Dance With Me [closed log]
The thing about being in love, Rin was finding, was that you really had no idea what you were doing. It wasn't exactly a shock to him, after all he'd been in love with Kakami for uh... longer than sanity ought to allow, but until just a few months ago he hadn't had to deal with being in a relationship... being loved back. He wasn't entirely clueless - he knew to be there emotionally, to be there physically, just to be there and to be allowed to be there - but that was what he'd been doing all their lives, or trying to. It was in all the other things... like how they were sort of almost living together some parts of the week (when missions allowed), or when he got teased by Asuka or Aki or whoever, or times like the other night when she came and got him out the library... told him he was just a little bit late getting home.
That was when it hit him that they weren't just in love, they were doing something about it.
Dating, even. And that was kind of complicated because gods in every little thing what did you do with Hatake Kakami on a date? (And no, bad Rin, you know what you meant) There were complications. There were obstacles. There was always their combined lack of the social graces. But still, dating. It was something they wanted to do, and with or without an idea of what he was doing Rin was going to give this a try. The idea had hit him yesterday morning when he watched her step over half a dozen furry bodies piled about the floor as she went to make some tea. He'd noticed for the hundredth time that she was the most graceful creature he'd ever seen, and then he'd thought...
He got home around ten at night, a late shift at the hospital and his hair still a little damp from its showers, and instead of walking all the way into the living room where she sat curled up with Miako and Irokoi and a book he leaned against the doorframe, hands in pockets and just smiled at her.
"Hey," he called quietly, not bothering to hide the tell tale signs of his that he was a man planning something.
She looked up, face and posture relaxed. Irokoi was a good presence at her back, while Miako half rested on her feet. Most of the male dogs were lolling about the floor, although Hiiro was sitting close to the couch. Jakuchu, nearest to the door, decided to nose at Rin's hand.
Kakami smiled, her head leaning to the side as she inspected the man. She loved to see him smile at her - something about the way he looked at her made her feel flushed and pleased and just a bit nervous still perhaps.
"Hey yourself." Kakami closed the well worn book she held and raised an eyebrow. "You going to stand there all night or come over and give me a proper hello?"
Ah, another tease/flirting attempt. Kakami liked the way Rin responded - especially when he was very successful at teasing or flirting back. It was a side of him she'd never really had a chance to see and had since decided it did rather suit him.
Scritching behind Jakuchu's ears, Rin couldn't help how he grinned just a little at that, still just a little stunned by how she came out with moments like these. And he didn't have to be told twice. He lowered his medical satchel to the floor, padded barefoot past the dogs, and leaned down to place a warm hand to her cheek and kiss her. Properly and at length.
In the end Miako got fed up and head-butted Rin in the knee to break the two of them up, which just made him laugh as he stood back up and looked down at Kakami.
"Don't think Miako approves of my manners," he said, ruffling the puppy's ears. He gave Kakami a smile. "Which is tragic, because I had plans for me and you tonight - if you were interested. Just a little uhm... date, if you want."
"Oh?" Kakami's eyes lit up just a tad with interest. She shifted, swinging her legs over the edge of the couch and then standing to put the book on a shelf a few steps away. She turned and looked at him - no wonder he'd looked so very pleased when he'd walked in.
"What sort of date?" she asked eagerly, crossing her arms over her midsection as she walked back to him at the couch.
Their last date, while pleasant, had been the only one. Kakami was pretty sure that this "dating" thing was supposed to occur a little more often...although they were already sort of living together so maybe that was skipping a step? She wasn't very sure; it all seemed very confusing sometimes.
She was interested. Rin's hopes shot up through the ceiling as she looked at him like that. Maybe he did know what he was doing after all. He grinned and kissed her cheek. "A surprise," he told her, eyes bright as she looked at him. "It's warm out so all you need are your shoes. Will you come with me?"
Of course the fact he hoped so couldn't be plainer on his face as he held out his hand to her.
"A surprise?" Kakami blinked but then took his hand. Okay then. She could handle surprises. Kakami liked to know where she was headed normally, but Rin seemed so delighted and pleased that she gave in.
