Rematch
ShiSaku
It was overcast. A low cover of grey clouds blanketed the morning sky as a gentle but chilly breeze blew in off the ocean.
This time of year, a marine layer was common in the mornings. It would burn off as the sun rose and warmed up the coast, but for now Shisui slipped on his sweatshirt and zipped it up as the sweat on his body began to cool. Beneath him, the sand was damp and undoubtedly sticking to his swim shorts, but he didn't notice. Not when his legs and arms were already coated in a thick layer of dust after a morning game.
On the court in front of him another volleyball match was in progress. Sakura was partnered up with Naruto against Ino and Raidou. This early there weren't many players, let alone beachgoers, along the coast. Only the stray runner and dog walker. It was quiet with the exception of the occasional shout from the court.
"It's up!" Naruto called.
The blond quickly hauled himself up off the ground after diving for a ball and hurriedly readied himself back into position as Sakura set him. As soon as the ball was over the net, she shuffled back into her spot, crouched down and on her toes ready to dive forward or jump back.
Sakura was a smart player, Shisui had learned over the past several months. She could read a player's hand; when they were going to tip the ball over the net or send it deep to the back of the court. She always knew where to be.
A smile played on the corner of Shisui's mouth as he watched her now. She was barefooted in a pair of form-fitting yoga pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Her sleeves were pushed up her forearms and she was covered in damp sand on her right side from their last game, but it only made her look adorable.
"I'm here," Sakura told Naruto as she passed the ball to him.
Her blond teammate set her up for a spike, which she slammed down on the other side of the court between Ino and Raidou.
"Nice!" Naruto shouted, giving her a high-five with both hands.
Sakura grinned in reply before her gaze caught Shisui's some yards from the sidelines.
"Nice swing!" he called, raising his voice loud enough for her to hear his compliment.
Her smile stretched wider before she picked the ball up from the ground where Ino had rolled it to her.
For a few minutes, Shisui simply watched as the group in front of him rallied back and forth. Sakura had moved back to the coast nearly seven months earlier and in that time, she had made a name for herself on the beach. Nearly every tournament she and Ino entered, they placed, including a first place win in a competition two weekends ago. Only to follow up last weekend with another first place win in the co-ed tournament with him.
In Shisui's opinion, Sakura could go semi-pro. She had the talent and the confidence. If only she had the motivation.
"I've done the serious competition thing," she had told him one night some months ago when they were hanging out in his apartment. "And it's fun for a while but I like just hanging out and playing with my friends now."
"But you're so skilled. You could easily keep up with the big leagues," he countered.
Against his side, she shrugged as she continued to stare at the movie they had put on but weren't really watching. "Maybe I could, maybe I couldn't." Then she cut her gaze up to him with an arched brow. "Why do you care so much anyway?"
"I just think if you want to, you should. If you put your name out there, I know someone would call you up asking to partner."
"And how could I partner up when I've already promised to be yours?"
Shisui had opened his mouth to argue that if she had an opportunity, she should take it, but it had promptly fallen forgotten when she pulled away only to climb into his lap until she was straddling him. His hands automatically settled on her hips, his thumbs caressing the soft skin above her shorts where her shirt had ridden up, just as her arms snaked around his neck. A shiver went down his spine as her nails gently scratched his scalp at the nape of his neck.
"Or are you trying to get rid of me already?" she teased.
Shisui was sure he had made some smart remark about keeping her around but he couldn't really remember anything other than the taste of her lips and the softness of her skin after that. That woman could be very distracting when she wanted to be.
The memory caused a secret smile to curl in the corner of Shisui's mouth, but it slipped away a moment later as he recalled the voicemail he'd received a few nights ago. Guilt crawled into his chest and crept up his throat, but he was saved from replaying the message over when footsteps approached.
Glancing up, Shisui recognized Genma. He hid his expression behind his water bottle as he sipped from it.
"You been here a while?" Genma asked. He dropped his bag down onto the sand before he lowered himself down next to Shisui.
"Not too long," Shisui said. "Maybe an hour or two."
"You going to play another?"
With a glance at his watch, Shisui shook his head. "Nah, I have to get to work soon. I just wanted to watch the rest of their game."
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, an odd commotion on the court caught the corner of his eye. He peered over just as Naruto jogged over to Sakura where she was on her side on the ground after diving for a ball.
"That was kind of a weird hit. You okay?" Naruto asked as she pushed herself up into a sitting position.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said before she accepted the blond's hand and allowed him to help her to her feet.
Sakura waved Naruto off, but Shisui continued to scrutinize her. She was never slow to get up. He watched her clench her hand into a fist as she slowly stretched out her shoulder before she gingerly shook it off.
The game continued after that but it didn't escape Shisui's notice how she favored her left side. Still, Sakura and Naruto managed to pull off a win, and they high-fived with Ino and Raidou before they made their way off the court.
"Nice win," Genma said as he and Shisui pushed themselves to their feet.
"Thanks. Did you guys want to jump in?" Naruto asked.
"I do. I think Shisui's about to take off though."
"Already?" Ino asked, her water bottle paused halfway to her lips.
Shisui smirked at her. "Some of us have a pesky little thing called 'work'."
"That sucks. You should definitely quit it," the blonde teased right back.
"Hey, be nice," Sakura cut in playfully. "Not all of us get a week off just because our boss didn't feel like opening the salon."
"Me be nice? Says the girl who tipped the ball in front of me four times that last game," Ino retorted, her hand on her hip.
"I think it was five. And it's not my fault you keep leaving it open."
Ino stuck her tongue out in reply, drawing a laugh from the group. The blonde tried to shove her best friend but Sakura dodged her strike before she bent down to retrieve her own water out of her bag.
With a smile on his face, Shisui watched the girls sass each other playfully until Naruto piqued up, "Since Shisui is leaving, who wants to sit out so Genma can start?"
"He can take my spot. I'm headed out too," Raidou offered as he packed up his bag. "I also have that annoying work thing."
"Lame," Ino pouted. Then she glanced at Genma. "Just let me refill my water and we can play."
Genma nodded before Ino headed the short distance up the beach to the boardwalk where a water fountain was. "I gotta warm-up anyway. Naruto, wanna pepper?"
Upon his name, Naruto dropped his water down onto his sweatshirt bundled in the sand before he headed onto the court with Genma. Alone, Shisui glanced at Sakura to find her standing at her bag, her water bottle tucked under her arm and her phone in her hands.
He picked up his bag and tossed the strap over his shoulder before he asked, "You still coming over tonight?"
His question drew her attention and she looked up at him with a smile. "Yeah. Six work?"
"I have a meeting that might run a little later than that, but you can come over whenever. My place is closer to your work. You still have my key, right?"
"'course I do. I'll grab something for dinner," she told him.
Shisui nodded and for a moment, he nearly stepped towards her to kiss her goodbye but abruptly stopped himself.
He and Sakura had hooked up again the very day she had moved back into town. And almost every single day since. For the first time in his life, Shisui wasn't exactly sure what they were doing. They were certainly intimate and they played volleyball together a lot, but they weren't really dating.
Every time they went out for drinks, they always had friends with them. Sakura had definitely been too busy for a relationship when she moved back and after the disaster of his last one, Shisui hadn't really been itching to jump back into one either. And so they had never discussed it. And now Shisui had no idea where they stood seven months later. They weren't committed to each other and yet it felt like they were more than just friends with benefits.
