A/N:Sorry it's been so long! But lately, I've been busy with getting ready for the start of school. And also, I've been spending my time watching different anime series. Anyway, my computer got a virus, and I can't use it right now. So, I am on the home computer writing this chapter.
Sorry for the wait.
Chapter 11: Hot Springs
Sasuke rolled out from under the covers, rubbing his eyes to fix his blurry vision. His hair was sticking out in all directions, giving his a sloppy and laid back mien and his clothes were disheveled, wrinkles and creases in the smooth fabric only adding to the image. With a yawn, he began to strip out of his sleepwear and dress in his traditional clothes: a dark blue short-sleeved shirt with a raised collar and the Uchiha clan symbol, a pair of white shorts, a pair of arm bands, and his hitai-ate. Rather plain.
Attaching his shuriken holster, Sasuke ran his fingers through his hair, somewhat taming the mass of dark locks. In truth, he didn't really care. He just didn't want to let his hair get too long, he didn't want to be like his brother.
Without a glance in the mirror, Sasuke left his room, quietly closing the door behind him. It was still very early in the morning, but his sensei had wanted team seven to be up and awake so they could rendezvous in their normal spot on the bridge. Of course, Kakashi-sensei probably wouldn't be there for another few hours, but Sasuke always followed orders. Besides, what if one day he was miraculously on time?
No, Sasuke had to scoff at the idea. Kakashi-sensei would never be on time. Because the day that happened, would be the day he would date a fan girl. And that alone was never going to happen.
Kagome was awake early...again. Her team had another training day. Well rather, were going on yet another pleasant visit to hell. However, she had been through much worse traning, she was sure of it, and she had to admit her teammates were hard working and skilled. They were pretty good. For genin. Perhaps they were chunin level, but they weren't quite ready to actually be chunin. However, they were close, very close. Maybe a tough mission would do it.
She slipped into a short-sleeved fishnet shirt with a simple maroon vest over and a pair of black shorts. Then she wrapped her upper right thigh before putting on her shuriken holster over the bandage. Without bothering to put her long hair up, she brushed her lengthy bangs aside. Lastly, she put on a choker with a Uchiha fan charm in the middle where it rested above the space between her collarbones. Mikoto had told her that she was a Uchiha now, and as a member of their proud clan she was expected to always wear their clan symbol. So, she now owned several articles of clothing and fine pieces of jewelry with the Uchiha clan symbol.
With a quick glance at the clock, Kagome left her room. She knew that she didn't have to be too early to training, but being late could be disastrous. As long as she got their before her sensei who was always extremely punctual. How he did it, she was unsure, but the man always seemed to get to the meeting place exactly when he said he would.
Quietly, she closed the door. Kagome had found that she never seemed to make noise, perhaps an old habit. Mostly it came in handy, such as now when she didn't want to wake people up. But sometimes, it was troublesome.
Such as now.
Sasuke, who had for some unknown reason, been making his way down the hallway, crashed into her. Luckily enough for her, she was fast and moved to catch her balance. Sasuke on the other hand fell rather embarrassingly onto the wooden floor.
Lee latched onto Kagome as she finished gathering her belongings to leave practice. She had already cleared it with Guy-sensei, and was now trying to leave. Tenten waved and bid her farewell, Neji nodded in acknowledgement when she looked his way, and Lee…well, was now attached to her left leg muttering something she couldn't hear.
"Lee, I can't understand you," She said, cutting off the mumbles from him as he looked up.
"Don't leave! Our team needs you! Don't go!" Kagome only smirked. Guy-sensei on the other hand was prying his prize student off of her leg. When Lee was once again standing, their sensei pulled back his arm and punched him on the cheek, in a very dramatic way of course.
And then, the waterworks started as both Lee and their sensei began crying, rivers flowing down their cheeks. Somewhere along the line, a sunset backdrop had appeared as the two embraced.
"I'm so sorry, Lee!"
"No, I'm sorry, Guy-sensei"
And then came, more crying from the both of them while Neji only looked bored and unamused, Tenten sighed and rolled her eyes, and Kagome's smirk deepened. "Hate to break up this love fest, but I have to be going. And Lee, I'm not leaving forever. I'll be back tomorrow morning. I have to go to a dinner with the family and Sasuke's team…um, I think Kakashi something or other was their sensei. So, I'll see you tomorrow!" With a wave, Kagome turned her back on her shocked looking sensei and a flabbergasted Lee.
And behind her she could hear her sensei as he shouted "My number one rival! Kakashi Hatake!" and Lee as he yelled "Guy-sensei's biggest rival!"
With that, she ran back to the compound, using the Body Flicker Technique to get there undetected by any other shinobi, other than a select few. She really didn't want her sensei or Lee following her home in attempt to try and beat Kakashi in some menial contest, one she was sure Kakashi did not even participate in. From what she had heard about him from Nartuo and Sasuke, but mostly Nartuo, he wasn't the kind of guy who would go around challenging her sensei to meaningless competitions.
