A/N: Oh boy it's been awhile. I had to reread some of it to refresh myself. Chapter 13 still amuses me to no end I'm ashamed to admit. Who wouldn't pay to see that animated and voiced? As to the question. Do I hate Sasuke? No I don't. Actually I don't hate any character except the main character idiot moron girl from Fushigi Yuugi but that's a whole different story. I may not like what they do sometimes, but I understand their actions are springboards for plot to take place. Sasuke's usually takes such a role in my stories because of his cannon nature. OH and one more thing I want to address... some of you ask really good questions however it drives me nuts when you don't leave an email or at least sign in. I can't answer questions if I can't contact you. I don't want to write a whole page's worth of A/N answering questions for the simple reason that you all might hang me if I do. I also fixed my update/send message issue thing! Yay! I get my updates and your replies now so if you want to ask a question feel free to send a message!
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 14: One Handed Applause?
If it wasn't one damned thing, it was another, Isao thought to himself as he strode next to his partner Hiro. The guard rubbed his hands against his folded arms in agitation, "Hurry the hell up Hiro. I just want to get this patrol over with so Lord Itachi gets off our asses."
"Aye," the brown haired male at his side gave a short nod of agreement, "I hate this district of town. It's no wonder the other guards refuse to walk this route... Who knew that his lordship would come tonight on our watch and bitch us out for everyone else's laziness."
The wind picked up around them, howling through the trees, rustling the leaves and stirring the branches in an almost eerily fashion. Isao sighed dismally, "Let's just go back and say we completed the rounds..."
Hiro shook his shaggy head, "I'd love to but his lordship specifically requested we at least make a short patrol past Lord Orochimaru's manor. He's been good to me. So I'll do as he asks... you can go back if you like..."
"Are you kidding?" Isao spat at the cobblestone, "I'd never hear the end of it from the guys if rumors got out that I wussed out on a patrol. Although the rumors I've heard... makes me... want to anyways. Let's just forget this and go get a beer before heading back..."
"Haven't you noticed?" Hiro sent a sideways glance at the shivering raven haired guard, "All the shops are closed up, even the bars. And there isn't a soul out here other than us. Seems like at least some of the rumors are true... at least."
"Damn," Isao shivered as the pair strode down the empty streets. He glanced around and realized that Hiro spoke the truth. He'd been so worried about the patrol he hadn't really looked around. Not even the homeless had emerged from their alleyways. The wind stirred once more and every hair on the guard's body stood on end when he thought he heard a wail on the wake of the evening breeze. The moon was out and full that evening, lending and eerie air to the atmosphere.
"Let's just go straight over and go back. I don't think I want to complete the full rounds," Hiro started to shiver next to Isao.
"Sounds good..." the male murmured, "I guess..."
The two males took a sharp right at the next corner. They could see the shadowy outline of Lord Orochimaru's infamous manor in the distance. In the veil of darkness it had a gothic feel to it. Gargoyles over looked the black cast iron fence. The two city guards drew closer together subconsciously. Isao did his best to not think of all the rumors he heard about this place and its owner as he did his best to focus his gaze ahead. He had no idea what Lord Itachi was looking for and he wasn't certain he really wanted to know.
Both guards stilled when they heard rustling and hissing from the other side of the cast iron fence. Their hands went to the hilts of their swords instinctively. Isao's brain was telling him to get the hell out of there, but his natural human curiosity overrode this and he couldn't help but stare morbidly into the darkness. Hiro nearly reeled to the side when the stench carried on the wind hit his nose. It smelled bad enough to knock a buzzard out of the trees. He covered his nose, "What the fuck is that?"
"I respect Lord Itachi and everything... but... I say we get the fuck out of here," Isao jabbed a thumb back, his brown eyes still warily on the fence to his side.
"We're almost done. We just won't double back the same way," Hiro pressed, gagging around his hand.
Isao who had also got a whiff of the stink covered his nose cursing. Hiro was lucky that he was a buddy, because otherwise he'd have left him to his own devices long ago. Isao stiffened when he saw red eyes meet his gaze from the other side of the fence. He couldn't help but point, "What the hell is that?"