Shoes were easily slipped on and in a few minutes they were roof hopping easily. Kakami followed Rin curiously, still holding his hand as he led the way. This was almost...exciting.
They drew to a stop on one of the few flat rooftops of Konoha, higher than most of the others in the multi-tiered center of town but interestingly lit by the upglow of the village's streetlamps and the moon above. Rin finally loosened his fingers from around Kakami's as he spread his hands to show her this was where they'd been headed. The rooftop was flat and clean and perhaps conspicuously smooth, and his footsteps made pleasing and quiet sounds on it as he stepped towards the middle. At the end he was pacing backwards towards there were a few vents leading skyward from the building beneath them.
"I thought we could use a little air," he said with a small smile, tipping his head a little to the side as he looked at her in the changeable light.
His voice carried perfectly. There wasn't much sound where they were, something about the village acoustics he guessed (there was a lot that the internal geography of the place had to answer for) but that was perfect. They'd have enough in their ears in a moment.
"And that we could try something a little uhm... unconventional?"
And with that, Rin gently toed aside the tin lid covering one of the larger ducts leading up to the roof. In an instant there was a swell and lull of music from the rooms below echoing sweetly over the rooftop and as he paced back to Kakami's side, he politely held out a hand.
"Me and rooftops, it looks like," he said wryly to the look she was giving him. "Would you please join me for a dance, Kakami?"
A soft, short laugh escaped Kakami's lips as soon as he finished speaking. Rin...oh, only he would think of something like this, she was pretty sure. Pale cheeks slightly reddening, Kakami shrugged a little hesitantly. "I can't really dance." A self-depreciating smile stretched across her mouth. She looked at him, at his happy expression and at the lights and heard the music before slowly stepping forward. "But I guess you planned on teaching me?" She guessed.
Her dark eye met his as one of her hands slipped into his offered one.
He didn't think teaching really came into it, the moment he could gently pull her forwards as he stepped close and look into her face Rin knew like he always had - with Kakami it was just a matter of her finding her footing. She was tentative now, but she was never shy once she had her confidence. It was almost a shame, because he loved how she was in moments like these between them... he wondered if he'd ever find a way of making them last.
"Actually," he said quietly, drawing her with him back to the middle of their makeshift dance floor. "I'm not so sure there's much to teach." He picked up her drifting hand with his free one and settled it on his shoulder before dropping his back to her waist. "See, dancing's easy once you're inspired."
The music slowed to a gentle switch over, a new song - jazz of some kind, this was a jazz bar they were above - and Rin threaded her fingers in his. "Just don't concentrate, and let yourself listen and react. It's just us."
Her cheeks flushed just a bit more and she gave him another sweet smile - the smile that only really he saw. She glanced down and then back up.
"Okay." She waited for him to lead and started to follow his steps. It was hesitant at first, almost clumsy at a step and Kakami made a face before shooting him a half grin as she tried again. She almost wanted to laugh at herself and it was easier than she thought to relax and continue to follow, till she had a feel for the steps.
They kept going in a wordless and easy quiet, and Rin found himself happy at how naturally she was picking up the little movements and anticipating the music... but most of all he was trying not to be surprised at how she let him lead and trusted him. But it was easy to forget that when he did like he asked her to and didn't concentrate on anything else. Just saw the world as both of them.
In that way it's got, the music and their movements made the time slip into its own little world. But that was fine too, after all - it wasn't like anybody was there to care but them. And the best thing about jazz bars was that they were open until waaaay past late. Rin grinned as she let him gently spin her and they caught each other again without the slightest stumble.
"See? Easy," he said looking down into her eye. "Well, it is for me... like I said all you need is a little inspiration." He didn't have to say that she was his, because she knew that... he was sure. He beamed at her. "Though I bet it helps you're the most graceful creature this world's got." Another easy few steps and a quiet smile. "I had to learn the hard way."
She gave a short chuckle, moving her hand to affectionately muss up his hair - which tended to stick out here and there in the most satisfying ways - and then shrugged.
