Н‘¾Ð‘¯Ð‘¬Ð‘Μ Ð‘»Ð‘¯Ð‘¬ Н‘¾Ð‘°Ð‘Μ𝑫 Н‘©Ð‘³Ð‘¶Ð‘¾Ð‘º €¢Ð’Ƒ𝒙Н’Ƒ• Inevitable change

Team Kakashi set off to spend the night in a nearby hot spring.

Once they got there, they immediately went to the baths.

Akashi, Sai, Naruto and Yamato sat in the hot water. In that specific order.

“You have to admit, hitting the hot springs together is the ultimate form of male bonding, right, guys?” Yamato asked, a satisfied expression on his face.

Sai glanced at the man, making Akashi do the same. Yamato had a scary expression on. “I said, right, guys?” Naruto sweatdropped and his eyes widened in fear.

“Yes, sir!” He hurriedly stood up out of the water and his body started shaking.

“Oh, you do have one, after all”. Sai spoke up and Naruto whipped back around, before sitting back down in the water again. That didn’t stop Sai, though.

He continued looking at Naruto’s private parts. Akashi let out a sigh and leaned his head back. “Idiots…”. He mumbled out once Naruto started screaming.

“Quit looking at it! Stop friggin’ talking about dicks!” He yelled out while pointing at Sai. Akashi let out a groan once multiple laughs resounded in the women’s section. Naruto grit his teeth at the sound of their laughter. “Bastard… It’s your fault they’re laughing at me!” Akashi shook his head and stood up.

“I’m leaving”. Without another word, he walked out of the water and towards the exit. A splash resounded behind him and Akashi glanced back to see Yamato standing up. He said something to Naruto, before he turned around and followed after Akashi.

The redhead went over to the locker room to grab his stuff and after he did that, he peered out of the window. It was fairly light out at the moment, so he had some time to walk around. So, after he secured his blade and pouch, he headed out.

With his hands stuffed inside his pockets, he walked through the little town he was in. It seemed to be some kind of festival, since there were various stands with different kinds of things on them. Kids were running around, laughing, being careless. They waved their balloon animals through the air and laughed even harder once some of them popped from being gripped too tightly.

Women, and men alike, were all wearing unique looking kimonos.

What caught his attention, though, was one particular pair.

A woman, with a smile of her own, was pushing at a laughing male. His lips were stretched in a wide grin, amusement rolling off him in waves. “That joke was awful!” The woman said, but still giggled at it.

The man took her hand in his own and leaned forward. “But it worked, since I finally made you smile!” She turned her face away and Akashi noticed a light flush on her skin.

“Still! It was so bad!” He pulled her hand towards himself and the rest of her body followed after it. He raised a hand and moved a single strand of hair from across her eye.

“I like it when you smile… You seem to be glowing when you do that”. Her eyes widened at his words and her lips opened, but no sound came out.

“Oh…”. Was what she said after a moment, before a fierce blush covered her cheeks. The man laughed at her expression and started walking forward, pulling her along.

“Let’s go! The festival has just started!” A wide smile appeared on her face as she followed after him.

“Yes, yes!” She called out and they disappeared within the mass of people.

The redhead, who bore witness to all of that, had his fists clenched inside his pockets. He was reminded so much of the time they spent together. The stories they shared. The opinions they shared. The feelings they shared.

Everything had grown dull ever since he left.

…

Six months ago

They had just finished reporting another successful mission back to the Hokage and were dismissed for the rest of the day. Akashi took off his mask and breathed a sigh in relief. This mission took its tool on them. Especially on Akashi. They were separated and he was forced to fight off a big number of opponents. They all had a different skill set, so it was difficult for him to fight them.

Luckily, Shinya had arrived at the last moment and saved the day… again.

Akashi was thankful.

So, when he changed out of his ANBU gear after arriving home, he was surprised when a knock resounded from his front door. He looked around for a key, because he never really used the door, and when he found it, he hurriedly went to unlock it. He already knew who was there, so he wasted no time in unlocking it.

He was greeted with a grinning Shinya.

“Heya! Seems like you’re feeling better already, ey? Wanna go have lunch with me?” Akashi stepped away from the door and opened it wider to let the other boy in.

“I’m fine now, where to?” Shinya stepped inside and took off his shoes.

“You choose? I’m fine with whatever”. Akashi nodded and turned around.

“Wait while I grab some stuff”. Shinya tilted his head and gave him a smile.

He went to his room to grab his wallet, before going back to Shinya. “Okay, let’s go”. The put their shoes on and went outside.

_

“Did you decide where we’re going?” Shinya asked from besides him and Akashi glanced at him from the side.

“You were serious about me choosing the place? Even though you were the one who came to get me?” He asked and Shinya awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

“Yeah? I don’t really go out to eat, so I don’t know what’s good and what’s not good”. That piqued Akashi’s interest.

“You cook for yourself?” The ebony-haired boy nodded his head.

