Another short story about my darling Copycat children, but with a few familiar faces too~

S47 - Suigetsu

IGN - Dosu

UID - 200000085180173

If you don’t know about my Copycat project, it’s just my in-universe explanation as to why the Main Characters have the cloning/control powers they have. Basically, the ANBU did an experiment where they taught a few select talented members how to control and clone various ninja, given that they have enough experience and information/data on the ninja they want to control. It’s like a more complicated version of Edo Tensei, I guess, but with a friendlier relationship between the clone and the master.

...This is actually the second time I had to write this story. The first time I tried to submit it there was a forum error and the entire story didn't get submitted… and because I was writing straight in the forum box I lost all of it. The second draft is just a shell of the first, I cut out some things just due to the frustration of losing my work and having to redo it all. So my apologies, it’s a little less than what I wanted to do.

For reference – Teal is a Midnight Blade, Scarbucks is a Scarlet Blaze, Tatsumichi/Idontcare is a Crimson Fist, Kimmy is an Azure Fang and Asaka is just a random ANBU.

So... enjoy!

•••

Festivals had never been Teal's type of thing. He had always preferred the quiet... there was something about the absence of company that made him comfortable. No watching eyes judging his every move. Nobody to su*k up to, nobody to please.

It was a weird state of freedom.

A shadow appeared beside him in the dim light. Instinctively, Teal's hand went to his blade; a moment later it relaxed, as he recognized the newcomer.

"Hey, gloomy."

"Hey, Scar."

"Not participating in the festivities?" His best friend and fellow Copycat operative sat down beside him.

"You know me," replied Teal, noticing the slight – but well-hidden – tipsiness of his friend. "I'm not... that kind of person. Besides, I don't drink."

"You're only saying that because last time you did drink, you ripped open Kimmy's pouch of herbal medicines and started smearing them all over poor Asaka's face."

Scarbucks laughs a little too loud at his own comment. "Come onnnnnn, man, live a little! Hehe..."

"You know, pretty much the entire village got today off," replied Teal. "We're unguarded. The watchmen are down there getting themselves wasted."

"Quit worrying about other people's problems. You're gonna get all wrinkly and crimpy from that." Scar wrapped an arm around him. "But seriously, dude. You should relax. Come down. Join us. Have some fun, eh?"

The bonfires flickered in the distance. Though he couldn't see his faces, Teal could make out the bulky form of Tatsumichi, better known as "Idontcare", another one of the people he had met throughout this year. Thanks to some oddball experiment ordered by the Copycat program's overseers, two Copycats – code named "a derps life" and "Do I Care?" had their DNA combined and cloned to create Idontcare, who was apparently supposed to be a prime Copycat of some sort. Teal doubted the legitimacy and legality of the entire thing, but didn't really mind much – Idontcare might be a bother sometimes, but he was definitely good company to be around.

"The bonfire isn't getting any brighter, let's go," egged on Scar.

Finally, Teal gave in. "Alright then."

•••

The site of the bonfire was sparsely populated. Most of the people had began to disperse, leaving only a few clusters of socializing villagers. Scar roughly pulled him through the crowds before having some kind of revelation, murmuring "I'll be back real fast", and dashing off.

Teal recognized most of the faces near the flames. Nearby, his group leader, Draco, was chatting and roasting marshmallows with her troupe of senior officers; one of them, Mika, had clearly drank more than she could handle and was going off about some nonexistent husband. Elsewhere, Idontcare had pulled up a bench to sit close to the blaze; cradled in his arms was a small Suna girl. Teal marvelled at how fast the Konoha-Suna relationship had strengthened in such a short time.

Close by was a short, hunched-over figure with a freshly-bought kimono and a newly-minted Konoha headband.

"Dosu," said Teal.

"Evening." The one visible eye flickered. Though Dosu's head wounds had healed long ago, Teal knew he kept the bandages maintained for aesthetics and intimidation. "I wouldn'tve expected to see you here, of all people.”

Dosu had always been the solitary type, even after his official acceptance into the Leaf. The only people he opened up to were Teal and the one and only Naruto Uzumaki, who would often go out for ramen with the Sound-nin. In the Land of Sound, there was apparently no such thing as ramen – only rations.

"I could say the same to you.” Teal nodded. “You look good in that kimono, by the way.”

It was an odd day, about a month ago, where a Copycat named Genji asked to meet him in Konoha forest. When he arrived… his world was completely changed. Standing beside him, fully resurrected… was the one. The one he’d been looking for. When he asked Genji for more details, the sly nin replied only with a wry “An anonymous gift.”

Even though the Copycat overseers had shut down Teal’s own attempts to clone Dosu, it was still enough to see him alive and well again. No more fruitless searching. His mission had been completed, the prize had been won.

"Ah... thanks. You too. I'm just checking up on some old... acquaintances.” said Dosu. “We all have people we care for unexpectedly, right?”

