Chapter Text
They're late.
Kakashi thought as he stood bored, leaning up against the light post he was under. He was trying to read his book as Gai prattled on about nothing in particular while they waited for Kurenai and Asuma. They had gotten married about a year prior, though there wasn’t really a wedding, it was more of a legal thing. However since then it just felt like they took even longer to show up to scheduled meetups.
You’re one to talk. Kakashi thought to himself, in all reality this was probably some well deserved karma for all the times he’s made them wait. Didn’t make it less annoying though.
They were going to go for drinks at their favorite frequented shinobi bar but it was already 90 minutes past when they were supposed to meet. Kakashi himself had been an hour late and had expected to be the last to arrive, so he was a little surprised to only see Gai standing there alone.
“I’m sure they’ll be here soon!” Gai reassured when he saw Kakashi start to grow impatient. It wasn’t often they were able to actually socialize without a bunch of teenagers flocking around them. Not that they didn’t all love their students but there were some thing’s that you simply couldn’t do with a herd of 15-year-olds around. Like get drunk and sh*t talk said 15-year-olds.
Gai had sent his team home for the night and tomorrow was their day off, Naruto had plans to train with Konohamaru until late afternoon tomorrow and Sakura had a shift at the hospital and he’s pretty sure Sai said something about researching at the library, so that took care of their teams. As far as Teams 10 and 8 went, they were both doing independent team building so in theory, they should be able to have at least one night of peace, kid free.
That is if Kurenai and Asuma would actually show up.
Just as he thought it, he heard a gruff voice call out to them from down the street. “Hey,” Asuma greeted lazily, walking up to join them. “Sorry for the hold up guys.” He apologized and as they came to be directly beside them, Kakashi immediately noticed something was off. Specifically that something smelled off.
The Hatake clan, while not possessing any kekkei genkai, did have several clan traits. The most noticeable being their sharp fangs. They were also, however, blessed with heightened senses. One of the most useful was their incredible sense of smell.
This had been one of the skills that made Kakashi so adept at tracking. That being said, it would make sense that he would more or less subconsciously memorize the scents of those close to him that he associated with regularly. Naruto, for example, always smelled like ramen mixed with a small hint of smoke from all the clone jutsu he did. Sakura, alternatively, smelled of cherries from her shampoo and a little bit of disinfectant from constantly being around it from when she’s working at the hospital. Obviously a person's scent changes at least a bit nearly everyday but the base tends to stay fairly consistent. So he was a bit curious why Asuma and Kurenai suddenly smelt so different.
When he was younger, he had a bad habit of pointing out these kinds of changes, especially if they were particularly bad or debilitating. Minato-Sensei had told him it was rude and that he shouldn’t say such things even if they were true after he made a comment about Rin’s perfume being too distracting. So he generally kept such observations to himself.
That didn’t mean he wasn’t curious.
“Ah it’s no trouble my friends. We are glad you could join us, right Kakashi?” Gai assured snapping Kakashi out of his musings. He then realized that they actually wanted an answer when they all continued to stare at him expectantly.
“Yes, it’s fine.” He confirmed and Kurenai gave him a smile. “What were you two doing anyway? It’s not often I beat you anywhere.” He pointed out with a light tease and Kurenai was about to answer when Asuma interrupted.
“I was trying to convince Kurenai to stay home tonight. She was sick this morning.” He informed and Kakashi noticed the unhappy pinch of his eyebrows. Clearly he wasn’t pleased with Kurenai’s decision to attend tonight. Kurenai looked upset too, though it was entirely directed towards the Sarutobi.
“I’m fine, Asuma.” She all but hissed at him. Seemed like they had been arguing about it a while. This was probably why they had been so late. “I was just a bit under the weather when I got up this morning, but I feel fine now.” She seemed genuine and Kakashi was inclined to believe her. Kurenai always prided herself on knowing her limits and not trying to push herself beyond what she could handle ‘like a reckless idiot’. If she said she felt fine, then she felt fine. Still, odd she was sick in the first place. Kakashi thought absently but pushed it from his mind just as quickly. There was an endless number of reasons for someone to fall ill, it was probably nothing.
