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The sun was high above their heads when they met the mid-point between Konohagure and Kirigakure. The boat they traveled in was little more than a small sailboat. On the deck were many a hook and rope. There was a cargo hold in one lower compartment and a small cabin inside the hull. The cabin contained four small bunks, a variety of cabinets, and a very drowsy Naruto.
The sail billowed in the afternoon zephyr as Tetsu blinked lazily. She sat at the edge of the bow, looking down at the waves quickly passing beneath her. She felt a nudge on her back and turned around to see it was Sakura. The pink-haired girl smiled politely and Tetsu responded with a slight, forced grin. She tapped the seat beside her and Sakura sat down obediently.
"Sasuke doesn't mean to be a complete jackass," she said, starring out into the water that lapped at their feet. "He's just a bit hard on Naruto sometimes."
"He shouldn't be," Tetsu said and leaned on the bar in that ran in front of them and around the entire ship. Sakura mimicked.
"I think he's just showing off for you," she replied. "Or being territorial."
"Territorial?" Tetsu scoffed. "Neither of them called me first. I'm not up for sale, ya know."
"He flirted with you first and you flirted back. Then Naruto, probably being just a nice guy, talked to you and he got jealous. That's how humans are."
"I didn't flirt with Sasuke! And if you call tripping me flirting then you have an awful sense of flirtation." Sakura cocked her eyebrow.
"Well... Sasuke doesn't warm up to people that fast... let alone fool around with them. His gruff and tough nature is how he flirts." She paused, not knowing how Tetsu's response would be to her next comment. "And by mimicking Sasuke, you were flirting back."
Tetsu didn't reply for a while. After an awkward silence, she decided to respond. "I sensed he was a bit anti-social. Why is he like that?"
"Hell if I know," Sakura answered, glad Tetsu wasn't angry. "He's always been like that. If you ask me, you're lucky."
"How am I lucky?" she asked quietly, as not to sound too curious. Sakura sighed and stood up.
"I've had a crush on him since I was 12," she replied. "He may be rough around the edges, but he's a decent guy." With that, she disappeared behind the cabin.
A little while later, she felt a presence watching her. She shifted her gaze and looked behind her to see Sasuke standing there with his hands in his pockets.
"Do you often times stand ominously behind a person to creep them out or-"
"I apologized to Naruto." Tetsu sat there motionless for a few second, starring back at Sasuke.
"That was- seems... out of character for you... let alone any man."
"It is and it was," he said. "It was humiliating, even if he didn't laugh."
"That was nice of you," Tetsu replied.
"You'd better be happy," he said and sat beside her. "I did it because of you."
"You didn't do it out of the kindness of your heart, you did it for me," she muttered.
"Something like that."
"Well... that was still kind of you."
"You're welcome." Tetsu smirked and nudged his shoulder. A large wave jumped up and splashed them in their faces, completely soaking them to the bone. After a moment or two of silence, they looked at each other and burst out laughing.
From below the deck, Kakashi poked his head up and cocked an eyebrow. He wanted to smile, but it seemed too awkward to be funny.
'Imagine that,' he thought. 'I haven't heard Sasuke laugh in years.' With that thought, he went back below and flopped down on a bunk. He looked to the other bed where Naruto laid looking at the ceiling with a puzzled look on his face.
"What's wrong?" Kakashi asked quietly.
"Sasuke," he muttered. "He... apologized to me." Kakashi starred at Naruto for a while before looking up at the ceiling with the same dumbfounded look upon Naruto's face.
'Maybe we should keep this girl around,' he thought to himself before another fit of giggles was heard from above.
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Sakura yawned delicately and sat back at the helm, steering the boat with her feet. She looked up at the stars as a waft of sea wind filled her nose and blew her hair back. She sighed in satisfaction and put her hands behind her head in relaxation. She heard footsteps from behind her and turned around, nearly loosing balance. Tetsu grabbed the chair she sat in and kept it steady so Sakura wouldn't fall.
"My turn for at the helm," she muttered and grinned slightly. Sakura blinked and nodded, standing up.
"You got the night shift?" she asked quietly.
"Only for a few hours," Tetsu answered. "Then it's Naruto's turn."
"Okay. Don't push yourself. It's tiring," she said as she walked off and went below to the bunks.
Tetsu sat down in the seat Sakura was previously occupying and took hold of the helm. She steered for a few minutes before using the wheel as a footrest like Sakura was. She leaned back in her chair with her eyes closed, and then opened them to look at the stars. Tetsu flailed, not finding the stars, but a pair of narrowed black eyes. She nearly fell, but regained her balance when Sasuke steadied her. He held the chair up with his body and held her head in his hands.
