Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. All characters, terms, and affiliates of Naruto are not mine, but belong to their respective owners, Masashi Kishimoto, TV Tokyo, VIZ &c.
Ah, Sakura… what a very lucky girl.
Perks of the Job
Sakura was enjoying her morning cup of tea when the chair across from her was pulled back to let a tired but happy-looking Ino slump into place.
The satisfied grin gave it away. "Had a good night?"
"Better than good. Better than great. He was amazing!" It didn't take much to get Ino talking. It was a well-known fact that if you spent the night with the feisty blonde, everyone would eventually know about it. Another sad fact was, was that the men didn't care. Ino's mouth wasn't good at just talking.
With the ease of a person who's had a lot of practice, Sakura tuned into their one-sided conversation just in time to see her friend give her an arch look that bordered on pity. She repressed a sigh. This too was familiar.
"You really gotta get out more, Sakura. You're married to your job and while it does keep you up late at night, it's not because it's got your legs thrown over its figurative shoulders."
"Maybe not but it's got its perks too."
"Really?" Ino looked unconvinced.
Sakura's reply was cut off as a large shadow stretched across the table between the girls. She turned and tilted her head back to meet a pair of eyes lazy from sleep.
"Morning, ladies." Shiranui Genma leaned a hand on the cafe's divider that separated the wrought iron tables from the street. The wide smile he gave each girl in turn was returned enthusiastically by Ino as Sakura replied with a quiet hello.
"Genma," Ino purred. "What brings you here?"
"I was headed over to jounin HQ to see if there's any missions. I've been going a bit stir-crazy with my injury."
Sakura frowned slightly as she eyed his left side, barely hearing Ino ask just where he received his latest battle scar. Sakura had spent hours fixing him just a few nights before and he was going to undo it all because of cabin fever.
"Better that than have you re-open that wound."
Genma's attention swung to focus on her. His lips curled up around his senbon. "That reminds me," he traced a path down his left side before wrapping around to the small of his back. "I'm still feeling a few twinges of pain around here."
"Oh?" Ino's raised eyebrow went unnoticed as Sakura reached out to the older man, palm sliding over his shirt along his hip and back to where the slight curve of his behind began. The slightest squeeze from her searching fingers had the muscle tensing before she soothed it away with a rub. She pulled back to meet his eyes.
"Nothing a qiuck check and massage can't fix. Can you make it to my office sometime this afternoon?"
"Not this afternoon, but I'm free this evening."
"Okay. I'll be over around seven."
The senbon bobbed up and down. "Great. See you then, Sakura. Ino." Turning away, Genma continued his leisurely pace down the street.
Ino craned her neck to follow his progress before turning back to Sakura. "You don't do house calls."
"No, I don't."
The two women stared at one another for a moment before Sakura raised her eyebrow. Ino huffed out a laugh.
"Yeah, yeah. Point taken."
