After an hour or so of cuddling, kissing, and random grouping later, Nanami finally settled off into a deep slumber, and Naruto's morning wood had finally wilted, allowing himself to separate from her. As much as he wanted to stay, he knew he had to get up eventually. The two of them would work things out later in greater detail. Or at least apart from what had already transpired.
The first thing he did after getting some boxers on was to take his and Nanami's clothing and put it in the clothes hamper for washing. The sheets would come later once she woke up, since he didn't want to disturb her. Though after what they did last night, they may have to do their dirty laundry in secret. No pun intended.
After getting dressed, closing the blinds a bit to let Nanami sleep peacefully for a little while longer, he made his way out of the house, the others thankfully sleeping in contentment. As he stepped out the front door, he remembered the one thing that had been gnawing at the back of his mind since he woke up. The two of them had no form of… protection, and if that circumstance came up, then the truth would come out sooner rather than later.
That wouldn't be a good thing.
As he came to the middle of the courtyard, he nearly bumped into Washi, fully dressed in his Maniwa uniform like on the days where he was serious about his current mission. He wondered whether or not the guy had copies of the outfit, or just cleaned the same one over and over again. However if the latter was the case, then where would he hang out for long periods with no pants on?
Okay maybe he' been over-analyzing it a little too much.
"Morning Naruto. Have a nice sleep," he said trying to hide the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Ah, yeah, I did," Naruto admitted.
"You seem to have something on your mind. Is something wrong?" he asked knowingly.
"Well… um… I might have to go to the store for something… personal, later," Naruto said nervously.
"Brand name, store brand, or all natural, take your pick," Washi said presenting three small bottles from his sleeves and handing them over.
When Naruto looked them over, he immediately recognized what they were.
Oral contraceptives.
"Why did you buy these?" Naruto asked, hoping this guy didn't know what he thought he knew.
"In the heat of moment, logic gives way to passion, and things happen that normally would've been avoided," Washi narrated with a dramatic flourish of his hand. As Naruto looked at him fiercely, he turned to him with a kind-hearted smile on his face. "Oh come now, don't think no one would find out. I mean, did you think one of you really put those sheets over your shoulders after you had your fun? Or maybe how no one in the house heard what you were… doing?" he chuckled lightly. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself."
" . . . You haven't told them yet did you?" Naruto asked a bit nervously.
"No, no, deception may be in my job description, but it doesn't mean I'd do something like that," Washi stated. "Besides. If I were to be in your position, I know I wouldn't want people hanging my dirty laundry out in front of everyone either… So to say, and no pun intended. Of course, that doesn't stop it from making a funny inside joke."
" . . . I see," Naruto said. "How'd you get the sheets over us without waking us up?"
"Like I've said before, and probably will for many years into the future," Washi said with a knowing smile. "Trade secret."
Naruto sighed a bit, but was happy this matter would be taken care of early.
Cue Soundtrack – Sentouraku
Later at one of the training grounds, Naruto and Washi sat on a set of training posts, looking across the field to the stream, the horizon, and the sky above.
"Washi… Thanks for the help back there," Naruto said, having left the oral contraceptive and a note under Nanami's pillow. He was pretty sure she'd find it before anyone else too.
"Ah, it was nothing," Washi said as he leaned back like he was doing so against a wall, kicking his feet up like he were setting them up on a footrest. "After all, I'm your confidant, and whether we both like it or not, you're my master. This sort of thing is natural."
That little bit alone got Naruto thinking for a bit. Not the way Washi was sitting without anything behind or beneath him except a log, but what he'd said.
"Washi…" Naruto stated as he looked into the river. "If you no longer had to be my confidant through our agreement, what would you do?"
"Well… I guess if it came down to it, I'd probably stay here. In Konoha," Washi sighed. "And of course, seeing as how there's no reason for the Kyotouryuu household to hunt us Maniwa down, I don't see why we can't live in peace alongside one another. Coexist peacefully."
"Really? Why not take your siblings and return to the Maniwa Village? Maybe convince the others to join you if you ever run into them?"
"If the stories about the Maniwa Village you were told weren't accurate enough, let me refresh your memory. All the homes were destroyed, the men, women, children, and elderly slain, and to top it all off, that bastard Shikizaki used Houou-sama's body to salt the land so nothing would ever grow again," Washi said, a little venom in his tone toward the doubly-late soothsaying swordsmith. "The other unofficial heads and I knew from that point that the village would never recover, and that it could never be re-established due to the lives lost. The fact that we were so short on manpower before the sword collection journey started was testament to that. With our village gone, the memory of it will simply fade into obscurity within the next few generations through the throes of history. Eventually the forces of nature will reclaim the land, and all will be back as it was. Of course, I'll be very much dead by then, so there's no point in fixing what isn't broken."
"I see…" Naruto stated. Sure, even if he decided to leave, while he thought Washi would want to stay, he remembered that his promise bound him to him. "Washi."
"Yes?"
"You being my confidant. Having to do everything I say because of the deal we made…" Naruto started. "*Sigh* As of right now, your life is to do as you will with it. You are no longer my servant. I'm letting you go."
" . . . Just like that?" Washi asked looking at him. "That's awfully generous of you, but I have to ask why."
"Well, I mean, you've done a lot for me," Naruto sighed. "Whether our friendship was based on our agreement or not, you did what I said without question and never once tried to betray me, even when you could've."
