Contemplation ; Ulterior

For two whole weeks, everything is silent. Naruto hasn't made his appearance and Shikamaru has still yet to contact them. Days had barely passed in a blur as Sakura sat in the dining hall eating breakfast with Sasuke. It hasn't been five minutes after Sakura began eating when Sasuke noticed what she was wearing. If anything, she wasn't wearing casual clothes that gave the Uchiha the idea to ask that question.

"Are you going somewhere?"

Sakura hummed before swallowing her food and looking at Sasuke. "Yeah. I'm meeting a friend."

At the mention of the word friend, Sakura noticed the slight glare Sasuke had as he poured himself coffee.

"Is it Naruto?" he asked, but somehow his tone held a slight menacing sound in it which kind of frightened and confused Sakura at the same time.

"No..." she said, trailing off as she look at him, his eyes slowly losing its glare. "I'm meeting with Ino."

Sasuke blinked his glare away and sip the warm black coffee.

"Make sure to get back before dinner."

Sasuke heard a chuckle and he looked up to see a very vivid sight of Sakura chuckling as she put her hand on her lips.

She looks... Sasuke tried to find the right word to describe the sight.

Beautiful was what he came up with.

She's like a fresh breeze in a morning Spring that Sasuke had to look away as to not get blinded by her ray of atmosphere.

"What?" he grumbled as he frowned. He was a bit preoccupied with her sight that he almost forgot to ask her why she's even laughing.

"Nothing. It's just that, Sasuke-kun sounds like my mother."

"I'm pretty sure I sound like myself. Or does your mother's voice resemble mine?"

At this, Sakura laughed louder as she couldn't contain herself anymore and tears started to peek from the corners of her eyes from laughing too much.

"No, I mean my mother used to tell me the exact same thing back in high school whenever I go out with friends."

High school? Friends? That must have included Naruto, Sasuke thought.

Sasuke really didn't have a normal childhood and teenage years as he was home-schooled.

But Sasuke could care less about those trivial things like going to high school and hanging out with friends. He never knows which among them would stab him in the back.

After calming down, Sakura finished her breakfast and stood up.

But before she could walk towards the door, Sasuke called her and offered his hand to which Sakura just look in confusion.

"Give me your phone," he said.

Sakura handed him her phone as Sasuke typed on it before returning it.

Sakura looked at it and saw he had save his number on the device. "Call me if anything happens."

Sakura nodded and turn around again, preparing to leave.

"And Sakura," Sasuke said, stopping Sakura from turning the handle. "Even if you notice something suspicious, call me."

Sakura thought Sasuke sounded odd for a second. Before dismissing the thought and smiling at Sasuke.

She waved her hand and walk out of the penthouse leaving Sasuke to contemplate just why he acted like that.

The two don't realize it yet but they will be contemplating more in the future. Contemplating their feelings towards each other that they believe is non-existent for now.

When Sakura arrived at the café near Shibuya station, Ino was already there sitting outside the coffee shop. The blonde instantly spotted Sakura as she waved her hand.

"Sorry I got stuck in traffic," Sakura said as she approached the table and sat across Ino.

"Nope, just got here a few minutes ago."

A waiter came and took their orders and a few moments after their coffees came with each a slice of black forest.

"I heard you took an indefinite leave from the Hospital."

"Who told you?" Sakura asked, looking sceptical but chuckled in humour.

"Naruto," Ino said nonchalantly shrugging her shoulders.

"By the way, Ino," Sakura started as she leaned in closer to her friend. "How did you know Naruto's coming back from abroad? You told me about it before."

"Sai told me,"

Sakura's face became serious, no hint of humour as she look at Ino. "Sai? How did he know?"

As far as Sakura remembers, Sai and Naruto weren't close at all. They weren't even classmates in high school. So how come Sai knew and Sakura didn't?

Sakura noticed Ino's eyes darted around before she focused on her.

"I can't really talk about the whole details here but Sai knew from his work."

