La Verità Dolce

Sonnie

-O-

Tenten got the distinct feeling that Jou was a little off, even if only in the most benign of ways. She was definitely bright, but there was something about her that didn't quite click. She smiled a lot, even as she hurriedly ate the modest meal Tenten provided for her. She ate rather elegantly, at least for someone who looked so poor. Tenten suspected she was hiding something and she wasn't normally suspicious by nature.

…Still, I doubt she did anything really terrible, Tenten thought dismally as Jou tried to mop up the drink she accidentally spilled all over the table. Jou's just so…harmless.

"So…this master you speak of, what does he do?"

"He's a master painter. His name is Nara Shikamaru."

Jou's dark eyes went wide. "Oh my goodness! He's the most famous painter in the city! I'm surprised you're not enjoying a five-course meal at this hour instead of buying me a meal at a tavern. Not that I'm ungrateful, but I've heard so much about his wealth."

Me too, that's why I wanted to work for him, Tenten thought as she counted out the coins to pay for the meal. If only people knew that he'd take them in after persistent groveling, his house would be bursting with homeless people…I've never met a person lacking so much in resistance against the opposite sex.

Tenten rose to leave and Jou quickly jumped up to follow. "The best part about that money is that he earned every bit of it. No one can equal his skills in all of Europe, I'd wager."

Tenten winced from the sudden sunlight as they left the establishment, eager to find everything on the list before supper. It might actually be possible, with another set of eyes and hands.

"I can't believe I'm talking to someone who actually lives and works with him," Jou murmured, eyeing the fruit stand in the market skeptically. She knew better than to touch; closer examinations often won the negative attentions of irate stand-owners. She'd seen more than one absent-minded maid picking them up for a closer look, only to get her hand smacked.

"Well, I haven't worked with him yet; it's my first day." Tenten couldn't help the hint of excitement seeping into her voice.

"I guess you don't really get to paint, though," Jou said after a moment.

Tenten started. "What do you mean?"

"Well, if you're buying groceries and running errands, it sounds more like you work for his wife."

Tenten sighed. "She's really a piece of work. Honestly, she seemed so sweet when I first met her, but she very quickly turned malicious. Oh, here I am gossiping like a…" Tenten winced mentally, "…woman."

"Not all of us gossip," Jou sniffed. "And I've found that men gossip just as much."

That's true enough, but I guess I should defend my case, Tenten thought. "You're mistaken, women gossip far worse than us men."

"Even if that were the case, it wouldn't change the fact that you're a gossip, now would it?" Jou smiled triumphantly.

Tenten was tempted to retort but clammed up. She settled on shrugging. "Say what you'd like." Desperate to change the subject, she blurted out the fist thing that came to mind. "Ummm…do you know where the apothecary is?"

She fished around in her pocket for the list as Jou pointed the way. The shop was a rather run-down affair; wouldn't the only apothecary in the district be able to afford better? Her question was quickly answered after spending less than thirty seconds with the man. There'd been no greeting, no glance up, no acknowledgment at all. And when Tenten asked him a question, her only answer was a mumbled reply.

He's so stingy with words it's no surprise that he's equally stingy with money, Tenten thought sourly. And how on earth can he see anything in those dark glasses?

Tenten jumped when Jou let out a harsh shriek, practically scaling the walls in an attempt to flee what looked like some exotic, shiny black beetle on the counter. Tenten wasn't terribly surprised when the apothecary gently scooped the insect up and spirited it safely away in a special cage.

"Please don't startle my insects."

"Ah, sorry Mister Aburame," Jou said apologetically as Tenten helped her down from the shelves. "Um, this is Mister Tenten. He's an apprentice to Master Nara."

Whatever Tenten was expecting, Shino didn't look impressed. He didn't really look anything. He was the perfect embodiment of the word "expressionless." She really needed help with her list and if this man was just going to stand there…Tenten was starting to lose patience already.

"Good morning!"

Tenten turned to face the most unusual-looking woman she'd ever seen.

Is that pink hair?

Very confidently this woman marched up to the counter, and much to Tenten's surprise, Shino already had a box of items waiting for her.

"Thank you," she said sweetly, tossing candy-colored locks of hair over her shoulders. She pulled out a small purse, which contained more money than Tenten had ever seen in her entire life. The woman's nimble fingers expertly fished around in the abundant pile of gold coins to pull out two of them. She handed the currency to Shino casually. Whatever it was she was buying, it certainly wasn't cheap. Tenten could understand spending a decent amount at an apothecary shop, but this woman must be buying incredibly expensive materials.

A woman…all alone in the heart of Rome…wearing a RED dress…with an uncovered head and loose hair…I've never seen someone so…brazen. And PINK hair…

Tenten realized she was staring and blushed when she was caught.

"Hmm…you're new to Rome, aren't you?"

Tenten nodded numbly.

"So am I, relatively speaking. I've been here a few months, so I guess I'm just good at picking out newcomers. I knew the first time I saw Jou, too, when I first got here."

"Your accent is odd, where are you from?" Tenten couldn't help but ask.

"I'm from Holland. My name is Sakura Haruno and I'm a doctor."

