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Recherche	By : Eggburtshamslice Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Kakashi/Iruka Views: 4182 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Recherché: Getting to Know You
There on the crest of the hill stood Genma, his chest puffed with pride. "Brought you up this way on purpose, behold …the Fire Temple,” he said flinging wide his arms. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
"Don't tell me," huffed a weary Kotetsu, "there was an easier way to get here, wasn’t there?"
“Maybe, but you have to admit it’s majesty was worth the trip.”
Ignoring the murderous gleam in his friend’s eye, Izumo positioned himself between the men. “It’s not every day we see something like this Genma. I don’t know how to thank you--”
“Well I do Zumo." Rubbing away the stitch in his side Kotetsu wheezed, "Soon as I catch my breath... I'm gonna strangle him ... and then …you.”
“We’re doing this for Iruka,” came the snipped reply from the side of his mouth. “And you’re right, Tetsu, they did do a remarkable job of incorporating the additions.”
"Naturally," Genma said, his yellow toothed grin stretching wide, "the finest artisans and construction workers in the five nations make their home right here in Konoha. See that building over there? That’s where the first group of monks used to spend their days meditating, studying bugei and practicing bujutsu; they were the Daimyo’s original guards and protectors of the cargo ships back in the early days. Bout sixty years ago, Hashirama Senju gifted the monks with another five acres of land and they … wait a minute Izumo, how’d you know about the additions?”
“I was born in Konoha, remember? Spent the first seven years of my life here.   Matter of fact, they were finishing up two of the newer building right before we moved to England.”
“Oh, right,” said Genma, “it’s coming back to me now.”
"Amazing ... if I close my eyes, I can still smell the incense the monks used on special occasions; winds used to carry the fragrance through the town on summer's days--"
“Damn shame, this couldna happened at a worse time.”
“For cryin' out loud! This idiot can’t stay on one topic to save his life," Kotetsu hissed. "All this stoppin’ and starting ... getting on my nerves--”
“Shhh! Sorry, Genma … you were saying?”
“Hyuga girl's death ... hell of a way to kick off mating season.”
“Her death relates to the temple buildings and the ‘mating season', how exactly?”
“Huh? Said that out loud did I? Sorry … sometimes I forget I'm talkin' to live folk.”
“There's a big surprise,” Kotetsu mumbled. "Jackass."
“Shame … half the territory turning out to see her on a sad occasion; her tsuya is tonight, ... sure I mentioned it. How fragile this mortality, you know? Had she lived, a select few would’ve seen her at her brightest and best at this same temple …   her wedding day, I mean.”
“We’re with you so far,” Izumo said, “but what about--?”
“The 'mating season'? We’re in it right now. Yep, it's that time of year when rich folk and their lawyers get together with the matchmakers so's they can plan next spring’s nuptials. No romance, just combining fortunes ... keeps the money flowin' in the same ponds. And since Konoha is about to ratify trade agreements with Europe, that means new money is gonna pour into the territory. Well, anyway, the building over there is the lecture hall; most of the monks are in there this time of morning. I’m gonna head off to the gardens on your left. If we hurry along, I might catch the chief priest before he starts meditating. Gotta say though, feel sorry for the new kid,” he said as they began their descent.
“Let me guess ... you're not talking about the chief priest anymore, are ya?”
“Did it again huh, Mr. Hagane? Sorry bout that, terrible habit. Somebody once told me I’m a 'stream of consciousness' kinda guy; nice way of saying I blurt out whatever I’m thinking.”
“If you ask me, ‘psycho’ is a more accurate term. Zumo, I don’t know how much more I can take of this guy before I bust him one--”
“Yeah, it was bout a year ago when he got here," Genma continued, "the new guy I mean; fancy lookin' fella. Came home to bury his father’s ashes. I heard he used to live in Europe.”
Izumo and Kotetsu held their tongues, having agreed silence would squeeze more from their ‘fat little duck’.
