Chapter 27: Red Tulips

It was still raining when Suigetsu opened his eyes. The tapping on the roof and window continued at a steady pour. The room was chilled, icy like the rain. Sighing he tightened his arms, bringing the warm body closer to him. He then grabbed the blankets that had slipped down during the night and pulled them up. Tucking the blanket around the girl's small frame. Her face was buried in his chest, a soft smile touched her lips, her face peaceful. She had one arm wrapped around him gripping the back of his shirt, and the other resting under her head. Her short dull brown hair was fluffy and going in a million different directions,

She is so cute when she sleeps. He thought.

Every bone and muscle in his body refused to move from this spot. No one could drag him away from this moment. It had been so long since he had Hibiki safe in his arms. Plus, he finally got some real sleep, the best sleep of his life in fact. He didn't realize how tense he had been until he woke up with his muscles sore but finally relaxed. He must have had them tensed the whole month he was in prison based on how sore they felt.

Hibiki who has always been a cautious sleeper wasn't as tense as she usually was. She felt more relaxed, less rigged and ready to jump at any moment. A deep satisfaction ran through Suigetsu. He made her feel safer…. That or she was too tired to be more aware. He was going with the first option though. It should be his job to help her relax, to help her sleep soundly. It was a job he wanted.

When he was with Orochimaru and in that tank, he woke up every day to emptiness and solitude. He had always wondered what it would be like to wake up with someone else with him. Hibiki had shown him this, and he loved it, well he loved waking up with Hibiki close by, it would be much different if it was someone else. He could feel her heart beating in her chest. Her slow inhale and exhale with each breath, her chest rising and falling.

Suigetsu had no idea what time it was, and he could care less. Juugo would probably wake them up if they slept too long. Although based on how still the house felt, he was still sleeping too. Not wanting to miss the chance to sleep for the whole day, Suigetsu closed his eyes again, sinking into the bed and Hibiki more, and let himself drift off again.

…

Juugo laid on top of the covers of the bed, his knees bent on the bottom edge, his arms stretched out on either side of him. He slept soundly and quietly, taking long deep breaths, slow and steady.

Hibiki and Suigetsu stood on the right side of his bed staring down at him. it was late afternoon when they finally dragged themselves out of bed. Coming to Juugo's room only to find him like this.

"He's passed out." Suigetsu said, looking over at Hibiki, who stared blankly forward.

"I'm sure he's just as exhausted as us, he was probably trying to keep himself in check. The last thing we needed in that storm was a rampaging Juugo." Hibiki commented. Then after a few silent moments, Hibiki began to reach out toward him. Only to have her forearm gently but firmly caught and held.

"Are you crazy? I like the guy, but I don't trust him when he's awake, let alone asleep. Who knows what might happen?" Suigetsu warned. Hibiki pursed her lips in thought before she nodded in agreement. When it came to Juugo it was often best to leave him to his own devices.

"Well, then you get to make breakfast because I have no idea where anything is," Hibiki told Suigetsu as they left the room, nudging him playfully with her elbow.

"Fine but I cannot promise good quality." he retorted. A soft smile forming on either of their faces, Hibiki excused herself and went to the bathroom to wash the night off her, she was a little sweaty from her nightmares, while Suigetsu began rummaging through the kitchen.

Hibiki closed the door behind her as she walked in, she slid her top off and placed it to the side. Then Hibiki found a towel and placed it by the sink. She ran the tap and did a quick clean up, taking the night's sweat off before drying herself and replacing her stolen top.

Once she was done, she exited the bathroom, finding Suigetsu waiting for her. He took her hand and led her to the table, sitting her in a chair.

"So what's for breakfast?" she asked.

"Steamed rice with an egg," he told her while placing a steaming bowel in front of her.

"Juugo could probably make something better," she teased as she ate.

"Yeah, we're lucky I didn't burn the damn rice," he joked. Hibiki's smile widened.

They ate silently and slower than they did the previous night, but they still finished rather quickly.

