-1Chapter Six
As the night pressed on, both heirs found themselves in a good rhythm. While their words were laced with some hidden malice and dangerous intent neither of them paid mind to it.
The two of them ignored the trailing trio for most of the night. Now it was coming to a close. Hands folded in front Sakura smiled at Sasuke. They stood in front of Sakura's humble apartment.
"I had a terrible evening. So if you don't mind I am going to go take a hot bath, and soak for hours." She graced him a warm smile.
"Likewise, I can not believe I wasted my evening with someone as annoying as you." He counted with the copyrighted Uchiha smirk.
They stood like that for a few minutes, neither of them willing to move from their spot "come on in, we need to practice that play before Asaka has our heads. If we don't get more… 'romantic and feeling' she might through us off of the roof and blame it on suicide." Sakura informed him polity.
A soft 'hn' was the only reply. Sakura took it for a yes and unlocked the door. After walking in, Sakura made a bee line for the kitchen.
Dark eyes scanned the very modest home. No, modest wasn't the right word for it. Sasuke noticed that unlike his very furbished and rich apartment, hers seemed like a second hand store. A few things gave away her level in society but to the untrained eye it was just a normal low class apartment.
His eyes slowly rotated to the open kitchen area. Sasuke took mental notes of everything; from the biggest detail such as the ratty couch, the small mess of papers spread across the table, and to the small water stains in the ceilings on the far wall.
Stepping out of the kitchen Sakura smiled at Sasuke. "I started some tea, I have an extra script if yo-"
"hn, I have it memorized already."
"oh.. I see, oh one second then if you don't mind." Sakura gave him another smile and walked over to the door. Without warning, she pulled open the front door, step backed, and watched two bodies fall forward.
Groaning and muttering curses, Naruto glanced up and offered a nervous smile. "Hey! Sakura-chan! Fancy seeing you here!"
"Sakura-san!" The second body on the floor announced.
Heaving out a sigh, the girl looked up at the only standing member of the trio. "Gaara, please come in, Naruto, Lee, I started some tea but I am sure I can find something we all can munch on and enjoy." She turned away from the three and returned into the kitchen.
Giving up the spying mission, they walked in each finding a comfortable spot to sit. Gaara stationed himself on the couch, with Naruto in the middle and Sasuke on the far end. Lee found a comfortable spot on the floor.
"Sooo… Sasuke how did the date go?" Naruto titled his head to the side with a meek grin.
"Hn." The dark hair wonder boy crossed his arms. "I was planning on getting some tonight, however that is no longer an option." Sasuke smirked as he saw the red head's reaction to that.
By the time Sakura reentered the living room area it was a sight to be seen. Lee was holding back a fuming Gaara, and Naruto restrained Sasuke who had the signs of a black eye. Leave them alone for one moment, and they are already planning to kill each other.
Sakura sighed and watched the group. Calmly she moved over to the kitchen table and ignored the boys; Sakura placed the tray of fruits, salted snacks, and a few sweet hard candies on the table. She fingered the apples and oranges for a moment, before grabbing one. The fight in the background was about to be raised from yelling to a death match. That was until each of them were beamed on the head by an round orange and red objects.
'Ow! Hey who threw that! Uh….. Sakura-chan….?" Naruto spoke up first. He rubbed the area where the fruit assaulted him. Lee looked just as wounded by the action. However, the two responsible oddly did not regret it.
"This is my home, it may not be much, but it is mine. Which means, if you want to fight and kill each other do it in the hallway. I don't want any blood stains on my carpet no matter how ruined, cheep, and ugly it is. Now pick up the fruit while I finish making the tea." She took the time to eye make eye contact with each of them. Once they new the rules, Sakura escaped into the kitchen once more.
When she remerged this time with tea, the tray of snacks had already found its way into Naruto's grasp. Lee helped to relieve him of some of the goods, Sasuke seemed to nibble away at something, and Gaara sulked. Sakura smiled and set the tray of tea down onto the coffee table.
"Sasuke do you think you can practice with that black eye? Does it hurt?" Sakura offered out an olive branch.
"Hn."
So much for peace.
Returning to the kitchen for the final time tonight hopefully, Sakura extracted an ice pack from the freezer. She walked over to the mildly sulking youth and pressed the pack to his eye.
"there that should help it. Keep it on as long as you like."
An hour later, Naruto left with Sasuke and a little while after that Lee said his goodbyes.
