AN Thanks again for all the support! I reckon I may need to toss a shout out to StarKiss666 for giving me a reason to throw Gaara back in for a bit. xoxo And sorry if there are typos, I was really excited while writing it and may have missed a few errors. But lemme know what you think!
Lana Del Rey / Kill Kill
Pedestrian Life: Chapter Nine
"Gaikotsu-sama, may I come in?"
"Sure.." Kakashi said into the small intercom and within seconds the ash blonde-haired 'assistant' was staring him down, arms folded over her chest and her black shoe tapping impatiently on the hardwood floor. "Yo."
"You missed the board meeting. How could you forget it was this morning? You were three hours late." She spoke through clenched teeth, keeping her frustration in check.
"C'mon." He rolled his eyes. "Give me a break, Temari. You know the board neither needs nor desires my presence." She responded with a stern glare that simply said 'you are so incredibly full of shit.'
Kakashi really liked Temari. She was his assigned backup on this case, really she just played messenger, but she earned her role despite her rookie status. Three months ago Kakashi led Temari on her first field assignment. In theory her job was simple, locate and detain a wanted war criminal. The only place he was known to frequent was a gentlemen's club, to which Temari had absolutely no complaints. She was professional and diligent, mastering the art of exotic dancing in less than two weeks. And when the time came for Temari to play her part, Kakashi found her standing in the middle of a private room full of unconscious criminals, her only weapon being the fan she had danced with.
"Earth to Gaikotsu! What are you staring at? Were you even listening to me?" She demanded.
"No." The silver-haired man replied honestly. "But that file in you hand indicates I have work to do, so if you could be a doll and hand it over so I can get started.."
Immune to his idiocy, Temari tossed the manila folder onto his desk and stomped out of his office without another word, slamming the large oak door closed behind her.
Kakashi leisurely opened opened the file, he was in no hurry to peek its contents. He honestly dreaded every new lead and assignment, because it was just written proof that the past month and half were merely child's play and he was in it for the long-haul.
His case in layman's terms was to establish an influential social standing among Konoha's elite, whilst working to uncover the well hidden track left behind by the more shadier businessmen ruling the upperclass. Yet despite how much Kakashi truly enjoyed justice, he under no circumstances enjoyed the person he had to become in order to serve it.
Kakashi had made acquaintances of some very suspicious peoples, one of them being Koi Robin, Danzo's alleged step daughter. Koi Robin was the President of Communications in Danzo's company, and she herself was linked to many unscrupulous business transactions, and she happened to be just young and naive enough vie for Kakashi's affection, which he had no other option but to oblige. Koi Robin was a real card, incredibly outspoken and social. Her carefully applied sex appeal and charismatic disposition left Kakashi choking for fresh air, a moment of peace. She was simply too much for him, she exhausted Kakashi to the point where he found himself ignoring her in favor of quietly longing for Sakura's easy company and simple attraction. Sakura didn't try to be charming and beautiful, she just was.
Kakashi spare a moment to think about Sakura. It had been so long since he had seen her, nearly a month. Her and Temari had apparently been college mates, so Temari more or less kept tabs on the pink-haired girl, giving Kakashi any updates that she deemed important, however Kakashi had a feeling there was bad blood between the girls. But it really wasn't enough for him. Just thinking about Sakura with her shining emerald eyes took him to a place where nothing else seemed to matter. She had saved his life twice now and he almost wanted to put himself in harm's way so he could wake up with her fussing over him a third time. Dispelling any further thoughts of the girl, Kakashi shook his head and took to examining the file.
"Ugh." He groaned aloud. Of course he would have to work tonight. He glanced longingly at the bright orange book sitting on his desk and continued to skim the report. Kakashi was to use his newfound celebrity status to gain entrance to a popular lounge bar named Indo China. It was owned by a rather chauvinistic, trust fund artist by the name of Deidara, who was notorious for slipping out of every scandal and criminal accusation unscathed for years. In the underground, it was a well known fact Deidara was a black-market explosives dealer and Kakashi only needed a wisp of hard evidence to prove it. However, how he needed to gain said evidence was the real question. Kakashi needed to determine which route to take, he could use sex, should his preference lean towards the male persuasion, or he could use his vast knowledge of art methodology and history.