"Hi," she muttered and grinned. "Don't spook me next time."
"You're a ninja. You should have sensed me," Sasuke sassed.
"I was relaxing. We're in the middle of the ocean, there's not going to be any enemies here," Tetsu sassed back.
"Oh really," he muttered and pushed a strand of her stray hair behind her ear. "No enemies, huh?"
"You heard me," she said and gave him a playful smirk. There was a small silence as they looked each other in the eyes in a childish manner. Sasuke lowered his head hesitantly, then pressed his lips to her forehead. He lifted his head back up and saw Tetsu open her eyes. She leaned forward and stood up, turning to Sasuke's chest.
She kept her head down and ran her fingers up and down his bare arms. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears and tried not to concentrate on that. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead again, causing her to look up into his deep, red and black orbs. He closed his eyes and she closed hers as their lips locked in a small kiss. She wrapped her arms around his back and held him closer, pressing harder onto his lips.
Their lips didn't stray from each other for a long time, then Tetsu opened her mouth and Sasuke mimicked, their kisses becoming more and more passionate. Despite this, they Sasuke pulled away for a moment and looked down at her. She gazed up at him without a questioning glance, but and understanding one.
"Goodnight," he whispered and kissed her a final time.
"Goodnight," she replied as they pulled away from each other's grasps. He turned and walked to the cabin and out of sight. When he disappeared, Tetsu sat down and closed her eyes, smiling to herself.
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A few hours went by when Naruto poked his head out of the cabin. He snuck over to see Tetsu –half asleep- leaning on the wheel drowsily. He tapped her shoulder and grinned childishly.
"My turn," he said with energy. Tetsu felt like hitting him for having so much pep, but didn't have the strength to. "Move over, lazy-bones!" he said and shoved her. She stumbled but kept her balance, groaning in annoyance. She trudged off to the bunks and left Naruto there to his own thoughts.
She staggered in the darkness, looking around for a place to lie down. She found an empty bed and flopped down onto it, falling instantly into a deep sleep.
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The sun peeked into the bunks as the morning breeze wafted gently in the sails. Tetsu opened her eyes slowly then blinked a few times, attempting to wake up. She stretched and yawned aloud. Sitting up, she gazed over to see Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura sleeping soundly still. She threw her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, stretching again.
She looked at the cabinet over Naruto's head and knew that the food was kept inside there. Leaning over his bed, she quietly unlatched the cupboard and reached in, finding the containers were shoved far back. She bit her lip and looked down, kneeling carefully on Naruto's bed as not to wake him. She reached farther into the cubby and grabbed the edge of a box.
Just as she did this, Naruto mumbled something about muffins in his sleep and rolled over, resting his head on her lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist and muttered again. Tetsu narrowed her brow and contorted her face in thought. She tried to shake him off, only to have him cling harder. Sighing in annoyance, she poked his cheek continuously in an attempt to roust him. He batted at her hand then rolled over, grasping his pillow instead. She smiled and ruffled his hair, standing up with the box in her hand.
She tiptoed out of the cabin and up to the helm to see Sasuke leaning on the wheel, watching the sun on the horizon. She put the box on the chair and walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and rested her head on his back.
"Do you have any idea how beautiful the sunrise is?" he muttered and stood up straight, holding the arms that were around his waist.
"I would have if you woke me," she retorted and blinked drearily.
"Look," he said and pointed to the sun. "You can still catch it. It's not completely risen yet." Tetsu released him and stepped beside him to see the giant red orb that painted the eastern sky a numerous amount of warm and welcoming colors.
"It is beautiful," she agreed and smiled slightly. Sasuke wrapped his arms loosely around her shoulders and she leaned back onto him with a satisfied sigh.
"Told you," he said and smiled. She nudged him in the side playfully and grinned. "We should be arriving at Konohagure within an hour or two," he murmured drowsily. "Are you going to stay with... us?"
"Only if I'm invited," she replied, wanting him ask.
"It's your choice," he said quietly.
"I want you to invite me," she muttered.
"Then I'm... inviting you."
"Do you want me to stay?"
"Why else would I invite you?"
Tetsu grinned and held the arms that wrapped around her. "Then I'll stay. I'm not sure for how long, but I'll stay." Sasuke nodded and held her tighter with her squeezing back.
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Sakura woke up in an agitated mood. No matter how much Naruto tried to cheer her up, she'd glower and storm to the other side of the boat.
"C'mon, Kura-chan! What is up with you?" he persisted for the hundredth time that morning. She looked at him and huffed angrily. She gazed over at Tetsu and Sasuke and grimaced as though she'd just been hit and marched away from the blonde man. She grabbed a rope and took out a kunai knife, sliced the rope and it flung her up onto the mast. The cut rope released a folded sail and the boat picked up speed. She sat on the top rail with her head in her hands, scowling angrily.
