Enjoy! Sorry it's a bit shorter but I promise I'll make it up to you in the next one!
Walking down the halls of the establishment brought back few memories of his mother. It was a long time since he remembered her so vividly. Being here with her was one of his last memories of her and seeing this place brought them back.
Kakashi came back to the ryokan to talk to the staff and to his cousin in order to get some facts because as of now he had nothing. Acknowledging the existence of ghost wasn't an option for Kakashi. There must be something going on here other than that. He could feel it in his bones. Something just wasn't right.
Walking by one of the servant girls he asked where to find Ayako at this time and she pointed him in the right direction. Coming to the sliding door he could hear Ayako talking to someone. He knocked quietly on the frame and slid the door open to reveal Ayako sitting by a small table with and old looking woman, drinking tea.
Ayako smiled at him and asked him to join them.
"Kakashi, come in. Have you met my grandmother from my father's side?"
"Oh my, you have grown, boy." Said the old woman in a raspy voice. "We have met at the funeral but that was a long, long time ago wasn't it, boy. My name is Kashiko Ryoori." She smiled and he could see she was missing few teeth. Her old wrinkly face moved with her smile and her eyes were almost lost in the amount of skin around her eyes. She was dressed in a simple light blue kimono and her white hair was pulled in a bun on top of her head. Her watery blue eyes squinted at Kakashi as he sat down and took his gloves off while Ayako poured him a cup of tea.
Smiling politely at her and nodding his head a memory of two people came back to him as she mentioned the funeral. A man with an older woman was arguing. He couldn't remember the words exactly but he knew they were fighting about what to do with Ayako. It must have been her father and this woman. Her grandmother.
"Ayako? I wanted to ask about the people who have access to the ryokan and grounds. Could you give me a list?"
"Well you have seen most of the people who work and live here. Just few others come from the nearby town when needed. They help with cooking and cleaning but there was no need for them for the last months."
"I would like to speak to them if you don't mind."
"Of course not. But please be gentle. We are like a family. I doubt anyone from us has something to do with the.. eh.. ghost."
"Don't worry. I'm not blaming anyone. Just want to get some facts."
"Sure. You already met all the maids, Hokori, Izumi and Kotone. Then there is the cook Sabaku. And Shokubutsu his wife Nana and their daughter Midori. They tend to the gardens and take care of the grounds. Except them there is only me and grandmother."
"I hear you came here recently?" Kakashi asked the old lady.
He smile faded as she looked at him sharply and then her face turned gloomier as she spoke up.
"Oh yes. Just six months ago. My dear husband died in a fire that destroyed our home. I had nowhere else to go and Ayako was kind enough to give shelter to her old grandmother."
"I'm sorry for your loss. I didn't mean to pry."
"That's ok, boy. Why don't you have some tea?" She pushed his cup closer to him.
"No, but thank you. Are there any more guests? Or were there any guests that came regularly within the last few months?"
"Since the troubles started the guests were reluctant to come as the word spread quite fast." Ayako answered with a sad bow of her head. He could see it was troubling her more than he thought in the beginning. "Right now you are our only guests." She added quietly.
"Izumi keeps the guest books, if you want to know more about the guest's comings and goings."
"Thank you. I'll go and talk with the staff now if you don't mind."
"There is a dinner again tonight. Please come." With a quick nod he stood up and walked away. His first stop was in the reception area. He talked to Izumi and he borrowed the guest books to list through them later today.
He stopped quickly to put them in his room and wanted to talk to the other inhabitants of the establishment. As he opened the sliding doors to his room he stopped in his tracks.
Sakura was standing in the middle of the room, her back turned to him and dressed in the yukata she slept in. But what got his attention was her leg. Her long, slim, shapely and naked leg. She had her leg on top of the small table that was in the middle of the room. She put body lotion on her hand and started to spread it on her exposed leg. Kakashi's eyes were glued to her hands as she was moving them from her ankle, slowly moving it higher to her knee, massaging the lotion into her skin. Her hands moving higher over to her thigh, exposing even more of her long leg. He was unable to turn away and he felt his previous determination slipping as he imagined his hands moving over her bare, soft skin that now glistened as it was moist from the body lotion.
When Sakura started to turn around he quickly composed himself and quickly executed set of hand signs and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
All Sakura could see were the remnants of smoke and few books falling down. She snapped her fingers. Damn it! Seems that wasn't enough. Alright, it's time for some alcohol. A mischievous smile spread on her face as she started to put together another part of the plan "Seducing Hatake Kakashi".
Hiding behind a tree he looked around hoping no one saw him and that a certain pink haired kunoichi didn't follow him. He let out a sigh of relief and run a hand over his face. What is wrong with me? It was just a leg. Get a grip you old pervert. Where did the save "Sakura's innocence" go? It would be best to avoid her as much as I can. This might be a tiny bit of a problem when we are sleeping in the same bed and pretending to be engaged couple. He was starting to think that this trip might have been a bad idea. Why again did we end up in this situation? Oh, right Kaori. With another sigh he walked away from the tree and headed back to talk to the other people living in the ryokan. Work might get his mind of Sakura and her nice legs.
He made just a few steps when a certain busty woman jumped at him with a scream. Well, at least she tried.
"Kashi-kuuuun." Kaori jumped trying to get him into a hug. His reflexes were faster and he stepped to the side and saw Kaori hug the air in the place where he stood mere second before. That was close.
She pouted and tried to get closer to him one more time. "Oh, you're not even going to hug me? That hurts Kashi-kuuun."
Kakashi side stepped once more and started to back away from her. "Didn't you want to go visit your family?"
"I did. But I would miss you too much. Besides Ayako-san was generous enough and let me stay for a week before I go for the visit." Her smile changed to a predator's and as she talked she kept playing with the hem of her kimono, exposing more skin on her chest.
Kakashi's eyes followed her movement and he knew that is exactly what she wanted. What's wrong with the women here? Why do they feel the need to show their bodies? Is Ino going to go after me too?
"Hn." Kakashi turned and started to walk away.
"Where are you going Kashi-kuuun?" Whined Kaori behind him.
"Work." He waved one hand in a gesture of goodbye and he heard a disappointed huff behind him.
Few hours later Kakashi was finished with talking with everyone and had still an hour before the dinner. Not too inclined to see Sakura changing in their room, or being alone with her in any state of address for that matter, he decided to take a small detour. Going behind the ryokan and up to the trees he found a comfortable branch with the remnants of sunshine on it and sat down, taking his book out.
Unfortunately for him the sun came down faster than he might have wanted and needed to get back to their room to change for the diner. Strengthening his mind with resolve he jumped back down and went to their room to find Sakura already dressed in another strikingly beautiful kimono. It was very simple with no distinctive patterns on it but it was the same color as her eyes. She was standing in front of a mirror and putting on a red lipstick. He followed her movements, drawn to her lips, making them very, very sensual and more than kissable.
She noticed him in the reflection of the mirror and smiled at him. "I'm going to help Ino do her hair. Meet me at the diner?" Sakura asked and turned around walking by him and out of the diner. He nodded in response and gulped thinking that just his resolve might not be enough.
Thank you everyone who reviewed!
I have a small "competition" for you :) As I'm strugling a bit to find the right name for one of the characters I will give the honor to name one of them yourself! Be the one to give the 100th review (and be registered so we can PM) and I will let you name one important male character! :)