Better Late Than Never [Closed Log]
[set a few days after this log, just at the very end of September.]
Morning had broken a good hour previously, and the two human inhabitants of Hatake Kakami's apartment were still blissfully unaware of whatever scandal and excitement was racing around the village with regard to the latest stage in their relationship (it had a two day head start on them anyway). If he hadn't known Jimaiya-sensei was out of Konoha with Naruko, Rin would most certainly have expected her to appear at the door (or worse, the window) with plenty to say about what was going on. Possibly notes to be taken too... a thought that made him blush furiously. For once he was glad that his sensei's sensei was somewhere else, because even though Rin appreciated (very much appreciated) how things had changed, there were some things that truly didn't - and Rin had always been one for tradition.
He set out the breakfast table, flipped the last of Kakami's chocolate chip pancakes up out the pan and onto a plate for her, and smiled to himself - not having to turn around to sense her presence in the kitchen doorway. "Finally made you those pancakes," he said, turning to look at her over his shoulder and completely unable to take the smile off his face at the sight of her. "And good morning, birthday girl."
"Mmm, could smell them." She admitted, hair still damp from her morning shower. She was patting it with a towel, wearing her uniform pants and a black undershirt, having decided that sometime today she really ought to take a walk. Not that she hadn't been getting excercise hee but the dogs probably could use some and Ichiro and Yoshi could use some rest without the others playing about.
She put a towel over the back of a chair before going to the cabinet to grab plates and cups. "And birthday?" Kakami thought for a moment. Did she have the date wrong - it should be past her birthday by now.
Rin nodded, leaning over to kiss her cheek before bothering to elaborate, deciding that she smelled a thousand times better than any pancakes. Like her, he'd pulled on some actual clothes - just a t-shirt and jeans with a hoodie slung over the couch in the living room for going outside; and he was telling himself repeatedly not to dwell on how odd it felt to see her in part of her uniform again.
"Well... with all the excitement I think we missed the fifteenth," he admitted, picking up the plates and putting them down at the table, sitting down himself. "But that doesn't mean we should miss your birthday, ne?" He looked up at her, not bothering to hide the fact that he had something up his sleeve. "Especially not when I had a plan, and everything..."
Kakami looked at him as she sat, eyes and face warm. She would have told him he didn't have to do that - it was just her birthday and came every year. Most years she forgot and there had been many that had never been celebrated.
But she didn't; not since he wanted to do something and it was...nice. Cute, even sweet.
"A plan huh?" she smiled, then added with a teasing note, "Should I be worried?"
She'd only really be worried if it had been Gaia. Surprise parties were definately not Kakami's thing, much to Gaia's previous dissapointment.
He glanced up consideringly, as though the kitchen ceiling could tell him whether or not there was cause for concern in the hopes he had for her today, and gave a soft little hum of contemplation. Then he met her eyes and smiled quietly at her, especially for the tender little light in her eye that she would have hidden from anybody else.
"Depends," he said, looking over at her. How many birthdays had he been there for? Not as many as anyone would believe, even now as her boyfriend he'd missed her first one since they became romantically involved. Missed the date, but not the day, he hoped. Rin nudged her smooth soft foot under the table with his warm toe, feeling a spark of happiness just in touching her. "Do you have a lot you need to do today? I kind of plan on being a drain on your time and quite possibly your energy."
Kakami grinned a bit at that.
"No, just meant to take the dogs out for a bit of exercise; let the two injured boys rest with Irokoi to watch 'em." She leaned her head to the side. "I don't think putting it off for another day will be a big deal."
She was excited, despite herself. Kakami was a curious person by nature and although she usually managed to affect a disinterested manner, the past few days had been enough to make her eager to have any alone time with her boyfriend. Especially if something special was planned.
Ah. Perfect. Rin could sense her curiosity and enthusiasm for his little mystery clearly, much more clearly than he'd have been able to until recently. He hadn't yet appreciated how it felt like another veil between them was lifted away, now, and it was so much easier to feel so much deeper and brighter for her. And that was on top of how much he already loved her.
"Well... that just makes this easy," he said with a teasing look before taking a sip of juice. He'd already talked to Pakkun about what the dogs could get up to, they really were quite set. "I've got to check in a form at the Palace," he gave her an entirely sheepish look, grinning slighly as his cheeks blushed. "Tsurude-sama wants me pulled from duties and uhm... resting up." Yes, because that's exactly what he'd been doing... "But, uhm, while I take care of that you could take the dogs out for an hour or so if they'd be okay with it too? We can head out at lunch."
"Okay." Kakami said agreeably, as she fixed her pancakes to her liking and dug in.
Ha, about time she got these pancakes. Although she couldn't really complain about the delay. It had certainly been worth it. She grinned a little at herself for that thought and grinned again at Rin when she caught his eye.
Breakfast was done sooner than she wished for but the dogs were more than ready to go and after rinsing her plate and giving Rin a not-so-quick goodbye kiss, they were gone. Kakami walked, the dogs ran ahead - but always came back - and generally horsed around with each other. Reiji and Jakuchu were clearly missing Ichiro but seemed intent on proving who was the better dog right at that very moment while Hiiro and Pakkun watched them with somewhat flat expressions. Miako seemed to sniff at them but she also clearly wanted to join in.
