Chapter Text
Spear & Shield
Chapter 59
They say that through the eyes of lovers, everything is beautiful.
And Yasu couldn't help but agree. Even the chipped roof tiles looked lovely tonight as she stumbled through the Village streets, arm in arm with a wonderful man. She took in the lantern lights and stars that twinkle above them, each giving off a soft halo. The sky was cast in an inky blue. It was the time of night just before true darkness settled in. The brick and wood facades of shops and homes were illuminated by the golden light of the street lamps, making the Village seem to glow around them.
It was a brisk night, but she hardly noticed with Gai's warmth radiating through her entire being as he pressed up against her side.
Yasu and Gai were leaning into one another as they made their way out of the teahouse and in the direction of Yasu's apartment. Their mood was heightened by the surprisingly successful night.
“Tonight was nice,” Yasu commented idly, practically hanging off of the arm Gai had slung around her shoulders, stumbling against him when he side-stepped around a lamp post.
Both of them had a few too many sips of sake. Not a terrible amount, but enough to make walking a bit… difficult.
Especially with Gai leaning on her so heavily. But she certainly didn't mind.
“Truly a Night Filled with Youthful Joy,” he boasted loudly, dropping his arm lower to wrap around her waist and pull her against his side, “Your family was most welcoming.”
“I'm glad your friends came along, too,” she said honestly. “It was nice to get to know them. Plus, the food was delicious.”
Yasu's grin turned into a cringe as Gai planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek, “Nothing brings me more joy than feeding my precious people!”
She preened, basking in his warmth and letting it mingle with her own.
Gai and Yasu were a dancing mess of drunken steps and tipsy kisses, waltzing through the village street with no sense of time or purpose, despite the late hour.
The stars provided a serene backdrop after such a long day. The sake made everything warm and fuzzy around the edges in a way that was just so wonderful. Street lights glittered as they lit their path. The streets were quiet, save for the rare night-owl straggler. Yasu settled more against his side and enjoyed the remainder of their journey as Gai began to hum a song under his breath.
Thankfully (for their coordination's sake), Yasu’s apartment wasn't a far walk. And, even more thankfully, they had left Jiro passed out at the teahouse. Megumi promised to take care of him for the night, but Yasu knew he would probably pay for it in the morning.
“We should invite Saburo to train with us tomorrow,” she murmured thoughtlessly, deliriously optimistic that she wouldn't wake up punch-drunk and hungover.
“A Wondrous Idea!” Gai agreed loudly, his voice carrying through the empty street.
Yasu grinned up at him, touched by his enthusiasm.
More chipped tiles and worn walls came into her vision. An empty space in the skyline where a building used to be. Cracked wood and crumbling brick.
More work to be done, but not tonight.
Tonight she was Gai's.
She came to the sudden realization that these sights, especially in the darkening twilight, used to spark a twinge of fear in her stomach. The creeping ice of panic would climb up her neck like wandering claws. It was the knowing of it all. Knowing that no matter how many windows she replaced, or boards she nailed, or tiles she laid… She knew it could all come down in an instant. In a single day, her Village could be destroyed. Knowing that scared Yasu.
And yet…
Being by Gai's side made that seem less scary. Less important, less looming…
Because even if her life's work was destroyed, she would still have her family. She would still have her friends, the genin, and Gai. For every building that came down, she could build a new one.
His dark eyes were shining in the lantern lights, his skin still flushed from alcohol and laughter. As much as she loved him as a stern teacher and an overly-poetic shinobi… She would never tire of seeing him happy and carefree.
So she let herself slip into the intoxicating mix of sake and love that clouded her senses, and wrapped Gai in her arms as they entered the breezeway of her apartment building.
They tumbled into the stairwell with a fit of laughter. Gai braced against the wall to avoid crashing into her. Yasu took a moment of relief against the cool stone to catch her breath.
Gai's strong arms caged her in, making her feel so small but so safe at the same time.
They had been taking things rather slow up until now. Neither of them had attempted much (physically speaking) in their unexpected romance, at least not while sober.
But tonight everything seemed so… effortless.
Whatever reservations either had disappeared. She wound her hands around her neck, letting her fingers thoughtlessly trail over his shoulders as she let out a hum of contentment.
And Gai just couldn't resist her soft grin and those glittering brown eyes. She was temptation incarnate, looking up at him with eyes full of love.
His lips slotted against hers in the most natural way.
He gently urged her mouth open, his large hands resting on either side of her jaw as he pushed her flush against the wall. The little squeak of surprise she let out at his forwardness caused his blood to suddenly travel South, and an illicit groan flowed off his tongue.
She met him eagerly, succumbing to the dominance of his kiss with butterflies in her stomach. Her skin tingles pleasantly under his fingers as she lets him explore, reveling in how his large hands ran over her curves, his touch gentle but firm. His fingers traveled freely, but never crossing a line.
Over her hips, skimming her waistband, slipping just under the hem of her shirt and sending jolts of electricity to her bare skin… Teaseing. Careful, but exploratory. It was driving her crazy.
She tightened her grip, fisting the fabric of his jumpsuit (it was surprisingly resilient), and rising to her tiptoes to better meet his fevered kisses.
“We won't make it to the door at this point,” she hissed as they broke for air, but made no effort to let him go.
His cheeks were impossibly red, lips swollen and pink in a way that sent tingles down her spine. She’s seen him like this before, but never with that look in his eye.
Pure hunger.
But before Yasu could pull him back in, Gai dipped down to hook his arms behind her knees and threw her over his shoulder with an ease that was giving her drunken mind some creative ideas.
