Love
Author's Notes: Sorry for the long break without notice. Life happened and I got caught up doing a bunch of stuff...yadda, yadda. But, I have always told myself I'd never be one of those authors who abandoned a fic, especially if at least one person is reading it. So, here we go!
WARNING: Mention of mature subject matter including boobs and bondage sex. If this bugs you, then turn back now...though I'm not really sure how you made it this far. Also, Hizashi gets a little creative with his language.
I don't own the Naruto-verse. I'm just borrowing for the Hell of it.
Hizashi didn't like the thought of being bound by his mom of all people. Why Kankuro-sama or Lee-sensei or anyone else couldn't be the one to tie him up wasn't as much of a mystery as Hizashi had hoped. Mom knew the most about tying a person up and had the most experience with rope.
Considering what he knew about his parents' bedroom life, Hizashi didn't want to linger long on mom's expertise with tying a person up. As it was, mom had wrapped the rope around him from mid-bicep down to his waist with his arms straight to his sides. His wrists were pulled uncomfortably backwards as she bound them behind his back.
He hated the feeling of not being able to use his hands. There was no comfort even though his scroll belt had been clipped up higher on his body so it would be hidden by the ropes. And okay, he still had all the scrolls in his shirt plus the ones in his shoes but it wasn't like he could access any of those weapons.
Mom put the end of the rope in his hand and he clutched it.
"Pull on that when we give the signal," mom told him.
"Okay," Hizashi said.
"And remember: you've been captured by Kankuro to save the Suna shinobi,"
"I know,"
"And the signal is a whistle like—"
"Tenten," dad's voice was amused.
"What?" mom asked.
"He's a genin, he knows," dad said.
Hizashi kept back his smirk then nodded to mom who pouted. She hugged him regardless as Kankuro-sama chuckled and Lee-sensei started going on about youth with Metal. Sakura-sama rolled her eyes. Too bad Hatomi did nothing but stare straight ahead.
Hizashi was marched away from the group by Kankuro-sama. There was no leash on his rope since Kankuro-sama would carry him over a shoulder once they got close enough. He still hated the fact Kankuro-sama had to blindfold him now so he could activate his Byakugan and look out for everyone as they moved into position.
Mom, dad, Sakura-sama, Metal, Hatomi, and Lee-sensei followed behind but slower and fanned out. Dad and Lee-sensei over took everyone as they would be in charge of getting behind the enemies to keep them from taking off. Mom went alone to their right since she'd be the surprise attack along with Hizashi.
Metal, Hatomi, and Sakura-sama went left since it would be there job to grab the Suna shinobi, Sakura-sama's job to heal any injuries. All Hizashi had to do was pretend he couldn't see and struggle against Kankuro-sama in about a mile for about the same.
Kankuro-sama had called the proper number last night, informing the enemies he had captured "the boy" and would bring him to the hide-out at a designated time Hizashi hadn't paid attention to. He had been more concerned about the look in Hatomi's eyes.
Fury like he'd never seen shone in the golden eyes of his twin. She was ready to go on another killing spree like earlier and Hizashi didn't want to see it happen. Seeing Hatomi effortlessly kill shinobi after shinobi the way she had, not even caring when she was coated in blood had been too much for him. He hadn't rested at all when they got the chance.
The look on her face during had been one of rage, concealed for the most part what with narrowed eyebrows, wide eyes, and a snarl he'd never seen on her face. She'd been precise, deadly, and downright terrifying. It hadn't helped she hated to get dirty so seeing her standing there so nonchalantly covered in blood struck something in him he couldn't figure out.
All Hizashi knew was he didn't want to see the look on her face again. In theory he knew it would happen since they were going to be sharing their shinobi careers and all. But to see his sister sink into the deadly killing mode again, no, it wasn't right.
Hizashi sighed when Kankuro-sama lifted him and slung him none too gently over a shoulder. He began struggling like a good little captured shinobi, even going so far as to curse at Kankuro-sama about being a traitor to Konoha and all that. Hizashi saw mom smirk but kept going, kicking where he could while remembering not to pull on the rope between his hands. That would just suck.
Hizashi saw the scouts in the forest and was glad mom, dad, Lee-sensei, Hatomi, Metal, and Sakura-sama had avoided them. One of every five scouts had red eyes, the kind of eyes mom had described to him, Metal, and Hatomi last night: the kind of eyes that could trick a normal Byakugan.
