Chapter 5: Childhood Memories

Mitsuki felt like crying after what happened. "Wh-What would have happened if I didn't say anything? Would Lord Orochimaru have…!" She covered her mouth. "Wh-Why? Why did that happen?" A lone tear ran down her cheek before she wiped it away. "No, I must be strong…" She walked into the fitness room. "K-Kabuto?" Kabuto was practicing with his kunai knife against the wooden target. He was shirtless and the sweat running down his body only made him more beautiful. Mitsuki closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. The smell of his sweat was intoxicating to her. It smelled sweeter than roses. Oh God, Kabuto, do you know what you do to me?

"Hey Mitsuki," Kabuto said, never once taking his eyes off the target.

She was brought back to earth by the sound of his voice. "H-Hello." She sat on the bench across from him. "Practicing again I see?"

"Yep."

"How long have you been up?"

"Since five this morning."

"Wow, that's amazing."

"It's nothing, really."

"Sure it is! I could never do something like that." She blushed. "Kabuto, you're really strong."

He blushed. "Uh, yeah." He stuck the kunai knife in the target. "Aah, done."

She looked at her watch. "Wow, so you've been at it for five hours!"

"Really? It only felt like two." He stretched. "I'm tired."

She picked up a towel. "Hey, you could use this." She got up and started to walk over to him. Suddenly, she tripped. "Ah!"

"Mitsuki!" He jumped forward and held out his arms. She fell right in, a perfect save. "Mitsuki, are you okay!"

"K-Kabuto, I'm so sorry. I don't know why I've become so clumsy." She stood up. "But I'm fine." She gave him the towel.

"Please, Mitsuki, please try to be more careful. The last thing Orochimaru wants in his little base is your blood all over the place."

She froze. O-Orochimaru! "U-Um…" Don't mention that name, please.

He wiped the sweat off with the towel. "You okay?"

"Y-Yes! I'm alright!" She walked over to the window. "Hmm, it's still raining outside."

"This region has strange weather."

"Hey, Kabuto, do you remember when we used to play in the rain when we were little?"

"Yeah."

"I would give anything for those days again…" She looked at him. "Um, w-would you like to go outside with me?"

"In the rain?"

She blushed. "Y-Yes. If you don't want to, I understand! I-"

"Sure, I'll go with you." He put his shirt back on. "Let's go." They raced each other outside. "Okay, we're here, now-"

"Yay!" Mitsuki jumped in a huge puddle. "I just love the rain!"

"H-Hey!" Kabuto jumped in the puddle. "Aah, I've missed this!"

She kicked some water at him. "Got cha!"

"Oh yeah!" He jumped in another puddle next to her and soaked her. "I win!"

"K-Kabuto?" They began to jump around and splash each other with water.

"Now I remember how fun the rain used to be!"

"A-ACHOO!" Mitsuki sneezed. "Ugh…"

"Hey, we should go back inside now."

"N-No way! I can still--ACHOO!"

"You're gonna get sick, come on." He led her back inside. "Back in our childhood, we were immune to everything, but we're getting older, so we can't just go play in the cold all willy-nilly, alright?"

She nodded. "A-Alright." She sniffled.

He sighed. "Aah, Mitsuki, now look what happened! You're sick! I'm taking you back to your apartment." They went up the two flights of stairs and went into her apartment. "Now sit." He pointed to the sofa.

"B-But Kabuto…"

"What?"

"I'll get the sofa wet."

He looked at her. H-Huh? He suddenly blushed. She was soaking wet and her clothes clung to her body. Every curve and detail of her young body was visible. Oh shit, I can see everything! Is she even wearing a bra! He felt very hot. What is this? She's so…so…?

"Kabuto?"

"H-Huh? Oh, hold on." He rushed into the bathroom and brought out a towel. "Here." He began to dry her off. "If you wanted to go play in the rain, you should have at least brought a coat!"

"I'm sorry."

"Agh, Mitsuki!" He dried her hair. "I just don't want you to get sick!" How am I supposed to get information from you if you're spewing germs all over the place? I might be a ninja, but I don't have an immunity system of steel. No one wants to talk when they're sick!

"K-Kabuto…" He's always looking out for me. No wonder why I love him.

Kabuto wrapped the towel around Mitsuki. "There."

"Thank you…sempai…" She leaned on him and rested her head on his chest. "You're so kind to me."

"M-Mitsuki…" She seems so small and fragile, like she might break at any given moment. Why is she always clinging to me? What does she want from me? He blushed. "U-Um…You should go change out of those clothes and put something warm on."

"Yeah, you're right." She headed for her bedroom.

"I have stuff to do, so I'll see you later."

"Okay, bye."

"Yeah." He left.

"Oh Kabuto, I can't stop loving you, and I don't want to."