Thunk
"I can't believe this," I muttered, yanking the kunai out of the log. I caught it in between my fingers, then flung it back.
Thunk
"Dammit, I can't believe he would actually do this." With a yank, I brought the kunai back into my hand, and let my chin fall into my hand.
Thunk
"So this is where you went?" I turned to see Kankuro beside me, watching me curiously.
"Shouldn't you be guarding the kazekage?" I asked nastily.
Thunk
"Want me to guard him in his sleep?"
"You're a pervert," I muttered.
Thunk
"Will you quit that?" he asked, slightly irritated. "You've been doing that for an hour now."
"You want me to use your body as a target instead," I asked him, catching the kunai between my fingers once again.
"Why don't you go and sing?" he nearly sneered. I glared at him.
"Don't get on your high horse just because you guard the kazekage. Some of us just aren't at your level yet and I need the money to pay the bills." My fingers tightened around the kunai, and I barely resisted the urge to throw the kunai in his neck.
"Hmph. What could a lowly Chunin possibly know about fighting?" I prayed a simply litatany to keep from murder.
Don't kill him, don't kill him, don't kill him, don't kill him, don't kill him...
"Look, I don't feel like sparring with you today, Kankuro. Leave me alone." I stood, flicking a final glare at Kankuro, and began to make my way back towards Suna, swinging the kunai by the string to amuse myself.
"Well aren't you in a bad mood?" he asked, falling into step behind me. I felt my whole body tense, and realized that I was in a worse mood than I had thought I was. I began to run away as fast as I could, trying to get away from Kankuro.
If I was close to him, I could break down.
If he asked me what was wrong, I would tell him.
If he tried to stop me, I might do something I regret.
"You think you can outrun me?" Kankuro asked, greatly amused. All I had to do was get back to Suna. That's all. I just had to get back, and the mess would be cleaned up. My mother would have seen to it.
"Just leave me alone, dammit!" I yelled, increasing my speed. Of course, Kankuro kept pace with me easily, and I cursed fate at bringing him my way.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked, stepping in front of me. Instead of stopping, I jumped and flipped over him. I landed softly and began to run, but he held my hair and yanked. I fell backwards and cried out in pain, but at the same time, I lifted my leg to kick him in his arrogant face. I felt an impact and I looked up, only to see him block my strike.
I landed on my back and used my hands to flip onto my feet once again, glaring daggers at Kankuro, truly angry this time around.
"Just leave me alone, Kankuro." This time, his eyes were serious, not a hint of arrogance or playfulness in them. He was looking at me from a ninja standpoint, gauging my emotions and my physical state.
I knew I was screwed. My chest was heaving and my hands were in fists by my side. I knew my anger was seeping through, and I was too shaken to control it. He had touched my personal items of clothing. Arranged them on the bed so I would know he had been there. Another wave of humiliation passed through my body, and I broke off eye contact with Kankuro. I turned to run, but he saw what I was going to do, and stepped in front of me once again.
"What happened to you?" he asked, taking the puppet from his back and placing it beside of him. With one hand he held the puppet upright, and the other was at his side, ready to strike.
"Nothing happened," I growled back.
I had to keep my composure. He could never know my shame.
"I know something did. You're scared." My eyes widened. Could he read me that easily? "What are you afraid of?" I swallowed the womanly urge to spill my guts and took a step back.
"I said nothing!" I yelled back. Nothing had been taken, but everything had changed. I wasn't safe. I would never be safe. Blood began to seep from my hands and fell into the sand at my feet. I didn't look, refusing to acknowledge my own weakness.
"What has happened?"
"I said nothing!" I cried out, a tear leaking from my left eye.
************
This was his work. I knew it was Saito from when I saw the initial strike. Sure, he didn't trash the place, but he replaced everything in the house where he had liked it. It was a clear message to me, as clear as the letter on my bed.
My dearest Kauro,
I've longed for you every day since we've been apart. My love for you hasn't gone away since you left me. I have found you and will always find you. You cannot run away from me, my darling. The world isn't safe without me. You aren't safe without me. I promise to protect you, my love. I will be watching you. Always.
Your husband,
Saito
*************
"I'm fine! I'm completely safe! I don't need you to worry about me, I don't!"
Shame. I was swimming in it. A ninja couldn't protect herself in the most fundamental of ways, and had allowed an enemy entrance into her very own home. I felt dirty. Used. Like Saito wanted me too.
"Who asked if you were safe?" Kankuro asked, taking a step toward me. His eyes were serious still, but there was a softer edge to them than before.
"It doesn't matter," I replied, a tear leaking out from my right eye. "He..." I shook my head.
"He?" Kankuro prompted. I couldn't deal with his caring, and finally, I collapsed on the ground, sobs racking my body. I felt arms wrap around my shoulders, and I took the oportunity to bury my face into Kankuro's neck.
