up mimosas. Ava sits on a stool at the kitchen counter while Phoenix starts making the pancakes.

“Let’s just get straight to it, what’s up with Erik?” Ava asks.

Mica pours their drinks. “Who is Erik?”

“A nigga that she want.”

Mica eyes Phoenix for her to explain. She tries to focus on the task at hand of flipping her pancakes.

“Ma’am, get to talking.”

“He lives here. I met him on the elevator. We’ve run into each other from time to time.”

Ava slams her hand on the counter. “Mica, she’s fucking with us. Coby said they be having moments on the elevator, flirting and shit. But come to find out, he’s messing with Sydney--”

“BIG BOOTY SYDNEY?”

“He’s not messing with her.”

Ava’s head snaps over to her. “How you know?”

Phoenix bites her lip as she makes their plates. “He told me.”

“When he say this?”

“Wait, wait,” Mica intervens, “How y’all know he was allegedly messing with Syd?”

Ava has a mouth full of bacon at this point just spilling the little beans that she has. “We seen her in the garage and she was all asking Philly about if she seen the nigga because he left her place like a theif in the night and never called her back.”

“Damn! This nigga a savage and you like him?” Mica turns to Phoenix with concern.

“That is not what she said, Mica. But, he told me last night, this morning, whatever… that she’s cool but he ain’t feeling her in that way.”

“Let me guess, on the elevator?” Ava sticks her tongue out teasing Phoenix. Phoenix gives her the middle finger. Mica swats her hand, “Focus. What exactly did he say?”

“Well… he mentioned having his eye on someone else,” Mica and Ava share a look as Phoenix continued. “And I told him he should tell Sydney he doesn’t like her.”

“...that’s it?” Mica says stuffing hash browns in her mouth.

“No, he-- well, I told him he looks tired and get some rest when I was getting off the elevator. Then he says, “Goodnight baby girl.” and winks at me all flirty and shit.”

“Oh girl, niggas love throwing in a baby girl,” Mica says refilling her glass. “I wouldn’t think nothing of that.”

Phoenix looks to Ava for her input.

“Honestly Philly, I don’t know. Because yeah, niggas just be talking but at the same time, we dont know who this man is. For all we know, you could be making all this shit up.”

“Why would I make this up?”

“No, no I’m not saying you are at all. My point is, only you can judge the vibe between y’all because we don’t know who he is.”

“What he look like?” Mica says with a mouth full of pancakes.

“He’s tall, brown, nice teeth, dreads.”

“Oh, so he’s a daddy. Yeah, you can’t trust those.”

Ava almost spit out her drink from laughing.

-------

The gold chain with a ring hanging from it that sits around Erik’s neck, swings back and forth as he does his last few push ups. He sits up on his floor, rolling his neck and stretching it. His phone lights up on the coffee table in front of him.

Text: Sydney

He swipes to close it without reading it. He gets up and goes into the bathroom, turning on the shower. He steps out of his sweaty clothes and steps in. The warmth of the water stings the new small scar on his abdomen. Biting his lip until the slight pain fades away. Allowing the water to run over his body, he closes his eyes releasing a long sigh.

After washing his body and face, he puts on fresh clothes and relaxes on his huge sectional couch. It’s been a long week for Erik and a day of just chilling is exactly what he needed and wanted. He searched through Netflix with nothing really catching his eye. So he picked up his phone, opening Sydney’s text. It was the 4th text she had sent him since he left her place a few nights ago.

Sydney: E, What’s up?

Sydney: So you’re not going to text me back?

Sydney: Are you okay?

Sydney: so you’re just gonna go ghost. Most niggas wait until after they hit. At this point, I dont even care.

His thumb hovered over the keyboard. Phoenix’s words singing in his ear, I think you should tell her. Communication is key.

She was right, just letting her know he’s not into to her like that is the right thing to do. But, he definitely took the part about communication being about him being more open about liking her instead. He finally types a response.

Erik: Hey. my bad, i’ve been busy. working.

Sydney: you have some free time now? You just left and i wanted to see you.

Erik: Im free but i dont really wanna chill. I like you Syd, but as a friend.

Sydney: wow. Ok

With that out the way, Erik opened his Instagram app, scrolling up his timeline. He comes across a picture that his friend, Shawn posted. Shawn went out to the opening of Club X the night before. He was one of the promoters. As Erik swipes through Shawn’s pics, he notices one that he’s in with four women. One of them being Phoenix. The caption says ‘ClubX now open. Come get lit with the dopest DJ in the city.’ Erik taps the photo to reveal the tags. @DJPhoenixBlue , @AmazingAva , @Micaxoxo , @CamrenMarie. Did he just find Phoenix’s IG page? Without a second thought, he clicks her page and yes… yes he did find elevator bae’s page. He carefully looked and admired every picture. He found himself looking at a pic from June 2016 when Phoenix was back in Detroit, walking through downtown with one of her old friends. That’s when he knew he was doing the most. He scrolled back to the top of her page, reading her bio. He clicks the soundcloud link that’s attached and takes a listen. He nods his head to the R&B beat. It was definitely a vibe. He let her playlist play. He laid his head back onto the couch, closing his eyes. He was on the 5th beat before he sat up to sounds of his stomach rumbling.

“Shit.” He goes into the kitchen, Phoenix’s music still playing. There wasn’t much left in his refrigerator with him being gone for days. He turns the music off to focus on searching through his various food apps to order something. He found himself back on Phoenix’s Instagram page. He leans back on his kitchen counter, completing forgetting about food. He debates with himself if he should follow her. He stood there with his thumb hanging over the follow button. “Fuck it.” he thinks. He taps follow. He came this far, he might as well like a few pics.

He orders from a cafe he likes that’s not too far from his home. It’ll be there in 20 minutes. He finds his way back into the living room, on the couch. He settles with rewatching Naruto. Only made sense because it was his favorite.

