[Log] Long Time No See [Closed to Kakami, Yuugao]
[Set a few days or so before Rin arrives at home. Possibly to be continued when Jaid gets back.]
It was good to just sit on a roof sometimes. Sit on a roof and watch the sunset and pet a dog. Yuugao had missed doing such things. Pakkun was keeping his company, now quiet and dozing with his head resting on Yuugao's thigh. The ANBU Cat had since stopped really petting, but merely left his hand on Pakkun's back. He had gotten the updates on Kakami from Pakkun and wondered what else could have happened in two months.
With his hair a bit on the shaggy side and still dyed brown, Yuugao idly played with a few of his bangs and then blew on them, glancing in the direction of the training field Kakami supposedly went to. It had been a long undercover mission and he had reported plenty of hopefully useful secrets, but mostly he was just glad to be home. His guaranteed week of leave was starting to feel like a blessing. Even when he had been so eager to get back in the field that he pushed himself to get better faster. Though...he'd definitely need to give his apartment a good cleaning. His fridge was empty, yes, but that didn't mean spiderwebs couldn't form or dust didn't collect. And that meant he should probably do laundry and go shopping for food...
Yuugao let himself smile and was glad that at least he knew of a few late night grocery stores. Of course, it also helped that the establishments were rather familiar with him, too. Pretty cashiers always made his midnight runs for a quarter cup of rice vinegar go better. And that reminded him, he was probably low on even his essentials...though they would have to be replaced with a two month absence anyway.
All he had left to do now was wait for Kakami to get home. Until then, he'd just sit there quietly and take in the view. It was really good to be home in Konoha.
There were soft footsteps on the roof. Irokoi had been quick to tell Kakami of Yuugao's arrival while she had been gone with Miako and Hiiro. She was rather happy to hear the younger man was back - Kakami had liked the affable Yuugao when she'd first met him in ANBU. He was sort of like a little brother figure - just as much as Tenzouko was a little sister figure for herself.
He'd been gone for a long time. ANBU being what it was, most times agents left without goodbyes or notifications to friends - even if they happened to be a former captain. And she was just as pleased to see him as she was pleased to see he looked relatively well.
Kakami crouched next to him and Pakkun and smiled brightly. "Yo."
Yuugao had heard her coming and guessed well enough what the barks meant. It was only right that she knew he was already there. It was relieving to see with his own two eyes that she was still looking as good as ever. Well, aside from being a little banged up.
"Good evening, Kakami-senpai. I hope there's no loitering fee for sitting here. Unless the fee is being a dog pillow. Then I don't mind paying." He glanced down at Pakkun and smiled. His lame jokes still worked.
She chuckled as Pakkun huffed slightly in agreement. Kakami rolled back to sit down and crossed her legs. "Honestly, I believe they take it as their right. I feed and care for them and I'm still up for 'dog pillow' grabs."
A smile twitched her lips under her mask as she brushed Pakkun's back. "Glad to see you back in once piece - even with the new hair color. Not sure it suits you entirely though, Yuu-kun."
"Ah, the joys of pets." He smiled and looked up at Kakami. "It's good to be back. The mission was mostly long. And as for that..." he looked up at his bangs and blew on them. "Well, purple stands out a bit too much for the public to just let me slip by without a second glance. It should be back to normal in a few weeks. I hope. Or else I'm gonna look really funny when my hair's growing out."
He laughed to himself and shook his head. "I almost think I'd considered getting a buzz cut then. Brown with purple roots? Purple with brown tips? That just isn't right."
She laughed along with him and then reached over to tousel said hair - a habit she'd picked up with having three kids around most of the time. It dropped back to rest on Pakkun again and then she took a breath.
"Well, like I said, it's good to see you back. And I'm glad you came to see me. Are you settled back at home yet?"
"It's good to be seen," he fixed a strand of hair that fell in his face and looked out to the surrounding forest. "I'm not settled in yet. Still have to give it a thorough cleaning and make it livable again. But I can do most of that tomorrow, thankfully. Tonight, I intend to enjoy myself with good company."
