Silver Lining
Chapter Three: Partners in Crime
Sakura was woken suddenly by a low distant rumbling and a small vibration. She lay there for several minutes, feeling for disturbances or anything that would give cause for alarm, but there was nothing, so she figured it must have been a small earthquake. Nothing to get excited about; she'd heard they were common in this part of the world.
Deidara wasn't in the room. He must have gone out for some morning errands, and she hoped he would bring food back with him because she didn't feel like going out. She lay in bed lazily, feeling no inclination to get up or be productive in general. She had never been a morning person, and after being chief medic to a village engaged in a violent and bloody war for the better part of five years she had learned to thoroughly enjoy a little downtime. Looking over at the empty space where Deidara had slept, she couldn't help but feel a little silly at her earlier reluctance. It really was no big deal after all.
Some kids were shouting down in the alley below the window. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she did notice the street outside was a bit noisy for morning. Then she looked at the alarm clock on the bedside table and started. It was after 2pm. She had slept all night and most of the day away. The knowledge still didn't make her want to get out of bed, and with a yawn she stretched out and continued to lay there. She wasn't lying when she'd said she was exhausted the night before, and the aftereffects of being heavily drugged probably had a lot to do with it.
Deidara returned a while later, carrying a paper bag under one arm and several folded parcels in plastic under the other. He chuckled at seeing her still in bed, and she gave him a sheepish smirk and sat up as he kicked the door closed behind him and dropped the parcels on a chair.
"How long have you been gone?" she asked.
"Couple hours. Why?"
"Why didn't you wake me up earlier? I could have gone with you."
"You were pretty tired, so I let you sleep. I didn't do anything special, yeah."
"What are those?" She indicated the square objects he'd just dropped.
"Luggage. We can't check in for a weeklong vacation with just our backpacks."
Smart thinking. "But they're going to be empty…"
Deidara shrugged. "Doesn't matter; no one's going to handle them but us. They're just for show, yeah."
She nodded, but then tilted her head in thought. "But we'll probably need to get a few things to put in them eventually, like clothes to wear around the resort. We don't exactly dress like civilians."
He nodded. "We can deal with that when we get there, yeah. What we've got now will be fine for tonight, with a few adjustments."
Sakura noticed he'd already made his; his clay pouches were gone, as were his weapon holsters, and he'd removed the leg guards so that his dark pants fell untucked over his boots. He really did look normal. Almost. And she knew for a fact he only appeared to be unarmed. No ninja was ever willingly weaponless.
"Hey, did you feel an earthquake a few minutes ago?"
"Nope," he said, and began rummaging in the smaller paper bag he'd brought.
She frowned a little. "Hm, I thought I did. What's that?"
"Breakfast, yeah. Or lunch I suppose." He removed two sealed cups of coffee and a small box of pastries out of the bag. He handed a cup and then the box to Sakura and sat on the bed next to her.
"Thanks." She gave him a small smile.
Deidara watched her as she took a sip of her coffee and made a face, then dug around in the bag until she found the sugar packets. He'd noticed that none of her smiles ever really reached her eyes. Even if they were real, they didn't light her up the way they used to, and the big bright ones were gone completely. She never seemed to be more than faintly amused or mildly pleased. Deidara knew why; her teammates were all famous in the shinobi world and he'd heard news of their deaths one after another. He knew they had been like family to her. He felt bad for Sakura, he didn't like seeing her like this, and even though he wasn't directly at fault for any of it, he still felt guilty by association. Guilt wasn't something he was used to feeling. Ever. And that bothered him.
After the small brunch Sakura finally got out of bed and got ready for their trip to the resort. The mission really began tonight, and she needed to prepare mentally and physically. For the physical part she altered her attire to look more casual; removing her gloves, medic apron and weapons– making sure to stash a few kunai into her boots. Over her shorts she donned the simple black miniskirt she kept for occasions like this. She could pass as a civilian woman this way, albeit a rather tough looking one. She would have to get some lighter clothes to soften her look a little. When she emerged from the bathroom she stood with her arms out for Deidara's inspection. "Good enough for a normal girl?"
Deidara appraised her new look, and the first response that came to mind was that there was nothing normal about her and that was a very good thing in his opinion. But he kept it to himself and simply grunted his approval. She nodded and went about her business, making sure her pack was in order and completely missing the way his eyes followed the sway of her skirt hem and traveled over her revealed legs as she moved around.
