Their Thoughts

Disturbance at the Inn-Part 1

Sakura huffed, "Isn't it a little too extreme to make them go on a date? I mean, why shouldn't we leave them alone?"

"Do you mean like forcing them to have sex?"

"…!"

"Sakura, you worry too much. Didn't you see how much better Kakashi-sensei looked around Mei-sensei? I know he's a strict, serious, no emotion type of person. Yet, I think this change can brighten him up more."

Naruto pleaded until Sakura cooled down. "Well, I guess… I can help you."

o0o0o0o0o0

"WELCOME TO RYU'S INN! HOW MAY I HELP YOU ALL?"

Meika tried not to laugh. The team had gotten to the roadside inn in the evening. The owner Ryu was a funny man who seemed to have biting ants in his pants. She wondered if he was drunk, for his eyes were as wide as a hooting owl.

Kakashi stated, "We all need two rooms for one night."

That was it, one simple little statement with no emotion. What he thought about the crazy man, he made no comment and his expression was obscured by his mask.

"Well, follow me. You know…"

Meika toned down the man's voice. Annoying pest, he was another blood sucking bug who wouldn't leave you until it was bloated.

Come to think of it, there better not be any bedbugs in this inn otherwise, Ryu would have permanent scars on his back… and face.

"…This inn also had a bath house, a small restaurant and a garden in the back. Oh, the cook makes the best ramen there ever. If you have any complaints, you see me immediately. Well, there are more shinobi coming in. I hope you lovers enjoy the night." (Naruto was happy about the ramen part…)

Kakashi and Naruto had to take a step back. What did he mean?

Meika and Sakura were not as perplexed as they were.

"LOVERS, YOU SOB! WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ARE, WEAK-MINDED WOMEN?!" Sakura screamed. Meika assisted her in kicking Ryu's ass away from them. (Tsunade had to be Sakura's teacher…)

The spiny man ran away to hide his tears of confusion.

After she cooled down, Meika said, "That guy just made a mistake, I guess. We're in a boy-girl, boy-girl group. Anyone could have thought we were lovers."

(The males of the group wished that it could be true.)

"Say…Kakashi-sensei, why don't we all take a look at the bath house? We need a break", Naruto said aloud intentionally. He caught Sakura's eye and she helped him drag their teachers out of the room, shining with mischief.

o0o0o0o0o0

"So Tsunade-sama, what do you think of this?" Shizune asked, handing her the will.

"Give me a minute-Shizune; I am in so much pain! I need an ice pack!" the Hokage, the most powerful shinobi in Konoha, groaned. It had taken Shizune quite a while to figure out that her teacher was asleep at a bar. Whatever she had done, Shizune was practical in not asking.

"My dear teacher, that's the price you must severely pay in order to get drunk", Shizune chided. She got an ice pack and started to boil tea on top of a portable kettle and heat maker.

With the ice pack on, Tsunade concluded, "This will has made some pretty interesting things clear. However, there is a code at the bottom."

"Should I get a decoder?"

"No, we'll have to get through these ourselves. Shizune, I want you go downstairs and- no, I'll take care of the tea. Go down and find the will from the Najika family. It should have some clues in it as well."

o0o0o0o0o0

Meika gingerly stuck her toe in the water. The steaming water looked hot and felt hot. The steam was obscuring her vision.

Without a second thought, she took off her robe and slid in.

Meh, it felt great. After a day of walking on that dusty road, it was nice to feel some of your troubles going away. She found a cake of soap and began scrubbing her body. Taking in a deep breath, she placed her head in under water.

Outside noises were muted instantly. The water's sound washed past her ears. That wet heat was all around her and made her feel better. Even though she was more of a wind-based ninja, her ninjutsu also dealt with water. While away from Konoha, she had gone to Kirigakure out of boredom. Her teacher there had given her many lessons to remember.

One time, she was thrown into a lake continuously for one session. After awhile, she got used to water and began to manipulate this part of nature very well. In fact, she was able to hold her breath in water for three minutes…

Well, that wasn't a big accomplishment. But at least she learned how to swim.

Bringing her head up, she motioned for Sakura to join her. The younger kunoichi went to sit nearby.

"So, um… Mei-sensei, do you mind if I ask how…?"

"Does this have to do with Kakashi?"

"I…I-in a way, I'm curious to ask of how-"

"I've known him ever since I was four. He's at least a month older than me, but he has never used his age to take advantage of me. He knows not to after that event happened."

"What?"

"To make a long and dull story short, I saved him, then kicked him like a little puppy around town for days on end."

"But that's an oxymoron! Why would you save him just to beat him up?"

"Goodness, you don't know an inch about him! That guy was really a bit of a … know-it-all, you can say. He was always reading underneath or on a tree, like he didn't want to be in Konoha, but in his own little world. History, science, medical ninjutsu… he read a huge variety of genres. I called him 'the walking library'… Which was nicer than what Obito called him, but that name was simply atrocious…"

"Mei-sensei… I wanted to know what you like in the guy you want to marry… or in your future boyfriend."

"Brains are the first requirement. (Why do I want someone with no education or damn common sense?)

"For all I care, he can be an ugly dope. If he's sensible with manners, that'll be a dream. No drunkards, no playboys and no creepy guys. (It'll be nice if he can dance or play music.) Yes, artistic talent is good.

"If he dumps me, I'll really give him a black eye except if for a good reason. (But these days, all females see guys as embarrassed people alien to them just because they can never say their true feelings or confessions.) If he divorces me, I'll be a very pissed off woman. Marriage vows clearly states that we love each other with all our hearts, so why should anyone file for a divorce?

"There shouldn't be anything like divorce. People should marry for love, not for money, not because of the parents' choice and definitely not because that jackass bastard is forcing you! The worst case scenario is that I die a happy spinster… oh Sakura, never let guys push you around and show them who is the boss. Promise me you'll do this."

"Err… why not, I'll do it."

o0o0o0o0o0

Naruto was having no luck. He wasn't even trying to talk to Kakashi-sensei.

It was hard. He had tried at first, but trying to talk with his stone-faced sensei in a bath house while in a bath about his girl friend was… peculiarly hysterical. Not to mention that Kakashi had draped a towel over his face to cover up as the mask or that he was daydreaming.

Naruto kept to his side of the tub and Kakashi stayed on the other side. Naruto tried not to laugh as he imagined what his teacher was dreaming about.

Probably, he wanted to see Mei-sensei in her full glory and curves without clothes.

Obviously.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, for crying out loud.

I'm glad that I managed to get around to this. This chapter was tricky, but I think it's okay for now.