I stretched and smiled as my shoulders popped relieving some of the built up tension from sitting and healing Kisame for so long. I would need a decent amount of rest to recover the chakra I had depleted on him as I saw the telltale flag of a bathhouse sticking out amongst the trees on the other side of the village.
I looked at the wad of money in my hand. It could easily cover two separate rooms for nearly a week but why waste it? I mean if the Akatsuki was short on money then any little bit we could save would help right? I looked up at Kisame, he was too well mannered to ever suggest I would share a room with him when others were around. I was pretty sure everyone back at the hideout thought I slept on his couch not in his bed beside him.
We stepped through the threshold of the hot spring when I went into deceptive mode and grinned like an idiot looking my arm through Kisame's and giggling as I slid my ring onto my ring finger. It burned like no tomorrow but I hid the pain as Kisame gave me a bewildered look.
'play along' I hissed as he blinked and I half dragged him to where a pretty middle aged woman was standing behind a counter. She went pale at the sight of Kisame but immediately brightened at the sight of me as I gave her one of my best grins. Maybe hanging out with Deidara was paying off as she gave me a polite smile.
'Good evening, can I help you?' she addressed me as I felt Kisame stiffen. Yes it was rude but then again, he was intimidating as I gave him arm a squeeze to try to get him to relax.
'yes we would like a room for three days please' I grinned as the older woman surveyed us with a crucial eye. I gasped and flapped my hand forcing myself to blush as Kisame was now staring at my nearly open mouthed at my antics. 'Oh no don't worry, we're newly weds. We're stopping for a short reprive before heading to mist to visit my husbands wonderful parents' I grinned giggling like an idiot as the woman relaxed a bit. I flashed my ring as all that was seen was a band of silver because I had rotated it so the Sora symbol was in my hand. A large grin split the woman's face as I hugged Kisame's arm to my chest. It seemed he had caught on, I could tell he did NOT like this idea one bit but was being fair enough to play along.
The woman smiled at me as I gave another giggle.
'then let me show you to you room. Congratulations on your new marriage miss-?' she waited as I thought, quickly, quickly!
'Hoshigaki' Kisame answered as I glanced up at him with a raised eyebrow. The woman smiled and nodded clearly still intimidated by Kisame as she led us to our room.
She announced that our supper would be brought to the room in roughly 2 hours before she left us alone. It was a pretty standard room with one large queen bed, a bath room, a living room with a TV, couch, and small table.
I strode across the room and opened the curtains to a little cheery bonsai garden that ran on the inner ring of the Inn. The leaves on the sakura trees were a bright green and the cherries were bright red and nearly ready to be picked as I saw koi swimming in a pond and a little rock garden on the far side with a little stone bridge that ran over the koi pond.
I left the curtain open and tossed my bag onto the couch and took off my sweater. It was warm and a little stuffy in the room as I opened the sliding glass door and let the warm evening air filter in. I heard Kisame shifting around in the bedroom as I flopped onto the couch and kicked off my sandals. I was so damn tired.
'hey, I'm going for a bath are you coming?' Kisame's voice pulled me back from my dozing as I looked up at him. He was wearing a bath robe as I nodded and staggered my way into the bedroom as I stripped and changed into a really fluffy bathrobe as I noticed Kisame had already left. I glanced around and noticed that he had taken Samehada with him. I didn't blame the guy I had a few kunai stashed in my hair band as I grabbed a headband out of my backpack to keep my hair out of the water.
I stuck my head out of my room as I realized. I had no idea where the hell I was going, I had never been to a hot spring, I had just always thought it would be cool to go to one. Well I would probably find a sign sooner or later as I took a left away from the lobby and plodded along down the hall. The inn was quiet as I took a right at the end of a hallway and noticed a sign that read women's baths with an arrow pointing to a door to my left. I shrugged and pushed the door open. Inside it was warmer but oddly completely vacant as I placed my bathrobe in a basket and took the towel wrapping it around me as I stepped out of the change area and into the hot spring.
It was vacant as I wondered how any hot spring would be vacant as I took off my towel and left it at the edge of the spring and stepped into the water. It was blissfully warm as I sunk up to my neck in the murky water. Oh it really was wonderful as I put my head back and sighed relaxing in the hot water. I closed my eyes and listened to the evening sounds as birds chirped, a small waterfall bubbled somewhere to my right as I heard the scurrying of squirrels in the cherry tree to my right above the waterfall.
Suddenly the sliding door to the change room opened with a clack as I was immediately on red alert. Glancing to my left I saw two figures, one I guessed around five feet and the other about five foot right or nine as the duo became apparent through the fog.