"Leave her alone, Naruto," Kakashi said from behind him.
"Why is she so up tight?" he asked his mentor.
"You can't tell? You're blonder than I thought."
"It is because of Tetsu and Sasuke?"
"Well, aren't you the brightest candle on the cake."
"Is it or not?" Naruto growled haughtily.
"That's my best guess. Sakura's liked Sasuke for more than ten years and he's never seemed to care at all. A new girl comes around and all he sees is her. Sakura has no chance now... or at least that's how she feels."
"Oh," Naruto said and frowned. "I've felt the same way about her but she doesn't realize it."
"You don't hafta tell me that," Kakashi retorted. "She knows you like her. You just approach it like a child."
"I don't mean to. It's my nature."
"Well if you want to get the girl, give her what she wants," he said and perked his head up. Before Naruto could respond, Kakashi pointed forward and shouted out, "Konohagure!"
Everyone on the vessel looked ahead and gave a whoop; well, that was what Kakashi was expecting. Sakura still had a nasty look on her face, Sasuke and Tetsu were lost in each other's thoughts, and Naruto was gazing up longingly at the pink-haired ninja with the scowl. Kakashi sighed and continued steering toward the mountainous landmass ahead.
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The docks were flourishing with seagulls, fishermen, and the rank smell of rotten sea life. The day had gone from a beautiful sunrise to gray skies and a slight drizzle every now and then.
"Back early eh, Kakashi?" a burly man said from behind a counter at the marina's rent-a-boat shop.
The small store was filled to the brim with fishing materials of all shapes and sizes. The lights were dim and the walls were made of deep sienna colored wood. The rafters were low, causing the taller set of people to duck while they shopped.
Long sea-rods were blocking the glass window that opposed the register. There were small shelves and aisles with which bate, lures, and tackle of various colors were packed. On the far wall were calendars, compasses, clocks, and large two-way radios that could be connected to the ships and the marina's main office.
Sakura walked around the aisles as though to distract her from her own thoughts, picking up decorative hooks and filleting knives. Naruto took a rod down from the back of the store and examined it as though he was an expert. Tetsu walked over and looked at the radio, which was completely new technology to her, gazing at them intently. Sasuke followed suit with Kakashi to the front desk.
"Yeah. The mission was a bust," he replied, tossing the husky man the boat's keys.
"Well that's a bummer," said the unshaved man. He scratched his gruff chin and swiveled in his chair, opening a glass case and placing the keys on a hook marked 'F-5-1' which matched the boat's registration. He closed and locked the case, turning around to face Kakashi.
"Here's your bill then," he said and handed Kakashi the bill. The sensei scribbled his signature on the line.
"Put it on the academy's tab," he said and turned around, walking out of the shop. Sakura followed immediately, followed closely by Naruto. Tetsu walked out quietly with Sasuke in tow.
"I'm hungry," Naruto mumbled, looking at the variety of different shops to his left. The ocean lapped angrily to their right, a storm no doubt brewing out at sea.
"I'm sure that there's a nice deli we could stop at," Tetsu chimed as a fat raindrop hit her square in the nose.
"We should duck in cover at a rest stop, actually," Kakashi decided. "There's supposed to be one helluva storm coming from the ocean today and following tonight. The stores are already packing it in." He was right. The open-air market was beginning to batten down the hatches and the crowds were hustling to get to the nearest inns.
"Then let's stay at a pub," Sakura suggested. Kakashi nodded and pointed ahead casually. The group looked forward to see a ratty old bar with a rotting sign swinging in the wind outside to door. The entrance was down a flight of stairs, giving the restaurant a shady feeling.
"I have an old... friend who owns that tavern," Kakashi stated. "He'll surely let us stay there the night." With that, they headed down the slick-with-rain staircase and opened the heavy door.
A waft of hot air hit the group as they entered, lively voices ringing in their ears and glasses clanging together, along with a few fits of gruff laughter. The smoke was heavy in the air, fogging up vision and the already dim bar lamps.
Sakura coughed slightly at the heavy smoke, drawing some attention from the rugged looking men around them. Some eyed the women with perverse smirks and some looked at their leader, Kakashi. The tone of laughter in the air instantly diminished and whispers broke out as people slyly pointed to Kakashi, some out of awe, some with anger, but most with fear.
Sasuke and Sakura took notice of the fear instantly and looked at their teacher strangely. However, neither said a word. They weaved through the whiskey-breathed men and occasional drunken woman to the back of the tavern, were they spotted a scrawny old man with beady eyes and a narrow face.
