The cells weren't bad .
I imagined worse.
I probably wasn't in one of the worst, but still. The basic necessities were there. I hadn't slept at all since my imprisonment, but it was as much due to anxiety as it was because of the thin mattress and blanket they called a bed.
I was tired, physically (no sleep in the last 36 hours would do that to you) and mentally (was it too much to ask for a break, really?). So tired that I just wanted to close my eyes and find peace. Unfortunately: anxiety.
I was feeling jittery. After a lot of pacing, push-ups, and other exercises, I had calmed down enough to be able to focus on some yoga, but it still wasn't enough to alleviate my fears. Here, without company and without information, I could go crazy by imagining hundreds of scenarios.
What happened to Itachi. What Danzou would do. If the scroll had reached the Hokage as planned. How he reacted. If it changed anything...
It was fruitless. I needed to think about something else.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, I tapped my legs distractedly until I found a rhythm and focused on it.
Memories of my first life were vague. While music had been an important part of it, I always had difficulties memorizing lyrics, and I couldn't remember more than snippets of the most memorable songs. As a child here, I used to amuse myself by slipping them in conversations with a sing-song voice. Nowadays, I mostly did it in the privacy of my own mind. Despite the memory lapse, I remembered the rhythm of some melodies and liked to hum them to myself for comfort. This world simply didn't offer the range of variety in music I was used to, and it was an absence that I had to make up for in this small way.
I was humming a butchered version of the Ghostbusters soundtrack when the door opened to let in Morino Ibiki.
Him, again. Great.
I didn't bother to stop as he stared at me. As long as I didn't shout " I'm afraid of no ghost!" like a banshee (I did that in the Academy's playground when I was eight, but it was for an anti-bully emergency), I was pretty low on the weird scale.
"Up," he ordered.
I complied.
Ibiki was staring, judging, assessing, as he always did.
It had been roughly 24 hours since I had been arrested. I had spent more time in his lovely company than I ever wished to.
I supposed I couldn't complain. His interrogation tactics had been quite mild. He had never raised a hand on me. He didn't need to, of course. He knew how to mess with a mind with just a few tricks and some sharp words. Despite the mind games, I had received water and food (or at least what they called a meal and was just ration). In theory, I was allowed to sleep…
Clearly, I was still under the protection of the Hokage. I hoped it lasted.
I left the cell at Morino's prompting and followed one of his assistants through the long, bland, and convoluted corridors planned to confuse any fugitive or intruder. I was led into an interrogation room like several others I had already visited today. I was expecting another one-on-one session with the charming giant breathing down my neck, but someone was already waiting inside.
I stared at Yamanaka Inoichi as the assistant tied me to a chair covered in seals. Morino stayed by the door and closed it behind his assistant.
Only then Inoichi spoke up: "Maiko-san, you refused a mind-reading to prove your innocence."
"Yes," I said firmly. Confirmation of my testimony by a Yamanaka could clear me of everything. It was as simple as that. I knew refusing made me look guilty, but I just couldn't take the risk of letting anyone into my mind.
They couldn't force me to either: for a good mind-reading, the subject had to be willing. Otherwise, it was risky (for both participants) and gave inferior results. The risk was only worth it for crucial information. That was why there were other interrogators than the Yamanaka family.
"While Itachi was willing to submit to the mind reading, his parents refused to give their permission."
"Good," I replied. "He's still a child. Stay away from his mind. It's messed up enough as it is," I grumbled. I was touched that he agreed for my sake. He meant well, and he deserved so many sweets for his abnegation. However, mind-reading wasn't without risks. His testimony wouldn't be enough anyway: he wasn't there when the ROOT agent had attacked Haruka. He couldn't truly prove that I was innocent. He had just left me alone with two incapacitated opponents. No, it wasn't enough.
"This leaves you with the only option to be prosecuted for murder."
I nodded, having arrived at that conclusion by myself. "I know."
He stared at me intently before taking a paper out of a file and sliding it in front of me. "Last chance."
