Late afternoon just as the sun was beginning to set a very displeased taijutsu master trudged along with his number one rival and best friend Kakashi Hatake. Grumbling on about how he'd rather go around the village on his hands a few hundred times he recalled the event that led him to his current predicament. He really should argue more when Kakashi chooses rock paper scissors as the day's challenge.
Granted this time Kakashi had finally suggested a penalty and that was distracting enough to make him forget that particular game was child's play to Kakashi. But to accompany him to the book store to buy the newest Icha Icha book. Gai glowered at the ground knowing he had been played. Not only was Gai a sore loser when it came to that particular game, but he also couldn't bring himself to understand the allure of such a filthy piece of literature.
Walking together in silence they rounded a corner leading to a small bookshop nestled into a small little pocket of konaha. It seemed so out of the way Gai wondered how such a place could possibly have stayed in business. Though it was perfect for Kakashi, private, small, quiet, and in the window a large poster showcasing Master Jiraiya's latest result of his 'research'. Walking in seemed barely possible as they ducked down into the door lifting their heads Gai assumed that there was probably only around a foot and a half of space between their heads and the ceiling. Taking the place in he saw books upon books stacked up on top of each other, on shelves, everywhere. It had to be the most unorganized place he ever saw. He looked over in confusion towards Kakashi but he walked on ahead seemingly used to the outrageous clutter and lack of space.
The masked man took the lead knowing exactly where to go walking around some bookcases straight to a large oak desk. Behind the desk sat a oversized book held up straight blocking their vision of whoever was behind it. He knew however that was just a cover up, leaning in a bit he cleared his throat trying to get the person's attention.
"Ooh sensei you're writing just gets hotter every time." A light and airy voice chuckled from behind the book.
Gai blushed slightly, instantly knowing just what that large book was hiding. Why did it sound so sexy to him? Kakashi's eye crinkled not hiding his amusement in Gai's discomfort, clearing his throat again louder startling a small girl into throwing both books at near blinding speeds in opposite directions.
"Damn it if you've come to lecture me again you've got another thing coming Shizu-." she stopped, realizing it was thankfully not her aunt's aide coming to chew her out once again for reading her 'romance' novels at work. Her smile grew once she realized just who had made a surprise visit.
Gai's eyes widened taken by surprise at what he was greeted by. She was a petite thing barely five feet maybe, dark wildly curly hair that tumbled over her shoulders. Looking up at them clearly unashamed at being caught, smiling all the while pushing her glasses up a small slightly upturned nose. He swallowed not prepared for the just all around cuteness that this girl was. She looked like a pixie with her delicate features, pouty lips, and amber colored eyes. The deep honey tone of her skin just making her eyes all the more striking. Gai could practically see flowers float around her.
Kakashi coughed attempting to cover up a laugh as he saw his comrade take in the picture that was his closest female friend. He himself was taken with her for a short time. Visiting her as often as he could a little flirting here and there but he quickly realized the only kind of requited feelings they'd share together was in their love of the same reading material. Though all those times they spent together he gained a kind of perspective on what kind of man she should be with.
He remembered fondly of a time he teased her for her love of smutty books. He had called her a pervert, and she responded with saying she preferred to say she was merely being youthful. He had been so surprised to hear that coming from her of all people, no one else other than a certain rambunctious shinobi would say something close to that. If that wasn't a quick reality check of who she was meant for he didn't know what was.
The small girl ran around the desk arms wide and leaping into the much taller man, "Kakashi I knew you'd be coming! But not so soon, the book was just released this morning. You'd think that you could finally find a woman who can seduce you more than these cheesy novels. It's wonderful by the way nearly finished it before some masked weirdo interrupted me."
Without missing a beat Kakashi caught her in his chest smirking under his mask, "Ah but no one compares to you Ren-chan. Only a woman that understands the beauty of Icha Icha is the woman for me. I do wonder though this masked man seems to have no taste if he wandered into this shack."
At that Gai snapped back to attention getting his head together, realizing he had been staring an unusual amount of time at the young girl. What did Kakashi say? The girl he called Ren had to be at the most 18! Right in the prime of her youth, what was Kakashi thinking? What was he himself thinking?!
Noticing his intense accusing gaze Kakashi chuckled, he could only imagine what was going through Gai's head right now. He knew very well that Ren looked much younger than her actual age but why ruin the fun when he could see Gai fumble over the attractive book keeper. Patting Ren's head he turned her around to face the green clad man.
"Ren-chan I'd like to introduce you to a comrade of mine. He's ridiculous but reliable."
Upon facing the much taller man Ren only got an eyeful of muscles. She suppressed The urge to shiver while looking up his large shoulders barely hidden by his unzipped flak jacket, up to a rugged face with sculpted cheekbones and ridiculously thick eyebrows. She always had a weakness for large muscular men, though none would give her the time of day due to her far too young appearance.
Smiling politely she held out her hand, "Hello, I'm Katana Ren Konoha's resident bookworm. Sorry for the rude welcome I thought it was lady Shizune coming to scold me about my reading."
Reaching out towards her Gai smiled giving her a thumbs up and took her hand giving it a slow firm shake, "Pleasure to meet you Katana-san. I am Konoha's green beast Maito Gai. I must say it's wonderful seeing my rival having some kind of social interaction, especially with such a lovely young flower. Do you work part time here to help your parents?"