“Yeah, I’ve done that ever since I can remember”. Akashi’s interest was further piqued, but he noticed Shinya’s tone of voice when he said that. He sounded kind of sad? He had also lowered his head to glance at the ground.

“That’s a really valuable skill… Now, where do we eat?” He mumbled out the question, while trailing his eyes over the shops on the side. It was then that he found the perfect place.

Ichiraku Ramen!

“Oh! How about there? They’ve got the best ramen I’ve ever eaten”. He gestured at the shop and Shinya glanced at it.

“Sure, I’ll trust you on this”. The two of them went inside and took a seat. A moment later, an older man appeared behind the counter.

“Oh? Akashi! I haven’t seen you in a while, what were you up to?” The kind-looking man asked, making Akashi’s lips curl up in a small smile.

“I’ve been busy with missions, so I had no time to do anything”. He answered and the man nodded.

“What would you like?” He glanced between the two boys and they looked at one another.

“I’ll take the usual and give him your house special!” The man raised a thumbs up.

“Coming right up!” He promptly disappeared in the back room. Akashi felt a tap on his arm and he looked at the boy besides him.

“You come here often?” Shinya asked, a sly grin on his face. Akashi almost snorted.

“What is this? A pickup line?” He laughed and Shinya pouted at him.

“Is it not working?” Akashi raised his brows at the question.

“You’re gonna have to try a little bit more than that”. Shinya’s eyes shone with determination.

“Get ready then!” The redhead shook his head in amusement. Not even five minutes later, the older man came back with their orders.

“Here you go! Enjoy!” He handed them their bowls and went to treat the other customers. Akashi took his chopsticks in hand and dug right in. He almost cried at the taste. It was as good as ever!

Shinya cautiously took a bite and Akashi watched as his eyes widened in disbelief. He hurriedly turned to the younger boy with a shocked face. “You’re kidding me?! This is fantastic!” He turned back to his bowl and uncontrollably started slurping the rest of it. Akashi bit back a laugh at the sight.

“Why did the skeleton go to the party alone?” Shinya suddenly asked and Akashi glanced at him.

“Why?” He asked.

“He had no body to go with him!” Akashi’s lips opened up, but nothing came out. He had no words. He literally didn’t know what to say as an answer to that. Shinya blinked upon receiving no laugh in return. He looked at Akashi’s expressionless face. “Come one! Seriously? Nothing?” He whined, tapping his hands on the table.

Akashi felt a little bit bad. “Try more next time”. Shinya raised his brows at the provocation, before a grin graced his features.

“Okay, you’re gonna be surprised”. Akashi hummed at his confidence and continued with his food. He noticed Shinya looking at his food in question.

“What?” He asked and Shinya peered at him.

“Why is yours so red? Did you take something spicy?” Akashi looked at his food and then at Shinya’s. The other boy’s was a pale soupy color, but Akashi’s was a darker orange mixed with a couple of red spots.

“Yeah, wanna try?” He internally grinned upon seeing Shinya nod his head. He is so gonna regret wanting to taste it. He pushed his bowl towards the boy and leaned back on his chair. “Good luck”. He said and Shinya scoffed at his words.

“It can’t be that bad, right?” He said, words overflowing with nonchalance. Akashi watched as he picked up his chopsticks and grabbed the noodles. He brought them into his mouth and as soon as he bit into it, his eyes widened and he froze. His hand didn’t move, he stopped chewing, he didn’t even blink.

His whole body grew still.

“Can’t be bad, right?” Akashi teased as he saw a bead of sweat roll down Shinya’s temple. “Chew it”. He laughed as Shinya threw him a death glare. “Come on, you can do it!” He cheered him on through laughter. Shinya finally blinked and his jaw started moving.

Akashi almost cried at his expression.

His face was beginning to grow hot from the spiciness, but he didn’t give up. A few moments later, he swallowed it and Akashi clapped his hands. “Well done!” He congratulated the older boy. Shinya took a deep breath and hurriedly grabbed the water glass on his side. He immediately chugged it.

Once he was done, he placed it back on the table. “What the hell?! How do you eat all of that without breaking a sweat?” He accusingly pointed at the bowl. He was glaring at it as if he saw it kick a dog.

“Oh yeah! I haven’t mentioned this right? My taste buds really suck and I can barely taste anything, so I like really strong flavored things”. Shinya’s face lightened up in realization.

“Oh! Okay, got it!” He really looked like he figured something out.

“Got what?” Akashi asked, genuinely confused as to what he meant by that.

“In the future, when you eat at my place, I will make your food extra strong”. He sent him a smile, head tilting to the side and Akashi felt his heart stutter inside his chest at the sight. Damn… He was certainly caring…

“Oh… Thank you, I guess?” He awkwardly replied, feeling his cheeks burning up. Here he was, blushing like he had a crush.

“No problem!” Shinya turned back to his food and resumed eating it. Akashi did the same… Until… “I used to have two kidneys. Then I grew up. Now I have two adult knees”. Akashi’s eyes widened at the joke.

