"Where does he get off treating me like this?" Ayame muttered to herself.

Ayame had her fists curled and her mouth twisted up in a scowl, two sure signs that her patience had reached its peak. She slunk along in the shadows as she watched Rikimaru fight a guard at the gates with his usual slick style. That arrogant jerk. Ayame had been moody all week long and it was starting to take its toll on her.

Ever since the night she and Rikimaru had merged their ki's her dear partner had been avoiding her. She had tried several times to confront him and have a serious talk but he would always promptly leave the room with some important business he had to take care of.

So as Lord Godha gave them their instructions for their next assignment, retrieving vital information and then returning home near the enemy check point, Ayame couldn't help but huff a few times and Rikimaru was even more rigid than usual.

They had managed the first part of the mission well enough, but they unfortunately weren't going to go home near the enemy check point, they would have to pass through it. The bridge they had been hoping to take had collapsed, so that left them no choice but to march right up to the gates.

Rikimaru jumped ahead and fought the woman at the gate while Ayame waited, but she was angered to hear him say something about how women shouldn't be out fighting. That stupid jerk. Not only has he been ignoring me but now he's cracking smart remarks about how women shouldn't fight. I'll show him!

With that Ayame burst forth from the shadows and approached the area where the pair were still fighting. The area in front of the gates was a smooth, even surface lighted by many surrounding torches. Two huge gates stood ominously in front of the area, their walls reaching up into the night. Ayame eyed them and quickly pulled out her grappling hook.

"What are you doing?" Rikimaru growled as she approached, not taking his eyes off of his opponent. Ayame snorted.

"You're taking too long. I'm going ahead without you." she said contemptuously and then shot her grappling hook towards the wall. Its powerful hooks dug themselves into the wood and the rope quickly wound itself back into the device. Ayame was hauled up into the air and within a few moments was on top of the wall, looking down at Rikimaru and the girl. The girl wore a bright orange training outfit and fought with a long pole arm that had an equally long and sharp blade at its end. Ayame smirked.

"Hey Rikimaru, go easy on her, she is a woman after all." Ayame spat angrily and jumped off the wall, disappearing from Rikimaru's sight. Rikimaru was startled and watched Ayame for a moment, not seeing the other woman's blade swing at him wildly.

Ayame landed softly of the other side and quickly hid behind a small pile of wood near the gate. She took off the pack strapped to her back and pulled out its contents. She made sure she had everything she needed then quickly began to remove her clothing. Ayame adorned a set of clothing that perfectly mimicked the guards of this area. She would still have to lay low, but Ayame knew she should be able to get through. She pulled her straw hat low over her face and shot headlong into the checkpoint.

She walked slowly and casually, her figure remaining in the shadows whenever possible. Occasionally she passed by another guard, but none paid any attention to her. The checkpoint had rather difficult terrain, though. The ground would be level one moment and then from no where there would be a step hill or cleft. The grass was green and lush, silencing the sound of all footsteps. Tall lookout posts were scattered throughout the area and there were torches all around to light the otherwise dark night.

She slowly made her way to an opening between two large upsurges of hills. In between the steep hills there was a tiny river that grew larger as it went down. She made her way to the opening and headed down, the water soaking through her tiny shoes and cooling her feet. She looked up and watched as the ground on either side of her rose and rose, slowly becoming two ominous walls around her. She shuddered slightly, knowing at any moment a guard could look down and see her. As she passed underneath the bridge she wondered vaguely what she should do now. It was taking Rikimaru much longer than she expected to meet her. She was tempted to go on without him, but sighed and decided to wait.

As Ayame hid in the shadows cast by the bridge she wondered if Rikimaru hated her. It was the only way she could explain the way he had been acting. Ayame unconsciously toyed with the cherry wood comb in her hair. She couldn't help but feel deeply hurt. Rikimaru had seen her thoughts, seen her soul, and then the next day hadn't spoken a word to her. He had violated the very essence of her and didn't even care enough to say he just wanted to forget about their encounter. She had never felt so vulnerable in all her life. She was a ninja, no one was supposed to be able to hurt her. No one.

