Patience Is Not A Virtue

[Kaida]

Akemi had been training relentlessly since joining ANBU, increasing her overall strength and stamina and learning more jutsu to supplement her fighting style. After a month and a half, her muscles were denser, her body moved faster, she had increased her knowledge of eiketsu and taijutsu. She felt like she was finally fulfilling her potential that had always been just under the surface. Standing in front of the mirror in room she admired the hard lines of her body, her muscles rigid and defined, enhancing the curves of her body. She felt good, like she was finally finding her way and coming into her own.

Looking over at the clock she saw it was 4:30am and sighed. She had another training session today at 6am, this time with only Takeshi. She went to the kitchen in her bikini style underwear and baggy crop top, deciding she needed a full breakfast before attempting to train taijutsu with him. She yawned and stretched her arms high above her head, feeling her spine crack and realign itself after sleep, her shirt riding up and exposing a slight amount of bottom cleavage. She ran her hands through her messy bedhead and began to grab a frying pan, eggs, ham and rice. She began to cook, humming a soft tune under her breath as she moved around the kitchen. She grabbed a glass of orange juice while she waited for the rice to fry so she could add in the egg whites and ham. Once everything had cooked, she plated it and hopped up on the counter to eat her meal, kicking her a feet as child would when they couldn’t reach the ground.

She was nervous about training with Takeshi today, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but she was drastically out of his league technique and strength wise. Though she had made a good amount of progress, she didn’t feel like it was quite enough yet. More than likely she’d be limping back to her room later. She’d been toying with mastering and harnessing her emotions in a fight lately, but she still needed to work on being able to control herself once she let that side of her out. Today might be as good a day as any to field test it. It’s not like she could really hurt him after all, and it would be good to test it on an actual person as opposed to a training dummy.

Looking back at the clock it was almost 5, she had finished her breakfast while lost in thought, mentally smacking herself for not enjoying it more. She hopped down off the counter and started to wash her dishes, chugging her orange juice. If she hurried, she could get a quick stretch in before getting dressed and then head down to the facility for some laps before he arrived. Kami knows it’d be better to get there early lest she incur her captain's wrath for being tardy.

[Izanagi]

Over the last 6 weeks, Takeshi had been pushing Katana squad hard, training twice a day, 6 days a week. For the first few weeks he had trained closely with the squad, honing their team tactics and formations though recently he had given Kaito lead on their training as he had to step away for a series of missions. The first had taken him to Kumogakure alongside Eiko and then he had ventured into Pebble country with Katsu, the beastial rogue shinobi of Kirigakure that Anbu kept a close watch on.

Only a few days after returning he had put the squad to the test with a series or routine drills. The most impressive by far had been the newest member of Katana squad. Nara Akemi had displayed remarkable improvement and at least as far as combat strength seemed easily on track to joining him as a Jounin within the next few months. Certainly she seemed to be outpacing her teammates and would therefore require more personalized training sessions. This would mark the first time in fact that Takeshi trained with Akemi alone.

The teenage commander of Anbu awoke at 04:45, rolling out of bed and immediately warming up with a set of 150 push ups. Yawning he began a series of dynamic stretching exercises before donning a weighted vest, equipped with 100lbs and attaching 25lb ankle weights to each leg before performing a set of 40 pull ups with his legs perpendicular to his body. Landing softly after he completed his morning warm up the young man shrugged off the weighted vest allowing it to land with a heavy thud. Unclasping the ankle weights he moved to his dresser, pulling over a black muscle shirt across his chiseled physique before messily tying his hair back into a ponytail. His grey sweatpants afforded him some level of comfort and mobility as he practiced a few kicks, loosening his hips before he left his room to procure a morning meal.

Immediately the aroma of Akemi's cooking enveloped his senses. It wasn't the sort of breakfast he typically indulged in, but it was suitable enough for his tastes. "I hope you saved some for your hungry commander" he teased as he approached the kitchen. He spared the young woman a friendly glance as he began brewing coffee, just in time to see her stretching, her shirt struggling to cover her moderate chest. Not for the first time he noticed the young woman's physique, her youthful body nimble and strong yet still retaining distinct feminine appeal. Her lean musculature nearly rivaled his own, particularly her well defined abs and his eyes wandered from her chest toward her stomach and then toward her backside as she stood. It had been weeks since he had been intimate with Nakano and he was feeling particularly pent up.

Realizing that he had been staring he averted his gaze as he stood next to the coffee pot, leaning back against the counter. He had seen her naked before, they had crossed paths in the showers more than once though always at a respectful distance and usually with at least some attempt to cover themselves with a towel. "You've gotten stronger" he noted, attempting to cover his reason for his returning gaze. "Though I still see some weak points to exploit" he noted, grinning playfully as he began pouring his cup of coffee. He was looking forward to putting her body to the test.

[Kaida]

Akemi snorted as she heard Takeshi enter the kitchen, turning around to greet him she stuttered in place, her face burning red from a combined effect of Takeshi’s broad frame in loose sweatpants and a tight muscle shirt and his eyes trailing her form. Coughing into her arm, she raised her eyebrow at him, her voice still soft from her humming. ” Depends on what you’re hungry for, if it’s breakfast, I can always make more.” They had seen each other in far less, considering the showers were communal, but even after a month and a half he still had such a strong effect on her. It was just another reason to be nervous about training with him. Kami knows she’s not subtle, and she can only blame so much on her teenaged hormones.

She added more ingredients to the frying pan, tossing some chicken in for her captain, and hopped up on the counter; her feet swinging back and forth. He looked far too cozy with his cup of coffee and his hair in a messy ponytail. It irked her. She continued to hum under her breath, stirring breakfast every so often so it didn’t burn. An indignant squawk left her mouth as he teased her about her physique, she kicked her foot out at him connecting with his hip as she narrowed her eyes. “You and I both know I am solid muscle, so you can suck it, commander.” Her tone had a playful edge and was full of sass as she stuck her tongue out at him to get her point across.

