Chapter Seven
As Suigetsu predicted, they made better time with the Konoha ninja. They broke camp at dawn each day, traveling further then before. Karin remained quiet and withdrawn and Suigetsu was loathed to leave her alone, leaving them to sit on the outskirts of the clearings as the Leaf-nin made camp and prepared the evening meals. Four days later, they arrived at the border with the Water country.
"Well, this is where we leave you." Kiba announced.
The group left the trees, walking out of the forest and onto the road that led to the border. Suigetsu turned to say farewell, but Karin just continued walking, leaving the cool shadows for the open road.
She slowly came to a stop when she realized that Suigetsu was not following and turned slightly so she could see what was keeping him. She rolled her eyes to see he was performing some kind of hand shake with Kiba. Her gaze traveled over the group, and she abruptly faced away when encountering the unnerving stare of Hanabi, feeling Shino watching her as well.
Suigetsu, seeing her sudden movement, finished his farewells and walked after her. Feeling his approach, Karin began walking once again, forcing Suigetsu to speed up to catch her.
When he caught up, he slung an arm around her shoulders and grinned down at her. She shook him off, muttering insults under her breath.
His grin disappeared and he grabbed her arm, turning her to face him. "What was that?"
She sighed, before asking, "How far to the river?"
Suigetsu stared at her as she looked anywhere but at him. He was confused, figuring that she would be more at ease now that they'd left the Fire country and the long arm of Konoha.
"What's wrong?"
She started, looking up at him in surprise. She opened her mouth to reply but no words came out.
"Karin, what is wrong?"
She shook her head, "Don't we have somewhere to be?"
"We're not going anywhere until you tell me what's wrong!"
She tugged on his hand then looked away from him when he didn't release her.
"I thought you'd be happier." He said uncertainly, "So tell me, what the hell is wrong? And don't you dare ask why I care!"
She shut her mouth with a snap, scowling as she tried to pull away again.
"Just let me go." She growled, prying at his fingers. She grimaced when his grip tightened. "Come on, Suigetsu. You're hurting me!"
He shook her slightly, leaning in and towering over her, "Then answer the damn question."
"I'm still a damn prisoner, aren't I?" She yelled at him. "All that's changed is the location!"
"If you were my prisoner, would I care?" He shouted back.
She gulped, surprised by the shout as much as by his words. "What?"
"If you were just my prisoner, would I care if something was wrong?" He repeated, slightly calmer now. His grip lessened while his other hand came up to caress her face. She eyed it warily, flinching when he touched her. His eyes narrowed slightly and he grit his teeth.
His hand dropped from her face and he released his grip on her arm, letting his hand fall until it was loosely wrapped around her own. She watched him as he stood still, seemingly lost in his own world as he gazed down at their joined hands.
"Suigetsu?" Karin asked quietly and his head snapped up. She stepped back as he loomed closer to her. She could feel his breath against her face, though she couldn't quite understand the look in his eyes. Whatever it was, it made her nervous, especially when he closed the distance between them.
Before he made contact, however, his head dissolved and he fell back. Karin smirked in triumph for all of one second before she was dragged down with him, her shriek cut off by the sudden collision between them.
"Suigetsu!" She spluttered as she floundered around on the ground, "You jerk!"
"You started it!" He shot back, then scrabbled backward across the ground, away from her as she made ready to pounce on him.
They were interrupted by a sudden shout from the trees.
"OI! The sun's going down! Shouldn't you be moving?" Kiba yelled from the tree line.
Karin spun around; regaining her feet and stalking off down the road, her nose in the air, as Suigetsu sent a one-fingered salute toward the trees and hurried after her.
They reached the border town by nightfall, though Suigetsu insisted that they enter in stealth, something that Karin simply could not fathom. He had made her wait for him in an alleyway for half an hour, returning just in time to prevent her from leaving the shadows and seeking him out.
"What took you so long?" She hissed as he pulled her deeper into the alley.
"I had to find something." He replied simply, drawing her further away from the lights of the main street.
"What are you talking about?" Karin grumbled, "It's getting cold. Can we go inside now?"
"Here." Suigetsu draped a long, hooded cloak over her shoulders, covering her head before swinging a similar cloak on himself. He laughed as she struggled to free herself, before stepping forward and setting it on right. She glared up at him in annoyance, and he sent a level stare back.
"This is important, Karin." He stopped as she appeared to be ignoring him. "Karin? This is important."
She continued straightening the cloak, grateful for the added protection as a strong wind blew through the alley. Suigetsu frowned as she refused to look at him. There was a sudden burst of noise as a group passed the end of the alleyway and he stepped closer to her, drawing her attention to his sudden closeness.
"Suigetsu? What are you…"
He cut her off, covering her mouth with his hand. "We can't let them see you."
She wrenched his hand away, "Huh? Are you supposed to be finding me or what?"
"Shh." He leaned in, his face in next to her ear, "It's complicated."
"WHAT?" She shrieked, pushing him away.
At her shout, someone entered the alley.
"Hello?" He called. "Is everything ok?"
"You asked for it." Suigetsu whispered, before leaning down and pressing his lips to hers. Before she could pull away, his hands were cradling her face, as he moved closer, drawing her into his fervent passion.
"Hello?" The passerby called again, venturing a little further toward them. He could make out the shape of two people in the shadows. He blushed as he realized what they were doing.
"Oh, I'm sorry." He backed out of the alley, returning to the main street and the pedestrian flow. Raucous laughter traveled down the alleyway as the man caught up with his friends.
Suigetsu raised his head, glancing toward the light. "It's clear." He stated, turning back to Karin, who was trying to catch her breath. "You alright?"
Karin brushed her hair away from her face and straightened her clothes. She caught sight of his smirking face and huffed.
"Shut up."
He pulled the hood up over her head, bending his knees to look her in the eye, still smirking. "Keep it on, alright."
"Why?"
"I'll tell you later."
With that cryptic remark, he tweaked the hood one more time, and led her out of the alley.
The next day they came to the river.
As they crested the hill overlooking the river, Suigetsu swore. Karin looked from him to the river then back again.
"Damn it!" He paced back and forward.
"What? What is it?" Karin asked in confusion, reaching for his arm as he twisted away to continue pacing.
"Don't you see that?" He yelled, his arm thrown wide to indicate the river. The water was flowing fast and deep, flashing white around rocks and branches. "We're fucking late!"
"So? That's it? We just stop here on this side of the river?"
He stopped and stared at her.
"Isn't there a bridge or something?"
"What kind of hidden village has a bridge crossing their walls?" He asked in disbelief, flopping onto the ground.
"So we are heading to the village?"
His eyebrow quirked, "What do you mean?"
She sat down next to him, carefully arranging the hood to still cover her face before shooting him a meaningful glance. He stared at her in confusion. She huffed and pushed the hood back.
"Hey!" Suigetsu grabbed the hood before it could fall to her shoulders and yanked it back over her head. "I told you! Keep it up!"
"That's what I mean!" She yelled in exasperation. "I've got to stay covered! We're sneaking around like spies in your own country! What the hell is going on, Suigetsu?"
"It's complicated." He muttered, glaring at the rushing water.
"Well, that's bloody brilliant!" She snapped, "and while you're here, sulking, the river's rising and…"
"Fine!" He snarled, leaping to his feet and dragging her up. "We move out! But don't you dare start whining when you get wet."
"I think I can handle a little water." She shot back, shaking his hand off and moving ahead of him, her nose in the air. He followed behind her, an evil smirk on his face.