Now hatred is by far the longest pleasure; men love in haste, but they detest and leisure. -Lord Byron
A/N: And knightchaser as for Itachi not knowing everything for once... hasn't your mother ever told you... 'it takes a woman' bwhahaha (No offense gentlemen if there happen to be any about) Thanks for the love everyone, I'm amazed that an AU is getting the attention it is, I adore everyone one of your reviews big or small! Keep em coming!
Description: Some dream of beautiful, flawless jewels and usually someday is given a flawless token of appreciation from their beloved. But one little pink haired trickster steals said jewels from those unaware... Beware she who is blessed by the Trickster god.
Disclaimer:I do not own Naruto or the characters therein. I just like to torture them now and again for my own amusement… Nor do I own, Thief: Deadly Shadows, which inspired this plot or the word taffer, which comes from subsequent game.
Chapter 12: Ode to a Brandy
Sakura gazed up at the moon from her position in the shadows. It felt good to be in her working leathers again. She'd went to her apartment to pick up her spare thief's garb, since the one she'd used to crawl down into the dank den of the Pagan's had totally been thrashed from that escapade. A smile touched her lips as she moved through the shadows, slowly, patiently making her way to Shino's shop. Itachi was going to kill her if he found out she'd left the manor. It had only been four days since she'd been injured by a monster made of nightmares. Oh well, she reasoned, if he found out, she'd tell him to kiss her ass. The pink haired thief was still a little sore from his baiting her at the table.
The thief shuddered at the feel of the stiff fingers scratching against the front of her leg from with in her take pouch. The sooner she was rid of the thing the better. The pinkette stepped into Shino's shop, and leaned against the wall keeping her hood low over her face as she waited for the customer he was currently with to leave. Once the petty thief left the fence's store, she turned and snapped the deadbolt. Sakura could see his surprise on his face at her arrival. Fury hot like an inferno rolled through her veins and in a sweeping movement that sent her cloak swirling, Sakura reached over the counter and grabbed the shopowner by the collar and put a kunai to his throat all in one furious swoop.
"Bastard! You didn't think I'd come alive," the female hissed, ignoring the pain in her ribs. She was still healing, and the quick movements tugged on her hidden bandages, reminding her of her bruises.
"The thought crossed my mind," was the dry reply. He wasn't obviously overly bothered by her display of violence, "It's been five days."
Growling Sakura released her hold on him and sheathed the blade before reaching into the pouch and pulling out the cloth wrapped Jacknall's Paw. She lay it down on the counter, "I fulfilled my part of the bargain. The information you give me better have been worth the hell I went through to get this thing!"
"The rumors of your temper Pink Devil hold much truth in them," the corner of Shino's lip tilted up into a smirk. He reached out and grabbed the mummified hand and lifted it into the light. He picked up the magnifying glass sitting on the wooden counter and studied the Jacknall's Paw several moments before setting the objects back down. His usually expressionless face lifted, his serious brown eyes met hers, "This is the real thing..."
Sarcasm laced the woman's voice as she snapped, "It's not an object you can easily pass off with a fake... even if you wanted to..."
"Indeed," Shino adjusted his glasses and then let out a sigh, "As for the information you're after... Did you not find an interesting... thing down in the Pagan's den as I said you would?"
Sakura nodded but did not speak. She might be able to get more details out of the stoic shop keeper if she stayed silent. Shino wasn't a fence you rushed.
Shino turned his back and strode over to one of his shelves and grabbed a dusty rolled up parchment and walked back to the counter. He began to explain to the curious thief, "This," he laid the paper down and slid it over to her, "is the only copy of Lord Orochimaru's manor that you will find... that is complete. I might as well give it to you since no one is insane enough to want to break into his mansion."
The pinkette leveled a stare at him from beneath her granite hued hood, "This is nice and all... but why would I go traipsing into that psychopath's... manor?" Sakura blatantly ignored the fact that she had mentioned that very thing to Itachi a few days ago.
