A/N - This story is semi A/U. I really had to butcher and then completely rewrite my summery (and I was really proud of this one), so here you go.
"After a series of chance encounters, and one of Kisame's more capricious decisions, a pink haired girl is the newest tool at the Akatsuki compound. With Hidan performing bloody rituals in the backyard, Itachi being… well, Itachi, Zetsu giving mixed messages and Sasori commenting that she'd make a great doll, Kisame is finally considered normal. Unfortunately, he's also getting attached to the normality …or is it the girl?"
Anyway, this story stems out from a what-if encounter that could have happened. And by could, I mean only in fanfiction. So we begin with the young immature Sakura and a 23 year old Kisame (hey, I'm allowed to make him younger!).
I write this for my own amusement, and hope you enjoy the story.
.Disclaimer.
Chapter One.
Pebbles tumbled down the dirt slope and a pink haired kunoichi hopped down to the dirt path below. She made her way towards the ocean, kicking more pebbles as she walked.
'Stupid Kakashi-sensei!' She thought bitterly, 'Saying all those things! He was probably just saying them to make Sasuke mad…' Sakura frowned at the thought. 'Why did Sasuke have to get mad about it, anyway? It was supposed to impress him!'
Kakashi had been preparing them incase his suspicions about Zabuza's death were correct: that the Missing-nin was actually alive, and possibly working with the hunter-nin that took him. So Team Seven was to train their chakra control. They simply had to walk up a tree. Kakashi-sensei had made it sound so hard, and at first she was a little unnerved about the idea.
Though, it was easy.
Incredibly easy. Sakura had walked up and down that tree like it was a runway. She instantly noticed that Sasuke and Naruto had a hard time doing it, so that made it all the sweeter. Naruto cheered her on, but she could tell he didn't really mean it. That's why she didn't like him! He would just act nice. Jerk. Though, he was getting a bit more tolerable…but still.
Then she had looked to Sasuke, but he just looked mad! So that put a damper on things…
But that wasn't all. Kakashi had to go on and belittle Sasuke! Well, he belittled Naruto too, but who doesn't?
"The Uchiha Clan isn't great as I thought, either." He said. Why would he say that? It was like he was trying to make Sasuke hate her!
They had trained together a little longer, Naruto even asked her for help. If only Sasuke had asked her. That would have made her day- no -week. She was so good at chakra control that Kakashi sent her to protect Tazuna, the old bridge builder.
Her shoulders drooped into a sulk. Normally she would have been happy…. After all, it was her that Kakashi had deemed fit to move past the practice and actually do the mission they were assigned. She should have been beaming with pride. But she wasn't, her mind was stuck on one thing.
Sakura kicked a pebble in self-pity. If only Sasuke hadn't reacted the way he did. Why couldn't he have looked at her as if she was the most beautiful women in the world, and dropped to one knee and proposed?
That wasn't too much to ask, was it? Alright, he could have at least given her a compliment and asked for some advice. Though, Sakura was starting to understand that Sasuke would never ask anybody of anything, especially help. He was just strong like that, she supposed. Though, she was sure he would have, if Kakashi-sensei didn't rub it in his face. Jerk.
Sakura came to the edge of the forest, right by the ocean. She could see the bridge branching off the island and reaching towards the mainland. The breeze brushed against her, the air salty and cool. She walked on the sand for a bit. Her feet sunk into it, the fine gravel sliding into the soles of her sandals. Sakura looked at the foam left behind by the ocean and watched as the waves brought up white drift wood and left it on the shore. She looked around for any shells or other marine novelties she could take back home.
Her stomach began to growl. As easy as the actual point of the training had been, they had been doing it for a couple of hours. Her chakra was low, she felt drained. She wondered how Sasuke and Naruto could keep going at it like that. She was a little bit jealous of Naruto. Well, she was still better than him.
Her nose caught the sent of roasting fish drifting in the light ocean breeze. The roasted meat mingled in the salty air, making her mouth water. She figured a quick pit stop wouldn't hurt. She got back on the dirt path, away from the shore and followed it to see a pier. There were a few fishermen out and a couple big transport boats in the distance.
