Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Chronicles of Kakashi & the Kunoichi from Thunder Country ❯ Dinner Conversation ( Chapter 5 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Dinner Conversation

“Gardening! Our first mission is gardening! This isn't a mission. This is a chore I do for my mom!" Kenji complained as he jabbed his hoe against the ground.

“Yeah, what's this supposed to be doing for our training?” Takeo agreed as he slowly raked some stubborn weeds.

Rikako leaned on her tiller and wondered, “Where's Kakashi sensei anyway?” She looked around and saw him in a tree reading a book. “Is he getting paid for this? He's not doing anything. He's not even watching us. And what's with that ban symbol on the back of the book? He really is irresponsible.” She frowned in disapproval.

The larger boy muttered, “I think we got stuck with the worse sensei. He was late again today. All the good missions were probably handed out already.”

“Well, I'm sure we'll work up to something more interesting. This isn't so bad,” said the smaller boy, thinking that Kakashi might overhear them so he'd say something positive. 'Never hurts to be on someone's good side.'

Rikako shrugged and looked around the garden. “Well, let's make the best of this. How would you guys like a lesson in herbology? It can help if you're ever lost in the forest and need medicine.” As they pulled weeds, tilled the ground, and planted seeds and bulbs, Rikako recalled all she learned from her parents and from the book she read recently. “Garlic can be used as an antiseptic...Ginger is an analgesic, it's also good for motion sickness and upset stomachs…Ginseng is good for oxygenating the blood, it's a medicine for asthmatics...”

Kakashi was listening in as he pretended to read his book. (No one can read the same book that many times!) 'That's good, they're learning something useful, and she's a good teacher, makes my life easier.'

“Oh, here's a jutsu my dad taught me to help with my mom's gardening,” Rikako performed a moderately complex seal and the earth parted as if it had been tilled for planting. “It's earth element, earth runnel,” she explained, “but you have to be careful not to release too much chakra or you'll be digging up all the dead gophers!”

Kakashi lazily observed his industrious genin team from his elevated vantage point as they worked the field. Despite Kenji's complaints, he threw himself into the work, using it as an opportunity to exercise his muscles. Unfortunately, his exuberance caused dirt to fly all over, and especially in Takeo's face. The smaller boy said nothing, but Kakashi noticed he purposely hid a rake near Kenji, who ended up tripping over it. 'Maybe these guys are going to be as much trouble as my last team,' Kakashi sighed.

…-…-…-…-…-

'I'm soooo not looking forward to this,' the veteran jounin thought as he walked slowly over to the house of the village doctor. 'It's been a long time since I faced him. But as Rikako pointed out, it's all in the name of teamwork. I have to set a good example. I just hope he doesn't bring up our past history.'

Rikako had invited Kakashi and her teammates over to her house for dinner. Kakashi was taking the long, normal way on the roads rather than the rooftops. He was late as usual.

The long walk gave him time to think about his new genin team. Other than the rake incident, nothing particular happened. They all seemed to get along fairly well. 'That's good. I don't think I can deal with another trio like the one I had last time. Much as I cared about them, they were just too trying at times…and things went disastrous wrong in the end. But those two were special cases, survivor of a massacre, container for a demon. No, mynew team is perfectly normal.If I do notice any rivalry, I'll be more proactive this time. I'm not going to let what happened with Sasuke happen again.'

The door was left open for him and he could tell from the animated conversation that dinner was nearly over. While entering the dining room, Kakashi started to apologize, “Sorry I'm late but…”

“Just take a seat Kakashi.” The deep growling voice came from someone just as one would expect. A large man sat at the head of the table. Even sitting he was about as tall as Kakashi. At the other end of the table, sat a tired looking woman about half his size. Kakashi moved obediently to sit at the remaining vacant seat, at her right and across from his female genin. He nodded a greeting to her mother. Rika shoved a plate of food in front of him without a word.

Kakashi listened, amused, as the kids excitedly talked about future missions and jutsu they'd like to learn. Dr. Otori then entertained them with stories of his past missions. They were generally rather somber, all ending in death and a moral lesson. The lessons were underscored by his own ominous immense dark presence.

“…so the moral of the story is, always, always check your equipment…so the moral of the story is never, never trust a client...so the moral of the story is always, always listen to your superior…” With the last statement, he shot a look at Kakashi.

