Chant d'Automne

Chapter Two: Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

Kakashi’s apartment was small and simple, like Kurenai’s, but the major difference was that Kakashi’s apartment was clean. There was no lingering musty smell, no dishes permanently crusted with food, languishing in the sink. No dead bugs or dust on the windowsills, no dirty clothes in the hallway, no baby toys to trip over. Bright, clear light poured through the smudge-free windows. But, although it was much more comfortable, it didn’t feel like home to her. The minimal clutter wasn’t her clutter, the few dishes left on the counter barely had anything on them.

“Well, here we are!” Kakashi motioned around. “Let’s see- bathroom’s upstairs and down the hall to the left, there’s some stuff to eat in the pantry and refrigerator… so, make yourself at home.” He smiled at her and she smiled weakly back, but began to blush.

“Thanks. Um, where can I put my stuff?”

“Oh, right! Here!” He led her up the narrow staircase and down the short hallway, where there were three doors, two on the left and one on the right. He pointed her into the one on the right.

There were kunai, shuriken, senbon, katana, and many other weapons hanging from the walls and ceilings, and shoved into the corners.

“Sorry!” Kakashi said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. “I meant to clear this out for you before you came.”

“It’s fine.”

“Just leave your bags here, I’ll get these out.” He went in and began picking up as many of the weapons as possible, slipping kunai onto his fingers and stacking shuriken.

“Umm… can I help?”

“Yeah, sure! I guess we can just put them in the living room for now, and keep some in my room and leave some in here.”

Hinata nodded and continued to get her armfuls of weapons. Most of them were metal, cold and hard against her hands. There were a few in wood, stone, and even strange paper contraptions, which left her wondering what they could be used for.

They kept gathering armfuls and bringing them to the living room. Working in one particular corner of her new room, a glimpse of white and red enamel caught her eye. She pulled it out and held it up.

An ANBU mask. Sakura had mentioned something about Kakashi being ANBU at one point, amid much giggling and speculation from Ino and Tenten. When they were younger, the four kunoichi (Hinata somewhat reluctantly) had spent hours discussing men, and what they found attractive. The allure of an ANBU member had been a common topic, as had Kakashi, and the true nature of Kotetsu and Izumo’s relationship.

The mask Hinata now held in her hands was heavy porcelain, and was shaped sort of like a dog’s face.

“Kakashi?” She went to the living room and poked her head in, holding up the mask. “Where do you want this?”

“My, my!” His eye widened in recognition. “I haven’t seen that in a while.” He came to take it from her and Hinata was suddenly very aware of him, of his hands, his height, the way he smelled. Could she be acting any more ridiculously? She mentally kicked herself. This fawning and swooning would have fit for Sakura or Ino, but not her! Besides, Kakashi was thirteen years older than her, an elite jounin, Sakura’s former teacher, and now her caretaker to boot! He would probably never even consider looking at her that way. She’d do much better to set her sights on someone attainable, like…? Well, maybe just someone who liked her. Naruto would always be a dream come true…

During her mental tangent, Hinata had unwittingly fixed her pale eyes on Kakashi’s hands, which were examining the mask. He noticed her blank stare.

“Uh, Hinata?” He waved one hand in front of her face.

“Wha-? Here! I mean, yes! W-what do you need?”

Kakashi looked at her oddly, and asked with deliberate slowness, “Where did you find this?”

“I-it was under some kunai, in the corner.” Should she not have moved it? Was he angry? Kurenai had said not to bother him. Had she screwed up already? Sometimes he was so hard to read.

“Thanks.” Without further explanation, he placed the mask on an end table and continued sorting and organizing the various knives, needles, and assorted pointy objects.

Hinata edged over to the couch and sat down. “Do you- I mean, is this your hobby?”

“I-yeah.” Kakashi was surprised at her interest. Kurenai’s stories of her team had most often centered around Hinata’s shyness. When his old friend had asked him to take the girl in, she had assured him she would be unobtrusive on his privacy, ‘so quiet he would forget she was there.’ He briefly wondered what had compelled Hinata to ask, and why she was so shy in the first place.

