Kakashi
The two nin were perched on top of the narrow gorge, waiting for signs of the on-coming ninja.
The silence between them remained heavy and awkward through the morning. Not much was said between the two as they carried out their mission. He woke her later than he should have and when she took her shift, he slipped into his usual half-sleep, remaining as alert as he could whilst resting.
"Hey, boss" Pakkun came sprinting back from his post nearer the entrance of the gorge. "Five Iwagakure ninja in-coming. Kakashi nodded as he puffed out of existence. He watched as Ame shrunk back into the shadows of the trees, no doubt activating her byakugan. He mimicked her and suppressed his chakra signature.
His mind was distracted by what he'd witnessed in the night of the cave.
He steadied his mind as much as he could as he watched her sprint off the cliff edge, straight over the 3 enemy ninja. His eyes widened as she executed a lateral flip, expertly. She made gravity look non-existent as she floated through the air. Glimmers of light silver chakra flew down from her fingers hitting their mark. Two of the hostiles fell to the ground with ease. His features morphed into shock and his heart raced harder. She landed directly behind the remaining nin.
He prepared himself to back her up and raced to the cliff edge himself, leaping down to the scene below him. As he did he watched her dodge a kunai and then something out of the shadows appeared. A murky figure grew from her shadow and he felt his blood run cold. He watched the shadow crawl towards the nin and as he landed, the ominous figure coiled around the shinobi. It pulled him into the earth with devastating pressure, crushing the enemy. The wails of the ninja echoed around the forest and Kakashi couldn't seem to move his feet. The sounds of his bones crushing paralysed him where he landed. He could've sworn he saw the demon smirk at him as he tightened his grip.
He realised who he was partnered with. He had heard the stories about her. The Reaper of Anbu. Merciless, cold-blooded, vengeful. Stories of her were famous amongst the Anbu. They say she killed her whole team for getting in her way on a mission, but nothing was proved. Every single person she had been teamed up with had died by her hands. They didn't even find a trace of her first partner. After a while, people began refusing to team up with her, as the seemingly inevitability of their death by her doing didn't sit well even with the elites. He didn't hear what she had said to the half-crush nin, but he knew the shinobi couldn't reply in that state.
He willed his hands to still. He couldn't pull his eyes from the ninja being submerged. His stomach clamped down as the blood curdling muffled screams penetrated through him. He didn't know what was worse, the grinding of the ninja's bones or the shrieking.
The movement stopped and only the nin's head and shoulders remained above the ground. He shook as he forced himself to move to her side. He couldn't bear to look at her so he focused on the nin.
He crouched, levelling his gaze with the hooded nin and activated his Sharingan. She pulled off the hood revealing a mess of a man. He pulled him into a genjutsu, easing him of his physical presence.
"Who sent you?" he asked, his voice trained and even. The shinobi shook as he collapsed and cried.
"We are- we were mercenaries" he shuddered with wide eyes up to the copy nin. "Am I dead yet?" his stare intensified as he clung to hope that the pain was over. He refused to let sympathy betray him here.
"Who hired you?"
"I don't know" he whispered, sobbing. "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!" he began rocking on the floor, repeating over and over.
"Answer my questions and I will make sure you leave painlessly." He offered. The nin looked back to him and relief passed over his features.
"A large cash payment was left with us along with instructions of who to take out, and roughly where you two would be."
"And?"
"The money- it was for her. To make sure she was dealt with." He began to rock again, attempting to soothe himself.
"Why her?"
"She's a monster. The Shinigami." His voice was weak as he trembled. "She doesn't belong here. Doesn't belong" he repeated. "She shouldn't be here. She needs to be taken care of." He rocked back and forth repeating over and over.
"Why doesn't she belong here?" he felt his heart palliate in his chest.
"She's a monster. She needs to go back" he whispered. "A monster. The Shinigami." Kakashi continued to stand over him, his mask in place.
"Don't trust her" he called as Kakashi began to end the genjutsu. "Whatever you do, don't trust her. Get as far away from her as you can!" his cries grew quieter as the jutsu ended. He was back to reality. Kakashi made sure to render him unconscious before it completely faded.
