Author's Note:

Hi! I'd like to thank you if you are reading this! It means you actually like this story and even bothered to read the next chapter! I really appreciate it.

Here's the second chapter, enjoy!

"Ahh, it's freaking hot." Natsumi groaned, wiping sweat off her forehead with her handkerchief, she readjusted her backpack on her shoulders and continued walking. The huge, tall post with Konaha's symbol on it was in sight. She quickened her pace. She wanted to sit down and have a cup of ice cold water. She had been walking for three whole days from her home to Konaha. Yes, walking. Not jumping branches like a ninja because she wasn't one. Dragging her tired feet, her eyes fixated on the ground, she approached the gate. "You looked exhausted." A deep, familiar voice said, making her look up. "Genma!" Natsumi exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. He was startled by her embrace for a moment, then patted her back, "Heavy luggage, I see."

She nodded, rolling her eyes, "You have no idea."

"Need some help?" He offered, eyeing her backpack.

She grinned shyly, "Yes, please?" He smirked, ruffling her hair. She smacked his hand away in a playful fashion, "Don't, I haven't washed my hair in three days. I forgot to bring my shampoo."

"Gross." He stated, gesturing towards her bag. She gave it to him after she smacked him on the back for his comment then stretched her arms, "So much better, thanks." He flipped it onto his back, shrugging, "Sure thing."

Natsumi's lips couldn't help curve up into a wide smile, "I missed Konaha."

"H'm." was the amber-haired man's answer.

"I missed you too." She admitted, blushing a little.

"H'm." Genma had the same answer, but with a smirk playing between his lips.

"How's Hayate?" She asked, hurrying up towards his footsteps.

"Good, he's doing pretty well." He gave her a smile. Oh yes, Hayate was doing great, falling in love, getting a girlfriend and all.

"Where are we going anyways?" She asked, blinking.

"My place." He answered in a casual tone, "You can use my bathroom."

"Wh-what?" She stammered, "But that'd be a tad inappropriate."

"Well, your other choice is to head directly over to Hayate's with you looking all greasy." He stopped and eyed her from head to toe.

The bastard was right. She pouted, "Fine."

Genma opened the door to his house and lead her inside. He put down her bag on his sofa and sat down. "Don't you lock your door?" Natsumi asked, standing in front of him awkwardly.

He shrugged, "I didn't think I needed to bother."

"Oh well." She raised her brows, "So?" Throwing her arms out, she looked at him quizzically.

"Go take a shower." He yawned, crossing his legs in a non-mannered way.

"Where's the bathroom? You didn't even bother to show me." She snapped, pissed off at his 'I'm so cool' attitude. He nodded towards the door behind her, "Just over there."

"Oh." She mumbled, zipping open her backpack and quickly gathered out a change of clothes. She shot him a death glare before turning her back him.

"Don't worry, I'm not a pervert." He called behind her back. She slammed the bathroom door shut, making Genma chuckle, "It's not like I haven't seen anything."

"Hi Hayate!" She greeted, giving her old friend a hug. Genma gave him a salute, "Natsumi-chan's idea, let's go for a walk."

"I'll be right back." Hayate told the two and disappeared into his bedroom.

Bright yellow pedals caught Natsumi's attention. She walked over to the window, where at least five sunflowers were neatly placed in a vase. Her fingertips trailed the contours of the pedals, admiring them silently.

"Hayate's got a girlfriend, y'know?" Genma tilted his head, "That's why there are sunflowers. She gave them to him."

Natsumi nodded, "Oh, I see." Genma swore he saw a flash of disappointment in her eyes. She looked down at the floor, then back at him, "I bet she's brilliant."

"She's in Anbu. They've been together for four months now." Genma explained concisely. Natsumi picked at her fingernails, "That's great. Good for him."

"You sound disappointed." He pointed out, moving the senbon in his mouth from left to right.

"I am not!" She snapped furiously, a little too defensive. "I'm not. I feel happy for him. For them, I mean."

Genma closed his eyes and nodded, "Of course."

She snorted, giving him a punch on the back, "I hate you." He smirked.

"I'm ready," Hayate reappeared in his living room, adjusting his headband.

"Let's go." Genma threw an arm around Natsumi's shoulder. She growled under her breath, but didn't push him away.

The three friends walked through the streets, finally stopping at their destination, the grassy hill along the river.

"Ahh." Genma plopped down, crossing his arms behind his head.

Natsumi sat down next to him, looking through her picnic basket, "Buns?"

Genma clicked his tongue, closing his eyes. She rolled her eyes, irritated.

