As The Falcon Flies By
Chapter 7 : Showers, Fake Names And Anything Except Spinach
Longest chapter up to date!
If anyone is actually following the story, I had to change something in the previous chapter: Yamato is just a back-up on this mission and didn't go with them.
Sorry for the terribly long wait. Enjoy!
(❍ᴥ❍ʋ)
They arrived outside of Miyasato just before dinner. Their trek had been relatively quiet, boring almost.
There had been that one moment during their midday break, when tensions rose high between Kiba and Neji. Probably because Akamaru had suspiciously chosen to pee near the Hyuga, and Kiba had just raised his eyebrows innocently and said, "What do you expect? He's a dog." Before Neji could crush Kiba in a merciless Taijutsu attack, she had intervened with a good Sakura-knock on both their heads.
After that, the stuck-up clan ninja and the dog-ninja temporarily teamed up and glared at her for a good part of the trip, but she just innocently blinked at them and hummed happily.
She wondered why they were so unpleasant towards each other, but figured it was about Hinata. If anything connected Neji and Kiba it was the shy kunoichi.
Maybe Kiba asked her out... That would be nice for her. Although I am still rooting for Naruto and Hinata.
They stopped in a clearing, just before the small village. Sakura could already guess why they stopped there, but the others were staring cluelessly at Genma, who had turned towards them.
Their team leader cleared his throat, interrupting any questions.
With an authoritative voice he spoke to his team.
"We are going to have to change our names from this point on. Sakura and I are known here as Sayomi and Tatsuo, respectively, but you three can just keep your first name. Don't mention your clan at any time, it'll only draw attention to us."
The others simply nodded, used to this. Most shinobi had a few different names and roles they played during a mission.
"Secondly," he continued, "I want you guys to be polite, eh? We often travel through Miyasato and frankly, Sakura and I want to keep on coming here. I know for most of you it won't be a problem, but..."
Kiba's face turned red with what Sakura could only guess was anger, and Neji shot him a smug look. Genma quickly went on, before Kiba could tackle the Hyuga.
"All righty, then." He said as his stern voice and expression lightened up. They finished the last few hundred meters at a slower pace, not wanting to freak out the inhabitants of this small town by running in at an almost inhuman speed.
Before they walked into the small inn, Genma tossed Sakura their key disguise. With a small smile she slipped the band of metal over her left ring-finger, already feeling the confusion brewing behind her. Before one of their teammates could claim that confusion, Sakura opened the wooden door and entered.
A small bell rang above her as she took in the familiar surroundings. The inn was what you would expect from a picture book.
A warm glow surrounded everything, and she could see the familiar picture frames and other decorations littering the walls.
The pine gave of the not unpleasant smell of a wood fire. And even though at the moment there wasn't a roaring fire in the fireplace, she could remember some blocks of wood and kindle, ready to be set on fire last time they had visited in autumn.
Behind a small wooden desk stood the man that ran the place. He had been reading in a heavy book, which Sakura guessed were the financial records of the place. He looked up, his finger marking where he had been going over the data. As he saw the sight in front of him though, the book was forgotten and he walked in front of the desk, smiling his trademark smile.
"Ah, Sayomi-san! How lovely to see you again!" The grey-haired man across from her smiled warmly and respectfully shook her hand.
Peering over his glasses, he looked at Genma and said, "And your husband too, of course. How nice to see you, Tatsuo-san." Genma politely shook his hand, saying: "It is good to be here again."
The innkeeper peered between Sakura and Genma, and smiled as he saw the three others.
"And some young gentlemen, I see?"
With a friendly bark, Akamaru announced his presence too, and the innkeeper nodded. "My, aren't you big! We'll get you some leftovers from the kitchen later, huh?"
The old man nodded his head in thought, while scratching the giant friendly beast, somehow unperturbed by Akamaru's impressive size.
"There is more than enough room for everybody," he said as he walked behind his desk again. "I take it you're staying one night?"
His voice strained a little as he bent over, retrieving some keys from under his desk.
"Yes, only one." Sakura answered.
"There!", he put the collection of almost identical keys on the counter, each of them tagged with a number. "There's only one other guest at the moment, so you can each have your own room. You must be tired, so I wont hold you up with the payment. We'll do that tomorrow."
