Pompeii
Chapter 6
jaylene

Sakura bit her lip, reviewing her grocery list once more. Most were the basic items: milk, eggs, bread, and such. She also wanted a roast to cook for dinner. She hadn't had the chance to cook since the move and she missed it.

Sakura crossed the road, looking up at the local grocery.

It was a rather small building made of fading pink brick with ivy curling up the sides. There was a square concrete parking lot but very few cars were present. The neon yellow sign flickered with the name Kit's.

Sakura hummed mindlessly to herself, taking a rickety cart and heading into the building.

She was immediately greeted by the sight of flowers. Here were all types of flowers, some she recognized and others she did not.

These were the ones she approached, examining them with a critical gaze. Her undergraduate research was on the use of plants in modern medicine. She'd never seen anything like these flowers.

"May I help you?" a voice inquired.

Sakura whirled.

The man before her was, in a word, odd. He was split down the middle in two distinct colors, black and white. His eyes were a bright yellow and Sakura found herself reminded of poisonous flowers. What was most interesting of all was the plant that grew out of his shoulders. It was a massive fly trap and the feathery feelers along the bud trembled in the air.

Still, Sakura was born and bred as a New Yorker and she prided herself on being unfazed.

"Yes actually," she replied. "What kind of flower is this?" She pointed to a starkly orange bush.

"I bred it," he said with a blank look. "Dumbass."

He looked faintly embarrassed about the outburst, brows furrowing but Sakura didn't mind. She'd treated a few patients with Tourette syndrome during her clinicals. Besides, she'd met quite a few rude patients in her day.

"You bred it?" she asked, almost starry eyed.

"Yes," he replied warily, watching her with confusion. Zetsu wasn't used to talking to other people, ever. "Why?"

"They're amazing!" Sakura said, curling her fingers through the leaves. "Do you keep notes?"

"Y-yes," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Could…could I see them sometime?" Sakura asked, clasping her hands together. "I mean; I understand if you're keeping them a secret." Her face fell. "That'd make sense actually, especially if you're trying to—"

"It's fine," Zetsu interrupted, voice quiet.

Black Zetsu was absolutely silent. No one gave him any attention. Everyone was terrified of him. Mito gave him a part-time job as a florist but that was mainly out of pity. Besides, she knew the truth.

He couldn't hurt anyone, even if he wanted to.

"I can't believe I haven't introduced myself; I'm Sakura and I'm new here in town," Sakura said, offering him her hand. "I've been hoping to start a garden, maybe I could purchase some plants from you?"

"S-sure," Zetsu said, looking nonplussed by the hand offered to him. He took it gingerly in both of his, shaking it lightly. He hadn't touched another person in…well, he couldn't quite remember. "I'm Zetsu."

"Is it alright if I stop by tomorrow?" Sakura asked, green eyes sparkling.

Her eyes reminded Zetsu of mountain fields full of tall grasses blowing in the wind. They were beautiful.

She was beautiful.

"H-hey there!" a grating voice said, breaking Zetsu's concentration.

He turned, glaring down at the mayor's obnoxious son. Murderous rage filled him only to abate immediately thanks to his curse.

"Hi," Sakura greeted, narrowing her eyes on him. He looked strangely familiar. "May I help you?"

"Actually, I was hoping to help you," he said, blue eyes skittering over Zetsu's face before sliding away again. "Naruto Uzumaki, store manager. I know you're new in town so I was hoping to show you around."

Sakura looked over at Zetsu and shrugged hopelessly with a smile. "I'll be back by tomorrow to get that journal. I'm the new doctor in town; feel free to drop by the clinic at any time."

Zetsu waved back to her, frown curling his lips as he raised a hand to the fly trap around his neck.

Maybe…

He shook his head, turning back to his plants.

There was no chance really.

"Are you insane?" Naruto demanded, leaning into her as he whispered angrily.

"What?" Sakura asked, moving away from the man.

"Zetsu! Why were you talking to him?"

"We were just having a conversation!" Sakura replied incredulously. "He was nice, rather shy."

Naruto blanched. "I—I—what?"

"He's a fantastic curator of plants as well," Sakura said. "Why are you so upset?"

"He—haven't you heard?" Naruto asked, guiding her over to the produce section. "Zetsu is a cannibal."

Sakura looked up into his serious expression and couldn't help herself. She burst into laughter, sides aching.