“Gai!” she shrieked in a whisper, doing her best to keep her voice from echoing in the stairwell as he effortlessly continued their perilous journey, “Put me down!”
“This is hardly the first time I've had to carry you home, Yasu-chan,” he sang, hand creeping up her thigh playfully.
But Yasu was a kunoichi, and a strong one at that. She leveraged herself against his opposite shoulder and swung down easily just as he reached the first landing.
Gai had her back in his arms in a heartbeat, almost like they were dancing. There was grinning and giggling as they stumbled up to the second floor, unable to keep their hands (or mouths) off each other. Every time she felt his fingers squeezing her hip or his teeth grazing against her neck… Spirits above, it was like he lit her on fire.
Or maybe that was the alcohol.
Either way, she couldn't stop the soft moan, “Gai…” He had her against the wall again, just as they reached her floor.
“Hush, my love,” he chuckled in her ear. “We may wake your neighbors.”
But how could she possibly be quiet when his thigh was pressed between hers, with his hands reaching for her skin like a man starved…
Her fingers threaded around the hitai-ate tied around his waist and tugged him impossibly closer. She devoured the sound he made-- a low, rumbling groan.
Yasu pulled her parted lips from his to argue--
Then her foot caught on one of the stairs.
To be fair, their shinobi reflexes were dulled due to a multitude of reasons, so when they both stumbled down the upstairs breezeway, neither had really thought to catch themselves as much as they tried to catch one another.
But as good intentions go, they both failed miserably and landed in a heap of stifled, drunken giggles. The embers of desire they had stoked faded as they lay against the cold floor. They could only laugh at each other now, hands still lingering together.
Thankfully, they had fallen right in front of her door.
“Oh, good. We made it,” Yasu grinned somewhat surprised as she helped Gai stand. “Thank you for walking me back,” she said, clearing her throat and fighting the red from her cheeks but failing miserably. “And I swear, I feel fine…”
Gai nodded nonchalantly, but she noticed the way his eyes scrutinized her, even though an alcohol-clouded gaze. “Of course, of course…”
Gai still hasn't mentioned her Gates or the potential side effects like fatigue and vertigo that typically come with unlocking them for the first time… But to her credit, his Yasu actually seemed fine (drunk, sure, but fine). As she often reminded him, she was tough. A little drunk, sure, but tough.
‘Strong and beautiful,’ he thought, practically simpering as she pulled out her keys.
Unable to resist the temptation any longer, he let her pull him in once more. This time, it was soft and gentle. A quiet moment of affection and devotion in the still night.
Yasu broke the kiss just long enough to unlock her door--
But was quickly yanked out of the way of a shuriken by Gai. She stumbled against his rock-hard chest with an audible thump. The shuriken flew over the breezeway edge and clattered to the street below.
“Oops,” she mumbled sheepishly, cheek squished against his bicep.
Thankfully, Gai wasn't one to get upset over simple mistakes. “Your traps have improved!” he beamed down at her.
Yasu chuckled, “Yeah, Tenten-chan helped me out…”
“My clever kunoichi,” Gai nuzzled her hair with a grin as he followed her inside.
The apartment was dark and quiet for once. Bao-chan was snoring on the couch, unfazed by their clumsy entrance. Like they were entering another world, the pair stumbled through the door, reluctant to let one another go. Gai nearly somersaulted while taking off his sandals, and Yasu made quick work of shedding her chunin vest and shaking out her hair. The air changed around them. The static charge of hungry passion finally dissipated, leaving them in a haze of warmth and longing.
Yet she felt so relaxed, so elated, like she was floating on a cloud. She stood there a minute, unsure of what would happen next, “D'you want something to drink?”
Gai groaned, “If I have any more to drink, I fear I won’t wake up tomorrow.”
“Tea?”
“Oh, tea sounds lovely.”
They were whispering like they had been outside, despite finally being alone. Something in the air shifted now that it was just the two of them. The playfulness between them simmered as they parted, Yasu heading to her little kitchen and leaving Gai in the dark living room to struggle with his sandals.
She hummed a song as she put on the kettle, suddenly reminded of the other night when it had been just her and Gai cooking in his apartment. She decided then and there she would be perfectly happy making them tea every night for the rest of her life. Especially if Gai cooked.
That felt right… He cooks, she makes the tea.
Gai made himself comfortable in the dim apartment, starting by greeting the curious cat with a delicate chin scratch.
Yasu could hear Bao-chan purring from the kitchen. Gai had begun to coo to the Fat Furry Beast. Yasu gathered their mugs and turned back to the living room--
Just in time to hear the unmistakable sound of Gai falling over her coffee table.
She hoped the loud bang didn't wake her neighbor's… Although her closest neighbor had scored a free meal out of her, so she assumed he wouldn't complain.
Bao-chan darted behind Yasu's legs, clearly irritated by the commotion.
Yasu nudged the cat with her heel as she stepped into her living room with two steaming cups of tea and a smile she couldn't hide if she tried, “You okay?”
The unmistakable shadow of a thumbs-up appeared from the crevice between her sofa and coffee table, “I'm okay!”
Her shoulders shook in silent laughter as she kissed his brow and handed him the mug. They both decided sitting on the floor was much easier than maneuvering to the couch. Bao-chan didn't mind, making herself comfortable on Gai's lap. And there they sat, shoulder-to-shoulder, simply enjoying one another's company.
“I’m glad you almost kicked my head off,” Yasu muttered absently into the warm shadows of her apartment. Something about the darkness made her more open, more vulnerable. Yet she never felt more comfortable sitting on the floor next to the man she loved.