"If you will be patient... I will give you the information you seek..." Shino's voice was hard with reprimand.
"My apologies Aburame," Sakura replied stiffly.
"You saw the thing the Pagans were keeping... and I don't mean those damn trees either," the male continued as though Sakura had just agreed with him, "You may be interested to know that... Lord Orochimaru is noble with nothing but a title now... word on the street has it, that he's used up all his family's money..."
The contents of the letter that she'd gotten from Madam Shizimi's office immediately clicked in her brain, connecting the bits of information together. And small snatches of the conversation she caught from his and Lord Sasuke in the park that night, gave her reason to believe that Lord Sasuke was probably funding him as well. She nodded, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, "He's been borrowing money from sponsors."
"You already know of his connection to Lord Sasuke?" Shino inquired dryly.
Sakura took the chance to admitting to the knowledge, "Yes... and of the Akatsuki."
"That's some dangerous information for a mere thief..." the fence eyed her suspiciously.
She only shrugged, "One could say... the same holds true ... for a mere... fence." Her lips twisted as she took pleasure in throwing his lofty words right back at him.
Sakura flinched when he smiled at her. The muscles around his mouth seemed to twist almost unnaturally, giving the impression that those particular muscles were unused to working, "... I had a cousin... who used to work as a servant in Lord Orochimaru's manor," the parody of a grin gave way to a frown which looked much more natural on his stoic face, "She quit a few months ago, claiming that weird things... were going on in that place. Servants started disappearing... and anyone who mentioned it... disappeared as well... those who live in the same section of town as him, hear strange noises and growling at night. They even say if it's windy at night... and you listen closely enough, you can hear cries begging for help whispering in your ears. The locals and all the shopkeepers have taken to closing up before dark. There are even rumors suggesting... that Lord Orochimaru no longer has any servants... at least any that are alive..."
The words he spoke were creepy to begin with but hearing them in that emotionless tenor of his was just freaky. A shiver ran down the entire length of her body. She knew there a vein of truth in those rumors, after going toe to toe with the beast under the city. Sakura sighed, "Do you have the plans to Lord Sasuke's manor as well? I brought coin with me..."
Shino eyed her for a moment but then nodded, "Yes, but I will include it with our deal."
Sakura watched as he bent and lifted out another rolled parchment and handed it to her. She grasped the edge of the paper, listening to the crinkling sound. His grip was firm and her eyes lifted to his. His voice was cold and emotionless as he said, "Once you leave this shop... I have no memory of this conversation..." he let out a sigh, "And... you'd be wise not to mention this to the Thieves' Guild either..."
Sakura dipped her head in understanding. He released his hold and Sakura took the two maps and stuffed it into her belt and pulled her shirt over the top. She went to the door and before unlatching the hard bolt, "I was not your source ... in securing the Jacknall's Paw." The warning in her voice was unmistakeable.
Unlocking the door, she slipped out into the night. Traversing deep in the comfort of darkness Sakura made her way back to the Uzumaki manor. She shimmied up the tree and climbed into her room. A victorious smile tugged on her lips but it dissipated the moment she heard her window slam shut behind her. A familiar male hand grabbed her shoulder roughly causing her to wince painfully. Itachi Uchiha wrenched her hood down and the breath left the female's body when his striking angry black eyes imprisoned hers. With the moonlight as a halo around him, the foreboding, predatory aura he gave off was impressive to say the least. Noticing the direction of her thoughts, she ruthlessly clamped down on them and halted them in their tracks. She would not allow herself to be impressed by any noble.
He growled lowly, "Where in the hell have you been? I shouldn't be surprised that you would break your word and sneak out..."
Sakura glared at him irritated by his condescending tone. She bit back, poking an irate finger into the center of his chest, "I made no such oath. I only said... that I wouldn't act... yet. And what in kami's name are you doing in my room in the first place in the middle of the night? Are you stalking me now sheriff?"
