White Widow Chapter 8, a naruto fanfic

Title: White Widow
Chapter: Eight
Author: Blue Rose
Pairing: Sasuke/Sakura
Rating: M (Hard R)
Summary: "Running away was easy; not knowing what to do next was the hard part." - Sakura needed to stop fantasizing about running away to some other life, and start figuring out the one she had. [Sasu/Saku, Modern AU]

Disclaimer: I own nothing, and I damn sure don't make a single red cent for this either. So please, don't sue the Blue.

Huge shout out to my beta - CherryBerry12. Thank you :) 💝

As always. if you enjoyed please consider leaving a review. Even if it's just a word or two, I really appreciate any feedback. I welcome emoji's and Lenny Faces too 💙💙💙 (づ ͡° ³ ͡°)づ . Thank you for reading :)

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

Chapter Eight

When someone demands to know your current location, it usually meant the time for talking was over and meeting face to face was the only way things would get resolved — most likely through violence.

He'd made similar threats himself before, daring a person to let him know where they physically were... if they were feeling brave.

Although, to be fair it could also be used as a precursor for a potential hookup or rendezvous. Especially if requested late at night, where no assumptions were made other than those of planned intimacy.

Message:

WRU?

Think maybe we can link up? LMK

But this was in the middle of the day, and he wasn't getting hookup vibes from her based on the messages that were being exchanged between them.

Of course, brawling was out of the question too; unless she wanted to spar, because he might be down for that. Despite not wanting to reflect on why such a thought was exciting.

Still, it was a mistake on his part to not feel out what mood she was in, or at least what this could be about. A clear testament to how unguarded he was becoming, when it came to all things 'her.'

Nevertheless, something was off.

Sasuke could sense something amiss from the lingo she used. Even though they were just words on a screen, he envisioned her saying them — breathless, with just a hint of urgency, and it made him curious.

Message:

OMW.

See you soon.

Besides, the moments they spent together were never really time wasted. So he made plans to meet with her at this little pub that had amazing french fries with spicy ketchup. Located in the lobby of a boutique hotel, it was conveniently close by to where he was when he first heard from her.

And if she had any reservations about meeting him in a bar so early in the afternoon, she didn't say anything to object.

When he arrived, Sasuke enjoyed having most of the space to himself, since it was still too early for happy hour. The few patrons who were there sat closer to the front of the establishment, while Sasuke idly played pool near the back. It gave him something to do while waiting for her to arrive.

When Sakura finally appeared before him, his naturally suspicious nature was called forth, knowing something was wrong and causing him to follow her movements closely. If she was trying to mask it she was doing an okay job, but not nearly good enough to escape his keen senses. He could read the tension coming from her like reading a book on ancient military strategies, and he wasn't the least bit fooled by the forced smile or half-assed greeting she gave.

Unaware, Sakura presumed she hadn't tipped her hand right away, taking a sip of Sprite she'd grabbed from the bartender. She even tried to start off with pleasantries and small talk, but Sasuke really doubted that she wanted to hear about how his day was going.

However if she wanted to drag this out... fine. He'd play her little game for now, though the clock was ticking as to how long he'd amuse her before his patience became strained. Be that as it may, Sasuke decided that he didn't like seeing her so restless, and her energy was affecting him sharper than it had any right to. He knew that it probably wasn't good, but curiosity made him stay to figure out why she wanted to talk.

Good thing that Sakura was so honest, because she couldn't hide her agitation for long before the strained conversation ventured off into what was really bothering her. The situation began to tumble out with every passing word.

Revealing how much the home visit spooked her initially. Except who wouldn't when the police showed up at your door?

And yes, his instincts were right on point, but luckily he'd missed the mark concerning the severity of it all. Sasuke was secretly pleased though, that she had the foresight to want to speak in person, rather than on the line, though he couldn't suppress the discomfort that knotted in his stomach at the mention of law enforcement.

Sakura kept her voice low — unleashing her tale and narrating what transpired that had made her so upset. Halfway through, agitation bled into her voice.

"I was only going to tell them what I had already told the P.I., but they didn't seem that interested..." Sakura continued, telling him everything that happened.

It seemed that a few detectives had shown up and were following up regarding Kiba's disappearance. With his family turning over all their findings, they now wanted police to take a closer look, to see if they could find anything.

Although, if you asked for Sakura's opinion, they seemed to be uninterested, like they didn't want to even be there in the first place. As if it were all a big waste of their time. She thought she would have to be careful with her words but it wasn't necessary. A few minutes into the meeting it became crystal clear — the police were there to just go through the motions, more than anything else. Their nonchalant attitude caused unsettling thoughts and feelings to rise up in her, even appearing now as she stood before him. A slumbering beast had been awakened, cloaked in protectiveness for her missing friend. Catapulting her ire into a fiery, resentful burn...

