Questionable Loyalty

A/N: I just couldn't resist putting Pakkun into the story - he's just so incredibly awesome and totally adorable! Also, I do believe that Kakashi's ninken are the only sentient beings whom he allows anywhere near his private, emotional world - so it made sense that he'd talk to one of them.



CHAPTER 26





Kakashi wasn’t sure if his stay at the Akatsuki headquarters was pleasant, but he was very sure that it was incredibly, mind-numbingly boring. Now that he had made up his mind about what he was going to do, all that was left was to wait for Pein’s plan to work. And he knew from experience that these things took time. He barely saw Kisame and Itachi seemed to have disappeared completely – he either didn’t leave their rooms at all or he used some different route so as to avoid meeting Kakashi. And despite the fact that the Jounin had learned which their door was, he was too proud and stubborn to go and knock on it in search for company.



As much as he hated to admit that to himself, he was lonely. Now, being alone was something he was used to – he had no family, no lovers, and he preferred to keep his colleagues at an arm’s length. Well, except Gai, but he didn’t really count – he blundered into that prickly area around Kakashi’s person that the Jounin called private – he seemed to be immune to the effects of both Kakashi’s glares and indifference - and which everyone else had learned to avoid like the plague. However, even he needed to talk to people, occasionally, even if it was only to discuss the weather. And this constant, oppressive silence that pervaded the place was beginning to weigh on him.



Of course, he could and did, from time to time, go down to Amegakure – mingled among her people and walked on her streets – but he couldn’t get close to them – it wasn’t home. He couldn’t tell them who or what he was – simply another stranger who passed through their lives to be forgotten immediately after they sight of him. A stranger in a strange land. If he heard one more story about the “Great Pein-sama” he was going to start screaming. Or punching people. Or both.



So after a week of boredom and annoyance he decided to summon Pakkun. So far, he had avoided doing that, knowing full well what the little pug’s opinion would be when he learned of Kakashi’s new position. But after such a long, arduous silence, even the dog’s criticism would be welcome.



So he pressed his fingers for the seal and summoned the little dog spirit. When the smoke finally cleared, he saw the pug sitting on the tatami floor and looking around himself with curiosity. When he saw Kakashi, he lifted his front paw and said:



“Oh… Long time, no see, Kakashi. I was wondering if you had retired or something.”



Despite his apprehension, Kakashi smiled at the little dog.



“Quite the contrary, old friend, I am afraid that I have gotten myself into deeper trouble than ever before.”



The pug sniffed the air and then Kakashi and frowned at him.



“This is a strange place, Kakashi – it smells like… like…” he paused, looking for the suitable word “it smells like old blood.”



Kakashi wondered if this building used to be Hanzou’s headquarters and made a mental note to ask Pein when he had the opportunity to do so.



“I guess that a lot of bloody things happened here…” he trailed off.



“So.” Pakkun began “What kind of trouble?” he looked around again “I see no people trying to attack you, and you’re obviously not chasing anyone.”



Oh, where to begin? Kakashi took a deep breath and started speaking. When he was done, the dog was looking at him thoughtfully. The Jounin had half expected him to call him a naïve fool and leave in a huff, but his friend surprised him once again. Finally, the pug spoke quietly:



“Are you sure about this?” he asked.



Kakashi nodded:



“Yes. I believe I am doing the right thing.”



“So, you basically summoned me because you wanted someone’s approval? A blessing?”



Kakashi frowned at those words and bit his lip, wondering if Pakkun wasn’t at least partially right.



“I don’t know. I summoned you because I needed to talk to someone. I actually expected that you would be more critical of my decision.”



There was another thoughtful look from Pakkun.



“So you summoned me because you were hoping I’d try to convince you to back out of the deal.” He stated. “You feel guilty because while you believe that what you are doing is right, everything that you have been taught tells you it’s wrong?”



Kakashi nodded:



“Yes. Exactly.” He answered hoarsely and wondered if his father had felt the same way before he had made that faithful decision to save his comrades. He had been punished brutally for that perceived lapse of judgement and in the end nothing good had come out of it. As a child, Kakashi had promised himself that he wouldn’t follow in his father’s footsteps and that had led to another tragedy. It seemed that all his life he had made the wrong decisions – what if this was yet another one?



“You’re getting lost in your own head, Kakashi.” Pakkun noted dully. “I can smell you thinking yourself into oblivion.”



