I had been journeying for hours, never feeling tired for a single second. I could feel the salty air, that carried brine, whip across my face as I approached my destination. The smell of the ocean became more prominent, acting as the goal post for my trip. I was getting closer to where I was supposed to meet her.
I was meeting Ameyuri Ringo, a bad apple from Kirigakure. I thought on several occasions before that this was a bad idea, due to how deadly she was. But somehow, I embarrassingly convinced myself with the thought of being able to see her again. I couldn't let the thought of her go, no matter how much I thought about it. No matter how long my list of cons grew, and no matter how much I swore she’d try to tear my head off because she was so wild, I just couldn't stand her up.
I pulled the apple flavored lollipop out of my mouth and let my mind wander about her, as if I hadn’t done enough of that already. The initial tang of the candy instantly reminded me of her. Sweet, but with a little bite. I passed by the trees with the same desperate speed that I did the day we fought each other. And as I hopped up on a branch, my heart began to race like a hundred galloping horses when I thought of her. I stared blankly ahead of me as I bounded from tree to tree, I simply couldn’t focus as her mere thought pulled me away from myself. It was almost like I was there again, in that fight as the girl from the Bloody Mist threw bare lightning at my feet like a gale and I thought I’d never get away until I was dead.
I took a deep breath out of nerves and saw the thick forest was clearing, opening up like a stage curtain. The pink and orange light from the setting sun made me squint as it was bright and pretty, but not as pretty as Ameyuri was. I thought to myself sweet praises to whatever higher power would listen, as finally I got to see her again. Then I slowed myself to a brisk walk as my feet hit the weakening forest floor, when I emerged onto the loose sand of a beach I saw her.
She hadn't noticed me yet, and I stood there watching her bountiful red hair softly blowing in the sea breeze as she watched the waves. Frozen for a second, I felt my throat tense up like I was going to swallow my tongue. If looks could kill, I would be in trouble when I saw her face.
"Ameyuri!" I yelled with a faltering voice that didn’t want to behave.
I almost jumped when she turned to me. Her initial look of surprise immediately changed to happiness aided by her cool confidence. It was like magic seeing her smile again, and it was more than divination being able to face her once more. With each step she got closer and I remembered her softer features.
Crooked teeth were always a turn off in my eyes, but those misaligned, jagged smile didn't bother me whatsoever. That pointy maw—that she loved to show off with a smirk and a cuss word—gave her a vicious grace. Her round face caught a bit of the sunlight, accenting her always rosy cheeks and soft honey skin tone with vibrant light. I couldn't help making a dumb face. I was overcome by a compelling happiness that grew tenfold each second I looked at her.
"Omoi you're here!" She said with a rasp in her low voice.
Once we were finally face to face, I felt my cheeks simmer, I could finally be with her again. After looking at each other for a few seconds, she held her arms out and reached forward to me in that cute way girls did. Enveloped in her weathered form, I could do nothing other than hug her back, as to touch her was the only thought in my weak mind. I took in a breath from my nose, she smelled earthy yet light like grasses and rich soil. Almost involuntarily, I rubbed her back in small circles, feeling so at peace as she gripped around me and rested her head on my shoulder. I let my eyes close as I might as well have been dreaming.
I could feel her subtle curves and the roundness of her chest as she pressed up against me. Her gentle breathing was enough to coax all the nervousness out of me. She led my nervousness away like some kind of Pied Piper, guiding it to a time that could wait until later.
"I see you've been taking care of yourself, cutie." She grinned while pulling her head back to look at me.
I always loved her playful energy, that simple nickname sent my heart a flutter. A girl who knew how to flirt with the smoothness of a guy was dangerous, but I couldn’t care less. I survived her before.
I gave her a shy smile back and pulled my arms down to my sides. A lightheadedness came over me as we separated, I was under her spell, completely infatuated with her.
"Mhmm, I can say the same for you. After what happened y’know.” I nodded my head then looked down hoping I hadn't brought up a bad memory, me and my big mouth.
Her reaction was strange, a small sigh left her lips and she puffed out her cheeks. In a huffy manner she placed her petite hands on her broad hips, I felt like I had just gotten struck by lightning. Usually I would think much more about the things I said, but it seemed like she negated that part of me. Her eyes, dark as ebony, gazed upon me with a confusingly cartoony aggression, forcing a shiver down my spine. I knew that look, and I was definitely expecting a punch. But then, the corners of her mouth turned upwards and she spoke in her charming voice that I fell for.
"Omoi, get that lollipop out of your mouth. It'll just get in the way." She grabbed a hold of the candy's thin stick and pulled it out of my mouth, tossing it in the sand with some audacity.
I didn't react, I simply looked at her, happy I didn’t get slapped. But then, I felt something well up in my chest, pushing against my lungs only speeding up my breathing. I knew it was coming from her, like a puppet she was controlling me.
My whole body tensed up at her words and gorgeous presence, so many thoughts bounced around in my head as I tried to figure out what she meant. It would get in the way of what?I couldn’t quite figure it out and was rendered speechless and broken at the mouth, unable to find something to say back. Her bold acts were cute and alluring, in fact the simple sight of her womanly brutality was a coup de coeur.
She sucked her teeth then held her arms out again, except she reached higher until her hands pet my shoulders and her elegant lips pressed against mine. Surprisingly enough, she was gentle and slow. When she could act and appear so harsh, she masterfully switched to being soft and tender. I didn't protest—because why the hell would I—I simply relaxed and let my hands follow the form of her waist until we were done.
"Let's not waste this time with boring talk. We have this one night to ourselves." Her voice was calm this time and fluid like a romantic tune from a skillful violinist.
“Sure thing, Ameyuri." I said back to her while impulsively laying a kiss just below her Kirigakure forehead protecter and taking her hand.
I couldn't have asked for a better day off, the two of us stayed on the beach the whole night to watch the stars with the night clouds, and play in the water with the jellyfish, and dig in the sand with the tiny crabs, and even trade kenjutsu techniques, all the time we were completely in love. However, all good things come to an end, the Mist kunoichi planned on ending our rendezvous at dawn.
We had fallen asleep on the white sand before I knew it, but I only slept for a few minutes it seemed. As the sun began to touch the sky, she lifted her head from my chest quietly. She must have assumed I was asleep, but I was faking.
While pretending to be sleeping I was praying she wasn't going to leave me. Sadly I was asking for too much and through half lidded eyes I watched her bolt away disappearing in the horizon. That was the last I was ever going to see of her, and I thought it best to let her leave on her own terms. I wanted so badly to reach out and get her to stay just for a few more hours, so I could feel her sleep against me for just a bit longer. But it was true that she was a free spirit and we had our time together, parting was inevitable. It took me a few more minutes before I could bring myself to stand up and walk away from the beach that we spent the night.
As I left back for Kumogakure, I felt like I left a piece of my heart on the beach. But then I thought about it. While reaching into my weapon bag I pulled out another one of my lollipops and started sucking on it while escaping in thought. Somberly, I realized Ameyurihad stolen my heart and made off with it, like she had done before.And I would spend the rest of my days figuring out how to track it down again. But no matter how many times I found her, I wouldn’t be able to steal my heart back, as it was wherever she was. A heavy kind of smile came over me, the one that came when a man finally yielded and accepted the facts of life.
I hung my head and once again realized the candy that I picked out was apple flavored.