As she cooked, Ibiki walked around the ground floor of her home. He was curious as to what type of home she had. He got the impression that she practically lived at the bar.
Her dining room was a little bit smaller than her living room. It was simply decorated; the walls were painted a light charcoal. It gave Ibiki the impression she didn't eat in there much or entertain dinner parties. It didn't surprise him. In the middle of the room was a black marble table, its legs made from appeared to be brass. There were six wine red velvet dining chairs around it. That was it.
The next room he stepped into was the kitchen, it was painted sapphire blue and floor was tiled with grey slate. Ibiki noticed she had very expensive taste. He wondered just how much she made at the bar and how much was paid for by her uncle. She had a sleek ice white kitchen island in the middle of the room. It had two cotton white bar stools with a gold art deco styled back rest and base. All of her cabinets matched the ice white island. Her counter tops also matched, midnight black granite with crystal specks, resembling the night sky.
Yua was standing, facing the large bay window, next to the stainless-steel sink. She had just finished washing the vegetables, preparing to peel and dice them. Ibiki came up behind her and placed his hand on hers as she picked up the knife. She looked over her shoulder at him confused. He gentle tucked her hair behind her ear.
"How about we work up an appetite first?" He whispered down her ear before moving her hair from her neck. He placed gently soft kisses down her neck. Yua smiled.
"I doubt we'll even get to eat." She countered as she leaned against him, letting go of the knife as it rested on the counter. Ibiki smirked and wrapped his arm around her waist, supporting her.
"We can always order in." He told her and spun her around in her arms so they could face each other. Without waiting for an answer, he kissed her passionately. She melted in his arms. Her hands went up to cup his face, keeping him to her.
Once they came apart Yua smirked and took his hand, leading him to her room. Ibiki hadn't expected her room to have so much detail in it. It was becoming clear her favourite colours were purple and gold. He watched her take off her shoes with care and placing them under the left bedside table. Before she could turn to face him. He turned her around and pushed her onto the bed. He immediately climbed on top of her. He had already gotten rid of his own shoes and gun. Their lips met.
"Can I ask you something?" He whispered into her ear as the cuddled together after they made love.
"You just did." She joked back. Ibiki groaned and nipped at her neck playfully. "OK, what is it?" She giggled.
"What does the tattoo on your back mean?" He asked. He had only just noticed it as they made love. It was a violet oak tree between her shoulder blades. It was no more than two to three inches big. Yua seemed to tense a little and paused before she spoke.
"It signifies my name before Orochimaru changed it." She told him, moving to get off him. Ibiki held onto her tighter, stopping her.
"I'm sorry if I upset you." He told her as he kissed her shoulder.
"It's not you." She told him with a sigh. "I got the tattoo as a reminder of my parents and the name they gave me. I don't ever want to forget them." She explained. Ibiki nodded and nuzzled into her neck.
"What was your name?" He asked curious.
"Sumire, violet because of my hair, hence the colour of the tree." She told him, but held back her true last name. "The tree simply means my family tree. I wanted it to make me feel stronger, nature is strong and is able to somehow survive anything. I wanted to feel that." She explained.
"You are strong." Ibiki told her and turned her head to look at him before kissing her. Yua pulled away smiling. "How about I order us some food?" He then asked and she nodded.
"Nothing too spicy." She told him before getting off his lap. She kissed him softly and walked into her ensuite
Ibiki got dressed as he ordered them food before checking his wallet. He decided to wait in her living room while she freshened herself up. It didn't take long for their food to arrive, in fact it seemed to quicker than any food delivery he had ever had.
When he answered the door, he was met with Iruka holding their order. Ibiki just stared at him. He knew that Anko and Iruka had seen him dancing with Yua the first time they had met. He didn't know who she was until she gave him her card. Even then, he didn't know until Anko and Iruka caught up with him at the police station and told him about the case. He knew something had happened in the bar but hadn't been told anything of importance. He had gone to the bar to simply be nosey. He would never normally had been in a bar. He honestly didn't care at that point; he had met a woman who was willing to be seen with him. Both Anko and Iruka had warned him about what they believed her to be but, in his opinion, they were further from the truth. He was determined now to show her he was the man for her, to show her that her uncle was wrong about the police. He was going to shield her from the mob and give her a life she deserves.
