Chapter 2.

The village like usual was cooling off, the mountains cut out the light of the sun faster than normal as the sun lights lit up, bathing the streets in renewable light and I found myself greatful for bringing my jacket, I slipped it over my shoulders, loving the warmth it provided but kept it open. If we were going somewhere more casual i didn't want to put Darui on the spot thinking i was expecting something fancier. I stuffed my hands in my pockets and jumped off the top of a house, avoiding the stairs all together. Along with the vanishing sun there was a cool breeze that swept through the streets, my OCD acting up again had me jumping to the roof tops to avoid it all together. I was quite, trying my best not to frighten any couples out on a walk or in an... intement moment. I still blushed as i remembered the time i accidently stumbled onto a couple in the middle of some bedroom activites.

I screamed, running away like a little girl as my mind ran a thousand beats per second about the unsanitary surfaces and the germs that were no doubt swimming in their bodies and the, i all but shuttered at the thought, juices... on the walls and street below. That of course got me thinking about others that could have done that and in the end I spent three days locked in my room, scrubbing the floors raw until Darui appeared standing on my welcome mat.

"C?" he asks, talking a step in only to freeze as I screamed at him.

"Noooo!" I screech, my gloved hand snapping out, causing him to freeze as I looked at his shoe hovering over the ground as I all but panted like a maniac "Don't step there! I already washed it!" I all but sobbed out "It's dirty outside! So dirty! I-I... can't, I can't have that in my house!" I gasp, reaching down to scrub the hard wood once more, my hands moving at lightning pace as I dunked the scrubby back into the bucket of soap and bleach, squeeze it out and begin again.

He was the first person to see me at my worst, and instead of laughing or calling me a freak he bent down, removing his shoes as he placed them on the ground outside the open window and walked bare foot over to me. I thought he would say something, fight me for the scrubby, run away and try to get help but he doesn't. Only steps over, watching the floor so he doesn't step somewhere wet and reached forwards, not that i could see any of this as my head was glued to the floor, trying to wash away the imaginary dirt that wasn't there and gently touches my head. I had stopped my furious scrubbing by then, jolting forwards as no one had done this before, shocked by the contact and like he feared me freaking out more his thumb moved, gently rubbing my scalp as he stood before me. Like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on me a odd sensation of tingles ran down my body, starting from his hand and caused my motions to stop. Like a feeling of calm was washing over me I moved, allowing myself to be pushed off my hands and knees to a kneeling position, struck by this odd feeling between us. Somehow he got the worn out scrubby and the gloves off my hands, carefully placing them over the side of the bucket and stood back up, hand never leaving my head as I sat there quietly, hands facing palm up on my lap as my head leaned into his hands. Slowly the tears rolled down my face as my fears quietly fell away, calmed by his presence and his loving hand.

I wasn't sure what happened after that, I guess the exhaustion and lack of food, water or sleep had finally took its toll. I woke up in the hospital, hooked up to an IV and mild sedatives and the Raikage by my side. One of the few people to know my condition. The doctor on call, slightly adjusted my medication and after a few more sessions with doctor Carla I was able to leave, my apartment surprisingly clean, the bucket dumped out and put away and my sheets and pillows straightened and laid perfectly on my bed spread. I didn't see him for a few weeks, apparently the Raikage had sent him away on a personal errand but on my table, the only thing that wasn't there before was a flower, a white lily in a small vase and a note.

See you when I get back.

There was no name on the note but it didn't need one. I knew who it was from. The messy writing was unforgettable, yet another difference between us, as I sat there looking at the flower, not caring for the first time is the petals fell on the table or the pollen blew on the couch from an open window. When he got back Darui was please with my recovery but no words were spoken about the incident itself. I was never sure if that was him or me. I didn't want to ask if he thought it was awkward and he never brought it maybe, maybe scared it would push me over the edge. After that, it was like it never happened, we still went on missions, i still trained to be a good medical ninja and our days went on like nothing changed. Well, maybe something changed... at least for me.

I shake off the feelings of fear creeping in on me and the warmth blooming in my chest at the same time as I remember the feelings of his hand. If that was what his hand felt like on my head i could only imagine what else he could do. The thought struck a cord in my loins and for the first time in a while it didn't fill me with disgust or uncleanliness. Like my other thoughts my mind wondered again, in a different direction. what did he want? Why did he come to see me first and not the Raikage? What if he really did propose? Could I even say yes? And if i did say yes what would happen after that?

I groan, reaching up and slapping both my cheeks semi hard to clear out all the thoughts, good and bad and force myself to come back to reality and a normal level of control. I could not control my future, that was something doctor Carla was always telling me. And I would not control this evening, especially my own engagement.

God!

