A/N: It's been a while... huehuehuehue
Night fell and Sumire's anxiety skyrocketed. People died here. Not only died, but were murdered! How am I supposed to sleep here knowing that? Sumire sat up in her new futon. Her mind wandered to the extravagantly soft comforter's overs her legs. He didn't need to buy me a new futon… he… he always comes off as very frugal. HE BOUGHT A HOUSE FULL OF DEAD PEOPLE FOR PEATS SAKE, but here he goes buying me such an expensive futon… wait… was it heavily discounted? Did… She leapt out of the comforters and stepped away from it. Did someone die in this futon? Sumire rotated her hips back and forth, placing her hands on her cheeks, and whining softly. She froze in place when she heard a creaking noise. Oh god, it's the ghosts of the people. Oh no. Another creak came from outside the rice paper partition to her right and she darted into the hallway. The entire house was dark except for the small beams of moonlight that shone through the shoji. She remained frozen in place waiting for something to dart across her path.
She let out a scream when she spotted a shadow cast over her body, she spun around, her eyes wide with fear. The owner of the household stared at the small shivering girl, his gaze narrowed. Her body was trembling, she stuttered through his name.
"What's wrong?" he sounded annoyed.
"…g…g…ghosts…y…you're…house…" Tears streamed down her face.
He sighed.
"There are none."
"B-but…creaking…"
He released a short sigh.
"I don't want to sleep alone." She spoke lowly.
"Go to sleep."
Her head fell, the tears still burning her eyes. She retreated to her room and curled up in the plush futon, sobbing as quietly as she could to little avail.
Kakuzu was kneeling beside his own futon listening to the sobs coming from the room beside his. He laid down and tried to ignore the soft hiccups, but he furrowed his brow in annoyance. He climbed out of his futon, rolled it up and headed to her room.
Sumire jumped when she heard the shoji open, but was only minorly relieved to see the tall man standing in the opening. He unrolled the futon he had in one throw and laid atop it.
"…b-but you said-" she started.
"Shut up and go to sleep."
She winced from the gruffness of his voice, but snuggled into her comforters, her pulse relaxing with the presence of another living being in the room.
"Thank you." She said in a tiny voice, barely audible from beneath the cottony cover.
X
Her eyes fluttered open, the sunlight blinded her for a few moments, but she was soon rising from the futon. She stretched, noticing that she was alone again in her room. Maybe he stayed just until I fell asleep. She stepped out, rolled up the bed, and placed it aside so her room was spacious. She checked her cell phone.
Sumire decided to skip her morning class. She had awoken too late to arrive at Konoha University on time. I'm going to have to change my sleeping schedule, it takes probably a full hour to get there. She took a quick trip the bathroom, washed her hands and began preparing breakfast. She felt a chill on her mostly bare legs, her shorts only went to mid-thigh. I didn't realize how cold traditional homes can be. Sumire set the table while the rice steamed and the seasoned fish broiled in the oven that slowly began to warm air. I think I could do this for the rest of my life, could I? Be a housewife? Haha, maybe if the right guy came along, someone who could take care of me without making me feel truly dependent or trapped like Hisashi did. With a pair of chopsticks, she carefully arranged the pickled side dishes. Probably not though, I would need something else to do. Maybe a part time job or some hobby so I don't feel too tied down. She shut off the oven and made her way to Kakuzu's room.
"Kakuzu-sama."
She knelt before the rice paper screen. She could make out a figure beyond the thin wall. She called out his name again. When there was no answer she slowly slid open the shoji. Kakuzu was laying atop the comforters of a large futon, shirtless. Sumire padded over to his drowsy form and knelt again.
"Kakuzu-sama, I made breakfast."
Kakuzu had a naturally menacing bearing, but his sleeping form softened her image of him. She did not fear him, she did not fear that he would be angry when she woke him. Her hand gently rested on his shoulder. All those scars, like he's been torn apart and sewn back together.
She repeated his name while tapping his shoulder with her fingers.
"It's going to get cold." She encouraged, with a gentle push.
She watched his large hand lazily slide along the comforters and rest upon her thigh. Her face reddened when he gripped. She grabbed a couple of thick fingers with her entire hand.
"Are you awake?"
He brushed his hand up to her waist and she used both hands to stop him before he moved higher.
"You are awake, stop pretending!"
He pushed her and she gasped, falling backwards onto the soft tatami. He was above her in a flash. His eyes were half-lidded with a mix of irritation and sleepiness. Sumire curled up a bit beneath him, starting to regret waking him up.
"…I made breakfast." Her voice was higher in pitch.
Realization seemed to come over him.
"It's just you…"
"…who else would it be?"
He sat back onto his heels. I had forgotten she was here. Sumire sat up.
"What would you like to drink? Tea or coffee?"
"Coffee."
She was up and out of the room, for some reason eager to fulfill his request. She searched in the pantry and found a packet of instant coffee which she prepared. His eyes followed her bottom as she dashed back and forth between the stove and the small mug on the counter. When she finally completed the small task she carried the cup to his side and set it down with a soft clink. She then took her seat across from him and began her meal. A silence passed as they ate and she mustered the courage the speak:
"Um, Kakuzu-sama."
He glanced at her, but said nothing.
"Thank you for sleeping next to me last night."
He grunted. She giggled slightly. They finished their meal and she cleaned up the dishes.
X
She impatiently tapped her pen against the table. She clicked her mouse rather furiously as she searched and searched through a database. Her roommate was laying behind her with a book in hand. She let out a short huff and threw herself backwards across his legs. He peeked at her from the bottom of his volume.
"I wanted to do my research paper on a particular book, but they didn't have it in the library the last time I checked. Now I have to find another thing to write on." She whined.
