A/N: To celebrate St. Pattie's Day I decided to include a little tune from a Gaelic folk-rock band Runrig, This Is Not a Love Song. Their stuff isn't available in the U.S., but if you happen to find it on a Kaaza or Limeware give it a go! They are a Scots Gael band, but I figure if the pipers can play Scotland the Brave in every parade it's all good here. Oh yeah, one more plug for a cool Irish band Kíla, another one worth DLing as well.

Disclaimer: Nothing here belongs to me, but I trust you're all smart enough to know that.

Tenth Kiss: #10

She was nobody's fangirl. Kurenai wondered why suddenly the barkeep got a partner behind the oak; it was decided that she should cap it off for the evening. Feeling her feet she lurched from the table and made her way to the jukebox. The chasing red and yellow neon lights arching around its squat body made her weave from side to side, she caught the heel of her left hand on the round wood plastic finish and she rolled a yen coin into the slot. She punched a foggy clear plastic key with the number '10' flashing green.

I could tell you about the moon

That's rolling 'cross the sky

I could show you all the stars

But it's much too late at night

I'm driving home on the silver run

The last to move on through

And this is not a love song

No matter what I do

Words are few but the heart is true

Still the world keeps turning round

For me and you

Kurenai fell back into her booth and signaled a waitress for a refill. She knocked back the lacquer choko, the heated saké doing wonders to her insides rolling around her stomach coating it thickly. The girl set down another ceramic decanter, the steam wafting in a silver snake trail dissipating into the muggy air. The bar doors squeaked mousily and in sidled Kakashi with an unknown kunoichi in tow. The redhead linked arms with his and bounced onto a barstool crossing her legs, her black mesh skirt riding up snugly. The shorts were nothing more than a few streamers of purple ribbon crawling between her buttocks. The white lace sports bra beneath her jounin flak jacket was no better.

Kakashi ordered their drinks and perched on the stool beside her, leaned his chin on the heel of his hand as he allowed her prattling to wash over his head like water. Kurenai straightened up intent on hearing their foreplay, it was Friday and all he was interested was a few rounds of stress-alleviating sex. She allowed herself to chortle at the poor bint. Kakashi's boots never stayed on anyone's doormat longer than the night, and she would have to learn that lesson the hard way. Steam clouded her vision and things below her filled choko smeared, that particular brew was particularly strong, was all.

If I could only make you see

One reason to believe

I would open up my heart

It's so easy to deceive

Footsteps fall through open doors

Across a darkened room

And this is not a love song

This is no moon in June

Words are few but the heart is true

Still the world keeps turning round

For me and you

Kurenai pulled her clawing fingers from her scalp; her raven hair was knotted from her wrenching, she looked up to see those same two stools vacant. Recalling Haruno Sakura and her own genin charge, Hinata, Kurenai considered herself fortunate to have familial support. If there was a time when her confidence was shaken, there was always someone to remind her of her strength and ingenuity. Haruno's family were not ninjas thus could not advise her, Hinata was turned out of the Hyuuga compound and living with the Yuuhis until she became a ninja worthy of her family's name and bloodline. But was there ever a time when Kurenai questioned her femininity?

Realistically she had little time to while growing up and maturing. Konoha was entangled in international combat, she was sent out into the frontlines preoccupied with executing assassination missions instead of necking in the movie theatre. Her male comrades never displayed a remote sexual interest in her, Oota Yumie, the spoiled only daughter of Konoha's wealthiest silk merchant oft mocked Kurenai's team as the real 'three-man cell'. Yumie later found herself near drowning in a tar pit. Kurenai was never truly comfortable in her own skin; merely she simply adapted and suffered silently. Ninjas never conveyed pain of any kind. Ninjas never got what they wanted; they were expendable regardless at how you looked at it. She truly pitied Hinata and Sakura, despite her acute dislike of the treacherous Uchiha. But there was a chance she could have ended up like Sakura and Hinata wallowing in unrequited love closing off her heart to any and all willing to love her sincerely.

You know for you I'd give my life

In you I will be strong

We went off looking for the light

But it was right here all along

Now we wait her passing nightimes

Until every morning comes

And this is not a love song

This is no easy tune

Words are few but the heart is true

Still the world keeps turning round

For me and you

She was nobody's fangirl.

OWARI