Never before had I seen this side of Kankuro, and I was grateful he was allowing himself to comfort me. There was such a burden placed on me with the knowledge that Saito was back. I had been alone, constantly in fear, only sleeping a few hours every night. I hadn't seen hide nor hair of Saito, but an instinct told me he was there, just out of sight.
"My ex husband," I sobbed out, breaking down entirely. I felt his surprise through the tightening of his arms, but I continued. "He's trying to take me back as his wife, and I don't want to! He will kill anyone I love, and anyone I hold dear to me, just so I would go back..." I trailed off with a sob. "I hate him. I hate him, Kankuro. Yet I can't fight him. No one can save me. I'm so weak...so weak..."
I began to sob again, mumbling incoherant words and phrases. Yet with each tear I shed, I felt a weight being lifted from my shoulders.
"What happened," Kankuro asked as I finally calmed down. My cheeks were wet with an occasional tear, but I was calmer now.
"He went through my stuff. Touched my underwear...bras...everything. Nothing was taken, but everything was either moved or touched. I know he was there. He went inside my house, Kankuro. My house!"
"Don't worry, kid," he stated, letting me go and standing. He bent over and lifted me into his arms with little effort, and I glared angrily.
"Kankuro, you pervert," I began, when his hand reached down and gave my butt a slight squeeze. I jumped out of his arms and glared. "Dammit Kankuro! You should know better than to take advantage of a woman!"
"Take advantage of you? Please," he scoffed. "Now let's enter Suna. It'll be dark soon." With that, he grabbed his puppet and began to walk away. As his back was turned, my eyes softened.
Thank you for the comfort...and the cheering up. You always make me forget my troubles, even if for a little while.
I began to walk behind him, a content smile on my face.
And that is one of the reasons I look up to you...and...like you, Kankuro.
"Everything's back to normal, Kauro." I looked inside my small apartment, and saw that my mother had spoken truly. I had been away for an hour, and everything had been righted again.
"Thanks, mom. But I think I'll find someplace else to stay tonight." She smiled sadly at me and nodded her assent. She understood me, and knew that this wasn't the time to question. I turned away from her, leaving her to lock the door, and began to walk down the street.
Most of the people walking were going home, and I knew that this was going to be a long night tonight. Saito might come after me in the streets. He was bold enough for it. He was an ex Jounin from Suna, and was on the road to becoming an ANBU.
What I had I seen in Saito? He had been charming, and seemed that he was a man straight from my dreams. But how wrong I had been. He was controlling, demanding, and enjoyed ruling me in fear. He hadn't cared for my emotions at all. I was merely a trophy in his plans, one that was going to be shaped and molded to suit his own personality.
"Oi, Kauro." I was drawn out of my musings as I heard my name. I turned only to see Kankuro at the steps of his own house. Even subconsciously I was seeking his acceptance, and seeking him in times of stress.
"Oh, Kankuro," I said shyly. Had I really confessed my dirty little secret to him that easily?
"Come inside."
"But-"
"You're not going to spend the night in your apartment. I know you well enough for that. I also knew you would turn up her eventually, so I've been waiting for you." With his last words, my heart fluttered, and I looked down to hide the emotion hiding in my eyes.
"I'll just be putting you and the rest of your house in danger," I whispered. "Saito didn't like it when I spent time with other men. He'd kill you and punish me. So...I'd best be going." As I began to walk, I felt his hand grasp my arm. I looked up into his eyes and felt as if he was staring straight into my soul.
"Was he really that horrible?" Kankuro asked. I looked away. "Then why didn't you tell me?"
"I..." I began, shocked at the depth of feeling I heard behind his question. "I...was..."
"Not out here," he said, interrupting me. I looked to see a man watching us, a curious look on his face, and nodded at Kankuro.
"I'll go inside, but only to talk."
"Once I get you inside, you're not leaving until tomorrow." I glared at him, a twitch in my eye.
"Oh, you think so, you arrogant swine?" He simply grinned at me and pulled me inside his house, shutting the door behind me. As he did so, he pushed with both hands, trapping me inside of his arms. He wasn't looking at me, but he was so close that I could feel the heat from his body.
"Come on," he simply said, slowly pulling his hands back from the door. I didn't move...I couldn't move. It was if I was frozen in place, waiting for him to move away from me. Or...to kiss me. I couldn't deny I had a strong urge to stand on my tiptoes and kiss him myself, but my body wouldn't allow it.
He allowed his fingers to skim my arms before he turned and gestured over his shoulder.
"Come one, Kauro." I felt my eye twitch in anger. How dare he leave me just like that! How dare he!
Nevertheless, I followed him upstairs and into his room, where he placed his puppet by the foot of his bed. He took off his hat and tossed that onto his bed. He picked up a dirty towel by the foot of his bed, and wiped off his face with the towel.
Finally, he turned around once more, and I was shocked. I had never seen Kankuro without his paint before, and I had to admit, I was even more impressed with his looks that I had been before.