A young girl with violet hair and large pale lavender eyes and an old friend of mine Kurenai; I doubted she would recognize me after all of the years. We had been childhood friends and after the academy rare saw each other. Obviously she had made it to jounin and teacher status. I fought back the wave or resentment and acidic hatred that bubbled up as the violet haired girl caught sight of me and blushed crimson.
'k-kurenai-s-sensei, I-I-I think I'll g-g-o b-b-back to your r-r-oom' she stammered as I sighed. Poor girl was shy as I leant back and closed my eyes letting myself relax and ignoring the duo.
Suddenly I was worried about Kisame. That meant that the other two people on the team would be boys. I hoped they wouldn't recognize Kisame as an Akatsuki member, but then again they probably had never seen an Akatsuki member in their short little lives let alone could identify one.
I heard twin splashes as I assumed the duo climbed into the hot spring.
'See Hinata, I told you this would be relaxing' Kurenai's alto voice reached my ears as I didn't heard anything from Hinata. I opened my eyes and looked through the fog that was on the top of the spring as I met pale lavender eyes. Immediately she looked away as Kurenai noticed me and frowned. I knew she recognized me from somewhere but she obviously couldn't place where I was from. I would have to act and fast if I didn't want to be discovered.
'Well, good evening Kurenai. I haven't seen you since the last festival, I see you and your team are doing well!' I guessed as immediately Kurenai brightened. Obviously the festival cover had been a good one as Hinata looked between me and her teacher.
'Oh they're doing well. Getting stronger everyday. What about yourself how goes making Ramen?' she asked as I nearly burst into laughter ramen. Right. I knew how to make ramen alright.
'Actually I've switched to become a smith. I now make shuriken and weapons' I explained as Kurenai nodded. I was shocked at how easy it was to lie through my teeth at people. I wasn't as believable as Deidara but it seemed that I was a good enough actor that people could follow and believe my story.
'is that what happened to your eye I don't remember seeing that last time we met' Kurenai mentioned as I ducked my head. Maybe in a past life I was an actor or something as I looked over at the two of them Hinata was staring with wide eyes as I gave a small smile.
'yes it was an unfortunate accident. I was working in the smithy and apiece of metal flew off and struck my eye.' I said as Kurenai gave me a look of sympathy.
'that's terrible. I'm glad you're alright' she said as I smiled and waved my hand at her.
'Oh don't worry about it its healed and I can still see out of my eye so all I have really is the scar' I smiled as Kurenai nodded. We lapsed into silence as I heard Kisame's distinct baritone talking to some higher pitched voices.
'so how did you get ripped like that?!' it was distinct bark as I saw Kurenai and Hinata talking to one another in hushed voices as I leant back and closed my eyes again listening to the conversation in the men's spring.
'Years of training' he said as I heard water shifting.
'why are you here?' this voice was quieter and direct as I heard Kisame laugh.
'I'm here with my wife. We're heading to Konoha to see her family' he said quietly as I heard a louder splash.
'We're from Konoha who is her family?!' the bark was back as I heard a snort and another splash.
'Sit down you idiot no one wants to see your dong' the quieter voice said as I covered a snicker as Kisame laughed outright.
'her family live outside of Konoha as farmers' he said as it went quiet again. I sighed and relaxed even more than I thought possible as I reflected on how many lies Kisame and I had told to other people just within two hours. I guessed being part of the 'bad guys' you really did have to lie, cheat, and steal. They really didn't make it easy for us, we just wanted to relax and if they knew we were Akatsuki we'd be dead four times over. Maybe we should've just murdered everyone in the Inn before relaxing. That could've worked. Wasn't the best moral solution but it did work well in the end.
It wasn't long before I was nearly falling asleep. Time to go back to the room and recuperate and eat. I climbed out of the spring and wrapped my towel around me as I waved goodbye to Kurenai and Hinata. I assumed they were only staying for one night as I put my bathrobe back on and padded back to the room.
I opened the door to find a really nice meal set out on the little table as I smiled and moved into the bedroom where I changed back into the hoodie and a pair of soft pants before padding quietly back to the main room.
Kisame still wasn't back yet as I looked at the miso soup, sushi, and ginger stir fry that has been left for us. I really was hungry as I sighed and went over to the little sliding glass doors that looked out onto the bonsai garden.
There was a soft breeze as it brought the scent of fire countries massive forests to me. Moss, fresh air, and water mixed with the smell of august. It made me feel relaxed as I untied my hair and let it tumble down my back in its usual sheet of white. The ends were no longer stained as they had been every day when I was in the military it was a nice changed just seeing my hair white not tinged red or pink from blood.