They went over the mission plan again and thoroughly worked out their cover story, of how they met and fell in love and all the other details they might be asked by people they met on their 'honeymoon.' It was a strange conversation to be having, but they managed to get it all worked out without any awkward moments, and when the time came they headed downstairs.
Sakura waited outside the motel entrance as Deidara took care of the checkout, leaning against the wall and ignoring the pre-dusk heat as she used her heightened shinobi hearing to eavesdrop on a group of local teenagers conversing on a bench a few yards away. A few minutes later the bell of the door clinked and she turned to see Deidara come out.
"Ready?"
"Yep," she said, pushing off the wall and following him out into the street.
They walked until they reached a more isolated area and stopped. Deidara reached into a small pouch on the side of his pack, and then he tossed something small and white into the air. A moment later a giant clay bird stood next to them. He noticed her staring at him with a suspicious and appraising expression. "What?"
Her eyes narrowed a little. "I overheard something interesting while I was waiting for you outside the motel."
"Oh yeah?"
"Mhm. Apparently there was a commotion in town this morning. The kids said the owner of a local bar was sent to the hospital with his nose, jaw, both of his arms and all of his fingers broken," she drawled.
Deidara looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Huh. Must've really pissed someone off, yeah. Sounds like he had it coming."
"Hm. And then a short time after that, some mysterious circumstance caused the building that same bartender owned to suddenly explode."
"Really? That's strange. I wonder if that's what woke you up earlier." He was fighting a wicked smirk.
Sakura was fighting her own smile at this point. She couldn't help but be a bit touched by his chivalrous but violent actions. "I just hope no one died in that explosion…"
He shrugged. "I doubt it. Places like that aren't usually open until late afternoon. I'm sure it was empty, yeah."
Sakura accepted his indirect answer to her indirect question. "Good."
"You know, I also heard something interesting while I was out this morning."
"What's that?"
"I heard that last night five of the local workers were found severely beaten in a back alley, and two of them were in comas."
"Really? They probably messed with the wrong person. This town seems like a pretty dangerous place; it's a good thing we're leaving."
They eyed each other for a long moment, fighting amusement at their little game of insinuation. Then they both lost it and laughed.
Deidara leapt up onto his bird with well-practiced ease and offered a hand down to Sakura. She stared at the giant clay construct uncertainly. She should have known this would be their method of travel, and she felt a bit nervous about having to ride in the air on this thing. She took a deep breath and grabbed his hand, letting him steady her as she jumped up next to him. The back was fairly wide, so she knelt beside him rather than behind, placing her hands flat on the clay surface. It was soft and pliable under her fingers, and even a bit warm. She didn't know why that surprised her, but it did.
Deidara smiled at her experimental investigation of his creation. "Pretty artistic, huh?" She looked up at him with a soft smirk. "You ready?" He waited for her slightly nervous nod. "It's gonna jerk at first, so hang on."
Sakura braced herself with chakra, and with a sharp lurch the bird leapt off from the ground. The tilting motion continued as the enormous wings stretched and flapped, and they began to lift up into the air. They rose higher and higher, and in a moment Sakura could see the rooftops of the town below. She realized she was digging little finger holes into the semi-soft clay from gripping so tightly. "I've never been up this high before," she said anxiously. Cliffs and rooftops were different—at least her feet were on the ground.
He grinned at her. "Relax, yeah. I won't let you fall."
Sakura eased her grip a little. They continued to ascend until the buildings were smaller than her hand and she could see the entire town below. Then the bird pushed forward and they began to move away.
As the swaying and rocking smoothed out into a steady rhythm of flapping wings, Sakura's nerves calmed and she took in the sights around her. It was incredible; she could see the entire landscape stretching out before her, the treetops of the jungle she'd walked through, small rivers lacing across the open fields. The sun was setting and they were gliding not far from the coast—she could see the ocean stretching away into the horizon. Up here the ugliness and hardship of the world seemed distant and insignificant. From up here everything was beautiful, and she felt incredibly liberated. There was a serenity to it; the gentle flap of wings, the warm evening air rushing over her face and body, exhilarating her. She felt free.
She glanced at Deidara and her breath hitched a little. His long hair blew in the wind, catching the last light from the sun. The same golden light played on his fair skin and there was something in his expression and aura she'd only seen once, that long ago day on the moor as they watched the sun set. Only now that look was much more prominent. There was a lightness to his expression that pronounced his youthful features, his blue eyes bright with some inner joy, and there was a small peaceful smile on his lips. His preference for creating birds in his art…his untamed personality…it all seemed to make sense. Sakura knew exactly what he was feeling in this moment because she was feeling it too.
