Author's Note:
This is the main thing I updated. This is the 'epilogue' of somesort, I guess!
There was a knock on the door in the middle of the night. Cussing, Genma got out of bed and rubbed his eyes. He swung open the door, ready to yell at the person who dared disturb his sleep.
"Hi, Genma." It was Natsumi.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, extremely surprised. Stepping forward, he wanted to pull her into his arms and lock lips. But instead, she took a step back, smiling politely. It was like a thousand miles between them, when there was only three feet between the two physically.
"I'm just back for a little while to run some errands." She answered, pulling out a neatly wrapped present and handed it to him, "Got a little something for you."
"Gee, thanks." He took it from her hands, his fingertips brushed against hers, sending electricity shocks down to each other's spines. She gasped silently, taking another step back, her eyes looking away from him, stammering, "I…I gotta go."
"Natsu-chan." His voice exposed his desperation.
"Bye, Genma." She hurried off into the dark. He didn't chase after her. He knew better.
*
Genma was on night patrol that particular night, when he heard a man and woman having an argument. And the woman's voice sounded just like his best friend's.
"Let go of me." He heard Natsumi hiss and a series of fabric pulling.
"Natsumi!" The man growled angrily, "We are leaving!"
"I want to stay for a few more days," She snapped, "Is that too hard to do?"
"You said you were just here to pick up some things."
"I was!" She wailed, "But I have friends here, don't I even have the right to hang out with them? Even for just a little while?"
"You damned little---"
"You shouldn't be harassing a lady. Even at such late time." Genma appeared in front of the two arguing man and woman. The man immediately let go of Natsumi.
"Oh, hi! Genma-kun." She smiled awkwardly. He did, however, noticed she was relieved by his appearance. The man coughed intentionally.
She eyed him and said, "Er…Kohaku, this is Genma, my friend I told you about. And Genma, this is Kohaku-san. My…um, fiancé."
"Fiancé?" Genma raised an eyebrow, eyeing the man up and down.
"Yeah." She giggled nervously, tugging on Kohaku's shirt, "Come on, we should go now."
"I don't think so." Genma grabbed for her wrist, glancing at her fiancé, "Natsumi and I haven't seen each other for years, you mind if I borrow her for the night?"
Kohaku shot him an unfriendly glare and snorted, "Whatever."
"Kohaku-kun." Natsumi scolded, "I'll be back at the hotel tomorrow morning, okay?"
"Go ahead." Her fiancé shrugged bitterly.
She gave him a quick, light kiss on the cheek before reaching for Genma's hand, "Let's go!"
"H'm."
Until they were out of Kohaku's sight, Natsumi let go of his hand. "Soo…" She began, looking away from him, "Thanks for helping me out there. I might have gotten another beating if you didn't show up."
"Why are you with him then?" Genma asked, annoyed how cold she was acting once again. Did she just use him back there?
She pouted, kicking at the pebbles on the ground, "It's complicated."
"Hayate should have persuaded you to go to ninja school. You wouldn't be abused like that." Genma laughed to himself, "I never imagined the feisty Natsumi would be degraded like that."
Her face shot up, alarmed at his words, "So thank you for saving me. What else do you want me to do?"
He ignored her, continuing on with his own little talk, "I haven't visited Hayate for a while." She thought he had more to say, but he paused. He stopped.
"What, is that an invitation?" She arched an eyebrow, "We can go see him someday this week. If Kohaku lets me."
"Why do you let him boss you around like that?" He demanded, furious at her all of a sudden.
"What else am I supposed to do?" She shrugged, "If I talk back, he'll punch me. If I fight back, god knows what will happen to me."
She had a point.
"You're staying over at my place tonight." He said, grabbing her arm. Her skin tingled at his touch. Oh how much she missed him!
"Okay!" She said, a little too excitedly. Sleeping over at Genma's…it was years ago!
He guided her to the bedroom and watched her lie down on the bed. She climbed into the blankets. The moment she closed her eyes, he turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" She asked, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
"To the living room." He answered.
