Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of this story, except from Imachi. Bear it.
A/N: Geez, I'm an animal! A chapter in a day… And for those who might be interested, I've started Chapitre 8 already and watch out for it… I promise that I'll write something more than girlish fluff … something angst. Or then just more intimate or erotic scenes XDD Well, I want to thank Arsenel for reviewing this loyally. Thank you and hugs for you!
Chapitre 6: A place somewhere only they knew
Genma was getting worried. It was half an hour ago when Imachi said she would leave the springs ,but now they were all sitting there, waiting for her to arrive for dinner. She never had that same bad habit as Kakashi had. But she was awfully late. He stood up from the table and said: "You guys go ahead and eat. I'll go looking for her." They nodded and he opened the door. His mind had been stirred since they had found Imachi. There was something that he had to tell her before she would go anywhere, neither Konoha nor Akatsuki. He walked towards the hot springs and asked one woman who just came out there: "Excuse me, but have you seen a woman around twenties and with black, shoulder length?" The woman was in awe of his beauty and said: "If I tell you, will I get a kiss?" He shivered and said: "I'm afraid not. She's ... umm ... my fiancée." Her face fell and she said: "Well, she left with a woman. I'm not sure if it was a woman, she had fine abs, but they should still be in the park ..." He nodded and thanked her quickly and rushed to the park. He opened the door to outside and saw her. Saw her kissing with someone. He couldn't see who it was, but when he focused more, he saw the red clouds on the man's cloak. His eyes widened and he hid immediately to the nearest bush. He knew it was Itachi, but why? Why had HE of all the people kissed her? And why wasn't she refusing? He watched them being for a while and then he saw her tears and how he wiped them. His anger was boiling and he had hard time to hide his existence. Then he saw how Itachi whispered something and how she shook her head. Every time they got closer, a new knife stabbed his heart. He saw how Imachi pushed him away and he heard clearly her words: "Please go now ... Someone might see us!" He saw how Itachi tied a red ribbon around her wrist and saying: "I'll be watching you ..." Then he jumped out of the whole area and with an incredible speed, he was lost of sight. He saw how she walked inside and he followed her. There was no way he would tell others ... they would never understand it like it was. He had himself too felt hurt and betrayed, but later ... it felt more like extreme surprise. She had all rights to control her own life and there were no reason for them to do anything to her if she was caught kissing him. Only at more severe conditions something was allowed to be done. He almost bumped to the wall when he was lost in his own translation. She turned her head and saw him. Her eyes didn't show any traces of the tears wiped away by him. He started laughing nervously: "Damn and I'm supposed to be an ANBU ... eheh." She watched him puzzled and said: "Ano ... Genma-kun, are you alright? You seem bright red?" He got a little bit startled by her comment. He had paid no attention to that he was bright red because of seeing them there. He said: "Well, that's why I don't enjoy hot springs so much ... My skin is ... a little sensitive with hot water." She chuckled a little bit and then changed the subject: "Is the dinner ready? I was going to come sooner, but then I felt like walking outside." He almost cried because he knew she lied and he wanted to try again: "So, what did you do outside for an hour?" She seemed to gulp and he cheered mentally of success. Then she snapped: "Genma, we need to talk about one thing." His eyes widened and he asked: "Talk? B-But what about the dinner?" Then she seemed to snap and said: "Well, let's dine first then so they won't get worried ..." She took his hand and said: "Don't get offended, this is a part of my plan." He was bright red and said: "Uhh ... well ... yeah." They arrived to the huge dining room.
