Don't be scared of the night

Yamato watched and listened Kakashi crashed in his room. He watched Sai from the corner of his eye, the younger man gazed across at him and bit his lower lip. It might have been his drunken judgement, but Sai had a brilliant smile across his face.

He looked at Sai to get his attention, down to the floor, to the sofa and back to Sai.

“Taxi back to mine?”

Sai tensed his brow for a moment, looked toward his make-shift bed.

“Yes, I think that would be for the best”





Yamato dragged himself down the stairs, his hangover setting in. He turned at the bottom of the stairs and headed to the kitchen. He tentatively pushed the door open, fully aware that the large kitchen windows were south facing, meaning the sun was going to burn his retinas.

“Can I smell…Coffee?”

“Good morning, Yamato” He smiled and waved.

“Morning. You made coffee?”

Sai nodded and took a bite of toast.

“Well, I like having you around already” Yamato helped himself to a coffee.

There was a pause, neither knew how exactly to talk to the other.

“How are you feeling?” Sai asked, it was a standard question.

Yamato pondered the thought for a moment. “Delicate”



And another silence. Not awkward silence, an acceptable silence to do what they wanted.

Yamato thought it might be a good idea to try and get to know they person now living with him.

“Got any plans for today?”

“Erm” Sai bit on his thumb “Well some items have been recovered from where I used to live. I need to go see if any of it’s mine”

“Anything you want?”

Yamato watched Sai as he thought. Then Sai’s facial expression changed from neutral to a hint of sadness.

“Well there is my brothers book”

“You’re brother?”

“Yes, I did an ark book for him when I was younger, gave it him”

“So why did you have it then?” Yamato asked, tactlessly.

“He gave it back to me to look after shortly before he died”

Yamato gave himself a mental pat of the back for being so tactless. Should have seen that coming from his voice. He found himself speechless for a moment, could he ask more? Or had that killed the conversation?

“Do you mind if I ask-“ Yamato talked softer now “How did he die, couldn’t have been much older than you…”

“Overdose. And you’re right, he wasn’t too much older” Sai paused, he was clearly troubled by the topic, but carried on regardless “I was 15, he was 20” Running a hand through his hair he sighed and shook his head “So five years ago now”

Yamato solemnly shook his head “I’m sorry…”

“Why? It’s not your fault he died” Stated Sai.

“I just mean-“

“If it’s anyone’s fault it’s mine”

“I’m sure it isn’t” Yamato tried to settle him, Sai’s slightly raised voice wasn’t helping his hangover.

“No. It is. I knew all the drugs he was taking the time would kill him, and I could have at least tried to stop him”

“You don’t-“ Yamato wanted to bite his tongue “-take anything, like that?”

Sai opened his mouth to answer, but realized he couldn’t give the exact truth of ‘yes’.

“Since he died” Sai casually slipped down from his counter-top seat. He shrugged his shoulders and just said “Hardly”.

He watched Yamato’s face change to an expression of concern/disappointment. Yamato was going to say something but Sai interrupted as he went draw breath.

“I just-“ He started to head for upstairs “Hope that it didn’t get destroyed” Taking a few more steps and turning back to Yamato when he reached the door “Shin was the only friend and family I ever really had, and that’s the last thing I had of him”

“Where have you got to go?” Asked Yamato

Sai frowned.

“To see if it did make it out?”

“Oh, landlord’s office”

“Want me to drive you there?”

“Thank you but, no. I don’t mind the walk. Besides, you’re probably still over the limit, and you’re car is still at Kakashi’s”

“Oh fuck” Yamato sighed “I’ll go get it before he regains consciousness”

Sai smiled a little “You’ve got until about 4.30 this afternoon then”

“And he drank more than me, so he’s going to feel like shit”

“Hm” Sai agreed. “I’m going soon so…” Sai pointed behind him and excused himself.

“Oh yeah, go go” Yamato waved “Oh, and the shower is twist then pull” He shouted down the corridor.

Times like these, Yamato was glad to be an only child.