The thing was he was beginning to feel like he wanted her more than what they were, but he didn't think that's what she wanted from him. It was all very confusing and delicate. The last thing he wanted was to lose what they had simply because his feelings may or may not have grown more for her.
Forcing himself to take a step back, Shisui made do with a smile. "I'll see you tonight then."
xx
Shisui's footsteps fell heavily as he trudged up the stairs to his flat. It hadn't been a bad day at work, but it certainly had been a long one. The hours had stretched on for what felt like an eternity until weariness had settled between his joints. His neck and shoulders were stiff from bending over a desk for so long and his eyes ached from staring at a computer screen.
Suppressing a yawn, Shisui switched his laptop bag into his other hand to dig through his pocket for his keys. He found his house key on the ring and slid it into the lock. Only to find the deadbolt already unfastened. Confused, he pushed his door open to find the entryway and kitchen lights on with what sounded like noise coming from the television in the living room.
In an instant, he remembered he had invited Sakura over.
After closing the door behind him, Shisui dropped his bag down onto one of the chairs around the kitchen table and slipped the jacket of his suit off. He pulled at the knot of his tie from around his throat as he followed the sound of the television to the living room. What greeted him caused him to pause before a soft smile fell over his face.
Sakura was sitting criss cross on his couch dressed in a pair of shorts and a grey, oversized t-shirt with the words 'University of Southern California' on the front. Her pale pink hair was down and falling around her shoulders in soft waves. In her hands was one of his Xbox controllers as she played Banjo-Tooie. Her choice in game nearly made him snort. Of course she would pick a game that had been rerendered from the 90's.
"You winning?" he asked.
Sakura didn't take her eyes off the screen, but a frown crossed her face as her thumb flew over the buttons on the right side of the controller. "Sort of. This boss has killed me twice, but I think I might have it this time–oh shit!"
Leaning against the wall, Shisui glanced at the screen just as the boss, a large anglerfish, shot lightning at her. She narrowly missed before she turned her character around to fire more ammo at the creature.
"I grabbed Chinese if you're hungry," she said as she continued her boss fight. "Sorry I didn't wait for you. I was starving – aww c'mon, that didn't miss – and I picked up a bottle of wine. Though, I wasn't actually sure if you liked wine so there's some beers in the fridge too."
Shisui's gaze flickered to the coffee table in front of her where a few boxes of takeout were. Some were opened, one with a pair of chopsticks sticking out, but a couple were still folded shut. Beside them in front of Sakura was a half-full glass of white wine.
She looked so comfortable in his space, so at home it caused his smile to widen minutely. Something soft and warm settled in his chest and just like that, the exhaustion of his day began to melt away.
"C'mon, c'mon, one more hit," Sakura murmured to herself.
She leaned forward, her expression that of pure concentration. It reminded him of her face on the court when she was facing a tough opponent, but with her hair down and dressed in comfortable clothing, she looked more adorable than fierce. With her bright green eyes and expressive face, she really was one of the prettiest girls he had ever seen.
"Yes! Finally!" Sakura shouted, throwing her hands up in the air triumphantly.
Shisui cut his gaze back to the television just as the game showed a quick cut scene of the boss being defeated. He grinned. "Nicely done."
"Thanks. Hey, whoa. Since when do you wear suits?"
Turning his attention back to Sakura, he found her gazing at him. No, not gazing. Practically ogling him. She wasn't even trying to be subtle as she raked her eyes up and down his form. The obvious appreciation on her face caused the blood in his body to begin drawing south.
"Since when I have a meeting with a potentially new client," he said.
That caused her expression to brighten as her eyes returned to his. "Oh! How did that go?"
"Good. Long, but they sounded pretty interested in hiring me for their advertising, which is promising," he told her.
Her smile widened. "That's awesome. I'm excited for you. Was this the insurance company?"
Shisui nodded with a confirming hum. "It isn't set in stone yet, but I should hear from them soon."
"Congrats. You deserve it," she said sincerely. She then gestured to the space on the couch beside her. "Why don't you come sit down and eat. I'll grab you something to drink."
"I will. I'm just gonna change first," he said, straightening from the wall to nod towards his bedroom.
That caused Sakura to pout. "Aww, I like the suit. Navy looks good on you."
Something pleasant curled deep in the pit of Shisui's stomach at her compliment and his member unconsciously twitched between his legs. That look on her face could practically get him to do anything.
"Fine, but only because you asked nicely," he teased.
A triumphant grin flashed across her face before she paused her game and stood, retrieving her wine glass from the table as she went. "Beer or wine?" she asked.
"Wine," he said. Then he smirked at her. "I do like it, for the record."
That made her smile and she stopped in front of him to hold out her drink. "Here, take mine. I'll grab another glass," she smiled.
He stood a good head over her, the crown of her head just barely reaching his chin. With their height difference, she had to crane her neck to look up at him. He accepted her wine, but didn't move to drink it when Sakura lingered.
Her eyes dropped to her hand as she rested it on the center of his chest. Her fingers lightly played with one of the buttons of his shirt, causing his breath to silently hitch.
"That color really does look good on you," she murmured as her gaze flickered up to meet his again.
Every fiber of his being was screaming at Shisui to tangle his fingers in her hair and kiss her breathless, but before he could, Sakura stepped away with a small smirk before she disappeared behind him into the kitchen. For a minute, he just stood there listening to her rummage through the cabinets as he tried to clear his head.
Does that woman know what she does to him? Did she know he wanted to wrap himself around her all the time? He was already half hard from just a few, sweet words and a delicate caress.
Raising the wine glass to his lips, Shisui drained the rest in one go before he made his way over to the couch and lowered himself down next to where Sakura had been sitting. He set his glass aside before he reached for one of the unopened takeout boxes.
Inside was an order of Mongolian beef, his favorite. Immediately he dug in, only looking up when Sakura returned with another glass and a nearly full bottle of wine. She refilled his drink before she topped off her own and resumed her game.
For a few minutes, they sat in silence until Shisui glanced at her again. "How's your shoulder? You looked like you landed on it pretty hard this morning."
"It's fine," she said, shooting him a smile. "Definitely good enough to play with you in that co-ed tournament in a few weeks, if that's what you're worried about."
It wasn't what he was worried about. He tried to match her smile but the mention of the tournament killed his easy mood. That same guilt from before crept into his chest and turned the wine in his mouth sour.
"I'm kidding," Sakura said when he didn't reply. She glanced over at him with a smile but it quickly faded when she saw his face. "Shi? Is everything okay?"
Now was as good a time as any to tell her he figured.
Taking a deep breath, Shisui set his wine down before he turned to face her. "I have something I have to tell you."
Worried pinched her brows together and she lowered the controller down onto her lap to give him her full attention. "Okay."
"A few days ago, I got a call from Hatake Kakashi," he said slowly. "He asked me to play with him in the upcoming semi-pro tournament."
Sakura stared at him for one moment that stretched on into an eternity and then another before she broke out into a wide grin. "Oh my god, that's so exciting! When do you guys begin training?"
