Title : A Field Full Of Strawberries
Chapter : Two
Pairings/Characters : Hatake Kakashi x OFC, OC, Mitarashi Anko, Shiranui Genma, Maito Gai, mentions of Umino Iruka, Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura.
Rating : M
Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto. How bout you?
Comments : My apologies for the late update. I hope this makes up for it! Another new character is introduced in this chapter, as well as some old ones who you just might know (yes, that's my sad little attempt at humour). I've also increased the rating to M - it might still be T, but I'm not sure, so I'll just play it safe. I've also changed my punctuation for the dialog a little: the little 's are now "s. Sorry about the inconsistency. Anyway, enough rambling - on with the mindless romance! -smirk- Believe it or not, I do sort of know where this is going.
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A Field Full Of Strawberries
Chapter Two: Annoying You Is My Number One Talent
by
Se-chan
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I left the house later that morning, all set to meet up with a couple of friends and have a well deserved chit-chat. Kakashi was, thankfully, long gone; or at least, I didn't see him when I wandered out.
I practically bounced down the road, feeling quite fantastic. I was clean, I was full, I had three days off, I'd got Kakashi off my back... what could be better?
Humming cheerfully, I made my way to the White Lotus Tea House, the best shop in Konoha. I usually went there at least once a week, so I obviously knew the entire tea menu off by heart and was on first name terms with all the waitresses. It also just happened to be the favourite meeting place of my best friend in the entire world.
Peering over the banisters, I spotted my prey sitting with her back to me at our usual table. Suppressing my chakra so that not even a whisper of my presence could be felt, I ascended the stairs. Feeling gleefully like a five year old again, I crept towards her with stealth that surpassed even that of the most celebrated predators, like the tiger, the -
"Hello, Ichigo."
"Daaaaaaaamn," I sighed, flopping into the chair opposite her, sticking my hands under my chin and pouting, "How the heck do you always know?"
Reiko smiled. "Maybe because you sound like an Elephant on a rampage."
"Hey!" I yelled in mock outrage, whacking her playfully on the arm.
Reiko Tanaka and I had met at the academy. She was quiet and proud and stuck to herself, and I was the odd one who most people liked but found a little bit too strange. An unlikely friendship, but somehow by the end of our first week we were almost joined at the hip, and had been best friends ever since. We had even been put on the same Genin team, for the sole reason that we worked so well together.
"So, how did the first mission as a Jounin go?" Reiko asked, linking her fingers together but still surveying me with her aquiline eyes. I grinned.
"Blitzed it! What about you... I heard you took part in a certain exam while I was away?" I waggled my eyebrows suggestively, already having been informed that she'd passed while I'd been in Suna. Raiko's lips twitched into a slight smirk - she was obviously very proud of herself. Reaching into my jacket pocket, I fished out a small box and handed it to her.
"This is from me... congratulations on making Jounin!"
Inside was a brand new set of trip wires, along with a set of the slightly stronger ones she used in her trademark combat technique. I'd spent almost the entire morning wrapping them, not to mention almost the whole of my pay for the three month jaunt in Suna. A lot of gasping and "congratulations" and "thank you"s ensued, and then we got down to the serious business of getting me up to date on the latest news.
"... so the Akatsuki are on the move. Meanwhile, Sakura-san and Naruto-san are still searching for the Uchiha."
"Any word of him?"
Reiko shook her head, her expression grave. "Those two had better watch out. With Akatsuki still out for him, Naruto-san can't risk plunging blindly into a situation that he can't get himself out of. No amount of determination can make him stronger than a two-man Akatsuki team on his own."
"Can we blame him though? We both know..." I trailed off, unable to finish. I didn't need to. Reiko glanced away, a shadow of grief flitting across those amazing eyes. When she looked back, the trace was gone, and her calm, serious composure was back in place.
"The person I pity the most in this is their teacher. Surely he went through enough in his youth... I doubt he ever imagined having to live through this kind of thing again."
I sighed, feeling a pang of remorse for the grey-haired Jounin. Whether he irritated me or not, nobody deserved to live through the loss of someone precious more than once.
At that thought, I chuckled sadly, unable to suppress it. What was I thinking? We were shinobi. The death of your loved ones was just part of the job.
Aware of the gloom which had descended over the table, I decided that now was a good time to change the mood. "Speaking of Kakashi, I ran into him yesterday."
Raiko raised her eyebrows. "Oh? What a surprise."
"Just admit it, Ichigo: the guy is head-over-heels crazy for you! Has been since the night you shoved Gemna's senbon up his left nostril. Don't ask me why..."
The loud, brash voice of Mitarashi Anko assaulted my senses even more than usual as she yelled from a point about three centimetres from my ear. I spluttered.
"Don't be ridiculous! Kakashi's only goal in life is to make mine as difficult as possible! For instance, last night!," I put on a ridiculously happy expression, and said in what was probably a horrible imitation of Kakashi's voice, "'Ichi-chan! Well done on your hard-arse mission! I bet those Suna democrats provided quite a challenge!'". Dropping the act at the speed of light, I deadpanned into Anko's face.
She gave me a patronising look, and patted me sympathetically on the shoulder. "Playful teasing."
"He loves you, Ichigo." Raiko said gently, "You're the only one too blind to see it."
"And from the look on your face, I'd say you feel the same way." Anko smirked. The light blush that had dusted my cheeks deepened horrifically at this comment, and I buried my face in my hands.
