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Chapter Three: Sweet Seduction
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What sweet seduction lies before us...
--Phantom of the Opera
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Sasuke readied his kunai, just in case they wanted to fight. Why did the idiot have to use his Byakugan? And why did Sakura sense me? He tried to mask his chakra further, and shrank behind a tree. He had to be more than 50 miles away by now... he'd gone as fast as he could...
"What did you see?" Sakura repeated to Neji.
The Hyuuga prodigy's eyes narrowed, and he retracted the Byakugan. "Hn... it was just a squirrel, I think. I caught a glimpse of it, but it ran away pretty fast..."
Sakura nodded. "Okay. I probably disturbed it when I threw the kunai... I thought I saw something..." She retrieved the kunai and tucked it back in her pouch, frowning slightly. I could have sworn I saw something...
After fifteen minutes, Sasuke looked from behind the tree. No one was coming after him. He breathed a silent sigh of relief through his lips. It came out fast. I'll wait till they're completely relaxed before I try again, he thought wisely. I don't want that to happen anymore...
---
Temari grinned at Sakura. "You're going to be a geisha?"
"Apparently," the pink-haired girl grumbled, shooting a look towards her two male companions. "Where's Kankuro?"
"He'll come when I leave," Temari answered, tucking her fan in behind her back. "I thought you might need some company. Good thing I'm here... I can help you with your costume." She turned to Gaara and Neji. "When is she going?"
Neji broke off a piece of bread and threw it to Sakura. "We need to have as little amount of civilians there as possible. There will only be a couple in the building on..." He turned to Gaara, who had gone to the teahouse to gather information, expectantly.
"Today and next week." He folded his arms. "So we'll have to do it today. We don't have enough time to wait till next week."
Temari nodded. "Sakura, come on," she said with a small grin. "You and I are going kimono-shopping."
Sakura sighed and rolled her eyes. "We'll be back soon," she said to the other two, and the kunoichi left.
---
"Ooh, this one's nice... oh, no, wait, that one's gorgeous! This one's okay, but it doesn't really match your coloring... hmmm, I doubt that'll attract anyone..."
If there was one thing to be learned from this, it was that Temari loved shopping. Sakura sighed and halfheartedly browsed through the fabrics while the shop owner practically fawned over Temari, giving her hints and saying that she'd get a discount if she bought this with this... The unending chatter was slowly driving Sakura mad. She pushed a whole armful of kimonos out of the way, and gasped.
It was the perfect kimono. "Temari! Look at this!" She gestured towards the kimono, and Temari breathed out a sigh of wonder. It was beautiful. The under-kimono was a pastel pink with flowers embroidered in a deeper pink. The overkimono split into two layers. The first was a light lime green, with designs of darker green. Over that was a sunny, buttercup-yellow layer, with sleeves that went to her mid-shin and beautiful embroidered flowers in red and gold thread. The obi was black with designs of cherry blossoms and seeds and rivers, all in gold, silver, green, and blue thread. It was tied with a thick red cord. "We'll take this one," they both said at the same time, grinning dreamily.
The old man looked delighted. "Wonderful!" he squeaked. "Now, I must show you these hair ornaments and makeup..."
At the end of the shopping trip, they'd bought the kimono, an extra kimono just in case, hair ornaments, makeup, and hair dye. "Anybody will recognize your pink hair," Temari said as they walked from the shop, arms laden with packages. "It's only smart to dye it a normal color."
Sakura conceded at the end, looking fondly at her pink locks. "It comes out with water and soap, though, right?"
"Right."
Sakura reassured, the two kunoichi went back to the camp to find Neji and Gaara just returning. "Where were you?" Sakura asked, laying down the packages.
As Gaara lifted a bag uncertainly, eyeing it as if it would explode in his face, Neji answered her. "We were scouting the premesis, just in case the 'squirrel' I saw wasn't reallya squirrel. There wasn't anything around, so we're pretty sure it's secure."
Temari laughed at Gaara's expression, but quickly turned away as he glared at her. "What did you get?" the Kazekage asked, holding up a case of makeup. "What is this stuff?"
Sakura laughed without abandon, even with Gaara's scowl in her direction. "It's makeup," she explained, opening the case so the Sand boy could see the rouge, powder, charcoal, and various other pastes and powders and colors. "I got two kimono and some laquered zori sandals, and some tabi socks. Everything a geisha needs."
