Violet-Eyed Serpent: Ch.33

“Okay. Pakura, I know this is so sudden and I wish I could wait longer to find the right time, but I feel that time might never come so I'll just come out and say it. The day that I first brought you into the group…I think that was the day I found myself having a small crush on you. I know it's sudden and I don't know if you feel the same, but just one date is all I ask. Give me the opportunity to show you that I care for you and perhaps see if there's not something between us.”

“Nice.”

“Really?”, I asked and Yahiko nodded as the two of us sat on the beach before he continued.

“It is. Just one slight problem. Why in the hell are you so formal?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just go up to her and say, 'Pakura, I like you and I want to see if you like me too. Will you go on a date with me?'”

“Did you do that when you asked her out?”

“Yeah?”

“And what happened when you did that?”

“…I almost got my balls burned off,” He murmured and I nodded, looking back out at the blue sky above as well as the wall of solid black clouds that surrounded the expanded Land of Whirlpools.

After I had arrived on Uzushio a little over six months ago, my life has been nothing but busy as I along with many of the Akatsuki and Uzumaki clan members had to expand the island bit by bit while the sealing masters expanded the barriers.

Not just that, but we also had to expand the seals of the whirlpools around us, making it into a wall of dark mist hiding the island from view and having a few more whirlpools that were far stronger than the ones that were already here.

Finally, we had to expand the village itself since its occupants had tripled in the span of a few seconds, which wasn't that hard considering that my snakes and I could chop down hundreds of trees and then be back at the village within just a second or two.

'Wait, where was I? Ah, right. Asking Pakura out on a date.'

“You see what I mean? I could do your approach, but then instead of hearing my words, she'll just be reminded of when you asked her out and then…boom. Nagato doesn't have any balls.”

“Okay, then. You want to do this now or when you're ready?”

“Well, if we wait until I'm ready, then both of us are going to skeletons in the ground. Let's go,” I spoke as I stood up, Yahiko hopping to his feet as well as the two of us turned and made our way back to the village.

Well, it was no longer a village, but more of a coastal city, numerous ports on the western side of the island that all had ships ready to go out to the Five Nations, ships that were filled with the unique exploding and chakra-sealing tags of Uzushio made by the masters of fuinjutsu.

Even though we were now a coastal city, there were still a three-layered wall around the actual city itself, dozens of towers built at strategic points and the houses built within the walls.

At the centre of the village was the main administrative building with the food reserves built under it and the Academy built beside it, which I admit I may have taken from Konoha.

All in all, it wasn't to the point that we wanted, but it was ours and that's all that matters to us.

“Hey, Nagato!”

“Hey, Lord Nagato, Lord Yahiko! Sitting on the beach again?”

“Yep, someone has to go look if the seals are still holding up,” I spoke with a smile, to which the Uzumaki shook her head as Yahiko and I continued walking to the Academy.

“So, how are things going between you and Konan?”

“Oh, it's going good. We had a date a few days ago in that restaurant you told me to take her to and she loved it.”

“Well, of course. I made sure they served her favourite dishes that night to help you out.”

“…Wait, you did?”, He asked in surprise and I chuckled as I caught a toy kunai flying at us, tossing it back to the kids who looked sheepish before nodding.

“Yep, the chefs there owed me a favour because Sessho saved their restaurant from being destroyed so they said I could ask for anything and I decided to help you out.”

“Let me guess, out of the goodness of your heart?”

“Oh, not in the slightest. Your first son's name is going to be Nagato.”

“W-We haven't even been together for a year and you're already talking about marriage?”

“You think you're going to find another girl that you adore more than Konan and vice versa?”, I asked as we stopped in front of the Academy gates, not surprised when he looked at me before letting out a soft groan.

“No.”

“Precisely. Now then, today is training day, right?”

“Yeah, so they should be in the back of the Academy,” He responded as we walked onto the academy grounds, nodding and waving at the students and teachers we passed while making our way around to the back.

“And so, if you want to truly fight someone, don't fight to just beat them. No, fighting to beat them just means they'll live to see another day. You can spare them, yes, but only if you know that they won't try and get revenge. If you think they will, make sure they won't get the opportunity to do so.”

