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I appreciate you all.
Ame
The pair ambled around the streets of Konoha as it reached mid-afternoon. They'd left the tea shop to find late lunch but Ame was enjoying just strolling through the streets in his company. Her chest felt light and warm, even with the heavy talks of the tea shop. It felt like a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders.
"What about Taiyo-san's shop?" he offered.
"Absolutely not," she shot the idea down like it was hunting season. A sudden wave of heat and panic rolled through her. She could hear him chuckle beside her. "What?" her temper flared as she grew warmer.
"And why absolutely not?" Kakashi purred to her, leaning down to her a little as they walked through the street. She felt like everyone's eyes were on her and she felt overly exposed. It was rare she walked around Konoha without her henge, she always tried to blend in with the locals.
"Because!" her brain absolutely failed her. Absolutely.
"Maa maa, ojou-sama," Kakashi whined, "it couldn't be that you're embarrassed to be accompanied by me, would it?" he cooed. The pet name he seems to have adopted for her over the weeks now made her cheeks blush furiously. He spied down to her from the corner of his eye. She could feel the amusement rolling off of him at her expense.
"There," she pointed. "That looks perfect." She pointed out to a ramen shop with bar seating. She watched as his eyes followed where she pointed. He looked back and gave her an eye crinkle smile.
"Lead the way," he agreed.
They made their way over and took a seat at the bar. Ame, despite her ninja ways, seemed to struggle to hop on the spinning bar stools that were a little too high for her. She managed it ungracefully hoping Kakashi hadn't noticed for some reason. But, of course, he would've noticed, he is Hatake Kakashi.
"Having trouble, ojou-sama?" his tone was full of mocking concern.
"You need to learn how to flirt," she uttered under her breath through a pout. Her eyes were fixed on her feet that didn't reach the stools ledge. She swung them freely. He chuckled next to her.
"Why? This is so much more fun." He stated. She sat in a huff but something warm bubbled inside of her. She found she couldn't repress the smile that played on her mouth.
"Welcome to Ichiraku Ramen, oh, two new faces." a tall man smiled at them as he finished serving other customers. They dipped her head in a small bow.
"Hello," she hated how shy she got randomly. She could feel Kakashi's eyes on her.
"What can I get for you today?"
"Chef's choice, please" she gave a small smile not able to keep eye contact for long.
"I'll have the same," Kakashi added.
As the chef began his work the tension changed between the two of them. She didn't think she could even look over at him. They were getting dinner outside in public and the air around them was thick with nerves. Her heart beat strongly in her chest as the silence hung between the two of them. She stared at the reddish-brown bar top, burning a hole into it.
"Hey, old man Teuchi." A familiar little voice called out and she looked over her shoulder. The little blonde kid she'd bump into was running over to the small shop waving frantically.
She watched him clamber onto the high stools with the same difficulty she had. Is that what she looked like? She cursed at herself. He looked over to her then.
"Hey lady, what're you doin' here?" his face was incredibly expressive. His brows shot through his hairline and then replaced with a toothy grin.
"Hey, kid." She said in a small voice, overly aware that Kakashi was watching her like a hawk. "Same as you," she added.
"You came to see old man Teuchi, too?" he asked dramatic surprise morphed onto his little features. She felt heat rush to her cheeks.
"No no no," she waved her hand dismissing the misunderstanding.
"Hey Naruto, you want your usual?" The man behind the counter asked, presumably Teuchi. So Naruto was his name, she pondered. She vaguely remembers reading a book with the Hero was called Naruto.
She watched the kid's shoulders slump and his bottom lip stuck out sideways.
"Can't afford it today," the sadness in his voice made her chest hurt, "but I'll be back to eat your Ramen, Dattebayo" he grinned widely and stretched out a thumbs up to the shopkeeper. This kid was so vibrant.
"Hey," she found herself saying, "order. It's on me." Naruto's eyes snapped onto her, wide with awe.
"You'd do that for me?" he couldn't believe it.
"It would make up for running you over, right?"
"It sure would, Miss! It really would!" he spoke frantically nodding up and down. "Are you really sure, Miss?"
"'Course," she gave him her warmest smile. She looked up to Teuchi who was watching her carefully. She smiled timidly at him. "It's ok, really."
"Thank you so much miss!" he shouted. "extra-large miso with pork and fish cakes with extra char shu!" he shouted out. She found herself laughing lightly at his enthusiasm. She wondered how such a small kid was ever going to eat so much.
Naruto began talking at Teuchi, seemingly filling him in on all of his Academy training when Kakashi's face neared her ear.
"You just invited a kid to our date," he whispered in a tone that sent warmth rolling through her. She sat straight up, her muscles tensing. Red seemed to fill her cheeks again on this roller coaster of a meal.
"D-date?" she spluttered as she turned to him slowly widening her eyes, flushed cheeks. Ame could see amusement sparkling in his onyx eye.
Two bowls of miso pork ramen were placed in front of them.
