Rain

Chapter III: Covered in silk we sleep – part I

Once in a blue moon something will catch your attention,

As a moth entranced in a flawless incantation,

If the dawn of a new day was to sign for a new life,

Shall it be ever considered to be relief?

Even so, its soiled silk like wings would turn to dust..

Then, a moth is maybe all I am meant to be.

“I guess I’ll just to enjoy a silent yet comfortable ride…” whispered Kakashi after eyeing the raven boy napping next to him.

His eyes didn’t really want to detach themselves from the peaceful face but his mind always so rational kicked him to stop dozing off, he was driving after all. With a little willpower kick the silver haired man finally focused his senses back on the road and after a few moments on Tokyo’s streets the silver car was finally taking the highway toward the suburban area named Konoha.

Meanwhile, at Konoha Gakuen a certain blonde couldn’t seem to unstuck his eyes from the classroom clock. His teacher, Umino Iruka, had already scolded him twice for being inattentive which although normal, worried him a little. After all, Uzumaki Naruto was well know for causing constant ruckus but he was not which was something new for the experienced teacher. Something was amiss; or better say, someone was missing he thought switching his eyes to the empty spot next to his pupil.

‘Sasuke has not arrived school, how strange…’ making note of talking to Naruto and inquire about his absent classmate Iruka turned back to the board and resumed his class.

About half an hour later Iruka finished dictating some physic theory and passed onto to its application, his class moved onto the laboratory at the opposite wing of the school building which allowed them to chitchat a bit.

Naruto was uncharacteristically quiet though which ended picking up his classmates’ interest.

“Hey Uzumaki!” came a voice along a tap on his shoulder and Naruto snapped out of his reverie at one.

“Yes, Sai?” the blond replied not really sure about what the boy wanted.

“Well, I’m wondering what happened. Wasn’t Uchiha supposed to come with you?” he asked in what seemed a curious tone.

“Yeah, but he couldn’t make it on time. But he will be arriving soon.” The blond simply replied, reminding himself of not screwing up. Sai was not all too friendly with Sasuke so it made him suspicious in a way.

“Oh, I see. That explains his lateness.” smirked Sai making Naruto vaguely wonder what the other teen was thinking about at what Sai only smirked more. “I suppose this time someone will bring him here since there’s no other train until mid-afternoon.”

Upon hearing that sentence Naruto stopped dead on his track. Sasuke never took a different transportation to school. For the whole 3 years they’ve known each other, the boy had always taken the Tokyo-Konoha train at 7.00 am sharp on Mondays and the Konoha-Tokyo train on Fridays at 3pm.

Nobody will ever bring him back nor take him to Naruto’s place for a start, or just anywhere else actually. Naruto couldn’t help thinking it was strange but when he had brought it up to Sasuke a couple of years ago, his friend had just shrugged and said his adoptive father was too busy and he preferred doing things on his own.

This had surprised Naruto back then and only a week after he had decided to stop going to school on the Uzumaki household limo and started taking the train with him. Needless to say Sasuke had not been pleased by that in the least but Naruto said it would be finnier that way and he wouldn’t sleep on his way to school out of boredom anymore and some other crazy thing like enjoying the ride for a change.

In a way, this simple weekly-ritual had made Naruto closer to Sasuke and he had felt the teen did it not because he was poor, which mind you was a bit impossible at Konoha Gakuen, but because Sasuke would not enjoy being driven. Why? He wouldn’t know and he had never truly pressed the point either.

However, today someone would.

‘It’s probably going to be a cab.’ He thought at first but his curiosity was always too strong. ‘but what if…?

Not caring much about being in the middle of the laboratory, Naruto took out his cell phone and entered a text message. He was covering for Sasuke, having already notified the headmaster just before classes, the Uchiha should reply his question.

-Hey all clear. Already covered for you. Who is bringing you here?-

Sasuke’s napping time was interrupted by his cell phone brought to life in his pocket and caused him to jerk up from the comfortable leather seat. This short and repeated tune indicating it was an incoming text message.

“I would have thought I was better company than that Sasuke.” Came out an amused comment from the pilot seat on his right at which he suddenly blushed.

“I apologize, I didn’t really mean to...” He was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder.

“It’s okay. I’m not sure if I would be able to take you there in time if you had been awake.” Grinned the gray-haired man playfully, although he kicked himself mentally for it. Luckily Sasuke didn’t catch the cue and distracted himself with his cell phone taking it out of his pants to read Naruto’s message and reply it at once.

The boy taped a quick reply and was about to press the send key but his thumb lingered above it for a second.

“Kakashi” he spoke the name softly yet sternly catching up the older man attention. “I truly appreciate your help, thank you.” The boy strained the last couple of words although they were heartfelt but Kakashi couldn’t help filling a sting in his chest.

“There’s nothing to..” started the driver but was interrupted by the boy who was now looking at him with a serious yet slightly shy face, his bangs darkening his pale features.”Yes there is. Let me repay you Kakashi, please.”Again, that strained tone thought Kakashi, he started to feel Sasuke never sought help but couldn’t understand the reason behind that strange behavior.

‘Be more natural Sasuke, this man is helping you.’

“If you insist Sasuke” Kakashi raised his hand to turn off the already almost silent radio. “I would ask you to go lunch with me but you obviously have school” he almost chuckled and Sasuke held his breath for a moment at the sudden proposal as well.”However, if I remember this right you should have Wednesday afternoons free after PA, isn’t that right?” as he said that the car slowed down and gently parked on the sidewalk of the road.

“Don’t worry, it’s not like I know anything about you Sasuke. I just studied at Konoha Gakuen as well.” He offered a gentle smile to the shocked teen. “I thought you would have guessed it by now. So, what do you think?” he looked at the raven expectantly but he was still processing this new information.

‘I really started to think he knew more than I thought…’ the idea made him shudder unintentionally.

“So, yes we do have free-afternoons. And, I’ll call you before by lunch time.” He finally replied, he felt trapped but Kakashi’s smile dissipated it and Sasuke couldn’t help thinking this man was strange, although not in a bad way which was new to him.

“Sounds good to me Sasuke. Now, get ready we’re only about a half a mile from your destination.” His hand reached the raven’s head and patted it gently lingering a bit there more than it should and finally descended to his cheek stroking it so softly that he almost didn’t feel it at all.

Truth to his word Kakashi finally pulled the luxurious car onto the familiar school road only a few moments later and headed towards the parking lot in front of the main building.

Author's Note:

I apologize for the wait and the shortness of the chapter, instead of completing the full chapter ( which would have taken me some extra time ) I decided on posting the first half which I hope succesfully introduce Kakashi into Sasuke's messed up life. There will be some background story on the circumstances that led to their actual 'first encounter' but this might be put on hold a little longer since I'll be getting back on Naruto and whatever is up on Orochimaru's side.

Again, sorry for the lateness I've been scrimbling like a crazy on some part of further chapters ^^; Thank you for the warm comments and constructive reviews so far!