I glanced at the paper, read the title " Agreement to a mind-reading procedure ", and frowned at Inoichi, ready to refuse once again. The insistent look he gave me made me pause and take a second look. I leaned forward to better read the small lines. It looked a lot like the paper I had been shown this morning, except for a new paragraph: " The Yamanaka interrogator agreeing to perform the procedure commits to keeping his inquiry to the strict necessary information required for the investigation. Failure to comply will be considered S-level treason." At the bottom, there was already a signature: Inoichi's.
I glanced up, seeking his confirmation.
My heart beat faster. This… this felt like hope. It might be a leap, but I wanted to believe that this change was due to the success of my contingency plan (which terrified me as much as it pleased me).
He nodded slowly.
I leaned back in the chair and thought this through. This was my best chance. Inoichi could be trusted. I couldn't afford a trial. "Alright."
It took half an hour.
Inoichi coached me through a meditation exercise to open my mind and focus on the events of the previous evening.
He rested a hand on my forehead.
I barely felt anything.
Inoichi put his signature on my statement, confirming that all of it was true.
I was proven innocent.
Just like that.
Morino grunted at the declaration and stepped forward to free me from the seals.
Inoichi smiled at me, gathered the papers, said "I'll inform the Hokage right away. Ibiki will discharge you," and left.
Just like that.
It felt surreal.
I rubbed my wrists distractedly and stood up to follow Morino outside.
We went through two hallways before we were approached by a man in the grey uniform of the Interrogation Force. He flashed a few hand signs to Morino. They were different from the basics I knew. I watched warily their exchange.
"She has been cleared," Morino replied.
The hand signs given in reply were a blur, but I recognized the most basic one: "kill." I took a step back and stared at them distrustfully.
I was only wearing the prisoners' uniform (ugly and uncomfortable red overalls) and was weaponless. If they truly wanted to kill me, I was screwed.
The anonymous butcher stepped toward me. I moved back. Before he could reach past Morino and get to me, the giant struck. Morino Ibiki had a really mean hook as it turned out. He hit the other under the jaw strongly enough to disorient him before knocking him out with a second blow to the back of the head.
I took two more steps back, wincing as the body fell to the ground. I glanced at Morino and met his impassive eyes.
"What makes you so threatening, Kamizuki?" he asked thoughtfully.
I angled myself away from him warily and stayed silent.
"Is it what you know or what you are?"
"What we know is part of who we are," I said. "It drives us. It builds us."
"And leads us to our death."
I tilted my head in agreement. "Eventually. Possibly."
"Death doesn't scare you."
"Death is but the next great adventure." I remembered that quote vividly. I had time to mull over it during the first few boring months of my new life. Let me tell you: adventures were overrated. I'd have prefered to be reincarnated as a hobbit (and not a Baggins).
I jumped when two ANBU suddenly appeared beside us by shunshin. I swore and leaned against the wall to calm my poor heart.
A new exchange of hand signs passed between them but, considering one of them was dealing with the guy on the ground, I was hopeful that there would be no attempt to kill me this time.
"You're to deliver Kamizuki Maiko to Nohara Rin in the lobby and then proceed with the operation," an ANBU said to Morino.
"Understood."
I approved of the idea to be left in Rin's care instead of Morino's and happily followed him through the maze.
As soon as we were in the lobby, Rin caught sight of me. "Maiko!"
I gladly surrendered to her hug, except for stirring her away from the bruises I still had from yesterday's fight (my inner left elbow was purple and bending it was painful). By the time Rin released me, Morino had disappeared.
A chuunin appeared with my belongings and showed me to an empty room where I could change into my own clothes. They were torn in several places and stained with Haruka's blood. I had to look away from the red as I put them on.
"I'm sorry, Maiko. This is temporary. We'll go to your apartment right away so you can change," Rin promised.
I nodded silently as I hid my fans in my obi and fastened a holster around my thigh. When I was ready, I turned toward Rin and admitted: "I'm glad you're here, truly, but... I wasn't expecting... you."
She smiled slightly. "I imagine, but your message had… a few consequences. Everyone's quite busy. Even me. As soon as you're secure, I have to go back to the hospital."