Hiro nearly jumped out of his skin when Isao's hand grabbed his shoulder in panic. His blue eyes followed the direction of his friend's shaking forefinger and saw absolutely nothing but darkness, "Stop fucking around..."
"Man... I'm not so screwed up as to fuck around with your mind in a place like this... I saw red eyes looking at me," Isao was shivering uncontrollably now.
Both men squealed like overly excited tavern wenches when suddenly what was very much a bald rat ran past them scurrying in the shadows over the cobblestone and into the sewers. It wasn't the bald part that freaked them out. It was the fact that they were both trying to mentally convince themselves that they were seeing things. The monstrous rat that had just scurried past had what was no doubt a human hand growing out of it's back. Or at least it had looked like a hand, a damned ugly one with long fingernails and a ragged stump that ended about a third of the way up the arm. They were not even contemplating the things unusual size.
"Did you see that?" Hiro murmured in horrified stupification.
"Well this just clenches what we knew all along," Isao grumbled, despite being completely shell-shocked at the moment.
"And what in kami is that?" the blue eyed guard asked his glossy eyed comrade.
The raven haired male turned his eyes to his friend, "That Lord Orochimaru is one messed up fuck..."
"I've seen enough. Let's go back... around the long way. And... I really don't know what the hell to report to Lord Itachi when we return... No one in their right mind will believe..." Hiro shook his head trying to clear his chaotic thoughts.
"We'll never speak of this night again. Come on... let's go back, make a bullshit report... and then go get thrashed at the Blue Horse Tavern," Isao clapped his hand on the other guard's back. And they proceeded to do just that.
-o-
It was a sunny afternoon when Lord Itachi finally came by the Uzumaki manor. Sakura was growing bored with sitting around all day long. She didn't think she'd ever get used to the life of a noble. She was sitting in the drawing room dressed in a simple amethyst colored gown that cinched at the waist with silken ties. The maid had insisted on putting her hair up into a nice chignon style in case his lordship happened by that day. When a maid came in to announce the lord's arrival she felt her cheeks heat up as the memory of the last time she seen him warmed her cheeks.
Sakura cursed the increased pace of her heart rate. Rising to her feet she folded her hands primly in front of her lower abdomen, making certain to curtsy demurely in front of the maid when the lordling entered. The pink haired female swallowed when she felt the way his commanding presence seem to engulf the room. Her pose relaxed substantially when the maid left them. She was proud of her even voice when she queried, "Do you have any news?"
He gestured with his hand for her to be seated and after they both sat he began, "Well... I did as you suggested and went to inquire at the guard station that's in charge of patrolling Lord Orochimaru's district," he paused a moment, his lips drawing into a thin, displeased line, "Apparently no one has been keeping up on the patrols. They are too afraid to. So I sent a pair of my most trusted guards to do a round out there and to report back immediately. They came back as pale as ghosts and then tried to tell me that the patrol went normally. I tried calling them out on their false report, but the two of them swore up and down that ... everything was normal. It makes me wonder all the more what in the hell they saw out there. I'm thinking of patrolling the perimeter myself tonight."
"I will go with you," the pinkette informed him coolly. She wasn't going to allow someone as green as him to go out there alone. He was tough but she knew he wasn't prepared for what he might see. Truth be told, neither was she. Sakura frowned at that train of thought, when had she come to care what happened to this man sitting beside her?
An aristocratic brow rose as he surveyed the grim face of the young woman, "You will not."
"You will stop me how?" she returned the over bearing look, and smiled sweetly back at him when he glared at her.
"Do not force my hand woman."
"Honestly my lord. I'm not some noble woman to be coddled. I'm a master thief. Or have you forgotten? I've seen more on the streets in a week than you probably have in a life time. If you think that I'm about to let you go out there alone then you're mistaken," the thief was unaware of the concern that had crept into her voice.