"Thanks," Kakashi called over. She felt she couldn't watch as he lowered his mask to eat and looked down to her own ramen. The smell was mouthwatering, she couldn't remember when she had eaten. She suddenly realised how weak she felt. She breathed in deeply before snapping the chopsticks and digging in.
Naruto had chatted to her relentlessly and often involving Teuchi. She didn't know how the small kid finished the ramen in half the time it took her to. She still was contemplating how he managed to finish at all. She realised that Kakashi managed to finish his in approximately one gulp, she began to doubt whether she knew how to eat right.
The blonde had left already thanking Ame and promising to see her again soon. The kid always left her feeling so warm.
She eventually placed the chopsticks over the bowl but as she did flashbacks of Kakashi dipping on the check enlightened her. She eyed him suspiciously.
"Don't even think about it," she warned. The ramen in her belly made her warm and lethargic. He gave her an eye crinkled smile.
"I w-"
"Nope. I had to pay for us both last time. I'm paying for mine and the kids. That's all." She'd folded her arms in protest to covering the whole bill.
"Maa maa, whatever do you mean?" he asked mockingly.
"Kashi," she whined. She looked up at him not realising the expression on her face and the way he moaned his name. His own face faltered at her pleading. A memory seemed to flash past his eyes. He almost slammed money covering all three onto the counter and pulled her hand, launching her off the stool. She fell into his chest as he pulled and in a puff of smoke they were in the middle of her flat, his mouth was on hers.
She lay on top of him. Both of them panting and slick with sweat below the wall he'd just taken her on. She felt a smile twitch at her lips.
She pressed her lips sloppily to his heaving sweat-slick chest. She ran her tongue over his peck and he groaned lowly in reaction. The vibrations made her nipples go hard. She exhaled a laughed singularly through a shaky breath and place her chin on his chest. She looked up to his face, admiring the beauty of it.
He lay with his eyes closed, a hand behind his head. The other hand absentmindedly drew lazy circles on her back. She was so content. Her mind started to think of ways to sabotage the moment and she found herself breaking the calm silence.
"What time are you leaving tomorrow?"
"Early," he mumbled. She stared as he prised open his dark eye. "I need to train," he sighed like it was the last thing he wanted to do. She felt the disappointment wash over her body. "I haven't trained in too long." She glanced out the frosted window and the sun was low in the sky, but not quite setting.
"I can train with you," she offered but he shook his head.
"You need to rest, go get groceries and stock your empty kitchen." She groaned in rebellion.
"Is that an order, Taichou?" she purred his rank. She watched his eye darken and his face fall.
"Would you obey an order from your Taichou?" he asked his dark eye filling with lust.
"Always," she whispered hearing her own breathlessness. She felt his manhood twitch below her and her gut coiled.
"Aghh, Ame." He sighed and rubbed his face, "you're going to be the death of me." He mused. "Get dressed before I change my mind."
She laughed under her breath and managed to hoist herself to her feet. She took a moment to appreciate his naked form. He watched her through his obsidian eye lazily raking it down her form. She gulped under his stare and managed to move her feet to the bathroom.
"Hey," she placed a hand on the door frame, looking over her shoulder back at him. "When do you think you'll be back?" she couldn't help the disappointment in her voice.
She watched as he rose from the floor and came to stand behind her. He placed a forearm above her head. The smell of him engulfed her entirely, sending her mind hazy again. She turned and leant her back on the door frame.
She knew it would probably be a week but he was called away to the Hokage's office again, she didn't know what had changed about the mission. She looked up at him with big eyes. An emotion she didn't understand flicker through his gaze. He cupped her face and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
"I'm not sure, depends on what we find. A week, maybe more." His words were low but the tone he took made her heart clench.
"I'll see you then, then?" she forced herself to smile and he returned it with a small one.
"I'll be waiting." He pressed another kiss to her lips and pulled away. She watched from the door frame as he dressed and strode over to her front door. Her chest tightened. He opened it and paused in the doorway. She thought he might turn back but he didn't. The door closed softly behind him and a deep sigh escaped from her chest.
After showering she obeyed a command from her Taichou and went food shopping. She picked out a recipe to try from Taiyo's cards and picked up the ingredients.
She had spent about an hour on this 'simple' dish. She proudly looked down to the rice, fish, and aubergine (eggplant) miso soup. Her fists rested on her hips and the apron she'd never worn hung around her waist. She believed herself to be a true domestic goddess at that moment.
She sat in her seat at her dining table eating the food she'd prepared. She was surprised at how good the food tasted. She'd overdone the fish, undercooked the rice but she was satisfied with her first attempt. She would need to thank Taiyo for his cards.
She spent the rest of the evening trying to distract herself from the thought of Kakashi going on the mission whilst she has to remain here. She hadn't spent this long in Konoha for a while and she wasn't sure how she felt about it.
She fell asleep in her futon late that night. It seemed to feel colder than it usually did.
It had been 5 days since she saw Kakashi. She didn't want to be dramatic about it but she felt hollow. Her chest ached when she thought about it, and time seemed only to exasperate her condition.
