Seven
"The next day I started to learn about face paint." He grinned. "And I had to clean the training hall every day for two months." The grin faded. "A few months later we started to prepare for the invasion, and he…"
Miri nodded, she already knew the story of the failed invasion and how the Kazekage had cut himself off from his son in the weeks leading up to it.
"And then I was on my own with Kuroari and Shanshouo. At least until Ebizo-sensei finally decided to take me on as a student."
"Did you ever see her again?"
"No. No one has seen her since. I looked once, but…" he shrugged again.
"What an interesting woman. She could see…"
"That's crap. She was just saying stuff to keep him from killing her. No one can predict the future. I can't believe that you believe in that shit." He looked over at her. "Actually, I can't believe you're still awake. The last time I did this, my audience fell asleep."
"How rude of them. I would not say I believed, but I have some ideas on the subject. In theory…"
"Oh, no. Don't start theorizing, it's way too late for that. She was just saying what he wanted to hear about Gaara."
"Not only Gaara. What about Naruto? What about…?"
"No. You could make just about anything out of what she said. That's the way that shit works." He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "I'm getting a drink of water."
He started to stand, but her hand clamped onto his upper arm, pulling him back down. She sat up. "One moment, please."
"No, Miri. She didn't predict anything. I refuse to believe that everything that has happened to me was predictable, planned. Like I was some damn puppet on a string. No way!"
"You? Predictable? Never!"
He scowled at her facetious tone.
"Well, you are not, but that is not what I was going to ask."
"Then what?"
"Who was this other person who fell asleep? What story did you tell?"
Kankuro stared at her blankly a moment and then laughed. In a single fluid motion, he turned and pushed her back down, pinning her in place with his body. Miri wiggled under him, making a half-hearted protest, but not trying too hard to get free (she could toss him through the wall if she wanted).
"Like hell I'm going to tell you that."
"Tell me the story then. It could not have been that boring."
"Hell, no! Story time is over."
"Will you tell me another time?"
"Why should I? What's in it for me?"
"How about…'a thousand kisses, then another hundred, then another thousand, then yet another thousand more. Then, when we have made many thousands, we will mix them up so no one can be jealous when they find out how many kisses we have shared'."
He snorted. "What's with that sappy shit? Did you make that up?"
"It is Catullus. Hmm, you are right, it does lose a little in the translation."
"More than a little." He leaned down to kiss her; the jinchuuriki that he loved. "A thousand kisses, huh? Well, that's a start."
END