The morning sun filtered through the cracked shutters of their room at The Drunken Crane, casting thin stripes of light across the worn floorboards. Souta sat on the edge of his bed, lacing his boots.
Pakura was up, leaning against the windowsill. Hinata, meanwhile, had slipped out moments ago, muttering something about washing up before they leave.
The door clicked shut behind Hinata, leaving Souta and Pakura alone. He stood, stretching, and crossed to the table where his pack sat. "So," he said, keeping his tone casual, "you gonna tell me what's been eating you? You've been quiet since we got here."
Pakura didn't turn, her fingers tapping the sill. "Quiet's not a crime," she said, her voice low.
Souta raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Not for you, it's not. Come on, Pakura. You disappeared with a half-assed note, and now you're acting like I'm the one who owes you answers. What happened?"
She exhaled hard, finally turning to face him. "I didn't leave because I wanted to. Root—Danzo's dogs—they sniffed me out. I don't know how. I'm good at hiding—always have been—but they got too close, and I couldn't risk leading them to you."
"Pakura. Why didn't you tell me? I could've—"
"What?" she cut him off, her tone biting but soft. "Helped? You're not a shinobi. You're scrappy, sure, but Root doesn't play games. They'd have gutted you just for knowing me." She stepped closer, her fingers brushing his arm. "I left to keep you safe. Wrote that note so you wouldn't follow. Should've known you'd be too stubborn to listen."
He stared at her. "So you've been running this whole time? Alone?"
"Not alone," she said, her smirk flickering. "I've got my tricks. But yeah—dodging Root's not easy. They're relentless, but sloppy sometimes. I slipped them in the riverlands, laid low, took out a few when I had to." Her hand slid up to his shoulder, gripping it lightly. "Seeing you out there, with her—I thought maybe you'd moved on. Didn't expect you to come chasing me."
Souta's grin returned, softer now. "Moved on? From you? Nah. You're not that easy to shake." He reached up, catching her hand, his thumb brushing her knuckles. "But you scared the hell out of me, you know that?"
Her smile faded, her eyes searching his. "Yeah. I'm sorry." She paused, then leaned in, her voice barely above a breath. "I missed you, idiot."
Before he could reply, she closed the gap, her lips crashing into his. It wasn't gentle—not at first. It was hungry, raw, like she was pouring weeks of running and fighting into him. Her hands slid to his neck, fingers digging in, pulling him closer as she pressed herself against him. Souta's breath caught, but he matched her, one hand finding her waist, the other tangling in her hair. Her lips were warm, tasting faintly of salt. She deepened the kiss, her tongue brushing his, slow and deliberate, coaxing a low groan from his throat.
He backed her against the table, the wood creaking under her weight as he leaned in, savoring the way she moved with him—fluid, fierce, like a flame he couldn't resist. Her hands roamed, one sliding under his shirt, her nails grazing his skin, sparking heat that made his pulse race. The kiss stretched on, lingering, her lips parting just enough to nip at his, teasing, then diving back in, hungrier each time. The world shrank to her—her warmth, her scent, the faint hitch in her breath when he tightened his grip on her hip.
Then—a sharp pinch on his lower back. Souta yelped, breaking the kiss, his head whipping around. Hinata stood behind him, her pale eyes narrowed. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, her kimono fresh from washing, but her expression was pure irritation.
"Really?" she said, her voice dry as she crossed her arms. "I'm gone for ten minutes, and you're… what, making up for lost time?"
Pakura laughed, low and throaty, not moving from the table. "Jealous, Hyuga? There's room for you if you're quick." Her smirk was all challenge, but her eyes flicked to Souta, checking his reaction.
Souta rubbed his back, caught between a grin and a wince. "Hinata. That hurt." He stepped back, hands up, trying to defuse the moment. "We were just… talking."
Hinata's eyebrow arched, unimpressed. "Talking. Right." She moved to her bed, grabbing her pack, but her lips twitched, betraying a hint of a smile. "Keep it quick. We need to move soon."
Pakura slid off the table, brushing past Souta with a lingering touch on his arm. "She's got a point," she murmured, loud enough for Hinata to hear. "But don't think we're done, lover boy."
The room settled into an awkward quiet as they packed, the tension lingering but not breaking. Souta stole glances at both women—Pakura's teasing grin, Hinata's calm focus—and wondered how he'd survive this balancing act. By the time they were ready, the sun was higher, the town's noise filtering through the window.
At the door, Pakura stopped, her hand on the frame. She turned, her expression shifting to something serious. "Souta," she said, her voice low, "I can't go back to Konoha with you. "
He froze, pack slung over his shoulder. "..."
She glanced at Hinata, then back at him, her jaw tight. "Root's still out there. I shook them for now, but they're like hounds—don't stop once they've got a scent. If I go back with you, I'll lead them straight to your doorstep. I need to stay low, move around, keep them guessing until they lose my trail for good." Her eyes softened, just for a moment. "When it's safe, I'll find you."
He nodded Understanding, stepping closer. "You better. I'm not chasing you across the damn continent again."
She smiled. "No promises." Her hand brushed his cheek, quick and light, before she turned to Hinata. "Watch him, Hyuga. He's trouble."
Hinata met her gaze, unflinching. "I know. Safe travels, Pakura."
Pakura nodded, then slipped out, her silhouette vanishing into the morning light. Souta watched her go.
"Come on," she said, her voice soft. "Let's get moving."
They stepped into the street, the town alive around them, and headed west—toward Konoha.