The delicious smell of fried rice, ham, chicken and egg whites hit her nose, sighing contently she turned the stove off and hopped down from the counter. Coming to stand beside Takeshi to grab some bowls. Reaching up to the top shelf, standing on her tip toes and elongating her back her shirt rode up again. Her blush returned as she realized she should probably wear more clothes out of her bedroom. She wasn’t even dressed for training yet, her mind too focused on food. Mentally smacking herself once more, she turned around with the bowls in her hand and hip checked her captain to dispel her own awkwardness as she went to portion out their meal. Grabbing chopsticks and placing them in bowl she leaned against the counter and held a bowl out for Takeshi, balancing her own food in her other hand, looking at him expectantly. “Order up sweetheart.” She still didn’t understand how just being around him made her want to get a rise out of him, her attitude and energy around him was either flustered or teasing, that also irked her. She knew one day pushing his buttons would come back to bite her in the ass. But she couldn’t help her teasing demeanor, it was fun for her and good for taking the edge off lest she really do something stupid.

[Izanagi]

Takeshi smirked as he noticed Akemi’s face reddening. For someone who flaunted their body so openly, often walking around the compound half naked, the young woman was always easily flustered whenever he entered the room. Perhaps she was aware that her choice of clothing had a similar effect on him, only he hid his reactions better than her. After weeks of being absent the view of Akemi’s body, he had to admit to himself that he missed her presence near as much as he longed for the touch of his own lover. Their physiques were quite different, yet each appealed to him. Yet he knew he couldn’t cross that line, but the excitement of testing those boundaries only made their interactions more enticing. He had always considered himself strictly monogamous, though after dating Nakano for nearly 2 years now it seemed she had rubbed off on him to some extent. It was fun to tease.

The Hyuuga prodigy chuckled lightly, “What are you offering? I can always eat” he insisted suggestively. Truthfully Akemi seemed more appetizing than the breakfast she had made. Though she often smelled of sweat she seemed to shower daily and her bodywash was subtle enough to not assault his sensitive nose. In fact, perhaps due to his Inuzuka heritage he preferred her natural scent. To him her pheromones were intoxicating especially in moments when she was feeling flustered. He could practically taste her skin when he stood close enough to her.

She approached and began cooking up another serving for him as he sipped on his black coffee. The strong earthy taste was very much to his liking, and he savoured the scent. The muscular young man smiled softly as he observed Akemi over the brim of his mug. “I still see some squishy bits” he commented. There were few parts of her body that he could be referring to and none of them were appropriate for a commander to make note of. Notably, when the other squad mates were around, he always kept his dialogue direct and professional. But in rare moments like these he reveled in making her squirm with the possibilities of where his mind wandered when in her presence. His coffee was jostled as she kicked him, and he deftly recaptured the splashing liquid. “Don’t make me pour this on you” he threatened playfully.

Taking another deep sip, for fear of losing his precious coffee to Akemi’s antics, he observed as she reached up for the bowls. This time he had to clear his throat, nearly coughing as her leg brushed up against his and he suddenly found himself within arms reach of her partially exposed squishy bits, not only her chest but her very generously rounded backside. His faced reddened and he had to shift to turn toward the counter to adjust some growing tightness around the front of his pants. As he was subtly adjusting with his left hand, holding his coffee in his right and with Akemi on his left side, she suddenly hip checked him. This time his coffee splashed over onto the counter, not a large amount but enough to be noteworthy. “You brat” he scowled, before flicking his cup toward her, intending on dousing her shirt with a similar amount to the spilled portion. “Thanks, darling” he responded, with a sassy bite to his baritone voice. If she insisted on ridiculous pet names, two could play at that game.

[Kaida]

She snorted at her captain, still thrown by the fact that every time he teased her it came off as flirting. “Wouldn’t you like to know. And yes, I’m sure we’re all very aware of your...appetite” She shot him a side long glance and smirked, unable to ignore the urge to fire back at him. She was sure he did this on purpose half the time, whether it was because it fed his ego or was just as fun for him, she wasn’t sure. She was confident though that Nakano kept him satisfied, which only puzzled her more when he was like this. It didn’t help having him this close to her, he had clearly already worked out this morning. The veins in his arms were showing and he had a slight sheen of sweat to him, the scent of him making her head fuzzy.

She tried hard to not let her thoughts get the best of her; training was already going to be torture enough considering they were sparring today. She focused herself in the kitchen, acutely aware of his proximity and his eyes on her. Her eyes widened at the implication of his words, not quite sure what to make of them. “My, my captain. How bold. There’s nothing wrong with having a solid handful to hold on to.” She feigned shock in her voice, teasing him further for his wandering eyes. Not that she had any room to judge on the matter. It was easier to be professional when the others were around, it made it more bearable not having his full attention on her. “Fair warning, you dump that on me, I crack an egg over your head into that pretty hair of yours.” There was a tension in the air, something palpable that felt like it would snap. It happened often when they were alone together, she found the only way she could work through it was to snark at him. Relying heavily on denial to avoid making a mess within her newfound home.

His coughing drew her attention, at first she thought he had choked on his coffee, until she caught a glimpse of red across his cheeks. Looking down at herself she realized just how close they were and how high her shirt had ridden up. As she fell back down to being flat footed, she tugged her shirt down to cover her chest once more, her face a hot with embarrassment while still being somewhat satisfied that he seemed to be similarly affected by her. She laughed as his coffee spilled once more, knowing how important his caffeine is to him. Her tongue sticking out at him again as he called her a brat, still within arm's reach.