Whatever kind of work that is Sakura knew it wasn't any normal job.

"I'm sorry for not telling you any of this but I already heard everything from Shikamaru."

Sakura has a lot of questions running in her mind but she chose to stay quiet as she listen to Ino.

"My family is affiliated with the Nara. We knew what happened to the Uchiha and were told to not meddle with their business. My family's affiliation with the Nara is protected under an oath."

"Omerta," Sakura whispered.

Ino chuckled and picked the cherry on top of her cake. "Now do you know how powerful the oath is? Not even my closest friend, you, know about our affiliation."

Sakura knew that. It's the code of silence after all.

But she couldn't help the prick of something in her chest. Something akin to betrayal.

"Is this really fine? You're talking about it in a public place."

"It's fine. This place is under the protection of the Nara group."

Sakura nodded.

"But Sakura, you should be careful. Aside from Shikamaru, I don't plan to meddle with Uchiha Sasuke's plan."

Sakura nodded again.

She wonder what else is there to know. What else do the people she knew hides as a secret? Is she prepare to find out more? Sakura doesn't know.

But for now, she has to slowly accept that she may be the only one who is not affiliated in any Yakuza organization.

Well, that was until Sasuke showed up.

The rest of the day flow by smoothly as Sakura felt a little less bad. She just found out her best friend was affiliated to a Yakuza organization by now but she has to accept the fact that Ino couldn't tell her because of Omerta.

Once their afternoon agenda was done, Ino gave Sakura a hug before getting inside her car and driving back to her place.

After that, Sakura got inside her car as well and started the ignition.

Not too far from the parking lot, two men are sitting in an Italian restaurant, the buzz of the people inside could be heard as patrons started to arrive. The men sat near the glass window as they had a perfect view outside.

"Haruno Sakura, huh?" the man said, swirling the expensive red wine in his glass.

"She is a Doctor from Senju Medical Hospital," the other man said, handing a manila envelope that contains Sakura's biographical information.

The man skimmed the content, seemingly satisfied as he took a sip of the expensive liquor.

"I was wondering what kind of woman saved my little brother. So it was her."

The man looked at his companion, emotion could hardly be decipher as he stare at him.

"Aoda, have everything prepared. It seems I have to welcome my foolish little brother soon."

"As you wish, Itachi-sama."

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"Shikaku-sama, Shikamaru-sama has arrived," a woman in a traditional kimono said as she bowed in front of a man. Shikamaru walked right after and the woman was dismissed after placing the tray of tea on the side.

"Hey old man, it's been a while," Shikamaru said, lazily rubbing the back of his head as he sat across his father. In front of them was a small wooden table and on top was a chess board with its pieces scattered around.

"So it seems."

Nara Shikaku, the leader of a Yakuza organization that controls most of the wards in Northern Tokyo. He is a man whose ideals and judgment never clouds personal desires. Living a life that follows the wise sayings of old, never had he imagined he would have a son as languid as Shikamaru.

"I heard you were helping the young Uchiha," Shikaku said as he poured tea and handed it towards his son who just put the teacup beside him.

"I don't plan on stopping you but make sure not to meddle too much. Swim too far from the shore and you will encounter enormous waves."

Shikamaru yawned and rubbed his ear, a display that show how much fed up he is by his father's words but it didn't irk Shikaku as much as any other parent would have probably been.

"You know what old man, I think you've been reading too much Confucius these days. You and mom should go on a vacation abroad."

Shikaku raised an eyebrow as he sip the tea. "And why is that?"

"Things will get messy soon. It might be too noisy for you."

Shikaku looked at his son, a hint of seriousness shone in his eyes as he stare at Shikamaru. "Son, how far are you willing to go for a friend?"

Shikamaru looked down on the board game and arranged its pieces.

"I'm not just doing it for a friend."

After arranging the pieces on the right places, Shikamaru moved the queen pawn forward to d3 and looked at Shikaku, urging him to play against him.

