The alarm clock on her phone blared on the nightstand and Akina reached over to turn it off. She sat up with a sigh, rubbing a hand over her face. She looked at her phone, scrolling through the night's notifications as her mind woke up properly. Satisfied she hadn't missed anything, she pushed off the cover and headed into the adjourning bathroom, and taking a quick shower.

She tied back her hair as she looked over the notes from the day before. Nothing she didn't know by heart, but it had become a habit over the years. If her studies didn't demand her to take notes, her job as assistant to one of the professors at the department certainly did. She flipped the page as she located a shirt.

Her phone vibrated again, her alarm reminding her to leave on time blinking on the screen. She shoved her journal into her messenger bag and grabbed her jacket on the way out, locking the door behind her. She nodded briefly to some other students making their way down the hallway, some going out and some finally returning from a night out.

The sun was climbing over the treetops by the time she reached the buss stop. Thankfully, living at one of the dorms meant there was a dedicated buss leaving at eight in the morning, headed straight for Konoha University, stopping only at a handful other dorms. She slipped on her headphones as she took a seat. The route was familiar enough to make her mind wander–going over notes in her mind or daydreaming of other places.

The awakening city rolled past the window as slow music blared in her ears as they approached the university's main gate. Together with the other students going for their morning classes, she stepped off the buss once the driver announced their arrival at the end destination. Akina followed the crowd through the gate, but broke off to the right just inside. While the rest headed for the main building, she headed towards the history department building with a handful of other students.

'Morning,' she called as she stepped through the door to her assigned office.

Her office mate, Isao, was already hunched over his desk, glasses sliding down his nose and dark hair falling into his eyes every time he moved. He looked up and gave a tired nod. 'Morning.'

'Have you slept at all?'

'I have. That's probably the issue,' he said and reached for his energy drink.

She snorted and sat down by her own desk, moving around some of the documents. 'What's on the agenda today? Professor still out on the conference?'

'Yeah, he got held back because of the storm. They moved the whole thing several days so he won't be back until Monday. He sent over a list of some new objects that he wanted catalogued by then, apparently a new shipping is coming in from a dig just outside Thebes.'

'In Greece or Egypt?'

'The latter.'

'Nice. Been a while since we got anything from there,' she commented and put her journal on the desk. 'Got the list?'

'Should be in your emails. I would do it–'

She waved a hand aimlessly. 'I don't mind. I kinda like it down there.'

'The catacombs of history,' he commented with a smirk. 'Let me know if you need some help. I'll just be here. Dying.'

She laughed and shook her head. She picked up the department issued tablet and located the email, downloading the list, before heading out. The path to the archives in the cellar was a winding one, down several staircases and hallways shifting from wooden walls to stone. The air was good due to the strict requirement of the objects they kept in the area, but it grew cooler the further down she got. During the peak of summer in Konoha, this was the place most of the people with access flocked to in order to get away from the heat.

Akina swiped her keycard at the archive entrance and punched in her code. The heavy door swung open automatically. Stepping inside, Akina took a deep breath and took in the sight. No matter how many times she saw the rows upon rows of antique objects it never failed to take her breath away–she was never quite as comfortable anywhere else as she was around these objects. Perhaps in her parents old dojo, swinging that cracked staff around.

She smiled slightly at the memory. Her father had enjoyed her interest in his teachings, but she had never taken to them as much as he had hoped. Her interest in ancient history had surfaced at the same time, and before she knew it she was in university and working as her professor's assistant. She had kept up her trainings with her father as a fun pass time activity the two did together, but once he got too sick to even stand on his own she hadn't found it in herself to continue.

Akina shook her head and pushed the memory away. She swiped on the tablet and brought the list to the front, scanning the contents on habit. She picked one on random and located the identification number before setting out down the rows.

Two hours later, she stretched with a yawn. She put in her notes on the tablet on the latest object before stretching again, earning herself a series of satisfying pops. She swiped on the tablet again, bringing up the next object in line–a medallion wearing the image of a sun, a moon, and a pyramid. Akina checked the ID number before searching the numerous boxes in the loading hall, clicking her tongue as she spotted it near the bottom.

