Kissing the Fox

By: Toki

AN: Um, chapter two. :D As a note, I'd like to talk about describing bodies. I find it really, really irritating when every author describes girls bodies as being like absolutely perfect. For example, in this fic, Sakura is a bartender. That means she'd be thin most likely, because she had to keep up her appearance. But not everyone is going to have Victoria's Secret bodies. And though she may be pink-haired and green-eyed, I'm guessing they're all Asian. And not to sound stupid, but Asian girls are normally lucky if they're a B cup. ; So Sakura having no waist and giant boobs would be stupid. However, Naruto being ripped would be perfectly acceptable, since he's a ninja. Were Sakura a ninja in this, she'd be wiry and lithe, to. Also, I forgot that AFF.N doesn't do the whole italics thing in some formats, so sorry if the first chapter where Sakura was thinking to herself got randomly confusing. If it switches to first person, it should be in italics. Sorry, I'll put marks around it from now on. XD;

Reviews help me keep going, and inform me that someone's still reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. But boy do I wish I owned NARUTO. Especially after this chapter. (horny fangirl giggle) I wouldn't mind a pet Gaara, either. One that is possibly sex-crazed. Oh no, the Shukaku is out? But what does it want? POOOOONTAAAANG. Send this gal to Suna, baby!

xXx

Sakura went to work in a sort of fluster the next day, her heart pounding so hard she thought it would be a nuisance to other people. Around nine, her nerves were making her so jittery she dropped a glass. The chatter stopped immediately with the crash of glass on the tiles, and mumbling apologies to Ino and the customers, she knelt to pick up the shards, swearing softly when she cut herself. The fragment split the top of her index finger cleanly, spilling red onto ivory.

'Chikuso, red may be your color, girl, but you shouldn't exactly go bleeding all over the place,' Inner Sakura mumbled.

"I know, I know," Sakura mumbled in return, finishing picking up the glass and dumping the remains in the trash. She realized the entire bar was staring at her. Sweatdropping, she waved her hand frantically. "I-I'm fineeee," she laughed. "Just not enough sleep. I had a dream a disembodied floating pizza was chasing me down the street." This earned a collective laugh from the bar, and the friendly boasts and chatter built back up to their normal levels. Sakura giggled again as she heard severel people talking about weird dreams they had had to their neighbors. Grabbing a band aid from the little kit under the counter, she placed it on the counter next to the sink, and winced as she washed the wound.

"You okay, Sakura-chan?" Ino slid next to her, putting wine back up on the rack.

"Huh? Yeah. Just a little bit nervy is all." She shook her hands dry of excess water, then carefully put the band aid on.

"Any deeper, and that would have needed stitches," Ino said, holding Sakura's wounded hand to her chest. Her blue-green eyes were cloudy with concern. "You SURE you're okay, Sakura?"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Just tired, like I said," Sakura chirped, letting her hand drop back to her waist. She took another glass, polishing it. "I'll pay for the glass, sorry. That was one of the nice ones. Just dock seven bucks from my paycheck for a couple weeks, okay?"

Ino nodded her head 'no'. "God knows how many I'VE broken," she chuckled, referring to a few well-concealed gaps in their lineup. "I think you should go home early tonight, hon. You seem a bit out of it."

"Huh..?" Sakura blinked, and earned a pinch from Ino. Her thoughts had drifted back to Naruto, wondering what he was doing. Actually, that was scary. Not like what he was doing, more like who he was killing. "S-sorry, Ino-chan. I'm just a bit...giddy, almost."

Ino's eyebrow raised in question. "Giddy, you say?"

Sakura rolled her eyes, then shuffled closer to Ino who slid a beer down the bar then leaned close to her pink-haired friend. "You see, you know Enigma-san?"

Ino's face split into a wide grin. "Well, we've been talking. And oh my god...he's so like cute, and pretty smart. And he told me he's in his twenties. And his real name."

The blonde's breath came sharply. "Ohmigod! Seriously? What's his real name? What's he do for a living? What's he look like? Did he take off his hood for you?"

"I can't say. I don't know his occupation, specifically, but I think he's some kind of courier. And no, he hasn't taken his hood off for me."

'Courier, bitch? That the best you could come up with? Well, I guess that would explain his...odd travelling schedule?' Inner Sakura ponder-yelled.