No one knew what the dojutsu was, only that it could make a Byakugan user see enemies where there weren't any, trap anyone in a genjutsu, and help to transfer life force. One person in the entire shinobi world had the red eyes and that was a man by the name of Ranmaru who had become a student at the Curry of Life shop Lee-sensei liked to visit when he could.
Either Ranmaru had become a busy man or someone who liked to experiment with dojutsu had implanted a bunch of enemy shinobi with Ranmaru's eyes. Hizashi was going to risk a guess on the latter. How else would people in their twenties have the same red eyes? The only alternative was Ranmaru had started getting busy at fifteen and all his kids happened to be Rain Shinobi.
Unlikely.
Hizashi cursed Kankuro-sama to Hell, not nicely and with some words mom was probably going to smack him for saying. Sure, he could go on a mission that risked his life, kill people with a giant battle axe, but Kami-forbid he say fuck.
Hizashi assumed it was the principle of the matter and being all prim and proper even though mom could cuss like the best of them when it came to it. He decided it'd be best not to mention the fact she cursed like the worst when this was over. She'd fill him with senbon and he'd be too tired to dodge.
They came to the hide-out and Hizashi kept struggling. It had caused Kankuro-sama to grab his legs in one arm and use his hair as a kind of leash to keep him steady but Hizashi didn't mind so much. He did mind the rather rough landing when Kankuro-sama tossed him to the ground ten yards from a group of Rain shinobi.
Mom silently picked off every scout near them with a well placed poisoned senbon. The scouts dropped soundless to the trees because of the damp weather and the underbrush, well, soundlessly enough the main bulk of the Rain Shinobi didn't notice.
Hizashi counted fifteen people in front of them and ten in the forest. He wasn't worried about them, Hell they had taken out more than that during last night. This morning. Whenever. He'd lost track of days.
What did concern him were the hundred of Rain Shinobi in the hide-out. Even worse were the fact Hogai was missing his right hand and the bandages looked like they hadn't been changed since the unneeded amputation was made. Shigetoki was missing an eye. Maiya looked to be unharmed. Still.
Hatomi was two seconds away from leaping into battle and slaughtering everyone. One bad move from the Rain Shinobi would have her in here in that killing mode again. Hizashi could see it in her eyes and the way she held herself: completely tense and prepared to leap, right hand up higher than her left and knuckles turning white from holding Maiya's trench blade so hard in fury.
"Here, now give me my shinobi," Kankuro-sama said.
"How do we know it's him?" one of the Rain shinobi asked.
Kankuro-sama scoffed and ripped the bandana off his face. He hadn't been gentle and Hizashi had sworn he felt some hair come out with the knot.
"Asshole," Hizashi spat at Kankuro-sama who snorted at him.
He struggled against Kankuro-sama's hand when the puppeteer placed it on the top of his head so Hizashi's face turned forcefully to the Rain shinobi. Hizashi pushed against him but damn was Kankuro-sama strong. Good thing this was all staged or Hizashi would be in real trouble.
"Know anyone else with pupil-less gold eyes that get veins around them occasionally?" Kankuro-sama questioned.
The leader of the group smirked then pushed Hogai forward. He stumbled but went, guiding Shigetoki along. When Maiya made to move the Rain shinobi held her back. Hizashi inwardly gulped.
"The boy and girl will walk at the same time," the leader said.
"You think I'm going to willing go to you fuckers?" Hizashi asked.
"You will if you know what's good for you," Kankuro-sama replied.
This hadn't been part of the plan. Hizashi glared. Kankuro-sama raised an eyebrow then snorted before roughly dragging Hizashi to his feet.
"Fucking traitor! I'd fill you with senbon if I could you Kami-damned—"
Kankuro-sama smacked him in the back of the head. Hard. Damn that hurt!
"You'll walk or I'll make you wish you had," Kankuro-sama said.
Okay. Hizashi was starting to believe nothing was going according to plan. Either that or Kankuro-sama could act exceptionally well. Mom and Sakura-sama didn't look concerned but Metal was biting his lip. Hatomi's eyes were fixated on Maiya. Hizashi spotted dad and Lee-sensei hiding on the roof of the base, looking unconcerned.
Hizashi scowled as Hogai and Shigetoki stood beside Kankuro-sama. Both were pale, sweating, and shivering as if it was cold out. Shigetoki looked seconds away from passing out while Hogai had a vacant look on his face, as if he'd seen Hell and didn't like it.