"You are both insane." I mumbled at them, my voice muffled. I heard laughter, along with the scraping of a wooden legs on the floor as Anko pulled up a chair.
"So." said Anko, her voice turning quite business-like, "What are we doing tonight? Should I gather up the guys and have welcome-home drink for the glorious return of our dear Ichi-chan?"
"Don't answer that, dear. You have no say in the matter." Raiko said serenely as I raised my head and opened my mouth. I shut it again, looking disgruntled.
"It's too bad you weren't here for Rei's congratulatory party. That was one wiiiild night." Anko said dreamily.
I scoffed. "Which probably means you managed to ambush poor, innocent Iruka-san in some dark, secluded corner?" Anko merely smirked. "Actually, I don't want to know. Even though I think NOTHING could be worse than what you did with Gai, I'm not willing to bet on it."
"Hey, what's a girl supposed to do?" Anko said, quite blasé. "And anyway, I'll have you know Gai was quite a pro." I warded her off with the sign of the cross, and she turned back to Raiko.
"So it's on then?"
"Indeed. You're in charge of the invitations."
With a bang, Anko was on her feet. "Well, better get started. See you later, Ichi-chan!"
She departed with a wink.
I sighed once more. Why were my friends such lunatics?
x
I giggled inanely, taking another sip of sake and smirking in the direction of my retarded ex-boyfriend. This stuff tasted almost palatable now...
Genma rolled his eyes, tutting. "You know, I thought all that Suna 'Spiced Tea' might have cured Ichigo from being such a lightweight, but I guess I was hoping in vain."
Gai thumped me on the back good-naturedly. "Ichigo-chan is still in the throes of youthful exuberance! Further maturity will decrease her joyous intolerance of the liquid of life, but all in good time."
I grinned, absently rubbing my aching shoulder. "Hey, what are you guys on? I've had what... three? Anyway, you heard the man! All things in good time, hey? And Gai, pleeease don't whack me on the back again. I know it's all in the spirit of youthful exuberance, but it does hurt."
"Of course, Ichigo-chan! I apologise for my thoughtlessness." He flashed me his million dollar smile, and I waved a hand in acceptance (I was also shading my eyes, but hey, I was good at multitasking).
Suddenly I felt two very welcome, strong hands on my shoulders, massaging out the knots. I sighed blissfully, leaning back into them.
"Does that feel better, Ichi-chan?"
I glanced around hazily, not really needing to but doing it anyway. Kakashi smiled down at me from above the back of my chair. I was about to say something, but those hands were really working magic on my shoulders, and all I managed was a contended "Mmmmmm". I turned back to the table at large. Reiko was smirking in quite a knowing way, while Genma smiled gently in my direction. Iruka seemed to have disappeared; Anko was also mysteriously missing. With Kakashi's warm hands working their way through my sore muscles, my eyes drifted closed.
"Hey, Kakashi, don't put her to sleep!"
"What does it matter? Someone's going to have to carry her home anyway. The poor girl's almost passed out."
"It's almost time to head off now anyway. Kakashi can take her home, can't you?"
"Yes."
x
I woke up, feeling warm and comfortable. Not really wanting to open my eyes, I snuggled down deeper into my soft surroundings. Everything smelled nice, like pine and -
My eyes snapped open as I bolted into a sitting position. I was in my bed, in my room, in my... I looked down. My shoes were gone, and my hair was out, but other than that I was in exactly the same attire I'd worn last night. Except for the flack vest, which was waaaay too big to be mine. That was were the scent was coming from, that wonderful aromatic mixture of pine and man...
Feeling oddly hot, I shook my head to clear it of those wayward thoughts. I ceased this action immediately when the dull ache of the hangover I was experiencing started pounding in my ears.
Groaning, I forced myself out of the bed and padded into the kitchen. Filling up a glass from the tap, I drained it and then filled up a second. I had had far too much to drink last night, and this, I told myself, was exactly how it had ended. I'd had to be degradingly carried home by my mortal enemy, and he'd even given me his jacket because he thought I was cold. Great.
Yawning hugely, I wandered off to the bathroom. A cold shower would do me the world of good.
I mean, I thought as I turned on the taps, for a mortal enemy, he really wasn't that bad. For a start off, he wasn't a psychotic killer or a murderous lunatic. And, my thoughts continued as my clothes dropped to the floor, he wasn't after world domination or eternal youth (and that sounded so wrongly like Gai). He even brought me home when I was drunk and gave me massages. Quite helpful, really.
I shuddered violently as I stepped into the shower, the cold water shocking me awake. What had I been thinking? Oh yes, the helpful enemy. I shrugged my shoulders, rotating them, and found the ache had almost subsided. Not bad, not bad at all.
I reached up for the soap, and felt a twinge in my lower back. Despite the cold water, I could feel myself blush at where that stray thought was going...
Tossing my head a little to try to clear it, I figured I should decide what I was going to do. After all, only two days of leave left!
Warm hands, sliding down my back, the delicious friction of skin on skin...
First off, I thought, I would do some washing. The dirty clothes from my mission still hadn't been done.
Hot breath fanning my neck, before soft lips desperately captured my own, devouring...
After all, it would probably be a good idea to wash Kakashi's jacket before I gave it back, considering I'd been sleeping in it. No doubt he'd rather it didn't come back all wrinkled and sweaty!
Pressing me down into soft sheets, feeling his body flush against my own...
I closed my eyes, moving my hand down between my legs.
The splashing of the water drowned out my throaty moan.
To be continued...