Chapter 9 — Rain in the Compound
The sky broke open not long after the last round of Werewolf Kill ended.
Thunder rolled in the distance, and rain began to fall in thick, silver sheets.
Shisui groaned. "Ugh, I'm running home before it gets worse!"
"You live two streets away," Akira reminded him.
"Exactly!" Shisui called back, already sprinting off.
That left only Akira and Kakashi sitting on the engawa, watching the rain splash into the stone path.
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"You can wait it out here," Akira said, his voice calm but certain.
"…I can make it home," Kakashi replied, standing halfway before the next lightning crack made him pause.
Akira didn't smirk or tease him — just slid the shoji door open. "The kitchen's this way."
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Inside, the tatami was warm beneath their feet. Akira set two cups of tea down between them, steam curling in the lamplight.
Kakashi took a slow sip. "…You're annoyingly good at that game."
"I'm annoyingly good at most things," Akira answered without hesitation.
Cocky, Kakashi thought, but there was no heat behind it.
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The sound of rain softened the silence between them.
"Why'd you bring me here, really?" Kakashi finally asked.
Akira glanced at him. "Because you looked like you needed it."
"…Needed what?"
"A place to stop holding your breath."
Kakashi blinked, unsure how to answer. How does he even see that?
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A faint golden light flashed in Akira's irises for just a second — there, then gone.
Kakashi noticed. He didn't ask. Not yet.
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By the time the rain thinned, the air in the room felt lighter somehow.
Kakashi set down his empty cup. "…You'll lose next time."
Akira's lips curved slightly. "We'll see."
Outside, past the compound wall, a Root operative shifted position in the shadows. Watching. Waiting.