-1Hello again, everyone! For this story, I will be updating on a chapter by chapter basis, instead of a one-shot. It seems to give me more time to think.

Oh, and unlike other authors, I love flaming! If you think my story is stupid, great! If, heavens forbid, you should find it insipid, wonderful! (Although, it is a sadly small percentage of people who even know what that word means.) Just tell me why. I really want to know what people think of my work!

The same, of course, goes for compliments. An "Oh great", or "Cool" is not enough! I demand more! Like my characterization? tell me! Like my prose? My style? Say it loud! Just give me feedback, so I can become a better writer. After all, the better my writing gets, the more the readership benefits!

And, by the way. You may have read this before, but I am not a pervert. I'm simply a person whose sexual behavior is considered unacceptably deviant.

Oh dear…that is a pervert, isn't it?

Oh well, enough of my chatter! Sit back, ladies and gentlemen, and enjoy the show.

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Sunlight crawled across the high towers of Hohno, capital of the fire province, making the city seem awash in flame. Through alleys, it reached, and past doors, lengthening the shadows in the Dying hours of late morning.

Through closed eyelids, Yamanaki Ino saw only ruddy pink. Instead of registering as a warm noonday sun, the light was instantly categorized as a bothersome annoyance. With blind, groping hands, she reached out, to pull down her blindfolds.

Her hands met air. Frowning in her sleep, she made another pass at it, scowling as her questing hand repeatedly met nothing. Finally, she lunged, in a single determined effort, and felt----

A warm hand, enveloping hers.

Her eyes shot open. There, in her bed, smiling only the faintest of his mischievous smiles, was Naruto, his eyes crinkled in amusement.

"Awake, are we?" he asked, gently.

The previous night's exertions flooded Ino's memory, prompted only by a glance at her lover's soft gaze.

"Quite awake." she replied, curtly. Within seconds, she grimaced, and berated herself, for her impishness. "Er, that is to say…yes, I suppose."

"Well, that's all right, then." Naruto nuzzled her cheek with his nose, and slowly extracted himself from the covers. "I'll be making breakfast, so you hurry on, and get dressed. We're expected at the loading dock, by at least noon."

Ino felt a moment of disappointment. After all their night had entailed, Naruto still managed o act as if nothing had changed. She had hoped for a more--

His lips descended from nowhere. She cursed his ungodly mastery of stealth. Delicately licking his way past her lips, he engaged her in an eye opening, electric kiss.

"What was that for?" she whispered wonderingly.

He rolled his eyes. "Do I need a reason for everything, Ino? Let's tally it up to an instant of impulsive, uncontrollable love, shall we?"

Ino grinned. Their day had been redeemed. With fresh determination, she strode to the large closet, that lay at the end of their shared suite.

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Naruto was in the kitchen, a surprising addition in the luxury suite of a hotel. Then again, given their employer's reputation, and their status as S-Rank ninja, she was unsurprised. The owners of the hotel were no doubt eager to please, and had prepared for every contingency. From the sizzling of the many pans upon the stove, Naruto was experimenting with this newfound boon, with zeal.

Ino sniffed the air. The kitchen was filled, with a rich, meaty aroma.

"Mushrooms?" she exclaimed, raising an eyebrow. "Please don't tell me you're cooking mushrooms for breakfast."

Naruto sniffed indignantly. "I think it's never to early for mushrooms. Besides, with the current time, I'd say this is more of a late brunch."

"There is no way that you can cook those mushrooms, without making a meal too rich for morning fare."

"Watch me." With simple defiance, Naruto sent all of Ino's reasoning to shambles. An all to common occurrence these days, she realized sourly. She sat back, her arms crossed, waiting for him to realize his folly, a smirk waiting on the tips of her lips.

To her utter irritation, he proved to be right. When breaded, with a proper mixture of spice, and a sauce that could only be described as heavenly, he managed to prove that mushrooms make the perfect breakfasting food. She stifled several moans, through the course of their meal, much to Naruto's delight.

"Well," he remarked casually, "Now I can make you moan, in and out of bed."

She had almost choked on her mushroom, from outrage, then laughter, as Naruto rushed to her side, alarmed. His look of panicked concern seemed so alien on his easygoing features, and she simply couldn't keep all her giggling inside.

"Why Naruto, that may be the first worried look I've ever seen from you!" she lilted.

"Yes…" he murmured. "It's absolutely unforgivable, the way you make me worry." he said, playfully. "You'll make me die of anxiety, long before old age sets in."

"Then," she said. "You should make the most of what you have, while you still have it."

"I am." he held her head lightly, and whispered softly into her ears, "I'm here, with you, aren't I? And I'll hold to you, for as long as you'll let me. However long that may be."

"Eternity." she whispered in reply.

He kissed her ear, nibbling lightly on her lobe. "I've no doubt of it. Your tenacity can accomplish just about anything, by my reckoning." His arms entwined around her hips, and his long fingers circled lazily down her neck.

"Enough of that!" she said, taken somewhat aback by his sensuous movements. "Didn't you get enough yesterday?"

"No." he said, breezily. "Did you?"

"No." she admitted. "But we need to be at the docks by twelve…"

Naruto glanced disparagingly at the obstructive timekeeping device that lay on their mantle. It read 11:39 "Oh, I suppose…" he waved his arm theatrically. "We shall do as needs must." his eyes danced, as they met hers. "Let's continue after our work is finished."

"Yes." she said, licking her lips, tentatively. "Let's."

And as simple as that, they vanished, into puffs of smoke. Outside their suite, in the dark shadows cast by the hot sunlight, a civilian may have seen a passing flash of clothing, a glint of drawn daggers.

Then again, probably not. They were Ninja, after all.