"You should know your son too well by now, old man," Shikamaru said as he moved the king pawn to e4.

"Every move I make is calculated. I'm not just helping Sasuke because of a friend."

Next, Shikamaru moved the queen out of the interior and placed it diagonally on h5, the spot where it directly checked the king.

Shikaku looked on the board. He was too preoccupied by what his son was talking about that he failed to notice Shikamaru had already check mate him using a simple three-way trick that even a child could have countered.

"Everything I do has its corresponding reason. I don't do anything without any ulterior motive. That's how you and my teacher raised me."

Shikamaru said before standing up, taking his coat as he get ready to leave.

"Shikamaru, you don't mean to..." Shikaku trailed off, looking at his son's back. "Are you planning to kill that man?"

Shikamaru's hand tightened on his coat as his jaw clenched.

"Don't worry old man. I'm off now to visit my teacher." Shikamaru waved his hand and started to walk.

The sky had visibly darkened but rain did not pour. It seems the calm clouds are preparing to unleash a storm. Shikamaru arrived at the place and set a bouquet of flower in front of a memorial before taking out a stick of cigar and a lighter.

"Don't worry Sensei, I'll kill that man who did this to you," Shikamaru said, gripping the lighter his teacher lent him before.

He was young then, only fifteen and wasn't allowed to smoke. But he still gave Shikamaru the lighter as a token. A week after that, Shikamaru found out he was dead. Killed by a man who is a part of a certain organization.

Coincidentally, Uchiha Itachi is part of the same organization. When Naruto told Shikamaru about Sasuke planning to kill his brother, Shikamaru knew it would be the right choice to lend the young Uchiha a hand. All for the purpose of killing the man and avenging his teacher.

"Asuma-sensei, just wait a little longer."

As Shikamaru puffed the smoke, the rain poured outside.

It was indeed a heavy rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning as if the gods have unleashed their wrath.

Or perhaps it was an omen for the events that will come before long.

Sakura watched as the rain poured outside. It was afternoon and yet the surrounding had darken down like it was already night. The penthouse has soundproof walls so Sakura really couldn't hear the thunders but she saw lightning not too far.

She heaved a sigh and decided to go to the kitchen to have some warm coffee. Wine is not really good for a kind of weather like this and Sakura felt like warming her stomach.

After brewing the coffee beans, she found a cup of ramen in the cupboard. Suddenly her stomach made a growling sound that if anyone was there, Sakura might shrink in embarrassment.

"Sasuke-kun did say I could eat anything in the kitchen," she muttered as she took the ramen and a wooden chopstick. After pouring hot water in the cup, Sakura decided to walk towards the living room.

But she absolutely did not expect Sasuke to be in there as well.

He was sleeping soundly. Body sprawled on the couch as his other foot dangled on the floor.

Sakura found the scene almost funny as she carefully placed the cup ramen on the coffee table and sat on the couch across him with a mug of coffee in hand.

After a few minutes of mindlessly staring at the balcony door, with no sign of the storm stopping any time soon, Sakura decided that the instant ramen is already ready to eat as she placed the mug on the table and leaned in to get the cup.

The warm broth made Sakura sigh in contentment as she ate the ramen. The instant noodles did satisfy her hunger as she was used to eating the same food back when she was in college during sleepless nights of doing her thesis and dissertation. She was actually surprise she survived those times and now she's a Doctor.

"Then be my Doctor, stay here with me and be my Doctor."

Suddenly Sasuke's voice invaded Sakura's mind as she was reminded of that night.

Sakura shook her head, her hair swaying wildly as she stood up and walked back to the kitchen after finishing her ramen and washing her mug.

She was about to go back inside the guest room when she saw Sasuke who turned around and unconsciously rubbed his arm.

Sakura didn't know why she even did that. She only realized it when she was right beside Sasuke with a blanket in hand.