She'd filled her days with training, visiting the hospital to make sure her eyes were recovering quickly, sleeping, pestering the Hokage about missions, and perfecting fish, aubergine miso soup and rice. She had become pretty proud at how well it was beginning to turn out. Her nights were filled with vivid nightmares of her past. She was tired of waking up from the terrors. Early mornings seemed to be a regular thing for her.
She'd visited Taiyo's shop yesterday for late lunch after morning practice to gloat about her culinary expertise. He'd chuckled along with her and given her an extra-large portion of curry.
She was stood in the marketplace debating what to get as a thank you present for Taiyo and his thoughtfulness. She had scanned the cookware but decided it probably wasn't a good idea to change his tools. Her foot tapped absentmindedly on the dirt road as she thought. She thought hard about what would show her appreciation. She moved on from the shop and walked further down the market.
The book shop had a new promotion and large orange banners hung in the window. She vaguely remembers Kakashi mentioning reading and an idea crossed her mind. A very good idea indeed. The memory of him changing her lightbulbs flashed across her mind. Her lips pulled up into a dark smirk at the thought of him reading a romance novel.
She walked out of the shop as the proud owner of the great Sannin's novel. Who would've thought he would write such a thing? She'd flicked through it in the shop and redness flooded into her cheeks. The thought of him reading this might've just made her entire week better. Her original idea was that it might teach him how to flirt but it seems it might educate him in other ways. Not that he needed that particular lesson. She thought smugly. Her body seemed to crave him as much as her mind.
She was putting it back into the brown paper bag when a familiar voice rang out.
"Akari-chan!" followed by a flash of green and a small dust storm.
"Gai!" she sounded, surprise pulled at her face. "It's good to see you!" she didn't know where this sudden energy boost came from but she was glad she ran into a friendly face.
"You're looking as youthful as ever!" he called stretching out two arms to showcase her youthfulness. She smiled brightly up to him and red-stained his cheeks. He coughed into his fist and straightened in front of her after blushing himself.
"How've you been?" she asked.
"I'm glad you asked Akari-chan! I am full of energy after my day of training." He punched the air as if he were shadowboxing. "A few fellow shinobi are gathering at the pub as it is a Thursday. Come join us!" He demanded. She wondered if everyone in Konoha was as demanding as Gai and Kakashi. Her heart squeezed thinking of Kakashi.
"I don't know…" she began to look at her feet as she toed the dirt. "I don't know anyone else."
"Nonsense! Don't be afraid Aki!" her heart warmed at the nickname he'd given her and she looked up to him. "Come!" he walked around her and began pushing her back in the direction of her local watering hole. She began laughing as she tried to push back but it seems Gai was extremely strong.
"Ok ok!" she laughed as her belly became weak, "I'll go I'll go!" Who said day drinking was a sin?
Ame managed to convince Gai that she needed to go home first and drop off her shopping first. It was partly true but she knew she was just delaying the inevitable. She'd promised Gai to meet them there as soon as possible.
She was sat in her dining room chair looking down at the orange book. She sighed sadly wondering when she'd see him again. She hated how she was having such a dramatic reaction to his absence, but she missed just being around him the most. She decided she needed to get on with her evening instead of throwing a pity party for herself.
She ran the scissors around the bottom of the paper bag and wrapped the book neatly in it. It brought back memories of her father doing the same for her when she was a girl when it was her birthdays. A smile played on her lips and her chest warmed at the memories of her father.
She wrote directly on the paper after spending 10 minutes looking for a pen.
Kakashi,
An education on wooing women lies beneath. Take notes.
She smiled at her message and placed it on her kitchen counter. She never really thought about how she looked to other people, she was just reminded that she was foreign too much to be pretty to anyone. But, she suddenly felt the need to make a good impression with Gai's friends. She stared at herself in the mirror of her bathroom and decided to take her usual twin tails out. She brushed her hair through before running her fingers through the middle parting. She was content enough, she didn't know what else she could do to improve her tired appearance.
Nervousness ravaged her insides as she stood outside the doors of the pub. She breathed deeply and promised herself to count to 3 before she had to open the doors.
She got to 2 and they burst open. She flinched not expecting them to open as two shinobi watched her as they walked past her. She swallowed and caught the door.
She sucked up all the courage and made her way in. She'd never been here this early in the day. It was just past lunchtime but a few people were dotted about. She scanned the room searching for Gai like a lost puppy. She glanced over to the serving bar and flashbacks of Kakashi whispering in her ear made the hairs on her arms stand. It hadn't been that long ago but so much has changed because of that day.
"Aki-channnn!" Gai's voice bellowed from beside her and she looked over. He sat in a large corner booth with many other people. She trained her face and attempted not to pale at the sight. She watched Gai jump over the table to get to her and heat threatened her cheeks.
"Hi, Gai," her small voice barely made it out of her mouth as she stiffly waved a single hand. He bounded up to her with proud loud steps.
"Everyone, this is Akari. Kakashi's partner" It seemed he'd already had a few as he slapped her on the back to introduce her to the rest of them. She stumbled forward as heat swelled in her cheeks.