"Dye?" Neji said, looking at the container. His eyes flickered over her. "Ah, your hair. Good thinking."
"It was Temari's idea," Sakura said, and the girl smiled.
"You'd better get ready," Neji said, putting the dye back in the bag. "It's almost time."
Temari nodded. "I'll get everything ready. Sakura, get one of these two to help you with the dye."
Sakura nodded. Gaara gave her a death glare, so she turned to Neji. "Neji-kun, will you please help me with this?" She smiled sweetly, and he raised an eyebrow, but got up from his perch on the branch.
"Fine."
They walked to the nearby stream, and Sakura frowned. "I can't get this on my shirt..."
"Take it off, then," Neji said simply, sitting on the banks of the stream, his shoes off and pants rolled up.
Sakura's cheeks tinted pink. "What?"
"Oh, come on, Sakura. We're teammates, and it's not like you'll be naked or anything." He smirked slightly, making her blush more. For some reason, the blush made him grin. She looked cute when she did that.
Wait... did he just say she looked cute?
Sakura's blush deepened, but she did as asked, pulling off her top to reveal a black bra. Neji blinked, not showing any emotion, but inside his heart was thumping wildly. Damn it, he thought angrily. "Lie down," he ordered her. She did so, putting her hair over the stream so that the edges trickled into the water, flowing with the small current.
Neji pushed her in farther, and she gasped as she felt his hands on her waist. He held onto her tightly as her hair was submerged, and pulled her back in. He opened the dye packet and worked the stuff in, using his fingers to spread the dye evenly. Slowly, her pink hair changed to a dark brown. Sakura smiled, eyes closed, enjoying the feel of Neji's fingers running through her hair. She subconsciously let out something similar to a purr, and Neji's eyes widened. This was an unexpected reaction.
The dye was all in, but he continued to massage her scalp, enjoying the feel of her slick, soft, wet hair. After a minute, realizing that he should probably stop (lest he get too far out of control, and start doing something really drastic...), he washed his hands in the lake. The dye came off with a little scrubbing. He picked up Sakura, whose eyes flew open at once with a gasp, but he smiled slightly at her and laid her on a slanted rock in the sun to let her hair dry. "Just sit here," he said, the smile still on his face as he sat next to her. "Your hair will probably dry soon."
She nodded, a bit suprised at his gentleness and the way he'd carried her, bridal style. She felt a little weird, and a little scared... but mostly giddy. Was that wrong?
After a while, Sakura's now-mahogany hair was dry. "How do I look?" she asked, brushing it smooth with a small hairbrush she'd brought.
"I like it better pink," he said, with a bit of amusement.
She laughed.
---
Soon after they got back to the camp, Temari reappeared and dragged Sakura to a clearing surrounded by trees. "And don't you two look, either!" the Sand kunoichi shouted, smirking as the two boys glared at her.
Temari made Sakura stand and strip to her bra and cycling shorts. "We want you to be able to move if need be," she said in response to Sakura's questioning look. She put a robe on the girl first, then started on the makeup. Sakura's face was soon white as snow, her hair piled on top of her head expertly, tied with a gold ribbon. Temari then started putting on the clothes, starting with the tabi socks and shining zori, then moving on to the pink silk underkimono, and then adding the outer one. She frowned when she saw the obi. "This might take a minute," she muttered. She wrapped the fabric around a couple times, fastening the hooks and buttoning what needed to be buttoned. "I can't believe there's all this fabric for just one obi," she said with a grimace as she tied it in the back. She secured all of it with the thick red cord that had come with it and then made Sakura sit again while she added the finishing touches to the makeup. She brought out a small brush and dipped it in the rouge, making an oval on Sakura's lips to bring out their fullness. Temari drew in the Sakura's eyebrows with charcoal and smudged them just a little to make it less harsh a line. Then she sat back, looking pleased. "You look beautiful, Sakura," she said, wiping her forehead.
Sakura didn't trust herself to like what she found, and so declined the mirror Temari offered her. "Domo, Temari.How do you know how to do that?" Temari shrugged,and Sakura rolled her eyes"Let's just go," she said. "I want to make this as quick as possible."
"You're sure you know everything, Sakura? Tea pouring, proper etiquette, et cetera?" Temari asked nervously as they made their way back to the camp.
"Hai, Temari, I'm sure. My aunt was a geisha, and she instructed me on everything... her stories might as well have been lessons." She smiled reassuringly.
