title Give and Take
summary The eyes just know.
"Boss. I've got news," Tenten said as soon as the line connected. Silence answered her. She heard Sakura sigh before she finally replied.
"Okay."
"Where are you?"
"Sai Ying Pun. Come alone," Sakura ordered. She hung up.
Tenten stared at her phone for a minute. Listening to the beeps as the call ended. Lee glanced at her before he resumed wrapping his knuckles.
"Are you heading out?" he asked her.
"Something's not right," she muttered, not hearing his question. That really got Lee's attention. Lowering his hands into his lap, he straightened his back.
"Is everything alright?" he demanded.
"Of course it's not. You know how she is," sighed Tenten as she grabbed her jacket. Lee chuckled.
"Yeah. Good luck with that," he called after her as she strode out of the training hall.
"Luck isn't what I need!" Tenten yelled without looking back at him.
Tenten parked her car a little while later. She walked into the lobby, her eyes flickering all around glossy, white room. A man wearing a baseball cap held the door for her as she passed. Tenten climbed the stairs up to the third floor, her hands in the pockets of her jacket.
Sakura answered the door. A white robe wrapped around her. Her wet hair curling at the ends.
The apartment in Sai Ying Pun was a newer purchase. It wasn't technically one of Sakura's actual properties. More like a safe house if she needed somewhere to rest for the night.
"What is it?" Sakura asked as she let Tenten inside. The door clicking shut after her.
Tenten glanced around.
"There's no one else here. Relax," Sakura then said. She gave Tenten a light push to the shoulder. When Tenten didn't crack a smile, Sakura studied the tightness of her face.
"Sit," she ordered. And Tenten settled in the plastic stool without protest. She sank into the chair with an odd sort of heaviness. Elbow up on the counter, Tenten watched Sakura run her fingers along one of the glass bottles on the counter. She poured them each a glass with a practiced hand before she slid one of the drinks to Tenten.
"Cognac?" Tenten asked, fingers curling around the cool glass.
"Do you care?" Sakura questioned in return.
"No," snorted Tenten. They clinked the drinks together before they drank in silence.
Sakura refilled Tenten's glass when it emptied. And Tenten did the same for her. Sakura rubbed her hand along her phoenix tattoo, her eyes finding the window above the sink. Hands falling heavy onto the counter once the glasses were empty again.
"Did you eat yet?" Sakura queried.
"No."
"Good."
An hour later, they sat at a small, square table. The fake wood top was slightly sticky. The cook shouted orders in the kitchen. Servers yelled back as they ran around with metal trays heavy with noodles and still-steaming dumplings. The patrons of the restaurant chattered as they gobbled down their meals.
"How were things in Tokyo?" Tenten asked.
"Laau gaau," Sakura replied. She ran her fingers through her hair. She fiddled with her necklace; the clasp had twisted all the way to the front. Sakura tugged the clasp back where it belonged. She reached for the box of cigarettes in her jacket pocket. Stopped when she realized that they were in public. She took a slurp of her lukewarm tea instead.
"Messy?" Tenten repeated as she pulled a pair of chopsticks from the container on the side. She handed them to Sakura before retrieving another for herself.
Sakura's eyes met hers. That was the advantage of knowing someone for so long. Tenten stopped asking questions. They ate their dim sum in silence. The only one who felt uncomfortable was probably the waitress.
It was only later that Sakura responded. Sitting on top of the old building. The smells of cooked meat and soy sauce drifting up from the ground level. A cigarette burning between her fingertips as she swung her legs back and forth. The white wisps drifting up toward the heaven, staining her nails with the smell of tobacco.
"The vultures are circling now that the Sarutobi-gumi's trying to decide on a successor," Sakura told her.
Tenten snorted, glancing down at her nails. "Should've decided earlier. The old man's like a million." The corners of Sakura's mouth pulled up a little despite the grim topic. Fumes spilled from the corner of her lips.