"No," She patted the other side of the bed, "Stay here."
"You have a fiancé, woman. That's inappropriate." He was biting his tongue in the dark.
"Genma." She buried her head into the pillow, "You know that I'm scared of the dark."
"Then I'll turn on the lights for you."
"I can't sleep with the lights on!" She was practically whining.
He let out a helpless sigh, "Heck, you're annoying, woman." He lay down next to her.
Immediately, she snaked her arms around his waist, murmuring into his chest, "Thank you, Genma."
His body stiffened under her touch. But he let her hold him. He looked at her intently as her face glowed red. She was still so cute.
At first she thought he was going to kiss her. His hot breath was on her face and she could smell peppermint; his signature smell. Her toes curled up under the bed sheets in excitement as she lowered her eyelashes. Her lips slightly pouted, waiting for his intimate embrace.
He turned away. However, his grip on her waist tightened slightly. She inhaled disappointedly, resting her cheek upon his neck. The two of them fell asleep like that, with nothing else happening.
"You should go now." He woke her up early in the morning.
"But---" She pouted, wanting to stay for another while. With him.
"Your fiancé wouldn't be pleased if you stayed any longer." He reminded her.
"But…" She gave him puppy dog eyes, hoping that he wouldn't resist.
"Woman, you should go." He gave her a last warning.
"But we'll be seeing each other?" She asked, with a hint of hope in her voice.
He sighed, "Sure."
"Okay!" She threw her arms around him enthusiastically, "I'll see you soon!" Then she dashed out of his house.
In the afternoon, Natsumi had brought a basket of her homemade buns and a bottle of sake and some flowers, ready to go on a picnic trip to the hill with him and also to visit Hayate. "Genma!" She knocked on the door, excitedly.
He didn't answer, so she turned open the knob---after all these years, he still hadn't locked it.
She tip-toed into his house, figuring he might be asleep. "Wake up, sleepyhead!" She swung his bedroom door open. The sight in front of her made her drop the wooden basket in her hand onto the floor.
He was half-naked, under the sheets, smoking; when a naked, sultry-looking woman was dressing up next to the bed. The woman scowled as she clipped on her bra, pushing past Natsumi and leaving the room.
Natsumi opened her mouth but nothing came out. Her throat was dry and she felt sick. She trembled as she found her voice, "I-I-I---I'm so sorry…I should have waited outside." She felt tears swamping her eyes, "I didn't mean to burst in like that."
Genma tilted his chin up, no emotion readable on his face, "What do you want then?"
She swallowed hard, "I was wondering if you wanted to go on a walk to see Haya---" Her voice trailed off, "But I guess not." Turning on her heels, she hurried out his room and his house as fat droplets of tears trickled down her cheeks.
She ran and ran, until her every muscle in her legs burnt in pain.
Somehow she ended up at Hayate's grave. She collapsed to the ground, panting for air. "Hayate…" She sobbed, placing her hand on the cold, stone monument, "Hayate. Why aren't you here when I need you the most?"She kneeled on the grassy ground and bawled like a baby. Her raspy cries were the only sound in the quiet valley.
Moments later, she sat up and wiped away her tears with the back of her palm. She sat down next to his grave, "I'm going to bring flowers for you tomorrow, sorry."
The breeze blew against her face, the calm, soothing air seemed like a silent answer, 'It's alright' of Hayate.
Natusmi sniffled, "Anyways…we haven't talked in such a long time. I'm so sorry. I've been avoiding to come to Konoha for these years. Things…aren't so good, Hayate-kun."She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, "My mom. She arranged this stupid marriage for me with our freaking neighbors' son. Don't laugh. And he's…abusive; verbally and physically."
Pulling up her sleeve, she exposed her bruises to no one in particular, "It's my heart that hurts. I don't love him, I loathe him, actually. I had to lie to let him come back to Konoha. He's forcing me to leave everyday, but you know me, I'll stay however long I want to." She lay down onto the ground, sighing. Tears rolled down her eyes once again, "I came back for you. And yeah, Genma too. He...he's doing fine."