He didn't know what to think. Everything he just witnessed, he was overwhelmed.
"He doesn't know who paid them to take us out but they paid heavily and upfront. That's all the information." He pulled his hood back over his head refusing to look at the dying nin, or her. His stomach rolled as she finished him off. He was sure that the sounds made from crushing him would haunt his dreams.
He felt her move next to him.
"Our location may be compromised we should move out. You can rest later in the day." He left her there as he shot through the canopy.
He shook from the memory but willed himself to focus on the task at hand but there were so many unknowns around her.
They remained in the cover of the forest as he began to sense the ninja running below in the gorge. A chill raced through him as they waited. She began running alongside the edge of the gorge, suppressing her own chakra. He joined behind her as they observed. The lead nin he recognised as a member of the Kamizuru clan. S-ranked shinobi.
They followed the team until they neared the village. Not much was communicated between them but at least now they knew how many Iwa nin were arriving.
"I'm going into the village" she broke through the silence as they perched on a tree overlooking the village.
"That's a bad idea. They're elites. It could endanger the mission and the civilians."
"We haven't got any information yet."
"We are a team. Don't make decisions on your own."
"You aren't my Taichou" her voice raised.
"Damn right I'm not. Don't move from this position unless you are prepared for me to stop you." He growled looking straight at her. He wouldn't let her compromise this. He sighed and looked back towards the village. "It carries too much risk. It is better to gain no intel than to announce the Leaf's interference. It could endanger the spies we have in their villages. You need to think before you act more."
"I don't need you to tell me what to do," she snapped back childishly. "I've done fine by myself" she uttered.
"Have you?" the words spilt out before he could stop them. He cursed at his stupidity and felt her flinch next to him. He didn't look her way and kept watching the village.
Two silent hours passed as she watched. The winter was bitter today and Kakashi's bones threatened to shake with the cold be he did his best to ignore it. Snow fell from the grey skies covering the landscape with white.
"They're on the move" she announced. He slipped a kunai over his thumb.
"Ninja art: summoning jutsu" Pakkun appeared in a puff of smoke.
"Hey boss," he greeted ignoring Ame's presence as he did before.
"Head into the village and follow the Iwa nin, don't get too close. Report back what you hear" he instructed. He felt Ame's eyes on him, but he kept his on the village below. Their cloaks were pulled above their heads and he straightened his hood. Pakkun jumped down and disappeared into the village. Kakashi couldn't see clearly from their position so he relied on his partner and his summons.
"You were right," she paused. "They've met in the tea shop. Three Iwa nin are waiting at the entrance, the other two are on sentry duty looking onto the shop." She relayed the details.
"And the Suna nin?" he asked.
"Incoming, a single nin." Her voice sounded hesitant.
"Just the one?" something wasn't right.
"Ninja art: summoning jutsu" she summoned her bats and the spread out in the area. "There's no one else around. I can't see them."
"We will assume he's not acting alone," he narrowed his eyes behind his mask.
"They have greeted, they're entering the shop now." He nodded.
"It's up to Pakkun now." He uttered.
They waited in the forest until the sun sank behind the horizon. Ame suddenly grunted beside him. His head snapped to her and her hands covered her eyes behind her mask.
"Ame-san?" He trained his voice to remain flat.
"My eyes" she breathed out, her voice strained.
"You've overused them?" He was closer to her as he slid her mask over her head.
"My medical jutsu isn't good but I might be able to relieve some of the stress." He reached his hands out to her eyes but she batted them away.
"I'm fine." She slid her mask back over her face. "Just focus on the mission" her voice was weak.
"Don't use your byakugan. Pakkun will report back on the discussion." He heard her tut but she seemed to obey. She jumped down and lay her bare hands and feet on the ground.
"What're you doing?" he jumped down and whispered near here.
"Shhh," she called out, "I am trying to find them with the vibrations" Vibrations? He thought. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen a nin be able to see with vibrations and his mind began to think through the process. He glanced down at her extremities and noticed they were turning purple from the cold. He was suddenly more grateful for his gloves. After a slow 10 minutes, she spoke up.