"I came looking for you an hour ago... I," he released a calming breath realizing that arguing with her would be more trouble than it was worth, "one of my contacts ... got in touch with me. It seems that my other contacts that I sent out for information... have all disappeared..."
Goosebumps rose on her flesh at the word disappear. She'd heard it too many times that night. She swallowed and then turned her face away not realizing how vulnerable she looked at that very moment beneath the pale moonlight. He opened his mouth to say something but then shook his head, "Go ahead and freshen up and put on some proper clothing. Meet me in the drawing room."
Sakura bit her lip as she watched him leave. He paused at the door, looking both ways down the hall, insuring it was empty before shutting the door behind him. The pink haired woman was torn between telling him the information she just learned or keeping it to herself. Stepping out of her working leathers she paused half way when she realized what she was thinking. Was she starting to trust Mr. Stick Up My Ass Sheriff? She quickly pulled a yellow colored gown over her head. Putting her hair up ponytail, since she didn't feel like brushing it out again. She took the two maps and her tool belt and put them in her hiding spot beside the mattress spring under her bed.
Smoothing out her dress and squaring her shoulders she strode out into the hall and entered the drawing room without bothering to knock. Lord Itachi was half bent over as he worked to stoking the fire in the cobblestone fireplace to roaring life. He looked up to find her looking at him, her teeth gnawing at her lip. The dark haired male cleared his throat, "I must apologize Lady Haruno..."
Sakura was visibly taken aback by the proffered apology, "Whatever the hell for?"
"I shouldn't have been waiting in your room," he sighed as he sat down in the plush maroon chair, before burying a hand into his bangs, "I grew impatient when you weren't there... because I wanted to discuss the situation with you and..." He broke off, his mouth firming as he turned his head away.
The pinkette's eyes widened. Whatever his contact told him must have gotten to him, she thought to herself, there was no way that the man sitting down in front of her would apologize to someone like her for anything. She sighed at him, "Do you think Lord Uzumaki would be overly upset if we raided the liqueur cabinet?"
When the lordling didn't reply she strode over and rummaged through said cabinet and settled on a sweet fruit brandy. She grabbed a couple stemmed glasses and quickly uncorking the bottle, she poured them each a serving. Well hers was a bit more generous than his, but that didn't matter to her way of thinking. Juggling the glasses and the bottle over to the fireplace, she set the container down onto the small oak table that sat between the chairs before offering the lord a glass. He glanced up, and with a weakly murmured thanks he took it from her. He watched her with a raised brow as she emptied her glass in one go, wincing slightly at the burn in her throat. This stuff was stronger than the sake her master had often kept in the cabinet back in the apartment.
"That is not very ladylike Lady Haruno," Lord Itachi raised a brow at her as she poured herself another glass.
"So?" Sakura huffed before sitting down in the chair opposite him, leaning back and crossing her legs, her posture not at all proper.
The lordling shook his head before sipping from his own glass. He played with the stem a few more moments before saying, "I don't know... whether to believe my contact... the things... he said... are..."
"Unbelievable," She finished for him, before swallowing the rest of her brandy and set the stemmed cup down next to the half empty bottle. She sighed in contentment as the warm curling relaxing feeling that only alcohol could induce settled into her limbs. Sakura decided to be truthful, at least for the most part, "I don't know my lord. I think that... this thing might just be too big for just the two of us. I'm almost afraid... that Lord Naruto might... be right."
At that last statement Itachi sent a strange look in her direction, "Right about what?"
"Maybe Lord Orochimaru is making himself some kind of zombie army or something," Sakura replied ignoring the incredulous look on the sheriff's face. She rolled her eyes at him, "... I'm thinking... I should just break the hell into Orochimaru's manor and torch the damn place and save us the trouble," she lifted her hand and ticked her fingers, "First there was that monster the Pagan's had. My Lord, that thing had a woman's face, but... the rest of it was anything but human... Then there's the disappearances of not only the homeless on the street, but now I've heard that the servants from his manor... are all gone... and the citizens in that neighborhood complain about strange noises that come from his manor at night... Did you know that even the shop owners in that district close shop before dark?"