"Is that my food?" Ibiki asked annoyed.
"You need to step away from this." Iruka warned him as he passed him the food.
"I don't need to step back because this isn't my case." Ibiki pointed out. "And, I knew her before I knew about the case. That means you can't pass this onto me to stop me." He added before Iruka could threaten to do so. "And another thing, have a little more respect. I am capable of making my own choices and dealing with any consequences." He finished.
At that moment, Yua made her way down the stairs in nothing but a black and white floral satin knee length dressing gown. It was tied loosely around her waist, leaving little to the imagination. She had also tied her hair up in a bun, showing off the marks that Ibiki had left behind.
Iruka stared with his mouth wide open. Ibiki quickly closed the door before Yua could see him and before Iruka saw even more.
"Is that our food?" Yua asked when she heard the door close, she had only a few steps left to go. Ibiki nodded and went into the kitchen to plate it all up. Yua helped him find the plates and knives and forks.
The pair sat opposite each other in the dining room, eating.
"Yua, if you don't find it rude, how did you afford all of this?" Ibiki asked. "I mean, marble is expensive."
"This was my parents' home; I don't really remember it as their home. Orochimaru kept it for me so I could choose what to do with it. The bar I brought with the life insurance they left me, Orochimaru kept that hidden until he felt I was mature enough to have. For that I am thankful." She started to explain, not fazed by the question. "He kept the furniture too but I sold a lot of it, some of it wasn't to my taste or hadn't stood up to the test of time that well. The dining chairs, sofa, bookcase and the desk in my room is theirs. The spare bedroom has their bed and wardrobe, I haven't even sorted out decorating in there. Everything else I brought over time, bit by bit. It's taken me a long time to get all of this." She explained and Ibiki nodded. She had worked hard to get what she wanted. "The only thing that was brought for me was this table. Orochimaru brought it for me as a housewarming gift. He told me no house can be a home without a table." She told him before smiling. "You know, giving Orochimaru's quirks and his business in labs and hospitals. I was half expecting a lab table or morgue slab." She joked and Ibiki laughed.
"You've worked hard to get what you want." He noted and Yua shrugged.
"But I had help. I was left this house and a lot of money." She stated. "I've also been very lucky, my staff have been great, I've managed to keep the bar open and popular. It isn't easy but I've made it work." She added. "But now I might lose it all." She said with a sign. Ibiki frowned and reached out for her hand.
"No one can take this away from you." He told her and squeezed her hand. "I will help you in any way I can." He added and she smiled.
The two continued to eat and talk. They spent most of the night talking and some of it making love once more.
Over the next couple of days and weeks, everything seemed to go back to normal for Yua. The only exception being Ibiki. He would visit her everyday with flowers, either at the bar about mid-day or evening. Sometimes in the morning at her home. Yua guessed it was whenever he had the time away from work to see her, not that she minded. Sometimes he took her for lunch, dinner or a morning coffee. He would often stay over and they would read, talk and make love. They just loved spending time with each other. She was really falling for him, ready to make their relationship something more.
She was a little bothered by the fact that he never invited her over to his own home. But then she wondered if he lived on an army base of some sort. Or quite possibly felt embarrassed by his home for some reason. She didn't question him about; she didn't question him much about his personal life. What she didn't know, Ibiki would never let her into his home. If he did, she would know immediately that he was a cop. He wanted her to love him before he told her that. He needed her to be able to overlook it, to stay with him.
So far, she had only learned he was a couple years older than herself and most of his scars had been earned in the line of duty. He enjoyed coming across as mean and scary but really, he wasn't, at least not to her. He loved to mark her skin when they made love, especially on her neck. He loved to pull her hair, hold her tight, but most of all, he loved to hear the sounds she made just for him.