He rolled his shoulders and raised an eyebrow at her. "I hear you've had some changes with your company since I've been away. How's Rin doing?"
Kakami's face brightened visibly - mask or no.
"He's doing very well. Or I'm guessing. He's still at the temple -been there for the past few weeks." She rested her chin on a fist. "He's getting back any day now."
She could hardly wait to be honest. Kakami glanced at Yuugao and then asked, "What about you? Leave anyone special behind?"
"Someone special? Nah," Yuugao shook his head and leaned back, crossing his arms behind his head and looking up at the sky. "Things have been a bit on the lonely side and I certainly haven't had any time for romance lately. Not like some other lucky people." He smiled to himself and glanced over at her.
"Do you mind if I hang around for a little bit? Or do I need to clear out so Rin doesn't get jealous?"
He could still make jokes like that. Even if there was more truth to it than he wanted to consider. Who hadn't had crushes on their very attractive superiors?
"You're fine. I wouldn't mind the company." Kakami assured him with some warmth to her tone. Admittedly, she was more lonely than she liked to admit with Rin being gone and her not seeing Asuka and Kureno as often. Oh well. The days when she'd convinced prided herself on not really being dependent on those around her were long gone.
Her fingernails found Pakkun's head and she scritched around his ears a bit. "Have to make sure Yuu-kun is just fine," she said somewhat teasingly, as if addressing a younger sibling. "Speaking of which, you shouldn't wait too long to do any grocery shopping and such."
"Nah, Yuu-kun can wait for groceries. He knows plenty of late night stores." Yuugao smiled over at her and found that he'd missed talking about himself in the third person and playing along with the usual childish jokes that people played on him. It wasn't like Kakami was trying to hurt him or his feelings. It was just...how they were. Family of the ANBU sort. It still didn't mean that Yuugao always enjoyed being the younger brother, but nothing in life was perfect. There certainly was no reason to go up in arms about being called 'Yuu-kun'.
"You eaten dinner yet?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Having known Kakami for so long...it only seemed right to give her the option of having him make her something to eat. He'd seen plenty of her attempts to know that it was best to offer to cook first.
"No, just got home." Kakami murmured. She wasn't even sure what was in the kitchen, although it had been pretty well stocked before Rin had left. She'd probably order or buy something anyway - much easier than trying to destroy her apartment by experimenting in the kitchen.
She glanced at him. "Why? Are you hungry? I think I have some cans of soup or something around."
Might as well offer. He looked a little tired and coming home from a long job was never a fun time to take care of everyday, little things.
"I'm a little hungry, but I was actually more concerned about you." Yuugao smiled and sat up. "Mind if I see what your kitchen has to offer?" Eating at the same time as her had been an old trick of his to make sure Kakami ate. It was pathetic in ways, but it also worked.
Not that she needed him to look out for her quite like she had in the past. No, she had Rin and Asuka and Kureno and everyone else to look out for her. But it didn't mean that he would give up the task so easily. It would be another hard habit to break.
"Sure." Kakami chuckled and stood, almost absently brushing off her uniform pants. "There's food in there this time, I'm pretty sure." she added as a joke.
She wasn't really that hungry herself but she seldom was. But Yuugao looked like he could use a little company - and with Rin gone Kakami seldom turned down an offer for someone to cook for her. "If there isn't, we can always order some take-in. I doubt you're up to going shopping and then cooking. Unless you want to brave whatever I can attempt."
"Sounds like a plan, Kakami-senpai." Yuugao winked and gave her a mock salute, standing and hopping off the roof. He'd been in her house plenty of times so he knew where all the food would be, but it was only polite to wait for her to lead the way in.
Besides, it kept the number of dogs able to tackle him lower.
"Ladies first," he stood next to the door and gestured to it in a superfluously genteel manner.
She chuckled as she walked in - Yuugao was probably the first and possibly the only to ever call her a lady. Ichiro, Jakuchu, and Miako skittered towards the door, barking and sniffing and happy to see Kakami. Ichiro and Jakuchu eagerly greeted Yuugao as well, although Miako hung slightly back - Yuugao had a familiar scent but it had been a long while since she'd seen him.