Needless to say, the encounter had turned sour.

"And then they had the nerve to bring up his juvenile record, and I swear I almost-"

"What? His juvie records? I thought those were sealed," Sasuke interrupted, musing over that piece of information.

"Huh...? Uh... I'm not sure." Sakura frowned but shook her head. That wasn't the important part... wasn't he listening to her? "The way they were talking... it was like they were more interested in putting down Kiba's character than doing anything useful about him vanishing."

Well, she thought at least one of the two officers did, but it still wasn't fair. Just because Kiba had a past—

And maybe a questionable present?

—didn't mean a thing, and it made his case no less important than anyone else's. That didn't mean they could treat it like some damn joke.

Sasuke gripped the pool cue tighter in the ensuing silence, taking account of her story. After a minute, he leaned forward to line up the next shot.

He could make it in the corner pocket if he hit the railing at just the right angle.

Sakura resisted the urge to stomp her foot and put down her glass on the edge of the pool table instead. "Did you hear me?"

The smack of the billiards echoed around them before the marked one landed in the desired hole. Sasuke straightened, pleased with the shot. "Aa."

And Sakura usually possessed greater, even-temperedness but-

"Really? That's all you have to say?"

"What do you want me to say? That they sound like jerks? Fine. Now what?" He canted his head towards her, but his eyes remained on the fuzzy, dark green felt. "Let them handle it. Despite thinking you could do a better job." Sasuke returned the pool cue to the rack hanging on the wall.

A quiver of suspension made him turn to catch the far-away look in her eye. She was looking at him, but right through him and he imagined the squeaky gears churning away inside, under her beautiful crown of pink hair.

"Sakura..." He warned.

And exactly what did she expect to do? Maybe go order up a shiny, brand-new detective kit from online somewhere and go snooping around for clues herself?

She let out a humorless laugh. "Maybe I should. They obviously don't have any intentions of taking this seriously."

"You're delusional."

Sasuke couldn't have known how deeply hurtful those words sounded, coming from him. There was no way of knowing about the painful history attached to such a simple phrase. How it had once been used against her by someone else entirely, or how much it would cut her hearing them now, despite coming from a different person. However, they stung, even though she felt it wasn't said with hateful intent.

That didn't stop her from hissing through the pain, claws out and on the defensive.

"You don't know me."

And like her, he had triggers of his own.

Granted, there were so many things he could say in response to that. Dirty little things that would have her blushing. Maybe a sarcastic quip or even a well placed joke...

But whatever playful mood he would have potentially been in was swept away. Laying in its place was a cold and destitute trail of glaciers as his expression closed up. Something in her statement... or the way she said it, twisted something in his gut, bringing forth those same conflicting feelings of wanting to push away something that was getting much too close. A confirmation right to his face of how careless he'd become. And feeling the walls began to rise between them, he formed a half-smirk.

"Is that so?"

Her mouth puckered before turning into a thin line, silent in her bravado.

"I think I know plenty," Sasuke said while turning his whole body to look at her. There was slight apprehension in Sakura's form that surfaced, but it was too late now.

She had started this little game.

"I know enough about you to know that you weren't always around. At least in the last few years, anyway."

The stillness that locked her knees was telling. It was hardly a challenge to figure out; he'd struck a nerve. Anything dealing with her immediate past seemed to get that reaction from her.

"You are his friend, there is no denying that..." Dialing back to the original topic, Sasuke got back on track, choosing not to chew her out further. "But you are mistaken if you think he kept you up to speed with all aspects of his life... of this life," he hissed.

'You are in way over your head.'

Sasuke knew that Kiba's small circle of friends didn't know everything he got mixed in. Sure, they knew a little about the drugs, but beyond that… it remained a mystery to them all.

And Sasuke only knew this because Kiba had told him so.

His and Kiba's relationship should have been strictly business, but at some point in the four years he'd known him, they created some semblance of a friendship. They weren't best friends, but the shaggy-haired man had earned Sasuke's respect and trust and had proven his loyalty to Sasuke and his brother.

Over time Kiba shared that he kept up a barrier between his family and friends. And Sasuke had understood, though their situations were a little different. He at least had his brother with him in the trenches, so there wasn't a need to separate and compartmentalize aspects of his life.

All in all, it was probably for the best. What people like them tended to get into was not a good topic to share around the dinner table, but this life was exactly why Sakura needed to keep her distance. She didn't understand the kind of sinister people they surrounded themselves with. After all the leads in his small network had come up dead, there was still the possibility of foul play, and the last thing Sasuke wanted was for her to have a target on her back strictly through association.

But Sasuke would soon find out the same appreciation he'd once held for her resilient nature was now becoming annoying at best.

Sakura had regained her bearings — and there was a nuance of anger that strummed through her voice as she met his stare head-on.

