If you're still reading, thank you for the support! Ready for more Akatsuki!Crack? Time for part two.

Narcotic

Apothecary

n, A druggist; a pharmacist

Zetsu x Sakura

Sakura was a prolific healer. Not that she liked to brag about it or anything – she didn't have to.

Years under Tsunade's tutelage had granted her perfect control over her chakra, the manipulation of which was very important for all ninja, but especially so for medic-nins. Sakura could bring shinobi back from the brink of death by forcing their wounds to mend: delicately knitting together capillaries, nerves, and soft tissue, all done with her mint green chakra and a lot of concentration.

But even with absolute perfect chakra control, there were still limitations on what she could do. Flatten a mountain range? Done. Take someone's gutted intestines, shove them back into their body cavity, and make them work perfectly again? Simple – and she wouldn't even leave any scars behind for them to remember the gruesome incident. But poisons? The common cold?

Against this, chakra was practically useless.

Illness and disease were the reasons medic-nins had to have sharp minds and a shit-ton of pharmaceutical knowledge. A true medic not only needed to have the ability to heal physical injuries, but also had to have the knowledge to create medicines that could do what their chakra could not.

Sakura had learned learned this under Tsunade as well, and at Konoha hospital had played both surgeon and apothecary. In her village, it had been easy to go to the medical gardens and gather up as much of the roots and herbs as she needed. But here, only one person had exclusive rights to the greenhouse, and she had to go through him.

Several months ago, when she'd been brought to Rain to become Akatsuki's personal medic, she'd met Zetsu: freaky plant person and biologist extraordinaire. Without any sort of regard for her personal space, he'd stepped right up to her and quietly invited her to use him any time she required plants of medicinal quality.

It really wasn't much of an invitation. It wasn't like she had any other recourses besides him. So, grudgingly, whenever there was a medicine that needed to be made, she turned to the tall, moss-haired Akatsuki.

Zetsu, for his part, seemed happy to help. And, after delivering the plants she needed, he would often hang around to watch her, lurking in a dark corner or attaching himself to the concrete wall in a gratuitously creepy way, so that only his head, shoulders, and that ridiculous plant thing were visible. What she really hated, though, was when he would sidle up behind her to watch whatever she was doing from over her shoulder.

Mundane things, like grinding up roots with mortar and pestle. Totally, completely uninteresting. But he would have his bright, gold eyes fixed on her like she was the most fascinating thing in the world. Granted, there hadn't been much action around Akatsuki headquarters lately, so maybe she really was the most interesting thing in his life right now. But still.

Having him at her back made her nervous, and she only allowed it for a few moments before finding some excuse to move away from him, circling the table so that he was once again in her line of sight.

He was usually rather quiet, but sometimes he seemed to take a particular interest in whatever she was doing and would politely ask her questions, or offer her his own advice on which herbs should be mixed to produce what effect.

Although his questions were insightful, his advice knowledgeable, and he was unfailingly polite toward her, Sakura absolutely could not stand him.

True, the medic in her found him fascinating, what with his odd, dichromatic skin tone and that weird venus flytrap that encircled his head, or even his strange, split personality which sometimes made an appearance when he spoke. That part of her wanted to lay him out on her examination table, invade his body with chakra and find out what made him tick.

But the woman, the kunoichi in her was repulsed. It wasn't his strangeness that turned her off, it was the expression that he wore every time he thought she wasn't paying attention. She knew that look, it was the same one she got whenever she saw a triple-fudge brownie. It was highly disconcerting to find it directed toward her, as if she were some sort of delicious confection. It set her teeth on edge, made her call her chakra up so that it tickled under skin, ready to serve her should Zetsu ever decide to pounce.

If he was aware of the nervous effect his presence had on her, he didn't let on.

Once, she had asked Pein if she could start her own greenhouse.

"Is Zetsu lacking some plant that you need?" He'd asked calmly, grey eyes pinning her to the spot. Sakura was not one to fidget, but she found herself doing so under his unblinking stare.

"No..." She'd been forced to admit. How could she tell the leader of the Akatsuki that Zetsu made her so nervous she needed her own greenhouse simply to avoid talking to the dichromatic shinobi? She couldn't. Not without coming off like a total wuss.

