"Hatake Kakashi," the leader of the masked warriors hissed, "you've got some nerve!"
Sakura had to restrain herself from nodding in agreement. Scaling the walls of another Shinobi village at night? So recklessly dangerous! But Kakashi had winked at her upon seeing her stunned expression and had said "trust me" before walking up like there was nothing to it.
Because trusting him was second nature to her, she had followed despite her doubts. Now, she was trying to calm her rapidly beating heart, asking herself whether the sea of swords held dangerously close to their necks had been included in Kakashi's "trust me". He had a plan, right? He had just forgotten to tell the rest of them about it once again?
Apart from the leader, who was dressed in a blue kimono with a striped, turtleneck undershirt, the rest of the sizeable group had on a standard uniform with grey flak jackets. They were all wearing masks with their village symbol on the forehead, thin slitted eye-holes and a wavy design in place of the mouth. That gave them away as Kirigakure's Anbu and Sakura was instantly reminded of Haku, the first death she had witnessed up close and would never forget. Zabuza and Haku's desolate lives and the heartbreaking circumstances of their deaths had come to symbolize all that was wrong with the Shinobi world. Even now, after the 4th Shinobi World War, when perpetual peace no longer sounded like a silly utopia, she thought of them and their sad, sad fate often, a reminder for sheltered people like her that she knew nothing of true hardship.
This village they were in now was where students wishing to graduate from their academy had had to fight their peers to the death, and only those who survived could advance to the ranks of shinobi - to eradicate emotions in exchange for combat efficiency. Sakura shuddered violently at the thought of it. The practice had been discontinued after Zabuza had killed an entire class of students, but everyone Kakashi's age or older had lived through it. What inhumane treatment!
Then again. Danzo had established the same brutal rules in his Root and it had taken much longer to abolish that. There was no reason to feel morally superior at all. There was not one shinobi village that didn't have skeletons in the closet.
"Ao," Kakashi addressed the man lightly, "you're still in the Anbu? I didn't know there were people older than me not finding the exit in time."
"Pffft," the man addressed as Ao snorted, "I could be your father. You Shinobis from Konoha have no stamina, retiring when you're still wet behind the ears. Is it true you have issues filling your ranks?"
"Ah," Kakashi smiled, wisely ignoring the question, "there seems to be enough stamina to break into your village though. Is it not wonderful that the peace we have fought so hard for allows for your level of complacency? No other defenses than this mediocre mist? I'm pleasantly surprised."
"Be quiet," Ao bellowed and moved his sword several inches closer to Kakashi's jugular, making all his men do the same to the rest of them.
Smiling encouragingly at Sarada who grasped her hand in panic, Sakura cursed fouly in her head. Trusting him was one thing, but silently going along with men's bravado and intimidation techniques was not what she had any interest in doing. She was just about to voice her displeasure at their posturing when she caught an urgent look from Kaeru. The look said: Don't even think about it. Sensei knows what he's doing!
"What do you want," Ao said gruffly. "I hope your answer is satisfactory, I have no qualms killing you and wouldn't even have to fear any consequences."
"True," Kakashi smiled, "our Anbu also has permission to kill intruders on the spot. But you must know that your Mizukage would be unhappy about my death."
"Would she now?" Ao said, sounding mighty unconvinced.
The Mizukage… Sakura had not cared much about the politics in the Land of Water, but she had heard that Mei Terumī had quit a few years ago because she had gotten married. Tsunade had joked about it for days, though there was a certain bitterness in her attempts to ridicule the other woman. "The Hairy Christmas Tree" had been Naruto's nickname for the Fifth leader of the Hidden Mist Village. Sakura had not had a lot of interaction with her during or after the war, but she remembered her as a tall, slender woman with fair skin, green eyes and ankle-length, auburn hair styled in a weird... Christmas Tree like manner.
"Yes," Kakashi said, "Keiki owes me a favor and I know she takes great care to pay back all her dues."
"A favor?" Ao echoed.
"Yup," Kakashi said, "a favor. It's a large one and I am here to claim it."
"And who are they?" Ao asked gruffly, rudely pointing at them with his chin.
"Part of my mission," Kakashi answered with a quick glance back at Sakura almost as if he wanted to assure himself she was behaving.
Yeah, I'm still standing still, she thought viciously, but not for much longer. You will get an earful from me later for gambling with our lives!
"I will throw them in prison as hostages to ensure you won't do anything stupid."
"No, you can't throw them in prison," Kakashi answered with a frown. "They're part of the favor."
