Chapter Text
“The last time I decided to leave my Xbox in the living room, you deleted my save on Skyrim. Do you realize how many hours of my life I dedicated to that game?”
“More than I care to count. I saved your life by helping you realize you didn’t have one.”
Kakashi passed a humored look to his roommate and snickered behind his book. For the past thirty minutes they had been listening to the couple next door moving in and it had been nothing short of amusing. From what Kakashi could tell, it was between a man and woman although he hadn’t felt quite motivated to remove himself from his chair to look out the window. Yamato, on the other hand, was fully embracing the stalker neighbor stereotype as he peeked through the blinds.
The man outside made an offended noise. “What are you talking about? I participated in more club activities than you did! All you did was sit and watch the rest of us.”
“Clearly you’ve forgotten I was the manager and you wouldn’t have had any matches or practices without me.”
“Flirting with the other teams to establish connections doesn’t count, Konan.”
Their voices faded out as they entered their apartment. This was going to be a long final graduate year if he was going to have to listen to those two bicker every night. At least there was an outdoor hallway to separate their two complexes. Lord have mercy for anyone who lived below them.
Yamato detached from the window and sunk into his recliner. “Should we introduce ourselves or not even bother?”
“I don’t particularly have a death wish, so I’ll wait until another time.” Kakashi decided, flipping the page of his book. He knew first hand not to get between fighting couples thanks to Asuma and Kurenai. It was part of the reason he had decide to move in with Yamato. The younger man was a much quieter roommate.
Slowly the voices of the couple came back into earshot.
“You still like pineapples on pizza, right?”
“And peppers, yeah.”
The man snorted. “What is wrong with your taste buds?”
“They’re unique, Obito, unlike yours which have been destroyed by coffee.”
“Gotta love caffeine.”
Kakashi nearly dropped his book at the name he hadn’t heard in many years. She couldn’t have possibly meant Obito Uchiha, could she? He jumped up from his chair and nearly crushed Yamato as he went for the window.
The younger man made a muffled sound of complaint and spilled off the side of the recliner. “Dude, what the hell?”
He went ignored as Kakashi attempted to get a glance at the person. Unfortunately, the man had already made it to the other side of the truck and all he saw was a girl with blue hair jumping into the passenger seat. Even the license plate was covered up and the U-Haul was useless as it could have been traveling from anywhere. Damn, maybe he should have gone out to introduce himself.
“Did you see what they looked like?” he asked Yamato, noticing only then his roommate getting to his feet with an annoyed look.
“The guy had black hair and eyes, probably into the same extracurricular activities as Guy. Girl had blue hair and a piercing in her bottom lip. They sort of look like they’re in some rock band. Why, you know them?”
“Maybe.” He shrugged, figuring he would meet up with his neighbor later. They had to come back eventually. “I used to know someone named Obito once.”
“What happened to him?”
“He moved away when he was really young. I heard he went to go live with a distant relative after his parents died. For some reason he never reached out with his new address and we fell out of contact.”
Yamato gave his roommate a judging smirk. “What, you guys can’t figure out e-mail or Facebook?”
“We were outside more than we ever were inside. I didn’t have Facebook until I entered high school. Even then I couldn’t find him though.”
“No wonder you’re not technologically savvy.”
“Shut up, nature boy.” Oh God, now they were beginning to sound like their new neighbors. He quickly changed the subject. “Want to go buy school books?”
“No…” Yamato sighed but ended up grabbing his wallet from their small island that connected their dining area to their kitchen.
They got into Kakashi’s car and headed towards their shared school: Konoha University. Kakashi was a graduate student in his third and final year for veterinary school while Yamato was a senior undergrad in engineering. They had met each other in a shared required English class very early on and maintained a friendship ever since. Yamato had been less of an annoying freshman than his peers which had drawn Kakashi to him. Neither one particularly cared to have a crazy college life nor spend their time with their nose in their studies.
Yamato was messing with his phone in the passenger seat, no doubt killing his data plan to scroll through Imgur. He was constantly sending funny pictures to their group chat, most being memes or cute pictures of cats. Judging from the smile plastered to his face, he had seen something particularly good and was doing his best to keep it quiet.