She should have taken them out sooner- they'd been cramped up in that small flat.
Another reason to talk about moving back to Rin's house. She made a face but decided to put it off for another day. She just wanted to enjoy this blissful peace while it lasted.
By the time she got back, Rin had everything ready to go. He also had the twinge of butterflies in his stomach - something he hadn't felt since he was... gods, since Obiko was alive.
Speaking of which; on his way back from his errands he'd stopped at the memorial stone. Before Aki and his loud mouth got here first, he thought with a charinged little smile. Knelt down next to the quiet piece of black rock and rubbed his finger over Obiko's name. The tangle and ache of feelings he had for her had surged hard for an instant, and then went quiet as he whispered 'I miss you. I love her.' and promised Obiko he'd make Kakami laugh and smile on her birthday like she deserved to. It'd mattered to Obiko, just as much as it mattered to Rin, that Kakami have happiness in her life. And after being with her these past few days, Rin knew he could say she was happy. It was news worth sharing.
Obiko would've laughed at how hard he was running around, getting things ready, just so he could be back before Kakami and looking like he hadn't gone to any trouble at all. Knowing that gave him some peace over all of the rest.
He was leaning against the door to her apartment, brown eyes closed, peaceful smile on his face when he heard her coming up the stairs with the dogs. "Everybody okay?" he asked, holding the door for them and grinning just a little bit as Miako yipped her reply and trotted in. His eyes went to Kakami's, and he felt those butterflies flicker back up to life. Crazy how they could be so intimate, and he still felt like this just for seeing her - just for wanting to get this day right.
Reiji and Jakuchu nearly tackled him from the residue energy they had from their run but were diverted as Hiiro barked at them, making them run back to the bedroom, Miako in tow. Hiiro gave a Rin a look as he trotted past to follow them, almost the same look that Pakkun gave him as he passed.
"Everyone's fine. They really needed to work off some of that." Kakami said quietly but with a smile. Her pack seemed to have more energy than Naruko could exhibit at times and they'd been mostly obediant but she hadn't been able to let them run as fast as they wanted.
She looked at him, taking in his smile and eyes and couldn't help but lean over to brush a masked kiss on his cheek. "Just let me put out some food and make sure there's water and then I'm just yours for the rest of the day."
His striped cheek tweaked in a little grin for that. For the fact she said it and meant it, that she was his like he was hers. Like he'd always been hers. He nodded and picked up the satchel at his feet, mostly empty save for a few imporant things. Rin was deliberately not going back into the apartment because he didn't trust himself (or Kakami, for that matter) not to get erh... distracted. But he did laugh inside listening to the dogs barking and carrying on, only getting more excited when the food was put down for them. He hadn't been oblivious to those looks from Pakkun and Hiiro either - though he wasn't sure what to make of them.
When Kakami emerged, Rin adjusted the satchel strap slung across his chest and shoulder, and held out his hand to her. "May I?" he asked, teasing just a little bit. "We've got a little walk ahead of us, if that's okay."
She took his hand with a pleased expression on her face and nodded. "Yeah, that's fine. Already had my warm up even."
The walk was a little quiet, as they left the apartment building and headed to the streets. It was warm in the afternoon still - getting much cooler in the mornings and evenings - and it was a nice walk. More relaxed than her half chasing after the dogs, jumping between jogging and walking quickly.
"Do I get a clue as to where we're headed?" Kakami asked curiously, as they neared the more wooded areas of the village.
Padding along beside her, much bigger feet falling habitually silent on the ground, Rin shook his head. "You're too smart, I'm trying to outwit you here," he replied, glancing over to her as they passed under the dappled green shade of the trees. "It's got plants, is that too big of a giveaway?"
He squeezed her hand and looked up into the trees, brown eyes getting a little lost looking at the leaves and branches. He really did love Konoha, and walking through it with Kakami made him love it even more. As though he hadn't quite realized how much it felt like home before.
She rolled her eye a bit but left it at that. It has plants, heh, that was almost bordering on smart alec-y; Konoha was filled with vegetation. Her lips had curved into an amused smile though, under the mask as she squeezed his hand back.
"I guess that will have to do." she said with mock resignation. "You and your plottings."
"Yeah, I know - I'm just that cunning," Rin laughed, walking just a little faster and tugging her gently along. "C'mon, it's not very far," he was trying not to sound as young and stupid as he felt, but being as it was him that didn't really work.
The two of them passed around the trees, past the brush and branches, and wound up right where Rin had meant for them to be. There were hundreds, maybe thousands, of secluded little spots of natural wonder in Fire Country - but of course the most secret of them all would be in the Hidden Village. Rin had found this quiet little glade a few months ago, and he hadn't just remembered it for the sweet little stream that ran past one side, or the tall old trees with vines hanging heavy through their thick and twisted branches. He'd remembered because of the flowers. Even in autumn the way the light got through the trees and hit the little open patch of grasses meant the place was still blossoming with strange and unique flowers - kinds Rin had never seen outside of a textbook (and Rin made a study of plants, a very thorough one). Tiny yellow and greenish gold orchids in shaded stumps, hanging vines ripe with kinds of honeysuckle he'd never seen, sprinkings of tiny white gypsophillia in amongst the grasses. It was beautiful.
