Fascination: Sequel

Fascination: Sequel: Part 13

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Fascination: Sequel

Part 13

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“... After we cross the border into Yu no Kuni [Hot Springs Country], we’ll need to keep a low profile, I think we should avoid contact with as many people as possible. I fear also that even just walking into a town as we did in Yugakure a few years ago would draw too much attention and for now, we just need to get to that far coast,” Oriko nodded as she gave the noodles a quick stir, adding a few dried herbs she’d brought along,

“Yes, I agree, if these guys really are trading guarded information, then the highest risk to them is the journey to and from the meeting places; travellers, if regular enough to be recognised will attract a lot of attention...but at the same time, they’ll be keeping their eyes open for both the regulars they see and complete strangers,”

“Exactly,” Oriko took the small pan of noodles away from the fire before speaking again,

“I really think that at least until we’re within the land of Lightning, we should be on the ‘outside looking in’, if you know what I mean, keep ourselves hidden as much as possible, but keep our senses open,” She motioned to Kakashi to hold open his small billy-can and she poured roughly half the contents into it,

“Thanks, and I think you’re right...we’ll have a harder time masking our presence once we get into Yu no Kuni...it will probably be best if we disguise ourselves as civilians...so we’ll need to hide away our pouches and haitai-ates,” Kakashi sighed at his own suggestion, as though the very effort of having to hide away his effects in such a fashion was really quite uncomfortable. 

Oriko heartily agreed with him – it was almost like someone suddenly asking you to forego underwear for a typical day: both awkward and uncomfortable; but to anyone else, it looked like nothing out of the ordinary.

“Hmm, that’s going to be annoying...” Oriko silently thanked her own non-conformity for she still looked like a civilian in her typical clothes; the only items giving her away were her haitai-ate and pouches.  “How well do you know Yu no Kuni? It’s going to be difficult for us to look like civilians but on a massive hike clearly not heading to Yugakure...

"Someone’s bound to hear about us and open their eyes a bit wider.” Oriko met Kakashi’s predominantly blank stare held the silence for a few moments as Oriko swirled her noodles, a sense of anxiety dampening her hunger slightly, but she nonetheless raised a bite to her mouth,

“...I know what you mean, but we’ll have to make some cover story...how about I’m from the land of Lightening and I went to Yu no Kuni looking for a wife. I found you in a small border town to Fire and now I’m bringing you to my home, obviously in Kaminari no Kuni [Lightning country]?” Oriko slowly turned her head to him with a deeply unimpressed expression on her face, although Kakashi could sense the playful sarcasm in her;

“Would you like me to tell them how your charm swept me off my feet? And how your stunning, amazing good looks kept me so enraptured that I just had to agree to marry you?” Kakashi shot her a dead-panned, unimpressed glare;

“Yes.”  Oriko raised her eyebrows resisting the laugh which threatened to tumble out; Kakashi resisted the urge to allow the smile he wanted to show to spill onto his face, they lapsed into silence and finished the last of their meal. 

Kakashi, who’d been considering the idea for some days, decided that now, whilst they were still in the Fire country, would be a good idea to teach Oriko the technique he wanted. Although his mind desperately hoped that he was merely being a little over-cautious but there was a little warning light flashing in his head.