Half an hour later she had safely managed to dislodge it from its precarious place. She opened the box and blinked. It was a lot larger than she imagined it would be. Picking it up carefully, she estimated it to nearly be fist sized and about as heavy as her phone. She frowned as she realised it was warm. Despite her gloves, she could feel the heat radiating from it.

She swiped a thumb over the surface, brushing away some dust. The heat flared and she gasped as it burned the palm of her hand–she dropped it back into the box and stepped back. Pulling off her glove, she saw a bright red mark on her palm. She blew on it and shook her hand and within a minute it had disappeared again.

'What the hell,' she mumbled and stepped up to the box again.

Picking up the medallion again, carefully, she frowned as it was as cool as the rest of the artefacts. Before she could think more of it, her phone vibrated. She sighed and shook her head as she pulled the phone from her pocket.

'Akina,' she said and held it to her ear.

'What's that tremble in your voice?' the bright voice of her friend Ino sounded through the device. 'Please tell me it's because you have a man between your legs.'

Akina snorted but couldn't stop a smile from pulling at her lips. 'What's up, Ino?'

'My lecture ended earlier than planned, so wanted to check if you're up for lunch? I know it's still a few hours until then, but with you it's always best to be ahead.'

'It's appreciated. I'm down in the archives and will probably be stuck here for a while, but I should be able to make lunch. Campus?'

'Parking lot. I checked with the cafeteria and they're serving mixed stew.'

Akina shuddered. 'Not doing that again.'

'Same. So, meet at the parking lot in two hours?'

'Sounds good. We're not having ramen again,' she added before the line went dead.

She huffed and put the phone away. Ino always got her way, come hell or high water, and her friends had learned to just go with. Akina had learned to enjoy it over time. Turning back to her tablet and work, she glanced at the medallion, and her hand. She shook her head again and moved on.

Nearly two hours later, she closed the file on her tablet and straightened up. She headed up to the office and dropped it off before heading out, giving her fellow assistant a reminder to eat something before the energy drinks killed him. She had only gotten a rough answer back.

Ino waved at her as she approached. She stood in front of her sky blue car, dressed in her usually fashionable clothes. Coupled with her blonde hair and brilliant smile, there was no one who didn't take notice of her. Akina slid into the passenger seat with a greeting, dropping her bag in the backseat.

'How's the world's most boring job going?'

Akina snorted. 'It's not boring, Ino. New delivery that needs to be registered, that's all. Why was your lecture cut short?'

'Professor's wife went into labour early. Never seen the man run so fast,' she chuckled and navigated her way out to the main road. 'We had covered the most important stuff anyway.'

'So where are you taking me on our date?'

'A new grill house opened up around the Forest District two weeks ago. Got the cutest waiter,' she added with a laugh.

Akina snorted with a smile. 'Of course. Are we talking boyish cute or–'

'Oh no, this one is all man,' she practically purred. 'Would even tickle your fancy, I bet.'

Akina only laughed and leaned back, looking out the window. She blinked as the scenery shifted to rolling hills of sand and blazing sun. A whisper she couldn't make out sounded just behind her. Twisting back, the scenery changed and she was in the car once again.

'You okay?' Ino asked and gave her an odd look.

'Yeah,' she said hesitantly. She shook her head and swallowed thickly. 'I might need more sleep.'

'That's an understatement. I don't really get how you keep up with your studies and your assistant job. I suppose sleep is what gets sacrificed. Here we are,' she said and pulled up in front of a restaurant facing the lush forest of Naka Park.

'Looks fancy,' Akina commented.

'Food's good,' Ino said and looked herself over in the rear mirror. She flashed the dark haired woman a smirk. 'View's even better.'

'You're insatiable.'

'And all is right in the world. Enjoy life's pleasures, 'kins. Something you should learn to do.'

She grabbed her bag from the backseat before following Ino into the restaurant. The air was thick with smoke from the grills, the smell of marinated meat, and the chatter of the many guests. Before they got two steps in, a tall and dark haired waiter appeared. One look at Ino's expression told Akina everything she needed about which waiter had caught the blonde's attention. She bit her tongue and followed two steps behind as he guided them to a free table.