"One question before we let the girl go," the Rain Shinobi said.
"Why am I doing this?" Kankuro-sama asked.
The leader nodded. Kankuro smirked. Hizashi waited and wished the stupid bird call would come now. It wouldn't till Maiya was safely beside Kankuro-sama.
"She happens to be Gaara's daughter," Kankuro-sama said.
Hizashi stared back at him in wonder. He looked to Maiya who was gaping with the Rain Shinobi. One Rain Shinobi laughed which started the others chuckling but Kankuro-sama merely grinned. The least he could've done was lie better.
"Sea-green eyes, red hair, and the ability to manipulate wind. What other family in Suna do you know who can manipulate wind who happen to look like her?"
These words shut up the Rain Shinobi and Hizashi studied Maiya. Okay. She was fourteen to Gaara-sama's thirty. No way Gaara-sama had a daughter...
"Interesting," the leader said.
Hizashi wanted to laugh but kept it down. Kankuro-sama gave him a shove and Hizashi stumbled forward without meaning to. He shot Kankuro-sama a glare before taking another step forward. Maiya was released and shoved like he had been but she didn't catch her fall so well. She was dragged up by significantly shorter hair and pushed again.
Maiya caught her balance the second time and walked forward. Hizashi kept moving and eventually they came to the point where they passed. The whistle didn't come. Hizashi watched his family but no one moved to help. Dad didn't shift his lips to whistle and Hizashi was getting closer to the enemy. The Hell?
Hizashi had to trust in his father. Not enough of the scouts had been taken out that Maiya would survive alone in the middle of a field. She had to be near Kankuro-sama so he could protect her which meant either Hizashi had to slow down or he would be in the thicket of enemies before too long.
"Hurry it up kid," the leader said.
"Fuck you," Hizashi spat out and stopped.
Maiya picked up her pace. She was four yards from Kankuro-sama. He was four and a half from the Rain shinobi. It was a decent distant to work with when he had easy access to his scrolls but the rope might take a few seconds to fall off which meant he wouldn't have time to work with the distance as well as he wanted.
"I'll drag you over if I have to," the leader said.
"Then start moving cock-sucker," Hizashi said.
Mom was trying not to laugh. Dad rolled his eyes but Lee-sensei looked horrified as did Metal. Sakura-sama had an amused grin on her face while Hatomi, yeah, best no to look at his sister. The Leader smirked.
"Oh there will be cock-sucking. I won't be the one doing it though,"
Hizashi saw Hogai and Shigetoki shiver. Hizashi scowled. He hadn't needed to know that. Kami damn all the stupid Rain shinobi to the worst pits of Hell. Oh, and Orochimaru. Hizashi would fill the snake-bastard with senbon the moment he set foot in Konoha.
Maiya was in the safe zone, two yards away from Kankuro and Hizashi saw dad shifting forward, lips pursing to start the signal. Hizashi tightened his grip on the rope in his hands and got ready to jump back.
"The girl's lips felt so good around my—"
This was as far as the leader got. One moment he was gloating and the next he was struggling to keep the blood in his body as Hatomi had come flying out of the bushes and tore the leader a new mouth with a roar of fury Hizashi had never heard coming from his sister. Hell, he didn't even know she could be so loud.
He pulled the rope as everyone else came in. Originally mom would've littered the area with weapons as Hizashi got free while everyone else attacked. Hatomi had thrown that plan to the wind but it didn't look like it mattered.
The leader was dead and the ones around were being hit by either Hatomi's blade or her Lion Fist. Neither produced good results for the enemy shinobi and it was made worse when dad, Lee-sensei, and mom joined the fray. Metal was too stunned to move and Kankuro-sama had summoned a huge ass puppet to protect the other three in.
Scouts began attacking but the ropes had fallen away by this time and Hizashi unleashed his weapons into the fray. More shinobi came from the base and Hizashi saw mom toss a bomb towards the door. It exploded with ferocity and made the front of the building collapse.
That wasn't good either.
"Fall back," dad said.
Hizashi didn't have to be told twice as the building went up in flames. Shinobi came pouring out of the place and Hizashi turned to run. He stopped because Hatomi hadn't listened and still tore her way through any enemy standing.
Dad grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back. She lashed out at him but dad was faster, hitting one of her tenketsu and knocking her out cold. Hizashi tossed back some of his bombs then followed the group.
