Eighth
Fury swung her legs up on the bench, flipping a page of her book nonchalantly. Absent-mindedly, she brushed a strand of stray hair from her eyes. Kakashi followed every movement she made from the shadows of the forest, his breath hitching from the gracefulness and beauty that she exuded.
His brooding last night had propelled him to the peak of despair. It was unbearable to see Fury like this after what he had done to her yesterday. She must have forgiven him, but he had not forgiven himself. Regaining his composure, Kakashi slipped out from behind the tree he was standing next to and walked up to Fury.
She noticed him immediately, excitedly getting to her feet to welcome him. He couldn't suppress a smile at her eagerness.
'Hey, I've got a present for you.' He greeted her warmly, holding out his gift.
Her gaze fell onto it and softened. She reached out with both hands to receive the bundle of straw and cloth that made up a scarecrow. 'Thank you.' She said quietly, pulling gently at one of the arms.
'I hope it'll remind you of me when you look at it.' Kakashi supplied, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
She grinned up at him, nearly stealing his breath away. 'I'm sure it will.'
He cleared his throat noisily. 'So, are you ready for dinner?'
'Let me put this in my room first.' She said, turning on her heels to enter the house.
Kakashi watched her leave, staring at her retreating back wistfully. He did not miss the fact that she had not invited him with her. It was probably better that way, he thought, crestfallen.
Picking up the book she had left behind, he recognized it as the copy of Icha Icha he had bought for her weeks ago. That was the first day he had expressed any signs of interest in her, he reminisced happily. They had moved past that awkward and innocent stage so quickly it seemed like ages ago.
Seven dates – they had spent seven full evenings with each other and he still felt enthralled and dazed in her presence. It was a sure sign of love, wasn't it? If this had been a mere crush, that lovely buzz he felt whenever she was near him would have faded by now.
Before Kakashi could get further in his ruminations, he heard Fury's footsteps approaching and hastily set down the book on a window sill. When she emerged, he was already leaning against the railing, hands casually stuffed in his pockets and gaze fixed indifferently into the distance.
'I'm ready.' She announced, sidling up to him.
He shot her a placid smile, offering the crook of his elbow. Instinctively, she hooked a hand around it and let him pull her along.
'Where are we going today?' She inquired curiously, leaning her cheek lightly on his upper arm.
'Sushi bar.' He answered vaguely, trying to ignore the tingling sensation spreading along his arm.
Fury fidgeted next to him, prompting him to glance over. 'Really? Aren't you worried about…?' She lowered her eyes down to his mask pointedly.
He grinned. 'I reserved a booth, we won't actually be sitting at the bar.'
'You've really thought ahead.' She mused. 'Why does it matter if anyone sees your face anyway?'
'Well, people make a big deal after they've seen my face. It gets tiring after a while.' He answered without missing a beat.
'If you do it often enough, everyone will get used to it. It won't be a big deal anymore.' She said, one hand slipping into his glove to caress the inside of his wrist.
Kakashi nearly jumped at her sudden touch but he managed to restrain himself just in time. Inside his pocket, he clenched and unclenched his fist, trying to dispel the tingling sensation that threatened to set his blood on fire. He was pretty sure that Fury could feel the rapid pulsing of his veins right now.
With immense difficulty, Kakashi plastered on an eye-crinkling, teasing smile. 'You've seen my face quite a few times now. Have you gotten used to it?' He quipped back.
She blushed, pausing mid-stroke. 'I see your point.' She said grudgingly, rubbing her cheek against his arm.
This was too much. His heart could not take much more of Fury's affections, but he could not pull away right now. Especially not when he was enjoying this. Slowly, he eased his hand out of his pocket and reached up to catch Fury's hand, intertwining their fingers together.
He felt her looking down in surprise and grinned to himself. 'Tell me, how did you get your fire powers?'
'Why do you want to know that?' Fury asked dubiously, seemingly thrown at his sudden change of topic.
'I'm taking a genuine interest in my girlfriend. What's wrong with that?' He shot back with an innocent smile.
Fury glared at him apprehensively before launching into a cautious explanation. Kakashi listened raptly, noting the fuzzy details and choppiness of her story. He had only asked the question to clear the air but it seemed that he had unearthed a new secret about Fury. She had been wary about her past before but he had chalked it up to her shyness in a new relationship. However, it could not be more apparent that Fury was not eager to share details of her background.
'You can tell me anything, Fury.' He interrupted her mid-flow, keeping his tone gentle. 'I would never judge you for speaking the truth.'
