Chapter 19: An Akin Soul
Kankuro felt strong inner resistance and reluctance, bordering on disgust, to go forward with Tenten's request. Having women hit on him, no matter how fun it usually was, was now a bit... too much. Knowing about the significance of the following date soothed his negative feelings to a more tolerable level. He could imagine her fear of falling asleep and her insecurity about Neji not showing up. And that was most likely the reason she wanted him to stand there on the bar. It was a selfish desire for entertainment so she could take her mind off of more pressing and depressing matters. Kankuro could understand... And that made the thought of doing it… bearable.
He stopped in front of the bar's entrance and stepped aside, letting the rest of the group in. He needed a few minutes to pull himself together and suppress the thoughts that played twisted images in his head.
Tenten walked in, but right after, she turned back. He wasn't following.
She frowned. "What happened?" Her body tensed. "Are you alright?"
He shook his head with a huff.
"You didn't get scared, did you?" A small smile graced her lips, and playful flames twisted in her eyes.
"Nope, not scared," he denied.
Tenten closed the distance between them with a serious face, her hand reaching for his shoulder. "What is it, then?"
He took a breath and let it out as a sigh. "I just need a few minutes of silence and calm, that's all."
"Alright… Shall I stay with you, or...?"
"Nah, go in." He nodded towards the entrance. "It's better if I enter alone, anyway."
"You won't bolt out, right?" Tenten teased; her smile was back.
Kankuro gave her a feignedly irate look. "Just go in, would you?"
She chuckled, and while shaking her head, she followed his request to leave him alone.
Once in the bar, it wasn't hard to find the group of shinobi. Atsui's sister had reserved one of the biggest booths in the corner, so Tenten headed right there.
The music hit her ears like a big and angry wave of water... And the feeling was as if it were trying to drown her — definitely too loud for her taste. But she knew it was going to be alright once she got used to it. The bad thing was that her head was going to pound with the beat until small hours and maybe the whole day tomorrow. Her inner, logical self scolded, reminding her about Neji, but Tenten wasn't ready to go to sleep. Not yet. Maybe in an hour or two...
She sneaked in between people who were swinging slightly with the rhythm, not paying any attention to her. It was actually nice. It brought her a sense of normality and some memories of the times before the war.
When Tenten reached the table, Ino patted the seat next to her. It gave a perfect view of the bar, so she would be able to watch Kankuro and anyone who attempted to grab his attention.
She waited, and while doing so, she indulged in a meaningless chat. What she wasn't prepared for was the whole bar reacting to Kankuro's entrance. He didn't say a word or do anything more than set his foot in, fully dressed in black, with a hood on and a face hidden behind layers of paint. Kankuro wasn't the most weird-looking person in the room, so it wasn't that... The whole crowd reacted as one big live organism — just for a fraction of a second, the majority of people just froze and gave him a look. It felt like a great breath intake. Then they assessed him — he wasn't a threat — so they returned to whatever they were doing prior.
"Ok, that was kinda weird," Ino whispered.
Tenten's head snapped at her. "You felt it too?"
Ino nodded. "That… promises to be a very interesting idea…" She nodded towards Kankuro.
"Yeah, you can say that. But now I'm kinda wondering why he agreed in the first place."
"Male ego?" Ino shrugged.
"Probably…"
It was easy for Kankuro to see where the group was, so he made sure not to look at them a second time. He ignored Atsui's wave. Tenten grabbed his arm and hissed something. She probably instructed him to leave Kankuro alone for the time being. At least that was the sand shinobi's interpretation.
He sat at the bar and ordered a beer with a low alcohol content since he wanted to stay sober.
It wasn't long before a dark-haired woman approached him nonchalantly. Inwardly, Kankuro gave her a really high rating. She was experienced in this game; he could tell right away. Her body language was impeccable — she was relaxed, but her shoulders didn't hang; her chin was lifted enough to imply confidence, but not arrogance; her hips swayed just enough to draw his gaze, but not enough to make her look promiscuous. The woman leaned on the bar, while her soft curly locks fell ahead, hiding her face briefly before she tucked them behind her ear with a practised motion. That was the moment Kankuro knew for sure she was well aware of her movements. Most women would use the occasion to brush their hands on his shoulder or arm; some would even dare to touch his leg. This woman kept an inch — enough to be noticed and for him to feel her body heat — but still, she left him enough space to pull back if he wasn't interested.
Since Kankuro didn't pull back, she smiled, whispering, "Hi."
"Hello," he answered, shooting her a glance.
She sipped on her beverage, drawing his attention to her red lips. "Did you like what you saw?" Her tone implied perfectly clear what she meant.
"What is there not to like?" He smiled at her.
The woman was tall and slender, and her curves were evident and pleasing to the eye. Her skin was dark, smooth, and looked silky soft. Meeting her very green eyes brought a delicious shiver down his body.
"That was the right answer," she said through a giggle. "I may have you buy my next drink."
Kankuro nodded slowly. "I could buy you a drink, indeed. You look like a nice company," he said. "Although, I suspect our goals tonight may differ."