I ran a hand through the freed strands and combed out some of the tangles from having it up on my head in the spring. I wondered what was taking Kisame so long, even thought I had to admit I would've loved to stay longer but my fatigue was getting the best of me.
I sighed and took my place once again on the couch sliding the door closed behind me as I closed my eyes. I wasn't going to let myself fall asleep but sadly, my body had other opinions. I didn't know how long I was asleep before I felt a hand gently shaking me as I opened my eyes to the low light of a single lamp and a blue hand with purple nail polish.
'Hun?' I sat up as Kisame shoved a bowl of stir fry under my nose. My mouth watered at the scent as I took the bowl from him and wolfed down the first bowlful. I must've been asleep for a while as I noticed that the sun had gone down and Kisame had changed into his usual uniform minus the cloak.
'Do you want more?' he asked as I nodded and he refilled my bowl and was halfway through that before he sighed and flopped down into the large armchair across from me. I looked up as he was staring up at the ceiling.
'Fuck my arm hurts' he mumbled rubbing his sore shoulder as I set my bowl down on the arm of the chair and walked over to where he was sitting. He looked up to me as I gently started to unwind the bandage on his upper arm as I realized he would have to take off his shirt for me to double check the bandage.
'Take off you shirt' I stated as amber eyes met mine with amusement as I registered what I had said. 'Please' I blurted to try to make up for the command as Kisame snickered and pulled his shirt over his head. I swore my face was the colour of a tomato as I finished unwinding the dirty bandages and pitched them into the little garbage can beside the couch. Kisame was resting his arms on his knees as I looked over the cuts. They were a light purple colour which meant inflammation and the starting of an infection. I had probably screwed up from my lack of chakra and mounting exhaustion at the time and had probably trapped some of the poison in there.
'Fuck, I'm a tool' I muttered and went and took an empty rice bowl and filled it with water from the bathroom sink.
'why are you a tool?' Kisame's baritone was even as I dug around in my pack for some medication. I reentered the room as Kisame was standing right in front of the door as I crashed straight into his chest. Needless to say running into Kisame is like running into a brick wall as I started to fall backward. I waited to hit the ground as I heard a splash and a thud as I cracked open an eye to see two very large amber eyes staring into mine as I realized how close Kisame's face was to mine.
Kisame caught me. He had managed to loop his arm around the small of my back and catch my bag as I felt water drip onto my chest as I looked up from his eyes to see that he had caught the bowl with his head. More so, the bowl had flipped up side down and was now resting on his head like a porcelain helmet.
'Wow, Kasumi. Falling for me already?' he cracked the terrible joke as I burst out laughing. It took a second before I felt his low rumbling laugh as he stood and put me back on my feet. I looked up at him as he grinned and took the bowl off of his head shaking his wet hair like a dog as it splattered on my face.
'Kisame!' I complained as he laughed and I snatched the bowl from his hand and returned to the bathroom to fill it up. 'go sit down before I beat you with this bowl' I laughed as I heard him scoff and the chair springs groan under his weight as he sat down again. I came back and set the bowl down onto his lap as I pulled the water into a ball and set it against his shoulder.
'this will probably sting a bit' I warned as he nodded and I started pulling the tiny bits of infection out of his shoulder. He gave a grunt as I pulled the first bit out then moved to the second and so on. My already low reserves were being strained as I worked focusing intently on his shoulder. I was starting to waver as I took a break and took up eating my bowl of stir fry again.
'Hey are you alright?' Kisame asked as I nodded and polished off the last of my now cold food. I could feel the little bit of chakra seep into my reserves from the food as I stood again and went back to his shoulder. I place a hand near the bowl as his larger hand grabbed mine. I looked at him as he gave me a sharp look. 'You're tired, stop. I'll live if you don't fix me completely tonight alright?' he said as I nodded and a wave of vertigo hit me as I groaned. My legs buckled as I tried to calm the spinning room but failed miserably as I heard a crash and Kisame caught me for a second time. It was really awkward too as he had had to catch me and ended up more so groping me.
'Hey woah there Kasumi' he said as I nodded and tried to stand as I managed to get to my feet and failed miserably ending up crashing backward into Kisame's chest. 'you're going to hurt yourself.' He chuckled as I felt him lift me off the ground with one arm. I gave up honestly, I knew my body was not going to cooperate with how tired and chakra depleted I was. I heard him sigh as he shifted me so he was carrying me bridal style and set me down on the bed.