Her excitement took him by surprise. He opened his mouth but words escaped him. He had fully expected her to be angry or upset. They had been partners in nearly every co-ed tournament since she had moved to town. He felt like he was abandoning her to move up in the volleyball world.
"I don't know. I haven't...I haven't called him back," Shisui said quietly.
Her smile fell as she shook her head in confusion. "What? Why not?"
"Because we're supposed to be in the co-ed tournament in a few weeks," he told her, looking away to rake a stressed hand through his hair.
Sakura stopped him with a gentle hand to his forearm. When he turned back to look at her, he searched her face to find not one ounce of disappointment in her expression.
"Shisui, there'll be other tournaments," she told him. "You have to call Kakashi back. This is a one-time opportunity and I know you'll blow them away."
Sakura's face was utterly beaming with excitement as she looked up at him. A sudden urge to say something he shouldn't threatened to escape Shisui's mouth, but he tightly clenched his teeth together. He had an overwhelming need to kiss her and he gave in as he bent his head to capture her mouth with his.
A noise of surprise sounded in Sakura's throat but she quickly relaxed into him as he slanted their mouths together and traced his tongue against the seam of her lips. Her tongue met his immediately and he tugged her closer before he pressed her down against the couch until she was trapped between him and the cushions.
The controller in her lap tumbled to the floor, but neither noticed as she hooked her thighs over his hips and drew him in closer. A low groan rumbled in his chest when her soft center ground against his hardening manhood and he snaked his hand beneath her shirt to feel her silky skin on his fingertips. Satisfaction curled low in the pit of his stomach when she released a breathy moan, but he needed more.
Pulling away, Shisui helped slip her shirt over her head before his mouth found hers again. Her skin was so velvety smooth and warm beneath his palms.
"Nng, fuck," she murmured, her breath hitching when his thumb brushed her nipple.
A pleased smirk crossed his expression but he hid it as he buried his face into her neck, his lips trailing down the tendon he knew was sensitive. She whimpered against his ear only to gasp out a moan when he rolled a pebbled nub between his fingers.
"Fuck, I want you," she hissed as her fingers dug into his shoulders before she slipped her hands down to his chest. She unbuttoned two buttons before she cursed huskily. "God damnit. Why are there so many damn buttons?"
A chuckle escaped him. "I was going to change, but you wouldn't let me."
"Yeah, because you look fucking hot in a suit. Now shut up and help me."
Shisui laughed again, but did as he was told. Sitting up, he quickly unfastened the rest of the buttons of his shirt before he shrugged the material off and tossed it aside. In the meantime, Sakura reached for the belt and button on his pants, and drew his zipper down before she slipped her hand inside to cup him.
His reaction was immediate. He bent over her until his hands were braced on either side of her head to support his weight as he closed his eyes with a heavy groan. The weight of his member in her slim hand felt like magic. No matter how many times they hooked up, she still made liquid heat pool deep in his gut as the rest of the world faded away.
He loved being with Sakura like this. He enjoyed hanging out with her when they were with their friends, but only he got to appreciate her like this and only she made him feel this good.
"Fuck, Sakura," he hissed as she pumped him slowly.
He was so turned on after seeing her nerd on with his video games. And now she was laying under him shirtless with her full breasts on display for his viewing with her cheeks flushed in arousal and her hair splayed around her. He could come right then.
Grasping her wrist, Shisui withdrew her hand from inside his pants. Confusion turned the corners of Sakura's mouth down, but he ducked his head and pressed a bruising kiss to her lips before he trailed his mouth down her neck to her chest. He licked the soft skin between her breasts and pressed open-mouthed kisses to the delicate curves to the tops of her breasts before finally sealing his lips around a pert nipple.
"Oh gods, Shisui," Sakura sighed as her nails scraped pleasantly against his scalp.
His name in that tone sent the blood rushing straight between his legs. He was already harder than a rock and aching to be inside her, but he didn't give into his needs just yet. He wanted to hear her scream first.
Kissing a path down her stomach, Shisui dropped to his knees on the rug in front of the couch before he helped shimmy her shorts and panties down her long legs. As soon as they were gone, he settled her knees on his shoulders.
"Shisui?"
"Just relax. I've got you," he murmured against the inside of her thigh.
And he did. He supported her weight as he dragged her down the cushions until he had better access to her center.
Propping herself up on her elbow, Sakura frowned down at him. "Can't you just fuck me?"
Shisui couldn't help but chuckle against the delicate skin of her inner thigh. "I will, but let me have my fun first," he returned with a playful bite. Her breath caught as she tried to jerk her leg away, but he pinned her in place as he laughed again.
Shisui knew Sakura was impatient when it came to sex; that's why she didn't want him to go down on her. The first time he had tried to, she had told him she didn't really enjoy it; she felt she took too long to get off and she'd rather just have sex. To which he had replied by pleasuring her for the next forty-five minutes as he made her come with his tongue not once, not twice, but three times. His jaw had ached for over two days afterwards, but it had been worth it to see her nearly incoherent from pleasure and unable to move from his bed that night.
With a groan that was half-defeated and half-exasperated, Sakura collapsed back against the couch. He teased her by caressing and kissing her inner thighs until her fingers twisted into his hair and pulled just hard enough to get her point across. Shisui bit back his laugh, but he was unable to suppress his grin before he finally worked his way up to her center.
Her bare sex was already damp with arousal and he used his fingers to spread her open and kiss her swollen pearl before he slipped his tongue between her folds. Sakura jerked at the sudden onslaught of sensation before she eased against the cushions again, a breathy moan tumbling from her lips.
Shisui didn't know how long he teased her for. He savored her taste and loved the way her body moved against him as he found all her sensitive spots. He teased them over and over again with his tongue and fingers, building her higher and higher until she was writhing against the couch and her moans turned throatier. He could feel her climax approaching. He could tell by the way the muscles of her stomach contracted and how her thighs trembled around his shoulders. Shisui upped his tempo. He pumped his fingers deeper, flicked her pearl with his tongue faster and hummed harder until her entire body stiffened before she came apart at the seams.
"Fuck!" she cried, her hands unconsciously pulling his face closer as her body spasmed beneath him.
He kept going, pushing her higher and drawing out her pleasure. Her thighs clamped down on him and she rolled her hips in time with his tongue until she finally, finally collapsed back against the cushions.
Carefully, Shisui lowered her legs from his shoulders before he pushed himself up. He secured an arm around her waist and helped settle her more fully against the couch before he reached down to strip himself of his pants. After all that, he was beyond hard. The pressure of his briefs was nearly unbearable and he breathed a sigh of relief as his member was finally freed.
Beneath him, Sakura was an orgasmic mess. Her eyes were closed and she was still panting from her climax. He wanted to bend down and kiss her, to draw her back to reality, but he also knew that if he hurried, he could get her to come for him again in less than a minute while her body was still relaxed and sensitive.
"We're not done yet," he murmured.
Blinking her eyes opened, Sakura peered up at him just as he lined the mushroomed head of his cock up with her entrance. Then he pushed in.
Her mouth opened but all that came out was a breathy moan. It took all of Shisui's willpower not to come right then and there. She was so wet and snug around him. He wanted to just savor the feeling of her wrapped around him.
But there was something he wanted more.