The boys listened, enraptured, especially during the gory parts (Kenji was enraptured with excitement while Takeo was enraptured with disgust). Rikako, who had heard the tales all before, ad nausea, seemed to be thinking of something else. She was eyeing Kakashi suspiciously. “Kakashi sensei, may I ask why you're not eating?”

“I'm…uh…not hungry.”

“Considering the effort my mother expended to prepare this sumptuous meal for our guests, it would be polite to have a little something. Perhaps it's because of all the time that has elapsed since she finished cooking. Should I heat it up for you?” She continued to stare at him with her dark voluminous eyes.

“Oh…well…maybe you can put it in a doggy bag?” Kakashi suggested uneasily. 'Didn't anyone ever teach her it's not polite to stare?'

“That doesn't seem to be an appropriate request,” she raised an eyebrow at him.

“It's all right Rikako-chan,” her mom said wearily, “we're familiar with Kakashi-sensei's… eccentricities.” Rika had said little throughout dinner, just busying herself with serving.

Now finished with his stories, Otori offered, “Well, boys, how would you like to see my weapons collection? I have antiques from all over the world. Of course, I do have a lot of modern weapons. That's where all my hard earned money goes. I can probably open up my own museum.”

“Yes!” Takeo said excitedly. The sleepy look he usually wore was completely gone.

The boys got up immediately. Rikako nodded and motioned for them to follow her upstairs to her father's study. Her mother collected the dishes then stayed in the kitchen to pack Kakashi's take-out dinner and to do the dishes. It seemed she did not want to be around Kakashi at all. Kakashi was then left alone with the good doctor.

“It's been a long time Kakashi,” said Dr. Otori while pulling at his formerly black beard, now speckled with gray. “We thought we would see you more often, considering.”

Kakashi replied nonchalantly, “I've been kept informed.”

Otori scoffed, “Have you? Do you know what life has been like for us since you brought her?”

-...-...-

Rika was in tears. There's the shrill sound of a baby crying in the background.

“I can't take this anymore! Who ever heard of a baby who doesn't sleep?” Her face was worn and haggard and it was apparent that she hadn't slept much either. “We've been through four nannies already! None of them can take it. What are we going to do with her?”

“It's too late.We've agreed to take her in.”

“But we know nothing about her.”

“She's a baby. All babies cry.”

“Yes, but they sleep as well. She doesn't sleep for more than 15 minutes at a time!”

“It'll get better. She won't be a baby forever.”

“What if it gets worse? What if there's a demon inside her?”

“There are no seals on her body. She's a normal baby with colic.”

“Have you ever seen colic like this?”

He shrugged, “It's my first child, too, you know, but I've heard parents complain. Besides, what do you propose we do? Who's going to take her now?”

Her brow furrowed and she became ashamed of her thoughts of abandonment.

“We'll find someone else to help out. We'll hire twopeople this time, and you can all rotate shifts or something. It'll just be for a while longer. It'll get better you'll see.”

“Damn you Kakashi, what kind of creature have you given us,” Rika muttered. “He must know more than what he told us.”

-...-...-

“But it didn't get better for nearly four years. Rikako stopped crying all night, but still the slightest thing sent her wailing inconsolably for hours. And there were other problems. Have you seen her bedroom? Her room is bare except for the bed and a set of drawers. There are no figurines or mirrors or picture frames. Do you know why? It's because they all break when she's sleeping.”

Kakashi's eye widened. “But how...I've seen the cuts on her arms…”

“Yes, that's from the broken glass from the picture frames, even the windows. She has nightmares all the time. Sometimes she doesn't wake from them. It seems her chakra leaks out while she's sleeping. That's why we taught her chakra control at a young age. Just watch her when she gets mad. Really mad. You'll know what I mean.”

“She just seems so... well adjusted.”

“She's a great kid, but stubborn and she does not have a good temper, she just keeps it controlled. Rika and I love her as if she were our own... I'm sorry, that's not true. We try to, but...it's been difficult. We were worried about the shinobi training…if her chakra level were to increase... Things are better now. Still, I wish you weren't her sensei.” Otori sighed.

Kakashi carefully thought over his words. “I would have thought you would want me to be her sensei. After all, I know the truth, maybe I can help her.”

“The truth... that's what may destroy her.”

…-…-…-…-…-