---------

Mica helps Phoenix load up the dirty dishes into her dishwasher as Ava rolls them a blunt. Phoenix gave more than enough detail about every encounter she has had with Erik since meeting him. She even told them about the dream she had about him. Mica doesn’t seem to like the idea of Erik while Ava tried to convince Phoenix to shoot her shot with him. Phoenix figured it wouldn’t hurt to ‘think about it.’

After finishing their breakfast and cleaning up, the women are sitting out on Phoenix’s balcony, smoking and trying to make plans for Camren. Her birthday was the weekend coming up and Camren made it clear that she wanted to do Hoodrat things with her friends. That was her only request. They already have a surprise girls trip that they planned months ago, but the three of them would make her ratchet dreams come true.

“Let’s do a surprise dinner and take her ass to the club,” Phoenix says, passing the blunt to Mica. “I can get us a section.”

“Yeahhhh, get some big ass pictures of her face and bottles.” Ava added.

“That would make her so happy.” Mica says between coughs and laughs.

They finalize their plans for the weekend. They are taking Camren out to eat, the club and will surprise her with their planned vacation when she wakes up the next morning with a hangover, contemplating life. Ava and Mica say their goodbyes to Phoenix and leave out to wait for the elevator. When the doors open, they come face to face with Erik. He’s alone in the cabin. He recognizes them immediately as the girls in the pictures with Phoenix and Shawn. He moves over to the left of the cabin. Mica stands center and Ava to the right. Silence sits over the three of them. Erik could feel that one of them is staring fire into the side of his face. When he turns to them, Mica is giving him the worst death stare he’s experienced in his life. They stare at each other.

“Is your name Erik?”

“Yeah. Do I know you?

Ava’s head snaps quickly in his direction. She hadn’t even thought about who the man was in the cabin with them. Mica remembered every detail Phoenix gave about what Erik looked like. He’s tall, brown, nice teeth, dreads.

“Nah, you don’t know me,” Mica says, turning to fully face him. “But what you do need to know is when it comes to Philly, I’ll kick yo’ ass, you pretty muthafucker.”

Erik is confused and caught off guard. Who in the hell is this woman. Is Philly, Phoenix? He really didn’t know how to respond to this threat. Ava pinches the bridge of her nose. She can’t take Mica, NOWHERE!

“Who the fuck is Philly?”

“Oh my God,” Ava intervenes, “You have to excuse her. She’s high as fuck.” Ava grabs Mica’s arm and pulled her to the right side of the cabin, away from Erik. “We’re friends of Phoenix, nice to meet you.”

Erik eyes Mica who seems uninterested in him. “Nice to meet y’all too… I think.”

The elevator doors open and Ava steps out, dragging Mica with her. Watching the two of them made Erik laugh. As he made his way to his car, it hit him what Mica and Ava said. She talked to her friends about him? What in the hell did she say for her friends to be so protective? Either way, he couldn’t stop the redness from forming on his cheeks.

Once Ava and Mica were in Ava’s car, without skipping a beat, Mica facetimes Phoenix. “Sis. We just seen your pretty ass man on the elevator.”

“What?”

“What?” Mica says in a mocking tone. “You love playing stupid. Ya’ boy Erik. I had to let him know he better be on some real shit when it comes to you.”

“MICA!” Phoenix covers her face with her free hand.

“You’re welcome. And he is fine though. I see why you pressed but I still don’t trust his ass.”

-------

The next morning, Phoenix started her day with some morning yoga. She had a few errands to run before a studio session later that night. She needed to go to the bank, do a little grocery shopping and reup on some hair products. She had used the last of her Miss Jessie’s curl cream the night of the club opening. Her hair has been in that same bun since. Putting on some dark denim shorts and a red one shoulder crop top, paired with some red vans, she headed out.

Luckily, when Phoenix arrived at the bank, her favorite banker, Ms. Kim was there. Whenever she’d have to go to the bank, she loved going to her to handle her money. Ms. Kim was an older, black woman that gave her all of the cool, auntie vibes. Ms. Kim was the one who helped Phoenix set up a seperate account for her business account and tax account. She honestly made everything easier.

“Good Afternoon, Miss Phoenix,” Ms. Kim stands, greeting Phoenix has she approached her desk.

“Hi, Ms. Kim.”

Ms. Kim motions for Phoenix to take a seat.

“How have you been little lady? Busy I take it since it’s been a few weeks since I’ve seen you in here.”

Phoenix smiles, “Yeah, I’ve been working like crazy.”

“That’s good. At least you’re busy doing something you love though, right?

“Yes. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, honestly.”

“I’m glad. Now what can I help you with today?”

Phoenix digs into her purse, pulling out two checks. “I want to deposit these and send a little something to my Mom. She’s been bugging me about a purse.” She shakes her head. Ms. Kim laughs and takes the checks and does her magic. She knows just how Phoenix wanted to break up the checks into each of her accounts, which is why Phoenix loved her so much. She never had to ask too many questions. She just knew what to do.

------

Phoenix made her way to the farmers market, getting as much food as she could fit into her basket. She always did this, knowing the struggles of carrying all of the tote bags up to her apartment. But without fail, she did this to herself, every time. Loading her groceries into her car, she heads home. She didn’t have much on her mind but she wasn’t fully there as she pulls into the parking garage of her apartment. She parks her car and starts grabbing her bags from her trunk when one falls and she smashes her carton of eggs. She pouts, pissed off with herself about dropping the bag.

“You have to be kidding me!” She stands there, holding her face trying not to be too upset about it.

“You need some help?” Phoenix turns to find Erik walking in her direction, his keys in hand. She was a bit frozen when she saw him. He was wearing a fitted white shirt with grey joggers and his dreads were braided back. She just stood there, staring at him until his laugh shook her from her trance. He loved how his presence would stall her.