Hoisting her thigh over his hip, Shisui began to move. He didn't give her any time to adjust; just started a hard, fast pace, hitting her upper wall where he knew he would stimulate her over-sensitive nerves. Just as he wanted, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in pleasure.
"Oh gods, Shi. Right there!"
Without breaking his pace, Shisui grabbed her other leg and slid it onto his shoulder until he was splitting her open. He buried himself inside her over and over again until she teetered on the edge.
"Come on, that's a good girl," he encouraged her. "Come for me."
That was all it took. She came around him again. With one hand clutching his forearm and the other reaching above her head for anything to hold onto, she convulsed. Her core pulsed around his length, desperately trying to force his own orgasm but he ground his teeth together as he reeled in his own desires. He wasn't ready to be finished quite yet.
By the time Sakura came down from her second orgasm, they were both panting heavily. Shisui slowed his pace but he never stopped his smooth thrusts. It wasn't until he bent down to kiss her that she finally stirred again. She met his mouth lazily, a low groan escaping her when his cock hit a sensitive spot within her.
"You're going to wear me out," she complained, half-heartedly pushing him away.
Shisui merely chuckled and gave her one more deep-seated thrust before he pulled out. "You will be once I'm done with you. Turn over."
With only a moment's hesitation and a playful pout, she rolled over onto her stomach, ensuring she stretched her body out to draw attention to her rounded hips and firm ass. He was already close and her little show only made his cock twitch with desperation.
As soon as she was on her stomach, he covered her body with his. "You're a little tease," he half-growled as he buried his face into the back of her neck.
That drew a laugh from her but it quickly turned into a moan when he slipped inside her again.
This time, Shisui fucked her hard. He buried himself inside her over and over, chasing that edge his body so desperately wanted to tumble over. But not before he made Sakura come a third time.
Reaching between her legs, Shisui wetted his fingers with her essence before he found the pearl above her entrance. She tried to jerk away but he trapped her between himself and the couch, his knees ensuring her legs stayed spread open for him.
"Shisui, please," she begged.
"Come on," he murmured against her ear. "You can give me another."
She whimpered as he continued to toy with her. "I-I can't."
"Yes, you can," he encouraged.
Something that sounded suspiciously like a sob came out of her mouth, but it was quickly followed by a gasp of pleasure as his cock hit a spot deep inside of her. He aimed for it again and again until she tensed.
This time when she came, she wailed. Wetness coated his fingers as her body spasmed around him, but he kept going, kept caressing and playing with her until the muscles of his stomach tightened in warning.
With a low groan, Shisui came. He leaned over her, his forearms supporting his weight as he buried himself to the hilt and spilled inside her. That's when Shisui realized what he had done wrong. Like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over his head, all post-sex satisfaction went out of his body.
He had forgotten a condom.
Fuck.
Fuck!
He had never forgotten one before – not once – but with everything on his mind and his desperation for her, it had completely fallen from thought.
"Shit," he cursed softly. Then more loudly, "Shit, I'm so sorry, Sakura."
His tone stirred her into moving and she rolled over onto her back before propping herself up onto her elbow. "What's wrong?" she asked, searching his face.
He ran a stressed hand through his hair before he gave her his most apologetic look. "I forgot to grab a condom. I'm so sorry."
Blinking, she stared at him before she looked down between them at his bare cock. A long second of stillness passed before she eventually shrugged. "That would explain why it felt so damn good," she said. Her voice was rich with amusement, much to his confusion. She settled back down onto her back before she waved her hand in the air. "Don't worry. I'm on the pill."
Shisui stared at her for a long moment. "You're not...you're not mad?"
"'course not. Shit happens. Besides, I feel way too much like jello to be angry." Her lopsided grin was enough to melt away the rest of his anxiety.
Leaning down, Shisui kissed her again. This time, it was soft and slow. He took his time tasting her and enjoying the sweetness of her lips. He would have kept going, but eventually Sakura turned her face away.
"You're going to get me turned on again and I don't think my body can handle another orgasm," she groaned.
She pushed on his shoulder and reluctantly, he sat up to give her space, shoving down the twinge of disappointment in his gut. He hadn't meant to excite her. He just liked kissing her.
"Can I get you anything?" he asked.
Sakura started to shake her head only to stop and glance at the coffee table. "Wine."
With a chuckle, Shisui retrieved her glass from the table and held it out towards her. She accepted it with a smile and pushed herself up into a sitting position only to wince.
"Ouch. Maybe I did tweak my shoulder a little today."
"Want me to grab you some ice?" he offered.
Sakura downed the rest of her wine before she shook her head. "No, I'll just grab some ibuprofen," she said as she stood up. Then she turned to look down at him. "In the meantime, you should call Kakashi back."
When Shisui didn't reply, she ran her fingers through his hair, urging him to look up at her.
"This is a good thing, Shisui," she said, her face soft. "Don't worry about me. I'm not going anywhere."
That calmed the worst of his worries and he offered her a smile before she turned and headed to the bathroom to get some pain killers.
Even after she was gone, Shisui didn't move. There was a burning need to know deep in his gut. To know if he could keep up with the pros. To know how far he could go. How hard he could push himself. To test his skill against those who had already proven themselves.
Yet, he still felt like he was abandoning Sakura. He knew his time would become more limited if he chose this path. There would be far less early morning or after-work games on the beach with their friends, if any at all. Even his evenings with Sakura would be limited.
He knew he was going to miss spending his free time with her. He was going to miss cheering her on at every tournament and pulling her back onto her feet when she missed a serve or a dig. He was going to miss coming home to her playing his video games and eating takeout with her. He was going to miss burying his face in her hair and listening to her talk about her day.
Like a light bulb switching on in his brain, Shisui realized it wasn't just simple attraction he felt for Sakura anymore. He was in love with her. Thoroughly and helplessly in love with her.
Fuck.
xx
There was a text waiting for Shisui when he left his last meeting of the day. He waited until he had climbed into his car before he unlocked his phone screen. It was from Genma.
Drinks at eight?
Shisui glanced at the clock on the dashboard now. It was half-past six. Plenty of time for him to go home and change. Still, his fingers hesitated on the reply button.
Who's gonna be there? he asked.
His phone pinged with Genma's reply after Shisui slipped his keys into the ignition and started his engine. Me, Raidou and you if you're in.
None of the girls? Shisui pressed. It was rare for Genma to go out without at least texting one of them.
Texted Ino a few hours ago but no reply. Figure we could do a guy's night or whatever, Genma said.
That gave Shisui some relief. If there was no Ino then there likely would be no Sakura. It wasn't that he was avoiding her, it was just that...well, he was avoiding her.
It had been nearly a month since Shisui started training with Kakashi. Nearly every minute of his free time was spent on the indoor training court thirty minutes south as they prepared for the upcoming tournament in two weeks. So far, things had been going well. He and Kakashi worked well on the court together. Their strengths and weaknesses meshed well and their communication was nearly flawless.
Which is more than Shisui could say about himself and Sakura lately.
They had texted nearly nonstop when Shisui had first gone off with Kakashi, but in the last few weeks, Shisui had been slow to reply to her. The truth was he just didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to keep things easy and simple between them without him feeling the need to blurt out how much he missed her and missed being with her. He knew she had picked up on the fact something had changed, but it was easy for him to just pretend it was his new volleyball schedule. At least until he saw her face-to-face.
