Perks of Married Life
"I'm dead!" Kakashi tidied his desk hurriedly after he saw the time on the clock. He didn't want to have a repeat of what happened last night. He went home late because he wanted to put at least a dent on the amount of paperwork on his desk.
He had been living alone his whole life and didn't have to let anyone but the Hokage know about his whereabouts and actions. Living in a house with other people was a drastic change from his bachelor lifestyle. The people in their household were already in their own private chambers when he got home so he directly went to the room he shares with his wife. Shirainee's stoic face welcomed him.
"Next time, if you won't be home for dinner, at least let me know. Send a messenger, a note or a clone. You do not live alone anymore," she reminded him in a flat tone. Her voice devoid of anger somehow made him winced inside. At that moment, he'd rather she toss something in his direction or nag at him.
Last night, Kakashi finally understood why Shikaku, Shikamaru's dad, was always in a rush to get home before dinner. In his case, it was not because his wife is scary when angry. Kakashi was just scared to make her angry or upset. Not seeing a hint of mischief and mirth in Shirainee's eyes made him anxious and he could only apply the knowledge engraved in his brain by reading the "Gold Guide Book" also known as Icha Icha Tactics.
"I am very sorry," he blurted out and moved to kneel so he could express his sincerity.
"Don't..."
He stopped mid-kneel.
"Have you had dinner?"
"No." And as if his stomach wanted to make a point, its grumble echoes in the room. "I forgot."
That seemed to make Shirainee's glare sharper.
"I kept the bathwater warm. Take a bath while I prepare supper for you."
He smiled upon recalling how his wife remained thoughtful even though she was upset with him.
Instead of leaving the Hokage Tower through the large doors in the lobby like a respectable village leader that he was or should be, he instead went out of his office through the window and went home jumping from roof to roof.
"Tadaima..." he said with uncertainty when he reached the genkan* of the main house. It has been years since he said that out loud in a house that is not empty.
Shirainee came bouncing in the hall from the kitchen wearing a yellow apron.
"Okaeri!" she greeted him with a smile.
She paused in front of him for a few seconds before walking towards the shoe cabinet concealed as a wall. She laid down his home slippers for him before going back to the kitchen with a slight skip on her steps. She stopped by the kitchen doorway and looked back at him while he was taking off his sandals.
"Go directly to the dining room. Dinner will be served soon."
After saying that, she almost gave him a heart attack by smiling and winking at him at the same time. The slight tension he was feeling on his shoulders from working on his desk all day suddenly disappear. He was infected by Shirainee's good mood.
Everyone greeted Kakashi and told him to seat at the head of the table. He doesn't know whether he should be honored or offended. Seating at the head of the table can mean that he has the highest authority but it can also mean that he is the oldest among all of them. The latter is true but he was hoping that the seating arrangement is because of the previous one.
Shirainee entered carrying a bottle of beer and a chilled glass on a tray.
There were exaggerated clearing of throats and pointed stares.
"Here, drink some beer first. You must be tired from working all day."
"Onee-sama, I am thirsty too."
"Get it yourself," Shirainee snapped at Keichi as a reply to his teasing.
"Onee-sama, I'm so exhausted supervising and constructing the fish farm and the vertical farm buildings. Can I have a beer too?"
That earned Hiroki a glare from his wife.
"Maybe next year... When you're in a legal age to drink."
The conversation around the dinner table revolved around what everyone had been up to during the day. Naruto volunteered to teach in the academy where the students spent more time gawking at him than listening to what Naruto had to teach. He's become a celebrity ever since after the war. Keiji and Keichi were supervising the installation of telecommunication cables underground. Hiroki and Hiromi were busy with the construction of modern farm buildings on the land their clan had purchased. Yuriko and Yumiko spent the afternoon drafting a rough business plan. Kakashi deduced from the conversation that everyone in the main Hotate family has shared funds. The Yu sisters wanted to invest theirs in starting a shop selling potted herbs and cosmetic products.