Even if her interest flattered him, he still stood firmly behind his decision to go back to the inn alone.
The woman clicked with her tongue. "That would be a shame."
"I'm sorry," he admitted, shrugging. "I'm not... exactly... on my own."
"Oh, are you not?" She raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "Then why are you standing here like delicious bait for the lone hunters... like myself?"
"That's… It's too long to explain. But in short, I am supposed to be bait for lone hunters."
The woman laughed, and her eyes flashed merrily. If nothing else, she definitely wasn't offended by his admission. Her purpose of approaching might not be met, but she looked like she was having fun, taking the best out of the situation.
"Alright, then. You succeeded in grabbing my full attention, so I'll play by your rules." She flashed him a grin. "Let's see... You look exotic, and… perhaps a hint of mystery hovers around you…. If you're here as bait, you've chosen the right strategy. Your looks are certainly attractive." After a quiet hmm and a pursing of her lips, she added, "You ain't local, no?"
"Nope, I'm not."
"I thought so." She passed behind him, sliding her fingers over his broad shoulders.
He didn't even flinch; instead, he huffed, amused. She wasn't shy, either.
"But maybe," she whispered in his ear, "if you change your mind, you can come to me, then... I can come with you to your place. I'm good company."
Kankuro closed his eyes and licked his lips. "I'm flattered, really. But I'm afraid that... I'm not changing my mind. Not tonight, anyway." He shot her a glance and a smile over his shoulder.
She sighed. "Very well," she said with a more business-like tone. "I don't know what you're up to... But have in mind that a lot of women will be coming your way."
"That's good news... for the purpose I'm here in the first place."
She rounded him and stood on his other side so he wouldn't have to keep his head turned back.
"But if you seek solitude, you should've brought a friend — male or female — it doesn't really matter. As long as they can serve as shields."
Kankuro felt his skin pricking. He couldn't do much but take a deep breath willing the sharp sensation to subside. This didn't go unnoticed.
"I see my presence is affecting you in the right way," she whispered, content. "For a moment, I thought you might not be interested in women at all."
Kankuro laughed. "Nothing wrong with being gay," he nodded. "Except I'm not."
She leaned on the bar beside him. "Good news for me."
"Maybe." He sipped on his beverage.
"If you are not here for your own amusement and to get company for the night, so there must be something else…"
He nodded. "A wager."
"Oh, that says a lot about you." Her comment was accompanied by a giggle. "What do you have to do to win?"
"I have to attract a bunch of lone hunters, proving that I'm a likeable man just the way I am," he explained.
She pursed her lips. "Catchy. You may not attract women only, you know."
Kankuro huffed. "I don't think it's against the bet's rules, to be honest. But have a little faith in the men who like men. They can feel the vibes, and mine are not what they look for."
The woman gave him a long look. Her face turned serious, as if she were trying to decide something very important. When she spoke again, her voice had lost its silkiness and seductive note. "I didn't want to come," she admitted, her eyes looking at her fingers resting on the bar. "I'm here because my friends dragged me out. I used to go to bars… Before." She made a thoughtful pause. "Then, I met a person whom I fell in love with. Unfortunately, he broke my heart some time ago." She shot a glance at a small group of three more women. "They're trying to help. But I don't think this" — she gestured vaguely between him and herself — "is what I really need."
Kankuro nodded. "I'm sorry for what happened to you," he whispered. "Although this" — he repeated her gesture — "might help... But there is a chance that you might feel even worse."
"True." The woman lifted her eyes to the wall behind the bar and kept silent for a few moments. "I feel... lost."
He squared his shoulders at her last word. "I think I know what you're talking about. The feeling is suffocating, isn't it?"
"Kinda…" She bit her lip. "I just need more time. Maybe I should take a long trip to a faraway place and finally take my mind off... Maybe I'll meet interesting people and rediscover myself." She sounded like she was wondering aloud — like she was participating in an inner dialogue — but instead of keeping it in her head, she was letting the words out.
"Travelling has always been helpful to me," Kankuro admitted, hoping she would take it as encouragement.
"I've always thought going to western countries would be an interesting experience." She tapped her chin. Her whole presence had started to shift, becoming relaxed and somehow dreamy. She wasn't hunting anymore. Rather, she had found an akin soul that she could share her troubles with, unload a part of the heavy burden from her shoulders, and then both of them would take on their own paths.
"If you ever end up in Suna, I'll be happy to arrange a tour for you… if I am available at the right moment," he suggested. And looking into himself, he found out that he was more than honest.
"That would be most kind of you, exotic boy," she smiled at him with a calm and kind smile, very different from the ones she had given him a bit earlier.
"Kankuro," he introduced himself, offering his hand for a shake.
"Fumeya," she said, taking his hand and discretely shaking it.
"What made you accept such a wager, Kankuro?" she asked, returning the conversation to its previous tracks.
He chuckled. "A woman."
"She must be an important one to you? Or you are just one that can't step out of a challenge thrown your way?"