'Would you like menus or would you like to try our recommended option?' he asked with an easy smile.

'Recommended is fine,' Akina said when Ino didn't reply. She glanced at the blonde. 'And a bottle of water, please.'

'Coming right up.'

'You could be less obvious,' Akina said as he left.

Ino bit her bottom lip as she stared after him, groaning lowly. 'I'd like a bite out of that.'

'Less creepy, thank you.'

'How is that creepy?' she asked with a frown. 'He is so yummy. You can't deny that.'

'I'm not, but neither am I talking about him like a piece of meat. Those are indoor thoughts, Ino.'

She snorted but nodded. 'Fine. But if he offers to bend me over the table this instance, I'm not saying no.'

'You and half of the guests, by the looks of it,' Akina laughed as she glanced around.

Her eyes slid over the faces following the man move around the room humorously. Her gaze moved to the other side of the room almost as if it was pulled there, to the booth in the corner. Dark eyes met hers head on. There was something familiar in the depths of them, something that kept her from looking away. The sound around her dulled and the light flickered. She blinked when Ino waved a hand in front of her face.

'Sorry, what?' Akina asked as she shook her head to clear it.

Ino leaned her chin in the palm of her hand as a slow grin made its way onto her face. 'Now what could have caught our lovely little 'kins attention like that, hm?'

'Ino, please. Just a little lost in thought.'

'I saw that look in your eye,' she pressed. 'You saw something you like.'

Akina sighed. 'I spaced out. That's all. Also why are you so focused on me? Shouldn't you be drooling over your soon-to-be-ex?'

'He disappeared into the kitchen,' she said easily. Her expression became serious. 'Seriously though, 'kins. You look really distraught. Are you sure you're okay?'

'I'm fine. Just thinking about the new shipment and paperwork. And rest, lots and lots of rest,' she sighed dreamily and stretched her arms above her head. 'But that will have to wait, I suppose. Professor wants the cataloguing done by the time he returns.'

'How much you got left?'

'I managed to get a quarter done this morning, so it won't be an issue. Might have to go in during the weekend, but what else is new.' She paused at Ino's expression. 'What's that smile about?'

'You're joining me at the cross-department party on Friday.'

'I thought that was next week?'

'This week is next week,' she sighed. 'It's right up your alley too. Dress-up party with ancient Greek and Egyptian theme. Don't even try to say you don't have anything to wear–I know you still have that costume from Halloween two years ago. A few updates and you'll be hot enough for me to want you as my ex.'

Akina laughed and shook her head. 'With that pitch, how can I say no?'

The waiter appeared before Ino could reply, placing their food before them. 'Two specials straight from the grill. Do be careful, it's very hot,' he said and Akina barely had time to kick Ino under the table to keep her from saying whatever colourful flirtatious thing she knew was coming. 'And a bottle of water. Would you like anything else?'

'No, thank you,' Akina said quickly. Ino shot her a flat look that she ignored.

'Then, hope you enjoy, ladies,' he smiled before leaving.

'Ino, I swear to all that is holy–'

'I had so many openings,' she sighed as her eyes trailed after him. 'They don't have to play hard to get when you're around.'

'Do you even know anything about him?'

'He has a cute smile and a tight ass?'

Akina snorted. 'Anything beyond the obvious? Like a name?'

'Shisui,' she sighed with a smile. 'Even his name is like–'

'Please don't share more of your various kinks with me. I am sure I know more about your love life than I should,' Akina commented. 'Just drool over him in relative silence and let's eat. I have to get back to the archives within an hour after all.'

'You have way too much experience to be acting like such a prude, 'kins,' Ino said but still dug into the food. 'I know for a fact that you have had various kinks explored yourself.'

'Just because I am willing to explore doesn't mean I'm as comfortable with speaking openly about it as you. Doesn't make me a prude, Ino.'

She waved a hand aimlessly. 'I know, I'm just being annoying. I don't mean anything with it.'

'Now, tell me,' Akina said as she took a bite of the food. 'Who is actually going to the party that you want to sink your teeth into?'