Chapter Seven: "That awkward moment when…"
The only sound was the soft snuffling of Ino's sleeping form as she rested against a tree opposite Kakuzu, his eyes were naturally open and his mind was alert. After another Akatsuki attack, he had to keep his guard on more sincerely than ever. After the embrace they shared, he would expect himself to feel stupid and annoyed with how easily he could fall into something like that, but instead, and surprisingly this time, he wasn't reluctant to admit he felt content, pleased almost.
It felt unfamiliar and quite odd for him, but he could not help but relish in the subtle acceptance she gave him.
God, he was turning into a mushy old man.
He had never been in such a long presence with a woman of her stature; it was truly rare someone held the external and internal qualities like Ino had.
Looking over at her, he smiled again as he saw her wearing his clothes, they would need to retrieve her own or at least buy some more before continuing there unplanned travels. And to his slight agitation, there was one place left that he knew they would not be found.
His own house, for no one knew of its whereabouts, except him, anyone who even had the slightest idea, was now lying beneath dirt with a stone above their head, and claiming "Rest in peace"
It would be nice to go home again though; it was somewhere he felt properly content, not just forced contentment that he would force upon himself to stop his temper mutilating the nearest living thing within a five metre radius. He almost felt that warm, homely content now to be fair, but not quite.
Continuing to draw his emerald and crimson gaze over Ino's sleeping form, a cruel but brutally honest inquiry, harmlessly crawled its way into his head. How long since he had, had a woman?
But of course, no such thing would he put upon Ino, it was just a random thought at a coincidental moment.
…Of course.
He could get a beautiful woman, who returned his feelings when he got the money after completing this job. It was just another working day.
Inoichi set down the freshly cropped and completed stack of papers and took in a deep breath before leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes, the ticking of the clock took over his hearing and he just listened before ruffling his dark blonde hair and checking his phone that lay on the immaculate desk.
"No Messages"
His face showed no emotion as he clicked onto a few more buttons with fluent taps of his fingertips.
"No Missed Calls"
Now he frowned, a subtle vexation on hardened lips.
He had heard nothing from Kakuzu, or his daughter, for…how long had it been now…a few days? Weeks? He hoped she was safe, Kakuzu, he didn't really care about, as long as he got his daughter back in one piece, or organised someone suitable to take over his job if for some reason or another he was unable to.
The longer they were away the more Inoichi would have to pay. The damned man couldn't decide whether he loved his daughter or found her an expensive inconvenience.
For a split second he considered ringing her, but had hesitation in case they were in the middle of a situation that means receiving his call would draw them into dire consequences.
Like, if they were hiding from the enemy or something. Screw it; he needed at least some form of awareness to his own child's circumstances.
Brrriiinnnggg, Brrriiinnnggg.
Kakuzu took a moment to realise Ino's phone was ringing; he raised an eyebrow, wondering where she could have possibly put it, considering there recent situation meaning most belongings were abandoned at the lodge.
Oh of course, he had taken the mobile from her so she couldn't contact anyone. She stirred slightly so he got up and crept forward, figuring with some dismay that it was on an inside pocket.
Shit.
He thought with an audible grumble, but none the less, he figured it must be her father or someone of significance, at least he hoped, he didn't really want to face the girly nattering of a late-night-gossiping mate of hers.
Shaking his tanned, rough hand into the night air, as if swiping off water which was more likely sweat, he carefully pulled back a corner of his own shirt and revealed some of the creamy flesh of her chest, but nothing was exposed that would make him regret his rash choices right now, the phone had stopped and he froze.
Damn, too late. But before he withdrew it rung again and he delicately scraped the material beneath, fumbling for the pocket.
Ino murmured and shifted, but he almost had his fingers clasped around the shape of the mechanical item when she slid of the base of the tree, heading for the grass only a short distance below.
He caught her with ease but was startled as the back of his hand, brushed against something it shouldn't, something that made an interesting sound escape her mouth and his hand shiver with warmth, overall the movement motivated him to; quick as lightening, grab the phone and rip his hand from beneath the shirt and away from her bare skin, answering it swiftly he steadied his breathing that he was unaware until now, had increased in pace and sound.