Ino pouted. "B-but...I thought you two were...", she looked sly. "You know...". Sakura shook her head furiously, then turned to see if their were any waiting customers. None. She resumed her chat with Ino.

"I wish, kinda. But even if it's not that sort of thing, I'm at least happy to have a friend like him." Ino sighed.

"That's your problem though. You need to just take the iniative. Since when have YOU been the shy one? We used to openly proclaim our feelings for a guy at least three times a day, and right to his face." Ino huffed.

"Well, it wasn't like a serious thing then, was it?" Sakura snapped a bit. "We were in high school! But now, I really like this guy. He's just...so...cool." She finished softly. Ino smiled gently, her eyes glittering.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure that you get him."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "That's what I'm afraid of." She said in unison with her inner self. Dodging a playful smack from the blonde, she stuck out her tongue and spun away gracefully, folding her hands behind her as she looked out the window. "But thank you, Ino. I mean it."

"What're best friends for? But, just so you know," she looked shifty. "If he IS gorgeous, I SO get just-had-glorious-sex-and-he's-asleep pictures." Sakura snorted as she waited on a customer, giggling into her ear when she returned to the back.

"That's CREEPY," she giggled, and gave the customer his beer. Eyes roaming over the bar, she nearly jumped when she saw a dark-clothed figure in Naruto's usual chair. She nearly stepped towards him when she realized this was not her friend, and someone else entirely. In fact, he oozed aggression. From her vantage point just behind the bar, she could see the whitened knuckles clinging to the edge of the table. Biting her nail, she turned to Ino, who was seemingly oblivious.

'What the...OH NO YOU DON'T, CRACKWHORE. NO MORE MYSTERY MEN FOR YOU.' Inner Sakura barked.

"Customer," she mumbled under her breath, and stepped towards him carefully, swinging around so he could see her coming. When she reached the table, she stood a good foot from him. "May I help you...sir?"

"A glass of your second finest wine, please." He said softly, and Sakura's heart jumped when she caught what looked like coal-black eyes studying her from shadow. She nodded curtly, returning to behind the counter to fetch his booze. Her heart beat frantically. When she first met Naruto, she was intimidated by him, sure. Still was, in fact. She'd be stupid not to be. Especially now that she knew he was, he was a---. No. Not the time to think about that. Carefully balancing the glass on a tray, she walked back to her customer, and set the glass down. She nearly jumped when she realized he had pulled his hood off. He was beautiful, she thought. Ivory-faced with perfect almond black eyes, and fluffy-soft looking black hair. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she held the tray to her chest, and offered a weak smile.

"If you need anything else, feel free to call me over or come up to the bar." She nearly whispered, shocked and outraged at her own fear. Before, she had always found herself feeling safe behind the bar. Now, it seemed the man's presence swallowed the entire bar, drying her throat and sending her mind to dark places. She realized one of the dark places was the woods from nine years ago. She still had nightmares about it, but they always ended safe and warm in the arms of the ANBU that rescued her. Now, it was a seeping, inescapable cold that seemed to permeate her skin. Like being caught out in the cold- jaw-aching, nose-freezing bitterness. You keep trying to get to the warmth, but the door keeps moving further and further and then---She took a deep shuddery breath, steeling herself. She stole a quick glance at the man. He was sipping his wine, eyes trailing to the ceiling.

Ino moved next to her, to stare longingly at the man. "Beautiful, my God."

"His eyes are the color of the abyss," Sakura said blankly, watching her knuckles bleach on the edge of the counter. Ino glanced over to her best friend.

"Edgy." The blonde said at last, tilting her head to gaze into her best friend's face. "Something happen?" Realization dawned on Ino's face. "MY GOD? IS THAT ENIGMA-SAN!"

Sakura said nothing, but Ino dragged her into the backroom. "OH. MY. GOD. SERIOUSLY? OMIGAWD. WOW. BITCH. HOLY SHIT, YOU ARE A -LUCKY- WHORE"! She giggled hyperactively, raising her hand for a high-five. When Sakura said nothing, Ino's mood fell. "What?"

"That's not him. Enigma-san has blonde hair, it pokes out sometimes. And he doesn't feel...creepy."