Swallowing down the guilt that burned in his chest, Shisui typed out a reply to Genma. See you at 8.
Then he turned up the stereo in his car and tried to think about absolutely nothing.
It was about ten minutes after eight when Shisui arrived at their usual place. It was walking distance from his flat, about four blocks in from the boardwalk and away from most of the crazies that came out after dark. It was an Irish pub with cheap but good beers on tap and tasty appetizers.
He found Genma and Raidou at a booth near the back. They were both talking as they sipped on beers but they looked up as Shisui approached.
"There's our pro player," Genma grinned around the toothpick in his mouth.
Shisui nearly rolled his eyes as he slipped into the booth beside his friend. "I'm not pro yet. The tournament isn't for two weeks."
"How's that going by the way?" Raidou asked before he sipped from the bottle of Heineken between his hands.
"Pretty good. Hatake has been patient but we've gotten our rhythm down."
Raidou looked like he had more to say but just then a waitress walked up to the table. "Hey, looks like you just got here. My name is Amaya. Can I get you something to drink?"
Shisui nodded. "Yeah, whatever your lightest beer on draft is."
"We have Coors but our weekly special is a German Pilsner, which is pretty good," she smiled.
"Yeah, I'll try the Pilsner," Shisui said.
The waitress's smile widened. "I'll be right back with that."
As soon as she was gone, Shisui turned back to the guys to find Genma grinning at him. "What?" Shisui asked.
His smirk only grew. "Come on, dude. That waitress was totally into you."
Shisui cocked his brow. "No, she wasn't."
"She was definitely checking you out," Genma argued.
"She was not," he dismissed.
When Genma continued to grin at him, Shisui glanced at Raidou. The older man held up his hands. "I'm not saying Genma is right, but she definitely wasn't looking at us."
Shisui frowned at him but his gaze cut back to Genma as he said, "You should ask for her number."
"I'm not going to ask for her number," Shisui sighed.
"You have to."
"No, I don't."
Genma opened his mouth to argue again, but he quickly bit down on his toothpick again as the waitress reappeared with his drink. "Can I get you anything else?" she asked.
This time, Shisui didn't miss the way her eyes never strayed from him. Normally he would be flattered. He would have even flirted a little, but now he could only shake his head. "No, thanks."
"An order of fries would be awesome," Raidou said as Genma shot Shisui a look. "And some chicken nachos. No beans please."
"I'll put the order in," she said with a kind smile before she backed away.
As soon as she was gone, Genma smacked the back of his hand against Shisui's bicep without animosity. "Dude, what's wrong with you? She's hot."
Shisui simply shrugged as he sipped his drink.
"It's because she's not Sakura," Raidou supplied.
That nearly made Shisui choke on his beer. He swallowed hard before he feigned a look of confusion. "What does Sakura have to do with it?"
Raidou rolled his eyes. "Come on, Shisui. You're really going to tell me you and Sakura haven't been hanging out?"
Both of his friends were staring him down, as if daring him to lie. Shisui knew he was caught. Still, he shrugged it off. "Yeah, we've hung out, but it's nothing. We've hardly seen each other since I started training with Kakashi."
"Ino said it was more than 'hanging out'," Genma snickered.
Shisui shot him a flat look. "You're really going to believe Ino? That girl loves to exaggerate."
"Are you saying you two didn't hook up?"
Shisui resisted the urge to frown and instead took a long sip of his beer. He knew Genma would continue to prod until he got the information he wanted. He was like Ino in that respect. With an inward sigh, Shisui knew he was going to have to tell them. It really wasn't that big of a deal. It's not like it was some big secret. Sakura had told him Ino knew. She had known since day one, but still. He had enjoyed the lack of drama without all their friends knowing they were hooking up.
"Fine," Shisui finally admitted. "Yeah, we slept together. Happy?"
"You lucky bastard," Genma grinned. "Sakura is hot. And she can beat my ass into the ground on the court. I'd love to see what she could do in bed."
"Don't be crass," Raidou chided, much to Shisui's relief.
Shisui was sure Sakura wouldn't have minded Genma's comment, but Shisui still didn't enjoy talking about her like that. It felt disrespectful.
"She's our friend, remember?" Raidou said.
Genma muttered some apology under his breath, but it went mostly unheard as Raidou glanced across the bar towards the door and straightened in his seat. "Speak of the angel," he grinned.
Confused, Shisui peered over his shoulder just as Ino waved at them. Behind her was none other than Sakura. It had been over a week since he had last seen her and while being in her company was like a breath of fresh air, he felt his palms begin to sweat. He hadn't responded to her last text a few days ago.
Shisui quickly glanced back at Genma. "I thought you said you hadn't heard from Ino."
Genma's grin was wide as he watched the girls approach. "I hadn't. Hey, ladies! Glad you could join us," he greeted them.
"Sorry for the delay," Ino smiled. "My phone died while I was out shopping and I only saw this half an hour ago. I grabbed Sakura on the way over."
The boys scooted closer together into the booth, allowing Ino room to sit beside Raidou while Sakura squeezed in beside Shisui. She smiled at him, but left a few inches of room between them. Disappointment filled Shisui but he kept his expression neutral.
"She more of kidnapped me is what she means," Sakura corrected. "I was already in my pajamas."
Which was likely true. Shisui knew she changed into sweatpants almost immediately after getting home every night, even if it was only four in the afternoon. She looked good now though in a pair of dark jeans and a fitted, long-sleeved maroon shirt under her sleeveless, grey cardigan.
"Aww, you ruined my fantasy. I always imagined you slept naked," Genma grinned, causing both Raidou and Shisui to smack his arms on either side with a "dude!" from each of them.
Sakura just laughed good-naturedly. "All guys think that while in reality we sleep in old boxers and our baggiest shirts."
Shisui chuckled with the rest of them, but he knew for a fact Sakura slept naked. At least she did when she was with him. Usually because they had sex before they passed out, but still.
"Don't forget our hair in messy buns and ponytails," Ino added.
"Now that I seriously doubt," Genma argued. "You never look anything but perfect, Ino."
"Wow, laying it on thick tonight, Genma," Ino smirked. "Are you looking for a pick-me-up after Shizune rejected you again?"
Shisui glanced at Genma, his brow arched in surprise. He had finally approached that girl he had been crushing on?
"She didn't reject me," Genma defended. "She just didn't say yes."
"She rejected you," Ino said flatly.
A frown settled on Genma's mouth, but before he could reply, their waitress returned. She set down their nachos and fries, which Ino immediately grabbed a couple of before the woman glanced at the girls. "Welcome in, ladies. What can I get you?"
"A vodka soda with a splash of cranberry. And another order of fries," Ino requested.
"And mozzarella sticks," Sakura added.
"Anything to drink?"
Sakura glanced at Shisui. "How's the beer?"
"Pretty good," he told her. They had learned quickly that they both enjoyed the same flavors.
"And one of whatever he's having," Sakura said, pointing at his nearly empty drink.
The waitress eyed them for a long moment, which in turn caused both Raidou and Genma to peer at Shisui, but he was too busy staring at Sakura. She looked really pretty tonight. It made his chest ache with how much he missed her.
