Shippo sat in her back garden, one bare foot pushing the wooden swing she sat in gently back and forth. Her honey eyes were absent as she stared across her garden, and one fang chewed nervously over her bottom lip. She wasn't sure why she was so uncertain about this date. Maybe because Gai seemed to be so very certain in his intensity? He seemed like he didn't have a doubt in the world.
Shaking her head at herself Shippo tossed her hair over her shoulder, letting the wild mass tumble down the back of the swing. This uncertainy crap was for the birds. So in typical Shippo fashion she shrugged it off and decided to just let the evening flow however it was going to go. Gai seemed confident, unwavering in his interest so she'd just take a page from his book. There wasn't any need to be stressing over something so stupid.
Relaxing deliberately back into the swing, Shippo went a little boneless, tilting her head back and closing her eyes. She wondered where he was going to take her. With most guys it would be the typical dinner and a stroll followed by a few attempts at groping but somehow she couldn't picture Gai going for that. If he did she thought she might be a little disappointed. Maybe, just a little.
Humming under her breath, Shippo pictured Gai's intense features, feeling herself flush just a little. He wasn't really handsome, she had to admit, but he certainly made up for it with sheer intensity and presence. The very thought that the Beast of Konoha, one of Konoha's elite, having any kind of interest in her was a little baffling. Sure, she got her fair share of interest from men but generally they found out she was in every way a Inuzuka and then made themselves scarce. Obviously he knew she was an Inuzuka, yet he'd not even paused with his interest.
Cracking one eye open to glance at the sky, Shippo felt a little spark as she realized that he'd be here any time now. Unwillingly she found herself more than a little intrigued with Gai. He was intense. He was confident. He had a hot as fuck body. HIs scent made her nose tingle pleasantly. He for some unfathomable reason attracted to her skinny little body. He was a shinobi of notable skill….
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Gai studied Shippo's home, dark eyes sweeping over the modest one story with interest. One's home could tell any number of things about the individual and Shippo's home was vibrant. Painted a soothing blue and accented with bright red shutters the house was nearly overun with greenery. Ivy vines were climbing up one side of the house and brilliantly colored flowers were planted everywhere. The front porch railing was covered with pots of every shape and size, every plant bursting with life and youthfulness. She obviously cared for her home a great deal.
Stepping up onto the porch Gai immediately spotted the sticky note stuck haphazardly to the door. Frowning, feeling his heart nearly plummet, Gai hoped she wasn't canceling their date. But no, written in looping scrawling letters, the note read 'In back garden. Just come on back.' with a smiley face messily stamped along the bottom. Smiling brilliantly Gai pocketed the note, his thickly callused fingers giving the little note a stroke first.
Heading around the house Gai couldn't help but feel his excitement build. Was she as stunningly beautiful as he remembered? He felt himself literally ache to look apon her most youthful face again. The way her glorious hair had nearly glittered in the sunshine. The way her wild honey eyes had locked with his, challenging and yet unwillingly attracted. His strides were nearly bounding as he rounded the house.
Even prepared for the power of her beauty Gai still found himself jolting to a halt as he spotted her. She was magnificent, just as he remembered her. She was sprawled loosely in a vintage wooden swing, her head tilted back and her hair wild and free. His lungs burned as he stared, unable to breath for the sheer power the image of her held to him. Heat curled in his gut, just as strong as it had yesterday, even more so in fact, and Gai felt his cock stiffen in answer.
She was wearing a dress, a light summer dress with a short skirt that left every inch of her mile long legs exposed. Gorgeously golden legs with just the perfect amount of muscle definition. Her shoulders and arms were exposed as well, leaving her glorious skin exposed to his eyes. Every inch of her was magnificent. She'd been wearing long sleeves and pants yesterday, every aspect of a kunoichi, but today, in that dress, she was absolutely glorious.
Sucking in a laborious breath, Gai blinked, trying to clear the red haze from his vision. The effect his stunning lotus blossum had on his body was powerful in its intensity. He was sure when they finally made love it would be sheer magic! Glancing down ruefully at his tight spandex, he thought her effect on him wasn't going to be very good for his image. His erection was more than obvious.
"You gonna stand over there all day?" His glorious flower drawled, eyes still closed and her body still boneless.
"Indeed not!" Gai laughed, knowing she must have scented him as soon as he'd come close, perhaps even when he'd entered the compound. He bounded over to her side, sliding effortlessly onto the swing beside her. He was tempted to sit flush against her side and ignore her 'personal space' but only just managed to refrain. Patience! "Just admiring the most youthful and GLORIOUS view!" He said honestly as her eyes slid open, her pupils wide in her honey gaze.
