Kai tilted his head, smiling gently now. "That's fine. But we can still talk, right?" He pointed at a fallen log nearby. "Sit. I don't bite."
Shizuka hesitated, then sat—keeping her distance. Kai sat too, cross-legged on the ground, his robe torn and dirty, but he looked calm. Too calm.
"You don't really like it here, do you?" he asked. "All the rules, the expectations. It's heavy, huh?"
She looked away. "It's my home. I don't get to choose what it asks of me."
Kai's voice softened. "I get that. I never had a home like this. No rules, no traditions—just surviving. But you... you've got something. Even if it feels like a cage sometimes."
Shizuka's eyes narrowed. "What do you know about cages?"
"More than you think," he said quietly. "I've always been running. Never had a family. No one telling me who I'm supposed to be. Sometimes I wonder how it'd feel... to have something real. A purpose."
Her fingers twitched. The tension in her shoulders eased just a little.
"You're strong," he continued. "I've seen it. You lead those kunoichi like someone born for it. You fought me head-on. You're not just following duty. You're shaping what comes next."
She blinked, caught off guard. A faint blush touched her cheeks, though she quickly looked away.
"I know you don't trust me," Kai said. "But maybe this pact doesn't have to be just for the village. Maybe... it could be for us."
Shizuka stared at him, eyes guarded. "What are you trying to say?"
Kai slowly stood and stepped closer. "I'm saying I see you. Not the leader. Not the warrior. Just you."
She stood too, tense now. "Kai…"
He moved fast—close enough to hear her breath hitch. And then, without warning, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in.
"For once," he said quietly, "let's forget what everyone else wants."
Before she could react, he kissed her.
The kiss was sudden, fierce, Kai's lips pressing hard against Shizuka's, his grip on her waist unyielding.
His tongue slipped past her lips, probing with a boldness that matched his earlier words. Shizuka's eyes widened, a flash of shock cutting through her guarded composure.
Her body stiffened, instincts kicking in as she pushed against his chest, her hands firm but not forceful enough to break free.
Her tongue, reacting on reflex, met his in a brief, chaotic clash, a fleeting fight for control before she twisted her head, pulling back just enough to gasp. "Kai, stop," she hissed, her voice low but sharp, like a blade drawn in warning.
Her cheeks burned, not just from the kiss but from the storm of emotions it unleashed—anger, confusion.
Kai's eyes glinted, undeterred, his breath hot against her skin. Before she could pull away further, his hands slid lower, bold and unapologetic, grasping her round and soft butt with both hands.
He pulled her closer, his lips finding the curve of her neck, kissing it with a slow, deliberate intensity. "Shut up," he murmured against her skin, his voice a low growl, teasing yet commanding, as if daring her to resist.
Shizuka's breath hitched again, her body tensing under his touch. Her hands gripped his shoulders, torn between shoving him away and holding her ground. The warmth of his lips on her neck sent a shiver through her, unwanted but undeniable, and her eyes darted to the side, scanning the empty clearing as if expecting the forest itself to judge her.
She pushed harder this time, forcing space between them, her red armor creaking faintly as she stepped back.
Kai let her go, but only just, his hands lingering at her hips before falling away.
Shizuka's eyes blazed with fury, her breath coming in sharp bursts as she stepped back, her red armor glinting in the dappled sunlight.
Her hand shot to the hilt of the short blade at her side, fingers tightening around it. "You've gone too far," she snarled, her voice trembling with rage.
Without warning, she lunged forward, her blade flashing out in a precise arc aimed at Kai's shoulder.
Kai's instincts kicked in, his body moving before his mind caught up. He sidestepped, the air hissing as her blade sliced through where he'd stood.
Cursed energy sparked around his hands, forming a faint, shimmering barrier that deflected the next strike as Shizuka pressed her attack. Her movements were swift, relentless, each swing of her blade fueled by indignation, her red armor a blur in the clearing.
"You think you can just take what you want?" she spat, her voice cutting through the clash of steel against his energy shield. She spun low, aiming a kick at his legs, but Kai leaped back, landing lightly on the scorched earth.
"Shizuka, come on," he said, his tone half-teasing, half-serious, as he raised his hands to block another strike. "I'm your fiancé, aren't I? I deserve some liberties, don't I?" His words were bold, as he ducked under her blade, his cursed energy flaring to push her back a step.
Her eyes widened, fury igniting anew at his words. "You deserve nothing," she hissed, her voice raw with defiance.
But no matter how fast or fierce Shizuka fought, her attacks started to slow. Her breath came in short gasps. Sweat dripped from her brow. The strain of pushing her chakra, her body, and her emotions to the edge was catching up to her.
Kai noticed it right away. The sharpness in her strikes dulled, her footwork staggered slightly.
"You're slowing down," he said quietly, almost like a warning—but also filled with concern.
"Shut up," she muttered, forcing her legs to move again. One more swing. One more burst of speed.
But her knees buckled mid-step. She dropped to one knee, her sword trembling in her hand, breath ragged.
Kai stepped forward. "That's enough."
"I'm not done," she whispered, trying to stand, but her legs gave out again.
"You are now," he said softly.
Without waiting for permission, he walked over and knelt beside her. Shizuka didn't resist as he slid one arm under her legs and the other around her back. Her body was hot with exertion, light in his arms but heavy with pride and tension.