Kakami led the way to the kitchen and opened the fridge to see what was in there.
"You can check the cupboards if you want. Rin removed all the weapons and stuff so there should be food."
Yuugao greeted the dogs happily and respected Miako's skittishness gracefully. He was more than used to being the demon - whether Miako meant it that way or not. Rubbing both Ichiro and Jakuchu's heads once more, he followed Kakami into the kitchen. "Putting traps on the cupboards? I thought midnight snacks would be encouraged in this house."
He kept grinning and headed for the first cupboard, finding it mostly empty before checking the next one. He found some dry noodles and pulled them out - noodles were very versatile. "Anything you're in the mood for? At least I can make some kind of ramen or something." He paused and laughed for a moment. "Not that you'd be the least bit sick of ramen, ne? Is the rumor about Naruko-chan eating ramen all the time true?"
Sparing Kakami a glance, he found some of the sparse seasonings and began to look over them. There might be something useful in there.
She chuckled at his joke and then shrugged at the question.
"She would. If I let her. We've been working on giving her a varied diet." Kakami shrugged and smiled, glancing at the cupboards. It was time to go shopping - especially before Rin came home again. He'd worry to see everything so empty.
"Its a slightly uphill battle - she's stubborn."
"But you're up to it." He grinned and pulled out the ramen noodles as well as rummaging around for something to season it with. "I must admit I was surprised to hear you becoming a jounin-sensei, but I think it suits you. Much more than it would suit me," he laughed and found a few more essentials. "My own sensei was a bit more focused on tough love and keeping us alive. But I for one, am glad to see teams really bonding. Or well, to see that they have bonded."
Yuugao paused and smiled to himself, his back to Kakami with his efforts. "I guess I was more out of things in the past than I thought." Taking a breath, he found a pot and started the water, keeping his eyes on it and hoping it would boil soon.
He could always fool himself into thinking the twinge in his gut was just his hunger making itself known. Even if deep down he knew it was something more - the very thing he was hoping to alternately stop thinking about and get over at the same time.
It was good to just sit on a roof sometimes. Sit on a roof and watch the sunset and pet a dog. Yuugao had missed doing such things. Pakkun was keeping his company, now quiet and dozing with his head resting on Yuugao's thigh. The ANBU Cat had since stopped really petting, but merely left his hand on Pakkun's back. He had gotten the updates on Kakami from Pakkun and wondered what else could have happened in two months.
With his hair a bit on the shaggy side and still dyed brown, Yuugao idly played with a few of his bangs and then blew on them, glancing in the direction of the training field Kakami supposedly went to. It had been a long undercover mission and he had reported plenty of hopefully useful secrets, but mostly he was just glad to be home. His guaranteed week of leave was starting to feel like a blessing. Even when he had been so eager to get back in the field that he pushed himself to get better faster. Though...he'd definitely need to give his apartment a good cleaning. His fridge was empty, yes, but that didn't mean spiderwebs couldn't form or dust didn't collect. And that meant he should probably do laundry and go shopping for food...
Yuugao let himself smile and was glad that at least he knew of a few late night grocery stores. Of course, it also helped that the establishments were rather familiar with him, too. Pretty cashiers always made his midnight runs for a quarter cup of rice vinegar go better. And that reminded him, he was probably low on even his essentials...though they would have to be replaced with a two month absence anyway.
All he had left to do now was wait for Kakami to get home. Until then, he'd just sit there quietly and take in the view. It was really good to be home in Konoha.
There were soft footsteps on the roof. Irokoi had been quick to tell Kakami of Yuugao's arrival while she had been gone with Miako and Hiiro. She was rather happy to hear the younger man was back - Kakami had liked the affable Yuugao when she'd first met him in ANBU. He was sort of like a little brother figure - just as much as Tenzouko was a little sister figure for herself.
He'd been gone for a long time. ANBU being what it was, most times agents left without goodbyes or notifications to friends - even if they happened to be a former captain. And she was just as pleased to see him as she was pleased to see he looked relatively well.