"Really? A cannibal? I admit it's a pretty original rumor but don't you think he would be, I don't know, stopped? If he were actually a cannibal, the law enforcement would have done something about it."

"Well he isn't a cannibal now!" Naruto sputtered. "Someone did some voodoo on him centuries ago and restricted his cannibalism."

"Okay," Sakura said, still not really believing him. Small towns cultivated rumors like fine wines and most were flimsy and false. "So why does this matter now?"

"He's…he's creepy!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sakura stopped walking and crossed her arms. "You know; I think I'm going to head to a different grocery."

Naruto sighed. "I'm sorry," he said. He did look contrite. "I was just concerned. We never really interact. I've never heard him talk before."

"You manage the store don't you?" Sakura said, raising a brow. "You don't even talk to your employees."

"It's a family-owned store," Naruto said. "My matriarch…er…great-great-great-grandmother allowed him to have space here at the store. I don't really run that part of the store. Or the meat department. Mito-sama has a habit of taking in strays."

Sakura smiled slightly. "She seems like an interesting woman."

Naruto snorted. "Oh yeah, she'd love you. So would you like me to show you around?"

Sakura laughed, looking at the signs above the different aisles. "I think I can handle it."

Naruto pouted a bit. "W-well, I need to do something with the cauliflower anyway. Yeah, I need to…organize them."

Sakura smirked, shaking her head as she picked through the fruits and vegetables. She chafed a bit at his overprotective tendencies but honestly it was more than a little amusing to watch him bumble around, trying to watch her without overstepping his boundaries.

He kind of failed at it, to be completely honest.

Sakura smiled to herself and gathered the ingredients for a salad before moving on to the bread goods. Naruto followed her, claiming something about "checking the freshness of the bread." And he managed to follow her throughout the rest of the store, making up inane excuses as she went through the meat department, the frozen foods, and the dairy section.

Finally, Sakura made her way to the check-out, laden down with all of her favorite foods.

"I've got it!" Naruto exclaimed, pushing a brown haired teenager to the side.

The younger boy didn't seem to mind and instead watched Naruto with wide, admiring eyes.

Sakura shook her head but headed to the kiosk anyway, handing her cart over to Naruto.

He rang her up and Sakura bit her lip at the number on the screen.

Damn.

She didn't know if she could afford it.

Naruto took note of her expression and entered a few things on the ancient cash register.

Her cost went down.

Sakura turned accusing eyes on Naruto but he just shook his head.

"Look, I was a royal jackass, both to you and to Zetsu. This is my way of apologizing," he said, eyes crinkling up at the corners. "I'm action oriented."

Sakura smiled at him before swiping her card through a card reader that, frankly, looked like it came from a time long before computers…or televisions.

"Thank you," Sakura said, calculating the difference in her head. Then she pulled the correct amount of cash out of her wallet and handed it to him, "but it's unnecessary."

So saying, Sakura gathered her groceries and headed out the door.

She hurried along, wanting to get back to her apartment before any of her goods spoiled. Sakura passed by a few people who seemed familiar to her. Many waved and Sakura did her best to return it with a bright smile.

Sakura managed to jostle the back door of the office open, heading up the narrow staircase to her new home. She placed her groceries on the ground, pulling out the key and pushing into the apartment.

She never tired of entering her new home.

It was a little haven to her, her safe place and refuge.

The apartment didn't quite feel totally lived in just yet, but the cactus that Gaara gave her went a long way to making it homey.

Sakura brought her groceries in and began to sort them, filling the empty cabinets and refrigerator space.

She hummed to herself, grabbing the few ingredients she needed before turning on the oven.

Nothing happened.

Sakura kneeled down, fiddling with the knob before cursing a blue streak. The knob wasn't even attached to the oven anymore and, from what she could see, there was no other way to turn it on.

Sakura groaned, sitting down and leaning her head back against the cabinet opposite the stove.

She'd left her toolbox in New York, knowing that it wouldn't make it across the country. She traveled lightly and now she was regretting it.

Sakura forced herself to her feet, putting everything away before grabbing the list of places Ino graciously made for her.

She nodded as she found the hardware store on the page. Beside the name Jashin Machinery, Ino had something scrawled in her flowery writing, "Warning: owner is abrasive, rude, and rather obscene. Approach at own risk."