"So where does that leave me then? I should just sit back and do nothing? You said so yourself, he's our friend. We can't just-"

'So she wasn't about to let this go, was she?' Sasuke thought, eyes redirecting towards her delicate throat. The tension in her shoulders had spread to her neck and a small, thin vein pulsed in her passion.

Sakura thought briefly the petulant expression he ricocheted back at her would have been devilishly handsome had it not been for the precarious — deep, curse that flowed from his lips.

"You can, and you will. Because you don't have a fucking choice." Grey eyes remained steadfast and hardened like granite, rippling in waves of dark colors while staring unblinkingly at her.

The hand resting by her drink curled into a fist and Sakura's eyes narrowed, mouth flying off the handle before taking a moment to think.

"Fuck you! You can't just go around an-"

Sasuke was before her in an instant, and her personal space became a thing of the past. Even in six-inch heels, she was forced to raise her chin slightly to meet his striking gaze. The heat coming from him caused her to take a step back, but he followed easily, crowding her against the wall.

Sasuke's presence was an intimidating thing, and she was forcefully reminded that she-

Sakura swallowed but kept her eyes on his.

'Ino was right.' The thought whispered across her mind.

'I don't know him. Not really.'

A fact that became more apparent the longer they stood there, and for the first time since she'd met Sasuke, she became uneasy in his presence. She didn't get the feeling that she was in immediate danger... but she was definitely walking a fine line.

It was new territory for her — for both of them. But she was a stubborn bitch when she put her mind to it, and she would not be bullied. Not by him and not by anyone else, especially when it came to something so important. She opened her mouth to say just that but was cut off.

He kept his voice shallow, not wanting to draw attention to them. The deep rumble of his voice was clearly meant for her and her ears only.

"Listen. And listen well, because I won't repeat myself," he started, not wavering from his earlier declaration. Sasuke leaned down, layers of silken black hair falling in his eyes as he peered down at her.

"We don't know what this is... who's involved or what the hell is going on. So yeah, you need to sit back... and do nothing."

"So tell me everything that you know!" Sakura insisted, her eyes narrowing. Her voice no longer wavered, and she rallied enough courage to press on. "I may not know everything... but I..." She really didn't want to come off sounding like some petulant child, yet she couldn't handle the feeling of being kept in the dark. If there was something he wasn't telling her...

Sasuke leaned back to give her some space, sighing under his breath when he noticed increased scrutiny from the bartender. Not wanting to appear threatening, he rocked back but her hand shot up, grabbing at his open jacket and hoodie to keep him there. His brows drew together, but Sakura finally spoke up barely in a whisper.

"Please... it won't go further than this room. I know you probably don't trust me yet, but-... I..." her fingers tightened and she lowered her gaze. Her thumb idly tugged the zipper near her hand as she waited for his response, feeling his strong heart beat beneath her palm.

'I do.'

A chink, appearing in well-fitted armor... and it was showing in the way Sasuke's eyes softened.

And therein lay the problem, because it didn't make any sense at all, and it went against all of his protective instincts and common sense. And worse still, he wasn't just thinking with his penis either. Because even in nameless moments like this, he felt that he could tell her his deepest, darkest secrets, trusting that she would take them all to the grave with defiant eyes and sealed lips. It went against logic as Sasuke knew it, so it must have been wrong. Alas, he stood there... looking down at her pink mane while resisting the urge to roll his eyes at both of their antics.

Did she know what she was asking?

And why was he standing there, even entertaining the idea?

His eyes flickered to the side, noticing the bartender eyeing them, but with less concern now that Sakura was the one clinging to him. Still, he moved a step back to lean on the pool table, his long legs stretching out in front. He held her forearm when she was about to let him go, pulling her gently with him. Sakura stood between his feet, keeping her sight on the floor — playing with the gold bangles around her wrist when he released her as she waited... anxiously listening.

Sasuke's tongue clicked against his teeth silently.

"There's nothing to tell, unfortunately. So far I'm coming up blank. Maybe it's a good thing and it means he's just AWOL. He kept a pretty low profile and I have a few more things to follow up on but... Sakura-"

He hesitated, trying to find the right words to say now that his earlier bout of anger had simmered down. His eyes glanced towards the front again, making sure they weren't being overheard.

"There are a lot of dangerous people who we know... people who you wouldn't want to meet on a busy street, even midday with witnesses around. So when I tell you to stay out of it..." He tried to find her eyes but she stubbornly kept them on the floor, looking at the size difference between her heels and the all-black sneakers he wore.

Fuck, he just needed her to understand. It wasn't so much that he was keeping secrets — he was just trying to keep her safe. Sasuke persisted, raising a knuckle to brush against her chin and Sakura finally gave in, allowing him to continue when her gorgeous eyes slowly rose to meet his. For a second he was sidetracked, hypnotized by the colors reflecting in those shallow Caribbean seas. The light from the wall lamps captured each glimmer in her eyes along with the cute little pout she wore. The power behind that gaze was arresting sometimes.