"They're leaving" she whispered.
"Let's go" He jumped into the canopy and went in the opposite direction to the Earth nin. They hung back from the village but watched far from the villages' southern exit. Soon enough the lone sand nin emerged. Kakashi held out an arm halting her and they crouched in the shadows.
The sun was entirely set and the darkness descended on the forest. The snow was heavier than earlier and snow blanketed the ground below them. He could just make out the lone figure. He walked his hands in his pockets. He didn't recognise him. He was medium build, he wore red clothing and the sand nin brown body protector. His short red hair swayed in the night breeze.
The figure suddenly halted and Kakashi's eyes narrowed. The sand nin's head turned slowly, and his eyes connected with Kakashi's. Ame and the copy nin flinched in unison as the sand nin smirked and walked along the path, breaking the eye contact to look forward.
Kakashi wouldn't take his eyes off the lone nin, and neither would Ame. Cold sweat ran down his back as his wide eyes flared. They watched until he disappeared into the distance in silence.
"How did he…" the copy nin began.
"He must be a sensory type" she answered.
"Or, there are more of them." He offered an alternative, "not many ninja travel alone, especially for such an important meeting between nations." They whispered to one another. He scanned around the area with his Sharingan open but nothing was revealed.
"My summons haven't picked anything up"
"Neither did my Sharingan."
"We should make camp." She offered and he grunted in response. "Lead the way." She glanced over expectantly when he didn't move. A slow smirk spread across his face, behind the anbu mask.
"It sounds like you're referring to me as," he hesitated. "Captain (Taichou)" an eyebrow quirked even though she couldn't see. She hesitated for a moment before shooting off into the canopy. His ninja hearing barely picked up what she said.
"Don't be ridiculous"
"We should make it back to the border before we set up camp"
"Do you think he'll track us?" she asked quizzically.
"It's unlikely. He had an opportunity. We will have to assume he knew of our presence the whole time. He knew exactly where to look." He looked over to her, "but don't let your guard down."
"Hai" she responded. He smirked as it sounded like she was saluting her captain.
They settled not far from the border. They didn't risk a fire this close to patrols of Stone. They both sat with their backs against the same tree. Kakashi was deep in thought when his summons returned.
"What do you have for us, Pakkun?" The dog sat right in front of Ame staring at her with the aloof look he always did.
"The Iwa nin's seemed suspicious of the Suna nin." He began. "But, they were bargaining resources. Preparing for something. It sounded big, boss" the pup didn't take his eyes off of Ame. Kakashi knew the pup kept the brief short in the presence of a stranger. Pakkuns gaze narrowed on her.
"What?" she asked cutting across the conversation.
"You smell funny, lady," Kakashi knew where this was going. He would've paid good money to see her expression right now.
"Hey, why does your rat talk?" he watched Pakkun roll his eyes.
"Who's the new kid, boss?"
"We're teamed up." He explained dryly. He could almost feel the heating of her blood beside him. He placed a hand on the pups head and petted him.
"I don't think you should team up with her, boss"
"She has a name." Kakashi suppressed the smirk that threatened.
"Pakkun, this is Ame, Ame, this is Pakkun."
"You can call me Amaya" she quipped.
"Maa, apologise Ojo-sama." He mocked. She tutted under her mask. "Pakkun, can you report back to the Hokage in full?"
"Yes, Boss." He nodded, "Amaya." Pakkun disappeared in a poof of smoke. Ame sighed deeply next to him.
"All this trouble for scraps of information" she looked up to the tree canopy.
"The Hokage will put it to good use, you needn't be unsatisfied. You've done well." He praised her efforts as he relaxed back onto the tree. She didn't respond for a moment and he prised one of his eyes open to look over at her. She was hunched with her knees up to her chest.
"Hn," she sighed. Her stomach rumbled, "got any food?" she asked. Had she eaten all of hers? He reached for his pack and tossed it over to her. She looked up at him slipping her mask up and gave a tight smile. Her eyes were bloodshot and ringed with purple.