The innkeeper said, while entering their information into the heavy book.
Sakura took the key of their usual room, while Genma tossed the three others to Shikamaru.
The innkeeper smiled as he motioned them towards the the stairs.
"If you feel like eating later, Yume-chan will prepare dinner in an hour."
Nodding their thanks, the team walked up the stairs.
As Sakura stepped over the last slightly creaking step of the first flight of stairs, she said, "He's always such a sweet man, no?"
With a sly grin, Genma replied, "Yeah, his daughter might be even sweeter though."
"Tsss... You stay away from Yume-chan!", she replied teasingly, "you're too... uncivilized for her."
He smiled crookedly and raised an eyebrow. But not for you?
Sakura rolled her eyes and walked on, grabbing the railing. She wasn't very tired, but she still was looking forward to the moment she could shower and skydive onto the soft, soft bed, with the giant pillows and the comfortable mattress...
She was pulled from her musings when Shikamaru spoke up.
"We only have four keys."
Confused, Kiba noticed Genma didn't have a key and nodded. "Yeah! I thought he said there was enough room. Where are you going to sleep? 'Cause me and Aka aren't sharing our bed."
"Nah, we're married, remember?" Genma waved his hand over his shoulder, the wedding ring gleaming clearly.
"Eh...?"
Sakura walked up the last remaining steps, and gladly turned towards their usual room.
"Don't you see the rings, Kiba?" An exasperated voice sounded from behind her, as she quickly unlocked the wooden door.
"Yeah, but...?"
"It's just an act... They're Sayomi and Tatsuo, now. It's to keep their identity hidden. Didn't you listen?" Neji testily explained, with a tone implying Kiba was very, very stupid.
"Hey, don't talk to me like that!"
"I can't help it. You make it so easy."
Sakura just quickly slipped into the dark room, preferring a hot shower anyday over the two quibbling shinobi.
So much for team-compatibility.
In the lit hallway she could hear Genma explain in hushed tones that they had once pretended to be married because it would be less pricey to sleep in one room, and that they just kept on doing that.
Her face relaxed as she found the light switch and saw the cosy room, the bed rivaling her imagination.
With experienced hands she quickly unbuckled the weapon pouch and dropped it on the left night table, starting to secure the room.
She slipped a kunai under her pillow and hid a few other weapons around the room and in the bathroom, just in case.
It was highly unlikely that they would be attacked here, but old habits die hard.
Rolling her head she stretched her neck and her back. Behind her, the door closed, and Genma dropped unceremoniously on the bed, threading his hand through his hair.
"Your hair is becoming longer." Sakura said, as she sat next to him and plucked at one of his locks.
Opening up one eye, he glanced at her and said, "Yours too. Are you going to grow it out again?"
Her shoulder-length hair fell in front of her eyes as she leaned down to unfasten her slightly heeled shoes.
"Myeah, maybe. It's more practical like this, but I wouldn't mind longer hair."
He played with the points of her hair, tugging at them and smoothing it out.
"Mmh..." She hummed, letting her contentment show as she closed her eyes and curled her toes on the hardwood floor. She inherited quite a few traits from Tsunade, and one of them was wearing heeled shoes. It did wonders for toning her calf muscles, but it wasn't always the most sensible thing.
Starting to unzip her vest, she suddenly remembered the scroll.
"Oh, I nearly forgot!"
"You forgot to... give me a kiss?"
"Charming, but no." Shrugging her vest off, she unzipped one of the numerous pockets and pulled out the scroll that Kakashi had given to her.
"What's that?" Genma rumbled from behind her, letting his hand fall back on the bed as she turned the scroll over in the light.
"Kakashi gave it to me this morning. It's an information scroll, apparently," she said as she broke the seal with her chakra, the only chakra that could make this scroll readable.
Sakura,
This is just a quick update on the Uchiha and Akatsuki-situation.
The Raikage still hasn't responded with information about Killer Bee, so we don't know if he's been taken by the Akatsuki or not.
Itachi has been sighted near the Fire-country border, though. Some of our contacts have seen him in the Land of Hot Water about a week ago. I have told the contacts to keep their eyes peeled, but since it was days ago, I am afraid he is long gone. We do not have anymore information other than that about him. Nor about the Akatsuki.