"I warn you," Ao said, "if you're lying to me…"
"Oh no," Kakashi said, "I would never lie to you."
"Shut up, Hatake!" Ao bellowed. "Come!"
They were ushered forward and at the same time separated, a common technique to make sure prisoners could not easily exchange information or coordinate. Sakura refused to let go of Sarada's hand, which earned her a few harsh words, but the soldiers accepted her role as "mother" quickly, they seemed to have some decency at least. The man called Ao put his mask up, revealing the face of a middle aged man, his right eye covered with an eye-patch.
A Byakugan, Sakura remembered. He had stolen one from a Hyuga. Kakashi knew how dangerous it was to bring a Sharingan into enemy territory, right?! That went for his almost as much as for Sarada's.
The man's uncovered eye swept over her and lingered on her face with piercing intensity. Clearly a sensory-type Shinobi with considerable abilities. Like I care, Sakura thought and smiled at him until he turned his head away, even if you're a mind-reader, I am a hard nut to crack.
They walked through deserted streets with little light, patches of fog occasionally wafting around them, until they got to a wide and tall cylindrical building. If this village was anything like theirs, it had to be the Mizukage's office. They were ordered inside and up the stairs to the very top, where Ao knocked on the wide, wooden doors. When they swung open, they entered… not an office, but what seemed to be the private quarters of the Mizukage.
Sakura had to close her mouth forcefully after a few steps. It had sprung open in appalled astonishment. The person living here clearly liked the color red and tacky, tasteless ornaments.
A bit further in, they got to a low lit room with large, curved windows and a woman slouching on a long, snaking plush sofa. It was red, what else. The woman had auburn hair that was cropped very short, emerald green eyes, boney thin features and the fit, lean body of a trained fighter. She sat up, her legs parted widely like a man and spit something into a pot on the floor. It was tobacco, Sakura realized.
"Damn. Look what the cat dragged in," she said, narrowing her eyes at them. Ao stepped up to her and whispered something into her ear.
"Keiki," Kakashi smiled.
"Kakashi," the woman addressed as Keiki grinned toothily, "you climbed the walls? Were you that desperate to see me?"
Sakura didn't like the closeness the first name basis with no titles implied and even less how the woman looked Kakashi over, slowly checking him out from head to toe like he was a tasty appetizer.
"You've kept in form," she remarked.
"I do what I can," Kakashi replied, "and so do you, it seems."
"Ha! And I improved a lot," she boasted. "It's a bit late for a match, but I'm not letting you go without one! I know I can beat you this time."
"Hm," Kakashi said and scratched his head with a smile, "many people think that."
"So… why have you come?" Keiki asked, craning her neck to look at the rest of them standing behind Kakashi. "I expected to see you next with the Hokage's hat on your head."
More people wanting him to be Hokage? It was almost like an epidemic! Poor Tsunade, Sakura thought, she had done a good job overall. In most domains at least. It had been very hard to guide the village through the war and the aftermath.
"It's simple: I'm here to ask for the favor you owe me," Kakashi said.
"Good," the Mizukage answered, "you know how anxious it makes me to have an open score. Tell me what it is."
"I need to find someone."
"Someone in the Land of Water?" she asked, looking over to Ao for more information, but he shook his head.
"Yes," Kakashi said. "As fast as possible."
"Fine, my hunter-nin corps is at your disposal," she signalled to Ao who nodded reluctantly. "Who is it?"
"A woman with red hair, but that's all I'm going to tell you for now, sorry," Kakashi smiled.
"So who are they?" Keiki's eyes were piercing as they swept over them, almost like Ao's. Her eyes lingered on Kaeru and she snorted. "The boy is clearly Anbu, I can spot you guys from a mile away. But the girl and the woman?"
"Part of a mission," Kakashi said simply.
"If someone like you is with them, they're ultra important," Keiki remarked. "Are you sure it's a good idea to bring them here? My debt is large, but is it that large?"
"Pfft," Kakashi said, "Tsunade is always looking for ways to put me in my place, this is no S-rank mission, it's B, which stands for Babysitting. One of them is a student of hers and she's trying to gather information on healing practices. But that's not why I'm here. It's for the girl. She and the person I am looking for are connected."
"Hmmmmm," Keiki said. "I don't believe you, but let's leave it at that - for now."
She got up and stretched leisurely, almost like a cat, her joints popping audibly. She was tall, Sakura noticed, and moved like a predator. Her all black, well-fitting clothes matched Kakashi's like the uniform of a special warrior caste. Even without it, it would have been obvious to everyone looking at them that they were from the same world. The world of shadows. The old one.
