Chapter 4: One for the Road
In between the hotel room where she'd stick her tongue out at the receptionist each time she caught her sending filthy looks, the cafe, and their makeshift training grounds, each day felt like a year had passed too suddenly. So much had happened between them, how else could it have been anything less than a year?
Her time with Kagami was a dream she never knew she had already coming true. Of course, she still wanted to become Hokage, but she imagined having a partner by her side - though it was blank on who it'd be. Until now, training hard on the jutsu he had gifted her, called Wind Waves, just change the village into Konoha and it'd be 100 percent perfect. She was beginning to find it a little understandable when Sakura and Ino gushed over their future weddings.
Taking solace in it still feeling ridiculous when she pictured it, it was sweet when he held her hand.
When he poked her forehead, with either kisses or his fingers.
Bringing her breakfast, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her shoulder.
Kissing her when she succeeded in a new technique he was showing her.
Playing with her hair as he ran his other hand across her body, eyes only on her.
Spending most days by his side instead of following Jiraiya around, his drunk winks and questions for details when they both came back late left her violently knocking him out and leaving him where sunrise will leave a burn if he didn't sleep it off within the next four hours.
Pouring her heart out to Kagami about her childhood, of loneliness and craving for any kind of attention, he poured his own out of high expectations and double edged meanings with everyone. "Well if I knew you where I was from, I woulda been upfront with you if you paid attention to me." She told him, his soft smile making him beam as he said he knew. Barely catching the pained look, she wondered if he was wishing he could turn back time.
One night when they were laying underneath the stars, covered in sweat from two activities that had nothing to do with each other, the cool air wept over them. Holding him closer before they agreed to put their clothes back on, he reaching into his back pocket and presented a book. "Asuma: The Master of Kindness is about a young child with no chakra, when his father and brother had it. Instead he had to use his words to bring peace, in a time when no one wanted to listen. It made me think of you, Naruto-chan."
"I'm not much of a book reader, to be honest.."
"That's okay. I wouldn't mind reading it once more," he said before he settled at the base of a rock. Grabbing the blanket they had just been on top of and throwing it over them both, she curled up under his arm as he began reading aloud.
He was always there when she fell asleep with, never straying far. When she woke up again with the moon lighting the clearing, Kagami was going through katas. Swearing he looked familiar to someone else, her head felt as though it was itching as she racked through to try and figure it out.
When she left her tent one morning, just over two weeks of having entered the village, her stomach dropped at the familiar hawk circling the sky.
Waking up her teacher and deciphering the small scroll attached to its leg together, an unfamiliar bitter taste filled her mouth as she almost demanded to wait until sunset to leave and begin their requested investigation. He only agreed to continue sleeping off his hangover.
One of his contacts deep in the Land of Earth believed he had found a recently abandoned lab of Orochimaru, full of what the contact believed to be different village secrets. Stolen DNA, jutsus from the Forbidden Scroll, and since the contact had discovered and investigated the lab, she was being followed.
The rest of the letter had been smeared in a hurry, the final eligible code to decipher saying they were going to the Konoha haven for protection.
It made sense, it was for a morally correct reason, and yet Naruto still felt terrible for leaving Kagami so soon.
Finding him in his hotel room, her expression made him pause as she pulled him into her arms, her heavy sigh made him pull back enough to look at her face.
"Me and my sensei - we have to leave by sunset."
He didn't ask why, only hold her closer to his chest. Listening to his heartbeat, they laid in bed one last time together. Taking advantage of the silence, she daydreamed of bringing him to her village. Of getting an apartment together, or maybe a house. Of getting married, of having several children with ashy black hair and her blue eyes. Of becoming Hokage and rescuing him from enemy shinobi,
"What are you thinking of?" He murmured into her ear, sending chills down her spine.
"Of what we can do in the future," she answered honestly. Craning her neck to see his expression, his eyes were closed and he was frowning.
"If only," just barely reached her ears off before he sat up. Untangling himself from her arms, she watched him walk over to his long traveling scroll.