I smack myself again and sigh, forcing my body to stay up right and not lean on the dirty walls. I blink once and slow down as I got closer to out meeting point, as excited as I was to see Darui I didn't want to appear desperate and somehow forced my legs to slow to normal pace. I made my way around the corner and saw the little shop we agreed to meet at and can't ignore the little beat of my heart as i lay eyes on him.

I smile looking at him. Darui was wearing his usual clothes and his relaxed expression as he leaned against the wall, mindful of the plants beside him. I wondered why he hadn't changed, maybe his meeting with the Raikage had gone longer than i'd thought, maybe he was too lazy? All those were options that i pushed out of my mind. He was here, that all that mattered, him. Not the clothes on his body. I forced a smile on my face as I walked up to him, even closer my heart began to beat, how could someone look so good doing absolutely nothing?

"So i see you were in a rush," I state, looking at the clock on the wall. I was ten minutes early for our dinner, darui was never late but always on time for our dinners so seeing him here before me was odd to say the least.

"Yeah well I got off early" he sighs, picking the table by the window, not to close for my sake and sits "Everything's been so peaceful lately theres not much to do."

I smile, going to say some smart resort about how he should switch jobs with me but I don't and look at the drink before him, making me wonder just how early he had gotten here.

"Did you order yet?"

"No, I just got some water, thats about it." Darui says, taking a slow sip of water "You know I wouldn't order without you," that simple statement filled my chest with warmth and that dazed look in his eyes had me wanting to rip his clothes off and do something I would surely, no, most definitely regret later.

To try and dull the fire in my loins I shifted my feet, played with my hands and did anything but think about his last words or that smile he sent me. Then it happened, I accidentally made contact. My shoe hit his and i froze, not wanting to move my foot at all. Darui didn't move, didn't pull his foot back in shock like others would which made me wonder if he noticed it at all, which made me even more nervous to move my foot as if i did would he then notice it and wounder what the hell I was doing? So I reluctantly kept them there, my feet against his.

Damn, why do I have to be such a loser...?

"See anything you like?" Darui asks, breaking the self induced hell I was currently drowning in, causing me to glance up at him in shock, finally regersturing his words.

"Uh," I state, looking down at the menu dumbly. I couldn't count how many times we've been here before, I all but knew this menu by heart and yet, couldn't remember it when my life or honor depended on it. "I was thinking some pasta. You?"

I had literally said the first thing I saw on the menu and look up at him, smiling like an idiot. I wasn't sure if he noticed or chose not to say anything, only looking back at him menu. Our feet were still touching and my body was heating up. I knew i should move them but it was like something was holding me there. fear? Lust? Pure utter stupidity?

"well I was thinking about soup but I did have it last week so I'm not sure..." he trails off, i lift an eyebrow, some of my nerves coming back.

"You could get a different soup you know," I state, hopping i didn't sound like as much of an asshole as I thought I did "I hear the clam chowder if quite nice?"

Well i didn't know exactlly but my co workers couldn't seem to shut up about it at work so I deccided to throw it out there. The most embarrising would be for the soup to be awful. I feared Darui would make a scene, but he wasn't the type to do that, which left me wonder what would be do? Would he say anything at all? Would he eat the awful soup and suffer through eat bite while he tried to appear happy because I had been the one to suggest it? my mind went to a darker place with each option and by the end I was cursing myself to the deepest depths of hell for even suggesting it.

"Maybe," he sighs "Or some ramen."

"Ramen. Thats like noodles and soup right?"

I smiled at him, easily combining both options with little thought about it. Blushing at yet another thing he could do so flawlessly. If only I could move my foot that flawlessly... but that was when the waitress showed up, dressed in the standard uniform. A black dress with a white apron and a small notepad in her hand. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun but even then i couldn't help but focus on the small pieces that had come loose and now floated around her head. Which made me wonder about my hair, I hadn't checked it before i came in.

"So how are you too?" she ask, beeming a charming smile at both of us, Darui responds with fine, I can't respond at all, which darui smoothly covers with an on going conversation about her day and the work load "awe look at you two, the way you protect him all but makes my heart swoon," she chuckles, hand over her chest "How long have you two been a couple?"

I freeze.

"Were not a couple!" I spit out before i could stop myself, causing both of them to look at me oddly "I mean, were just friends. Right? Could you really see us as a couple?" I ask, laughing awkwardly while looking at Darui for confirmation.

The chocolate skinned boy nods once, looking back at the waitress but I could still feel his eyes on me every so often. Great. Now I'd weirded him out with the possibility of us being together. I wanted to die.

"So you too are single?" she asks almost surprised and blushed "Sorry for my forwardness, I'm just used to so many couples its easier to assume everyone's together instead of going through a 'why, do you think we don't look like a couple' statement." she tucks a stand of hair behind her ear "Though you would make a great couple." I wanted to take my knife and stab it through her neck, could she not see how awkward this must be for him?! "Anyway, enough of my babbling, what did you too want to order?"