Rather than making an inquiry to what he was looking at, Kakashi zoned out to the area around them. The university was one of the largest ones around and was surrounded by many shops from their city. Everything around them was fitted to the image of college town. Despite being near many community colleges or universities, the only ones that posed a challenge was the four other major schools: Suna, Iwa, Kiri, and Kumo. Most of the time is was Konoha versus Suna, but occasionally the other universities surprised them.
Kakashi used to be on the university’s fencing team, but quit back when he started grad school. As much fun as it was to poke someone with a flimsy sword, he had wanted to focus on his studies and have more free time to volunteer at the local animal shelter. Yamato wasn’t in any sports but kept to clubs. Asuma had been on the football team and now acted as one of the athletic coach assistants, Kurenai on the volleyball team, and Guy the track team and wrestling enthusiast.
Between all of them, there were plenty of events to attend.
A small ring notification broke the silence of the car and Kakashi reached for his phone only to have it swatted away. “Focus on the road.”
Kakashi eyed his roommate. “I’m going less than twenty miles an hour. What could I possibly hit?”
“I don’t know, a quad squirrel.” Yamato lifted the phone and checked the name. “It’s from Rin. She wants to know if we want to go to the Slug bar.”
A nursing student, Rin had been Kakashi’s friend since very early childhood just like Obito. The three of them had been kids in the same neighborhood and were inseparable up until the moment Obito moved. He and Rin still hung out after, but it hadn’t quite been the same. That was around the time they met Kurenai, Asuma, and Guy.
“Isn’t that the new bar downtown?”
Yamato nodded. “Yeah, the one that a doctor owns. Isn’t that a little strange that a doctor is also in charge of a bar?”
“Her husband technically runs it.” Kakashi corrected him.
Everyone who had lived there long enough came to know Tsunade. She was the most dedicated doctors, but also a known gambler. It was a strange combination, but her track record was so incredible that the people she worked for always turned the other way. At least until she trashed the local bar a few weeks ago. In return she bought the building and set up her own bar so she could kick out anyone who annoyed her. It was a strange turn of events that had all the long time locals laughing. A few weeks ago had been opening night, but Kakashi and their friends had yet to visit.
He gave Yamato the go ahead with a shrug. “Sure, although I might not stay long.”
Yamato groaned in complaint beside him. “School only just started. What homework could you possibly have already?”
“A job.” He often volunteered at a vet hospital and was hoping to get hired there. Things were looking good and he even had a worker there putting in good words for him.
The younger man mumbled something about it not being a real job yet but clicked away on Kakashi’s phone regardless. Kakashi made a mental note to change his password later. All he needed was for Yamato to go through his search history.
They pulled into the university store a few minute later and got their books. Yamato had thicker books with supplies for construction planning while Kakashi had merely one or two. Watching Yamato struggle with his bags turned into a game for Kakashi has he pulled one down when Yamato was least expecting it, throwing his balance off. He almost managed to get Yamato to nail a pole but was thwarted when Yamato did a spin move, nailing him instead in the stomach with one of the bags. Kakashi rubbed his belly with a hurt look. Yamato ignored him, leading the way back to the car to toss them all in the trunk. The lack of reserve for knowledge this kid had…
“You’re way too overdressed.” Konan sighed, crossing her arms. “Why don’t you put on something more casual?”
Obito looked down to the clothes he was wearing. Nice jeans and a button up black shirt. It wasn’t like he was dressed up to go to some five star restaurant. “What’s wrong with it?”
Konan grabbed at the black fabric. “This isn’t a shirt you want to stain with alcohol. Go put on another shirt.”
“But I like this one.” He objected, removing her hand and straightening his shirt. “Plus, today is Mrs. Tsunade’s birthday and she wanted us to help her celebrate it. I wanted to look nice.”
His blue haired roommate looked less convinced. “You’ve been working with her for only a few weeks and you’re her favorite employee. You hardly need to impress her further.”
“It’s not to impress her.” Which wasn’t entirely true. He wanted to show his boss that he was making an effort on her behalf. She was so willing to hire him after one interview where he made a random drink for her. From then she had been very pleasant and helpful, even suggesting places for him, Konan, and the rest of their group to live.
Just two weeks ago, he and a handful of other friends from Iwa had transferred to Konoha. For some it had been an educational decision, others a job opportunity, and the rest a change of scenery. For Obito it was the latter. He and his friends had been inseparable since high school and college, and moving together felt natural. However, all of them crashing at Kakuzu’s place was hell. Despite being considerably wealthy, the man was exceptionally stingy and often complained that his rather large house was too cramped. When Tsunade found them connections to an apartment complex near the university Obito would be attending, it had been a godsend. He owed her a lot, so if what Konan said was true and he was a favorited employee, he was going to ensure it stayed that way.