She scanned the faces of the Shinobi. Most of them wore calm expressions and looked to be a similar age to her, some looked mid 20's though.
Gai took in a big breath before pointing to the person sitting most left.
"Aki, this is Hayate, Uzuki, Genma, Izumo, Kotetsu, and Kurenai." She nodded to them and a wave of small hello's and nice to meet you's passed over them before they began talking amongst themselves again.
The woman, Kurenai, at the end got up from the booth and smiled at her as she walked over.
"Hi there, I'm Kurenai." She smiled warmly. Her red eyes were startling. Ame faintly wondered what people thought about her eyes. "Shall we grab a drink?" she asked nodding to the bar.
"That would be great," Ame answered robotically hating her awkwardness. Gai returned to the booth loudly mixing in with the bunch.
The two of them got to the bar but the bartender wasn't around so they leant on the bar and waited.
"I'm glad there's another woman here," she smiled again, "Uzuki and I can get fed up with the boys" she winked at her and Ame found herself smiling. She hadn't spoken to another woman in a really long time she realised. Not since her team had died had she hung out with another girl.
"Preaching to the choir, girl" she smiled back at her. "Pain in my ass honestly." She smiled to herself thinking of how Kakashi winds her up.
"Are you talking about Hatake?" Kurenai asked suspiciously. Ame resisted straightening at her question.
"Naturally but generally also applies." She laughed.
"I heard you guys didn't get on, I was hoping it wasn't true." She looked at the wood of the bar top.
"You heard?" she was curious. Only 2 people know of their indifference and she didn't think the Hokage came to the bar and gossiped. Kurenai seemed to notice she'd slipped up and smiled at her nervously.
"Hatake secretly loves to gossip, especially about his subordinates." Amusement glowed in the ladies face and Ame's heart picked up. She began to wonder just how much he'd spoken about.
"That" she began pointedly, "is surprising."
"I'm sure there's more to come with that particular Shinobi." She laughed lightly.
"What can I get for you two?" the bartender asked. Ame held out a hand indicating Kurenai could go first.
The two of them returned to the booth and Ame slid in first sitting next to Gai who welcomed her warmly. Kurenai sat next to her on the end again.
As she adjusted in the booth getting comfy she looked up and reached for her Sake when she realised all of the faces were looking at her expectantly. She gulped loudly as she poured warm sake into her cup from the small jug.
The guy chewing a senbon sat next to the purple-haired girl spoke up first, breaking the silence.
"So you're Hatake's new partner?" he asked curiously.
"Sure am," she hoped it would come out more confidently than it did. He leant back into the leather booth chewing away. He folded his arms and looked like he was thinking hard.
"Must be nice working with a legend like him," The guy next to Gai with a bandage across his nose sighed.
"Hey!" the guy next to him with hair over his eye and material on his chin quipped earning low laughter from the others.
"Come on man, its Hatake frikkin Kakashi. Can't get much better than him." The bandaged man responded back in almost disbelief. "That guy is a legend, became a Jonin at 12." He said in further disbelief. Her eyes scanned the other nin's. The senbon man was staring at her.
"So?" his senbon dipped as he spoke.
"He's alright," she offered attempting to downplay how she really felt. She watched his eyes narrow at her.
"So you guy's really don't get on?" he asked after. She caught the tired-looking Shinobi on the end, with his arm around the purple-haired girl, look towards her at the question. She looked up to Gai who had been fairly quiet since she sat down and he was watching her for a response too.
"At the start, we didn't." She began, "guess we came to an," she hesitated thinking," "understanding." Gai smiled down at her brightly. Ame discreetly drained her cup of sake.
"I want to thank you" the purple-haired girl spoke up after a small silence ensued. Ame looked at her surprised.
"Pardon?"
"He was my Taichou, we were on Team Ro." She announced. Ame didn't know why she was so shocked. She realised she meant for saving him. She waved her off.
"It was a mission, any of you would've done the same." She blushed and looked down to her Sake cup.
"Who would've thought, the infamous Shinigami of the Anbu, blushing so easily." The senbon user jabbed but it sounded more like he was trying to flirt. Her shoulders sagged as disappointment rolled over her. Did everyone here know of that name?
"Genma," Kurenai warned.
"What?" Genma replied.
"It's fine, it's just a stupid name." Ame tried to smooth over the sudden tension.
"You're pretty infamous yourself," Genma spoke again. "Heard you're a monster on the field" his compliments didn't feel too complimentary.
"He's just threatened because he knows he would lose in a fight against a woman," Kurenai snapped in jest. "Ignore him." She smiled at Ame who couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her.
"First of all," he began, "I wouldn't lose." He looked at her dead in the eyes. "And secondly, if the balance of the world was thrown off and I did lose, it would be my honour to lose to such a beautiful woman." Ame's eyes widened at his directness and red-stained her cheeks travelling up from her neck.