With a silent hope that the man would not wake up, Sakura carefully draped the blanket on him. She was about to straighten up but she caught his deep frown on his forehead as if he was having a nightmare. Sakura couldn't stop herself as she thoughtlessly brushed some strands of his hair away from his forehead.

She was too preoccupied by his feature that it took her a second to process what just happened.

In one sudden swift, a hand gripped Sakura's wrist and pulled her down on the couch.

She felt her heart pounded on her chest as her eyes widen. Sakura was too taken by surprise as Sasuke hovered above her.

And he was glaring.

He was glaring with his katana in hand.

The sword halfway unsheathed as it was dangerously closed towards Sakura's neck.

"I'm sorry I woke you up please don't kill me."

Those words suddenly left Sakura's mouth as she just flat-out ranted the first thing in her mind.

"Sasuke-kun," she muttered.

Sasuke blinked to clear his hazy thoughts as he looked down. He wasn't glaring anymore and instead looked more surprise as he lowered his sword.

"What the hell," Sasuke muttered silently as he sat on the couch, rubbing his forehead trying to shake off the sleep in his system.

Sakura visibly gulped as she slowly sat up as well.

She tried to compose herself and slowed down the rhythmic pound of her heart.

"Sorry," Sakura said in a whisper.

"No, it's fine," Sasuke said, looking down on the katana that was now sheathed.

He almost slit her throat for a second there because he thought his enemies had gotten a hold of him while he was sleeping.

Sakura looked at the sword. Has Sasuke always slept with that? Probably, Sakura thought.

She stood up and was about to walk back to the guest room when she felt a hand around her wrist. This time, Sasuke's hold wasn't a grip; he was simply holding her to stop her from taking another step.

Sakura felt his cold hand.

"Next time, call my name first."

There it goes again, the pounding in her heart.

Sakura tried to shake off the feeling as she nodded, too afraid to speak because she is sure she will just end up stuttering.

Sasuke put the sword down and stood up, still holding her wrist as he span Sakura to face him. His face drew closer as Sakura's eyes widen and instinctively took a step back but Sasuke's hand held her from doing so.

He leaned closer and Sakura thought he might do it, whatever it is that Sakura thought made her blush.

But Sasuke was not leaning on her face, instead he leaned in close to her neck that even fluster Sakura more.

"S-Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke frown and squinted his eyes. There resting on her neck, on the pale skin was a cut that had begun to redden. His katana was sharp and it probably cut her skin.

Sasuke lifted his hand and brushed her hair away from her neck. The gesture made Sakura blush even redder but before Sasuke could touch the cut on her neck, his phone vibrated and Sakura jolted in surprise.

Sasuke sighed and took his phone from his pocket, sliding the answer button.

"Naruto?" Sasuke asked as the number displayed was Naruto's.

"It's me, Shikamaru."

Sasuke was still standing in front of Sakura, holding her wrist as Sakura stood in place, not really knowing what else to do so she focused on calming her wildly beating heart first as she averted her eyes on the floor.

"What is it?" Sasuke asked.

"The weapon shipment arrived in the coast of Japan but since it's raining we can't go there tonight."

On the other line, Sasuke could hear Naruto yelling something along the line of Shikamaru was just too lazy to go but Sasuke just ignored it.

"Tomorrow then," he said.

"Tomorrow night," Shikamaru stated before the call ended.

Sasuke turned back to Sakura and looked her in the eye, but Sakura kept darting her eyes around.

"You need to treat that cut on your neck," Sasuke said before he let her go.

Sakura's hand flew on her neck and felt a paper cut that is starting to sting. She watched as Sasuke walked up the flight of stairs and disappeared somewhere upstairs.

"Was that why Sasuke-kun leaned in?" Sakura asked herself.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

For sure Sasuke didn't mean to do it, right?

Sakura convinced herself that there's no way Sasuke even thought of kissing her for a second. She kept convincing herself, not having the slightest of idea that Sasuke had to stop himself or else he would have done it in a heartbeat.