“Umm, no. I’m okay. I don’t wanna hold you up.” She picks up the bag that fell and tries to grab more bags from the trunk. Erik didn’t say anything, he just reached for the bags in her hands, taking them from her.

“Erik…” she tries to protest.

“Girl, grab the rest of the bags and c’mon. I’m not in a rush.”

She was lowkey shocked but did what he said. She grabbed the rest of the bags and closed her trunk, locking her doors. He stood, holding the majority of her groceries so she hit the call button.

“You really didn’t have to--”

“I wanted to. If I’m right here, you don’t need to be carrying all of this up alone.”

“Thank You.” she says in a low tone.

The elevator doors open and they step inside headed up to Floor 7. Phoenix tried to avoid looking at Erik. One, he was looking damn good right now and two, she never knew how she’d react to him.

“You look beautiful today. I like the whole messy bun flow you got going on.” he finally says.

“OH SHIT! I'm sorry, Thank you. You just reminded me that I forgot to pick up some stuff for my hair.”

“What do you use on your hair?”

“Um this Miss Jessie’s curl cream and this Shea Moisture leave in. I completely forgot and I’m all out of both.”

The elevator doors open and Erik follows her to her door. Taking note of the ‘702’ on her door. She pushes the heavy door open and holds it open for him. He follows her into the kitchen, placing the many bags on the counter. Phoenix struggles to get her hand out of the handle of one of the bags, not realizing she’s still holding her keys. Her phone starts ringing in her back pocket. She’s panicking trying to get her hand free and getting her phone. Watching her struggle was a good time for Erik. He walked up to her, taking her keys from her hand and taking the bag from her wrist. His hands were rough and warm and it caught her off guard… as usual.

“Thanks.” She answers her phone just in time. It’s another engineer that she was suppose to have the studio session with. He called to tell her that the artist they were supposed to work with, cancelled so it wasn't a point in going tonight. She was disappointed. She hated when people would cancel last minute being that the studio was her happy place.

The disappointment she felt was all over her face as she hung up the phone.

“Everything okay?” Erik asked. For a moment, she forgot that he was there.

“Yeah, the artist I was suppose to have a studio session with cancelled on me.”

“Oh yeah, you’re a DJ.”

She never told him that. How would he know that? “Yeah… I’m just gonna go by myself though. I have some stuff that I need to get done.”

Erik sways back and forth, debating on if he should ask. Phoenix starts putting away her groceries. She assumed Erik would just leave at that point but he continued to stand there with his hands in his pocket. She stops what she’s doing and eyes him suspiciously.

“This is weird, but would you mind if I tagged along with you? To the studio.”

She was NOT expecting that. Suddenly Ava’s words rang in her ear. Shoot your shot. The thought of that made her nervous but she stopped the nerves in their tracks. What’s the worst that could happen? He wouldn’t ask if he wasn’t interested, right?

“Uh, yeah sure… wait, weren’t you going somewhere before you helped me with my bags?”

Erik leans over onto her counter, rubbing his hands together. “Yeah, but it wasn’t important. Just chilling with some homies.”

“So you’re just gonna bail on your friends to hang out with me? You don’t even know me.”

“You don’t really know me but I’m all up in ya’ kitchen right now.”

He had a point. She just shook her head and finishes putting away her groceries. He watched her every move. It’s still pretty early so Phoenix still has time to go out and get her hair products before heading to the studio.

“Well everything’s put away. I’m gonna go get my hair stuff. You can just meet me in the garage around 8. Is that cool?”

Eriks stands up straight, “Yeah.”

She smiles and grabs her purse, walking to the door. Erik follows. He waits for her by the elevators as she locks her door. When the elevators opens for them, Mya steps off.

“Hey Phoenix.”

“Hey, Mya.” she waves at her. Mya looks at Erik and then back to Phoenix, mouthing to her, “YAS SIS!” Phoenix laughs. Erik is going up to his place to wait for her so she says bye to him and watches him step in and the doors close. She patiently waits for the cabin to come back down to take her down to the parking garage. Making it to the beauty supply, she buys way more than she needed. Getting some new Mane Choice shampoo, a long, curly ponytail (because you never know when you’ll need one), the curl creams she came for and some hair accessories. She could never control herself in the beauty supply store. It was like a candy store for black girls.

She made her way back home and couldn’t resist washing her hair to try her new products and honestly, she couldn’t wait to retire that messy bun.

------

Erik waits in the parking garage for Phoenix. Checking his phone, it’s now 8:12pm. He’s not usually a patient man but he would wait for as long as he needed for her. Finally a ding from the elevators alerts him that someone is getting off. Phoenix steps out with fresh curls that are still partially wet. She had changed into some black joggers and a Snoop Dogg T-Shirt with her backpack hanging on one arm.

“I’m sorry. I really had to wash my hair.”

He smiles at her. “It’s not a problem, baby girl.”

There’s that name again. She stares at him. “Uh, yeah. You ready?”

“Lead the way.”

He follows her to her car. He steps around her, opening her door for her. She smiles a thank you and he walks around, getting into the passenger seat. She holds up the Aux cord.

“This is my only offer. Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

“You’re the DJ. Let me hear what you like to listen to.”

Phoenix proceeds to plug in her phone and put her playlist on shuffle. Megan thee Stallion x Cash Shit comes on blasting through the speakers as Phoenix pulls out onto the road. She raps along.

Yeah, I’m in my bag // but I’m in his too.

That’s why every time you see me // I got some new shows. AH!

Erik enjoys the show of Phoenix rapping along to every song that comes on. He even joins in when Dreamville x Got Me comes on.

I got you long as you got me // And I got you long as you got me

----

Walking into the studio building, Phoenix greets the security guy at the front desk. This is her favorite studio to work in so she knows everyone who works out of the building by name.

“Hey, Larry.”

“Hello, Miss Blue.”