"I'll get that order in with another round for the guys," she told them after Genma had raised his glass in request for another.
As soon as the waitress left, Ino turned back to them. "So, what were you guys talking about before we arrived?"
Genma and Raidou side-eyed each other before both saying, "Shisui's tournament."
Ino's expression immediately lit up. "That's in two weeks, right? I'm so excited to watch you guys play. I'm curious to see how much Kakashi's changed."
That made Shisui blink in surprise. "You know him?"
"Sort of."
"He was a coach at our high school when we were sophomores," Sakura explained after Ino's unclear answer. "He taught the freshman team so we never trained under him, but we all knew he was a semi-serious player."
"What was he doing teaching a high school team?" Raidou asked.
Sakura shrugged. "I think he just needed a year off, but I don't know. We never asked."
"Yeah, 'cause we were all too busy fawning over him," Ino snickered. "He was hot. Remember his biceps?"
Sakura laughed as Genma smirked. "Can't be better than mine," he said, pulling up his shirt to flex.
"Aww," Ino said, reaching across Raidou to gently pat Genma's arm. "It's so cute."
That set them all off. Shisui chuckled, but his gaze turned down to Sakura as she unintentionally leaned against him in her own laughter. Their eyes locked and for a moment, the world narrowed until it was just them. He wanted so badly to lean down and capture her lips, already knowing how soft and sweet they were, and yet he knew he would always crave more. He just wanted to feel her against him again.
The moment was broken when the waitress returned with drinks. Shisui sat back against the booth and downed a couple of sips of his new beer as he reigned himself in. Beneath the table, Sakura's thigh unconsciously - or maybe it was consciously - brushed against his, but he didn't pull away. He needed this. He needed to feel her. Even if it was only like this.
The rest of their night was full of laughter and stories as each of them teased and poked at each other. It was the most relaxed Shisui had been in a while and he knew it wasn't coincidence. He knew it was because of Sakura.
Even still, as the night drew to a close, Shisui knew he had to go home alone. Raidou and Genma headed out first, the latter too buzzed to drive. Sakura and Ino left together after that as Shisui slipped into the bathroom before he began his walk home.
To his surprise, Sakura was standing near the entrance by herself when he slipped out of the pub. She was looking down at her phone, but she glanced up when the movement caught her eye.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey," he replied in the same tone before he cast a quick look around. "Where's Ino?"
"Restroom."
"Oh," he murmured, suddenly feeling a little shy. He hadn't been alone with her in weeks. "So, how have you been?"
"Good," she smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Just been working and playing volleyball with Naruto before he leaves for basic."
"That's right. That's coming up soon," Shisui said. He hadn't realized just how quickly the weeks had gone by. "I want to make sure I get back out on the court before he goes."
Sakura nodded. "He'd like that." Then she added a little quieter, "We miss you at the beach."
Shisui shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans as he looked down. Guilt seized his chest and he toed away a rock away at his feet. "I'm sorry I didn't answer your last text. I've just been…I don't know..."
"Busy," she supplied for him.
He nodded but didn't continue.
"It's alright. I get it," she murmured.
They stood in silence for a long minute that seemed to stretch on forever before Sakura let out a short but heavy breath through her nose. "I'm sorry, I have to know. Did I do something wrong?" she asked.
Her question caused him to peer up at her again with a confused frown. She looked back up at him with big eyes full of worry and sadness. At that moment, Shisui realized what he had done. She thought he was mad at her; it would explain why he had been distant and keeping her at arm's length recently. Instantly he felt like shit for making her feel that way.
"No, of course you didn't do anything wrong," he quickly assured her.
She bit her lower lip doubtfully. "Then what is it? Was it the condom thing? Cause I told you-."
"It's not that," he quickly interrupted her. He glanced around to make sure Ino hadn't left the restaurant yet. "It's just..."
In that moment, Sakura looked so devastatingly pretty with the streetlights highlighting her pink hair and making her emerald eyes sparkle. He wanted to break down and confess everything. He wanted to tell her he was crazy head over heels for her and never wanted to go without her, but he was scared. He was so scared of losing her and her friendship. He didn't know what he would do if she didn't feel the same way. If she just walked away.
Shisui tried to shrug as casually as he could. "I'm just super busy right now. I'm sorry I haven't been around much. I don't want you to think you did something."
That caused the corners of her mouth to turn up in a smile. It was faint but it was still there. "It's okay," she shrugged good-naturedly. "Maybe when things calm down after the tournament we can hang out again. Besides, I never did get to finish my game."
Shisui chuckled as their old banter came out, but the sound was a little forced. There was still a small tension between them. He hadn't exactly lied to Sakura, but he knew she knew there was something else going on. Even with her smile, he could see the disappointment in her eyes.
Their conversation was fortunately interrupted as Ino slipped out of the restaurant and joined them. She eyed Shisui curiously. "Hey, you're still here. I figured you would be halfway home by now."
Shisui flashed her a smile. "Just didn't want Sakura waiting outside by herself."
"How gentlemanly of you," she winked.
She glanced between them as if waiting for something more. Shisui knew what it was. This was normally the part where Sakura went home with him. Only this time, she didn't.
With a tight smile, Sakura took a step back. "We'll see you later."
Shisui forced himself to return it. "See you."
xx
"Mine!" Sakura called.
She dove forward, popping the volleyball up before it hit the sand. In perfect sync, it headed towards the net where Ino was waiting, ready to set the ball up. With a quick but full approach, Sakura jumped, her hand making contact with the ball and sending it spiraling down into the sand off Genma's left side.
"Nice swing!" Ino cheered, giving her best friend a high five with both hands.
Sakura grinned in reply. "Perfect set."
From his place on the sidelines, Shisui watched with a faint smirk while Genma grumbled as he retrieved the ball. He launched it to the other side of the court where Ino was standing to serve.
It was a beautiful afternoon. The sun was shining and while it was warm, there was a nice breeze blowing off the ocean to keep the worst of the heat at bay. Shisui had a light sweatshirt on. He was sitting under the shade Naruto had erected in the sand and he zipped his jacket up a little higher as another small gust rolled in.
On the court, everyone was much warmer. The girls were dressed in bikinis as the guys wore swimshorts. Behind his sunglasses, Shisui tried not to let his gaze linger on Sakura too long but he couldn't help it. Even covered in sand, she looked stunning. Her hair was up in a high ponytail with her locks falling down the middle of her back. She was wearing her sporty, maroon bikini. Gold hoops held the material together on either side of her hips and matched the gold clips on the straps on her back. It was his favorite. Red looked good on her. Though if he was being honest, everything looked good on her.
"Noooo!" Ino cried.
Focusing his attention, Shisui looked away from Sakura to find the blonde laying on her stomach in the sand. The ball was still rolling off the court where she had missed digging a spike. Apparently it had been game point.
"Nice try," Sakura said. She held her hand out to Ino and helped her into her feet before they high-fived Genma and Naruto.
"I will get you back for that, Shiranui," Ino said, poking Genma in the side.
He just grinned at her behind his sunglasses. "Looking forward to it, princess."
"Princess?!" Ino repeated. A playful smirk crossed her face. "You better watch yourself next game. I'm gonna destroy you."
The four of them all laughed as they headed off the court. On the other side, four more players who had been waiting to play jumped on.