"That was…eventful…." Sakura gave the red head a lazy smile.
" I should have tossed his ass out the door." Gaara relaxed a bit into the couch.
"You didn't have to hit him."
"I Didn't."
"What?" She sat up for a moment and looked over at Gaara. Confusion danced in her green eyes, if Gaara wasn't the one who gave Sasuke the black eye who did?
"Lee. Something about defending your honor… or some crap like that. He really needs to stop hanging around that health teacher." The red head assassin leaned back arms folded across his chest. There was a mix between a smirk and a smile on his lips.
"Oh… that was… umm…So, I told you not to stalk me tonight!" She needed to change the subject.
'Go to bed."
"But!"
"Bed."
"… fine." Sakura stood and risked a glance at the possibly only constant male in her life. It was odd for a female to only have one male, yet here she was. The so-called father was a shadow that haunted her more then loved her. The men her father worked with were nothing more then murderers. As for her teachers, she was a female. Gaara was both her father, brother, protector, and her strength.
"Don't fall in love with him Sakura. It will only cause you grief" The bodyguard made no effort to move from his comfortable spot on the couch.
"Love is an awfully strong word for people with our lifestyles…" Sakura attentively brushed a few strands of hair behind her left ear. A nervous habit.
"and you are someone who always allows her emotions to get in the ways of things. You surrounded yourself with people who need the most help physically and mentally. Some dogs however can not be tamed" Dead green eyes stared forwards. His voice was soft yet dead as his eyes at this moment. These words of wisdom were not to be ignored.
"Checkmate" Another small smile and Sakura disappeared from the living room.
--
The next few days came as a blur. The spring festival was approaching fast. Tons of things on the to do list, but little time to do them in.
Lurking in the shadows of the Student Council room Yukito relaxed in his chair. He tapped his fingernails onto the smooth white table in front of him. His men as he called them stood on the other side.
Tenten, Neji, and Lee.
The prefect three man group.
"Alright, we have only two weeks until our festival is a go. That means, Neji you're the head of security. I want you to round up a group of no less then five, no more then ten, second years you deem trust worthy enough. I trust you have the layouts?" Yukito leaned forward a smirk on his face.
"Yes sir."
"Good, place them where they are needed. I will open the locker for the ear pieces and other items that you might lead. We have no ideas if Sasuke, or Sai are planning something. If they are, it is our duty to stop them for the safety of the students." The president turned to Lee next.
" Lee, you are school spirit. I also want you to keep a close eye on Gaara and Haruno Sakura. Both of them have become wild cards and can tip the favor to us, or Sasuke. Make sure it is us. It wouldn't do to have Sasuke undermine me during the festival in attempt to 'stick it to the man'." He waited for Lee's signature pose that he learned from a member of the school's teaching staff.
"Tenten, aa Tenten, you will be in charge of collecting weapons from the students. While I don't want to put a metal detector up, I am sure with students so… lively as ours they will try to smuggle in dangerous objects. Plus I need someone to arm our men just in case." Yukito smiled as she nodded in agreement.
"You know your tasks, now I must eat my lunch. Have a nice day." With the exchange of good byes the three left the room.
"Hinata now it is your turn, please report on what you learned so far about Sasuke."
"yes sir."
--
After a tiring day of school Sasuke was looking forward to a night of relaxation. Sadly that was just a passing thought.
Sasuke scanned the three other occupants within the private domain of his apartment. They were his old caretaker, an older man in his 50s, and Naruto. These three people were most likely the few people Sasuke found himself turning to for advice and information.
At the age of seven and a half Sasuke found himself utterly alone. The people who he was suppose to learn from and help out with the family business were all six feet under. There were only two Uchiha children left. One now ran it and the other turned sides and caused the deaths..
"So you are telling me… that they are trying to a cooperate take over? As in trying to out number us in how many business in Tokyo we own" Sasuke knitted his fingers together and leaned forward into them.
The eldest of the group nodded. He looked more like one of those hermits from feral Japan then any modern working class citizen. A wild white hair main, traditional style clothing, and a few other trinkets made up his outer appearance.
"Hey old man Jiraiya, how do we stop them then? I mean… the bastard doesn't really have all that control on that CEO type of stuff right? I mean…we can convince them to side with us can't we?." Naruto huffed out and leaned back into the lazy boy chair.
