A/N: The next two kisses have been inspired by the Naruto fanart of Technoelfie. You can find her work on Deviantart!
Fifth Kiss: "Ano sa…"
'Yuuhi Kurenai here. I'm not home right now, so please leave a message!'
BEEP!
'It's me. Sorry I didn't make it last night, I know I should have called first or sent a messenger bird… Ano sa we still on for drinks… and dessert? Call me please.'
BEEP!
'Okay! Okay! I get it, so can we stop the silent treatment? I promise I won't grope you anymore in the scroll room. But how was I supposed to know Iruka-sensei was on the late shift? Never stopped us before. Ano sa, call me?'
BEEP!
'Ano sa, I think your parents really like me! But your mom was kinda right, it would have been nice if you invited me to stay for breakfast… and your dad makes a mean rice pilaf… Come to think of it, how didn't they hear us last night? Did you put up a jutsu? Anyway, I'll meet you for lunch at the sushi place. I won't be late.'
BEEP!
'I promise you I don't know how that ended up there! You know that Jiraya can be anywhere and everywhere, and it was your idea to meet for sex in the onsen. Ano sa, you could have just worn that little red French maid costume like suggested… besides, they don't even look like us! And don't listen to whatever trash Genma spouts. He used to be my subordinate, remember? Don't be mad please…'
BEEP!
'I'm sorry the weekend got screwed up… you know why. Ano sa, I'll make it up to you. This guy I knows owes me a favor, tickets to the Toyama Ai concert maybe? I'll see you when I get back…'
BEEP!
Kurenai pulled the plug on the answering machine and wrapped the wire around its grey plastic shell. It was all she had during his lengthy, classified absences. She soundlessly opened her bathroom door and padded back to the bedroom. Kurenai leapt from rooftop to rooftop after hearing that last message, easily slipping through the traps climbing through his bedroom window. She saw his jounin blues folded meticulously on a wicker chair with woven plastic threads frayed, sticking out like wet dog's hair. The black body suit and white armor was missing, she knew. Kurenai brought the mock turtleneck shirt to her face and inhaled. The combination of softener, mown grass and something unique to Kakashi's flesh wafted musically up her nostrils. Kurenai doubled over surrendering to sobs like a child begging her parent not to abandon her at the academy gates for the first day of school. She was petrified at the 'what ifs' that accompanied his ANBU mask.
And shamefully as though he was rebuking her at that moment Kurenai stood up, gathering her wits and folded the tear-soaked shirt setting it back on his chair. It was nothing so simple to get acclimated to, and Kakashi evaded romance in favor of unabashed perversion making women repel yet intrigued by him. They sought his favor still, opening their mouths and legs for him whenever it suited him. Kurenai was a searcher, and one of her more desperate finds was permanence. Kakashi was a more trustworthy bedmate with his comfort of sexuality. Kurenai was fare more willing with him than her previous partners, given that added jolt to adrenaline that fear can only produce. Her wistful smile at the shuriken print green duvet took her back to that morning where Kakashi lay on his front, face buried in the pillow. He resembled a fallen angel, the sword kicked somewhere beneath the bed.
'Come back to bed.' Kakashi's plea was nothing more than a muffled grunt. Kurenai kept puttering about the wet, steam-heady bathroom. The tiny enclosure was thick with the aroma of lavender and aloe soap.
'I have a meeting.' She rebuffed him unraveling a red towel gathering errant streaks of moisture on her tight skin.
'Teachers are allowed to play hooky every now and again.' Kurenai sighed haplessly flinging down the towel pounding the threadbare carpeting cruelly.
'You have ten minutes.' Kurenai resented herself darkly for giving in so readily.
'I can be done in five.'
'As if I'd let you.' Kurenai missed her meeting and not cared a whit. She awoke alone, her dream-dazed body still reeling from the sensations and caresses her body and spirit has craved for too many years. She should have sensed it by Kakashi's odd behavior; he never awoke before she did- ever. Touching her fingers to her lips she relived the vibrations of their lovemaking, his fondling and kisses lingered heavy and moist on her flesh as though he was trying to commit all to memory. Kurenai slid off her wrap dress and slit her full-body bandages climbing naked into his bed. Securely between the crisp sheets sliding coolly over her limbs she was asleep inhaling his enigmatic scent from the pillows as the sun was slowly swallowed by the citrus and honey sky transforming into the magenta then black of night.
OWARI