Obito shuffled past his roommate and rummaged the living room for his shoes. “Don’t worry, mom, I’ll be careful with my drinks.”
She huffed at him, placing her hands on her hips in a mockingly motherly way. “It’s not you that I’m worried about, dear, but you go right on ahead and do whatever you want.”
“Does that include cake for dinner?”
She broke a smile and shook her head at his impossible personality. They had been like this forever and picking fun at each other was so second nature. That, and she never took it personally. Of all their friends, she was the easiest to get along with. Originally she was supposed to room with Nagato, but their friend had decided to room with Itachi instead so he could focus on his studies. Something along the lines that Konan made too many livestreams, which is why Obito offered his place. More fun to room with a fellow gamer than a cousin anyway. Likewise, Deidara roomed with Zetsu, a flamboyant straight man and an asexual former drug addict was a hilarious pair that everyone but the included parties were happy with. Sasori roomed with Hidan and would constantly discuss the difference between regular art and the cult symbols that Hidan was obsessed with. Kisame owned his own house a few miles away, closer to the ocean, and Hidan was in the middle of the city.
Grabbing his keys, he twirled them around his finger and cast a backwards glance. “Are you going to show up tonight?”
She shrugged. “That depends on whether or not I can pull Nagato from his apartment. Itachi texted me saying that he was obsessing over the order of his bookshelf.”
In other words, the man might never leave his room. What an introvert.
“Good luck with that.” He offered then made his exit.
He had returned the U-Haul earlier that day and went out for pizza with the others. Having everyone settle in nicely was good to see, but it still wasn’t without difficulties. For starters, Obito and Kisame were the only ones with trucks meaning they were everyones taxis for what they couldn’t hold in their own cars. That hadn’t been a fun drive, and Konan’s taste in music made Obito wonder why she was trying to become an artist rather than a mortician. Or serial killer. How many songs did she know that basically said ‘fuck the world’?
Kasai city wasn’t the largest in terms of largest buildings, that was a claim that Chikyū city, but it was the broadest. All the comforts of home with all the business of a city. That also meant traffic ran more smoothly in Kasai and instead of taking thirty minutes to get from point A to point B, it took only around ten. Obito was already liking the change.
He parked in the back to avoid the possibility of drunk drivers and entered through the kitchens. Dan was prepping burgers and other assorted finger foods when he caught sight of Obito entering. “You look nice.”
Dan, too, was wearing a button up shirt although his was a dark green. At least that was one person who wasn’t going to start insulting his fashion sense.
“My roommate seems to think I was too fancy. Good to know I’m not the only one who disagrees.”
Dan offered a warm laugh. “At least I’m not in danger of alcohol.”
Obito could groan. Maybe he was too quick to assume Dan would be on his side. “Nor I of grease.”
“Touché.”
He left the manager to his task and made his way through the kitchen doors to the front. The bar was already busy with Tsunade and her friends along with a mix of other customers. TVs lined the wall in a mix of sports and the pool tables surrounded by people making bets. Obito quickly came aware of Tsunade’s bad luck in gambling and wisely kept his business out. The last thing he needed was to bet against his boss and give her any reason to be upset with him.
As soon as Anko saw him, she reached for her apron and tossed it at him. “Finally, I can leave!”
Bewildered, he caught it before it could smack his face. “Bad night?”
“No,” she all but jumped over the latch that closed the bar and made for the exit. “The dango shop closes soon and I wanted to get there before it did. Clock me out, would you?”
She was out the door without another word. Funny how she managed not to have a dust trail behind her. Honestly, how was that woman so thin when all she ate was sweets?
Still Obito complied to her request and entered behind the counter, punching in her code and signing her out before replacing it with his own.
The beginning of his shift ran smoothly. One or two people decided to stick around the bar but many were drawn to the party that Tsunade was throwing. She didn’t care who surrounded her, so long as they kept the party going. Occasionally Dan would come out to talk with his wife and ensure she was okay before returning to the kitchen. Obito appreciated how patient he was instead of being the jealous husband he could have been.
