A/N: Hell again everyone! Are you all breathing since I gave you a break the last chapter? Well, the calm before the storm is upon us. I wouldn't call the end of this chapter an actual cliffy, but a terrified thought more or less. But I won't spoil it for you. Oh, but before we get started: LEMON WARNING in the second section below. Time to get things started. Enjoy!
As Kurenai and Asuma walked, Kurenai's demeanor changed noticeably. Asuma couldn't help but wonder what was troubling her. She'd been stone cold silent almost the whole walk back to his apartment. He said, "Once we get inside, I want you to talk to me. You're a million miles away. Talk to me – let me in."
Kurenai realized she had shut Asuma out of her concerns, and he didn't deserve that kind of treatment. He opened the apartment door for her. She stepped inside, and immediately headed for his couch. As soon as he closed the door, he went to his couch and sat next to her – casually draping his arm around her shoulders. He said, "I know this assignment is really playing with your emotions. What's your biggest concern?"
Kurenai looked at her big ninja and said, "That we're not ready."
"We're as ready as we can be."
She said, "That's the problem. Anko is not one hundred percent. Kakashi almost got killed the last time he took on Itachi – you and I were practically useless against him, and that Kisame guy – he's just fucking creepy! Anko's never fought against either one, let alone anyone else from Akatsuki. I'm really concerned that we're taking on too much and that we don't have enough "fire power" to complete this quest successfully."
Asuma said, "Don't forget that Gai's going with us. He proved to be invaluable when he showed up last time you and I fought with Itachi and Kisame. And Jiraiya's coming too. He may be an old pervy goat, but he is a mountain toad sage. We've got plenty of fire power. We'll be fine."
Kurenai said, "You do make a good argument, but I'm still concerned about Anko. I worry that she won't be ready physically for this quest."
Asuma said, "You know you'll never stop her from coming. Tsunade said it's best that she be with us. Think of it as a way for her to help find a way to completely eliminate her former sensei from her life. She'll be participating in her own closure."
Kurenai looked at him and said, "When did you get so introspective?"
Asuma laughed easily and said, "I'm not just stud material you know. But now I'm starting to wonder – you only love me for my body, don't you?" He put on a pouty face – complete with jutted out lower lip, and crossed his arms firmly across his chest.
Kurenai turned around, got up and straddled his lap. She looked him in the face and said, "Your body is perfect, but your brain – now THAT'S sexy!" She kissed the end of his nose to which his pouty face softened. Suddenly, he threw his arms around her waist and tossed her sideways onto the couch, where he kept trying, rapidly – yet playfully – to kiss her neck. Kurenai squealed like a little girl being tickled as Asuma continued to kiss and nip at her neck as she attempted to push him away.
"Stop, stop, STOP!" She laughed happily and said, "You're terrible!"
Asuma stopped trying to gnaw on her neck and instead he kissed her slowly on the mouth. When their kiss ended he said, "Feeling a little better now?"
Kurenai smiled at him and said, "Actually I do. Thanks. We'll be fine – the quest will go off like clock work, because we've got the best of the best going on it."
Asuma said, "Why thank you!" He sat up and puffed up his chest, letting Kurenai get out from under him.
Kurenai stood up and took a couple steps away from her big ninja. Then she said over her shoulder, "I was talking about me." She grinned at him as he launched himself up off the couch right at her. She ran away from him laughing.
Kakashi said, "Ok, just like that. Comfortable?"
Anko purred back to him, "Verrrry." She hummed a bit as she lay in their bed, completely supported by pillows in various places making her whole body feel weightless. Then she felt heat on her naked back as her husband pressed his chest against her. Kakashi ran his hand up the length of her thigh, over the slight swell of her hip, down the dip of her waist, up over her ribs, then she raised her right arm to give him access to her right breast. He ran his calloused hand over her breast gently and lovingly as if he were touching the most precious delicate treasure in the world. His gentle touches started the fire in her belly that only he knew how to ignite.
"That's nice," she whispered as she ran her fingers like feathers over the same hand that touched her breast. She felt a kiss on her right shoulder, then another close to the back of her neck. She felt electric tingles emanate from those kisses, as if she'd been touched lightly by a live wire. She shivered as the impulses followed the path of her nerves that all seemed to quickly end at her most sensitive areas.
Kakashi took his time. He wanted to please his wife, yet also gain satisfaction for himself. He'd devised a way for them to enjoy their sexual escapades carefully – with Anko supported in places to relieve any and all exertion from her back. A pillow was under her head, her arm under that pillow, holding one of the rungs of the headboard. Another was in front of her stomach that she leaned into slightly, causing her right hip to round nicely for Kakashi's hand and eyes to appreciate. Another pillow was placed between her knees which kept her legs slightly parted – which was all Kakashi needed.
He knew his wife was quite fond of vigorous sex – the kind that almost resulted in injuries. He also knew that a little bit of foreplay could raise her desire to breathtaking heights. He continued to slowly touch her as she lie there supported by pillows, placing kiss after tiny kiss after tiny tongue trail on the back of her neck and shoulders.
Anko purred again as Kakashi removed his right hand from her breast and traced her curves back down to her ass, which he cupped briefly. She then gasped in surprise as she felt his hand rotate to the right, his fingers touching her already damp sex. "Like that?" he asked as she breathed deeply.
"Oh yeah," she said as he continued to touch her intimately.
Kakashi pressed his body against hers and immediately Anko felt his erection against her ass. He said, "Don't move. Let me do all the work."