Deidara sensed the uplifted change in her aura and looked over at her. Raising his voice to be heard over the wind, he grinned and said, "Like it?"
"This is amazing!" She was smiling, real and heartfelt for the first time in years, and she was so caught up in the thrill of flying that she didn't even notice.
But Deidara did.
Her large eyes were more expressive than he'd seen the entire time they'd been reunited, sparkling like emeralds as she took in the view. She seemed to have momentarily forgotten her sorrow and depression. Deidara knew what it was like to have the world fall away with every rising meter, and it made him happy to know he had taken her away from her troubles even for just a moment.
There was something in the way he was looking at her… It gave her a pleasant feeling, but at the same time something in her subconscious was nagging her and made her unsure what to think. She felt the urge to look away before those piercing eyes saw any deeper.
The clay bird suddenly hit an air pocket and rocked them sideways. Sakura squeaked in alarm and instinctively grabbed Deidara's arm. He wasn't fazed by the sudden jolt, but he held her upper arm to steady her. The space between them was close enough cut out some of the wind, and his voice was a little quieter than before. "Don't be so nervous, yeah. I told you I'm not going to let you fall."
His words somehow rang on more than one level, but Sakura didn't want to think about it, and simply gave him a small nod. She was secretly thankful for the excuse to break out of that strange spell of a moment, and when she let go of his arm she returned to watching the horizon in silence.
Deidara didn't get what had come over her and caused her to shut down. Then again maybe he did. But he didn't want to think about it, and so he concentrated on guiding the bird toward their destination. Sakura had always made him feel and think about things he wasn't used to, and she was doing it again after only a day. He didn't hold it against her, but deep down he didn't like it.
The remainder of the short flight was quiet. The resort was less than ten miles from where they had been and they were there in about twenty minutes. They landed a short distance from the hotel property since their method of arrival wasn't exactly normal. The giant clay bird vanished with a loud airy pop and a scattering of clay dust,and they pulled out their superficial luggage and removed the plastic wrappings. They stuffed their real packs into their suitcases, pocketing anything they might actually need on their person, and set off toward the resort.
Walking down the wide path lined by palm trees and tall standing torches, Sakura couldn't help but be amazed. The place was enormous. The hotel itself was multi-winged and at least six stories. Along the beach there were smaller buildings separate from the main hotel; private bungalows with oceanfront views. Palm trees and tropical flowering plants were everywhere, and even from this distance in the fading light of dusk Sakura could see that the beaches were white and the water was a clear turquoise color. She would have dreamed of coming someplace like this for her honeymoon once, long ago when she still envisioned such things for herself. Irony seemed to be the flavor of the day.
When they were still several yards from the lobby entrance, Deidara slowed his pace and turned to her. "You ready, Ayame-chan?" he asked with a teasing smile. He angled his elbow outward in a gesture for her to take his arm and act like the loving wife she was supposed to be.
Sakura fought the urge to roll her eyes. This was so weird. She put on her game face; an adoring smile that was entirely fake and didn't hide the slight glower in her eyes. "Of course, Tarou-kun," she said sweetly, and linked her arm in his.
They walked the rest of the way arm-in-arm, and Sakura nearly laughed when he very uncharacteristically opened the door and held it for her. Deidara's brand of chivalry ran along the lines of breaking the noses of her offenders, not holding doors and pulling out chairs. This could be amusing.
The interior of the hotel was even more impressive and extravagant than the outside. An enormous fountain depicting mermaids frolicking amongst dolphins dominated the center of the grand lobby. The ceiling was open to a glass roof six stories up. The support columns along the side of the lobby appeared to be marble, more miniature palm trees and tropical plants could be seen just about everywhere, and everything was lit in an ambient golden light. Yotsuba must be paying a fortune for this little heist, and if it was still cheaper than trying to buy it from their target, it must be a very valuable sword indeed. A large decorative banner promoting the art exhibition hung on a far wall above a small recessed café.
They stopped in front of the reception desk and waited for someone to notice them. A moment later the clerk appeared; a plump, mousy woman with graying hair and a nametag labeled 'Janice.' who greeted them with the over-bright smile of one who worked in hospitality. "Good evening. How may I help you?"
