Love Triangle: Kakashi vs. Genma

61 | Power Outage

After the past two or three days, Asuma was in a particularly sour mood. First, he was exhausted from his mission at the Fire Temple and had to report in to Tsunade, informing her about Sora. Then he had to help break up a fight between Naruto, Sora, Choji, and a few of the other chunin. He figured he'd fix their attitudes with some BBQ, but when Yamato dumped training with Naruto and Sora right into his lap the next day, he realized that they were still at each other's throats. He had to stay out with them all night to watch them, ruining his date night with Kurenai (though she understood and wasn't upset in the least, Asuma still felt bad).

Asuma had managed to get away from the two of them after lunch, but then he was called to stand in for an interrogation with that Danzo guy, who Asuma and his sister both hated with a passion. That Sora kid had snuck in and ended up attacking him and ran off. Now, Naruto is in the hospital because of an attack from Sora... it had been a long few days and Sora was missing now.

Asuma sighed, thinking about everything was giving him a headache. He was thankful he'd managed to get away from everything as he walked through the park. He was supposed to meet his sister there to catch up with her. She was sitting on the bench watching the sunset when he approached and sat down next to her. He was thankful for the tranquility of the park and the relaxing view... until his sister spilled that she'd slept with Genma again a few nights ago.

"You did what? Why did you think that was a good idea?" Asuma asked, his jaw going slack as he tapped his cigarette box to make one of them pop up. As if he needed another headache...

"Well, to be fair, I clearly wasn't thinking at all!" [Y/N] groaned, ignoring the fact that her brother was scolding her.

Asuma rolled his eyes and took the cigarette into his mouth, lighting it up. He had so much on his plate right now, what with the Fire Temple drama and Sora and his pregnant wife and Danzo and still yet his sister...

"Look, you've got to get this lined out, [Y/N]. Are you still speaking to Genma?"

"I mean... we're okay."

"Ugh, [Y/N]... Does Kakashi know?"

"No, he's out of town right now."

"Well... he needs to know." Asuma took a long drag from his cigarette and held the smoke in for a little longer than usual, focusing his attention on the familiar burn. All this stress was really taking it's toll on him. He laid his head back, closing his eyes, and finally let the smoke out along with the breath he'd been holding.

"He will, as soon as he gets back. I should've gone to him before he even left, Asuma."

"Yes, you should've. But what's done is done. All you can do is be honest with him now."

"I know. I need him to get back here. I need to see him again." [Y/N] said, rubbing her arm.

The siblings sat in silence for a moment, enjoying each other's presence. It had been a while since it was just the two of them. [Y/N] almost felt guilty, putting her drama on Asuma with everything else he had going on. But this was her brother and, nevertheless, he was always there for her, giving her advice as she needed it.

Asuma didn't think anything of it. He may be stressed, but he never thought twice about helping his sister. He still had regrets about leaving the village so long ago, leaving her to mature and grow up alone. He would always be there for her. He had to make it up to her and this was the only way he knew how.

"Come take a walk with me, will you? I need to get away from all of this for a little while and I'm sure you could too." Asuma said, standing up and stretching.

"It's getting dark Asuma."

"That never bothered you before. Come on, we can go up on the hill above the village. You always liked to look out from there... Unless you're scared of the dark." Asuma teased, smirking.

"Of course not! What're you on about? I'm not afraid of the dark!" [Y/N] huffed, standing up and following her brother. They walked in silence, each running with their own thoughts. They'd finally made it to the top of the hill when Asuma lit up another cigarette (as he'd thrown away the first one long ago).

"You have to stop smoking before the baby comes." [Y/N] said, perching herself on a tree branch and looking out over the village lights.

Asuma grunted. "You sound like Kurenai."

"Well that's two people telling you then. So stop."

"I will, I will. Just... later." Asuma said, taking another drag on the newly lit cigarette.

[Y/N] rolled her eyes. "Those damn cancer sticks will kill you yet."

"Given our line of work, I think we'll be lucky if smoking is what kills me." Asuma said, leaning against the tree his sister sat in. They were quiet once more before [Y/N] sighed and looked down at her older sibling.

"Asuma, do you think everything will be okay eventually?"

"Sure. It all has to work out and be okay in the end."

"Well, what if it doesn't?"

"Then I guess in the end we're all dead and it's not our problem anymore."

[Y/N] huffed. "Nice, Asuma. Super inspiring."

Asuma grinned to himself and looked back up at [Y/N]. "I try, you know?"

[Y/N] opened her mouth to speak again when all of the village lights started going out, sector by sector. She jumped down from her branch, landing beside Asuma. She started forward, running back toward the village.

"Come on. It looks like we've got trouble."