Breathing in the fragrance of her light perfume, his fingers pressed her chin higher. It wasn't the time to be distracted. She needed to hear this.

"I'm not saying that any of them have something to do with this, but if they do... you need to stay clear and keep away. I don't want you anywhere near this until I can figure out that 'this' part of his life had nothing to do with him going away, understood?"

And in the same way he couldn't explain where his faith in her had come from, he hoped she felt something for him too, because he needed her to listen and not be so defiant.

Sakura finally gave a nod and consented to his wishes, unclenching her fists.

Inwardly, Sasuke didn't like the dejected look on her face even though he'd just demanded her compliance. The marginal wave of defensiveness was surprising, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. His phone began to sing — the cosmos ringtone going off from one of his pockets.

He grumbled that she should have been a Taurus, with how bullheaded she could be at times while searching for the device.

Sakura's petulant expression remained, pressing a hand to her cheek before studying him for a second, her eyes not as shy now and lighting with something else entirely.

"How did you know when my birthday is?"

'Shit.'

There was no fucking way Sasuke would admit to seeing the old birthday post Ino made on social media last year, shouting out to her best friend. Something he'd just now seen; randomly, a few weeks back.

Ino wasn't able to tag Sakura in the photo-

A little snooping and he'd come to find that most of Sakura's own social media was deactivated.

-but it was definitely her, back turned to the lens as she and Ino stood on a pier dressed in bikinis. Their shadows played on the wooden planks beneath them as rays of light peered around their darkened silhouettes. The whimsical sunset was overshadowed by their captivating figures as they hugged and watched the sun go down.

He didn't bother liking the photo. There were already plenty of thirsty beasts in the comment section, proposing to the confident blonde and her mysterious friend.

Sakura appeared a few other times on her friend's timeline, but most snaps had her face strategically hidden or cropped. In spite of that, the post in question was definitely for her, and he couldn't help but save the date into his memory bank.

Choosing to avoid the inquiry, Sasuke flipped through his phone to check for the last incoming message. Glancing at his watch, he mentally calculated the distance in his mind, already opening the GPS app to plug in an address.

"What are you doing for the rest of the day?" Sasuke asked, throwing her off if her surprised expression was any indication.

"Uh..." Sakura hesitated, mind going over her day and realizing that the only thing she had left was grocery shopping. "I guess not too much... why?"

Replying to the last message, Sasuke put up his phone and grabbed the jacket that Sakura had left on a stool nearby.

"Come take a ride with me," he said as he helped her slip it back on.

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧ ✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

"Should I have worn hiking boots for this…?"

Minutes after Sasuke pulled into the huge unmarked, dirt parking lot, Sakura still had no clue where they were. She knew it had taken them an hour to get there, driving down interstate 95. The trees and fresh country air were welcomed as she took a long, deep breath in. It smelled like pine and wet grass from all the rain that week, and the aroma quickly inspired a sense of tranquility.

Sakura lifted her arms to the sky in a long stretch after closing the door just as a squirrel came by to scavenge a few feet from where she stood. Hopping a few steps it quickly lost interest and darted up a nearby tree. Moving around closer to the front of the vehicle, she eyed the makeshift dirt path that led up two flights of wooden steps. Although she could appreciate being in the great outdoors, sneakers would have been the better choice, she thought after peering down.

Sasuke came from around the back of the SUV after closing the trunk — holding a black bag the size of a small duffle. He glanced down to where she was looking and shrugged, before grabbing her hand and helping her up the trail.

"It's just this section here, you'll be fine. There's concrete at the ledge."

She accepted the help, holding onto the railing with her other hand while making sure her heel didn't catch in between the worn planks. Sasuke didn't release her until they were safely at the top of the hill.

More trees awaited them, surrounding the winding trail on either side. Multiple 'No Trespassing' signs were clearly visible, but nothing else gave away exactly where they were. Walking up a slight incline, they traveled further up, coming across what looked to be a...

Visitor's center?

"I'm here," Sasuke spoke into his phone, before quickly pulling it away from his ear.

"REALLY?!" A voice screeched through the earpiece so loudly you would have thought the call had been placed on speakerphone instead. A slight commotion was heard, but it only became concerning when they could hear the same noise coming from somewhere in the building.

A side door whooshing open several meters away from them was the only warning Sakura had of the woman headed their way.

"Sasuke!"

A blur of red came at them with lightning speed and heavy footsteps. But Sakura finally got a good look at the fiery missile when everything seemed to slow down at the last minute. The whole scene turned into a slow-motion feature when the force of nature came within a few feet of where they were standing. It was like watching a video and suddenly changing the playback speed down to 0.25x. The woman's unbound strands floated behind her running figure as she approached them like a burning torch.