She bit her lip in discomfiture. 'I'm not trying to keep anything from you, Kakashi. I'm just not ready to talk about my past. There are things that I do not want to recall.' She said in a small voice.
Pain resonated in his heart at her words. 'If it's something traumatic, I understand your desire to forget.' He said soothingly. 'But I don't want to see you getting hurt, I want to help you if I can.'
She sighed. 'Thank you, but you've actually been a huge help to me already.' She said, squeezing his hand.
'Really? How so?'
Her cheek was back on his upper arm again. 'Just having you here beside me is enough.'
His heart thumped hard in his chest. 'Are you saying that just to distract me?' He said, keeping his tone as light as possible.
She smiled reluctantly. 'Not at all.' She murmured, her other hand fluttering to caress the inside of his wrist again.
Although he was tempted to broach the subject of her past again, Kakashi bit back the words. Fury was entitled to keeping her secrets, he had faith that she would open up to him over time. Instead, Kakashi focused all his attention on the slow circles Fury was drawing on his wrist, letting the pleasantness of her touch spread throughout his body.
'Would you like to accompany me to the bookstore after dinner?' He asked casually. 'I'm curious as to where your taste in books lie. We may share the same interest in the Icha Icha series but I don't believe that someone like you only cares for extravagant romances.' He sneaked a glance at Fury, eager to see her reaction to his last comment.
Fury flushed, clearly thrown by his speculation. 'Alright, I admit, I do love books that are more practical than Icha Icha. That series is a guilty pleasure of mine, I did not read them because you did, if that's what you're assuming.' She added the last part hastily, shooting Kakashi a steely look.
He chuckled. 'That thought did cross my mind. But our discussions tell me that your interest holds true. I can only say that you truly have an open mind, Fury of Fire, to be accepting of such books and the men who enjoys them.' Kakashi tried to weave a teasing tone into his words but his heart thumped just then at the thought of being revulsed by Fury.
To his surprise, a smirk spread across her face at his remark. 'It's not my mind that is welcoming, I'm just sure of where my interests lie.' Her eyes glittered pointedly as she murmured the last few words.
Sucking in a deep breath, Kakashi turned his head away from Fury. It was shocking to feel the effect of her matter-of-fact statement – in a few seconds, she had managed to set his soul on fire. Kakashi had never felt so bereft of speech and aroused at the same time.
'I'm sorry.' A small voice broke through his reverie just then.
Kakashi furrowed his brow and returned his gaze towards Fury. The coy expression had faded from her face which was tinged with red once again. Confused, Kakashi paused in his steps. 'Why are you sorry?'
Fury lifted her eyes to meet his then averted them hastily. Acting on impulse, Kakashi reached forwards and cupped her cheek, tilting her head up so she would look at him. 'Fury, what is it?' He urged, his curiosity piqued at her sudden meekness.
'I shouldn't have said something so inappropriate.' She said in a small voice, chewing her bottom lip anxiously. 'I think I've startled you into rethinking this relationship.'
'Oh.' Kakashi dropped his hand in relief. 'Fury, don't worry. I was not offended by what you said, I was just…' He trailed off in embarrassment as he searched his mind for the right words to explain his feelings earlier. How could he tell her without letting on about his growing lust? Yesterday night's interaction held him back – he could not afford to drive her away with his enthusiasm anymore.
Fury stared at his fallen hand, a look of unveiled dismay in her eyes. 'It's not just what I said. Yesterday, I pushed you away then I begged you not to leave. I know that could have sent mixed messages to you about my feelings but I must tell you, I do like you a lot, Kakashi! But I don't know how to show it and protect myself at the same time…' She faltered, wringing her fingers awkwardly.
Kakashi's eye widened. He was taken aback yet amused by Fury – she was truly a unique one. 'Fury, you seemed to have misunderstood me.' He began softly, taking her wrung hands and separating them with as much gentleness as he could. 'I was, and am, never put off by your forthrightness. You are new to this, I can tell, and I can read your every gesture as clearly as a book. You are neither inappropriate or misleading in any way. In fact, you have been more open to me than anyone I have ever met, and that is endearing to me.'
At the end of his speech, Kakashi raised both her hands and brushed light kisses on her knuckles. Fury flinched at the contact but did not pull away.
'Also, it is a relief to hear you declaring your love for me. It's reassuring to know that you have not been repulsed by my actions.' He added with a grin.
Still looking discomfited, Fury bit her lip again. 'So, you do still like me? Even when I'm not as pure or innocent as you think?' She whispered, her tone quivering.
