Simplicity.
Kankurou likes it when things are simple.
He doesn't like mind games, or IQ tests, and especially not exams. He doesn't like poetry, old writings, paperwork. But most of all, Kankurou doesn't like girls.
So pretty, and wrapped up in their own appearances, and always smelling so delicious, like pies and curry and flowers.. Kankurou hates them. As beautiful, charming, as they can be, they play with his mind, make him think... tell him things and makes him believe them, then rip up his sanity and shove laughter and more games in his face. He thinks he will ignore the next invitation he receives from that of a female.
Guys, on the other hand, they're not too bad.. But a little too naive, and generally unintelligent anyway. Not to mention either too cocky or too insecure; he can't handle that. So nothing there.
Kankurou wonders why he even bothers to take any of this into consideration. He thinks, why does it matter if he likes girls or boys, or girls and boys? Why does it matter? He is a ninja, after all, and ninjas don't love, they fight.
He laughs now, at himself, his own thoughts, considerations. Go back to simple thinking, he says. It works better that way. I do not love, I fight, I follow orders. I fight for my life, my sensei's. My village. That is my purpose.
Not some silly girl or silly boy.
He has things figured out now.
And then he meets her.
Her name is Maren and she is not like the others, no... she is soft, charming, but unknowingly. Without trying. She is ignorant, but not stupid, interesting, but simple; much like he is. He thinks she's nice. She doesn't say. Occasionally, though, he finds her staring at him when they're close, and when he's sleeping he dreams of whatever he can imagine that deals with her and very little clothing. He keeps these dreams secret from her, though, and she never asks; not out of curiosity, and not out of suspicion. If he were to fall in love, he thinks, with ANYONE.... it would be her.
The color of her cheeks today is red with the biting wind, and her hair is lighter and softer as it flies off her shoulders. She smiles at him, beckoning for him to join her by her place near the railing of the building they are on. He can't help but oblige, and soon finds himself huddled next to the girl's thin, cold body. They don't say much at first, and then she begins to talk.
"I love it up here," she says to him, not making eye contact and instead gazing out across the village. He nods in agreement, turning away from her face to see what she sees.
"I do too."
"It's beautiful."
"It is."
And then, something happens- she says something that makes Kankurou turn and stare directly into her eyes as he never has before, peering deep into them and bathing in their soft green glow. "Kankurou," she says, this time different from all the rest. There is a slight pause before she continues. "It's cold."
And with that statement, he finds himself pressing his lips to hers, wrapping his arms around her and feeling the thrill of his heart's jumping motions and tasting the careful hint of some common berry he can't really name right now in her breath. And she gladly kisses back, accepting the slide of his tongue against hers and the gentle sound of the repeated collision of their lips. Kankurou thinks he's in heaven; whatever a place that may be, he knows it would have this kind of pleasure and delight when and if he visits there.
They break away slowly, and Kankurou feels it's too soon though he doesn't dare attempt to kiss her again- at least, not yet- and they slip away from each other, staring once more out at the glorious city before them.
They do not speak of the kiss.