A/N: Finally. It's up. It has been years but finally. It's almost finished (the entire story) and a great friend of mine has given up some of her time to help me out with the editing Everyone Give thanks to her. Hope you like it. Get ready to see something different then normal. Have fun.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
"Anko, did you hear me? The mission is over." Tsunade repeated to Anko.
It was the day after Kuro's evaluation. He and Anko had gotten up early to go hear Tsunade's response. As they walked over to the Hokage Tower, Kuro wanted to know why she was going with him. She simply stated that she was as curious as he was to know what he got. He just nodded and continued walking. When they got there, Tsunade seemed to be exceedingly busy. She seemed to show no patience with Kuro, possibly because of yesterday's incident. All she said was that she would correctly file Kuro as a possible ninja worker. She then dismissed him but told Anko to stay. It was then that Tsunade told Anko that her mission to gather information about Kuro was over. She felt…empty for some reason. She was standing in front of her Hokage with a very shocked look on her face.
"Anko, are you ok?" Tsunade asked.
Anko quickly snapped out of her subconscious state and responded. "Oh, um, I'm sorry Tsunade I heard you."
Tsunade just raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "Ok, well as for right now you don't have any missions so you may leave" she said.
Anko was about to leave before her mouth spoke without her consent, "If I may ask Tsunade. Why did you cancel the mission?"
"I'm putting Kuro into a prime possible threat of the village. Someone like him shouldn't be let go that easily. I will have ANBU agents follow him and make sure he doesn't cause any problems."
"What makes you think he will cause ANY problems?" Anko said through her subconscious.
Tsunade just sighed. "There is more to him then meets the eye. I don't trust him."
Anko looked away from Tsunade's stare. She then turned and left the office. As she got onto the streets she stared to walk around aimlessly. She was caught in deep thought. "The mission's over. I should be relieved that I don't have to follow him anymore. But why aren't I?"
"Hey Anko, what'd Tsunade say?" Kuro asked.
Anko then noticed that her aimless walking brought her to Teuchi's shop. "Force of habit." She then responded to Kuro, "Oh, nothing just some paperwork stuff." She gave him a nice bright smile.
"Ok then come on in, you still have reports to write about me right" Kuro said in a jocular tone?
Anko became saddened again. She couldn't understand this sudden feeling of depression. "No, I'd rather not," she said coldly before walking away. "I have to find out why I'm feeling like this."
"I came as fast as I could. You sounded really messed up on the phone," Kurenai said while breathing heavily.
Earlier, Anko had returned to her apartment where she went directly to her bed and lay down. She felt really tired and needed to get her mind off things. She ended up sleeping for about an hour. When she woke, she decided to get some help so she called Kurenai.
Anko stood at her door. "Hey, thanks for coming."
"Don't worry about it. Is everything ok?" Kurenai asked.
"Yea I'm fine but come on in." She gestured for Kurenai to enter.
As Kurenai walked in, Anko closed the door behind her. Both women then went straight to the table and had a seat. Anko said, "I'll make some tea and I'll be right back."
As Kurenai waited for Anko, she started to think of the possible things that could have happened. "On the phone she sounded kind of desperate. What could possibly be wrong? And making tea? She hates MAKING it. This must be something serious."
As Anko returned to the room, she brought with her a tray with a pot of tea and two small cups. "Sorry I dragged you all the way out here right after work," Anko said as she laid down the tray.
"Don't worry about it."
Anko started to pour tea into both cups. There was an awkward feeling in the air as both women drank from their cups. Kurenai watched Anko attentively to see if she could find anything different about her.
Anko abruptly said, "I need to ask you something."
Kurenai sat hesitant. She didn't know what this question could be. She felt a bit scared but gave a nod to show her attention had been given to Anko.
"When you're with someone for a while—and that person treats you nicely, buys you thinks, and cares about you—is it normal to feel depressed after you can't see them as often?"
