[Open] A dog day afternoon.

[scarecrowboy]

Who: Kakashi, and anyone who might wander by.
When: August 16.
Where: A training ground in Uzushio.
What: Kakashi spends his afternoon off getting reaquainted with a village he hasn't seen for a long time.

Crack-crack.

Kakashi stretched his neck to either side, lifting a hand to rub some warm pressure at the top of his spine. His back was aching like he'd spent a week sleeping in a tree; apparently he definitely wasn't made for a desk job. It had only been a few weeks, and despite enjoying his temporary position on the whole, sitting in a chair and pouring over a desk had done nothing for his already awful posture. He probably just needed a little work out. Exercise was incredibly hard to find behind stacks of paperwork.

The air was certainly cooler here. He'd found a nice, quiet training ground to spend his afternoon off; the grass somehow gentler on his creaking joints. From here the low sun shone pleasant and unhindered, shadows pale and far away in the open space.

A quiet yap sounded from somewhere in the vicinity of his lap, and he looked down to see a small dog looking indignantly back up at him.

"Sorry, Bisuke," he murmured, lowering his hand again to resume rubbing at the nin-hound's exposed tummy. It was much too quiet here, nothing to do but think.

Comments

*book over face* Sssnooooore~

[scarecrowboy]

"Feh, birds," the small dog huffed, his voice surprisingly low for a body so small and cute. "You've got a long, bumpy road ahead of you in that case."

Kakashi chuckled quietly as he stood off to the side, hands in his pockets. Pakkun might have been a little rougher with the approach, but he was the best choice for this job. If he liked Karin he would give her a simple route to gain her summon, but if there was even the slightest doubt in the old nin-hound's mind then Karin was in for the same grueling induction Kakashi had gone through in his youth.

Pakkun padded forward on little pink feet till he could lift his paws and prop himself up on her knee. "I'm Pakkun, by the way. If you're serious about giving this a shot, we should at least be polite about it."

i am so sorry for taking forever

[sensethis]

She pouts at the dog. She knows that caring for the birds isn't going to be the same but to completely dismiss what little experience she has? Rude much ninja dog?

She shoots Kakashi a glare. Don't laugh, this isn't funny you lazy masked troll.

"Karin, it's nice to meet you," she manages after a moment. She was going to have to get used to being crawled all over wasn't she? The birds didn't do that just prop themselves up on her knees they kind of just brushed by on their way to the food.

Don't worry about it!

[scarecrowboy]

Pakkun gave her answer a short nod, then he leaned in to snuffle at her.

"I'll tell you what I told the pup," Pakkun started as he plodded back over to the group of ninken, seemingly satisfied with his study of the girl. "You're gonna have to prove you got what it takes before I let you loose with a contract. We can't afford to get sloppy and have summoners running wild through our ranks or there'd be havoc."

"It just so happens that there's two new openings at the moment. If you're still certain then I'll call them here to meet you, but then they're your responsibility for two weeks. Do a good job of looking after 'em and maybe we'll talk about a contract."

The little dog sat before his comrades, who all peered intently at Karin.

"Do we have a deal, Red?"

Puppy time!

[sensethis]

She tilted her head at the little dog and the rest of the pack. All told that didn't seem like such a horrible deal. Care for a couple dogs for two weeks to prove she was suitable. How hard could it be, it wasn't like the birds were terrible to look after when that job rolled around to her squad. It just stank in the aviary.

But then Pakkun mad it sound like this was something she should probably approach with way more thought than she'd given to the chunin exams. And that was the most serious ting a genin could ever undertake.

Several moments pass before she actually opens her mouth and then she hesitates, and that alone bothers her that she's hesitating when she approaches everything else head on. She adjusts though standing to her full height and her shoulders back.

"Deal." She says and tries to at least appear like she isn't mildly worried inside that the next two weeks are going to be horrible.

[scarecrowboy]

At her confirmation, Pakkun nodded and finally looked at Kakashi, who's nose was tucked in an infamous bright orange book.

"We'll send them along now," Pakkun told him, leaving the statement open for Kakashi to argue with if he felt the need, which he didn't. Despite being Karin's mentor in this regard, the trial run wasn't something he'd be able to help with easily... It would be a matter of pointers and handy tips - the majority of the hard labor she would have to do herself.

"Don't worry too much," Kakashi mumbled after he'd wandered over to stand at her side. "It can be fun if you play your cards right.. and ninken are much sturdier than some other summons; you won't break them, I assure you."

Kakashi's advice aside, Pakkun gave Kakashi another glance and a little nod before the eight dogs disappeared in another puff of smoke and a comical popping sound. Rather than vanishing entirely like usual, however, when the smoke cleared the spot of ground revealed two pitbull puppies donned in unmarked blue waistcoats sitting contently on the grass.

[sensethis]

"I'm not," which was a bold faced lie. What if the pups didn't like her? Or horribly behaved? Or her aunt hated them? So many questions to answer, puzzle out. The easiest of which were the first two, but she's not sure she wants the answers even as she stares at the adorable faces.

One was all black and white with a huge black spot along its back and extending down to the hind paws. There was an equally large spot of dark fur around one eye and ears. Distinctive but adorable when combined with the pups black eyes. The other was a softer chocolate brown with white chest and splashes of white on it's knees and the tip of its tail.

Hesitantly she takes a few steps closer to the waiting pups. And they seem to be waiting for her to figure out what exactly she should be doing. Chewing on her lower lip Karin finishes crossing to the pups and after a moment kneels down in front of them. "Can they talk like Pakkun-san?"

