Paradise Found

CHAPTER 17

Chapter 17
A/N: I was floundering without inspiration for a week or so, but then suddenly found it and wrote this in a day. Funny how those things work, huh? I also started reading some spy novels to get a better idea about where I want Kimari's role to go! Feel free to leave suggestions or comments, because I do take them into consideration.

Shout out to 'Savvy0X', who gave me the ideas for all the fluff and light angst in this chapter to lighten things up a bit. The end bit was with your review in mind! (I think I caught your drift but I'm also dummy dum dum so...)

And thank you to all who read and review! You guys are the best.

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I gasped in shock when I felt the cold splash of icy water falling over my face.

Flailing in surprise, I jolted violently from what had previously been a peaceful sleep and fell from the top of my bed to crash onto the hard and uninviting wooden floorboards below. I was breathing heavily as I looked up from my position twisted and wrapped in blankets to see Kyohei towering over my entangled form, an empty pail in his hand.

I put two and two together in an instant.

"K-Kyohei!" I hissed, swallowing the urge to yell in fear of waking Aoi, who was still sleeping. "What in the world –"

"Get up." He interrupted, voice bland as he stared down at me. I blinked in shock at his tone and harsh gaze. "Get dressed and meet me outside. Aki will watch Aoi. Meet me at the tree line of the forest."

My jaw dropped as I watched him pivot, turning tail and casually strutting out of our room as if he hadn't just thrown a pail full of water over his fake wife. I

could only stare after him in disbelief as I watched him go, unable to process why he had deemed fit to do such a thing. A few seconds later, I heard the creaking of our front door opening before it closed again.

Indignation rose like a fire in my chest.

What in the world is going on? Why would he do something like that? What's with those strange orders? Is he still upset about me getting involved with the Resistance?

That had to be the explanation. It had been a few days now since I had sealed the deal with Sumi. I'd been given orders to wait until a contact reached out to me first, and to only contact Sumi if there was a dire need or emergency. Otherwise, I was to wait until they contacted me and not the other way around.

And in those few days, as I awaited my first set of instructions, Kyohei had been quite visibly perturbed. He'd been trying, and failing, to keep his distress and emotions under wrap. It was a strange mix between the cold shoulder, fretting over my well-being, and sulking. It was as though he couldn't truly figure out how he felt about all of this.

As for myself, I had accepted the role with ease and a sense of diligence. Perhaps the reality and implications of the decision I'd made had yet to sink in, but I did not regret it. Everyone had a role to play, and I was no exception.

Months ago, before getting involved with Naruto and before meeting Kyohei, I had held the naïve belief that I could live here in peace without changing any outcomes. But now I knew that I was wrong. Peace wasn't something inherent or deserved, it wasn't something that was freely given. Peace was something that you had to fight for, and after a lifetime of war and living like a coward, I was ready to fight in my own way.

It was a bitter type of resolve that had settled within me, and I was glad for it. It gave me the strength to move forwards

Kyohei, on the other hand, was less than pleased. Things had been tense between us since our conversation with Kakashi, and had not gotten much better in the following days. The water to the face as a wakeup call was testament to that fact.

I grumbled quietly to myself as I changed, reluctantly following his strange instruction with a foul attitude. After checking on Aoi one more time and giving a pointed look towards Aki, I slipped out the front door and made my way towards where I could see Kyohei's silhouette by the edge of the forest.