Sakura rocked back on her heels when it looked like she wasn't going to stop, and Sasuke pushed her away slightly before moving the other way — making a gap, wide enough between them, that the woman ran right through in her momentum. Sakura watched as she kicked up rocks and dirt, finally slowing down enough to come to a full stop before turning towards them. It reminded her of a charging bull, and now that the woman had halted, Sakura could see the woman's cinnamon-colored eyes focus on Sasuke. Much like the beast that came to mind, the flaming woman took in a deep breath before charging with wide-open arms while screaming his name again.

Sasuke's reaction time was flawless and instead of moving again to avoid her, he stiffly held his arm up when she was in reach. Not an ounce of guilt was felt when she collided with the black duffle bag he carried in his hand, hearing the grunt she released when it thumped against her chest. It safely kept the woman a good distance from the visiting couple and too far away to touch with his superior arm span.

"Karin."

The named woman's eyes fluttered away at him in silent longing, hands wrapping around the bag he still pressed to her chest until she held the weight on her own. He released it with a warning look, satisfied she wouldn't try to embrace him again for the time being.

"You should be more careful. Wouldn't want to hurt your pet, now would you?"

There was a hint of movement near Karin's wrist, although her hands remained unmoving around the bag — and that's when Sakura finally saw it.

A small, pale snake with dark as night pupils and yellow eyes.

It wound tighter on her wrist while the rosey, fork-like tongue slithered in and out of its mouth rhythmically, guiding the head as it moved about.

"Please, Mitsuki's used to being tossed around when he's riding with me," Karin rebutted.

Sakura just watched in fascination, taking in the shiny scales that gleamed like pearls, cutting away to rise slowly along the low cut sweater. Eyes followed along the sleeve before gliding to the cross necklaces lying above the woman's cleavage. At long last Sakura finally got a good look at her face — locking eyes with the other female. She blinked slowly, a little embarrassed for staring, and hoped she didn't look rude.

"Karin, this is Sakura. Sakura… Karin," Sasuke finally drawled out, bored with having to make introductions. He stepped a little closer to Sakura, indicating to Karin that she was 'okay' — and that any attitude given should be cut short before it even started.

Sakura didn't notice any tension or the unspoken conversation between the two, and only smiled brightly in salutations.

"Nice to meet you Karin. Sorry for staring, I just—"

"What? Are you afraid?" Karin moved a fraction closer, hiding a smirk while lifting her wrist up, and closer. Sasuke frowned, knowing perfectly well what she was up to. Sakura's actions halted anything he might have said. Turns out, it wasn't necessary at all.

"No! No, of course not—"

"You think it's weird I have an emotionally supportive snake? Is that it?"

"Actually, I think she's beautiful," Sakura said, still smiling as her eyes darted back to the serpent.

"He," Karin corrected, before wiggling her nose. "Wait…" She paused, looking down again with a shrug. "Actually, I take that back. I'm not even sure… never bothered to check."

She gave a small kissy face to the snake that just turned and winded further up her forearm while scenting the air.

'Bee-beeeeeeeep!'

A sharp horn rang through the air, and the trio looked down the hill towards the parking lot. Through the tree line, they could see a white box truck pulling up, not far from where Sasuke parked and the redheaded firecracker released a curse.

"Damnit, I forgot the meat delivery was on the way," Karin said, using her free hand to push her glasses up her nose.

"Maybe put that away first, before you forget and leave it lying around," Sasuke suggested, nodding towards the bundled cannabis. "In the meantime, I can show Sakura around for a bit. You don't mind, do you?"

Karin could never see herself spurning the raven-haired hunk, but that didn't mean she had to like the idea of him giving a tour to the pretty little pinkette he'd brought with him. Her displeasure was clear, but the horn blaring a second time made the decision for her.

"Fine! But don't touch anything. And you keep an eye on her," she grumbled and stomped away towards the side door. Yelling out to the driver down below, Karin disappeared back inside.

"Sasuke…?"

Sasuke turned his head towards Sakura, but she was still facing the direction where Karin had gone. She then turned towards him with a deceptively sweet smile, and he found himself lifting a brow while he drew up taller and on alert in response. Leaning over, she looped both arms around one of his, fingers pinching the back of his hand. He winced as her syrupy voice reached his ear, her lips brushing the pale skin when she leaned up to whisper while tugging him downward.

"Did you bring me to one of your drug deals?" Her voice sounded nice and melodic but he was no fool despite how many times he found himself fucking up around her. Sasuke grunted, choosing his words carefully.

"Do you want me to know the truth…?" Using her locked arms, he guided them off to the right, slowly walking down another trail and around the building.

"Sasuke‐" She had half the mind to pull away but he pulled his arm closer to his body, effectively caging in one of her own.

"Or-... would you rather me answer one of your… 'getting to know you' questions?"

Her brows lowered in confusion, before she caught on and shot him a glare.

