Previous Response - Buried too Deep - Keisuke
When Kimiko heard that Keisuke had showed himself she wanted to storm into his apartment and slap him. But she knew that he probably already got an earful from Mamoru so she decided to give the idiot a few days to get situated. He'd definitely lash out at her if she didn't give him some time. So three days after Keisuke came out of hiding she strolled down towards his apartment with Takumi in her arms.
As she got within proximity she noticed the distinct sound of banging. She covered one of Takumi's ears with her hand and held the other against her chest as she approached. The banging sound was a result of Keisuke Sarutobi hammering.
"Keisuke!" Kimiko tried to yell loud enough for him to hear.
"Oh I wouldn't even try, deary." An old woman yelled from across the street.
"Stop bothering her, Sumi." Another chastised the first. "She doesn't want to listen to you shrieking like a crow."
"Cram it, Yuki!" The assumed Sumi growled before looking back at Kimiko with a smile. "Don't listen to her, come over here and talk with us old ladies for a second and... admire the view."
The view they were talking about was a sweaty Keisuke working shirtless on his damaged apartment. Both Sumi and Yuki inhaled and sighed simultaneously. They sounded like high school girls more than anything else. But Keisuke was something grand to look at. No one could deny that.
"Oh, is that Keisuke's boy?" Sumi said suddenly, looking at Takumi bundled up in Kimiko's arms.
Kimiko's eyes widened. "Wha-"
"Oh don't bother denying it deary. We saw you around here ten months ago." Yuki piped in.
"Doesn't take a genius to piece it all together." Sumi finished, reaching in to lightly hold Takumi's cheek between her fingers. "Ten months ago you spend the night and nine months later this handsome man's brought into the world!"
"Got big blue eyes like his daddy too." Yuki cooed as she played with Takumi's feet.
Kimiko wasn't really sure what was going on. But she noticed that Keisuke stopped hammering so she decided to rush out of there while she could. "Keisuke!" She called.
Wondering who was yelling for him, Keisuke turned and took his headphones out of his ears. "Oh. Yo, Kimiko."
"Hey, meathead." She joked, climbing up the stairs to stand next to him. "Isn't it a little cold to be standing around shirtless?"
He shrugged and pulled out a cigarette from behind his ear. "Eh. I'm not really bothered by it."
Kimiko's eyes rolled of their own accord. "Yeah, I know. You're one big tough guy."
"I try." He chuckled while lifting up a pretty large piece of wood.
For a while they remained silent as Keisuke worked around the outside of his apartment patching up the many holes that riddled it. Kimiko just sat on the banister and bounced Takumi, waiting for the right opportunity to bring up... anything.
"If you're going to ask, ask." Keisuke suddenly said, not even looking at her.
Kimiko sighed. "I take it you and Mamoru haven't patched things up."
He shrugged. "There isn't anything to patch up. He wants me to stop pushing people away. But that's not going to happen. So he keeps trying and annoying me." Then he made a noise of indecision. "Though he's been leaving bean buns in my apartment when I go out. I haven't needed to put anything on anyone's tab ever since I've been back."
Kimiko couldn't help but laugh. "You could try paying for your own food."
"Oh I do." Keisuke yawned and pulled on a long sleeve shirt he had in a pile at his feet. "Just not things I snack on."
She sat there watching Keisuke cover up his glorious abs and putting on his flak jacket. "You headed somewhere?"
"I need to get some flowers for my mom and a friend." He said, tugging on his sleeves. "I'll... see you later." He finished, his eyes lingering on Takumi before rushing down the steps and out of sight through the village.
Alone, Kimiko sighed. Deciding she'd go talk to Sumi and Yuki and convince them to keep a closer eye on Keisuke than usual. But she wasn't quite sure that was possible.
~*~
Ino, this one's on you girl!
Previous Response - To Yukigakure - Keisuke
After pulling an arrow out of her chest, Kimiko watched as Mamoru did the same before running to his fallen teammate. She just managed to see Keisuke before he got caught in the explosion. The pure determination on his face as he caught a live explosive between his teeth... she couldn't help but smile. Whatever Keisuke said to the contrary, he cared about Mamoru with all that he had. A few years apart wasn't going to change that.
As he soaked the snow around him in blood, Keisuke mumbled pitifully to the worried Mamoru, "Don't look at me, Mamoru... I'm hideous."
"For the hundredth time I don't care what you look like, baka!" Mamoru shouted back, his visible eye twitching with the anger and worry he felt for his friend.
"But... my face..." Keisuke continued in the same pathetic tone.
Mamoru couldn't contain himself anymore so he ended up slapping Keisuke on the arm. "Would you shut up!"
Then, without warning, Mamoru put one hand on either side of Keisuke's right shoulder and a distinct crack resounded through the snow covered forest. Kimiko winced a little and expected Keisuke to be howling in pain. Seems she had forgotten one crucial detail about the young Sarutobi. Keisuke had an extremely high tolerance for pain. Thanks to his training under Ibiki Morino he was a much better undercover operative. In the case of capture, it would be nearly impossible to make Keisuke talk.
Before Kimiko could even get over the twinge of sadness she felt for Keisuke, Mamoru had already patched him up and was pulling him to his feet. The small silver haired chunin looked at her over his shoulder and said kindly but urgently all the same, "We should get back to the village."
"Right, of course." Kimiko smiled. "Do you need help carrying this fatty?"
"OI. I AM NOT FAT." Keisuke hollered. Clearly well enough to not take any shit from his old lover, Kimiko chuckled to herself. She'd hate for him to have taken any substantial damage trying to protect the rest of them. But as they headed for home she reckoned that he'd get her vote for jōnin selection.
To Yukigakure - Mission Accomplished