Frowning at her choice of words, Kakashi stepped closer to her. 'Fury, I like you because I enjoy spending time with you, I love hearing your thoughts and opinions, especially when they catch me by surprise. Your interests beguile me because they tell me that you are not a vapid and shallow person who is only fascinated by what lies on the surface. As for your purity,' Kakashi pressed a thumb to Fury's chin, gently dislodging her red, bitten lip. 'Your only innocence lies in your age, which, as I have told you, does not matter to me. It's not your body I am after, it's your heart.'
Her eyes rounded. Blinking rapidly, Fury made a small noise under her breath and placed her hands on his chest just as Kakashi leaned in.
He froze, drawing back at the ashen expression on Fury's face. This was not the reaction he had expected at all.
'I can't give you my heart.' Fury said roughly, pushing herself away from him. 'I am so sorry, Kakashi, but…I just can't.'
It was like being dealt with a heavy blow to his chest as he registered Fury's words. Kakashi stared at Fury, bewildered at her sudden change. 'Fury, I don't understand, I thought we were dating because this is serious for the both of us.' He replied in equally rough tones.
Fury gulped. 'I know, I know! But Kakashi, I just realized…' Her eyes clashed with his and they were filled with what Kakashi could only discern as deep sorrow. 'I can't commit to something as huge as this. I am just a stranger, a passer-by in this world, I won't be here forever. It's not fair to you if we are too involved.'
Another invisible blow landed on his chest. 'You're leaving?'
'Perhaps, after this impending war is over, we promised to help after all…' Fury gabbled, stringing her hands into a tight bundle again. 'The others won't want to stay, they have nothing tying them to this world and I can't just abandon them–'
'But you have something keeping you here, don't you?' Kakashi interrupted her. 'Someone who is worth staying behind?' The hopefulness edged out from his gruff tone, prompting Fury to soften.
'Kakashi, I would love to, but I still have something else to do in my world.' She said cautiously, her gaze shaking under his intense stare.
He scowled in frustration, trying to put the pieces together in his head. 'Does this have to do with the traumatic past you mentioned?'
Reluctantly, Fury nodded. 'Until I…resolved those issues, I don't think I'm ready to commit to such a serious relationship.' She said quietly. 'I thought it would be enough just to date you, even though I feel myself falling deeper and deeper for you. If this was a one-sided infatuation of mine and I left, I could take all the pain with me. But I didn't realize that you liked me enough to care about the person that I am. I wanted to satisfy my own pleasures so much that I lost sight of how much our relationship could affect you.'
Despite the bile rising in his throat, Kakashi managed to unfurl his tongue long enough to speak. 'Why don't we talk about this after dinner? In spite of everything you just told me, I still want this relationship to continue, because I made a promise to you that I would try. And also because I really want you to stay. For me.'
Fury inhaled sharply. For a heart-stopping second, Kakashi thought he saw the inclination to leave in her eyes. However, the moment passed and Fury nodded.
~…~…~
With utmost difficulty, Kakashi inched his hand slowly across the table and coveted Fury's fidgeting hand. She jumped at his touch but did not pull away. He took that as a good sign and gave her a small squeeze.
The affection that filled her eyes were so sincere that Kakashi almost forgot that they were still in the midst of a tensed argument. How can he let her go now that their feelings for each other were clear? Without meaning to, Kakashi had started to dream of a future which was entirely occupied by Fury. To have that dream shattered and crushed so suddenly by Fury herself was too much to bear.
'Try this.' He said warmly, placing an egg roll on Fury's plate. 'It's their signature dish.'
'I'll explode if you keep feeding me like this.' She laughed, though she plucked up the egg roll and devoured it eagerly.
'No, you won't. I'll take good care of you, I promise.' He said lightly.
A flash of pain flickered in Fury's expression but she smiled winsomely at him. 'You have to eat too, Kakashi. Here,' She held up a piece of sushi in front of him.
He blinked before realizing that she had no intention of setting the food down on his plate. Sneaking a sidelong glance at the tables around him, Kakashi eased off his mask to eat.
'No one is looking,' She whispered conspiratorially, a wicked grin on her face.
Giggles rose up from behind her and Kakashi glared pointedly at Fury. She turned to look for the source and scowled heavily when she saw three young girls, barely older than herself, peeking over their shoulders to catch another glimpse of Kakashi.
'Can't they see that I'm here too?' She muttered furiously, slapping down her chopsticks down noisily.
Kakashi raised his eyebrow in amusement. 'Are you jealous?' He probed, leaning forwards.
Ignoring him, Fury snatched up her water and sipped at it slowly. Staring into the glass, she was too preoccupied to notice Kakashi sidling up next to her. She started when a heaviness settled across her shoulders and almost dropped her cup.
