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The village was still buzzing with yesterday's excitement, now mingled with the merry mood of the festival. Colorful streamers hung everywhere, while cheerful voices of adults and children mingled with the strains of traditional music. The delicious smells drifting from the food stalls spread far beyond the festival grounds. Villagers dressed in their finest clothes made their way toward the main festival site in a large, picturesque wave, where the newly inaugurated, but already deeply beloved, Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, was to open his first Tanabata festival.
The happy, cheerful atmosphere filled Guy's heart with sparkling joy. He would definitely join the festivities later. He wouldn't miss Konoha's new youthful leader's speech!
But before that, he had another place to be.
Rolling himself through the crowded streets with practiced ease, he noticed the tall, chubby figure of his sensei.
Chocho was sitting on his shoulders in a pretty, ornamented yukata, happily munching on a dango stick and making him look even taller than he already was. He also had two boys tucked under his arms, both seeming absolutely pleased with such a turn of events.
Guy immediately increased his speed, heading toward his sensei.
“Hello, Guy-sensei,” Inojin was the first to notice him approaching and greeted him with a smile.
“Hi.” Shikadai seemed rather comfortable hanging from the man's arm with his head upside down. It fascinated Guy how, every time he met the kid, he looked more and more like his father.
Chocho took her time chewing another bite of dango before finally greeting him.
“Choza-sensei, kids,” Guy grinned. “What a pleasure to meet you. Heading to the Hokage Tower already?”
“Same here, Guy,” Akimichi smiled in response, adjusting his hold on Inojin. “Yes, their parents are busy with the festival preparations, so I'm on grandpa duty today.”
“Are you not going?” Chocho asked, looking at Guy curiously with her big golden eyes.
“Oh, dear Chocho, I would never miss it,” Guy reassured the girl. “But I need to pick up Lord Sixth first.”
“Is he lost on the path of life again?” Shikadai asked, turning over and looking at Guy properly this time.
“No, I'll make sure he won't be late this time,” Guy assured him.
Choza laughed at his response.
“Then we'll see you later,” Akimichi said. “But now we need to hurry. We have food stalls to explore before the start.”
“Yay!” Chocho clapped her hands excitedly.
“Then I'm not holding you back anymore,” Guy said. “See you at the festival.”
All three kids waved to him. Guy could hear Inojin asking his “Grandpa Choza” if they could play some festival games before the Hokage's speech and parade before the distance between them grew too great.
The streets grew quieter as Guy approached his destination. The colorful lanterns became fewer, the cheerful voices more distant, and the smell of festival food slowly gave way to the cool, familiar air of the outskirts.
It was hardly surprising. The festive atmosphere seemed too merry for a cemetery visit.
Guy could understand why his beloved rival had felt the need to pay homage to the Memorial Stone on the first official day of his retirement. Yesterday, Naruto had finally taken the hat Kakashi had worn for years. Today, Kakashi wanted to stand before the people who had never lived long enough to see it happen.
Minato-sensei.
Kushina-san.
Obito and Rin.
Neji... his precious student...
Guy didn't make it all the way to the cemetery before he spotted Kakashi's familiar figure approaching.
Might slowed down a little, simply watching his partner.
Kakashi didn't look upset. At least, not in the way Guy had feared. His shoulders weren't tense, his steps were steady, and there was none of that distant look Guy had learned to recognize over the years.
Guy wondered what had been said at the Memorial Stone. Whether Kakashi had thought about Minato-sensei and Kushina-san. About Obito. Rin. Asuma.
Or perhaps he had simply stood there and remembered.
Maybe Kakashi would tell him later...
He was about to greet him, but Hatake did it first.
“Are you lost, handsome? The festivities are in the opposite direction,” Hatake said, his eyes creasing with a smile. “And I can show you the longest way possible.”
“That's a very tempting offer,” Guy answered in kind. “But I'm afraid that we only have time for the shortest route.”
“What a pity.” Hatake laid his hands on Guy's wheelchair handles and started pushing it in the direction of the music. “No funny business in the dark alleys, then...”
“Kakashi! The whole village is on the streets now!” Guy looked at his rival far more scandalized than he really was.
Hatake seized the opportunity to lean down and give him a quick peck through the mask. It easily washed all the indignation from Guy's face and heart.
“That's your fault,” Kakashi answered nonchalantly, straightening up. “You look too good in that yukata for me not to try anything.”
“Thank you, my love.” Guy gently caressed his lover's hand. “I'm glad that you are in such a good mood.”
“Well, finally, instead of doing a speech and all that boring Hokage stuff, I can just enjoy the festival with my eternal rival.” Kakashi smiled. “What else is there to wish for?”