Sakura found a small cart that stood on the wooden planks of the pier but stayed rather close to the sloping sand. It was a yakizakana stand. A few stools stood in front of the cart. The cart held the grill and a washed-out plank for a counter top. There was a big blue tarp stretched out on four poles surrounding it. The tarp gave a cool blue shade around the area.
Sakura plopped down on one of the stools. An old man greeted her with a cheery smile.
"What would you like, Miss?"
Sakura looked over the menu and found one within her price range. Though, it required the fish to simmer in the sauce first, which could take a little bit… Oh well. She ordered the dish with a smiled and watched him get to work. He pulled a fish from a small row beside him and marinated it in a saucer filled with black rich smelling sauce.
"It'll be at least 15 minutes, is that alright, Miss?"
Sakura thought so. Though… maybe she should order something else… Eh, Tazuna could wait a bit.
"That's fine." Sakura said with a polite smile.
"Anything to drink?"
"A water, please." Sakura's gaze shifted to the ocean. The waves gently lapped at the white shore, the water a beautiful clear teal. The sun was warm, though the light seeping through the tarp gave off a cool ambience and painted her skin a light blue. The breeze gently lifted her pink hair and cooled her skin. Off the horizon drifted great puffy clouds, making them look like they were resting on the ocean. It would be nice to live here…
A clear plastic cup of water was placed on the counter, a neon pink straw sticking out. Sakura thanked the old man and he turned his back to her to retrieve a plate. Suddenly two cloaked men sat down on the stools beside her, blocking her view of the clear ocean.
Sakura let out a soft gasp. They had been so quiet she didn't even notice them approaching! The man sitting next to her was incredibly large. He looked taller than Kakashi, making her feel incredibly small and a bit intimidated. She couldn't even see the man on the other side of him; well, maybe it was a woman then…
The old man turned around to ask her something and let out a little cry of surprise. Sakura couldn't help herself from letting out a giggle. Imagine serving a young girl and then turning around to find two cloaked men.
"What would you like?" The man asked a bit nervously. He seemed to be intimidated too…
"A mackerel, please," Said a deep, but muted, voice. A man…yes, definitely a man. "And a Kiwi Ramune."
The man beside her placed his hands on the counter. His skin was painted a much richer blue than her own. He had large hands, and navy nails. He also had on what looked like white arm warmers with blue trim, much like Sasuke's.
Sakura tried to be inconspicuous about looking up to see the face of the man beside her. But he was so tall; she practically had to turn her shoulders to look at him. He of course noticed, and in turn, looked over to her. Sakura gave a warm smile.
She couldn't see his face. The collar of his rob was too high, and reminded her of her old classmate, Shino. On top of that, he wore a straw hat from which hung strips of white cloth, further shrouding his face in the shadows.
Sakura turned back to see her fish still simmering in a small metal pan that was set over the grill. She could feel the man's gaze on her; it made her feel nervous and awkward. The way you would normally feel when forced to be with a complete stranger. But this stranger… he was incredibly daunting, and Sakura didn't think she could strike up a conversation about the weather if her life depended on it.
"And you, sir?" The old man asked, and Sakura felt the gaze pull away from her. It was only when Sakura let out a soft whoosh of air, that she realized she had been holding her breath.
He motioned to her fish simmering in the dark sauce. "Two of that." His voice was deep, and a tad raspy.
"I'm sorry this young lady just ordered the last one, and with it the last of the misosake sauce." The old man said regretfully.
Sakura felt the man's gaze fall back on her like a physical weight. Sakura slowly looked up to meet his covered face; the wind blew the white strips of cloth around his face. Sakura briefly wondered if she should give him the fish…
"Sorry," She said sheepishly, a hand lightly scratching behind her ear. That was her favorite dish, and no cloaked giant was going to take it from her, damn it. And Tsunami's cooking was a bit bland… bless her heart.
"Then two salmon." The giant said, a bit of annoyance clear in his voice.