Kankuro twiddled with the glass in his hands for a few moments before deciding how he wanted to play this. His guts vouched for blunt honesty, and they had proven to be trustworthy during the years; he always listened to them. "I rarely pass on a challenge," he confided. "But you are right... The woman is important to me, even if it is illogical that she has become that." He took a deep breath. "Actually, I've desperately fallen in love with that woman. But I've met her just recently, and I... can't have her for myself."
Her face froze in surprise while she looked into his eyes for any traces of... anything that could be, in a way, dishonesty. Her beautiful features twisted in deep sympathy when she realised he had just told her the unadulterated truth. Fumeya carefully felt with her hands the chair behind her, pulled it closer, and sat on it, all the time looking at his face.
"You sound like you've quit trying before even giving it a shot?"
Kankuro shook his head. "I don't think I have a real chance with her."
Fumeya's green eyes pierced his. "Why not?"
He smiled, refusing to answer.
"Let's see." She leaned forward on her elbows. "What reasons may there be?" Her finger drew a few invisible circles on the smooth surface of the bar. "Let's try the most common ones: is she too old?"
"She's not too old," he replied, choosing to take part in the little game Fumeya was offering him.
"Too young then?" She tried again. "Underaged… even?"
"Hell no," he almost snapped but succeeded in holding his temper intact.
She crossed her legs with a small smile dancing on her lips. "Right… So it's not an age issue, then."
Kankuro hummed, agreeing.
"Ah!" She exclaimed. Her voice lowered right away, as if she feared the answer to her following question might be positive. "Is she married already?"
"She isn't, as far as I know."
"As far as you know..." she reiterated.
He chuckled. "No, she's not married, nor is she engaged or has a boyfriend."
Fumeya bit her lower lip before suggesting, "Does she have kids you don't like?"
Kankuro raised his eyebrows. "She doesn't have any kids. And, honestly, if she had already, I don't think that would change the way I feel. Simply put, I wouldn't mind at all."
"Oh, you are that much into her." She patted his back, pitying him.
"Sadly…"
Fumeya's head snapped up. "Is she not into men?"
"She's straight."
"Is she not into you?"
"That… I don't really know." He shrugged. "She likes my company; I know that much. But… I don't think there's more to that."
"Well, Kankuro," she said with a sigh. "This woman is of the proper age. She isn't participating in any relationship, be it with a man or kids." Fumeya paused, leaning closer to him. "What's stopping you from giving it a shot?"
Kankuro drew his lips in a line. "It's... complicated," he uttered. "I wish it wasn't. But... We both have our own emotional burdens, memories, and experiences. She clutches on to all of it too firmly, so... there's no place for another person with their own baggage, be it me or anyone else."
Fumaya looked sceptical. "Are you sure?" Her voice was low. "Or are you just making up excuses?"
"Unfortunately, I'm not making up anything."
She clicked with her tongue before offering him her conclusion. "So, your plan is to let her slide right off while you stand and do nothing?"
"I didn't say that," he denied, frowning. "I can still be part of her life as a friend. And... I can be of use to her for good."
"I'm sorry, but all of this suggests you are a masochist — you volunteer yourself to be hurt." She let out a hissing sigh. "Kankuro, you don't seem stupid, but this particular plan of yours is."
Her last words left him speechless for a few moments. "I'm not sure if I should thank you for thinking that I'm not stupid or if I should be offended that you insulted my plan," he admitted. "However, I've already made up my mind."
"And you will stay around her? Being in constant pain?" Fumaya didn't look like she could comprehend his point of view.
"No. When I do what I've planned, I'll have to go."
"It sounds like something you're not too eager to do, after all," she whispered, watching him closely.
Kankuro laughed. "I'm eager and not at the same time. I want to help her, but I don't want to lose her."
Fumaya's face fell; sympathy glowed into her green eyes. "I'm sorry." She rested her hand on his shoulder with all the warmth her akin soul could feel for him.
"Thank you," he replied, pouring his gratitude into his voice. He was sure she'd feel it.
She did — he saw it in her smile.
"Well, Kankuro, where are your buddies?" Fumaya looked around.
"Left corner. The big group," he said without moving or even giving them a look.
"Oh, you have a lot of spectators." She suddenly sounded much more merry than a moment ago.
He confirmed with a nod. "That I have."
Fumaya pretended to have a look at the people next to Kankuro's group, carefully examining a tall man with a lot of earrings around his face. "She must be there?"
"She is."
The woman kept silent for over a minute before leaning back towards him. "Then, I'll make it more interesting for both you and myself." Fumaya touched his shoulder and pushed it, forcing him to face her.
"How?"
"I'm going to kiss you," she stated. "That's equivalent to wounding you and then leaving you to the sharks."
Kankuro smiled, accepting the challenging idea. "Alright. Show me what you got."
She clenched his top in her fist and pulled him towards her.
He let her.
Just before their lips met, she mouthed, "If you want to really know, watch for her reaction." Then her painted-red lips pressed on his; the touch was softer than he expected but still insistent. She didn't deepen the kiss, choosing to stare into his eyes as closely as possible. Before pulling away, her gaze drifted in the direction of the appointed table, where his group was.
