Title: Hit the Road
Rating: M, I suppose.
Summary: The last thing Sakura expected she'd have to do that day was accept a ride from a strange, cranky man in an oversized semi, but sometimes fate leads you down the road you'd least expect.
Pairing(s): KakuzuSakura
Other Notes: This is a Modern!AU!fic, although the characters retain their signature abilities to make it more interesting. Hopefully that doesn't scare you off.
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Naruto, now do I?
Chapter One
Sakura's Thoughts
This was turning out to be an absolutely, positively wonderful, gorgeous day. Except for, you know, the whole bit where her son of a bitch bastard 'friend' left her to die in the middle of nowhere that just happened to be a scorching desert.
And now, now she was stuck with the most anal-retentive man in the history of ever, who just happened to drive through the middle of nowhere, notice her and grudgingly offer her a ride to civilization, just because he happened to be going the same way.
So, yes, she kind of owed him.
But whatever; he was still the most obstinate, irritating and blunt person to grace the planet with his presence, which is probably why he was a trucker, of all occupations. This was learned within the first five minutes of encountering him, and no, she wasn't overreacting or exaggerating one bit.
Nope, not at all.
I must have been a horrible person in a past life to get stuck in this sort of situation. But, at least it'll all be better when I see Naruto again, and we get to laugh over all of this in the end. And if I ever, ever see Kabuto again, I'll beat his ass six feet under ground. The prick! How dare he leave me as though I was expendable? Hmm, so much for being a 'friend'.
As soon as I get to Naruto's house, I'll have to phone my credit card company and all that stuff to let them know that my card has been stolen, and then I'll have to call the DMV to get a new driver's license, and then I am going to be arrested for assault and maybe homicide after hunting down that bastard and beating the shit out of him. He's caused me waaaaay too much grief. And next time I'm going somewhere with someone, I'm keeping my purse on my arm at ALL times.
It's too much to ask for a normal summer vacation, is it? No, instead I get to sit in a truck next to a stuffy guy for about five days straight (or more!) and die of boredom because he obviously lacks communication skills. I'm going to go insane by the end of this, aren't I?
Sakura laughed softly to herself, earning her a look from the man sitting next to her, whom happened to be occupied by driving-- but not so much so, since they were on a straight road that stretched ahead of them for what seemed eternity. Said man was a good foot taller than her, tan skinned, and had stitches everywhere, or so it seemed (most likely part of a kekkei genkai, she mused), and piercing green eyes and black sclera. He was wearing a tight black shirt, black cargo pants, black shoes, and a green bandanna around his neck.
Everything about him screamed dark and angry and "I'mgoingtoeatyoualive." At least it didn't scream "I'mgoingtodumpyouinthemiddleofnowhere," though.
Sakura just looked back at him and smiled sheepishly, not bothering to explain.
"So how did you manage to get yourself stranded out here?" he asked, tone implying that perhaps it had been her fault that she had been stranded in the first place.
"I was traveling with someone who I thought was a friend, and they ditched me," Sakura replied, a scowl set firmly on her face.
The man acknowledged her with a noncommittal grunt.
"Hey, what's your name?" Sakura asked, realizing that he had never introduced himself.
"Kakuzu," the man abruptly replied, glancing at her.
And with that, they spend the next few hours in silence.
"What?"
She did not just hear what she thought she did.
"We're going to have to sleep together. As you can see, we have no other options, since the seats don't recline," Kakuzu replied.
Apparently, she did hear what she thought she did.
"I could sleep on the floor." Sakura stated stubbornly.
"And then whine the next day about how dirty your clothes are?" Kakuzu sniped back.
"I wouldn't whine," Sakura replied with a pout.
Giving up for the moment, Kakuzu climbed onto the surprisingly spacious little bed behind the seats, switched off the light, and laid down with a sigh. After a moment, he impatiently nudged Sakura in the side with a sock-clad foot.
She glared at him, and then made for the floor.
Hah! I won. I won't have to share with Mr. Pompous Asshole.
Just as she was about to lay down and curl up into a ball, she felt something akin to thread entwining itself around her feet, waist and arms. She tried pulling away from them, but to no avail. She tugged at the tentacle-threads again, applying a bit of her super-strength, but they still didn't give way and slowly started pulling her up, and she noticed that they originated from Kakuzu's body.
"Kakuzu! What are you doing?!" Sakura exclaimed.
"You are not going to sleep on the floor." Kakuzu stated.
Once she was lying next to him, the threads relinquished their hold.
Fuming inwardly, Sakura shifted a bit to get comfortable.
"If you grope me, I'm going to castrate you." Sakura announced, holding up her right hand and letting it glow brightly with medical chakra for emphasis.
"Hmph. I'd like to see you try, toots." Kakuzu mocked.
Just as Sakura was about to fall asleep, she felt a hand lightly squeeze her waist.
"Kakuzu!"
His only reply was an exaggerated snore.
4.30.08 Author's Notes:
Hello!
I just wanted to thank my beta, Ivyadrena, for being awesome (as usual), and for my buddies on LJ and elsewhere for encouraging me to write this. :D
(And I apologize for the fact that this chapter is ridiculously short. I've been under the influence of my allergies for the last week or so, and it's been a bit crazy.)
Oh, and if FF.n is being weird (again), and messing up stuff, please, let me know!