"We should wrap your stab wound." Suigetsu yawned, stretching as he stood.

"Alright, I'll meet you in there?" she asked as he took the bowl from in front of her.

"Yeah I'll put the bowls up." he agreed.

Hibiki returned to the bathroom and sat down like she had the previous night. Soon after Suigetsu came in, he gathered the few supplies they had and kneeled before her. Hibiki lifted her shirt for him, after removing the old bandage Suigetsu stared at the new burn mark. He tenderly ran his fingers over its length, Hibiki winced away and he immediately withdrew his hand.

"Sorry," he said, reaching over and grabbing the antibiotic cream.

"It's alright." she assured him, "It's just a little sore still."

Suigetsu gingerly tended to her new sear marks, reapplying antibiotic and placing a new bandage over it, then wrapping her stomach to keep the pressure on the spot.

"We should do this again before we sleep tonight," he said, Hibiki nodded in agreement, while he helped her stand.

"So what now?" Hibiki asked.

They both stood in silence, Suigetsu didn't have a sword to polish, and he wasn't going to let Hibiki use her foresight yet. What the hell should they do? It was raining so going outside was out.

"I have no idea," he confessed. Hibiki shrugged and walked out of the bathroom, towing Suigetsu behind her, she sat them on the couch.

"We could talk?" she suggested.

"Do you really want to?" he asked skeptically.

"Not really," she admitted with a smile.

"Me neither." he agreed with a groan.

Another thing he loved about Hibiki, she was a quiet person. Unlike Karin or most girls he knew (which were few) she liked the silence, it wasn't uncomfortable to just sit quietly with her. It felt natural and comforting.

Suigetsu pulled Hibiki with him as he lounged on the couch, she laid between his legs, her back to his chest. He took her hands and tangled their fingers. They sat in silence, listening to the rain outside. Suigetsu began to hum some tune Hibiki didn't recognize. They laid there and played with the hands of each other. About an hour had passed before an idea popped into Suigetsu's head. He got up and left Hibiki confused on the couch.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Just got an idea," he replied. Hibiki could hear him going around the small room and moving things. After a few minutes, he returned to his spot,

"Back in the lab, I often saw Orochimaru reading the same book over and over. I mean it's the only book I've seen him read. I forgot about it until I spotted the same book on the shelf in the house yesterday. Want me to read it to you?" he asked.

"Sure! It's been a while since I've heard a story. Not since my mom died." Hibiki agreed with excitement. "What's it called?"

"The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi," Suigetsu read aloud.

"That's an… interesting title?" Hibiki said, holding a laugh.

"Yeah, it's kind of stupid. That's what I remembered most about it though, the stupid title." he agreed, then he opened the book and began to read to Hibiki.

"He didn't think of his past often, but on warm days like today, he would sit at the base of a tree and listen to the wildlife around him. In the sounds of the forest, he could faintly hear the sounds from his oldest memories. An echo from the past catching up to him. He couldn't remember his parents' faces or the faces of the many children he knew, but he could remember his best friends face. It was always solemn and sad, like nothing in this world mattered. He had taken it upon himself to make his friend smile. It was his job to help the boy see the world as a good place. Of course, this was a short-lived fantasy. Now he was a wandering man, chasing the shadow of an idea he clings to. It is his only friend, his only hope, his only reason for moving on."

It wasn't a very long book, or very complicated to read, so by the time the rain stopped they were halfway through it. When the tapping on the roof slowly faded and then stopped, Hibiki sat up and turned to Suigetsu, he also sat up and listened closely after a few very silent minutes he stood and walked to the front door, opening it and stepping outside.

Finding a wet environment but a dry sky he turned and looked at Hibiki who waited anxiously for his weather report.

"Want to go on a walk?" he asked. Hibiki's face brightened as she jumped from the couch, almost falling twice before reaching him.

"Yes please!" she smiled.