"Tsunade's student," she addressed Sakura, "until Kakashi finds whom he's looking for, you can move freely in my village and gather information on our healing practices. I suspect you will find some of our research very interesting."
"In what ways?" Sakura asked curiously.
"We're researching prosthetics and implants for both civilian and combat use," the Mizukage said proudly. "Most of it is classified, of course, but you can see some of the facilities and assist at the hospital."
Sakura got very excited at the prospect. Why had she not been aware of this? But immediately, something in her head told her to be extra cautious. This Keiki person was a bit too friendly and accomodating, wasn't she? It couldn't all be because of that favor she owed Kakashi? And besides, what kind of favor was it she was so eager to be rid of?
"They can stay in the guest house, it's late, the child needs sleep," Keiki said and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. "You stay," she told Kakashi sharply when he took a step. "We have a few terms to discuss."
What the… Sakura was about to object, when Kaeru grabbed her arm and whispered "go along with it, this woman is extremely dangerous."
But…
"Sensei can handle her, but not if you interfere."
Throwing one last a look at Kakashi before she was pulled out, Sakura felt extremely uneasy. He was hiding it well, but it was obvious to her how tense and wary he was. They were on enemy territory, no question about it.
After the 4th Shinobi World War and the founding of the Shinobi Union, the rivalries between the villages and the different nations were officially over.
Officially.
Unofficially, every nation continued training military personnel. Unofficially, experienced people like Kakashi could not retire because it was far more than cat rescue missions and VIP escorts the villages needed to be ready for. Officially, everybody played along but at the same time, they were all waiting for the next big conflict they considered inevitable.
With Keiki and Kakashi facing each other in the dim-lit room, like deadly creatures from the same, lost world, the same age, nearly matched in skills, survivors of a darkness most only knew from stories, it suddenly seemed to Sakura like the old world of conflict was rearing its head, sniffing the wind and smiling viciously.
###
The room at the guest house, which was another round structure with scrubby vegetation at the top, was clean and spacious, smelling a little of moss and something more pungent that Sakura couldn't identify. Looking at the sleeping Sarada bundled up in her blanket on a proper futon made Sakura realize that her bones ached in anticipation of a good night's sleep in a normal bed.
They had been served sweet and salty snacks and refreshments, just enough to fill their hungry stomachs. Together, they had laid out bedding for the four of them and extinguished all the lights safe for one lantern. Sakura had assisted Sarada with brushing her teeth, washing herself, combing her hair, putting on her pajamas and settling down for the night, her glasses neatly put where she could easily reach them.
Sarada hadn't spoken at all, she was surely very spooked by the events of the day, but Sakura had stroked her hair and had whispered encouraging words to her until she had fallen asleep.
Sitting cross legged on the floor, his back against the wall, Kaeru stifled a yawn.
"Why is he not here yet?" Sakura asked him in a low voice.
The longer Kakashi stayed absent, the more anxious she got. Kaeru shrugged, but he looked worried too.
Both of them were at a loss about what Kakashi was planning, which confirmed what Sakura had feared - that he had given in to her prodding only for show and was still doing what she didn't wanted him to do: secretive, potentially self-sacrificing stuff. Granted, getting the help of Kirigakure's Hunter-nin Corps to track down Karin was pretty ingenious - even she knew they were the best trackers in existence. As for the rest… Rin and her machines were still out there somewhere and that Keiki woman freaked Sakura out in a variety of ways.
Kaeru had told her everything he knew about the Mizukage as soon as they had found themselves alone. Apparently, she was the previous Mizukage's twin sister and had never had an interest to rule until her sister had retired. Her nickname was "the Undertaker" and she had been the Head of Kirigakure's Hunter-nin Corps for more than twenty years, first getting that position at the age of fifteen. She was said to be brutal and ruthless and extremely skilled.
"And Kakashi knows her from…"
"I think they go way back," Kaeru had surmised. "As far as I know they already fought against each other in the Third Shinobi World War."
"They didn't seem like enemies to me," Sakura had protested sullenly.
Kaeru had shrugged. "Sometimes, your enemies become almost like friends. I am pretty certain they'll be at each other's throats first chance they get though."
Enemies almost like friends that would get physical if they could sounded very bothersome to Sakura. She couldn't sit still any longer.
"I'm going out to look for him," she said and got up brusquely.
Kaeru got up too. "Are you sure? Maybe I should go."
"No, they know you're Anbu, they won't like you walking around the village this late. What time is it anyway? Midnight?"