Akemi felt the hot coffee dip out of his cup and gasped at the feeling, her mouth hanging slightly agape as the fluid soaked through her lilac shirt and dripped down her chest towards her matching underwear. She clicked her tongue at him after he took his bowl, the nickname catching her off guard. “You can do better than that Takeshi.” Winking at him and playing along for the moment, she turned her back to the counter and faced him, her hands behind her back as one subtly grabbed an egg. Keeping her hands behind her back as if they were folded, she walked up to Takeshi, a hairs breadth away from his body, bringing her head close to his neck as she stood on her tippy toes once more and brought one arm up by his neck reaching for the glass cupboard. Trying to distract him with her proximity as she grabbed a glass, her other hand would come up for balance. Her fist gently closed around the egg, keeping it obscured from sight, she would crack it in her hand above his head.

[Izanagi]

Takeshi chuckled as Akemi teased him about his appetites. "Nakano certainly doesn't mind" he responded, smirking. It was unusual for his girlfriend to not sate his appetite within hours of his return to the village. After the third day of being back home after weeks away he was feeling more than a little pent up. She had been busy with her own duties of course, but Takeshi also worried she may have been seeing someone else on the side. It was a recurring concern, knowing that she slept with others on occassion in the name of duty and also tended to sate herself with women in her personal life when he was away too long. In contrast he had always been loyal to a fault, she was his first and only. He hadn't even kissed anyone else. Naturally jealous and posessive he dare not ask about the details of her activities apart from him, but the anger and resentment continued to build as time went on. Moreover he knew she was incapable of love and deeper attachments, only further scarring his romantic soul.

The young commander swallowed a mouthful of coffee as Akemi spoke of her softer curves. "Yes, I'm sure your boyfriends quite appreciate them" he retorted, a pang of annoyance in his tone. Jealousy perhaps. As much as he was attracted to Akemi the idea of sharing her with other men firmly placed her in a category of off limits for dating even if he were single. All the more reason he couldn't stand the fact that he found her so tempting. He smirked at her threat, reveling in the challenge. "You wouldn't dare" he taunted before splashing her with the coffee. He could feel the tension, a magnetism that drew them toward one another. He desperately craved her touch, her closeness and reveled in every moment they were next to one another.

He hadn't realized he was holding his breath, his heartbeat pounding in his chest as he waited to see how she would respond. His gaze moved from her left eye then to her right before focusing on her extended tongue and her open mouth. His mind wandered to lecherous places, her face closely resembling the ahegao pose that without fail drove him wild with lust. "One of these days I'm going to do something about that damn tongue of yours" he threatened as she moved closer and he felt his posture stiffen and his breath catch once again. He freed his hands, placing the bowl and mug on the counter as Akemi moved closer. So close in fact that he could taste her breath, still smelling of fresh juice.

Akemi's shirt clung to her body, the form of her shapely chest exentuated, nearly brushing against him as she looped an arm around his neck. He couldn't help himself, moving forcefully he grasped either side of her hips, slamming her butt into the counter as he pressed himself against her. She seemed so vulnerable then, as she reached up high, causing her shirt to ride once more. His fingers kneaded at her thin waist, his thumbs pressing against the hard ridges of her abdomen while his long slender fingers rested tantalizing close to her ample butt. It took every ounce of his control to not lift her onto the counter and rip off her flimsy shirt and taste every inch of her body.

Suddenly he heard the egg crack and felt the thick fluid clump and drip down his silky dark brown hair. "Now you're asking for it, kitten" he growled into her ear. Reaching up he wiped a handful of yolk from his hair onto the nape of her neck, nesting into the base of her chocolate brown locks. Grasping her hair firmly he pulled her head back and surged forth, his lips stopping mere inches from hers. He inhaled slowly, his heart racing as he licked his lips, slowly moving forward. And just when their lips were about to touch he exhaled a puff of ash into her face before suddenly breaking away from her. "I need a shower" he decided, A cold one. Ripping his shirt off over his head he tossed it at her face and began to walk away.

[Kaida]

Akemi bristled at the mention of his girlfriend. A stark reminder that this was all just fun and games, not that she had anything against Nakano. And she had no right to be jealous, but still it was there gnawing at her insides. It was still unclear whether she was jealous that Takeshi wasn’t available or jealous of their relationship in general. The closest she had been to being in one was with Eiji and Kohaku, but even then, it was just sex between friends. Something she still saw as a mistake. She nodded her head in his direction, acknowledging that he spoke, not trusting her voice to be steady enough to respond with.

There was a moment of quiet between them, it would have been peaceful if the air wasn’t so charged. As she went to turn around, she found herself choking on air as Takeshi spoke about her relationship status; she chuckled awkwardly as she turned her face away from him. “I’ve never had a boyfriend, let alone two. If you’re referring to Eiji and Kohaku...it was never a relationship. It should have only happened the one time, and in hindsight, it was a mistake that shouldn’t have happened at all.” She deflated slightly, thinking back on her friends. It had been weeks since she had seen them last, following Jubei’s advice to give them space and let the air settle around their friendship. Even now, she thought that if she had spoken up sooner or stopped it from happening, maybe things wouldn’t be as they are now.

She was pulled back to the present as Takeshi rebuked her challenge. She laughed and threw a wicked smirk over her shoulder at him. “I think you’ll find, captain, my audacity has no limits.” Teasing him was a good way to distract herself from her world outside of ANBU, it made her feel normal. Made the headquarters feel like an actual home where she could be herself and people would actually notice if she was gone. Even if it turned out to be just a game. She licked her lips at his threat, tonguing her lip ring out of habit. Her eyes narrowed as she smiled at him, the perfect picture of cheeky innocence. “Promises, promises.” Her tone was wistfully playful, the energy around the renewed once more.