'Jealousy is a good colour on you, Fury of Fire.' Kakashi murmured, nuzzling the shell of her ear.
Fury bit her lip, swallowing the moan that welled up in her throat. The girls behind them had gone silent, she noted with no small satisfaction. However, they were not the only ones who were looking at the couple.
'Kakashi, not here!' Fury hissed, shuffling away from him hastily as a waitress passed by them, an uncomfortable look in her eye.
He surfaced. 'You're right. Let's go somewhere more private.' He said in a low voice that sent a shiver down her spine.
Red-faced, Fury let him take her hand and lead them out of the restaurant. Heart racing, Fury studied Kakashi's face for a clue to where he was taking her. The first place that came to her mind was his apartment, which set her breath hitching.
'Kakashi…' She tugged at his sleeve anxiously, silently begging him to slow down.
He stopped abruptly and she crashed into his back. He gave their clasped hands a quick yank to steady her. 'Sorry.' He said laughingly. 'I almost walked past the store.'
'Store?' Fury's attention settled on the building beside them and she froze.
Grinning, Kakashi pulled her inside.
The first scent of freshly printed paper and ink slammed into Fury the moment she stepped inside the bookstore. Disregarding the milling customers around her, she rushed towards a towering stack of books, gasping at the glossy covers.
'This is amazing!' She trilled, running a hand over the matted cover of a thick volume.
Kakashi strolled up to her, resting a hand on the small of her back. 'You haven't seen the best part yet.' He murmured.
With wide eyes, Fury followed him eagerly to the back of the store. He paused in front of a shelf and swiveled around to face her. 'I made a guess that you are a fantasy reader. Was I right?' He asked a little shyly, clearing his throat awkwardly.
Fury nodded, stupefied by his mysteriousness.
'Well then,' Kakashi stepped aside, throwing out a hand towards the shelves behind him.
Warily, Fury walked up to the shelf. She gasped as she finally registered the titles, recognizing her favourites instantly.
Kakashi watched her in bemusement as she started to pull down books by the dozen, exclaiming over them as if she had discovered a treasure trove. He waited until she made her way behind a large pillar then crept up soundlessly behind her.
Willing himself not to tremble, Kakashi reached out and hooked Fury around the waist, enveloping her into a hug. She stiffened immediately.
'I asked the owner to close off this area for the rest of the night. It will only be the two of us here tonight.' He said into her ear, unable to resist the urge to plant a kiss on the nape of her neck.
Fury inhaled sharply. 'Kakashi, you didn't have to do this…' She clutched at the book she was holding tightly, cursing herself as her body automatically leaned into him, wallowing in his warm embrace.
His arms knitted into a firmer hold around her. 'I know that this would make things more difficult for you but I don't care. I need you to know how much I care about you, Fury. I can't stop thinking about you since we first met and call me crazy, but I feel like you are my soulmate, the girl of my dreams, dreams that I have never given a shred of thought to. I love you, Fury of Fire.' He growled out the last part, crushing Fury against his chest ferociously.
She winced, not out of pain, but from the raw sincerity in Kakashi's tone. 'I feel the same way too, Kakashi.' She whispered.
'Then why did you say all those things?' Kakashi said bitingly. 'Don't you know how cruel you were? You pleaded to me for a chance and right after I gave myself wholly to you, you pushed me away.'
'I never wanted to hurt you.' Fury gasped out, squeezing her eyes shut to push back the tears. 'I thought that we could share something that was fun but short-lived. That way, I could finally satisfy my wish to date you and you would be able to forget about me once I left. I didn't expect myself, nor you, to feel so strongly about this relationship.'
A million questions whirled around in Kakashi's mind at Fury's vague explanation. 'What do you mean, your wish to date me?' He finally blurted out, his tone giving away his eagerness.
'Your world, this world, is pure fiction in the place I come from. I know the story of this world, how it all starts and ends, before I even came here. And I was in love with your character. When I came here, I wanted to seek you out, to see if you were truly the man that the story made you out to be.' Fury hesitated before continuing. 'I always thought of you as a fictional character that would carry on with the story after I leave. I didn't realize that you would develop feelings for me on your own.'
Kakashi's hold on her slackened. 'I don't understand. Are you saying that this world isn't real for you? Am I not real to you?' He said, frustration lining his agitated tone.
