"Prove I'm worth it? Worth what? His attention? I thought I already proved it several times over." Ginta shouldered the door open and nearly lost his balance when the little dog raced past his foot. Crutches tried to go one way, the door another, and Ginta a third, for just a second. Then the door stopped moving. He pulled his balance back together, touching injured foot to ground in the process, so his face was contorted into a grimace when he looked up to see Ryouma braced on his own crutches, with one hand flat against the glass.

"Thanks," Ginta said gruffly. "I'm... I've got it." He leaned back against the door to hold it for Ryouma in turn. "And I take it back about walking like a spaz. Obviously we are both supremely awesome on crutches."

He stood still, watching Ryouma's--or was it Kakashi's?--dog peeing on some hint of greenery that was trying to push up through the spring-softened soil. It was just like that, he thought glumly. Pissing on what was good. That's what Kakashi had done. The dog looked up, casting what was clearly an indignant glare, and Ginta looked away.

Ryouma was right, Kakashi was a jerk. He had been from their first meeting. It was just that back then Ginta hadn't cared. And now he did, for whatever stupid reason there was for it. Even if he didn't want to.

"If it's a fight he needs, I'll give him one when I'm not just back from a mission. I was a little over-tired the other night. And my ankle was killing me."