Her breath caught in her throat as she felt his hands around her waist, a gasp leaving her lips as he pushed her against the counter and pressed himself along her body. Her skin prickled with goosebumps as his deft hands kneaded her soft flesh. Her body moved on its own with her arm falling around his neck, holding him closer to her, as they stood chest to chest. She could feel every line of his body against hers and felt her knees weaken as heat rolled through her belly, her mind fogging at his proximity and the effect he had on her. She was surprised at being so close to him, and even more surprised at feeling his obvious interest in their game. Her eyes flicked between his milky white irises and his lips, unsure of where to focus or what was happening.

As the egg cracked over his head, he growled in her ear, the nickname he used making her pupils dilate and a blush dust her face. Her chest was rising quicker now, arousal coursing through her body, she shivered against him. “You gonna put a collar on me now?” Her voice came out husky and slightly strained, turns out he could infact do better and she almost regretted challenging him from how he was currently making her feel. She wasn’t sure what she wanted or what she was asking for at this point, and she didn’t have much time to think it over before his yolk-covered hand gripped her neck and moved into her hair, pulling her towards him. A quiet moan fell from her lips with the pressure radiating throughout her skull, her egg-covered hand landing on his shoulder. Looking up at him from where he held her, he was close enough to kiss if she moved even the slightest bit, the thought had her licking her lips as her mind wandered.

Breathing in the ash he blew in her face, she tilted her head up slightly and blew it back over their heads. His hand still firmly in her hair as hers gripped at his shoulder. The air was thick with tension, it felt like it was suffocating her. Just as she thought she was going insane, he pulled back, declaring he needed a shower. She breathed deeply, her chest expanding as the heat of him dwindled away. She was annoyed to find that she missed it. She saw something flying out of the corner of her eye and raised her hand to catch it, noticing that it was his shirt and he was now walking half naked down the hallway. She groaned to herself and caught up to him draping the fabric over his neck, her fingers trailing down his shoulder as her arm fell back to her side.

She skipped ahead of him then, turning around to face him walking backwards towards the shower. Pointing towards the egg that had dripped from her hair to her neck and down her cleavage to mix with the coffee staining her shirt and skin. “You realize I have to shower now too right?” Winking at him with a smirk on her face as she laughed. She turned back around and walked normally to the showers, lifting her shirt off as she went, displaying her newly acquired back tattoo. As she entered the room she went to a shower head just before the middle and turned it on, wanting it to warm up before she got in. Stepping back out of the spray she threw her shirt on a nearby bench and removed her underwear, thoughts racing in her mind at the morning so far. Stepping into the hot water she groaned as the pressurized spray massaged her body, soaking her hair and ridding her of the yolk and coffee mess. ‘How the hell am I gonna get through training?’

[Izanagi]

Takeshi filed away the information about Akemi’s former partners. He was more relieved than he thought he might be to find out she had ended things with them. And even more interested to learn that she was single. He was sure Nakano would be open to inviting her to their bed at the very least. Though Akemi was at an awkward age, she was only a month shy of her 18th birthday, less than two years younger than himself and only slighter over two years younger than Nakano. Still, it was a morally grey area, not the mention the potential ramifications to the cohesion of Katana squad should things go awry. He knew he shouldn’t risk it, and he found himself doubting his own mentality at even considering the prospect. Nakano had always been more than enough for him, and nobody else had ever tempted him in such a way. He wondered if this was similar to how Nakano felt, ever driven by lust and her powerful hormones she never seemed to be fully sated for long.

The coffee was splashed across Akemi’s chest and the muscular young Hyuuga chuckled lightly, responding to Akemi’s comment about her audacity. “I can see that” he said simply, his eyes challenging her to further push the limits of what was considered appropriate. The thrill of a potential tryst with her nagged at his better judgment, slowly chipping away at his stubborn sensibilities. From the age of 11 to 17 he had done everything in his power to conform, to become the model Hyuuga, learning refinement and poise. He had trained diligently, learned traditional arts such as calligraphy and indulged in poetry readings much to his chagrin. Yet it was never enough, he was always treated as an outcast, the branch family son of his disgraced main family mother and half Inuzuka father. The caged bird seal across his forehead was a constant reminder of how the Hyuuga elders saw him. Meeting Nakano, whose Yamanaka family was held in contempt by the Hyuuga from their ancient feuds, had pushed him to rebel, taking after his mother. Now, he felt only anger when he thought of trying to do what was expected of him, what was seen to be the right thing to do by bitter old men. With every fibre of his being he wanted to pursue Akemi. But even as she taunted him, he held himself back.

He huffed with amusement, smirking with hunger in his eyes as he thought of Akemi wearing a collar. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he goaded. If something were to happen between them, he would make her cave first. Yet he could feel the heat pulsing from her in waves, their heartbeats synchronizing as he allowed his hand at her hip to slowly venture lower. The change in her voice and her soft moan beckoned his primal impulses, his Inuzuka blood stirring, veins bulging across his powerful forearms as he gripped her hair with his other hand. Pressing against her tighter he felt as if he was teetering on the edge of a cliff, ready to jump. The crack of the egg forced his hand, to act or step back. Much to the protest of his body, his damned better judgment demanded he take the escape less he lose himself and ravish her right there in the kitchen. Reluctantly he reigned himself in, blowing the cloud of ash into her face as he forced himself to pull away from her, already cursing himself. He knew this scene would be playing over and over in his mind for many sleepless nights to come.