" . . . So I can do what I want? I don't have to take your orders anymore?"
"You're a free man," Naruto said after shaking his head.
"I see…"
After a minute, Washi stood up and left the training ground.
"May I ask where you are going?" Naruto asked.
" . . . I suppose I can tell you," Washi said as he turned around. "Seeing as how I am no longer bound to be your servant, it wouldn't do too well to live under the same roof as you and be a freeloader forever. I intend to save up funds from my mission payments, and eventually, buy the abandoned compound down the road from yours. Since it's abandoned and far away from the heart of the village, it should be relatively cheap in comparison to some of the more prime real estate. Though it may take some time, I won't be of trouble to you much longer."
" . . . I see…" Naruto sighed. "You know… Konayuki-chan actually likes having you around," he heard himself admitting.
" . . . Does she now?" he asked.
"Yeah. I don't know why it is though, and a few times I lost sleep over it. Do you remind her of someone she knew before? Are you simply good friends? Is there something more to it? I don't really know, and I've asked myself these questions when I see the two of you together," he guessed off. "Though I have an inkling that it's the latter."
"Oh? And what makes you say that?" Washi asked, genuinely curious as to what the young Itezora would see in someone like him. Dropping her in a pitfall wasn't really the best way to start a friendship, or even a relationship for that matter.
"That time that Konayuki sleepwalked into your room and clung to you, even after you were awake," Naruto started. "She only gets that close to people in her sleep when she truly trusts them. Shichika and Togame she bonded to almost immediately, though admittedly she nearly broke Togame in half with that bear hug of hers. I came after them, and of course finding myself in her vise grip nearly gave me a heart attack that first morning, but eventually I came to enjoy it… given my upbringing and all," he said more to himself, remembering how much he treasured each and every hug growing up.
Washi understood the pause of course. Having heard villagers mutter or mouth the words 'fox monster' or 'kyuubi brat' as he passed didn't leave much to the imagination.
"Nanami, well, she didn't really go to her for many years," Naruto said.
"So I'm to assume Nanami eventually trusted her enough to do that?" Washi asked.
"Yes. But only on the night before we made the last stretch of our journey to Konoha," Naruto stated. Through the rainbow mist in that mysterious gate. "When Nanami woke up, she heard Konayuki muttering, "I forgive you." over and over again, and even called her Nee-chan a few times."
"So then Konayuki actually has forgiven her for the genocide of her clan?" Washi said with wonder. "I suppose it's a good thing she didn't turn out like that Uchiha kid… Eyes like those shouldn't be filled with anger, or hate," he said mostly to himself remembering those pretty multi-colored eyes of hers that seemed to sparkle when you looked at them just right.
"By that last statement, I'm assuming you care for her too," Naruto stated, having heard it clearly against the silence of the training ground in the morning.
" . . . I don't know. I mean, the first time we met I dropped her down a pitfall and tried to kill you, and of course, a Maniwa-nin took over her body with the intent to use it for herself. Not really something that leaves a good first impression," he sighed.
"Well… If things ever do go in that direction, you have my blessing," Naruto sighed in return.
"And you'll break my legs if I break her heart," Washi finished, causing the blond katana to turn to him. "I've been around you long enough to know what you think. And don't deny it. Even though you aren't related by blood, you care for her like a sister."
" . . . You've been a good friend," Naruto said.
"And you in turn have been an acceptable master," Washi said tugging on the brim of his visor before walking off.
"Later, Washi," Naruto said as he looked off into the distance once more. In his heart though, he felt like he was losing a good friend, even if it was only he that felt that way, and even then if only after the first few weeks.
As the white and brown-garbed nin walked off, he came to a stop in the middle of the field and turned slightly.
"Oh, and one more thing," Washi stated getting the blond katana's attention. "I was never once friends with you against my own volition. Remember that."
After the Maniwa-nin disappeared through the trees, Naruto just sighed as he looked up into the clouds. Where before he thought he may have to kill Washi someday simply because he was a Maniwa-nin, he could take comfort in that maybe, just maybe, the two "households" could coexist.
As Washi walked off, he remembered back to when Konayuki had held onto him in her sleep, even when he walked down the stairs and asked for assistance in removing her. Even though it had been a few months since that incident, a part of him continued to remember how it felt to have her hold onto him. And of course she may not've been big, if you catch my drift, but there was something about her admittedly petite frame and carefree nature that caused his eyes to linger on her a little longer than necessary when she passed by.
"Konayuki Maniwa, has a nice ring to it if I do say so myself. Maybe I might stay in Naruto's house for a little while longer," the Maniwa-nin mused to himself as he scratched his right cheek as he fought off the blush. Houou-sama. If you're watching me right now, are you disappointed? he wondered as he looked into the sky. I know that Shichika killed you, and admittedly most of the other heads, but I just don't have it in me to betray them. If you're out there right now, can you give me a sign?
For some reason, the image of Houou giving him a thumbs up and a small grin superimposed themselves on a pure white cloud, acting almost like a canvass for a painting or a movie screen, moments later a few seconds before disappearing.
I'll either take that as a "no he's not disappointed", or that I need to some more therapy, Washi thought to himself as he headed back to the house. Keeping the others entertained for so long took a lot of energy.
Just a little after-morning chapter for the last one. Sort of a filler chap before things go on. Tie up some loose ends.