'No!' Fury thumped the book she had been hugging down on the shelf, glaring at it as she struggled to come up with a better explanation. She did not dare to turn around to face Kakashi. 'I mean, you were not real to me when I first got here. But afterwards, we noticed that the world was shifting to adapt to us, it was responding to our presence while maintaining the flow of the original story. The world was weaving us into its story, my friends and I are characters in this world now – everything here is becoming real for us. That's why we have to leave soon, the longer we stay here, the more danger we bring to your world by leaving.'
There was a long silence. Then Fury felt a hand on her shoulder. 'If we are not real to you, why do care about the dangers you might bring to our world?' Kakashi asked softly.
She balled her hands into fists, mulling over the first answer that popped into her mind. She decided against saying it out loud. 'There's no special reason for protecting this world. We just didn't want any repercussions that could horribly affect my world.' She said smoothly – it was not entirely a lie after all, she and her friends had considered this particular consequence.
The hand on her shoulder drew back, taking Fury's breath with it. With utmost difficulty, she looked over her shoulder.
Kakashi had moved away, leaning against a shelf a few steps away with his face shadowed. Chewing her lip, Fury faced frontwards again, unable to bear the sight of Kakashi simmering in disappointment. Clumsily, she pulled out a few books without looking at them and headed back to the front of the store.
She paid for the books and left the bookstore in a flurry, not even bothering to check if Kakashi had followed her. Just as she reached the market square, she picked up her pace and fleeted in the direction of the forest.
Almost blindly, she navigated her way to the river. She did not know why but her legs insisted on taking her there and she did not fight her instincts. All of her senses were telling her to get away from civilization.
When she reached the large, propped-up slab of stone at the riverside, Fury sank down onto the grass in relief, relaxing against the stone. The books cascaded out of her arms and absent-mindedly, she stacked them into a pile beside her.
'You didn't have to run out like that.' A mild voice said beside her.
Fury gasped, head swiveling around to locate the source. A shock of silver-white hair greeted her and below it, a single, dark, eye bore its gaze coolly into her.
'Kakashi! When did you–?'
'I followed you, of course.' He interrupted without missing a beat. 'You left your change behind, by the way.' Reaching into his pocket, Kakashi drew out a few notes and coins and held them out to her.
Flushing, Fury snatched at the money. She fumbled with the books but before she could stand, Kakashi grabbed her by the elbow, dragging her back down.
'Stop running.' His voice, unusually firm, fixed her to the spot. 'Look at me, Fury.'
Reluctantly, Fury obeyed. Her eyes widened when she saw that his mask was down. 'Kakashi–'
'Hush,' He leaned in until their lips brushed. But he did not move any further. 'Tell me how you truly feel this time. I want to know your thoughts, not those pathetic, righteous excuses you gave.'
'I can't,' Fury breathed out.
He sighed through his nose. 'Then you leave me no choice.'
His mouth captured hers in one fell swoop. Fury fought against his pull but Kakashi only responded more aggressively. His hand sprang up to the back of her head, pushing her deeper into the kiss. His other arm wrapped around her shoulders, trapping her in a half-embrace.
They tangled for a few short minutes, though it felt like hours to Fury, until Kakashi released her without warning. She nearly tumbled out of his arms, dizzy from the passionate kiss.
'Why did you do that?' She wheezed out, breathing in deep gulps of air.
'Well, if you won't tell me the truth, I'm just going to have to get it myself.' Kakashi answered cryptically. 'Are you ready to tell me the truth now?'
Fury bowed her head. 'You're hurting me.' She said in a small voice, shaking her head to throw off Kakashi's hand.
'I apologize.' He murmured, sliding his hand away from the back of her head and resting it on her arm.
'Do you really want to know the truth?' Fury sighed, rubbing her eyes wearily.
Kakashi nodded. She locked eyes with him for a single second then pitched forwards to lay her head on his chest. 'I'm a coward. I want, more than anything, to run away from my world and never go back. I'd rather lose all my friends and family than face my problems back at home. And the only place where I want to be, is right here. With you.' She gushed, curling up against Kakashi as if she was in agonizing pain. 'But I know that will never solve all my problems. Staying here would just put off my troubles and I'm terrified that the longer I stay, the less strong I will be to face them.'
'I can help.' Kakashi said gently, stroking her back reassuringly. 'Whatever it is, I'll help you through it, Fury. All you have to do is ask.'
She shook her head vigorously. 'You can't help! No one can. It's my own personal issue and I'm the only one that can fix it.'
Kakashi eased her up carefully. 'There is an obvious solution to this, you know?' He said mildly. 'You could still stay here and travel back to your world once in a while to deal with your problems. I don't mind spending a little time apart if it means that we can continue dating.'