"Fear not Aki!" Gai spoke up slamming his fist on the table. "I have defended you from Kakashi's perverted ways, I shall do it again!" He shot up out of his seat and tried to get to Genma and Ame found herself laughing along with the rest of them at the scene. Genma's eyes grew wide as he tried to escape the booth but the tired-looking nin on the end stuck his leg out tripping the arrogant nin. Genma faceplanted and Ame found herself suddenly hoping the senbon he chewed didn't go through his head.
Her laughing died down as Genma and Gai went to get more drinks from the bar. She was sipping on her drink when the man with the bandage on his face spoke up.
"Hatake hit on you?" Ame spat out her Sake from surprise and it sprayed across the table. She slammed her hand to her mouth as she looked wide-eyed to the other nin's who sat wide-eyed before they all erupted into laughter. She covered her face with her hands peering through her fingers, covering her blush.
"Is that a yes?" the bandaged nin spoke through his dying laughter.
"Kotetsu, stop hassling her" The nin beside him with the hair in his eyes scalded.
"No no it's ok," Ame waved her hand, "Gai misunderstood. Taichou was taking me to the hospital," she thought she'd finished but they all looked at her expectantly and she suddenly realised how Kakashi might've been prised out of information. "I strained my eyes in my last mission and couldn't see too well. It's a long story." She thought back to everything that happened those few days. She realised why she'd been so hurt by his mission. She couldn't help the sadness that pulled in her chest.
Gai and Genma timed their arrival perfectly and came back with their drinks. They shuffled through the booth into their original seats. Gai plopped himself next to her and handed her another flask of warmed Sake.
"Gai," she looked up to him wide-eyed. "You didn't have to."
"I didn't," he nodded to Genma as he arranged his two pints. Classic Gai. "That is Genma's apology to you, after a stern talking to" Ame laughed at Gai and turned to Genma. He held a cup up to her across the table and she found herself cheering with him. The rest of them lifted their drinks and cheered with her.
"It's good to have you here, Aki" Gai announced loudly as they cheered. She laughed lightly and drank her small saucer dry. The chatting amongst them resumed and she looked to Kurenai who she had noticed was quiet. She was looking towards the door and Ame wondered if she wanted to leave.
"You ok?" Ame whispered. Kurenai's head whipped around with a faint blush staining her cheeks.
"She's just pining after Asuma, don't worry" Genma quipped earning the bottom of a fist from the ninja with hair in his eyes. Ame laughed at the scene along with the others. Is this what it is like to have friends? She vaguely wondered.
"Shut it," he said.
"You can't deny it though, Izumo" Genma spoke as he rubbed his head over the bandanna he wore. Izumo sighed shaking his head. She noticed the purple-haired girl and the tired nin on the other end of the booth were talking quietly to each other as if they were in their own little world. She gulped as an odd feeling pulled on her chest.
She turned back to Kurenai who was looking down at her hands.
"Man, it would be good to see Asuma again," Kotetsu spoke up, Ame looked at him curiously.
"Don't mind him, he's just fangirling him." Izumo jabbed.
"Jealous?" Kotetsu quipped earning an elbow from his friend.
"It'll be good to have him about the Village now he's decided to stay," Gai announced. The room seemed to go silent as shocked faces looked at him.
"What?" Kurenai exhaled. Gai looked around them all realising they didn't know.
"Yeah, he's staying for good now. It's official. He's back in the Leaf." Gai downed the last quarter of his first pint. He really is loose-lipped when drunk. Ame could feel the effects of the alcohol in her system beginning to affect her.
"Well, I'll be damned." Kotetsu lightly hit the table with the bottom of his fist. "Another legendary nin of our generation." Izumo rolled his eyes earning a laugh from Ame. He looked at her and smiled at her amused.
"How did you hear?" Kurenai's small voice asked Gai. She scanned the crowd again and found Genma looking as impartial as ever.
"I asked him, last Thursday when we were all here," Gai spoke loudly. Ame couldn't control the blush that stained her cheeks realising what happened just after Gai had left her and Kakashi that night. She looked up quickly to see if anyone had noticed. She thought she had gotten away with it as everyone was looking at Gai but found the nin with the girlfriend on the end staring at her. A knowing smile twitched on his lips and he winked at her. He winked at her. Ame felt her eyes go wide and the blush intensified. He couldn't know, right?
"That's great news, right, Kurenai?" the purple-haired girl spoke up.
"Of course," she replied. Even Ame could tell her smile was fake.
"So where is Hatake, anyway?" Kotetsu broke the silence. "Shouldn't he be here?" he asked generally to everyone but all the faces turned to her.
"He's on a mission,"
"Without his partner?" Genma asked.
"I was sidelined due to my… Injuries." The words left a bad taste in her mouth.
"It's a shame you two don't get along," Gai shook his head. Ame couldn't fight the small smile that twitched on her lips.
"I hope he's not being too mean, I know how he can be." The purple-haired girl spoke up. Her boyfriend beside her seemed to be enjoying watching Ame squirm. She felt herself gulp.
"Uzuki, he can't be that bad to work with?" Izumo seemed to speak up.