'now, sleep. You're useless not only to the Akatsuki but to keep yourself alive if you let yourself run this low' he scolded as I honestly didn't care. Water under the bridge at this point as I was already half asleep. I heard him chuckle before I fell asleep once again.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kisame rolled his now functional shoulder as he watched kasumi in her nearly comatose sleep. She really had pushed herself after he had slipped up and had been hit with those kunai. Itachi would berate him to no end if he knew. Kisame sighed, as much as he and his partner were friends, god, he wanted to punch that smug little asshole some days.
He traced the rapidly disappearing scars on his shoulder as he remembered her soft smooth hands gently resting on his skin as she worked. Sure it had been painful and after the fight with Kakashi he honestly hadn't been too sure if he would've pulled through that. it had been weird, he had been close to death many times in his lifetime but this time it had been different. He had been…. Anxious almost scared as he remembered seeing Kasumi darting out of the trees and blocking the copycat's shuriken with a branch. Kasumi had a good head on her shoulders that was for sure as she rolled over and muttered something in her sleep.
He sighed and rolled his shoulders. Today had been a long day he realized and having to deal with those two prepubescent tools in the hot spring really hadn't allowed him to relax at all. Stupid Konoha genins. Samehada clacked restlessly beside the bed as he ignored it. Honestly he was debating sleeping on the couch, Kasumi really did need sleep after that attack and spending so much time trying to heal him.
He had been utterly surprised when he had come back to her sprawled snoring on the couch. She hadn't even responded after he'd slammed the door or cursed after he had caught his shin on the table. Honestly, he knew that she had spent a great deal of time healing but he hadn't realized the great strain she had put nor the amount of chakra she had used.
He must've been closer to death than he had originally thought. Absently he traced a hand over the few bandages she had put back on his shoulder over the deeper wounds. He was thankful to Kasumi, thought he would never admit it to the small woman. He leant on the doorframe of the small room as he watched her for a moment. She was dwarfed by the large bed as she rolled again pulling one of the large pillows against her chest and hugging it. Kisame laughed quietly to himself, he had never even thought about the concept of having a friend. Itachi was probably as close as he'd ever had to a friend per say and honestly they were friends. They got along, understood one another and even just talked about whatever. It was honestly more than he could say for anyone else in his life.
But Kasumi was different. She was a spitfire and wasn't afraid to speak her mind to him. It made him want to talk to her just to see her nose scrunch when she was angry or raise one eyebrow when she was amused.
Kasumi, that crazy young woman, she really was changing him it seemed. It was odd. He actually…felt things now. Emotions nearly and something that he had completely forgotten.
Fear.
That realization shocked him as he remembered separating from her in the forest. Honestly he had felt like his gut had dropped out of him when he had realized that Kakashi had turned around and headed west away from him. At that moment nearly a hundred different visions of Kasumi with her long white hair and maroon eyes stained red and soulless. That had terrified him, it had been such a foreign feeling it had brought out his rage in frustration at trying to pinpoint the feeling.
Stupid move on his part really, but he had enjoyed the fight eve with his stupid slip up. He rubbed his eyes, he really was tired, he had tried his hardest not to let Kasumi see it but it had been harder than he originally thought. Honestly he was exhausted as he went to head to the couch as a small strangled yelp came from the bed. Kisame sighed, she was having another nightmare. No matter what it seemed that Kasumi was doomed to having nightmares if she was left by herself.
Crossing the room he gently tugged the pillow out of her arms as she flailed and her hands found his forearms as she gripped them painfully leaving crescents from her nails. Damn, for someone so small she was pretty strong.
She whimpered and thrashed as if trying to get away from someone as he gently rubbed her shoulders.
'No, no, get away.' She fought as Kisame sighed and gently pulled her to him in a hug. At first she struggled but soon she relaxed as he gently rubbed her shoulders. Honestly it no longer felt awkward to him to comfort a sleeping person. On more than one occasion Itachi had woken him from a dead sleep having nightmares where he was screaming his head off.
Kasumi settled down as she buried her face into his chest and went back to sleep. Kisame settled down beside her lying on his back as she slept on draped over his chest. As much as he knew he should leave her to sleep on her own he didn't want to move. Kasumi was so warm and her sleeping so innocently made some long forgotten emotion well up in his chest. Gently he reached out and brushed her hair back from her face as she slept on.
Kasumi was one of a kind and maybe, just maybe they could be friends. He had never had a connection other than as a partner to Itachi but he'd damn well try to do his best to be a friend to Kasumi.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
