Dreams of the Past

Letters and Negotiations

Chapter 29

Letters and Negotiations

It should have taken Mebae a day and a half to reach Kumo from their secluded hot spring. When there was no sign of either her or the Raikage on the fifth day, Kakashi began to worry. Her brother, naturally more familiar with the formidable Raikage and the workings of his village, was less concerned.

She finally appeared at the end of a week, slipping into their private onsen and dropping her henge. Thankfully, Kakashi was fully submerged on the far side. Raiu screeched when he saw her, having just climbed out, giving her a full view. Unfazed, she rolled her eyes, muttered something about having seen it all before and that she was sure it wasn't that impressive anyway, before pushing him back into the water. It sloshed over the edge and splashed Kakashi in the face.

"Hello cousin. I apologize for my delay. There was a battle against Kiri; the Raikage was involved. He has agreed to meet with you. He will be here tomorrow, under a henge. This is a top secret meeting—not even the council was told."

Kakashi smoothed his palm across the top of the water. "What did you end up having to tell him to get him to agree?"

She shucked off her slippers and sat on the rocky edge, dipping her toes in. "That the White Fang had uncovered evidence that his Hokage tricked his people into this war, and that he'd sent our cousin to discuss how we might end things sooner." She sighed, offering him a sardonic half smile. "He is not expecting much, but is willing to hear you out, at least."

Kakashi nodded, glancing around for his towel. "Thank you for your help, Mebae-san."

She pursed her lips, eyeing the thin towel he had tied around his face. "You're really committed to the bit, huh?" When he didn't respond right away, not wanting to discuss the 'bit' or really anything at all related to his traumatic youth, she carried on by herself. "I thought maybe it was to hide your teeth or lessen your sense of smell when you're not using it. But you wouldn't need to hide from us." She grinned wide, proudly showing off her fangs. "We have them too. And it smells nice here."

He hummed in agreement, sliding along the edge nearer his towel and the exit. "I'm just more comfortable this way. Would you mind?"

She frowned in confusion before her eyes went wide and she whipped her head around in the other direction, holding her hands up for good measure. "Oh gods. Sorry."

He laughed to himself at her overly dramatic reaction. Her brother's nakedness had not bothered her in the slightest, yet she seemed extremely embarrassed at the prospect of accidentally seeing Kakashi—not that he wanted her to. Hadn't she been on missions with men? Sakura had once joked that she'd seen enough of Naruto's ass that she could pick it out of a line up.

"Why don't I get such a concession?"

She kicked water at her brother. "He belongs to his mate, idiot. I want her to like me." Kakashi felt his ears burn at her acknowledgment of his relationship status. The way she said it made it seem like something she considered sacred, which, he guessed, it was. "I changed your diapers, and you don't seem interested in giving me a sister, so who cares about you and your unimpressive little—"

"Hey! It is above average!"

Kakashi shook his head, still chuckling to himself as he wrapped the towel around his waist. If he had had a brother or sister, would they have been like that? It was hard to imagine.

"Hey Karasu-san—" He made the mistake of glancing back in Raiu's direction. "Tell her, it's definitely above average."

Kakashi winced, turning away and heading inside. "No."