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Shippo would have thought he was talking about her extensive garden if she hadn't been practically doused with his arousal and lust as soon as he'd seen her The scent lit a hot spark in her stomach. A little baffled, no man had ever been quite so attracted to her before, Shippo slid a glance down Gai's body, resting blatantly on his lap.
"All that for me, huh?" She asked casually, feeling the spark burst into flame. His erection was pretty damn obvious. And he was pretty damn big too. That thought sent her heart thumping. Although she shouldn't be surprised, he was a pretty big guy after all.
He chuckled unashamedly, shugging his broad shoulders. The heat from his body was nearly swamping her. "You are a MOST stunning display of what a youthful woman should TRULY be, my flower! You are TRULY a pleasure to look apon!"
"Ah huh." Shippo studied his earnest face, still a little perplexed, but knowing he wasn't lieing. The idea that just looking at her was so arousing was certainly a confidence booster, as well as a little baffling. "Like I said, whatever does it for ya, I guess." She shrugged.
"And like I have said, 'YOU do it for me'!" He nearly chided her, dark eyes serious and his smile wide. She decided right then that he really did have the nicest eyes. Dark, warm, honest. "Perhaps we can sit and enjoy your glorious garden for a moment while I…calm myself?"
Shippo cracked a little smile, one fang exposed.
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Gai had to rip his eyes away from his beautiful companion in order to actually study her back garden. And once he did he couldn't help but gaze about the large space with no little amount of awe. She truly was a magnificent gardener. From one corner to the next her entire back yard was a profusion of color and greenery.
There were so many different types of flowers Gai knew he could not even name a quarter of them. There didn't seem to be any type of order, instead the garden was planting in seemingly random explosions of color and life, fitting of a true Inuzuka. There was even a glass greenhouse, quite an expensive luxury, located at the back of the garden. It was clear that Shippo took a great amount of time and effort to upkeep and care for her garden.
"I believe your magnificent garden would even rival that of the Yamanaka's! It fairly bursts with the fires of YOUTH!" Gai proclaimed after he'd studied the garden for several quiet minutes. He turned his eyes back to his stunning companion in time to see her dazzling fanged smile.
"Thanks." She shrugged delicately, muscles rolling under golden skin. "I spend a lot of time back here." She looked reluctantly pleased with his praise. He decided then that his flower must not recieve much in the way of praise. A true crime that he was intent on fixing!
"Your hardwork and effort is obvious in every facet of your beautiful garden!" He told her honestly.
"Hmm." She met his eyes, giving him an assessing look. The calculating look in her eyes was entirely kunoichi. "So in this whole 'spirit of getting to know eachother' thing, what do you spend a lot of time doing?" She asked and he felt a surge of satisfaction that she was trying to know him better.
"As I am a MASTER of hardwork I spend most of my time training my body, but I also have students that I must teach the meaning of the true Will Of Fire! My apprentice, Lee, requires quite a few hours of my time as well! He is becoming a true master of hardwork!" Gai beamed brightly, thinking on his determined student. Lee was coming along magnificently.
"That's good you're so dedicated to him then." Shippo told him with a half smile.
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It was pretty obvious the man adored his students. His scent was pretty much saturated with pride and if that didn't say enough his expression was practically doting. It said a lot about Gai, that he was so dedicated to his students.
"Until I saw your GLORIOUS face I did not focus my energy on anything but my youthful students! Now, I am dedicated to your eternal happiness as well as my students welfare!" Gai replied, again throwing her for a loop with his sheer bluntness.
Shippo squinted at him, feeling all warm and fuzzy but also vaguely nervous over his declaration. She wasn't sure which emotion was stronger. "Er…..you really don't know me well enough to promise that." She told him, brushing a hand through her hair a little restlessly.
"Do the Inuzuka's not revere the power of instincts?" Gai asked, turning his intense eyes down to her face. She blinked.
"Yeah, I suppose we kinda do." She replied, still staring at him. He seemed so very certain that it was almost ridiculous.
"I too trust my youthful instincts!" Gai told her as solemnly as he seemed able. He reached out and touched one of her hands, making sparks tingle under her skin. His skin was warm, burning even against her own, making her almost want to close her eyes and bask in the warmth. "I believe you will become my most precious person in time! My gut tells me so!"
Shippo snorted, pulling her hand out from under his, ignoring her regret when his warmth faded away. She gave him a half smile. "For all you know I could be a fire breathing hag. You don't know me at all."
