Chapter 3

Sasuke was the first to wake up the next morning, and made something to eat for when Fuma woke up. He set the plate down on the small night stand before taking his place back on the floor.

It was odd, even though this was his house; he found it strange to be in Fuma's room. He smiled softly at how relaxed the other man looked when he was sleeping. He looked so much more at ease than he did during the day.

Fuma's eyes snapped opened suddenly as if someone had shaken him. Green eyes bore into brown as he slowly sat up, obviously still tired. He sat up slowly, the kimono he was wearing opened as he did so. Sasuke's eyes ended up glued to the area of skin that was now revealed.

"Y-you're awake," Sasuke stuttered, "How are you feeling?"

"Fine. I'll take it you took care of me."

"Y-yeah. You were pretty worn out when you came in."

"Sorry, I'm used to living on my own and picking myself up next morning."

"I didn't mind," Sasuke grinned uneasily. His eyes drifted downwards, before he regained his bearings and looking back up to Fuma's face. The other ninja was smirking at him, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He wondered if he always looked at him like this.

Fuma hopped out of bed and moved to where he kept his clothes. Sasuke watched him, his eyes widen as he watched to kimono drop to the floor reviling a playground a soft, creamy skin. What really got him was the tone ass that was all but presented to him.

"Y-you could have just told me you were about that," he turned away.

"You bathed me last night right? You've seen me naked before, so this is no big deal."

Sasuke had to turn round in order to control himself. Dang it! Yukimura was right. Well, at least partly right. All he was feeling for Fuma right now was nothing but lust. Thinking back to it, it shouldn't have been that surprising. Ninjas mostly live a life of solitude. Fuma had become the one thing that was a guaranty in his life. He never even saw Yukimura as often as he did Fuma, and he works for the guy.

When he did muster up the courage to take a peek behind him, he was glad to see that Fuma was properly dressed.

"What was your mission anyways? Normal you don't come home nearly as exhausted as that."

"It wasn't the mission as much as it was the trip back home. I couldn't stop at an inn because of who I am and I hate sleeping in the trees, so I rushed here."

"Why can't you stay in the inn?"

"I'm a legendary ninja. I'm supposed to kill everyone who sees me. Having to check stay at an inn would be too messy."

Sasuke felt his blood run cold, "Kill everyone you meet."

"I made an exception for you," Fuma smirked at him.

"I guess that's how you remain a legend," Sasuke laughed nervously, "Do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Depends on what it is," By this point Fuma had sat down and started eating what Sasuke had left him.

"How old are you. For generations back, people have said that they spotted Fuma, and that he never seemed to age. And if it's true that would make you... almost two hundred years old."

"It's a clan secret, but because there isn't a clan anymore I tell you. That and I trust you enough not to tell anyone."

"Really," Sasuke beamed scathing his cheek with his index finger.

"Fuma is just a name of leadership for my clan. Kotaro is my real name. The only thing that gets passed down is the name and the uniform."

"You were the leader of your clan."

"Just the ninja corp., I was second in command of the Hojo, but I only had a say in things that involved war and such."

"That's cool, but you didn't answer my question."

"I'm not old if that's what you mean. I'm twenty six."

"Ah, you're a year younger than me."

Fuma rolled his eyes, setting the plate he just finished aside, "I'm going to be gone for a while." He put his helmet back on, "I have to report back to the guy who hired me."

"Be safe," Sasuke bid.

~.~.~.~.~

Sasuke found Yukimura in the courtyard sulking, probably after his second trip to Oshu.

"What's wrong dana," Sasuke asked sitting next to his master.

"That's it, I don't know. I was finally able to spar with Masamune-done, because that stupid pirate wasn't there, but it didn't feel like it normally did."

"What happened exactly?"

"I showed up, and we spared, and then we went to get something to eat. I ended up staying the night because Masamune-dono didn't want me traveling home in the dark. Isn't that nice of him," Yukimura had a dazed look in his eye.

"I don't see anything wrong with that."

"All he was talking about was that pirate bastard," Yukimura grumbled, going back to his sour mood.

"Ah, I had a feeling it had something to too with that."

"I don't get it. Whenever he..."

"We've been through this before master, remember? It's called jealously."

"I'm not jealous."

"Well, if you're going to sit here and sulk like a love sick teenager, I'll be on my way then."

The young tiger looked baffled, "But I am a teenager."

...

Sometime Sasuke forgot how young Yukimura was.

