Men of the Sea
Chapter 11
When Kisame was a kid, he knew that he was meant for the water. He had dreams of living on the beach, in a boat, within the ocean in a submarine… Any possible formation, he calibrated within his young imaginative mind. It was all he wanted. All he thought he needed.
He wasn't wrong.
But he wasn't right either.
Namika Hoshigaki, his mother, was just as bad as he was. Maybe even worse, if it were possible. She taught Kisame how to swim, how to surf, the way of rivers, lakes, and the ocean, what lived inside of the water, why you should respect it, folklore, everything. She was an ocean of information, pun intended, when it came to the spirit and happenings and function of the water.
With waist-length jet black hair, a gentle smile, beautiful dark brown eyes, and a laid back personality, she was a beauty. The moment his father laid eyes on her, he fell in love.
His father was a rugged man. He appreciated beauty and the water, but business was what centered him. While Kisame found zero interest in the family business, he understood that the pressure his father went through at a young age shaped him to be the person that he was. Yutto Hoshigaki, his Father, grew up quickly based on tragic circumstances. In a time, years before his father was born and Kisame was even a feasible thought, the Hoshigaki family was in the business of high-strength alloyed steel. Back then, Kisame's family was still in Japan. WW2 was good for business. But his grandfather was morally displeased. He left Japan in exile and disbanded the company. He started a new company years later. The stress gave him a heart attack. He never recovered. The grief stole his grandmother's life, not even a few weeks later.
His father took over the business at the age of 20.
Lithium took his Father's parents. Kisame understood why he protected the company. It was all he had left of his parents. However, that resulted in him rarely coming home. Kisame usually only saw him during dinner. And even that was rare.
His mother, though, has always been there for him.
The afternoon Sakura left, he called her. "Want to surf?"
In a black wetsuit and her hair tied up in a bun, she was radiant. Her eyes were kind as he paddled next to her in the water. And her skin had gotten significantly tan since he last saw her.
"Mom!" He greeted excitedly, he hugged her once their boards were aligned side by side. "Dear, it's been too long."
It had only been less than a week. He shrugged and kissed her cheek. "I'll do better." He said. "Uh-huh." She kicked his board a little to the side. Giving them space in between. "Ready?"
"Always."
His mother could surf the best of them under the water. The ocean loved her. She loved the ocean. People often joked if his father knew about the affair? Her eyes would always glitter in delight, like the shine and glimmer of the setting sun on calm Summer waters.
"Of course."
The two of them laughed as they eventually made it back to the surface. "You're getting better." "Learned from the best." Son and mother stalked their boards in the sand. She undid her bun and wrung her hair of excess water.
"As much as I love spending time with you, something is bothering you. Spill it." Kisame laughed. He was never good at lying and he wouldn't start now. Besides, he was practically bursting at the seams.
He told his mother about Sakura. She beamed excitedly at him. "That's wonderful! You seem to like her. It's mutual?" Kisame frowned and squat in the sand. He pulled a handful from the ground and watched it slowly stream from his fingers. His mother put a hand to his head.
"What's wrong?"
"She's engaged."
"Ah, that would pose a bit of an issue."
"I know how to find her, but…"
"I understand. But, I find it worrisome that she pursued you at all when she's engaged. I'm hesitant to think kindly of her."
Kisame looked up. "It isn't what you think." "Care to explain?" Her tone of voice clearly exposed what she was thinking, she thought she knew all that she needed to. "They were engaged as kids. But neither her or her fiance want to go through with it."
Her expression softened somewhat.
"I see."
"I want to be with her." "You don't know her," she stated while sitting on the ground cross-legged. "Do not get me wrong, I am happy you are excited about Sakura. But… Don't you think you are idolizing the situation and person a little?" "I could be. But… She feels so right in my arms. That can't be wrong."
"But she is engaged. And while she doesn't want to go through with the wedding, she is going to. You can't refute this." Kisame lowered his gaze. His mother cupped his cheek. "That being said, if this girl is as special as you say she is, then you have to go after her. I just want you to look at the situation with a practical mindset. She might not feel as strongly as you do. You've always been the kind of child that listens to their feelings. You are passionate. There is nothing wrong with that. But for people like us, sometimes it's important to realize a little bit of grounding is important. You're a man of the sea, it's your nature to 'go with the flow'. But you're still only a man."
Kisame stares out the window from his seat. His stomach ties itself in knots as he thinks of his mother's advice from only a mere couple of days ago. The confidence he had is now dispersing as Tokyo nears. He realized as he was coming closer to landing, to seeing Sakura, he had no plan. And even worse, no clue how Sakura would feel upon seeing him. Was he just a temporary fling? Or could she see something more in him?
