Inspired by kiasca adorable illustration after a comment I left on her LJ.

Here's where you find her pic Not the hair!

If I have the time I'll work on the grown-up version. Hee.

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Ruru couldn't quite believe his luck. Even though it meant waking up at the ungodly hour of 9am, he was actually going to spend that day at that boy's house! Everyone in his class was always talking about that boy, that.......Tapashi... no...Patashi...erm...Katashi? Well, anyway, that boy. Ruru was so beside himself with excitement that he didn't even mind it when mother made him go back into his room to put on his underwear. Five-year-old boys, unlike babies had to wear underwear you see, and having just turn five, Ruru was still trying to get into the briefs habit.

As Ruru stood in the hallway next to his mom listening to the tall, pretty lady greet and invite them in he began to fidget, firstly plucking at the tight elastic band digging into his butt and then pulling at it through his shorts. He froze when he caught the side-ways glare his mom sent him. The tall, pretty lady with the twinkling eyes laughed as she bent over to ruffle at his tousled dark hair. Ruru immediately winced. He hated having his hair ruffled. About to bolt away from the offending hand, the young boy found himself grabbed by the scruff of his neck and forced into a low bow.

Ruru was not pleased. If fact he was...hang on...who was this 'Iruka' his mother was speaking off? And why would he surely be a bother to the tall, pretty lady and her husband? Ruru's large brown eyes shot open. Was this 'Iruka' coming over to play as well? Noooooooo! He wanted to play with Katapi all by himself!!! The little boy drew himself up to his full commanding height, uncomfortable underwear forgotten, and was about to bellow his disagreement when he caught sight of him.

TATAPI!

Just as Ruru was about to break free of the grasping hand at the scruff of his nape and race towards the other boy, the tall, pretty lady called out a name. The light-haired head popped out from behind the corner again, and soon a slim, almost skinny body followed. Shuffling his feet, the other boy made his way over to where they were all standing. He wasn't smiling. Not even a little bit. Well, Ruru couldn't tell really, but the boy's mask didn't seem to make a smiley shape.

Ruru stared, astonished.

Katapi was so short! And his hair was all white! And why did it stand up like that? Didn't his mom make him comb it every night like Ruru had to? And why was his hair all white? It was like that Jijiraba-sama who came to his class last week. Jijibaba-sama was old! No way! Takapi was an old man! NO! Ruru didn't want to play with an old man!

Again Ruru opened his mouth to yell out his protest only to find himself forced down into yet another bow. The older boy bowed back.

O-O

As the grown ups wandered into the kitchen Ruru and Kapashi were left alone in the living room. Ruru was not pleased. Not only was his underwear causing him great discomfort, all Tapashi did was sit there. Silently. Silently sitting, reading a homework scroll. Disgruntled, Ruru pulled the book that was lying on the table top onto the floor and flopped onto his belly to read.

Hrumph. No pictures. Boring.

Sneaking another glance at the taller boy, Ruru five-year-old brain worked itself into a frenzy. Why was Kakapi's hair so white? Why did it stand up like that? Why was he wearing a mask? Why did he look so sleepy? Granted it was only 9am but didn't Katashi also have to go to bed by 8pm too? And why wouldn't Kapashi talk to him? Didn't he like Ruru? And when was that stupid 'Iruka' coming? And why was his hair so white? And why wouldn't he talk to him!

Reaching out, Ruru's hand seemed to move on its own volition.

He pulled.

Hard.

The other boy's eyes flew open in shocked. Katapi yelped.

Stunned, Ruru instantly recoiled. The older boy turned towards the five-year-old, his fist balled in anger.

Ruru immediately recognized that look. It was the look his mom would always give his dad whenever his dad brought Ruru home covered in dirt, sugar and ice-cream. Or that one time where an egg exploded in the kitchen while Ruru and his dad were trying to boil themselves a snack. Ruru knew what he had to do.

He had never tried it before, but it was now or never.

He pursed his lips. Concentrating.

He blinked once. Then again.

He widened his eyes.

He widened them even further.

Takapi stared, outstretched fist forgotten. Ruru widened his dark brown eyes even more. His dark chocolate brown eyes began to fill with tears due to the strain. Trying to focus, the younger boy stuck his lower lip out even further. Boy this was hard! No wonder his dad said it was the most valued skilled of the Umomo-clan. Ruru sniffed back his tears.

At that sniff something seemed to change in Katapi. The older boy shifted forward, the balled fist opened into a gentle hand that reached out to touch at Ruru's tousled hair. Strangely, Ruru didn't feel like flinching this time. Kapashi's caress was soft, so soft, and so unlike the hands of all the tall, pretty ladies who were always so rough. Relief flowed through him. Unable to stop himself Ruru threw himself against the older boy hugging him tightly.

Takapi liked him! He really liked him! And Ruru like Katapi too! Ruru couldn't contain his joy as he cried out the older boy's name again and again.

O-O

Kakashi sighed even as he hugged the seemingly strange child in his arms even tighter. It was no wonder his father warned him about the Umino offspring. Kakashi had no doubt that the boy in his arms would grow up to become a formidable shinobi one day. The serious seven-year-old was grateful that his father had arranged today's training session. Even though the Umino-doe-eyed jutsu was a blood-line trait that he couldn't master, or even perform at a proficient level, perhaps he could learn to build up immunity towards it. If Kakashi wasn't mistaken, one could build up a resistance to certain poisons if one was exposed to it often enough. This Umino-doe-eyed jutsu should be no different.

As the strange child in his arms continued to wail, Kakashi decided that with the right amount of training and exposure, it would just be an issue of mind over matter. The seven-year-old heaved a sigh of relief, turning his attention back to cuddling the still murmuring, definitely odd boy clutched tightly in his arms. Now if only he could figure out who the hell this 'Katapi' was...

THE END....for now.

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