As soon as he was gone Shizune set to work. She unlocked the drawer and the scroll was still there. She hadn't really thought he would just take it out right. It wasn't exactly as she left it, but the previous night's activities might account for that as well. She picked up all her clothes from the floor, and placed them in the hamper. She also removed the henge from the bleach adding those clothes to her ever growing pile of laundry.
Genma knew something was wrong as soon as he stepped into his apartment. His traps were in place, and nothing seemed to have been moved. Something just felt wrong. For a moment he seriously contemplated grabbing his go bag and getting out.
Being a spy was dangerous business. He was prepared to get out the second he suspected Danzo didn't trust him. Being part of Root had taught him what happened to those Danzo didn't consider loyal, and he wasn't going to be added to that list. Did Danzo order him to get close to Shizune to have a chance to get into this home? He could have just done it when Genma was on duty. Or maybe they thought he would have been home, and were looking for a report. Acting rashly in the face of the unknown was dangerous, so he decided his best option was to proceed with his mission.
Pushing it to the back of his mind Genma proceed to shower and get dressed. He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling someone had been in his apartment. He was eager to return to Shizune, but thought it would be best to secure his apartment first. Setting new traps around the windows didn't take much time, but he was well over the hour he told her he would be gone.
As he climbed the stairs he could see Shizune through the open window. He wasn't positive but it looked like she was straightening her disheveled desk. He briefly wondered if it was always that easy to see her desk from the street. He didn't really care if anyone saw him, but it wouldn't look good for the Hokage's assistant to be seen that way.
Genma stopped mid-step.
Why should he care if they were seen? Or she was embarrassed by it? He was here to hurt Tsunade through Shizune. Any kind of potential damage to her reputation could only help his cause. For reasons he didn't understand, that didn't sit well with him. He thought it might be best push that thought off for later too. He seemed to be doing a lot of that today. Focusing on the task at hand, Genma put one foot in front of the other and proceed up the stairs.
Shizune opened the door just as he was reaching up to knock. "Did you get lost on the stairs?"
He grinned. "No, just trying to remember if that window was open last night."
She turned the brightest shade of pink. "No, I opened the curtains when I was picking up." After a pregnant pause she added, "So, I believe I was promised lunch?"
"So you were." He reached out and took her hand. "Ready?"
"Yes, but I do need to make a quick stop for a newspaper." He looked at bit confused and raised an eyebrow. "I need to check the results of last night's race. I doubt Tsunade won, but if I don't check I will never hear the end of it."
"We can do that." He stopped at the bottom of the stairs. "So what are you in the mood for?"
"This was your idea." She smiled at him and teased, "Don't you have a plan?"
He grinned, senbon bouncing between his perfect teeth. "Not at all. You just make me spontaneous." Genma knew the truth was dangerous, but his instinct was to spend time with her.
Shizune tugged the hand that was still holding hers gently pulling him down the street. "If you're up for eating outside I know the perfect place. You were right last night, I'm spending too much time inside the tower." He let her take the lead. They walked in comfortable silence, only stopping at a newsstand for a paper.
A few blocks away they arrived at a small cafe with al fresco dining. "Does this work for you?"
Genma smiled back. "It's perfect." Choosing a table in the sun, he added, "So why here?"
"Well I wanted to spend some time outside today. Usually I don't have much time to eat, some I grab something while I run from the Tower to the hospital." She paused for just a moment, "And tap beer is on special at lunch."
"How can you even think about drinking again this morning? I still have a headache."
"Have you met Tsunade? You try keeping up with her for a decade." She leaned forward reaching her hands toward his temples. "I can help with the headache. There are several advantages to spending time with medics."
Genma instantly felt better. He cocked an eyebrow at her as he leaned back in his chair. "What are some of the other advantages?"
"Hmmm. I could tell you, but wouldn't you rather wait for the surprise?"
"I'll wait. I think it might be worth it."
Shizune really had no idea what to say next. He always took the bait, but she felt like she was getting out of her depth. Thankfully, she was saved from answering when a waiter came and took their drink orders and left menus. She had never been so happy to see a piece of laminated paper in her life. She lifted it to block hide her face as she regained her composure.
Genma watched her carefully. He just couldn't get a read on what she was thinking. She was so quick to play his games, but then she would just turn pink and get shy. The silence wasn't awkward, but it was starting to feel consuming.
Their drinks came and they ordered lunch. He thanked the server taking a large gulp of beer, helping to relax him a bit. Finally, he decided to break the silence. "Did she win?"
Shizune was desperately trying to think of something to say. The longer the silence went on the harder it became. She was so thankful Genma finally broke it, but she had no idea what he was talking about. "Who? ...Win what?"
"Tsunade?" He eyed the paper on the table between them. "Did she win?"
"Doubtful, she never does," she deadpanned picking up the paper. She flipped to the sports section and found what she was looking for. "Damn it. She won."
"Isn't winning supposed to be a good thing?"
Shizune couldn't help but laugh. Genma truly looked bewildered by her attitude. She had tears in her eyes before she regained herself enough to answer, "Tsunade winning is always bad. Something bad always follows, and now I will have to chase Seibei down to collect."
Genma was now completely confused. "So winning is bad, losing is ...also bad. What's the upside?"
Shizune grinned nostalgically, and shook her head as she said, "I have been asking myself that same question for years."
"Then why did you go with her?"
"Would you turn down an apprenticeship with a Sannin? She sought me out after the war, not long after I made Jonin. She didn't really know me that well. I only met her a couple times as a kid, but she still came looking for me. How could I say no?"