Kakami crouched next to him and Pakkun and smiled brightly. "Yo."
Yuugao had heard her coming and guessed well enough what the barks meant. It was only right that she knew he was already there. It was relieving to see with his own two eyes that she was still looking as good as ever. Well, aside from being a little banged up.
"Good evening, Kakami-senpai. I hope there's no loitering fee for sitting here. Unless the fee is being a dog pillow. Then I don't mind paying." He glanced down at Pakkun and smiled. His lame jokes still worked.
She chuckled as Pakkun huffed slightly in agreement. Kakami rolled back to sit down and crossed her legs. "Honestly, I believe they take it as their right. I feed and care for them and I'm still up for 'dog pillow' grabs."
A smile twitched her lips under her mask as she brushed Pakkun's back. "Glad to see you back in once piece - even with the new hair color. Not sure it suits you entirely though, Yuu-kun."
"Ah, the joys of pets." He smiled and looked up at Kakami. "It's good to be back. The mission was mostly long. And as for that..." he looked up at his bangs and blew on them. "Well, purple stands out a bit too much for the public to just let me slip by without a second glance. It should be back to normal in a few weeks. I hope. Or else I'm gonna look really funny when my hair's growing out."
He laughed to himself and shook his head. "I almost think I'd considered getting a buzz cut then. Brown with purple roots? Purple with brown tips? That just isn't right."
She laughed along with him and then reached over to tousel said hair - a habit she'd picked up with having three kids around most of the time. It dropped back to rest on Pakkun again and then she took a breath.
"Well, like I said, it's good to see you back. And I'm glad you came to see me. Are you settled back at home yet?"
"It's good to be seen," he fixed a strand of hair that fell in his face and looked out to the surrounding forest. "I'm not settled in yet. Still have to give it a thorough cleaning and make it livable again. But I can do most of that tomorrow, thankfully. Tonight, I intend to enjoy myself with good company."
He rolled his shoulders and raised an eyebrow at her. "I hear you've had some changes with your company since I've been away. How's Rin doing?"
Kakami's face brightened visibly - mask or no.
"He's doing very well. Or I'm guessing. He's still at the temple -been there for the past few weeks." She rested her chin on a fist. "He's getting back any day now."
She could hardly wait to be honest. Kakami glanced at Yuugao and then asked, "What about you? Leave anyone special behind?"
"Someone special? Nah," Yuugao shook his head and leaned back, crossing his arms behind his head and looking up at the sky. "Things have been a bit on the lonely side and I certainly haven't had any time for romance lately. Not like some other lucky people." He smiled to himself and glanced over at her.
"Do you mind if I hang around for a little bit? Or do I need to clear out so Rin doesn't get jealous?"
He could still make jokes like that. Even if there was more truth to it than he wanted to consider. Who hadn't had crushes on their very attractive superiors?
"You're fine. I wouldn't mind the company." Kakami assured him with some warmth to her tone. Admittedly, she was more lonely than she liked to admit with Rin being gone and her not seeing Asuka and Kureno as often. Oh well. The days when she'd convinced prided herself on not really being dependent on those around her were long gone.
Her fingernails found Pakkun's head and she scritched around his ears a bit. "Have to make sure Yuu-kun is just fine," she said somewhat teasingly, as if addressing a younger sibling. "Speaking of which, you shouldn't wait too long to do any grocery shopping and such."
"Nah, Yuu-kun can wait for groceries. He knows plenty of late night stores." Yuugao smiled over at her and found that he'd missed talking about himself in the third person and playing along with the usual childish jokes that people played on him. It wasn't like Kakami was trying to hurt him or his feelings. It was just...how they were. Family of the ANBU sort. It still didn't mean that Yuugao always enjoyed being the younger brother, but nothing in life was perfect. There certainly was no reason to go up in arms about being called 'Yuu-kun'.
"You eaten dinner yet?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Having known Kakami for so long...it only seemed right to give her the option of having him make her something to eat. He'd seen plenty of her attempts to know that it was best to offer to cook first.