But that wasn't the part that made him think of Kakami. Sight was one thing, touch was another, but for Kakami he'd always known scents were a cherished way to experience the world - and all these flowers, plants, leaves, branches... even Rin knew there was something unique on that score here. He paused with her at the edge, looking in, then looked to her. "We're here," he said. As if she couldn't already have worked that out.
Kakami nodded, silent but eye wide. Rin was correct when it came to scent; for her that was the primary way to identify places and people - even more so after the relative loss of depth perception after her eye had been replaced with Obiko's.
She stood still for a moment, then let go of his hand to walk around a bit, quietly observing before she turned and smiled at him. Just smiled. She wasn't sure what she could say but hoped that her expression was clear. It was a matter of a few moments to walk back to him and hug him, just to make sure that there was no confusion about how she felt.
"Its beautiful." Kakami did murmur in his ear after a few minutes as she pulled away. "How did you find it?"
Rin sighed contently, feeling those little twinges in his stomach settle down warmly as he looked at her, his hands still resting around her waist after hugging her too. She was happy. He was happy.
"I was just walking, looking for different plants, and I found myself here," he admitted, letting his hands fall and slipping his fingers into hers on one side. "I kept coming back," he said just a little of his scientific enthusiasm he couldn't keep down showing through as he tugged her gently along with him, towards the center of the glade where he crouched down and grinned up at her. "There's a really unique sort of microclimate here, because look, if you put your hand down on the ground it's actually warmer. I think the water table of the hot springs must pool under here, it's how all these delicate flowers can stay in bloom. I mean, orchids are so fragile I would've thought..."
He looked at her, then rubbed the back of his neck a little. "Sorry, uhm... geek moment here. But, I thought... well, there's no place else some of these plants grow and the scents are unique so... I'm glad you like it."
She couldn't help the little grin that appeared as he started talking about the flowers and the ground and the possibility of an underground hot spring. He must have seen the twinkle in her eye because he paused and grew shy. There was no doubt that Rin was a little bit of a dork - he always would be, but that was part of the reason Kakami loved him.
Besides, he was a cute dork.
"I really do." she glanced around. It would be a good place to meditate, to think to herself when she needed to be alone to clear her head. "I'm glad you showed me."
She approached him, tugging down her mask and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. "Thank you."
He blushed, smiled and didn't let her get away. Now that he could he caught her lips with his and kissed her briefly but meaning it so much. When they split apart he looked into her face, and felt nothing but happiness at the way she was. "You're welcome. Happy Birthday."
And Rin wasn't done with giving her things yet. He pushed back up to his feet and led her over to an old stump, sitting a bit mysteriously just off to the side in the thick grass. Without anything but a blink, Rin let go of the henge he'd placed a little while ago and there suddenly was a basket with a blanket on top. Inside the basket was a little bit of every food Kakami liked, kept cool or warm as needed, and two cups for fetching the cool water from the stream. He looked over at her and grinned a little.
"Thought you might be hungry, after running around with the dogs and me making you walk out here," he said, nudging the rolled blanket out so they both had somewhere soft to sit. Maybe unneccessary luxury for a pair of hardened ninjas, but screw it, the simple things in life should never count as spoiling - not according to Rin anyway.
A delighted and surprised expression flitted across Kakami's face before she gave a little laugh as she sat.
"You really thought of everything huh?" Her voice was softly pleased and awed. Perhaps because she'd never experienced the real, romantic gestures a guy could make when trying to sweep a girl off her feet. Or maybe it was because it constantly surprised her the things that Rin did do and came up with and how he could make her feel....
Young. Innocent. Like she was one of those girls she'd scorned as a child for being so incrediably giggling and blushing and just plain girly. That she could be a person first and a ninja later, even if just for a small bit of time. That it was okay to be that for a little while.
Kakami couldn't radiate her feelings and emotions like Rin could. Her best attempts were muted and hidden from years of practice but she tried, as she watched him open the basket and take out some small, thinly sliced maki-sushi to start with. All she could do was smile, and try not to burst.
Kakami wasn't the only one finding things out about herself, feeling new emotions and ways of being. As he took in her expression, the way she looked and moved and smiled, Rin began to realize how it completed him to promote those things in her. All his life he'd needed to give of himself, and he did everything he could with all his heart. It drained him and it hurt him sometimes, but when Kakami accepted him it just soothed and brightened everything he was. He couldn't tell her or anyone how much he needed that, but he did. And he wouldn't apologize for it.
Not when she smiled at him like that.
They ate quietly, and took their time for once in their lives, looking at their beautiful surroundings and at each other. Eventually, Rin took the last sip of his water and looked over at her - their meal in progress between them - with a smile betraying a little shyness. He put his glasses on and fidgetted his fingers around his cup. "I'm too impatient," he said, meeting her eyes. "Can I give you your present now?"
Kakami blinked and finished her mouthful before asking, "You got me a present?"
A slender hand motioned to the basket and the scenery around them. "Wasn't this my present?" Not that she'd really needed one - the fact he'd remembered her birthday was nice enough. Plus he'd thrown in all her favorite food in one day and given her a nice, new place to meditate (well, okay he'd found it) and Kakami didn't really think there could be any more surprises.
Rin grinned and shook his head, putting his cup down. "This is your birthday, I'm allowed to try my hardest, ne?"