Fury sighed in frustration. 'Don't you think that I would have thought of this? It's just not possible, Kakashi. I don't belong here.' She said bitterly, tugging at the blades of grass between them.
'I know that you belong with me.' Kakashi murmured.
She lifted her head to catch his gaze, expression pinched. 'We've only known each other for less than a month. You can't be this certain of your feelings for a mere stranger.' She mumbled.
'You're not a stranger. You're Fury, my Fury of Fire.' He said fiercely, seizing her hands in a tight grip.
Fury let out a groan of exasperation. 'That's not even my real name!' She burst out, wrenching her hands from him and getting to her feet. 'Can't you see that I've been lying to you since the start? I am not a good person, Kakashi!'
Kakashi stood up slowly. 'I'm not looking for the perfect girlfriend. I am far from perfect myself and I don't expect you to be a saint. All I want is a partner, a companion who loves me as much as I love her.'
'But you deserve so much better,' She said under her breath, balling up her fists. 'You can't waste time and effort on me, Kakashi. After I leave, you'll find someone who is a better match for you.'
A defiant look flashed across his face. 'Is this person part of the story about our world? Do you know the girl I end up with?'
Fury's voice hitched in her throat and she dropped her eyes to the ground. 'There is no girl, not that I know of anyway.' She answered roughly.
Sighing, Kakashi bent down and gathered up her books. 'Look, leave if you want to. But please don't throw away what we have right now. I know I'm being selfish for asking this, but no matter what choice you make in the future, I will not give up so easily on this relationship.' He said, his tone steady and determined.
Fury stared up at him. 'I have severely underestimated your capability to love, Kakashi Hatake.' She murmured, prompting him to blink in surprise. 'Alright, I'll give us a chance. But this is not a guarantee that I will choose to stay when the time comes.' She said stiffly.
A smile broke out slowly over Kakashi's unmasked face. Flushing, Fury stepped closer and edged his mask up delicately. 'Don't look at me like that.' She muttered at his unwavering, eye-crinkling grin.
He caught her falling hand and squeezed it. 'Until the day this relationship is over, I will never stop smiling for you. Because every second with you means a chance for happiness. And I will not squander this chance.' He said quietly, a glint in his eye.
Fury swallowed, fighting the blush that crept up her neck. Tongue-tied, she plucked a few books from Kakashi and turned to walk back into the forest. 'Let's go.' She managed to say out in a strangled tone.
He chuckled behind her, draping an arm over her shoulders. She gave him a sideways glance and started when he leaned in to plant a kiss on her temple. Quelling the rising affection in her heart, Fury pretended to ignore the kiss, shifting the books in her arm awkwardly.
'I have to warn you, I'm pretty hard to shake once I've set my sight on something I want.' He murmured into her ear.
'What is it that you want?' Fury quipped, feigning ignorance.
She heard the smirk in his voice as he answered, 'You.'
Heart thumping fervently, Fury gripped her books tightly, keeping her eyes fixed on the road ahead and not on Kakashi. He huffed a small laugh at her reaction, which only made her much more flustered.
'Well then, I should probably warn you too – I hate it when someone breaks their promise to me.' She said stiffly. 'Especially when it's someone that I love.'
Kakashi's laughter subsided. 'Am I someone that you love?'
Fury stopped walking abruptly and Kakashi angled his body towards her automatically. 'Yes. Yes, you definitely are.' She said, the conviction in her tone surprising even herself.
Kakashi's arm drifted down to the small of her back, his expression impassive. Fury held her breath when she felt his fingers pressing down hard on her, the only indication of any emotion from him at the moment.
'No broken promises, got it.' He said tersely, his eye glinting.
The intensity of his stare both frightened and excited her. Fury tore her gaze away from Kakashi hastily and continued her walk home. He followed closely behind. Though he was not touching her anymore, Fury could feel the ghost imprint of his hand on her back. Whatever doubts she had of Kakashi's feelings were slowly dissipating, she had sensed his passion from his touch and knew that Kakashi meant every word he said.
~…~…~
Kakashi set the rest of her books down on the table and glanced over at her, a lingering question in his gaze. Fury bit her lip, suddenly aware of his presence in her bedroom. She couldn't help recalling the events that had transpired last night and the glaringly obvious question popped into her head – should she ask him to stay?
She hesitated for a beat too long. Kakashi cleared his throat, breaking the tension between them. 'I'll leave you to rest. Good night, Fury.' Awkwardly, he edged towards the door.
'Kakashi, wait.'
He turned back around eagerly. Face burning, Fury strode up to him and curled a trembling hand around his wrist. 'Can you stay for a little longer? I…we could talk, just for a while.'
