This chapter was lovingly beta'd by the fabulous Yummy_Foods.

The rest of their day passed in a flurry of laundry, housework, and stolen kisses in every corner of her apartment. Shizune kept telling herself if she just got used to kissing him it wouldn't keep taking her breath away. However, this plan wasn't working, as after several hours his kisses were just as arousing as the first one.

How was she supposed to stay focused on her mission if he kept distracting her with that amazing mouth? Shizune needed to talk to Tsunade.

The sun was just setting when Shizune decided it was time to call this "date" over. Wait, was this a date? Is housework a date worthy event? It didn't feel like it. But why would anyone spend this much time kissing if it wasn't a date? She really needed some time to clear her head.

She was staring out the window watching the sunset over Konoha when she felt Genma's strong arms wrap around her from behind.

"Whatcha thinking about?" he breathed onto the shell of her ear.

Shizune felt her knees give just a little at the sound of his voice, "Being home. I really do love this village. Sometimes I can't believe I'm here, ya know? I always wanted to come back someday but never really thought I would." She turned around slowly to face him, placing a palm on his chest. "It's weird. I promised so long ago that I would give my life for Konoha, and I will if I must. But the promise somehow feels more real now that I am back. Like it's more of a possibility. I don't know...maybe it's all the time i spend cooped up in that damn office. I only see the bad. But look at it. Right now. All I see is good. Am I foolish to hope?"

Hope wasn't something Genma could understand. He spend his nights slinking in the shadows involved in the worst that Konoha could offer, but at that moment when he looked into her big brown eyes, he saw hope.

He didn't seem to have his usual smug arrogance when he answered, "I think hope is there— we just all have to find it for ourselves."

Shizune studied him for a moment. He seemed so sincere, but it felt like he was holding onto something important too. After taking his senbon she placed gentle kiss on his mouth, pulling away before it could become more. "Thank you for spending the day with me."

"Honestly, this was really fun." Oh, there was that smile again. That stupid smile. Shizune didn't know if she wanted to kiss it off his face or smack it off. If just left her feeling gooey.

"Well, I think it's time to call it a night. I still have to find Seibei before Tsunade finds out she won and wants to let it ride." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "but I would like to do this again."

Returning the senbon to its rightful place he said, "I will happily help you wash your undies anytime."

Shizune pushed him back, giggling. "That's not exactly what I meant. I just meant, you know, maybe another date." She could feel her face burning and knew she had be glowing a spectacular shade of red right now. "If you want."

"I'm on duty at the tower all week, but I'm only a tower guard. Once she's safely in the hokage residence I'm free until morning."

"I guess you know where to find me."

"Shizune, I will find you tomorrow night." He pulled her close again and held her tightly before he walked out the door.

Shizune needed a moment just to breathe. To remind herself they were both playing a game here. And that she couldn't trust a word he said. Because right now she wanted to just drag him back in and hold him until they wanted the sun rise. Thoughts of her mission were flooding her mind and left her feeling dirty. She knew she couldn't leave out without a shower.

It was late when she let herself into the Hokage Residence. Shizune was rather surprised to find Tsunade at the kitchen table and mostly sober.

"Do you...have a hickey?" Tsunade asked, looking up from a stack of paperwork.

Shizune reached up and ran her hand along her neck looking for a tender spot.

"You don't even know where it is? Just how much of you was sucked on?" Tsunade couldn't help but grin.

"I am not answering that question. Do you want a report or not?"

"Oh, so you have something to report. I thought you might have been...distracted," Tsunade teased.

"He is rather distracting, but I got some work done." Shizune pulled an envelope from her bag, and then handed over Tsunade's winnings.

"Damn, I won?" She counted the bills adding, "I didn't even look at the lines."

"That was my reaction as well."

"So what else happened."

"I met the target Saturday night and was able to bring him to my place. I was able to incapacitate him for several hours, allowing me time to sneak out and search his apartment."