He tugged his satchel over by the strap, and pulled a plain envelope out. Then he reached over, gently tugged Kakami to her feet, and led her over to a tree overhanging the stream - the branches of which were thick with moss and hardy bromeliads and ferns - where a small cluster of long green leaves at the base of the branch supported elegant green stems and columns of delicate whiteish-gray flowers. They were a little quirky in shape, but completely engaging to look at, and beautiful. Exotic.
Rin let her look at it. Looked at it himself. And felt the shyness inside him start up again, but pressed on. "I uhm... you know, me and plants well... I realized when I saw this. Not in any book or record. So I well... proper channels and everything and nobody had ever recorded it." Grr, he was rambling a little, so he just pulled the picture from the envelope and gave it to her.
It was a piece of official documentation from the botanical society through in Tanzaku-Gai. A piece of gilt card, a photograph of the orchid on one side (of this orchid, actually) and the name it was given, and date of discovery, on the other. The entire phylogenus wasn't included, mercifully that was reserved for the textbooks, but from the tribe down was inscribed in the international language of scientific discovery. Orchidaeceae Epidendroideae Arethuseae Thuniinae Argentatus Kakami.
Looking at the both together, Rin figured he was very right: they both looked like Kakamis.
She was quiet, staring at the card; at the picture and the very scientific words that ended in her name. Her name. All she could do was stare at the card, stare at the flowers....stare at Rin.
He'd gone and...this was...and...she....she'd always loved orchids.
"I..." She didn't know what to say. It was almost too much - she couldn't remember being lavished with this much attention in the space of one hour - even one day. Kakami tried hard not to be shocked silent or bewildered (Rin might take it as something else if his shy look and tone had been any clue) so she tried to talk but only vague words and noises came out before she fell quiet again.
Kakami swallowed and then looked at him. "I...I can't believe you did this...I never...I..."
Adept at he was at reading people, Rin couldn't help seeing how stunned Kakami was. Too surprised to take it in, he guessed.
It amazed him a little, and in the little corner of his soul reserved for her - he imagined Obiko's triumph at the prodigal Hatake Kakami being surprised beyond words. But he shushed everything else away, in favour of reaching up and gently brushing her cheek. Her skin just as soft and soothing to his touch as the flower sharing her name. "I know you never," he said quietly, looking into her eye and falling even more in love with her to try and make up for the confused shock he knew was there. Again feeling as though if he loved her enough, wrong things would be set right. "That's why I... and anyway, they look like you. Argentatus Kakami - Argentatus for them being silvery, and well, Kakami for how they're exotic and rare and kind of lopsided, and uhm... because they get more beautiful the longer you look at them."
She swallowed a bit hard and looked at the card before looking back at him. Kakami still had no words, so the only thing she could do was hug him tightly - hopefully conveying words she couldn't say. Thank you seemed so very small and a tad bit awkward.
Kakami held onto him for a long moment before pulling away and trying to grin. "I, uh...sheesh, you realize I'm never going to be able to be mad at you ever again, huh?" It was a joke, perhaps feeble, but the way her fingers almost reverently held the card and the way her eye was soft as she looked at Rin, the way her cheeks were ever so slightly flushed could have told you how immensly happy and grateful she was. To have him.
"I love you." She blurted it out just a bit, before he could respond to her first statement. "Not just cause...this is...but I mean....I really do."
He grinned adoringly at her and squeezed her free hand tenderly. She was so... vulnerable and adorable and cute when she couldn't put a sentance together. It meant everything that she tried though, because Rin knew that when Kakami didn't know what to say or how to say it, she would always choose to say nothing. Silence being the way of a ninja, guarding her emotions and heart. But he'd gotten past that, somehow.
"I love you. And I know you love me. And uhm... you can be mad at me, and you can be sad at me or anything. Anything. I'll love you the whole time, and... you'll love me." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. A fact of their hearts. It'd been true for a long time, in the bonds that'd kept them coming back to each other as children, teenagers, and now as adults. Not always romantically, but Rin had known she cared about him even if he used to doubt it in his darker times.
Looking at her now, he'd never let himself doubt it again. So... bonus, he guessed. And he smiled at her, brown eyes searching in hers. "Anyway, Happy Birthday."
"Thank you." This time, she could say it. And meant it, oh so much. "This...this was a really good one."
She looked at the flowers, her namesakes now, and then back at him before leaning forward to touch her forehead to his. "Thank you."
Kakami kissed him, soft and sweet, turning firmer after a few minutes, fingers gently brushing at his hair for a bit before she pulled away and just grinned at him.
Still a bit dazed by that kiss, wishing for her fingers in his hair again, Rin blinked open his eyes and caught that grin. Caught the infectiousness of her happiness again, right through to the core of him.
"You're welcome," he assured her, voice just audibly lower. "And you're worth everything I can give you Kakami. I'm glad I can manage a really good birthday..." he grinned himself, then, a little shyly and letting his eyes slip down to her hands. "Especially when it's just me and you." He swallowed and glanced back up to her face, maybe letting himself be too easily affected by her - but then, what else was new? "Want to sit? I think I interrupted lunch."
"Sounds like a good idea. Don't want it all to go to waste." Kakami said warmly. Her hand slipped into his and squeezed a bit, before sitting at the food again, the card safely put away. It would go on her shelf, next to the two photos she owned. Maybe Mr. Ukki would enjoy seeing it. She smiled to herself at the thought.