"Hey, you're here," Genma said, his brows arching in surprise when he spotted Shisui under the shade.
Shisui just nodded. "Yeah, figured I could use a break."
"Before the tournament tomorrow, you mean," Naruto said.
At the mention of the tournament, Shisui's gut twisted. He would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. Really nervous. That's exactly why he had made the trip out this afternoon. To get his mind off the big day tomorrow by hanging out with his friends and shaking off the anxiety.
A few feet away, Ino bent over to retrieve her water bottle out of her bag before she glanced down at Shisui where he was seated on a towel in the sand. "You sure you should be playing the day before your tournament?"
"I'm not playing," Shisui frowned. "Just here to watch today."
His gaze automatically darted to Sakura but with her own sunglasses on over her eyes, her expression was unreadable. He kept thinking about their last conversation at the bar. They had texted since then but it had been about insignificant things: how her day was, how his training was going, but they hadn't really talked.
"So, you ready for tomorrow?" Genma asked, landing in the sand beside Shisui.
He hid his disappointment when Ino lowered herself down onto his other side, leaving no room for Sakura to sit beside him. "Yeah. Pool play starts at nine and bracket play should start at four."
"Single elimination?" Naruto asked.
Shisui nodded. "Yep. Once you lose, you're out."
"Four o'clock start for bracket play?" Ino questioned with a thoughtful frown on her mouth. "Doesn't that make the semi finals and finals super late in the day?"
"Those will be on Sunday," Shisui told her.
"They usually do that so everyone is rested for the big games," Sakura said. She dropped herself down onto the ground on the other side of Ino and took a big mouthful of water before she reclined back onto her elbows with her legs stretched out in front of her.
"Well let's hope you make it to Sunday," Genma grinned.
Shisui tried to match his smile, but the nerves fluttering around his stomach weakened it.
Off to his right, Sakura scoffed. "Naruto, do me a favor and punch Genma. Of course Shisui's going to make it to Sunday, you bastard."
Ino snickered as Naruto socked Genma in his bicep. It wasn't hard, but it made a sound. The brunette glared at Naruto and rubbed the sore spot before he turned to Sakura. "That's not what I meant."
"One of these days your mouth is going to get you in trouble," Sakura said. She peered at him over her sunglasses, but the smile playing on her lips softened her stern glare.
Ino snorted. "His mouth already does get him in trouble," she teased, causing them all to laugh.
And just like that, the worst of Shisui's tension fell away. He grinned as he listened to his friends banter back and forth. Most of the jabs were directed at Genma, but he took them like a champ, even accepting a few of the insults as fact.
Eventually the group that had jumped on the court finished their game and cleared the area.
"One more?" Naruto asked.
Ino stood up and wiped the sand from her legs. "I'm in. I need to get Shiranui back for that last game anyway."
Genma grinned. "Looking forward to it, princess."
A vaguely threatening look crossed Ino's face but it was softened by her smile. At least until she picked up a ball and threw it with some force into his chest. "You can serve first."
The group ended up playing two more games. Until the sun began to set below the horizon and the ball became too difficult to track in the retreating light. They called it a night with Sakura and Genma winning against Naruto and Ino.
"So, the tournament this weekend," Ino said as they all packed up their things. "Who's driving?"
"I'm taking my car," Sakura said.
Shisui watched as she dug through her bag for her shorts before she slipped them on over her sandy legs. Without his sunglasses to cover his eyes, he forced his gaze not to linger as Ino hummed thoughtfully. "Yeah, but you're a good twenty minutes the opposite direction from me."
"I can pick you up," Genma offered as he used his shirt to wipe sand from his face.
That caused the blonde to smile. "You're awesome. What time?"
"How's eight?"
"Perfect."
"Can I catch a ride too?" Naruto asked. He pulled his shirt down over his dirty chest before he glanced at Genma. "I can walk to Ino's house so you only have to make one stop."
"Yeah, no problem."
They chatted a little bit more about driving arrangements before Genma and Ino waved goodbye with a promise to see everyone tomorrow and a wish of good luck to Shisui. He watched them trudge down the beach together silently. He knew he should head home too to make himself some dinner and double check that he had packed everything for tomorrow, but he found himself lingering. The anxiety had returned.
What if he wasn't ready? What if he wasn't as good as he thought? He didn't want to embarrass Kakashi or disappoint him. The older man was kind of taking a risk on partnering with Shisui for the tournament. He had never played professionally at this level before. Back when he had trained with Temari it was all just practice and unofficial games. Nothing on the record. Shisui just didn't want to mess up.
"You nervous about tomorrow?" Sakura asked.
Blinking, Shisui realized he had been staring without seeing towards where Ino and Genma had left. They were gone now and he turned towards Sakura to find she now had her shirt on too and was watching him with a soft look.
A silent sigh pressed out of Shisui's nose. He knew she already knew the answer. "Yeah."
"Well don't be," she smiled. Even in the dark, her emerald eyes were bright and gentle. "You'll blow everyone away tomorrow. And we'll all be there to cheer you on."
He didn't have any doubts that Sakura would be there, but hearing the words still relieved him. "You will?" he asked.
She shot him an incredulous look, but her smile remained. "Of course."
"Thanks," he said. "Thanks, I needed to hear that."
And he meant it sincerely. Those simple words took the worst of the pressure off because even if he did fail tomorrow, at least he knew he had irreplaceable friends that would readily welcome him back.
The desire to stay and hang out with Sakura a little longer nearly rooted his feet into place, but he knew he really should head home. He had a list of things to do and even though he knew sleep would be hard to come by, he needed to get to bed at a decent hour.
"I should get home and pack my bag up," Shisui said.
Sakura nodded readily. "Don't forget sunscreen. And an extra pair of shorts in case of a wardrobe malfunction," she told him.
That caused Shisui to arch a curious brow. He hadn't thought of that. Though he shouldn't be surprised. Between the two of them, Sakura had been in far more competitions than himself. He had half a mind to ask her if something like that had happened to her before, but decided against it. He'd save that question for the next time they were both drinking when she was more likely to tell him. Hopefully victory drinks.
"I'll do that. See you tomorrow then," he said.
With a nod and a smile, Sakura grabbed her things before she headed towards Naruto. He was still pulling down the shade he had set up for the afternoon. For a moment, Shisui considered staying to help, but it was pretty much already packed away.
And besides, now he needed to see if he had an extra pair of swim shorts he could wear that were clean.
xx
Today was finally the day. The day Shisui had been working towards for nearly two months. The day that would finally settle that burning need to know, the one that had begun when he had first started training with Temari nearly eight years ago of whether he could become a pro player.
And he couldn't find his fucking sunglasses.
"God damnit," Shisui cursed for the umpteenth time.
He tore through his bag again. He shoved his hat and extra shorts out of the way and dug through the array of medical tape he had packed in case he jammed a finger. When he still didn't see them, he dumped his entire bag out on the table.
They still weren't there.
With a brief glance at the clock in the corner of the private tent the event had provided for him and Kakashi, Shisui realized he was very, very close to running out of time. They were supposed to be out on the court to warm-up in five minutes. He could already hear the excited murmur of the crowd as spectators began to crowd around the courts in the distance.
