A/N: And she's back folks! Dead computer + lost file + final exams extremely delayed chapter. And I guess I'll reveal why I chose the agent names I chose for certain people. But I'll do it slowly, to further stretch out my brilliance? Er, right. Anyways, the first one is Shikamaru. His codename is Hart. Now in Japanese Shika means "Deer." And for those of you who like Old English, Hart is another name for a white stag (a.k.a A Male Deer). And so that's why Shikamaru's codename is what it is. Please hold your applause.
Okay so new chapter, obviously. No fights in this one again (I'm just as disappointed as you), but I'd like to think it a critical one to establishing any semblance of a relationship for Neji and Sakura. And the ending of this chapter is…Well, you'll just have to read and see!
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"You understand this won't be easy. It may even lead to nowhere. But this is the best course of action we have at the moment and I advise you to seize all opportunities that present themselves and to use all resources at your disposal."
Sakura nodded, her face impassive and betraying none of the inner turmoil she was feeling. She tried to push the queasy mixture of guilt, anxiety and trepidation into the bottommost pit of her stomach, squeezing and compressing until it was just another tiny black hole among the hundreds that littered the galaxy of her being.
She walked towards the large window that offered up a view of the cityscape below. Her reflection looked fragile in the glass.
"And, I'm sure you realize that under no circumstances will you reveal who you really are."
"Of course." Sakura's gaze was still on the world outside. It was night, and below the horizon of twilight, the glow of the city lights gave an artificial feeling of safety and purpose. She sort of missed that feeling still; the safety. Purpose was no problem now.
"There will be a file on your desk tomorrow morning and I expect you in op tech at 08:00 hours. Now explain to me again what happened after. I need to make a formal recording. Try to be as concise as possible, but any details you believe to be relevant should be included. "
Sakura finally turned from the cold windowpane. She closed her eyes, gathering thoughts from the scattered corners of her mind. Her voice was steady as she began, a monotonous formality creeping into her tone.
"The incident occurred at the corner of 9th Avenue and Tsushima Road at approximately 18:30 hours. The authorities arrived on the scene at approximately 18:45 hours and a full report was requested. We were treated for any injuries by a standby ambulance team. The male, identified as a member of IKU, suffered only a bruised left side and a scratch on his left cheek. Agent Moira suffered no substantial injuries. Agent Maenad and Akimichi Choji were present at the scene. The license plate of the vehicle responsible was 66-60 but this was not reported to the authorities. Upon further investigation, it was merely a civilian under the influence of alcohol and no tangible motive was given which leads us to believe..."
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chapter three
prevarication
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"Ino, this is not my face."
The blonde snorted, flicked a stray hair out of Sakura's eyes and carried on whisking a make up brush back and forth like a maniac painter who had suddenly been possessed by a spirit. Whether the spirit was good or evil was up for debate.
Sakura sighed and stared at herself in the large oval mirror framed with light bulbs that hung above the vanity. Her rosy locks were swept up in a tight French twist and the amount of makeup she had slathered on was enough to doll up at least thirty circus clowns. Well, at least that was what she thought. Sakura just wasn't used to caring so much about how she looked. The only times she met guys was either at the office, where they were well acquainted with her temper and her fist, or during missions, where she either killed them or knocked them out before they even had a chance to become introduced let alone enamored.
Groaning, she tried to speak again.
"Ino. This isn't my face! I don't want to scare the guy off!"
With a rather final last stroke, Ino gave a little approving 'hmph' before replying.
"Oh shut up, Sakura. You look awesome. If that boy doesn't fall head over heels in love with you, I will tattoo the names of all my ex-boyfriends on my back."
"You wouldn't have enough room, Pig."
Ino narrowed her eyes before shrugging dismissively.
"Is it my fault that guys aren't assertive enough to make the first move? Somebody has to ask them out."
"Oh, like you asked Mr. IKU Agent out? Granted, you did wait at least 12 seconds after the medic told everyone I was okay."
"Oh psh, I was doing it for you darling! All for you! Cold, stoic boys are not for me! Although you -"
Ino paused for a second, darting a glance at Sakura who was making faces at herself in the mirror.
"But anyways, I was just securing a way for you to thank him personally. The man did save your be-hind, Agent Moira. And if I hadn't asked him out for you, we wouldn't even be sitting here getting ready to mess with his mind."
"Oh, sweet mercies, if only."
Ino rolled her eyes. "This is our chance, Sakura. Maybe our only chance."
"You don't have to keep reminding me about that. I know."
The two women shared a moment of silence that lasted only a heartbeat, but in it a million things were said.
"Well," Ino announced with a smile, clapping her hands on her friend's shoulders.
"It's show time. Naruto!"
