"You know it's kind of funny," Naruto began the next morning as they dressed.

"What?" Sasuki asked confused, still blinking back sleep from her eyes.

"How the captain thought she took my first kiss when it was actually just that morning.

She went still.

"What?" she repeated, suddenly much more awake.

"You know, yesterday morning at the inn, I kind of…" he laughed, just a little frightened. "Remember when we were both still all groggy and tired I kissed your neck?" he was the least bit nervous when she didn't answer, he'd been shooting for a smile or a blush or something, figuring that little bit of trivia would make her happy. When she grabbed the loose fabric around his collar he went stiff, making it all the more awkward when she yanked him forward.

He didn't even realize what was happening until it was over.

Sasuki kissed him firmly on the mouth.

Her expression didn't change as they both pulled back, nor as she released him. Naruto thought hard to confirm that it really happened. She didn't even say anything until he began blubbering out a half-coherent question.

"Stop acting like some sappy poet you dumbass, it was just a kiss," she said dryly, even rolling her eyes like he was the one being ridiculous in all this. Though she did proceed to leave with just a little more vigor in her steps, a little more haste to end the conversation and get away from him. Naruto felt vaguely proud watching that.

Even the fear of what other mischief Anko might make between them seemed unimportant. Hell, he'd almost forgotten about the captive! That was hard not to remember though when he came above deck and saw about a fourth of the ship still claimed by the giant. In any case, they were noticed.

"Have you decided whether to kill me or not?" she asked quite bluntly, interrupting Sasuki as she brought a biscuit to her mouth.

"Are you not going to die either way?" Sasuki asked, sounding only mildly curious as she spared a glance at the nasty gash she'd made on the leg. It wasn't bleeding anymore, but the skin looked sloppy in it's connection, a long jagged red line that throbbed worryingly against the comparatively pale skin.

"Heh, hill giants are not so delicate, it will heal, in some weeks. I'll be on my feet in one,"

"Then you'll serve me loyally for the rest of your life, right?"

"If that is the oath you demand," she replied, ignoring the skepticism in her voice. "I'm sure I would make a better 'distraction' than this fool,"

"And she did spare me when she could have just crushed my arms like twigs!" said fool added.

"You want to keep her?" Sasuki asked incredulously, turning to look at the man.

"Well what else are we going to do, kill her?"

"She tried to rob us!"

"The Kukra river and its surrounding wildlands have been hunting territory of my people since long, long before you tiny things showed up. You want to fish and paddle and live in our hunting land it is only naturally our right to treat you as prey," the giant justified, only now taking a slightly sour look speaking to Sasuki. She earned a long, unimpressed stare from her captor before the reply.

"Well… I suppose we could make a lot of money off her in Ironhold, assuming she can fight," Sasuki relented, sparing a glance at Naruto, still looking at her with pleading eyes. "What's your name?"

"Sakura. What is in Ironhold?" the giant asked.

"A bounty office, if nothing else. That's what makes it a colony and not just part of the kingdom. It's someplace with gold to give anyone killing the unnatural,"

"Unnatural?"

"Fey mostly, at least up here. Beings not native to our plane that make settlement inconvenient, or outright resist it,"

"Ba, damn Fey, always stealing from our larders and leading us on goose chases," Sakura grumbled. "I have no complaint about killing these things,"

"I'm sure it'd be more lucrative than robbing ferries of their fucking travel biscuits. Seriously all our food couldn't be much more than like, a day's supply for you," Naruto thought aloud, suddenly realizing this attack didn't make much sense.

"Food is not your ship's cargo?" she asked with a raised brow at him.

"There ain't any damn money in bringing food north!" Anko butted in, emerging from the quarters with some bright green fruit in her hand. She took a loud bite before continuing. "No no no, we're carting 'luxury goods' for the fine hunters of Ironhold,"

"Luxuries?" the giant, Sakura, was first to ask.

"Booze, books, other bits and bobs, hunters pay out the ass for it! It's a job with some fat paychecks and a retirement plan that consists of being ripped apart by frenzied boars,"

"Sounds foolish,"

"Maybe so, maybe so, but it is one hell of a life," the captain said whimsically, strolling off as she did, apparently bored of the conversation.

Whatever else she thought, Sakura was interested to see this place, and all the travelers shared the good fortune of arriving without any further incident. Not even any of the 'Anko' variety. The captain it seems turned her sights to the two other crew members, both male and neither seeming to mind spit-roasting the woman every two hours. It felt that often anyway.

At least they got a reprieve at night below deck.

Naruto had it seemed earned the privilege of kissing and nibbling on his old friend's neck during their nightly 'massages', which made everything more fun. Both nights passed in bliss and ended in the intimate cuddle that was quickly becoming their habit. There was still such a feeling of relief that she let him, that things weren't ruined with her completely by that damn blowjob.

That's why it wasn't until dawn of the third morning that he did anything to push it. It was just after they finished dressing, still in the relative privacy of below deck. Sasuki had happened to meet his eyes for a moment, she gave the smallest of tired smiles rather than say anything, and he leaned in before she could react.

It was another short kiss, not as hard as hers either, but it gave just the reaction he was looking for. Her eyes went wide and startled like a shocked child, cheeks even grew the faintest pink hue. Perfection.

"Wha-"

"-It was just a kiss," he teased, bringing her smile back.

That wonderful tired, bemused smile, now all the better for the blush on her face.

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