"What book?"
She told him the title. She launched herself into a sitting position when she noticed he was sitting up. He left the room without another word and she returned to her laptop to search again. Kakuzu reentered the room and held out a tiny, worn stack of paper, bound in a leather cover. She took it in both hands and gasped.
"This is it!"
"Give it back when you're done."
"Thank you so much!"
He plopped back down onto the floor. Sumire smiled to herself. How thoughtful. I'm so lucky.
X
Sumire returned to her room after taking a long warm bath. While unpacking her luggage she came across the yukata she had worn for the festival. It… she gently took hold of it, the plastic crinkling in her grip, it hasn't been that long since I wore it but… I really want to! She set it aside while taking out the rest of her clothing. By the time she finished she couldn't hold back anymore. She tossed off her clothing and pulled the yukata around her body, wrapping it. Admiring herself in the mirror, she pulled her long hair up into a tight bun. Her chin titled up and to the side, examining herself in different angles. I feel so pretty in a yukata. Now I should have some tea.
She walked to the kitchen to find Kakuzu already in the process of heating water. He turned his head and seemed to pause.
"Are you making tea?" she asked.
"Ah." His gaze lingered on her.
"May I have some?"
He grunted and finally looked away. Her eyes followed him as he spooned tealeaves into a small pot and poured the boiling water over it. He set everything on a tray.
She could feel the heat from the oven and fanned herself with her hand.
"It's a little hot in here, can we sit outside?"
"Ah."
She followed him past the shoji and out onto the smooth wooden pathway. They sat beside one another with their legs hanging over the edge and the tray set between them. The air was warm around them.
"Kakuzu-sama."
He took a large gulp of his tea.
"I know you'll never admit to it but… thank you for this yukata."
He wouldn't look at her or acknowledge what she said. The silence returned, this time Sumire feeling more nervous than before. She sipped at her own cup of steaming liquid.
"It suits you."
Her face flushed.
"Thank you." She set the mug back on the tray. "Kakuzu-sama really is traditional. Your house is so beautiful, I've never been in a home like this before."
She tried to maintain the conversation, but she found it exceedingly difficult.
"I feel like I need to wear traditional clothing while in a traditional home. I guess I'll have to buy more yukata."
He made a sound of approval.
"So if I were to always wear a yukata, Kakuzu-sama would find me irresistible?" she teased while placing a fingertip against her bottom lip.
A playful giggle followed her statement for she thought she had made a decent jest. Meanwhile the man beside her was studying the outlines in the wall, his thoughts filled with images of her splayed beneath him in a mess of colorful robes. In the next moment, Sumire slapped at yet another large bug that bit into her flesh.
"I love being outside, but there are so many bugs here!" she huffed, her hands wiping away the remnants of the insect.
The silent man watched her pale legs as she stretched them out in front of her. She shifted onto her hip to reach another spot where her skin had begun to swell.
"Oh no." she whimpered, pressing into the raised, reddened skin.
The tips of her digits left while spots but they quickly turned red again.
Kakuzu stood, picking up the tray with the empty teapot and mugs, then ambled back into the home. She frowned, the emotion of which directed at him, but her gaze was focused on her issue. Sometimes I wish he spoke more, but I guess it's fine. He returned with a small white tube in his large hand. He sat beside her with his feet rested on the step below. He grabbed her ankle firmly, but gently and laid most of her leg across his lap.
Her large eyes were wide with a mix of embarrassment and awe. His finger gently massaged an anti-itch cream into the few red swells that had risen on her skin.
"Thank you." Her voice came out softly.
The cream soothed her, but her calm did not remain because his other hand was smoothing upwards underneath her thigh, searching for other bites, or so she thought. Her look fixed on his face and his green irises met hers. His naturally harsh stare caused her heart to pound in her chest. He leaned towards her, the bangs that framed his face slipped forward, brushing against her heated cheeks.
Why is it when he puts his hands on me I go nuts? Is it because they're huge? Or because they're rough?
He gripped the back of her thigh and she let out a weak gasp, her body leapt up, her breathing becoming labored.
It's always the same. He touches me and I feel like I'm going to explode.
"Kakuzu-sama." It came out as a whine.
The tip of his nose brushed hers and she could feel his breath across her lips.
"I need you."
Elsewhere
"I guess we can all say goodbye to our chances with her."
Deidara rolled his eyes but he knew the Jashinist was correct. Kisame grinned behind his shot of sake. Itachi's silence and unwillingness to partake in the alcohol demonstrated his agreement as well.
"What are you talking about Hidan-senpai?"
"Once you go Kakuzu you never go back."
Tobi remained energetically confused.
"You weren't there for that one intern… I forget her name."
"Oh, her, hm." Deidara said.
"Yeah, with the brown hair."
"I remember her."
"Well, Tobi," he slung an arm across his shoulders. "Apparently, she had the hots for this bitch."
He pointed a thumb at the blonde.
"Well according to him, she had the hots for him. But she spent one evening as Kakuzu-chan's secretary. And guess what?"
"What?" Tobi whispered eagerly.
"She wouldn't even look at Deidara after that. In fact, it was like we all didn't exist."
"What happened?"
Hidan chuckled, then tipped his head back and swallowed down another can of beer. Tobi looked to the blonde whose irritated expression, while intriguing, did not divulge any sort of answer to his question.
"But what happened?"
"What do you think happened Tobi?" Kisame poked.
"They became good friends?"
Hidan snorted and choked on his drink.
"Yes," he finally said between coughs. "You do become good friends after a good fuck."
A/N: Honestly it is not exactly where I want it to be, but this route is so difficult to write without putting someone severely out of character. Fucking Kakuzu man. Let me know how its going lol. Thanks for reading!