"Oh, you mean when you accused me of interrogating you?"

He smirked as they came around the corner and proceeded on for a ways. The pathway widened and continued on, running parallel to a long black metal fence. On the other side was a massive grassy area, with a man dressed in dark cargo pants raking leaves and debris.

"You asked if I liked dogs or cats." Sasuke slowed them to a stop, nodding at the guy who waved and nodded in return.

Sakura glanced up at him in question, but his attention was now focused on speaking with the other man.

"Jugo."

"Hello, Mr. S! Haven't seen you here in awhile," he yelled back, pausing in his work with a smile.

"Are there any little ones around?"

"Aa... they were napping last time I checked. Let me go see," he said, leaning the rake against the small, shack-like building he was standing next to.

Sakura watched in confusion as he darted inside but turned to Sasuke when he spoke to her again.

"Well... to answer your question, I like cats. But, probably not the ones you were thinking of…" he trailed off, watching Jugo approach them on the other side of the fencing. Sasuke's hand moved to her hip, forcing Sakura to turn around…

And she almost melted at the precious sight.

The groundskeeper stood in front of them, holding two cheetah cubs in his large gloved hands. He crouched down, setting them down in front of the couple with the iron fence still separating them.

"Oh. My. God." Sakura coo'd and dropped to her knees in front of them, her fingers clutching the fence as her heart liquified. The cubs started sniffing around, before turning to play with each other, their stubby little legs barely holding them up as they play-fought with one another.

"They just turned four weeks old," the man explained.

"So precious," Sakura said while the cubs tumbled around. "Where is the mother?" She looked around, almost afraid an angry parent would come running out any second looking for her young.

"She died. They've been bottle-fed ever since but have been introduced to meat."

"Is this a petting zoo?" Sakura asked in curiosity, watching as the larger cub pinned the other on its back. The two men exchanged a look above her head.

"Not exactly…" Sasuke started, reaching down to help her stand. Jugo hunched over to scoop the little ones up, explaining that it was their feeding time and returning them to the indoor pen. Sakura thanked the imposing man, following Sasuke as they continued on the trail, passing another enclosure.

"It's a private exotic animal sanctuary. Karin's uncle owns the place, while she is responsible for the day to day business."

Another enclosure they passed held a juvenile tiger, stretched out along a fallen log, basking in the afternoon sun while taking a nap.

"Most are bought as pets, ones sold to people who thought they knew what they were getting into… until they didn't." He frowned. "They soon become overwhelmed with just how big they can get, the growing cost of food…"

Foolish people that had spent a small fortune to acquire what they thought was the ultimate status symbol of luxury, until they found out that they couldn't handle the mounting responsibilities.

"The lucky ones end up here, while the center figures out a permanent home for them."

He didn't go into further details of how Karin's uncle used to be an underground veterinarian for said people, spending years providing treatment under the table for the illegally brought animals. A lucrative business for sure, until his consciousness caught up with him.

Now, years later he spent his time providing good care for the exotics that were left behind and discarded. He had purchased several acres of land for this place and now worked to secure them permanent homes.

"Shame they can't be returned to the wild," Sakura said as they came upon another massive cage, this one with gorilla glass several feet high. Sasuke bent down to tie his shoe, his back facing what seemed to be an empty pen.

"Yeah, that would be the ideal thing, in a perfect world."

Sakura had wandered over to another cage across from him, looking in at a few tropical birds that were preening their gleaming feathers. She turned around to say something but hesitated, spying movement over Sasuke's shoulder inside the enclosure.

Her features washed in disbelief while taking a step back.

"Uh…"

Sasuke paused in his task, reacting to the apprehension in her voice. Lifting his head, he glanced at her just as her eyes widened. Narrowing his own, he twisted his neck slightly to see the shadowy darkness above him.

Ka-PLUNCK!

"HOLY FUC-!"

A large black mass had charged and collided with the reinforced glass, thumping against the barrier, hard. In utter surprise, Sasuke cursed loudly out while flailing backward, his mind needing a few spare moments to figure out what had happened.

Logically, he knew that there was no need to be scared. As he scrambled backward, his mind reminded him that even bullets would fail to penetrate the wall that separated himself and the beast on the other side. But in the heat of the moment, when a two hundred pound jaguar charges at you, your body reacts on pure instinct. Given that the large animal had him beat by a good ten pounds in his own weight class, no one in their right mind could fault him.

His heart was still pounding as the large feline stalked against the glass playfully, quite proud of the little pouncing game. Amused, it licked a wide strip along a section of glass, leaving a slimy trail behind before bringing a massive paw to prod at the obstruction. As it lost interest and stalked away, Sasuke turned his head, noticing Sakura's giggling while he remained flat on his ass.

