Then his eyes lifted.
She tried to look away—too late. For a heartbeat, their gazes locked, heat rising to her cheeks as her pulse faltered.
Get a grip, she told herself, turning her focus back to the flames.
He hadn’t said anything, hadn’t done anything to suggest something had changed in their strictly ‘no drama’ situation. Yet, there had been an undeniable tension between them since the start of the mission—glances that lingered a second too long, the brush of his hand against hers when they passed supplies. Each time, they both studiously ignored it, but it was there, simmering just beneath the surface.
That last quip after the stupid cat mission had been dumb. She’d gotten caught up in the moment, excited he was finally talking to her, and now things were definitely weird.
Taiga poked at the fire with a stick. “So, what’s the first thing we do when we save the village?”
“Hopefully, get some real food.” Momoka looked down at her ration pack in distaste.
“I’ll settle for a hot bath,” Aimee muttered, her voice low as she stretched out on the ground, arms arching over her head.
Kiba’s gaze flicked toward her, his eyes hovering on the curve of her neck before quickly looking away.
“A bath?” Taiga’s eyes lit up. “Now that sounds like a reward!”
Oba-chan huffed a laugh, drawing their attention. “You’ll be happy to know my village has some of the best hot springs on the continent.” She paused, her voice growing softer. “Before all of this, my husband and I would go there every other day.”
“Hot springs?” Taiga sat up straighter. “Why didn’t you mention that earlier? We should definitely go there!”
“Perhaps.” Kiba’s voice was calm, but Aimee thought she noticed something in his eyes as they met hers again across the fire.
You’re imagining things.She frowned, stretching out her roll and pulling the blanket over her head, determined to ignore the man.Just focus on the mission.
On the second day, the landscape continued to change as they moved deeper into the foothills. The air grew cooler, and the trees became more frequent, their leaves rustling in the breeze. The river remained at their side, growing wider and swifter as they climbed higher.
That night, they camped again, this time beneath a canopy of trees, the scent of pine mingling with the smoke.
“We should reach the waypoint tomorrow,” Kiba-Sensei said. “I don’t expect any challengers, but the Tsuchi shinobi can get...overly enthusiastic about their duty safeguarding the site.”
“The Tsuchi shinobi?” Momoka asked.
“Yes. Tsuchi and Hi Haven alternate guarding the waypoint every five years to ensure it's not being used by enemy forces. It’s their turn now.”
“But what if they’re the enemy or working with them?” Iruka chimed in, his brow furrowed.
Smart kid, Aimee mused, leaning in, interested in Kiba’s answer.
“We hold a hostage of theirs while they guard, and they take one of ours when we guard,” Kiba explained, poking at the fire with a stick. “Usually, it’s a young member of the Seisho’s family.”
“A hostage?” Taiga scratched his head. “Why do we need a hostage?”
“It ensures trust between the Havens,” Kiba replied.
“But that’s terrible. Taking a kid away from their family?” Taiga’s face twisted in frustration, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “Why can’t we just work together?”
Kiba hesitated, his mouth opening and closing before he finally scratched the back of his head, clearly at a loss for a better answer. “That’s just the way it is, I suppose.”
“It’s stupid.” Taiga crossed his arms and scowled at the ground.
“You’re a good kid, aren’t you?” Granny Oba-chan smiled sadly to herself, turning on her side to sleep. “Who knew I’d find a good kid among the shinobi.”
The next morning dawned cold and quiet, with the soft rustle of wind through the trees as the group broke camp. The fire had long since died, leaving behind only the faint scent of smell wafting in the air.
With the camp packed up, Aimee found herself walking beside Kiba as the others trailed behind, jostling each other to see who would carry Oba-chan's bag.