Morning had broken a good hour previously, and the two human inhabitants of Hatake Kakami's apartment were still blissfully unaware of whatever scandal and excitement was racing around the village with regard to the latest stage in their relationship (it had a two day head start on them anyway). If he hadn't known Jimaiya-sensei was out of Konoha with Naruko, Rin would most certainly have expected her to appear at the door (or worse, the window) with plenty to say about what was going on. Possibly notes to be taken too... a thought that made him blush furiously. For once he was glad that his sensei's sensei was somewhere else, because even though Rin appreciated (very much appreciated) how things had changed, there were some things that truly didn't - and Rin had always been one for tradition.
He set out the breakfast table, flipped the last of Kakami's chocolate chip pancakes up out the pan and onto a plate for her, and smiled to himself - not having to turn around to sense her presence in the kitchen doorway. "Finally made you those pancakes," he said, turning to look at her over his shoulder and completely unable to take the smile off his face at the sight of her. "And good morning, birthday girl."
"Mmm, could smell them." She admitted, hair still damp from her morning shower. She was patting it with a towel, wearing her uniform pants and a black undershirt, having decided that sometime today she really ought to take a walk. Not that she hadn't been getting excercise hee but the dogs probably could use some and Ichiro and Yoshi could use some rest without the others playing about.
She put a towel over the back of a chair before going to the cabinet to grab plates and cups. "And birthday?" Kakami thought for a moment. Did she have the date wrong - it should be past her birthday by now.
Rin nodded, leaning over to kiss her cheek before bothering to elaborate, deciding that she smelled a thousand times better than any pancakes. Like her, he'd pulled on some actual clothes - just a t-shirt and jeans with a hoodie slung over the couch in the living room for going outside; and he was telling himself repeatedly not to dwell on how odd it felt to see her in part of her uniform again.
"Well... with all the excitement I think we missed the fifteenth," he admitted, picking up the plates and putting them down at the table, sitting down himself. "But that doesn't mean we should miss your birthday, ne?" He looked up at her, not bothering to hide the fact that he had something up his sleeve. "Especially not when I had a plan, and everything..."
Kakami looked at him as she sat, eyes and face warm. She would have told him he didn't have to do that - it was just her birthday and came every year. Most years she forgot and there had been many that had never been celebrated.
But she didn't; not since he wanted to do something and it was...nice. Cute, even sweet.
"A plan huh?" she smiled, then added with a teasing note, "Should I be worried?"
She'd only really be worried if it had been Gaia. Surprise parties were definately not Kakami's thing, much to Gaia's previous dissapointment.
He glanced up consideringly, as though the kitchen ceiling could tell him whether or not there was cause for concern in the hopes he had for her today, and gave a soft little hum of contemplation. Then he met her eyes and smiled quietly at her, especially for the tender little light in her eye that she would have hidden from anybody else.
"Depends," he said, looking over at her. How many birthdays had he been there for? Not as many as anyone would believe, even now as her boyfriend he'd missed her first one since they became romantically involved. Missed the date, but not the day, he hoped. Rin nudged her smooth soft foot under the table with his warm toe, feeling a spark of happiness just in touching her. "Do you have a lot you need to do today? I kind of plan on being a drain on your time and quite possibly your energy."
Kakami grinned a bit at that.
"No, just meant to take the dogs out for a bit of exercise; let the two injured boys rest with Irokoi to watch 'em." She leaned her head to the side. "I don't think putting it off for another day will be a big deal."
She was excited, despite herself. Kakami was a curious person by nature and although she usually managed to affect a disinterested manner, the past few days had been enough to make her eager to have any alone time with her boyfriend. Especially if something special was planned.
Ah. Perfect. Rin could sense her curiosity and enthusiasm for his little mystery clearly, much more clearly than he'd have been able to until recently. He hadn't yet appreciated how it felt like another veil between them was lifted away, now, and it was so much easier to feel so much deeper and brighter for her. And that was on top of how much he already loved her.
"Well... that just makes this easy," he said with a teasing look before taking a sip of juice. He'd already talked to Pakkun about what the dogs could get up to, they really were quite set. "I've got to check in a form at the Palace," he gave her an entirely sheepish look, grinning slighly as his cheeks blushed. "Tsurude-sama wants me pulled from duties and uhm... resting up." Yes, because that's exactly what he'd been doing... "But, uhm, while I take care of that you could take the dogs out for an hour or so if they'd be okay with it too? We can head out at lunch."
"Okay." Kakami said agreeably, as she fixed her pancakes to her liking and dug in.
Ha, about time she got these pancakes. Although she couldn't really complain about the delay. It had certainly been worth it. She grinned a little at herself for that thought and grinned again at Rin when she caught his eye.
Breakfast was done sooner than she wished for but the dogs were more than ready to go and after rinsing her plate and giving Rin a not-so-quick goodbye kiss, they were gone. Kakami walked, the dogs ran ahead - but always came back - and generally horsed around with each other. Reiji and Jakuchu were clearly missing Ichiro but seemed intent on proving who was the better dog right at that very moment while Hiiro and Pakkun watched them with somewhat flat expressions. Miako seemed to sniff at them but she also clearly wanted to join in.
She should have taken them out sooner- they'd been cramped up in that small flat.