Ino sweatdropped, putting her hands on her beautiful hips. "How can someone FEEL creepy?"

"He just...does," Sakura argued, her temper coming back. The numbness was fading now. She straightened her hair. Ino rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. I'm going to pee. You take care of things, or will Mystery-san kill you?"

Throwing a half-hearted punch, Sakura held her head up and strolled out of the back room, holding a bottle of vodka. Yep, nothing to worry about. Just your routine refill. Yep yep. The bar was emptying now. Monday nights were never crowded. All that remained was Creepy, and a couple talking quietly to eachother in the corner. Grabbing an empty bottle from the top of the counter, she chucked it into the recycling bin under the counter, not tearing her gaze from the black-haired man. It bounced back. Grumbling, she went to pick it up--and smashed her head on the counter. Yelping in pain, she took a deep breath and tried hard not to cry. Ow, ow, ow--she had never had much of a tolerance for physical pain. Depositing the satanous empty bottle on the counter, she squinted back tears, pushing around blindly for the door to the bathroom. What she met, however, was the softness of fabric, and the warmth that seeped from it. In other words, a human being. She blinked blood out of her eyes, and partially froze in place when she realized she had her hand curled in the fabric of his shirt, probably right above his nipple. And yes, by his, I mean Mystery-san. GO FUCKING FIGURE.

'That's it, whore. Grab and TWIST. Then go, "THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR BEING A CREEPY BITCH"!' Inner Sakura hooted. She released her grip immediately, muttering apologies and blinking back the white spots that were beginning to form behind her eyes.

"S-sorry, I just..agh, I'm um--". She stepped back from him. He said nothing, and then took a small breath, like talking was a chore.

"Bleeding everywhere?" He drawled. She giggled nervously, in serious pain now.

"Hehehehe...yeah. Bleeding happens to be one of my favorite hobbies, actually. Bleedy bleedy bleed bleed bleed ." She stopped laughing, still mumbling expressions of pain under her breath. He quirked an eyebrow, from what she could see.

"I'll give you money, if you promise not to bleed on it," he said wryly, though the smile and joke didn't meet his eyes. They stayed a fathomless black.

'You should ask him if he sold his PUPILS for that wine...or his soul'.

"Hee, dunno if I can keep that promise." She took the money he offered anyway, squinting down at a ten. "C-change?"

"Keep it. And, uh...".

"Thanks! Uh...". She was really feeling naseous now.

"You'll probably have a concussion. You caught your forehead on the edge of the counter," he said softly, and she nearly flew out of her skin when cool fingers touched just above the wound. There was a rustle of fabric, and she felt something soft press to her wound. She closed her eyes automatically, and let him wipe the blood from around her eyelashes and brows. "I noticed you have a bandage on your hand, to. You should be more careful."

She nodded like an idiot, feeling like a little kid. They were alone now, the couple having nervously fled after seeing all the blood. Ino was still doing God knows what. "T-thanks. Been kind of nervy lately. S-sorry that you had to see all this, sir."

He nodded slowly, closing his abysmal eyes. "Blood is not something I'm afraid of." He smiled slowly, and this time it met his eyes. That was wrong all on it's own. If the only time you really smile is when you're talking about blood, you probably have issues. Good rule of life, there. "Plus...it compliments the color of your skin and hair so well." He smiled softly at his own comment, then picked up her hand in his cold one, replacing his with her own. "Perhaps by the time I come back, it'll be healed. Goodnight, miss."

"S-Sakura. And thanks." She waved him out the door, turning back to clean up her mess, and realized she still had the black handkerchief. "Oh-sir--". He was already gone. Sighing and cursing her hideous luck, she went to the back room. Ino chose that moment to burst out of the bathroom, embracing the other girl.

"Whoooo, I got my period. DUDE. I thought I was gonna be Mommy for a couple days there." She laughed, then noticed Sakura's injury. "Whoa! What happened?"

Sakura stuck her tongue out, closing her eyes in embarrassment. "Aha. I smashed my head on the bar like an idiot." Ino sighed, tentatively touching just above the wound. Notcing the cloth in her friends hand, she questioned as to its whereabouts.

