Change of events
“Kakashi-san!!” Mina , A young girl who had recently arrived at the brothel rushes to him,
Kakashi smiles at the young girl, eyes curving upward,
“Why, hello Mina. Did you get enough rest in the morning?”
“Yeah yeah..But! That’s not what I came here for!!”
Kakashi raises a brow, curious,
“How did you get such a huge tip?! What did you do?!”
Kakashi frowns, wondering if he should answer her truthfully then he decides to not do so. What was a human without a few secrets of their own?
“The usual.”
“You knocked him out?”
Kakashi snorts, chuckling lowly as he shook his head,
“Why are you even asking,Mina?”
“You know why.”She pouts petulantly.
“No, No I don’t..”
“To save up so I can leave and find my boyfriend to beat him up.”
“That’s good” Her boyfriend was the one who abandoned her here after promising her a life with him. An Omega in a red light district didn’t exactly have other career options so she became another coworker Kakashi knew and had grown fond of. She had been so young when she arrived and pity soon developed into fondness.
“Yeah! So tell me the truth”
Kakashi sighed and gestured to her to come closer. She rushes close with a beam and he whispers into her ear,
“It’s a secret.”
She hits him in the gut.
“Not fair! I wanna know! Please..”
Now Kakashi felt guilty,
“Mina, you always get the biggest tips..I..There’s a reason I can’t tell you but how about this, I’ll share some of the money I got-“
“You just don’t want me to make money, Kakashi-san.”Mina spat “You don’t want the competition.”She hisses and storms away.
Kakashi sighs, Mina was not happy for whatever reason and he hadn’t been much help. So he resigns himself to silence.
“She’ll come around Kakashi.”He hears Yugao say,
“What makes you sure of that?”
“You two fight every time somebody gets a raise instead of her. You melt like honey when she smiles though.”
Kakashi rolls his eyes.
“Can’t argue with that, I guess.”
“The Uchiha moon festival is coming up.”
“Well, the Hatakes don’t like to attend it.”
“Oh, as if.” Yugao rolls her eyes. “They used to be in an alliance and I remember Hatake members there. Heck, I’ve seen you there!”
“As a kid, Yugao. Haven’t gone since I was presented as an Omega.”
“You vanished after that..”
“I don’t -“
“I know ,I know. But you have to come shopping with me!”
“Why? I hate-”
“You’re younger than me Kakashi, act like a youngster !”
“I don’t want to-“
“I’ll get you the romance novel you’ve been staring at the whole week in the magazine you stole from the hag if you come with me!”
Kakashi stares up at, eyes wide in surprise,
“How did..How did you even find out ?”
“I have my sources”Yugao smiles, “So, are you coming or not?”
Kakashi sighs,
“Fine..”
“Also ,you’ll be meeting Gai as well.”
“What ?! No, no !!-“
“Oh come on! He just wants to be your friend. He isn’t after you or anything.”
“I- He’s got a good life , Yugao. Don’t drag him into my-“
“He wanted to see you , so you will meet him. “
“ Yugao !”
“Yes?”
“…nothing…”
Kakashi sighs, why are so many people willing to even sink into the mud he’s covered in? Why are so many people willing to help him?
He doesn’t know,,
And he doubts he will ever understand…
_________________________________
Hatake Kakashi and Yugao Uzuki stroll to the market, basket in hand. The hag usually didn’t let anyone go shopping with her ‘oh so precious’ money. But since the moon festival was fast approaching, she had let them go , grudgingly. Kakashi has no clue what Yugao had whipped up as an excuse, but he was pretty happy to be able to go for a walk.
Kakashi glanced at the pendant Yugao had presented to him and shakes his head dismissively,
“Too flimsy.”Was his reasoning,
“Oh come on, isn’t it cute ?”
“It’ll break within two days.”
“I’ll make sure it lasts more than two months.”
“Are you making a bet with me ?”
Yugao shrugs, “Well, I may have lost last time, but your estimate for this ain't gonna prevail this time Kashi.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
“Hey!”
Kakashi snorts aloud and glances at a ring at the shop. The ring was special, he knew that much. He lifts the ring and turns it to look for any engravings.
Aah, there it is,
He thinks , satisfied when he spots the design he had been looking for.
The ring was indeed special, It had the engravings of the Hatake clan. The jewelry and heirlooms of the Hatake class now no longer remain with its clan members. The clan’s death led to its heirlooms being scattered across the district. Kakashi grasps the ring in his fingers and places it on top of the gloves he had purchased. The ring he was buying- he remembers- was said to be cursed.
He glances at the ring one last time before making up his mind.
Kakashi purchases the Hatake ring. Cursed it may be but it was one of the few things he had of his family. He’ll keep it..
What’s one more curse?
Yugao soon picks a purple choker and Kakashi teases her about Hayate liking it and she turns a bright shade of pink as she haughtily , unconvincingly denied it,
They walk next to each other. They were safe in the streets as long as they were together. Both of them were notorious for knocking out Alphas. So, no one troubled them in the markets.
