Love Triangle: Kakashi vs. Genma

18 | Not So Much Then

As time passed, Kakashi's hope had slowly but surely been wearing down. [Y/N] and Genma's relationship didn't seem to be faltering in the slightest, though Kakashi had secretly hoped to see it end. However, their relationship was now just a few days from its one-year mark, which is a long time to be with someone. He figured it wouldn't end now.

He was watching them now, sitting across the room with Asuma. It was the latter's birthday and his sister had begged him the last few days to let her take him out. Kakashi himself only knew because he'd been around for most of the begging, laughing at how ridiculous she looked. He'd never known her to not get her way with her brother and when she pulled the look, he knew it was over and Asuma was hers.

She let him pick the restaurant (BBQ, of course) and then told him to get whatever he wanted. She'd told Kakashi to tag along too, if he wanted, but knowing it would be her and Genma and that Asuma would more than likely have Kurenai along too, he'd declined. The last thing he wanted was to be a fifth wheel. So instead, he tortured himself from a distance, having brought Tenzo to the BBQ joint to catch up.

Tenzo and Kakashi were old friends and they hadn't spoken a lot since the latter got out of ANBU. He figured it would be good to get out and see his friend again. It was by happenstance that they'd chosen to eat at the same place and it was by sheer bad luck (or maybe the universe really did hate him) that they were seated with a perfect view of the lovely couple.

"Seriously man, it's been over a year and you haven't said anything to her?"

Tenzo had watched Kakashi all evening, glancing periodically across the room. When he finally looked up to find out what the older man was so interested in, he couldn't help rolling his eyes. There was one time, just before Kakashi left ANBU, that he confessed drunkenly to Tenzo that he had a thing for [Y/N]. But clearly nothing had been done about that.

"Sorry?" Kakashi asked, snapping back to his present situation.

"I just don't get it."

"Don't get what?"

"If you're so into her then why didn't you say anything?"

"It's more complicated than that. I can't just go willy nilly saying things like that. I can't... I just can't. Besides, she's been with Genma for almost a year now."

"It looks like they're close."

"They should be. They've been screwing since before they even started dating."

"Kakashi senpai." Tenzo used the nickname simply because he knew Kakashi hated it. "Are you jealous?"

"I don't get jealous."

"Right."

The two halted their conversation when there was a little commotion across the room. Asuma stood (or tried to stand), clearly having had way too much to drink tonight. Kurenai laughed and stood up, wrapping Asuma's arm over her shoulders to steady him. They bid the other two farewell before Kurenai turned to help Asuma home.

Kakashi watched as they left the table and [Y/N]'s happy façade fell. She didn't say anything as Genma pulled his wallet out to pay for the meal. When he laid the money down, he slipped out of the booth and stood up. He offered her a hand to help her up, but she just stared at it before glaring up at him. She shoved it away and stood up herself, moving toward the door and leaving Genma to follow.

Kakashi and Tenzo both watched them leave, now invested in the scene. [Y/N] walked outside first, Genma trailing her. She tried to walk away from him and he kept asking her to wait. She didn't stop walking and he finally sighed. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back and into the alley next to the BBQ place. It was just next to Kakashi and Tenzo's open window, which they'd been using to watch the entire thing. Now they kept their heads down, staring at their food. They could hear everything.

"What is your problem?" Genma asked her, still holding her against the wall.

"Did you at least think of me?"

"What?"

"Did you at least think of me when you were fucking her?"

Kakashi choked and Tenzo's eyes went wide. Genma himself scoffed. "What the hell are you talking about?"

[Y/N] shoved him away. "Don't play dumb. You've been coming by later and later and you always smell like some other woman's perfume. You make up stupid excuses. Just tell me the truth already!"

"Is that what you think of me? That I would cheat on you?"

The hurt was evident in Genma's voice and [Y/N] had to stop herself from reaching over and pulling him into her. She felt the guilt start to seep through her, but the memories of everything she'd found the last few weeks rushed back to her. The perfume that wasn't hers on his neck. He was always running late to see her now and when he showed up, he was fidgety and nervous. His excuses never added up. The multiple lunch receipts she'd found that totaled at more than Genma would spend on just himself. It was so obvious.

"What do you expect me to think Genma?" She asked, voice lower than usual.

"I expect you to trust me."

"Trust you? Why would I trust you when you're not even being honest with me?"

Genma was stumped. He had indeed been keeping secrets from her. But he wasn't cheating on her. He just couldn't tell her the truth yet. It was too soon. His lack of response made [Y/N] bite her lip and blink back a few tears.

"You know what Genma? It's okay. I'm done."

"What do you mean you're done?"

"I mean I can't do this anymore. I've spent weeks on edge hoping that there was a good reason for all of this and here we are, and you still don't have one! I'm done."

"Baby, no, please—" Genma started but [Y/N] put her hand up and shook her head. He stopped and he noticed the tears in her eyes. He felt awful. He didn't want to lose her and though everything she'd said was true, it wasn't like that. "Okay, let me explain, I'll tell you everything."

"You had your chance Genma." [Y/N] turned and left him standing there in the alley alone. He wanted to follow her but figured the best thing was to let her cool off. Instead he reached into his pocket, hand rolling the contents around until he found what he was looking for. He pulled it out, looking down at it. He opened it, sighed, closed it back and returned it to his pocket. This had just gone all to Hell.

Kakashi and Tenzo watched from the corner of their eyes as Genma cursed before walking away himself. Kakashi took note that he went the opposite way that [Y/N] had gone. He wasn't going after her. Stupid.

"Well. Maybe not so close then." Tenzo said, breaking the silence between them.