| [Jan. 21st, 2012|11:09 pm] |
Over Katsuko’s shoulder, Ryouma’s grin was just as wide, and his eyes just as bright. They looked like a matched set of perfect faith, and Kakashi suddenly had an idea of what medics must feel like when they said experimental treatment and their patients heard cure.
“It won’t be today,” he said carefully. “I need to do the research, run it past the seals lab, talk to the Hokage if I can. I won’t risk your life until I have something that stands a chance of really working.”
Something a lot like relief flickered across Ryouma’s face, there and gone between heartbeats.
Katsuko nodded, letting out a quick breath that made the scarlet seal on her belly flex like a gutted snake. “Good, because we haven’t had breakfast yet.”
Ryouma bounded to his feet with all the fire of a man who finally had a workable task, “Breakfast I can do,” he said, flashing them both a smile and heading off to take over from his clone. The air smelled like eggs now, and freshly brewed coffee. There was a rapid clang of dishes, then Ryouma was back almost within a minute, carrying plates loaded with toast and eggs and bacon to the table, while the clone dogged his heels with pitcher full of coffee.
The pitcher was a surprise. Kakashi didn’t know he owned one.
Katsuko beamed, as if breakfast was all she needed to put the world to rights again, and held her hands out demandingly to Ryouma, making little grabby motions. “Hand it over here, you big lug.” She shot Kakashi a sidelong glance. “I’m still getting your bacon.”
“All yours.” He leaned over the table to catch the plate that looked like it was meant for him, and slid it in front of Katsuko. She grabbed it along with the plate Ryouma handed her, looking gleeful.
Kakashi got to his feet, scattering books and scrolls.
“Hey,” said Ryouma. “Breakfast wasn’t just for us, y’know.”
Kakashi waved him off distractedly, returning to his desk to fetch fresh paper and more brushes. He brought them back to the table and spread them out, along with half a dozen of the texts he’d shown Katsuko, and got to work drawing an accurate replication of Katsuko’s broken seal while the image was still freshly burned into his sharingan. |
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