"How are your eyes?"
"Fine"
"Lying won't help us" he moved and crouched in front of her. Her blank mask rested on top of her head. He held up his hands and they started to glow green. He waited to see if she would hesitate.
"I can do it myself" she spoke unconvincingly and didn't try to move away. He closed the distance and placed his hands above her eyes. She closed them as he concentrated on basic healing. All Anbu knew a little.
"You're bad at this"
"Maa- so ungrateful Ojo-sama" he watched her lips twitch upwards for a second. His gaze remained on her eyes for a little too long. She began shoving dried meat into her mouth and he finished up with what he could do.
"Who knew the infamous Hatake Kakashi would suck at something. Doesn't your Sharingan help with this sort of thing?"
"I'd have to activate it and it uses a lot more Chakra and I don't have massive amounts," he responded dryly.
"Who do you think sent those ninja near the cave?" she asked with her mouth full.
"A mystery for now," he hesitated contemplating his next words, "unless you have any ideas?" he spied her as he moved to sit near to her. She didn't give a reaction, she just continued to eat dried meat. He snagged a piece and placed it under his mask.
"How would I know?" she replied after chewing. He hummed and thought.
"So, when did you leave Bird?" he asked changing the subject.
"So, what happened on your previous mission?" she shot back.
"Maa- you broke your promise."
"A secret for a secret then?"
"You want to know my secrets?" he cooed at her, trying to distract her. Her face remained neutral.
"Seems you're curious about mine and I'm not giving them out for free."
"It was an S-rank mission, I can't divulge the information I'm afraid."
"You were never going to tell me were you?"
"You were never going to keep our agreement, were you?" he watched her brow twitch with annoyance subtly.
"I was 9" she answered his original question. He hummed and slid his mask onto the top of his head. He crossed his legs and watched the darkness ahead. "Do you believe the stories you hear about me?" his gaze drifted to hers she and something flashed across her eyes.
"Should I?"
"That's not what I asked." He could hear the agitation grow in her and he blew a laugh.
"I don't think I do, but then again, I'm not going to rule it out. After all, I don't know you" he answered honestly. He couldn't read her face and he looked away. "Why did you leave Birds and come to Konoha?"
"My father was the only family I had, and he passed away." She answered with little emotion.
"Why did you come to Konoha, and not go to any of the other villages?"
"I'm curious, why you're so curious." He trained his face not to show the small amount of panic rising in his chest. "Besides, it's my turn."
"Go ahead"
"Why did the Hokage really pair us up?" he didn't answer. "It is too random to make sense"
"My team just got disbanded, I think he was trying to give me an easy mission" he waved her off and scratched the back of his head. "He has a soft spot for me, you see." He gave her the eye crinkle smile. Her face didn't betray her thoughts.
"I didn't know where I was going, I'd never left the small farm I was raised on. I kept going until I found one of the big villages I'd heard of" she looked at her hands. He was about to ask another question when she continued. "I was 10 by the time I reached the gates. I snook in behind merchants, the guards didn't seem to notice but now looking back they probably did. I wonder why they let me in?" she laughed a little. "I had nothing, I couldn't even afford rice" she whispered. She rubbed her bandaged hands together and he noticed they were still the shade of purple from the cold.
He pulled each of his gloves off and held them out.
"Your hands will be of no use if they freeze off" he gave the crinkled eye smile but she didn't take them. He sighed. "It's ok to be helped once in a while". He reached out and slid each of her hands into his warmed gloves.
"Thanks" she mumbled.
"I didn't think you'd have that word in your vocabulary" he gave her his infamous smile again but she just looked at him with the same vacant stare she always did.
Something alerted him and his senses and he leapt up in his defensive stance. She echoed him but he knew her eyes were strained and it would affect her fighting.
"I feel them" she whispered. "Their vibrations, I can pick them up through my feet and hands" her tone was irritated.
"How many?" he asked urgently.
"Lots, I don't know. There's too many" she sounded as if she felt a little panicked. They slid their masks back over their faces.
"How many?"
"I'm not sure, maybe 30." He breathed deeply assessing his chakra stores.