Gai on the other hand seemed sincerely concerned for the health of his friend. “If you are unwell Kurenai, you should go home to rest. Surely we can reschedule another time.” He assured her and Asuma nodded firmly in agreement. Kurenai ignored her husband entirely and merely offered Gai a comforting smile.
“I’m fine really, besides I’m not willing to wait a who knows how many weeks until we get another chance like this.” She made a point. Kakashi hadn’t actually even spoken to her in weeks and the only reason he had seen Gai was because of the whole Sand disaster. Asuma had just broken into his hospital room so that interaction didn’t even count.
“Come on, we’re not gonna be able to get a table if we don’t leave now.” She not so subtly changed the subject and didn’t wait for them to say anything before she looped her arms with Gai and Asuma. Kakashi had predicted this and preemptively distanced himself before he could be pulled into it. Gai beamed back at her, apparently put at ease by her words and nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! Let us go then!” He exclaimed and the three of them began to make their way towards their desired location. Kakashi followed along behind them with a small amount of fond exasperation for his friend.
The bar they were going to was one they had often frequented during the Third Great War. It was one of the few establishments that would serve shinobi under 21 so long as no one reported to the Hokage. Not that Kakashi partook in any alcohol before the legal age. Certainly not. Ok well maybe once or twice but he could hardly be blamed. They all were under a considerable amount of stress at the time after all. Regardless they all continued to drink at the somewhat shabby club even after they had all surpassed 21.
It was a fairly small building that you somewhat had to know where you were going to find. Still, the drinks were good and the food wasn’t half bad either. Kakashi didn’t actually drink all that much but he didn’t mind going out with his comrades every once in a while. As they approached the familiar doors, Gai broke off from Kurenai to go and hold the doors open for all of them. Kurenai and Asuma gave him a polite thanks and Kakashi bowed his head as he walked in, Gai closely behind him. He would say one thing nice about this specific bar was it was rarely crowded which was something he could always appreciate.
“Let’s take the booth.” Kurenai suggested and they all followed her to sit at the circular table with a long banquette that stretched all the way around. Gai slid in first and Asuma followed after him. Kakashi went last, taking a seat right next to Kurenai. When he had settled next to her it was then the unfamiliar smell wafted through the air once again.
Where is that coming from? He thought confused and he decided to risk a subtle deep breath in to take in what was around him. There was of course the strong scent of alcohol and some kind of grilled meat coming from the kitchen. He could smell the familiar musk of sweat and dust that Gai always carried with him as well as the tobacco and ash coming from Asuma. In the middle of his analysis a waiter came by to bring them a round of drinks that one of them must have ordered when he wasn’t paying attention.
He was temporarily thrown before he caught wind of the sweet smell coming right beside him. Kurenai. He shifted so he was ever so slightly closer to her as Gai distributed the drinks among them. Kurenai, like always, smelled strongly of blossoms and had a general flower scent about her but there was something off. What is that?
“Uh, Kakashi? What’re you doing?” Asuma suddenly asked and Kakashi blinked up at him dazed as he realized he had unconsciously leaned his head closer to Kurenai. He quickly moved away and felt a red heat rise to his cheeks as he avoided eye contact.
“Sorry, I just thought I-” He abruptly cut himself off as the answer suddenly whipped him in the face.
“Oookay” Asuma mumbled when Kakashi stopped talking and didn’t attempt to speak again after several seconds. He heard Kurenai huff a laugh as they brushed it off as typical Kakashi strangeness. Which he would’ve been offended by if he wasn’t occupied trying not to panic.
Oh.
Oh no. Kakashi thought as his mind raced for a different explanation than the one he had found. It's consistent with the symptoms... His train of thought was cut short when he saw Kurenai go to take a sip of her drink. Without thinking it through he reached forward and snatched the cup from her hand, practically slamming it on the table away from her.
“You shouldn’t drink that.” He said and everyone turned to gap at him as though he had grown a second head. Sh*t.