"Ah, but I would be MOST grateful if you gave me the chance to know you! And for you to know me in return! I believe once you are comfortable with me you will be just as certain as I!" He said with a brilliant smile, again making her wonder if he applied a genjutsu for such bright teeth.
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Gai watched Shippo's face as she gazed back at him, her honey eyes shrewd. She seemed in complete disbelief over his continued interest in her, making Gai again wonder who had used his glorious flower so ill in the past. He felt a flash of rage at the very thought but he pushed it aside. That would be dealt with another time.
"I guess we'll see." She finally replied after several long heartbeats. Her face was still sceptical.
Gai only smiled, hopping lightly to his feet and offering her his hand. "Then let us be about our evening activities!"
She gave his hand a glance but stood on her own, making Gai realize for the first time just how small Shippo truly way. The top of her head barely came to his shoulders! She'd remained sitting every time he'd seen her thus far, effectively hiding her short stature.
He stared, a little baffled, but only for a moment. He beamed, thinking how truly hardworking she must be to aquire the rank of tokubetsu jounin yet have such a delicate body structure. Kunoichi were not as a rule large and burly but most did have a certain…musculature to their frame that Gai realized was lacking from Shippo. She was tiny, with thin wrists, fragile ankles and a slim wraithlike quality to her build. Gai found her all the more attractive for her smallness. It ignited a protective urge deep in his chest that he found most satisfying.
"I have to grab my sandals then." She told him, making him blink and realize that he'd been staring again. The look on her face was a cross between amused and bland.
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Shippo watched as Gai blinked, seeming to come back to himself. Perhaps he hadn't realized just how skinny and well….not curvy she was until now. Despite that he was smiling, his teeth bright and shiny.
"As MAGNIFICENT as you look in such a stunning dress, a perfect example of shining youth, I might suggest dressing in something a little more sturdy before we depart." He told her after his dark eyes swept down her casual sun dress. The heat in his gaze nearly burned her skin as he paused on her bare legs.
"Sturdy?" Shippo furrowed her brows, looking up at him a little puzzled. That wasn't typically a request one heard on a first date. "Like how sturdy?"
Gai gave her another once over, a ridiculously thoughtful expression coming over his face. She almost cracked a smile at the look. "Perhaps it would be best to dress as though you were going on a mission?" He finally said in the singularly most normal sentence she'd ever heard him say.
Shippo raised her brows at him curiously. "Where are we going?" She asked, feeling a little thrill. Maybe this date wasn't gonna be a bust after all.
"I have decided that you are a GLORIOUS example of the FIRE in every kunoichi and thus would not be satisfied with just an ordinary date! I knew I MUST bring my best to satisfy one such as you!" Gai beamed, striking a pose that had Shippo blinking as what seemed like every one of his muscles flexed at the same time.
"Ah…..okay?" She squinted at him for a few long heartbeats before turning to head into her house. The thick grass felt cool under her feet and she couldn't hear him follow but she could feel the heat of him as he hovered close behind her. "You can come in then, while I go change."
"That is not nessesary!" Gai proclaimed, and when she glanced at him over her shoulder he was still smiling. "I will simply wait here in the garden while you prepare!"
Shippo was silent for a moment before she made a decision. Gai was being polite, not taking her reluctant invitation. All shinobi were wary of having strangers in their home, it was an engrained response after having led the shinobi way of life. They were even more wary of having other shinobi in their homes, even if they were fellow Konoha shinobi. It was just an unspoken taboo to go into another shinobis home without some drastic reason. Generally only close friends and family broached Shippo's personal territory.
She took a deep breath and sent him a single look over her shoulder. Just one glance really. "No, come inside." She said firmly, then she half smiled, flashing a little bit of fang he couldn't see with her back turned. "Besides, if you're gonna be around forever, you're gonna see the inside eventually anyway." She could practically feel the heat from his smile burning into her shoulders.
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Gai milled about Shippo's living room, dark eyes intently studying every nook and cranny while Shippo got dressed. The room was decorated in bright teals and rich browns and creams. It was relaxing with a lived in comfy vibe that seemed to radiate warmth. It didn't seem to fit the lazy almost blande image Shippo portayed most of the time. But he was discovering that his amazing blossum was full of contradictions and surprises.
One entire wall seemed to be dedicated to photos, which Gai studied with simgle minded intensity. As with any Inuzuka, Shippo was of course very tightly knit with her family and it showed in her photos. There were numerous pictures of Shippo with her younger cousins, in particular Nobara and Kiba. Several photos dipicted Shippo with a thin gray whip like dog, both of them grinning with sharp fangs. Another was a picture of the entire Inuzuka clan, more than he would have guessed, the photo a sea of red striped faces and sharp teeth. Her genin team photo was here, as well as a photo of a tiny Shippo with her parents he guessed. Photos were a rare comodity here in Konoha but she didn't seem to lack in photos, which meant the Inuzuka's must have a personal camera of their own.