Natsumi didn't notice Genma walking up behind her and continued, "I thought he cared. I thought he still loved me." She bit her lip, choking back a sob, "The way he looked at me that night…I really thought that. I guess I was wrong. I ran into him today sleeping with--another woman." She shut her eyes close, wanting to wash away the scene in her mind, "I know it's not my business, I shouldn't care what he does…but I do. And to be honest, just between me and you, Hayate, it made me sick to the stomach to imagine him simply kissing another woman. But the main reason I'm here is because I don't know what to do. I love him, but he seems to hate me. Hayate…why can't you be here with me? To help me out when your best friend has problems…"
"You really have a problem, talking to yourself." Genma spoke. Natsumi sat up in shock, glaring at him, ignoring the tearstains on her face, "How long have you been standing there?" She demanded.
He shrugged, lying, "Long enough to hear you say that you think I hate you."
"It's true." She looked away from him, picking at the grass again.
"I don't hate you, Natsumi." He said.
"Whatever." She muttered. Her heart was aching. She couldn't stand looking at him, all she could imagine was his naked body tangled with another woman's.
"Were you jealous?" He asked, sitting down next to her.
She scooted away from him, "Jealous of what?"
"The woman I slept with?" He said, lowly.
"No!" She practically screamed, "Why would I be? It's not like I care!"
"You're acting like you care." Genma teased.
"I don't, I don't!" She retorted, "Whoever you want to shag, that's your business."
He shrugged, "True, I figured, since you have your fiancé. So why not get laid?"
So, so he had his first time a long time ago…lovemaking was just 'getting laid' to him?
Her hands curled up into tight fists as she forced a bitter smile, "I'm not 'shagging; him."
"Why not?"
"Because." She bit on her tongue. She didn't want to say it.
"H'm?" He tapped his foot, waiting for her answer.
"I'm not allowed to until he and I finally get married." She replied angrily.
"Liar." He accused, his voice almost inaudible.
"Because I don't love him, okay?" Natsumi blurted out loud.
"What are you even doing here in Konoha, Natsumi?" Genma asked, "To show off to me that you're engaged?"
"What?!" She yelled angrily, "No! Why would I want to show off a man I'm forced to marry who I despise that beats me and verbally abuses me to you?"
His face softened, placing a senbon between his lips, "Do you want me to kick the jerk's ass for you?"
"What's wrong with you?" She buried her face into her palms, "Why are you treating me like this?"
"Like what? A friend?" He mumbled, looking up at the bright blue sky.
"No, like a schizophrenic!" She wailed, "Why are you acting so heartless to me and then nice now?"
"Because," It was his turn to lose his words, "because you piss me off sometimes."
"You piss me off more!" She jabbed him in the chest with her index finger, "How could you sleep with that woman!"
"Why not? There's nothing wrong with her."
"Well, the one from that tea shop who was drooling all over you was better." She folded her arms across her chest. Her heart was pounding fast with anger.
"Woman," He warned.
She looked at him, biting her lower lip, "Sorry, Genma. I couldn't resist saying that. I just don't like my guy friends moving on without me."
"We were never together." He answered in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone.
Her jaw dropped open in disbelief. How…how could he say that?
What about their kiss? Their footsies? Their tiffs? That night…wasn't it all obvious?
Her eyes began watering up again, feeling absolutely defeated.
"Woman…" He groaned. He hated when she cried.
"Don't call me that!" She slapped him on the arm, "Do you call all the women you sleep with that, just in case you'd get them mixed up?"
"No." He clicked his tongue, "I don't sleep with---"
"I love you, Genma." She sniffled, "Why can't you understand?"
"For god's sake, Natsu-chan." He ran his fingers through his hair, "I didn't sleep with that woman, I just paid her to be there and act as if I had slept with her."
"Oh really? And why the hell would you do that?" She huffed.
