ura_no_ura | [IC] Appointments

[It was the middle of the night, the dark and (previously) silent house filled with the soft thump thump thump of footsteps in the hallway as a still half-asleep Naruto made his way to the kitchen. Planning to grab a glass of water before heading back to bed, the sound of something moving in the living room he just passed causes him to stop in his tracks.

It only takes a moment for him to remember that it's just Kakashi sleeping in there, but the initial thought of intruder was at least enough to snap him out of his drowsiness. Man, damn that Kakashi-sensei!

And then it hits him. Kakashi-sensei. Asleep in the living room. Sleeping. Possibly without that stupid mask. It wasn't too likely- he always kept it on during overnight missions or training sessions, but it was worth a check. A mischievous grin spreads across the teenager's face, his trip to the kitchen forgotten for now because a much more important opportunity had presented itself to him. Turning on his heels, tiptoeing in order to not make a sound, he slowly makes his way to the entrance of the living room, peering around the door frame to the sofa which holds his sleeping sensei.

That grin doesn't last for long though. The room is dark and he can't see too much, but Kakashi's breathing is irregular. Those aren't the breaths of someone sleeping soundly, they're harsh and erratic. Combined with the continual little jolts and movements,just the feel of uneasiness surrounding him, it doesn't take a room full or light nor a genius to figure out that he is having a bad dream. No, not even that, it's more like nightmares.

Now standing at the end of the sofa and looking down, all thoughts of dumb mask-stealing are forgotten as Naruto looks down on his Sensei, frowning. Over all their years of having to camp it out for various missions, he'd never seen anything like this before. It was honestly unsettling to witness, Kakashi was usually so calm and collected and okay. He wonders what he's dreaming about. War stuff?

The blond ninja stands there for a good minute, lips pressed together as he just continues to watch. It doesn't seem to be settling down any, and he's concerned. He should probably try to wake him up. Everyone knows that one of the worst things you can do is startle a ninja who's clearly on edge, but he has to.

So... here goes. Stepping around to the side of the sofa and crouching down, Naruto reaches out to lightly shove at Kakashi's shoulder. Hopefully he doesn't wake up and try to Raikiri him or something, that would be totally uncool.]

Oi, Kakashi-sensei...

Edited 2013-07-16 09:08 (UTC)

[ Kakashi-sensei.

The world is burning and Obito stands in the distance with a vivific smile on his face, blood dripping from his fingertips into the red sky, which pulses with the lives of one hundred thousand ninja.

Kakashi stands amongst them all, a lone survivor on a battlefield filled with everyone he has ever loved. The bodies are lifeless and broken, eyes wide open, staring in accusation. You did this, they say without speaking, and Kakashi stumbles, staggers, falling to his knees.

The earth runs teeming with blood. The smell of it, sharp enough to make him choke.

Kakashi-sensei.

Obito's laughter cackles overhead, a cawing as wild as the murder of crows that circle the sky. And then he's right there with a hand in Kakashi's chest, and Kakashi can feel his fingers curling around his heart, cold and slithery and entirely inhuman, as he stares at Kakashi with mismatched eyes.

"How does it feel, Kakashi?" He asks, almost sweetly, and his fingers start to squeeze until Kakashi can't breathe at all, the pain a raw, screaming wound that swallows him up. He supposes it is just as well to have his heart ripped out of his chest while it's still beating.

Obito smiles, showing Kakashi all his teeth.

He rips his hand out, and Kakashi's heart with it.

Oi, Kakashi-sensei-- ]

[ Something shakes through his entire body, and Kakashi's eyes snap open with a sharp inhale, blood thundering in his ears, heart hammering in his chest, as he stares up in shock at the ceiling, his breath coming out of him raggedly. It's then that he realizes Naruto's standing there right next to him in the dark, and the feeling he had felt, that full-body shake, had been Naruto's hand on his shoulder. Somehow he had been sleeping so deeply, he hadn't woken up from the sounds Naruto must've made when he woke -- something he normally wouldn't have allowed himself to do in the company of his team.

He tries to take a measured breath, and then another, exhaling very slowly as he pushes himself up to sitting, a hand rising up to rub at his eyes. ]

Edited 2013-07-17 04:32 (UTC)

[Oh good. He didn't try to kill him or anything, that's good at least. Once Kakashi's up Naruto drops his hand, still crouched on the floor and watching him.]

Oi, you okay? [The same words he said a few days ago, but you can't brush it off like last time.] You were having nightmares or something.

Yeah, I'm fine.

[ The answer though, is still automatic, even if Kakashi's clearly shaken and trying to breathe as normally as possible. ]

It was just a bad dream. It happens.

[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?

[IC] Appointments

Action; backdated to the night of the 14th;

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