When their eyes finally met, the woman could no longer hold it in. No amount of home training or etiquette could stop the guffaw that erupted from her belly. Sakura held her jean covered knees as she bent over in peels of laughter, finding the entire scene comical and damnit, why hadn't she recorded that?!

The frown was evident on Sasuke's face, but inside he traced every giggle that rattled her form. Her laughter was devastatingly charming although she raised a hand to her face to stifle the noise. Male pride should have forced anger to rise rather than the warmth beginning to plague him.

Instead he took pleasure in the melody of her laughter, watching as she was almost brought to tears while trying to rein in the body quaking mirth. She wiped an eye as he turned more towards her, eyes tapering under dark lashes.

Sasuke's hands were raw from catching his weight during the fall, but he didn't feel a thing as he straightened up, focusing on her laughs that were dying out.

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧ ✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

Sakura stood taller as the last giggle left her lips, finding the look aimed at her playfully ominous. Laced with something that had her soles scraping against the pavement in her shifting.

"Thought that was funny, did you?"

Sasuke's eyes raked up her figure, and she felt his sudden urge to shush her in ways that may or may not involve him getting his hands on her to pry another sound altogether from her lips. The beast that stalked him just moments before had rubbed off on his personality. His predatory movements towards her now, eerily similar to the forgotten jaguar.

That was just the cue Sakura needed to snap out of her daze. With a gasp, she propelled into action, turning with a snicker and running off, not giving him a chance to stop her head start.

Why must he always make her body feel a certain type of way when he looked at her like that? This probably wasn't the best setting for him to have his way, she thought. Those dark eyes promised things she wasn't sure she could rebuff.

Choosing to go left when the path split into two, Sakura came across another wooden building and walked past the open doors. Following the sound of the sudden cursing, she doubled back, this time drawing closer to the opening to peek inside.

More foul language sailed through the air as the redheaded woman struggled with a plastic storage tub. The shelf she was trying to slide it on wasn't that high, but the tub's weight prevented her from raising the handles past her chest. Sakura gripped the doorway, edging closer to lend some assistance.

"Need a hand?"

Cinnamon eyes centered on the extra pair of helping hands before both women grunted, hoisting the container upon the metal rack.

Sakura stepped back, brushing her hands together several times to remove the dust.

"Thanks…" Karin reluctantly offered, reaching over to cross something off on her list written in a notebook. The pet snake was missing, and Sakura was able to see the strip of skin its body had previously covered. Or rather… the ink that had been hidden.

"Is that a Violet-tailed sylph?"

The brightly painted hummingbird tattoo was skillfully done and, although small, was heavily detailed. Sakura was able to identify the animal despite standing a respectable distance away. Karin ran her fingertips across the pravana blue feathers, bewildered that she knew the species etched into her skin.

"Yeah, it is..."

"Have you seen one in person? I've only seen them in pictures. That's really pretty."

The overhead light above the workbench caught the reflection of her glasses as Karin adjusted them. The temple tips slid back behind her ears, highlighting the buzz cut design on the side of her head while a mild sound of disgust rang between them.

"Last parting gift from my ex. About one of the only things he was good for. Decent artist but a toxic douche. At least I got this as a consolation prize for going back for round number two."

The giggle that burst forth from Sakura was anything but mocking, filled with legitimate mirth and understanding. "What's that saying…? 'Sometimes God sends an ex back into your life to see if you're still stupid'."

Karin snorted but managed to swallow the laugh that was closing in right behind it. She instead watched as Sakura leaned against the workbench, observing as green eyes followed her fingers as she traced the tattoo again.

"It's really well done… he did amazing work." Sakura's eyes skipped up, intercepting the skeptical look etched into the corner of the other woman's eyes. Mentioning past loves was always a delicate topic for anyone, but there was another curiosity looming not far behind.

The black mascara couldn't hide the small wrinkles that appeared as Karin finally asked—

"How did you…?"

"Oh! I'm not an expert or a bird girl or anything," Sakura rambled. "They just so happen to pollinate a particular flower that I love—"

The stillness in the air was passed over as Sakura looked to the side lost in thought, oblivious to the way her words were being intently listened too with rapt attention. "—not so much the flower itself but the perfume it's used in."

Mild shock caused Karin's glasses to slip down her nose unchecked when her head lowered, eyebrows bunching.

"Don't tell me... you're talking about... 'Bella Luminosità'?"

Pink flecks of hair cut longer than bangs scratched the apple of her cheeks as Sakura cocked her head to the side in wonder. "You've heard of it? It's so hard to find now-"

"Shut. the. fuck. up!"

Karin had a plan, perhaps made up within the last hour, to continue to give the pinkette shit or maybe the cold shoulder… but in just a few words Karin's plans took a leaping dive out the window.