"No, just got home." Kakami murmured. She wasn't even sure what was in the kitchen, although it had been pretty well stocked before Rin had left. She'd probably order or buy something anyway - much easier than trying to destroy her apartment by experimenting in the kitchen.
She glanced at him. "Why? Are you hungry? I think I have some cans of soup or something around."
Might as well offer. He looked a little tired and coming home from a long job was never a fun time to take care of everyday, little things.
"I'm a little hungry, but I was actually more concerned about you." Yuugao smiled and sat up. "Mind if I see what your kitchen has to offer?" Eating at the same time as her had been an old trick of his to make sure Kakami ate. It was pathetic in ways, but it also worked.
Not that she needed him to look out for her quite like she had in the past. No, she had Rin and Asuka and Kureno and everyone else to look out for her. But it didn't mean that he would give up the task so easily. It would be another hard habit to break.
"Sure." Kakami chuckled and stood, almost absently brushing off her uniform pants. "There's food in there this time, I'm pretty sure." she added as a joke.
She wasn't really that hungry herself but she seldom was. But Yuugao looked like he could use a little company - and with Rin gone Kakami seldom turned down an offer for someone to cook for her. "If there isn't, we can always order some take-in. I doubt you're up to going shopping and then cooking. Unless you want to brave whatever I can attempt."
"Sounds like a plan, Kakami-senpai." Yuugao winked and gave her a mock salute, standing and hopping off the roof. He'd been in her house plenty of times so he knew where all the food would be, but it was only polite to wait for her to lead the way in.
Besides, it kept the number of dogs able to tackle him lower.
"Ladies first," he stood next to the door and gestured to it in a superfluously genteel manner.
She chuckled as she walked in - Yuugao was probably the first and possibly the only to ever call her a lady. Ichiro, Jakuchu, and Miako skittered towards the door, barking and sniffing and happy to see Kakami. Ichiro and Jakuchu eagerly greeted Yuugao as well, although Miako hung slightly back - Yuugao had a familiar scent but it had been a long while since she'd seen him.
Kakami led the way to the kitchen and opened the fridge to see what was in there.
"You can check the cupboards if you want. Rin removed all the weapons and stuff so there should be food."
Yuugao greeted the dogs happily and respected Miako's skittishness gracefully. He was more than used to being the demon - whether Miako meant it that way or not. Rubbing both Ichiro and Jakuchu's heads once more, he followed Kakami into the kitchen. "Putting traps on the cupboards? I thought midnight snacks would be encouraged in this house."
He kept grinning and headed for the first cupboard, finding it mostly empty before checking the next one. He found some dry noodles and pulled them out - noodles were very versatile. "Anything you're in the mood for? At least I can make some kind of ramen or something." He paused and laughed for a moment. "Not that you'd be the least bit sick of ramen, ne? Is the rumor about Naruko-chan eating ramen all the time true?"
Sparing Kakami a glance, he found some of the sparse seasonings and began to look over them. There might be something useful in there.
She chuckled at his joke and then shrugged at the question.
"She would. If I let her. We've been working on giving her a varied diet." Kakami shrugged and smiled, glancing at the cupboards. It was time to go shopping - especially before Rin came home again. He'd worry to see everything so empty.
"Its a slightly uphill battle - she's stubborn."
"But you're up to it." He grinned and pulled out the ramen noodles as well as rummaging around for something to season it with. "I must admit I was surprised to hear you becoming a jounin-sensei, but I think it suits you. Much more than it would suit me," he laughed and found a few more essentials. "My own sensei was a bit more focused on tough love and keeping us alive. But I for one, am glad to see teams really bonding. Or well, to see that they have bonded."
Yuugao paused and smiled to himself, his back to Kakami with his efforts. "I guess I was more out of things in the past than I thought." Taking a breath, he found a pot and started the water, keeping his eyes on it and hoping it would boil soon.
He could always fool himself into thinking the twinge in his gut was just his hunger making itself known. Even if deep down he knew it was something more - the very thing he was hoping to alternately stop thinking about and get over at the same time.