Love Triangle: Kakashi vs. Genma

14 | Instead of Genma

"Happy birthday!!" Asuma yelled, entering her bedroom, bright and early. [Y/N] jumped and groaned, rubbing her head. Asuma only grinned and held out his hand, offering her some medicine and a glass of water. She gulped it down and groaned again. "I'm never doing that again..."

"Yeah, you really hit it hard last night!"

"Ugh... Why did you let me do that?"

"Like you'd have listened if I told you not to."

"Fair."

"Anyway, dad and I are treating you to lunch so get up and get ready."

"Lunch? Well I've got time then..." She glanced at the clock on her nightstand. "It's already eleven thirty?!"

She jumped up and grabbed some clean clothes before rushing into the bathroom. She showered quickly, scrubbing the smell of alcohol off her skin. Then she quickly dried her hair and threw it into a ponytail, then slipped into her clothes. She neglected to wear the usual jōnin outfit, instead opting for more casual clothes.

She walked out into the living room where Asuma sat on the couch, flipping through some book he'd found lying around. He looked up when she came in, closing the book and throwing it down. "It's about time."

"I rushed! I barely dried all of my hair!"

"I'm kidding." Asuma said, standing up and walking around her coffee table to stand in front of her. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked down at her, smiling. "Twenty already. Wow, you're old."

"Not as old as you." She grumbled.

Asuma threw his back and laughed before looking back at her. He studied her for a moment before smiling and reaching down into his pocket. "Here, I had this made for you, for your birthday. I hope you like it."

He pulled out a necklace and dangled it in front of her. The necklace itself was a thin, gold chain. Dangling from the chain was a tiny, golden, pear shaped ring. The ring itself was delicately laced in around itself, intricately woven together. In the center of the ring was a small, blue topaz stone, shining brightly in the light.

[Y/N] gasped at it and reached up to grasp it. She held it in her palm, staring at the bright blue gem. "Asuma, this is gorgeous. You really shouldn't have. I bet this cost so much—"

"Don't worry about it." Asuma said, taking the necklace back. "Turn around and let me put it on you."

She did as she was told, turned and moving to hold her hair up so that he could clasp the chain around her neck. Once it was on, she turned back around and reached up to wrap her fingertips around the charm. Asuma smiled. "I'm glad you like it. Topaz is supposed to bring you strength and peace. I hope maybe it can stand for our relationship from now on."

[Y/N] smiled up at her brother and leaned in to hug him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him. They had really been getting onto better terms the last few months, for which he was thankful. "I mean it. From here on out, your life is your own. I trust you to make your own decisions and will give you my advice solely when you ask. I just hope that you keep me in it. I love you sis."

[Y/N] pulled back and looked up at him. "Of course I'm going to keep you in it! You're my big brother! It's my job to drive you crazy after all." She winked at him and they laughed a little. "Thank you, for real Asuma. You didn't have to do this for me. I love it."

"I'm glad that you do. Now come on, we don't wanna keep dad waiting all day."

~~~

After lunch, [Y/N] thanked her father and Asuma both for the meal. It had been a fairly quick meal, what with her father being called back to the office and Asuma leaving for a new mission.

"Don't worry about it dad, I understand! Besides, I've got a few errands to run today. I'll see you soon, okay?" She hugged her father and bid him farewell, watching him leave with his guard (and noting that Genma wasn't with them as usual).

"Errands?" Asuma asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Eh, I just didn't want him to feel bad. I know he's busy. I do need to go and find Kakashi though."

"Kakashi?"

"Yeah, I just gotta ask him something. Then I guess I'll find Genma."

"Genma was sent out on a mission last night."

"Oh. That sucks. I won't get to see my boyfriend on my birthday. I guess I'd have remembered that if I'd been sober."

"Probably." Asuma laughed. "Anyway, I've gotta head out too so I'm not late for my own mission. I'll see you soon. Happy birthday, [Y/N]." He gave her a quick side hug and waved before turning and heading toward the main gates of the village.

[Y/N] waved him off before turning and making her way to the memorial stone. That's usually where Kakashi spent his free time now. He was standing over it, staring down at what she knew was the same name he'd read a billion times over. She approached him quietly, trying not to startle him. When she was a few meters away, he chuckled and turned to face her.

"Happy birthday, you old drunk."

"Oh, don't remind me. I don't even wanna think about it."

"Right. So I guess buying you a drink is out of the question today." Kakashi laughed.

"Raincheck." She said, laughing along with him.

"Well, I guess I'll have to come up with another birthday present now. Come on, let's get back to town. We can go by that bakery you like and I'll get you some butter mochi."

"You remembered my favorite!"

"Of course." Kakashi smiled and shoved his hands in his pockets. [Y/N] smiled, looped her arm with Kakashi's and started walking, Kakashi tagging along behind her.

"Oh, I meant to ask you about something."

"Hm?"

"Yeah, when you brought me home last night—thanks for that by the way."

"It's okay, I didn't mind."

"But you said something about, would it have made a difference if you'd been at the bar with me. What did you mean?"

Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck and felt a blush rising to his cheeks. "Oh, you remember that huh?"

"Yeah, I just didn't know what you meant by it. What difference?"

"I, uh, well, huh." Kakashi stumbled over his words, desperate for any means to divert her question. She seemed to notice and stopped walking, grabbing his arm and pulling him to the side, out of the traffic of the busy street.

"Kakashi, you can tell me anything, you know that. What is it?"

Kakashi looked her in the eyes before sighing. "I guess there's no way out now. Just don't hate me after... I said that I wonder if it would have made a difference if I had been at the bar with you that night—"

"That night?"

"Instead of Genma."

Kakashi watched [Y/N] stand there, confusion evident in her face. He could almost watch the thoughts turning in her head, trying to put together what he's saying. He almost spoke again before a sudden realization settled over her. "That night... Instead of Genma." She repeated. "You don't want me with Genma?"

"It's not that, [Y/N]. I don't have anything against Genma."

"Then what is it Kakashi?"

"I just... [Y/N], I want you to be happy. I just never imagined it would be this way."

"This way?" She asked, trying to look him in the eye. He refused to look back at her. "Kakashi..." She whispered, unable to keep her voice level.

"Look, let's just forget what I said. I didn't mean anything by it. I am happy for you and I hope that Genma continues to make you happy. Come on, let's get going before the shop keep closes up the bakery, okay?" He smiled and turned to walk away and she knew that he was finished with the conversation. She followed him nonetheless and decided to let it go for now. She wouldn't get anything else out of him for now anyway.