Kakashi signed and rubbed his eyes:



“I am sorry, my friend. I didn’t mean to ignore you.”



Pakkun snorted quietly, but said:



“It is not my place to give you blessing or criticism, Kakashi. You and I have a contract which says that I am to assist you during the course of your work. My only allegiance is to you and no one else – definitely not Konoha. I believe that so far I have been very loyal to you, haven’t I?”



Kakashi nodded:



“Of course, my friend. I have never doubted your loyalty.”



The dog sighed and walked up to Kakashi, climbing onto his lap and curling up there almost like a cat. Instinctively the Jounin’s hands embraced him and began to pet his silken fur gently.



“I always trust your judgement, Kakashi.” Pakkun said “But there is one thing I want to ask you.”



“Yes?”



“How well do you know this Pein person? Are you certain he’s telling the truth?”



“You mean, if the whole thing is a hoax, including the thousands of Ame citizens who appear to adore him?”



“It is a bit elaborate for a genjutsu… and it would’ve taken a lot less resources just to brain-wash you.” The dog admitted thoughtfully. “But still, you know nothing of this man’s past. While he appears to know quite a lot about yours.”



“Well, I can’t expect him to start to confide in me immediately…” Kakashi muttered.



“I know. Just, you need to be careful.”



“I will be, my friend. I will be.”



After that, the conversation died out. Kakashi kept petting the dog’s silken fur and seemed to slowly nod off into sleep, soothed by his calming presence. After all, hugging and petting his Ninken was one of the few cases when he allowed himself to show gentleness or vulnerability to another living being – that is, gentleness on a personal level. In return, the dogs were playful and affectionate to him as well, and infallibly loyal.



When Kakashi finally fell asleep, Pakkun carefully slipped himself out of his hands without waking him up, a feat only a spirit was capable of performing. He watched his friend for a while then silently padded out of the room.



Finding the elevator to the upper floor Kakashi had mentioned before didn’t pose any challenge – and he dealt with the door the way he had with the room’s – by walking up on the wall and pressing the button – sometimes it was good to be a dog spirit.



Pein was sitting behind his desk, reading Kakuzu’s latest report when the door to his chamber opened with a gentle “swoosh” but no one came in. He frowned, sensing no intruders in the room. Perhaps there was a draft somewhere.



He was just leaning down to look at the papers again when a small, brown dog jumped on top of them. Pein was generally used to all sorts of weirdness – dealing with his subordinates was often an exercise in patience – but this was a tad too strange even for him.



“Hello.” The pug said.



A talking dog? Pein’s eyes narrowed. A summon then – a high-leveled one if it could communicate in such a way.



“Don’t try to obliterate me with your oh-so-awesome powers, if you please.” The summon said. “That is, if you’re Pein. Are you Pein?”



Oookay. He would play along for a little while. He nodded. The pug stared at him. The Akatsuki leader stared back.



“You smell strange.” Pakkun stated and watched with amusement as the man pouted.



“And you smell like a dog.” The red-head muttered.



“Nonsense, I bathe with strawberry-scented shampoo.”



The weirdness level was rising. Thankfully, the summon finally began to make sense:



“Kakashi summoned me a little while ago. He’s sleeping now. Doesn’t really know that I am here.”



“And why are you here?” Pein asked carefully.



“I spoke with Kakashi, about his plans for the future. He seems to trust you. I wanted to smell you for myself first.”



“Ah, I see. And what do I smell of?” Pein asked, beginning to feel a little amused by his visitor.



“Like death.” The dog deadpanned. “Then again, all ninja smell of death. Your scent is just mixed with something else which I cannot figure out yet. It’s what makes it so strange. But this is not why I am here.”



Pein lifted an eyebrow.



“I thought you wanted to check my smell.”



The pug ignored the comment and asked:



“Do you really want to do what Kakashi says? Bring peace to the human world?”



Pein nodded.



“It’s true.”



For a long time, the pug regarded him quizzically and finally said:



“That did smell like the truth.” At Pein’s questioning stare, he elaborated “Human scent changes when you’re lying – whether you want it to or not. Not even the most experienced and cold-blooded of ninja can control that process. Your scent didn’t change – which I will interpret as you telling the truth. For now.”



Pakkun turned around and jumped off Pein’s desk, heading off for the door and walking out of the room.



“I’ll tell Kakashi when he wakes up.” The dog yelled from the corridor outside. “That he can trust you, about this, at least.



After a while, Pein got up and went to close the door.