[scarecrowboy]

Kakashi stuck his hands into his pockets as he watched her with the puppies. Absently, somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if this had been what his father had felt when Kakashi had been shown ninken summons for the first time; this strange feeling of pride, of excited nervousness. Of course back then it had just been Pakkun since he'd gained each summon one by one, but the effect was the same even if he was neither related to Karin nor her official mentor or sensei.

"They'll learn to if you nurture them right," Kakashi nodded. "Pakkun could say my name when he was very young."

[sensethis]

She is pleasantly surprised when the pups proceed to climb all over her, licking her face, tails wagging enthusiastically. Maybe there was nothing to be worried about after all. She's laughing as their wet tongues lick her face her face and their combined weight knocks her off balance. And that's about it, she's forever in love with them right there. Their antics adorable as she scritches each behind the ears.

"How can I make sure I do that?" She adjusts how they're leaning on her so they can sit up, her arms still wrapped around each pup, her fingers moving lightly through their short hair.

[scarecrowboy]

Definitely a good match, he decided as the puppies smothered her in affection. Pakkun had been a little harder to convince, but that might have been because Kakashi was a lot more stubborn in his youth.... Karin was ready and willing and defiant, he could see that much. They were definitely in good hands.

"I kept talking to my ninken, even when they couldn't talk back. They won't be able to leave your side for the two weeks you have them so just keep them by your side, talk to them, feed them, look after them.. and at the end of those two weeks Pakkun will visit you again and let you know how you did."

He smiled, his visible eye melding into a happy crescent. "I'll be here till the end of the month, so I'll help you with anything you need."

[sensethis]

Defiant in the sense she refused to fail. Just because her only experience was birds didn't mean she would let that stop her. She wanted them and not just because they were cute as all hell.

And she could talk to them, that didn't sound all that hard. It was just keeping them with her for the two weeks. She had hospital shifts and pupoues in a hospital would probably be frowned on. She could probably get the time off, but she wasn't sure how Rin would react. Maybe it wouldn't be bad if she just explained that she had two young puppies that couldn't be left alone.

"Tell my aunt for me?" She asks hopefully finally realizing she had to tell her and that was scarier than asking Rin for time off.

[scarecrowboy]

At that request Kakashi inhaled sharply, but.. stealthily managed to mask the reaction as a slow sigh. Telling Kushina that he'd given Karin two puppies that needed to be both voice trained and people trained could only resort in turmoil, and he'd had enough of Kushina screaming at him to last him a life time.

"Ah-ha, sure.." he lied convincingly. He had no inclination to tell her anything face to face for fear that Kushina could rain her wrath down upon him and potentially stop Karin training with these summons. It was probably selfish, but he didn't care.

...Maybe when she wasn't his boss and wasn't holding his books to ransom. Maybe.

[sensethis]

If she knew him better, she would have known better to ask. Even better than to trust his answer when prefaced by that stall. But she didn't and turned a bright a smile on the man. Pleased to have escaped her aunt's wrath over puppies. She might have even hugged him if she weren't otherwise occupied as the center of a puppy pile.

"So what do I call you?" She asked aloud looking at each puppy in turn as she contemplated names. "Are you boy puppies or girl puppies?" There's a look of serious wonder as presses her lips together. This is important information she wouldn't want to call either one by a name that wasn't appropriate to them.

Help Kakashi?

....I spent way too long trying to decide the genders 8^|

[scarecrowboy]

"You've got one of each, by the looks of them.." Kakashi said as he crouched beside her, his arms resting on his knees. "You can name them anything you want. Dogs have a great knack for growing into the names they are given."

He smiled, remembering how he'd pondered over Bisuke's name for weeks before finally naming him - and look how much he suited it now.

You kidding you saved me with the naming website

[sensethis]

She props her chin in her hand, "In that case I'll name the girl Chikako and the boy Kazuki." She'd picked the names out for the next batch of hatchlings from the aviary along with many others. But they were just as good for the puppies. Maybe even better.

8D They are very good names <3

[scarecrowboy]

Kakashi gave a satisfied nod, straightening up and sticking one of his hands in his pockets as he regarded the two ninken and their new guardian.

"Sounds good to me," he said with that same bright smile tugging on the fabric of his mask. "I'm sure you three will get on great." The sun was starting to go cold as the afternoon tapered off into evening, and Kakashi wondered absently what he was going to have for dinner.

"These two weeks will be tough, like I said, and I shouldn't really help you along.. but if you really need it and I'm not at your aunts beck and call, then I'll do what I can. But really, the time will fly."

They are beautiful names I love them.

[sensethis]

She hadn't even noticed how the sun was starting to disappear. Her focus turned so completely on the pups in front of her. And she's only just realizing that despite all her cooing about how cute they are she hasn't actually tried to pet them. Scooping them up, she rubs her face against the soft backs of their heads. Her arms just under their shoulders as she holds them to her chest.

Their little faces turning to lick her cheeks as their tails go wagging. "I think they like the names." There's a laugh in her voice as she gives another nuzzle to the pups.

"But the challenge is going to be the best part, right?"

[scarecrowboy]

Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. Yes, this had definitely been a good idea and he could tell right from the off that the ninken were in good hands and that Karin would blossom with the help of responsibility for them.

He nodded at her question, "It always is."

[sensethis]

She nods quickly and stands carefully, the pups still carefully held to her chest as she readjusts her center of balance. "Thank you for teaching me, Kakashi." Her thanks accompanied by small yips from Kazuki and Chikako as she takes a short step back toward the village proper. When did the sun start sliding down the skyline?

[scarecrowboy]

Kakashi shrugged a shoulder as he took a step back himself. He was actually starting to get pretty hungry, the more he thought about dinner.

"It's no problem, really. If you need anything while I'm here, you know where to find me.. but I really should be getting on my way.." he paused to raise his hands. "See you around, Karin~" and with that, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.