He took Hibiki's hand and the two walked outside, leaving the front door slightly open as they left. The earth had been cleaned and everything smells new, fresh. Hibiki inhaled deeply and slowly let it out. They walked at a slow pace down the road, coming to a path that leads into the woods.

"Have you ever heard of Orochimaru reading?" He asked as they slowly walked.

"Well, I knew he read science documents and research stuff. But nothing like the book we are reading." Hibiki said.

"Huh, I wonder why this book then."

"I don't know. A mystery for the ages?" she wondered.

"Yeah, I never want to have a chance to ask him." He shivered, they both paused before laughing slightly to themselves. Hibiki took a deep breathe,

"I've missed this smell, that fresh rain smell. I forget how much I love being outside."

"It's nice. But I can still smell the ocean." Suigetsu complained.

"Me too. But I like the smell of seawater." Hibiki said.

"I'm more of a freshwater guy, I can't work with seawater that well," he admitted.

"A freshwater mermaid," Hibiki giggled,

"I'm not a mermaid." he frowned.

"Yes you are, you can live in the water, can't you? Breath in it too right?"

"Yeah ok fine, I may have some similarities, but it is not the same thing," he argued back. Hibiki laughed, he really hated the nickname she gave him.

Suigetsu squeezed Hibiki's hand while he pouted. Suigetsu turned his head up and looked up at the sky.

"You know my brother Mangetsu was really good at using seawater, So I guess he's the real mermaid." Suigetsu thought aloud.

"How much older was Mangetsu?" She asked.

"About ten years I think," he said.

"Wow that's a big age gap." she whistled.

"Yeah," He agreed.

"It must have been hard on your mom, losing both of her sons."

"I guess, I didn't know the women that well. Didn't really know my dad either, I mostly remember Mangetsu," he said.

"You really miss him huh?" she asked.

"Some days more than others," he answered. After a few moments of silence, Hibiki spoke up again.

"Can I ask how he died?" she said hesitantly.

"I'm not sure, he died and then Orochimaru grabbed hold of me. And you know how hard the first few months are with him right?" He answered.

"Yeah, you forget a lot of things in those first few months, I forgot my name for a while."

"So did I." he agreed. "I hate that guy."

"I do too. But you know, As much as I hate him, and everything he's done, I do have an odd respect for him? Or maybe admiration? I'm not sure how to describe it." Hibiki said.

"I know what you mean. I'm terrified of him, and I hate him to my very core, but I admire him in a way. Might be Stockholm syndrome or some shit." He admitted.

"Yeah that would make sense." she agreed. "You know Sasuke feels this way too," Hibiki added.

"Does Sasuke have to come up in every conversation?" he grumbled.

"I don't bring him up that much." she frowned. Suigetsu stopped walking. Hibiki turned toward him.

"You and Sasuke are close huh?" he asked.

"Yeah. He means a lot to me. You can say he's the person I trust the most, I think that's the best way to describe it." she answered. Suigetsu took his hand back and crossed his arms, pouting. Hibiki smiled softly and takes his face in her hands.

"Don't be jealous," she says. "We have something… different," she assured him.

"Shouldn't I be the person you trust the most?" he asked.

She giggles. "Do you want to be?" she asks.

"Yeah, I do." he agrees. Hibiki withdrew her hands and her face burned.

At that moment Suigetsu tilted her chin up and kissed her. Hibiki was shocked, to feel his lips on hers. It was the sweetest of pecks. He pulled away slightly and watched Hibiki's face become giddy, and her cheeks glowed pink. Seeing her reaction, he leaned back in again.

Suigetsu's lips were warmer than Hibiki had imagined, softer too. Her heart pounded in her chest painfully, she was surprised it stayed in her chest. Her hot face burned as she closed her eyes and leaned in, returning the kiss. Her hands gripped his shirt, keeping him close to her.

Hibiki's lips tasted so sweet to him. A taste he could only place as 'Hibiki'. His heart stopped in his chest, the overwhelming realization that he was finally kissing her started at his feet and slowly rose through his body, up to his spine to his head in a shiver. One hand found itself gripping her waist and the other cradled her face, his thumb rubbing along her cheekbone.