Sighing loudly, Kakashi stood up to put the paper through the shredder. It was going to be a very long night.
...
"Seriously, Pig. If you say his name one more time I swear to god I will remind you why you quit picking fist fights with me in the first place." Sakura seethed, her face pressed against the cool, marble-top bar in the blonde woman's kitchen.
Ino scoffed. "God you are such a sourpuss. I was merely commenting on how philanthropic he was. I mean, he's practically taken the art community to a whole new level."
"Since when do you give a flying fuck about art?" Sakura sat up, emitting dark waves of vexation.
Ino paused for a moment, as if she needed a moment to ponder the reasoning, a pizza-cutter propped against her lip in thought. "Well, I guess since Ishimaru Gaikotsu began taking interest in it." She turned back around, continuing to slice up their pizza.
Sakura's let her face fall back onto the countertop, heaving an exasperated sigh. "You only think with your dick." She muttered under her breath, a phrase the two girls had found to be quite funny.
"I don't see what the big deal is! Why do you insist on hating him? Here, have some wine." She handed the candy-haired girl a glass and a plate.
They chewed their food quietly as Sakura tried to formulate a response. Of course Sakura didn't hate him, she just really really wanted to hate him. Because hating Ishimaru Gaikotsu made it easier for Sakura to separate him and Hatake Kakashi in her mind. It wasn't working of course when his face was everywhere. He had been around for less than two months and already he was the talk of the town, stealing the role of Konoha's Most Eligible Bachelor from Itachi.
Moreover, he was behaving like a insatiable concupiscent playboy. To Sakura, it didn't matter that Sarutobi's company was in the best shape it had ever been, or that he'd donated large sums of money to the artist's community, because she still saw Kakashi staring back at her, with his rainy, mismatched eyes. A lonely man in need of affection, more specifically her affection. Of course, from what Ino had been telling her, Gaikotsu was never in need of affection because he got from everyone who crossed his path, right now that person being former lingerie model Koi Robin. Sakura groaned into her wine, hoping that tomorrow she'd wake up from the heart-clenching nightmare. If he could just explain what his actions meant, what they were accomplishing, then she would feel slightly less slated.
"Stop your wining, Forehead. We need to get ready or we'll be late." Ino stood, putting their dishes in the sink. Sakura continued to sit quietly, her face vacant of recognition. "Sakura? Are you going to get ready or not?"
The girl in question glanced down at her attire. Skinny jeans, red v-neck, and black flats. She shrugged. "I don't feel like getting ready, I'll just wait for you down here."
"God your mood swings lately have been so damn depressing. But fine! If you want to go looking like a bridge troll, that's fine with me. Just know you'll be the only person in jeans, I guarantee!" With that the blonde skipped out of view.
And Ino had been absolutely right. Everyone was dressed to the nines, leaving Sakura to look like someone's kid sister. One didn't simply get into Indo China, it seemed. Sasuke apparently had to call in a favour from Itachi just to get them a reservation, then upon arrival everyone had to wait ten minutes while Sakura convinced the doorman that she was, in fact, of age and that she wouldn't even know where to acquire a falsified driver's license. But once they were seated, waiting for the guest of honor, everyone had forgotten how much fun teasing Sakura had been. Sakura looked around at her friends, the ones who could make it were in attendance, but Sakura realized as she was scanning their faces how much she missed everyone. Being an adult sucked. Ino, Sasuke, Naruto, Kiba, Shikamaru(who was playing Hanafuda on his phone), and Chouji could make it. It seemed everyone else was out of town or too busy.
"Gaara!" Naruto shouted, bounding over the table to greet the redheaded man. Everyone watched amused, save for Sasuke, as Naruto and Gaara shared an incredibly bromantic reunion, as though they had been separated for years. Finally pulling away from the hug, Gaara turned to give everyone a small wave.
"Come sit by me!" Naruto begged, his cornflower-blue eyes shining.
"I think I'll be fine over here, Naruto." Gaara sensed Sasuke baleful stare and knew when to back off.
"So what's the big news?" Ino asked as she scooted over, letting Gaara sit between her and Sakura, who was being oddly quiet.
"Well, you all know my exhibition at Naruto's gallery went really well." Everyone nodded, save for Sakura who had missed the show, she just bit her lip guiltily. "The Konoha Museum of Modern Art has agreed to showcase my work." Gasps were heard around the table, followed by congratulations. Naruto ordered their first round, making sure everyone knew that Gaara wasn't to pay a single cent whilst in their company.