Itachi however caught the nuance and glanced at her sharply at first suspecting that she was patronizing him. Onyx eyes narrowed on her pixie shaped face and he realized with a start that she was being completely earnest. There was no mockery in her surprisingly delicate pixie shaped face. Warmth pooled low in his gut when he held her too large green eyes with his own for several long moments. It was no wonder that High Lord Uzumaki thought that her guise as a noble would work so well. No one would suspect such a tiny, seemingly unassuming female. He could also tell by that stubborn tilt of her chin that no matter what he said, she was going to do what she wanted anyway.
Slowly he nodded his consent. He was startled to realize that he actually cared what happened to the little pink haired mischief maker, "If you insist. You know the location of the guard shack near the Black Heron Inn?"
The toothy, cheerful smile she gave him set his teeth on edge, "I know the location of every guard station in Konoha. I also know the patrol schedules. As does any thief in this territory worth his salt. Honestly you should try changing up the schedules a bit to make things interesting once in awhile my lord."
"At dusk meet me down the street by the inn."
"Will do sheriff," she saluted him saucily, "Who would have thought that the leader of law enforcement and a master thief would ever work together?"
"Better an evil I know than one I do not," he deadpanned.
Sakura pouted at him playfully, "You think I'm evil?"
The Uchiha looked down at the female blinking thrice at the playful banter of the young woman. It was mere weeks ago they were at each other's throats and he had every intention of bringing her into line. What had changed? He wasn't a male prone to self-deception. He had come to terms with the fact that he was attracted to the trouble maker. There was something about her that drew his attention and held it. Something no other female had ever done. Maybe it was because she spoke bluntly to him and didn't bother with the sugary pretenses that most women were prone to, noble or not.
"Not exactly."
She folded her arms in a mock gesture of pique, "I see well... I suppose that will have to do for now. But..." Sakura was a creature that was unable to ignore the imp that had taken up permanent residence on her shoulder, "the way you kissed me ... didn't make me feel like you believed I was evil." She blushed even as the words left her mouth, and slowly she began to pick at the imaginary lint on the folds of her gown.
The red in her cheeks deepened at the choked growl that came from the male at her side. He coughed out, "Do you not have one shred of proper manners?"
"Probably not," Sakura mumbled appalled that she had actually said something so gutsy to him.
She let out a small 'eep' of shock when she realized that the lordling had closed the distance in between them and was now looking down at her with a bemused expression on his face. He cleared his throat, "So... since we are ignoring propriety for the moment... may I dare to ask my lady what it was you felt?"
"I felt..."she started to say in an unusually small voice, "I wanted you to..." she peeked up and her breath caught in her throat at the intense look in those sinfully dark eyes of his. What in the hell was she saying? She was about to end the remark with a scathing response when Naruto stumbled in. His blue eyes darted back and forth from one person to another before clearing his throat politely.
"Lady Haruno, Lord Uchiha. Good afternoon. I had heard that you arrived. I will order tea to be brought," the blond inserted coolly, his blue eyes resting on the pink haired female's flushed face.
"That would be wonderful Naruto," Sakura smiled at him brightly, grateful for his sudden presence.
"I'm afraid that I will have to decline. I have... pressing duties that need to be attended to," the lordling turn his back on the young woman and then added, "I will not wait for you. If you are not there... I will move on..."
"I sort of concluded that already. Thank you for telling me something I already guessed on my own," Sakura couldn't help the caustic nature of her tone, and winced inwardly at the stiffening set of his shoulders.
Wordlessly he left them there. The moment he was gone, Sakura rested her forehead on her hand, "It's for the best," she sternly told herself, "What in the hell was I thinking? Goading him like that... such a thing... cannot... will not..."
A warm palm came to rest on her hand, "Are you alright Sakura?"
The green eyed woman lifted her eyes to the blond male looking down at her with obvious concern, "Yes, I'm fine Naruto. I'm just an idiot..."
"No you're not," he denied hotly and then his tone softened, "Tell me what's wrong."
Sakura honestly couldn't see what it could hurt to be forthright. She sighed so softly he had to strain to hear her, "I think I'm attracted to Lord Itachi."
Darkening viridian orbs narrowed when she saw the satisfied smile adorning the blond's lips, "So it's as I suspected. That doesn't make you an idiot Sakura..."
