[Closed] I've had all I can take.

[scarecrowboy]

Who: Kakashi Hatake & Yamato. (Once the fight is over anyone can jump in and feel free to see them/witness the carnage or whatever. I'll make a separate comment thread when that comes about, probably.)
When: September 16.
Where: Konoha, outside Hokage Tower and then to a training ground after they've finished lowering everyone's opinion of 'capable' shinobi.
What: Kakashi has been brooding for a while now, and it's all coming to a head.



It had been the first time in his life he'd ever asked for a vacation, for a break, for a pat on the shoulder and a 'don't worry about it, Kakashi, take as long as you need'. He didn't ask for much, though he supposed a break after a few weeks of little to no mission-action was a bit of a strange ask, but since it was his first request for time off in all his years of being a shinobi, he didn't think there would be much of a problem. He probably deserved it after only ever being forced into medical leave in the past.

He'd trailed all the way up to the Hokage's Office with his paperwork that he'd avoided handing in for the past few weeks, and his excuses laid out straight and clear - a harmless visit to Uzushio to check up with his secret student and her newly acquired ninken. Obito just had to stamp and sign a goddamn scroll and everything would have been fine, but no. Upon entering the room his friend had greeted him, but when Kakashi's question aired the man had looked up at him, wilted horribly and told him that he'd only just got back from spending a month there, did he really want to go back already?

God damn it.

He could see the man was visibly crushed, could see the hesitance and the sadness in his eyes, like a kicked puppy.

Kakashi's heart had ached seeing that, and had left on a whip crack reflex, body flickering out of the tower in a puff of smoke.

The more he thought about it though, the more he couldn't stand the idea that Obito had used his weakness against him, and as he descended the stairs from the levels of the tower toward the ground floor... he only got angrier.

Comments

[mokutonno]

He pivoted with the swing, more used to Kakashi throwing him around than he'd like to admit and sunk the impact with his shoulders, limiting the winded feeling and forged on.

"Wow, I guess it makes sense, I mean, how would all three of your ego's fit into such a tiny bed? He'd have to bench one of you and it's not going to be Gai."

Okay, that was probably a bit far given Yamato's current position, but he knew Kakashi wouldn't commit unless he turned the right emotional blade just so and this particular brawl between them was a long time coming.

[scarecrowboy]

That was the last straw. People were starting to stare, almost crowding around them as Kakashi's fist tightened in the collar of Yamato's flak; shinobi and civilian alike looking at the pair of them with equal parts fear and curiosity.

"He'd have to bench one of you and it's not going to be Gai.."

Kakashi's anger roared in his chest and without a second thought or word of warning he whipped his hold around, gripping the back of Yamato's collar instead of the front and barged past the small crowd forming around them, dragging Yamato behind him like an unruly dog.

[mokutonno]

Yamato stumbled, struggling in Kakashi's hold and managing to twist free, but not before being towed along half the courtyard.

One his feet again, he noted the crowd and understood the other man's intention, but he'd be damned if he would let himself be manhandled away like an unruly two year old in front of them.

Instead, he shoved Kakashi away and flickered to the rooftop, intent on reaching the nearest training ground before they could clash again.

[scarecrowboy]

Civilians were still staring around as if trying to work out if this were some sort of demonstration. Shinobi fights rarely happened away from training grounds - in fact they didn't happen - but Kakashi couldn't waste any time being self conscious or wary of his reputation now, especially not as he watched Yamato flounce away from him with that smug look on his face.

What right did Yamato have to jeer at him like that? When he had no-one else to turn to for comfort, his one source of friendship was doing /this/.

His blind rage distracted him from the fact that Yamato was the only one he could talk to, since he couldn't very well talk to Gai or Obito because his problem involved them both, and for fear that either might cry. Yamato was giving him exactly what he needed - anger in retaliation. He'd tasted it just a little when Obito had shouted back at him the previous night, but there hadn't been nearly enough to sate him before the tears started.

Even remembering how Obito looked when he cried made Kakashi angry all over again, and he dispelled the thought from his mind to follow Yamato up onto the roof.

[mokutonno]

Yamato knew he didn't have much time; Kakashi was already hot on his heels and would be within his strike range all too soon.

Flitting from roof to roof, he used every short cut he knew to extend the space between them and even then, barely keeping ahead.

Kakashi was known for his speed and in a foot race, Yamato was outmatched, but he was counting on the other man's head space to play in his favour; anger made Kakashi sharp, but it also made him easy to lead.. Until the Sharingan came into play that is.

He silently prayed that Kakashi would hold off until they touched down for that at least.

[scarecrowboy]

Yamato was right in assuming Kakashi's emotions would get the better of him now; the anger blinding him to everything about the situation other than how much it annoyed him that Yamato was running away. He didn't care where they were going, what Yamato's intentions were or even what his own were.. He just wanted to expel this awful heaviness that had lifted a little when his fist made contact with Yamato's jaw.

It wasn't fighting back, though... and Kakashi knew Yamato was capable enough, better than anyone else. That's why he followed.

