ura_no_ura | [IC] Appointments

[Look at this face. Look at its pout. He isn't convinced.]

Didn't seem like any regular old dreams to me. You were pretty worked up.

[ Is Naruto intending to dig...? Kakashi takes another breath and lets it out, then drops his hand, looking at Naruto. ]

Everyone has bad dreams now and then. It's normal, Naruto.

[He's digging a little. Or trying to, at least. Trying to talk about things with Kakashi can be hard.]

What was it about?

Oh, just stuff, you know.

[ Kakashi's just trying to deflect, because he doesn't really want to talk about this. Naruto doesn't need to be worried like this.

He gets up, pushing the covers off of him. ]

Don't worry about me... go back to bed.

[Of course he'd give an answer like that. Naruto's genuinely worried- he still hasn't said anything about what happened with the war stuff either.]

Dammit, Kakashi-sensei. You always say that.

[He's not going anywhere.]

Well, it's the truth. I don't know what you expect me to say.

[ And without giving Naruto a chance to respond, he gets up. ]

I'm going to get some water. You should go back to bed.

[ Kakashi moves to head towards the kitchen. ]

Oh-- yeah, water. That's what I got up for in the first place.

[How about that, Kakashi. Now he's following you to the kitchen.]

[ Yeah well, if you want water, that's fine, but Kakashi really doesn't want to talk about anything. Just get your water and go back to bed, already.

Kakashi opens the cupboards and locates two glasses, then pours himself and Naruto water, and then hands one of the glasses to the boy. ]

Here. Now, back to bed, or you'll end up oversleeping in the morning and your mother will be angry with you.

[He says thanks for his water, taking a drink from the glass. He's pulling a face as he does so- especially when that comment about going back to bed comes up.]

Oi, Kakashi-sensei. I won't tell anyone y'know.

[There's something up with you. People that are usually so cool and calm don't have terrible dreams like that. He promises not to tell his friends, ok?]

What, that I gave you water?

[ Deflecting, deflecting, deflecting. ]

Not that! You know what I'm talking about.

[ Kakashi sighs, and takes a long drink of water, then looks away. Naruto's really not going to let up, is he. ]

[ Well, time to try another strategy then. ]

It was just a bad dream, Naruto. It's okay. Really.

[ He straightens up and goes to slide an arm around Naruto's shoulders, hand curling around his student's far shoulder as he gives him a reassuring squeeze. ]

Come on, let's get you back to bed, hmm?

[ Have a smile, Naruto! ]

[More pouting. This is going to go on forever, huh.]

You always do that. [THe smiling.] Everyone knows it's fake, y'know. I bet even stupid Sai could tell.

[ Kakashi's smile slowly segues from his face at that, as his hand slides from Naruto's shoulder. For once, he doesn't have a witty comeback at the tip of his tongue or an easy way out to deflect. And he's honestly a little stunned that Naruto would say this at all. He never seemed to notice before...

Or maybe it was just that he never wanted to say anything. ]

I just didn't want you to needlessly worry.

[ Well, that much is true. ]

[Yeah, he's noticed.]

I'm not some dumb kid anymore. [Lying so people don't worry. That's the sort of thing you do to kids. Or those who you think can't handle it. Those you don't trust enough.]

You still didn't even tell me about what happened before coming here either, but fine, I get it. Just forget I asked!

[HUFF. Sometimes you're pretty infuriating, Sensei.]

[ Kakashi falls quiet for a moment, but if Naruto tells him to forget it, then he's going to forget it. He takes another sip of water. ]

I don't think you're a dumb kid, Naruto.

[ Says after a little bit. ]

Then why don't you ever say anything? [He's pretty frustrated- his voice is raising even though he knows he should be quiet to prevent waking his parents up.] We've been in a team for like, four years almost by now and you still don't trust me enough to actually talk about anything, it's annoying. Random strangers in this place tell me more things than you do.

[Btw when he said forget about it, he didn't actually mean it. He's stood here waiting for an explanation. :|]

[ Surprise flickers across Kakashi's features. He hadn't expected that Naruto would have been upset like this. Hadn't been ready for Naruto to want to really know what it is he hides under the surface. To dig between the covers.

Kakashi's not even sure he's ready for this.

A part of him has always known that Naruto isn't a kid anymore, and can be trusted, but he still treats him like he's just his student. Still tries his best to be strong for him, because it's what Naruto needs -- or so he tells himself.

It's why he keeps himself so carefully guarded.

He didn't think Naruto would've seen the cracks.

For a long moment, Kakashi falls silent as he looks away from Naruto, down at the glass he holds in his hand. ]

I've disappointed you...

[ He finally says after a moment. And maybe it's a bit of an apology. ]

I know I haven't been the best sensei to you, but... you'll always be my student, Naruto... A sensei is supposed to carry the weight of his students, not burden them... What kind of a sensei would I be if I gave you even more weight to carry than you already do?

Edited 2013-07-17 07:57 (UTC)

What? No, of course I'm not disappointed I was annoyed. It's different.

[Why would you even think that, Kakashi? Naruto could never be disappointed in you. He's listening though, thinking about the words he is hearing. He gets it, the feeling of wanting to carry burdens for the people that matter to you. It actually... reminds him of that time with Itachi.]

You're always gonna my sensei and I'll keep looking up to you and stuff like that, but it's not just that. Friends are meant to help each other out, yeah?

[ Well, that's one way of looking at it, Kakashi supposes. He nods slightly. ]

Yes, but... [ He wouldn't really consider Naruto a friend per se. It's a different relationship.

Kakashi trails off.

Stops.

Starts again. ]

Look... I appreciate that you want to be here for me to support me. It means a lot to me. But, I'm still your sensei, and I don't want to burden you with something as pointless as just a bad dream.

[ He raises his hand again, gives Naruto's shoulder another reassuring squeeze. ]

You have a lot resting on your shoulders already. You don't have to carry my weight, too.

[ His voice is soft. ]

Edited 2013-07-17 08:53 (UTC)

[It's not the same kind of friend, he's not about to ask Kakashi to come hang out with him and Kiba or anything, but he'd still consider him a friend.]

Yeah but I already am when I know something's wrong, you get it?

[Does he have to spell it out? He's still going to be concerned about it.]

[ Kakashi sighs. ]

Nothing's wrong, Naruto. I just had a bad dream. That's all. Really.

You sure?

[Last time he'll ask about the dream, if so.]

[ The truth: Kakashi has bad dreams almost every night if he actually lets himself sleep deeply enough. What's one bad dream when it's almost a nightly occurrence? ]

It's just stress. From the war.

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