"Yes it does. Such a thing will bode ill for me in the end, if I allow it to continue unfettered. Once this Lord Orochimaru business is concluded... I will return to the streets," the pink haired female turned her head away, unable to meet the blond's too kind azure eyes.
"Why must you? And who says you should?" Naruto's voice raised a decibal in volume.
She lifted her chin, hugging her arms over her midriff, "I don't belong..." and then turning her head away once more, "This life is not for one like me."
"And stealing from people is?" he growled irritably at the obstinate female.
The young woman was on her feet in a moment, her fists balled at her sides, "At least I accept what I've become. Yes I steal from others to get by... but it is no different than the nobles who sit in big luxurious homes while there are many in the streets, young and the old who starve... I did what I had to, to survive."
"I know that you did what you had to do," the lordling met her hard green eyes with hurt blue, "But... even knowing this... what did you do to help those people when you became aware of their need for help? Aren't you just as selfish as ignorant nobles who know nothing of them?"
Her jaw unhinged at Naruto's blunt honesty, "I... you..." but the words stilled her throat. What could she say to something like that? Naruto was a person who saw things in black and white. She couldn't deny his valid point. To do so would make her ignorant. Her chin slowly dipped, "You're right. Absolutely. I'm worse than any noble in many respects. However this doesn't change the fact that I don't belong in your world."
The growl of frustrated rage that left the blond male was almost animalistic in its fervor. He swung a hand out, his blue eyes growing icy, "I never believed you to be such a coward Lady Haruno!" The back of the appendage hit a vase, sending it to the floor shattering it to many pieces, "Why must you settle into such ridiculous thinking? If you know you don't belong, then... Why not create a place where you do?"
The young thief watched with stunned eyes as the man stomped in a huff from the room. Tear filled green eyes went to the shattered gray remnants of the vase on the floor, the pool of water spreading beneath the scattered, wilting daisies. It was a stupid thought, but Sakura knew exactly how that vase felt. Nothing made sense anymore and the pink devil couldn't help but wish that she'd listened to Tsunade. Bending at the knees, uncaring of her dress, she waved away the maids who tried to help her as she slowly picked up the shards, lost in thought.
-o-
Sharp green eyes kept watch out for Lord Itachi in the shadows of the alley beside the inn. When he finally approached, she was gratified to see him startled at her sudden appearance, "My lord. I am ready..."
The Uchiha gazed down at the hooded female. He couldn't see her face, and honestly he could barely make out the outline of her small form in the shadows. Even if he was paying attention to his surroundings, it was very likely that she'd be able to get past him with him being none the wiser. The realization irritated him. He also took notice of the frigid quality of her voice. She was upset about something. His tenor drew her head up slightly but even still he couldn't make out her features, "Good. Trail behind me. If you find something odd let me know immediately..."
"Of course," she replied curtly. Hitching her bow and quiver higher onto her shoulder, she stalked behind him, weaving in and out of the shadows of the falling night. After her bitter discourse with Naruto she had decided to get prepared for the night to come. She'd even gone down to one of the nearby fences to purchase more light arrows exclusive to the circle of thieves. They were made to be silent when shot. Sharp and deadly. There was no way in hell she was going near Lord Orochimaru's manor unarmed. There was no telling what was prowling the premises.
The moment they stepped into the district that the lord overlooked was like night and day. The streets were completely empty and every shop was closed up. No residents, rich, middleclass, or poor walked the streets. Not even the homeless who were so territorial over their alleyways were milling about. It was very eerie. She said to the lord who was eyeing all of this thoughtfully, "It is as my informant said. The streets are dead. Everything is closed..."
Itachi stopped mid-stride at her softly spoken words, "There is no point in patrolling this area. Let's head by his manor... and finish out the route."
Sakura suppressed a shiver that threatened to run down her spine, "Would you be overly perturbed if I went on ahead of you?"
"We should stick together."
"All right," was her detached response.