Sakura sipped her water and wondered how much longer it would take… Her eyes drifted back to the ocean, this time to her left; the other side being blocked by the black cloaks. She could see a giant crane on the bridge and the village near it. She had yet to actually go into the village, maybe she could have found another restaurant there…
Sakura turned back and noticed that the two men weren't talking to each other. That was kinda weird… Maybe it was because she was there… The man beside her looked at her again, and she didn't know quite what to do. She was beginning to think there was something on her face, or maybe her hair was still all messed up from training.
Sakura began to smooth out her hair and hoped she didn't smell. Maybe the smell of the fish would cover up whatever post-training smell she had.
"Why's your hair pink?" The man asked, his tone curious. At this question the other man leaned forward to look at her. He was a lot shorter and probably could see her just as well as she could see him.
"Uhh…" Sakura really wasn't expecting them to talk to her… "Genetics. My grandmother's hair was pink…" She was actually rather proud of her hair. Plus, it took attention away from her forehead.
The question disarmed her and she didn't feel so out of place and the big man didn't seem so intimidating. The shorter man sat back and she could see him no more. Which didn't really make a difference because he wore the same garb the other man did.
"Aren't you hot in those robes?" She asked before she thought about it. But once the question was out, she figured he asked her a question, so she got to ask him one too.
"Not really." He said with a shrug. With the movement the collar shifted and Sakura could see his jaw. It was a hard and angled line. The blue tint on his skin was so much darker than her own, she noted again.
"Hmm." Sakura murmured, sipping at her water again. Her thoughts began to drift to Sasuke; they tended to do that regardless of any situation. What could she do to get on his good side? Apparently outdoing him didn't do…but neither did under doing him… Though she would like to be under him, doing him.
Sakura's face suddenly flushed a deep red and her eyes widen at the thought. She made a little strangled noise and covered her face in embarrassment. As if the people around her had known her thoughts. She felt the gaze of the man come back to her and she tried to pretend not to notice.
It wasn't the first time her thoughts shifted to kissing Sasuke and all those things a boyfriend and girlfriend do. Heck, she wanted to marry him, bear his children. All she had to do was make him see how perfect they were for each other. That she was different from all the other girls. He was just so irresistible, with all his amazing qualities. Like…
…
He was gorgeous!
Yeah. He was so mysterious and unattainable, which made him so appealing. She absently wondered what Sasuke would have been like if he was polite and outgoing like…like… Actually, now that she thought of it, none of the boys in her class were polite and outgoing. Some were outgoing, but brash and loud. Others polite, but quite and boring. However, Sasuke…
Ever since his brother killed the clan he turned into that calm, strong and a silent type. While that was all good and well, Sasuke would be rather spectacular if he was more outgoing and affectionate. Stupid brother of his; thanks allot for that, Itachi! If she ever met him she would give him a piece of her mind!
Oh well. What was done was done, and she would have to be the one to show him how to love again. She could see it now, it was spring and the trees would be full of cherry blossoms. The sun would be setting into the ocean and she'd be wearing a beautiful gown and she would have the most womanly body. And he would come and see her and he would just drop on one knee and declare his love for her and-
Sakura's straw was torn from her mouth and her glass of water was sent flying as blur of green flew by. There were shouts and laughs and a rush of small children running by after the green blur. Sakura watched as the old man ran from behind the cart shaking his fist at a group of children already running on the shore after a green ball.
The stool beside her rasped against the ground as the man stood up and she saw that he really was a giant. The sheer size of him was incredible and Sakura now knew what ants must feel like.
She looked at the giant and saw that her water had spilled all over his lap.
"I'm so sorry!" She gasped out frantically in perfect unison with the old man. Neither was shouting out of courtesy alone.
"Damn kids…" The giant muttered, clearly irked. He reached for a sword leaning against the counter. The sword was enormous, bigger than her! It had been placed between the two men, out of her sight. The pummel was a miniature skull and the handle was a golden weave of brass. The actual blade was wrapped up. It reminded her of Zabuza's and she briefly wondered if the three men and the fake hunter-nin were in league…
The giant was about to pick up the sword when the other man spoke up.