He tossed his shirt and adjusted his pants again, ‘Why did I think I could be alone with her? That was too close’ he reprimanded himself, though he felt sorrowful at the loss of her touch. His mind was in a haze, unsure if he had made the right choice. But before his mind could even begin to clear Akemi bounded after him. A mixture of relief and trepidation washed over him in equal parts. ‘I can’t trust myself around her, not alone in the showers’ he realized, his damn sense of duty and morality fighting its way to the surface. He shoved his hands into the pockets of he felt Akemi’s touch against his back. “A quick shower! I’m still going to beat your ass” he insisted, cursing himself immediately for his phrasing. He had half a mind to wait outside and take turns showering, though it wasn’t the first time they had showered together, but never just the two of them and previously they had each stuck to separate sides of the room, the heavy steam obscuring any direct view of each other. He noted now, that instead of moving to the right side where the women tended to gather, she had taken position along the middle wall. There was no truly safe option. With 5 shower heads on each side and 10 running down the middle, each only a meter apart from one another and no dividers it would be difficult to avoid the temptation to watch her more closely than he should. Was she inviting him to watch? Perhaps even join next to her?

He could only assume she was enjoying teasing him and he supposed he had been complicit in returning the energy. As she took off her top, his gaze lingered on the fresh splash of colors across her back. He had noticed some tattoo work but hadn’t looked at it in any great detail until now. Though his eyes quickly averted as she removed her bottoms. He followed suit, tossing his clothes on a bench on the left side of the room as he approached the shower in the left corner, only about 4 meters away from her. Realizing he still had a very persistent problem he angled his body away from her and ran room temperature water, stepping into the spray and immediately rinsing his hair, placing his hair-tie on a porcelain shelf against the black tile wall. “That’s a risky tattoo. Looks good though, just a lot to cover up” he commented, sparing a brief glance toward her, over his shoulder. He caught a brief glimpse of her chest and leaned forward, placing an outstretched hand against the wall while cranking the dial to the right as cold water poured over him. He shuddered, tensing his remarkably muscular back as the frigid water enveloped him and he found his mind and body begin to calm in response.

[Kaida]

She gave her head a shake, trying to clear her hazy mind; just in time to hear her captain boast about beating her. She entered the spray of the shower laughing. “You’re always welcome to try sweetheart.” The smirk evident in her voice, falling back on something comfortable after their...tense exchange in the kitchen. She could still feel his hands on her waist, stopping just above her ass. The feel of his muscles as they tensed against her, his chest tight to her own. Her mind wandered to the other parts of him that had connected with her, curious about more than she should be regarding her direct supervisor. Something that would haunt her dreams for at least the next few nights.

The water did little to alleviate her predicament, not that hot water was the cure for such things. The thought of Takeshi putting a collar around her neck made the heat in her belly intensify. She hadn’t experimented with anything yet but just the notion of it made her body ache. “Can’t say I’ve ever worn a collar before...I think I would like it though.” Her voice was soft and even, as if she was talking to herself, a direct contrast to her mental and physical state. It was only when she heard the slight reverb that she had said it out loud as opposed to in her mind. Her eyes widened as she leaned her head against the tiled wall, cursing her inability to use her inside voice.

She watched out of the corner of her eye as Takeshi took a place a few meters to her left, a giggle escaped her at his attempt to create space after being so close. She figured this was just a fun game to him, see how far they could push each other. Though the sentiment left her feeling cold, she could try and accept it. He had a girlfriend after all, and he was her captain and commander. What she thought and felt she wanted would only make things messy like it did with Eiji and Kohaku. She focused on washing her hair and her body, trying to push her arousal and lustful thoughts aside. Letting the faint scent of eucalyptus and cedar flood her senses she began to settle a little bit, the fire that was burning inside her turning to hot embers.

His comment on her tattoo had her twisting to try and get a look at it out of habit, her body stretching in the warm water causing rivulets to fall off her in a spin. “My mom painted it for me years ago, muttering something about needing it one day. It seemed fitting to take it with me.” A small smile graced her face at the memory. “I’m not worried about covering it up, the only people who will see it are in this building.” She turned to look at him then, which was ultimately a mistake. She could clearly see the outline of his chiseled physique, the hard lines of his arms and back leading to strong and muscled legs, her thoughts drifted once more as she had the urge to climb him like a tree.

Unlike her own shower, she didn’t see any steam coming from his, her eyes crinkling as she giggled at the thought of why he was having a cold shower. “You know, you might catch a cold that way.” It made her feel good to know the effect she had on him considering who he was dating, even if she wasn’t intentionally trying to cross any lines. Part of her wanted to though, to find out where this could lead to. But she worried that it would affect the team...and that he would leave like everyone else had. Further cementing the idea that she was forgettable and hard to love. It wasn’t something she thought she could bare, especially not after finally finding a place that felt like home. She stayed in the shower a few minutes longer after she had finished washing, relaxing into the warm water as her mind slowed with her somber thoughts. ‘This amount of whiplash can’t be good for me.’ She turned around and closed her eyes, leaning her head and shoulders against the cold tiles as the water cascaded down her angled body. Her arms crossed under her bosom, gripping her sides, holding herself together while she breathed deeply to find her center amidst the confusion and the want.

[Izanagi]

Takeshi breathed slowly as the cold water cascaded down his back like a glacial stream flowing across a broad mountain range, each muscle as if carved from stone. He struggled to regain control of his mind, he was an accomplished Jounin, commander of Anbu, a man whose authority within Konoha rivaled the villages Bannin and the Hokage himself. And yet he was still a teenager, 19 years old and flooded with hormones. Growing up he had resented his father for his lecherous ways, finding the lack of self control and infidelity to his mother to be deplorable. Yet here he found himself on the precipice of being tempted away from his girlfriend. Like his father had been he was a man in a position of power, abusing his authority to take advantage of an impressionable young woman. ‘What am I doing?’ he considered, though even as he struggled to reconcile with his conscious Akemi’s words played through his mind. She was taunting him, she knew what she was doing. She wanted him, and all he had to do was reach out and take her.

