It was a little later when the doors to the main hall were finally pulled open. Hearing the sound, Zaraki Kita closed the scroll in her hands and walked toward the doorway. As expected, the one who had returned was Konan. It was still early, not even nine yet. Normally, their group gatherings lasted far longer into the night.
Standing by the door, Zaraki Kita signed toward her.
Back so early? Why didn't you stay out and have more fun?
"I remembered someone still hadn't had dinner, so I came back."
I already ate.
"Instant noodles?"
Zaraki Kita smiled faintly.
Instant noodles count as dinner too.
Konan shook her head helplessly and placed the boxed sushi and side dishes she had brought back onto the table. "That barely fills you up. It's still warm. Eat properly. You barely touched anything earlier, and you came back so early."
Zaraki Kita said nothing more. She sat down on the sofa, opened the bento, picked a neatly shaped inari sushi, and popped it into her mouth. The taste was good. Much better than instant noodles.
Konan sat beside her and tugged at her scarf. "You're at home. Why are you still wearing a scarf?"
As the long scarf was pulled away, what was revealed was not a smooth, pale neck, but a horrifying knife scar. Along her throat were also ugly, humiliating brands, marks that symbolized her identity. They were striking and impossible to ignore.
It's ugly.
She signed while tugging at the not-very-high collar of her yukata, trying to hide the scars. Konan stopped her hand and leaned down, pressing a kiss to those scars that could never fade.
"I like them."
You're sick.
"You're the one who's sick."
You're sick.
"You're sick."
The exchange looped endlessly, until Zaraki Kita's lips finally curved upward.
I'm sick.
"That's right. You're sick."
That man is very strong.
"Kisame?"
Zaraki Kita shook her head.
Uchiha Itachi. I'm worried he has other intentions. You should be careful around him.
Konan shrugged, stood up from the sofa, and went to the kitchen to pour herself a drink. "He's only fourteen right now. That age is full of strange thoughts. I'm actually quite curious about the whole business of the Uchiha clan massacre. What do you think?"
Zaraki Kita shook her head.
When people act, there are always causes and consequences. It's definitely not as simple as the 'capacity' he talks about. That man is very sharp, yet he deliberately presents himself as low-key.
"Are you going to look into it?"
Zaraki Kita nodded.
I don't feel at ease.
"He was brought in by Uchiha Madara. There's bound to be something wrong with him," Konan said.
Kisame also has problems, but he won't become a burden to you. Uchiha Itachi is different.
Konan thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. If you fight him, who would win?"
Right now, I would. But the Sharingan is something without limits.
"You're worried that once he grows, you won't be able to restrain him?"
Zaraki Kita nodded.
"Alright then. Be careful of yourself."
Zaraki Kita nodded again, letting Konan lean against her. But in the next moment, she caught the hand that slipped inside her clothes. Work matters were settled. What came next was personal.
"Is it really that hard to go to the hot springs with me?" Pale fingers traced slow circles across Zaraki Kita's body. Konan put on an aggrieved expression, gazing at her lover with a soft, plaintive look.
Zaraki Kita blinked and shook her head, offering no further explanation.
"Then why won't you go with me? I've never soaked with someone before."
She looked more like a small woman now. This version of Konan was nothing like the lofty Angel everyone spoke of, nor the feared White Tiger of Akatsuki.
Zaraki Kita did not answer. She lowered her head and captured those moist, red lips. Their breaths tangled, the kiss sweet enough to nearly suffocate. When it finally ended, Konan had already been pressed beneath her without realizing it. Zaraki Kita carefully licked the slightly cold lip piercing. Her closed eyes and gentle movements made Konan immediately think of a newborn kitten. Soft and fluffy, clawing straight into the heart, making one itch with the urge to touch and hold it close.
"Kisame and Itachi aren't like Shusuke," Konan whispered. She lifted a hand, stroking Zaraki Kita's snow-white hair. The softness was as soothing as flowing water. "I've checked them already anyway. They're both scum who slaughtered their own comrades. Their status won't rise much."
Kisses fell everywhere, still silent. When the clothes were shed, neither of them knew. Sensitive skin was claimed by warmth, a nimble tongue teasing and drawing out unfamiliar sensations. Blood rushed under pale skin, dyeing it with a faint blush. Seen closely, it was truly a feast for the eyes.
"Mm… they both respect strength. Kisame lost to you, mm—"
The rest of her words were swallowed. Konan could no longer speak. Sensitive places were set alight one after another, desire surging rapidly under such practiced skill.
Bodies moved together, perfectly entwined, right there on the sofa.
As always, Konan was swept into wave after wave of overwhelming pleasure, and as always, she still failed to receive a clear answer to those lingering questions.
Afterward, the Angel looked like a fully satisfied, chubby cat, curled up in an impossibly comfortable place and unwilling to move. That place was her lover's arms. Zaraki Kita was neither too thin nor too heavy, her abdomen defined by beautiful muscle lines. Whenever Konan lay atop her, those lines served their purpose perfectly. Firm enough to cushion bone against skull, yet soft enough to prevent any discomfort.
"Kita, I was wrong. I won't joke with them like that anymore."
Which one of us looks more like it?
That was what Konan had said back then.
A hand patted her lightly, more a mild punishment than anything else, like brushing away dust. The gentle stroking was like coaxing a sleepy child. It worked. Before long, steady breathing rose from the person in her arms. Zaraki Kita smiled. With extremely careful movements, she lifted Konan up, then just as carefully placed her onto the bed in the bedroom.
━━━━ ❖ ━━━
Every 100 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
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