| [Oct. 18th, 2015|11:50 pm] |
Katsuko smiled in delight.
Amaya had poked her head out from behind the curtain to spectate a while ago, natural curiosity winning over the aversion to strangers in her family space. “Ninja-san, I know where the katana for that is,” she piped up.
The girl’s round face and hopeful expression seemed to unthaw something in Kakashi. “Would you get it?” he asked her, with a grain of actual warmth.
In response, Amaya hopped out from behind the curtain. Her little feet pattered across the floor as she made her way over to Nobuhira, who pulled his head out of his box with a frustrated expression. She ignored him and went for the box at the bottom of his stack instead, tugging at her father until he lifted the rest of the boxes away. She popped open the lid and rummaged through with an air of purpose, finally resurfacing holding a deadly-looking katana with a red-wrapped hilt that matched the kodachi’s, and trotted back over to Kakashi with it held triumphantly over her head.
Kakashi accepted it from her gravely, returning the sheath for her to hold, and settled into an unfamiliar dual-wielding stance. The set of his spine was a little stiff, his still-healing body most likely protesting anything more intense than a light jog, but his weight was centered firmly. He held there for a moment, feeling out the balance. Then he spun around like a thrown shuriken, whipping both blades around and down, stopping where metal would slice into an imaginary opponent’s collarbone.
He nodded, satisfied, and glanced over at Katsuko.
“Perfect,” she said. Amaya, who had been waiting with bated breath, cheered. Behind her, Nobuhira smiled. Katsuko pulled out her wallet and nodded at the swordsmith. “How much?”
Nobuhira considered them both. “Well,” he said, and named a sum a fair bit lower than most quality weapons went for in Konoha.
Amaya blinked, scandalized. “Dad!”
Nobuhira shook his head. “I’m more interested in seeing Wind Country styles practiced with Wind Country steel.” He smiled, a little wolfish. “And I’m building a reputable customer base, right, ninja-san?”
The side of Katsuko’s face was roasting under the heat of Kakashi’s glare. “I insist on paying full price,” he said.
Katsuko looked away from Nobuhira to give Kakashi a grin as full of good humor as it was full of teeth. “My darling student,” she said. “Please let your wise teacher provide all the tools you will need in order to learn.”
He stared back at her, stubborn as a cliff face. Maybe she could push him off a cliff and pretend it was training. |
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