"A small army." It wasn't a question.
"They're moving fast, maybe 4 minutes out"
"Work with me"
"Taichou!" she confirmed and Kakashi's mouth twitched.
"Standard formation 3"
"Hai!" they leapt into position in the canopy and he spawned clones of them both. Faining sleep. They suppressed their chakra and she slipped into her camouflage jutsu.
He felt his eyes widen momentarily behind his mask. He'd heard of the Jutsu but never seen it in the flesh. He gestured to her using his hands.
Round them up, lure them to the opening.
He heard them before he saw them. They slowed as they approached the supposed sleeping nin below. In true ninja style, they used their advantages and an earth jutsu was the first thing to make an impact. The ground shook as a box was formed around the clones. A fire user ignited the inside of it like an oven and the clones puffed out of existence.
Now is our chance. Make your move Shinigami. He thought. As he did, a strange purple mist descended upon the hostiles furthest from the opening. The nin started choking and falling to the ground he ignored the curiosity and formulated his plan. Panic descended amongst the ranks and they fanned out, most coming into the way of the clearing. Kakashi formed hand seals and breathed fire over the hostiles on one side of the clearing driving them further in. He couldn't see Ame but he watched her strange silver chakra needles fly around the other side, rounding them into the centre.
His fireball jutsu had melted the snow enough that he used his water jutsu. He formed the hand seals and the water rose in droplets in a blink of an eye they filled the area. In the same breath, he used lightning jutsu and sent it into the clearing, electrocuting anyone trapped inside. The screams of the shinobi echoed through the forest and that too, he ignored it as he continued.
He opened his Sharingan finding six more left in the immediate area. Three stood together and three seemed to be dotted randomly. He didn't doubt some had fled to report back to whoever had sent them. They weren't ninja he recognised. They had no forehead protector and didn't seem too skilled.
He leapt through the trees towards a group gathered outside the clearing and descended upon them.
"Chidori!" his hand shot through the chest cavity of a nin who didn't react in time. The other two snapped into action and kunai flew past his face. He dodged and created a clone. The strain on his body became apparent with little rest and little food. His real body dove beneath the ground using his mole jutsu. His clone fought hand to hand until a surprise attack hit him from the back from the second nin. His real body shot out the ground slower than it usually does.
"Chidori!" the second one flopped to the ground with a fist-shaped hole through his ribs. He leapt backwards in the defensive facing the last nin in the immediate area. He was breathing heavily but tried to hide his weakness. He looked on at the nin who managed to attack his clone from behind. He looked more experienced than the other ones he'd faced. His Chakra was low now so he'd resort to other methods. He weaved out of the way of his attacks one after another. He was fast but not as fast as he was. He blocked and dodged waiting for a sure opening when he suddenly slumped to the ground and his face hit the dirt with death in his eyes. The strange silver chakra had slid through the back of the nins head, whizzing past Kakashi's own head as it came out the other side of the nin's face.
He sensed another presence drop down and Ame dropped her camouflage jutsu. He controlled his panting. He needed food and sleep. His chakra was almost depleted he couldn't use Chidori a single time more.
"Is that all of them?"
"I'm not sure if I use my byakugan again I'll probably go blind temporarily" He knew they were strained but she hadn't let on how strained. He huffed a dark laugh through his ragged breath, he should have known. He cursed to himself.
He stood tall and opened his Sharingan again to check for chakra signatures, willing the little remaining chakra to the eye. It swirled when a fire jutsu suddenly rocketed out towards where Ame stood panting and hunched over her knees.
"Ame!" he fell to his knees and his palms slammed on the ground. A wall of earth shot up towering over her. She ducked down, her arms protecting her head, as the fire whipped around and engulfed the area behind the wall. It was so powerful that the earth started to crumble. The savage fire continued to eat away at the wall until only a small amount was left covering her. The attacking jutsu halted and Kakashi felt the world sway. He wouldn't let his teammate die, even if he had nothing left. He shakily stood up, ready.
She jumped up as soon as it halted and leapt towards Kakashi. Her back hit his as they crouched in the defensive.