"So Gaara." Sakura began, her cheeks flushed slightly when he turned his sea-foam eyes on her. He gave her a small smile, one he reserved only for Sakura, and felt herself become nervous as a result. "Congratulations. I'm sorry I missed your show."
"It really is fine, it was one of many and Naruto said you had a lot of personal stuff you needed to work through." His eyes looked so earnest as he spoke, the thick dark eyelashes fluttering slightly. Sakura coughed for a moment, breaking the mood that was rapidly forming between them and gazed at the other occupants. They were all talking about sports, except for Sasuke and Shikamaru who were apparently now playing a game of Hanafuda with each other on their phones. Sakura rolled her eyes and smiled at how some things remain the same. She turned back to Gaara, who like herself, didn't care about sports. Save for Australian-style football.
"Who is sponsoring your event?" She eyed him carefully, hoping that he didn't catch the hesitation in her voice. If he noticed, he certainly didn't point it out. Gaara was always understanding like that.
"Oh, Ishimaru Gaikotsu. My sister apparently works for him and she showed him some of my stuff. I'm not the only artist. I think the guy who owns this place may have some entries, and this other guy named Sasori. And I think she even mentioned Sai getting a spot." Sakura nodded, not really listening after Gaikotsu. She had known it was him, but hearing it just made it worst. "Which reminds me, I have a serious question, Sakura."
Her eyes shot up and locked on his gaze, celadon on emerald. Gaara was, to the general public, a very serious person, so if he said something was seriously, it was an understatement. She pulled her lips into a nervous grin. "What's up?"
He chuckled quietly, despite his face being void of a smile. "It's nothing grave. I was wondering if.." Pausing for moment, Gaara ran a hand through his candy apple-red hair, the only sign of hesitation he was known for. "If it was okay with you that I showcase the photos I took of you last year."
"Gaara.. Those were kind of personal." She replied slowly.
"No, I know. I would understand if you're not comfortable with it. However, those photos are some of the best in my collection." He had a point, and Sakura knew it. While they were dating, Gaara had become consumed with an unquenchable need to photograph the roseate-haired girl. As a result, he'd taken some absolutely exquisite pictures of her, making Sakura see herself in a new light, as someone desirable and beautiful, not the short, skinny girl she always considered herself to be.
Realizing she had been taking awhile thinking about his request, she turned and gave him a sugary smile. "I guess you can, Gaara. Just nothing too revealing, alright?"
"I wouldn't dream of it." He agreed. Naruto called the redhead's name, capturing his attention and leaving Sakura to mull over her decision. Everyone was going to see her, blown up in black and white, possibly without clothing. Though she felt incredibly nervous, she also felt excited, empowered even.
"Hey Sakura-chan! Can you get the next round?" Naruto's scratchy voice broke her musings and she gave him a hard look.
"What do I look like? Your servant?"
"No, but you look young enough to boss around! So why don't you respect your elders, ne?" He replied with impish grin on his face, knowing full well the price he would pay for that comment. Sakura walked towards the bar, leaving Naruto to nurse his now busted lip. She smirked proudly to herself.
Sakura told the bartender her order and table number then leaned against the bar to sip the same beer she had been nursing, facing the other patrons. 'I wonder what it's like, living this kind of lifestyle..' Everyone here was so beautiful, so classy.
For the briefest moment, her eyes flickered over silver, making her heart race instantly. Sakura searched for a few moments, trying to remember where she had seen the starry colour. Her heart plummeted when she found the source of her anxiety. There he was. Hatake Kakashi, in all his glory. He wasn't that far off either, close enough that Sakura could make out every detail, despite the low lighting. Now he looked much more like himself, tired, wearing a rumpled shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his tie hanging loosely around his neck, his flawless mouth pulled into an easy smile.