"Ah. Mystery-san was coming up to pay just as it happened, and he uh--". Ino took one look at her, then just grinned slowly, looking a bit like Shukaku. Patting the pink-haired girl on the shoulder, she just continued grinning slyly, giving her a slow thumbs up. "Mouuu! Not funny! This really hurtttsss," she whined, stepping out to the main part of the bar where Ino was pulling on her coat. "Plus, I really like...".

Ino giggled. "Sure hun. And remember to empty the recycle bin, otherwise stuff just pops back out when you throw it in there." Sakura opened her mouth to protest, but Ino ran out the door cackling. Sighing in defeat, she tucked the hankie into the front of her apron and grabbed the offending bin from under the counter. It was heavy, and jangled loudly. She penguin-walked to the door, mumbling about hernias, and deposited it outside. Coming back inside, she grabbed her coat from the rack, and shook her fist at the bottle of vodka that had caused this atrocity. Flicking off the lights, she turned and locked the place behind her. It was well after midnight now, and she was ready to get home. Halfway through her homeward journey, she began to feel a sense of foreboding creep up her spine. Maybe it was the black-eyed man, or maybe it was the fact that Naruto hadn't come to visit her that night.

Did he visit her though? Or was she just entertainment while he drank? Some voice told her no. If he really was a ninja, he wouldn't tell just anyone. And he DID kiss her on the wrist. She raised the limb to eye level, eyeing the pale blue vein. Nope. Didn't look any different. She flexed it. Didn't feel too different, either. There was a sort of shockwave up her back, and she turned, expecting air---and crashed into a cloaked man. Opening her mouth to scream, she tried to think back to all her cheesy self defense classes. Oh shit. Knee him in the balls. THE BALLS. BALLSSSS---

"Hiiii, Sakura-chan!"

Blink blink. "N-Naruto-kun?" A gloved hand reached up and plucked at blonde strands. Yep. She sighed, her body going limp. "My GOD, you scared me." She turned, beckoned for him to follow. He did, gliding soundlessly along side her. With her occasional stumble and slow pace, she felt like Igor to his Johnny Depp. "So...what's up?" She folded her hands in front of her, her purse hanging from her shoulder. He shrugged.

"Nothing really. Was heading home, and decided to see if you were dying. And um...I guess you are?" He laughed. She blinked. He prodded her forehead gently, and her skin buzzed at the contact. "Another battle with an inanimate object?"

"Yeah, I got my ass kicked. Like, the bottle distracted me and fell, then the counter loomed out of nowhere and punched me in the face." She pouted. "It sucked." He laughed heartily. Becoming a bit daring, she nudged him ever so gently. "Where were you to protect me?"

"Oh, you know. Running around. Stabbing things. The usual." She laughed, though she felt a bit unsettled. "Ah, I'm sorry if I scared or scare you...I really didn't mean to, last night. I mean, I kind of just did what I felt like."

'So that means he WANTS to do it. Nice! Now...Grab his butt while his guard is down'. Inner Sakura advised wisely, and Sakura wondered if perhaps Inner Ino had been influencing her. She shifted, a blush spreading across her face. "N-no. Well, I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid of you. But...I feel like I know you, at least a bit."

He sighed, shrugging his hood back. She gasped, jumping back a bit. A bone-white mask hung over his face, milky porcelain catching the moonlight perfectly. The eyes were blank holes, and an eerie fox grin adorned it. "Unnerving, isn't it?" He said softly, and let her run a finger down it.

"I don't like it. It's smiling."

"A mocking thing, to the enemy."

"Ah," she said, and there was silence for a moment, then, "Anonymity is a powerful thing. Have you ever read The Lord of the Flies"?

"Can't say I have. I don't' like reading."

"Ah, but...a mask is a beautiful thing. It breaks the chains of civilization, the morals the remind you that killing and whatnot is wrong... lets you do things you normally wouldn't. It hides fear, it hides joy, and it hides tears." She took her finger from it, feeling like an idiot. He hadn't replied.

'If we were on AIM, he'd totally be like 'um, lolz?'' Inner Sakura sighed. "Er, um. Sorry, Naruto-kun. Sometimes I just say weird shit, and--", she was stopped in the middle of her sentence as they arrived on the shady end of her street, and he carefully unfastened his headband from the top of his head.