"To check if you would freak out." He mumbled. She glared at him in disbelief.
"Also to make sure that you cared about me." Genma added, slowly.
"Well, obviously I shouldn't have cared." Natsumi picked at the grass angrily.
"No. I'm glad you got jealous." He smirked, she looked up at him, opening her mouth but no words came out. Na da.
Genma continued, "Firstly, you are darn adorable when you're jealous and secondly, I want to be sure that you would mind that I 'moved-on'. Because I care about you."
"You don't care about me!" She keenly retorted, "You don't."
"Of course I do, you little idiot." He chuckled softly, "I wanted to see if you loved me, just as much as I love you."
"What?" Natsumi's jaw dropped open, utterly surprised and confused. She couldn't believe him…she couldn't believe him. "Liar!"
"I love you." Genma repeated, a smirk playing between his lips. His dark orbs glazed into her eyes intently. Like electricity. Like that night they first kissed.
He was sincerely meaning he loved her! He meant it, he really did!
Natsumi felt her face grow hot. "But…but…" She stammered, thinking of something to chuck out at him, "You saw that woman naked!"
"I just saw her bare back." He closed his eyes, waiting for another argument, no---tiff to come up between the two of them.
"Kohaku hasn't even seen me in a tank top." She mumbled, "Nobody has seen me without---"
"Hmm? Don't forget I saw you only in your towel." Genma teased.
"Genma!" She squealed, playfully punching him in the arm.
"Ow." He laughed, ruffling her hair.
"It's good to back." She smiled, ever so gently, placing her hand over his.
"H'm." He answered, stroking his thumb over hers. She nuzzled against his shoulder.
The two of them cuddled on the grassy field for awhile then sat up, talking to Hayate's monument.
"Bye, Hayate." She eyed her best friend's tombstone once again, "We'll come by soon again."
Standing up, she patted the grass off her dress. She reached out a hand and pulled Genma up, "Walk me back?"
He shrugged, "Of course."
They walked along the river, hands held together, swinging in a merry pace. Both of them had a grin on their face, neither of them wanted this moment to end.
The hotel Natsumi and Kohaku was staying at was close in sight.
"Here's you." He said, letting go of her hand.
"Come in for a while." She suggested, holding the door open for him. He shot her an uncertain look, "But your fiancé--"
"Ugh. Just come in, Genma." She tugged at his wrist. She giggled as he stumbled into the hotel's lobby. "Natsumi---" He clucked his tongue at her giddy state.
"Come to my room." She pulled him behind her as she ran up the spiral of stairs.
As soon as they entered the room, she slammed the door shut, causing the window to shake. She panted and blinked at him mischievously. He looked back at her; none of them spoke a word. Just silence.
Natsumi's toes curled up in her shoes, slightly nervous; hoping he would break the ice. And he did."Friends?" He asked, softly. He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"What if…"She stared at her feet, "I don't want to be just friends?" Her cheeks were bright red. He leaned in so their faces were merely an inch away from each other, "That's exactly what I had in mind."
Her lips curved up, feeling all giddy inside. "Really?"
"Woman…" He sighed, "Are you always so ignorant?"
"No." She grinned, throwing her arms around his neck, pressing her lips over his, murmuring between their kisses, "Not at all."
"What about your fiancé?" He asked.
"What about him? Let him see." She waved her hand in the air, "You are the one that I want."
"Touché, woman. Touché ." He smirked.
The wind blew open the squeaking window, the two of them turned around to glance, smiles on both their faces. "We got Hayate's approval." She giggled.
He gave her squeeze on the arm, "And his blessing too."
"I love you." Natsumi beamed, wrapping both arms around his waist as Genma pulled her in for another deep, passionate kiss.
They knew Hayate was watching over them somewhere in heaven; and their romance had just begun.
-- The End
A/N:
Ta-da, there's the real ending I've been playing around with. Now I finally updated it!
I hope you all liked it.
Reviews would be very much appreciated!