| [Jul. 12th, 2016|10:31 pm] |
That must have been exactly what Genma had been angling for, if he gave it any thought, but it still blindsided him when Raidou offered his personal name right back. Somehow he’d never gotten all the way through the implications. He’d been motivated by his memory of how comfortable things had been with Hajime as his captain, and by the fact that he’d come to genuinely like Raidou not just as his captain, but as a comrade. It was a gesture of respect and trust.
That the respect and trust might flow both ways was an honor he hadn’t expected.
In the end he settled on, “Thanks, Raidou.” He laughed almost immediately. “Wow, I didn’t think that would feel so weird. Good-weird, but weird.”
Raidou tipped a fond look at him, lips thinned in amusement. “Y'know, I think I'm finally starting to figure you out. All that professional composure is just a slick cover for a total dork, isn't it?”
“You got me,” Genma said. “I didn’t think I’d be able to fool you forever.” He stretched and considered his empty glass. “This is why I’m not drinking around the rookies for at least another month. You’ll keep my secret, right?”
“Sure, until someone bribes me.” Raidou grinned and hooked the half-empty bottle away to stopper it before either of them were tempted to drink more. He stood and stretched, back arching over slim hips. His shirt rode up and the loose jeans slipped down, exposing a tan sliver of skin and the wide elastic waist of his briefs for a moment, before he straightened, tugging his clothes back into place.
“Ready to go?” he asked. He folded his letter from Katsuko and slipped it into his back pocket.
“I guess so,” Genma handed the letters to Kakashi and Ryouma up to Raidou, who tucked them into a pocket as well. “I feel better now. I can sell it as a good thing to them. Not for us, obviously, but for Ueno.” He shifted onto one knee, preparing to rise. Raidou extended a hand to help him up before he could reach for his cane.
Raidou hauled him up with a firm grip, then bent over retrieve Genma’s cane. “Maybe they'll surprise us and handle it well.”
“Maybe,” Genma agreed. “They’ve surprised us before. As long as we frame it right, there’s no reason they shouldn’t, right?”
“Right.” Raidou hesitated for a moment to make sure that Genma was steady on his feet before he gathered up the sake bottle and the empty plate and cups, and set off for the house. They had to pass through the kitchen, where Raidou deposited the dishes and the bottle. Ume was there, chopping vegetables with a well-honed kitchen knife.
“You’re not staying for dinner,” she said, looking at them both with an expression that spoke volumes about her experience with ninja.
“I’m sorry, Namiashi-sensei,” Genma said. “We have to take care of something this evening.”
Raidou dropped a kiss on the top of his mother’s head. "I'll be back later," he promised.
They found their shoes in the entryway where Genma had left his, and headed back towards the center of town. The early summer sun was just starting to head towards evening, casting long shadows. As they walked, Genma worked over in his mind how he’d approach the coming conversation. I have good news and bad news was cliche, but not that far from the truth.
It was good for Katsuko. That was what really mattered. |
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