"Why? What's going on, Rin? An ANBU agent mentioned an operation?" I was starting to wonder if I had provoked a chain reaction that went beyond what I had imagined.
The bland smile that Rin gave me as an answer accentuated that impression. Then there was the fact that something was off when we stepped out in the open air.
It was late — night had fallen — but not late enough to explain why the streets were empty and the roofs were overtaken by streaks of white and green. A curfew was ongoing. From the speed of the shinobi I could see, I estimated them to be elite only. A high-level emergency, then. One triggered by the scroll I had written? I was leery of trying to guess what was happening.
Rin led me through the streets to my apartment. We stayed away from the few sounds of fighting we heard, but it didn't help me relax.
I took a quick shower and grabbed the simplest and comfiest clothes I had, a standard chuunin uniform. Rin cared for my injuries and made me drink and eat a simple meal of rice and soup.
When I tried to question her, she shook her head. "Not here."
She led me back out and toward a calm area, not far from the Hokage tower but on the outskirts of town, near the cliff. The Hokage mansion, residence of the Yondaime and his family. I couldn't see any guards, although I had no doubts there were many.
It wasn't the first time I came here. I had to bring some papers to the Yondaime occasionally, but it was rare. It was... it used to be Haruka's responsibility.
Rin stepped inside like it was her own house and it might as well be: she was family.
I trailed behind her. The mansion was left in darkness, the moonlight guiding us. The silence was complete.
Rin brought me to a part of the mansion I had never seen. She opened the door of what I guessed to be a guest room. "You can sleep here tonight. Minato-sensei will talk to you in the morning. I have to go to the hospital now, but before that…" She reached for my hands and squeezed them. "I want to thank you, for everything you did… or tried to do. Thank you."
I didn't know what to say in answer, but she didn't let me figure it out. She was gone in the blink of an eye, leaving me alone in an empty and foreign house. I stepped into the room, closed the door behind me, looked at the bare space lit by moonlight, and sighed.
I wouldn't get much sleep tonight either.
oOo
A few hours later, I had finally managed to doze when a cool draft and the feeling of being watched put me on alert. I discreetly reached for one of the fans left by the side of the futon as I shifted and glanced over the blanket.
An ANBU was crouching by the open window (I hadn't left it that way). His silver hair was sticking up on the side, gleaming in the moonlight. His canine mask was dangling from his belt.
Giving up the idea of stealth, I grabbed my weapon because it made me feel better. I rose on an elbow to look at my guest.
"I slept with you to keep an eye on you."
The blunt admission took a few seconds to register. When I finally understood what this was about, I rubbed a hand over my face and pinched the bridge of my nose. I was too tired to deal with this. Unfortunately, I need to get used to it: I wasn't expecting the morning to be any better.
I sat with my back against the wall, letting my head roll against the wood as I stared at the emotionally stunted genius. "I figured."
His fingers shifted slightly, his only sign of surprise.
"If you think I'm going to make this easier for you, you're mistaken. I'm not in the mood. Not enough sleep. So use your words and don't even think of fleeing now that you woke me up."
I waited for a long time for those words to come. Speaking wasn't Kakashi's specialty. My eyes were closing in exhaustion when he finally asked:
"Where's Obito?"
There it was. What was truly bothering him so much that he tried to push and shove to hurt me, as the news he had received had hurt. With all the anxious pondering I did after finishing my contingency plan, I couldn't say I hadn't seen this coming. I imagined so many different reactions, so many ways this could go…
I sighed and pushed my hair away from my face. "Kakashi…"
"Don't," he warned me, suddenly right by my side, kneeling on the futon. His hands were clenched, and he was tense, ready to spring. "You knew all along that he was alive. We could have found him, helped him…"
"He's dead!" That's not what I had meant to say at all, but if he was going to push, I couldn't take it quietly. "The Obito you knew is dead ," I enunciated. "The man going around under the name of Tobi is a mind-washed wreck who killed Uzumaki Kushina, would have killed the Yondaime, and destroyed Konoha if he had gotten his way!" I hissed at his face. "Knowing the truth wouldn't have helped you. It certainly wouldn't have helped him . Get a grip! I did my best to make sure that Rin lived, that your sensei lived, I even tried to stop Obito's fate! I tried to help as much as I could! What are you trying to do by throwing at my face that you spied on me?!"
