Fortuitous

Chapter Ten

-Undertaking-

Sanosuke walked amongst the vendors and stores of Konoha, browsing for something to get Talia for her birthday. Twenty-three wasn't really that big of a deal as far as birthday markers, but it would be the first birthday that they'd spend together, and he wanted it to be special. The only problem was that he had no idea to get her.

He was obviously going to have flowers sent to the hospital, that was a given. He'd already ordered the arrangement he wanted and written the note to go along with them. And he was going to take her out to dinner at her favorite restaurant, before going dancing. She'd mentioned once that she liked to dance, and while he didn't particularly care for it, he knew doing so would make her happy. But he needed to get her something thoughtful. Something she would have to hold for the rest of her days, that would make her think of him, but also represented her.

An annoyed sigh escaped him as he came up with nothing as he looked around the stores. Jewelry seemed like an easy way out, and so he was trying to avoid that. He knew she enjoyed reading, but a book was a boring present. If she wanted to read it that badly she would just go and buy it for herself. So what to get her?

He stopped suddenly, staring into the window of a jewelry store. He knew that jewelry was a simple present, but this was perfect. It was a round, golden locket, with small flowers engraved around the edges of the outside. Going into the store, he quickly bought it and had the jeweler engrave a message for Talia on the back. Then he had it boxed and wrapped, and with that taken care of, made his way home.

When he got there he took out a stack of pictures of him and Talia that were taken by his mother while they were at their beach vacation, as well as a few others. Picking out two that he felt were good enough to go inside, he cut them into perfect circles and placed his portrait on the left, and hers on the right, before placing it back in its box and wrapping it once more. Just as he finished tying the bow, his door rang. He absentmindedly set the box down on his kitchen table, going to find out who it was. He knew it wasn't Talia, for she was still at work, and if it were any of his siblings he would have sensed their sand.

Opening the door, he blinked when he saw one of his mother's messengers there. The man bowed. "Uchiha-sama, Natsumi-sama wishes to see you right away. It's urgent." He said.

Sanosuke nodded. "Right." he said, stepping onto his porch and closing the door, before disappearing in a swirl of sand, leaving the messenger behind.

When he reformed, it was outside his mother's office at the Anbu Headquarters. He knocked three times, wondering what was so urgent that she needed to call him in instead of just schedule him for a mission. Hearing her soft voice allow him entrance, he opened the door and walked inside, seeing the pink haired woman sitting on her desk, reading over a scroll.

"You wanted to see me mother?" Sanosuke asked, shutting the door behind him.

Natsumi looked up from what she was reading. "I need you to retrieve something very important."

"What is it?"

She offered him the parchment in her hand, "Scrolls from the Daimyo just outside the five great shinobi countries. Word is there is a coup that could start with some rogues. The plans have been drawn up and are kept there. I need them so we can create a counterstrike."

He took the paper from her and read over it quickly. "Alright." he nodded, looking back up at her. "I shall need at least two people to go with me, but I believe we can be back in less than a week. Two at the most, and only if something arises while we're out there."

Natsumi conceded. "Pick whomever you wish. I will expect you back no later than two weeks."

Sanosuke folded the paper and slipped it into his kunai pouch. "We shall depart immediately." He said, moving to leave. He hesitated then, turning around and facing her. "Mother…may I ask a favor of you?"

"What is it Sanosuke?" the pink haired ninja asked as she went around her desk and sat at her chair.

"Talia's birthday is in eight days. If I am not back by then, will you please celebrate it with her?" he requested. "I don't want her to feel my absence, and you are good at distracting people and keeping them happy."

Her expression softened before she nodded. "Of course Sanosuke…you are going to bid her farewell before you leave, aren't you?"

"Yes." He smiled slightly. "I never leave without doing so." He moved forward and kissed her cheek. "I will see you in a week mom. I love you." he said, the grains of his sand beginning to swirl around him so that he could go to the hospital and see Talia.

He reappeared in the lobby, and before he could say anything the receptionist pointed off to her right. "Exam room nineteen Uchiha-sama." She said, earning a nod from the ebony haired man as he set off to find Talia. When he found the room, he paused. He couldn't just go in, Hayate would kill him. But he needed to leave to prepare his team as soon as possible, so he didn't have time to wait on her. He sighed, and just then a nurse happened to walk by. Sanosuke grabbed her arm to halt her.

"Excuse me, but can you please tell Talia I'm here to see her?" he gestured towards the door. "It's urgent."

The brunette woman nodded. "Of course Uchiha-sama." She smiled, turning and knocking on the wood before disappearing into the room. And a few moments later Talia came out, dressed in a pair of black scrubs, her hair in a long braid.

"Baby what's up?" she asked, looking worried. "Is something wrong?" Talia stopped when she was in front of him, resting her hands on his chest and smoothing out his clothes.

He placed his hands over hers and shook his head. "No. I just came to tell you that I must leave today on an important Anbu assignment." He told her. "And I do not know precisely when I will return."

Talia frowned, lowering her gaze. "Oh…well alright."

"Hey." Sanosuke reached out and gently gripped her chin, tilting her head up so that he could look at her face. "I should not be gone longer than a week, so I will be back in time for your birthday. Worst case scenario it turns into two weeks, but I doubt that will happen." He smiled slightly.

She sighed, but leaned up to kiss him. "Just be careful alright? I haven't been feeling so well lately but I know I'm not sick, I think…I might be nervous about…what we talked about a couple nights ago at dinner. You know…since you never answered."

He frowned. "I'm sorry…I was just surprised is all." He cupped her cheek, stroking it with his thumb as he thought it over in his mind. There really was no reason they couldn't live together. Talia was the only woman he wanted to be with. He was comfortable around her. And if they shared a living space, he would get to see her every day when he was not gone on missions. That was what he wanted, so why didn't he just say yes? Then the answer came to him.

He was scared.

What if living together made them break up? He had heard plenty of stories about that happening to other couples before. It was a big step, and with her around all the time, she would see all of him. And what if she didn't like what she saw? He knew he didn't deserve a woman as wonderful as she was, and he also knew that he was not a perfect person. But for her, he could try to be.

"Why don't you stay at my place while I am gone?" he said eventually. "That way you can get a feel for it, and know what it will be like when I'm away on a mission." He explained. "I just…don't want us to take such a big step if we aren't completely prepared…and even though you may say you'll be okay with everything, I want to be sure." He stroked her cheek once more. "And when I return, we can talk about it again and make a decision."

Talia placed her hand over his and pulled it away. "Fine…" she said sadly, kissing him once more before she backed away. "Come back safe and be careful." She turned around and disappeared into the exam room.

The Uchiha let out a sigh, knowing that he had upset her even though he had tried to fix it. But he didn't have time to make things better. She had a job to do, and so did he. He still needed to put together his team and change into his Anbu gear before he could depart. And he wanted to return before her birthday passed so that he could make it up to her. Set in his decision, he disappeared in a swirl of sand, hoping his homecoming would be happier than his farewell.