October 12th
It was dark with the somber glow of the night. Cold air embraced their crouched forms, and the absence of a fire was cruelly felt by the four nins. Their large white cloaks did little to keep the bite of the cold away, and some bored it better than others. Ashai and Mei seemed to be fine and Shinji just seemed indifferent. So it seems that Sakura was the only one left to shiver helplessly.
The forest was eerily silent, except for the occasional sounds made by wandering animals, but even that quietness failed to ease their nerves. Sometimes, silence was scarier than the cries of battle. Sometimes.
"Disperse."
At their commander's sharp order, the four nins jumped out into different directions. Ashai and Mei headed East while she and Shinji headed West. They were across the border, on Earth territory. It was an S-rank mission and they were under pressure to carry it out under the utmost secrecy because if Earth's authorities got wind of their little "escapade" on their ground under no official pretense, hell might break loose. Their target: a group of rogues working for the syndicate whose hiding spots they had managed to identify.
Quiet under the moonlight, they jumped from branch to branch, Shinji taking the lead. The rustled sound of moving air was the only signature they left behind. For now. After a few minutes, her Captain stopped and raised two fingers in the air, signaling her to do the same. She stilled, crouched on the branch she was standing on, and waited. She saw him make a few hand signs, and she waited some more, every sense on alert.
Nothing.
More seconds ticked by. And then, here it was, that tightly concealed chakra presence. Shinji had felt it before she did.
Left… and approaching fast…
Her eyes focused on the dark form of the trees to her side, expecting their assailant's figure to appear at any moment's notice. Another rustle of air. She turned her head back ahead of her, barely catching the form of her moving partner, who had already jumped down and was now hanging in mid-air. A loud clash resonated, metal against metal, kunais clenching. For a brief seconds, the fighters disappeared from her view, hidden by a large trunk. And the next instant, one figure was falling down while the other was jumping gracefully between the lower branches, just in time to cut his prey's throat open before it hit the ground. And the fight was over, just like that.
She left her watching spot and jumped down gracefully to stand next to her victorious Captain who had his back to her. "Let's get moving," he said sharply.
"Hai."
And up they were again, leaving the area silent, completely silent. After about fifteen minutes, they stopped again and she moved closer to him, landing on the same branch as him. His breathing was annoyingly even after their race through the forest.
"Let's rest here for a while," he said, not looking at her.
She nodded, even though she realized the motion was useless since he didn't pay her any attention. She jumped down first, but he was close behind her, his proximity making her stomach painful as if it was being crushed by heavy stones. The moist earth that had splashed on her bare toes was cold, she noticed, but somehow, the sensation was comforting. The damp earth carried the scent of a spring evening, after a heavy rain that had cleaned the world of its sorrows. Only it wasn't spring, and they weren't taking a quiet walk. Shinji leaned his tall frame against an old oak tree, while she remained standing where she was, close enough to him in case of an attack, and far enough from him to avoid his touch, should he decide to grab her. She had not told anyone about… this. About what he did to her. About what she let him do to her. She was beyond disgusted with herself for letting it happen, for letting things go that far.
…
October 16th
Naruto jumped down the last pair of stairs, hurrying down to the street. The clear blue sky and the fresh air of the morning invigorated him in spite of his growing worries. The degrading relationships with Earth, as well as the internal political fights over what course of action to take had taken its toll on his usually cheerful mood. It was still early and the merchants on the market place were still unpacking their merchandise. A few greeted him as he passed by, but most were too absorbed with their workload to pay him any attention.
Sasuke was away on a mission and not knowing what Kakashi was up to, he had no one to train with this morning. Sure he could go to one of the Rookie nine and ask for a spar, but aside for the ever over-enthusiastic Lee, he doubted they would accept his offer. Everyone was weary with the degrading situation and growing number of failed missions. Plus, he was in the need of a serious spar, and few persons except Sasuke could give him one these days. Not to mention that kicking Sasuke's ass was always a favor he did to the rest of the world. After all, the dark-haired genius was a bastard. Period. And it was his lifelong duty to see that the bastard got a regular beating in hopes of fixing that dark brooding attitude of his. Not that that method had been particularly successful so far. But since the blond future Hokage had never managed to come up with a better idea, he had stuck to the old methods.
Thinking about Sasuke, his thoughts automatically went on to Sakura, who he hadn't seen in ages. He refused to think that she was avoiding them on purpose as Sasuke and Kakashi hinted and preferred to think that she was too absorbed with her hospital duties and new ANBU assignments to spare them any time. Because, after all, why would she avoid them? It didn't make any sense, so of course it had to be because of something else, not because of her own will. He was sure of it. Almost…
Deciding that paying her a visit would help him clear his doubts and would possibly lift up his spirits, he headed to the hospital, hoping she wasn't away on ANBU duties today. Luck was on his side, as the receptionist kindly told him that she was in her office, having just finished an early surgery. Climbing the stairs quickly, he arrived on the large corridor of the fifth floor, which was relatively quiet compared to the hectic atmosphere he had seen downstairs on the main floor. But this was a hospital after all, such things were to be expected. Happy to see that the area was rather quiet, which he hoped meant that she would have time to spare him, he walked to the far end of the corridor, where he knew he would find her in the small cubicle that was her office. As he approached, he could hear faint voices behind the ajar door of her office, so he slowed down his steps before halting and knocking lightly on the white door.
