Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of the Merc and the Medic. Enjoy the 3000-word chapter. I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto and a few others do.
(Hidden Leaf Village)
Marmora was a very nice person. He knew the concept of honor and mercy, being a soldier for hire didn't take that from him. He understood when he messed up that he had to make amends.
Being made to flush the last of his on-hand Ryo down the drain to pay for a movie and now dinner ? He felt like he was humiliated… Not that he hated being around Sakura… It was just how much he knew he'd be relying on Sakura for money in the future for now.
He took another bite of his steak and looked at Sakura who was eating rice and bento.
"So…" Marmora said, twirling his fork before Sakura looked up.
"Hmm?" Sakura asked, Marmora sighed and leaned back into his chair.
"I heard from Naruto something that bothers me the more I think about it. I know a lot about Danuja… I wish I put a Kunai through his neck when I was able to." He said, Sakura wiped her face while Marmora continued after taking another bite of his food and then wiped his face.
"Danuja isn't someone who'd wage war on all of Fire Country just to collect on something… Least not against more then he could bite off…. I think someone is pulling his strings… Someone else, far more of a problem." He stated, Sakura hummed.
"I've mulled it over… I'm sorry for being mad. I get mad all the time." Sakura stated, Marmora waved his hand back and forth.
"I've been pretty stupid before, Sakura. I won't apologize for fighting Danuja's men… Even if I had no choice… But I will apologize for bringing you into it and for not always listening like I did with ignoring your orders to rest at the bridge and put more Charka into my moves despite your warnings." He said, Sakura smiled.
"I used to push myself a lot to stack up to Naruto and…." Sakura started to say before Marmora put his hand on hers.
Sakura blushed and Marmora looked her in the eye.
"Sakura. I've steered clear of the topic of Sasuke because I didn't want to bother you. I wanted to respectful, what you and team Seven had was your business… But over the time, I've seen you lock up whenever he's mentioned. I want to know what happened; I've had some seriously screwed up parts of my life. I could write a book about what I've seen over the teenage years of my life. You've told me at the spar some part of you still loves him…" He said, the waitress walked over with the check which Marmora put the last of his Ryo to pay for the food.
He and Sakura got up before both started the walk back home. He turned back to Sakura.
"I've lost people who I cared about; I believe I told you about how I understand first love… I don't know enough about Sasuke to state facts…. I do know Sasuke choose power over fealty to Konoha… I know there are more important things then blind loyalty to your village… But all he did? I do not say I can condone such destruction, he tried to kill you and the Hokage several times if I am correct… Then the 5 strongest rulers as well." He said, Sakura turned to him.
"How…." Sakura asked, Marmora looked at the ground before he hummed.
"You hear a great many deal of secrets when you're a soldier for hire." He said, they continued to walk while she sighed.
"I… Even if most of me knows he was a traitor to everyone, it still misses him… How do you just forgiveness?" She asked before he nodded.
"You believe in the good of them… But don't forget the bad. You know he is no longer evil… I've gone through the same issue; I've had friends I considered brothers and sisters. I've loved at least 1 of them… Then I would wake up with them having a knife to my throat and a desire for power, for greed…. I hate a few of them, so willing to throw away morals and loyalty at the sight of coin and control." He said, he hummed before both reached the door. Sakura opened it, she and Marmora walked in and took off their shoes before plopping down on the couch.
"I can't tell you what to do, that's up to you. I will tell you that you have to be willing to accept that as much as you love Sasuke, he still betrayed you and the home where you grew up with…. Loyalty isn't everything, Sakura." He said, Sakura sighed and nodded.
"I… Thank you, I don't know if that helps much, but it gives me something to think about." She said and smiled before she turned to Marmora.
"Eh, I don't know half of what I've been saying." He stated before Sakura punched him in the shoulder.
Marmora grunted before he felt her lips on his cheek and he blushed.
"Ok, that's literally the second kiss you've given me… Either I'm a romantic genius… And I'm not… Or I'm an idiot and I'm just getting lucky." Marmora said, Sakura rolled her eyes.
"You're an idiot, but your nice. Your caring, your sweet and your attentive… You act like a doofus and strain yourself; I'm going to break your legs like I said and then treat you like a baby until you learn to stop trying to use moves that are making you cough up blood." She said, Marmora chuckled.
"You know, that is the most pleasant way to tell me 'stop being stupid or I'm going to beat the crap out of you' I have ever heard." Marmora said, he and Sakura smiled while Sakura turned on the tv.