"You are?" Tenten was taken aback. She was only connected to art because she was willing to convince the world she was a man. But this was clearly a woman in front of her; becoming a doctor in Italy would be incredibly scandalous.

"Things are different in Holland," Sakura said simply. "Women can hold nearly any job that a man can. Unfortunately, when we travel south, we're often accused of being bossy."

Behind the counter, Shino coughed. Sakura shot him an icy look but smiled warmly at Tenten. "And what do you do, sir?"

"I'm apprenticed to a painter. My name is Tenten."

Sakura extended her hand for a handshake, a gesture that struck Tenten as a bit odd. Most women extended them for kisses or assistance, at least in Rome. The hand that gripped hers was strong, and Tenten got the distinct impression that it was also testing hers for strength. Green eyes locked with hers.

Am I really that suspicious? Tenten thought dismally.

"How is Lord Uchiha doing?" Jou asked, saving her friend from further scrutiny.

"Ugh, he's a horrible patient," Sakura grumbled. "But he's so handsome, I'm willing to forgive him for it."

At the mischievous grin, Tenten couldn't help but smile herself. She got the impression that Shino was rolling his eyes behind his glasses.

"Wait, your patient is the Lord Uchiha?" Tenten had rolled the name over in her mind a few times, surprised that this very unusual doctor would be trusted by the Uchiha family to treat one of their own, as they were very weary of outsiders.

It didn't matter that Tenten wasn't from the area; everyone in Italy knew the Uchiha family. They threw their money and influence around so much that they were banished from Florence several times in the last century alone. They would stay in Rome for a few years until they were allowed back in, but twelve years ago they decided to stay.

Less than a year later, nearly the entire family had been wiped out by what was commonly believed to be the plague. But there were rumors whispered throughout the streets that it was curse they had all suffered from and they fell from polite society. While they still had immense wealth, no one really associated with them anymore.

Tenten shook her head. She didn't believe in curses, but was nonetheless impressed that Sakura had such ties, even if the family was no longer as prestigious as it was. She thought it was far too easy for someone to fall from grace.

"Yes, Lord Itachi himself," Sakura said absently. "He's rather odd; when I first met him he stared at me so hard I could have sworn he was trying to look through my skull. He was about to say I wouldn't do when my servant barged in. Naruto's such an idiot, but he was only coming to tell me that another patient of mine was sick. He really means well, but he's kind of loud and annoying. But he's a hard worker, so I don't really mind."

Sakura started when she realized she got off the subject a bit. "It was only after he saw Naruto that Itachi said he'd hire me. I thought at first he had a thing for men…it's not that uncommon, believe it or not, but since that first meeting I detected nothing out of the ordinary between the two of them."

Tenten and Jou were glancing askew at another. Both knew homosexuality ran rampant in certain areas of Rome, but it wasn't ever a topic of conversation. And here Sakura was breezily talking about the possibility of it happening between her own servant and a member of the nobility!

"Actually, it's come to the attention of Lord Jiraiya that Naruto has artistic ability, so my servant is working closely with Master Nara. Have you met him?"

"It's my first day," Tenten admitted.

"Oh, well, you're not missing much, though between you and me Naruto's very easy on the eyes but slow on the uptake." Sakura sighed. "Anyway, I simply must be going." She curtseying to Shino and Tenten before turning to Jou. "Miss Jou, I have something I wish to discuss with you. Why don't you come along to the Uchiha estate with me?"

Jou paled. "I couldn't possibly…"

"Oh, Lord Itachi isn't that intimidating, really. I'm sure he wouldn't object. And if he does, I'll just change his mind."

I get the distinct impression you're quite a force to be reckoned with, Tenten thought blithely. Especially if you can handle a family as temperamental as the Uchiha family. Ugh, I wouldn't be caught dead with a stuffy noble family. Master Shikamaru is different, certainly not a noble. Besides, he knows how to work for a living.

"I'll come as long as you won't get into any trouble," Jou said meekly.

"What's the worse Lord Itachi could do to me?" Sakura shrugged, holding the door open for Jou. Before she left, Jou waved at Tenten and smiled broadly.

"It was nice to meet you. Do you think Master Nara would allow me drop by and see you sometime?"

"He probably wouldn't mind," Tenten lied, ignoring the exasperated face of Shikamaru that her mind conjured up. "Where are you staying, anyway?"

"Oh, um, no place in particular," Jou admitted, and Tenten got the distinct impression that meant everywhere; stoops, alleys, abandoned cellars…it was too much.

"Lady Ino said one of her servants was ill," she blurted out. "Maybe after you're done with Miss Haruno, you can stop by and ask for work."

Jou's face lit up. "That sounds wonderful! I can't wait!"

With that, the girl was out the door, followed closely by Sakura…Which left Tenten alone with a very reticent Shino.

I think they took all the brightness out of the store with them, Tenten thought sourly. With Jou gone, I'm going to have to do everything myself, including coaxing answers to my questions out of a very taciturn apothecary…

Squaring her shoulders, Tenten turned back to the counter. Shino straightened up. Tenten pulled out her list and locked gazes with the apothecary.

This could get ugly.