Pein had leaned back in his chair, and though his face remained expressionless, Sakura got the distinct impression that he was amused.

"Never mind," she'd sighed, hastily retreating from the leader's stifling presence.

To keep their interaction to a minimal, Sakura had begun asking for herbs in bulk. This way, there was a longer and longer period of time between Zetsu sightings. Sakura liked it that way.

Earlier that morning she'd asked him for a bouquet of foxgloves. Sasori was using the flower to create some new poisons, and Sakura wanted to make sure she had antidotes on hand should the occasion arise that they were needed -- Sasori had a habit of testing his poisons out on his obnoxious partner, so Sakura always liked to keep a batch of antidotes for when Deidara inevitably showed up in the med bay.

In a generous mood, Sasori had given her a sample the evening before. She had just carefully extracted some of the poison by syringe when she felt Zetsu's unnerving chakra.

He came through the wall – his moss-green hair showing through the dull grey concrete, followed by his dichromatic face framed with the ever present venus-flytrap. Finally, the rest of him emerged, a tall, imposing figure in the dark, billowing cloak of Akatsuki.

Sakura dropped the syringe and turned on the shinobi, hands on her hips.

"Do you see that?" She asked calmly, one manicured nail pointed toward the closed door of the med lab. Pausing, Zetsu turned his head to stare, gold eyes unblinking as he turned back to her.

"Yes," He said. She hated when he spoke. The man... plant... whatever, had far too many teeth, which were much pointier than they needed to be. Really. Every time is lips moved, she glimpsed them, white and dangerous.

"The door is there for a reason," Sakura said testily, her temper beginning to show. "Use it!"

"I apologize, we are used to being stealthy." He stepped toward her, looking down at the syringe full of poison that she had dropped on the exam table.

"Sasori's work," He said softly, reaching out as if to pick up the syringe. Sakura snatched it up, narrowing her eyes at the shinobi.

"Please, be careful Zetsu-san. I haven't made an antidote yet, and I would like to avoid an accident if possible."

He gave her an odd sort of smile, tilting his head to one side and peering at her from behind the giant leaves that surrounded his head.

"Ah, yes. Speaking of the antidote, we have the foxgloves you wanted. Won't you please come up to the greenhouse to retrieve them?"

Sakura paused. She'd been to the greenhouse a few times, but always with express permission from Pein, when Zetsu was gone on missions. The caretaker himself had never invited her in before. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him why he hadn't just brought the flowers with him, like he usually did, but he was already opening the door, obviously expecting her to follow.

After one moment of hesitation, she did, keeping a bit of distance between them of course. This made it slightly difficult to keep up, since Zetsu was so tall and his strides much longer than hers.

The greenhouse was situated on the roof where it could get the most natural sunlight. In Rain, of course, there usually wasn't much sunlight to be had (today, for example, it was coming down in sheets, and she and Zetsu both sprinted through the stormy weather into the safety, warmth, and general dry-ness that the greenhouse offered) so there were also special lights strung up along the roof which mimicked sunshine.

Zetsu politely opened the door, ushering her inside. Immediately, she should have known something was wrong.

A vaguely sweet scent drifted through the air. The greenhouse was a medicinal garden, and it seemed unlikely that the aroma was coming from any flowers. Sakura looked around, only seeing verdant green foliage (she hated to admit it, but Zetsu was a wonderful gardener).

"What... is that...?"

Zetsu turned toward her, his Akatsuki cloak rustling softly.

"Mmm? Ah. I just made some tea. Would you like a cup?"

In hindsight, Sakura had no idea why she had said yes except that Zetsu must have been using some sort of genjutsu that she (embarrassingly) hadn't picked up on.

"Yes... Thank you."

He beckoned her silently, leading her through rows of healthy green plants until they reached the other side of the greenhouse. Sakura had seen this area before and knew the greenhouse doubled as Zetsu's living quarters. There was a neatly made bed off in one corner, and a desk and two chairs in the other.

A pot of tea rested on a hotplate, and two cups were laid out invitingly.

Ever the gentleman, Zetsu pulled her chair out for her, waiting until she was seated to join her, sitting down beside her, his knees brushing hers and sending an unpleasant chill down her spine.

"This is a special blend I made this morning," He explained, picking up the teapot and carefully filling first her cup then his own.