Mom threw back smoke bombs mixed with sleeping agents and half the enemy fell. The ones who made it wouldn't be able to catch up, not against the Green Beast Teams. Hell, Kankuro-sama, his giant puppet, and Sakura-sama were having issues keeping with them as they took off for the cover of the woods.
Eventually the Rain shinobi faded out of his vision field but dad didn't stop running. None of them stopped until they reached the border between Rain and Suna where Gaara-sama stood with an army of Suna shinobi. Hizashi couldn't help but collapse to the desert sand in front of the group and thankfully (for once in his life) deactivated his Byakugan.
"We got 'em," Kankuro-sama said.
Gaara-sama nodded. Hizashi would blame his exhaustion on his actions. He was pretty sure no one would mind.
"Is Maiya really your daughter?" Hizashi asked.
Gaara-sama blinked his green eyes and stared at him. A few Suna shinobi started snickering while Kankuro-sama rolled his eyes. Hizashi yelped when mom smacked him upside the head. Dad pinched the bridge of his nose and still held a disgruntled Hatomi who had woken up at some point.
"No," Gaara-sama said.
Hizashi stared up at Kankuro-sama who smirked at him then gratefully got in the giant puppet with Hogai, Shigetoki, and Maiya. Hatomi was tossed in, none to nicely by father, and Metal came willingly before the puppet was partially closed again. It began moving and Hizashi leaned against the inner wall.
He said nothing as Hatomi shifted until she could hug Maiya and Maiya hugged back, looking more stunned than anything else. Hatomi said something in Maiya's ear and Maiya smiled, closing her eyes and nuzzling into Hatomi's neck. Hizashi snorted and decided it was best to close his eyes. At least he could nap without worrying now.
She smelled of sweat, blood, smoke, and filth but Hatomi did not care. She held Maiya as close as she could, until there would be not even a hair's breathe between their bodies and pressed her lips near Maiya's ear.
"I want you," Hatomi whispered.
She felt Maiya's arms clasp tighter around her and Maiya's face nuzzle into the side of her neck. Apparently Maiya did not care Hatomi was covered in blood, caked in sweat, and had not bathed properly in a week. Hatomi did not care her brother, the boy whose heart she had crushed, and Maiya's teammates were in the puppet with them watching.
Maiya had all her limbs attached and was alive.
The simple fact was all that mattered. Hatomi did not even care she had disobeyed father twice during the course of the mission. She did not care she may have gotten herself killed by running in the way she had. She did not even care where exactly they were going.
Maiya was alive.
They parted but not until night had come down upon them. Even so, Hatomi said beside Maiya, holding her hand after giving her the trench knife. Maiya had thanked her with a quick peck on the cheek. None of the boys watched, all either feigning sleep or sleeping. Metal kept his gaze outside. The puppet stopped and Hatomi sensed father coming towards it.
"Hatomi," father said.
Hatomi frowned but left Maiya's side. Maiya gave her hand a squeeze before they parted and Hatomi kept the smile off her face as father was staring at her, white eyes gone silver in the night but not in a pretty way. Father knew how to tilt his head properly to cast a sinister look to his eyes and over his face. He did this now.
Hatomi left the puppet and saw mother had set up camp with the Suna shinobi. Hatomi's stomach growled for the first time in what felt like centuries upon smelling mother's stew. Father led her to the outskirts of the camp before turning on her so swiftly she took half a step back and raised her hands into defensive position.
"What are rules four and fifteen?" father asked her.
Hatomi took a breath as she lowered her hands. She deserved this. She also had a feeling father would have done the same if in her position.
"A shinobi must always put their mission first and a shinobi must follow their commander's instructions," Hatomi said.
"Hn, did you do that?"
"No, but would you have if you were in my position?"
Hatomi met father's silver eyes and he glared down at her. Hatomi did not back away.
"I was seconds away from giving the signal. Your brother would have taken out the shinobi in front of the base, the rest of us would have taken down the scouts, you would have left with Sakura and Kankuro to come back here while the rest of us would have investigated how in the Hell so many Rain shinobi got a hold of Ranmaru's eyes or if Ranmaru is even still alive. None of that happened. Yes, you got to save Maiya but now we have an immense situation on our hands which you effectively stopped from being further investigated,"
Father kept staring down at her and Hatomi swallowed back tears. He was right no matter how much she hated admitting it. She met his eyes and saw something she never thought she would see in his gaze: disappointment. Hatomi lowered her eyes and bit her tongue to stop the tears from flowing.