"Hello?"
"It's Inoichi"
Kakuzu answered with subtle sarcasm.
"It's Kakuzu"
"Where is Ino?"
"Asleep at the moment"
"Do you not rest?"
"On a job, naturally, no"
"Right of course, how has the job been?"
Kakuzu hesitated.
"Alright, only one attack so far" he lied calmly.
"And?"
"No injuries of any sort, and we are not somewhere they will find with ease currently, but still we are about to move location to somewhere of the highest privacy in the morning"
"Where is that?"
"I would rather not say over the phone"
"Why the hell not?"
The bodyguard rolled his eyes, his employer sure was slow.
"Because phone lines are easy to hack"
A pause from the other end made the scarred man smirk.
"Of course, well, when will everything be finished, and she can come home?"
"Soon, hopefully, but I do not know of the enemies intentions, so I cannot say for certain"
"Well, either deal with them or find someone who can, she can not just hide in a…shed with you for the rest of her life"
"I know, and I would not want to avoid returning her home, where I can collect my pay, and obviously, be secure on her precious safety"
Inoichi made a disapproving sound.
"We shall see, I do not like to be kept in the dark, update to me as soon as possible, Kakuzu, good night"
And with that the man hung up, leaving the body-guard to curse beneath his breath and click the phone off, leaving that area in the forest, once again silent.
Looking at the glimmering, violet mobile phone in his hand, he looked upon the slumbering woman laid against the grass.
"Time for round two" he grimaced and looked at the shirt again.
Yeah, obviously he could just wait until she was awake to return it to her, but that wasn't exciting, whereas this added just a bit of thrill to his job. Since he, no matter how much he was paid to be good, could stay a good boy for too long.
Placing the phone onto the ground beside him, reaching the pocket then returning it, would mean less contact.
But since when was that any fun?
Cautiously, but with slowly decreasing patience, Kakuzu rested both his hands on her hips, sliding beneath the shirt to barely caress the skin beneath.
She was very warm, considering the cold night air and limited clothing. Ino's skin was soft, smooth, tender, fresh and healthy skin that she probably proud of.
His thumbs drew slow circles over her hips, the pressure getting heavier and he traced his hands up and to grip her waist. More skin was revealed, glowing in the moonlight slightly.
"How pretty" he commented dully as his unique eyes flashed with a dangerous, meaningful flicker.
Ino, meanwhile, had at first, only muttered incoherent, irrelevant words from a deep dream, but now, was escaping more than mumbles, but the softest of moans at the unfamiliar touches that she was unconscious to.
Noises that made Kakuzu's fluctuating emotions sear with something, growing as strong as his temper.
The rim of skin between his thumb and index finger had reached the minimum base of something, that was not as flat as the rest of her stomach and he stopped, shuddering as he almost captured the large, full warmth.
But shit, unable to resist one last, cruelly taunting movement, he ghosted the flesh of her stitched palms over most of the tender surface of her breasts and then drew along to the pocket, where he returned the phone and brought his hands out to the bracing night air.
She had shivered at that last touch, and he had felt it.
God, mother-fucking god, he could have her right now, nothing was stopping him, no people, no daylight, no suppressed urges, no protests from herself and barely any clothing.
Yet something grazed the back of him mind.
He was fond of Ino Yamanaka, and he would not taint her without consent, it would make him just as worst as he used to be, plus he was her bodyguard, she wouldn't allow him to protect her if he did anything like this, and that meant she was an easy target, after the gentle embrace they had before, it just seemed wrong.
Kakuzu was easily taken in by his desires and greed, yes, but he was also a man of certain (bare certain) decency and logic, he knew the consequences.
Folding the material up over her body, he moved away and thus, removing the comforting warmth of her away from him, until he regained his place under his own tree and it was as if nothing.
Had. Happened.
Sakura finished tying up her blossom pink hair and took a moment to stare into the mirror. What had gone on at the supermarket? She only recalled Ino disappearing behind an aisle stack then being knocked out and then the pavement beneath her facial cheeks and the shadows of crowding citizens, mildly concerned for her well being.
