Hatake Kakashi: Fascination

Hatake Kakashi: Fascination: Part II

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|| [Hatake] : Fascination : [Kakashi] || [Part II] ||

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It had been a grueling month and a half for Oriko under Kakashi’s ‘tuition’; he was a good teacher in as much as whatever he said was important and directly relevant to her, but it was more that he rarely said all that much to her.  She wasn’t really sure what to make of him, he wasn’t an easy man to dislike, rather he seemed to make it his business to make most people feel merely…apathy towards him.

Oriko, however, never liked people in general all that much, but Kakashi – well, he was one of the least stressful people she’d ever met, he seemed happy to supervise, answer questions and instruct when necessary but he wasn’t a nag, or full of constant criticism or complaints – and she liked it that way.  She’d just finished her training session for the day (mastering a fire technique, the Goukakkyuu no Jutsu), Oriko turned over to where Kakashi was sat, finding his attention a little too quickly,

“Ok, now what’s on the agenda?” She questioned, comfortable enough in his presence to speak mostly as she wished, although ensuring that she was never rude,

“Lunch,” He responded simply, leaping from his seat and landing gracefully a few feet in front of her, “Then I think we should extend today’s lesson and spar for a little while – I’m curious to see how well you’ll do in a battle situation,” He commented, and she nodded enthusiastically – after the last spar they’d had, she lost miserably, and was looking forward for an opportunity to lose not quite so badly.  After all, she’d been using his lack of temporal awareness to her advantage and had been working on her own jutsu.

“Well, how about we meet back here in an hour and a half?” He suggested and upon receiving a prompt nod in return, he disappeared in a sudden puff of smoke. Oriko, now used to his rather abrupt exits after their training sessions allowed a breath of fatigue to escape her, somehow, felt it somewhat ‘unprofessional’ or  child-like somehow to show to him how tired she was – although as yet unable to find a decent reason to justify it to herself.

Nonetheless, she walked away slowly into the town centre – knowing her way around very well now, and her feet almost automatically leading her to tepinyakki restaurant (Yakiniku Q) which she’d come to frequent regularly – always enjoying barbeque just a little more than ramen.  As she wandered in and took a seat the very polite boy whom she was always served by approached her,

“Hello, Oriko-san, what would you like today?” He asked in his typical, gentle, although young, voice,

“Hello, Izumi-kun, and no need to use ‘-san’ with me, just Oriko will do,” She smiled back at the young man, younger than her by a good few years or so – he couldn’t be much more than thirteen or fourteen, she supposed, “I would like some peach juice and beef set-menu please,” He nodded, and flashed her a genuine smile,

“Of course, Oriko-sa…of course, Oriko, coming right up… Oh, and you don’t need to address me as ‘-kun’ either!” Izumi exclaimed playfully as he walked away to place the order.  Despite Kakashi and his tardiness (which was offset by Oriko and her skill), they’d decided to take a break before the lunch rush and as such, (Oriko was thankful for) the place was essentially empty.  Izumi hurried back over with her drink,

“Here you are, Oriko… and…may I ask you something?”

“Of course, go ahead,”

“W-Well… how is your training going?”

“Eh?” Oriko answered back, unsure of what he meant,

“Well, you’ve only been here for a month or so, and I was wondering how you were doing,” He continued, himself a genin working part time for his father’s business;