"Kakashi would make the perfect partner!" Gai suddenly shot up out of his seat knocking Ame's sake out of her cup and down her chest as she was about to drink. The sweet alcohol now dripped off her face and down her chest. A few of them chuckled softly at the scene as she wiped it off her face.
Kotetsu yanked Gai back down to the booth with a thud.
"He is a good Taichou, a great teammate, and an even better shinobi." She started. "But I have seen him when he has a chip on his shoulder. That big brain of his can get rather annoying" she smiled. Ame smiled back softly. The alcohol positively buzzed in her system now. She made a mental note to slow down.
"Hey Kurenai, do you mind if I get out?" she whispered to the woman sat beside her.
"Of course not, you going to the toilet?" she asked as she got up.
"I wasn't going to but now you've reminded me, I need it." Ame laughed covering her cheeks with her hands. Kurenai laughed softly.
"I'll come with." She responded. Ame was surprised, she'd never been to the bathroom with another girl but heard it was a thing.
They made their way to the restrooms and Kurenai seemed to be looking distantly, as if she were in another place entirely.
"Hey, you ok?" Ame asked sincerely. Kurenai smiled down at her. She was a little taller than Ame.
"Sure am," she said as they opened the door. They parted and went into the cubical's to do their business. As Ame sat on the cold seat she realised that she might've been a little drunker than she thought. Everything seemed to warp around her a little.
"I'm in love with Asuma." She heard Kurenai's voice call over the stall. The shock of her confession to Ame caused her body to stop peeing momentarily.
"I always have been. I feel like I can't tell the others so I'm sorry I'm unloading on you. I just had to tell somebody." Ame gulped and something built up inside of her.
"I slept with Kakashi" she blurted it out. She heard Kurenai stop peeing but neither of them moved to leave. "I think I really like him" she admitted. Her heart raced in her chest but she felt reborn admitting it to somebody. Her breathing picked up and a wave of excitement washed over her.
Her stall door suddenly slammed open and Kurenai stood on the other side with wide eyes. Ame pulled up her playsuit and stood up, mirroring Kurenai's face. Slow smiles spread across their faces in sync. They both squealed and hopped up and down intertwining their fingers. Kurenai hugged her briefly in the excitement of their confessions.
They both parted with bubbling laughter.
"Please don't tell anyone." She said.
"I wouldn't, don't worry" Ame confirmed. She wasn't quite sure how to tell that she thinks her friends already know. They left the restrooms and began back to the booth.
"Hey, I'm just going to grab some water, want any?" Ame asked. Kurenai shook her head. "No need to wait, I'll only be a sec," she said as they walked back. The dark-haired woman smiled at her.
"Hey Akari," she called, "Your secret is safe with me." She whispered before turning around and heading to the booth.
Ame looked at the bar waiting to be tended.
"If it isn't Kakashi's partner," Ame's whole body tensed. She twisted around to see the nin with the tired look. She looked back at the bar.
"Hayate," he introduced himself, "I'm good friends with Kakashi." Ame gulped.
"Nice to meet you, Hayate." She dipped her head in his direction a little, not making eye contact.
"How is everything going between you?"
"Same as every other team I've been in." She dodged.
"You usually make out with your Taichou then?" her head whipped around to him to see a slow smile spread across his face. Her eyes darted to the booth but no one seemed to notice. She looked back at him trying and failing to train the shock in her face. She wanted to bang her head off the bar top.
"Funny thing's about public establishments, there are people around." He gave a knowing smile enjoying watching Ame squirm.
"I don't know what you're on about" she quipped and looked behind the bar, her cheeks red.
"No need to deny it, I was surprised to see Kakashi making out with his new partner in a dark corridor against a wall, last Thursday." She sighed and her shoulders sagged in defeat.
"Not as surprised as she is, trust me." She responded earning a chuckle from beside her. "And, just for your information, no. I do not normally make out with my Taichou's. Just this one," she began speaking but ended up whispering harshly. Another laugh came from the nin.
"Present tense, huh?" he asked. She closed her eyes cursing at herself. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." She groaned internally. Just who else is going to know their little secret. He slinked back to the booth and she ordered her damn water and returned too.
She sat between Gai and Kurenai again and chatter continued. The pub started to fill up as it hit 5 pm. She didn't realise how long they'd been there. The purple-haired lady and Hayate left not long after that. Ame slowed her drinking down but didn't stop. She alternated between her sake and water and found a good level of drunkness. She was surprised at how much fun she was having. Kurenai drank more and stopped waiting for Asuma to come through the doors. They all sat and talked about not much at all but it somehow was hilarious and entertaining. She found she really liked Kurenai and secretly hoped she'd see her again.
"Hey Gai," she whispered to a very drunk Gai.
"Aki?" he slurred his head slipping off the palm of his hand that he had propped on the table.
"Thanks for inviting me today," she whispered to him again.
"Not a problem at all," he slurred and hiccuped. "You're part of the family now," hiccup, "Aki," she blinked and for some reason, she hoped he'd said it just because he was drunk.
"What's up," Everyone's heads seemed to whip over the table in slow motion to the voice standing by their table.