Sakura scowled thoughtfully, flipping through the other pages but finding no other hardware shop available.

She wasn't in the mood to deal with a high-strung asshole but she really wanted to cook dinner…

Sakura sighed, grabbing her keys, phone, and purse before heading out the door, ready to get in, get out, and start dinner.

She trudged down the street, waving lethargically at the people she passed. Sakura enjoyed the fact that basically everyone walked where they needed to go, just like in New York City. However, unlike New York, people actually took the time to see their surroundings, to greet the passerby.

It was…nice.

Sakura felt her frustration ease as she crossed a few streets, eyes darting across the different signs on the storefronts. Sakura noticed that all of the signs were beautifully crafted, obviously handmade, perhaps by someone in town.

Finally, she stopped outside of her destination. The storefront looked much different from what she expected. For one, the walls were an electric purple. For another, there were some pots seated outside, filled with mushrooms growing in concentric circles.

It gave Sakura pause as she tried to remember what creature was associated with these types of circles…

The door opened, breaking Sakura's concentration.

"Are you coming the fuck in or are you going to stand there like a dumbass?"

And that must be the owner.

"Just admiring the scenery," Sakura said drily, stepping inside.

She was a bit surprised at the owner's looks. He was tall and lanky with a bit of a baby face. He was dressed in leather and black. His skin was smooth and porcelain pale. He wore his silvery hair long and slicked back. His bright purple eyes, which matched the walls around them, were narrowed.

He looked like he was trying way too hard to be dangerous.

"What the fuck do you want?" he asked.

"Is that how you treat all of your customers?" Sakura asked, unfazed by his aggression. She'd dealt with worse. "I'm surprised your business is still running."

"She's got your number," a dry voice remarked.

Sakura glanced across the room, surprised to find another person present. The speaker was seated at a low table, one that seemed much too small for him and all the papers he amassed about him. He wore a face mask and it looked like he had tattoos of barbed wire running across different areas of his exposed skin. Glasses were perched on the bridge of his nose as he fiddled with a calculator.

"I'm Kakuzu," the man greeted, acid green eyes back on his records. "The idiot's name is Hidan. Take nothing he says seriously; I'll handle your transaction today."

"The hell you are!" Hidan exclaimed. "I own this place!"

"And I helped you finance it," Kakuzu replied calmly. "If I ever want my investment back you have to have more than two loyal customers."

Sakura looked between the two, reading the animosity that was clearly in the air. Still, Sakura was on a mission and didn't really want to get involved in their affairs. So she walked over to the aisles, searching for a basic toolbox.

The duo's bickering faded into the background, the sound strangely comforting to Sakura. It was nice to be included but not intruded upon as she searched the shop.

She glanced up as the bells of the shop tinkled again.

She scowled.

Pein stood in the doorway of the hardware store, silver eyes glinting eerily.

Hidan and Kakuzu didn't even pause in their argument, only waving distracted hands in Pein's direction as he entered the room.

Sakura ducked down, frowning to herself.

She didn't want to deal with Pein or discuss godhood and ancient deities at the moment.

Unfortunately, Pein's eyes flashed in her direction and Sakura stood with resignation, moving down a different aisle.

She knew he'd follow.

And of course, he did.

"Doctor," Pein greeted, tone making the word seem like an inside joke, like he knows her to be more.

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Hello again Pein," she said, body language screaming for him to leave her be.

"What brings you here of all places?" Pein asked, following her as she rifled through the items on the shelves.

"Toolbox," she replied, pausing as she wars between indifference and curiosity. "Why are you here?"

"Hidan stocks items that are of use to myself and my powers," Pein said, tapping his facial piercings. "He makes them special for me."

His breath was cold as ice as it curled across her face. It reminded Sakura of early winters; the blight upon the crops. Strangely, it revitalized her, waking her up.

"That's kind," Sakura said, hefting a ratchet in hand and testing its weight.

She placed it into her basket before moving on.

"Hidan is an enthusiastic supporter of the forgotten gods. Unfortunately, he is devout to one alone," Pein said, slightly put off by Sakura's continued ignoring of his presence. Still, he remembered she was a god herself and demanded a certain amount of respect. "Should I visit you at your clinic, then? Would that be the best way to gain your attention?"

Sakura eyed him dolefully. "If you need medical attention, please do. If you just intend to harass me, please do not drop by."

