The Red String of Fate: New Generation

Eternal Rivals - Kakashi

'None of the therapies have helped.  Looks like that's it for my chances to walk again."

The bar on main street in Konoha was quiet tonight as Kakashi and Guy sat at a table in the back, working on a bottle of sake together.  Kakashi was trying to do a better job of getting together with his friend more often, as life had become increasingly busy for the Sixth Hokage.  And, although he saw a lot of Guy still, they didn't have much time to just have fun.  And they needed to; they were eternal rivals, after all.

Kakashi looked at his friend with sympathetic eyes. Two years of therapies administered and research conducted by Mizuka had concluded with no measurable success.  Kakashi knew that Mizuka was crushed that she couldn't heal her friend; she had spent the last two nights crying about it.  This defeat was made worse by the fact that she had just permanently cured Anko Mitarashi's blood infection from Orochimaru after years of trial and error.  The war had taken so much from so many people. However, Guy was still considered one of the lucky ones: losing the use of a limb was still better than losing your life.  Still, he was sure that Guy was crushed as well.

"I'm so sorry, Guy-"

"Nah, don't be. So I can't use my leg, so what?"

He pushed himself out of the wheelchair and landed on his hands, walking around the bar upside down. He had already had too much to drink,making Kakashi chuckle. He returned to his wheelchair after a minute of horseplay.

"You know, you don;t have to be so cheerful about everything. It's okay to grieve."

Guy looked at his friend comtempatively.

"You know, I had a lot of time to think, especially in the hospital. My mind always wanders to Neji. He had the potential to be one of the greatest shinobi that the village had ever seen; cut down before he even reached his prime. The war took a lot from a lot of people, you know that. I mourned for Neji. I refuse to mourn for this lost leg. It's not worth it. I'm still plenty capable without this leg. Besides, now I have a great reason to see even more of you. You can push me around the village, Lord Sixth!"

Guy knocked back his cup of sake. Kakashi couldn't help but smile at his friend.

"Too bad for you we'll have to leave the record as it is. 120 to 119 wins. Me."

He knew this would fire Guy up, and he was not disappointed. He flew up, landing on one foot.

"That's not the end! I still have the full power of youth!"

"Yeah, not really. Not anymore, Old Man."

"We're still young! 34 isn't so bad!"

Kakashi knocked back another cup of sake, still laughing.

"Speaking of youth..."

Guy sat back down, pouring himself more sake.

"What's up?"

"Mizuka's pregnant again."

Guy's jaw dropped.

"What? Congratulations!"

He filled Kakashi's empty cup as well before lifting his own in a congratulatory clink.

"How are you feeling about a third baby? The last two were a huge surprise."

Kakashi clinked cups with him before downing his own.

"This one was planned. Z asked me what I wanted for our anniversary, and I asked her if she would be open to a third child."

"And?"

"She was estatic. So here we are, already 12 weeks in. I missed the first trimester, being on that diplomatic Kage trip and all, but I'll make it up to her. I'm really hoping to enjoy this pregnancy with herr, especially since the last one was so stressful."

Guy looked genuinely excited for him.

"But, hey, don't go around telling everyone yet. You're one of the first to know."

Guy gave him a big smile and a thumbs up.

"You've got it! Hey, we've got to celebrate, and maybe slow down on the drinking."

They had almost polished off an entire bottle of sake between them. All they could do was laugh as they ordered food. Their rancuous behavior continued for another hour as they turned their attention to potstickers and pickled vegetables. Kakashi felt full and warm, just happy to be celebrating this joyous news with his friend. After the food was gone and they were both pleasantly buzzed, Guy pushed his wheelchair out.

"I'm headed home, Kakashi. It's getting late."

"Do you want me to talk you home?"

"Nah, I'm going to see if that woman at the bar wants to walk me home. Then maybe she'll let me show her my full power of youth!"

Guy flexed, making Kakashi laugh as he clapped him on the back.

"Good luck!"

He turned his wheelchair around and flashed his shiny teeth at Kakashi, giving him a very confident thumbs up before turning back to try and pick the beautiful woman up. Guy might be goofy, but he was a professional at picking up the ladies, especially with his useless leg. Soon, the woman was sitting in his lap, cooing over his leg and he was wheeling her out of the bar. Kakashi sighed happily. It was probably time for him to head back to his hopefully sleeping wife, his unborn child, and their two incredible sons-

"Do you mind if I join you, Lord Sixth?"

Kakashi know the voice behind him immediately, and he was the last person he wanted to deal with on such a perfect night....