"There were some satisfying reactions from a few of the women in your group," she whispered right after ending their kiss.
"Only a fool hopes for what is said to be impossible," he replied, looking straight into her eyes.
"Sometimes, you gotta make a fool out of yourself, Kankuro." Fumaya leaned in and pecked his cheek. "Good luck. I hope to see you in Suna sooner rather than later."
He nodded at her and lifted her hand to press his lips on top of it. He needed to unload some of his thoughts in some way when she came on stage. It was going to help him keep his sanity intact. For that, he was immensely grateful.
"That one put up a good show," Ino commented, her blue eyes looking straight at the woman who had just kissed Kankuro.
Tenten only nodded, incapable of tearing her gaze from the scene. He had let the first woman who approached him kiss him! What guts did Kankuro have? What twisted mind was in his head? He didn't even seem to put up any resistance!
"I can't believe he did it," Tenten whispered.
"I told you. He is a good-looking male specimen. No matter how you look at him, he's a good catch, even for a one-night stand. And that's before adding his origin, social status, and so on," Ino said, crossing her arms. Tenten attempted to say something, but Ino was faster, tagging on, "You really think that he needs a save?"
Tenten's chest felt heavy and burning, as if something forbidden and forgotten was trying to unfold. Anger surfaced in her; it took the lead of her emotions. Unfairly, she directed it to Ino, giving her an irate look. "He doesn't need a save. He looks like he's enjoying it."
"Why wouldn't he?" She narrowed her blue eyes. "He has the attention of one of the most pretty women in this bar. And yes, I already looked around," she stated matter-of-factly.
"You just... don't let the first woman in sight kiss you," Tenten mumbled, frowning.
Ino gave her an assessing look. "If I didn't know you that well, I'd think that-" She took a raspy breath, breathing out a question in a voice quieter than a whisper: "Are you... jealous?"
Tenten's head snapped at her. "What!? No!"
Her sharp reaction drew a few curious looks from their teammates.
"What's going on?" Lee asked.
"It's alright," Ino said with a dismissive hand wave.
He sought confirmation from Tenten, and when he got it, he turned back to Atsui.
Tenten mercilessly bit her bottom lip as the doubt fogged her brain, forcing an important question on her: was it possible she really felt... jealousy? No, it couldn't be... Jealousy was a feeling driven by fear and possessiveness. And certainly not something she could relate to a man she had met less than a month ago. Actually, she had never been close enough to having him — hardly enough to qualify as someone who could feel fear of losing him. Plus, it had never been a typical thing for her to feel at all, even not when it was about Neji. Her brain helpfully provided her with forgotten information that Neji hadn't given her any occasion to feel that way — the females around him were either common friends or his close relatives. Tenten furiously shook her head, pushing the clarifying detail to the back of her head, and went back to the main matter. If what she felt wasn't jealousy, then... what was it?
Anger? There was definitely anger in her chest; it threatened to start boiling at any moment. Maybe even burst out... What was she even angry at? Kankuro? No, he didn't do anything wrong. He might have asked some questions and coaxed her to share more than she usually would, but… he meant well. If anything, he wasn't the type to just use her for his own amusement. Right?
Tenten remembered the bet between Kurotsuchi and him. He had admitted about it himself, which indicated that his intentions weren't malicious. If they were, he would never tell her in the first place. So, Tenten disregarded Kankuro as the reason for her anger. But the sensation remained.
What other reason for her anger could there be?
She closed her eyes, trying to focus better on her feelings. It wasn't just anger... There was also sorrow and… She was furious… Neji's image slowly appeared in her head and her anger peaked. She was feeling an urge to hit him, to hurt him so badly… Just the way he had hurt her when he left her alone. She wanted him to know her pain. He had dared to die! And left her lonely and miserable, desperately longing for being together. But at the same time knowing that "together" was just an impossible dream, burning brightly and torturously, only to keep her down in the pit of grief. Her mouth filled with bile — it was so sharp and bitter that her eyes started to sting.
But she couldn't make him suffer. The only thing she could do was make herself suffer instead. She realised she was doing this to herself — destroying her mind and body — although she couldn't do anything to stop falling into a downward spiral. It was like watching straight in the shining sun, knowing it would blind her for a while. Still she couldn't look away.
Regarding Kankuro… She did develop some feelings for him. Whether they were caused by his ability to make her feel safe when they were together or was it something else? She wasn't entirely sure. What she knew for sure, though, was that it shouldn't be possible to fall for anyone that she met mere weeks ago. Still, she didn't want to see any woman's hands on him. The realisation metaphorically slapped her.
No! Stop thinking about him this way! It's wrong! She ordered herself.
Her eyes snapped open, and she snatched the glass from the table. Tenten shook her head and dawned her glass under Ino's wide eyes.
"What's with you?" she asked, a concern creeping into her tone.