"Wear this for a second, Sakura-chan," he laughed, and strapped it around her head. She flushed at the closeness, his collarbone pressing lightly against her chin.

'GO FOR THE BUTT. YOU COULD PROBABLY BOUNCE A QUARTER OFF IT. THIS GUY IS RIPPPPPPPPPPED'.

She touched it gently, feeling the sunk-in lines of the Konoha leaf symbol. She knew enough about the symbols, at least. Carefully then, he steered her to the shady corner of the street, under the awning of a blank-windowed closed shop. "An--anonymity, whatever it is. You say it can basically allow you to do anything you want, right?"

"Right."

He titled his head at her, the fox-ness of the gesture only accented by the mask. "Anything I feel like?"

"Yep," she chirped, feeling slightly confused. He ran his hand to her shoulder, and she nearly jumped as he leaned close, pushing her up against the wall. "Erm, Naruto-kun..?"

"Anything I want...," he pondered, then quick as a blur, pulled down the headband over her eyes. Confused, she opened her mouth to protest, but went boneless as he kissed her. He was incredibly gentle, going slowly so as not to alarm her. She slipped into a shocked silence as they pulled apart, and he nuzzled her neck, inhaling her scent. "That's the tip of the iceberg, by the way," he murmured softly. She said nothing, waiting for her stomach to catch up with her heart A tear streamed down her cheek from under the headband. Confusion wracked her already frazzled mind, breaking into deadly clarity when she felt his tongue dance lightly along her cheek. "No tears, Sakura. Please," he whispered into her neck, kissing the ivory flesh again. Taking a deep. shuddering breath, she spoke. Reluctantly bringing his head back, he fitted the mask back on. Gently, he untied his headband from around her forehead, fastening it back around his own head, over the top of the mask.

"U-um." She played with a strand of her hair. "D-do y-you like me or something?" She asked, feeling like a little kid yet again.

'Do you like meeeeee? Wanna share crayoooooooons?' Her Inner Self mocked, but was really waiting for his next response. His large, deadly hand came up to cup her face. She leaned into it, closing her green eyes. This was kind of how she had imagined her first important confession. But, you know...without the ninja. And the creepy mask. And then there was, oddly, the sense of sadness creeping up around both of them. Foreboding, maybe.

"Y-yeah. You know, for a long time. I thought it was just a friends thing, but the night you told me about when you got lost, I just...". She raised her head in question, not used to him sounding flustered. She realized his ears were red. Aww! "I just hated you looking so blank-eyed and sad. I just decided, at that moment, I wanted to make sure you never had that expression written on your face again." She twitched once, then, slowly, raised her arms. He stepped into them, pressing her close. Even though it had only been a few weeks since she started liking him, she felt as though she had been waiting forever for this moment. Sakura laid her head sideways on his chest, noting the fact that her Inner Self was right. His body, opposed to hers, was a series of long, hard planes. His arms, though thin, were corded lightly, a single vein twisting lightly down one.

"U-um. Me to. I felt like, if you really trusted me like that, with such a secret...and I'm still alive," she giggled. "I guessed that I must have meant more than a friend. Or at least a very good one," she added as an afterthought, absentmindedly running her fingers through his hair. It was such a beautiful texture and color, even outweighing Mystery-san's.

"Idea," he said. He pulled back from her gently, grabbing her own hand in his. "You live in the brick building, right?"

She nodded. "U-uhm, s-seventh f-floor."

"Can I come up for just a bit? I want to uh...talk," he asked, wrapping his big fingers around her small hand. She nodded weakly, and let him lead her gently to her home.

She realized, that for the first time, she wasn't going to go home to an empty apartment.

xXx

AN: I know this is a bit shorter, but I want to keep them concise before my text sort of sludges together. XD; Thank you for the kind feedback. Originally, chapters 2 and 3 were one, but I decided to split them up. Next chapter is limey. If lemoney. I know that his relationship is moving along at a very unrealistic pace, but uh...who the fuck cares:D 3 If you'll excuse me, I have an S-Class mission to attend to - High school. (puts on her ANBU mask, which is actually just a paper plate with a mean face scribbled on it, and runs into myst)

Reviews and constructive ways of telling me I suck are appreciated. Now if only I could find a beta...a;