The woman in a ponytail with brown hair was waiting with a little smile for the two last customers that night. A young ninja who was easy to identify alone by the smile and blue eyes alone, the prankster of Konoha. He had some kind of charm that night, with that black shirt and those pants… ok it was not polite ogling. The woman besides him a had long raven hair, she recognized her because no one in the village used clothes like hers. A white short with thin golden stripes and a sleeveless top with a strange oval cut, covered by a long light brown scarf. The scarf was one of those wide and long that people used on the desert.
" I guess… Vanilla and cherries!" exclaimed cheerfully the blond one whose whiskers were pinched playfully by the raven woman. Pouting but happy nonetheless.
"It has to be cheating…" the raven woman accepted the ice-cream and started licking.
"I didn't knew you were such a bad loser Kao-chan" he nudged playfully her partner. The woman exhaled long and hard watching another pair of lovebirds thinking when do she find a man for herself.
"Sure you don't want anything?" Kaoru questioned as Naruto guided them along the market. At night most of the establishment open were restaurants, so there was still light to guide their path.
"Later…" He continued smiling, the raven adjusted her scarf feeling a bit cold her shoulders. Savoring the flavor, at times stealing a glance at the blond, it may be just her imagination but he was being too kind. Well, not that it was bad.
"Naruto" He blinked owlishly at her, she lifted her cone and when his face approached she painted fully his lips with ice cream and run.
Laughing. His voice chasing, their game took them out at the bridge. Naruto finally tackled her on the grassy field. But she was not one whom surrendered easily and tickled her way to the top.
"My- My cheeks hurt!" She huffed, Naruto hands on her hips catched her out of guard as he tickled back and rolled. Both squirmed on a battle of whom would hold until the end. Kaoru tried to back off, but his hold was strong. Naruto embraced her and continued tickling without mercy.
Breathing that nice scent, his eyes prickled for all the laughing, amazed at discovering she was more sensible than he thought.
"I-I… jajaja no… please no… you win!" He fully encased her so all she could move was her head and legs, but continued tickling and taunted near her hear.
"I can't hear you"
"YOU WIN!" And she turned, unconsciously stopping at having felt his lips so close to her cheek, gulping at the glimpse he got of those emerald eyes. Fresh little tears, that smile while catching her breath, and suddenly his brain was too conscious of how close he was embracing her. They looked at each other and felt his heart pump, something had shone a second before he got speechless and hide his face on her hair.
"Naruto?" He felt Kaoru moving but his arms squeezed gently.
"Stay with me"
But as soon as those words left his lips, he panicked. Why did he said that? Just what the hell is happening?
"Hm… but where would you sleep?" His lungs could work again, but it felt kind of bad at the same time. He was expecting something else, but was reluctant… it took a second realizing it was fear.
"The… floor?" The bed, suddenly whispered his treacherous mind. So that nice smell is… but he chased away that idea as quickly as it came, feeling his face heat up decided to return her home. It was silent and uncomfortable for him, yet his partner was oblivious as she watched the sky above and that night as he watched at the ceiling he could not sleep thinking.
A few days later, his options were scarce. Jiraiya came again for what he called training and was a total mess, feeling tricked he sorted to other things. Craziness and a set of slime left him with more questions than answers, little process was made those days. Therefore as they traveled to assist Hikaru he could not avoid his thoughts any longer. Here watching the two most important woman on his life with no idea what to do or feel about it. There was no one who could aid him this time.
Kaoru was talking with Sai, strangely he noticed over time how weird their friendship turned out. It was like a scientist and a lab rat, Sai being the rat of course. Sakura still held some kind of grunge he swear won't ask, she threatened him that much. Even with that kind of tension the team could hold on when they found Hikaru at the meeting point and take their time scouting on the area for any indication Deidara had been there.
Yue had the slight suspicion Hanabi planned something. Usually he was slow to catch up, but Harumi had pointed out the strange behavior. Ryoga had said she might be trying to get his attention. In which kind of way, he was not sure so the best think he could come with was talk about Matsuri with his friend. Making sure she could listen, it did worsened her mood but Harumi fully supported him.