"You know, as much as we tend to bicker and drive each other up a wall… You driving me up a wall a lot less because you act so amusing when you try to get back at me?" He asked, Sakura raised an eyebrow at him before slugging him in the arm and he groaned with a smile.
"I think I might need to go to the hospital for that… I do honestly enjoy being around you, Sakura. You don't take garbage from anyone, but your smart and nice. You don't meet many people who can rip someone in half with one hand and yet make complex battle plans then have a cup of tea with." He said, Sakura blushed and smiled.
"Thank you… And despite you being a bigger idiot then Naruto used to be… Used to, I swore I would never belittle him… Your sweet for a hired mercenary. You don't show any signs of greed, and you're always trying to be helpful. You're still a bigger dork then I used to be, does EVERY legendary ninja make you fanboy?" She teased; Marmora poked her in the head with amusement.
"You try talking to people who can do things like make giant energy armor, can swap bodies and are considered the best warriors in existence. You were trained by not just the damn Hokage, but someone who is considered one of the strongest and most skilled Kunoichi in history. You expect me to meet them and not geek out?" He asked, Sakura sighed and waved her hand.
"I get it. I get it. You want to watch a movie? I'm… I'm tired." Sakura said, Marmora rolled his eyes at her.
"Yes, just use my Ryo to eat and watch a comedy movie and guilty me for not learning how Charka control works." He muttered, Sakura blew a raspberry at Marmora and laughed before he turned to look at the ground.
"I think someone with powers similar to Sasuke might be behind Danuja's action. I don't think someone could threaten the entire region without the sharingan or a perfect mind. Danuja is gifted at tactics, he's not a general… Also, I was studying the mask from one of the elite soldiers I killed… That symbol comes from Amegakure… But from a group of Shinobi that not only survived pain but the Uchina clan decades ago." He said, Sakura frowned before Marmora waved his hands.
"Sasuke isn't behind this. I know he wouldn't be behind this… Besides, this doesn't seem like something he'd do. I don't know much about Sasuke, but operating through proxies and from the shadows? I know for a fact that the Sasuke Uchina I know wasn't a coward." He said, Sakura turned back to the tv.
"You want to sleep in the living room?" Sakura asked while Marmora hummed.
"You're not going to your room to sleep?" He asked, Sakura shook her head.
"I don't feel like it… We could have a sleep over here…" Sakura said, Marmora chuckled and rolled his eyes.
"Yes, I'm the doofus, doctor dork… Fine. I'll go get my sleeping bag… Please don't tell me you're going to put on another comedy." He said, the surly looking Haruno twirled his hair with her fingers.
"You don't pay for the house… I do, I make the rules." Marmora heard from Sakura while he brushed her hand aside with a smile.
"Ok, you are way too tired… Go to sleep, I'm going to make some popcorn and then put on one of your movies. We have Charka Control training tomorrow… Also, the last time I woke you up, you flicked me into the wall." He muttered, looking at her before he stood up and walked away towards the closet.
"I can't believe you still have sleeping bags." He said, more to himself then to Sakura who barely had her eyes opened.
He rolled his eyes, the more mature Haruno was capable of humor. He thoroughly enjoyed her company.
The thought that even more dangerous forces were plotting control of Fire Country? That did bother him, did the mastermind of the plan order Danuja to kill hill because of some role in his plan?
He wanted to know that, the fact that his life was in danger didn't bother him, but the life of Sakura and others? He really hopped nobody went after Sakura, but the fact that she hadn't given up his to save hers? They would.
He wouldn't let them hurt Sakura. he wouldn't let them win. He still knew that Sakura would be hurt though.
He had a few jobs that could earn money in the meantime. He had offered to volunteer as a bodyguard for a week after tomorrow was a way to get some quick Ryo before he transferred the rest of his money here.
He had a few hundred Ryo, the money he had flushed down the drain. He had a few thousand or so. He had never had to pay for money since Dagger had paid for the group's supplies and food. He knew now it was just another way to earn their loyalty.
"Sakura, you good?" He asked, walking over with a sleeping bag, Sakura hummed and patted his head, Marmora groaned and then he turned and smiled while he allowed her to mess with his hair.
She was tired and she did own the house… Least for another day until he earned some money and started to pay for the bills.
"I wonder if I can learn any of those Water Style moves that I got from that traitor I killed. I brought his book here. I do wonder where he got it." He muttered while Sakura hummed and opened one of her eyes.
"You up yet, doctor?" He joked, Marmora saw Sakura yawn and then she was able to pull herself up enough to put on a movie.
Marmora groaned and Sakura smirked before the former mercenary sighed and resigned himself to watch it.