She loves that he calls her that. Erik nods at Larry and Larry does the same. They continue to an elevator that takes them to the third floor. Walking into the huge studio, Phoenix flicks on the lights and begins setting up her laptop, pulling out her writing notebook. Erik looks around. Blue and green lights, light up the booth that sits in front of them.

“You want something to drink? There’s all types of stuff in the fridge.” Phoenix asks, sitting in a big, comfy chair.

“Nah, I’m good for now.” Erik sits next to her. He sits and just watches as she finishes setting up everything. She has a few samples that she made in her files so she starts with those first. A very smooth R&B Style beat with drums begins to play through the speakers. Phoenix digs in her backpack and pulls out a bag of weed.

“You smoke?” she asks, taking out a back wood.

“Yeah.”

“When I come here alone, this is how I set the mood.”

He watches her carefully as she breaks the weed down so effortlessly. She bobs her head to the beat, filling the back wood with the weed. He could tell, this was her zone. She seemed so relaxed here. Even he couldn’t shake her up right now.

“So, Erik,” She adds emphasis to his name. “Tell me something.”

“What you wanna know?” he watches as she begins to perfectly lick the blunt closed. He’s mesmerized.

“What do you do?”

“In the Navy… engineer.”

She looks at him as she lights the blunt and takes a drag. She slowly releases the smoke. “You from here?”

“Yeah. Grew up in Oakland. You?”

“Nah… I’m from Detroit.”

“Damn, that’s what’s up. When did you come out here?”

She hands him the blunt. “Last year. My career started taking off. I was flying out here like every other week so I just moved out here.”

“You like it?”

“I love it.”

They passed the blunt back and forth until it was gone. The same beat still playing in the background. Phoenix was feeling her high and the beat. Melodies started coming to her as she sung a series of Ahhhs and Heyyys until they formed into lyrics and she wrote them down in her notebook.

“Damn girl, you can sing?”

“I can hold a note or two.”

“Have you ever wrote and recorded any songs for yourself?”

“I have a few.”

“Can I hear one?”

She’s hesitant at first but she goes through her files and finds a song she wrote when she broke up with her ex. As the song played, Erik paid close attention to every word, every note. He felt like he could hear her pain in her voice. She noticed the focused expression on his face. Like he was trying to figure out the exact story that inspired the song.

“Wrote this last year when I came out here. My ex… he uh, he cheated and had a baby.”

The song ends and she goes back to the beats she was listening to before.

“You’ve been single since?” he asks.

“Yeah. Just been working. If I’m gonna give a nigga my time, he has to understand my work. He can’t get in the way of that, ya’ know?”

“I get it.”

“How long have you been single?”

Erik sits back in his chair, rubbing his beard. “I’ve actually never really been in a relationship.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Life just didn’t seem to allow me to do all of that.”

“Why?”

Erik was never one to open up to people. Maybe it was the weed or maybe it was the vibe, but he felt safe with Phoenix in this moment. “I had to take care of myself growing up. Parents died young so I didn’t have time for distractions. Got into college early. Went to MIT,” Phoenix eyes grew big at that. “Went straight into the navy after that.”

“Do you think things have changed for you now? Like… maybe you would be able to try out a relationship or something?”

“Well, where I am now, if that’s what I wanted to do, I’ll figure it out. But it’s like you said, it has to be somebody that understands my work.”

She nods and turns to work on the beat that’s playing. After making a few adjustments, she figured out just what it was missing. She looked to Erik and noticed he was vibing out to the new, improved beat.

“You like it?”

“Hell yeah. I fuck with this.”

That made her happy. She loved when other people were vocal about her work.

“Can I ask you something, Erik?”

“Wassup?”

“So… what really happened with you and Sydney?”

He looks at her. He couldn’t read her like he usually could. “Nothing. We hung out. Chilled at her place. Got so high, we both passed out and I left. She wanted to do more but like I told you, I wasn’t feeling it.”

She played with her fingers. He rolled his chair closer to her and lifted her chin so she’s looking at him. “You don’t have to worry about her.”

“What?” She moved back. “I’m not worried about her. I was just-- nothing, never mind.”

He didn’t push her to continue. She opted to ask him more generic questions.

“Anyways… um, what’s your favorite color?”

If this is how she wanted this to go, he’d play along. “My favorite color is black. Yours?”

“Blue.” she smiled.

By the end of the session, Phoenix had finished two beats. She even showed Erik how to work a few buttons so he could help her record a few hooks and a verse. By the end of the session, they knew a lot more about each other. Erik’s last name is Stevens and he was 31. He loved french toast and watching anime. Phoenix was 27 with a birthday coming in just a few months. Erik may or may not be plotting to get her something. She loved animals and told him about her most embarrassing moment in high school when she was performing for pep rally and tripped on her own two feet in front of the whole school. They had a good time with each other. It was almost 2am when they left.

As they waited for the elevator, Erik stood dangerously close to Phoenix. She could feel like body heat and she wanted so bad to wrap her arms around him for him to warm her up.

“I had a good time with you tonight, Philly.”

“I had a good time with you too, Stevens.” She poked his chest.

The elevator arrives and they step on, Floor 7 and Penthouse floor as their destinations. The ride up was a comfortable, tired silence. As Phoenix got off on her floor, Erik reached for her hand, stopping her right between the open doors. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumbs. He licked his lips and she watched with her mouth parted slightly. He knew just what he was doing. “Goodnight, baby girl.”

If this nigga dont stop this!

“Goodnight, E.”

He was surprised at the nickname. Sure, most people called him E, but coming from her, at this moment, felt different. Like equivalent to his ‘baby girl.’ He felt a rush move through his chest as she slowly slid her hand from his, stroking his fingers and smiled at him. She stood on the other side of the doors until the doors shut. This time, it was Erik with jelly legs. He caught himself by leaning back on the back wall of the cabin as it traveled up. He has never felt like this with no woman… ever!

