Chapter 5

Fuma's presence had become even more ominous whenever he entered the house. Sasuke would get a sickening feeling in his stomach, and he felt compelled to keep his armor on at all times when they were together. That included whenever they were in the house. If Fuma noticed he didn't say anything.

So what else is new?

I had actually been a long time since Fuma spoke a word to him at this point.

"I think he's mad at me," Sasuke admitted when he was talking with Kasuga. She was on a trip from Echigo and decided to stop by.

"What makes you say that?"

"He hasn't talked to me in a while and he's taking missions more often than he normally does."

"Whoever is paying him might be sending him out a lot. It probably has nothing to do with you. Why are you so concerned anyways? You got him to settle down in Takada your mission is over."

"It's complicated."

The blond gave him a sideways glance, "Did you guys become friends or something. I heard through some of my own ninja's that you and Fuma are "involved" but I figured you would have told me if that was the case."

"I think he likes me. I can never be sure with him. I mean, he let me kiss him so you think that would mean something, but for some reason it likes he wants nothing to do with me, and then he had the nerve to say that I'm the one avoiding him."

Kasuga was giving him a look between uncaring and surprised, "So you are together?"

"Yes and No. I'm not really sure. Like I said he's been taking a lot of mission's lately and..."

"Weren't you taking double loads of missions last month?" she cut him off.

"Yeah but..."

"No buts. Think about it. He's a ninja, if you got him mad he's going to be passive aggressive about it."

"You think he's doing what I did to him."

"It's a logical answer. Though it is only a matter of time before instinct takes over," she pondered.

"What instinct."

"Fuma is a mercenary. He's been known to kill his employer once he's been paid. If you made him mad..." she let Sasuke finish the rest of the thought.

"He wouldn't. He's not an animal. He has a sense of moral values."

"I heard that he was desensitized before he was six years old in order to become the heart less killer he is, and that was over a hundred years ago. According to the legend."

Sasuke shook his head remembering what Fuma had told him about the way his family kept of the act of appearing to be one age-less person. Still, she had a point. Fuma never spoke about when he was younger but everyone had heard about the intense training that he supposedly went though over hundreds of years ago.

"I know he wouldn't," Sasuke declared.

"Whatever. If that's not the case than you should try doing that think called, talking with him?"

Easier said than done.

It was like Fuma wanted nothing to do with him anymore. Now he was going to have to rely on his skills in order to catch him. Which, as previously mentioned, is easier said than done.

Fuma was more like a ghost. You think you see him and when you turn to take a second look he's already gone. There were very few points in time when he made a sound to indicate that he was breathing, much less a foot fall.

Just as he was concocting a master plan to catch Fuma the person he was thinking about enter the home, rather loudly. He was caked in mud, much like the night Sasuke ended up taking care of him. This time, however, he was walking perfectly fine on his own.

He abandoned his dirty helmet in the hallway by the door and whipped his mud caked bangs from in front of his eyes. His mouth was set in a firm line letting Sasuke know to tread lightly.

"What happened?"

"Matsunaga," Kotaro said, "I'm going to go take a shower," he said starting to strip as he walked. It wasn't
long until Sasuke could hear the water running in the bathroom. He heard something stumble and almost fall in the shower. He had a feeling Fuma was fine but he went to check on him anyways.

"Kotaro," he learned that the other man liked it better when he referred to him by his given name since he told him what it was, "Are you okay?" he opened the bathroom door.

He paused seeing the fresh cuts on Fuma's back. Even though Fuma was a ninja, he was too good for anyone to touch him. It was the reason that Sasuke was rendered speechless at the sight of them.

"What happened?"

Fuma made a hand motion that told him to leave.

"I'm not going until you tell me what happened."

Fuma sighed, "You know how you have to do what your employer says?"

"Yeah."

"Put two and two together."

"Matsunaga did this? For what reason?"

"Get out."

"Fine," Sasuke agreed, "You'll tell me later right?"

No answer came.

Sasuke really wanted to talk to Fuma about what he had seen, but he had a feeling that Fuma didn't feel the same. He decided on going to bed and worrying about it in the morning. Just when he was starting to fall asleep there was a sudden presence next to him. He knew better than to say anything. He wrapped his arms around the other man and held him close.