For the Future

Yang Xing understood that some questions had to be answered, and some problems had to be solved.

It was for the sake of his "happiness" and his "future."

So Yang Xing cleared his throat and gazed at Rin Nohara with a serious expression. "There's still something I want to ask."

"What?" Rin looked puzzled. Though she didn't know what Yang Xing wanted to ask, she patiently waited for him to speak.

"Who's stronger, Kakashi or me?" Yang Xing asked the same question he had asked Rin last time.

Rin already knew the answer. She had reached it days ago; otherwise, she wouldn't have walked into Yang Xing's room so calmly.

Even though she had known for a while, facing Yang Xing's blunt question still made her cheeks turn red. She lowered her head and answered softly, but sincerely, "Yang Xing-kun has protected me twice. As for who's stronger, I don't know, but...but..."

Rin's face was red, and she didn't know how to finish.

Indeed, how could a shy girl bring herself to say something like that?

"I understand." The look on her blushing face had already given Yang Xing his answer. Asking any further would make him a fool. Feeling his heart thump wildly, Yang Xing realized how excited he was.

Not wanting to suppress his excitement and joy, he managed to steady himself and continued, "Then, if you don't want this, you can leave. If you hate what I'm doing, you can leave this room at any time. After all, this is just the kind of person I am."

Yes, he liked her, and that was that. In this world, he had the power to make anything happen, so there was no need to hold back.

Facing this adorable girl, Yang Xing didn't hesitate. Suppressing the tremor in his heart, he reached out and cupped Rin's face.

Her skin was so smooth and soft that his heart beat even faster. And clearly, Rin was even more flustered than he was. Judging by her burning cheeks, Yang Xing could tell her heart must be pounding, too.

"Yang Xing-kun?" Their eyes met. Rin's face was as red as if she'd been boiled, but she didn't move—not at all. She simply gazed at him in silence.

Yang Xing's heart raced. Without thinking, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers, lips no one had ever touched before.

Anko had stolen a kiss from him last time, but it had happened so suddenly that he hadn't felt much. Most importantly, he'd been taken by surprise.

There was nothing about it worth savoring. This time was different.

The girl before him remained perfectly still, letting him kiss her without even trying to struggle. It wasn't just a physical pleasure for Yang Xing; it was a deep satisfaction, too.

She was so soft, so sweet. It felt as if his whole heart were melting.

His hands weren't idle, either. They slipped along her smooth skin. Rin gave only a slight struggle, and Yang Xing, unwilling to hesitate, was ready to go all the way.

But at that crucial moment, the room's door was knocked on—of all the rotten luck.

Someone was knocking at the door.

"Ah, s-someone's knocking?" Rin blushed as she held down her clothes. She was so cute—really, so cute.

She was so adorable that Yang Xing wanted to pull her into his arms and dote on her.

It was just too bad the person outside was such a jerk—a freaking jerk.

"Who is it?" In a foul mood, Yang Xing went to open the door.

If it was a man, he'd beat him to death.

If it was an ugly woman, he'd beat her to death, too.

He opened the door, but the person outside was someone he couldn't bring himself to hit: the lively, lovely little Anko.

"Hey, I've been knocking for ages. Why are you only opening the door now?" Anko stood there with her arms crossed, looking haughty. "I came to find you as soon as I got back. Don't you feel even a little grateful?"

Anko glared at Yang Xing. She had been about to enter the room, but when she turned and spotted someone inside, her eyes narrowed. "Oh my, this little girl is here, too."

Rin furrowed her brows. She showed no sign of panic at the sight of Anko; instead, she looked a little unhappy. "I'm not a little girl. And why are you here now?"

"Hmm, I bet you don't know." Anko smiled and hooked an arm around Yang Xing's neck. Grinning at Rin, she said, "Our relationship is more complicated than you think."

"Yang Xing-kun!" Rin's eyes reddened.

Though Anko had hooked an arm around his neck and his head had bumped against something soft, which he enjoyed, Yang Xing saw Rin's red eyes and immediately pushed the mischievous Anko away, waving both hands. "I was forced! I really was forced!"

Anko leaned in and pressed him. "Then tell me, do you admit that we kissed?"

Yang Xing was sweating. "You were the one who kissed me!"

"Either way, we've kissed, haven't we?" Anko grinned slyly, then turned to Rin and blinked. "Well, things are just as you imagined. You can go home now, you big third wheel."

Rin pouted but didn't move. Her expression had looked ready to break into tears, but then it turned resolute. "I'm not going home. Why should I? Besides, you kissed me just now, too."

"What?! You two...you..." "So you're planning to go home, then?"

"Someone ought to know her place." "In the end, you're just someone who barged in at the last minute."

"You—you dare call me someone who barged in, when you're the one who..."

The two of them were at odds, and it looked like they were about to start arguing in earnest.

If they hadn't been in Yang Xing's bedroom, they might have attacked each other outright.

Yang Xing's head was starting to ache. He hadn't expected girls who could use ninjutsu to be so stubborn. The two of them were glaring at each other and bickering endlessly, and at last, he couldn't take it anymore.

"Enough! Both of you, shut up." "My head's killing me. Stop making such a racket."

He shouted loudly, and at last, both girls fell silent.

Realizing she'd gotten carried away, Rin lowered her head apologetically. "I'm sorry."

Anko, on the other hand, pouted and muttered unhappily, "I wonder who started all this."

"Fine, fine. It's my fault. It's all my fault, okay? But both of you, calm down and listen to me." Yang Xing gave a wry smile, then looked at them seriously. "Let me make one thing clear first: I like you both. My feelings for each of you are genuine. I'm not going to stop liking either of you."

"Hm?" Rin looked confused, not understanding what Yang Xing meant.

Anko, however, immediately grew angry. "Hey, you're saying that so bluntly—you like both of us? You—you're such a womanizer!"

"Yes, yes, I'm a womanizer. And you're right, too: I want both of you. What's wrong with that?" Yang Xing's expression was calm, as if he weren't talking about himself.

Anko was even more exasperated. "Of course there's something wrong with that!"

"What's the problem? What's the problem?" Yang Xing frowned, his tone firm.

"There is! There are lots and lots of problems."

"Fine. I'll take care of those problems myself. I'll solve every last one of them." Yang Xing's expression darkened. His tone was resolute as he gazed at them and gritted his teeth. "I could even refuse the Hokage. Why should I be afraid of these problems?"