When he made it into his place, he stripped out of his clothes and took a hot shower. Thinking of the way her hand felt in his made his dick twitch under the warm water. He stroked it a few times before choosing to just wash up and go to bed. He really didn’t understand this feeling and didn’t want to process it right now. He just wanted to have this moment. Whatever it was. As he made himself comfortable in his cool sheets, he picked up his phone, opening Instagram. Phoenix’s story the first one highlighted at the top of his screen. He clicked it and 4 minutes ago, she posted a photo of the city’s view from her bedroom with the caption ‘Nights like This❤️ ’

There it is… that feeling in his chest again. He locks his phone and drifts off to sleep with Phoenix as the last thought on his mind.

#erik x phoenix #the elevator bae #shewritestheblues

41 notes · View notes

thefangirlslair · 5 years ago

Text

Free At Last (A Sasusaku One-Shot Fanfiction) x Purple Love VI

Note: Okay, okay. I know it’s been a while. I’ve been busy not being completely mental because of some stuff, and then this corona virus comes up and just messes up with my head furthermore. Ugh! Well, I hope you’re all safe and doing well. And of course, enjoy Sakura Day! It is our queen’s birthday, and I know i’ll never forgive myself if i don’t participate on her special day. So i hope you appreciate this one because i took a break from angst and tried a light and fluffy one. I am sO NERVOUS OMG thanks so much to everyone who keeps on reading these fics i have. Thank u thank u!!!

PS. This is also up on my ffnet! Let me know your thoughts! Again, Happy Birthday Uchiha Sakura!!!!!!!!!! MY QUEEN I LOB U

Excerpt: This might be her second birthday since he knew her, first as her boyfriend, but he feels like he’s known her for a long time. He wants to be there on her birthday every year, forever, as long as she’ll have him.

SasuSaku Pairing (2,578 words)

A Poor Attempt at Writing Fics

Sasusaku Edition XXV

Free At Last

Not even grainy resolutions of webcam cameras and shitty internet connections can ever hide her wide-blown grin. May it be over a monitor, your smartphone or in person, Haruno Sakura’s smile will always be as beautiful as its owner. And it’s even much brighter now that her team is singing her happy birthday through her computer screen.

Boisterous laughter followed after all the singing because was that Lee-san who croaked that last note?

“That was awful, Eyebrows!”, laughed Naruto, some dramatic tears leaking from the corners of his happy blue eyes and his tongue slipping the familiar nickname outside work. “Was that you or you have a pet frog?” The addressed man cannot be seen beyond his webcam because he was busy lying under his desk because Sakura-san! I have failed to sing the best happy birthday song! Shame on me!

Almost choking on her drink, Tenten interrupted, “Hey Naruto, we’re still technically at work even though we’re working from home. Stop with the nicknames until later!”

“C’mon, buns! It’s not as if Boss is here to murder us with his glare! And it’s just another 10 minutes before our shift ends; we need to celebrate Sakura-chan's birthday at least!”, the blond whined as an answer.

“Aww, thanks so much guys!”, Sakura smiled. “Naruto, stop teasing Lee-san. And listen to Tenten, we still need to be professional while we’re still at work. I wish we are together at the office though! I would’ve loved to celebrate with you all, too.”

Another blue-eyed, blonde person answered. “Ugh, tell me about it. I’d rather be at the office right now and listen to Naruto’s obnoxious voice than be with a lazy ass and be bored out of my mind like someone over here..” Ino’s annoyed face and an even more annoyed voice rang through their earphones and speakers, noting the emphasis on some words about her boyfriend who rolled his eyes. In the background, you can hear Tenten’s Language!

They can all see Shikamaru, the boyfriend, who simply smirked, looked sideways at his workmate/girlfriend and lazily drawled, “You love this lazy ass.”

Series of ‘OHHHHHH’ can be heard from Kiba, Tenten and Naruto while Lee choked some more and laid again under his desk. Sakura just laughed at her best friend’s face because Ino was trying so hard not to blush that she covered her almost-red face and slapped Shikamaru’s arm at reach. Sakura even heard the man chuckled under his breath.

“Shika, you smooth fucker,” Kiba teased. “Teach us your ways!”

Tenten growled, “Inuzuka, if you don’t shut the fuck u-”

“Weren’t you the one who said to remain professional and mind our language while at work, Tenten-san?”, Lee’s head came up to peek onto the camera and asked his innocent question. He ducked again when the brunette’s eyes flashed for a second and escaped before she unleashes her rage on him.

Sakura’s laughter was light and happy, her green eyes sparkling with mirth. These people’s faces on her screen belong to not just her team at work but her friends. Her second family. Or maybe third? she thought.

They spend more than 40 hours a week together whether it be stressing over clients at work, drinking coffee at the pantry, pizza parlor visits after shift, and ice creams every payday. And now that she realized that it has been two long months since they worked from home, now at their last day of quarantine, let alone on her birthday, she misses them. Terribly so.

“I miss you guys. Really,” she said, her voice a bit lower than usual, which means she’s serious. Her friends saw it and immediately stopped their bickering. “I didn't have anyone before until Naruto and Ino came along. Then came Tenten, then Shikamaru... until Kiba and then lastly, Lee-san. It’s been 10 years since my first celebration with the blonds, but I feel like I’ve been celebrating it with all 7 of you ever since.” She smiled again, “Thank you for always being with me on my day.”

A few moments passed and finally, a chorus of incomprehensible words were heard through Sakura’s speakers because they all reacted at the same time:

“Sakura-chaaan! Don’t be sad! I’ll be sad too!”

“Cut... hik... cut the drama f-forehead! I d-.. I don’t want it!... hik...”

“Ah... now you want me to fall for you now, huh? Stop, damn it Sakura..”

“Girl, don’t touch my fucking heart like that. You already know we got you always.”

“SAKURA-SAAAAAAAAAN!!!”

