I will kill you first - Hanazo (mlbb)

Part 23

It was surprising to me. That she was no longer thinking about the shadow ninja...and the way she talked about him was a little different than before as well. But I guess she had other things on her mind now. I was not even surprised that she asked not to fight the next day. I was expecting it... but I was also expecting her to ask not to fight at all. Or... maybe I was the one that didn't want to fight. Not like that. Not until someone's dead. But still, this was stupid of me to think. This was our deal...

She was trying too hard to look cheerful the next day. I was wondering when she went to sleep. She looked a little tired. She needed good rest...I didn't want to fight with her the next day if she would be tired and would not fight well.

Since we were not training we spent the day mostly talking about different things. I think she was the first person to even ask me about the things that I liked. Favourite food, colour, season. She was full of basic and boring questions... but I was feeling excited to answer. And the expression she wore on her face was the most beautiful thing I've seen. It was weird to have someone to talk with, I realized this not long after I met her, but It was even more unexpected to have someone who is really listening...

At the end of the day we ended up near the river. She jumped in the water with all of her clothes on. Swam a little and looked back at me with a smile on her face.

"The water's great" she said. I knew... It was sunny the whole day and the weather's been nice recently. But still...

"I want to stay dry." I said. She rolled her eyes but didn't try ti force me to get in the water. I sat on the ground while she was swimming.

"Hey!" I looked at her "What would you do if I made you angry?" I raised an eyebrow. To be honest I was not sure. And I told her exactly that. She bit her lip. "Not going to break my neck or something?"

"I am starting to worry." I murmured. And she splashed me with water. I blinked and looked at her. She was ready to laugh but was trying not to. "That's all?" I asked and she laughed. I was not even mad. Not in the slightest. To be honest I was enjoying the expression on her face. The smile she had... happy. She looks happy. "Childish..."

"Maybe..." she said "but just a little bit." I chuckled and shook my head... if she says so. "So you are not mad?" I shook my head again and she splashed me with more water a second later.

"Are you trying to piss me off or something?" I was kind of confused.

"Not really...I just thought you are hot" she said and a second later her face became red as a tomato. I think she was the one who needed to cool down. "I mean... because of the weather. It's warm and sunny and..." she laughed nervously. I knew what she meant... and even though I wanted to tease her I stayed silent. Just rolled my eyes and looked the other way. "Okay, whatever..." and she got underwater. It was just silence for a while.

"Hey..." I said... no answer... I was sure she should hear me even under the water. "Hanabi..." still she was not getting out of the water. "Hanabi..." I got on my feet and made a few steps toward the shore. And I finally saw her getting out of the water and taking a breath.

She tried to wipe her face with her hands, pushed her hair back and looked at me. Her expression went from natural to a little confused.

"You look pale? We can go home?" I took another breath.

"Don't stay underwater for so long."  I answered shortly.

"Did I scared you?" she had a little smirk on her face. No... no way.

"It would be annoying to save you if you drown... especially when we have to fight tomorrow. You will not be able to fight well." I said... even though I was not sure why. I was not even thinking about this.

"Okay...I won't" she answered after a few seconds. "You can at least give me a hand?" I took her hand and helped her to get out. I was expecting her to try to pull me into the water but I guess she either knew she would not be able to do it...or was just clever enough to know not to do it. "Thank you" she looked at my face for a while. Was she even aware that she was still holding my hand? "You know... you wear the mask less..." I blinked. That's not something I was expecting her to say.

***

He would laugh... or be mad... or both if I tell him. I didn't want to fight... to kill him or to dye... He can just come back. With me. I mean... the people would want him in jail... oh who am I even trying to convince... to lie to? Me? No... they would want him dead... they want him dead. He can't come with me... and he knows it, just like he knows why I am still here. To fight with him. Just like we promised in the beginning. And here I was overthinking like a stupid idiot...

I liked that he was wearing the mask less. It was easier for me to read him this way... especially since I got to know him. Plus...this way I could see all of his face.

"Let's go home" I said. He nodded. I saw the glances he took at me while we were walking. "Stop staring," I said he said he wasn't. "You were..." but...I was staring at him as well yesterday... so I guess it's fair. Actually, it isn't. Since I was staring...and he was only taking a glance.

"If you don't want people to stare at you you should not jump in the river without a second pair of clothes." He cut me off and I laughed. He grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to him. "Watch where you are walking." I blinked. My heart was somewhere else but not in my chest. He gestured toward the ground and I looked there. Snake... just crowing on the ground. "This type of situations are making me wonder how you managed to even find me without ending up dead."

"I guess I am just not careful around you. Maybe that's why I was dumb enough to even suggest all of this... but don't worry... you have to take care of me for only a few hours more." He let go of my hand and sighed. Closed his eyes and walked in front of me.

"Come on..." 

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