"I'd like one." Hayate spoke. Natsumi smiled; he hardly spoke on the way, he just chuckled a little at Natsumi and Genma's arguments.

She picked up the basket, wanting to hand it over to him, but he had already sat down beside him and reached over. His hand brushed against hers, making her blush.

"You're quite flushed, are you alright?" Hayate asked, concerned.

"…yeah, I…I had some sake before I went over to yours." She lied, "That's why."

"I didn't know you drank." He pointed out, biting on the baked bun.

'I don't.' She thought, secretly glad that he knew her. "I do." She muttered.

"You have sake?" Genma sat up, "Pass some over."

"Gee, you don't have to be so rude, a please would be nice." She reached into the basket and handed him a glass bottle.

"Do you have an extra cup? I'd like some too." Hayate asked. His answer was a glare from Natsumi, "No, only tea for you."

His shoulders hunched down. He had finished the bread in his hand and began picking at the grass. Natsumi sighed, "I'm sorry, Hayate-kun, I'm just looking after your health." "I know." He gave her a weak smile.

"Speaking of you," She lay down on her back, her hair tousled around the grass beneath, "I heard you have a girlfriend."

Hayate's face actually flushed red. He looked almost healthy, his rosy cheeks contrasted against his pale face, "Yes."

"What's her name?" She asked, trying the best to sound casual.

"Yugao Uzuki." He answered, starting to pick at the grass again.

"That's a pretty name." She murmured, then turning back to him, "She must be beautiful. You should ask her out someday so Genma and I can meet her."

"I met Uzuki already." Genma yawned, "Don't pull me in this."

She dug her nails into the dirt. Why wasn't Genma participating in making this easier for her? "It would be awkward," She pouted.

Hayate laughed gently, "Yugao would love to meet you. Genma, you should tag along, Natsumi would miss you if you didn't."

"Miss him? Please." Natsumi rolled her eyes, "He's a jerk."

"Hey, my credit ain't that bad." Genma argued, sitting up.

"Oh yeah?" She pushed an index finger against his chest, "I don't think so."

Hayate chuckled, which was followed with a cough, "I swear, you two are meant for each other."

"Her? Please."

"Him? Please."

The two of them said at once.

This just made Hayate chuckle more as well as Natsumi blush redder. Genma just lay back down, closing his eyes once again, obviously annoyed.

"So we'll meet in two days at the tea shop, you bring Genma and I'll bring Yugao. She'd be delighted to meet you." Hayate beamed. Natsumi returned a small grin, "We'll see you then."

"Troublesome, troublesome." Genma muttered, "Bye, Hayate."

"Thanks guys." Hayate coughed, "Goodnight." He gave them a playful hint in the eyes before closing the door. Natsumi clenched her fists. Seriously, Hayate was getting on his nerves. Is it true that love can blossom a person…like make Hayate a little more fun and teasing?

"Come on, now." Genma said. It was easy to sense that he was irritated, "I still have to take you back to your place and go home."

"H'm." She mumbled, following him.

The two of them were silent on the way to her hot springs hotel. Genma was walking in a rather fast pace and Natsumi was struggling to keep up. It was midnight and the stores along the streets were closed. Darkness was all around. To be honest, Natsumi feared the dark, it made her extremely insecure and feel as if she would be swallowed into a black hole.

"Genma." She whispered, reaching forward to clutch his sleeve.

"Admit it, you are jealous of Uzuki." Genma suddenly said, turning around to face her. She was taken aback by his sudden accusation; "Yeah right."

"And you want me to tag along, just so when you meet her it wouldn't be as obvious that you're jealous." He continued.

"I don't know what you are talking about." She insisted, her hand still stubbornly grasped on his sleeve.

"Natsumi, it's not the first day I known you." He sighed, "You obviously like Hayate." He began to walk again, causing her to almost trip over. Her hand had left go and Genma turned on a corner.

"Genma!" She hissed, "Don't leave me here!" With the dim moonlight, she managed to catch up to him and to his dismay, she reached for his hand and clasped tight on it, "I'm scared of the dark." He didn't know why, but he stroked the back of her palm with his thumb, trying to comfort her. She was like a terrified little bunny---very different from what she usually acted.

"And yes, I like Hayate. But not like how you think." She swallowed, "I love him, as a brother. It's just…I couldn't handle the news. I mean, him having a girlfriend. He's hardly spent any time with any women…but me. It's all new for me…you know. To 'share' Hayate with someone else."

"Here's you." He stopped in front the hotel, letting go of her hand.

"Genma." She began, wanting to explain more. He shook his head, "You should go to sleep." She wanted to cry, he was misunderstanding everything!

