In bed together

The steam from the bathroom had long since vanished by the time the water stopped running. ​The door to the bathroom and Kurenai stepped out.

She had traded her jonin attire for a simple navy-blue yukata. Her dark hair, usually so meticulously styled, was damp and heavy, clinging to the curve of her shoulders. Without her usual mesh armor and weaponry,

​"You finished both bowls," she noted softly, a genuine smile. "I'm glad. I was worried I’d overestimated your appetite after such a long day."

​"Thank you for waiting," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And for... everything else. I know it’s a lot to ask, especially when you have your own burdens to carry."

"It's delicious."

"It's instant ramen, though the premium ones."

"The best tasting ramen are free ones, and made by a pretty woman."

Kurenai smile again, that friendly yet empty smile.

She didn't head for the kitchen to clean the bowls; instead, she walked toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms, pausing just at the edge of the light. She looked back at you over her shoulder, her expression unreadable but deeply inviting.

​"The futon is ready," she said. "Let's leave the world outside for a few hours."