I ordered a pasta and a hot tea while Darui got a soup, fine with the water he already had. An odd thing as the night was still cooling down and he was wearing less layers than I was. I watched her walk away and fearing that this night was already ruined I yanked my foot away, hitting the leg of my chair and internally cursing as it brought the males attention to me. I wasn't good at on the spot conversation, only proven as more words come spilling out of my mouth.

"She thought we were a couple, can you believe it?" I laugh, hoping it sounded real but secretly wished he'd disagree with me.

"I know right?" Darui answers after forever, or maybe a minute that felt like forever "Though there was something i wanted to talk to you about."

Will you marry me?

I mean I was fooling myself right? If there was some slim chance that he was going to propose tonight I'd all but shot that to hell. What man would get down on one knee after his potential partner just laughed at the idea of them being together. All though I would say yes if he asks, just for the record.

"Just a heads up but its really dull," he states, crushing my hopes of a hopeless proposal "But it seems I've uncovered some information about a potential threat." he whispers, leaning in towards me even though we were far away from everyone else anyway. Maybe that was why the waitress thought we were together, hiding in a dimly lit corner of the dinner. Oh god... "I know its a lot to ask with your work and all," I force myself to pay attention to his words not just his lips "But I was wondering if you'd come with me C, for old time sake and all. What do you say?"

What do I say? Uh HELL YES! I'd LOVE TO GO ON A FAR OFF TRIP ALONE WITH YOU FOR GOD KNOWS HOW LONG. But seeing as we weren't a couple I reeled in my raging hormones and pulled my mind back on track.

"How do you know this?"

"Do you remember the groups we pulled in after the forth Shinobi war?" Of course "well i think one of them was playing both sides, bidding his time for a stronger attack after all the damage had been done." His voice had developed a seriousness i'd never heard before and I could hide the pleasant shiver that raked its way through my body, I only hoped i could pass it off as the cold.

"So you want me to help you weed them out? I mean isn't there more qualified people to do that than me?" I ask, pulling up at the food arrives, smiling halfheartedlly at the waitress until she leaves before looking back at him "Does the Raikage know?"

"No, not yet." he sighs "I've discussed this with a few people but they all voted against it. I think everyone's finally settling into this peace that no one wants to break it. I mean I see the appeal and all, i'd love to brush this under the carpet but i can't."

"How did you find this out?" I ask, gently swirling some pasta noodles on my fork and spoon.

"Do you remember the mission I just got back from" I nod once, putting the food in my mouth as I started to put two and two together "It didn't start out like this. A simple attacker, a thief, trying to steal forbidden justus. I managed to stop him on the edge of the boarder and after interrogating him I learned of the potential mole. I wanted to get more but the man committed suicide..."

He looked away quietly. I wasn't sure if it was from anger or pity for a life lost. Maybe both, as now we had even more unanswered questions.

"what if he's lying?"

"Well its a possibility," he sighs "Its dull, and the last thing i want to do is drag you around on a wild goose chase but we have to check it out anyway. If the future of the cloud is at risk its our job to stop it." he looks at me, eyes all but burying into my soul "Are you in?"

Could I even say no?

"Yes." I whisper.

(Darui's POV)

I watched him leave, his body fading in the distance as our fingers didn't touch, almost lingering in the open air before he waved, vanishing from sight. I sighed, wishing our goodnight could have lasted longer. The way the night sky made his white skin pop was down right criminal. The way he looked to casual yet organized made my knees weak and my anger flair as I wished I'd then put more effort into my appearance, but how could I have known? This was just a meeting among friends. A statement that C had made very clear when he laughed at the possibility of them being together.

He was never good at these things. Expressing how he felt. The raikage was a gruff man, never showing what he felt and Darui had no other roll models as both my parents had passed away years ago. Many people thought I was strong, invincible. I mean look at me, I was the next in line for Raikage and I couldn't even tell my best friend how I felt about him. I felt like a fraud.

This was why I had to do this. I had to prove to myself, that my instincts weren't wrong. I had half a plan, but I was never good at these things, thats why I needed C. He was. Always a head of the game, planning every move down to the last detail, formulating counter moves for actions not yet decided. I mean look at him, he was brilliant, one of the top doctors in the hidden cloud, good on the field and a skilled sensor. Personally I thought C would make a much better leader than me. He had his whole life planned out and I just went with the flow.

When our feet touched under the table I wondered if he noticed. Most likely not as he feet never moved until later, quietly like he'd been burned. All those things were stacked against me, maybe I couldn't do this but i had to try. Maybe I could grow on him as the mission progressed, the two of us, tracking down an unknown enemy. Maybe one day I could get him to love me back.

I smiled at my reflection. Just like this plan, my mission was a long shot- one I was glad to take.

Read and Review people, peace!

xxxxOneShotGoddessxxxx