What Sasuke Wants

Sasuke felt like a stalker. He followed Kakashi and Izumo when they went out. Dinner, but no stargazing. It seemed to be purely dinner and sex. Well, Sasuke assumed that’s all they were doing in Kakashi’s house until dawn.

He wasn’t sure who he hated more: Kakashi, Izumo, or himself.

He was unbearable again on the next mission. Is was September 13th. It occurred to Sasuke that Kakashi’s birthday was coming up. He hadn’t celebrated a birthday in four years, and then there was only one since the Slaughter.

But it was odd. Every year since the Slaughter, someone would leave a small gift on his windowsill up until four years ago. Sasuke had tried to stay up all night to see who was leaving the gifts. If he managed it, there would be nothing until he turned his back or left his room, then the gift would appear. He really had no idea who left them. He might have thought it was the guilt-ridden Hokage. He remembered the Hokage finding him crying on the lake dock. The man seemed uncertain whether he should comfort him or not, probably knowing he was part of the reason the boy was so sad. He did choose to comfort him. But Sasuke received one more gift in Konoha after the Third’s death.

Sasuke figured it was someone else who pitied him in the village, maybe even Kakashi. But then he continued to receive them outside of Orochimaru’s hideouts, still on his birthday. And it didn’t matter which hideout they were in, the gift-giver seemed to always know where Sasuke was. Sasuke was pretty sure now that they were all from Itachi. He didn’t receive one this year.

The one time his birthday was actually celebrated since the slaughter of his clan was the only one he spent in the company of Team 7. All three of them gave him gifts. Sasuke never gave them anything.

Perhaps it was time to change that. Sasuke looked around when he got home the next day.

Sasuke had inherited every cent of the Uchiha fortunes as the only heir, sold off the compound when he was eight, and horded all the pay he received while with Team 7. He took most of Orochimaru and Madara’s money as well. He was beyond personally wealthy. But he’d also plundered Orochimaru and Madara’s hideouts of various artifacts, from ruby Uchiha amulets and family banners Madara had taken as spoils, to numerous weapons from Orochimaru. He’d hid the loot in cashes with summoning scrolls around them. When he came back to Konoha and got his own house, he summoned the items.

Sasuke had more than enough money to buy a gift for Kakashi, but he was drawn to his own collection of weapons. Really, he had no idea what Kakashi would like, but weapons were a practical gift for a shinobi. Sasuke’s eyes fell on a pair of kodachis.

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They had a short, simple mission the next day; they were home by mid-afternoon. Sasuke motioned for Juugo to go on ahead toward their houses, Naruto followed Sakura away, and Kakashi was about to leave as well. Sasuke hesitated as the man walked off. He followed a few steps then stopped.

“Kakashi-sensei.”

Kakashi froze. Had Sasuke just called him ‘sensei?’ Kakashi turned. Sasuke actually looked . . . uncomfortable.

“I remembered that tomorrow is your birthday. I was wondering if you had any plans.”

“No, not really.” Well, he did: dinner with Izumo and probably a night of sex. Yet bringing Sasuke out of his shell was far more important than spending a little time with his boyfriend. It’s not like they didn’t do the same thing three days out of the week.

“I wanted to invite you over for dinner.”

“I’d like that.”

“What time do you usually eat?”

“Whenever I have the time. No mission tomorrow, Tsunade’s gift to me I’m sure. Seven?”

“Ah.”

Sasuke felt like he was either going to collapse or be sick as he made his way back to the small house he bought when his probation was over. He’d bought Juugo and Karin small houses next to his as well. He caught up to Juugo and they walked silently back to Sasuke’s home. Karin magically appeared as soon as Sasuke opened his door.

Juugo couldn’t cook. Period. Karin was decent, but Sasuke was the only one who could really cook. Whenever Sasuke was in Konoha, he usually cooked for all three of them; he felt responsible for them. Sasuke pulled out all the stops and cooked the best thing he could think of. The Sharingan was a godsend for things like this; he could just watch the best chefs and learn every technique. He used his friends as test subjects. They loved it. Then he told them not to come over tomorrow.

The next day, Sasuke shopped for fresh ingredients and got a nice box in which to give the swords to Kakashi. His house was spotless anyway, so no cleaning required.

Dinner was ready when Kakashi arrived. Kakashi couldn’t help thinking Sasuke’s house looked like an armory or a museum. There were weapons on every wall and a variety of ornate boxes which Kakashi felt sure help things of some importance. He was glad there was hardly a snake in sight. He thought it odd he’d never been here before.

And the dinner was excellent. Kakashi commented as much.

“I never really trusted Kabuto to cook. And before that, I had to cook for myself. My Sharingan is useful to learning how to cook.”

“True, you were never much fun to teach because you picked everything up right away. Naruto takes so long it’s not longer fun.”

“I could act as dense as him if it would amuse you.”

The dry humor surprised him. Everything about Sasuke was surprising him recently: the unexplained anger, him calling him ‘sensei,’ remembering his birthday, inviting him over, cooking, his humor . . . What was going on? Maybe Sasuke was finally trying to relax into the village, using Kakashi as a step into Konoha in general.

“Well, you could retire into the restaurant business if you wanted.”

“I understand that’s even more stressful. Not exactly what I envision for retirement.”

“What do you see as possible retirement?”

“I don’t really. I’m sure I’ll be a shinobi until I get too old and slip up and die on a mission. Fighting is the only life I know.”