Sometimes he asked about the pretty woman, since Harumi could do that kind of favors. Still funny, endearing but taking seriously her new role on the hidden village. He was determined of proving to her he could be that charming powerful man.
How could that goal related with reading her adoptive mother journals? It was a funny discovery, actually taking Sai counsel seriously and searched for the closest female that resembled Matsuri personality.
Faking he was writing a book and reading a page, being careful to change names so no one suspected. Ino had taken liking to the silent but gentle male right away. Someone powerful whom seemed unapproachable yet was open for truthful affection. Therefore he concluded Matsuri would be attracted on the long run if he continued reading more about this man.
He had grown a new habit on missions, spending a lot of time reading or training. This time it surprised him Hanabi asked about the journal, he smiled as they took a break at a dango shop.
"Is it entertaining?"
"For me I guess…" he munched another ball lazily.
"Can I ask you something?" Hanabi was polite, not quite usual so I just nodded and let her be.
"Something has been bothering me… why everytime I ask you what truly happened on that mission you…"
Yue closed fast the book and shouted for another round of dangos. Hanabi frowned but was stubborn.
"No! Listen. I'm sure I heard a voice that time and"
The elder woman interrupted bringing some tea and taking the dishes. Yue faced her with a sad frown.
"Please, don't ask… I won't like to lie to a friend"
Hanabi had been too surprised, flattered and conflicted at the same time. So she decided to stand up and give him some time.
"I… I will look out for Ryoga. He must had get lost again"
Yue watched as she disappeared on the foliage. It had been the best, even he was unsure to reveal something. The breeze was nice, the sun not blinding his surroundings but as he stared at the sky munching the new set of dangos something tiny and round caught his attention.
A floating bubble. Falling slowly, he could see his reflexion a second before it popped out. Soon Hanabi returned with Ryoga and their client. Eating the rest before following the pathway to another boring mission.
It had been the perfect timing, the signal he was waiting and in the end his patience paid off. Sasuke could finally set in motion the wheels of destiny. Never looking back when he parted, assembling the team whom will aid that long journey. Silently rejoicing on those hopeful faces of the prisoners whom still had salvation.
"So, where do we go now?" Karin asked as he invaded his personal space… again.
He ignored her completely, as his fingers wrote a little message to Utakata. As the eagle flown away did he felt more than anxiousness, the excitement was pilling up on his chest.
"Oh heck, that is one scary grin" Suigetsu was slammed by Karin right away and Jugo just observed silently. Sasuke steps felt different, unconsciously his hand attached itself to the sheath where the collar once had been. Frowning, displeased it was still far away, but just like a sprout that had survived the cold winter he gazed forward chasing the sun.
This was not happening. Naruto repeated over and over again as Sai pulled him to the hot springs with no idea of the inner turmoil on his brain and body.
I had to be dreaming. His legs felt useless, like melting jelly as he gulped nervous. It was like being highly sensitive of everything around him, like his senses were being overwhelmed at the situation. Yet at the same time, his mind was on a storm.
When Sai openned the door he closed his eyes afraid of what he might see. Petrified, it was quite stupid because he was not supposed to react like this. He will jump at the prospect of watching Sakura bath! But...but…
"Your towel is falling" Panicked he clutched with all his might a second… just to notice that it was still in place AND it had been stupid because he had trunks. Hikaru deep laughs pissed him off, quickly cutting the space between them as he tied up that long silver hair.
"Oh man, your face was hilarious"
"Yeah!? Well at least I don't have your face!" Naruto countered, looking at his golden orbs with full mischief as the older man grinned.
"Got that right, I'm such a sight not many woman could resist. If you were me…"
"I will vomit" Naruto cut in, but Hikaru silenced him with few words.
"Jealous I won't die being virgin?" Naruto had lost his tongue, feeling burning up as the older shinobi snickered and Sai decided to comment on HIS stupid fixation of his dick until another feminine and mature voice suddenly jumped on him from behind.
"Don't listen to him, my king is still a hopeless lovesick virg…"
"SHIORI!" Hikaru tried to shut her up, the spirit woman laugh surrounded the hot spring. It was unusual watching a half naked spirit, her swimsuit nothing he had seen before. It was something that Jiraiya and Kakashi would love to see.