"Whatcha doing?" She asked. Pulling out a small sheet of paper, he joined her on the bed once more. Looking over his shoulder as he began drawing up a seal with a mix of ink and his blood, she could only recognize it as a type of tracker. "Didn't know you knew how to do sealing," she commented, a little impressed.
"Not a master, but I know enough," he responded before pausing. "Did you want to keep in contact?"
"Yes!" Shouting it loudly in his ear that he rose an eyebrow in her direction, she smacked him with a pillow. "What kinda stupid question is that?"
"I'm unsure if you have your own contract, however mine will follow tracker signals made of my blood," gifting the paper to her as it continued he dried, she nodded along in understanding. "Once activated, my crows will come and pick up or drop off letters we write to one another."
Feeling her eyes burn as tears gathered, she smiled in appreciation. Naruto knew she wouldn't have thought of that, so flinging her arms around his shoulders and planting several kisses across his cheeks, she hid her face in his shoulder.
Making their way after to the tea house once again, ordering several platters of everything they had at least once before and enjoyed. Trying to choose lighter topics to talk about, she felt like pressure sat on her shoulders during the silences until she gave in.
"Kagami, I.. I don't want to go. Or at least, I wish you could come with. It's sorta unfair, but, I don't really know what to say, ya know?" Trying to gather her thoughts, they now sat on the same side of their booth. Leaning onto his shoulder to avoid looking at his face, she attempted to stop herself from pouting. "Just over two weeks.. and it's felt like forever. I can see my life without you before, but I can't now. I have so much to thank you for, and I don't know how to!"
Feeling his gently tanned hand begin caressing her cheek, he turned towards her and gave his signature gentle half smile that she's come to notice when he was feeling down but trying to hide it. "I believe I agree, it being slightly unfair. We have our professions and while I have considered myself to be on vacation, it would be extremely difficult for me as well to leave you behind like you have been ordered to. Before I had met you, I put myself in the position of being alone in the point of view to protect everyone I could care for. Now, I don't want you to go so I could protect you."
Looking out the window, he sighed. "If you want to thank me, then remain safe."
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, she bobbed her head. Afraid to speak in case it became evident she was choked up, every moment spent together was of them touching in some form.
When they went to their makeshift training ground one last time, rolling around with half-assed techniques and spars that ended in kissing and groping in desperation.
When they visited look out, overlooking the clouds that floated around the mountains surrounding them, discussing their failed attempts at the first date.
Holding Kagami's hand as he walked to her the edge of the village, Jiraiya was only just beginning to leave the thin forest and step on the path, just a blur of colors from how far he was. Watching him take the time to adjust his bag, obviously watching from afar and giving her time to say bye.
Squeezing one last time before she let go, Naruto felt her eyes grow hot again.
It was him who gripped the edge of her shirt and pulled her close one last time. The kiss was deep and her desperation of wanting to stay or him to come with was strong. Hands sliding up to set on her cheeks, he was the one who pulled back. Opening her eyes to get a long look at him once more, he rested his forehead against hers once more.
Lifting a hand and wiping away the only tear she'd let escape, he tapped her forehead once more. "Be safe, Naruto-chan."
"You too, Kagami. I - I wanted you to have this," shoving her personalized shuriken into his hands, the set rattling among their specialized box as he quickly observed the detail among them. Believing every great shinobi should have a personalized weapon, her own weren't going that well, but she could only imagine him using the best. With thin and elegant designs carved into the high grade material, they could be for decoration or useful in a battle. It made the older teen smile before he set it on the ground for a moment.
"Thank you, I'll hold onto them forever. I didn't get you anything but," holding a hand out when she tried to object, he undid his necklace. Three circles spread out evenly, the rope was made of specialized material meant to withstand extreme heat. Gently grabbing her wrist and wrapping it around twice before doing it up, he kissed the back of her hand before releasing the appendage. "Now we can always remember each other."
"I'm going to miss you, so much."
"..I already miss you."
Hearing Jiraiya shout for her, too far to hear the words properly, she took a shaky breath. "I'll see you soon, I promise."
Turning around at his sad smile, she forced herself to take each step, looking back every few steps. The sight of him staring after her at the gates was ingrained into her memory.
Posted: 03/03/2019