Bee, one of their bouncers, checked in every hour minutes to make sure no one was causing trouble, but Obito didn’t miss the longing look he passed the party. Worse was when he realized they were setting up karaoke and made a joke about joining them. Somehow Obito wondered if he was serious or not, but Bee made his way outside quickly before the first song started. Maybe the man should make a mixtape or something.
Around ten, a group of drunken frat boys came in looking like trouble although so far presenting none. Obito caught Bee’s warning eye and offered a slight nod. Keep an eye on them. The group didn’t immediately go to the party, although judging from their loud whispers they were bound to make a move that way sometime during the night.
Obito drew their attention by placing a cup on the bar more loudly than he usually would have. “What can I get you?”
The one he assumed was their self-proclaimed leader turned a lazy look his direction. “Whatever you have on tap.”
“ID?”
The woman leaned over the counter, “Do we look under 21 to you?”
Obito leaned right back, offering his best work smile. “Would you like me to answer honestly or professionally?”
She scowled at him but the man to her side laughed out loud. “Got you there, Ameyuri.”
“Shut the hell up, Raiga.”
Their leader flipped his wallet out and placed his ID on the counter. So he was the same age as Obito then. “What’s going on over there?”
Obito checked their IDs in turn, ensuring they were all legal, before passing them back and moving to the taps. “Boss’s birthday party.”
“That alcoholic doctor? Is she ever sober?”
The woman named Ameyuri laughed. “I heard she’s scared of blood. Maybe she drinks to forget someone she let die in the past.”
A man with a scar on his left cheek sighed as if pained. “How does someone like that become a doctor?”
“Maybe she sleeps with her boss?”
Obito placed their drinks before them with a calm he didn’t feel. Who walked into a bar just to badmouth the owner? “Kindly refrain from insulting Mrs. Tsunade in front of her employees. We don’t take kindly to it.” Strike one.
One of them looked like he was about to retort but their boss elbowed him. “Shut up, Kushimaru. Don’t get kicked out before you even finish your drink.”
Were they barhopping? Obito grabbed the rag from his waist apron and moved down the bar slightly to clean a spot he had just cleaned just a few moments before. He had no interest in listening to their conversation further, but he also wanted to stay close enough in case they started acting up. Hopefully they would enjoy a few drinks, pay, and leave. Dealing with rowdy people had never really been Obito preferred way to spend the night, he would much rather leave that to Bee.
As he moved further down the counter, he realized someone standing in the middle of the room just a few steps inside the doorway. It was a brunet girl with a look that said she had learned something and was impatient to share. Obito regarded her curiously before casting his attention back to the counter. Strange girl.
“Obito?” Her voice was breathless.
Obito turned back to her, raising an eyebrow. “Do I know you?”
“It’s me!” she ran up, almost propping herself up against the counter in an excitement that was making him weary. “It’s Rin. Don’t you remember me?”
Obito tried to remember, but nothing came to mind. Completely blank. “I think you’ve got me confused with someone else.” He tried to tell her, but she just shook her head in denial.
“There’s no way I’d forget you. You, me, and Kakashi are long time friends! Oh my gosh, stay here, I’m going to go get him!” she flew away as fast as she came.
Stay here? He worked here. There was no way he was leaving until his shift was over. He ventured away from that corner of the bar back towards the frat guys and their female friend. The one with the scar shoved his cup roughly in Obito’s direction. “Yo, Barkeep, got anything stronger?”
“Sure.” He took the cup and rinsed it slightly before getting a different tap. By the time he passed out the new drinks and turned back towards where the girl vanished, she had been joined by others. Two were obviously a couple, a hand around the waist and the close proximity gave that away, one was dark haired and looking around skeptically, and the last was a silver haired man looking at him just as awestruck as Rin had. This, he assumed, must be Kakashi.
Obito sighed, realizing that he didn’t recognize this guy either. “Look, I’ve already told your friend that I don’t know her. You must have me mistaken for someone else.”
Rin wasn’t hearing it, nudging her friend. “He looks just like him, does he?”
Feeling slightly annoyed, he turned his attention past the girl and her silent friend towards the couple and skeptic. “There are open tables just a little further in that will hold your group. It’ll be close to Mrs. Tsunade’s party, so I hope you don’t mind it being a little loud.”