"What does it felt to be touched by a spirit?" Sai question made him remember why he was in such a dilemma.
"This is your fault!" Sai just blinked his eyes unable to understand his feelings.
"You being dickless or.." he intevined before Sai could piss him more than he already was. There was no power that could make Sai understand, at least he lacked of that kind of patience. He was going to leave them but at the door his own demise was waiting.
He was a man, with lots of dreams that mostly included little fantasies of what he liked. This was far beyond anything he could handle. Two woman so different, so precious on their own way and both hold him on the headache of his life.
One using a 2 piece swimsuit, pink light color enhanced the paleness of white pearl skin and pink hair that flown. Being pushed by another male he quickly recognized, Isamu. Naruto felt the slight burn on his cheeks watching Sakura but his eyes deterred as Isamu hand took the raven towel. Again he felt the bump on his chest, the burn got even worse and he forgot everything. As if the world suddenly had slowed and on his world there was no one but her.
He couldn't stop his eyes as for the first time he watched Kaoru as something more than a dear friend. It slapped him by surprise the revelation that she was a woman, an attractive and cute one. Raven hair danced, tempting him to test the softness, those legs slender and slightly tanned, a one piece swimsuit that curiously covered every curve. But not helped his imagination, because even is it was a modest piece it looked sinful on her, as she fighted with her spirit companion, bumping her hips in annoyance at something he didn't hear.
It was tight… too tight for him, her chest was not as big as Hinata but on his mind it was perfect. It was killing him from the inside, the little she showed was what most captured his attention.
"My queen! Save me! Hika-chan is torturing me because I don't give him a massage" Shiori voice suddenly crashed his revelation.
"Come here then, let's bath like the old times" He didn't know what was worse, how it sounded or looking at Kaoru innocently holding the blushing man arm and laughing with excitement as she sit him ready to brush his back.
Vaguely he heard Sai offering doing the same thing with Sakura but he didn't cared. Not now, he was literally freeze up, gulping with no idea what to do. He could not escape the truth now. Undoubtedly, Naruto was attracted by his childhood friend. However she deserved much more than just that, it was wrong… right?
"Yo little man…" Shiori had suddenly appeared at his face, not caring about his space. Isamu had the decency to stop her and he looked at him silently with curiosity.
"Not so little if I say it myself but…" The spirit suddenly whispered on his ear with slight coldness "hope that attention is not directed at MY woman." It was then he got ten times red as he felt the hardness of THAT friend and Shiori laughed. Humiliated he accepted the invitation of both spirits to have a little chat far away from Kaoru.
"What is that thing of… my woman this and that…?" Naruto asked once they were fully relaxed on the hot water spring at the other side from where he heard the others playing and chatting around.
"It's my body. She hates when I word it that way so I just changed it"
"How is that any better?" Naruto was intrigued, how could Kaoru had the patience to tolerate this man?
"It's not, but still as fun to watch." Shiori was quite vocal and ready to spill out. "You should seem when they fight over clothes…"
"UGH… not that please" Isamu covered his face in shame already.
"What is wrong with it?"
"Try telling a woman use this pants because I don't share your legs with anyone and not freak her out thinking you are a pervert spirit"
"You're WORSE than Jiraiya!" Isamu was holding every piece of patience to not respond but...
"And I haven't told you when she bathes…" Shiori suddenly was sent flying by the God himself whom just sighed and looked at Naruto as if daring him to say anything.
Of course Naruto doesn't have a head for this kind of things "GOD MY ASS! What kind of spirit oggles a vulnerable and innocent woman? My Kaoru deserve more respect! If she hears that you…"
Isamu covered his hand and hissed. "What would you do if you get stuck by hundreds of years with MEN around you every time? Busy as hell doing everything you can to keep the spirits at bay? Had you seen generation after generation of men life and die wondering what was so special about women? Had you been curious about why mortals held life with them so dear?"
Naruto flinched as the God approached and for a second looked vulnerable, almost human. "Had you ever felt a piece of what life might be when you are with her?"