"You know all about spying, don't you?" he growled.
I shoved at his chest. He grabbed my wrist and pulled until we were so close I could feel his heavy breath through the mask.
"You want to be pissed at me? You want to break up? Fine . But I didn't devote my life to saving your ungrateful ass from a life of loneliness and depression to be your scapegoat. So, fuck you, Hatake! Cut the fucking attitude or I'll burn all your damn books!"
There was a second of silence as he stared at me. "You won't. You love books."
I groaned. "Shut up. I was trying to threaten you here!"
"Nice try. Scary, it's true, but not realistic."
"Really? We're having a fight here and you're criticizing my threats?"
"We should thrive to improve in everything."
"You sound like Itachi, that's just wrong. Alright. Fine! I'll steal all your books! Is that better?!"
"Yes."
"Can we go back on topic now?"
"Sure."
I waited expectantly, but... nothing. I groaned and pushed at his shoulder with my free hand.
"Maa. What's wrong? Didn't you want me to cut the attitude?"
I huffed, blowing a strand of hair away from my forehead as I glared at him. "What are you playing at now?"
"Promise something to me."
"What?"
"That, from now on, you'll tell us everything. Not just what you think matters. Everything ."
I tilted my head without looking away from his steady eye. "That's more than you imagine and less than you could hope for."
"Everything."
"Fine," I sighed, "I promise you that any and all information in my possession will be transmitted to the Yondaime without delay or obfuscation. Satisfied?"
"I could kiss you," he deadpanned.
"Please don't. We're a mess."
"I know." He released me and was gone in the next breath, leaving the window open behind him.
Asshole.
oOo
In the morning, after just a few hours of sleep, a maid came to deliver a breakfast tray. Once I had eaten, she led me through the hallways. The Yondaime was waiting for me.
Outside, the weather was cloudy and foggy, the light dim. It fit my mood perfectly.
The maid knocked against a paper door before bowing to me and leaving.
"Enter."
Reluctantly, I stepped inside. I stopped in the middle of the room and bowed to the waist in saikeirei , the most formal bow, for several seconds before straightening and meeting the Yondaime's eyes.
He was illuminated on each side by a paper lantern, their warm light highlighting his golden hair. Their shadows hid his eyes, though, and I couldn't read them, just like I couldn't decipher his stony-faced expression.
I didn't know what to say and let the silence settle between us, heavy with the truths I had hidden and those I had written.
For those few silent seconds, I was hyper-aware of the hair brushing the back of my neck, of my aching body and stinging eyes, of the cold of the foggy morning creeping in and of the flickering flames.
Then professionalism kicked in, past the anxiety and the fatigue. I noticed the scrolls piling up on the Hokage's desk, the nearly empty ink bottle, and the used cups of tea.
I wanted to crumble under the weight of the uncertain future to come, the mysterious and threatening present, and the haunting past. I wanted to cry all those tears I had bottled inside, barely allowing the excess to flow in the privacy of my cell and bedroom. I wanted the world to calm down and make sense.
I should start with what I knew.
I stepped forward, eyes down. I removed my slippers and stepped on the dais keeping the traditional desk raised. I bowed more shallowly and murmured: "Allow me." Slowly, I removed the cups and items cluttering the desk, bringing them to a tea tray left on an adjacent table. While I was at it, I selected a full bottle of ink from a shelf and replaced the empty one with it. I arranged the scrolls and papers quietly under the silent stare of the Yondaime, until his workplace was as efficient as it could be. Then I bowed once again. "At your command, Hokage-sama."
For a few long seconds (they felt like an eternity), he stayed quiet and unmoving. With his elbows on the desk and his fingers crossed in front of his chin, he was staring at me. "There is a lot we need to talk about. Why. How. The past. The future… You have a lot to explain. But we need to focus on the present. And on this subject, you should know that Shimura Danzou was found guilty of treason and subsequently executed."