"Now the Rain shinobi will leave that base and we have no idea where they will end up going. I will dispatch Lee and Metal to see if the Curry of Life restaurant is unmolested but somehow I doubt it will be standing if Ranmaru was taken by force. If he was not then we have an entirely different issue to assess which we could have known sooner if we had been allowed entrance into the base as planned. Do you have anything to add?"
Hatomi had to take another breath to steady her emotions. Kami, she had done horribly. She had no idea what her punishment would even be. They would take her off the active roster for a while, perhaps even demote her.
She would have done it all again if it meant saving Maiya.
"No commander," Hatomi said.
"Hn, dismissed,"
Hatomi did not look at her father as she turned on her heel and headed back to the puppet. Hizashi watched her enter, staring through his lashes, but he said nothing. Hatomi settled beside Maiya again but kept quiet even when Maiya asked what happened. Maiya did not press and eventually mother came around with bowls of food.
Mother left without a word and Hatomi loathed the awkwardness she had caused. She did not feel like eating but she ate anyway, knowing her body needed the nourishment after such an excursion. Hizashi, Maiya's teammates, Metal, and Maiya finished before her but Hatomi said nothing. Hizashi sighed as he placed his bowl beside him on the floor of the puppet.
"Well this'll be awkward," Hizashi muttered.
"Hn,"
Hizashi shrugged at her annoyance. He ran a hand through his hair and she saw him wince at how greasy it had become. Kami, if her twin was worried about his hair then they had to be in a rather messy state. Hatomi decided it best not to look at her clothing. Hizashi met her eyes and saw frustration there.
"I mean, I get it, but dad was—"
"I know,"
"Oh good,"
He ignored her snarl. Hatomi huffed and shoved her empty bowl towards him. He took it with a shrug before gathering everyone's bowls and leaving the puppet. Metal followed behind him without a word. Hatomi let out a long breath before leaning on Maiya's shoulder.
"Sorry?" Maiya tried.
"Hn," Hatomi said.
Maiya wrapped an arm around her waist and Hatomi leaned into the gentle touch. Maiya would be told about the failed plan eventually. Hatomi did not know what would happen then and focused instead on the moment. It was better this way.
Tenten sighed happily as she sunk into the warm water of the immense bathtub. They were staying in Gaara's home for a few days to properly rest before heading back to Konoha and Tenten planned to take every advantage of meals she didn't have to cook, warm water, and a soft bed. Maybe the rest would stop Neji from being so disappointed in his Princess.
Tenten didn't blame Hatomi in her actions. Tenten would've done the same if it was Neji who had been captured then heard it revealed he'd been forced to suck some stranger's cock. Maybe Hatomi was more like her than people thought. Either way, Neji was not impressed with the situation. Anyone could tell by the way he pointedly ignored Hatomi on the way to Suna or when he did need to speak to her it was in a monotone reserved for people who did not meet his standard.
Hatomi made it her mission to stay away from her father, hanging beside Maiya so the two girls could hold hands when they could. Gaara noticed it right away and stared for a few moments before smiling softly then turning away. Kankuro had snorted as if it explained everything while Sakura raised an eyebrow.
Tenten didn't know how to feel about Hatomi's indiscretion, not completely anyway. Was she let down by her daughter? Yeah since Hatomi had messed up the information gathering section of the mission. Hatomi had (for once) broken out of her Hyuuga shell and done something no one had expected. Normally calm and cool, she'd snapped and went on a killing spree because of a comment.
Still, Tenten understood. Hatomi had wanted to save someone she cared about deeply and hearing that comment come from an enemy, well, Tenten didn't blame her. Hell, Neji would've done the same even if he didn't want to admit it out loud.
This meant Hatomi really liked Maiya more than anyone had anticipated. Apparently one kiss could do it. Tenten didn't know what to feel about this either. Hatomi was too young to be in the kind of serious relationship it looked like she wanted but Hatomi would argue with sound logic she had killed and was paid to kill.
Tenten sighed and ducked under the warm water to soak for a moment. When she came back up, Neji was in the bathroom and she stared. He was naked and she took a moment to appreciate his body before meeting his eyes.
To anyone who didn't know him as well as she did he looked normal. To her, he was upset, miserable, and exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally. Tenten gestured for him to hurry up and he didn't even smile before lowering his body into the tub with hers but at the opposite end.