Sakura watched it all with glowing eyes and a full heart. She looked one by one on their blurry little faces and she felt love just seep through her pores. She’s finally seeing them next week since the quarantine is finally over and there will be no need to hide from the pandemic that affected the rest of the world.

They’re still busy reeling over Sakura’s mini birthday speech and the rosette is overwhelmed with emotions when they heard Shikamaru asked, “Seven?”

“Huh?”, Sakura confusedly asked back.

“We’re only six here, excluding you, but you said ‘all 7 of you’ earlier.”

All eyes turned to her and she felt nervous. Crap, I slipped!

“Oh,” she started, nervously added an awkward laugh. “I meant six! I might be more tired than usual then. We had to talk to a lot of clients today anyway, right?”

She knew she didn’t convince Shikamaru and the rest of her friends, so she thanked all the deities she knew when her phone rang and Kakashi’s name flashed on her screen. She took it as an opportunity to escape more questions from them and so she said, “I gotta take this call, it’s my old high school teacher.”

She muted their audio of their conference call and opened the window of her emails instead to hide her screen and chat box. Sakura went to the balcony to answer the call.

Little did she know that she forgot to turn off her camera.

“Did you notice she was acting weird?”

“She absolutely did, right? She looked nervous earlier. Do you know something about this, Naruto?”

“No! She tells us everything but for the past few months, she’s been a little secretive, I think. It also doesn’t help that we’ve been in quarantine for 2 months! Is she still my best friend, Ino-chan?”

“First of all, I am her best friend and not you. And second, I agree. Ugh, this Forehead is making my head hurt!”

“Don’t judge Sakura-san! She’s a good friend! If she wants to tell us something, she will!”

“I don’t care about her secret or whatever, all I want to know where her house is because look at her room. So fucking huge!”

“That’s not her house, Kiba. Forehead said she’s staying at her mom’s friend because she’s alone at her apartment.”

“Yeah, Sakura-chan's room is much brighter and full of flowers! The room they gave her now is so boring, look! It’s either black or gray!”

“I wouldn’t mind. The size of that room is almost as big as my entire apartment. That bed looks something I want to break with Neji.”

“Tenten-san!! Control yourself!!!”

“Y’all are so noisy even in chat.”

“Shut up, ponytail!”

A movement from Sakura’s camera caught everyone’s attention. Her computer is located at the corner of the room so they could see a part of the queen size bed and has a direct view of the bedroom door. The knob turned and someone entered the room.

“WHO’S THAT?!!!”

“SOMEONE ENTERED SAKURA-SAN'S ROOM!!”

“Is that her mom’s friend?”

“Stop panicking idiots!”

“THEY BETTER LEAVE SAKURA-CHAN ALONE!!!”

“Wait...”

“Is that....?”

“OHMYFGOFDD”

“IS THAT BOSS TEME???!”

“Holy shit..”

“Damn he’s so fucking hot in sweatpants...”

“Why is he there??????”

“UCHIHA-SAN IS IN SAKURA-SAN'S ROOM!!!!!”

“I see... this could be why Sakura said 7.”

“NOOOO! THIS CAN’T BE! SAKURA-CHAN WON’T DATE THAT ASSHOLE! SHE CAN’T!!”

Stood inside the room is no other than their young CEO, Uchiha Sasuke, dressed in casual gray sweatpants and thin white t-shirt. If not because of his wild black hair and intimidating aura, they wouldn’t even know it’s him. They have always seen him in crisp suits and perfect posture, maybe once in a bomber jacket and ripped jeans, but this is the first time they’ve seen him in comfortable clothes with his usual stiff shoulders a bit relaxed and his hands casually tucked in his pockets.

Another movement from the other corner of the room, and Sakura came into view. They didn’t know she was only wearing a big shirt that barely covered her thighs, and the chat room exploded again.

“Sakura’s so hot, damn..”

“HOY DOG-BREATH, LOOK AWAY!!! STOP HOUNDING SAKURA-CHAN!!”

“YAAAS GET THAT ASS GIRL!!”

“I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS! FOREHEAD IS BANGING OUR BOSS! THAT’S SO HOT”

They watched in awe when the two met in the middle of the room and Sakura tiptoed and wrapped her arms around Sasuke’s neck. Their boss leaned down and held her hips, his face hidden within her pink locks.

The scene didn’t have any audio for their mini audience but even without it, they know the two are speaking in whispers, with Sakura’s head nodding and Sasuke’s hands running over her waist and back as indications. They felt like intruders and most of them almost blushed because of the affection and intimacy, excluding one who definitely passed out under his desk, so they decided to leave the two.

“Let’s leave them alone now, things might get pretty hot. I don’t wanna see my best friend shagging my boss, no matter how proud I am of her.”

“INO-CHAN! WE GOTTA HELP SAKURA-CHAN ESCAPE! WHAT IF HE’S HOLDING HER HOSTAGE???”

“Idiot..”

“Sakura can take me hostage any time though..”

“Wait, I just want to see Boss Uchiha topless before we go!”

Sasuke pulled away for a bit to look at Sakura, his birthday girl, and poked her forehead with his two fingers. His two arms wrapped around her waist again after the gesture, “Are you done for today?”

She nodded in affirmative as her hands roam around his shoulders and looped around his neck, “I almost slipped earlier though. They almost knew I have a b-..boyf-”

He smirked. They have been secretly dating for almost 4 months now but she still blushes more than usual when she tries to address him as her boyfriend. He remembered the time he introduced her to his parents as his girlfriend and she was redder than his favorite fruit the entire dinner. That was fun.

She’s his employee, he knows. Sakura’s been working for his company for more than a year now and ever since he laid his eyes on her and saw her potential, wit and charm—he knows she’s his endgame.

It’s been a long pursuit for him, being her boss and all, and her righteous perspective about everything. So when she finally gave in to her own feelings and decided to say yes to being his, he decided to never let Haruno Sakura go. Even if she decides to fight tooth and nail for her freedom from him, he will do the same to keep her. Maybe not as an employee, because that would mean he will be free to take her on lunch dates, but as his lover.