However it wasn't his appearance that made her chest tighten, nor his mere presence. It was his company. The beautiful, statuesque Koi Robin was practically sitting in his lap, and he didn't appear to have a problem with it at all. Kakashi's hand was on her thigh, tracing small figure-eights onto her bare, sun-kissed skin while his other arm was propped lazily behind her chair. Koi Robin had long, flowing locks of silky chestnut hair that tumbled over her shoulder, tickling her endless, toned legs. Sakura watched in agony, unable to turn away, as Kakashi drug his hand up her thigh, whispering something that had the young woman blushing prettily. She nodded in reply, then rose to her feet, sashaying her hips as she disappeared behind an unmarked door.
Sakura had never felt more alone in her entire life. She was certain that she was the only woman in existence who was granted with such oddly specific, terrible luck. Maybe Kurenai had experienced similar difficulties, but Sakura knew talking to the ravenette was simply out of the question. Sakura spared a glance over shoulder, making sure her presence wasn't missed. Her friends were watching, enthralled, as Ino and Naruto animatedly told one of their many stories from college. Sakura was surprised to to see that even the more stoic boys were hanging on the blonds' every word. And apparently their drinks had arrived. Deciding to resume her stalking, Sakura turned back to Kakashi.
It was odd, she realized, watching the 'events' unfold, because she had no dialogue to pair with the scene, and she also had no prior knowledge of the people in question, save for Kakashi, but she knew that wasn't really the silver-haired man who starred in her dreams. Koi Robin returned, a handsome blond man in tow. Sakura recognized him from the tabloids, but she couldn't seem to grasp his name. Koi Robin bowed, possibly in apology, then waved to the men before walking out the door, unknowingly leaving behind a trail scorch marks from Sakura's burning glare.
The two men were shaking hands and talking amiably, the blond realizing why he recognized Kakashi. Deciding that Sakura really didn't want to see anymore, she set her empty bottle on the counter and ordered a draft, but when she turned back her gaze locked momentarily with Kakashi's. His eyes widened a fraction, yet without a hint of recognition, before turning back to his blond companion. Angry and somehow embarrassed, Sakura scurried back to her table, slipping back into her seat unnoticed.
...
What in the hell was she doing here? Why did Temari decide to withhold that information? He could see from here that the red-haired artist he was sponsoring, Temari's brother, was sitting beside her. So why hadn't Temari warned him? He nodded when he needed, and responded in short answer to Deidara's chattering, achieving a level a multitasking ability Kakashi himself was unaware he possessed, his mind stiff reeling.
He hadn't missed that look in her eyes. Sakura looked absolutely forlorn, and judging by the way her lips were set in a hard line, he knew she was angry. Why did she have to be here tonight? It was already hard enough dealing Koi Robin-who at least proved useful in introducing him to Deidara-but now working was going to be impossible when visions of azalea-haired girls wearing low-rise, denim jeans were prancing through his head. Kakashi sponsored Temari's little brother, the promise of Sakura's presence at opening night of the exhibition had been guaranteed. He easily could have just requested his targets, Deidara and Sasori's work be on display, but he went out of his way to reserve Gaara a spot, and Sai because he owed him one after trashing his apartment and forcing the raven to help him clean it up.
"Well hey, listen man." At this Kakashi gave the man his complete attention rather than a small portion, and looked into his blue orbs through half-lidded eyes, a hint of desire flickering in his brown depths. Deidara caught the suggestive glint and smirked. "I was going to say I had some work to do upstairs, but if you can think of something better to do, I've got plenty of space in my office, yeah." Deidara purred, taking a step towards the silver-haired man.
Kakashi had been hoping that the blond preferred woman, but apparently Kakashi laid the smoldering gaze on a hair too thick. He looked over to where Sakura sat one last time, and was despaired to see her watching him closely over her pint of beer. Clenching his teeth, Kakashi swallowed and slipped into professional mode, turning off his feelings like the flip of a switch. He had done this more times than he was comfortable admitting, and he knew when to accept the reality of the situation. In no time at all, Kakashi would be inside Deidara's office, gaining access to any information hiding there. He found himself thankful that cameras weren't allowed on the premises for what he was about to do.
Kakashi licked his lips, letting the pink organ drag slowly over his mouth before speaking. Bringing his lips to the blond man's ear, his voice dropped to a dangerously sexy note, "I'm sure we can think of plenty to do." Then he pulled away, catching the man in short, sensual kiss, ignoring the set of emerald eyes boring into him. Without another look behind him, Kakashi followed Deidara up the stairs.
...
I'm in love with a dying man, I have done everything I can.