"How's it going with your house guest?" Yukimura asked before Sasuke could leave.

"Pretty well. It's not hard to have him around; he's quiet and keeps his stuff clean."

"I heard from one of the other ninja's that...never mind. I'll see you later."

"Not so fast," Sasuke grabbed the teen by his ponytail, "What did they tell you."

"That you and Fuma-dono are more that friends," Yukimura whimpered, scared of what Sasuke would do once he heard the news.

"What," Sasuke squeaked, releasing Yukimura, "Why would they say that."

"I don't know. Something about you guys always being together, and that you're the only one he talks to, and now you live together, and you gave him a bath..."

"They've been spying on me?"

"Only because they didn't trust Fuma's intentions. They were worried about you."

Sasuke sighed, "Fuma and I aren't together. He just needed a place to stay and couldn't get one unless he worked for Takada, which is something he refuses to do."

"I knew that, they wouldn't listen to me."

Sasuke sighed yet again, letting Yukimura go do whatever it was he was about to go do. He looked up in the trees where he saw his lesser experienced ninjas cowering. There were very few times when Sasuke was actually angry. He decided not to pay them any mind. He went back to his home, finding Fuma lounging on his couch.

"You seem upset," the silent ninja didn't even have to look at him to senses it.

"It's nothing to worry about. My subordinates are acting up a little, that's all."

"You mean them spying on us."

"You knew."

"You didn't? They weren't being that discreet."

Sasuke just left it at Fuma being a legendary ninja. Not that he was distracted by all of Fuma's naked flesh...Oh, shit. They saw him ogling Fuma. Well, there wasn't much of anything he could do about it now.

"Move your feet," Sasuke swatted at Fuma to make room on the couch. Fuma complied enough for Sasuke to sit down before he laid his feet back down. This time his legs resting across Sasuke's thighs. Sasuke looked up to say something to find Fuma smirking at him, green eyes boring into his. He found himself blushing, and looking away instead of saying something.

The position was overly domestic, especially with Fuma in a kimono that was normally used for relaxing. It left parts of his upper legs exposed. He kept his eyes away from the skin. It wasn't long until he almost curled on Sasuke's lap. His even breathing was what signaled him that he was asleep, so he wasn't tempting him on purpose.

He was stuck until Fuma woke up. It wouldn't have been so bad if Fuma wasn't so fidgety. It wasn't long until he found himself all but cuddling Fuma, who had positioned himself to be sitting in his lap and tucking his head under Sasuke's chin. For some reason he stilled after that. Who would have thought that Fuma was a cuddle-er. He relaxed into the side of the couch letting Fuma rest all of his weight on him.

He sighed hearing his ninjas snicker at him. He paid it no mind, finding himself wandering off to sleep as well. It wasn't until sometime around noon that he woke up with Fuma still sound asleep.

It made since that after what happened last night, that the other man would still be a bit drowsy. He tried to shift him out of his lap without waking him up, but every time he moved he received a whine of protest.

That's right. The great Legendary Ninja, Fuma Kotaro, whined. It was actually kind of funny until Fuma clung to him, holding the front of his shirt in a tight fist so he really couldn't move this time. It was kind of cute that Fuma had to cuddle something in order to feel comfort, then again, it could just mean that he'd come home from some nightmare of a mission.

Glancing back down at the sleeping man, he didn't appear to look troubled at all. If anything he was completely at ease. Sasuke smiled moving the hair away from Fuma's face to better see him. The other ninja woke up at the touch, he was a ninja after all, the smallest things could wake him.

"Sorry," Sasuke apologized, "I didn't mean to wake you up."

Fuma didn't say anything; he only stretched a bit deciding that it was a good time to move a bit anyway. He slipped partly off of Sasuke's lap still leaving his lower thigh resting there.

Sasuke watched him, wanting to smack himself for staring so openly. Fuma raised an eyebrow at him when he caught the more than friendly look.

"It's nothing," Sasuke said though he wasn't able to change his expression. He couldn't explain why he moved a bit forwards, but he did. He wrapped his arm around Fuma's back bringing him closer.

Fuma's jade eyes were darting around as if trying to figure out what was going on. Sasuke kissed him gently, leaving him room to back out if he wanted to. Fuma kissed him back draping his arms around Sasuke's shoulder.

It was simple and sweet, nothing more than the touch of skin to skin. Fuma smiled at him when they broke apart before planting a kiss on Sasuke's forehead and proceeding to go back to sleep.