"Didn't you miss the village?"
"Yes, but we were always moving. I don't think we were anywhere more than a couple weeks. I got to see a different side if the world, not just the blood and carnage of the battlefield. I got to learn, and help people." Shizune was watching Genma closely. She couldn't decide if he was genuinely interested in her, or trying to lead her to talking about Tsunade. It would be best to move this conversation in a different direction.
"So other than having drinks with, how did you phrase it? 'Gorgeous Women' What are you doing with your time"
"Work, train, spar." He smiled and winked. "Flirt ...repeat."
Just then their sandwiches arrived. Genma smiled at her as he tucked his senbon behind his ear.
Genma was eyeing his meal as though he were in deep thought. "So any idea what I ordered? I've never heard of half this stuff."
"It's beef, chopped up and grilled with onions and bell peppers. If you didn't know what it was why order it?"
"It's what you ordered, so it seemed safe." He took a cautious bite of his sandwich. Still chewing he added, "Pretty damn good though."
"It's a western thing. Casinos tend to have food from everywhere, so I have weird taste."
"I wouldn't say weird. This is actually really good."
He was smiling at her again. Shizune knew that smile could melt her panties right off of her if she wasn't careful. Worse than his smile was her own. Shizune knew she was smiling too...without her expressed permission.
Stupid traitorous face. She tried to busy herself with her food to keep from saying the wrong thing. She had no idea what the right thing was, but she felt her current thoughts of dragging him home was probably the wrong thing.
As they finished their lunch Genma asked, "What else do you have planned today."
"Oh it's going to be wild. I have a mountain of laundry, and a scroll to transcribe. You?"
"Your first day off in three months is going to be spent doing laundry? This is unacceptable!"
"Well what do you suggest them?" Her tone might have been a bit harsh, but her eyes were dancing mischievously.
"I can think of a lot of things." He cocked an eyebrow and smiled. Shizune didn't miss the senbon that had returned to between his teeth.
"I'm sure you could, but I don't know if that is such a good idea."
"Do you wish to register a complaint?" he almost looked offended. Almost.
"No, not that. It's just...with all the traveling and everything I haven't been anywhere longer than about a month in over a decade. It's hard to start healthy relationships that way. I don't want to rush into anything." She paused to watch him for a moment. "Anymore than I already have at least."
He smiled. It was the warmest and most earnest smile she had seen from him.
"Shizune," he took one hand in his, "I've really enjoyed talking to you and just spending time with you. I know that our life isn't always easy, but you don't need to feel pressured with me"
"I don't feel pressured. Hell that might be the problem. I feel like a horny teenager." She turned bright read after comprehending what she said. "Oh, shit! I didn't mean it like that."
He co"Well then how did you mean it?"
"I mean, um...it's been like...a year. So part of me is all for just pulling you in an alley right now, but the rest of me is saying that I won't get what I really need that way."
"And what is it you really need?"
The question caught her off guard. What did she need? Maybe she was being too honest here. "To do my damn laundry for one, but really I'm not sure. I just know I feel really overwhelmed right now." She studied the condensation dripping down her glass, anything was better than looking up right now, her face burning, almost to her ears.
"Shizune, I don't know exactly what the rumors about me are, but I have a general idea, and I probably deserve some of them. I am here, now, because I want to be. If you need to focus on something else you can. But if you need help with the laundry, we can do that too."
She finally allowed herself to look at him. He seemed genuine, and she didn't like it one bit. She didn't know how to feel about him being genuine. This was all so seemed so much easier yesterday when it was just a mission. She wasn't really sure what was happening now, but it felt like something more. She wanted to hate the feeling, but couldn't bring herself to do so.
It had been one night, how could she get so confused so quickly? She had to the be the worst kunoichi in the history of Konoha. Tsunade was going to kill her. Despite all these things she was be a little flattered.
"You really want to help with my laundry? Have you seen how much there is? It's insane."
"I might have noticed a couple of rather full baskets in your bedroom. I guess they're all dirty?"
"Yup." she was red again. She knew it. She wondered just how many shades of red she was capable of, and if Genma was determined to pull them all out of her. Maybe it was an evil plot to assassinate her: aneurysm caused by embarrassment.
"Well sounds like we have a full afternoon. We have a bookie to track down and laundry to do." He stood up leaving enough ryo on the table for their lunch. Taking Shizune's hand he added, "Where do we start?"
She bite her lip in thought. Yes, she was getting in too deep, but she didn't know what to do about it. She wanted to run away and drag him home all at once. Neither of those would help with her damn mission. She had felt so good about her progress that morning, but now she felt like she was in way over her head. She needed to debrief with Tsunade and get her head straight, but that didn't seem to be an option.
Trying to keep her face impassive she finally said, "We start with the laundry, it's too early in the day to find a bookie. He will be out collecting tonight. That's when we collect."
Genma smiled at her and squeezed her hand. "Laundry it is then."
She stopped walking and turned towards him, " You really don't have to do this. I know this is your day off too. I am sure you have better things to do."
He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "There is no where I would rather be than with you."
Genma had no idea what he was doing. He had accomplished enough to progress his mission for one day. There wasn't much else he could really learn doing helping her with chores, but it was what he wanted. He was Root. What he wanted did not matter. This was a mission, nothing more. But every time she tuned that beautiful bright red he found the mission was slipping further and further from his thoughts. In short, Genma was beginning to realize he was well and truly fucked.