“Is it really okay for us to be teaching kids that they shouldn't spare the enemy?”, Yahiko whispered with a nervous smile as we saw Pakura standing in front of her class, to which I just gave an uneasy shrug.

“You going to be the one to tell her not to do that?”

“…Well, one or two kills wouldn't hurt.”

“Woah~ It's Nagato the Savior…and his friend.”

“His friend? Just his friend? The name's Yahiko. It's not that hard to forget.”

“Yahiko.”

“I'm not just your friend. I'm a master swordsman. I'm a-”, I just ignored the idiot going off on one of his rants while looking at the Uzumaki in question who started it, not surprised to see him giving me a sly grin and a cackle.

Yeah, I knew an Uzumaki can't resist the urge to fuck with someone. It's just in our blood.

“Yahiko, he's messing with you.”

“He is? …He is! You little-”

“No cussing, remember? You want Konan mad at you again?”

“Oh, I hate that I grew up with you.”

“And why is that? Would you have rather I'd be like them?”

“Yes! That way, I would have at least gotten used to it!”, He groaned and crossed his arms with a huff, the Uzumaki kids just grinning smugly while the others gigged/ snickered at their fellow former Ame resident.

“Well, at least you can get used to them now. Now, if I may have a moment with Ms. Pakura here.”

“Why?”, Pakura asked with a raised eyebrow, her eyes narrowed while the kids did the same move.”

“…Yahiko-”

“Nope! Nope, you're on your own here,” He spoke quickly with a shake of his head, making me grumble as I looked back at Pakura who had an expectant look on her face.

'Okay, Nagato. Just quick and easy. Talk to her and just ask her out.'

“Want to go on a date?”

'And I fucked up.'

“…Sure. When?”

“Tonight. The Jade Vortex.”

“See you then. Kids, follow. Time for training.”

“Aw~”, Some of the kids grumbled as they stood up, my mind still processing what just happened before I turned to Yahiko as he spoke up.

“You have some of the best fucking luck out of everyone I've seen.”

“…I think I do. Wait, what do you usually wear to a first date?”

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'You know, I did say I wanted a good outfit, but did he have to buy the most expensive one he could find?', I thought with a grumble as I stood in front of the Jade Vortex. I wasn't the best with fashion so I had asked Yahiko to go and get me an outfit and honestly, I can't decide whether I like it or not.

It was a bit traditional with the dark red yukata and a black obi, but then again, tonight was the anniversary of Uzushio's forming so I suppose I could be excused.

'Why did I even say the Jade Vortex? We could have just gone to the festival and that would have been just as good~!'

“I'm a damn idiot.”

“Oh, so you're already regretting the date and it's not even started yet?”, Pakura's voice cut through my words, making me turn as I heard her calm amusement.

As I did, I blinked at the sight of her standing in the glow of the lanterns of the Jade Vortex's entrance, dressed in a sleeveless jade-green yukata with golden whirlpools that shimmered like glass in the light. Her hair was also tied up with a single black ribbon, a few bangs framing her face as she smiled and gave a slight twirl.

“I had this made for me a few years ago in Ame and I've never found a use for it.”

“Well, I'm glad to hear I'm the first to see it,” I spoke with a smile, to which she just raised an eyebrow in amusement as I shook my head.

“Sorry, I'm not the best when it comes to these types of things.”

“Self-awareness. I quite like that.”

“You do?”

“I'm not the type to fall for guys who beat their chests and think that the world owes them. Confidence is attractive, but arrogance? Not so much.”

“Huh, noted. Anyway, shall we?”, I asked as I offered my arm, which she looked at with a smirk before looping hers through with a giggle.

“Why not? Lead the way, Lord Nagato.”

“Please, don't call me that.”

“No promises~”

“Ah, Lord Nagato! Your reservation, yes?”

“Yes, Akame. The table for two,” I answered with a smile, amused at Pakura's curious glance when the Uzumaki simply nodded and led us into the restaurant towards the tables.

“I heard it takes a week for one to even be considered to be put on the waiting list for reservations.”