The Uchiha had to ponder at her easy obedience. Normally she'd argue with him until they'd settled on some middle ground. Halfway merged with the darkness, the green eyed thief lifted her thoughtful gaze to the round and fat low hanging moon. When the wind rattled the canopy of trees lining the street, Sakura thought she heard a low pitched wail intertwined with the breeze. Swallowing hard she crept closer to the male in front of her. The gray clothed female eyed the mansion ahead of them with trepidation.
Fierce looking serpentine gargoyles sat atop of the wrought iron gates, glaring down into the streets with a dire warning that none would miss. She looked at the manor beyond, and immediately her mind began to mill over ways of breaking into it. The windows were barred heavily. The hard dark gray stone and mortar would make it difficult to climb, so one would need a good sturdy rope if they had any hope of getting up the surface. If the lord had bothered to bar the windows, then she was certain that the cellar doors were probably well sealed. It was obvious to her astute eyes that Lord Orochimaru didn't want anything getting in or more than likely out. Sakura could hear Shino's monotone voice in her mind recounting the rumors and that coupled with the scenery forced her to shudder.
"I can see why your guards were... more than just a little put off. This is creepy as hell," Sakura spoke openly.
"Hn."
The hairs on the back of the bubble gum tressed female's neck stood straight on end. She had the eerie feeling that she was being watched. Her hand went to her bow and when she turned her head, fear flowed like quicksilver through her veins when she saw three pairs of red eyes staring straight at her. The thing that frightened her most was that, whatever it was, was on their side of the fence. Was Orochimaru allowing his creations or whatever the hell they were to wander the streets freely? Or had he seen Lord Itachi and had decided to send him a present?
"My lord. Do not move," Sakura slowly let the weapon slide down her shoulder into her hand. She was glad she'd taken the time to purchase arrows and refill her quiver.
Of course her terse warning only made him turn around abruptly to glare into the shadows in the direction of her voice. He groused, "What's..." and then stopped mid speech when he looked forward and saw a shadowy stooped figure with three sets of glowing sanguine eyes staring back at them with obvious malice.
Sakura slowly slid into the light so that Itachi knew where she was. She didn't want him accidentally stepping in front of her while she had the bow cocked. He watched as she knocked an arrow against the pull, her arm quivering slightly as she held the tension.
"What are you doing?" the lordling asked, his hand going to the hilt of the wakizashi styled blade at his hip.
"Must you always question the obvious," the woman returned tartly as she slowly began to stalk whatever it was. She really didn't want to but she couldn't allow such a thing to roam the streets to do only kami knows what.
The warning growl was unmistakable. It sounded like it was coming from three different beings. When it stepped into the light, Sakura and Itachi's breath hitched at the same time. It was a dog. Or rather it used to be a dog. It was a three headed beast, it's brown fur was laden with red liquid which could have been anything from blood to an unidentifiable substance. The three heads were spread out, and where the head should have been, jagged teeth surrounded a gaping hole. Again it barked at them the center of the hole, with the visible organs convulsing with the movement. It was utterly disgusting.
It was also big. Bigger than any dog she'd ever seen. Twice as tall and maybe thrice as long. It's tail whipped madly in the darkness, it's black, elongated claws scraping against the dreary gray cobblestone as it slowly stalked toward them with predatory intent.
Sakura murmured, "I don't think it'd be a good idea to attack it with just that sword... I wouldn't want to get that close unless I was forced to..."
"You plan on shooting it then?" Itachi asked the young woman, his sharp onyx eyes fastened onto the strange mutation, "Well Lady Haruno, I must say... you won this round. I believe you completely regarding your tale of the Pagans... I cannot even imagine the thing that you were forced to fight underground."
"Honestly my lord... it's not something that I really wanted to win... actually," she laughed nervously, "I rather wished I was wrong about all this..."
"I wish you were too," he replied honestly.
Both of them tensed when the monster canine began to pad towards them growling with each step. The head on the right side was hanging limp, as if it were dead, it's long tongue trailing across the coarse ground. Waiting no longer, Sakura aimed for the middle of it's large shuddering body, hoping that this would do at least some substantial damage. If it was anything like the she-monster she'd fought in the den of the Pagans, it would take more than one shot to take it down. The thief let the projectile fly. A gasp escaped her lips when the beast jumped into the air, at least twice the body length of Itachi, landing no more than six feet away from them completely avoiding the arrow.