"I'm almost out of chakra" she panted.
"I'm out," his breath wasn't steady either. His legs felt unsteady as exhaustion threatened. Only adrenaline kept him going at this point. "Any good at taijutsu?" he smirked.
"I can hold my own." He could almost hear the smirk in her words, too.
A figure emerged from the direction of where the fire came.
"Hatake Kakashi" each syllable came out slowly. Mockingly. "What an honour it is to face the infamous copy ninja." He was tall and bulky. He carried no weapons and wore only trousers. He grinned a lupine grin and laughed lowly. "Or should I say Friend-killer Kakashi" His laugh turned boisterous and Kakashi tightened his stance.
"This guy talks too much" Ame hissed.
"Ah, and who is this?" They were sizing each other up.
"Shinigami" her words were flat.
"Shinigami?" he laughed in her face and Kakashi's blood simmered a few degrees hotter. He willed himself to be in control of his mind. "I've never heard of you"
"That's because no one who has seen her has lived to see another day" Kakashi's words were filled with venom and he watched the hostile nin's face drop. Ame was suddenly behind the enemy with her kunai out but he was too fast and predicted her movements. He spun as he dodged and his palm hit her stomach. She flew backwards hitting a tree near but it gave him an opening. Kakashi sprinted towards him pulling out two kunai and throwing one as a distraction. The nin dodged it too effortfully and Kakashi threw another diversion. As it sailed through the air the nin began to dodge Kakashi's limbs screamed at him as he landed a hi to his kidney. It wasn't as strong as usual but the nin stumbled backwards and Kakashi fell onto a knee panting.
The nin recovered too quickly and leapt towards Kakashi but he wasn't going to be able to move fast enough.
"Crow!" Ame was suddenly in between the two and expertly diffused his leap, and the ninja crashed into the ground.
He sprung up and they engaged in taijutsu. Her movements flowed like calm waters, he'd never seen anyone move like it. He could barely track the blur of her limbs. He could only look on in awe as his body trembled. She had the upper hand and the other nin grew panicked. She didn't give him any opening to form seals. She managed to spin and whip out her two remaining kunai. She swiftly embedded them on either side of the nins neck, through the soft spots near each collar bone.
The nin gurgled blood as his wide eyes bulged and slumped to the floor. The clouds seemed to dissipate as the sun began to rise. She ripped them out and the nin's blood spurted out with each weak beat of his heart.
"You still alive?" she called out panting hard. He was flat on his back breathing heavily watching the sky change colour. He held a thumbs-up sign on one hand indicating he is indeed alive.
He barely had the energy to flinch as she flopped next to him on the ground.
They lay in silence as they watched the sky change colour above them. Their breaths evened out.
"Want to tell me where you learned taijutsu like that?" his words slurred together as his vision began to blur.
"Next time" she whispered, he could hear the smile on her face. "I like the colours" she breathed deliriously. He laughed, singularly. The lilac composition of the sky danced above them as the skies cleared.
"Like your hair" he mumbled as his eyes grew too heavy to keep open. He blinked twice more before falling dead asleep.
He awoke to the smell of cooking fish and the sound of a crackling fire. He blinked slowly as the grogginess lifted. He propped himself up as he scanned his surroundings. He was in a small cave with their belongings around them.
"He survives to see another day" Ame's small voice alerted him to her presence behind him. He glanced back to see her sitting in just her Anbu trousers and top, no mask insight. She squinted through her heavy eyes. Her body swayed gently.
"What happened?"
"You passed out, chakra depletion." She lay down next to him and the fire seemed to grow warmer. "I've had to carry your ass twice now." He peered down and she'd closed her eyes.
"Why does my back hurt?" he watched her eyes widen and she looked away.
"I may have dropped you." She answered honestly.
"And I didn't wake up?" he laughed lightly. And she shook her head, no. "What country are we in?"
"I carried us over the border, we are just inside Stone"
"You did well, back there" he praised her again. He'd rarely been paired with such a capable nin.