"Sakura?" Neji's voice sounded amazed. "That's... that's you?"
"Hai," Sakura said for the second time, her smile turning slightly smug. Gaara looked at her, too, and his eyes widened a fraction of an inch. Both seemed properly stunned. Temari smothered her giggles with her hand.
"Well, I'll see you three some other time," Temari said, taking out her fan. "I've got places to be. Good luck tonight, eh, Sakura?" She winked at the girl, giving her a light hug as to not mess up her outfit, waved to the others, and left.
Sakura cleared her throat. "So... who is going to escort me, Yamazaki Saachi, to the teahouse?"
Neji shook his head. "I'm not going near a teahouse," he protested. "I helped with the dye." He looked pointedly at Gaara, who sighed and leapt from his spot on a tree.
"I'll go," he said in a subdued voice.
"Get rid of the gourd, then," Sakura said. "It'll attract attention."
He scowled, but put the gourd of sand next to the tree. "Let's hurry, then." He picked her up, bridal-style, like Neji had done, and started running on the trees, careful not to let her hit any of them. Sakura clutched at him. Is this a pattern or something? she asked herself incredulously. What's with guys and carrying me? As they neared the village, Gaara let her down, and they started walking. They neared the teahouse, and she made to enter, but he stopped her. "Wait." He disappeared. Sakura was considering going in anyway when he reappeared, a cherry blossom in his hand. "Your hair... needed something," he said, sounding as though he found it difficult to breathe. He gently placed it into the golden ribbon, tucking it in. She could feel it gliding through her hair, feel his fingers brush her neck ever-so-gently as he let his hand fall. "...there," he whispered.
"Arigato, Gaara-kun." Sakura touched her namesake carefully and smiled. "Domo arigato."
"It's no problem," he said, looking off and folding his arms. But he looked pleased. "Good luck, Sakura." He paused in mid-turn. "I'll come back at midnight."
Sakura. She liked the way it rolled off his tongue. But then, it sounded good whenNeji said it, too.And then, all of a sudden, she found herself trapped in the middle. What was she getting herself into? She nodded, still smiling slightly, and opened the door of the teahouse.
---
Tsunade's rage was tangible.
And loud.
"HE LEFT! THE TWERP ACTUALLY LEFT!" She kicked the desk, smashing it against the wall like the sake bottle. Naruto and other ANBU stood in the doorway, eyes widened behind their masks. She whirled on them, and a couple visibly flinched. "Go out and find him, damn it! Hurry! He might be halfway to Sound by now!" Or, she added mentally, frustrated, on his way to Sakura. Which one was more horrible, she didn't know... and didn't care to find out. She turned again. "Why are you still here? GO!"
---
When the door slid open, Sakura was ready. The tea was set out, a delicate white pot with green designs. Sushi, sashimi, rice balls, and other snacks were laid out on the other side of the table. A shamisen was propped up next to her, and Sakura herself was smiling in a way she hoped was both seductive and sweet. Another geisha let the man in, and bowed. He didn't return the bow, but stared at Sakura, his mouth slightly agape before he remembered to close it.
He looks like a fish, Sakura decided, even without his mouth open. His mouth had a downward turn to it, and his eyes were large and slightly glassy. He was balding, with a small goatee. He had the misfortune of having a thin face, arms, and legs, and a bloated blob for the rest of his body, visible even under his richly-decorated kimono. After a while, he sat. "My lovely creature," he said, "I was told that you were new to the teahouse. What is your name?"
Sakura poured the tea as she answered, showing her bare wrist. He ogled. "My name, Tanaka-san, is Saachi."
"Please, call me Satoya-chan. Saachi-san, you are looking beautiful tonight."
She fluttered accordingly. "Oh, Satoya-chan does me a great honor, I'm sure." She smiled brilliantly. "Would he care for sushi? Sashimi?" He nodded, and she filled a plate with both, handing it to him with a little bow. "Sake, perhaps? Only the best for you, Satoya-chan." He nodded again, more eagerly, and she poured him a cup full to the brim with rice wine. "Satoya-chan, may I inquire as to what you do in business? Only, you're dressed so very nicely, I thought you must have a successful life... brought about by a clever mind, no doubt." She turned on the charm, and was relieved to see that it was working. His chest puffed out a little.
"I own a string of teahouses, not including this one, that are very successful. Although, I'm sure that I should buy this one, now that you're here." He winked at her, drinking the sake, and she smiled indulgently.