"Naruto do you know chest?" The old care taker asked. The man was none other then the lazy homeroom teacher. "Sasuke will just have to simply move them around and keep track of how well or how poor each of the business is doing."
"Seems like a lot of work…. Then we got to worry about Ita- I mean…" Blue eyes darted over to Sasuke's still form. Taboo, those words are too taboo. The blond hair blue eyed boy shifted in his chair.
"It's fine Naruto, he is well protected where he is, and will match me move for move. The Tekiya is going on the attack with him leading it. Plus, I now have a way to strike back." A slow smirk spread across his face.
"After all… most wars are fought on the financial battle field, but they will most likely start some trouble between the lower Yakuza or gang connections. I will contact them tonight with details on how to handle it." The three nodded in agreement. First to leave were the adults, Naruto lingered there a while longer.
"Sasuke… What are you up to? I mean you been real friendly with Sakura-chan. Heck you even made her laugh once." A blond eyebrow arched upward. "Just whatever you are planning to do, stop K?"
"You know who she is, as well as I do idiot. She could very well be Itachi's connection here in Tokyo, or unknowing pawn." One needed to be blunt with the blond idiot.
"Oh come on! Just take one look at Gaara and there is all the proof you need she isn't Itachi's little spy or whatever." Naruto waved his right hand into the air.
Dark eyes closed for a moment thinking over the facts, "You and I both know there is only one way for Itachi to gain total control over the Tekiya. He has that pig of a man eating from the palm of his hand, why not this?"
Naruto lowered his head for a moment, "We should ask her instead of assuming stuff, but hell I wouldn't wish that fate on any person… maybe.. She meant what she said, trying to get away. I mean… it makes sense…"
"You put too much faith into people, but I already have a plan in the works. Naruto there is just one thing you are forgetting, people like myself, her, or even Itachi… a normal life is like a dream. It's wonderful to think about when our eyes are closed, to block out the blood, gore, and death." Sasuke stood, eyes distant.
"Yea… well you are trying to clean it up Sasuke… despite what you think you aren't that bad… well for a bastard."
"and you aren't bad for an idiot. There is just one more problem, our dear nosy president. He has been… too quiet lately. Frankly given the type of students that attend our school, he is up to something." The teen leaned back into his couch. He and Naruto had a give and take friendship, each watched the other backs. It was possibly just luck and Naruto's attention problem that created the friendship but so far he would be lost without the blond.
There was a time, he had given up on mostly everything. Even the thought of revenge tasted like ash in his mouth. He still may not be prefect, but they both understood humans aren't meant to be prefect.
"well the festival is coming up, I am sure he is just busy. I heard last year a huge fight broke out under his watch. Two kids landed up in the hospital. Hey got any instant ramen?" Before he even asked Naruto about that, he was up and in the kitchen.
"only you… That's what I am worried about. He is the son of a high rank political player. That man knows how to get results without actually doing anything. I need you to see if that girl Hinata will leek out anything." His dark eyes remained glued to the window and the night sky.
"So wait!" The boy called out from the kitchen. A few beeps and the soft hum of the microwave later Naruto poked his head through the wall way. "you want me to use Hinata to spy on Shibuya? Well how do you know he isn't using Hinata to spy on us?"
"We don't but it's a possibility."
"You GOT to be kidding me! Dude you are way to paranoid this is just high school! AH! Its done raaameeeennnn" Naruto floated back into the kitchen.
--
"Gaara leave…. Please… just leave…" Sakura meek voice broke through the intense air inside her apartment.
"…. Sakura….." Pale green eyes darted over to his charge then back at the cause. Long Dark hair and even darker eyes, he was a man that could never be erased from Gaara's memory.
"You should listen to your master, after all you are just the Tekiya dog." While the words were harsh, the man stated it as plain fact. You could have replaced what he said wtih, 'nice weather we are having' and have the same feeling. A meeting with Itachi left one empty and void no matter what was said.
Gently the red head gave Sakura's shoulder a slight squeeze and walked out the door. Over the years, each knew the others next move. Gaara would wait outside in the hallway, the first sign of a dangerous situation and he would be inside before anyone could blink. The touch of the shoulder was to tell Sakura how long she would have alone, He pressed all five digits into her skin twice, ten minutes.
"What do you want…. Uchiha-san."
"I told you… call me Itachi, Sakura-chan. There is no need to be formal"
