By The Strings

8~ village

Two more days went on, we still refused to say a word to the other, I packed up the tent and put it on Yosukes back, he looked like he could drop at any moment. We both had eaten all of the food I had brought along, our water was gone, and there wasn't a single village near us for miles.

I slipped having to push myself up from the ground, the ruff sand cut up my hands. My head was pounding and my body ached as we had to continue walking.

"I think I see something just over that hill," Kankuros voice was hoarse and pained as he spoke. The lack of water was getting to both of us. I rushed up the hill he was scouting on, Yosuke follows behind me whining.

"That's definitely a village, and I can smell some delicious cooking." I drooled rushing over as fast as I could, I ran as far as I could but the village was still just barely out of my reach.

I felt something grab my shirt and try and drag me but failed miserably, "don't push yourself," I heard Kankuro say before I was being dragged again this time successfully.

It went on for however long before he let go making me flop into the sand, I was about to snap when I jumped up but we were right outside a village. It read 'kango the village for lovers' I internally panicked at the name while brushing myself off. I recognized it as the place where one of my student's parents had their honeymoon. Only couples were allowed in.

"Keep your guard up, no telling what this place is." His voice was quiet as we walked closer to the entrance, the city was bright with many people walking the streets in the fleeting sunlight.

"Stop, Kankuro!" I tried to get him to turn around but he wouldn't budge no matter what.

A woman stood by the gate with a sword on her back, she looked really strong. "Who are you two?" She questioned standing her ground.

"I'm Masako, and this is Kankuro." I grabbed his arm before gazing up at his paint-covered face lovingly remembering the name of the village. I had to make it believable for the guard or else we would probably die out here with no water.

"What are you-" he started making me crush his foot so he'd catch on. "Where from the sand village looking for a place for the night." He smiled at the lady before adding a wink to it while I smiled up at him throwing up in my mind.

"Of course, since your such a lovely couple we can't turn you away!" She gushed with a wink before letting us pass. "What the hell was that about!" He whisper yelled not wanting to draw attention to us more than our entrance already did.

"This village is specifically for couples and honeymoons, I've heard the name from one of my students whose parents came here a few years ago. If they know we aren't a couple they will throw us out or worse." I said with a wide smile and a fake blush on my face.

"Please go buy us a room," I whispered with a real blush of embarrassment. "I'll take the bed and you can have the floor, two rooms and they will know." I tried to look as natural as possible while we tried to find a hotel to stay at.

After about 15 minutes of walking, we stumbled into a place that seemed nice. They gave us one key assuming we would be together the whole time.

I closed the door behind us and crinkled my nose, "you smell bad you know that!" I groaned trying to get the smell out of my nose, "you're one to talk." He argued.

We both glanced around the room looking for a bathroom but there was no door other than the one we used to get in the room. "Bathhouses maybe?" I questioned downing all the cold water bottles in the small fridge beside me.

"I guess we have no choice..." He grabbed the bridge of his nose smudging his face paint more than it already was. "I didn't see a single one on our way in here, how about you?" I questioned him. He shook his head no as he headed for the waters which I had already drunk.

"Gah! Those are expensive." He cried out seeing how many I had finished. I could hear his wallet crying out in pain from here.

"You'll be fine, aren't you well known in your village lord Kankuro?" I mocked earning a cold glare from him.

"Just because they know me doesn't mean they like me." He spat colder than before.

He chugged down the remaining water I had left for him before getting up. He removed his bags and dolls before heading toward the closed door, "are we going to find the bathhouses, or are we going to remain covered in sand and dirt all night?" His tone was harsh.

I nodded getting up to follow him out of the room.