'I'd love to.'
Unable to believe what she heard, Fury looked up at Kakashi, jaw slackened. He grinned at her, clearly amused at her reaction.
Trying not to trip over her own feet, Fury pulled herself together long enough to drag Kakashi over to the bed. He sat down gingerly at the edge, trying not to look too comfortable. Slightly disappointed, Fury chose to ignore his wariness. She did not want to give him mixed messages of her intentions anymore.
Instead, she closed the distance between them by cuddling up against his arm. To her relief, Kakashi did not push her away.
'Can I ask you a personal question?' Fury said tentatively.
He smiled warmly at her. 'Go ahead.'
'I don't have a lot of experience in dating so I'm not sure what is the difference between liking and loving someone. But I'm pretty sure that my feelings for you surpass a simple crush. What…what does it feel like to you, to like me?' Fury asked clumsily.
He stiffened visibly. 'It's not easy to describe,' He replied slowly. 'All I can tell you is that, when you love someone, the only thing you want to do is to be with them. All you can think about is talking to her, laughing with her, enjoying the simplest pleasures in life with her. When the day ends and you're lying in bed, the first thing you see when you close your eyes is her. Just thinking about her brings you happiness, longing…and pretty soon, you're imagining a future with her in your head...' Kakashi trailed off, looking into her eyes with undeniable desire.
Fury swallowed hard. 'I see, that's…enlightening.'
He smiled, looking slightly embarrassed. 'It's definitely more than a "simple crush", as you put it.'
She blushed, which seemed to prompt him to smile wider. 'I don't have all those thoughts that you described but I do think of you a lot. And I love every minute we're together. But this is my first relationship, I-I don't know which feelings are love or just excitement. I'd like to know if you find my reciprocation…adequate?'
A small laugh escaped from Kakashi at her query. 'You truly are unique, Fury of Fire.' He teased, cupping her cheek affectionately. 'Do you satisfy me? That is what you want to ask, isn't it?'
Mortified at his frankness, Fury shied away from his touch. 'Well, yes, and no! I just want to know if I'm being a good girlfriend. Emotionally….and physically,' She faltered at the last part.
Kakashi paused, scrutinizing her shrewdly. She could see the memories of last night in his eye when he finally sighed. 'Fury, last night was a mistake. I crossed a line when I touched you that way. I swear, I won't do anything to you without your permission.' He coveted her hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
'So, if I gave you my permission, would you…want me?' She whispered, her blush growing deeper.
Kakashi smiled as he watched her squirm in discomfiture. Leaning in, he murmured, 'What do you think?'
He tipped her head up so she could look into his eye, which was brimming with desire once again. A gasp hitched in her throat.
'C-can I hug you?' She gulped, struggling to look away.
He blinked in surprise but nodded. Relieved to have a reason not to look at his face any longer, Fury wrapped her arms around his waist, folding herself into his chest. She could hear the thrumming of his heart, which was racing wildly. Not as wild as hers, she mused for a second.
~Kakashi POV~
He embraced her tenderly, uncertain of her change in demeanor. One moment she was shy, and the next she was throwing herself at him. He could not keep up with it.
But it did not bother him as much as it should. If any girl had done this, he would have been halfway out the door already, Kakashi thought to himself in amusement. Fury, however, kept him rooted to the spot. He was drawn to her, fascinated by her words, her expressions and the little gestures she did when she thought no one was looking.
…would you…want me? Kakashi grinned – she was more direct than he gave her credit for.
Gently, he kissed the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her hair. He closed his eye, arms tightening around her, and he was acutely aware of how soft she was. It had been a while since he had a woman in his arms but he did not recall being so enthralled by their bodies as he did with Fury's.
She was just a girl, a very young girl, Kakashi reminded himself before his lust won over. He had told her a lie, a white lie, when he said he did not want her for her body. He wanted her heart, body and soul. He ached to make love to her, not just for his pleasure. No…he wanted her to feel pleasure because of him.
Kakashi snapped out of his trance instantly. Roughly, he grabbed Fury by the arms and pushed her to shoulder's length. Her head lifted, expression evolving from content to confusion. Kakashi faltered, he had meant to say his goodbyes and leave, but he couldn't ditch her without warning. Not when she was still looking at him with expectation.
Screw it.
He yanked down his mask and enveloped Fury in his arms. She squeaked in surprise when his mouth landed on hers.
Delight, sweet and agonizing, exploded within him as he finally tasted her. She was so dangerous to be around, he thought giddily, what are you doing to me, Fury of Fire?