The door burst open and in walked Uzumaki Naruto, grinning cheekily with a half empty cup of ramen in his hand and a blue velvet box in the other.
"Finally!" The blonde exclaimed. "I thought Sakura-chan was going on a date not preparing for a mission to the Sand Country or something, dattebayo! Does putting on makeup always take this long?"
Ino snatched the velvet box out of his hand.
"Most of the time. And what does the Sand Country have anything to do with it?"
She snapped open the lid and handed Sakura the teardrop earrings and silver pendant necklace sitting inside.
"Well, I always have to spend more time packing extra ramen because Gaara doesn't have any and extra pants because I always get sand in 'em. And what do you mean most of the time?! You mean sometimes you guys take longer?!"
Ino nodded.
"Okay, Sakura. We'll check your link on the way there, but other than that, we're good to go. You look fab!"
Haruno Sakura smoothed down her pale green ruffled top, taking a breath before trailing out of the room after her two friends. Her mind began to formulate a strategy for the mission ahead and all the while Naruto was waving his arms frantically, ranting his confusion over makeup and how such a thing could be so important when it was neither a weapon nor edible.
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Ino had organized the evening at a restaurant that had just recently opened near the harbour, claiming to be fine dining with pseudo European Asian fusion. With nothing to really do until his 'date' arrived, Neji Hyuga glanced around at the décor of the place, absently taking note of key exits and hidden corners out of plain habit.
It was a nice restaurant, with a slightly dim atmosphere that drew warmth from the hanging lantern lights over each table. The tables were lacquered black and the chairs had a low back with a straw matted weave. There was a delicate white orchid at each table and the maroon walls were punctuated with square canvases splashed with a bold Chinese character or painting. The menu made him raise his eyes a little; the prices were quite steep. Who knew that eating at a hybrid restaurant would cost so much?
"Right this way, Miss. You're at table 7 I believe."
"Thank you. Ah! Hyuga-sama! I'm so sorry I'm late! Traffic was so bad!"
Neji spun around in his seat and had a dizzy vision of pink and green and a sweet smile. He blinked and there stood a young woman, her pink hair swept up and wearing a ruffled green top. Her jade eyes were bright in the dim light and she was smiling brilliantly. At him.
Neji blinked again.
"Ah, Haruno-san. No apology necessary." He inclined his head and gave her a polite smile, all the while his mind was struggling to match the tired, shoeless and dirty faced young woman whom he had saved just a few days ago with…her.
Masking his discomfort, he stood up, walked over to the seat opposite his and pulled out the chair. He motioned with his hand for her to sit and, coloring a little, she obliged. By the time he was back in his seat, Neji was once again the epitome of calm. He wasn't one for idle chit chat but if it was necessary, he'd exert himself. It was only for tonight, anyways.
"So, Hyuga-sama.."
Neji raised his eyebrows slightly at the second use of the honorific suffix.
"Sama?"
Haruno Sakura blushed a bit at this, and Neji began to mentally exert himself to axe the word 'cute' from his vocabulary.
"Ah, well. You did save my life and all so you're pretty much in my Top Ten at the moment."
Neji felt a slow smile form on his lips.
"Have we not been over this? The act requires no thanks. I am sure anyone else would have done the same."
The young woman fiddled with a corner of the cloth napkin on the table and made a face.
"In this day and age? I'm not so sure about that. Besides it wasn't just anyone who did it. It was you! So I'm totally indebted to you for like, the rest of my life. And I'm going to totally start repaying you back starting with….. this dinner!"
And with that declaration, she brandished her menu and flipped it open.
"Kami!"
Her jaw dropped as she scanned the prices. An entrée alone was priced at $20 and the cheapest main courses were in the ballpark of $50. Sakura quickly scanned the menu to see if there was a charge for "water" or "air."
"This place is..!"
She stopped mid sentence and peered over the menu. Neji was watching her with what passed as a neutral expression for anyone else but was his version of a bemused look.
"Er.. I mean. Ah well, it's only money right? Order whatever you want! Eat, eat eat!" She waved her menu at him and went back to skimming.
Neji turned back to his menu and continued to mentally axe away at the word 'cute' as he had the feeling it would start popping up a lot more than he'd like it to.
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Oh my God.
If Sakura could, she would have groaned out loud right then and there.
The evening was a total embarrassment. After they had ordered (Sakura tried to get the cheapest thing they had but it turned out they charged for water too), she had tried to draw Hyuga-sama into telling her more about himself. It wasn't that he refused to talk; he was actually quite skilled at making conversation. But, like a gentlemen (or a really good agent, she thought bitterly), he always tried to steer the conversation towards herself. All she could really gather throughout the course of the evening, when she wasn't gushing about him saving her life, was that 'Yes, he did find the weather uncommonly warm lately,' 'Yes, he did like the white orchid at their table but didn't know if they could take it' and that he worked as an accountant. The first two were completely useless and the third was obviously a lie. And for some reason, she couldn't stop gushing. She wanted to come off as mysterious and sexy, darn it; enough to interest him in another date! Or for him to suddenly fall at her feet, confess to his being an IKU agent and beg her to handcuff him right then and there. But no…
It didn't help that Ino and Naruto kept imitating her quietly over the com-link.