"Your teaching me tomorrow morning for this, you owe me that at the very least." Sakura heard and hummed while the movie started. Sakura laughed.
"My jokes are funnier…" Marmora muttered, Sakura rolled her eyes and patted Marmora again while he feebly tried to swat her hand away.
"Ugh, your evil." He muttered, Sakura shook her head while Marmora sighed and then leaned against the sofa under her with amusement on his face and then he turned to look at the Jonin who was alternating her attention between him and the movie.
Marmora said nothing at the moment before he hummed and then started watching the movie seriously at the moment. He sighed at a very bad joke and then chuckled.
"Ok, I will admit, this movie doesn't suck all the time." He said, Sakura smiled and Marmora rolled his eyes and looked around before he tapped on the ground next to him with amusement.
"I'm never going to hear the end of this… I thought that the mighty Sakura Haruno was so humble." He said, Sakura poked him the neck and he chuckled with another smile.
"Damn it, I forgot the damn popcorn!" Marmora yelled while he went to go and get the popcorn.
Sakura groaned and looked at the ground, too tired to do much more then wave at Marmora while he began to warm up the popcorn in the microwave.
"I'm hope that Charka Control is easy to get…" Marmora muttered; the popcorn continued to cook before the popcorn made the microwave beep.
He punched the button to open the microwave and walked toward the couch.
He put the bowl down while he and Sakura started to eat from the bowl.
"Ugh, this movie sucks..." Marmora muttered while Sakura tapped on his head, now too tired to do much more then feebly swat at the popcorn, Marmora smiled and held the basket enough for her to get a few handfuls. Marmora patted her on the head in return.
"Go to sleep, you're so tired you're barely keeping yourself awake… I'm about to pass out anyway, I'm only keeping myself asleep off caffeine." He said and yawned before he noticed that the Haruno was already asleep, he sighed.
"Now I'm just talking to myself." He muttered before he got up to the ground. He walked to the closet and opened the door.
He grabbed a pair of blanket and pillows before he walked over to the couch.
He gingerly propped up Sakura's head without waking her and then he put a pillow under her. He then draped the blanket over Sakura before he yawned and then he sighed and then he turned to lay down.
He set up his own makeshift bed before he yawned and then he slowly sat down on the ground while he hummed and laid down.
"I wonder what the note from the Hokage said. I'm wondering what is going on. I've dealt with a lot of weird things before I got here… And now I'm basing a possible war off a few clues… I'm an assassin, a merc… Not a detective." He muttered while he started to close his eyes.
He didn't know what would be going on down the road. He didn't want to fight a war; he had been paid to fight for the right side in the war before it had ended.
He hated that decision to fight for money. He had enough, his mentor… Dagger, had made him think the only thing that mattered in life was money, tried to make him dependent on him.
"I wonder what is happening to Dagger at the moment… He's only had a handful of 'students' and most deserted him after the war. I wouldn't be surprised if he warned nothing to do with any of his men. I treated the man like a father and he brings this on us… We got to be cannon fodder for nothing… And he became a rich man…" He stated with anger, he remembered how he had fled Amegakure with a few positions, the only scraps of his old life and whatever he could keep on hand.
He turned to look at Sakura who was sleeping comfortably, smiling as she pulled her blankets closer to her
"Ugh, I swear if I get through all this, I'm going to kiss the ground she walks on. I know it's been a week or so at most… Maybe two. I do know she's probably been one of the nicest people outside of my team." He whispered, he went and turned off the lights, forgetting about them in his tired state.
He yawned and then slowly began to close his eyes.
"I know you can't hear me very much… But I'm glad I got to meet you… Your too nice to a stupid fool who got suckered into money making over morals… And then pulled all of Konoha into a fight they don't need… Ugh, my life has been one joke… I'm just glad this part isn't a joke." He said and then closed his eyes fully to sleep.
He had no idea Sakura was coconscious enough to hear what was happening. She smiled while she tried to sleep while Marmora paused only to fluff the pillow and then laid down to sleep for good.
He yawned and started to drift off to sleep with amusement. He was happy, Sakura was also happy.
Little did they know there was more to their theory… And their day out, then what appeared to be.
And neither knew a familiar raven-haired man had entered town, something only the gate guards knew.
Sasuke had returned from another mission.
Author Notes
Phew, another chapter done! I want to point out that Sakura and Marmora aren't dating yet. They are growing to love each other; they do tease and mess with each other a lot. I am open to ideas, Sarada will show up in a while. I wanted to make a super long chapter for the romance. Next chapter will be on Friday or so and will show Marmora and Sakura training and then going to see Naruto for his note and Marmora's job. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!