Fear. is powerful ]]

[Kaede]

Kaede succumbed to him. This was more than a mere reflection—it was real, and she meant it with all of her heart. She felt the shiver run through his body at her touch, she felt her kiss returned. The emotion supplied by such a tiny thing seemed incredible, but Kaede felt fine, wonderful, absolutely at home. For a moment, it was as if everything was pure, and the world held no evil, no pretences.

And then his hand was at her knee, moving softly like a tide, up her leg and around her waist, pulling her into his current. Her other hand she moved to caress his face, and she felt him come harder into the kiss.

And then, in an instant, they broke away, Kaede's hand falling from his face just down to his neck. She found herself to be surprisingly dizzy. But all became well as Kazhe sighed and rested his forehead against her own, the hand on her cheek tracing down her chin in a gentle stroke. He spoke, his breath coming honey-sweet against all of her face. He asked if she were leaving soon.

Reality fell upon her in a curtain of despair. This was who she really was; Nori was dead, and she was his avenger. But now…

Kaede let out a held breath, her hand traveling gently up and down Kazhe's neck for reassurance.

"I don't want to leave," she admitted. "And I'm not sure if I must."

She recalled her family's faces, their unknown feelings when coming at terms with her return. She remembered her betrayal, the last time she ever saw her cousin's face… and shockingly, Kaede still remained unsure.

"I certainly couldn't leave without you," she said with a hidden smirk. "Now you know my secret identity. You could turn me in at any moment."

But Kaede knew that he would not, and the thought was comforting. As long as he remained near, as long as the connection was not broken, she knew, again, that everything would be just fine.

But the true meaning behind her duty still flowed uncomfortably beneath the surface…

"I wish that I could just get away from all this crap," she sighed at last.

[min]

She didn't want to leave, something mutual between the two, though the last seven words confused him slightly; had she not said she needed to find her cousin, or at least find out what had really happened to him? The next, he caught a soft air of a joking or playful manner, and the beginnings of a smile formed in a matter of moments as he closed his eyes, his breathing slowing with satisfaction of the moment, his arms moving both behind her, resting on her hips, one wrist over the other, holding her comfortably as close to himself as he could manage without it being awkward for either of them.

Then a thought hit him, one fleeting one - What if he were to leave with her? He chewed on his bottom lip carefully, weighing everything. He had nothing in Sunagakure, only his Father who he would disown if given a chance. As an added benefit, he'd no longer by struck down by words or empty Sake bottles, and he'd be with Kaede, the girl that changed him in so little time. Sure, he would be on the run, and life would get more hectic, but helping her.. He could only imagine what would happen if they found Nori alive, and if they rescued him? Maybe she could be accepted back into her village, having brought him back. It never occured to him what would happen to him after that, all that mattered was that Kaede would be happy, so happy.

"Maybe.." He said softly, lifting his head from hers, his eyes half closed lazily as he stared into her glittering eyes, "I could go with you." His suggestion was soft, and after saying it, he felt somewhat ashamed and lowered his gaze, a very faint blush tinging his cheeks. Even so, Kazhe's hands moved again, slowly tracing over her arms, resting over her own hands for a moment before sliding his fingers in the spaces between hers, closing his eyes completely. "I don't know, I really don't, what would happen if you left. But, you can't stay. You're," He looked around quickly, his voice softer now, just in case, "wanted, Kaede-san, a missing-nin, how long could you live anywhere near her? All I see is for me to leave, and go with you. It wouldn't be hard for me, there's nothing here in Suna I need. All..," He started to feel slightly nervous at the next parts, unused to this sort of things, "All I know is that.. Kaede, Kaede-chan, I.., I need you." He bit his lip, and forced himself to look into her eyes, his head tipped slightly as an annoying habit. "Please.., you won't just go without figuring something out?"

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/color]

[Kaede]

Kaede's eyes flashed at the mention of Kazhe leaving with her. The words still stuck, and then even more so as she felt his fingers fall and intertwine with her own. He was serious; this she knew. But somehow, it worried her.

True, it was necessary to continue on the quest for Nori or his attackers, no matter how much Kaede tried to deny it. Because it was the wrong path, anyway. It was only by Kazhe's words did thoughts of her meaning ever disappear beneath the already cloudy surface. For today, he had been her redeemer, her vent into which every negativity could be released. He was the shade upon the fiery lights of the forbiddance that was this awful, addicting revenge.

But now his new words had become less of an inhibitor. The missing-nin Kaede had been rediscovered, and the identity fell upon her like an unwelcome guest. She slid her hands out from under the boy's clasp.

"Kazhe," she began, slightly flustered by the return of her duty.

But he needed her, he said. He needed her. And what monster would she have become without him? Temporarily too proud to say so, Kaede silently admitted her need for his presence, as well.

And he was right about one thing: she was a wanted criminal. Sooner or later she would be found, regardless of whether or not hunter-nin or other ninja had been sent out for her. And no way was she going to hang around Suna in that heat magnet of a cloak.

"You know that things will be hard," she said to Kazhe, making sure to keep eye contact. "More than hard. It will be dangerous. If these men were good enough to catch Nori unawares, then I fail to even think about the piece of cake I'd be."

But since that was the case, then who was she kidding by taking on their trail alone? And Kazhe's father… she'd seen what went on at his house. His liberation—in her mind, anyway—was also a plus. Kazhe deserved better than what he had.

Kaede sighed in secretly wanted relief.
"But if you truly choose to come… I'll take you gladly."

She studied the guilty tip of his head, the blush of his cheeks, and the plain physical closeness of his body.

After a painful moment, "If you wish not to follow, then I'll understand."