"We make a good team, Taichou" her head slumped to the side and she was asleep. Her breathing evened out and he watched her mouth part slightly. He gulped but his throat felt dry.
He ate fish and drank from what little water they had left. They needed water, food, and damn he needed to bathe. He smelt like sweat and blood and it singed his nose.
They did just that, they spent the next two days running through Stone and Rain. They gathered food as they needed, and water for the journey. They didn't encounter anyone and the air between them was much lighter than their way here. Long but comfortable silences were common between the long stretches of runs. They shared stories as they camped and shared shifts playing sentry. They walked along the tree-lined road, thankful to be back in the Land of Fire in just that, a comfortable silence. It was mid-day but he felt tired.
He had found he no longer hated her company and welcomed the conversations they did have. She shared more information about herself speaking of her friend Taiyo from her favourite curry house and how she'd created some of her Jutsu's. He'd listened but the guilt grew with the more details she divulged.
If he was being honest he wasn't sure what he thought anymore. He'd seen her fight twice now but both were drastically different. One side was cold and merciless as if she were devoid of thought or emotion. Her only job is to dispose of worthless things. Then the other time, he knew she felt afraid at the sheer number she faced. She fought incredibly but it felt different that time. He doesn't believe she had shown any disloyalty to the village nor indicated any reason why she'd seek the village ill. But, he couldn't ignore the Hokages warning, and the mercenary nin he'd encountered. His warning echoed in his head at night. The person he was travelling with seemed far from what the enemy nin was saying. She doesn't belong here? he reminded himself of the words. He didn't know where 'here' was, Konoha? It seems she has a target on her head, but, he couldn't work out if she knew or not. He absentmindedly rested his hand on the back of his head as they walked the road to the town they'd visited on the way.
"Maa," she spoke and broke through his thoughts. He suddenly realised she'd repeated his expression and his mouth twitched."I can't wait for the onsen" she stretched her arms above her head as they crossed the threshold of the town. They were henged as they were before and she smiled up to him with her eyes closed. His arm brushed her shoulder but she didn't move away. He suddenly felt hot and made a conscious effort to look at the buildings before them. He hummed in agreement and shoved his hands into his pockets. Playing with the inside seam.
"How is your back?" she asked innocently.
"A long soak in the healing onsens will cure it, I'm sure." He answered honestly. Her head bent down.
"I hope there aren't any perverts in the baths this time" his head whipped down to her. His brows had shot up and he forced them down, fighting the redness threatening his cheeks.
"Maa," he whined, "hopefully I run into that brown-haired babe from last time" he winked down to her and could've sworn a blush stained her cheeks before she looked away. When she didn't respond he broke the silence.
"Next time, then?" he joked and changed the subject, "preference on food?"
"I am craving Taiyo's curry." She sighed. The small town seemed busier than usual. Red and gold decorations hung all over the buildings and small stalls were being erected.
"What about that curry house?" he nodded over to the restaurant.
"I'd consider that a betrayal to Taiyo." She spoke earnestly coaxing him to chuckle.
"Then?" the question hung between them as they walked to the inn.
"Hmm, maybe miso soup."
"Same as last time?" he offered.
"Maybe, let's check-in and go from there." she adjusted her cloak and he nodded to her.
"Unfortunately we only have 1 single room left, as we are fully booked." Both their shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Do you have any spare futon?" Ame asked politely. The receptionist shook her head.
"You are welcome to stay here and use the baths, but unfortunately you'd have only the tatami to sleep on. I feel I need to inform you that the town is very busy due to the festival tonight. I am sure the other inn's are fully booked." the receptionist looked to them guiltily.
"It's ok, I can sleep on the floor." She looked up to him with her usual expressionless face. "You take the futon." He opened his mouth to argue but she cut him off.
"I already gave you a bad back, it's the least I can do." She looked at him earnestly as he looked away embarrassed for a moment. He found the face of the receptionist whose cheeks had bloomed a brilliant red. He felt his own cheeks heat further.
"We'll take the single." He offered dryly and placed the money on the tray and grabbed the key. He shook his head as they made their way towards the room.
How can she say things like that with a straight face?