"Now. As we were talking about." He flopped onto his bed and watched me through hooded eyes. I eyed the distance to the door, and was rewarded with his laugh. "Don't even think about it, Kauro. You wouldn't make it."
"He was...Kankuro." I heard his breath catch slightly. "There were times I wanted to kill myself. Only my mother and my ninja way prevented me from doing it. I didn't tell you because I was ashamed, and thought you hated me back then. I'm sorry for worrying you."
"You idiot. I never hated you." This time, I was the one that smiled.
"It sure seemed like it. Every kimono I wore wasn't good enough. Each kunai I threw was off the mark. The spars I had with you dissapointed you. It was a wonder that I became your friend."
"I wasn't that bad," he defended. I laughed softly and walked over to sit by the top of the bed, leaving a few feet between us.
"I remember you saying that you couldn't believe a ugly hag like me had gotten married."
"That's when you called me an arrogant swine."
"And gaara got angry at you. Nearly made it so you couldn't walk for a week."
"And it was all your fault," Kankuro shot back.
"No, I definately remember you being the loud one." His laughter was almost a bark, and he turned his grin on me. He jumped and grabbed my wrists with one hand as the other pulled the ribbon from my hair.
"I remember you wore your hair down just like this." Instead of protesting the intimate contact, like I should have, I merely laughed, letting him hold my wrists.
"You said I should cut my mop of a head, to be exact." I remembered the incident quite clearly. It was one of the first times where I had realized his meaness was merely a front.
"And then you said I should change out of my kimono into my ninja outfit, and toss all of my kimonos into a fire." Kankuro leaned close, only inches away from my ear, and whispered his secret.
"I was jealous of Saito." I turned to face him, and found our lips mere inches away from one another. I could feel the blush rising on my cheeks, and could feel a heightened awareness of each place our bodies were touching.
"God, Kauro-" He leaned in and his lips settled onto mine even as his free hand settled on the back of my head. My hands slid up and grabbed a fistfull of his clothes in answer to his move. He pulled me closer to him by the back of my head, and I deepened the kiss willingly. A slight moan came from my mouth, and I felt his hand grab a fistfull of hair in reaction. I knew that the sound had pleased him, and I was glad, knowing that I could-
Knock Knock
Never before had I wanted to kill a person more than I had the person on the other side of the door. With a curse on his lips, he stood and made his way over to the door. Knowing I shouldn't be sitting on his bed, I stood, and probably saved Kankuro's life.
My eyes widened as I felt cold steel pierce the flesh on my back, and I gasped in pain. Yet that small sound made Kankuro turn, and I saw his eyes widen as I fell to my knees.
"Run...Kankuro," I whispered. Then the world exploded.
Multiple kunai and shuriken were thrown through the window, and my heart stopped as I saw Saito leap into the room with us.
"I knew I couldn't trust you. You're weak, and couldn't resist. I'll have to teach him a lesson, my darling Kauro. I'll have to. But you'll both learn. I know you will."
Fear clogged my throat as I realized the danger I had put Kankuro in.
"I'll just put you to sleep. This will only hurt for a little while, my love." He leaned over, taking advantage of my surprise, and cleanly hit my neck, causing me to black out.
*******************
"No!" I cried, bolting up from the bed. My wounds cried in agony, but I ignored them and looked around the room. It was Kankuro's room, but why would I be here? Saito would have taken me home with him, that's for sure.
"Kauro?" I looked, and saw Kankuro at the doorway. I smiled at him, and he came to sit down on the edge of his bed. Before he said anything, he grabbed the back of my head and pulled my lips into his. His greedy possession told me volumes about the situation than his worried eyes. He had indeed been worried sick about me.
"What happened?" I asked, pulling only a few inches from Kankuro's lips. I let my forehead rest against his as I borrowed his strength.
"Saito was slain by Gaara's hand," he answered.
"Then...it's over?" I asked.
"Yeah. It's over."
"Then, I can go home, right?" I saw a slight change in his facial features, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
"Right." I then stood and saw that indeed I could hold my own weight on my legs, and breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn't too badly injured. I made my way to the door, and turned back to Kankuro.
"I left a note on your table for you. You should read it. I know you're going to come to my place, so I'll have some food ready for you. Well, see you." With that, I left as quickly as I could, embarrassed that he may have not liked the song I had written for him.
**********
Upstairs, Kankuro smiled at her quick retreat, then went and grabbed the letter from the table. His eyes widened as he read the words, and he felt his heart quicken. She loved him....he knew she did.
And...he loved her.
**********
My gift is my song
And this one's for you
And you can tell everybody
That this is your song
It maybe quite simple
But now that it's done
Hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you're in the world
Sat on the roof
And I kicked off the moss
Well some of the verses well
They got me quite cross
But the sun's been kind
While I wrote this song
It's for people like you that
Keep it turned on
So excuse me for forgetting
But these things I do
You see I've forgotten
If they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is well I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
And you can tell everybody
This is your song
It may be quite simple
But now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you're in the world
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you're in the world.