His wonderful winter well-attended meetings with different families in the Hotate Clan together. There was a dispute on who will be in charge of the fish farms where they plan to culture ocean fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. Konoha is a land-lock village, so managing the fish farm would be more profitable than managing the organic vegetable farms. There are other vegetable farmers near Konoha so there would be a higher demand for seafood.
Shirainee and he walked slowly to their private quarters. They savor the companionable silence between them as they appreciate the beauty of the spring night.
"I'll prepare a bath for you," she said shyly when they reached the reception area in their room. With quick light steps, she disappeared in the bathroom and came out a few minutes later. "I put herbal salt in the water. Have a soak for a few minutes so your muscles can relax."
Shirainee moved away from the door so he could enter but Kakashi stopped her movement by holding her shoulders. He stared at her eyes for a moment, intending to sincerely convey his gratitude for her thoughtful actions since he arrived home mentally exhausted from his job. His attention was arrested by the soulful beauty he could see and so he opened his lips but forgot the words he was intending to say. He looked like a fish out of water for a few seconds and he was glad when Shirainee took pity on his awkwardness by saying...
"It's all right. There is no need for you to say thank you."
Kakashi asked himself how he got so lucky marrying someone who gives him the feeling of "home", a feeling he had forgotten for living alone for so long.
An involuntary sigh of relief escaped his lips as he submerged his body in the pale red water. He sniffed the water and tried guessing what kind of herbs was used to make the salt but he could not identify them. He just knew that it smelled so good and it relaxed him.
Ahhh... My muscles are tensed from sitting all day. I almost wish that I am taking down enemies and not taking down the mountains of papers on my desk.
He closed his eyes and tried to forget about work-related issues for a few minutes. He was dozing off when Shirainee knocked.
"Don't fall asleep in the tub. Wear the robe in the changing area before you go out."
At a snail's pace, he followed his wife's instructions and got out of the bathroom. His intention to get his pajamas from their shared closet was interrupted when Shirainee blocked his way and gently pushed him towards the bed.
He swallowed hard and did not bother resisting.
Is she going to seduce me? I might be exhausted but -
"Lie on your stomach."
Is this some kind of foreplay?
"I"ll give you a massage. You look exhausted."
He doused his dirty thoughts with an imaginary bucket of cold water.
He sighed when he felt her gently pulling his hair from the roots. He immediately felt the tension on his scalp was released. She massaged his scalp some more until he started feeling the blood rushing in the area where her magical touch had been. He didn't know he needed a massage so bad.
He drew his breath sharply when Shirainee pulled down his robe, exposing his back. He tried to keep his excitement at bay. His back muscles tensed slightly, anticipating her feathery touches on his back. He groaned instead. Without warning, his wife's hands kneaded and glided on his back with intense pressure as if fueled by her pent up frustrations and anger.
"Are you still... aah- urgh angry that I went home so late last night without - without informing you?"
"No," she answered gently followed by what felt like her elbow digging into his muscles. The pressure her elbow applied was a complete contrast with how gentle her "no" was.
As the massage continues, Kakashi started to sound more and more like an old man suffering from arthritis. He groaned especially loud when Shirainee's hands landed on his lower back. The cousins who were playing cards in the nearest vacant room of the main house looked at each other and their faces turned red almost simultaneously.
Keichi cleared his throat and stood abruptly.
"Shall we call it a night and go to bed?"
"Shouldn't we check what's wrong?"
"Yes, one of them could be hurt," Yuriko seconded her twin.
"Ah no no no no!" The usually mischievous Keiji agreed with his brother to quit their card game and go to sleep. Without waiting for anyone's agreement, he and his brother left the room.
Kakashi let his wife have her brutal and yet relaxing assault to his muscles until the pressure she was applying on his back gradually decreased. He sighed inhaling the aromatic massage oil she was using. He moaned as she expertly loosened the muscles on his shoulders and back. The combination of the wonderful scent and her now gentle kneading lulled him to sleep.
Ahh... I could get used to this.
That was his last thought until he woke at dawn with Shirainee caressing his chest in her sleep. He imprisoned the tortuous fingers in his left hand and imagined how he would make Shirainee groan and moan just like he did last night. And what he had in mind is not a massage.
Time for a morning workout.
