Love Triangle: Kakashi vs. Genma

58 | Shogi, Bad Advice, & Trouble

"Shikamaru always wins, Asuma. You're so boring." [Y/N] said, laying down next to the game board. On either side was Asuma and Shikamaru, locked in the middle of the game.

"Then you come play a round and see if you can win." Asuma grunted, standing up and moving to sit on the steps. [Y/N] sat up and got ready to play while Shikamaru reset the game pieces. It was quiet for a few minutes before Asuma turned and watched them playing. [Y/N] was a little more tactical and strategic than he was, though he'd never tell her so. He figured their game would last a while.

"So... have you figured anything out?" Asuma asked, trying to make conversation to fill the silence.

"Asuma, we just started playing. I don't have a strategy yet." She grumbled back.

Shikamaru snickered. "You still don't have a strategy? That's bad news, [Y/N]-sensei."

[Y/N] rolled her eyes. "Don't call me sensei. And don't be so cocky. I may very well kick your tail before you even know what's going on."

Shikamaru shrugged and [Y/N] moved a game piece, causing him to digress and reexamine the board. Asuma rolled his eyes. "Well, the game isn't exactly what I was talking about. I meant—"

"I know what you meant." She snapped back. "We're not talking about it in mixed company."

Shikamaru moved another piece, chuckling to himself. "I'm not mixed company. I know that you two are talking about Kakashi-sensei and Genma."

"Asuma! What gives? Do you just go around blabbing my business to your students?" She turned and smacked her brother's arm, a little more forcefully than he expected.

"No, I don't. Shikamaru is just highly observant, you know that. Besides, if they focus on your business then they stay out of mine." Asuma grinned, taking a drag on his cigarette.

"I don't focus on anyone's business. It's too troublesome too keep up with. But I can't help what I see and hear, you know." Shikamaru said, lazily sliding another piece across the board. "Checkmate."

[Y/N] looked down at the board incredulously. When she realized that Shikamaru had in fact won the game, she folded her arms and huffed. "Whatever. I've got too much to think about to focus on this game."

"You're just a sore loser, [Y/N]-sensei. But you did get closer than Asuma-sensei ever has." Shikamaru smiled.

"Okay, okay. Let me go again then. I'm ready." Asuma said, moving to reclaim his place on the other side of the board. [Y/N] sighed and laid back down next to them. She listened to the trees rustling in the wind and the clacking of the game pieces on the wooden board before rolling over to face away from them.

"Have you spoken to Kakashi or Genma?" Asuma asked her, not taking his eyes off the game.

"No."

"Don't you think you should?"

"Yeah."

"Well, are you going to?"

"No."

"Then you're not really solving anything."

"Yeah."

"So go and talk to them."

"No."

Asuma sighed and finally looked at his sister. "You can't hide from them forever you know. You need to get something done about the situation. Preferably sooner rather than later. I mean, does Kakashi even know you're back in town yet?"

"Yeah, I know. I'm just still so confused Asuma. And no, Kakashi doesn't know."

"You know what I would do?" Shikamaru asked. He didn't wait for either one to respond before answering his own question. "I would just stay single. It's so much easier than dealing with a woman."

"What do you mean by that?" [Y/N] asked, sitting up on her elbows and facing him.

"I mean that women are troublesome. Genma and Kakashi-sensei are both in deep now because they're both in love with you or whatever. It's a love triangle and it's messy and it's a drag. See what I mean? Troublesome."

"You know, I didn't make it messy on purpose. And it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm a woman."

"If you were a man, do you think any of this would be a problem?"

"I... Well... Shikamaru, shut up."

Shikamaru and Asuma both started laughing, much to [Y/N]'s chagrin. She rolled her eyes and folded her arms again. "Whatever. Look, here comes Naruto. You two have fun with that. I'm gonna go take a walk or something."