The night outside was too still and Sakura pressed herself back against the wall, becoming part of the shadows cast by the moonlight that filtered through the storefront's broken door.

She held her breath as she heard the sound of footsteps outside; their volume increased as they approached, then faded as they turned away.

Her back relaxed as she let her head fall back against the wall, only to be suddenly smothered by a warm, firm chest pressing into her front, stealing the breath from her lungs.

"Shhhhhh," the stranger breathed, his exhale barely moving the loose tendrils of her bangs his words were so soft. "Don't. Move."

Her eyes shot open. She knew that voice.

Her lips pressed together as he took another half-step into her personal space, his shadowed features even more handsome than she remembered. Not that he would have ever let her forget.

She swallowed as she scented the first whiff of his cologne, her cheek twitching as he stared placidly at her. Emotion, sudden and fierce and wrenching, filled her with the flood of memories his scent unleashed. Years evaporated in the space of an inhale and a tremor resonated through her from belly to bones; she refused to accept it as anything else.

His once familiar eyes burned into her soul as everything came back to her in a mad torrent.

She had no time to process his sudden reappearance in her life, though. In that moment she heard what he had, then; the rear door creaking open softly, the sweep of a confident, stealthy foot across the smashed glass, crunching beneath its sole.

To her surprise he cocked his ear and lifted himself off her, releasing her far enough to breathe somewhat comfortably. Keeping one eye on her, he looked toward the rear of the store, past the overturned shelves and scattered knick-knacks and pottery scattered around the floor.

—which was when Sakura saw the glint and red-spark from the corner of her eye, and without thinking, she had raised her own gun and shot blind, shoving Madara out of the way.

There was a grunt from the direction of her target, then the sound of a body thudding to the floor.

Her heart beat faster for a second before calming again.

She looked to the side to find two men watching her, now.

"Sakura, are you unhurt?" asked Izuna. He kept his gun raised, eyes scanning the rest of the room.

She blinked, lowering her steady hand to tuck her gun back into her hidden wrist brace.

"I'm fine. You?"

Izuna nodded.

"Well. We need to get you back to the MSF headquarters, though. The ceasefire dissolved," Izuna said drily. He held out his hand, his stern features softening slightly as they took her in from head to toe, verifying her condition with his own eyes before he was satisfied. "Come," he said, voice gentling. "I arranged transportation for us, but we have to hurry."

As their hands connected she felt him give her a squeeze and relief passed over his dark, handsome features. A hint of a smile graced his articulate lips.

"I know you are strong enough to take care of yourself, but it reassures me to be of service to you."

A little bit apart from Sakura and Izuna, for his part, the first man's expression remained aloof, yet his throat bobbed and Sakura noted the tension through his arms.

—A memory flashed to the forefront of her mind, waking with those arms wrapped around her, years before, a sleep-roughened murmur of contentment while a stubbly chin nuzzled her collarbone—

She swallowed over the lump that had risen in her throat.

"Mmm," she said, taking a step towards Izuna to follow him, and past the other man standing so silently now that his brother had appeared.

Izuna nodded briefly to his brother before taking Sakura's hand and helping her across the littered floor like a gentleman would assist a lady crossing a puddle. Sakura, a former military physician now supporting Médecins Sans Frontières, had no need of such chivalry but she knew it would make no difference to Izuna. He enjoyed behaving the gentleman around her.

He took pride in the fact he could.

Moving quickly, she had nearly made it past him when he spoke.

"Your aim is as steady as ever," remarked the man who had protected her with his body by caging her in against the wall.

As if he hadn't intentionally made her relive memories as if they happened seconds instead of years ago or made her feel things she had sworn she wouldn't feel ever again… though he knew perfectly well he had. Every move that man had ever made was precise and deliberate and carefully crafted to play on her senses and emotions. Even now, standing there oozing nonchalance and calm, she knew it was a manipulation of the situation to turn it to his advantage in some way she couldn't immediately pin down.

"No," she said, focusing on the ground so she wouldn't have to look at him. "It's better. I don't miss," anymore.

It was almost silent, but she knew she heard the faintest chuckle slip past his lips.

Already focused on what was happening in the alleyway behind the store they were holed up in, Izuna paid Madara no mind. Instead, he clutched Sakura's hand tighter than a promise so as not to lose her if the skirmish outside escalated again.

Madara's feet moved soundlessly as he turned, casually leaning into Sakura's ear while she passed.

"Neither do I," he said as Sakura disappeared out the rear door.

She couldn't help the shiver that ran down her shoulders at his sultry words.

(TBC)

AN: This story is directly inspired by Vesperchan's and Sariasprincy's mafia!MadaSaku stories. Check 'em out!