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later

First a golden-yellow haze seeped through her eyelids, diffusing the black-gray. Next, she noticed the couch’s senbon-patterned material pressed against her cheek. The room was warm and bright and open.

Hinata was in Kakashi’s living room. It was late afternoon, and a few hours earlier she had fallen asleep on his sofa. She lifted herself up onto her elbows and peeked over the edge of the couch into the kitchen. Kakashi wasn’t there. He wasn’t in the living room either.

Slightly dazed, she wandered into the hallway, aiming for the bathroom. Kakashi had said it was the door on the left. But- there were two doors on the left.

Hinata decided to forego knocking and just go in. She really had to pee; he was probably outside or something.

Boy, was she wrong.

“Uh… hi…” Kakashi stood in front of her, completely naked. Hinata had seen a fair share of naked, hot men, mostly during the four kunoichi birthday celebrations. But Kakashi was different, more real. He had faint white scars, and a tattoo on his left arm. He was slim, not small, and leanly muscled.

He looked surprised and then smiled winningly. “Did you need something?”

“Eep!” She backed out and shut the door as quickly as she could. The pervert rumors were true. (Although she wouldn’t admit it to herself, she really would have preferred to just keep looking at him.)

“Um, Kakashi, I’m really, really sorry!” She called, once she was alone in the hallway. No response. For a moment, she wondered if he couldn’t stand her already, after less than a day, and was going to kick her out. He probably thought she was too nosy, and not helpful enough.

Then, he opened the door. Hinata was both relieved and disappointed that he now had clothes on.

“Sorry,” she said again. She couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye, and knew her cheeks and ears must be bright red.

“It’s okay. The bathroom’s the other door.” With that, he brushed past her, a small smile visible through his mask.

“Right.” What could that smile be for? Hinata wondered. She didn’t think much on it, though, as her mind was still preoccupied with images of Kakashi’s body, and the split second she’d seen his face unmasked. It had been so unguarded, so genuine and guileless. But only for a second. Then he had replaced it with that blank, careless look, and then that lecherous smile that she secretly liked.

It was okay to be attracted to him, she reasoned as she slipped into the bathroom. Any healthy female would be.

But that look, the blank one… that was her clue not to get attached. He would never let that mask down for anyone. Besides, her crushes never materialized into actual relationships. It was always just her, pining after someone who didn’t even know she existed. First it had been Naruto. She was determined that Kakashi wouldn’t be next.

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Feeling somewhat stressed, Hinata tore a piece of paper from a notebook and flopped belly-first onto her new bed. Hanabi would want to know what was going on.

'Dear Sister,

Well, I have interesting news: you remember how I was living with Kurenai, my sensei, who had the baby? Yesterday, she told me I had to move out. I guess I can’t be that angry with her, but I am a little miffed. There’s something wrong, and I’ve known for weeks that she’s been having troubles, but I thought I had better stay out. What advice could I give her, anyway?

So yesterday, she says that I’m to move in with an old friend of hers, Hatake Kakashi! Remember how father used to complain about him? I can’t quite remember his exact words, but it was something along the lines of ‘cheating pervert.’ The worst part was when he (father, of course) would give all the women in the house lectures (warnings, actually) about how devious he was, and how to avoid being seduced by his wily charm and deceptive good looks.

I vaguely recall, I think, from one time (you were very little, so you wouldn’t remember) father caught one of our cousins from the branch family in a rather…compromising position with Kakashi. Father must have had a shit fit, or something equally violent- good thing you weren’t there.

Anyway, I’m off-topic. The point is, I’m going to be living (well, I am already, I’m in his spare room writing this) with this man Kakashi. He’s really a very nice person so far, and has his little quirks like everyone else. Just don’t tell father, or anyone. I have the feeling that this wouldn’t make very many people happy.

But enough about me. How are you? How’s your new team? Have you gone on any exciting missions yet? I didn’t really have any at first, but after you do about seven or eight, they start to give you cooler ones, Has father said anything more about that guy he wants you to marry? I hope not. He sounds creepy.

Have to go, but I’ll write again soon.

Love,

Hinata'

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Author’s Notes: Chapter title is from the song “Mr. Roboto” by Styx. Rock on.  Also, kudos to anyone who recognizes the George Carlin reference.