"Please go back to tour seats, buckle your seatbelts, and put away your trays. We are going to start descending to Tokyo soon."
Kisame anxiously licked his dry lips.
How would she react?
Sakura's POV
Saturday morning the clouds were gone and the Earth was damp. Sakura drank her coffee while staring out the window. Kakashi and her had spent the late-night talking.
He went from being a complete stranger to becoming her closest friendly literally overnight. She was grateful.
Green eyes flicker to the hall and her Dad's closed bedroom door.
'Now, if only Dad could wake up.'
It was still early, Shizune was asleep and Kakashi was likely in his own bed knocked out. Sakura would be in the same state if she wasn't so attuned to early mornings.
She couldn't sleep in even if she tried.
She treads softly across the kitchen and to her Dad's bedroom. Opening the blinds, she sat in the armchair by his bedside. Legs curled under her, she regards the older man comatose before her.
He looks peaceful. She reaches over and grabs his hand.
Oh, how he had suffered.
One of the things Kakashi cleared up was where Sakumo's pain sourced from. What woman could leave behind such a wonderful family? It baffled her.
Monster.
"He loved her. He still loves her… A love like that, it can be a burden."
Kakashi's eyes lowered to his clasped hands. He seemed to know a thing or two of heartbreak himself. Sakura was tempted to inquire. Instead, she did nothing.
They had a lifetime to discuss such matters. For now, they would take things slow.
"Sakumo, I love you." She whispered.
He was her Dad.
Her knight and shining armor.
She squeezed his hand.
"Kakashi does too."
She keeps hold of his hand a few moments more and makes her leave. She needed to get ready for the day.
And so she does.
With a short black skirt, red tank top, and long pink hair down, she applies light natural-looking make-up on and takes out her laptop. As she is sorting through emails she realizes she had not checked her phone since the day before.
She walks to her bedroom and finds it on her dresser across from her bed. It is full of missed calls and text messages.
The first one she reads is from Ino.
"Has the female population been saved?" She messages with a link.
Clicking on the URL, Sakura is brought to an article. "Sasuke Uchiha, the second son of Fugaku Uchiha, CEO of Uchiha Enterprise, has checked into rehab. For years there have been rumors and an infamous reputation lingering over the youngest son of Fugaku Uchiha for his womanizing ways and alleged drug and alcohol abuse…"
Sakura messages back, "WHAT!?" In all caps. Ino surprisingly messages back right away. "It was bound to happen. Also noteworthy, our little friend Eriko Hoshi got a little news action himself."
This time Ino sends a video.
She sees the feed of an Australian newswoman reporting in front of a billboard. And there, tied to it, is no other than Eriko.
"Karma is in full force." Sakura messages.
"Couldn't have said it better myself. By the way, you didn't answer your phone at all yesterday. Are you okay?" Sakura paused in thought. She wasn't close to Ino. At least, she wouldn't consider them friends. Just good coworkers. But…
"Yesterday I had a tough day. But I'm alright now. Just a bit of family business is all. Thanks for worrying about me."
She saw the small icon indicating Ino was texting her back.
"No problem… Hey, awkward, weird, and maybe inappropriate since you're my boss: But if you ever need anything, I'm here for you."
The pink-haired woman smiled. "Thanks, Ino, same to you."
Maybe they weren't friends.
But they could be.
Sakura always contemplated work as her solution to her problems. She could run away in books, documents, all-nighters, business trips, and her office. But she wasn't happy.
And she doubted she would ever become happy if she continued on her career-focused habit.
She could change.
She had the power to change.
And so she decided that she would do just that.
Itachi POV
Itachi shifted in bed as he sorted through a few papers his father had given him. Lately, Fugaku had given him an extra load within UE. He asked for his opinions of serious matters and had him at his side discussing important affairs within the board. While Fugaku didn't say much about when he'd retire, Itachi suspected the timing would be soon.
Itachi adjusted his thin-framed glasses and closed the folder he'd been looking through. He couldn't focus this morning.
There was too much on his mind.
Sasuke's visit to their family home had thrown him off. But he seemed different. Not the arrogant child he typically was. But…
Itachi couldn't put his finger on it.
And then, suddenly Sasuke is off to rehab. His father stressed over the unnecessary negative press their family would receive. But seemed pleased that Sasuke asked for help. What tempted the change within Sasuke?