Another reason to talk about moving back to Rin's house. She made a face but decided to put it off for another day. She just wanted to enjoy this blissful peace while it lasted.
By the time she got back, Rin had everything ready to go. He also had the twinge of butterflies in his stomach - something he hadn't felt since he was... gods, since Obiko was alive.
Speaking of which; on his way back from his errands he'd stopped at the memorial stone. Before Aki and his loud mouth got here first, he thought with a charinged little smile. Knelt down next to the quiet piece of black rock and rubbed his finger over Obiko's name. The tangle and ache of feelings he had for her had surged hard for an instant, and then went quiet as he whispered 'I miss you. I love her.' and promised Obiko he'd make Kakami laugh and smile on her birthday like she deserved to. It'd mattered to Obiko, just as much as it mattered to Rin, that Kakami have happiness in her life. And after being with her these past few days, Rin knew he could say she was happy. It was news worth sharing.
Obiko would've laughed at how hard he was running around, getting things ready, just so he could be back before Kakami and looking like he hadn't gone to any trouble at all. Knowing that gave him some peace over all of the rest.
He was leaning against the door to her apartment, brown eyes closed, peaceful smile on his face when he heard her coming up the stairs with the dogs. "Everybody okay?" he asked, holding the door for them and grinning just a little bit as Miako yipped her reply and trotted in. His eyes went to Kakami's, and he felt those butterflies flicker back up to life. Crazy how they could be so intimate, and he still felt like this just for seeing her - just for wanting to get this day right.
Reiji and Jakuchu nearly tackled him from the residue energy they had from their run but were diverted as Hiiro barked at them, making them run back to the bedroom, Miako in tow. Hiiro gave a Rin a look as he trotted past to follow them, almost the same look that Pakkun gave him as he passed.
"Everyone's fine. They really needed to work off some of that." Kakami said quietly but with a smile. Her pack seemed to have more energy than Naruko could exhibit at times and they'd been mostly obediant but she hadn't been able to let them run as fast as they wanted.
She looked at him, taking in his smile and eyes and couldn't help but lean over to brush a masked kiss on his cheek. "Just let me put out some food and make sure there's water and then I'm just yours for the rest of the day."
His striped cheek tweaked in a little grin for that. For the fact she said it and meant it, that she was his like he was hers. Like he'd always been hers. He nodded and picked up the satchel at his feet, mostly empty save for a few imporant things. Rin was deliberately not going back into the apartment because he didn't trust himself (or Kakami, for that matter) not to get erh... distracted. But he did laugh inside listening to the dogs barking and carrying on, only getting more excited when the food was put down for them. He hadn't been oblivious to those looks from Pakkun and Hiiro either - though he wasn't sure what to make of them.
When Kakami emerged, Rin adjusted the satchel strap slung across his chest and shoulder, and held out his hand to her. "May I?" he asked, teasing just a little bit. "We've got a little walk ahead of us, if that's okay."
She took his hand with a pleased expression on her face and nodded. "Yeah, that's fine. Already had my warm up even."
The walk was a little quiet, as they left the apartment building and headed to the streets. It was warm in the afternoon still - getting much cooler in the mornings and evenings - and it was a nice walk. More relaxed than her half chasing after the dogs, jumping between jogging and walking quickly.
"Do I get a clue as to where we're headed?" Kakami asked curiously, as they neared the more wooded areas of the village.
Padding along beside her, much bigger feet falling habitually silent on the ground, Rin shook his head. "You're too smart, I'm trying to outwit you here," he replied, glancing over to her as they passed under the dappled green shade of the trees. "It's got plants, is that too big of a giveaway?"
He squeezed her hand and looked up into the trees, brown eyes getting a little lost looking at the leaves and branches. He really did love Konoha, and walking through it with Kakami made him love it even more. As though he hadn't quite realized how much it felt like home before.
She rolled her eye a bit but left it at that. It has plants, heh, that was almost bordering on smart alec-y; Konoha was filled with vegetation. Her lips had curved into an amused smile though, under the mask as she squeezed his hand back.
"I guess that will have to do." she said with mock resignation. "You and your plottings."
"Yeah, I know - I'm just that cunning," Rin laughed, walking just a little faster and tugging her gently along. "C'mon, it's not very far," he was trying not to sound as young and stupid as he felt, but being as it was him that didn't really work.
The two of them passed around the trees, past the brush and branches, and wound up right where Rin had meant for them to be. There were hundreds, maybe thousands, of secluded little spots of natural wonder in Fire Country - but of course the most secret of them all would be in the Hidden Village. Rin had found this quiet little glade a few months ago, and he hadn't just remembered it for the sweet little stream that ran past one side, or the tall old trees with vines hanging heavy through their thick and twisted branches. He'd remembered because of the flowers. Even in autumn the way the light got through the trees and hit the little open patch of grasses meant the place was still blossoming with strange and unique flowers - kinds Rin had never seen outside of a textbook (and Rin made a study of plants, a very thorough one). Tiny yellow and greenish gold orchids in shaded stumps, hanging vines ripe with kinds of honeysuckle he'd never seen, sprinkings of tiny white gypsophillia in amongst the grasses. It was beautiful.