"Oh Hyuga-sama," Ino breathed in a high pitched voice that was supposed to be Sakura. "You're in my top ten!"
"I work as an accountant," Naruto would respond gruffly, trying to smother his giggles.
"Oh that is SO COOL," Ino would swoon. "You damsel in distress saving, number crunching dreamboat! Hold me!"
It was after that comment that Sakura stood up and abruptly left for the restroom. While tearing at a paper towel she informed Ino she would only contact them if he tried to lunge for her throat, then promptly switched off the link. They would still have a reading on her position anyway.
Another groan, elicited from reviewing her fangirl behavior during the meal, was suppressed as Sakura took a quick bite of her dinner. She actually wasn't quite sure what she was eating but it tasted kind of like chicken…fish? And it was such small portions! She sneaked a peek at Hyuga-sama who was quietly chewing.
God, he was so polite! And such a gentleman! He had pulled out her chair for her, for goodness sakes! She was almost beginning to believe that they had the wrong guy, that she really was trying to hit on an honest accountant and not some blasted IKU agent. All her anxiety had melted away already.
And he's not too hard on the eyes either.
Sakura felt her eyes widen at the thought and mentally slapped herself.
Neji glanced up at Sakura as she suddenly twitched – oops, I'm not very good at this mental slapping thing – and then turned back to his meal after she gave him a cheery smile.
Despite herself, Sakura mulled him over, using the excuse that she had to get a feel for his person. She took note of his impeccable outfit which was a tan suit obviously tailored. He had simple gold cufflinks that shone in the dim light as if polished and his hands looked callous and….strong. Enough to choke someone to death, she had to remind herself. His long black hair, an unusual feature, was tied back in a neat low ponytail. He looked good. Conservative, but good.
"Are you done, Miss?"
Sakura snapped to attention and glanced at the waiter.
"Um, yes. I am."
She looked over at Neji who was sitting calmly with his hands in his lap.
"Um, we both are, actually. Cheque please?"
The plates were whisked away and Sakura tried not to cry as she handed over her soon to be maxed out credit card.
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Neji inhaled the fresh salty air that drifted in from the sea as they stepped outside the restaurant. The sidewalk was littered with couples and families taking a stroll and enjoying the warm night as the moon waxed full overhead, making it almost as light as day. The cry of seagulls punctuated the dull roar of the surf and Neji felt himself relax a little.
"Ahh!" The pink haired girl beside him stretched her arms above her head and breathed deeply.
"I feel so much better! And it's so nice out!"
She spun around and grinned at him.
"Thanks so much for going to dinner with me Hyuga-sama. Hey, you want to go for a walk? It's really nice out and I know this awesome spot down the road!"
Neji shrugged. He had the day off tomorrow so it wasn't like he was in any hurry. Besides, it wasn't painful to be with her. He'd humor the girl until she became jaded with the whole "grateful to her hero" bit.
"Great! And while we're at it –"
Sakura suddenly clutched her stomach in embarrassment as it let out a loud growl.
Neji raised his eyebrows again.
"You're still hungry Haruno-san?"
Sakura smiled sheepishly.
"Er, while we're at it we can get a hotdog?"
Neji suppressed a chuckle, slid his hands in his pockets and walked ahead.
"Only if I'm paying, Haruno-san."
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"Okay, so it's like right around this corner."
"You said that the last corner."
"Well, I meant this one."
They had entered the park a while ago and had been walking along the meandering roads, past hand holding couples, as Sakura led the way. Conversation had begun to flow easier and Sakura had to constantly remind herself that yes, she was on a date but that it was for reconnaissance purposes and reconnaissance purposes only. She needed to get him to trust her.
Hyuga-sama was actually quite engaging to talk to. He still said little of himself, but his quiet demeanor sometimes surprised her with flashes of wit at the most unexpected of times and she found herself laughing out loud. She kept having to check herself; he wasn't a new friend. He was an IKU agent, and they were ruthless. People like him, scum of the Earth with their hollow flightly ideals, could not win. They were not gentlemen, they were troublesome bastards, enemies of everything she believed in.
Her fingers curled into a fist. And they've taken too much already.
They rounded a bend where the trees suddenly gave way to a small glade bathed in the moonlight. Her angry thoughts fled and Sakura ran out into the full wash of the silver light.
"Ta da!"
