THESE CHARACTERS DON'T BELONG TO ME, I JUST BORROW THEM FOR SOME PLAYTIME

Sorry for not updating. I know I've said that before. But after a long wait here is another update (no rhyme intended). Hope you enjoy, and I will try to get more out sooner than I have been. Thanks for your patience and all your wonderful comments.

-MSH

A Change of Pace Chapter 7 - Motives

The walk from room to elevator to lobby to street was a silent trek, as both partners were quite apprehensive about the whole posing-as-a-couple act. Thankfully, their training as ninjas—which included much practice in illusions and deception—kicked in as soon as their feet touched cobblestone walkway. Her arm hooked around his and even their strides matched in pace. She looked up into his sunglass laden face and smiled a love struck smile and hugged his arm to her side as she shrugged a giddy squeal out. He looked down at her and smiled in response.

They were now a couple. No one could tell otherwise. Their worlds revolved around each other and it showed in their every cloying motion. Even other couples would pass by as they walked along the main drag and congratulate them. It was so obvious that it make Sakura giddy at the success of their act.

"What exactly is our plan?" Sakura asked through a cookie-cutter smile as another couple nodded in their direction.

Neji returned the couple's greeting with a nod, and wrapped his now free arm around Sakura's back and pulled her closer. She matched his stride and, with their close proximity, managed not to lose her balance.

"Get a feel for the town, as a warm-up at least. Keep our eyes and ears open, maybe there'll be leads by just eavesdropping." Neji spoke while looking straight ahead, seeming to be comfortable in conversation with his pretend-wife.

"Well, I guess we should start with finding somewhere to eat. Neither of us had breakfast, and it is fast approaching midday. Find somewhere busy, somewhere we could blend in and hear a lot of conversations." Sakura started perusing the sides of the street where she and Neji walked, making note of the flux of crowds in and out of shops and diners.

The cobblestones, the color of amber and rust—dotted by sanguine brick and sepia quartz—felt quite odd beneath her feet. The shapes and sizes varied and the texture of each capriciously laid stone felt smooth from overuse. Sakura was glad for her impeccable balance, and for Neji's. His hand now resting on her waist seemed to steady her even further. She thought nothing of it as she drank in the scenery with thirsty eyes and let each detail burn into her memory. Each lamp post had wrought iron cords twisting around one another up to the base of a glass casing. No flame burned within the transparent panes, but twilight would beckon the golden glow she had seen the night before.

She and Neji walked twenty paces between each lamp, making the spacing perfect for night walks. Just enough light to see your way, but just enough darkness for a couple to hide in a shadow somewhere for some impromptu alone-time, and created the perfect opportunity for a predator to pounce on any unsuspecting prey.

More specifically, it was perfect for Kabuto. She would tuck that little observation away for future reference.

"Well, which place looks good to you?" Neji broke her thoughtful trance as he overlooked the bustling crowds.

Sakura joined him focusing on the crowd he was currently perusing. She gazed upon the various shapes and sizes of the people moving about and her attention fell upon a quaint café tucked away on the corner of the street ahead. It was a small brick edifice with little tables and chairs and oversized parasols dotting the patio at the entrance. Aishte No Motto was written in elaborate text across the two tinted windows. Elaborate frills of pink and red decorated the awnings over the windows.

Throngs of couples, arm in arm, smiled and laughed and exchanged meaningful nods to one another as some entered while others left. All the other buildings along the street looked fairly similar. Brick exterior, tinted windows, outdoor seating, romantic music, delectable aromas, and apparently contented couples graced all the shops and eating establishments—just like Aishte No Motto.

The one thing, in Sakura's opinion, that differentiated this place from the rest was the constant flow of clientele. There was something that drew in the crowds, and she was dying to find out what it was, and her stomach was matching her curiosity with its rumbling hunger.

"Let's follow them." Sakura said, pointing a slender finger toward the long line inching its way inside the enchanting café.

Neji and Sakura moved quickly to stake their claim on a place in line and smiled at the couple ahead of them. Music, live music, trailed out from the open doors and swept across the street and seemed to fill every corridor with melody. The notes from a piano dueled with one another then intertwined creating an entrancing sound.

Sakura felt lost in the liquid sound and could only manage responses to Neji's simple questions with nods and muffled affirmations.

Neji looked at the woman at his side, beautiful and completely lost in the ambiance of the place. He had to be careful, for he felt the draw of the town as well and he didn't want any more distractions than he already had to deal with.

One of which was standing perfectly still at his side.

He stopped trying to communicate with her a while ago since she deserved to be lost for a little while. At least it was safe to do so at the moment. She might not get the chance again, why not indulge a little. So he let her.

While she stood in her trance, Neji looked ahead at the slowly diminishing line. He scanned each face that turned his way, looking for distinguishing features.

None of the men and women in the line looked like their target, so he settled for looking for suspicious characters. None piqued his ninja senses; this disturbed him slightly, but he knew that it wouldn't be that easy—wish as he might.

All the faces wore expressions of delight, expectation, adoration, and joy. It seemed like something out of a fairy tale—since when does an entire group of people, who don't know one another, get along so effortlessly? Too good to be true, at least that was how it felt to him.

He would wait until they could sit down before he made anymore judgments; conversations speak more than expressions. He couldn't wait to find out what these people were really up to.