When she finally recovered and kissed him back, Kakashi felt his conscience caving in. It was all he could do to keep the both of them upright, resisting the urge to lay Fury down on the bed and skim his hands over her writhing body.
'Kakashi…' She moaned when he trailed down to her neck, showering it with wet kisses. Her voice, low and sultry, was like honey to his ears.
'Hush, I beg you.' He managed to hiss out in between his indulgence.
She did not call out his name again but her moans and gasps intensified. Kakashi wished she would stop, but he knew that would not happen unless he stopped too. After all, he was the cause of her pleasure. Just like he wanted.
He slowed down, allowing himself to take a breather. It worked, barely, to curb his longing. He was relieved to know that he could stop, he had perfect control over himself and –
'Fury…?'
Kakashi froze. Fury was easing down his mask down his throat, exposing his neck. In a millisecond, he felt the air cooling his skin before a soft, searing heat took it all away.
Oh Gods. He did not know how it happened. Somehow, Fury was straddling him, legs clinched around his hips and lips drawing fire on his bare neck. And he was supporting her, arms still locked in a fierce embrace behind her back. He was encouraging this madness.
Was it madness to feel so good? To have a girl wreak havoc on his sanity like this, Kakashi felt powerless in her arms. He let Fury explore his weak spots, giving her the moans she sought. He let her burn him up from the inside.
~…~…~
To Kakashi's utmost amazement, Fury was the one who put an end to the frenzy.
One moment he was lying on her bed, wallowing in the haze of her kissing on top of him, and the next, Fury had pulled away, clambering off him whilst a hand swiped over her mouth elegantly.
He had reached for her blindly, a plea on his lips. But she had silenced him with a quick shake of the head and he sobered up instantly.
'It's getting late,' She said quietly. 'You should go back before it gets too dark to walk through the forest.'
Kakashi adjusted his mask, covering up his tingling neck but leaving his face open. 'If you're really worried, I could stay for the night.' He suggested with a smirk.
Fury grinned back, cheekbones flushed. 'Don't make me throw you out.' She said warningly. Holding out a hand, she summoned up a ball of fire in the middle of her palm. She shook it free carefully until the orb hung by itself in the air. 'Take this with you. It'll extinguish by itself once you've reached the village.'
Ruefully, Kakashi brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. 'You're already throwing me out.' He sighed.
Her eyes wobbled reluctantly. 'I want you to stay. But, I'm afraid of, well…' She bit her lip, unwilling to voice out her fears.
He understood anyway. 'I know.'
Kakashi stood up hastily before he could change his mind. The orb raised itself above his head when he did so, illuminating the room with its fiery glow.
Fury took his hand and led him out. 'I'll walk you out.' She smiled up at him.
He returned it with ease. Her brow furrowed just then and she moved in front of him. 'Your mask is still down.'
He let her cover his face, keeping a hand on her waist whilst she did so. It suddenly occurred to him that this moment was the first of many to come. And if Fury was staying in his world, they would have nights like this every day. There might even be times when she would spend the night at his place. The thought of it made Kakashi lightheaded with hope.
He followed her downstairs, where it was unexpectedly quiet and empty. He had not realized that it was so late already. They must have spent hours in her bedroom. At that thought, Kakashi stole a quick glance at Fury, unable to suppress a smile.
As if she could hear his thoughts, Fury looked towards him. Their gazes caught and she blushed prettily. Before he could say anything, she slipped out of the house into the night.
Grinning, Kakashi caught up to her, hooking an arm around her shoulders. 'Before you run away again, you should remember, it's your house.' He teased. 'Unless this is a sign that you want to go back to my place…'
Fury glared. 'It's your fault and you know it! You didn't have to look at me like that.'
'Like what?' Kakashi asked innocently, thought his heart skipped a beat as he awaited her answer.
Her stare was piercing. 'Like you…want me.' She muttered.
He squeezed her shoulder. 'I do want you.' He whispered.
A smile, paired with another blush, formed on her face. Kakashi tucked the image of her expression away in the back of his mind. Another beautiful smile to add to his collection of memories of Fury.
'Will I see you again tomorrow?' Fury asked hopefully when they reached the edge of the clearing.
With his warmest smile, Kakashi leaned forwards. 'If nothing crops up, you will. I'll send you a message if I have a mission.' He said, flicking her lightly on the nose.
She rubbed at her nose self-consciously. 'Okay. I guess this is good night then?' Her eyes darted to check his expression and Kakashi caught a glimmer in them.
He suppressed the urge to chuckle. 'It is. Good night, Fury.' He pressed a kiss to her temple.
'Be careful.' She mumbled, taking a few steps back.