“Comes from old money, you could almost smell it in the air around him; they, the other rich folk, talked him into hosting one of their shindigs. Makes sense of course … got a big fancy house full of servants, he's a bachelor too,” he said tapping his pipe against the palm of his hand. “His father left him bout fifty acres of land further to the west; I hear he's got interests in silver and copper too ... hell, I'd marry him if he asked. Businessmen been flocking around like vultures on a corpse since he got back ... picking his brain, seeing if he’s still got contacts over there in Europe they can exploit too. Yep, feel sorry for the new kid.”
“I can tell you’re a world traveler,” Kotetsu mocked. “Europe is vast ... care to winnow it down for us?”
“Hmm," he said tamping the tobacco down in the bowl, "somebody said he came from London.”
“Well, exciting news ... at last. I mean," Izumo explained, "there were only fifty Japanese people where we lived, so it’s possible we know him. What's his name, Genma?”
“Huh, names of folks I don't see on the regular get away from me, but I never forget a face. Saw him the night he arrived," he said, patting down his pockets for a matchbox. "Tall, lanky fella ... remember thinking how strange it was to see a head full of gray hair on such a young man. Must be a family trait, that, or somebody gave him a good fright. And something’s wonky with his left eye too, that silk eyepatch barely covered a right wicked lookin’ scar.” The biting smell of phosphorous and tobacco brought tears to their eyes as Genma puffed away. “Surname is Hajame or Hataji … or some such.”
Kotetsu and Izumo turned to one another smiling broadly.
“Hatake,” they whispered.
Recherché
Should have followed my first mind, she thought as the last of the well-wishers dispersed. Too late for a nap now. Might as well go back to the office … Ibiki oughta be there directly. As she stood, most of the newspaper slipped free of her lap, scattering itself across the bench. With a mumbled curse and a quick pivot, she turned to retrieve it. Suddenly, something sturdy collided with her hip and the ground rose to meet her.
What the hell?
A brown arm shot across her chest, shielding her from impact with the sharp gravel surrounding the bench; a warm hand caught her by the elbow, and the concerned face of a panicked young man abruptly appeared in her line of sight.
"Gosh, I’m sorry ma’am ... wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“Obviously ... I’ll thank you to unhand me please,” she gruffly said, glancing down at the arm smashed against her bosom.
“Sorry. Didn’t hurt you, did I?   Again, I'm so sorry.”
Set to give him a piece of her mind once she could stand unaided, the moment she saw those kind brown eyes brimming with fretfulness, she lost the will to chew him out.   “I’m fine … question is,” she said pointing to his bloodied bandaged hand, “are you alright?”
Recherché
“Damn it… more stairs Zumo?”
“What did you think those long white stone things leading up to the temple gates were ... flocks of seagulls?”
Kotetsu stroked at his goatee as he stared off into the distance. “You’re a regular riot, but if you look at 'em sideways, like this,” he said tilting his head, “kinda look like slices of coconut layer cake.”
“Coconut layer cake? Oh no, it’s happening again!”
Genma nervously looked back and forth between them, “What? What’s happening?” Watching Kotetsu stagger off the steps toward an open area ringed with fruit trees to their right, he grabbed at Izumo’s wrist, “What’s wrong with him?”
He waited quietly as Kotetsu tottered onto a patch of grass and unceremoniously dropped to his knees. He’s playing this to the hilt. Guess I'll have to step up my game too, he thought, turning to the mortified mortician. “Having one of his spells,” he whispered. “Before we left London, he was diagnosed with a serious illness … narcolepsy, that's what the doctor said. Ever heard of it?”
“Never, and I pride myself on keeping abreast of the latest illnesses. Death certificates are legal documents, don't you know; hafta provide an accurate cause of demise. Narcolepsy,” he sounded out the word carefully, “that’s a new one on me, and he’s so young." He paused, looking around Izumo to the shallow breathing man on his knees. "Seemed healthy he did. This illness ... it’s not fatal, is it?”
Excusing the anticipative note in the undertaker’s voice, Izumo kept a straight face saying, “Thankfully, no. More than anything, it's embarrassing. He’s awful sensitive about it Genma so, please … don’t tease him about this when he comes around.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it!” Kotetsu keeled over, crumpling onto his side as Genma’s eyebrows disappeared under the hat’s headband. “What’s happening to him now?”