I like that, he thought. Lover.

Sasuke peered at her blushing face, her emerald eyes downcast because of embarassment, her enticing full pink lips on display that she keeps on licking and biting. Sasuke’s eyes twitched because of the sight.

“Annoying,” he almost growled under his breath. Is she aware of her effect on him?

Before she could even ask, Sasuke ducked his head down to press his mouth on hers. His hand went to the back of her head to tilt it a little upwards so he could taste deeper and he was rewarded by the opening of her mouth and the quiet moan that he drank greedily from her.

As much as he wants to call it a night and just bury himself with her and in her, she hasn’t eaten yet because his hard-headed and annoying employee still worked at home on her birthday. He baked a strawberry cake downstairs while she thought he’s busy working with investors on his office. He spent the entire day in his kitchen Facetiming with his mother to guide his baking. He’s never seen his mother so ecstatic because of him.

He came back to his senses when he felt slightly cold hands under his shirt and he fought the urge to throw her onto the bed they have been occupying for the past 2 months of quarantine and just ravish her all night. Sasuke moved both his hands and held her face as he savored more of her lips by a few flicks of his tongue before he gently pulled away.

This might be her second birthday since he knew her, first as her boyfriend, but he feels like he’s known her for a long time. He wants to be there on her birthday every year, forever, as long as she’ll have him. “Happy birthday,” he simply said, tenderly looking at her gorgeous face.

Her smile was blinding and her green irises glimmer against the setting sun. “Thank you, Sasuke-kun,” Sakura softly answered. “I love you so much.”

He pecked her lips again, lingering a bit more, and murmured against her mouth. “Love you.” He felt her smile, and he smiled back.

A small blink from the corner of his eyes got his attention and he noticed the tops of her laptop’s screen with a little light, indicating that the camera is on. Sasuke turned to Sakura, “Go downstairs and wait for me. Let’s eat dinner. I’ll just take a shower.”

Sakura nodded and happily skipped across the room and slipped outside the bedroom to wait for him downstairs. Sasuke stood for a moment looking at the door and slowly walked toward his, their, dresser. He took off his t-shirt and tossed it carelessly on the floor. He took a deep breath and finally approached Sakura’s computer on the side.

He clicked the program that runs the conference call and was greeted by her team’s shocked faces. He saw one window where Rock Lee was supposed to be but he didn’t see anyone aside from the crooked angle of the camera and are those his feet under the table? He scoffed inwardly. Guess you’ll give up pursuing her now. She’s mine.

He did a lazy sweep of his dark eyes one by one on their faces and remembered them in the future if they decide to blame Sakura for not telling this secret. Of course, they both wanted to show the world that they’re together but they still need to be a little cautious. Yes, they’re her friends and her team, but he’s not gonna be lenient especially when it comes to Sakura.

Sasuke thought the look in his eyes were effective because they all sat a little straighter. His job is now done, and now it’s time to shower so he could celebrate the entire night with Sakura. His spine tingled in anticipation.

He looked directly at the little camera above and gave his signature smirk before he logged out her account and closed Sakura’s laptop. He stretched like a feline and his grin went wider as he stripped for his shower.

Let’s just say it was an interesting first day back at the office the following Monday.

~fin~

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justwritingscenarios · 5 years ago

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Kakashi Hatake x Med-Nin! Reader

Sum up : Kakashi is again at the hospital after a mission. But he doesn’t know who’s this new nurse who’s taking care of him.

“Seriously Kakashi, you should behave yourself. You’re the shinobi I see the most here.”

Tsunade, the 5th Hokage, was again reprimanded Kakashi. She had her rights. Kakashi being Naruto’s sensei and one of the best shinobi of Konoha had lots of responsibilities resting on his shoulders, such as dangerous missions that more than often bring him to the hospital. And she would always complain about him overworking himself and using his Sharingan, which was true.

“You’ll be staying for a week.” “I can rest at home.” “No. You need to eat well and I know how you cook. Moreover, you’ll need help with your injury in your back.”

So he stayed.

It wasn’t really a problem. Kakashi was used to it and at least, he was peaceful. Naruto wouldn’t ask him for training, at least not him ; the silver haired man could perfectly imagine Yamato being forced to keep an eye on Naruto.

For that time, he would do his favourite thing : read over all Jiraya’s books again.

It was what he was doing when someone entered the room in the afternoon. The shinobi expected the person to be either one of his teammates or Gai ; his best friend never missed a day to visit him at the hospital. But looking up from his book, he saw the feminine and smiling face of a young woman : you.

“Good afternoon, Kakashi-sensei. How are you ?” “Fine.” “Good ! I’ll be the one changing your dressing.”

Kakashi was extremely obedient and put his book aside to get rid of his shirt. You couldn’t not feel his eyes resting on you for the time you prepared everything you need for the changing and it was a bit disturbing. You didn’t show it though... On the silver-hair-ninja, something else was on. Because if he didn’t move a bit when you started doing your job in his back, his brain was working fast.

For all the time Kakashi had been at the hospital for different kind of injuries, he was positive he never had the pleasure of seeing you before. Yet he couldn’t help but thought he had already seen you somewhere else. He would sometimes look over his shoulder to eye your face another time and try harder to remember. If he couldn’t remember on his own, he could always ask...

“I’ve never seen you here before. You’re new aren’t you ?” “Are you worried I may be mistreating you before of my lack of experience ?” You chuckled at your own words and watched him shook his head vigorously. “I am undergoing training as a med-nin.”

A med-nin ? It means...

“You’re a kunoichi ?” It sounded like a question he didn’t need an answer to. “That must be why I remember your face then.” “I’ve never had the honour of going on a mission with you, Kakashi-sensei. But we did cross paths on the Hokage’s office.” I’m done, you added in a murmur as you finished your task.