"Most of this is just here-say," Lord Itachi shook his head at the woman. The things she spoke of could not be true. His mind refused to accept it. It sounded like a fairytale mothers used to scare their children into obedience, so they wouldn't go wandering around where they shouldn't.
She shook her head and then inquired thoughtfully, putting a finger to her lips, "Have you asked the city guard that patrol that district anything?"
"No," the lordling denied, "But... now that all these strange rumors have risen... I will definitely make some inquiries." He mentally began to berate himself for the oversight. He should have more pride as a noble. He was letting a thief, a woman no less, do all the groundwork which by all rights, he should have been the one leading the investigation.
Sakura rose to her feet and stood in front of the lord planting her hands on her hips before catching his wayward gaze with her own, "Did you know... my lord that ... Lord Orochimaru... has run out of familial fortune?"
"What?" the Uchiha looked shocked at that tidbit of information, "You cannot be serious."
She leaned down grasping the arms of the chair, not realizing that the top of her bodice opened slightly, giving the lord a very interesting look at the pale creamy mounds of skin beneath the yellow material and lace. His protest died on his lips. However Itachi's attention was snatched away from the suddenly pleasant train of thought that had began to weave itself into his brain as she said, "You're brother... the Akatsuki... the Pagans... are all ... funding whatever it is that he's doing in that basement of his..."
"Sasuke wouldn't..." Lord Itachi's eyes widened, the memory of the small snatches of conversation they had caught in the park five nights ago replayed itself in his brain. His mouth firmed in an unforgiving line, "Perhaps... that is the reason why he was so desperate to take the High Lord position..."
"If he secures that position... he also secures the family fortune correct?" Sakura arched a pink brow at the seated male.
"Y...yes," the implications were finally beginning to sink into his stubborn brain.
Sakura straightened, her usually hard eyes softened at the lost look on the usually self assured lordling. It just didn't seem right to see him this way. The pink haired thief surprised the male and herself when she reached out and placed her warm hand over his gently, "I know you don't like the idea... but maybe... it would be a good idea... for me to break into Lord Sasuke's manor and... try and find more information..."
"I don't understand," the dark haired male shook his head, speaking as if he hadn't heard her proffered suggestion.
"Hmm," Sakura murmured softly, her voice a gentle hum, "It's hard to understand anything that involves those you care about. If we hurry up and do something about this... then maybe we can somehow save your brother from this trouble he's bringing upon himself. Lord Orochimaru is a very bad man. You know your brother, even though he's doing something he shouldn't... the price of making a deal with Orochimaru is probably far deeper than he realizes."
Lord Itachi's chin lifted sharply at the woman's unexpected words. It was almost as if she was trying to soothe him. He frowned, weren't they supposed to hate each other? She was a criminal, and yet he could no longer pull up the righteous fury she used to induce in him. Sure she stole the sharingan ruby from his prestigious family and humiliated him in the process but it was good thing in the end that she had. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, maybe his tired brain was reacting to the brandy.
When Sakura realized she was still touching him she removed her hand and cradled it against her chest. Swallowing hard, she said while pivoting on her heel to exit the suddenly too small room, "I... I should go back to my chambers... if that is all..."
"Wait," the slightly pleading sound in the his tenor stopped her in her tracks.
Turning she tilted her head at him inquisitively.
"There is going to be a ball held by the Hyuuga clan at the end of this week. I would like to escort you," Lord Uchiha suddenly announced out of the blue.