He stared ahead, focusing on the cold black tiles in front of him, he imagined how Nakano might feel and then shook his head. Of all people, she likely wouldn’t even care. How often had she slept with others since they had been together? Just a handful of times? More? He had no idea, but he was certain she had. So then was it so wrong for him to do the same? His conditions allowed her to sleep with women when he was away and men when work required it, but she hadn’t ever strictly forbade him from seeking out others as well. “Fuck” he cursed under his breath, even the cold water was doing little to ease the raging inferno that was his desire for Akemi. His ears perked up, head tilting toward her with interest as he heard her mutter something about collars.

Stealing a glance, he looked over his shoulder again seeing her similarly leaning against the wall, steam bellowing around her, surrounding her naked form in a thin haze that did little to obscure her figure. His body still felt hot, his blood still rushing to his lower regions, clouding his judgement further as he drank in her form. He watched as she lathered her body, the soap clinging to her soft curves and trailing along her toned muscles. Turning the temperature up slightly to a luke-warm he found his will to subside his feelings beginning to falter the longer he watched her. Showering in his usual spot, he grabbed a bottle of lavender and lilac shampoo, lathering his hair and more thoroughly washing out the remnants of egg. He made the comment about her tattoo, hoping to again give himself an excuse for his lingering gaze. As she turned, he rinsed his hair clear and grasped a bar of soap, scented to resemble a crisp mountain river. Washing over the deep grooves of definition across his midsection, his 8-pack abs were accentuated by the overhead lights that shone over each showerhead. Truly, he had the physique of an elite athlete, with every bit as much definition of a professional bodybuilder, though lacking enough mass for such a stage. Still, his shoulders were broad and his biceps as large as a grapefruit and as hard as stone. Akemi wasn’t the only one who had been training relentlessly, over the last year alone he had gained 20lbs of muscle mass and maintained a remarkably lean 8% bodyfat.

As Akemi turned, he was able to view her figure in its entirety for the first time, no longer hiding the fact that he was watching her closely. His arousal rapidly grew, returning with ferocity as his breathing became shallower. She commented on the temperature of his shower, and he turned slowly toward her. “How could I? When you make me so hot” he stood at attention in all his glory, a picture of masculinity and confidence. ‘Fuck it’ he decided, before brazenly taking a step toward her, eyes meeting hers, filled with lust and expectations.

At that moment he heard the main doors open and the sound of two male voices. Takeshi’s face flushed red as he turned, cranking the shower back to cold as he willed the evidence of his arousal to dissipate. Two ginger haired men approached the benches, the younger shorter brother racing over, shirt already tossed to the bench, revealing a pale, lean physique adorned with many freckles. He stopped suddenly as he noticed Akemi and Takeshi. Angling himself away from the woman he approached the shower to Takeshi’s left and cranked it on hot before discarding his pants. “Mornin’ Keshi, err, commander” he said simply, keeping his eyes forward. The other man joined, his long vermillion hair flowing down his back as he moved with grace. An eyepatch covered his left eye and as he removed his shirt a series of burns could be seen across his broad chest and back. “Where was that respect when I was commander” the older brother teased. The legendary Bannin, Aizawa Your, captain of Odachi squad, took position next to his little brother, Nobu before glancing over to Takeshi, a playful glint to his one good eye. “You look more like Takeo every day. He would of been proud, you making Commander, just like him” the man said as he undressed and stepped into the warm water. Takeshi angled himself toward the corner, “I thought you two booked the sparring room until 06:00” the young man replied tensely. “They don’t call me the fastest man in the world for nothing. Nobu is still far too slow, only took 15 minutes before he gave up” the man boasted, before slapping his younger brother across the back and then deftly avoiding a counter punch, faster than even Takeshi could perceive. “I’ll get you one of these days” Nobu insisted, nostrils flaring. “Only when I’m old and grey” the Bannin insisted with a playful wink which seemed more like a blink with just one eye.

Takeshi exhaled slowly, the Aizawa brothers had certainly killed the mood. He wasn’t sure whether he should thank them or assign them desk duty for the next few weeks. He dared not look over to Akemi, less he encourages the perceptive brothers to take notice of her. The idea of either one ogling her didn’t sit right with him. There were several moments of awkward silence before Nobu spoke up, “I heard Kaori is back” his tone was heavy. “Yeah. No memory of where she had been” Takeshi responded solemnly. “You should go see her. She’s all alone at the house these days. She’d be happy to see you, both of you, and Hanako. She needs family now more than ever. I visit when I can, but you know how it is" he said softly. There was another silence. Takeshi turned off the water and moved to grab a towel from a rack at the end of the line of showers. There was one on each side. He dried quickly and then wrapped the towel around his waist.

“I want to, it’s just…it’ll be awkward” Nobu said at last. “We’ll visit” Yoru insisted. “Hanako already has, she missed her. I’m going to find your mom, bring her back” he insisted, turning off his own shower after a quick rinse before holding up a hand and catching a towel Takeshi threw to him, meeting Yoru's gaze and giving him a thankful look before turning his attenton back to Nobu. “I know you two tried dating Nobu, but ever since we were kids we’ve been there for one another. Talk to her” he insisted, his tone clear that he wasn’t going to argue it further. He met his ‘uncles’ eye again, nodding slightly as he grabbed another towel. Nobu’s arm rose and Takeshi smirked, ignoring the younger teenager as he strode toward the center of the room and approached Akemi, handing her the towel if she hadn’t already grabbed her own, if she had he would toss it to Nobu after all. “Looks like we can start our spar a little earlier, but first I need to eat and get changed” he said with a chuckle, attempting to dismiss any awkward tension. He would sit at the edge of the bench, facing away from Akemi as he slipped his sweatpants back on, before gathering his shirt and tossing the wet towel in a nearby bin. One of the Aizawa’s made a comment about someone eying up his food and Takeshi muttered something under his breath before hastily jogging over to the kitchen, sighing in relief as he realized they were only messing with him and his bowl was still full. He would eat quickly and then return to his room to get dressed more appropriately for training.