She caught the way Tenten shot her a furtive look before she asked, "And the Kumicho?"
"He wants stability."
"Typical. Sounds like him," Tenten then remarked. And Sakura could feel her building up to something. She decided to let her try.
"You know, the funniest part about this is that the Inuzuka-kai agrees with him," Sakura pointed out.
"That'll be a first," Tenten responded. She tossed her lighter up in the air and caught it with one hand. "Anyway, my news. There was a police bust last night. A bunch of street racers in Kennedy Town. Apparently they were betting with drugs instead of cash," Tenten reported.
"Arrested?" Sakura asked without bothering to hear the rest of the story.
"One-Ear Wu and some of his crew. Cops confiscated the coke too."
Sakura sighed. "Little fuckers. Getting comfortable and doing useless shit."
Tenten nodded. She stayed quiet as Sakura considered what to do.
"Are they being held in Stanley?" Sakura inquired.
"Yeah. They might get moved to Pak Sha Wan if they're convicted," Tenten informed her.
"They will be. Pok gaai," Sakura grumbled the curse almost as an afterthought. And as she stewed, Sakura was very conscious of the way Tenten was looking at her. Not like she was waiting for orders. But like she was trying to decide whether to do something or not.
Tenten's eyes flickered to her again. And then down at the street. The way she asked her next question was deliberate. "The Kumicho sounds busy." An awkward way to change topics. Sakura humored her.
"Busy putting out fires," Sakura agreed.
"And that's why I saw Namikaze coming out of your building earlier?" Tenten went on.
Sakura paused. She took another drag of her cigarette. Clenching her teeth, she tilted her head toward Tenten. When she exhaled, the smoke seeped from her nostrils. "Did you?" Her voice growing soft.
Sakura was good at reading faces. She was great at reading Tenten's. She didn't like what she saw there. Blow for blow, Tenten could match her in a fight. But there was a reason why she had always been a step ahead of Tenten, who wore her heart on her sleeve.
"Tenten, I like you. But watch your mouth," Sakura warned. She ground her cigarette out against the edge of Tenten's jacket. Listening to the fabric sizzle, smelling the synthetic fibers singe in the heat. Tenten's eyes didn't leave hers.
Sakura got to her feet. "And yes, you did see him." She draped her jacket over her shoulders. "Nothing brings people together better than mutual hatred."
"Hatred of what?" Tenten asked.
Sakura's smile returned as she looked down at the other woman. "What did you see, Tenten?"
Tenten swallowed. Her jaw tight. "Nothing." And as soon as the word left her mouth, she turned away. Like saying the word filled her with shame.
Sakura left her there. She lit another cigarette as she headed down the stairs. Her heels tapping against the concrete as she followed the spiral down, down. Soles touching each step in an echoing rhythm. All the way down to the ground.
Rain began to fall heavy on the island a couple days later. Battering the trees, beating the tender leaves into submission. Tapping against glass panes in an effort to wash away the grime. And it felt like the rain was even beating down on the people, who hurried up and down the sidewalks with their shoulders hunched. Strings of their hoods drawn tight. Humidity fell on the city with suffocating force.
Sakura glanced at the glowing screen. It was another call from Itachi. She silenced it and flipped the phone over before she rolled onto her stomach. She would call him back later. Her arm dangled off the edge of the bed.
"Here."
Sakura looked up. Minato stood in his robe, holding out a bottle of water to her.
"Thanks."
She sat up and twisted the cap. Listening to the plastic snap as the seal broke. Minato sat next to her as she took a few gulps. Her eyes drifted to him as she replaced the cap. The pink lines on the left side of chest looked old and faded. But she recognized burn scars when she saw them. Minato followed her gaze and looked down.
"My father had a drinking problem," he told her.
"Save the sob story. I'm not interested," she interrupted. "You think anyone living like us had a happy family life?"