"Reservations for Yamada," Deidara said.
The woman nodded and pulled out some paperwork attached to a clipboard from under the desk, traced a finger down the list. "Yamada…Here we are. Ahh, honeymooners!" She beamed at them.
Two fake smiles were the only reply.
The receptionist continued pulling all the registration information and paperwork out from different places under the counter. "Your reservation is for one of our ocean view honeymoon suites, yes?"
Sakura and Deidara glanced at each other in a split second of shared surprise, and she tried to keep her eyes from widening at that new bit of information. Yotsuba really was going all out for this!
Deidara gave a small chuckle and casually draped an arm over her shoulders, giving her an affectionate squeeze. "That's right. Nothing but the best for my Ayame-chan." He grinned at her, and she could see the sadistic amusement in his eyes. Sakura gave him a simpering smile. She noticed he was consciously altering his speech to cover his northern accent. She didn't mind his arm around her; it wasn't their first or their closest contact by any means, even if it was a long time ago.
'Janice' was positively eating up every honeyed word and gesture they made. "How sweet!" she gushed. "I just love watching all the loving couples who stay here. This is the best job in the world for an old romantic like me." She passed a pen and the paperwork to Deidara. "Now just fill these out and sign them. If you'll excuse me for a moment, Yamada-san, I'll be back with your concierge info and room keys." She bustled off through a staff door behind the desk.
Sakura tried not to roll her eyes, and could imagine what Deidara was thinking as well.
She busied herself looking around the grandiose lobby while Deidara filled out the forms, his left arm still draped around her shoulders. Her eyes widened slightly when he began absently rubbing her shoulder blade, his knuckles tracing indistinct patterns over the cloth of her shirt. This was not necessary contact, but Sakura couldn't deny that it felt nice. There were many people around, even if no one was interacting with them directly, so it was important to make it as convincing as possible. Then his fingertips absently trailed down to her lower back and a shiver ran the length of her spine. Okay that felt a little too nice, she thought. No one had touched her in a way that wasn't combative in well over two years. Sakura had subconsciously missed it the simple comfort of human contact. But the entire concept was weird and confusing and she wanted to pull away but she couldn't because this was their cover and he probably didn't even notice what he was doing anyway.
Deidara may not have been thinking about what he was doing, but he noticed her reaction, and when she tensed slightly his hand stopped moving. But this was a job right? Sakura had agreed to do it, and she would do it to the best of her ability. They needed to look comfortable like this, not forced. Body language gave a lot away, and if they looked tense and insincere it could cause problems if the wrong people were looking—namely Shingo's guards. She had already spotted two of them lurking near a staff door nearby. Deidara had surely noticed as well, and that was probably why he'd started it in the first place.
Without looking at her partner she leaned into his side, resting her head on his chest as she slipped her arm around his waist. To his credit as a shinobi, he didn't even glance at her or react in any noticeable way, simply continued his writing as if used to such affection from her. For the mission, she thought, ignoring the way his solid warmth seeped into her skin. She continued gazing around the room as his hand began to move over her back again.
A couple minutes later the receptionist retuned, smiling sweetly at their affectionate stance, and Deidara slid the completed paperwork toward her. "These are your room keys, and this is information about our concierge services. And these are tickets for the exhibition next weekend, included in your reservation package." She laid the different items out carefully, separately pointing to each of them as if they wouldn't be able to figure out which was which. "I've called for a bellhop to escort you to your beachfront suite. Ah! There he is now." She gestured to a man in a staff uniform standing to the side. "Please enjoy your stay with us!" She beamed brightly.
Deidara grabbed the items she'd laid out in one hand and turned away, taking Sakura with him. Sakura managed a smile at the receptionist and a quiet "thank you," as she was steered toward the bellhop by her 'husband.'
"Good evening," the uniformed man greeted with another over-bright smile. "I'll be escorting you to your room. Would you like me to carry your bags for you?"
"No, thank you, we can manage," Sakura said politely before Deidara could answer, since he wasn't so good with the pleasant formalities.
The bellhop gestured for them to follow, and led them through a side exit and along a long path lined with small lanterns in the ground. They passed a large swimming pool, a gym facility with a beauty salon and massage parlor, and several more amenities to pamper and please the guests, including a fancy looking restaurant. They left the main resort complex and entered a more isolated area lined by palm trees and more softly glowing lanterns. Sakura could hear the ocean close by. They passed through a secluded rock garden with more exotic flowering plants and a pond.
