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He wasn’t the easiest person on earth to get close to. He had secrets upon secrets. His secrets had secrets. The only side he really seemed to be on was his own. He didn’t have anyone he wouldn’t betray.
(Name) knew that when they met.
She knew it was a bad idea to get close to him.
But that cocky smirk, laugh, and cute, slightly dorky appearance did her in. She knew that seeing Kabuto Yakushi could lead to her untimely death...yet she fell for him anyway. She didn't really have anyone or anything holding her where she was...she was already her village’s outcast...so when he asked her to leave with him she did so willingly.
She had abandoned everything she had ever known for a man like Kabuto.
And she hadn’t regretted it.
Kabuto may be a bastard to everyone else...but not to her. She was the only person in the world that he cared for over himself and that he was honest and good to. He loved her. An emotion he wasn’t sure he held within himself. Yet when he saw her he knew.
He didn’t bring her to Orochiru’s Sound Village, no, he had brought her to a secluded, little cabin a few hours walk from that village. He used it for moments when he needed to get away. It was the perfect place to have her stay.
He kept her safe and taken care of. He brought her supplies or when he had the chance he took her with him to get the things she needed. She grew a bountiful vegetable garden behind the cabin and a lovely flower garden in the front.
(Name) spent her days tending her beloved gardens, baking (a profitable hobby she loved - when Kabuto accompanied her to different markets she brought some of her delicious baked goods to sell), reading her favorite romance novels, or writing poetry. She had also recently taken up jewelry making. Kabuto supported her taking up this new hobby, with kind words and compliments of her skill, and gifting her with unique beads and other supplies he found in the many villages he had to travel to.
She had taken up jewelry making initially to take up the hours of the snow filled winter days when her gardens were understandably unusable, as well as those rainy days she had to stay inside. She loved to sit by a blazing fire in her hearth with a cup of tea as she worked on some new project.
When Kabuto was home he wasn’t the horrible or demanding asshole people who knew him often assumed he would be if he ever found a woman ‘to tolerate him’. He was helpful and took charge of many chores around the house so she could have a day to rest. He would scrub alongside her and while she spent some extra time in her gardens he’d hang it. He’d help her cook and they would take turns on who’s turn it was to wash after dinner. After that he would relax with a book while she either joined him in that, wrote her poems, or now worked on her jewelry.
He was thankful he had found such a perfect woman for him. Sometimes he felt he had sentenced her to a life of running and hiding. A life of solitude. Yet she seemed to thrive on the life she was leading now. She even told him that she hated the complexity of living in her old village. All the nonsense about having a public appearance to keep up, being just like everyone else was boring and irritating to her, also she hated that it had been so expensive. Even her cheap one bedroom apartment had her needing two jobs to keep up with and be able to afford food and other necessities.
So this little self-sustaining cabin they shared was perfect for her. She had all the vegetables she could ever want grown in her own garden, she could spend hours baking, and even go fishing in the nearby river if she pleased. She adored the life being with Kabuto allowed her to live.
So now that his birthday was coming up she wanted to do something amazing for him.
She had recently made a masculine necklace for her beloved Kabuto.
She’d even written a short poem for him.
And he was actually going to be with her that evening.
—
She had just pulled Kabuto’s cake out of the oven when she heard the front door to the cabin open. She set the cake on the rack to cool and hurried to wrap her arms around her white haired love.
“Happy birthday, Kabuto.” She murmured and kissed his cheek.
He chuckled and gave her a squeeze. “Miss me, baby?” He chuckled.
“Always.” She giggled and pulled away, “I have a few things for you.”
He eyed her up and down, making her blush and giggle as he gave her a lecherous yet still endearing grin. She slapped his chest playfully. Of course he would go there.
“Not just that, you ass.” She laughed.
He chuckled and raised his hands in surrender. “Can’t blame me, you’re just plain gorgeous.” He said.
She blushed brighter, “No, I mean I have a couple gifts for you...and a cake!” She declared.
He smiled softly at her sweetness. She was far too good to a man like him.
—
The sun was dipping low in the sky, so (Name) and Kabuto sat on the back porch of their cabin and watched as it went down. The pinkish orange tint to the air seemed to make the fresh fallen snow on the ground sparkle in the evening sunlight. (Name) leaned against her boyfriend and smiled as he stroked her hair.
He had managed to talk her into bed before dinner...though that wasn’t a hard sell with how much she desired him. So now they just sat together happily sipping some cocoa, empty cake plates set to the side.
She handed him a nicely wrapped small gift and looked at him with an expectant smile. She really hoped he liked it.
Kabuto unwrapped it and after opening the small box pulled out the necklace she had made him. A simple yet intricately designed beaded necklace. It was mostly wooden or metal beads in more natural colors along with black, but there were three amethyst beads that she had bought on their last trip to a town with a nice selection of crafting supplies. Three for the number of years they had been together and amethyst because he was a Pisces.
He smiled at her and kissed her temple. After slipping the necklace on he thanked her verbally and promised to wear it every day. It may have to be under his clothes while he did his work, but when they were together it would be out in the open. She giggled and pecked his cheek.
“I’m glad you like it.” She said with a smile.
“I love it.” He murmured and kissed her nose, “I love you.”
“I love you too. Happy birthday.” She breathed.
He just gave her one of his signature smiles and kissed her lips tenderly.