The room was well-lit, coloured with the dark shades of blue and full of buffet tables and empty dining tables. The design was pretty surely western. Everything was matched up with the colours of blue. The table was made of wood and painted as blue too. She gasped and said: "This room is so beautiful!" Genma smiled and said: "Our party is there. I told them to start without us." She playfully pouted and said: "Maa ... You started without your queen!" He chuckled and said: "But if the queen is lost, it's a bigger shame." He smiled at her and said: "Now, if your highness will agree, we'll join them." He took her hand and they walked to the table. Everyone in the room was ,of course, dressed in yukata's after a refreshing bath and Kakashi was the first to spot this and they heard how he was acting hurt and crying with a loud voice : "Oh no ,our princess and prince are arriving ... " Genma offered her a seat and then sat down. Naruto was already eating ramen, Lee was enjoying his meal slowly and Shikamaru and Sasuke hadn't touched their food between their fights about staying here. She watched them for a while and then said: "Now, tell me why we should and should not stay here? What's the matter, when you are spoiling such a wonderful dinner with arguing?" Sasuke shot a glare at Shikamaru, who said: "Machan, this place is all good and fine, but our lady – I mean mister Sasuke says that the rooms are unsafe because there's no chance to lock them with chakra." Sasuke almost threw his food at him before saying: "But still, if Itachi is free and not dead, we must be careful! And we don't want to lose her again ... It was already so troublesome to save her." She glared at him and said: "All you did was to find me. I was the one saving myself, if you allow me to say." For a moment, they were glaring at each other. Then she just sneered: "I have no time to argue with an Uchiha ..." She moved on the take the plate to fetch some food for her. When she was out of the eavesdropping, Genma said: "We have a friggin' serious problem ..." His face was now completely total opposite from before and Kakashi had already guessed what he was going to say: "Genma ... are you saying that Itachi ...?" He nodded quietly and Sasuke seemed to hold a huge rage inside, judging by his face. Genma continued : "I caught them red-handed at the park ,but I didn't let them know ... and she was crying ... That's why I thought that they were going to - " Sasuke had said with a sharp and cold tone : "Itachi is just going to use her as a tool for his own ,selfish wishes ... " Genma sighed and said : "I don't agree with that ... They ... umm ... " He fell deep red and everyone almost choked to their food ,when he finished his sentence : "They kissed." Sasuke shot up and Naruto pulled him back to sit down, being afraid that she would hear or see them. Kakashi stared at Genma and then at her. She was right now talking to a waitress with black, long hair ... His senses warned him and he said: "That servant wasn't here before." Genma had spotted it, too, but he thought that the servant may be a real one ... Because even Itachi wouldn't be a fool enough to come here in front of their eyes. He saw how Kakashi said something to Imachi, who didn't even seem startled by his sudden appearance. She seemed to smile and he sighed, shaking his head, when he saw that Kakashi rubbed his neck, grinning and he was sure that he was saying: "Ahh ... Gomen nasai, miss." He shoved his face to his hands and murmured: "Kakashi ... you fool." Then he and Imachi joined the party and she was still chuckling, saying: "You are so dumb, Kakashi-sensei. I can't believe you mistake a WOMAN to Itachi! I never thought that your senses are so numb ..." Kakashi grinned and sweatdropped and Sasuke snorted: "He is just like a woman ... maybe that's why he is immune to women's beauty ... He's more womanly than any woman in this world." She knew that Sasuke wanted to piss her off and she shot back: "So it's in the genes then?" Naruto and Kiba both held their laughter's and Sasuke snorted: "Says the manliest woman in the world. You are so strict and you kick ass like a man, so what proves that you're a girl? " She fell silent and then said quietly:
"Don't you think you've done enough damage to your relationships? Isn't it enough that you have made so many people angry because of your arrogant attitude?" She stared at him. Her tone of voice didn't match with her eyes –they were sad. Desperate. He stared at her and then he said: "You are really like Itachi. Emotionless killing machine." She smirked and said: "And what if I am? What would it matter to you when you're the same? Always thinking you have been the superior, when there were people more strong and special than you are." He tilted his head and his eyes were dark and he said: "Then I have to kill you too ..." She smirked and said: "And then you'd die, leaving Sakura and Karasu behind. All this just because you had prejudged people incorrect? There will be a long road in the world of emotions for you, Uchiha. Now grow up there! " Then she stood up from the table, not caring about their pathetic whining about her to come back. There was no way that she could EVER marry someone who had a slightest gene of Sasuke. And thinking further, everyone else was matched up already. Kind of. Sasuke had Sakura, Naruto was after Hinata, Kakashi and Genma were both too old, Neji was destined to be with ten though he never admits it, Shikamaru was for Ino or Temari, Shino was engaged to another bug-family from other country and Kiba ... well, he was smelly and pretty blunt. But she had nothing against them, she would never have. Not even for Sasuke, no matter she always acted like she hated him. But in truth, she didn't hate him. She thought that he was just a little bad with relationships, but if Sakura had forgiven him, he must have apologized her first. THE Uchiha Sasuke, the rumoured emotionless beast searching for his elder brother, had apologized Sakura. And he had a child and she knew that he wouldn't do the same mistake for his child, like his parents did to him and his brother. Karasu was allowed to play outside whenever he wanted, if he had done his homework and Sakura promised to leave her job for his sake. And even Sasuke decreased the amount of his missions until Karasu was old enough to join him or to go on other missions. She had done only one mission with him in her whole life, but it didn't mean she hated it. Karasu was pretty intelligent for a chuunin like he was. He had managed to create a good plan that worked. Mostly because she had done the difficult part, but it was all in his plans, like he said. What was the thing they were used to do on that mission? She had to search her mind's archives for a quite a while. Then she remembered it ... They had to rescue two hostages from their previous mission and she had nothing else to do and she needed good practice for it. She had joined and the rumour said that Karasu was all high because of a good kunoichi like she was. She had just sneered back then, but now...
'Wait a minute, now ... Why am I trying by trying to find good sides of people I DON'T LIKE! Why can't I be honest to myself for once? I don't think Karasu or Sasuke are my best friends, I KNOW they aren't ... So why am I then ...?'
She saw she had once again made her way to that notorious park where she had met Itachi just half hours ago. She sighed and shook her head. Why was she looking for comfort from here of all the places she could? Now that she thought further about it ... maybe it was because Itachi was the only one , who could understand her ,because he didn't know her so well as Konoha did ,but still he knew the right words to say. It was strange that so simple thing as a simple sentence would make her feeling better and makes her feel warm from everyone. But then, she didn't find anything strange about that Sasuke's words had hurt her once again. Was it easier to hurt than to heal with words?