Automatically Kurenai knew who she was talking about. She exploded into a panic of laughter. Anko had talked about Kuro to Kurenai many times so by now she understood it all. Anko just sat still and speechless. She was being completely serious and Kurenai just started to laugh. When Kurenai picked up on Anko's reaction she quickly switched her behavior and straightened up.
"I know what you mean" Kurenai said softly. "When Asuma leaves for missions I miss him a lot and I often find myself really sad."
"But I'm not dating Ku..." Anko quickly shut her mouth before exposing the truth behind it all.
But she didn't fool Kurenai. "Well you might as well be dating Kuro. You've been with him almost every day. You two understand each other at levels were a relationship would be."
Anko reflected on Kurenai's words. Everything she said was true but she just couldn't picture herself, for the first time, liking someone. That feeling hadn't even crossed her mind since before what happened with her because of Orochimaru. The feeling had a certain awkwardness to it but somewhere in it was a hint of happiness. Finally, she could feel the average person's feelings. She thought that probably the thing that hit her most was not the fact that Kuro was going to be given over to the ANBU, but that she had lost her chance to be with him.
Kurenai continued to talk about her experiences and how she could understand Anko. Anko was quiet the entire time so she could absorb all of the knowledge her friend was trying to share with her.
"Well, it's time I head home to try and find that big baby of mine," Kurenai proclaimed as she got up and headed towards the door. Anko got up and opened the door for her. As the door swung open, there was Kuro standing at the door with his fist raised in such a manner that it looked like he was about to knock.
"Hey you" he said.
Anko just stood shocked. "What's he doing here?"
"Well excuse me but I have to go" Kurenai said as she headed out the door. "Good luck" she whispered to Anko as she left.
When Kurenai was out of sight Kuro gave Anko a warm smile and said, "Heard your job to watch me was changed."
"Yeah."
The freezing atmosphere started to surround everything. Kuro could tell something was up so he chose his words carefully. "When I found out I went directly to Tsunade to change it but she refused so I sent those ANBU agents on a little trip around the country trying to find my clone." Kuro gave a long pause before saying, "I didn't want to lose you and our time together."
Anko lost her breathe for a second. What was this new side of Kuro that she was seeing? It just didn't make any sense. Was what he was saying true? She had so many questions but she only knew one thing—he wanted to be with her. If that meant just as friends or something more she didn't know but for now it didn't matter.
"What about Tsunade? Just because you tricked the agents doesn't mean that she'll reassign me to my old mission" Anko asked.
Kuro just gave his regular grin. It was that grin that proclaimed that he had a plan. "I'm going over to talk to her right now and tell her straight up that I will keep tricking all of her agents and keep my mouth zipped if she doesn't put you back with me."
Kuro then turned and started heading to the Hokage tower. Anko stood shiftless for a brief moment before she grabbed her things and headed out the door after him.
"I already told you no," Tsunade said as gave an angered stare at Kuro. She was already getting tired of Kuro's requests. Then she had a question for him, "Exactly where are my ANBU agents?"
Again, the famous grin arose. "Somewhere bordering the Hidden Sound Village" Kuro said calmly.
"Shit" Tsunade thought. "He's probably using them as a bargaining chip to get me to change my mind. I still wonder something—why is he going so far to just change who's in charge of watching him and getting information from him?" Tsunade gave a long sigh, seeing that she was forced against a wall. "Fine, I'll change it but the ANBU better be unharmed."
"You have my word." Kuro said as he turned around and left the office. When he got outside Anko quickly pounced on him. They both fell onto the ground and laid there for a few seconds. "I'm guessing that you were listening in on the conversation."
"I was at the window" Anko said with a bright smile.
"Well now that everything is back to normal lets go get something to eat. I'm starving" Kuro said as he got up and held out a hand for Anko. Anko took it happily and they started walking.
As they walked, Anko thought for a moment about the day. She had discovered something new about herself. She discovered a new feeling inside her. She didn't know where it may take her, but for now she was happy and that's all she needed.
A/N: Ok it definitely was different but I'll tell you this. Rising action starts next chapter. The climb to the real thing is coming so hope you have fun. Next chapter: We met an old friend of Kuro's, or should I say Black.