"She pulled a me," Tenten said.
"Hn,"
"And you know you would've done the same no matter what you told her,"
"Hn,"
"So?"
Tenten waited as he sighed and shrugged. She shifted until she knelt between his legs so she could kiss his lips. He melted into the kiss but did not raise his hands to hold her even when she clenched his shoulders in hers.
"I know you're disappointed in her but she's been on edge an entire month. This last week and a half has been especially hard and she doesn't have the experience under her obi like you or me. She's not perfect,"
Neji inclined his head then wrapped his arms around her waist. He leaned his head on her shoulder and she felt him inhale before he nuzzled into her neck. She rubbed his back and he sighed.
"I know. But she will still be punished for it as Naruto sees fit and I will agree with whatever punishment he gives her. It was a shock to see her react as she did. I did not think she was capable of being so, so,"
"Brutal?"
"Hn,"
"I made a man explode into pieces so small you couldn't even see them when he tried to kill you,"
She grinned when Neji chuckled at her. She kissed the side of his head and he hummed.
"And I did it with one word which made it rain blood for a good minute or two,"
He hummed before shifting so he could kiss her lips. Tenten didn't mind. When he drew back he had a light smile on his face.
"She is more like you than we thought," Neji said.
"She's a bit of both of us, mostly you but with my feminist ideals and tendency to slaughter things trying to hurt or kill the person I love," Tenten said.
Neji winced and Tenten let out a breath. It probably hadn't been a good idea to remind him why Hatomi had reacted the way she had.
"You know she really likes Maiya. I mean she did mess up a mission and slaughter at least a dozen shinobi for the girl," Tenten said.
"Hn, but it seems, not odd, but, unexpected. She had an immense crush on Metal then one kiss made her re-evaluate everything," Neji said.
"I thought you were a girl and was totally cool with that," Tenten reminded him.
He snorted then nodded. She kissed his cheek and he smiled at her, softly.
"So, gunna give your daughter a hug tomorrow?"
"Hn,"
His agreement sound complete with a nod. Good. Everything would go back to some kind of normal and Tenten grinned. She loved when she could out-logic her husband.
Hatomi could not stop smiling, softly of course, but even so she could not help her glad mood. Father had forgiven her this morning with a Lee-sensei like hug she had not thought him possible of. Better still, she had been allowed to go stay with Maiya for the rest of their time in Suna. Mother had even gotten all the blood out of her clothing and even Hizashi seemed at peace with how everything had gone.
"Look at the knockers on that one,"
Hatomi's bubbly mood went to simmer as she strode past a few Suna civilians on her way to Maiya's house. Civilians, males, and teenagers to be more specific and Hatomi decided it best to ignore them. They thought it best to follow her.
"Nice ass too,"
"And all that hair,"
"Did you see her eyes?"
"Definitely not a native. She's so exotic looking,"
Hatomi had not realized men would take notice of her other features or some were capable of getting past her breasts. She did not consider her looks to be exotic but in a place where everyone wore their hair short or bound up, her long locks did draw attention.
"Konoha shinobi, I saw the hitai-ate,"
"Too bad,"
"I know,"
Hatomi activated her dojutsu to see the teens had stopped following her but looked after her with longing in their eyes. Hatomi turned down a corner and deactivated her Byakugan. The smile came back to her face at the unexpected comments and stayed there as she found Maiya's apartment complex.
Hatomi mentally prepared her introduction to Maiya's parents as she took the stairs up to the second level then found the right door. She held her head high as she knocked. Hatomi deflated when Maiya answered.
"Come on in," Maiya said.
Hatomi followed Maiya into the apartment and went over her introduction again as she expected Maiya's parents to be in the sitting room. Hatomi blinked.
The sitting room was small, six yards by eight yards, and home to an old looking couch, an arm chair which had seen better times, a scared table, and a television that was at least a decade old. A bookshelf filled up the back wall and there was a small window.
Hatomi took in the kitchen to her right to see it was as small as the sitting room, smaller even with hardly enough room to fit the oven, refrigerator, sinks, and a table for two. Pots had been hung from the ceiling on a metal rack as there was a single set of cupboards along the wall and a few under and near the sink, certainly not enough to hold everything a kitchen would need for a family of even two. A hallway led to the rest of the place but Hatomi had a feeling it would not be a long hallway. She could see the frame for a room from here.