"Asuma," Kurenai breathed, her eyes wide. It seemed the shock had sobered her some. Ame had heard about the Hokage's son but never seen him in the flesh. He was huge.
"Asumaaa!" Kotetsu seemed to leap over the table and bro-hug the guy, knocking over all of their empty glasses in the process. Luckily they tumbled onto the table but none rolled to the floor. She saw Izumo shake his head in her peripheral.
Gai had begun napping on the tabletop in his drunkenness. She elbowed him and he jerked awake and looked around to see if anyone had noticed.
"Ah Asuma, I knew you'd come," Gai slurred.
"Seem's like I'm late to the party." He glanced around all of their drunk faces but never down at Kurenai. Ame felt her face pull down into a frown.
"And, who is the new face?" he asked, she quickly set her face into neutral as he glanced her way.
"This is my good," hiccup, "friend," hiccup, "Aki," Gai responded throwing a heavy arm around her shoulders as he slumped forward. She couldn't believe how drunk he was.
"I don't think I've ever seen Gai this drunk," Genma smirked as he commented. "It's good to see you again man," he nodded to Asuma.
"And you, Genma." Asuma nodded back. "It's nice to meet you, Aki," she blushed at him using a nickname guy had made up and he smiled at her amused.
"Nice to meet you, too, Asuma," Ame said in a small voice. Kotetsu came back after she realised she didn't notice him leave and handed Asuma a pint. Kotetsu slapped Asuma on the back before crawling back under the table to sit beside his friend Izumo. She smiled as he hit his head on the way up.
"Hey Kurenai, I just need to get out for a sec." She whispered over to her. She nodded and they both slid out. She saw Asuma give a brief hug to a blushing Kurenai as she slinked off to the toilet.
She decided to skip the water and the alcohol upon returning to the booth. Asuma had taken her spot beside a sleeping Gai and had his arm draped across the back of the booth, where Kurenai sat. She watched the sly glances the two gave each other as she made her way back. The pub was pretty full now even for a Thursday. The noise had increased too, she could only hear the overwhelming noise of chatter and laughter around her. She was at a good level of drunkness and buzzed with a merry feeling inside.
"Hey," she announced herself. "Do you mind?" Ame smiled down at Kurenai who obliged and squeezed up to the large form of Asuma. Ame smiled at her craftiness as she slunk down into the booth with them.
"Do you think Gai will be ok?" Ame asked the group.
"It's not Gai that we've got to be worried about," Genma commented, Ame looked up to him confused. Genma nodded pointedly looking over the other side of the table. She followed his eyes and her mouth fell agape.
A mixture of emotions shot through her. Something like, shock, relief, embarrassment, she couldn't define what else. A familiar anbu donning a fox mask strode towards the table where they all sat. His uniform was dirty and she could see blood on his body armour.
"Well, now the party has really started!" Kotetsu announced raising his beer up to the nearing figure. Ame couldn't look away from him as he slid his mask to the top of his head. Her mouth still hung open at the sight of him in the bar. Maybe she was drunker than she realised.
"Everybody," Kakashi halted at the table and nodded down to everybody. He hadn't so much as acknowledged Ame. "Good to see you Asuma. Heard you're sticking around." He nodded down to Asuma who nodded back.
"Seems so," he greeted Kakashi warmly even with few words.
"If you'll all excuse me." He nodded his farewell and suddenly pulled Ame from the booth. She let out a small squeal in surprise as he hoisted her over his shoulder. It all happened too quickly for Ame to react in her drunken state. Kakashi turned around and headed out the bar but Ame's face mirrored the rest of the table she looked onto as he carried her away. The shock hadn't quite worn off until the colder air outside the bar hit her.
"Kakashi!" she thumped his back protector with her fists and kicked her legs. One of his arms wrapped around her legs holding her down. She looked around to all the onlookers in the street watching.
"I don't have time," he spoke flatly. As she settled she realised she couldn't care less. A warm feeling rose through her chest. He's back. She suddenly felt an overwhelming need to hug him tight and not let go. She was grateful that the bar was only at the end of her street and he was already ascending her stairs.
Kakashi let her down and her feet hit the floor wobbly. She stared up to him and he whipped his anbu mask off and pulled the material off his face. He looked at her panting his eyes wide and intense.
She could feel her own intensity in her eyes. She couldn't believe he was back already, he was early. She knew she had missed him but she didn't realise how much. Looking at him now, life seemed to spring back beneath her chest.
The distance between them closed quickly as they both came together. He crushed her to him as he picked her up, her legs swinging around his middle. He kissed her desperately and hard. The feeling that ravaged through her was indescribable. Every part of her erupted into a flame that only he could put out.
He carried her to the bathroom and dropped her onto the counter without breaking the hungry contact until he pulled back to look at her. His hands came to both sides of her face as he looked at her. His eyes were wild and frantic, roaming all of her face. He shut his Sharingan as he crushed his lips to hers again. His hands slid down her neck finding the top of her halter-neck playsuit. His fingers dipped below before shredding it off her chest, her breast fell freely. His hands found the lower part and expertly ripped through it, the seam of it pushing on the bud of her core as he ripped it clean off. She let out a moan at the pleasure that it caused and he drank it.