“Thanks,” the long haired woman said, grabbing her boyfriend and heading in the direction that Obito had pointed. The skeptic took a step forward, glancing sideways at his friend as if he was just as confused as Obito was, before stating, “I recognize you from earlier this morning. You’re moving into 329 at Shukuba Apartments, right? Me and the gaping idiot behind me are your neighbors. My name’s Yamato.”
At his words, Kakashi blinked and seemed to come to his senses. “I am not an idiot.”
Obito shared a doubtful glance with the man who had spoken. “Uchiha Obito.”
“I knew it!” the girl bounced happily. “You are the Obito we grew up with!”
Alright, time to stop this before things got weird. “I’ve already told you, I have no idea who you are.” He flipped the rag lazily over his shoulder. “If we’re done with this awkward meeting, let me know if there’s anything I can get you.”
The one named Rin finally seemed to realize that he was serious and her grin faltered. Part of Obito felt bad, but he really didn’t like people to push their delusions on him and pretend they knew him. Turning away from them as Yamato herded Rin away, he made his way back down to the other side of the counter. The group seemed to be getting ready to get up and head to Tsunade when the girl saw him.
“Do you have anything here that doesn’t taste like shit?” she taunted.
Obito refused to take the bait. “It’s alcohol. It all tastes like shit.”
Her laugh sounded more like a crackle. “That’s not something someone in your position should be saying. How will you sell things to customers?”
“Easy. You order, I provide, you pay. I don’t have to like what I serve.”
Their leaders glass suddenly fell over, and although Obito didn’t see it carefully enough he was sure the man did it on purpose. Sticky liquid covered the corner of the counter, dripping over the side and onto the floor.
Ameyuri leaned back on her high horse. “Whoa, Zabuza, that almost got on me.”
“Oops.” The man offered, not sorry at all. He was pinning Obito with a lethal look that said he was itching for a fight.
Calling forth a calm he didn’t feel, Obito forced a smile to his features once more. “No worries. I’ll get it.”
He somehow managed to avoid insulting the customer under his breath as he relocated the cup and began cleaning the mess. Soon they would get tired that they weren’t getting to him and leave. Most of it he was able to clean up, but the floor was going to need to be mopped for sure. When he got up, he realized all of the group was giving him obnoxious looks that made him very uncomfortable.
“Well?” Zabuza asked.
Obito raised an eyebrow. “Well, what?”
“Replace my drink.”
Lord stay Obito’s rising temper. “Order a new one.”
The standoff they were having left so much tension in the room it could have been cut with a knife. In no way was Obito obligated to replace a drink once handed off to a customer, and he had no intention of replacing it unless asked nicely. He was no one’s errand boy and rude customers would be treated in kind. Serving assholes may be in his job description, but his pride refused to back down to those who treated him like some sort of servant and their beck and call.
Finally, without turning away, Zabuza stood and directed his freak squad, “We’re leaving. This place smells like trash anyway.”
Refusing to make the comment that the trash was taking itself out, Obito pointed to their half empty glasses. “And those aren’t free. So unless you want to cause a scene, I suggest you pay on your way out.”
Finally, Zabuza looked down at the glasses, picking one up and looking at it like some sort of critic with a piece of art. “How about I give it back instead?”
The next thing Obito knew, the glass was flying at his face. He expected trouble, but he hadn’t expected that. Stupid, in hindsight, since the guy was clearly drunk and asking for trouble. The glass shattered against the side of his head before he could block it, but in the next instant he found himself jumping the counter and going after his assaulter. He only managed to get one good hit in before hands were around him and pulling him back. Likewise, Zabuza was being pulled away by his laughing cronies.
“What’s going on?” Tsunade came thundering over but hardly waited for a response before she ordered, “Bee, get these brats out of my bar and mark their names.”
“As if we’re going to hand them over.” Zabuza’s friend snarled, shoving past Bee towards the door.
Obito pulled at the grip of whoever was holding him. “You already showed me your ID, asshole.”
Zabuza flipped him off before exiting.
Tsunade turned on her employee, but her anger had subsided slightly. He didn’t realize why until she placed a hand to the side of his head and withdrew to show red. “What happened?”
“Bar hopping drunks.” He answered just as the hands holding him let go. Obito cast a backwards glance to see Kakashi standing there with a worried look, his eyes on Obito’s injury that had yet to start hurting thanks to the adrenaline pumping through him. Did he really look bad? “Sorry, Mrs. Tsunade. I’ll just wash this off and be back on the floor in just a moment.”