Be careful, there is a big chance that he is coming towards Konoha, and I am scared he might cross your team's path.
If you do see him, don't engage.
The Godaime
"Itachi has resurfaced."
With a frown she reread the short message.
"Near the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water."
"That's bad."
"Yeah. At least we know where he is now."
Genma sat up a little, leaning on his left arm, to look at the scroll in her lap.
"We know where he should be, but that was a week ago," he read over her shoulder.
Sakura placed the scroll in front of him, staring at the ground. "I know, the uncertainty is killing me. If he's coming towards Konoha, then they're probably going for Naruto, but if he's not with the Akatsuki anymore..."
"You shouldn't worry to much about Naruto. He's got lots of people looking over him, and he can hold his own. Let's just focus on the mission."
Sakura nodded. "Yeah, let's do that." Her worried frown disappeared. "I forgot to ask you before we left if you have a list of addresses."
"Ah, I've got it here." He pulled out a folded piece of paper from his vest and handed it to her.
She quickly glanced over at the addresses. "Hairdresser, clothes shop, kimono's... I already brought some kimono's, just in case."
"I know," he replied, "but this mission might require more. Either just dressing you differently, or as a geisha. We'll see how to do it once we get there."
"Oh," her eyebrows raised up a little. "It's been a long time since I've done the Geisha-role. But you're right, of course. We'll just have to see what works best."
She tucked the note back in his pocket.
"Well, I'm going to shower." Sakura said, as she got up from the bed and retrieved new, clean clothes and her hairbrush from one of her scrolls.
"Don't use up the hot water again."
She put the clean clothes in the bathroom and started brushing her hair while double-checking her hidden weapons, a little nervous now that she knew Itachi could be near.
"Again? And look who's talking... For someone who acts all aloof and nonchalant you spend more time than me on your appearance."
He chuckled, looking up from reading the scroll.
"Ouch, that hurt."
"I know, I know..." she said, while putting back a senbon behind the curtain.
She removed her long-sleeved-shirt, and as she walked past the cupboard with the full-length mirror, she could see Genma looking back at her behind her reflection. Their gazes locked and she stood still, the shirt between her fingers momentarily forgotten.
There were a few moments of silence as he watched her and she watched him.
He stood up slowly, leaving the scroll unrolled on the bed as he came to stand next to her.
He broke the silence with a soft voice. "I never get used to them."
Her eyes lowered from his face to the shoulders of her reflection.
The corners of her mouth turned up ever so slightly.
"I don't think I'm used to them. I guess I don't show them enough in public."
The impressive markings splayed over her arms always made her filled with pride and at the same time, with sadness.
She had gotten her first tattoo a few years ago, the flame symbol of Konoha, branding her forever as a Leaf ANBU-member. Others soon followed, as time passed and she went up in ranks, and she found new people to love and lost old ones.
It had been a challenge to herself, to see if she could. And of course, Sakura was never one to back down from a challenge. Especially not if she had challenged herself. She was a lot like Gai, in that way.
With a small smile she remembered the look on Sai's face when she asked him to do her first real tattoo: a falcon on each shoulder blade.
For a moment, Sakura had seen his mouth hanging open. It was quickly covered by his cool demeanor again, leaving Sakura wondering if she had actually seen Sai show real emotion.
Him being one of her teammates and a fantastic drawer, she trusted him to do it, and years later she was still happy she had made that decision.
There was something very soothing about sitting there, despite the pain. At first he had been a bit uncomfortable about her pulling of her shirt, but the awkward silence was soon filled with a comfortable one, as he concentrated on his work. The piece took days to finish, and as she looked at the final healed tattoo, she couldn't help but feel euphoric. And proud, of course.
Since cutting off her hair in the chunin exams, she hadn't done much to change her appearance, and this was quite a big step for her younger self.
The two falcons were reminders for her to scale the heavens for her own potential, to make her vision reality by becoming stronger.
She smiled as Genma began to trail his finger over the top of her shoulder, and down to the bottom of her wrist, following the lines carefully.