[Kaida]

Akemi’s thoughts swirled around like a hurricane in her mind, knowing what she wanted but being tripped up by the morality of it. Not only was Takeshi her captain, but he was also ANBU’s commander. And he had a girlfriend. And they were all on the same team. It was hard to blame her feelings on hormones alone when she knew there was so much more to him. As much as she enjoyed their game and took note of the obviously reciprocated attraction, she found it was quiet around him. The voices hurling doubts at her in her mind subsided when he was close. He had actually seen her, unlike anyone else in her life. Had seen her potential...and her suffering within the compound; he understood and looking back on her life that’s what she’s craved most. By taking that chance on her he had challenged her, not only to grow stronger but to expand her horizons and do better for herself. He had given her a place she could belong to and call home.

She had been washing her body on autopilot, lost within the confines of her mind after their brief exchange. It was only when she heard Takeshi curse that she came back to the present. Looking down from the ceiling she opened her eyes, and all train of thought was lost to her. He had turned around after her teasing and stood openly before her. The defined lines of his body drawing her attention every which way, both taking in every detail but not being able to immediately recall it. Her mouth opened slightly; her tongue peaked out to play with her lip ring as she stared with wide eyes. He was absolutely beautiful, something she had already known but seeing him so brazenly changed the meaning of the word for her. Her breath stuttered in her chest as her face reddened, her mind running at full speed once more with scenarios playing on repeat at all the things she wanted to do both to him and with him. A low groan fell from her lips at all the possibilites. ‘He’s going to be the death of me I swear.’

She watched him step forward as he admitted how hot she made him feel. Her chocolate brown eyes darkened at his words, heat pooling once more in her abdomen. The images in her mind shifted to what he could do to her and she bit her lip, her arms dropped, wanting to move toward him. “Takeshi I - “ She was interrupted as the voices of two men entered the shower room. She turned slightly to her right, obscuring the front of her body from them, unintentionally presenting more of herself to Takeshi. Her hands went to cover her face as her eyes closed, giving the facade that she was still washing up when in reality she was hiding. Scolding herself for her foolishness, she rested the side of her head upon the cold tiles. ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid. What are you doing?’ She had almost given in, what a show that would have been.

She focused on the sound of the water as it fell around her, expanding her senses to feel every drop as it cascaded down her body; willing herself to relax. She listened half-heartedly to the men’s conversation, her interest piquing at the mention of Takeshi’s sister. She chanced a glance at him then, noticing the softness in his face and the slight slump to his shoulders. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what he was going through. For his twin to be gone so long with no word must have been torture after the loss of his father and brother. Her heart went out to him, wanting to comfort him; all the while knowing it wasn’t appropriate...or her place to do so.

Akemi did a final rinse of her hair and body and turned the tap off. She heard footsteps moving towards her from behind and placed an arm over her chest as she checked to see who it was. Seeing Takeshi standing in between her and the other men with a towel held out for her made her smile, her face going soft. “Thank you, Captain.” Her voice was quietly grateful, their hands brushing as she took the towel from him. The contact sent a spark of electricity up her arm. She wrapped it around her body and grabbed her pyjamas, brushing past the young Hyuuga as she went. She wanted to hit herself for forgetting that they still had a spar to do. “I suppose I should get dressed then. I’ll see you soon.” With that she left the showers and headed straight for her room, no longer having much of an appetite.

Entering her room, she threw her soiled pyjamas into her laundry hamper and dried her body. She grabbed a brush and sorted out the tangles in her hair, piling it into a messy low bun at the base of her skull. She grabbed her red sports bra with matching underwear and a pair of beige sweatpants and placed them on her desk. Standing naked in her room she thought back to the last hour of her morning, vivid images playing behind her closed eyes. Her body started to heat up causing her to lay on her bed, groaning at the feel of her satin sheets against her skin. ‘Can’t train when I can’t even think straight.’ Her hands started to wander as she recalled their teasing, her body acting on its own accord. She figured she had at least 10 minutes while Takeshi ate his breakfast and got dressed, which was more than enough time to sort herself out before joining him in the training room.

[Izanagi]

Takeshi maintained eye contact as he handed Akemi the towel. Their hands brushed against one another, and he regarded the young woman with quiet longing. He smirked as she moved closely to him, his fingertips stealing a brief touch across her shoulder as his broad back obscured her from view from the others. “I suppose you should, for now. Don’t keep me waiting too long” he whispered softly for her ears only. With that he moved ahead of her, making for the kitchen.

Takeshi scarfed down his food in a matter of minutes, following with a glass of water. His mind raced, replaying his interactions with Akemi in his mind, particularly chastising himself for his line about her making him hot. ‘So stupid, what the hell was I thinking?’ he lamented. He was sure she would tease him about it, he would never hear the end of it. Yet he seemed to maintain a hold over her. In this game of teasing one another, he had nearly broke first. But was she about to give in as well? What was she going to say before the Aizawa brothers interrupted them? Wiping up the mess in the kitchen quickly, he tossed the rag in the sink along with the empty bowl before returning to his room, just a few rooms down from Akemi’s. He glanced at the clock on the wall; 05:34. More than enough time to relieve himself of some tension. Though the thought occurred to him, what would Akemi be doing just now? He could watch her with his Byakugan if he wished. The dark temptation clawed at him, begging him to indulge in the immoral. He had observed her before, unintentionally, back when he was scouting her for recruitment. Would it really be so wrong to see how she responded to their tense moments?

