Smoke and Mirrors

Requester: Nibinoneko

Pairing: Zetsu x Sakura

Rating: T

They were having a supposedly clandestine meeting, she and him, playing up the part for any watchers.

Each of them had been chosen to act as mediators between the Akatsuki and Konoha. Akatsuki's leader had been killed, Pein, all six of him, and his successor had taken the proverbial throne.

And Konan had turned it all around. She wanted peace with Konoha, she'd said. She wanted peace with all the countries, and though it was quite a feat in itself for her to want to undertake, it wasn't impossible.

She related most with Konoha because the leader was female. Tsunade had been less than thrilled to mingle with the likes of the Akatsuki, but she'd relented, and had sent Sakura out.

Zetsu was apparently the most sociable of all of the Akasuki, which, in criminal terms, translated to the least likely to maim or otherwise destroy her.

"Oh, wow! Is that you, Jinsei?" Sakura jumped up from her place at the bar, running to Zetsu and touching his arm. "I haven't seen you in years. How have things been going?"

Zetsu smiled gently, cocking his head to the side. "I see you're the same as always, Kimiko." He took Sakura up in a hug before she could violently protest, and she patted his back stiffly, gritting her teeth.

He released her, and she jumped back. "What do you say we get a table? I'd love to catch up."

And so they did. And it was all going according to plan. They found a table at the very far end of the restaurant, secluded from prying eyes and ears.

He sat across from her, straightening the business-like coat that he wore and removing his fedora. A thin cigar was tucked into ribbon encircling it, and he pulled it out, as well as a lighter from his breast pocket.

Sakura frowned. She hated the smell of cigar smoke, but she said nothing. He was supposed to be an old friend, remember?

"So how have things been with you?" she asked, striking conversation just in case anybody else was listening. They weren't, but it was best to take extra precautionary measures.

He shrugged and lit the cigar with a flick of flames, and then took a hit. The lighter was set on the table.

She wondered if he really smoked cigars or if he was just playing up the image.

"Hana left me."

"Oh, no, how come?"

At least he was blowing the smoke away from her. But it was still reaching her somehow, making the air feel stagnant and heavy.

"Just differences, I guess. I didn't think the marriage would last anyway. Konan wants to set up a meeting with your hokage sometime within the next month or so."

He'd incorporated the message so seamlessly that she hardly realized what he'd said. "Tsunade got the message. The twenty-first of August is the only day when it will be possible."

Zetsu nodded. "Good." He took another hit, and the end of the cigar glowed a vivid red-orange before dying. The smoke leaked out of his mouth in a breath.

"I believe we're done here, then," Sakura said, and she went to get up.

But he stuck out his hand, cigar offered, and blinked. "Would you like to--"

She took the hint and sat back down. "No, I don't smoke."

"Good. It's bad for you." He put the cigar to his mouth, talking around it. "But in the good way."

"You're confusing."

"I'm articulate."

"So I gathered."

His eyes never left her, and she realized, almost belatedly, that he was wearing makeup. It looked to be some sort of foundation, but around his right eye, she could clearly see some dark skin peeking through.

And the eyes in question were a bright golden color with no pupils, and they reminded her of the Hyuuga clan. The hair on his head was a soft green color, the color of spring grass.

He looked rather...ridiculous, in her opinion.

But he kept staring at her, like he was silently infatuated, like he was about the pounce on her and eat her up. And maybe it was the smoke, but the way he was looking at her made her feel so, so good.

...It was definitely the smoke.

"It was very nice talking to you again, Jinsei, but I have to go home."

He waved her off, but stood up, also, taking her by the chin and giving her a soft, cigar-tasting kiss on her lips. The presence of his tongue was when she drew the line, and when she pulled away, cigar smoke leaked from both his mouth and hers.

She swallowed, bowed, and made her leave. Quickly.

Zetsu put out the cigar on the table, where it sizzled into the wood. "'Till next time, Kimiko."