"Genma, please." She grabbed onto his sleeve; once again.

He ignored her. Instead, he lift open the curtain and pushed her into the lobby. Genma glanced at the counter, where the fat, middle aged hotel owner sat. He was eyeing Natsumi up and down like a piece of meat, which instantly ticked Genma off. To her surprise, Genma grabbed her waist, making her squeal. He spat his senbon onto the wooden floor and yawned at the owner, "Goodnight."

The owner muttered a "'night" and quickly looked away. The hotel was cheap and customers were normally lower class visitors from outside the country, so Natsumi was quite an eye candy---but the owner never thought that a well-respected Tokubetsu Jounin would visit!

"What are you doing?" She demanded with a small squeak.

"Woman, shut up." He clicked his tongue, kissing her on the top of her head, "Just act along." He pulled her closer next to him. She smelled quite lovely. How come he didn't notice before?

"Where's your room?" He asked, his voice low. She pointed towards the end of the hallway, "The second last room on the left." He nodded, walking her there with his hand protectively around her waist.

She unlocked the door, getting inside and immediately pushed his hand off her, "What the hell was that all about, Shiranui?" She demanded, "Taking advantage of me like that?!"

He snorted, "I just saved your skinny ass, at least you could be more thankful."

"I still don't know what you are talking about." She looked away from him, frowning.

"Are you telling me you didn't notice that pig of a manager eyeing you up?" Genma scratched his chin, annoyed at how naive she was.

"No, he's quite a sweet old man." She tilted her head, "Wait…you said he was checking me out?!"

"Uh, didn't I just say that?" He rolled his eyes, "Do you understand the risks of staying at this kind of place?"

She shrugged, "I just figured I'd be mostly hanging out with you and Hayate, didn't matter where I stayed."

"Seriously, are you that stupid?" He shook his head in despair, "Don't you even know the simplest thing to do to protect yourself?"

"Well I'm sorry, I'm not a ninja, so no, I don't!" She snarled, "What are you going to do, bite me?"

"You…" He stared at her in disbelief.

The two of them glared at each other for seconds, which seemed like forever. The angry tension was building up so fast, Natsumi could feel herself trembling. Neither of them looked away from the other, locking their eye contact.

"Woman, you drive me crazy sometimes…" He spoke, his voice husky. Her green eyes met with his brown orbs---then it was like electricity.

He stepped forward and pressed his lips against hers. Her eyes widened at the action but became instantly addicted to his taste, his smell…

"Genma…" She murmured between the kiss, "Genma." His fingers ran through her silky raven hair as her hands pressed against his chest. His tongue probed into her mouth. A small moan came from her throat. She realized his hands had traveled from her hair to her neck…and down to her chest; he was gently squeezing her left breast from above the fabric of her clothes. She was melting under his touch, but somehow she had the willpower and strength to push him away. "Genma." She panted, he stepped back and stared at her: her lips were swollen, moist and slightly apart, her eyes misty and cheeks burning red.

He reached over and cupped her face, "Natsu-chan." His hands were warm and soft and---no. "This was…wrong." She stammered, quickly looking away from him, "We shouldn't have done it."

His index finger traced the contour of her lips and she was trying her darn best to suppress the urge of licking it.

"Genma-dan---" She bit on her tongue before she almost called him 'danna'. She can't, they can't…they were supposed to be best friends! They were just in a middle of an argument, then bam! How could they just randomly hook-up?

And that kiss was…steamy. And she wanted more. No.

"H'm?" Genma smirked, "What were you going to say?" He was clearly teasing her, as his fingertips trailed up to her eyebrows, smoothing them, "You shouldn't frown so often, you're much prettier when you smile." She bit her lower lip, he was being so…sweet.

"Genma-kun," Natumi's voice cracked, "I…I think you should go."

His body stiffened and he let go of her, taking sudden interest of the moonlight outside the window, "Good night, Natsumi." He said in a low voice.

"Good night." She swallowed, her eyes darting from the floor to ceiling--- anywhere but his intense brown eyes.

He left from the window, not wanting the hotel manager know she was now alone. He reached for a senbon from his back pouch and placed it in his mouth, chewing hard on it. He clucked his tongue and leaped from a building's roof to another, the further away the better.

At five in the morning, Natsumi had checked out of the lousy hotel. At six o'clock, she had fled Konaha.

"Where's Natsumi-chan?" Hayate asked the next day, his voice rather lively as he held his lover's hand. They were waiting in front of the tea store. Genma rolled his shoulders, "Dunno, perhaps she forgot." As if he didn't care.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading. Please R&R!