But that wasn't the part that made him think of Kakami. Sight was one thing, touch was another, but for Kakami he'd always known scents were a cherished way to experience the world - and all these flowers, plants, leaves, branches... even Rin knew there was something unique on that score here. He paused with her at the edge, looking in, then looked to her. "We're here," he said. As if she couldn't already have worked that out.
Kakami nodded, silent but eye wide. Rin was correct when it came to scent; for her that was the primary way to identify places and people - even more so after the relative loss of depth perception after her eye had been replaced with Obiko's.
She stood still for a moment, then let go of his hand to walk around a bit, quietly observing before she turned and smiled at him. Just smiled. She wasn't sure what she could say but hoped that her expression was clear. It was a matter of a few moments to walk back to him and hug him, just to make sure that there was no confusion about how she felt.
"Its beautiful." Kakami did murmur in his ear after a few minutes as she pulled away. "How did you find it?"
Rin sighed contently, feeling those little twinges in his stomach settle down warmly as he looked at her, his hands still resting around her waist after hugging her too. She was happy. He was happy.
"I was just walking, looking for different plants, and I found myself here," he admitted, letting his hands fall and slipping his fingers into hers on one side. "I kept coming back," he said just a little of his scientific enthusiasm he couldn't keep down showing through as he tugged her gently along with him, towards the center of the glade where he crouched down and grinned up at her. "There's a really unique sort of microclimate here, because look, if you put your hand down on the ground it's actually warmer. I think the water table of the hot springs must pool under here, it's how all these delicate flowers can stay in bloom. I mean, orchids are so fragile I would've thought..."
He looked at her, then rubbed the back of his neck a little. "Sorry, uhm... geek moment here. But, I thought... well, there's no place else some of these plants grow and the scents are unique so... I'm glad you like it."
She couldn't help the little grin that appeared as he started talking about the flowers and the ground and the possibility of an underground hot spring. He must have seen the twinkle in her eye because he paused and grew shy. There was no doubt that Rin was a little bit of a dork - he always would be, but that was part of the reason Kakami loved him.
Besides, he was a cute dork.
"I really do." she glanced around. It would be a good place to meditate, to think to herself when she needed to be alone to clear her head. "I'm glad you showed me."
She approached him, tugging down her mask and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. "Thank you."
He blushed, smiled and didn't let her get away. Now that he could he caught her lips with his and kissed her briefly but meaning it so much. When they split apart he looked into her face, and felt nothing but happiness at the way she was. "You're welcome. Happy Birthday."
And Rin wasn't done with giving her things yet. He pushed back up to his feet and led her over to an old stump, sitting a bit mysteriously just off to the side in the thick grass. Without anything but a blink, Rin let go of the henge he'd placed a little while ago and there suddenly was a basket with a blanket on top. Inside the basket was a little bit of every food Kakami liked, kept cool or warm as needed, and two cups for fetching the cool water from the stream. He looked over at her and grinned a little.
"Thought you might be hungry, after running around with the dogs and me making you walk out here," he said, nudging the rolled blanket out so they both had somewhere soft to sit. Maybe unneccessary luxury for a pair of hardened ninjas, but screw it, the simple things in life should never count as spoiling - not according to Rin anyway.
A delighted and surprised expression flitted across Kakami's face before she gave a little laugh as she sat.
"You really thought of everything huh?" Her voice was softly pleased and awed. Perhaps because she'd never experienced the real, romantic gestures a guy could make when trying to sweep a girl off her feet. Or maybe it was because it constantly surprised her the things that Rin did do and came up with and how he could make her feel....
Young. Innocent. Like she was one of those girls she'd scorned as a child for being so incrediably giggling and blushing and just plain girly. That she could be a person first and a ninja later, even if just for a small bit of time. That it was okay to be that for a little while.
Kakami couldn't radiate her feelings and emotions like Rin could. Her best attempts were muted and hidden from years of practice but she tried, as she watched him open the basket and take out some small, thinly sliced maki-sushi to start with. All she could do was smile, and try not to burst.
Kakami wasn't the only one finding things out about herself, feeling new emotions and ways of being. As he took in her expression, the way she looked and moved and smiled, Rin began to realize how it completed him to promote those things in her. All his life he'd needed to give of himself, and he did everything he could with all his heart. It drained him and it hurt him sometimes, but when Kakami accepted him it just soothed and brightened everything he was. He couldn't tell her or anyone how much he needed that, but he did. And he wouldn't apologize for it.
Not when she smiled at him like that.
They ate quietly, and took their time for once in their lives, looking at their beautiful surroundings and at each other. Eventually, Rin took the last sip of his water and looked over at her - their meal in progress between them - with a smile betraying a little shyness. He put his glasses on and fidgetted his fingers around his cup. "I'm too impatient," he said, meeting her eyes. "Can I give you your present now?"
Kakami blinked and finished her mouthful before asking, "You got me a present?"
A slender hand motioned to the basket and the scenery around them. "Wasn't this my present?" Not that she'd really needed one - the fact he'd remembered her birthday was nice enough. Plus he'd thrown in all her favorite food in one day and given her a nice, new place to meditate (well, okay he'd found it) and Kakami didn't really think there could be any more surprises.
Rin grinned and shook his head, putting his cup down. "This is your birthday, I'm allowed to try my hardest, ne?"