When he finally pulled away, he watched as her eyes remained closed for a few seconds before slowly fluttering open. Her lips slightly parted as her blank stare looked at him, with wonder.

They stood in silence, her hands still clenching his shirt, his hands still on her waist and face. Just as Suigetsu found his voice, raindrops began to slowly plop on their faces.

"Its-" he started, clearing his cracking voice, "Let's go back." he finally managed to get out. Hibiki nodded, slightly dazed.

Suigetsu lead them back to the house, their hands clutched firmly. Suigetsu's face was on fire, and yet again he was glad Hibiki couldn't see.

…

The two hurried back to the house, Suigetsu lead Hibiki, their hands firmly clasped. They made it inside just in time, leaving them only slightly damp. Their feet were muddy from the walk, Suigetsu grabbed a towel and cleaned both Hibiki and his own feet before going in. Hibiki was then brought to the couch by Suigetsu, pulling Hibiki with him as he fell into the sofa. Without a word Suigetsu and Hibiki settled back into their previous positions and Suigetsu picked the book up again. He read from where they left off.

Hibiki was unsure how long it took for them to finish it, but it felt very late. Her stomach grumbled very audibly. Hibiki felt her stomach as it rumbled again, louder this time. Suigetsu sat up with Hibiki he chuckled at Hibiki's pouty hungry face.

"Hungry?" he asked.

"Yep," she agreed.

Suigetsu and Hibiki got off the couch, Hibiki was seated at the table while Suigetsu went to the kitchen to hunt for food he could make. Upon entering the kitchen Suigetsu found a plate of food with a note on top.

Juugo must have woken up. He thought

Suigetsu found two plates and divided the food Juugo had left behind, reheating the food by following the instructions in the note. It was a quick process and soon Suigetsu walked out of the kitchen with two hot plates. He placed one in front of Hibiki and gave her utensils as well.

"Did you make this?" Hibiki asked taking a deep sniff of the food.

"Ha like I could. Juugo must have woken up earlier, he made it for us." Suigetsu answered.

"That's nice of him" Hibiki mumbled with a mouth full of food.

They finish their meal quickly, without conversation. Once she was finished Hibiki put her chopsticks on the plate, she leaned back and stretched her arms and legs. Suigetsu grabbed both their plates and dumped them in the sink along with all the other used dishes. When he returned to the table, Hibiki had her arms folded on the table with her chin resting on top. Her eyes were closed. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder,

"Let's rebandage your wound and go to bed," he said taking Hibiki's hand. She groaned in protest with her stomach full, she felt tired. She wanted to go straight to bed but Suigetsu dragged her along to the bathroom where he changed the bandages.

The sear mark was healing nicely it was not as tender now. Once Suigetsu replaced the bandage he guided Hibiki to the bedroom where they fell into bed.

The pair quickly fell asleep.

…

In the early morning hours, the sun giving a soft glow of light, Juugo sat up and stretched out his long limbs. He slept for about a total of 24 hours, leaving him a little sluggish, but rested. He sat on the edge of the bed and focused on what needed to be done next. He stood and stumbled out of his room and looked around the quiet house. He yawned and continued to the other bedroom, the door was open into the darkroom, he poked his head in to find his two travel companions still asleep.

On the bed, Hibiki and Suigetsu slept in an embrace. She was tucked under Suigetsu's chin. Juugo smiled softly at the two. While Suigetsu snored loudly, Hibiki's face was strained her grip on Suigetsu's shirt tight.

She must be having a bad dream. Juugo thought as he left the sleeping pair.

Juugo's clothes, like the others, was laid out on a table Suigetsu had cleared the other night. He had grabbed the picture frames and knick-knacks and roughly tossed them in a corner. Making room for their soaked clothes. Juugo grabbed his now dry pants and purple makeshift cloak. He changed out of the shorts Hibiki had found for him, glad to be out of the snug fit. Once dressed he entered the kitchen.