"I just realised that the whole thing was a bad idea," Tenten stated. She stood up, unstable on her feet. "I'm going to get him out of there... and for a refill." She didn't wait for any comment; she just hurried to the bar.
She neared Kankuro but never got too close. Ordering her drink, she shot him a glance, then spoke, looking ahead.
"You proved your attraction abilities. You're not bound to spend the hour standing here anymore."
"I don't back out of a challenge," he refused. "I'll be here for the next forty-five minutes. You just make sure to keep watching me and counting."
Tenten felt like sinking. Disappointment washed over her dizzy self, quickly followed by anger. She still succeeded in taking a deep breath before she grabbed her drink. "Very well," she hissed and headed back to the table.
Ruka had her elbows on the table and her chin propped up on her hands. She ignored both the loud music and the chatter, sinking into self-conscious wallowing. She wasn't sure that sharing her feelings about an unknown person was a good idea. She was especially troubled that Shee had heard it. Ruka thought that after spending time with him and talking quite a lot, he had started to accept her as something like a friend. But right after he left the table, he seemed very distant and unwilling to communicate at all. Was it possible the reason could be his suddenly changed opinion of her? Or it was something completely unrelated to her. The latter was much more plausible according to her, since she didn't take on such significance in her influencing other people's moods. While dabbling in thoughts without any semblance of a proof, her gaze was unmoving and unblinking, causing her eyes to dry and her sight to blur at the same time.
"Ruka-chan." The mention of her name snapped her out of her trance.
Ruka blinked rapidly until she could focus on the person talking to her. "Yes?"
"Are you feeling alright?" Lee's expressive face was contorted with worry.
She smiled at him. "I'm okay, Lee-san, thank you! I'm just a bit tired," she admitted quietly. "And, honestly, I wouldn't mind going back to the inn and getting some healthy sleep in a real bed."
He tensed, ready to get on his feet. "Would you like me to walk you back?"
"That would be most kind, Lee-san, but I don't think we can move freely in the village if one of the Kumo shinobi isn't with us."
"Right." Lee nodded, looking around the table. He nudged Amai in the ribs. "Can we have someone accompany Ruka-chan back to the inn?"
Ruka gasped quietly; her cheeks burned impossibly red, and she waved her hands in front of herself. "No, no! That's not needed! I'll stay until everyone's ready to go. I really don't want to cause any trouble."
Amai's eyebrows rose as he met Shee's gaze. "It's not a problem, Ruka. If you want to go back, there will be someone seeing you off. Give us a few minutes to sort this out. Is this alright with you?"
"I-I… you don't have to," she reiterated, hiding her face in her hands.
Ameno reached above the table and caressed Ruka's forearm. "Why don't you go and splash some water over your face? I'm sure the matter will be sorted out until you come back. Ok?"
Ruka nodded and slipped out of the booth. She fixed the door to the toilets and headed there, sneaking around the swaying people and trying not to touch anyone. She tried hard to numb the overload of her senses while watching her feet. The alcohol in her system, no matter the small amount, was not helping. But even if her perception was slightly dulled, she still abruptly stopped just before clashing with another person.
"Oi, be careful, little one," a male voice said.
Ruka jerked back. She lifted her face and couldn't stop the surprised gasp that left her lips. In front of her were the most hypnotic blue eyes, staring right in her face. A contented smile appeared on the very pleasant face, framed by unruly blond hair. She smiled reflectively, hoisting her hands between them. "I'm so sorry, mister! I didn't see you."
"It's okay; you didn't hurt me," he said through laughter. "Are you alright?" His smile faded in favour of a semi-concerned expression.
"I'm fine," Ruka exhaled. Her face flushed; unwillingly, she touched her cheeks as if to check if they were really burning.
"Ah, so cute," the man said, his lips tugging in the semblance of a smirk.
Ruka's face turned to the side, and she attempted to step back but crashed into a woman, passing behind her back. She flinched and started apologising, though the woman didn't seem impressed or like she even cared that Ruka had stepped on her foot.
"It's cool," she said. "Relax, hun." The woman patted Ruka's shoulder. "Your face will burst in flames. Nothing happened; it's full of people."
The blond man approached and sheltered from the passing people with his arms. "You really are something," he said quietly beside her ear, forcing her body to jolt and gasp out of her lungs.
Ruka felt herself trapped. These kinds of social situations weren't something she had experience dealing with. On missions, it was something else — she had a purpose, a plan, and tools to reach her goal. She could easily modify her looks or behaviour because it was acting. Here and now, she was stiff and simply clueless.
If she wasn't so scared and self-conscious, she might have noticed how the expression of the man changed to something resembling a cat that ate the canary. She didn't see it, nor did she notice how he secretly met the gazes of two more men above her head.
"Don't be afraid, little one," he said with a silk-like voice. "I'll keep you safe."
An alarm set off in her head at his words, so she tried to snake out and put some distance between him and herself. He blocked her movement with an elegant gesture.
"What is a pretty girl like you doing here alone, anyway?" The man asked and closed in even more; she took yet another step back but couldn't go far enough.