"Oh, so you're the new doctor," Kakuzu said, perking up. "If you need any assistance in running your business—"

"She doesn't need your help," Pein impatiently interrupted, strange eyes still fixated on Sakura. "She's a goddess."

"I am not—" Sakura began, only to be drowned out by Hidan.

"Really? What kind?" he demanded loudly, stepping into her space and scrutinizing her.

"Healing," Pein announced smugly.

"Oh," Hidan said, enthusiasm visibly waning. "Are you sure about that Pein?"

"What do you mean?" Pein's eyes were narrowed and Sakura realized that he was not used to being questioned. He was a god after all.

"She seems…she seems like more," Hidan said. "Look at the muscles in her arms; the fire in her eyes. She's a war goddess." He nodded resolutely. "And I should know; I've met quite a few."

Sakura had given up by this point on speaking sense and reason into these men. Let them believe what they wished to believe. She had other matters to attend.

"Kakuzu, could you give me a hand?" she asked, ignoring the passionate conversation between Hidan and Pein behind her. They were arguing about…was that Ishtar?

"Sure," he said with practiced ease, side-stepping the arguing duo and coming up beside her.

"I'm looking for the most cost effective toolbox here," Sakura said, breaking off as he began to chuckle.

"Well, I'd certainly know that," Kakuzu said. "What are you mainly looking for in your toolkit? Car repairs? Home repairs?"

"Home repairs," Sakura replied, slightly distracted.

Her eyes were focused on his corded arms; the way crude, black stitches ran along them. He had stitching everywhere and Sakura had the uncanny feeling that it was the reason he chose to wear a mask. Her fingers itched to rework the threads, to make it nice and neat and perhaps less painful for him too.

"Alright," Kakuzu said, oblivious to Sakura's thoughts. "You're going to want this one then." He pulled a bright orange toolbox off the high shelf and handed it to her. "It'll have what you need."

Sakura nodded. "Thank you."

"Let me ring you up so you can get away from these dumbasses."

Sakura grinned brightly with relief. She was ready to be away from the people who kept discussing her godhood. Sakura placed her hand on his arm and said sincerely, "Thank you."

Kakuzu averted his eyes, suddenly shy. "N-no problem. C'mon."

Sakura followed him, snorting at the obliviousness of Hidan and Pein who continued to argue without her.

"So you work here?" Sakura asked, rubbing her arm.

Kakuzu snorted. "Hell no. I assisted Hidan in getting off the ground and I'm waiting for him to pay me back."

Sakura laughed. "And how is that working out for you?"

"He certainly isn't one of my best investments, but despite his idiocy he's…well, I guess he's a friend." Kakuzu cleared his throat awkwardly. "He is loyal and determined. He'll make the money back one way or another." He scowled. "Even if I have to push him to do so."

"So you've financed a few of the other companies around here?" Sakura asked, handing him the cash.

"More than half the shops in Pompeii," Kakuzu replied with a little bit of pride.

Sakura whistled, impressed.

Kakuzu felt himself flush, removing his glasses and placing them to the side. "I know you're the new doctor in town and I'm sure that backlog of paperwork is a bitch. If you end up needing some assistance…"

Sakura laughed, shaking her head. "While I might not be a goddess, I've been managing well thus far. I appreciate the offer." She paused, taking the toolbox. "And if you need any medical attention…"

"I know where to stop," Kakuzu said, smirk growing beneath his mask. "It's been an enlightening encounter."

Sakura snorted. "Or dimming, considering the company."

Kakuzu huffed a laugh, understanding her jibe at Pein and Hidan. He saluted her lazily, watching as she sauntered out the door.

"Sakura, huh?" he said, glancing down with unseeing eyes at the receipts and bills that littered his table.

Maybe he'd drop by for a visit, have his stitches checked…

Sakura leaned back on her heels, grinning with triumphant pride as the oven flickered to life. She pumped her fist, giggling as she realized how ridiculous she must look. Thankfully, she was in the comfort of her own home.

She grabbed her groceries from the refrigerator, piling them on the counter and humming to herself as she set about prepping dinner.

Once the roast and vegetables were in the stove, Sakura headed into the bathroom and turned on the faucet.

She tested the water against her skin, sighing as the heat encased her hand. She stripped off her clothes methodically and stepped beneath the spray.