"You okay?" Maiya questioned.
Hatomi cleared her throat then noticed there were no pictures on the walls. Never mind there were two puny windows in the space. The apartment was clean but not the kind of clean mother kept the house in a state of. It likely did not help the walls needed a fresh coat of paint and the wooden floors were a bit warped and should be replaced.
"It's not much but it's home," Maiya said.
They had not spoken about Maiya's home life at all in the time they had gotten to know each other. Hatomi felt like a fool. It was obvious by the shoes on the rack by the door Maiya lived alone which meant she had no parents. And here Hatomi was judging Maiya's home when it was likely the single place she could afford on a genin (now chunin) salary.
"Did it just hit you I don't have parents?"
Hatomi nodded. Maiya shrugged but had a smile on her face.
"It's okay. We didn't talk much about it when I was in Konoha. My mom died last year on a mission, my dad five years ago because of a sandstorm when he was crossing the desert. He was a silk merchant. We had to sell the business after he died because mom couldn't keep up with it and didn't know the first think about selling silk,"
Hatomi hugged her and Maiya gasped before giggling then hugging back. Hatomi had no idea the pain Maiya suffered and here Hatomi was thinking father ignoring her for a few days had been the end of the world. To not have father around anymore...
"I apologize,"
"For what? You didn't know and I didn't offer. I guess I should've but I didn't want you to feel bad for me when I was practically living with you guys. Besides, it felt nice hanging out with your family,"
Hatomi smiled as they parted from the hug. Maiya took her hand and they went down the hallway. At the end was a closet for Maiya's cleaning supplies and washing machine. The room Hatomi had seen was a bathroom that did not have a tub but came with a stand up shower and a single sink. Maiya's bedroom was smaller than Hatomi's and again there was a tiny window.
"I know it's not as big as your room," Maiya said.
The bed was a double and Maiya had a small closet with one long dresser and a tall dresser. There was a desk shoved under the window and not a lot of room to walk around in. Hatomi looked to Maiya who had a flush on her cheeks then shook her head.
"It is fine," Hatomi said.
"Yeah but you'll probably feel all squished or something," Maiya muttered.
Hatomi chuckled and shook her head. She placed her bag a top Maiya's dresser before facing the other girl.
"It means we can be closer for longer," Hatomi said.
Maiya laughed but hugged her and Hatomi discovered she enjoyed Maiya's hugs. She liked feeling the warmth of Maiya's flesh and the tightness of the arms around her waist. They parted again but Maiya kept a hold of her hand.
"So, want to go chill on the couch?"
"Hn,"
Hatomi followed Maiya back into the sitting room and they made a nest of sorts on the couch complete with drinks, popcorn, and a few movies Hatomi had wanted to see but had not gotten the chance to. She happily ate Maiya's cooking at six then checked in with father at nine. By this time they were both exhausted so retired back to Maiya's room.
Hatomi took off her hitai-ate first, glad mother had the foresight to pack a pair of Hatomi's pyjamas before they left Konoha. Hatomi pulled off her obi next then began unbuttoning her shirt as Maiya looked through her drawers for something. Hatomi took her shirt off.
"I don't know if this'll, woah,"
Maiya had turned and dropped what looked like pyjamas onto the floor. Hatomi folded her shirt neatly before taking her pyjamas out of her bag. Maiya still gaped, eyes focused on Hatomi's chest. Hatomi raised an eyebrow as Maiya shook her head as if clearing it.
"Obviously you're not used to the fact that in a room with a girl who likes girls you probably shouldn't be so comfortable getting naked," Maiya said.
Hatomi stared at her for a moment then felt heat coming to her cheeks. Ah. Maiya had a good point. Then again Metal had seen her topless and in tight spandex while she had a crush on him so she did not see the issue. She took her tights off.
"Ah, wow," Maiya said.
Her cheeks had gone pink. Hatomi folded her tights and placed them atop her folded shirt before staring at Maiya. After a brief staring contest, Hatomi reached around to unhook her bra.
"Woah, hold on a second," Maiya said complete with hand wave and an entirely red face.
"Hn, we are both women. You have seen breasts," Hatomi said.
"But we're dating!"
"And?"
"Er, aren't we supposed to be more, I don't know, shy about being naked in front of each other so soon?"
"Why?"
"Um, huh. Maybe because it's proper and all that?"