"I-I… I'm not alone," she said quietly, her voice hardly hearable.
"But there's no one with you now, right?" He slipped his arm around her shoulders and gently pushed her towards the door.
Ruka flinched, taking a sharp breath. Her brain switched to frantic, almost panicking mode, trying to assess the situation and the possible courses it may take depending on her own reaction. Firstly, the man's body looked strong and muscular, and she felt the calluses of his fingers when he laid his hand on her bare shoulder. There was a great chance that he was a shinobi. Secondly, the wicked flames twitching inside his eyes made her feel edgy. Thirdly, his rushed efforts to lead her out of the bar didn't bode well.
Feeling completely sober, she caught the subtle glance her attempted abductor shot to the middle of the bar and the response that came from two other men in the crowd. So there were at least three of them.
However, she couldn't risk making a scene and drawing all of the attention to herself, nor could she involve her teammates in something that might result in a fight. Especially not within a crowd with so many civilians.
Once she reached the street, she had options. She could fight them off or run away. She wasn't on a mission, and her usual tool for dealing with men wasn't available, but she was confident that, in case of a battle, she could survive and preserve herself.
Ruka looked up in the direction of the table; she met Amai's worried eyes and Shee's narrowed ones. Lee had already gotten up on his feet and was ready to follow her. She let out a silent sigh of relief — she had been watched over. They knew. So what she had to do was buy some time until the help came.
"You don't mind coming over to my place for a treat, do you?" The man asked, squeezing her more tightly and leading her the way he wanted.
"I don't think that's a good idea," she countered, the music stealing her words.
With a corner of her eye, she saw some of her teammates heading towards the exit, probably to cut her abductor's way. She tried to resist and remain in a place, but he was stronger and didn't let her.
"Now, now, dear... Did you change your mind?" He smirked.
"No," she said.
His arm felt like an iron one, preventing her from wiggling away. He leaned closer to her and spoke in a way that might have been seductive in different circumstances. "We will go for a nice walk under the stars, then we will have a couple of wine glasses at my place."
"Ruka-chan," Amai's familiar voice reached her ears and gave her strength to stop, forcing the man to a halt.
He was quick to assess the situation. "Not a peep," he hissed into her ear, and quickly turned, with an innocent smile on his lips. The way he controlled his facial muscles was impressive.
His hand squeezed Ruka more, extracting a pained gasp from her lips.
"How can we help?" he asked them.
Lee crossed his arms in front of his chest, pressing his lips together.
Amai also smiled in a way that looked almost pleasant. "I think there might be some misunderstanding here," he said cheerfully.
"Oh?" the man feigned surprise. "What that might be?"
"I think you've mistaken our dear friend Ruka for someone else. So we came to make sure to inform you about the misunderstanding." She could sense with her awakening senses that Amai was extremely careful in his word choices.
"I don't think there is a mistake. Ruka-chan has agreed to keep me company for a while," The man said, his smile didn't even waver.
"Did she?" Lee spat out but sealed his lips again, averting his face, twisted in an angry grimace.
"Yes, she did," he confirmed.
Ruka opened her mouth, but a short, sharp impulse of pain paralysed her muscles for a fraction of a second.
Definitely a shinobi, she concluded inwardly.
"Ruka, is this true?" Amai asked her directly.
She tried to say something, but no sound came out. Her eyes widened, and her face paled at the realisation she couldn't use her voice. Lee's gaze met hers, and she saw the lightning of anger — with the power so devastating, that it could wipe mountains — inside the black depths of his eyes. He was ready to jump at the man beside her and leave him an unmoving pile of nothing.
It seemed like the man also read the deadly promise on Lee's face. "Let's all relax, shall we?" he offered with a soft voice.
"I think it's too noisy here," Amai said, his hand lifting in a quick movement, physically urging Lee to stay down. "How about we go out and talk this through?"
The man gave Ruka's teammates a long, assessing look, weighing his chances. Then he nodded. "Sure. But as I told you, she willingly accepted my offer. I'm sure she still wants to come over," he claimed.
Ruka winced as another painful impulse shot through her body, preventing her from a vocal stand.
Amai gestured for him to lead the way to the exit. The man turned, his hand firmly clutched into Ruka's flesh, and he headed towards the street.
Ruka felt smaller and weaker. There must have been something about the technique this man used on her. Her mind feverishly sought a way to get this person off of herself sooner rather than later. In the least painful way, hopefully. The impulses resembled currency that contracted her muscles and left them in a stiff and unresponsive state. Ruka suspected that he might be sucking chakra somehow, though she couldn't be sure about it.
On the half way to the door, she felt her arms relaxing and hurried to put the one hand opposite the man behind her back. Knowing that her teammates would be able to see it there, she opened three fingers, hinting at the number of people she could spot. She hoped they would understand.
When they walked out, Ruka noticed Ameno, standing beside the nearby wall with her arms crossed over her chest.
The man took Ruka to the side and turned with his arm firmly around her shoulders. He wasn't going to let her go, and she asked herself why he was so insistent.