"Fuck!" he hissed again.
Where the hell could he have left them?
Reaching for his backpack, Shisui unzipped the largest pouch and tore through it as well. He knew it was useless. They weren't there. He had packed it with only water and some snack foods last night to keep everything separate. Why hadn't he thought to check for his sunglasses last night? Where had he even had them last?
His mind drew a blank much to his frustration. Was this really how he was going to start out the tournament? Maybe he could text Genma and see if he could borrow his? It was nearly nine. He should be here by now with Naruto and Ino.
"I'm sorry, but you can't go back there. This area is for players and staff only," a voice said.
"Oh sorry. I just need to drop something off real fast," someone else replied.
With nearly a dozen tents erected in the sand, Shisui had been hearing conversation all morning as players and event volunteers came and went, but this time he paused. That voice sounded strangely like Sakura's.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I can't allow you access without a badge or permission from the event staff," the security guard said.
"It'll just take a second," they pressed.
That was definitely Sakura.
Poking his head outside, Shisui peered down the rows of tents until he spotted a gap in the gate where a security guard was posted. Sure enough, Sakura was standing before a man in a neon yellow shirt with the words 'Security' in black across his back. He looked like he was barely out of high school. She was dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a loose-fitted black and white shirt with a pair of sunglasses over her eyes. There was a smile on her face, but it was tight as her patience thinned.
"I'm not allowed to let you in without a pass," the young man told her. Stepping out of his tent, Shisui called, "Sakura?"
At the sound of her name, both she and the security guard glanced towards him. A look of relief crossed her face.
"It's okay," Shisui told the guard. "She's with me."
A frown crossed the teen's face like he didn't know if he was allowed to let her in, but he stepped aside nevertheless and waved her through. Sakura quickly approached Shisui.
"Hey, sorry to bug you. I know you're probably busy getting ready," she said with an apologetic smile. It was only when she reached him in the shade of his tent that she pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head before she held out whatever was in her hand. "I thought you might need these."
Glancing down, Shisui recognized his sunglasses. His knees nearly went weak with relief and he gratefully seized them from her hands. "Jesus Christ, thank you," he said with more sincerity than he had ever felt in his life. He would have been screwed without them.
A genuine smile stretched across her mouth. "You left them at the beach yesterday. Naruto and I found them when we were packing up."
"I've been looking for these for the last twenty minutes," he told her.
"Yeah, it would be kinda hard to play when you can't see the ball," she teased.
"Who knows, maybe it would actually make me play better," Shisui joked, causing Sakura to snort softly.
The sound was so adorable he couldn't help but chuckle, but it quickly faded as she continued to stand in front of him. Just looking at her, his mouth went dry and his heart thumped harder against his ribs. He didn't think it possible, but she looked more beautiful today than yesterday.
"Well," Sakura murmured, taking a step back, "I just wanted to give you those. I'm gonna go so you can get ready."
"We need to talk," Shisui said suddenly before she could leave.
Those words made her pause. She stared at him for a long moment before a strange look crossed her face. It looked resigned and a little sad. "I know. How about I text you after the tournament?"
"No, now," he said.
She blinked in surprise. "Uhh...now? You play in like thirty minutes. You still need to warm-up."
"I know, but I'll be thinking about it all game if I don't tell you now."
This time her brows pinched with confusion. "Tell me what?"
Swallowing, Shisui nervously spun his sunglasses slowly in his hands. "Why I've been avoiding you and been slow to respond to your messages."
A short laugh escaped her, but it didn't carry much humor. "Shisui, really. We don't have to do this now-"
"I love you," he blurted out before he could stop himself.
Sakura stilled, her eyes going wide, but he continued before she could speak.
"I know we weren't looking for anything and I know things are easier the way they are, but I've never loved hanging out with someone so much. You're smart and funny and you can keep up with me on the court and you're so god damn gorgeous," he said. He raised a hand to reach out to touch her hair where it fell down her shoulders in soft waves only to draw it back. "I just...I fell in love with you and I was scared to tell you in case you didn't feel the same. I don't want to lose you, but I can't keep pretending."
Sakura stared at him as she opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She struggled to find something to say for a good, few moments of utter silence.
It made his heart drop into the pit of his stomach. "Please say something."
"You picked a hell of a time for a love confession," she muttered.
Her rejection sunk deep into his soul. For the first time in his life, Shisui had never wanted more than to run and hide. His gaze dropped down to his sunglasses. "Shit...I'm sorry. I knew I shouldn't have said anything."
Unable to look her in the eye, Shisui quickly turned away to retreat back into his tent and to figure out how to tape together his broken heart in the next two minutes; only to still when Sakura wrapped her fingers around the inside of his elbow.
"No, wait. Come back. I'm sorry. That was probably the worst thing to say," she quickly said. "I'm terrible with this kind of thing."
Shisui couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye. "You don't have to say it to make me feel better."
A soft snort escaped her nose. "Shisui, look at my face. Do I look like I'm trying to just make you feel better?" she asked.
Steeling himself, Shisui finally found the courage to raise his gaze to look at her. Sure enough, there was an adorable smile playing on her lips and something warm in her eyes that seemed to make her emerald irises that much brighter. It shocked him to realize it was joy.
"All of our friends know I've been attracted to you since the very moment I stepped on the court all those months ago. You're so kind and easygoing. You probably don't know this but before we met, I was a high-strung, stressed out mess all the time," she said with a breathy laugh. "But you relax me. You calm me down. When I get off work, you're the only person I imagine coming home to. You're not the only one who fell in love."
That single confession took the entire weight of the world off Shisui's shoulders. He stared at her for one long minute as he tried to process her words and then another.
"You do?" he asked.
She nodded, unable to contain her smile. "I really do."
So much emotion filled Shisui's chest he thought it might explode. He wanted to shout with joy and collapse to the ground in relief at the same time. He did neither. Instead, he cupped her face with both hands, his sunglasses hooked around his index finger, before he ducked his head and kissed her.
It was full of everything he had been trying to hide from her for the past few months. All the love and adoration he felt for her. All the relief and warmth running through him that she loved him back. He felt like he was standing on top of the world. Nothing could ever drag him down off this high.
A full minute passed before Shisui pulled back. His lungs were screaming for air and desperately he drew in a much-needed breath, but he still felt lightheaded. He couldn't ever remember a time he had been happier. And judging by the way Sakura was beaming up at him, she felt the same.
A happy laugh bubbled out of her mouth as she gripped his wrists. "As much as I'd love nothing more than to drag you into the nearest room, you have a match to play and a tournament to win."
Shisui dragged his thumb across her swollen bottom lip. He had missed seeing her like this. "Are you sure we couldn't sneak away for five minutes?"
She nipped the pad of his finger. "You're already late."
"Damn," he muttered.
He still had half a mind to just say 'fuck it' and skip the whole competition to be with her, but he knew Sakura wouldn't let him. She was good for him that way too.
"You'll stay and watch me play?" Shisui asked.
He knew she would, but there was always that sliver of doubt in his mind. Sakura chased it away in an instant.
"Always."
end
Here's some more indulgent trash. I don't know. There's just something about this AU that I just adore. I couldn't help but write about Shisui being a giant dork in love. He's just too cute.
Hope you guys enjoyed! Much love!