Itachi was curious. And too, Sakura hadn't messaged him back. Normally, Itachi was confident when it came to how women perceive him. He was very much aware of his looks and how people viewed him.
And yet, Sakura was an enigma.
He remembered when he first truly noticed her. She had just gotten hired at Uchiha Enterprise. She had a mid-level position within their suppliers' branch. A generous offer from his father thanks to their relationship, no doubt. Admittedly, Itachi didn't think much of her. And in her initial hiring of the job, he thought she wasn't a good fit. He remembered the strange pink-haired girl Sakumo introduced to them as his daughter and avoided her as he did with anyone that he wasn't related to.
She was nothing to him.
And his father's infatuation with her went beyond him.
But then, at work, she was unlike any woman he'd met. She didn't fawn over him, she hardly talked to anyone, she worked long hours, coming in before even he did, and staying sometimes overnight.
He was impressed.
A rarity.
And slowly, she blossomed. Her pink pixie grew to her waist, her wardrobe elevated, she stood up straighter, she was confident, she was fierce, she was a storm of an individual, a woman to reckon with.
And he was intrigued.
And simultaneously disappointed.
His idiot of a younger brother was too busy being reckless and chasing insignificant bimbos to realize the gem that he had. And while Sakura seemed unaware, Itachi wasn't: men swooned over her and women idolized her. She was a beauty that captured everyone's attention. It was a graceful settle entrancement. It made her even more beautiful.
Itachi wanted her.
Sasuke was a fool. He didn't deserve her.
When he approached Fugaku with the proposition of him marrying Sakura instead, he went in with the mindset of victory. He was ready to fight his father on the issue if he had to. Fugaku easily agreed with him.
Sasuke was unfit to be her husband. And while they hadn't discussed it together, Itachi knew that Fugaku was worried about Sasuke too. The universe was on his side.
His phone dinged.
He hah a notification.
Sakura's name blinked at him from his nightstand. He smiled.
'Finally, she responds.'
"Good morning! I just saw your text, sorry for the late response. Dinner tonight sounds great. Do you have a spot in mind?"
"Would you care for dinner at my place?"
He saw the "read" icon appear. She didn't respond for a few minutes.
Was he being to forward?
"Want to cook something together? I'll bring wine?"
He released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Absolutely."
"Preference of wine or dish?"
"Surprise me with the wine. I'll have ingredients here."
She responded with a gif. A repetitive image with finger guns appeared. He laughed.
"Come by at 8:00 pm?"
"See you then!"
He put down his phone.
8:00 pm it is.
Sasuke's POV
Sitting in a circle, Sasuke looked at the strange assortment of people that were residing within the large room with him. The person to his right had just finished his spiel. Multiple eyes were now on him. He uncomfortably rolled his sleeve to his shirt and shifted in his seat.
He was hesitant of his Father's suggestion of rehab. But he was assured that this was the necessary route to his redemption. Sasuke was serious about fixing his wrongs-doings. He wanted to prove to his father, and to himself, that he was capable of being a good person.
And so, here he was. Sitting in a circle with thirteen other strangers.
"And what is your name?" The woman, Rina? Ai? Yuri? Asked.
Sasuke wanted to roll his eyes. He knew that the entire bout of people in the room already knew who he was. He was Sasuke fucking Uchiha, for Christ's sake.
But still, he didn't want to be difficult. He knew his Father would get a report of his progress. He wouldn't let him down again.
"Sasuke Uchiha."
"Wonderful name!" The woman stated with a bright smile.
'Was the woman on drugs? It was just a name. Big deal.'
Sasuke realized that the program coordinator was likely trying to make him feel welcomed.
Sasuke hated it.
"And what's your favorite color and thing to do?"
What was the point of this? Weren't they supposed to help him? Why did he have to be in this room of strangers and expose unnecessary information about himself to them? He liked to drink and party and fuck people. He wanted them to fix it. Who gave a flying fuck about his favorite color?
Through gritted teeth, he seethed, "Blue is my favorite color, and I like fucking women."
The woman raised her brows, "Oh, uh, lovely."
Sasuke mentally scoffed, 'Oh', Indeed.
Author's Note:
I know that this chapter may not be as exciting, but it's setting the stage for a lot that is about to come up in this fic. Regardless, I hope you like it!
On another note, thank you to everyone that is supporting my story! You all have really boosted my confidence in my writing. I appreciate all of you! And too, Red Reaper88, CelticSpring, Cruisegirl86 thank you for your numerous reviews! I always look forward to your comments!
Hope everyone is having a lovely Summer! Till next time, everyone!
-J