An even bigger smile threatened to break through as she looked at her sleeves, the masterpiece on her skin.
Genma met her eyes again and stilled, an amused look on his face. "What?" He murmured, his hand encircling her wrist loosely.
"Just remembering Sai, when I came back for more..." Her smile now clearly visible.
Her partner chuckled, and pulled Sakura closer, letting go of her hand to place his own on her stomach.
"I can imagine. That boy must have had a heart attack when he saw you at his apartment again."
Sakura grinned and leaned back a little, into him. He enveloped her in an embrace, making her forget that annoying scroll on their bed.
"Don't you think the 'married couple' thing is pushing it to far?"
"Nah," he replied, resting his head on her shoulder, "they were already buying it. Besides, the old man really thinks were married, so..."
"Good point. Although I wouldn't be surprised if Shikamaru already pieced together that there is something. And Kiba would know too if he used his brain for once."
She joked, as she turned around and kissed him, but using her shinobi skills, teasingly disappeared into the bathroom before he knew what had happened.
"Oh, don't do that!"
"Then join me!" she called from the bathroom, as she removed her travel-stained clothes.
"Tempting, but I don't think that's a good idea..."
"Suit yourself." A sing-song voice drifted from the bathroom.
That always is the best time of the day for her, he mused, when she gets to shower.
He could hear the water turning on, and a hiss from her as she probably turned it too warm with the enthusiasm to shower.
"I'm going to go check on the others, ok?"
He said, while tiredly getting up. He'd much rather stay here, but missions did come first.
"Hmm-mm!" Guessing that was shower-talk for 'Ok!', he slipped from the room, locking it behind him, looking for the others.
Trying to recall which numbers were on the others' keys, he heard a dog bark, leading him to the door with two golden number one's fastened on it with screws.
"Yeah, but it's still weird, don't you think? He's like even older than Kakashi!"
Only by four years! Genma thought indignantly, ready to knock on room 11.
"Even if they are pretending, it's-"
"Kiba, shut up all ready!" Shikamaru's usually lazy voice was spiked with urgency.
Genma knocked twice and when no answer came, he opened the door slowly.
Akamaru happily snuggled up to him, sensing no threat. Genma started to ruffle his fur, careful to dodge that dreaded cold, wet nose.
His owner, on the other hand, was turning red for the second time that day, this time with embarrassment. Genma could even see a spark of fear in the boy's eyes.
With a lot of effort, Genma kept his face schooled and tried not to laugh with all those emotions he was putting Kiba through.
He stared Kiba up and down, inwardly glad he could still make people squirm beneath his gaze, and then spoke up with an disarmingly friendly tone.
"Sakura got a message this morning. The Uchiha was spotted near the Fire-border in the northeast about a week ago. We aren't sure what this means, but we should stay alert at all times. He might be in the Fire-country."
Turning a bit more serious, the two younger team members nodded, and Kiba's blush even disappeared a little.
"We'll tell Neji when he's done showering in his room," Shikamaru drawled.
"All right, then. Don't forget to get some food later."
He said, while giving Akamaru one more pat on the head.
The idea of making Kiba even more uncomfortable was tempting, and when he heard Kiba sigh in relief, he decided to strike the final blow.
Casually, he glanced over his shoulder and said: "And I'm not that old", before closing the door calmly.
Keeping himself from giggling uncontrollably at the look on the boy's face and whistling merrily, he walked back slowly to his own room and using the key, walked inside with a spring in his step.
A snort came from the left side of the bed, where Sakura was propped up against the pillows with the scroll in her hands.
"Why are you so happy?"
"Ah, just terrorizing the minds of young people."
She frowned at him and twisted the ring around her finger absent-mindedly.
"I'm confused. Are you a psychopath?"
He chuckled as he finally slipped his feet out of his shoes and walked towards the now steamy bathroom.
"Nah, just making Kiba sweat."
"Well, that sounds reassuring. I'm going to get us some food. Anything specific you want?"
"Anything except something with-"
"Spinach? Yeah, yeah. I know."
She waved him into the warm bathroom as she slipped on her shoes again and went for some food.
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I would love to hear your comments! =^T^=
Akamaruuuu out!
Next up: Chapter 8 - Overture