She grabbed his arm as he took a step for the bathroom. “Ask Dan for bandages and if you feel light headed at all, let me know and we’ll call Anko back.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He was still seething as he moved from the view of their gathered audience. Looks like Konan was right about getting alcohol on his shirt after all. Damn, he really liked this shirt.
Dan was already at the door, having observed everything at the last moment, and handed him a first aid kit on his way to the bathroom so he didn’t have to enter the kitchen. Obito could only imagine all the sanitary rules that would have been breaking.
Once in the bathroom, he set the box on the counter and put his entire head under the sink. He felt a slight pinch on his left temple, but it wasn’t terrible. He checked to make sure no glass found its way under the skin then sighed, enjoying the cool water. Already the voice of Konan was ringing through his mind as she laughed at how he had only started worked here and already was caught up in a fight. This was like high school all over again.
“Need some help?”
The voice caught him off guard and he jumped, smacking his head on the faucet. Forcefully slowing himself, he shut it off and rose his head to look in the mirror. The same guy who had held him back just moments before was standing behind him with a slightly guilty look. Water dripping onto his already wet shirt reminded him that he should probably clean that too while he was in here.
“No.” Obito unbuttoned the shirt by two then pulled the entire thing over his head, tossing it into the second sink and letting water run over the collar. He pulled back his hair, observing the cut now that it had been rinsed off. It wasn’t that bad, but head injuries tended to bleed a lot. Great. Before it could start going again, he put a slightly damp paper towel against it and reached for the med kit.
Kakashi managed to get to it before him and pulled it out of reach. Obito glared at him. “I said no.”
“I heard you.”
Prick.
Still, Obito didn’t stop him as he rummaged around trying to find the alcohol wipes and bandages. Now that he wasn’t observing a self-proclaimed awestruck long lost friend, he found Kakashi to be a very attractive person. He was very relaxed, not over excited like Rin had been and thankfully not pressing him to remember something he couldn’t. If they hadn’t met in such a strange way just a few moments earlier, Obito might have entertained the idea of flirting with him.
Kakashi removed the needed materials then faced Obito fully. “If you could hold your hair out of the way, that would be helpful.”
Frowning slightly, Obito complied. He wasn’t used to random acts of kindness and surely not from people he had so easily dismissed. People of Kasai were much more friendly than Chikyū. “Why aren’t you with your friends?”
Obito winced as the wipe was lightly pressed against the injury, causing it to sting again. Well, at least he could go into school looking like a badass. Or a dumbass. Whatever, he didn’t care.
The man before him offered a small smile. “Am I not?”
Obito could feel his temper coming back. “I thought I told you-.”
“That you don’t remember, I know.” Kakashi checked the injury again then replaced the wipe. “So tell me, where did you go to elementary school?”
“Academy.”
The smile widened. “What a coincidence. Me too.”
Obito could see what he was trying to do. In all honesty, he had no memories of his life before the car accident he was in with his parents the night of their death. When he woke up in the hospital, he was greeted by a surly looking man claiming to be his uncle stating that they were to live in Chikyū city. He had been told he had lived in Kasai in the past, but that he had been an introverted child and didn’t have any friends. Given that no one had reached out to him, he had accepted that as truth.
Which was precisely why he didn’t need to get caught up in this. He didn’t need false friends entering his life.
He reached past the man for the bandages and pulled away from Kakashi’s care to tend to himself. “I can handle this myself, thanks.”
Kakashi remained silent despite being dismissed for the second time this night. He had to admit, the man before him was the spitting image of the Obito he knew and even contained the same name. It really seemed like his childhood friend was trying to pretend their friendship didn’t exist. There was no way Obito would have forgotten him. Not in a million years. Even more so to brush him off so easily.
He refused to believe the person before him was anyone different than the kid he used to know. “Have I done something to offend you?”
It was obvious Obito was about to snap at him by the way his jaw stiffened. Instead the bartender opted to ignore him as he placed some heavy duty Band-Aids against his head.
“You’re putting that on a little off.”
“If I wanted your medical opinion, I would have asked for it.” Obito tossed the useless paper into the trash and weaved around the other man to retrieve his shirt to place it beneath the hand dryer.
Kakashi clearly wasn’t through with him, relocating to stand next to the loud machine. “Why are you so insistent that we don’t know each other? The Obito I knew had always acted warmly towards everyone regardless of whether he knew them or not.”