Ayame's sulking was suddenly interrupted by a figure quickly approaching her. The figure ran towards her and suddenly picked her up and carried her into the deeper water. There wasn't enough time for Ayame to react as she was suddenly emerged in the water and had to swim alongside the figure. As she was underwater she suddenly felt a strong pressure bearing down from on top of her. She swam as hard as she possibly could, her legs kicking wildly and her arms reaching out blindly. Right as she thought she wouldn't make it two strong arms reached in and pulled her from the water. She looked behind her and saw the huge waterfall that had been beating down on her. She was behind the waterfall in a small cave made of smooth gray rocks.
"Rikimaru, what do you think your doing?!" Ayame asked, rather annoyed. She had lost her hat and her shoes during the swim. She quickly put a hand to her hair and was thankful the comb was still there. The rage in Rikimaru's eyes suddenly made Ayame stop her next comment.

"Why did you leave without me?" he growled. Ayame watched for a moment, taken aback, then scowled.

"What's your problem? All I did was go ahead of you." she retorted, refusing to look him in the eyes. "And why'd you drag me in here? I coulda walked you know." She folded her arms and turned away, refusing to look at him.

"There were guards following me so I had to run. Why were you just sitting around?" he shot back.

"I was waiting for you! What took you so long?" Ayame countered. Suddenly she gasped as she looked over at Rikimaru. His shirt was torn open and there was a huge bloody gash across his chest. Blood flowed freely from it.

"Rikimaru..." Ayame whispered, then reached inside her clothing for the bottle of healing potion she had. She handed it to Rikimaru and watched as he drank it. The wound slowly began to close and heal.

"What happened?" she whispered, the anger and bitterness flowing from her. Ayame gently traced her hand across the now closed wound.

"I watched as you left, and the woman struck me." Rikimaru said simply, now sitting back and placing his head against the rock wall. Ayame kneeled next to him.

"So, I managed to distract the great Rikimaru?" she asked, smiling weakly. Rikimaru chuckled.

"You always distract the great Rikimaru." He said, his anger also gone. The two watched each other for a moment in silence.

"I'm sorry." They both said at the same time, then laughed. Rikimaru shook his head.

"No Ayame, I am sorry. I have been avoiding you for the past week. You have no reason to forgive me for it, but to be honest, I have not known what to say to you. I thought it best to keep to myself until I resolved some matters, but I think that just caused more trouble." he explained, not knowing if he was saying all he wanted to.

"Thanks for the apology, but I'm still a little angry." Ayame said, crossing her arms stubbornly. "You can always talk to me Rikimaru."

"I know, it's just..."

He was suddenly cut off as an arrow flew from out of the waterfall and struck Ayame in the thigh.

Everything happened rather quickly. Ayame collapsed against the rock floor and was about to wail in pain as Rikimaru firmly placed his hand against her mouth and silenced her. He then pressed her against the ground and lay on top of her, shielding her body with his. The two waited in fear, not daring to make any noise. Ayame shut her eyes tightly, and it was one of those rare moments where she found herself praying over and over again that she live to see tomorrow.

After a few minuets nothing happened. Rikimaru waited a long time before he moved from atop Ayame. She panted heavily and writhed on the ground, shaking in pain.

"Why...did...they...only...shoot...once?" Ayame panted out in between breaths.

Rikimaru studied her wound. "If guards know there is a cleft behind a waterfall they will occasionally shoot an arrow into it to check if anyone's there." He explained to her calmly as if she were a child, his voice low and soothing. Ayame smiled up at him.

"Don't worry, its not too bad. I don't think it went in deep." She said reassuringly.

"I don't have any medicines, do you?" he asked urgently.

"I gave you my only one." she told him.

"If I had known that I wouldn't have taken it." He muttered, frustrated. "Please excuse me." He added politely as he ripped off nearly half of Ayame's pants, exposing her leg and wounded hip. He examined the hip with a grimace.

"Ayame, I want you to close your eyes and count to ten. And I know it will be hard, but do not make a sound." He said, taking hold of the arrow. Ayame nodded and clenched her teeth down.

With one strong pull the arrow was freed from Ayame's side. Ayame bit down on her teeth so hard she was afraid she'd break her own jaw. Her fists curled up and her knuckles turned white. Rikimaru quickly ripped some cloth from his shirt and tied it tightly around her upper leg and hip. Ayame let out a long sigh.

"How badly does it hurt?" Rikimaru asked. Ayame smiled.

"Compared to how it felt before, much better." Ayame said. Rikimaru lay close to her and kept his hands upon her leg, placing pressure on her wound.

Ayame suddenly had to smile at their situation. Rikimaru had the front of his shirt torn off, she was lying on the ground with most of her pants off, and he was squeezing her thigh tightly. At that moment Ayame couldn't help but wish she was more of a woman. She was pretty sure that a normal woman would know what to do in a situation like this.