It was all quite lovely, and Sakura decided she really wouldn't mind spending a week here. An old friend was back in her life and she'd be spending time getting to know him again during their stay. She began to think this mission may turn out to be enjoyable after all.
But she was brought back to the reality of the situation when their escort stopped in front of their room and used his staff keycard to open the door. He turned on the light and stepped back, standing aside to let them enter, and as they crossed the threshold he flashed them another smile. "Please enjoy your stay. And may I say what an attractive young couple you make. I'm sure you two will be very happy together."
Deidara's hand stiffened slightly against her lower back. Sakura plastered on another falsely sweet smile and slipped past the bellhop into the room. When the door closed, Sakura and Deidara both let out tired and irritated sighs, and he removed his arm from around her. They glanced at each other and he smirked, and she couldn't help but give a small dry laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Their eyes went wide as they looked around the room. "Damn," he said under his breath, and began walking around to inspect and discover everything.
The bungalow was huge—more than one room kind of huge. The room they were in was a tastefully decorated sitting area with double doors leading to a large private patio overlooking the ocean. Sakura opened the glass doors and walked out, and now it was her turn to mutter in awe. There was a small breakfast table and two lounge chairs, and a little gate leading down to the beach. She could see the white caps of waves not far off and couldn't help but smile as the warm night breeze carried the scent of the ocean to her nose. This would be perfect if she were actually here for a romantic getaway. But she wasn't. It was a job, albeit a very nicely accommodated one.
She heard Deidara laugh from somewhere inside and she turned back into the room, leaving the doors open behind her. She picked the first of two adjacent doors and found herself looking into the spacious bathroom. There was a large corner tub and a separate shower with glass walls, both clearly meant for two people. She turned off the light and headed through the remaining door into the bedroom. She gawked a little at the size of the bed, which was easily big enough to sleep four adults. A good thing, considering they weren't really a couple. All the furniture was made of rich polished mahogany, and the bedding, curtains and chair cushions were all white. The large window had a recessed sill lined with more cushions and pillows, meant for sitting and viewing what she knew would be a spectacular view of the ocean in the daytime. Deidara wasn't in here, and she saw another door leading outside. Her eyes widened when she saw what he'd laughed about: they were in a private botanical garden that was walled in bamboo and open to the air. On the far end was their very own private hot tub.
Deidara turned to her with an amused grin. "I think we got the cushiest mission in the history of missions, yeah."
"I guess so. Did you see the patio?"
He shook his head and turned to go look. Sakura returned to the bedroom and flopped down on one side of the massive bed with a sigh. The luxurious comfort of it was sinful, and she lazily kicked her boots off and stretched out, snuggling into the cool softness. A couple minutes later she heard the soft click of the patio doors being closed and Deidara came back into the room with their bags.
"I could seriously get used to a place like this," he said, setting the suitcases down in the corner. He opened his and pulled out his real pack, then turned to look at her. "You want yours?"
She shook her head groggily. This bed was a sleep-trap, and she felt her lids growing heavier with every passing minute.
But her eyes snapped open when Deidara, talking out loud more than actually informing her, absently said "I'm gonna take a shower," and pulled his shirt off.
He was angled away from her, and Sakura was oh so glad he didn't see her face just then. His long hair fell over his back so there wasn't a lot to see, but it was really the general concept of a well-built shirtless man in the room that had her attention. Deidara was simply going about his own business and didn't even look at her, and a moment later he disappeared into the other room.
When he was gone she relaxed again with a heavy sigh. What a strange and confusing couple of days. She had expected a certain amount of weirdness on this mission, but she had also expected a stranger to be her partner. This was not at all what she had planned for. She was glad to see Deidara again, and they still seemed to have that old bond, but she had to wonder if this wasn't the best situation in which to try and rekindle their friendship.
When Deidara came back into the bedroom he had to smile a little; once again Sakura was already fast asleep, fully dressed on top of the covers. She must not have been able to relax like this in a long time if a little bit of comfort and security made her so tired. He walked over and gazed down at her sleeping form. He pulled the covers out from under her legs, gently so as not to wake her, and laid them over her. Then he switched off the bedside lamp and moved to his own side, crawling under the covers. Once again turning his back to her and the nearly three feet of space between them, he fell asleep to the sound of the ocean and her quiet breathing.