“It is quite the tedious process, yes,” I nodded as the two of us were led to a corner table lit by candles, the inside of the restaurant being a lot quieter than usual which was mostly because of the festival happening outside.

“You pulled some strings, didn't you?”

“The owner simply owed me a favour or two,” I answered while pulling her chair out, Pakura smiling in thanks as I pushed it in while she sat before sitting down in front of her.

“No menus?”

“Oh, the Jade Vortex doesn't do menus. You just sit down and the chefs will make you the best dishes you have eaten in your life.”

“You're not just saying that because they're Uzumaki, are you?”

“I am offended. I am a connoisseur of all cuisine and I know not to see if something is good based on the chef.”

“Of course, you are,” she answered with a sarcastic smile and I rolled my eyes as a calm silence rolled in. It wasn't an awkward silence, but more of a comfortable one where we just stared at each other.

“…You know, I wasn't even sure that I'd say yes.”

“Really?”, I asked, hiding my surprise as she shrugged while nodding.

“I'm not the lovey-dovey type. Honestly, there was a slight crush on you for the fact that you even had the balls to just kidnap me, but then I saw how focused you were on your training and all of that stuff. So, I thought I would just have to wait for a few more years until you wanted to go out on a date.”

“Well, if I'm being honest, Yahiko helped me figure out the perfect way to ask you because I didn't think that you would say yes.”

“Is that so? And how you asked was the best way to ask me?”

“Oh no, not at all. I had an entire speech planned, but then the logical side of my mind went blank and the emotional side took over.”

“Oh? So, I make you emotional?”

“That's really all you got from that?”, I asked with a smirk, chuckling as she giggled and nodded.

“Yep. You're usually not the type to talk about your emotions like that.”

“Let's just say you have that way of making me feel comfortable.”

“I could say the same.”

“Oh, really? Well, is the great Pakura of the Scorching Winds going to talk about her emotions?”

“I am. Did you never wonder why I haven't gone on a single date in my life?”

“…Wait, you're being serious?”

“Yes, did you not that small crush to grow stronger every day as the time passed?”

'…Oh, she's in love-in love with me,' I thought as I saw the emotions dancing in her eyes, the longing and happiness as well as the nervousness and fear dancing behind it.

Fear that I would reject her, the fear that I wouldn't feel the same.

'A fear I'll have to get rid of,' I thought with a smile as I reached over, Pakura looking surprised as I took her hands in my own before rubbing them softly.

“Does this show you how I feel?”

“…It shows you like my soft hands.”

“They are one of your nicest features.”

“What others do you like?”

“Your hair. Red hair is so common, but green hair with orange tips? That's unique.”

“Hmm, well, I quite like your red hair. It reminds me of the pools of blood you used to leave behind in your battles.”

“I see. I also like your eyes.”

“You can't say that when you have the most beautiful eyes I've seen,” She whispered as she raised a hand, tracing it along my cheek while looking into my eyes.

“…You want to just leave the restaurant and go to the festival?”

“Yes!”, She nodded excitedly and I grinned as I stood up. Looking over to Akame, she blinked before giggling as I just gave a thumbs-up and followed Pakura out of the building.

As we exited the building, I laughed as I saw Yahiko rushing past, Kie and the other guys chasing after him while most of the festival goers laughed as well.

“I guess the festival is still in full-swing, huh?”, Pakura murmured and I smiled as I saw her soft smile while watching as everyone celebrated as they pleased.

“Indeed, it is. So, what do you want to do fi-”, My eyes widened as she turned my head and pulled me down, laying a soft kiss on my lips while I felt a spark travelling through my body.

Ignoring the people cheering on the side, Pakura slowly pulled back with a teasing smile, giggling at my dazed look before she wrapped her arms around mine and began pulling me to where I saw Konan and a few of the Akatsuki girls looking cheerful.

'…Well, you know what? Looks like this truly is the festival of family and love, after all.'

“Hey, Nagato! Wanna see who can drink the most?!”

“Count me in!”

A/N: And we end it here~!! A chapter of good vibes and fun times.

Will those last? We'll have to wait and seee.

Next chapter: The First Meeting.

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!