You Wouldn't Choose Me

16: Leash

Aoba : akuyu! .... oh. Kakashi-san. Hi.

Kakashi: hi.

Akuyu : yes it's me. What?

Aoba: nothing... You just look different.

Akuyu: you mean less scary.

Aoba: something like that.

Akuyu: what?

Aoba: there's this person we want you to help crack open.

Akuyu: call inoichi. He's skills are less troublesome than mine isn't it?

Aoba: well he's in a festival with his family...

Akuyu: right. I don't have anyone.

Aoba: that's not what I meant...

Akuyu: that's what you meant.

Kakashi pats her head " don't be mean. "

Akuyu: ok ok. I'll help .
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Akuyu: I'm so requesting double wages for this. I was having fun.

Aoba: um... I'll talk to the hokage...

Akuyu enters the room and closes the door behind her.

Kakashi: she's not that scary you know.

Aoba: that's what you say. I don't understand how you and gai hang out with her.

Kakashi: she just seems cold. She's not really.

Aoba: that's what gai said. And what her teammates said. But I rather believe what her teammates say.

Kakashi: say that she's still dark. And kinda scary?

Aoba: not to cross her lines and it will be fine they said. How would I know where are her lines.

She came out of the room " done. She's talked already. "

Aoba: erm... Thanks.

Akuyu: ritsu!!

Ritsu appears " ha ha... Got caught..."

Akuyu: this level of prisoner. You could have done it yourself. Did you try your best?

Ritsu: well... I wasn't requested.

" I see... " She walked towards ritsu and looked into her eyes with dead eyes " so next time I think you didn't request for me to save your life. I shouldn't. Like that? "

Ritsu: gomen... Gomenasai!!

Akuyu pats her head " do these kind of things yourself next time. Don't rely on me forever."

Ritsu: hai...

Akuyu looks to aoba " double wages."

Aoba: o...ok.

Akuyu waves goodbye " going home. Your punishment stands. Ritsu."

Ritsu: hai...
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Kakashi: you didn't have to be that mean to ritsu.

Akuyu: I had a rare holiday!! Rare!! A rare holiday I have a reason to relax for!!

Kakashi: If you wanted ritsu to improve, you didn't have to do that to her. I could tell she was genuinely afraid.

Akuyu: I ...

He hugged her " it's ok. Change slowly."

Akuyu: kakashi wants me not to be a monster?

Kakashi: you want to be?

She squeezes back " what if... It's not possible..."

Kakashi: you asked me to be your leash. At least trust me.

She squeezes harder " um... Kakashi..."

Kakashi: hm?

Akuyu: I accidentally... Made the prisoner crazy... That's why she talked...

He squeezes her " you'll change. Slowly."