What had happened to Ino? Sakura hadn't seen the blonde since, her car wasn't in the car park so either it had been stolen or she got away, or maybe they had just been after her and not the pig. She shook her head and turned away from her reflection, it had been a while since she had been in touch with her former best friend anyway, so the brief meeting was both startling and interesting.
The woman's green eyes flashed open, and who was that man she was talking about?
"Kakuzu has the time" Sakura recalled the words with a curious roll of her tongue, Kakuzu? Maybe people had heard of him, Ino didn't usually mention her suitors name unless she had something to be thoroughly proud of, considering she wasn't one for long term relationships anyway.
"Kakuzu?" Sakura said aloud and without much further hesitation she decided to ask around and see if anyone knew of him.
Ino's eyes fluttered open and she sighed, stretching her body as she felt the impending aching feeling, as a result from sleeping on the forest floor.
But it hadn't been her worst sleep, it was quite deep and she had been comfortably warm, brief thanks to Kakuzu's thick clothing. Sitting up against the base of the tree trunk she looked around.
The sun glittered through the trees in a sweet, summery way and she allowed a small smile to grace her lips. Then she caught sight of Kakuzu who was messing around with some equipment at his tree, she watched him tighten a burnished kunai holder onto his lower leg and then stand up swiftly, looking straight at her as though he was aware of her consciousness the whole time.
"Morning" she muttered shyly and he grunted a reply that she pouted to so she repeated; a little louder this time. "Good morning Kakuzu!"
"Yeah, yeah, good morning, whatever"
What happened to her loveable guardian?
Sighing she looked down at herself, blushing at his clothes on her body and the looseness of it all making her feel exposed despite the hanging size of the attire.
"We need to go back or at least get me some clothes" she muttered, then looked up and hastily added. "You too"
He rolled his eyes and nodded, finishing off and taking an eyeful of the area.
"I don't know where we are right now, so I am going to scout over the treetops, stay here" he told her and knelt before jumping up into the branches overhead, silent, flawless, Ino snorted at the subtle drama of It all.
Waiting for his return she crossed her arms and breathed out slowly, tapping her foot a little. She had never been the patient kind.
"If we head north we should-" Kakuzu's voice came right behind Ino's ear and before he finished, she screamed, swung round with her fist and allowed it to collide with the right side of his face.
He growled and slumped, holding the new injury with alarm.
"What. The. Fuck. Woman, what is your problem?" he cried and she blushed and stammered a shaky reply, biting her lip.
"You…startled me"
"Well I didn't actually try to attack you, go easier next time"
The girl didn't know it, but she must have had a lot of energy pumped into her left fist.
"Look, I'm sorry, let me check it"
"No, get off!" he spluttered as she tried pulling his mask down again.
"I will be really quick and then we can get going!" she sung cheerfully and successfully tugged the material down, Kakuzu was surprised at how she didn't pause to stare at his mangled face but fluently placed her hand to the side of it and focused on the injury.
She had her eyes focused on the wound at the moment but when she glanced up, she stayed gazing into the green and red eyes that looked back soundlessly.
Her check-up was done by now, but she didn't let go of his face.
A/N: Alas, this is longer then most chapters, to make up for my delay in updating, well please enjoy and sorry for the super intimate crap that managed to plod itself into the writing. I blame anyone but myself.
#LAW00
To Fantasty is now Non-Fiction: Haha, it's great to hear a little pervertedness will not drive you away and it's awesome that you enjoyed this chapter, thank you so much for another review!
To sun drop: That is utterly wonderful to hear, thank you so much for taking the time to review and for giving me such praise! Your support is very much appreciated and to know your faith is not lost is most reassuring. Thank you so much!
To fan on the verge of tears: I am dreadful for cliffhangers, but it's great you're excited to continue reading! Do not cry! I hope the following chapters will stop those tears and bring on a smile! I love you too, ahhaa :D
To Anuba Hatake: Thank you so much and I apologise for my late updates! I can only be glad you are keen to read on and the fact you are is very motivating so thanks so much for the review!