“That my friend, is cataplexy . . . a sudden, uncontrollable loss of muscle tone triggered by intense emotion; usually happens before the narcolepsy takes firm hold of him. These episodes come on stronger when he’s overtired or famished,” he said as they walked to the place Kotetsu lay.
“Had I but known he was in poor health ... could’ve taken the shortcut.”
“Relax, this isn't entirely your fault. I should have made him eat something before we left his morning. Come on, help me get him to that tree over there and onto his back.”
Dragged a short distance and shifted into a supine position between them, Genma leaned over Kotetsu’s body. “How long you think he’ll be out of it?”
"A few minutes, maybe a half an hour," Izumo said as he leaned back against the tree, "he’ll wake refreshed, completely unaware of how he got here."
"Sickly, huh? Who'da thunk it? Not to worry, some of the best doctors in the world live here you know."
"You really should work for the tourism department. And, uh," he cautioned as Genma moved to check Kotetsu's pulse, "wouldn’t do that if I were you. He's been known to come out fighting after one of these attacks… learned that the hard way. I say we just let him rest ... make the best of this situation.”
Glancing down on the stricken man, up to Izumo and finally toward the temple, Genma said, “Feel kinda responsible for his state, real sorry about that. But since the head priest isn’t going anywhere, guess we can take a break.” Flipping off his hat, he dabbed at the sweatband with his handkerchief. “You two been friends a long time have you?”
“The three of us practically grew up together--”
“Explains why you look alike then.”
“Who, me and Kotetsu?”
“Nah, in profile, you and that Umino fella bear a striking resemblance. I’d bet my last dollar you're related.”
“Good eye … our fathers were brothers, half-brothers actually--”
“Consanguinity,” he said, slapping his thigh. “I knew it! Look, I think he’s coming to.”
Izumo gave his friend the once over and a subtle kick to the shin, declaring, “I think not. Yeah, those were fun times growing up in London ... we got into such mischief,” he laughed. “So what else can you tell me about this Hajame person?”
"Practically a recluse, I hear," Genma said as he turned the hat crown side down on his lap. "Then again, them creative types usually are; sleep all day, work all night--”
“So, he’s an artist or musician, I take it?”
“Nah, he's the brainy type; used to be a medical doctor, surgeon or somethin' ... now he's just a writer. Fluent in four languages, travels extensively and translates textbooks in his spare time, so says the rumor mill.”
"My father and uncle worked with anatomists and illustrators, translating English medical texts. Small world ... we traveled halfway round the globe just to meet someone who probably lived across the street from us." Izumo closed his eyes for a moment and sighed, "Imagine that, renewing acquaintance with somebody who might have worked with my father and uncle." Suddenly his eyes popped open and he turned to Genma. "Sorry, must sound like a babbling idiot to you. I'm just thrilled with the notion of reconnecting with someone from the old stomping grounds--”
“No, no, I got it ... but like I said, the guy’s a long beard away from being a hermit. Wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for an invitation to tea with him--"
"I'm sure you're right, Genma."
"And while I'm at it, let me correct myself. That guy aint from London proper, I heard he's from a place called Cornwall . . . that's a suburb of London, right?”
“If you consider a seaside town 250 miles southwest of London a suburb--”
“Oh.. well, maybe this guy isn’t who you think he is.”
“Yeah,” Izumo blew out a long breath, “maybe he isn’t.”
Suddenly, the body between them stiffens; Kotetsu’s legs start twitching and his entire upper body is shaking like a leaf in the wind.
“Izumo! Is he having a seizure? Should I fetch a doctor?”
“Probably just an anger stroke, he’ll be fine.”
“A what?”
“Nothing. Listen, you’ve already done us a huge favor and I know how much lies before you today. Why don’t you just go on without us?”
Genma was on his feet in an instant. "If you insist,” he said, considering the grimacing face of Kotetsu and the vacant eyes of Izumo, “you sure he’s gonna be okay?”
Notes:
Consanguinity: relationship by descent from a common ancestor; kinship.
A bit of history geekage: the first milestones in media history were newspapers in the Meiji period; the first one being the Nagasaki Shipping List and Advertiser, founded in 1861.
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