Chapter 9:- Feelings

"I understand, Kakashi-san. I'll be careful." Kenshin said, while considering how he would negotiate with Danzo should he get captured. 'It would be better if I secretly let a shadow clone get captured and I myself went to Tsunade. Then If I can talk Danzo into revealing something like Shisui's mangekyo sharingan, I can ask Tsunade to ask a Yamanaka to confirm it. That way, I get to take out the cancer while also gaining the village's, to be specific Tsunade's trust.' He thought as they walked out of the room.

"I'll leave now, good night." Kakashi said before using the body flicker to disappear.

"I'll never get tired of the body flicker jutsu." Kenshin said as he and Akane walked to Akane's apartment. The hospital was relatively close to her apartment so it didn't take long.

"This looks..... cozy!" Kenshin said as he looked around the apartment. It was perfect for someone living alone with a small kitchen, relatively large bathroom, and a large room in the center. She had a small bed, albeit enough to fit 2 people if they were..... close enough, on one side and a small cupboard on the other. The room, other than that, was mostly empty except for some training equipment and... a large wooden box kept on a stand opposite to the bed. Above the box, on a shelf, was a framed photograph of their parents holding baby Akane.

"Hey, nee-san? What's in this box?" Kenshin asked as he approached the box. Akane went to it first and opened it to show him 2 identical katanas, one with a black sheath and the other with a white one.

"Dad made these for us. The black one for me and the white one for you. They're made with chakra metal so you can infuse chakra into them. But after the massacre... I believed you and mom were dead so I... I never used mine. I kept the set intact." Akane said, a single tear forming in the corner of her eye while remembering her father, a tear she quickly wiped away. "Anyways, it's getting late, we should get dinner soon."

"Nee-san..." Kenshin's hand unconsciously reached out to hold Akane's hand. "It's okay. I'm here now. I don't know who the kunoichi was that lied to dad or why she did so, but it doesn't matter anymore. I'm here for you. Mom might not be with us at the moment but she's here too, in this village. You're not alone, not anymore."

Hearing his words, Akane turned her head to look at Kenshin and their eyes met. Her gaze locked onto his red eyes as her heartbeat quickened. She couldn't think of anything else in that moment, all she could think of were his words,"I'm here for you."

'For me.' She thought. 'Damm you brat, why do you remind me of him so much. Him and now you, both of you make me want to be with you, to love you.' She thought as she leaned closer to him, until they were just inches apart.

Meanwhile, Akane's intense stare made Kenshin's heart skip a beat, or maybe more. He himself couldn't bring himself to look away from those dark eyes, and braced himself for the inevitable as she leaned closer. But Akane pulled back, her lips barely brushing against his. "We shouldn't. This is wrong. Right?" She spoke, the desire and hesitation evident in her voice as she looked away, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

'Yeah right! You can't just leave a man hanging! I don't care what anyone says, mom will understand eventually. I've known her my entire life. That's why I know. And if mom understands, then that's all I need.' Kenshin thought as he cupped her face to make her look at him. "It's okay. Like I said, I'm here for you no matter what. And mom will understand. I know she will. And that's enough. I don't care about the rest of the world." He said as he brought his lips to hers, his breath hot on her face. He paused to see if she'd resist but when he saw her close her eyes and brace herself for it, he gently pressed his lips onto hers. Although hesitant at first, Akane leaned into the kiss, savouring this feeling she had never felt before. It was addictive, and felt surprisingly right, as if... this isn't anything wrong.

[On a rooftop near their house]

"I thought they were siblings! The hell is happening in there?!" A root shinobi exclaimed. They had surrounded the building, all 20 of them, after taking out Kakashi's personally selected ANBU that were watching over them. "It doesn't matter. Lord Danzo gave us orders. If he comes out during the night, capture him. Otherwise, infiltrate the house and capture them both." Another root shinobi said. "You don't feel weirded out by this, Sai?" The first shinobi asked. "Feelings don't matter. We are tools. Tools don't feel. Just focus on the mission." The other one replied. "All right fine!" The first shinobi said as he turned back to keep looking at Akane's apartment.

[Back at the apartment]

After god knows how long, Kenshin pulled back from the kiss, both of them breathing heavily. "Nee-san....."

"I didn't think you'd be that kind of guy." Akane chuckled. "But..... strangely enough, it feels right. It's like...."

"Like destiny." Kenshin said, before hugging her tightly.

Akane smiled and said, "How about we go somewhere with a more..... romantic atmosphere?! I'm sure the ANBU watching us won't mind." She suggested.

"Where?"

"On top of the hokage mountain. The view from lady fifth's head will especially good on a clear night like tonight." Akane said, smiling mischievously.

"I guess I don't mind. But I need to use your restroom." Kenshin said as they got up. Akane nodded and then he went to the restroom, coming out shortly after. Then they went out towards the hokage mountain, jumping from rooftop to rooftop.

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Everyone, thanks for your support with the previous chapter. As always, please give me your power stones if you want to support me and let me know if you have any helpful suggestions/criticisms.