"I'll tell you what will happen," Amai said, drawing the man's attention. "You'll let Ruka-chan go to her sister over there." He pointed at Ameno. "Then, if you still have a desire to keep drinking, I'll personally buy you whatever you drink. If not, I suggest you go home and not return here tonight."
"Why do you think I should listen to you?" The man's fingers dug into Ruka's shoulder, making her face twist in pain. His friends also exited the bar and stood on his sides with smug expressions.
"Same goes for your buddies,"
Lee stepped forward, impatient to kick their asses, but Amai yet again lifted a hand and gestured to him to hold.
Ameno joined her teammates; her expression changed to a worried one. "Let her go," she warned, her voice low.
"You are her sister?" The man asked.
"I am," she confirmed. "And I would let her go if I were you."
"But your sister wants to come with me and my friends. "She's a little different," he said, giving her a strange look. "Or, maybe," — he looked at Ameno again — "you want to join us as well?"
"Hell I want," she spat, frowning as her hand started to glow faintly.
"Well, better go back in, then. This doesn't seem to concern you."
"Look," Amai said, "I'm trying to offer a peaceful solution. We're not letting you take her away, especially against her will."
"It's not against her will—"
Two sequential dull thuds forced the man to shut up and look around. His comrades were both on the ground, firmly pressed down by Omoi and Shee.
The man's jaw clenched. He realised he was doomed, when he met Shee's eyes and recognised him. The man was a cloud shinobi and he knew the bodyguards of the village's head. But he dared to stain the Raikage's reputation with undignified behaviour on Kumogakure's territory. Shee wasn't one to forgive easily, especially not such an offence to A.
"I don't know why you act this way!" He traded the smug smile for a slightly fearful face. "I didn't try to take her away against her will."
"If you knew little more than her name heard by accident, you'd know your words were absurd," Shee claimed, his voice trembling with desire to pour his wrath out on him.
Lee nodded, balling his hands in fists.
Shee's words touched something deep inside Ruka's soul and brought strength and the desire to fight, to resist. He… They all knew her enough not to believe anyone that she would abandon her group and go somewhere with random people. Even if she wasn't able to make a sound, they knew. And Lee's readiness to defend her was surprising and heartwarming. Ameno, Amai… Those two had entered the roles of her little family, standing up for her as a real family would. She felt a powerful rush of adrenalin and concentrated to get the most of it.
Breathe in… Prepare... Breathe out…
Ruka's elbow landed forcefully into the side of the man's rib cage, forcing the air out of his lungs. She then grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. Her heel found his knee joint and kicked it, knocking him down. Once free of his grip and paralytic impulses, she regained full control over her own body. Her own knee pressed a very sensitive little spot on the back of his waist, immobilising him. Her eyes sparkled with pure disgust when she bent forward, panting.
"How come you didn't really think of asking Ruka what she thought about all of this and if she wanted to come with you?" she hissed. "She's here. She can hear you, and she can talk when you don't paralyse her vocal strings." She adjusted his arm so he wouldn't move at all if he wanted to keep his shoulder intact. "Ruka has her own opinion when it comes to Ruka herself."
Lee looked taken aback in the first moment when the man fell to the ground. Seconds later, a wide grin appeared on his face as he crossed his arms. His expression was hinting that he might start cheering out loud.
"No, Ruka never agreed to come with you and your friends," she finished, emphasising it with an angry push on his back.
Shee nodded at Amain to take over; he carefully approached Ruka and touched her forearm. She lifted her eyes, focusing on Amai's.
"It's alright," he assured softly.
Ruka nodded, releasing her victim and stepping aside. She was still panting, her chest rapidly rising and falling. Her face was burning red, but... The moment her elbow met the hard flesh, she snapped out of her social anxiety. All memories of being on missions and having to deal with the assholes of men raced back in her head. She knew what to do and how to do it. Except... Once her abductor was helpless on the ground, she lost her purpose and fell into the scare again, although it was mixed with anger this time.
"You're outnumbered," Shee informed, looking down at the man he still held down. "I suggest you don't embarrass yourself further and just go home." He grasped his collar and roughly pulled him up on his feet. "If you do that, I'm going to report you for inappropriate behaviour. If you still insist on stirring trouble, the report will be for a rape attempt on an honourable kunoichi of a friendly village."
His words caused a surprised gasp from the shinobi beside him — the punishment for such a deed could be severely cruel. They would be put in prison for an indefinite period of time, and after they got out of there, they would be exiled from the village. There was no need to even mention that their shinobi licences would be taken away. They all knew that...
Shee's voice lowered. "It's your call."
Omoi also lifted the man he had knocked out earlier, following his leader's example. He wasn't any gentler, either.
The cloud shinobi, with guilty faces, exchanged gazes in mute communication. If they could avoid harsh punishment, that was what they were going to do.
The blond one announced, "We're leaving." He shot a cautious glance at Ruka while rubbing his shoulder.
"Good choice," supported Amai with a calm smile.
The men gathered up and attempted to limp down the street.