At that Ren's face heated up and she glared up at Gai snatching her hand away. He flinched not knowing what he said wrong. Kakashi pretending to be distracted watched their interaction knowing full well Ren's issue with everyone assuming she was just a teen. Feeling bad for his friend he decided to intervene.
"Oh come now Ren-chan. Gai didn't know that you're 25. Must you always be so sensitive?"
At that revelation Gai's eyes bulged in disbelief, she was only slightly larger than his students. The top of her head barely reached his shoulders. How could this small girl be only 2 years apart from them? Looking back down to her she stood arms crossed looking up at him daring him to even suggest Kakashi was joking. Swallowing the lump in his throat he quickly bowed apologizing profusely.
"I am so greatly sorry my lady! I didn't mean any offense. I must rectify this immediately!"
"No Maito-san there's no need-" he cut her off continuing on rambling off different punishments he found suitable for his error, "I can do 300 sumo squats with one ton strapped to my back! No! I must do 400 press-ups at the top of hokage mountain!"
With that he turned around and ran out of the building before she could even blink, loose papers flying every which way from the force of his speed and power. Ren looked over at her masked friend seeing him smile after the eccentric man suddenly feeling suspicious.
"And what has you in such a good mood Hatake? Anything you care to tell me since you never bring company with you to further your collection of dirty novels."
Jumping slightly forgetting she's as sharp as any ninja out there perhaps more, quickly controlling himself he shrugged, "I was merely trying to help Gai out of his outrageous conditions he sets himself up with whenever he challenges me, but seeing that you can't keep that short fuse of yours under control he's gone off and will probably collapse and pass out in the cold night before he's completed his quest to make amends with you."
Sighing heavily and pulling out the new book from what seemed like nowhere, he muttered his goodbyes asking her to put the cost of the book on his tab leaving Ren with all her books and all her guilt for her irrational behavior.
He couldn't be telling the truth. There's no way that man would really run up the mountain and do 400 press-ups. That's just insane, but he was a shinobi, and he was friends with Kakashi one of konaha's most known for pushing past their limits.
She couldn't make any sense of it as she picked out a book to bring with her to read as she walked home. Grabbing her keys and locking up she felt the wind blow almost pushing her small body back into the door. It really was chilly not that it bothered her, she was used to much colder climates. It just wouldn't do for one of her closest friend's comrade to catch cold just over a silly misunderstanding. Knowing what she was going to do she tried to remember how to apply chakra to just the bottoms of her feet as she ran towards the closest tea shop.
Sweat dripped down Gai's face leaving freezing streaks behind. It had been a lovely sunny spring day, but just a little over 2 hours after sunset it became unforgivingly cold and the Strong gusts of wind a top hokage mountain didn't help. Still he needed to keep his promise after insulting the lovely flower Ren. Why she was angry he had no idea. Gai thought that women liked to be called young, granted he assumed she was basically at student status. He would definitely have make amends for his carelessness.
Reaching his goal Gai braced his muscles and lunged himself back onto his feet. Smiling having just completed his penance he stretched out popping his joints while letting out a satisfied groan. A small intake of breath had him spin around palms ready to strike searching for who could've possibly snuck up on him.
The last thing he expected was for no one to be there that is until he looked down. That small woman standing before him with a tea thermos in hand. She looked all too innocent with her wide eyes and unmistakable blush gracing her entire face.
How did he not sense her? Looking her over he noticed she only wore a simple sweater and some leggings, clearly not enough layers for the top of a mountain. What in the world could she have been thinking? Could it be she didn't think he'd actually keep his word?
Unbeknownst to him she had been watching him just as he was at his last few reps. Maybe she had read one too many romance novels and it was getting to her but watching him slowly work his body in a way that should be impossible for a normal man had her imaging other things he could possibly do with that body. Realizing the direction of her thoughts she whipped her head to the side desperately wishing she hadn't listened to kakashi, she was so worried that he really would have collapsed she rushed up the mountain as fast as she could only to find a remarkably fit man putting on a show she felt she should've paid for.
Looking down in shame she held out the thermos still warm with tea. "I'm sorry for making you feel as though you had something to apologize for. It's my own insecurities that are the problem, and I have a temper I've yet to learn to contain."
He watched her bemused by her groveling, it was rare to find a woman who admitted her own weaknesses so readily. Chuckling, he walked over and placed his hands on his hips, "Katana-san , there- oof!" She cut him off abruptly, shoving the thermos into his chest.
After another mumbled apology she rushed off into the night leaving Gai to wonder over the woman. Adorable she may be but there was strength coming from those tiny arms when she forced the tea onto him. And how on earth did she get up the mountain, surely she was a civilian. He knew every shinobi in the village and she wasn't one of them. He definitely would have remembered her.
Looking down he noticed a book, assuming it was probably dropped by the enigma of a woman he picked it up. Looking it over his face grew hotter as he blushed furiously realizing that this book was what all the women in konaha were reading. Something or other about a dom/sub relationship. How could she just read something like that in public, she could possibly be worse than Kakashi.
He would return it in a day or two. He couldn't look her in the eyes so soon after seeing what she was probably planning on reading that night. Hopefully she wouldn't miss it too much. He should just have Kakashi do it for him but damn it he wanted to see her again, something about her tugged at him and he was determined to find out what it was.