"Surely such a business would have many rivals," Sakura said, feigning naivete and innocence. "After all, there are many teahouses and okiya, geisha houses, in this area."
"Oh, yes, there were many," he said with a smug smile as Sakura refilled his sake cup, "but they have been out of business for a while now, thanks to me."
Sakura pretended to look amazed. "Why, you must have had such a brilliant plan, Satoya-chan! But then, I'm not surprised... stupid as I am, Satoya-chan, I've realized that you must be exceedingly clever already!"
"Ah, my dear Saachi-san, your looks will ever compensate for your lack of knowledge, and that lack is clearly because of who you are, what you do for your work." He patted her hand, making Sakura want to smack him and wash it thoroughly. He finished his sake, and she refilled the cup again. "But yes, I am quite clever, and I have had certain measures to be taken to make sure that they will not own a successful teahouse again." We're getting there, Sakura thought, watching him drink the sake.
The drugged sake was working beautifully. His eyes were even more glazed now, and he was extremely drowsy. Still, he kept drinking it as Sakura quesioned him further. "How was this done, Satoya-chan? Really, you must tell me; I'm ever so curious at your brilliance!"
He smiled huskily. "You are terribly beautiful," he slurred, now drunk as well as drugged. "I contracted a group of rebels to... dispose... of the teahouse owners for me. It was a wonderful job."
"Can you tell me anything else about these rebels? They sound intriguing."
"They... they have a headquarters..." She was losing him. "Somewhere... can't remember..."
Sakura cursed mentally. "Think, Satoya-chan, do think. I'm sure you can remember, with your vast knowlege."
He smiled weakly. "Come back... tomorrow, and I'll tell you more... Saachi-san, I am feeling tired... if you serve me again tomorrow, I'll tell you more... you're so beautifullll..." He fell over.
Sakura sighed, but was also extremely glad that he had passed out. Under both sake and drugs, there was no telling what he could have tried... and gotten away with, she realized suddenly, because I don't have any weapons. Baka, she admonished herself. She got up from her seat and threw the drugged sake out of the window, emptying the cups and the bottle. "Yoko," she called to the maid, "he's fainted. Can you make sure he gets home?"
The girl sighed but complied, dragging the unconscious customer away. "Yoko!" Sakura hissed urgently. The girl turned.
"Hai, ma'am?"
"Here." Sakura pressed yen and a pretty comb, compliments of Temari, into the girl's hand. "I'll be back tomorrow for him, all right? Make sure he knows that. Leave a note or something."
"Hai, ma'am," she repeated, happier as she tucked the gifts into her obi. "Domo arigato."
Sakura merely smiled and patted the girl on the head. She listened as Yoko dragged Satoya outside, probably to go to his apartment, and stole outside just as a clock rang twelve. Right on cue, Gaara was there, appearing as quickly as if he had been there all along. "How was it?" he asked, picking her up again.
She sighed. "I have to go again tomorrow," she explained as he leapt through the trees. "He passed out before he could tell me much. I know for sure, though, that he used the rebels to kill his competition in the teahouse business. He seemed quite smug about it, too."
"Was he... likeable?"
"Are you kidding?" She scowled. "He was one of the worst men I've ever met. Excluding, of course, Sasuke, the worst of all time."
She didn't see Gaara's half-smile.
---
Sasuke frowned. So, he was the worst in the world, eh? But there wasn't conviction in her words. It seemed like she was trying to make herself believe them... though it was obvious, he thought angrily, that Gaara was only glad to.
The Uchiha leapt after them, eyes on Sakura. Even with her hair dyed and her face painted, she was beautiful. A sudden rush of emotion hit him so hard he was afraid he would keel over. She was gorgeous, and it was obvious that both Gaara and Hyuuga thought so, too, what with the stupid cherry blossom the Sand kid had given her and the scalp massage Hyuuga had.
He'd given her a hug, but he soon realized that a hug just wasn't enough.
He'd have to get serious about this, and fast. Because now, this wasn't just an ego trip to restore his pride, nor just a way to make Hyuuga jealous. No... now, he knew that he really did love Sakura. He really did want to have her for his own, have her as only his and no one else's.
This, he decided grimly as his eyes scanned her curvy figure, now folded tightly in Gaara's arms, is war.
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Wow, everybody! Thank you so much for all of the reviews! I'm doing my best to give you as many chapters as possible in little enough time... I hope you enjoy this one!
