I Can't Stand You

Master Of My Own Destiny - Katsu

Wednesday night.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays were always so slow; she ought to just close the shop and have a couple of nights to herself.  But, this place was so ingrained in her that she was in here every night, 10 until 2.  Besides, sex sells.  Even though the store was only open four hours a night, she had a lot of business.

Except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Bing bong.

It was 1am; probably one of the night shift shinobi coming in to check on her, or to flirt with her.  She didn't mind; she liked that they cared enough to check on her.  It was very kind.  It was what made her feel safe enough to be open so late.

She let out a little laugh when Ebisu walked through the door.

"You're back!"

He looked ashamed, but he was back.

"I wanted to make sure that you told Mizuka that I had come by.  I don't need any more issues-"

"Relax.  She was in here when I opened and I told her that you had fulfilled your obligation.  You're free.  Did you watch the porn yet?"

He sighed.

"Actually I watched a little of it.  It's different.  I have trouble believing that a man would be that embarrassingly vulnerable in front of a woman.  She was slapping him around and he was calling for more."

"There are plenty of men who are into that.  I bet lots of men would love to come home to a woman who can take control.  Who wants to be in control all the time?"

"I do.  I am the master of my own destiny."

She laughed when he said this.

"Yeah, right."

"What about the Hokage?  Kakashi's is the most powerful man in the village and I know that he submits to Mizuka.  A lot.  It sounds like he's only in control outside of the walls of their house."

Ebisu turned around and sneered at her.

"Kakashi had allowed himself to become pussy whipped. He always has been, to some extent. But when Mizuka showed up, he handed his balls over to her.  And Mizuka isn't someone I would trust with those.  She's wild.  I mean, who sends a man to the  porn store as a punishment?  Who lets their wife take over such a matter?"

Katsu grinned.

"What's wrong with a man allowing himself to be vulnerable in front of a woman?  Or having a woman be in control?  Mizuka takes excellent care of him and their boys. And he gets to come home to her and fall into her every night.  His day is done as soon as he enters the front door: he's in Mizuka's world. She calls all the shots; he gets the love and the sex and the relief of not having to make any more decisions for anyone. If that's a man being pussy-whipped, it sounds pretty great."

Ebisu laughed.

"Good luck finding a man who would hand his balls over to you."

"You make is sound so emasculating."

"It is. It's horrible. Fuck that."

"It's no wonder you're single."

"Who said I was single?"

She slammed her hands down on the counter and smirked at him.

"You were caught at the women's bath house and now you're in my store for the second night in a row.  What woman would put up with that?  'Master of my own destiny' my ass..."

"What man would put up with your attitude?"

"Plenty of men would put up with my attitude.  Okay, smart ass, what kind of life do you want to have?"

"The same as it's always been: shinobi life, training elite students, and various women in my bed. Life is good just the way it is."

"Is that why you're back?"

She smirked at him.  He turned and waved his hand over his shoulder dismissively.

"It's less trouble than me sneaking around the women's bath.  Besides, I'm still trying to get in good with Mizuka.  I don't want her thinking I'm going to go back."

She wanted to laugh out loud, but she didn't want to push him over the edge.  This guy was definitely different-

Bing bong.

She watched Ebisu quickly hide behind a rack, obviously terrified to be caught by anyone in her shop.

"Hey, Kat."

Mizuka walked in and she couldn't hide her smug grin.  Katsu nodded toward the rack that Ebisu was hiding behind.  Mizuka grinned mischievously as she walked over.  he tried to sneak around to the other side, but Mizuka was actively following him.

"You're back."

Katsu watched him stand up, beet red in the face.  For someone who insisted that his life would not be run by a woman, it certainly looked like it was right now.  He hung his head and didn't respond.  And suddenly, Katsu felt really bad for him.  He really was embarrassed to be here.  Mizuka saw it as well.

"I'm glad to see you."

Mizuka reached out and hugged him around the middle, making Katsu smile.  She let him go and then left him alone, disappearing into one of the racks for the moment, clearly giving him the chance to escape.  He didn't miss the opportunity, quickly making his way to the door.  Before she could say anything else, he flung it open and ran out.

"What in the hell was that?  He came back?"

She was still watching the door.

"Yeah.  He's... different.  That's for sure.  He's certainly afraid of being hurt."

"He talked to you?"

"Yeah, a little.  Enough to tell me that he would never let a woman run his life.  And that Kakashi is pussy-whipped."

Mizuka laughed.

"Duh."

Katsu remained sitting behind the counter for the rest of the night as she watched Mizuka lazily spin on the stripper pole, unable to stop thinking about the embarrassment plastered on Ebisu's face.