Violence: Underneath It All

They were ninja above all else, and neither could forget it. Even when the village suddenly came under attack in the middle of a date, all the personal hopes and plans were pushed aside with years of training and duty. It was almost frightening how fast the emotional walls went up. (The only thing that kept it from being outright dreadful was knowing that for each other they would lower them again.)

The first wave was fought off but left them more vulnerable to the second, and ominous noises from another region indicated a loosing struggle. With the second wave building up against them, they turned to each other.

"Send a report to Hokage-sama of our position here, then assist the East Gate," he told her. "I'll handle things here."

He figured his following thoughts were solid proof that he'd read those smutty, romantic novels for too long. This, after all, was supposed to be the part in the story where he held her by the shoulders, looking intensely into her eyes and telling her to go find someplace safer; not send her off into other dangers. Or this was where she would glare at him with worried eyes and swear she would never leave his side. Right now was the moment where they would cast off everything they'd once held in utmost importance and think of nothing else but each other, their dreamed-of future, and a death by each other's side if such was the case.

But they were ninja above all else. Of all the women in the village, she was one of the few that made it into the ranks of elite, and he wouldn't insult her talents now when they were most needed by asking her to ignore the responsibility she had earned. And there was only confidence in him brimming in her eyes as she firmly agreed to his plan. And right now was the moment where they held fast to everything they'd worked all their lives for, and thought of nothing else but the others, this village that was their home and future, and their desire to protect it at any cost.

All the same, it didn't keep her from telling him to hold out until she got some anbu reinforcements sent his way. Nor did it stop him from throwing her a teasing wink as he asked her to stay alive so she could kiss his wounds later.

"Don't die yourself, idiot." Because she never let him get away with acting cool if she could help it.

"I wouldn't dare risk missing that." Because she could hardly ever help it.

For despite everything, underneath it all they were connected—and neither would ever forget it.

-owari

Authoress Notes

A fourth theme for the 30 Kisses challenge. Forgive the lack of revision on this one. I just wanted to write something and put it up.

This was written after getting tired of the whole, "Go!" and "No, I won't leave you!" concept. While I will agree that this is a very romantic idea (and cliche), I don't see it at all very practical between such seasoned shinobi as Kakashi and Kurenai. At least not in an instance like this where the entire village is in such danger. Maybe if it were a battle just between the two of them and a whole hoard of zombies. ...or something. But when faced with their own desires and the well-being of everything they've spent their lived working to build up and keep safe, I can't see them suddenly turning their back on that for the sake of being with each other.

It's unromantic maybe, but practical. And in some kind of sense, the best part of romance isn't necessarily turning away from everything else and towards each other; but perhaps rather it's walking side-by-side and hand-in-hand towards one dream.

Anyway. Hope you managed to like it despire it.