I gawked at him, having temporarily forgotten how to breathe. "He's dead?!"
"By my own hand."
I imitated a fish out of water before I managed to say: "That's what was going on tonight… you were… uprooting ROOT?"
"I ordered their dismantlement years ago. Their continued existence, combined with recent events and information," he raised a sealed scroll, my contingency scroll, "convinced me to put an immediate end to this."
Stunned, I staggered. "I need to sit down." The events of the last days and my lack of sleep were catching up to me. I sat down on the edge of the platform and glanced at the Yondaime. "I don't mean to doubt you but… are you sure? like… did you double-check it's him? And, oh, please, tell me you're going to burn the body—"
"Maiko…"
"—Seriously, we really need to burn the bodies now, because zombies are a thing, and it's a big mess—"
"Maiko!"
I shut up, breathed in, breathed out, and whispered: "Sorry. I'm… sorry."
"He's dead. The arm with the Shodaime's cells has been destroyed. Rin is responsible for the post-mortem examination and of its disposal."
"Oh. Alright." I nodded slowly before saying the first thing that came to mind: "The Sandaime's going to be upset."
Minato sighed loudly. "Jiraiya-sensei went to speak with him, but I'm expecting to get an earful, yes."
An awkward silence fell between us again as Minato rubbed his forehead. He probably hadn't slept much either, if at all.
"Yondaime-sama…" I licked my lips, looking for the words that eluded me. "I'm sorry… for… hiding the truth from you."
He rested his chin on the back of his hand and watched me thoughtfully. "Don't be. I can imagine the pressure of having so much information in your possession. You tried to do the best you could and for that I'm grateful. Konoha owes you. I owe you." Slowly, he stood up and walked to the window. Staring outside, he explained: "I had doubts about you, but not about your loyalty. You've seen the cursed seal on Haruka's tongue."
I shuddered. "Yes."
"It disappears at the death of the subject and, it seems, at Danzou's death. This has been one of my worries for some time. I thought you might be sealed in this way… or a sleeping agent maybe, without your knowledge. Danzou had me fooled, and Haruka paid the price." His voice was full of regret.
I stood up and walked to his side. "You're not responsible, Yondaime-sama. Danzou was, and you stopped him."
Minato hummed. "Too late. I was moving too slow. Getting him to trust Ibiki and Iwashi wasn't easy, and I shouldn't have just relied on them…"
I froze before recovering. "They… were acting on your orders?"
"Following Danzou's instructions on my order, yes." He glanced at me and smiled softly. "You made an impression on Ibiki… and Iwashi asked me to intercede in his favor. Kindly put him and Raidou out of their misery, will you?"
Feeling my cheeks heat up with embarrassment, I bowed my head to hide. "Of course, Hokage-sama. I'm sorry if I disturbed your plans..."
He snorted. "You more than disturbed them, Maiko. You made them more or less useless. But if you're referring to Ibiki's face-off with Itachi, never apologize for defending those who need it. You did well and gave a good excuse for Ibiki to back off without results." He waved his fingers and crossed his arms. "We weren't exactly ready to move against Danzou right away and in that, you certainly changed many things, but I can't say it wasn't for the best. When I read what he has done… what he had planned…" He clenched his jaws for a few seconds before explaining: "He was researching about the Sharingan. Haruka was looking for Kakashi's medical file in the archives the other night."
I inhaled, remembering how she was going through the locker for "HA" like "Hatake". "Because of his successful implantation?"
"Yes. And several months ago, when he attacked you and several clans' archives, they were all a diversion…"
"For reaching Haruka."
"But also for going through the medical archives at the hospital. From all the clans attacked, only the Uchiha interested him. Danzou was a cunning bastard and a devious strategist."
I thought it through for a few seconds. "He didn't find what he wanted at the hospital."
"No, and he wouldn't have found anything in the tower's archives either." Minato gave me a little lopsided smile. He didn't mention where the files were. I didn't ask.