Gai smiled at Shippo's happy face, deciding that perhaps the face his woman showed the puplic was not quite the one she showed to her family. He was positive he would be truly blessed to be considered among her precious people. And if he had anything to do with it he would be. Now it was only a matter of convincing her.
But of course, Gai was determined to make her his, and Gai was nothing if not persistant. Perhaps if she wasn't interested he would back off as gracefully as he was able but he knew she was more atracted to him then she'd like to admit. She was reluctant, but Gai knew he could surpass her reluctance with patience! All good things came to those who waited, after all!
"Will this work?" Shippo asked quietly, drawing his attention from the photos. He hadn't heard her coming down the hall, but for a kunoichi who specialized in what she did that wasn't surprising.
She was wearing a pair of tan knee length spandex leggings under a pair of short green shorts, paired with a tan kimono style top with green piping. The fact that she was wearing so much green made him beam. She'd braided her hair tightly into a single thick braid which swung to her hips. With her hair pulled back she seemed suddenly more angular, her eyes larger, her lips lusher.
"That will do magnificently!" Gai exclaimed finding her just as sexy now as he had before. His woman was truly beautiful no matter what she wore and without a scrap of makeup. "We should be on our way!"
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"So, where are we going?" Shippo asked as she sheperded the larger shinobi out the front door, setting a few simple traps as she went. Nothing to dangerous but enough to let her know if someone came in while she was gone.
"That is a surprise, my dainty flower!" Gai proclaimed, making her roll her eyes at the ridiculous pet name. He seemed to have a different one every time, each more ridiculous than the last. Despite her exasperation she thought it was…sweet.
"Ooookay. Lead the way then." She drawled, feeling a spark of excitement. It'd been a long time since anyone surprised her. Since anyone had even bothered to try.
"Then let us be away!" He exclaimed, striking a pose that she had a feeling she was going to become intimately familiar with. He seemed to do it every time he was excited. He held his elbow out expectantly.
Shippo eyed his outstretched arm dubiously, her lips pursing. Although he'd touched her, several brushes here and there every chance he got, she hadn't voluntarily touched him since they'd met. Touch was a particular thing among the Inuzuka, whereas some, like her younger cousin Nobara, did it frequently and casually, for Shippo it was a little different. She had issues with the territorial instincts that came with being an Inuzuka and touching was a little more personal for her as a result. She didn't do it casually, she didn't do it lightly, and she didn't do it often. Not only that but by letting him escort her in such a way she was proclaiming to all who saw them that they were 'together'. Her eyes slid up to his face and she nearly sighed at the pathetically hopeful look on his face.
"Don't let this go to your head." She muttered as she looped her arm through his. As always his heat was there, seemingly waiting to swallow her whole. She shivered lightly.
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Gai only just withheld his shout of triumph as Shippo slid her arm into his. He really hadn't expected her to actually take his arm but he was absolutely delighted that she'd given him such an honor. He knew how finicky Inuzuka's were about being touched, and considered her display a great honor. Not only that but she was willing to be seen publically escorted which would no doubt spread the news that they were dating. Perhaps she wasn't as reluctant as she seemed.
"First I assumed we could quench our youthfu hunger at a little establishment near training ground 15, then we could get to the TRUE surprise I have planned for out evening!" Gai told her as they passed the guarded gate to the Inuzuka compound. He assumed the guards baffled expression was due to such a gorgeous display of womanhood deigning to spend her evening with one such as him. He agreed wholeheartedly and was most greatful that she'd agreed to their date.
"Sounds good. I haven't eaten since this morning." Shippo replied absently, her honey eyes scanning the street, before returning to him.
"Ah, then food is a MUST!" Gai proclaimed firmly. "We must stoke your fires of energy for my surprise!"
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AN: So….you guys are lucky I even wrote this much this soon. As some of you know, I have an 8 month old son, who is absolutely adorable and I love him, but he's in the process of teething. Those of you that are mothers know this means my housse is about the equivalent of hell right now. BUT…..I stayed up a little late to write this part and you can that Nemesisswan and their wonderful review for the chapter update. I absolutely loved your review, it gave me warm fuzzies soooo, happy early birthday Nemesisswan. :) Hope you like it. Oh, and sorry for the grammar mistakes, it was like one o clock when I finished this.
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