The question lingered, as he tried to decipher if it was directed for him. Isamu scarlet eyes gazed down and let him breath. Naruto had the feeling that maybe the God had said too much. A life with her. His mind echoed, as images of them together flashed. On his apartment with her lying down with notes and talking animatedly. Her frowning at him really angry because he didn't wanted to study and in the end she helped him understand what the books said. The time he surprised Kaoru with a hug, when he fighted with Yue around her and she punished both. He started to remember she had been with him, even in the worst moments, when they cried over Gaara. The first time they encountered on Suna feeling her warm on his arms, like that time Naruto looked on her eyes and…
"Yes…" Naruto answered, because something she said before was now fresh on his mind and he could not hold it anymore. "Life is better when she is around… you are part of her, right?"
Isamu stared long at the boy but nodded, more serious this time, almost afraid. "Then… can we be friends?"
Naruto had no clue where his mind or his heart was leading but… this felt like the right path. Kaoru still tried to understand Kurama, even on this mission she make him promise to try again. And because of that he wanted to do the same with the God spirit, he smiled thinking Isamu was left speechless for once and had accepted his offer.
Naruto was already waiting for her link to vanish, he didn't asked why she looked so sad after each time. However this night, finally alone after that weird bath on the hot springs Naruto desired her company. He adjusted his yukata, breathing and asking her to stay a bit more, Kaoru blinked a few times but smiled beautifully and returned to his side. Funny now that he was so observant of that kind of things, but honestly… it had always been there. He stared at her neck a second looking for the sun but Gaara's sand swirled silently, oh the irony.
"Do you feel better?" Her question confused him, she continued "It's just that… you had been oddly quiet and distant for a week… or was it more? I don't know, it felt too long for me. But I didn't wanted to bother you so… humm..."
Seriously, she didn't even tried and he already felt his cheeks heating up. Idiot. He was the biggest one for making her worry. Naruto gulped and tried to act just like before, taking her hand and sit looking at the little garden of the inn. She squeezed back, and both comfortable leaned in each other. Naruto desired to know the difference between love and lust, attraction and affection, if both or one was an answer. Sakura didn't give him any answer to his own feelings, so maybe just maybe he could try and find them with someone that might know and listen.
"Can you imagine everyone here?" She suddenly whispered as her thumb lightly caressed his hand. sending jolts to his back and he silently rejoiced on that feeling, letting her continue.
"It would have been so nice. Imagine Kiba and Choji messing around with Akamaru, Neji being a knight for Hinata as she tried to talk with Sakura peacefully…"
He smiled and squeezed her hand "Lee trying to make us do something very stupid shouting youthful trash, Shikamaru being a lazy ass on the spring with no care of the world"
"Hey! Shika is not always such a lazy man. He is very funny if he wishes to."
"You're the only woman I had heard said that…" He laughed feeling her other hand trying to tickle him.
"If Temari and Matsuri were here they will not leave Shika or Hika alone, that is for sure" He tickled back and she jumped surprised but laughed and those green bright eyes distracted him. Not thinking until it was too late, when his hand hold the long strand of raven hair out of her face and his thumb stroked her cheek. At that moment their eyes stared and his heart was pumping wildly, for a reason he didn't understand Kaoru was surprised and her expression didn't changed until her hand encased his and stopped the caress.
Slowly her eyes watered and sadness darkened the green radiance. Afraid he had done something wrong Naruto backed off and waited unsure of how to calm her down. However tears didn't fall, she embraced herself a long moment before her eyes looked up.
"Sorry… It's just that…" she was trying but her voice was beginning to falter. "I… I can't hold it anymore"
"What?" Naruto whispered back confused, seriously worried now.
"... Don't be nice, not to me. I don't deserve it. Just, don't touch me like that…"
"What are you saying? Please tell me what is wrong? I'm here… I'll always be here for you" Naruto hold her, Kaoru was trembling in fear and whatever she tried to escape for he won't let her go. Something really bad was messing her mind and at that moment he wished he could connect with her like she did with others.
"... You won't… because I lied... I let... " But whatever she will say was left on the wind when the others came back with drinks and dishes. Kaoru could not gaze back as she cleaned her face and left to the bedroom not looking at anyone. Naruto lost appetite, sighing feeling he lost his only chance to approach her, not knowing what was happening.