video | 002

[ura_no_ura]

[Action | Mid-afternoon]

[ Nothing to see here.

Just a man with silver hair darkened by rust-colored flecks walking through the middle of town from the underground tunnels in fatigues soaked through in some places with blood. He's got a dirty-looking bandage wrapped around his left arm, a slowly spreading red spot eating its way across the gauze surface. He walks like a man who hasn't slept in days -- shoulders slumped, each step weighted. But even despite the apparent exhaustion, he still attempts to make it look more like a lazy stroll than a tired march back to the apartment he'd claimed as his own in Building 1.

Assuming it's even still called Building 1, and his apartment hasn't been taken over by a new resident, anyway. He's been gone for a while, after all.

Two months is a long time to be on a combat mission, but not anything Kakashi isn't used to. Coming back to Luceti after a mission instead of Konoha, though -- that's new.

On the way back to Building 1 Flame Building, Kakashi stops by the Convenience Store for some more bandages, rubbing alcohol, antibiotic ointment, a needle and thread, some pain killers, and a few packages of instant ramen. ]

[ Video | Night ]

[ Kakashi's looking a little better than he did earlier in the day. First aid, food, a hot shower, a fresh change of clothes, and a nice, long nap does wonders. ]

Yo.

[ Have a two-finger wave. ]

I'm back. Did I miss anything exciting?

Comments

[sand_lost]

[His words haven't gotten through, and he didn't expect them too. He's given no true explanation, isn't quite sure he even knows how to properly put his thoughts into words.

Obito has hurt and killed many people. In the war and with Akatsuki. He's effectively threatened their entire world, and such transactions will not be forgiven nearly as easily as his own were, as Sasuke's will probably be. And to see all that murder caused by a friend, a teammate, as someone that was supposed to help keep that loneliness away, to stand as the shining light in the darkness so he could find their way out, it must be difficult to witness. And impossible not to feel guilt.

That, and its hard to argue when he knows he's missing details, the events that made Obito fall down this path and away from Kakashi's team. But even so...]

It was a test. [The words are quiet in the wind, but there, the first he's spoken to anyone about the conversation that passed between him and his father.] The day I fell to the darkness, welcomed it. My father had set up all the events that proceeded it, watched to see how I would react.

I could blame him for all of it...but, I had a choice. To overcome it or succumb to it. It was a test, and I chose wrong.

I'm sure, whatever it was that caused it, your teammate had a choice too. That's not something you could make for him.

[bantambreeze]

Oh? You think I'm childish, do you? Who's idea was it to cover books in wrapping paper, hmm?

[Teasing is fine, but Kakashi, Mr. Pot would like to have a word with you about your hue.]

[voice]

[endgames]

I'm dying.

[No, he's just complaining. Which is probably more than evident in his voice, even if he does sound hoarse and sick.]

[yourhatred]

It was... interesting.

I'm thinking they needed us out of the way for... possible renovations.

[And he imagined it might be more than a simple merging of community buildings, but who could say?]

I hope you didn't catch anything while there.

[His brother had before.]

[believeit]

Yeah! We got some stuff.

[Moon...photos..and...candy...yeah..]

You should come to the house! Dad's not here though.

voice;

[ura_no_ura]

Sounds serious. I hope you're not contagious.

[ Totally deadpanned. No sympathy. ]

[ura_no_ura]

[ Right. That. Kakashi would rather not like to think about that period of time, but he's not entirely unsurprised that Saori would mention it. ]

I assure you, a child would never think of a prank that interesting.

[ Deadpan. ]

[ura_no_ura]

Mm, I think I'm okay. [ At least Kakashi would like to hope that he's not ill, anyway. ]

Do people regularly get strange illnesses when they go on jungle patrol?

[bantambreeze]

Liar.

[She sticks out her tongue.]

Would so.

[ura_no_ura]

[ You're wrong, Kakashi wants to say, because it's so much more complicated than just that. Choices are never black and white, especially when they're steeped in blood. ]

Perhaps that is the case, but I contributed to that poor choice, and for the consequences that followed.

voice;

[endgames]

Between you and Tsunade-sama, it's no wonder Sakura got the beside manner she did.

[ura_no_ura]

Hmm? I don't know what you're talking about. Sakura has an excellent bedside manner~ When she was younger and had more time, she used to even peel apples.

[endgames]

Last thing I saw her peeling was Naruto's face off the barrier, but that's a story for another time. [Because it still feels weird talking about Sakura.] How'd your mission go?

[niceguypose]

Ah... Perhaps that is true. In that case, we are not truly safe in either world. But if Gai-Sensei had the choice himself... I do not think he would want to return home just yet!

[yourhatred]

No, not always. I have merely seen it happen before, is all.

[It has probably the same chance of anyone catching anything anywhere, honestly.]

In any case, that's fortunate. And you have returned for the holiday season.

[fervidity]

[Mumbled to herself with a furrowed brow;]

He was Minato before he was the Hokage.

[She's still not happy, even with Kakashi defending his sensei but she's not stopping from taking him to their house either to properly care for him.]

At least you're back. I'm sure you got plenty of information too for Minato.

[sand_lost]

I understand. And I accept.

[While its not something he entirely agrees with, he can appreciate what Kakashi is doing, the sincerity in which he does it with. And its out of respect rather than agreement that he accepts it and doesn't attempt to argue his point any more.]

[ura_no_ura]

Mm, he's on a mission. I saw him earlier, actually.

[ When Minato relieved him of duty. ]

[ura_no_ura]

Ah, New Years? Do you think the kids in Luceti will expect otoshidama?

[ He hopes not, he doesn't exactly have money or anything. Everything in the village is free, after all, so he supposes there isn't any real reason for otoshidama. ]

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi doesn't really think he deserves forgiveness, but he accepts Gaara's acceptance of his apology, and straightens up once more. He'll let Gaara take the lead here with how he'd like this conversation to go. After all, even if Kakashi is older, Gaara still outranks him. And as far Kakashi goes, rank still matters in this world. ]

[ura_no_ura]

Ah-ah~ I don't mean a child with the mind of an adult.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Of course, it's possible that Gai would rather stay here and spend more time with Neji. Kakashi can understand that sentiment, at least. ]

Perhaps...

[ura_no_ura]

I gave him my mission notes when he relieved me of duty. There was quite a lot of information -- I hope it'll be of some use for him.

[ Kakashi knows that situations like this can be a bit tricky, especially since Kushina isn't just any shinobi -- she's also Minato's wife. But for Kakashi, Minato was always a hero, someone he looked up to, who deserved his respect. As Hokage, he deserved the utmost. ]

[ura_no_ura]

As well as it could, I suppose. Jungle was pretty hot. Muggy. Not the best place to read Icha Icha.

[ Which was rather unfortunate. ]

[niceguypose]

Perhaps! Of course, now we cannot know.

I just have to keep believing... that he would want me to keep fighting on! Do you think he would be proud of me?