"Damn it's agile," Sakura's voice left her in a frightened squeak.
Itachi didn't reply, he merely unsheathed the blade at his side, and held it facing out. The pinkette had to hand it to him. He was holding himself well. The only indicator that he was disturbed was the white knuckled grip he had on the hilt. Wordlessly Sakura pulled another arrow from the quiver and aimed once more. Thinking on the fly, she kicked a pebble, sending it skidding across the pavement hoping to distract the creature. It's body turned in half, as it followed the sight and the sound of the projectile. She didn't hesitate, letting the pull go, and watching as the arrow embedded itself deep into the brown fur and into its ribcage.
Snarling in pain, the beast whipped around, its feral crimson eyes targeting her. It's body bunched, it's powerful muscles contracting. That was the only warning she recieved before it jumped for her. Reacting on instinct Sakura pulled out her kunai, meager protection in her estimation but before she could meet the beast head on, Itachi had moved in front of her. Squeezing her eyes shut when she heard the pained filled cry from the creature, and a hoarse grunt from the male in front of her as he staggered from the force of the blow.
When he slumped, Sakura's eyes widened. Itachi had thrust the sword into the exact center, into the open hole and what she had assumed was the thing's throat. Now that she could get a good look at it, as it lay dying in a puddle of dark purple goop, it looked like it may have once been a german shepherd. It whined once more giving another shudder before going completely still. Grasping the larger male beneath his armpits, the young thief pulled him back and far away from the dead monster dog and the gunk pouring from it's corpse. Her nose wrinkled at the morbid stench.
"Are you alright my lord?" the young woman asked the Uchiha.
Itachi looked up into her hooded face, seeing the concern for him in her green eyes. He smirked up at her, "I think I'll let it have the sword..."
Sakura glanced over at the weapon still embedded in the corpse. She couldn't help but smile at the male, "I agree," and then stooping after pulling her hood back, she looped his arm around her small shoulders and helped him straighten up, "Can you walk?"
"Of course," he returned haughtily, trying to pull away from her but only ended up stumbling in direct reward for his Uchiha bravado.
"It seems you may have sprained your ankle. I hate to do this but," Sakura bit her lip, gnawing at the appendage worriedly, "my apartment is much closer than either the Uchiha or Uzumaki manor... it would be wiser to go there for the night."
"Afraid I'll use the information against you later?" He asked astutely, eyeing her thoughtful features.
The pink haired female quickly led him down the street. She really didn't want an encore of facing another twisted creature. Turning her face away from his piercing gaze, "Obviously. I'm breaking a very rudimentary rule that even the most amateurish thieves understand..."
"Oh?" despite the situation he couldn't help the amusement that laced his voice, "And pray tell what rule would that be?"
Sakura threw him an irritated glance, "I'm taking the enemy to my hideout... that's a big no no."
"You see me as an enemy?" The male hanging on her asked in a dangerously soft voice.
A self derisive laugh left her, "If I had any damn sense I would... I should... but no I don't. At least not anymore," and then a sigh, "it's the least I can do. You didn't have to put yourself in front of me like that..."
A callused finger trailed down her cheek, "What kind of man would I be if I stood by and watched that thing attack you?"
"Indeed. You do have a point," Sakura replied more breathlessly than she would have liked trying to ignore the sensation of his skin touching hers.
When they arrived at the ratty, somewhat broken down complex, Itachi arched an eyebrow at her, "This is where you lived before..."
"It's where I live," she corrected him coolly, "It doesn't look like much on the outside. But the inside isn't too bad..."
She led him down the hall, and reaching into her pouch she pulled out the key and opened the door. Aiding him access to the place she helped him to situate himself on the old brown sofa. Sakura went back to the open door and shut it before crossing her arms in front of her. She went to the dinette and grabbed a wooden chair, and pulled it to sit in front of the reclining male.