"Wait," Shee called, making them halt. "Show me your IDs," he said.
They whispered between each other and, instead of following his direct order, dashed in three different directions.
Shee clicked with his tongue. Two short nods sent Amai and Omoi after two of the men. He bored his eyes in Ruka's face, and he said hurriedly, "Get Atsui to accompany you if you go back to the inn. Make sure you have someone stay with you."
Ruka gave him a curt nod while he readied himself to chase after the third shinobi of Kumo. He didn't wait for any verbal answer, as he knew Ruka would take his words seriously. Shee surged ahead, quickly cutting the distance between the running man and himself. He was going to punish the undignified bastard who had insulted the two things Shee held in the highest regard — his village and kage.
Lee, Ruka, and Ameno looked after Shee until he disappeared completely from sight.
Ameno gently laid a hand on Ruka's shoulder; she flinched and hissed in pain. It was the same shoulder that the man's fingers had been digging in — even in the gloaming, she could see the black marks forming. "I'm gonna fix that when we go back to the inn," the sand kunoichi promised.
Lee peered at Ruka. "Did he hurt you?" Before she opened her mouth to deny it, he closed in. "Let me see."
He slowly inspected the place while his face twisted in anger under the women's surprised gazes.
"It's nothing," she said, forcing a smile. "I'm a shinobi, remember? I've been hurt before. That's nothing re—"
"It's not nothing, Ruka-chan," he countered, scolding her softly. "It's one thing to get hurt while fighting... But this? All of this was completely unreasonable and uncalled for."
"This likeness of a shinobi was a complete ass," Ameno interjected. And even if Lee himself stayed away from using curse words, he eagerly agreed with a nod.
"I'm still not sure why he decided I'd come with him willingly," Ruka muttered.
"Because you look so gentle and fragile, Ruka-chan. And also, you possess very lovely outlooks," Lee explained, being honest. "All of it may make a man wrongly take you for a weak woman."
Ruka blushed at his words. She had never gotten so many adjectives used for her, and in a positive way nonetheless. It felt… flattering and so uncomfortable at the same time.
Ameno frowned in the general direction the blond shinobi had run into. "I don't doubt our teammates will catch them. I just really hope Shee'll impose a harsh punishment on all of them. Especially the one who held you," she declared in a tone that was dripping with venom.
"I couldn't agree more," Lee said. "I'm just sorry that I won't deal with them myself."
Ameno shrugged. "It's Kumo. Their village, their right to keep the rules followed."
He nodded. "Yes."
"Let's go inside," Ameno suggested and brushed ahead of them just to stop a few feet later. She looked back expectantly. "You coming?"
"Of course," Ruka uttered. "I just need a few seconds to cool off a bit more."
"I'll stay," Lee announced. "I'll make sure she's alright."
Ameno pursed her lips as if she were going to protest but didn't. Instead, she turned and entered inside without making any comment.
"Thank you," Ruka whispered to the man still standing beside her.
"No problem," he assured, grinning.
Ruka closed her eyes and slowly breathed in, then let the air out.
"Are you alright?" Lee asked carefully.
"I'm a bit" — she glanced at him — "angry," she admitted.
There was something weird about Lee that just convinced her to tell the truth with no reservations. Was it the lack of judgement on his side? Because she had never heard him say anything that would put anyone down. Quite the opposite, actually — he would always find a way to encourage someone who struggles. It was like Lee's heart was the most accepting one — he would just take all the weirdness around him with no questions asked. And that trait of his, Ruka realised, made her trust him.
"I should have acted quicker and cut out the problem earlier," Ruka confessed with a sigh.
"You did well," he noted, offering her a hand. "You handled the situation in a reasonable way. Entering a fight in the bar could have resulted in many civilian victims. You also warned us about the number of people involved. Don't underestimate yourself."
"Thank you," she exhaled, and she accepted the hand with a slight blush over her cheeks. "I'm grateful that you kept an eye on me and arrived at the moment something was about to go wrong."
"That's what teammates and friends are for." He smiled at her; it was just a soft tug of lips that Ruka couldn't recall having seen on his face. Lee suddenly looked much more mature, contrary to his usual boyish charm. She returned the smile without realising that she had.
"The adrenaline will wear off soon," she said.
Lee nodded, looking ahead. "That's correct. When it does, it's best if you are safe in the group."
"Yeah. Let's go back," she agreed.
He led her into the bar and then to their table, manoeuvring seemingly with no effort between the groups of people. Ruka clutched his elbow, pressing herself closer to him, as if she were unwillingly seeking protection — something to help her float above the crowd.
Once they reached the table, Ruka was given the opportunity to explain what had happened. She succeeded in giving a brief and to-the-point summary of the matter. Lee and Ameno added a few things that could have been seen only from the side. Shikamaru asked a couple of questions, which required only "yes" or "no" as answers, before he left her to relax on the bench. As a conclusion, it was decided that the group would wait for half an hour more, in case the rest of the cloud shinobi returned. Then, all of them were going to call it a night and head back to the inn for a rest.