Author's Note: Wow I only written a few chapters so far and having so many reviews is awesome. I would like to personally like to thank Kikyo-Houkiboshi, ArtemisFowl'sGirl09, DCI Keller, Kuarahy, neoko-chan, YamiKitsuneKami, Jak, Jacqueline V.,and THE Night Yagami. I hope you all enjoy this long coming chapter. I know I'm sorry I haven't update in while but hopefully this chapter makes up for it. If you not review me that okay I still love to hear from you. Anyway until next time enjoy. mnmonroe
Chapter 5:
Miranda heard the jets come on in the bathroom. "I guess warriors like whirlpool." she muttered. She lifted her exboyfriend's worn green velour robe from the hook on the back of the bathroom door. It was one of the few articles of his clothing she hadn't donated to charity. As she approached the bathroom door she heard an omious bellow and a huge splash. She flung open the door. The man lay submerged in suds.
He floundered indignantly to his feet. Bubbles covered him from shoulder to thigh. Her mouth hung open. Then she realized what he'd done. She shrieked and pointed to the controls. "Off. Turn it off. You'll gum up the works. Turn it off!" Frantically, the man twisted the controls. The jets fell silent. "No," she mouthed as he turned one final knob. In a blast of water, the shower overhead washed him clean. She cleared her throat. The robe dropped from her hand. "Well, you're definitely a boy."
"Unless you are offering you services to clean the floor, woman, I suggest you leave." Kakashi stepped over the side of the tub. His foot slipped in the slick mess of water and suds. He skidded across the room, his arms flailing.
Miranda thought of a hockey goalie stretching for a save. She'd never again be able to attend a Flyers game without picturing the players naked. There was something quite magnificent about a well-honed man in motion.
Any motion.
He righted himself and reached for his furs. His biceps were perfectly formed and dewy white. Then light glinted off the long blade in his hand.
"Oh my god," she said with a gasp. Her throat dried. Then the man lifted one of the towels and wiped the blade. "Water plays havoc on steel," he said. She remembered to breathe when he turned away and inspected the kunai more thoroughly. Tension flooded through her again as he swung back to poke the sodden mass.
"Put the sword down." She hated the tremor in her voice.
Puddles of soap and water slowly crept in her direction. They would soon soak the robe she'd brought for him, but she couldn't make herself move.
His kunai was pointed towards the floor, he came to her. "It's a kunai," he smiled slyly then contiuned, " I wish you no harm."
How she wished she believed him. He was too big and too near- and way too naked. His steady gaze held her frozen in place. The touch of his fingers to her cheek was gentle, but she could not stop herself from flinching.
"A warrior must think of his weapons first, and tis naught but a small weapon afterall. Nothing to be afraid of, woman." her head bobbed in assent, but she took a step away from him, then another. He bent and lifted the robe. It was heavy and soft. A floral scent clung to the fabric. His body responded.
With as much disdain as possible, he donned the robe. Still, she stood in the door as if ready to flee. Her alert blue eyes were huge in her face. Her fear insulted him. He never harmed an unarmed female in his life.
Shaking out a white cloth, he once again lifted his blade. He began to stroke the cloth up and down its length. "Unless you wish to polish my other sword woman, be gone."
She flitted away. A cold breeze replaced her.
A commotion brought him from the bathing chamber, dripping a trail of water from his furs. So.. she had feared him enough to fetch the snake man. The woman half hid behind her champion and prattled something about his knife.
"By the gods, woman! Are you so spineless you quail at a small blade?" Keeping one eye on the snake man, he heaved his cloak onto her table.
Her shriek burned his ears.
"How dare you! That was my mother's table. She loved that table. I learned to write at that table." Before he could stop her, she dragged his cloak off the battered wood and, after twisting and turning the silver knob on the glass door, heaved the furs out like so much refuse to be discarded.
He shoved the snake man aside. The man went down like a sack of feathers. kakashi leaped to the deck and snatched up his furs. He clasped them to his chest. Anger warred with compassion. The woman was scrubbing the water from her scarred table. He knew well the value of ancestors. As an orphan after his fathers death, he had no mother's table to preserve.
The snake man picked himself up off the floor. "Get downstairs, Miranda. Call the cops." He spread his arms to protect the woman.
Wind whipped at Kakshi's robe and tore at his hair. It thrummed like the wings of a thousand ravens about his ears. Kakashi considered how best to handle her protector without hurting him or offending her further.
Miranda giggled. Her Kakashi look-alike pushed through the deck door, struggling a moment. He looked ridiculous. The robe came only to mid-calf on him. The ocean winds flapped it about his legs and threatened to once again reveal a tantalizing length of muscled thigh-and other important stuff.
Somehow she could not be afraid of a man who nursed a dirty cloak like a beloved child. Any fear she had dissolved. "Leave him alone, Neil. I'm sorry I called you."