He pulled her further toward him bruising her lips against his. She pushed back against him with equal force as whimpers escaped her. He dropped to his knees quickly looking up to her, wrapping her bare thighs around his head.
She looked down at him and his hungry gaze made her shudder. His tongue quickly found her core and he artfully pleasured her. His tongue flattened and swirled around the coiling bud. He lapped at her desire as the release built. He wound her up closer and closer to her release. She clung onto the counter as starved moans ripped from her. She shuddered under his force and her eyes began to quiver, on the edge of release.
The presence of his tongue slipped away too soon. He stood and rid himself of his anbu gear. Her eyes drank in the sight of the body she had missed. It was dirty and marred with purple and black bruises. His own eyes admired her stark-naked figure perched on the edge of the bathroom counter, panting, flushed for him.
"I've missed you, Ame." Her heart clenched at his words before his mouth met hers as if he was starved. He slid into her quickly and hard. She wailed at the pleasure that ravaged her and she came instantly after being brought to the edge by his tongue. She shuddered and felt herself clench down on him hard. He groaned at the sensation as he ploughed in and out of her. The sound of their groans and her wetness filled the small room as she raked her nailed through his hair. He groaned louder as she pulled on his hair a little, tipping his head back. He fucked her faster and harder as she ran her tongue down his tensed neck and over his collar bone. She released his head and he grabbed her face with one of his hands on either side of her cheek and kissed her hard. His other hand still clung to one of her thighs.
Release coiled in her gut again at the searing pleasure that was drumming through her body. He released her face as they fervently kissed. He lifted her slightly off the counter by her thighs and moved her to his rhythm causing them both to groan loudly, breaking their kiss. Her release was imminent and she began to tense as she neared the edge.
"Cum for me, Akari." She obeyed. Her body convulsed as devastating pleasure racked through her. She faintly could hear him groan his own release as his body shuddered underneath her. She felt his cock throb at his release inside of her.
They stood there for more than a moment panting, clinging on to each other as their highs began to drop a little.
She pulled her face back panting softly, her chest grazing over his. His eyes were open and looking at her with an intensity that would shake her soul.
He kissed her on the lips tenderly but hard, and lingered, crushing his eyes shut. It felt as desperate as she felt for him. She returned it just so. The tenderness pressed heavily on her heart. Her chest was so full.
He broke it and rested his forehead on hers, still a little breathless.
"I tried to make it to the shower" he laughed weakly. She felt herself breathe a laugh in return.
"The shower is still there," she suggested lazily. He opened his eyes then, and her favourite lazy smile pulled at his lips. He pulled out of her audibly and he moaned softly as he did. The sound of it made the heat rise through her body.
His arms shook when he lifted her off the counter from exhaustion. She slipped down and stood to her feet. She took his hand, leading him silently into the small shower. She pressed a kiss to his torso and lingered once they stood below the showerhead. She turned her head and wrapped her arms around him, holding him closer. He reached over her and turned the water on. He flinched at the cool temperature. She felt a light laugh escape her as she pulled back and upped the temperature.
Near scorching water fell from the showerhead and Kakashi sighed in satisfaction causing her to hug him tighter.
"I know you don't shower in hot water, you don't have to" he sounded utterly tired.
"It's ok Kashi, I don't care" she breathed. The feeling of content swelled through her. He hugged her back right before they began to wash each other lazily. Kakashi seemed to make sure her chest was extra squeaky clean. They laughed together weakly but not much was said.
They squeezed onto her single futon as they had before, on their sides facing each other. Her head nuzzled into his warm chest, inhaling the intoxicating scent of him that she had missed so much. His arm snaked under her neck and the other draped over her bare waist.
"I missed you too, Kashi," she exhaled sleepily. She didn't even know what time it was. It couldn't have been late.
"I only have a few hours" he whispered it and she looked up to him to find him looking down at her.
"You're still on the mission?" she guessed. Their voices were soft and quiet as sleep threatened them both.
"We had to come back to talk to the Hokage, but we are only stopping to rest. I need to leave in two hours." The disappointment rolled through her slowly. "I spent two hours looking for you," amusement glinted in his eyes as a soft smile graced his full swollen lips.
She snuggled into him closer.
"I'm sorry Kashi, you didn't have to come by." She nuzzled into his chest and closed her eyes. Sleep encircled her as the vibrations from his voice lulled her to sleep.
She fell into a deep slumber listening to him say,
"I couldn't wait any longer, Akari."
Ame woke up to a cold empty futon before sunrise. A slight hangover loomed over her and she found herself thankful that she'd drank the water at the bar.
She snuggled further into her futon on the side he slept. The smell of him still lingered on her sheets. It was the only reminder that she hadn't dreamt it other than the soreness between her legs.
She exhaled as the emptiness in her chest returned.
She fell back asleep thinking only of him.