“Dare I ask who?”

“He who revived me,” said Dosu.

Teal was about to ask who that individual was when he heard Scar’s voice call him from behind. He turned around, overhearing Dosu’s feet shuffle and his voice say “Alucard, good to see you.”

Nearby, at a smaller bonfire, Scar beckoned him over.

“Hell, I’m drunk,” he murmured. “I can @lready feel the hangover creeping on me.

“Heh…”

Scarbucks Coffee was his longtime friend – the Red Oni to Teal’s Blue Oni. In contrast to Teal, who was cautious, an@lytical, and hesitant to make moves, Scar was brash, reckless, and could even be called stup1d to some. He believed fullheartedly that one must live their lives to the fullest in every way they could, and it showed in his behavior.

“You know, they set up a dance and stuff on top of the Hokage’s office. It could help you loosen up, if you know what I mean.” Scar winked at him and sat down on the bench next to another figure: a Water-element ninja with a reddened face and a light, bouncy kimono, staring at her ANBU mask and giggling uncontrollably.

“Kimmy?” Teal was surprised to see Scar’s partner, the stoic, nervous ANBU, reduced to a giggling mess.

To help the Copycats during their training and missions, the heads of the Program had assigned various ANBU members to each of them individually. Through the strenuous, grueling Copycat training, each individual’s ANBU partner would support them; this relationship would continue as the Copycat mastered his/her craft and went on missions. They were specifically chosen to compliment the Copycat’s personality, to keep them in check. As Kimmy usually had to do when Scar went out of control with his powers.

“She’s a happy drunk,” said Scar as Kimmy pawed at one of his hands. “I like happy drunks. They’re delighful company.”

At his side, the drunken Kimmy managed to lift his hand to her flushed face. “Your hand is sooo warm,” she muttered, laughing.

Teal stepped closer to the fire, and it was then that he noticed the other figure standing near it – his own partner, Asaka. She was dressed for the occasion as well; her outfit had a feeling of radiance around it, as if she was something precious that needed to be protected. Suddenly, Asaka, who was usually so dauntless, so determined in the heat of battle – seemed frail, like a crystal or a star.

“I think it’s time we leave these two to themselves.” With a wink, Scar sluggishly propped Kimmy’s wobbly form up and, as gently as he could in his drunken state, tried to 3scort her away to somewhere else. Asaka stepped forwards, and the flame of the bonfire engulfed her, covering her in an orange tint. Her face, too, was flushed – not from alcohol, but from noticing him.

“…Evening, Asaka.”

“Hello to you too, Teal. I have to say… you look good in that.”

“You as well, Asaka. That yukata really fits you.”

“Heh… thanks.” Asaka’s eyes darted to and fro. “I… used to work as a shrine maiden in my off time. Back when I had off time, I mean. Before... well, all of this.”

The two of them shared a laugh at that.

Of course Scar noticed his feelings for Asaka. Teal had done everything he could to keep it under wraps, but his best friend knew him like the inside out. There was something in Asaka’s eyes – something in her gaze, in how she looked at him – that charmed and bedazzled him more than anything else.

It might've been back when he was going through Copycat training, when she would look at him with this glance of acceptance, this expression of unconditional positive regard. When he would slip up, when his Iruka clone suddenly dispersed and dropped the boulder squat onto his body, she would help him get up and push him to keep going, to not falter. And on their graduation ceremony from the Copycat training, when he and Scarbucks walked together towards the Third Hokage to receive his blessing, how her gaze, locked on him, was full of such warm emotion.

Not the eyes of a mother watching her child graduate ninja school and move to a next phase in his life… but that of a lover, helping the one she cared about most get over his biggest obstacle. Finally seeing him reach that peak, so that she would never have to ask him if the training was too hard, if he wanted to break or give up again.

That was the past. And now…

We all have people we care for unexpectedly, right?

Dosu's words.

A smile lit up Asaka’s glowing face. “Scarbucks may be an idiot, but he does have a point. Care to dance?”

She took his hand; at first, he resisted, as his reflexes always did when someone touched him. But a moment later, he relaxed.

“Alright, Asaka.”

“You know… just because we have a work relationship doesn’t mean you need to address me so formally.” Asaka’s gaze hit the stars as they began to walk, hand in hand, towards the Hokage office.

“Oh?”

Everyone always called her Asaka. That was just how things were. But…

“Yes, Teal. We’ve been through a lot, and… from now on, I’d like you to call me Yuki.”

“…Alright, Yuki. I’ll do that.”

Illuminated by the dim glow of the bonfires behind them, the duo’s shadows converged.

•••

It had been a long road.

There were times he fell over and wanted to give up. Times he wanted to toss aside his battle armor and his seal scrolls and quit the Copycat program alltogether. But Asaka was there by his side every time, ready to support him in whatever challenge he was facing.

And now…