"How did you incapacitate him? Can it be traced back to you?"

"Doubtful, I put a sleep draft tipped needle in my bra. It was a stronger formula than we use in the hospital, as it would be a smaller dose. But he was out until morning."

"Nicely done." Tsunade decided it was best to skip over the part about the bra. "What else?"

"I was able to get into his apartment. I have a map of it in my head." Shizune pulled a sheet of paper from Tsunade's stack. She read it quickly and determined it wasn't important. "Got a pen?" Taking the instrument from Tsunade, Shizune began to sketch out a floor plan. "Something seems off, but I haven't had time to figure it out yet."

"How so?"

"The bathroom seems too narrow—look. Like, there should be at least another meter back, judging by the dimensions of the kitchen. The whole floor plan should be more of a rectangle from what the outside looks like, but when I lay out the rooms it seems like the living area in about a meter longer than the rest of the house."

"Are you sure you measured it right?"

"Mostly, I was in and out in just over six minutes. But I think I did."

"So there must be something he doesn't want found..." Tsunade watched Shizune for a moment before continuing, "We all have secrets. We all hide things. Why are you so sure this is a bad thing?"

"I'm not sure of anything. The other odd thing I found, or I guess I should say things, was four ANBU masks. I have been thinking about it all day. One is the mask I have seen at the tower. There is a second Cougar mask, then a hawk and a bear. It was just weird. And the more I think about it the weirder it feels. I guess one could be a mask he wears for Root things, to look different, but what are the other two for?" Shizune was biting her lip and thinking hard. He pushed her hair out of her face exhaling. "Do you have anything to drink?"

Tsunade smiled. "I just might."

Genma took the long way home. There was no real reason; he just wasn't in any hurry to return. Home might not even be the word for it. It was where Cougar lived, but did Genma even have a home? The sudden nostalgia was unsettling, and the last thing he needed was to be surrounded by walls that felt like a prison.

The problem was, he really didn't know what to do with this sudden new realization: He wasn't happy.

Normally when feeling a bit overwhelmed he would just go to the pub, drink, and find someone soft to occupy his time. That...wasn't an option tonight. He told himself it wasn't an option because it would be damaging to his mission, and even he didn't believe the lie. He hadn't really allowed himself to spend an entire day with someone doing nothing, well, ever. He just couldn't get over how right if felt. He hated himself for his feelings. This was a mission with was no room for feelings.

Without realizing it, he found himself in the middle of the training grounds. It was eerily peaceful at this late hour. Until it wasn't. Hawk appeared before him.

"Any plans to return home tonight?"

"How is that any of your concern?" Genma asked steadily.

"I have been waiting for you all afternoon. It was understood you made contact with your target last night. Report."

"I have a copy of Hatake's mission report." Genma was watching her, and grinned a bit before adding, "the one your squad failed to retrieve."

"Give it to me." Hawk's tone left no room for argument. Genma pulled the scroll from his vest, but before handing it over added his chakra stamp to it. This mission was dangerous and he didn't like it, but he would be damned if Hawk would take credit for his work.

She smiled as the stamp faded away. "What? Don't you trust me?"

"At this point, I don't trust anyone." Not waiting for a reply Genma turned and walked away. Resigned to return to the apartment he hated.

With Danzo watching, he wondered if he should get a second place, but shrugged it off quickly. The last thing he needed was to arouse suspicion of his loyalty from either Danzo or Tsunade. As he opened the door and stepped into his tomb, he had to agree with his earlier assessment. He was well and truly fucked.

End notes:

I skipped updating because of the holiday last week, and all the people I had to cook for. Also I didn't send it off to Beta until Saturday. I have another mulitchapter fic that I have started and might have a chapter of that coming up soon as well. Additional I am working on some things for Tumblr Genma week.

Follow me on Tumblr blog/mrssakurahatake for all the lastest info :)