He literally inhaled the noodles and immediately started coughing. He slammed his fist onto his chest to get the noodles through his throat. Shinya hurriedly placed a hand on his shoulder in a panic. “Akashi! Whoa! I’m sorry!” Akashi took a deep breath and thanked whatever existed out there that he didn’t choke to death… On noodles…

“I almost died!” He exclaimed, wiping at his lips. Shinya let out a nervous laugh and scratched the back of his head.

“I’m sorry”. He mumbled out, feeling disappointed in himself.

“It’s fine… Just, please, the next time you tell jokes, make sure I’m not eating or drinking anything, okay?” Akashi sighed and grabbed his own glass of water. The coolness of it felt nice on his irritated throat.

“Of course! … … … I managed to make you laugh though…”. Shinya said and Akashi groaned.

“You also almost managed to make me choke to death”. He received a grin in reply. The older boy’s white teeth flashed at him.

“Almost! But not quite!” He shrugged his shoulders, the grin not faltering one bit. Akashi placed his head in his hands. How was he stuck with someone like this. But… Even thought it was hard to admit…

He didn’t mind his company at all. He kind of even liked having him around. It was easier to get through the day with him near. The world didn’t seem that dull when he was in his presence.

He shone bright like the sun on a hot day.

His warmth was refreshing.

“Finish your food, I wanna go somewhere and you’re coming with me”. Shinya practically radiated excitement at his words. He resumed his food eating… If you could call it that. He swallowed it without even chewing first. Akashi smile at the sight, before finishing his own food.

_

After they had a little argument about who was going to pay, Akashi finally gave in and let Shinya do it. He said it was his job, since he was the one who invited Akashi out for lunch.

They trailed through the streets of Konoha and Akashi listened to the various jokes Shinya had. There was one that almost made him laugh. Shinya had said: What did the elder chimney say to the younger chimney? You’re too young to smoke! And Akashi almost lost it. He had to force his body to calm down, but Shinya had noticed and was relentlessly teasing him all the way to where Akashi wanted to go.

The Hokage Mountain.

Shinya didn’t question him as to why they were there, he just followed him up in silence.

Once they had climbed up, they say on the Fourth Hokage’s head.

“Can I tell you something?” Akashi asked and Shinya glanced at him.

“Of course”. Akashi took a deep breath, before he continued.

“You know how I’ve never talked about my family that much? Or myself at all?” He continued once the other boy nodded. “Well… It wasn’t without reason”. Shinya’s brows furrowed at that.

“What do you mean?” He asked, looking closer at Akashi. The redhead seemed conflicted about something. He seemed worried about something. Seems like he’s really sensitive about the subject of his private life.

“The Third Hokage had hid some stuff from me and my brother, Naruto, but I had found out the truth about certain things”. Akashi lowered his head to look at his knees. “He hid who my parents were and the fact that the Nine-Tails was sealed inside of me”. Shinya’s body froze at his words. The Nine-Tails? Akashi held the Nine-Tails within himself?

This was all new information to the older boy. He hadn’t known anything about it.

“You’re probably surprised… I don’t blame you, I was too”. He noticed the pain in the redhead’s voice. The sadness… The grief… “I had found out about it when I was twelve, Naruto did, too, it came as a shock, but it all started to make sense… Why the villagers treated Naruto and I like that, I finally knew the reason”. His lips curled up in a cruel smile. “It was because they were afraid of us, afraid that we would release the Nine-Tails again”. Shinya felt a shiver run down his spine.

“What made me angry even more, was the fact that the man who sealed in inside of us, the Fourth Hokage, was also Naruto’s and I’s father”. That was something Shinya hadn’t expected. Akashi was the Fourth’s son? This boy in front of him? “It all seemed unreal to me when I found out, but everything clicked in place… Still… It was unfair…”. Shinya glanced down at the boy’s hands. They were trembling.

He raised his own hands and placed them over the trembling boy’s. Akashi had clenched his eyes shut at this point. “Everything had become too hard for me to handle… My father… Nine-Tails’s influence, my mother… Naruto…”. Shinya intertwined their hands together once a violent shiver went through the boy. “Why me? That is something I still wonder… Why did it have to be me?” He asked, voice breaking at the end.

Shinya did the only thing he could in that moment. He comforted the sorrowful boy.

He leaned forward and connected their foreheads. Slowly raising one hand, he moved away that single strand of hair that was always in front of the boy’s eyes. “I’m sorry you had to go through all of that… I’m sorry I wasn’t there sooner… But, don’t worry anymore… For as long as I’m here…”, he tightened the hold he had on the redhead’s hand.

“… everything will be fine…”. He closed his eyes and Akashi did the same.

…

His eyes remained open.

And his insides burned.

From grief?

From sorrow?

From anger?

From loneliness?

He didn’t know.

Casting one glance towards the bright sky above him, he chuckled.

“You’re no longer here…”, he whispered, remembering Shinya’s words.

“… and nothing is fine anymore”.