Wandering Heathens

Leaving Ame

Ryuu stood outside Sasori's door still in a bit of shock that she had tossed him out so casually after what they had done. He could smell her faint scent on his lips and decided to wash his face and hands before he checked in with Shinjo and the girls. With his hands stuffed into his pockets, he headed towards the wing that contained his room.

He heard soft grunting and muttered "come on!" and "goddammit Minata!" as he approached his room. Obita was trying to break into his room but his seal prevented her from entering even in her intangible state and she was growing frustrated. "Can I help you?" Ryuu asked as he walked towards his door and rested his hand on the seal. "Um...Tobi wanted to see you!" Obita said quickly. Ryuu raised an eyebrow as he looked at her, "Well I'm here now so what do you want?" he asked. "Tobi wants to know why Ryuu-kun always seals his room and possessions" she said. "Kun? Hadn't realized we were at that level... I seal my stuff to keep curious people, like you, out" he said while poking Obita's mask with a smile on his face. She pouted behind her mask and turned away from him.

He fed some chakra into the seal and turned it to the left, unlocking it. Obita watched him, peeking over his shoulder. "It only reacts to my chakra so don't think you've cracked it" he said lightly as he opened his door and stepped in. Ignoring Obita, Ryuu stripped his top off and threw it into a corner before disappearing into his bathroom. Obita stepped into his room and looked at the stacks of books and scrolls piled onto every available surface and picked up a familiar orange covered book. Pervert, she mused before placing it back on its pile.

"Find what you were looking for?" Ryuu asked, surprising her. She turned around and thanked Kami that she wore a mask. He stood in front of her towelling off his face and hands with his hair dampened and brushed off his face. He tossed the towel aside and reached into his pocket and took out the vial Sasori had given him, spreading some of the liquid on his lips, her eye following his finger.

"Well?" He prompted. Not knowing what to do she grabbed the orange book and showed him, "Tobi is curious about this book!" He chuckled and moved to his closet, pulling out his robe, put it on and tied the obi loosely. "You can borrow it if you're that curious. I assume you are of age?" He asked her as he stood in front of her, strapping his weapons pouch around his waist. "TOBI IS OF AGE! TOBI IS NOT A CHILD!" She screamed in response and he flinched at her volume. "Ok ok, I get it, you're a big girl. Now let's go, I have business to attend to" he said while pulling her gently from his room. He closed and resealed his door and walked away, leaving Obita to stand there holding a book of smut.

"And right here is where the Kumo target is" Shinjo explained patiently to Hida who was nodding and sticking her tongue out in concentration. "It's too complicated!" She whined and Kakuza replied "it's not. You're just stupid." "OI! Fuck you! I'll have you know I've learned the kanji for the colours!" She retorted. Shinjo rested his head on his hand before sighing, "do you two not fight?" "NO!" Both women yelled in response, staring daggers at each other.

The door opened and Ryuu stepped through, "honey I'm home!" he called. "About damn time" Shinjo said boredly as Ryuu approached the desk and examined the map. "Why is your hair damp? And what's on your lips?" "Never mind that, we've got a mission to figure out." "You'll tell me eventually" Shinjo said confidently. "One day I might" Ryuu replied distractedly as he followed a proposed attack line with his finger.

"Shinjo~, Kakuza is being a bitch" Hida said while moving to his side and clutching his arm. Kakuza scowled at her and Hida stuck her tongue out at her partner and rival. "Calm down, both of you" Shinjo ordered sternly and Kakuza felt a flush of heat at her core at his commanding tone. "This attack won't work. We're exposed on our flanks with our backs to a rocky formation. That makes escape dicey should we need it. What if we..." Shinjo and Ryuu bent their heads over the map and began talking earnestly about positions and defences.

Kakuza watched as a lock of purple hair worked its way free of the tangled mess and dropped into Shinjo's eyes. He irritatedly brushed it back it up but it fell again. "Goddamn hair!" He muttered as he tried to get the stubborn lock to stay put. Kakuza reached out and gently pulled the elastic that was holding his hair back, out, letting the mess fall around his face. "Kakuza," he said with patience straining his voice, "I can't see." Staying silent she ran her fingers through the mess, trying to comb it, before gathering his locks in her hands and retying his hair. "Thank you" he said absently and placed his hand on hers briefly. Her red and green eyes looked at his hand on hers and she pulled hers away not wanting to feel what she was feeling.

"We're decided?" Ryuu asked and Shinjo nodded, standing up and adjusting his sword straps across his chest. "You have five minutes to gather what you need. Meet us at the exit to Ame" Shinjo ordered and Kakuza and Hida left to grab their effects.

As they stood in the rain and waited, steam hissing off of Ryuu's robe as he used his fire nature to keep dry and warm. "So?" Shinjo asked, crossing his arms and looking at Ryuu. "So?" He replied, looking at the hills beyond Ame. "Tell me" he ordered. "First of all, don't be so bossy. Second of all, it's none of your business." "I'm making it my business. I need you focused for these missions, not distracted by...whatever you've done." "You don't trust me? Cruel. Fine, Sasori took advantage of me. Happy?" "No. I want details." Ryuu sighed and rubbed his eyes, "I can tell you're not going to let this go. Here's the summary: I went to her to cut whatsherface's thread thing off me and as payment I had to eat her out." "That's it?" "She threw me out when she was done. Kinda heartless but, oh well. Oh and I caught Tobi trying to break into my room. She's a weird one..."

Before Shinjo could respond Hida grabbed his arm, "let's go! We've got a shit ton of walking to do!" She said, looking up at Shinjo with her eyes wide and glistening with excitement. So cute, Shinjo smiled at her. Kakuza ignored the group and continued walking out of Ame, her briefcase in one hand and the other adjusting her mask. Shinjo jogged to catch up with her and fell into a comfortable silence as they walked together.

Kakuza occasionally chuckled as Ryuu was left to deal with Hida; her questions, her comments, grabbing her to stop her from trying to sacrifice every person they encountered on their journey and carrying her or her scythe when she became tired. "How the hell did I get stuck with her?" Ryuu complained to Shinjo as they rested at a campfire, Hida snuggling into his chest, while Shinjo stroked Kakuza's hair as she slept using his lap as a pillow. "No idea but thanks" he said. "You owe me" Ryuu responded before closing his eyes and Shinjo nodded, watching Kakuza sleep peacefully.