Sakura nodded, inwardly stifling a groan. She was going to have to wear a damn kimono. They were worse than the dresses, in her opinion. With the layers, and the specific way to tie the obi, and the mannerisms required were all different then what most of her lessons had focused on. The playful grin twisting her lips and the sarcastic jab effectively helped to relax the tense posture in the lordling's shoulders, "I would be honored that his highness will lower himself to wanting to take a street wench like myself to the ball..." then to his consternation she saluted him like a soldier, "Your wish is my command sheriff."
Suddenly he rose to his feet and in three short strides he stopped to stand in front of her. Sakura immediately lost all her bravado at the intense look on his eyes. He grasped her chin in gentle, well-shaped fingers and turned her face to the side, "The bruising is nearly gone. It should be alright for you to ... attend."
Fighting the blush coloring her cheeks, "Of... of course..."
The brisk refreshing rainwater scent that was Itachi washed over her now overloading senses. Her logical side was screaming at her to runaway but she stood there, gazing up at him dumbfounded. Her lips parted slightly in surprise as he bent his head to take her trembling mouth with his. The sensation that built in her chest from contact with him sent waves of burning longing she didn't quite understand through every inch of her body. Shocks of sensation sent the tips of her fingers tingling and instinctively she buried her hands into his hair, surprised by the sinfully silky texture.
Green eyes widened with shock and she opened her mouth she felt his tongue run along the seam of her lips. When his tongue slipped into her mouth, Sakura was ashamed to admit that she felt weak around the knees and she couldn't help but respond in kind. His large hand went to the small of her back, and he pulled her against his hard chest, his fingers burning imprints through the seemingly too thin material of her dress. After several moments of plundering her mouth he released her. The pinkette found herself gazing into the depths of his eyes, and she felt her heart constrict ever so slightly when she realized that he had small, tiny brown specks in his seemingly endless black eyes.
His voice was husky when he murmured, "Thank you."
Reality washed over the young woman and she placed her hands on his chest and shoved him away from her. She was panting with emotion and her face burned with embarrassment, "What are you thanking me for?"
"I appreciate your... attempt at trying to cheer me up Lady Haruno," the sexy curl of his lips as they twisted into a smile sent her heart pounding.
"T... that's some thank you..." Sakura quickly found safety in sarcasm, "A ... regularly spoken thanks would have sufficed my lord..."
"I kissed you because I wanted to," his smile suddenly turned enigmatic, "the gratitude is an entirely separate circumstance..."
Sakura tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. It looked like she was just as shocked as she was. She decided discretion would be the better part of valor this night. She nodded, "I see," even though she didn't, "Well... goodnight my lord... I will see you in the morning..."
He shook his head, "No... I will be heading back to my father's home and staying there until the ball. So..." he leveled a suddenly serious gaze at her, "Behave yourself until then. It's time I do a little more serious investigation on my end. There were things... brought up that I can no longer ignore. Will you give me your word Lady Haruno that you will stay put at least until after the ball?"
Sakura wanted to refuse him immediately, but there was something about the look he was giving her that caused her resolve to falter. His eyes had softened and Sakura could almost swear there was concern in there somewhere. Slowly she dipped her head, "Yes... you have my word... Lord Itachi..."
Pleased by her response, he was silent as she turned and made her escape in a whoosh of yellow skirts. Once he was alone he buried his hand in his hair agitated with his sudden lack of control. What in kami was wrong with him tonight? He had ignored all common sense and had kissed Lady Haruno, a woman who by all rights should be off limits to him. His forefinger went to his lips that still tingled with her unique, yet oddly delicate flavor. Her pleasant scent of vanilla and apples lingered in her wake. With a frustrated groan, he went back to the fire place, and grabbed the half empty brandy bottle by the neck and forgoing all propriety he drank from the container, his obsidian eyes fixated on the dancing flames.
-o-
A/N: Happy Early Halloween. And the plot thickens. I love, no adore... in denial kisses. Sighs dreamily. Anyways, review if you can, I always like reading your thoughts.