Many thanks to these people for reviewing: Annadidit, bogusbabe, AliasTesin, Leon Sytherin, bloodberrylicious, busi sibeko1, Kiats10, dumdeedum, and Sommernacht.

Enjoy!

oOo

THEN

Shisui did not want to waste too much time at the campsite. They needed to get Hakuto medical attention immediately. Having an injured comrade while outside Fire Country made Shisui antsy and nervous.

After they finished healing Hakuto as best as they could, Shisui told Hinata to get some sleep.

"After you get your rest, I'll do the same. And you can be lookout."

Hinata's eyes held intense concern. It stopped him short. But the dark smudges of exhaustion under her bottom lashes stood out starkly against her light irises.

"You've expended a significant amount of chakra," he gently reminded her.

"You have as well," she said in an almost whisper.

However, she gathered her blanket and laid it close to Hakuto. Shisui let out a sigh of relief and set an alarm on his watch. Toggling the sound options so it buzzed instead of beeping, he launched himself into a tree. He could only give her two and a half hours. But she was a nin, and fatigue was not an unfamiliar feeling for her.

He wanted to sleep for even less time. However, body flickering over such long distance sapped a significant amount of chakra. And he guessed he would have to carry Hakuto for the majority of the time. Not because Hinata was weak, but mostly because Hakuto stood taller than the Hyuga. If Hinata could not comfortably carry her teammate on her back, then she would have to carry Hakuto bridal style. Which would unbalance her. And they would have to gently tie Hakuto's arms around Hinata's neck.

Shisui roughly scrubbed his hands through his hair.

He needed to stop thinking and focus on the present. Right now, his only priority was to watch out for any enemies. They could worry about carrying Hakuto when the time came.

oOo

When he went to wake her up, Hinata's eyes opened before he came within a meter of her. She stood and activated her Byakugan. He handed her a ration bar; she gave him her blanket.

He eagerly dropped onto the sleeping pallet and wrapped himself into the blanket. It retained her body heat. With the late-night chill now chased away, he fell asleep immediately.

oOo

NOW

The next safehouse holds another Konoha nin. Shisui wonders if the nin would be willing to share.

He perches in a branch, making sure he stands in the moonlight. Pursing his lips, he lets out a quick birdcall.

After a beat of silence, the call repeats back to him. The sound comes from within the house.

Shisui pulls out a flashlight. Pressing the button, he holds a hand over the illumination. He removes and replaces his palm over the light in a well-known pattern.

Okay to join?

One of the inside lights flickers on. It turns off for five seconds, then back on.

Okay.

Shisui slips like mercury to the front door and then inside the house. His eyes take a moment to adjust to the small lantern in the corner. It is a two- or three-room building, which is the only reason Shisui approached in the first place. It provides sufficient privacy for everyone.

The other nin stands by the window. They both stare for a moment, before Anko relaxes.

"Mr. Uchiha."

"Ms. Mitarashi."

She rolls her eyes. "Anko."

"Ms. Anko."

The woman laughs. She gestures vaguely at the kitchen. "I heated up some soup. But I'm not hungry."

Shisui walks over to the stove. The opened can sits on the counter next to it. Pulling the lid off an old, battered pot, he peers inside. It does not smell bad.

He glances out of the corner of his eyes towards her. "You're okay?"

She shrugs, still staring at the moon. "I'm too frustrated to eat."

He rifles through cabinets and drawers until he finds a spoon. He brings it and the pot to the table. Starting to eat, he gestures to the pack he abandoned at the door.

"I have a chocolate bar in the front pocket."

She jerks her head towards him to glare. "I'm not a kid who needs sweets when I feel bad."

Unbothered, Shisui continues to eat. "You need calories. I thought chocolate might feel better than tinned soup."

She grumbles, but after a pause, goes in search of the chocolate. Finding it, she brings her bounty to the table. Sitting across from him, she methodically pops off a square, puts it in her mouth to melt, then takes another square when the first is done.

"I'm having a hard time finding my target," she mutters bitterly after half the bar is gone.

"Oh?" he asks politely.

"What mission are you on?" she asks, changing the subject.

"Retrieval. One of our operatives is in enemy territory and can't extract themselves."

"Shit. Want to trade?"

He gives her a closed-mouth smile. "No thanks."

Anko initiates a little game where she pauses, then asks a question, then falls back into silence. Shisui calmly continues eating his soup, and once done, washes out the pot while answering.

"Can I guess who you're retrieving?"

"Only if I can guess who you're after."

"Ugh… Where are you going?"

"Where are you going?"

"Don't answer my question with a question, dammit!"

Shisui huffs from his spot at the sink. "Fine. Try again."

"Where are you going?" she says.

"Classified."

"Dammit!"

Shisui laughs. Anko throws a napkin at him, but it does not have enough weight, so it barely clears the table before fluttering to the ground. When he laughs harder, she angrily gets up and stomps to the couch. Throwing herself onto the lumpy cushions, she lays her arm over her eyes.

He places his dishes on the drying rack. Walking over to the couch, he pats the back of it.

"I'm going to bed. Let me know if you need anything."

Anko lets out a long sigh. "Thanks, Uchiha."

He pauses, before venturing: "I don't know what state my target is going to be in. But if they're okay, and you need help…"

Anko lifts her arm to peer up at him. She stares at him for a long while, judging his sincerity. They do not know each other. Not really.

But Shisui considers them comrades. And he does not understand why she is hunting her greatest nemesis, Orochimaru. Alone.

He does not have the time to waste. Hinata needs to get home as soon as possible to see her father. But… he cannot not leave Anko here either.

"I'll be fine." She dismisses him with a wave.

He allows her to decline without pushing the matter. "Okay. Night."

"Night."

oOo

Dear Shisui,

I'm under orders to cease all extra communications. Mission only messages are allowed.

It makes me sad to think I will not be able to talk to you. I'll miss you even more.

Please don't worry for me. Everything is still fine. Just a precaution.

I still have the gift you gave me. For emergencies. I will only use it if I'm in dire straits. But it's comforting to know I have it.

I shouldn't even be sending this to you. But I could not bear the thought of my letters randomly stopping with no explanation.

Stay safe. Say hello to Hakuto for me, please.

Yours,

Hinata

oOo

Coming up: Shisui tries to find some clues.