"Must be all that dodging Gaia keeps me up on." Kakami continued lightly. "Keeps me light on my feet."
Her grin settled into something quieter and she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. She looked at him and smiled softly again. "Thanks. This was great." The smile turned a little wry. "Used to always wonder why my dad would drag Mother away from whatever to dance with him for a bit."
It wasn't until she kissed him that Rin realized he hadn't succumbed to his own desire to do that for all the time they'd been up here. He listened to her and rested his forehead against hers for a moment just to silently say how welcome she was, then drew back and tipped her a slightly curious look. She had so rarely mentioned her mother, and he understood why, but he'd never once heard her or anybody say a word about her father.
"Well now you know," he said, wondering what he ought to say. "Sounds like he loved to dance too."
He wouldn't push, but he felt himself give her one of those echoing little smiles they both had perfected down the years. The kind that said 'I won't ask, but I won't tell either'.
She looked at him and her smile wavered just a bit before she shrugged her slender shoulders, looking away again.
"He did." Kakami said quietly. Very quietly. Before she looked up again and leaned her head to the side. "So. How did you learn to dance?"
She knew there should be a talk someday - she should tell him about her parents and who they were before...before everything. But saying that had made something inside quiver unexpectedly and she didn't want to take it out right now.
Besides, she'd like to hear this story.
For a moment, just as she mentioned her father again, Rin was suddenly gripped with questions about him. And her mother. About the two people who'd given the world Hatake Kakami, no matter what else had happened. But more than that he suddenly really wanted to know if... well, that was weird... he wanted to know if he was like her dad. Something almost instinctive was asking that, but he dampened it down at the way she spoke. The time to ask wasn't now - but it would come someday and that was fine.
He shook his head a little for her question, and looked up at the moon above them with a grin before looking back to her.
"Ah, you didn't wonder even once how I passed the undercover and seduction part of Academy training they make us hapless males go through?" he couldn't help blushing slightly remembering those classes. Oh, god. And they had to pass another test for each promotion to show they still 'had it'. Or maybe that was just for the people who came bottom of the class "I scraped a pass on enough of it since I could quote the lectures, but the only reason I didn't fail the practical was because I could dance."
Kakami laughed.
It hadn't really occurred to her (she'd only been a year in the academy and most of her work had not been undercover so she'd not really thought about it), but it made sense. It was just funny, trying to imagine him learning to dance when he was small.
"I guess that's something I should have known." Kakami shook her head and laughed quietly again. "Well, you do dance very well. And I'm glad you do."
Rin squeezed her hand gently in his, pulling her just a little closer as the song changed for the eighth or ninth time and he could step with her over their own little dance floor. "Thanks," he said, lifting his own hand from her waist and taking the precious little liberty of brushing her silver hair just a little from her face. Just looking at her and feeling so whole.
He smiled just a little. Remembering the despairing screams of his Academy sensei, telling him he'd make a great little housewife but he couldn't seduce a moth-eaten sock. Ha.
Couldn't really say that out loud though. Didn't dare. "I'm glad I can too - because here's me with the most beautiful woman ever... happier than I can ever remember." And to make sure they both knew it, he somewhat broke the rhythm of their steps by kissing her - which he just couldn't refrain from any longer.
She didn't think she'd really ever get used to being called "beautiful" but there was little time to protest or ponder that when he kissed her. Kakami was more than happy to kiss him back and did so enthusiastically.
Again, they were in their own little world for a bit, too wrapped up in each other to notice the moon, or the stars or the city below or even the music. Kakami still didn't really notice any of those things when they paused, just wanting to smile and stare at him.
There was still a small ache, deep inside for her parents, for Obiko perhaps who'd been snatched away from something like this but she still murmured an 'I love you' and kissed him again before her head rested on his shoulder, body pressed against his and arms around his waist.
Part of her wanted to stay like this forever- no matter how improbable it was. The other part was just grateful her fool pride had finally caved in and she could be here.
All of her was very glad that, for whatever reason, Rin had decided to love her.