Disclaimer: I still don't own Naruto.
Warning: This drabble is fleshing out a flashback scene from the manga that hasn't been animated yet, so there are some spoilers here.
9. Joy
Yahiko winced as Konan wound the bandages tightly around his chest. "Sorry," she said, "but a couple of your ribs are cracked, and they won't heal properly if we don't hold them in place."
"I know," he replied. He chuckled, then winced again at the twinge of pain in his ribs. "I must look really silly like this. Like a mummy or something."
Konan had to admit that there was a bit of a resemblance. Yahiko's chest and left arm were almost completely covered by bandages, and there was even gauze wrapped around his head. His orange hair stuck up irregularly around it, making him look like he'd stuck his finger in an electrical socket. "You should be more careful," she admonished him. "You could have been..." Her words trailed off as she leaned forward to secure the bandages at Yahiko's shoulder. Their faces were only a couple of inches apart, and Konan realized that she'd never noticed before just how much his blue eyes sparkled. She'd made sure to carefully clean all of his wounds, so he smelled like soap, and his skin was smooth and warm under her fingers.
They stayed like that for a few moments, just looking into each other's eyes. Very slowly, Yahiko leaned forward, until his lips were just barely touching Konan's. He drew back and watched her closely, waiting for her reaction. When she stayed silent, he hastily said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that! I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable or anything, I just-"
"No, it's alright," she said. "It wasn't uncomfortable at all. Actually, it was...kind of nice." She blushed and turned her face away.
She said it was nice! She didn't mind! She liked it! Yahiko felt like jumping up and down and cheering. Okay, so...now what do I do? Maybe I should ask her if she wants me to kiss her again?
He was about to do just that, when Konan suddenly turned back to him and pressed her lips forcefully to his. When she pulled away, he stared at her with a stunned expression. She kissed me! She kissed me!
"Um," he said. "Um. That was...I mean, I really..." Yahiko tried to think of something suitably profound and romantic to say, but his brain appeared to have shut itself off.
Konan giggled. "I'm glad you liked it." Her expression turned serious, and she added, "You're a wonderful person, Yahiko."
"So are you! You're really pretty, and smart, and a good fighter, and...and...and I really, really like you." The last few words came out in a rush. Yahiko took a deep breath, ignoring the pain in his ribs, and asked, "Do you want to kiss again?"
Konan nodded solemnly, and her answer was barely a whisper. "Yes."
Yahiko leaned in again, and only one thought went through his mind: I think maybe I love her.