He tugged his satchel over by the strap, and pulled a plain envelope out. Then he reached over, gently tugged Kakami to her feet, and led her over to a tree overhanging the stream - the branches of which were thick with moss and hardy bromeliads and ferns - where a small cluster of long green leaves at the base of the branch supported elegant green stems and columns of delicate whiteish-gray flowers. They were a little quirky in shape, but completely engaging to look at, and beautiful. Exotic.
Rin let her look at it. Looked at it himself. And felt the shyness inside him start up again, but pressed on. "I uhm... you know, me and plants well... I realized when I saw this. Not in any book or record. So I well... proper channels and everything and nobody had ever recorded it." Grr, he was rambling a little, so he just pulled the picture from the envelope and gave it to her.
It was a piece of official documentation from the botanical society through in Tanzaku-Gai. A piece of gilt card, a photograph of the orchid on one side (of this orchid, actually) and the name it was given, and date of discovery, on the other. The entire phylogenus wasn't included, mercifully that was reserved for the textbooks, but from the tribe down was inscribed in the international language of scientific discovery. Orchidaeceae Epidendroideae Arethuseae Thuniinae Argentatus Kakami.
Looking at the both together, Rin figured he was very right: they both looked like Kakamis.
She was quiet, staring at the card; at the picture and the very scientific words that ended in her name. Her name. All she could do was stare at the card, stare at the flowers....stare at Rin.
He'd gone and...this was...and...she....she'd always loved orchids.
"I..." She didn't know what to say. It was almost too much - she couldn't remember being lavished with this much attention in the space of one hour - even one day. Kakami tried hard not to be shocked silent or bewildered (Rin might take it as something else if his shy look and tone had been any clue) so she tried to talk but only vague words and noises came out before she fell quiet again.
Kakami swallowed and then looked at him. "I...I can't believe you did this...I never...I..."
Adept at he was at reading people, Rin couldn't help seeing how stunned Kakami was. Too surprised to take it in, he guessed.
It amazed him a little, and in the little corner of his soul reserved for her - he imagined Obiko's triumph at the prodigal Hatake Kakami being surprised beyond words. But he shushed everything else away, in favour of reaching up and gently brushing her cheek. Her skin just as soft and soothing to his touch as the flower sharing her name. "I know you never," he said quietly, looking into her eye and falling even more in love with her to try and make up for the confused shock he knew was there. Again feeling as though if he loved her enough, wrong things would be set right. "That's why I... and anyway, they look like you. Argentatus Kakami - Argentatus for them being silvery, and well, Kakami for how they're exotic and rare and kind of lopsided, and uhm... because they get more beautiful the longer you look at them."
She swallowed a bit hard and looked at the card before looking back at him. Kakami still had no words, so the only thing she could do was hug him tightly - hopefully conveying words she couldn't say. Thank you seemed so very small and a tad bit awkward.
Kakami held onto him for a long moment before pulling away and trying to grin. "I, uh...sheesh, you realize I'm never going to be able to be mad at you ever again, huh?" It was a joke, perhaps feeble, but the way her fingers almost reverently held the card and the way her eye was soft as she looked at Rin, the way her cheeks were ever so slightly flushed could have told you how immensly happy and grateful she was. To have him.
"I love you." She blurted it out just a bit, before he could respond to her first statement. "Not just cause...this is...but I mean....I really do."
He grinned adoringly at her and squeezed her free hand tenderly. She was so... vulnerable and adorable and cute when she couldn't put a sentance together. It meant everything that she tried though, because Rin knew that when Kakami didn't know what to say or how to say it, she would always choose to say nothing. Silence being the way of a ninja, guarding her emotions and heart. But he'd gotten past that, somehow.
"I love you. And I know you love me. And uhm... you can be mad at me, and you can be sad at me or anything. Anything. I'll love you the whole time, and... you'll love me." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. A fact of their hearts. It'd been true for a long time, in the bonds that'd kept them coming back to each other as children, teenagers, and now as adults. Not always romantically, but Rin had known she cared about him even if he used to doubt it in his darker times.
Looking at her now, he'd never let himself doubt it again. So... bonus, he guessed. And he smiled at her, brown eyes searching in hers. "Anyway, Happy Birthday."
"Thank you." This time, she could say it. And meant it, oh so much. "This...this was a really good one."
She looked at the flowers, her namesakes now, and then back at him before leaning forward to touch her forehead to his. "Thank you."
Kakami kissed him, soft and sweet, turning firmer after a few minutes, fingers gently brushing at his hair for a bit before she pulled away and just grinned at him.
Still a bit dazed by that kiss, wishing for her fingers in his hair again, Rin blinked open his eyes and caught that grin. Caught the infectiousness of her happiness again, right through to the core of him.
"You're welcome," he assured her, voice just audibly lower. "And you're worth everything I can give you Kakami. I'm glad I can manage a really good birthday..." he grinned himself, then, a little shyly and letting his eyes slip down to her hands. "Especially when it's just me and you." He swallowed and glanced back up to her face, maybe letting himself be too easily affected by her - but then, what else was new? "Want to sit? I think I interrupted lunch."
"Sounds like a good idea. Don't want it all to go to waste." Kakami said warmly. Her hand slipped into his and squeezed a bit, before sitting at the food again, the card safely put away. It would go on her shelf, next to the two photos she owned. Maybe Mr. Ukki would enjoy seeing it. She smiled to herself at the thought.