Being in the red light district was not great but it wasn’t hell either. He and his colleagues received enough freedom to walk around the streets of the district. They didn’t get to choose who they had to spend the night with but at least, the day offered them enough comfort for any hurt they may have felt.What Kakashi believed is that he and his colleagues were fine with their chosen field of work.
’ As time passes, the discomfort reduces,’ ‘It’s just a job. We just have the night shift.’
Those were the words of comfort and advice from his senior colleagues. Words that somehow didn’t work for Kakashi. It’s been nearly three years now..Kakashi brushes his hair that he had not cut in nearly three years with his fingers…Kakashi doesn’t feel fine. Kakashi still feels chained. It’s true he’s in a better place ever since the former old hag died..But still.. He felt like something always burdened his shoulder..choking him just so..
Maybe it was waiting..waiting for him to slip up..for the perfect chance to strangle him..
He glances at Yugao who nudges him with her elbow. She tilts her chin to the side pointedly, gesturing to him to look at the direction. He followed the direction of her gesture and his eyes locked onto Maito Gai - who was waving and beaming at him.
The Alpha who used to follow him incessantly for his friendship. The only Alpha who sought just his friendship. The only alive Alpha he feels safe with. The Alpha he has been avoiding for weeks because he was afraid..
Maa, after all.. That’s what always happens..The curse always catches up. He had prayed that Gai would escape.. He hopes Gai will.
Yugao nudges him sharply and he complies, walking over to Gai.
Gai, as always being the amazing idiot he is, grins broad and greets him warmly.
“Kakashi! My beloved friend ! What brings you to the markets today?”
“Maa, Gai , you ask as though you didn’t request Yugao for it.”
Gai laughs sheepishly,
“Come, come. Let’s talk somewhere quieter.”
Kakashi frowns but complies, nodding to Yugao to tag along who shrugs and tails them closely.
Soon they arrive at a quiet alley and Gai finally looks at him,
“Spit it out Gai.” Kakashi ends up hissing, “All this suspense is-“
“I’m leaving.”
Kakashi pauses.
“Oh.”
“Yes..I’m leaving Konoha.”
“That’s…great, actually. For you, I mean.”
“I’m sorry K-“
“You have nothing to feel sorry for. I- I’ll be ok. “
Gai frowns but decides to not say anything else,
“Why..”Kakashi clears his throat,”Why the sudden decision?”
“Oh, well..A dojo at Tokyo accepted my application. So I get to train there and teach.”
“Tokyo, huh. That’s great , Gai.”
“Kakashi , you could always-“
Kakashi shakes his head,
“I have two loans to repay and the only thing I have to offer is my body. I can’t..I won’t run away, Gai.”
Gai bows his head,
“Farewell ,Gai. I hope you have a safe journey. I would understand if you don’t keep touch. “
Kakashi turns and leaves, Yugao following close behind.
They turn a corner to go to the bookstore where Yugao silently buys him two books. Kakashi stands beside her as she pays for them, wishing silently that he could have gifted Guy something as well..
“You ok?” Yugao asks as they walk back to the service home,
“No.”
“I-“
He glances at Yugao when no words of comfort come from her. He sees her staring ahead, eyes wide in terror. Following her line of sight, he gazes at the sight that had brought terror into the eyes of his colleague.
His eyes widen,
He stares at the vibrant colours that melt together, dancing together in the shades of red and yellow. The scent of burning wood and smoke fills his nostrils through the mask he had worn, his eyes start to burn due to the dust that was flying around him and the…
Fire. His brain finally supplies and he tears into a run.
Fire -
Fire was everywhere-
Around the tavern, inside the tavern, around his coworkers, engulfing his coworkers.
Kakashi glances at Yugao who frantically shakes her head when she realises his intentions. He goes inside anyway. He hears her curse him before following him into the tavern.
He hears a scream from his right.
He rushes towards and finds a locked door. Yugao and Kakashi kick it open and let the locked woman and man out. They rush out paying no mind to their lack of proper clothing.
Kakashi coughs when he inhales smoke and ends up getting dragged outside by Yugao who pays no mind to his protests,
“You don’t need to become a Hero, when you aren’t.”
“Yugao but-“
“No buts, I ain’t letting you in there.”
“But is Mina-“
“She’ll be fine.”
“How do you know-“
“I don’t, but I can hope.”
Hope. What a bitter yet sweet word. Hope.
He lets her drag him out of the burning tavern and deposit him on a bench outside.
The tavern burns and burns and he stares on,
I wish it would rain or..anything..please..
He prays desperately to whoever was listening and-
“Jeez, looks like I am late,”
He glances up when he hears the familiar voice,
“Oh hey, Kakashi. “The man smiles but frowns a moment later before adding, “Don’t worry, alright? The monks sent me to fix this.”
“What are you gonna do?”Kakashi asks, irritation seeping into his voice, “Spray holy water?”
“Something like that,”Gojo answers and disappears with a wink and a smile,
A black barrier suddenly surrounds the tavern and a screech fills Kakashi’s ears. A horrible creature flashes in his vision and something- someone blocks his airways- chokes him-his left eye burns, his head hurts-
He feels something soft and wet dribble down his nose as he passes out, flat on the ground.
He hears Yugao scream as he loses consciousness.
_________