He knew the answer and immediately chastised himself for even considering it. Yet he couldn’t supress the thoughts. Dressing quickly, he adorned a pair of black gi pants, hesitating for a moment before forgoing a more traditional yutaka and instead simply wearing another one of his black muscle shirts. It had been some time since he had adorned any traditional clothing, even when training. Ever since the Hyuuga clan elders found out he was dating a Yamanaka he had been ostracized, his main family uncles refusing to train him further in the ways of Jyuuken. Instead, he was forced to begin developing his own techniques, though eventually he would turn to either his mother or Akito to develop his skills further. If his mother ever returned to the village at least and assuming Akito would risk being similarly ostracized by the main family to help another half-breed branch member. Scowling as he observed the traditional robes hanging in his closest, Takeshi turned towards his weapons stand, adorning only a simple tanto and holstering it at his lower back. He would leave behind Anger and Ignorance for this spar.

Brushing his hair out, Takeshi tied it back into a ponytail before locking his room behind him and beginning to walk towards the training room. However, after only a few paces, curiosity got the better of him, his byakugan activated briefly, homing in on Akemi’s chakra signature and observing the way she laid in her bed. A knowing smirk crossed his face, he wasn’t about to let her get off that easy. Not when he could further taunt her instead. Deactivating his byakugan he approached her room, kocking firmly. The time was now 05:41. “I thought you’d be faster. Didn’t I tell you not to keep me waiting?” he teased.

[Kaida]

“I suppose you should, for now. Don’t keep me waiting too long” Akemi’s breath hitched as she remembered Takeshi’s words and the feel of his breath against her ear. Whether she read into it or not, it further spurred her actions alone in her bedroom. Her mind consumed with the Hyuuga as heat burned through her body. Every touch and every tease on replay behind her closed lids. She could feel her nerve endings explode wherever she touched at the possibility of it all, driving her mad with desire.

As she recalled the events in the shower room, she heard a knock on her door. Takeshi’s teasing voice following it. She sat up quickly, launching herself off the bed and tripping over her duvet, landing squarely on the ground with a thud. “Fuck sakes, stupid blanket.” She was grumbling to herself in her panic as she rushed to get dressed. She threw on her underwear and sweats, her sports bra going on next and getting caught on her bun. “Jesus, stupid hair. Fuck.” She approached the door, hand going to the handle to open it when her arm caught a tag. Her sports bra was on inside out.

She released the handle, pushing it closed just as it had clicked to open. “Just a sec!” Her voice came out breathier than she intended, her previous activity and her panic making it difficult to regulate herself. She tore the sports bra off and flipped it right side out; this time making sure to take care around her hair. As she caught her reflection in the mirror of her dresser her eyes widened at her current state. Cheeks ruddy and flushed, pupils dilated, hair messy with strands falling all around her face. She was never going to hear the end of this.

Turning back around she opened the door to see Takeshi standing in front of her, wearing black gi pants and his usual black muscle shirt. ‘Why does everything he wears look like it was made for him?!’ She cursed whatever god made him and flashed him an embarrassed smile. “Sorry Captain, was getting a couple sets in before training since the morning has been so...busy.” She couldn’t quite meet his eyes as she lied, it was one thing to tease but another to admit to what she had been doing as a result of it. She walked through her door, shoulder brushing against her captain’s as she went to make her way towards the training room. “Shall we?” Her voice still hadn’t returned to normal, feeling lighter and more strained than usual and her cheeks were still burning hot. If she was lucky, he’d ignore it and they could continue on to spar.

[Izanagi]

Takeshi chuckled lowly as he listened to Akemi’s startled responses, “Having troubles?” he taunted knowingly as he loomed over the doorway, periodically glancing around to ensure nobody else was around. He hadn’t anticipated so much tension before they could even start their private training session, and it seemed they might require a joint warm up session before their spar could begin. His instincts had proved right, and it seemed he had perfect timing. Fortunately, the rest of Katana squad were out doing their own training sessions in other areas. Considering their rooms were each next to one another’s, ordered in sequence of joining the team, he was grateful none of them would be likely to overhear anything.

As the door creaked open Takeshi took a step forward, foot between the door and the frame before Akemi attempted to close it again, apparently not yet decent. He chuckled lowly, “Do you need a hand?” he said, grinning. It was amusing that now of all times she valued her modesty. Still, he was respectful enough, waiting until she opened the door fully before stepping into the doorway, leaning against the frame as he crossed his arms, eyebrow raised. His pale eyes looked the young woman over before glancing over to her bed, noticing the messy sheets. “Sorry, was I interrupting something?” he inquired, finding himself quite amused as she explained she had been doing a quick workout to warm up properly. His large frame blocked her doorway almost completely, not budging in the slightest as she attempted to nudge past him and spur them on their way. He hummed lowly in contemplation, “No, I don’t think so. I don’t think you’re done warming up yet” he insisted, grasping her wrist firmly as he walked into her, chest to chest while closing the door behind him with his other hand. Swiftly he spun Akemi around, slamming her firmly back against the door as his free hand impacted next to her head and his other hand pinned her arm. They had some time to kill before their scheduled training session and Takeshi intended to make the most of it. He couldn’t imagine Akemi would object. But before she might say anything in protest he leaned in, hunching over her as he moved to seal her lips shut with his.