Eclipse

Protocols Exist for a Reason

We nodded at each other and that was that.

"So," I sighed. "What've you been up to today?"

It was only fair I asked.

"Hmm, oh a little this, a little that. Turned in your slips, helped a few grandmas, walked under a ladder and went to get blessed by a shaman to shake the bad luck. Took most of the day," Kakashi tuttered sadly.

Naruto mumbled a little 'oh I'm sure,' under his breath before continuing his battle with himself and the tea.

"Oh, did you throw salt over your shoulder just in case?" I asked, playing along.

Kakashi tilted his head a little, just enough to make his hair sway slightly to the right.

"You know," I rolled my wrist. "To chase away bad spirits hovering at your back."

I only knew that because of my little brother's soccer teammate. His dad used to make him do it before every game and kept a heavy stock of Vicks and bandages for any sort of inflammation.

Kakashi hummed. "I'll try that next time. I keep running into bad omens for some reason."

"Hm, someone's probably praying for your downfall."

Probably a lot of someone's. Especially me. I still haven't forgiven Kakashi for exposing me to the Hokage. Who the fuck does that? Asshole, I still need to figure out revenge. If only I could pay off the chef to spit in his food or something. It would bring peace to my soul.

"You really think someone spends that much time thinking about me?" Kakashi gasped, exaggeratingly coy.

"Hey, lots of people make bad choices," I shrugged.

Kakashi snorted and Sasuke's tiny smirk betrayed his feigned disinterest. Naruto had finally decided to stop giving the tea anymore chances. Naruto filled in the rest of the silence once he was done inspecting the tea.

"All I'm saying is if your drink is going to taste like flowers, it might as well follow through. Isn't pollen supposed to be sweet? Why was the aftertaste so bitter?"

Sasuke, by now on his third cup of tea, jabbed back at every comment Naruto could spew out. I knew he liked tea, but the ten minute back and forth really made me wonder if he was professionally trained as an appraiser for this sort of stuff. I drowned out their argument when Sasuke started waxing poetry about layers and complimenting flavors.

"Trying a new style?" Kakashi hummed, halfheartedly gesturing at my nails.

"Nah. I did a babysitting d-rank the other day and the kid decided painting my nails was peak entertainment."

Naruto cast a quick glance over at my nails while Sasuke kept talking at him.

"Looking good, Sa- what did you just say teme?!"

The two whisper-shouted at each other. Kakashi and I worked harder to ignore them. Thankfully there wasn't anyone directly in front of us- yet. There would be, once the dinner rush started.

"Is there a shinobi-grade polish on the market? Because this thing has lasted a lot longer than I thought it would. Especially because we did a lot of manual labor today."

Kakashi hummed. "There is. Usually clear polishes and red and black. I haven't seen other variations, but that's probably because I've never gone looking."

I raised a brow at him.

"Coworker," he shrugged.

I nodded. Makes sense. I mean if they sell ninja nail polish, it's because someone's there to buy it.