Neji stopped short and looked at her. Sakura turned and called, "Come on Hyuga-sama!" and dashed towards a tall tree in the middle of the clearing. He sighed and followed after her.
When he finally reached her, she stood gazing up at the tree like she had never saw one before, a peaceful smile dancing on her lips.
A silence stretched out between them for a few minutes before Neji finally surrendered to the inevitable and spoke.
"So..this is the awesome thing you wanted to show your hero?"
Sakura gave an unladylike snort at his comment before she spread out her arms as if to encompass the giant tree and waved dramatically.
"Just look at it Hyuga-sama!"
"I am."
Sakura made a small noise of frustration.
"Look harder."
Neji gave a small sigh and obliged.
A tree. That was all he saw. A tall looming tree with large leafy green leaves.
"Look closer." Sakura pushed him towards the tree, he internally flinched at the contact and took a few halting steps forward.
He was now underneath the dense foliage of the tree and he found himself looking up at its shadowy branches, towering high above. Neji could see glimpses of the stars through the small spaces between branches and leaves.
He frowned. The branches were weird. He moved around the tree to get a better look where his view was not obscured with leaves.
"Do you see it now?" Sakura asked patiently.
"Yeah.," Neji said slowly. "Why does its branches look like well…"
"Roots?"
He nodded.
"It's because they are roots."
What passed as a confused expression crossed Neji's face.
Sakura clasped her hands behind her back like she was a child in grade school about to recite a poem.
"This tree has been here for a long time. One day some people, I think they were engineers at the nearby University, thought it would be a great joke to hook the tree up to a car or something and completely pull it out of the ground, roots and all. This was before the park was created. Anyways, that's what they did. They completely uprooted the tree and then somehow had the idea to completely turn it upside down and stick it back into the ground, top first. Can you imagine that? They uprooted the poor tree and then stuck it back upside down, with its poor roots hanging hopelessly in the air. They left it to die."
Sakura paused and looked up at the tree again, a smile in her voice.
"But it didn't die. No, it just grew again. It took what life threw at it, and now look. It's one of the largest trees in this entire park and you can't even tell it has roots for branches with its dense covering of leaves. It survived."
Sakura now turned to face Neji and sadly smiled. Her voice was a soothing whisper on the wind.
"My father proposed to my mother under this tree. When they…when they died…I used to come here a lot. It makes me feel better, stronger."
Neji placed his hand on the worn bark of the tree, feeling a new sense of respect for it despite himself, and for the girl who stood before him.
They remained there, quiet, as the night seemed to grow and gather around them, filling in the empty spaces. It was a while before they headed back.
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"Ah, thank you again Hyuga-sama."
"I should be thanking you. You paid for dinner."
Sakura blushed and winced simultaneously.
"Well, you did buy me three hotdogs. And listened to me rant about a tree."
"The pleasure was all mine," Neji replied demurely and surprised himself by meaning it.
An awkward silence developed as Sakura searched in her purse for her keys and Neji stood patiently waiting. Finally she produced them, and turning to her car she fiddled with the lock.
"Um, Hyuga-sama.."
"Neji is fine."
Sakura started and her jade eyes widened. Neji struggled to keep his poker face.
"Okay, Hyu- Neji-sama," Sakura said slowly, as if trying out a new foreign phrase. She suddenly grinned.
"Alright Neji-sama!" She declared. "Thanks again!"
She turned back to her door when Neji cleared his throat.
"Would it be..would it be alright if I saw you again?"
Sakura spun around to face him fully this time.
Neji cursed himself for sounding so nervous.
"I mean, you still owe me one, right?" He smoothed over the nervousness in his voice with a strained smile.
"Mmm…"
Neji waited.
"Okay! How about you call me? Ino gave you my number right?"
He let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and gave a slight nod. He suddenly felt very grateful to that loud blonde who had cornered him a couple days ago as soon as she had made sure her friend was alright.
"Then there we go. Good night then!"
"Good night, Haruno-san."
He turned to walk away, sliding his hands in his pockets when she called after him.
"Sakura is fine."
Neji paused, turned and inclined his head to the side.
"Alright then. Good night…Sakura-san."
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He had walked a few metres away to where his own car was parked when a giant black van screeched into the lot and almost plowed him over. He leaped out of the way when a gunshot rang out. His body sprang into action and his lightning reflexes propelled him underneath a nearby car as the bullet just missed him and the van slammed forcefully into the car he was under.
He was just reaching for the gun he carried on his person at all times, when he heard it screech forward again.
A door was viciously torn open and a high feminine cry split the air that turned his blood cold.
"NEJI!"
A door slammed and he shot out from underneath the decimated car running.
But the van had already pulled recklessly out of the lot and ran a red light.
The night was silent save for the blood pounding in his ears.