Kakashi stood there for a while until the old man felt eyes upon him. He shifted his gaze to see the mentor and the four students. His small eyes grew wide in terror before turning away as though he hadn't noticed the man.
"Keshiji," Kakashi muttered, attempting to grab the man's attention. "Keshiji," he repeated in a lower voice. The old man turned around stiffly.
"Oh, how nice to see you old friend," he said nervously, flashing Kakashi a frightened smile.
"Old friend indeed," Kakashi murmured. "You've been hiding from me, Keshiji."
"Of course not! I'm just... just gathering the money I owe you," he protested.
"And do you have it?" Kakashi asked in fake curiosity.
"I'm... I'm working on it... old frien-" Kakashi interrupted him by grabbing his collar at lightening speed, pulling him inches from his face.
"Do you really have the audacity to call me your friend?" Kakashi hissed in his face. "You low-life, good for nothing, asshole of a human being." He threw the frail man into the wall behind him, letting his collar go. The bar went silent as curious eyes watched the pair.
"Kakashi it was a mistake!" Keshiji claimed innocently.
"You framed me!" Kakashi shouted. "If I was dead, it wouldn't be a mistake would it?" Kakashi jumped up onto the counter and crouched down, looking at the gaunt old man. "As a matter of fact, if I were dead you wouldn't be in this little predicament now, would you?" he seethed.
"It wasn't me!"
"Like hell it wasn't!"
"Honest! Kakashi, why would I frame you?" the old man pleaded.
"When you thought I was dead, you took off with all of my possessions. That's all the proof I need." Sakura flinched every time Kakashi spoke harshly. She hated it when he was angry; he was usually so calm and kind. To her relief, Kakashi regained his cool and breathed in deep to calm himself.
"Right now, I need a few rooms. I'll let you off this time because we need a place to stay. But don't think that I'm going soft. If we weren't in public, you would have been dead the minute the door swung open." Keshiji nodded frantically.
"I have three rooms!" he said hastily, fumbling through a large ring of keys. "Upstairs!" He said and stepped aside, revealing a staircase.
"Good." Kakashi said and snatched the keys from his hands before he could sort through them completely.
They trudged up the stairs to a hallway with no lighting but a window at the end of it. The sky was fading as the rain pounded outside, so there was barely any lighting with or without the window. The walls and ceiling were all painted a faded white, so that brightened everything up. The floor was a dark hard wood floor.
Kakashi sorted through the keys and found which key was to which door. He handed a key to Sakura and another to Sasuke, keeping one himself.
"Get some sleep. After the storm blows over we'll be hiking through mudslides," he muttered, still slightly dizzy with anger. They all nodded and unlocked their doors. Naruto began to follow Sakura into her room when she turned to see him.
"Oh no. You're sleeping with Kakashi," she growled.
"C'mon, Kura-chan! There're two bunks in there! I won't bug you!" he pleaded.
"Will you stop acting like an imbecile?" she grumbled, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes! I just don't make me sleep with Kakashi! It's embarrassing and he snores loud!"
Sakura took a moment to process this before she stepped aside and let Naruto inside. "Don't pull anything," she murmured. "I'll kick you from here back to Kirigakure."
"Don't worry," he said, flopping down on one of the beds. "Thank you."
It kept all her will power from smiling, but she didn't and nodded. "Your welcome."
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Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto
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Everyone: Sorry about the... ya know... not updating thing. It was really a series of unfortunate happenings. First, I wrote it out and planned on putting the final touches on it the next day. I woke up to find... gasp MY FLOPPY DISK WAS MISSING! sob I took a day or two to look for it then I decided to just type it up all over again. Of course, once it was done, I found the floppy disk. All that work for nothing. I tried to post it ALL day yesterday and the day before but to no avail! was bugging like crazy! I was so ticked off! And so to conclude this, I'm sorry for the long wait, it won't happen again. ;
Tamera2187: Maybe you can tell in this chapter who's gonna end up with whom, yes? shifty eyes Hehe! Thanks for reviewing!
Gary: I'm so glad that you like my story! I'm sorry that you don't like Sasuke... I think he's pretty cool. I'm not a HUGE fan of Naruto... but he's cool all the same. Thanks for the review and I hope you continue reading!
Krn-kimbap: Maybe this answers your question, yeah? I think it was so incredibly cute and sappy! Heh heh! Thanks for the review!
Zero the Death Shadow: Unfortunately, it seems that Tetsu chose Sasuke and vice versa. (I swear... it surprised me too.) It's the coolest feeling when there's no control over what you're writing! That's why I used to update so frequently! I just couldn't stop! (They wouldn't lemme!) Thanks for the review!