Of course it was. Sasuke was only good at scolding. So, he did what he was good at ... but it was nothing to be proud of. Usually people wished they could comfort the person they loved and in that way ,make them realize that they were a good choice ,when you needed a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on ... She searched for a good place to rest her legs and sat down to a tree. She knew that it was a rare place to comfort, but it was at the same time a place rare to be. At this rate, she could be alone for a change. Right now she didn't wish anyone to come. Not Itachi, not Genma. Right now, she wanted to talk with herself. Only with herself, but once again, she was interrupted. By a familiar voice.
"The same as always ... You seem not to be enjoying company, Imachi ..."
She frowned when she recognized the voice. She had no intention to be surprised. Of course. Of course he was spending time at hot springs. He needed inspiration for his book and maybe, this time Jiraya would not be caught. "Father ... You really choose bad times to come by ..." Finally she turned her head and saw her father with white, long hair and old face. She shook her head and said smiling: "Haven't seen you in times ... you were searching for inspiration once again? Kakashi must be glad. " She smirked and he tilted his head: "What's so bad that a father can't come to see her daughter all of a sudden?" She sighed. She hoped that he had ignored her sentence ... she was not willing to tell him from all people about her and Itachi. Jiraya had battled with them once, when they were searching for Naruto and that was the first time when Sasuke had seen Itachi after the fatal incident. She shook her head and said: "It was just one of those stupid fights with Sasuke and others ... I feel like I should have stayed there where I was just a while ago ..." She stared at him. Did he have a slightest idea that she was being kidnapped? He had been gone to travelling half a year ago, saying to Hokage that he was searching for an edible subordinate to train. And then he would once again return home, saying this world has no such talent left as The Fourth, Naruto or she had. The group that included Jiraya, Yondaime, Naruto and her ... It was called the generation of Rasengan. She was possibly the only female of it and it would stay that way for a long time. No ordinary woman would learn this and she was a total opposite of ordinary. "Back to where? Where have you been, kawaii?" She sweatdropped. She was both relieved and disappointed. She was glad he had no idea she had been kidnapped, but then ... he didn't care about her? Every ordinary father would have heard of such a fatal thing. And by her guessing, now every single habitant of Konoha knew that she was god knows where, but no ... her own father who had educated her. He was the only one to be stupid. And he called her 'kawaii' ... he did that since she was a kid. She pulled out a forced smile and said: "I meant that I would've gone back to eat with them and they would have forgotten I ran out ... that's what I meant." He laughed a bit and got a wide grin to his face, when he was going to ask the thing he never forgot to ask... "Well, kawaii ... Have you already lost your virginity? How about the first kiss? " She sighed deep and started as she always did, with an I-don't-care tone: "No ... I'm still a virgin." He sneered, but then his face grew: "You didn't say it as you do always ... You forgot the kiss! So, you have lost your VERY first kiss? To who, you can tell me, you know that you can!" The same as always. She shook her head and said: "I don't think you WANT to hear it ..." He tilted his head, looking goofy. "I'm not going to kill him for that? Or is it a she, Imachi I -" She yelled: "It's a man! Father you know that I'm straight! DORK! It was Uchiha ..." Then something caught her eye and she quickly stated:
"Forget it. None of your business, old prude ..." She turned around and started to walk inside. He rubbed his hair and murmured: "That's one damn troublesome girl to take care of ..." Then he jumped to the darkening night, once again travelling alone. It was too troublesome in Konoha, since those elders were always telling him to become a Hokage, since Tsunade was aging and she had been serving the name of Kage very long ... and they were also forcing him to name a Hokage candidate. He had already chosen that Naruto or she would be the best kinds for that job. Before leaving, something tickled his spine, but he didn't care. It was just the winter coming and doing its trick.
Imachi was on fire. She had almost confessed that she had been in close situation with HIM. She was both frustrated and ... relieved. She hadn't accepted him to have sexual appeal, nor did she ever think about that he could be a pervert. And now, well. Now she had kissed with him and she had expressed her pleasure of it to him. Now with what could she defend herself? NOTHING. A CLEAR NOTHING. She clenched her fists and hit the nearest wall, yelling: "MWAA! DAMN IT! " She punched the wall and broke it. At first she was all like "Oh fuck what do I do!" and then ... she saw who was there. It was Lee ... naked. She covered her eyes and yelled:" Eww ... That's gross, Lee! SHAVE YOURSELF! " Then she ran away, her legs stomping and leaving a crimson red Lee behind. He quickly dressed and rushed to meet the janitor, saying that a wild beast, a female for sure, had crashed through the wall. He was hideously hurt from Imachi's comment. 'I'm Konoha's ONLY beautiful blue HAIRY beast and she has NOTHING to say about it! '