“Kakashi.” Kurenai started completely calm and Kakashi risked a glance at her face. She didn't look mad at him, just utterly confused. “What are you doing?” That could not have gone worse. Kakashi mentally berated himself as he rapidly tried to salvage the situation.
“Um, you shouldn’t drink that.” He repeated oh so intelligently and Kurenai cocked an eyebrow at him expectantly. “Alcohol is bad for you.” He excused lamely and now they truly were looking at him as though he were crazy.
“You’re being weird even for you. You hiding a head injury or something?” Asuma accused, genuinely looking him up and down for injury and Kakashi desperately wanted to be anywhere else. This might have been the most uncomfortable situation he had ever been in. He missed when he was younger and wasn’t socially aware enough to know when a topic was awkward or he was making someone uncomfortable. It was so much easier then.
“What I mean is, you said you weren’t feeling well right? Maybe you should go home and rest? ” He tried instead and attempted to convey his intentions with his eyes as he stared at Kurenai. It wasn’t working.
“Kakashi, are you well? You are acting rather strange.” Gai asked legitimately concerned and Kakashi felt like ramming his head into the table. It was times like these he wished someone else could be the smart one of the group. Raidou and Genma never had to deal with things like this.
Alas, he was the prodigy of his generation so this responsibility fell to him alone. With a great sigh of defeat he raised a hand to gesture Kurenai closer. He didn’t know whether it was the look of pure agony or his abnormal behavior that implored her to comply. Once she was close enough he leaned forward so his mouth was right by her ear.
“I think you might be pregnant.” He whispered so quietly she could barely hear it and he could feel as she went completely rigid beside him.
“What.”
Kakashi winced as she spoke stunned at full volume and hoped Gai wasn’t listening in. It wasn’t his intention to out his friends in the middle of a casual get together.
“Pregnancy hormones change a person's scent.” He quickly explained, still keeping his near silent tone. He was utterly mortified at this point but he might as well keep going. “Combined with the fact you weren’t feeling well…” He trailed off meaningfully and after another awkward moment moved away completely red to see her expression.
Her face had gone slack and she was staring off ahead, though it didn’t look like she was actually seeing anything. Asuma and Gai were openly staring at them both and Kakashi was seconds away from just shushining away. He had done his job and informed her of the risk she was currently at. He had fulfilled his requirements as a good friend. He didn’t need to be here anymore. Before he could put his poorly thought out plan into action Kurenai tentatively spoke.
“You…can smell that?” She finally asked, a red tint beginning to come to her face as well and Kakashi was relieved that was all she asked. He gave a jerky nod and he watched as she slowly processed the information.
“Ok what is happeni-” Asuma started, on the verge of losing his patience but didn’t make it far before Kurenai abruptly stood up.
“Actually, Kakashi, you’re right.” She spoke a touch too fast and waved her hand slightly for him to stand and let her out of the booth which he did so readily. “I’m not really feeling 100%. I am going to go home and rest.” Asuma was quick to follow after her before she could make her speedy retreat out of the bar and snagged her by the arm.
“Hold on, I thought you said-”
“I changed my mind.” She snapped, cutting him off again and he looked utterly lost. She let out a shaky aggravated breath and reached forward to roughly grab his hand. “Come on, I’m tired.” She excused and immediately began to forcibly drag him out of the building.
“What? Wait-” Asuma’s protests were ignored as the couple disappeared out of sight. Kakashi let out a sigh of pure relief that that lovely ordeal was over. That was the single most awkward conversation I have ever had. Gai just stared after their friends in baffled confusion.
“What…just happened?” He asked and looked towards Kakashi for answers. Kakashi didn’t give them and instead roughly pulled his mask down and chugged his and Kurenai and Asuma’s forgotten drinks in quick succession. Once he was finished he ran his hand across his mouth before righting his mask back in place.
“I’ll tell you later.” Kakashi dismissed and Gai cocked his head to the side, still completely in the dark.
Hopefully later would never come.