Turning it around, she straddled it in her normal manner. Itachi watched her agile movements, his eyes drawn to her thighs. He was starting to agree with Lord Kiba of all people about this woman's chosen attire. The way she was straddling the chair started a very pleasant train of thought for the male.
Sakura leaned her chin on the top of the chair, "Well your lordship... I really don't know what to think about... that..."
"Hrm," the sufficiently distracted man blinked up at her.
"We're no closer to discovering Lord Orochimaru's plans then we were before..." she mumbled more to herself then to him.
"Did you smell that acrid stench coming off the dog?" Itachi asked her suddenly.
"No, the breeze was thankfully going down wind and I didn't get nearly as close as you did either," Sakura responded, "at least for the most part."
"Count yourself grateful," was the dry response, "And I'd have to agree. We're no closer to figuring out whatever it is that he's planning. I'm beginning to think you are right about this being far too big for just the two of us... but how do you combat something like this?"
"I got the floor plans to his manor," Sakura murmured softly.
Itachi sent her a sharp glare, "You are not seriously planning on breaking into that place. Did you not see that thing? I can't even imagine what you'd come across inside," and then he raked a frustrated hand through his coal black hair, "I cannot believe my brother is involved in this mess..."
"The desire for power can do funny things to a man," the thief returned, "But the sooner we nip this in the bud, the better off we're going to be."
"The question is... how? He's obviously been at this nonsense for awhile. Even before I became aware of all this, it's common knowledge that his network is extensive," the Uchiha eyed the thoughtful thief furtively.
"I'm going to have to break into your brother's place," she held up a hand before he could protest, "I know you don't like the idea. But part of this deal was that you wanted to get your brother out of whatever trouble he's embroiled himself into. You need to know what it is you're dealing with to do that... right? I may be a thief... but I can control myself. I'll only go for information. I won't..." the promise stuck in her throat, "I won't... steal any of the valuables from his home."
"You expect me to believe you? Especially when you look like it physically hurt to promise such a simple thing?" he arched a brow at the woman, his lips twisting with dry humor at her expense.
"Hey! A promise is a promise. Even if I don't like the idea... besides..." Sakura shrugged at him carelessly, "It'll be bad if he suspects someone was snooping around. If things go missing... then he'll get suspicious and may tip Lord Orochimaru off. If I could just get ahold of documentation with helpful information. If you'd get your parents to invite him over for tea or something... it'll make it a breeze... although I could probably pull it off with him there... I mean when I took the ruby... you were there, along with a whole set of guards and..."
The male openly glared at her, "I get your point. I'll think it over. Don't act... recklessly..."
Sakura stood up and put her hands on her hips, "I'll make you no such promises. However," her visage grew serious, "It seems we'll be here for the night. Let me help you up... you can take my bed. I'll sleep on the couch."
"No."
"Hey. You're a guest and," she started to berate him for his stubborness.
"No. This will suffice me for tonight," he laid down to emphasize the fact that he wasn't going to move.
Glaring at him for a moment, she went to the linen closet and pulled out a spare blanket and pillow. There had been many occassions that Tsunade had forced Jiraiya to sleep on the couch. The pink haired thief handed him the bedding, finding it surreal that this man was in her apartment and laying sprawled out on the old couch. Her skin tingled where his fingers touched when he took the linens from her. Suddenly the tapered appendages circled her wrist forcing her look down at him, "I want you to promise me that... you won't do anything rash. I know I've asked you this before... but... now that I've seen a glimpse of what we're up against... I need you to be cautious."
"I can't promise you something like that," she turned her face away when his eyes narrowed piercingly, "because I don't want to have to break anymore promises." When he released his hold on her she took a step back putting distance between them. She cleared her throat, "Well then... um goodnight. I'll see you in the morning my lord. If you wish to take a shower before settling down for the night. The bathroom is located down the hall, right of the kitchen. Just let me know if you need help getting up."
Silence followed that statement.
Turning she left him sitting there watching her. She felt his eyes on her until she closed the bedroom door behind her. A sigh left her slender frame. The sooner she was done with this Lord Orochimaru business the better.
-o-
A/N: Well Itachi got to see first hand that Sakura was telling the truth about things... Read and review!