"As you wish," she smiled back at him as he changed his angle slightly and slipped into her from behind.
Anko let out a low slow groan as her husband pushed himself inside her. All the pillows supporting her made it so absolutely no pressure was on her healing lower back. As Kakashi started to move inside her, he wrapped his arm around her waist and held her as still as possible to not risk having to explain to Tsunade what happened if Anko re-injured her back.
Anko attempted to push back against Kakashi's thrusts, but he held her firmly, supporting her physically, not letting her do anything to exert herself.
As she lay there, completely surrounded by pleasure, she felt that she couldn't move even if she wanted to. He was the only one she would allow to do this to her. She knew that in his need, he wouldn't risk harming her, even if she begged him to be more aggressive with her.
She was amazed at the intensity of feelings she was experiencing. Her skin felt as if it were on fire. Heat radiated from the back of her neck as Kakashi continued to thrust gently into her. She concentrated on the pleasure of the friction inside her and her stimulation levels soared. She took a sharp breath in and held it, as she felt Kakashi's tongue on her shoulder. She let it out abruptly and accompanied it with a low moan when he nipped first, then bit down on her shoulder. The many sensations she felt then caused the rush of spasms that indicated her orgasm had begun.
Kakashi too was assaulted with sensations: the sight of his wife's body with a slight sweat sheen covering it, the swell of her hip that he held on to; the feel of their love making itself; the scent of her skin that exuded the heady aroma of her arousal; and finally, the sound that confirmed that he was doing exactly what she wanted. Satisfied that his wife had been well pleased, he let himself go. His orgasm came as he pressed the length of his body against hers and held her tightly; the spasms in his body slow to dissipate.
Anko felt so loved. Her husband had gone to every effort to please her, yet keep her safe from the aggressive sex they both enjoyed. Sometimes, she thought to herself, it's best to slow things down and just enjoy. She reached back and touched Kakashi's head – pulling it slightly forward so she could kiss him. "That was wonderful. Thank you."
Kakashi kissed her briefly then wrapped his arm tightly around her waist. He said, "You're welcome." Anko twisted her arm around Kakashi's. He said, "That's strange."
Anko turned slightly and said, "What's strange?"
"Your wrist – the colored mark's almost gone."
Anko sat half way up slowly, and examined her wrist – "It's not all the way gone, but it is much less."
"What about your ring finger?"
Anko looked at her ring finger and the dark ring that was present there earlier was mostly gone.
Kakashi said, "I think I might have this figured out. Tsunade thinks it has something to do with your lymphatic system. I say, maybe your hormones are out of whack too. It's all connected. I think you need to get laid more often."
Anko said, "I'm all for that. I think we may need to do a little test and see if two rounds of sex erase the marks even more if not completely."
Kakashi grinned and said, "Let me set up the pillows a different way and see if your hypothesis can be proven."
Kakashi and Anko then spent a couple of hours trying to prove their sexual hypothesis.
Jiraiya and Tsunade sat at Tsunade's desk, paperwork strewn out in front of them. Tonton slept in Tsunade's lap, because Shizune had been dismissed earlier. Tsunade said, "You're sure about this?"
Jiraiya said, "Not entirely, but it is the only way."
Tsunade thought for a moment and said, "I'm worried about Anko. I know she wants to make sure Orochimaru never comes back again, and she has every reason to now. Just knowing that he wants to possess her body or anyone's for that matter, and use it somehow for his body to live on, has motivated her I'm sure. But to have to track Akatsuki, and Itachi particularly? That's risky to say the least."
"You ain't kiddin.' And that Kisame who will more than likely be with him, has one short fuse. One wrong move and he'd love to fight with and kill anyone he can."
"We've got a good team assembled. We've got the best shinobi for the situation. I might like Naruto go to along."
Jiraiya looked at her sternly and said, "I'm sorry Tsunade but he can't come along. He's got a bigger future, and if we for some reason fail, then Itachi's got his nine-tailed beast. I won't risk Naruto like that."
"I see what you mean. Ok then. Do you have any idea where Itachi is?"
"I'll call in some of my scout toads in the morning to see if I can find his trail. The last time I heard of him, he was outside the land of birds looking for the seven-tailed jinchuuriki. I'll see if my toads can trace him, and I should have some info on his whereabouts by tomorrow night."
"Ok, it's settled then," Tsunade said. "You'd better get some sleep. You're going to have a long day tomorrow and you're getting pretty old."
Jiraiya stood up and said, "We're the same age." Tsunade flipped him off.
The mountain toad sage turned and began to leave Tsunade's offices. "Jiraiya," she said. He turned slowly and looked at her. She said, "Just promise me you'll be careful."
Jiraiya broke into a prize-winning grin and thought SHE CARES! "Of course I will, Lady Tsunade. Good night."
After Jiraiya closed the door, Tsunade shifted in her chair, adjusting Tonton's position. Her brow wrinkled with worry, as she looked over the papers in front of her. This has got to work. It's the only shot we've got. She continued to pore over the papers in front of her late into the night wondering if it was possible for everyone to come back alive.
A/N: See? Not a cliffy - just a very worried Hokage deep in thought! But there's more to come. You know I can't leave well enough alone.
Next up: A little Anko & Kakashi time in their apartment where Kakashi tries to convince Anko to wear certain underwear to her Dr.'s appointment. Then we have the Dr.'s visit itself and the information exchanged there. See you soon!