Kakashi thanked you and dressed properly again.

“Your injury isn’t bleeding anymore so it doesn’t need to be changed tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow morning then, Kakashi-sensei.” That’s what you told him before leaving.

Until diner time Kakashi was left alone in his room to read his books. He knew them by heart, yet still blushed at every erotica scenes.

At 8PM his door opened but not on the nurse with her food trolley as expected. It was you holding a tray with food.

“(Name)-san ?” “It’s me. I’m helping a co-worker who’s late in her service.”

Unlike earlier in the afternoon, you were wearing casual clothes. He guessed you were overworking your hours at the last moment and it was the reason you weren’t in your white-nurse-outfit anymore. You came close enough to put the tray on the table above his bed. Watching carefully your every movements, Kakashi noticed (a jewel, a tattoo, a piercing, a cloth ; anything a bit personal).

“The bar.” “I beg your pardon ?” “I saw you at the bar a few weeks ago. You were with friends at the counter.” “Ah, I’m going out with friends often after missions, so I guess you did see me there. But I didn’t know you were going too.” “A friend’s birthday. I’m not going much otherwise.”

Kakashi’s bored eyes were like earlier attracted by your charming smile. You were most likely exhausted by your day, dark rings under your eyes, but it didn’t stop you from sharing your happy behaviour with him.

He didn’t expect it but you stayed a bit long, until he finished his food and a bit more after that, talking with him about that bar you met at. You remembered them celebrating a birthday, they were so loud. Kakashi was not, but the others were and singing and drinking.

It went on like this for the following days. You would bring him his three meals - breakfast, lunch, diner -, change his dressing, visit a few times to see if he needed anything. You learnt about each other a bit more with every new meal you would stay with him while he ate. Being honest, you never thought Kakashi Hatake would be so talkative.

It was now the day before Kakashi’s leaving. You were in the kitchen, bringing back the jonin’s tray when Mei, a nurse co-worker and friend, walked to you.

“Hey, still there ? Did you bring Kakashi-sensei his diner again ?” She made her eyebrows wiggled. “Don’t do that, that’s gross.” You laughed. “And yes, I did. It made a bit less work for the night nurses.” “Yes, sure. Tell that lie to yourself, (Name)-san.” She took a tray for a special tray for one of her own patients. “You know, we talk with the other nurses, and we all agreed to say never before Kakashi-sensei was so talkative. He is polite and all, but he never started new conversations with us. Just saying.”

She winked and left with a smirk.

The last morning of his convalescence at the hospital, Kakashi woke up early. He put his stuff in his bag and just finished when the door opened. He turned joyfully.

“Good morning, (Name)-sa- Oh, excuse-me, Mei-san, I was expecting someone else.” “I know well who you were expecting, Kakashi-sensei.” Mei smiled slyly as she did her job. “She is with Tsunade-sama. A last-tile operation.” “I see. Thanks.”

Mei saw well the little disappointed look on Kakashi’s eye. She was about to leave but he talked again.

“Aren’t you removing the dressing ?” “The dressing ?”

She came again to him and watched as he pulled his shirt up to show the dressing on his back. Indeed, he was still wearing it. Mei was surprised he still had it.

“When did (Name) last change it ?” She asked as she removed it and tossed it in the nearest rubbish. The scarf was almost invisible ; you did a perfect job as a med-nin. You even had already retired the stitches. “Yesterday, before diner.”

The nurse bit her lips to suppress a laugh.

“Is there something wrong ?” “No nothing. “ With that, she left.

Kakashi understood he wouldn’t be able to see you before leaving the building. As he walked down the corridor after his breakfast, he heard two voices coming from the next corner. He recognized it as Mei’s and another nurse’s voices.

“Are you sure she did ?” “I swear to you. Kakashi-sensei should have his bandages removed days before. But he told me she was still changing it.” “Why would she ? To get an eyeful of him ? Well, I wouldn’t blame her for that, he is well-built...” The other nurse said. “Hm. (Name)-san started working earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon only to bring him breakfast and diner personally.” “She shouldn’t do favouritism.” “She is more like 100% into him. Aaaah... youth.”

Mei’s nurse friend laughed at her sigh and Kakashi heard their voices kept going farther in the opposite direction of his place. And he didn’t need to hear more.

Never before Kakashi felt that much relieved to wear a mask as his face was sporting rosy cheeks and silly smile.

“(Name)-chan, we’re going to the toilets.” “Ok, girls.”

You watched two of your friends going to the back of the crowded bar then at the other one talking with a man a few stools away from you. You smiled as you saw her laughing at something her target said ; she wasn’t gonna comeback with you tonight for sure.

You drank the last drops of your drinks when the man who just sat by your sides spoke.

“Can I offer you the next drink ?”

You turned your (colour) eyes to the familiar voice and raised your eyebrows.

“Kakashi-sensei ?” “Himself.” You could imagine the smile under his mask. “How are you ? I heard you left yesterday morning.” “I did. And I’m feeling perfectly fine. I had the best nurse after all.”

You laughed at the flirty comment and elbow hit he gave you in the arm.

“I never thought I would see you again so quickly, Kakashi-sensei. And in this place. That’s a surprise !” “A surprise, yes. I guess. But not a coincidence.”

You tilted your head a bit on the side, getting the unsaid. He made a sign to call the barman yet still looking at you.

“So... What are you drinking, (Name)-san ?”

Something in the way Kakashi came to this bar alone to meet with you again - and the intense look in his only visible eye - told you that your friend won’t be the only one to leave with someone...

#kakashi hatake #kakashi x reader #kakashi imagine #Kakashi #kakashi hatake x reader #kakashi hatake imagine #naruto imagine #naruto shippuden imagine #mednin reader

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dreamgirl4certain · 5 years ago

Text

The Elevator Bae

ONE TWO THREE

Chapter FOUR

Erik x Black OC (Phoenix)

Word Count: 5k