Last night he had surveyed the food in the kitchen and made dinner leaving just enough to feed them all a small breakfast before they moved on.

Once he started preparing their morning meal, it didn't take long for Suigetsu to come and join him.

"So what's the plan from here?" Suigetsu asked Juugo from the kitchen door.

"Find Sasuke of course," Juugo answered bluntly.

"Really? The jackass abandoned us in the Land of Iron. Why should we go after him?" Suigetsu complained.

"Because Sasuke's will is Kimimaro's will. I promised to follow Sasuke until he no longer needs my services. Besides I'm sure Hibiki will go looking for him too. I'm also sure you'll follow after her." he said.

"Ch," Suigetsu scoffed. Suigetsu was… torn. Sasuke was an ass who left them to rot in the Land of Iron. But Sasuke also had plans. Suigetsu wasn't much of a planner so it was easier to follow Sasuke than to come up with his next move on his own. His mixture of fear, respect, and content for Sasuke made him unsure what his true feelings towards Sasuke were. To be honest, being on team Taka had been entertaining, he wasn't stuck in a tank and he had things to do. Boredom usually led Suigetsu into sticky situations. Sighing in defeat Suigetsu changed back into his pants and black cloak, his shoes had been lost in the storm.

He returned to the bedroom where Hibiki slept, she was rigid and tense. Ready to jump at any moment.

Probably having a nightmare. Suigetsu guessed.

Not wanting to scare her, he went to her side and sat on the bed. Gently caressing her face, rubbing his thumb across her cheek.

"Hibiki, wake up," he said as he used his other hand to shake her shoulder carefully. It only took a moment for Hibiki to snap her eyes open and sit up. Awake and alarmed.

"Suigetsu?" she asked.

"Right here, Juugo made food," he said. She sighed relaxing before getting out of bed. The two walked to the table together where plates had been set for them. Juugo sat in his seat eating his own food.

"Good morning Hibiki," Juugo greeted.

"Good to hear your voice," Hibiki said back.

Once she finished eating, Hibiki changed into a long-sleeved shirt from the house. She changed back into her own pants, pulled on her shoes and collapsed her staff, securing it and her pack to her hip.

The trio walked out of the town and down a road leading east,

"Let's start at the Eastern hideout, since it's the closest and then go from there," Juugo suggested.

"Sounds good." Hibiki agreed.

They walked at an even pace moving steadily forward. Hibiki had offered to find Sasuke herself and make things easier, but Suigetsu was on her ass about it.

As they walked, the overcast sky held its rain throughout the morning and into the afternoon.

As the first drops began to hit the trio, Suigetsu stopped and looked to the sky. Hearing him do this Hibiki turned in his general direction.

"Suigetsu, what's wrong?" she asked. Suigetsu glared at the sky as more rain began to fall. Seeing Suigetsu's odd behavior Juugo turned to some of the local wildlife that had been following them and whispered a question.

"I see, lots and lots of shinobi?" Juugo confirmed.

"It's a war, right?" Suigetsu guessed, looking to Juugo.

"A war? I didn't... I need to see this." Hibiki frowned. She sat on her knees and closed her eyes before Suigetsu could protest. It was about 5 minutes later when Hibiki stood with a huff. She pouted, upset.

"So what's going on exactly?" Juugo asked.

"I don't know, something's off. Really off. I can't see anything, and I mean that as literal as possible. Everything's a blur. I can't even see the hideout." Hibiki freaked. Suigetsu touched her shoulder.

"Don't worry," Suigetsu told her. She nodded, her face still expressing her confusion and frustration. Seeing Hibiki's stressed face Suigetsu turned to Juugo. "We should find Sasuke before we get mixed up in this war." Juugo looked at him and nodded in agreement.

AN: this took forever! I could not figure out this first kiss. It went through many drafts and I ended up with this. Hope you guys liked it. Let me know!