Minato was quiet for a moment. And then he chuckled. "You're right, I suppose." Hie gaze drifted to the window. At the cacophony of orange, green, and red glows from the neon signs above and below. The lights filled the window, reflected off the streets slick with rain.
"I know this is poor manners. But I have to ask."
Sakura stared down at the water bottle. "What?"
"Word is that you have Boss Uchiha eating out of the palm of your hand. What're you doing here with me?"
That made Sakura look up. A smirk curling her lips as she looked Minato in the face.
"What a boring question to ask, Mr. Namikaze," she replied.
A smile appeared on his face. The corners of his eyes crinkling just a little as he laughed. "Then let me ask you a more interesting question."
Sakura motioned for her him to proceed.
"What do you want this to be?" he inquired. She heard his hand slide over the bed and its silky sheets. Then she felt his fingers curl around her thigh. Her gaze flickered down to the touch, then back up to his face.
"You overestimate my interest in you. You were the one that approached me, remember?" Sakura retorted. She slapped his hand away.
She got to her feet to begin dressing.
"That's true. But let me just request one thing from you then, Dragon Head."
Sakura glanced over her shoulder at him.
"If you're going to try to kill me, at least give me a 15 minute head-start."
Sakura turned away so he wouldn't see her smile. "...Maybe," she replied.
They didn't say anything else as she dressed. She stepped into her heels and buckled the straps across her ankles. Her gold earrings jangled together as she straightened. Minato sat in the same spot, his arms folded across his chest.
"You know... you're not quite what I expected," he suddenly said to her.
Sakura draped her coat over her shoulders with an irritable click of her tongue. "Fuck your expectations," she snapped as she grabbed the door handle. Minato's laughter rang in her ears as she stepped into the hallway.
"Call me!" he called after her just before the door slammed shut.
A loud buzz rang out through the room. She knew when Tobirama sat. His hands hitting the table. Handcuffs jangling. The guards that were supposed to stand behind him eyed Sakura through the shatterproof glass. When she nodded, they took several steps back, eyes flickering to the security camera, which was angled the wrong way.
She took her time looking at him. Her gaze sliding over to his face. Around his cropped hair and his stubbly jaw. Freezing on his busted lip. He already had the receiver held up to his ear. Waiting. Eyes too bright with excitement as he watched her pick up her receiver on her end.
"Nice lipstick," she greeted him.
Tobirama smiled. Really smiled. Running a hand through his hair as he even chuckled a little. "I thought you liked One-Ear Wu."
"I did until he lost me..." Sakura trailed off. And then she raised five of her fingers twice. Tobirama's eyebrow rose.
"10 keys? Diu lei. No wonder you're pissed," he snorted.
Sakura leaned back in her seat. Her fingers tapping against the table as she thought. "How long did they put you in solitary for that?" she asked.
"Just three days. I didn't kill him. Probably broke his eye socket. Definitely broke his arm," answered Tobirama.
She had toyed with the idea of just having One-Ear Wu killed in prison. The guards could do it easily. Or even one of the other inmates could've been persuaded.
But she didn't know why Tobirama had come to mind. And she was still surprised that he had agreed so easily to it. All it had taken was for her to sneak him some cigarettes and other goods. She hadn't even said 'please'.
"Solitary must've been boring," she remarked.
"I had plenty to think about."
"Like killing me?" Sakura pretended to tease. But she was serious as she watched his face.
"Sometimes," he answered. His voice suddenly low. He lifted his chin to meet her eyes. "But then... sometimes..." His words softened around the edges. "I think that it'd all just be so fucking boring without you around."
"Diu lan," she sighed.
"Hou sei la lei," he answered just as easily. And even the swears they threw at each other didn't sting. They had lost that effect long ago.
"...Jing-Mei."
"Yeah?"
"You're the worst."
"Yeah. I know."
I won't be updating Northern Lights on from this site from this point on. If you want to continue to read, please follow me on tumblr.