As Sakura scrubbed, the stress of the day washed away down the drain along with her sweat and grime. It was nice to be able to drift, no worries about bills or backlogged forms or rowdy clients…

Still, it had to end at some point.

She climbed out, dressing in her warmest flannel pajamas. Sakura pulled her hair into a low ponytail, water sluicing down into the towel around her shoulders.

With a wry smile, she bustled back into the kitchen, removing her meal and fixing her plate. Sakura glanced at her balcony, frowning at the crows perched there. She placed her plate on a low table, moving onto the balcony to shoo the birds away.

Sakura smiled at their gifts, well used to the ritualistic way they leave them daily. She sorts through them, keeping the normally "worthless" objects while returning to them the precious stones. She sometimes had the feeling that this was some sort of test…but that was silly.

She tossed some sliced potatoes down into the parking lot below her building, smiling as the birds took wing with cheerful caws. She couldn't help but feel attached to her feathered friends, enjoying their daily visits.

Shaking her head, Sakura grabbed her food and settled on the balcony to watch the sun set. She was a little early, but she enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the balcony.

"Ahem," a voice said.

Sakura startled, turning to the side.

Beside her stood a man on the other balcony. He was tall and incredibly pale with long, fine white hair. His features were delicate and above his eyes rode red dots. He smiled softly.

"I apologize for interrupting your evening; I only wanted to introduce myself."

Sakura leapt to her feet, unashamed of her pajamas.

"I'm Sakura," she greeted, offering her hand. "New residential doctor."

"Kimimaro," he replied, taking her hand softly. Sakura felt the fine rub of calluses against her own. "I'm the residential dentist."

Sakura smiled up at him, leaning against the rail. Their balconies were separated by about four and a half to five feet. "What brings you out onto your balcony?"

"Just admiring the sunset," Kimimaro murmured.

Sakura nodded, eyes turning back to red sun low in the sky. "Understandably."

They stood in companionable silence for a long while, watching the sun set fully. The silence was only broken by Kimimaro's rumbling stomach.

Sakura turned to him, smile softening as she caught sight of his embarrassed flush. "No dinner yet?" she asked.

"N-no," Kimimaro said. "Unfortunately, it escaped my mind."

"Wait here," Sakura said, scrambling back into the house.

She threw a plate together, rushing back outside.

She was greeted by a strange sight.

Kimimaro stood on his balcony, staring with cold green eyes down at a crow. The crow looked back at him with narrowed red eyes, wings splayed widely in blatant aggression.

When Sakura stepped back onto her patio, the crow took off, circling down to the parking lot once more.

"What was that about?" Sakura asked, stretching out across the distance between them to pass Kimimaro the plate and glass of water.

"Ah, you didn't have to," Kimimaro said, though his smile was gratitude enough.

"It was no problem at all," Sakura admonished. "You have to take care of yourself. People in the medical field tend to be the worst about self-care."

"Thank you," Kimimaro said, flush bright. "I…I really do appreciate it."

Sakura nodded graciously, taking her seat as Kimimaro did the same.

"So, what was that about?" Sakura asked, thinking back on the odd sight.

Kimimaro frowned down at the crows in the parking lot. "Crows around here can be very possessive of what they consider 'theirs.' They take after their patrons that way," he muttered in a low tone. He turned to Sakura, gaze serious. "Be careful of the crows, Sakura. They're very intelligent."

Sakura's smile faltered beneath his grave tone. "I…I will be," Sakura said.

Kimimaro's look softened. "Don't be too concerned," he said, looking down at the crows and taking in the gems that Sakura refused. "You've done well enough without any help."

Sakura nodded, unable to contain her unease. She stared down at the crows, shivered, and stood.

"I'm heading in," Sakura said, smiling apologetically at Kimimaro. "This has been wonderful."

Kimimaro nodded, strangely disappointed. "Perhaps…perhaps we can do this again." He chuckled. "I promise you, I can take care of myself. Hell, I can even cook!"

Sakura laughed, taking her dishware back from him. "I'll hold you to that."

Kimimaro grinned at her, keeping his smile up until she closed the sliding door to the balcony. Then, his smile changed to a scowl as his gaze fell back to the crows.

They were there for two reasons; both as protection and as a claim.

Nothing good came of drawing the Uchiha's attention.

And from the looks of it, Sakura had it in spades.