In a moment clarity, Sakura eyed the tea suspiciously. It was honey-colored and fragrant, the sweet scent making her mouth water. Still, she waited until Zetsu drank from his cup before she lifted her own to her lips.

It tasted the way she'd thought it would. Honey-sweet. It was so delicious, that she quickly drank all of it. Almost immediately, she began to feel numb, at the same time, her head cleared and she realized what an idiot she'd just been.

Slowly, Sakura set her teacup down, vision warping. She looked up at Zetsu with glazed green eyes. He stared back, as if interested in her reaction. Bastard.

"What was in the tea?" Her tongue felt heavy in her mouth.

Zetsu watched her with near cold detachment, sitting back in his chair, the plant around his head casting a dark shadow on his face until all she could see was his glittering golden eyes.

"I know you dislike me, Haruno-san," he finally said, conversationally, setting his own teacup on his knee. "I know I make you nervous."

Sakura sat limply in her chair, her limbs shaky and refusing to obey her.

"Please don't tell me this is your twisted way of forcing me to relax," She hissed.

Zetsu smirked, his pointed teeth gleaming dangerously.

"I realize you are angry," He continued, voice maddeningly calm.

"That's putting it mildly," The kunoichi snapped.

"I apologize for the inconvenience, Haruno-san, but I simply could not think of any other way to turn the situation to my advantage. You never let your guard down around us."

"That is because I don't trust you!" Sakura growled, her head spinning woozily. "And you're definitely, not earning any points by serving me drugged tea!"

"It was either this, or I use vines to bind you."

Sakura paused in her mental struggling, going pale and gazing at the Akatsuki with wide, green eyes. He smiled toothily back.

"The idea appealed to us, but I realized it would have frightened you, which was not my intention."

"Yes," She said sarcastically, "The tea was a much better idea. I'm obviously so calm now."

"It is a mild sedative," He agreed, "As well as a numbing agent and paralytic, which is why you find yourself unable to move, for the most part."

"I'm going to turn you into mulch when this wears off, you understand," Sakura growled, feeling the pinpricks of her chakra sitting just under her skin, waiting. "I'll use what's left of your body as fertilizer!"

Zetsu was unimpressed by her threat. He leaned toward her, resting his chin in his palm and staring, that hungry look in his eyes as they roamed her face.

"We are very much alike, Sakura. May I call you Sakura? I feel we are going to become much closer during this little chat."

"Screw... You... Zetsu..." She ground her teeth. The shinobi merely smiled.

"Did you know that before you came, I was the Akatsuki's medic? My knowledge of plants, poisons and remedies far outstrips Sasori's or even your own. But my chakra was not right for healing."

Sakura remained silent, but the sullen look on her face spoke volumes. Yeah? So?

"When you were first brought to us, I admit that I was... curious." He trailed off, as though unsure how to continue.

"Plants are uncomplicated. They do not have develop feelings or attachments to other creatures. How much simpler to be a flower. But despite what you may think when you see this," He gestured to the flytrap that surrounded his head, "And regardless of what I like to believe myself, I am still a man. Still prone to the same... weaknesses." He tilted his head to the side and stared baldly at her for several long, quiet minutes.

Sakura stared back, now distinctly uncomfortable. She had a feeling she knew what he was trying to say, and she also knew that she really didn't like it.

"You know, Sakura-chan --"

"Oh, it's chan, now? We're that close?!"

"I would not have had to drug you if you were not always running away from me."

"I have not been --"

"Yes you have," He interjected calmly. "You retreat the moment it is polite to do so." He lifted his tea-cup to his lips. "I do not blame you, you are merely acting on instinct. One's natural reaction when facing a predator is to flee."

Quiet fell between them for several moments.

"Are you admitting you're a threat to me?" Sakura asked quietly. Zetsu's golden eyes zeroed in on her.

"By my nature, yes, Sakura. Still, you have less to fear from me than most." He smiled again, his face hidden by shadow but his strange eyes gleaming.

"Or, perhaps, you have more reason to fear me..." He trailed off slowly, silently getting to his feet. Green eyes narrowed suspiciously as he approached her.