"At least," Kaeru said.
"You stay with Sarada in case she wakes up and doesn't know where she is. Don't leave her alone, okay? No gambling!"
"Where could I go gambling at this time of n…"
"You are not actually thinking about it, I hope?!" Sakura frowned. She had spoken in jest.
"They took all my money away, those bastards!" Kaeru complained. "Once we're back in Konoha, I'll get it back, just you wait! You will get your share back too."
"I'll help you," Sakura said, getting her coat from the hook by the door, thinking she would love to beat up Mrs. Nohara's guard one by one.
The air outside was clammy and smelled of the ocean. Sakura went to the Mizukage Tower first, but there were no lights and all the doors were barred. It could mean all kinds of things, but she told herself not to worry and repeated that as many times as it took to convince herself that Kakashi was not in there in the dark - with that woman.
Only, if he wasn't… where else could he be? Sakura let her feet choose a direction and walked along a broad, deserted street, trying to distract herself from dark thoughts by comparing this village's buildings to Konoha's. Apart from Kirigakure's preference for round, tower-like structures, the biggest difference was the lack of people in the streets. Sure, it was late, but in Konoha, there were so many places staying open until way after midnight, there were always people on the streets even in the wee hours.
Feeling a twinge of homesickness, but deciding to follow the main street for as far as it went for lack of a better idea, she was finally rewarded just when she wanted to give up. There he was! A lone, black figure on the dimly lit street, just turning into a sidestreet that seemed to lead up to a rocky ledge towering above them.
"Kakashi!" Sakura called out, feeling such a rush of relief she wanted to cry. "Hey! Where are you going?"
He turned around and stood still letting her approach. Stood still? Not really. He was swaying and squinting in her direction.
"Oh, is you," he slurred, grinning widely. "My little cherry blossom."
"K… Kakashi, are you drunk?" Sakura said in disbelief. He reeked so strongly of alcohol she feared she might get drunk just from the breathing the same air.
"N… no," Kakashi claimed and waved his hand dismissively through the air, "they are. They couldn't even get up."
"Did you… did you do a drinking match? With all of them?"
He nodded smugly. "Ssstrange alcohol," he hiccuped, "foreign. Golden. Sh….shdrong."
Oh dear. Well, better to get pissed drunk than wounded or killed.
"Come," she said, grabbing his arm. He'd be sorry soon enough, no need to scold him. "I'll take you home."
But Kakashi shook off her hand, turned around and continued staggering up the street like she wasn't even there.
"Where are you going?" she asked in alarm.
He murmured something she couldn't understand. What else could she do than tag along?
"Kakashi, what did you discuss for so long?" Or had they just gotten insanely drunk?
"B...business," Kakashi hiccuped.
People said the Mizukage hated nothing more than open scores. Kaeru was certain that Kakashi had very deliberately indebted Keiki to have leverage. They had then both listed a few things they thought it could be. Saving her life, saving someone who was dear to her, killing someone for her… couldn't have anything to do with money, Kakashi didn't have any, but Kaeru had vaguely remembered hearing a story once, one of many told about Kakashi in the Anbu. Only, he had not been able to remember any details, only that a woman had played a role, which had only made Sakura more nervous about everything.
"Did she try to seduce you?" Sakura burst out.
"Sh...shedush me?" apparently, Kakashi found that thought extremely funny, he started chuckling to himself and wouldn't stop until Sakura had enough.
"It's not funny, she looked at you like she wanted to eat you!" she bristled.
"She prefers w...women," Kakashi smiled and clumsily ruffled her hair, "cute little things like you and she eatssem for breakfast."
"Kakashi!" Sakura complained at being treated like this.
"Whatshoo even doing here alone," he said with a frown, squinting at her again. "Is dangerous."
"I was looking for you!" Sakura told him, "of course it's dangerous, don't you think the same applies to you?"
He made another dismissive gesture and said "pah!" They had gotten to the end of the steep street by now. Determined, Kakashi turned to the left. There was a wooden gate there. A light flared up and before Sakura could fully realize what was going on, Kakashi had rammed his Chidori through the door frame.
"What are you doing?" Sakura squealed, but he had already pushed open the broken door and walked in, looking at his hand in a somewhat puzzled manner.
"Ish there no light," he murmured, the chidori flaring up again. "Ah, here."
He had apparently found a light switch, because a water wonderland lit up before them. Sakura realized they had stepped into this town's public bath, a picturesque landscape of shapely boulders, rich vegetation, and hot water. It was lit up with colorful underwater lights, given a dreamlike quality to the steamy scene before them.