"Do you regret merging your ki with mine?" Ayame asked. Rikimaru looked shocked.

"No, never. If I had not you may have died." He said.

Ayame paused for a moment, another question forming on her lips. She hesitated, but then decided if she was going to be a ninja she may as well take advantage of the whole being fearless part.

"Do you like me Rikimaru?' she asked suddenly, her voice low and hopeful, as she decidedly ignored how childish the statement sounded.. Rikimaru was startled, then tried to look everywhere in the cave expect in her eyes and at her exposed thigh.

"It's not a proper time to discuss such things right now." He said seriously, though Ayame could see a blush crawling up his cheeks.

"Hey, we're stuck here until either my leg feels better or Lord Godha breaks the rules again and sends another ninja out to find us. Besides, this is the first time all week I've had to you to myself." She said, a coy smile playing on her lips. Haha, she could do this, go her!

Rikimaru was speechless. He finally lowered his eyes and met hers, his breathing becoming shaky. She reached up and pulled down his mask, revealing the rest of his handsome features. She gently traced a finger across his cheek.

"I know I'm not like the debutantes at Lord Godha's estates, or like the geishas, or like any normal woman...in fact, simply anatomy is all that separates me from a man anymore...but!...I don't know..." she said, suddenly reaching the end of her words. No, and it was going so well!

"Ayame, you are my partner, that is all." He said curtly, looking downwards. "My feelings do not matter, we can be no more than partners." He said surely. Ayame grit her teeth.

"Are you a slave to everything that is appropriate? You can do what you wish." She snapped, anger suddenly coming back full force.

"Stop being foolish Ayame. The second two partners get any closer than they should they jeopardize themselves and their missions." He responded, his own fists clenching.

"Why don't you just be a man and tell me how you truly feel?" Ayame suddenly shouted, then all became silent. Neither spoke, making the sound of the waterfall deafening.

"Do you truly wish to know what I feel, Ayame?" Rikimaru asked, his voice so low that Ayame could barely hear him. "Pain, Ayame. Pain, because even though you don't understand, I know all the things we could never do. You are not a normal woman, you are a ninja. And I am a slave, a slave to my duty. What kinds of lives could we even hope to lead?" he asked, desperate and angry, hurt and half pleading.

"You're right, I don't understand. And you're probably right about everything else too. But I saw your soul, Rikimaru. I know how lonely you are." She whispered, stroking his hair gently. "You can just blame it all on me. Say it was my fault and you knew better, but I just had to have my way." Ayame said, her hand firmly against the back of Rikimaru's head. Catching even the renowned ninja off guard, she brought his head towards hers, her lips gently pressing against his for a quick kiss. He pulled away.

"We cannot!"

"It's too late, we might as well." She said, using the same words she had used the night they had merged their ki's. In a rush of memories Ayame remembered the feeling of Rikimaru's soul, and suddenly it felt like she could see it again. His thoughts, his feelings, his regrets, his loneliness, all flowed into Ayame. Her hope and wonder flowed into him.

"This doesn't happen to just everyone." Ayame whispered, her voice lucid and calm. She put pressure against his neck and slowly pulled him down to her.

Rikimaru could no longer fight it. He leaned in and kissed Ayame slowly, enjoying the feel of her lips against his. He pulled away, then kissed her gently on her closed eyelids and cheeks, letting his lips slowly trail down to her neck. Ayame let out a content sigh. She tightened her arms around Rikimaru until they were simply holding each other, neither saying a word. They stayed like that for a few minuets before Rikimaru sat up. Ayame let out an impatient growl.

"We can continue this later." He whispered in her ear, and for once a blush crept up Ayame's cheeks. Rikimaru looked over her thigh.

"You've stopped bleeding." he said as he inspected her wound. "I believe we can try to get out of here now." He said, though as he stood he picked Ayame up in his arms.

"How do you expect to get out of here if you have to carry me?" she asked incredulously.

"Ayame, I feel like I could take on five clans at once right now. I think I can manage to get you out of here." He said with a grin, giving Ayame one long last kiss. Ayame laughed, and Rikimaru jumped from the waterfall, clearing over the water and landing by the side of the river, and sped off into the night.



A/N:

The waterfall is actually in the Checkpoint mission, and if you've been spotted by a few guards and decide it's a brilliant idea to hide in the cleft, be careful! The dumbasses will shot arrows into the falls. I know this cause I've done this, more than once actually. But it was not in vain! I was inspired ^_~

Thanks a bunch to Chibi-shadowdragon for your review, do keep checking back cause I will update soon.