Kagome had to smirk at the thought of Guy-sensei trying to beat Naruto's sensei in some pointless and self proclaimed contest. Her sensei really was overly dramatic, a born actor waiting to happen.
With another burst of speed, she made it through the compound gates in into the compound. Well, personally she would call it a small village of its own. The Uchiha compound was easily as big as the Higurashi compound had been, conceivably it was larger. Really, she believed that the Uchiha family could make up a small village on their own.
By now, she'd met a few of the other members in this extremely large family. She slowed down and waved to Teyaki and his wife, Uruchi on her way to the house. They truly were nice people, but sometimes hearing about Itachi and how great he was from Uruchi so much could get a little irritating, and she knew Sasuke hated it. So, with her wave, she was gone again, so quickly she left the couple wondering if she had actually ever been there.
Soon Kagome found herself opening the doors to the place she now called her home. She took off her shoes before walking into the house, and she could already hear Mikoto moving about, most likely preparing for dinner.
Kagome walked into the kitchen where Mikoto was finishing up with some of the food, getting the dishes that were supposed to be served hot ready to be cooked.
"I'll go clean up so I can help." She said to the woman who replied with a bright smile, as always.
"Okay, Kagome-chan. Thank you. The guests should be here with Sasuke in a little while."
Leaving the room, Kagome headed up to her own room to get a change of clean clothes, a towel, and some soaps and then headed to the family hot springs within the compound. She had to admit, she loved taking baths in the hot springs. It was relaxing and peaceful. Of course, there were other people there sometimes, but it was not unusual for a family to bathe together, as awkward as it was for her. However, there were separate parts for women and men but it was not unusual to see, say, a brother and sister in the same section of the hot springs.
However, upon arrival, there were no others there, much to Kagome's relief. Quickly, she took her clothes off, folding them neatly and putting them with her other belongings. Easing into the water, she let a sigh escape. The water was warm and comforting, helping to sooth her tight muscles.
Of course, little into her calming bath, someone else had to come to the hot spring. And Kagome knew just who that someone was.
"You know, we're not actually related. So, technically this would be improper." She told the newcomer, sinking a little deeper into the water. She wasn't embarrassed like many girls would have been if they had been in the same situation. Rather, she was annoyed with the person who decided to disturb her. Of course, that person probably knew that.
"Ah, you must stop thinking that way. We are related, therefore it is not improper." His boyish voice replied as he began to take off his shirt. With an irritated sigh, Kagome turned around to give him a little privacy. Besides, she really didn't want to see him naked like many of his fan girls were sure to. The thought just disturbed her.
"Fine, but you're forgetting we're only distant cousins. Not immediate family." She replied, not expecting what came from his lips next.
"Must I need a reason to spend time with you? And these days are so hectic that I barely have time to myself." At that the uncomfortable tension between them only increased, but she had to admit, something inside her jumped up when he said that. Excitement? Happiness? Was she really glad that he wanted to see her?
Kagome pushed the feeling back down where it belonged, locked away. These kinds of feelings were ones that she could do better about. Because id they progressed too far, she would be useless, a lovesick puppy that could not do anything. And that would be pointless. Love was an emotion that she did not need. An emotion she never needed.
Because when she had it, it only made her weak.
She did not reply. And he did not say anything further.
Kagome finally turned around when she was sure he was in the water. Their eyes met, blue clashing with red, azure and crimson. So different, yet so similar.
It seemed like hours just staring at each other. Eyes never looking away, only blinking ever once in a while.
"I believe it is time for me to take my leave. I told Mikoto I would help her finish preparing for dinner." She said, hoping he would turn around or cover his eyes so she could get out without him seeing her. Of course, he didn't. She cleared her throat, hoping he would get the message. Of course, all he did was smirk. He knew what she wanted.
"Yes, is there something you require of me?" He said, taunting her, daring her to ask him out loud.
She wasn't embarrassed about it; she only believed that she should not have to ask. And she was most definitely not going to ask if she didn't need to. So, instead she took a large breath of air and then submerged herself under the steamy water.
Doing a few quick hand signs, she used the Body Flicker Technique, something she seemed to be doing a lot lately, and disappeared from the hot springs along with her belongings too fast for him to see clearly even with his Sharingan.
Of course, she hadn't even realized that he had had it activated, seeing as she was so used to seeing those red eyes. And, she had for the first time in a while, let her guard down.
Itachi only smirked at where she had once been. He had already seen her; he had seen her the whole time. The water that hid her body from most eyes did not hide her from him. She should have been more aware of his Sharingan.
I was going to this longer, but if I don't post, I'll keep putting it off. School starts tomorrow, so I probably won't update as much as I did before. Ehhhh. I'm going to miss summer.
Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter. I personally think it feels unfinished. And, I started making youtube vids! I don't know, started making AMVs like crazy. Check it out.
http :/ www . youtube . com / user / LianTRusso ? feature = mhum
just get rid of the spaces