"You came with me to the hot springs,"
Hatomi smirked when Maiya gaped at her. Hatomi unhooked her bra and folded it before placing it with the rest of her clothing. Maiya kept staring but Hatomi did not bother to cover up. She said nothing when Maiya came up to her, standing a mere few inches away with her eyes still staring at Hatomi's breasts.
"This is so different from the hot springs," Maiya said.
"Hn?"
"Yep. I can ask you if I can touch. Can I touch?"
Hatomi considered. It was not as if Maiya could get her pregnant. They had almost lost each other once before even starting this relationship. Besides, how often would they be allowed to be physically near the other? They were both old enough to kill people legally and had killed. They were mature beyond their years.
"Yes," Hatomi said.
Maiya lifted her hands then gently cradled Hatomi's breasts, one in each palm. Hatomi bit her lip at the contact as she began to feel oddly warm below her waist. Maiya lifted Hatomi's breasts up a bit then let them drop. Hatomi raised an eyebrow at her.
"They're so bouncy," Maiya said.
Hatomi kept her laugh back as Maiya kept bouncing Hatomi's breasts. Maiya met her eyes then squeezed lightly. Hatomi let out an involuntary groan and felt heat spread across her cheeks as her groin began to tingle. Interesting.
"It is a bit unfair you are still clothed," Hatomi said.
Maiya remedied the situation in less than a minute then blushed when she realized she wore nothing but a pair of panties in front of Hatomi. Maiya tried to cover her less ample chest but Hatomi took up Maiya's breasts before Maiya could cover them.
"I know, they're so small compared to yours," Maiya said.
"Who said I enjoy my breasts?"
"I enjoy them,"
"Hn, try running with them,"
"Ouch, point taken. Still, mine are tiny,"
"They are a comfortable handful. I like it,"
Hatomi smiled when Maiya grinned. She almost fell over when Maiya kissed her. Maiya's hands wrapped around Hatomi's bare waist and Hatomi wrapped her arms around Maiya's body, one hand going to her lower spine while the other went to a shoulder. The tingling sensation in her groin increased and became more of a throbbing. She felt dampness she was unaccustomed to feeling but did not concern herself with it.
She had read all about the signs of arousal in women thanks to the book mother and father had lent Hizashi. Wetness, throbbing, tingling, all of it was part of being sexually interested in what was happening. Maiya's hands ran along the waist band of Hatomi's panties as their lips kept moving. Maiya pulled back before Hatomi was ready and took two large steps back.
"We should stop," Maiya said.
"Why?" Hatomi asked.
Her head felt wonderfully fuzzy and she wanted Maiya to hold her again, to kiss her, to feel the warm flesh of her almost naked body against hers.
"Because it's, well, I mean. We just became a couple and it's weird. Plus I keep thinking of those guys and, well," Maiya tried.
Fury rose in Hatomi but she pushed it down. She had killed at least one man who had forced Maiya into doing sexual acts. Hatomi pulled on her pyjama shirt and shorts then let out a breath. Maiya looked moments away from crying but Hatomi smiled.
"I understand and I apologize. I had not considered the situation. We can cuddle with clothes on in bed if you like or I could sleep on the couch," Hatomi said.
Maiya gaped then grinned. She tugged on her pyjamas then jumped into bed. She patted the empty spot beside her and Hatomi chuckled before getting into bed beside Maiya.
"Like I'd make you sleep on the couch," Maiya said.
"Hn,"
Hatomi wrapped Maiya into a hug and Maiya returned it with a smile. Hatomi giggled when Maiya had to leave the bed to turn off the overhead light then snickered when they had to fiddle with the covers in the dark. Finally they lay in each other's arms under the covers, faces so close that their noses brushed.
"Can I brush your hair in the morning?" Maiya asked.
"Of course," Hatomi answered.
Maiya laughed happily before kissing the tip of Hatomi's nose. Hatomi smiled and snuggled in closer to Maiya. Despite everything, Hatomi's first S-Rank mission had not gone too horribly wrong.
Okay, so maybe they're acting way older than they should be but like Hatomi thinks: they're trained killers. You've got to have a certain maturity about you to do that.
Tenten's line of "I made a man explode..." and "I thought you were a girl..." can be further explained in "Twenty Truths about Team Guy" in Tenten's chapter. *winks* Apparently I'm in that universe for a few things as I keep slyly referencing back to it.
Reviews welcome.