A sharp gasp could be heard from behind the door as well as an audible "Shit".
"This isn't over," said a deep masculine voice behind the door, one that was full of anger. "I'm getting back at you for this. You can be sure of that," spat the owner of the voice.
Half a second later, the door burst open and a tall man, fully clothed in ANBU uniform stepped out, barely sparring Naruto a glance. Naruto followed the tall figure walking down the corridor, and saw as he quickly adjusted his mask back on his face before disappearing after a turn. Naruto's blue eyes moved to the inside of the room, where he saw Sakura, wearing a shocked expression on her face and red teary eyes, sitting on the edge of her desk.
"Hi, Naruto."
He saw how she faked a smile in an attempt to lighten the heavy mood that hanged in the air. His hands clenched at his sides as he noticed, the red marks on her neck and the way her clothes were strangely torn. The upper half of her red vest was unbuttoned, and it was clear that one button had been ripped off. He doubted she would rip off the buttons of her own clothes.
"What happened?" asked the blond ninja.
"Nothing," she answered too quickly. Another fake smile. "I was just… um… see, I accidentally ripped my jacket open, so I… um… was looking for something else to wear and… uh…"
"Sakura." He paused, the expression in his deep blue eyes on the verge of uncontrollable rage. "Who was that guy?"
"Uh?" She feigned to look surprised at his question. Standing up slowly, as if she were hurt somewhere and quick movements put a strain on her body, she walked around her desk and sat down on her chair, the large wooden table now bringing a barrier between her and Naruto.
"Don't play dumb with me," burst Naruto angrily. "Who was the fucker? And why did he say he would get back at you?"
Silence.
"Why are you in such a state?" he went on. "What the fuck is going on?!"
"It's nothing, Naruto. We just had an argument, that's all." Her voice was rushed and he could tell, having known her for years, that the lightness in her tone was deceiving.
"Who is he?" insisted the blonde.
"An ANBU."
Seriously? He thought angrily. Could have fooled me!
"Please Naruto… leave it alone," she begged, her cheeks red from embarrassment.
"And what is it that I should leave alone?" he spat back, too angry at the sight he had just witnessed and his mind running with horrible scenarios as to what had just happened there. "Is this guy… abusing you?"
"What?" Wide emerald eyes stared back at him, full of shock… and was that fear?
"You heard me."
"Of course not," she replied in a shaky voice. "Please, Naruto. It's nothing. Let it be."
"A guy's telling you that 'he'll get back at you' and I find you with torn clothes and marks around your neck, and I'm supposed to pretend like this is nothing?"
"Yes," she yelled, anxiety raising within her with each passing second, and her insides torn at the idea of letting him dig in further. Noticing her rash tone at the shock expression that appeared on his face, she then softly added, eyes downcast: "Please…"
"You know I can't do that Sakura," he answered back. "You know me. If you won't tell me who the fucker is and what's going on, then I'll find out myself!"
Silence was his only answer. With a final look at his pink-haired teammate, he walked out of her small office and stepped angrily into the bright corridor.
October 18th
Sasuke was sitting next to Kakashi around the large table where most ANU Captains had taken place to discuss the upcoming missions relating to the situation with Earth. The number of missions concerning that one area had dramatically increased in the last few weeks, and it seemed that now, they would have to take even more drastic measures to try to put an end to the degrading situation before the Council forced an upon conflict on them. Something that they had to avoid at all costs, for everyone's sake. Which is why this urgent meeting had been rushed.
"So far, the plan is to bring out a coordinated attack against their recently-spotted strong hold in the Rainforest close to the Hikara village," said Kakashi with the even tone of someone who was used to lead.
As an ex-commander during the last ninja war, he had naturally been assigned to leading the operations within ANBU.
"In order to be swift and efficient," he went on, looking more collected than he inwardly felt, "some readjustments must be made and we will change the existing teams in order to pair fighters with similar skills. ANBUs will be divided into categories between spying ahead of action, fight and assassination on the front lines, and back up force on the rear. Most medics will be assigned to teams on the front in order to limit the deaths and long-term damaging injuries. The rest will stay with the back-up force."
Stern faces nodded at his statement, some reading through the battle plan they had been handed and that was to be burned before leaving the sealed room.
Sasuke burnt his with a small sigh of Katon, some people watching him with an annoyed glare at the arrogant display of his skills. Not like he cared. They could look all they want, he knew they would never dare to cross him. Well… most of them at least. Annoyed at the lengthy meeting, and already knowing most of the information thanks to his close ties with Kakashi and Naruto he let his thoughts wander away from reality. As usual, he found himself thinking about Sakura, about how she avoided him since the night they had shared, as if nothing had happened in the first place. But it had happened, and he didn't know how to go on from there. He wasn't exactly experienced with relationships of this type. Part of him thought that she was indeed over him, and that she had come to him out of loneliness. Yet, another voice in his head told him that it wasn't like the Sakura he knew. That it couldn't be just a one-night stand. But the girl that used to wear her emotions on her sleeve was now closed up like a fortress… one he didn't have the key to…
As much as it was out of character for him, he had tried to talk to her, to confront her about the fact that they had slept together, only to face a wall. She had said those damned words: "It was never meant to be something. Not with you. Not with me. Not for us." … Yet, why did his gut feeling tell him that she was telling him the opposite of what she felt…