"Kisame-san." His voice held no tone and all he said was the man's name, but Sakura couldn't help but get the vibe of an old brother chiding the younger. "It's just water."
Kisame… Sakura rolled the name over in her mind. Shark Demon…? What a strange name…
Kisame left the sword on the counter and the old man let out a sigh of relief. He sat back down on the stool and picked up the pink straw that floated around in a small puddle of water. The old man grabbed a rag and wiped up the water, apologizing to Sakura and Kisame.
Kisame.
What an interesting name… Sakura wanted to say it, to hear it again. It was sharp, yet smooth on the tongue. She watched as he twirled the straw in his fingers and then handed it to her.
Sakura wasn't quite sure what to think, but she smiled warmly all the same as she took it. Was he really going to pick up that sword and go after those kids? Were they really in league with Zabuza? Sakura turned back just as the old man placed another water before her.
She put the pink straw in without a thought and took a sip.
She sputtered and made a face at the taste. "What is this?" her mouth was scrunched as if she had sucked on a lemon.
"That's the gentlemen's, Miss! Straight shochu." The old man said.
Sakura's mouth dropped in embarrassment. She had just taken a sip of a complete stranger's drink!
"I'm so sorry!" She gasped out for the second time that day. Her face flushed and a hand covering her mouth, she was mortified.
Kisame just reached for the glass and held it to her, the straw pointed at her.
…Did he… want her to take another drink…?
"I don't do pink straws." Kisame said and Sakura could hear the smile in his voice.
Sakura couldn't help but laugh. The image of the cloaked man sipping from a pink straw was just funny. Well, the fact that a cloaked black figure was at the beach was just a little bit silly.
So she laughed. Sakura took the straw with a wide smile, and placed it in her mouth.
Her dish had yet to be served but it smelled so good. Though, maybe she shouldn't have waited… But she had already been there for a little longer then 15 minutes. What's a few more minutes? But she really should have been protecting Tazuna by then…
What if something happened to him? What would Sasuke think?
Sakura frowned, but the fish looked so good now that it was roasting on the grill and it was really big…
Maybe if she waited another minute and took it…? No, Tazuna would know she stopped somewhere to eat and would probably tell Kakashi. She might get in trouble… Why did she order the longest cooking dish?
'Cause I'm delicious…' The fish seemed to call to her.
'No! Fight it! You need to go protect Tazuna and impress Sasuke!' Before she could change her mind Sakura grabbed one of the onigiris that came with the meal and turned to Kisame.
"Would you like it?" She asked as she got off the stool. "You wanted this dish, didn't you?"
"Why don't you want it?" Sakura didn't catch the suspicion in his voice.
"It took a lot longer to cook than I thought it would-"
"I'm sorry, Miss." The old man cut in.
"Oh, don't worry about it." Sakura brushed aside easily "I have somewhere to be, and I wouldn't want it to go to waste."
Kisame still seemed suspicious and Sakura noticed that the other man was already leaning forward watching her. Sakura nibbled on the edge of the pink straw.
"Aww come on, I already paid for it," She said with a grin "You're a guy, you can't resist free food."
At this point Sakura conjured up the image of Kisame suddenly pulling back the straw hat and cloak to reveal a huge brutish woman, and then beating her with that massive sword. Sakura sincerely hoped this wasn't the case.
Kisame reached for the dish and nodded at her.
Sakura stood there for a second and he turned back to look at her. Sakura realized that he wasn't going to say thank you.
"Umm…okay, then…hope you enjoy. You're welcome." Jerk. Sakura turned and headed down the street, her onigiri in hand.
Man, why are people so inconsiderate? It's not like saying thank you was that hard a thing to do. Oh well. She wondered if Sasuke was still training…
To Be Continued.
A/N. Thanks again for reading, guys. The fic will go in segments for three or four chapters and then have a steady timeline.
What do you think of Sakura's characterization? Here she's still young, naïve and a snob. We all remember that right? Anyway go press the little purple button and review!