Kakashi started undressing.
"Wh… what…what are you...," Sakura stammered, but it was apparent what he was doing, wasn't it, no need to ask. He was undressing to take a bath. He was very swift too. Off came the shirt, off came the pants, off came the underpants, off came the mask - five second later, Kakashi was buck naked. Gloriously naked and completely oblivious to the effect that had on her.
She had never even had a chance to really look at him without his clothes on. The sight made her blush violently, even when they had been intimate so many times already. She stared at the sculpted muscles of his back and his bottocks, the elegant lines of his thighs and calves, feeling like a peeping tom yet unable to look away. She noticed faint scars on his skin, all of them speaking of won battles in the past, badges of honor shinobis got to wear, and her fingers itched with a sudden need to touch him.
He threw his clothes to the side and then looked around, stomping off to a bench to collect a towel. Grabbing one seemed to remind him she was there too. He grabbed a second, turned around and grinned at her naughtily.
"Like what you see?"
Before she could even think of an appropriate answer, he had closed the distance between them, lifted her up, threw her over his shoulder and walked right into the water with her.
"Kakashiiii!" Sakura squealed - but splash, he threw her into the water with all her clothes still on.
The water had the kind of temperature that made you want to purr, stretch yourself and then soak in it for hours. When Sakura came up for air, spluttering and coughing, Kakashi's unmasked face was very close, beaming at her.
"Good of you to shoin me," he said and lifted his hand to touch an index finger against her nose. "I missed you."
The heat and the alcohol were reddening his cheeks and his hair was increasingly flattened, pulled down by the weight of the condensing steam yet trying to resist the inevitable by sticking up in all directions.
"To think you are considered a venerated Sensei by some," Sakura laughed at this cuteness before her.
"You shouldn't go into the water wish clothes," he said sternly, "ish against the rules."
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close.
"Mmmmh," he purred, "can I take your clothes off?"
Not even waiting for permission, he started to fumble for zippers and buttons, in the process tickling her. She squealed loudly and squirmed, but he just grabbed her again.
"I want to look at you," he breathed into her ear. "And then I want to eat you for dinner."
Afterwards, staring at his face, his lashes, his lips, one hand playing with the strands of his hair, the other travelling lightly over the barely visible scars on his chest, Sakura had to cry a little. She was surprised by the intensity of the emotions that wanted to choke her. She was so very happy, feeling like she was floating on a cloud, so snug and warm in his arms, all the tension driven out of her body by his stormy, shameless affection and the heat of the water that relaxed her to the bone.
Kakashi didn't see her tears. He had his eyes closed, his head resting on a stone ledge, looking blissfully happy too. In fact, he looked happier than she had ever seen him. Was it that which made her cry? This face of his and her knowledge that such happiness could only be fleeting? The realization that tomorrow would be full of danger and hardship?
Or was she this shaken by what he had said in drunken carelessness.
In between their love making, he had kissed her stomach reverently, his fingers drawing circular patterns around her belly button.
"I couldn't shtop thinking about babies all day," he had murmured, "is so distracting."
Kakashi had said babies. While fondling her stomach.
Even after being in this bath for more than an hour, he was still badly intoxicated, which she could easily accept as the reason for such a statement. But he had said more.
"I once had a dream about a house in the forest, my ninken lived on the third floor. There were so many puppies, everywhere!"
He had chuckled, a dreamy expression on his face.
"We didn't leave the bed often," he had whispered with longing. "It was huge and very comfortable."
How could she possibly have said anything after hearing this?
Even now, at least half an hour later, her heart still trembled. This happiness… could it ever be theirs? Why was the thought tinged with so much fear?
Could we just run away? A house in the forest… I would like that. I want you to leave everything behind. I want you to be safe. I want… an image appeared in her mind, a pudgy face with unruly silver hair, little feet running across the wooden floor, short arms extended in her direction.
"Sakura," Kakashi whispered and opened his eyes.
"Y… yes?" she stammered, feeling like she had just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"You need to do something for me tomorrow," he said. He sounded considerably more sober now.
"Yes?" she said. Apprehension set in. The happiness had left his face.
"Open all the seals in my head. I want you to break all of them open. Every single one of them."
What?
"Then take my blood and use the facilities here while I'm gone. Start working on a cure. For Sasuke."
What was he saying?
"It's just a precaution," Kakashi said. "Of course I will be back. With Karin. In the meantime, I made absolutely sure you will be safe. Safer than you could be anywhere else."