"Heard of it?!" Karin screeched in glee, her hand opening and closing in front of her as she made some unknown gesture, shoulders rising as she took deep breaths of excitement. She could easily visualize the glass bottle within her grasp. How the textured design felt, how the light would hit it if you held it up… hell, if she concentrated hard enough she could even imagine the weight of it. "It's one of the best scents of all time. Easily top three of my favorites! Subtle, but oh, so dreamy… that fragrance makes wings and creates halos and should only be inhaled by worthy olfactory—!"

Karin quickly straightened, a trace of redness appearing as she pushed her chocolate brown glasses back up in embarrassment. She was both equally impressed and offended by just how easily she was warming up to this girl, particularly now after she found herself rambling.

"Sorry. I'm an avid collector of any and everything Eau de Parfum."

"That's ok. The last time I ran out, it took me months to find a replacement. Finally tracked down a supply in this small boutique. I bought two and got a really good deal on something else too…" Sakura giggled, stuffing her hands in her jacket pockets.

"So this little shop you found… does it have a name?" Karin leaned in over the table, lenses reflecting her interest.

"Oh, no no-no. That is my little treasure trove, my dear good friend. Find your own connect."

"Is there a restroom in here? Or do I need to head back to the main building?" Sasuke was relaxing just outside the doorway, choosing now to interrupt whatever the whispering girls were talking about.

In the last few minutes, Sakura had completely forgotten about him and the little chase they had outside. Glancing at him, she found his eyes were still staring at Karin just beyond her shoulder.

Karin pointed somewhere across from them, off towards the right. "There's one down that hall."

Sasuke's dark eyes shifted to Sakura and the dry swallow made her realize just how parched she'd become. She presented her back to him once again as she twisted around to the autumn haired girl. "Could I bother you for some water?"

"I'll take her to the kitchens. Meet us down there when you're done?" Karin said to Sasuke after moving towards the exit. She grabbed Sakura's arm, pulling her along and picking up on their lost conversation.

"Have you ever tried the 'Bleu Collection' by Ravenhouse? It's no Bella, but the undertones are amazing and perfect to use, especially in the fall-"

Karin continued to pull her away, leaving Sakura to cast a little grin at a bemused Sasuke as the women left him behind.

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧ ✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

The greasy food bag was dropped in the spare computer chair with a crinkled plop.

Interested, Karashi removed his headset, swiveling in the seat next to the meal before reaching out. The oil stains had already seeped through in some areas while the appetizing aroma escaped when the bag was opened.

"Wait, burgers again? I said I 'liked' the food from this place; not that I was obsessed with it." He moved a few napkins out of the way to grab a few fries, still hot to the touch. The only thing he would admit to missing since running away from home months ago was the home-cooked meals his mother used to make.

"Really now? Well, I'll be sure to pick you up a nice t-bone steak dinner next time I'm out." The sarcastic quip was made before the man who delivered the food turned to leave.

"I can go pick up my own food, you know. I'm not a kid."

"Why? I don't mind," the standing figure said mockingly, but his playfulness dropped, and his next words came out razor sharp and just as cold. "Besides, your time is better suited here, figuring out how to complete the job we are paying you for."

Karashi winced under the scrutiny. "I know it's taking longer than I—"

"I care more about results than I would listening to your excuses."

"Look, I'm working as hard as I can. You won't let me bring in help-"

"You said that you could complete this on your own, 'Chef'. But now I'm beginning to wonder if we both made a mistake…"

"Just give me a little more time. I can do it."

The employer raised a hand to cover his face, pressing fingers over closed eyelids before releasing a sigh.

His molten eyes were now covered by a wide palm, but that was fine by Karashi. That man's eyes were hypnotic and dangerous, especially when they settled that unnerving gaze directly onto you for an extended amount of time. It was like he could see right through you… underneath your skin and could count each ligament one by one if a situation ever called for it.

Swallowing, the teen made a silent promise to hurry up and finish what he was supposed to do, and get the hell out of there. Making a last, desperate attempt to ease whatever dissension lingered, he tried calming the waters.

"Thanks for the food. I'll get back to work now," Karashi said while the man lowered his hand. Those deep eyes stared unblinking, causing a chill all the way down to the marrow. Spine remaining stiff, the teen stayed immobile under the harsh gaze, not wanting to press his luck with further confrontation.

Finally, the man grunted, leaving the room. His booted feet muted once the door was closed firmly behind his retreating figure.

Karashi finally released the breath he was holding, while a full-body shudder woke him up more than the energy drink he'd consumed an hour ago.

There was a tense moment before the teen reached for the food again, dropping a hand through the opening and filling his mouth with fries. Whatever appetite he had was now destroyed, but he forced himself to chew, glancing at the monitors in front of him. They were all filled with open windows and programs so it was impossible to see the distressed look reflected there. A blessing in itself because it was hard enough fighting away the panic without seeing the expressions reflected back at him.

He needed to hurry up and finish this shit.

And fast.

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

End Chapter

Thank you for reading :) ✨✨✨