.
.
"Tomorrow we have to tell Tsunade-sama you're here," Anko says. She's standing on tip-toe in front of her closet, struggling to pull the extra futon rolled up at the topmost shelf. "You're an s-class nin; I don't want to get my ass kicked for harboring a criminal."
"Fine," Kimimaro says. Anko struggles, just barely keeping up her balance as she tugs on the futon, so Kimimaro steps in and pulls it down for her.
"Show off," Anko says. She motions for Kimimaro to follow her. "This is the kitchen; the living room is over here. You can probably unroll the mat here, for now. Oh, and over there's my bedroom."
Kimimaro nods. "I will be sure not to go in there," Kimimaro says. Anko glares.
"Oi. I never said that," Anko says. She kicks open the mat.
xXx
.
Dinner is awkward. Kimimaro watches Anko play nervously with her chopsticks; her hands are in constant motion, at turns tapping the chopsticks against the bowl, then flipping them over and stirring the rice. Kimimaro sets down his chopsticks, then rises.
"Where are you going?" Anko says.
"I apologize. I realize my return was sudden; I do not wish to trouble you further," Kimimaro says. He turns swiftly and heads toward the door.
"O-oi! Wait a minute!" Anko follows him into the living room. "You left Orochimaru, didn't you?"
"Yes." Kimimaro looks at her, quietly. "However I do not wish to overstay my welcome. I only wished to see how you were; now that I know you're fine, I shall take my leave."
He manages a stiff bow before Anko catches his hand.
"I don't want you to go," Anko says. Hesitantly, she steps closer to him, until she's standing only a finger's breadth away. Kimimaro is suddenly all too aware of her small body close to his, and the heat radiating off her skin.
Anko blushes, then glares. "So are you going to kiss me or what?" Anko says.
"What?"
Anko grunts, then grabs the back of Kimimaro's head, forcing him down to her height. She stands on tip-toe and plants a matter-of-fact kiss against his closed lips.
Kimimaro is too stunned to react, and Anko looks flushed and slightly embarrassed. "Don't tell me you're too stupid to know when a girl likes you," Anko says.
"I-" Kimimaro blinks again.
"You like me, right?" Anko says. Typical of the woman; throwing herself recklessly without regard for her own personal safety. She stands, angry and defiant, and crosses her arms. "Look, if you don't, that's fine; I'll go lick my wounds somewhere else. Just not before I beat the shit out of you for leading me on."
"I do not understand," Kimimaro says.
"The touching. The way you stared at me. Oh, and the boo-hoo sob story of being lonely and having everybody hate you. That," Anko says. And then, a little more uncertainly, "You do like me, right?" Her voice sounds so small.
Kimimaro manages to get a hold of himself. Gently he cups her shoulders, then leans in and kisses her on the temple. "That is a ridiculous question," Kimimaro says, quietly. "I came here to be with you."
Anko is one large blush; artlessly, she grabs him around the waist and presses her body flush against his. "Well what the hell are we waiting for?" Anko says.
(Later, after they've made love and they're tangled together in the bedsheets, all loose limbs and flushed damp skin, Anko realizes something. "Oi," Anko says. "Tomorrow we have to tell Tsunade-sama you're here. I don't want to get my ass kicked for sleeping with a missing-nin.")