"What are you doing?" She rasped, trying to will some chakra into her limbs as Zetsu loomed over her. Her vision was suddenly filled with pale and dark flesh, flashing gold eyes, and way too many sharp, dangerous teeth. She was ashamed to admit it, but she might have let out a terrified squeak. Or two. She wasn't totally out of the loop. She knew Zetsu had a... taste for human flesh. So as she watched those rows of teeth approaching her face, all she could think of was: OH MY GOD HE'S GONNA EAT ME!!!!

She might then have blacked out for a moment. It definitely wasn't teeth she felt when she came to several seconds later, much to her relief.

He was lightly kissed her cheek, warm lips sliding across smooth skin. His hands trailed through her hair, catching on the pink strands and gently tugging them, forcing her to tilt her head. Once satisfied with the new angle, he cupped her chin, his lips now brushing against hers. The kiss became insistent, and he gently forced her mouth open, his velvet-soft tongue sliding against hers. He tasted honey-sweet, just like the tea. The flavor and feel of him both thrilled and angered her. His presence surrounded her, his scent like cool, fresh earth and damp pine. After lingering for a moment to breath in her scent he pulled back – a wide, toothy smile on his dichromatic face.

"Delicious," He murmured, the word sending one hell of a chill down her spine.

"I like you very much, Sakura-chan," He said politely, "Please do not be so quick to run every time you see me." His eyes narrowed, "I do not like having to resort to trickery, but as a shinobi I'm not above it."

She opened her mouth to tell him where he could shove his trickery and to leave her the hell alone, but Zetsu was too fast. He held his hand out in front of her face, uncurling his fingers to reveal a fine red dust in his palm. Sakura blinked.

"What --"

With a puff of his breath, the dust flew into Sakura's face and, instinctively, she breathed it in.

Several hours later, she woke up with murder on her mind. She was in her lab, her head resting on her arms and a puddle of drool under her chin. She had one hell of a headache and a very unpleasant taste in her mouth. A small bouquet of foxgloves sat innocently next to her hand.

"Zetsu," She said silkily, to no one in particular, "I'm going to kill you."

Luckily for him, she didn't see hide nor hair of him for several days – giving her just enough time to cool down and let rational return. That did not for one moment mean that she had let the whole business of him drugging her and then molesting her with his stupid kisses go, however. She was still pissed, she was just no longer ready to kill him on sight.

No, no, that would be much too quick. When she saw him, she was going to drag his ass to the training grounds and break every bone in his body. She'd heal him of course – but just so she could do it all over again.

She was fantasizing about creative ways in which to bring as much pain and humiliation to the man as humanly possible when she entered her lab, flipping on the lights and approaching her desk. A bright flash of yellow gave her pause and she stopped in her tracks, green eyes narrowed.

There, sitting atop a stack of patient files was a small potted plant of cheerful daisies. With a huff, Sakura picked it up. She should probably scrap it, she knew. Still, she supposed that as far as apologies went, this one wasn't half bad. He must have had to go through some trouble to get this, considering he didn't grow them in the greenhouse and Rain didn't have the climate for them to be native.

So, instead of tossing the plant, like she probably should have, Sakura put it by the window in her room. It was a bad idea. Looking at the pretty little flowers made her feel sappy and sentimental.

It still took several weeks to forgive him. She had been sitting in her room, going over medical texts, letting her mind wander when, unexpectedly, she began imagining what kissing Zetsu would be like if she had full control of her limbs. Blinking, she shook her head, trying to stop the thoughts before they formed, but it was too late. Looking back now, she supposed the confession was sweet, in a creepy way. A very creepy way.

If he was serious about his interest in her, she was going to have to talk about him about the creepiness. He really had to tone it down.

Still, maybe she could use the situation to her advantage. The medic in her was still dying to know if that plant around his head was attached to his body. And just how far did that dichromatic pattern on his flesh extend? Sakura cracked an evil smile.

It was time to order another supply of medicinal herbs.

Just so you know, Zetsu x Sakura is hard. I'm not sure I'm happy with this. It may end up being heavily, heavily revised later on. No smex in this chapter – I just didn't know how to make it happen between them. Maybe I'll add another chapter later that involves them getting physical.

Next up, Tobi x Sakura!

Don't forget to review, ESPECIALLY if you add this story to your favorites or alerts! I need fuel to keep writing!

To those who reviewed last chapter: Thank you. This one's for you! ;)