"Wait."
Just as Kurenai Yuhi turned around, Uchiha Yao's voice sounded behind her.
Kurenai Yuhi's body trembled, and the foot she had been about to use to flee refused to move.
"Hokage-sama, is there anything else you require?"
She did not dare turn around and could only use the most formal form of address, trying to put some distance between them.
Uchiha Yao did not answer. He merely stepped closer to Kurenai Yuhi, one step at a time.
A familiar presence drew near.
Uchiha Yao walked in front of Kurenai Yuhi, blocking her only route of escape.
Kurenai Yuhi could only lower her head even further, staring at her toes.
"Look up."
Kurenai Yuhi bit her lower lip and refused to raise her head.
Uchiha Yao did not urge her. He simply watched her quietly.
The office fell into a brief silence.
Kurenai Yuhi felt as though her cheeks were on fire, frighteningly hot.
In the end, Kurenai Yuhi still surrendered.
Little by little, she raised her head.
Her beautiful crimson eyes were full of panic and shyness, like a startled fawn.
"Hokage-sama, if there's... nothing else, I'll take my leave first."
Kurenai Yuhi gathered her courage to say that, then tried to slip past Uchiha Yao.
But a hand shot out like lightning and seized Kurenai Yuhi's wrist.
"Hokage-sama... you..."
"You kissed me and thought you could just leave?"
"You should at least take some responsibility, shouldn't you?"
Boom!
Kurenai Yuhi's mind went blank.
She... what had she just heard?
Take responsibility?
Yao... he was actually asking her to take responsibility?
"I... I didn't... Last night, I..."
Kurenai Yuhi stammered incoherently, the blush on her cheeks already spreading down her fair neck.
She wanted to explain herself, only to realize she had no idea where to begin.
Should she