[mokutonno]

Yamato touched down, skidding in the packed dirt of the training field and rounding on Kakashi's incoming figure.
The thrill of doing this again had adrenalin rushing through his system and the smug tilt of his mouth wasn't just all an act.

[scarecrowboy]

Kakashi landed without much recognition for where they were, and gave Yamato a hard but defiant look as their eyes met across from one another. This was so reminiscent of their younger days it was almost jarring... but Kakashi remembered the release that came with fights like these.. and he craved it.

[mokutonno]

As soon as Kakashi landed, Yamato attacked. Holding back wasn't going to work here, not after so long and he knew the Jounin would expect him to be on the defensive, but not this time.
Yamato closed the space between them, falling into old patterns and a flurry of blows that he knew would be met in kind.

"This is what you wanted wasn't it?"

[scarecrowboy]

That strike was what he wanted, yes. That hit and that punch, the snarl of anger that came so rarely his way. He never had anyone take him on and strike back like Yamato did.

He met the blows with well timed blocks, retaliating with his own and a growl - but not one of frustration, one of effort. He wasn't holding back.

[mokutonno]

Yamato parried, turned, blocked high to save his sight and took the shot to his kidneys with nothing but a grunt.
He stepped back, giving ground but not by much and used the space to kick mulishly at Kakashi.

"Don't think I missed the hint. 'We should sparr sometime', really? You're not fooling anyone, Kakashi."

Yamato spat the words around even breathing, anger rising at how casual the other man had been, probing for a privilege he'd long ago abandoned.

[scarecrowboy]

He blocked the kick with a firm arm, then used the momentum and force to jab forward to make contact with his stomach, his chest, and jump back to avoid the backlash.

"I wasn't trying to fool anyone." he hissed as he firmed his fists again. "I suggested it, and I didn't hear you complaining. Your tail started wagging as soon as senpai took notice of you."

[mokutonno]

Yamato guarded his stomach but stumbled back from the words as much as the second hit. His face twisted into an ugly snarl, hurt and fury battling for dominance over how he should react first and both finding space.

"You bastard. How dare you use that against me! After what you did? you're lucky I didn't sucker punch you the day I was assigned village side!"

Chakra burned through him and Yamato dropped to slap both hands to the ground. Gnarled branches erupted around him, shooting forward to grasp and maim.

[scarecrowboy]

Kakashi saw the telltale signs of the attack before it hit - the scent of Yamato's chakra flaring triggered his memory enough to alert him to what was coming next. He imitated Yamato's stance, slapping both hands to the ground and disappearing into the dirt before the mokuton could strike him.

Moments later his reaching hand erupted from the ground, snagging Yamato's ankle and wrenching him down to switch their places and trap the other man in the earth.

"Oh I am? So while you were going to dinner with me, that was me being lucky? Not you just indulging yourself?" he hissed as he sprang away on lithe feet.

[mokutonno]

Yamato's form sunk into the ground but quickly transformed to reveal the mokuton clone that had replaced him.

The actual Yamato appeared at the tree line closest to them, reforming behind Kakashi's back and furiously forming hand signs.

"Oh! Excuse the hell out of me for actually, you know, missing you. 'See you tomorrow, Tenzou.' Those were your last words to me! Then five years of nothing, Kakashi."

Jutsu complete, the ground cracked and rumbled around them, crumbling under Kakashi feet and spreading with the force of Yamato's chakra and anger.

[scarecrowboy]

Kakashi jumped aside, perching on the peak of a slab of jagged ground as the training ground erupted below his feet.

"You're actually blaming me for that?!" Kakashi roared, hardly thinking as he gripped his right forearm with his left hand, white blue light instantly erupting from his palm with the piercing sound of screaming birds. "Do you have any idea what had just happened to me, Tenzou?!" He didn't strike, not yet. It was more a threat than anything.

[mokutonno]

Yamato dashed into the mess of broken ground, finding space for his footing and hands clasped, stood ready to defend.

"Of course I do. No thanks to you! I broke in and read the report, cover to cover. I risked treason to find out!"
He ignored the threat of lightning wreathing Kakashi's hand, more than prepared to meet that particular attack head on and focused on the long buried hurt that was fighting it's way to the surface.

"Not knowing practically killed me."

[scarecrowboy]

A weight dropped into his stomach. Under normal circumstances Kakashi might have been able to see the other man's motive, but blinded by anger and hurt he couldn't focus on anything other than the breach of personal space.

"You read it?!" he screamed, running at Yamato with his hand raised. He could just see it now... Tenzou reading every detail of how Kakashi had failed to protect those closest to him, failed as a captain and as a teammate. Had he lost respect for him that day? Had he told his subordinates, made iron whip Kakashi out to be a weak link? His fury turned inwards. He'd let Tenzou down too that day.

His anger was still flaring at the thought that Tenzou would rather read a file than talk to him; would rather break the law than find him and battle the truth out of him. Maybe that would have helped him open up, maybe that would have helped ease the pain but /no/. Tenzou didn't follow him, Tenzou didn't stick by him and didn't persevere after he saw Kakashi's walls go up.