Neil ignored her. He took matters into his own hands. He strode to the kitchen, lifted the phone, and punched 911.
Miranda sighed. "Prepare yourself, Kakashi. You're about to answer a zillion questions.'
"From whom?" He hovered at the deck door, arms clutching his cloak.
"The police." When he tipped his head and looked confused, she smiled. "Here, beyond the ice fields, we don't have an army in charge. We have what we call the police. In fact, if you listen, you should hear them any moment now."
He dropped his furs. With fluid grace, he drew his kunai. He looked as if he were preparing to confront an army. "What is a zillion?"
"A lot. Take it from me." Miranda sighed heavily at the distant wail of sirens on the sea air. It made her heart beat faster. She didn't want him arrested. She wanted him at her ball. "Now put the knife away."
"Kunai." Kakashi said out of habit.
"Right."
"Yo, bud. Take it easy." Neil encircled Miranda in his arms and put her behind him again.
As much as she appreciated the gallantry, it blocked her view. Robe open, blade in hand, the man looked so much like a ninja. Mask or not, there was no mistaking that arrogant sneer.
She whispered in Neil's ear, "He must have posed for those posters. Look at him. Really look at him." Her heart slammed in her chest-and not from fear.
The police hammered on her door. Neil jerked it open.
"Oh, no," she said with a groan. The man who stepped into her apartment was the last man on earth she wished to see. Her former boyfriend -now her older sister's husband. Talk about grand larceny. What the heck was the traitorous detective doing answering a routine call?
"Mira? Are you okay?" R . Walter Gordon stepped into her apartment. Two other officers stepped in behind him. There were no guns drawn, but Miranda knew that if Kakashi made a move, there would be.
"I'm fine. We really don't need you," she said, hands up, palms out. Her voice sounded shrill and peevish to her. This was her warrior. Nut case or not, she'd invited him into her apartment. If someone hurt him, she'd never forgive herself. "Just go away. Please."
"The guy's got a knife," Neil said.
The officers ignored her as they faced Kakashi. If they missed the knife, they must be blind. Relief came form an unexpected quarter. Kakashi turned his blade hilt out and offered it to Miranda; then he belted his robe and yawned. He scratched the back of his head. He looke like a harmless, sleepy guy who'd just climbed out of bed.
Oh, no. What would Walter think? And what story would he spread-like a bad flu virus-to her sister and her mother? She hugged Kakashi's knife to her chest as he had his furs. She acted without thought. She slid an arm around Kakashi's waist and hugged him close as well. "There nothing wrong here, Walter."
Neil gasped. Kakashi stiffened, but did not move from her embrace. It was like hugging a petrified tree.
Kakashi said, "This impertinent woman tried to take my cloak. The snake man overreacted. "This often seem to happen with poorly trained warriors."
She wanted to kick him in his perfect shins.
"What's going on here?" the detective asked.
"Neil? Who's watching the shop?" Miranda used her sweetest voice. "Could the customers be stealing us blind? Should we take the shortages out of your share of the profits?"
He took the hint and left the apartment.
She sank onto the sofa and rolled her eyes. She patted the place next to her and Kakashi joined her. He leaned back and crossed his arms on his chest.
Now he looked as if he'd spent a few hours in her bed-and shower. Wouldn't that fry Walter's mind?"
Judging from the questions Walter directed at Kakashi, there was little chance he'd arrest anybody. Instead, Kakashi received a severe lecture on waving weapons around. Miranda came into her share of censure, too. After a hiatus of three years, Walter was on a roll. She tuned him out as she had when they'd dated, nodding now and then, her mind uncomfortably occupied with the warmth of the man whose long thigh and hip pressed against hers.
One of the uniformed officers frequented her store. He eyed Kakashi with something akin to the look she saw on a rabid fans. When her ex ground to a halt, she introduced her guest to the officer.
"This is Kakashi from Konoha. He's my boyfriend." She enunciated every word in case Walter had missed the more subtle hints."
" A ninja from Konoha," Kakashi corrected.
"You're coming to the ball tonight, aren't you? You're sure to win a prize," the officer gushed.
"Prize?" Kakashi and Walter spoke simultaneously.
Miranda shot to her feet. Kakashi followed suit. "Sure, best costume. Finest weapon," she said as she tucked Kakashi's robe more securely about his waist. The man had no modesty. "That's why Kakashi was showing me his sword."
"Kunai," the three men said in unison.
She took the blade and put ito on top of her entertainment cabinet.
The officer thrust his notebook into Kakashi's hands. "How about an autograph?"
"Go on, give him your autograph," Miranda urged. Then they might leave. The sooner the better. Preferably before her Kakashi look alike said something to make Walter escort him to the funny farm.
End notes: So how was it.