On one of the nights Ibiki stayed over, he drove her to the bar in the morning and entered with her. He was surprised to see both Tobirama and Madara waiting for her. Up until now, none of them had bothered to stop by the bar. He wondered what they would want with her now. It also bothered him as he had lost his temper when he heard what Madara had done. He had revealed his occupation to him when he threatened him. Now he hoped Madara wouldn't say anything to her about it, or had forgotten about it. He could feel Madara's eyes watching his every move. Yua ignored both men and went to her office. Ibiki followed her closely behind, well aware of the glares he was receiving from both men.
Sai was waiting in her office for her. It was almost like a pupil waiting to be told off in the headmasters' office.
"Why are they here? We don't open for another two hours." Yua questioned Sai. She didn't want Ibiki to think she let the mob walk all over her. She wondered what he would think about her if he knew her true occupation.
"They said they had business to conduct." Sai told her and she rubbed her forehead, frustrated.
"Fine, whoever turned up first, I will see first." She told Sai before she looked at Ibiki. "Why don't you get a drink or go get some food or something?" Ibiki didn't move. "I'll be fine, I promise." She got on her toes and kissed his cheek. Ibiki smirked like he had an idea before agreeing to leave.
"Yua-sama, are you in a relationship?" Sai asked dejected as soon as the door was shut behind Ibiki.
"I'm not sure, we haven't discussed it." Yua answered and looked around the room. "Please leave and send in who ever came by first." She told him as she sat down at her desk.
A few minutes later, Tobirama entered the room. She gestured for him to sit but he didn't. "What can I do for you?" She asked confused.
"Have you slept with him?" Tobirama asked, he sounded upset and angry, he made it sound like this time she had somehow betrayed him. It was the first time he had seem bothered by it. Yua's jaw almost dropped. She had made sure to cover the marks of their love making on her neck with an emerald green turtleneck jumper that was loose around her neck. She had loosely tucked the bottom into her black suit trousers.
"No." She answered, trying hard not to let the truth slip.
"Then why was he at your home all night? And why did drive you here?" He asked with his arms folded over his chest. He looked hurt. "Most importantly, why are you dressed so casual and hiding as much of your body as possible?" He continued to question her. It was true and how casual she was; she had always worn a full suit to conduct business with them. Even if she wore bright colours, it was always a suit. But how would he know he had stayed at her home all night unless he had been spying on her.
"So, what if I have?!" She snapped at him, throwing her arms up into the air in frustration. "It's my life and if I want to sleep with him then I will. If I want to start a relationship with someone then I will." She told him, glaring at him. He had no right to be upset with her.
"I'm sorry." Tobirama stepped towards and pulled her into a hug. Yua pushed him away.
"Why have you been spying on me, on my home?" She asked harshly. She didn't appreciate being watched in anyway.
"We're still trying to work out who shoot you. I was hoping by watching your house, I would spot them doing the same. I've been doing the same at the bar." He admitted with a sigh. "I just want to make sure you're safe, that's all." He then added, hoping she wouldn't be too upset with him. Yua just huffed, annoyed.
"Now, are you here for business or something else?" She asked, her arms crossed, she just wanted to move on. Tobirama sighed and sat down at her desk.
"I came to apologise for my forwardness, I know it's been awhile but this is the first chance I've been able to get to you. I shouldn't have put you in that position." He told her, taking her by surprise.
"I forgive you." She told him simply, but saying that didn't make her any less cautious of him.
"Yua-san, I know you've told me that I don't really know you despite growing up with you. But I would like to get to know you." Tobirama started but she held her hand up to stop him.
"I still have a meeting with Madara." She reminded him of the other man. But at that point, Tobirama spotted the marks on her neck.
"What is this?" He asked as he reached her for her neck and she flinched away.
"None of your business." She snapped at him. "Go!"
"I'll be back later then." Tobirama left with a sigh, clearing thinking she would be willing to open up to him when she felt she had more time.