I glanced outside. The private garden built around a lotus pond was beautiful and peaceful. I wished I could sit here and forget everything for an hour or two… or a few thousand.
"What's going to happen now?"
"Now, I need an experienced and competent personal assistant," he replied pointedly.
I swallowed uncomfortably at the reminder that Haruka needed to be replaced but bowed my head. "I'm at your service, Hokage-sama."
Minato squeezed my shoulder. "I regret how this came to be, Maiko, but I trust you. We'll make it through, one step at a time. Take the day to rest and regroup. I'll see you tomorrow morning, ready to put things back in order and face the questions of the Go-Ikenban."
While I wasn't eager to answer to the Council of Elders, I understood I was already lucky to be given a delay before it happened. It was inevitable. I had to deal with the consequences of my revelations.
It scared me. No, it terrified me.
A warm hand cupped my cheek. I looked up to meet Minato's eyes.
He was staring at me with the soft kindness I treasured so much. "Have faith."
I smiled tentatively. "Yes, Minato-sama." In him, I always will. I bowed and took my leave. He trusted me, he accepted me and the information I gave him. I had to give back just as much as I received.
A shinobi was leaning against a wall of the hallway. When he straightened, I recognized him and relaxed. "Genma."
He smiled and opened his arms as I walked up to him.
I stepped into the hug without hesitation, clinging to the back of his vest and hiding my face against his shoulder as I breathed in his familiar scent.
He held me without a word, stroked my hair, and leaned his cheek on the top of my head.
I was shaking.
When it didn't pass, Genma kissed my forehead and said softly: "Come on, I'm taking you back to your apartment."
Konoha looked as normal as ever as we went through its streets. While curfews weren't regular, they weren't rare either. The population was used to them and the absence of information that followed. The city hadn't been damaged. The Hokage was alive and well. That was all that mattered for most inhabitants.
A few people, more informed than others, watched me as I passed by, but discretion was our trade.
Genma stayed close, with a hand on the small of my back when we were crowded.
Once in my apartment, I collapsed on the couch and covered my eyes with a forearm. He went to the kitchen, probably to make tea from the noises that followed. Indeed, a few minutes later, he put down a tea tray on the coffee table and nudged me so that he could sit with my head on his lap. He brushed my hair away from my face and stroke my cheek tenderly.
I shifted, and he carefully adjusted his position to keep my weight away from his left thigh.
I frowned at him. "Are you hurt?"
"Nothing serious. Just a cut, but the medical staff was overworked last night. It will heal the old way. You, though… You stepped into a big mess, didn't you, darling?"
Genma probably had heard everything about the confrontation with Haruka but didn't know about the top-secret stuff brought by my contingency plan.
"You scared me."
I noticed for the first time that his senbon was nowhere to be seen. "Scared?"
He hummed, still playing with my hair. "Scared isn't the right word I suppose. It was more of a… ' What do you mean Maiko is investigated for the murder of Haruka? Damn it, Maiko!' kind of feeling."
I snorted once before his droll tone of voice and expression made me burst into laughter. I had to sit up to keep breathing. I leaned into his side as he put an arm around my back. "Did you believe it?"
"That you cut Haruka's throat? Please, " he scoffed. He poured a cup of tea for me. While I sipped it slowly, he watched me. "How do you feel? about her death?"
I swallowed and made a face. "I…" I shook my head when I choked up.
"Hey, it's alright. You can cry. Come here." He drew me closer and held me as I let the tears flow.
"I-it's… the way she died… It was ugly, Genma. She choked on her blood, and there was nothing I could do," I explained haltingly. "I see her, I hear her, when I go to sleep… I just… I want to forget it, that sight..."
"I get it," he whispered, stroking my hair. He comforted me with encouraging and sympathetic words, promising that the worst visions would fade with time. He had no doubt seen so much worse, I didn't doubt him.
The rhythmic petting was soothing, and I dozed in his embrace. When he stood up to make lunch, I curled up in the warmth he left behind, trying to hold on to that blissful state where I didn't care about anything else besides sleep. Unfortunately, sleep had always easily eluded me. I went to set the table with a sigh.