“Maybe because I’m not the one you know.” Obito offered, flipping his shirt. He was basically willing the shirt to dry faster so he could get back to the bar and away from this guy. No matter how attractive he was, Obito didn’t like clingy people.
Kakashi’s head tilted as he thought. “Well, my childhood friend lost important family to a devastating car crash. After that he moved to live with-.”
He was cut off when Obito’s fist balled into his shirt and shoved him forcefully against the wall of the bathroom. The amount of fury on his face was like a virtual slap to Kakashi. Clearly he had stepped on a nerve in his attempt to get a reaction.
Obito clenched his damp shirt tightly to avoid throwing a second punch for the night. “Stay the fuck away from me.” He said through gritted teeth. He released Kakashi and left the bathroom, clothing himself in the still slightly damp shirt.
Kakashi mentally scolded himself, knowing he should have said something else. He had expected Obito to be surprised or of guard, but not mad. The death of his parents had been an accident and in no way was his fault, so he would even suspect Obito to be sad. But anger? There was no reason that emotion should have been present to such a degree. Unless he felt like Kakashi was overstepping his bounds, which wasn’t entirely out of the question.
He looked towards the door Obito had gone through and sighed. He probably wouldn’t accept an apology right now either, and he hardly needed to get him in trouble by looking like he was picking a fight.
Straightening the folds in his shirt, he slipped the first aid box in the corner under the sink and exited the bathroom. Finding Rin and the others would be the best course of action right now, but he still couldn’t help but cast a glance towards the bar.
Instead of finding his childhood friend furiously cleaning something, he was greeted with the smiling face the was so unmistakably Obito. Yet instead of being directed at him, it was towards a blue haired girl and red haired man. He felt his heart clench slightly, feeling as if he was easily replaced. He and Obito had been so close in the childhood, although always rivals, but he never expected to be so easily brushed aside. After all the history they shared, it would have been impossible for the Obito he knew to turn a blind eye or deaf ear in his or Rin’s direction. Did this Obito really not remember him at all?
Turning from the image, Kakashi entered the back room where his group had begun mingling with Tsunade’s. Once the doctor saw him, she b-lined straight for him. “Kakashi, right? If it’s not too much trouble, I was wondering if you could tell me what happened earlier.”
It was shocking to see her coming to him rather than Obito, but she might have gotten the feeling that her employee was only going to brush it off again like earlier.
“It’s really just what Obito said. A bunch of jerks looking for trouble. If anything, he stopped them from messing up your party.”
Tsunade sighed and rubbed her temple. “Really, that child.”
“Ma’am?”
She shook her head and waved away her emotions. “He’s been dealing with pests that have been questioning my decision to open this bar. For someone so new to the city, he sure makes an effort to look out for his co-workers. Even yesterday he stepped in for a cook who called in sick when we were low on staff rather than going apartment hunting with his friends.”
That sounded exactly like the kid he used to know and Kakashi couldn’t help but cast a glance back at the Uchiha. He had since gotten a mop to clean the mess Zabuza made while his friends tossed wadded up paper at him. He responded by flicking soap water at them, completely comfortable with their teasing.
“May I ask you a professional question?” Kakashi asked, turning respectfully back. When he was answered with a nod, he continued, “How do you bring back repressed memories?”
Tsunade looked between him and Obito and frowned. “I would suggest you leave Obito’s past memories alone, kid. If memories are repressed, there’s generally a good reason.”
“How did you know I was talking about Obito?”
She laughed him in such a way that made him feel like a child. “Please, between your female friend over there blabbing about how her best friend forgot her and the fact that I have to know the medical background of my employees, and no to mention the fact that I’m not blind to the fact that you look like a lost puppy right now, it’s not that hard to figure out.”
Kakashi felt like an idiot. He didn’t realize it had been that obvious. That and he should have known better. Tsunade was a doctor and could easily get her hands on the records of her employees.
Still, Tsunade patted him on the shoulder. “You can try and bring him to places of his childhood or you can make him experience a great shock. Or you could just befriend him again and make new memories. People can change their behaviors and their habits, but they can’t change who they really are. If you two were friends before, then you will be again.”
It was a comforting notion, but after their most recent interaction he was sure Obito wanted nothing to do with him. He sighed, feeling even dumber than Guy on his science tests.