“Me too. But I hope to retire and just relax for my last few years.”

With Izumo, Sasuke thought bitterly.

Once the conversation stopped, Kakashi looked around at the decorations. “Collect all these yourself?”

“Some of them. Most of them I took from Orochimaru and Madara after I killed them. I have swords Suigetsu would kill me to get a hold of. I took everything of interest from both of them; who else would touch them? Most have no meaning to me though.”

“Some do?”

“That one,” Sasuke gestured to a prominent one in the living room, in perfect few from the small dining room. “That was Itachi’s ANBU kodachi. It’s the one he used that night. Madara had it.”

Kakashi was once again surprised, this time at how calmly he spoke of his brother and of ‘that night.’

“The one near it was my father’s. It was passed down from Madara’s son. And that one is Madara’s own sword, that one next to it was his younger brother’s. Over on the other wall are several old style kunai and shuriken; they were also Madara’s. There’s even a few that belonged to the First Hokage. Madara told me had to pry them out of his own flesh after their battle. Orochimaru had some interesting weapons with snake designs. Snakes were never my favorite animal, but you learn what your master has to teach. Useful.”

“My sensei gave me a special kunai. It was also an anchor to his body-flicker technique. I kept it, of course.”

“I still have the shuko and spiked bracers you gave me. They’ve come in handy, thank you.”

“I wouldn’t think a shinobi of your skill would still have use of old fashion tools like those.”

“For close fighting where stealth, including chakra suppression, is important, the old equipment is the best.”

“I’m glad they’ve been useful to you.”

They were finished eating by then. Sasuke gestured for Kakashi to join him in the living room. Once Kakashi sat, Sasuke pulled out the box and gave it to Kakashi. “I hope you’ll find this as useful.”

Shocked again, Kakashi open it. A pair of kodachis.

“They’re chakra blades, like my katana. Forged by the same swordsmith in fact. Orochimaru gave them to me along with the katana, but I never liked using them. They’re fine blades, but I like to use just the one long sword.”

“Thank you. Seeing how well your katana responds to your Chidori, these should respond well to my Raikiri.”*

“I think they make good decorations too.” Sasuke was obviously letting him know he wouldn’t be offended if he didn’t see Kakashi use them.

“Truly, thank you, Sasuke. I’m sorry I didn’t give you anything,” Kakashi said, Sasuke’s birthday having been less than three months before.

“I’m not offended. No one’s given me a gift since . . .” He didn’t want to mention the phantom gifts from his brother and didn’t want to say ‘Since my brother died.’ “You’re coming to see me and letting us get out while we were imprisoned in that apartment was gift enough. And bringing me . . . home.” Sasuke didn’t elaborate on that. Before Kakashi could ask to clarification, Sasuke deflected, “We have a mission tomorrow, correct?”

“Yeah. I should probably get home. Thank you for everything, Sasuke.”

Sasuke nodded graciously. “Ah.” Sasuke showed Kakashi out where he thanked him again.

Sasuke didn’t look like it, but once his door shut, Sasuke’s controlled heartbeat went wild. This seemed like a step in the right direction.

Izumo was waiting for Kakashi outside his home. “Hey, how was dinner with the Ice Prince?”

Why did that comment irritate him so much? “Very nice. He’s a very good cook and he gave me a gift. I didn’t expect that.”

Izumo’s face fell for a moment, but he recovered. “I’ve got a gift for you too.” He pulled Kakashi’s mask down for a kiss. Kakashi returned it, but pulled away after only a few seconds.

“I’m already tired and I’ve got a mission tomorrow. You can give me that gift when I get back.” He gave him another quick kiss.

Izumo was distressed, but he nodded and gave him a cheerful, ‘happy birthday’ and a promise to see him when he got back.

Kakashi didn’t go to bed. Alone in his backyard, he experimented with his new blades. As Sasuke said and demonstrated, the blades absorbed and reacted perfectly to his chakra. He rarely used a sword anymore, but he’d used one in ANBU—one very like Itachi’s—and used his father’s Hakkô Chakra Tô before it shattered during the same mission where he lost his eye. It did feel good to be holding a blade again.

Sasuke was a little disappointed that Kakashi wasn’t wearing his new blades the next day. The pair acted as though nothing had happened the night before, but Sasuke was less angry than he had been in several days.

They were home again in two days. Sasuke was also disappointed that as soon as they got home, Kakashi was in Izumo’s apartment. Annoyed, he went home to cook for his dependent comrades.

The next mission raised his spirits and he looked as happy as a man could without actually smiling. Kakashi had a different vest: a black one with fittings for a pair of kodachis, which were displayed on his back.

“What’s with the swords, Kakashi-sensei?” Naruto asked.

“They were a gift.” Kakashi didn’t say who from so as not to embarrass the Uchiha. “I couldn’t carry them in my old vest.”

Sasuke nearly preened.

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*I figure the proper name is ‘Chidori.’ Kakashi calls his ‘Raikiri’ because he reportedly cut a bolt of lightning like the samurai, Tachibana Dōsetsu, did. Dōsetsu renamed his sword ‘Chidori’ to ‘Raikiri’ after he did this (source, Wikipedia “Tachibana Dōsetsu”). Sasuke never cut a bolt of lightning, so he uses ‘Chidori,’ not having earned the right to call it ‘Raikiri.’ I don’t have them talk about this between them ‘cause I figure Kakashi brought it up while teaching it to Sasuke (not the Dōsetsu thing).