Genma was no gourmet cook. We ended up eating instant soba noodles (which wasn't a hardship, mind you, I didn't have much of an appetite). I was stabbing my chopsticks in the pot when he said:
"Maiko… Listen… I know you're in a relationship with Kakashi—"
I grunted. "That's debatable actually. We might be over. I'm not sure... His communication skills are frankly lacking." I looked up and shook my head. "Sorry, you were saying?"
"This might not be the best time to say this… No, actually, it's really not, and I had planned to wait for the right time, but then you got thrown in jail and I battled some ROOT members with nasty jutsus and was reminded that time is a luxury we don't really have so…" He was babbling, which was unprecedented.
I slurped a few noodles and raised an eyebrow at him. "I get your point. What did you want to talk about?"
"I'm in love with you."
I froze with my chopsticks in the air and stared at Genma for a few seconds, just to make sure he wasn't joking, but he was the most serious I had ever seen him. "Are you sure it's—"
"—love? Darling, I've asked myself that for a few months. Let me tell you, if the roller coaster my heart went through when I thought you were in trouble isn't love, I'm pretty sure I'm not cut out for the crazy ride everyone's talking about."
I put down my chopsticks across my bowl.
"I told myself I'd wait six months before saying anything," he explained. "It has been only five, but it's idiotic anyway. Some friends even suggested… never mind what they suggested, it's even more stupid." He waved his hand, his food forgotten. "Just... I'm sure. I'm serious. This isn't the best time and I'm sorry for that, but I'd like you to consider a relationship between us, to give it an honest try." He threw a hopeful look at me. "Would you? Consider it?"
"I… Y-yeah."
"Good. Take your time to think about it, alright?"
I nodded slowly.
He smiled, reached for my hand, and squeezed it. "I'll be here for you, no matter what."
oOo Bonus - Change of Pov oOo
The debriefing following the upROOTing of the previous night had been short and to the point. They were lucky that such an ambitious and sudden operation didn't end with more casualties for the forces loyal to the Hokage.
What they would do with the ROOT operatives who surrendered after Danzou's death was still to be decided, but, all in all, the mission had been a success.
Genma caught Kakashi by the elbow before he could flee and dragged him away from everyone else. "What did you say to Maiko?"
Kakashi barely glanced at him. "None of your business."
"Look… I told her… about my feelings. She said you might not be together anymore, that you weren't clear about it."
Kakashi grunted. "You told her now ? And I'm supposed to be the socially inept one."
"Don't worry, you still are. And not good enough at deflection to fool me. I don't know what's your problem with Maiko, but you should talk to her. Get things straight."
"An excellent suggestion, Genma," Minato said as he appeared by their side. "May I borrow my student?"
Genma straightened and bowed his head. "Of course, Hokage-sama."
Minato led Kakashi to his office in silence. Unfortunately, silence had never been a good way to get the youngest man to talk, and his sensei had to initiate the conversation: "I overheard part of your conversation with Maiko last night."
Kakashi stayed quiet, looking at the city through the window.
"I understand how upsetting the news is, Kakashi, but lashing out at her won't make it any easier."
"I know."
Minato waited for him patiently, knowing that pressing wouldn't help.
Kakashi pulled up his hitai-ate and rubbed his eyes. "Do you think she's right? That… Obito is dead?"
Minato came to stand by his student's side and rested a hand on his shoulder. "I think that the man I fought the day of Naruto's birth wasn't my student."
Kakashi kept his eyes shut as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "She saved Rin and you…"
"She did."
"I don't want to imagine a world where you aren't here."
"And yet, it's a world she knows… Whatever feelings we have about the way Maiko handled things, I think we can give her a break about the details. I plan to."
"She knows too much," Kakashi blurted out after a minute.
Minato chuckled. "You mean she knows you too well. Your tricks to keep her at arm's length don't work with her, and you don't know how to deal with that."
Kakashi glared at him silently.
Minato smiled and squeezed his shoulder. "I don't think it's a bad thing. She can be trusted."
"Maybe…"