With his free hand, Kakashi shifted his headband up, revealing the spinning scarlet wheel that was his gifted eye as he came close and lunged to strike the other man's middle.

"It wasn't your place to read it!"

[mokutonno]

Only his preparedness saved him from the blow. Three mokuton walls forced their way between them, slowing Kakashi's momentum enough for Yamato to break away and flicker right; coming around behind the Jounin's back and striking hard with the block forming in his hands.

Yamato rolled away with the force of the hit and back up to his feet, panting for breath.

"There was no other way! I couldn't go to you, I was a reminder of everything you wanted to forget and everyone else was dead! So I found out on my own and stayed away, just like you wanted!"

That message had been loud and clear. Yamato hadn't been what Kakashi had been looking for to comfort him and the thought of being a grim spectre of that mission, the thought of going to his Senpai and then being rejected or ignored, had been too much to bear.

[scarecrowboy]

Playing happy kouhai and senpai had obviously been short lived, as now the truth was finally pouring out, and Kakashi drank it in almost greedily. He was sick of lies, sick of keeping everything bottled up for the sake of others. It was time to let it out.

When Yamato struck at his back the blow took harsh contact against his shoulder blade and he fell, dropping forwards into a roll only to spin around with his hand braced on the floor. His chidori had splintered and charred the walls Yamato had shielded himself with, and with the lack of concentration the jutsu had disappeared too.

Yamato's words stopped Kakashi mid consideration for his next move, and his glare tightened, darkened.

"A reminder of what I wanted to forget?" he repeated, offended and angry. "Where the hell did you get that idea? I just didn't want you to look at me the same way everyone else did - I didn't want to see you feel sorry for me!" he spat as he darted forwards, aiming for Yamato's face with his fists, using all his quick precision and speed to land his attacks successfully - and then he didn't stop.

[mokutonno]

Yamato was forced back under the assault, giving ground but matching Kakashi blow for blow.
His taijutsu had improved over the past months; training with Neji having been a great boon, but he still stumbled against the ferocity of each attack, gasping and flinching at the strikes that found their marks.

He made contact with a few of his own, underhanded jabs and kicks finding their way around Kakashi's own defence and awarding Yamato enough breath to force words out.

"Give me at least some credit, Kakashi. Everything we weathered together and you thought I would pity you?! Did you pay any attention to my personality at all?"

Everything hurt. His heart and body throbbing in time with his pulse and the anger burning through him and Yamato struck out viciously, targeting weak points that were usually off limits during their sparrs.

"I wanted to go to you, wanted so badly to have you back, but you left without a god damn word and Obito said you were happy. That getting out was what you needed, that it was helping and I couldn't ruin that!"

[scarecrowboy]

At the dirty tactics and the final punch to the gut in the form of Yamato's words, Kakashi bodily shoved the other man back and down by the shoulders, trying to disarm him for a moment while he caught his breath, strained from the bruises he could feel forming and... tried to process those heavy words.

"Obito said what...?" he asked, anger suddenly gone only to be replaced by a dumb kind of confusion.

[mokutonno]

He rolled away, hopped out of strike range and landing amongst the uneven ground.

"That you were happy village side, that it was healing you, helping you in ways that I- that ANBU couldn't."
Yamato spat the words, long buried memories, suddenly fresh and raw in his mind again and unable to mask how it had affected him any longer.

"But nothing's changed! Five years and you still can't talk to him and I'm still the whipping boy for the anger you're too cowardly to take out on him in the first place!"

[scarecrowboy]

Yamato's words struck a chord somewhere deep inside him, and for a moment he found himself caught at a stand still, jarred and confused. Obito had thought he was happy? Happy enough to tell Tenzou as much?... It wasn't true. His days in the village after his resignation from ANBU were some of the hardest he'd ever had to endure; knowing he was a failure, seeing it confirmed in the looks people gave him, seeing his friends elated to find him pliant and talkative after spending so long shutting them out and the guilt that came with that..... Kakashi had never been obvious with his feelings, but that much he was sure even Obito had picked up on the fact that he definitely wasn't happy. The only thing that made him happy about those days was to know that those closest to him hadn't given up even when he'd shut them out... Even if he'd lost Tenzou to the walls he built around his heart.

It broke him a little, right there and then on the training ground... It wasn't anything drastic, but a tiny crack splintered in once mended wounds, and the feeling was raw and painful.

The sharp, clean pain soon turned to white hot fury, however, when Yamato spoke again. He charged forward before he could think, his quick speed acting on his side as he jarred the brunt of his heel straight into Yamato's chest.

"I am not afraid of him."

[mokutonno]

He slammed back into the dirt, unable to keep his footing and coughed wetly, something had definitely cracked under that strike. It didn't stop him though and Yamato recovered, eyes burning with menace as he stumbled to his feet.

"Oh? So you haven't made yourself into a walking security risk with the two people closest to you? And that definitely hasn't happened because you're so guilt ridden you'll agree to anything to keep them happy, despite your own feelings?!"

Yamato tore at his hair, remembering just how uncomfortable Kakashi had been the night before, how drunk he'd been, in public no less and threw it all back in the other man's face.