Sakura let herself flow with the music and overall atmosphere of the area. She felt like kelp reeling with each swell in the ocean. For the first time in a very long time she felt tranquil. Beside the person she was quickly growing attached to, in front of a café meant for people she thought only existed in gushy romance stories, under the influence of some of the most beautiful music she ever heard—she momentarily forgot the mission and lost herself in the moment.

Her body moved automatically as the line shortened.

A face flashed before her face, and recognition snapped her out of her hypnosis. She stiffened, so quickly and abruptly that it alarmed Neji.

"What is it?" he inquired in hushed tones.

Her eyes focused on the man sitting at the piano just inside the doors she was now only three couples away from. The man that was casting such an encapsulating spell upon all within earshot, the man that they were sent to tail, the man that helped steal her teammate from her was within reach on their first day around town and they didn't even have a strategy.

"It's him." She whispered, and stepped forward half a pace as the line continued to move.

Neji jerked his gaze away from the crowd and stared intently at Sakura trying to get a bearing on where she was looking. He followed her line of sight and found her focal point. He couldn't believe it would be that simple. It was of course an illusion that it was this simple, for the hard part was still ahead. Getting information to take back to the Hokage without getting killed or scaring away the rogue ninja was the tricky part.

Neji tapped the shoulder of the man standing directly in front of him.

"Excuse me, but do you know who that pianist is? He plays so beautifully." He asked with the most convincing smile he could muster.

The heavyset man, slightly balding, turned around and smiled as he replied, "That is the new musician. He got here only two days ago, and he's been a big hit. He draws in the customers like none other and, from what I've heard; the owner of the establishment pays him very well."

Neji nodded as he took in the information.

"Does he have a name?" Neji prodded.

The man shook his head. "No one knows. He won't give his name. So mysterious! It makes it all the more alluring if you ask me. Great ambiance though, is this your first time dining here?"

Neji wrapped his arm around the smiling kunoichi at his side and squeezed her to his side.

"Yes. As a matter of fact, this is our first day in the town. I guess we picked the right place to kick off our honeymoon." He spoke managing a coy smile as he looked down at his mock-wife.

Sakura couldn't agree more with Neji, and she nodded in response to his observation.

"You sure did. I guarantee that when you leave here, you won't want to go anywhere else but back to your room. There's something about this place and that pianist that makes it enchanted. My wife and I have been married for years, and we feel more passionate toward each other than ever. It wasn't until we came to this place two days ago that we realized how much we really loved one another. It's unreal." The man bantered on, his blushing wife nudging him in the side giving him a look that said don't give information they're not asking.

Neji was glad she interfered. He really wasn't in the mood to hear about an elderly couple's love life. He looked back up at the entrance, and was glad to be the next couple in line to be ushered in.

The elderly couple waved goodbye and was taken to a table in the back. Neji hoped they would be seated away from them and close to Kabuto at the piano. Sakura shifted nervously at the threshold as a couple exited the doors to her left, knowing that shortly they would be seated next. Neji couldn't take his eyes off of the gray haired and bespectacled ninja sitting at the white grand piano in the center of the seated crowd. He seemed to be completely absorbed in his ministrations to the ebony and ivory keys, striking them with passion and then caressing them with light touches extracting some of the most beautiful sounds he had ever heard. The notes echoed through the large area and reverberated through Neji's consciousness. It felt unnatural, the peace and the emotional charge in the atmosphere. He couldn't quite put a finger on it, but he knew he had to be on guard or he would be sucked in. He regarded Sakura, and hoped that she was as wise.

"A table for two is now ready. Please follow me." A woman dressed in an apron and sleek dress slacks and shirt urged them to trail after her.

It took all her strength to move her feet forward and even with Neji's hand pulling her along, she felt her energy steadily being drained from her as she resisted the spell being cast on the area. She was originally a genjutsu user, and even in gennin classes she could sense when an illusionary jutsu was being used. This was the first time that she was caught off guard since her first encounter with Orochimaru; Sasuke's captor, mentor, and Kabuto's master.

She remembered how he let them see their own deaths and experience absolute terror and bone crushing fear. She remembered how Sasuke broke the spell by stabbing his own leg with a kunai to allow the screaming sensation of pain to drown out the voice of fear. She remembered how utterly useless she felt at that time, and now she realized she was much stronger and wiser than that day. She recognized the jutsu now that Kabuto was casting on all the couples. She just couldn't understand the motive. Why here? Why now? Sakura was confused, and her brow furrowed as a result.

"You're frowning." Neji interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh. Sorry. "She smiled to change her countenance and nodded her thanks to the hostess as they took a seat at a booth that was four tables, diagonally, to the left of their target. She felt so ill prepared that she struggled to keep her thoughts and fears from displaying on her face. Try as she may, she couldn't fool Neji, who was observing her now with his new colored eyes.

"I understand how you feel right now, but if we get caught being the only fishes in the bowl belly up, then we get flushed, if you catch my drift." He said this while he coolly examined the one-sided menu in front of him.

Sakura tilted her head slightly, letting some loose tendrils stroke the top of her half-bare shoulder. She couldn't understand how Neji could act so cool, and change his method of operation to boot. He usually refrained from using little similes like that and kept to short, not-so-sweet, and to the point statements.

"Yeah, I got it, just caught me by surprise. I'm on it now, don't worry." She replied tersely through a fabricated smile that was very convincing.

Neji looked up, briefly, from the menu to catch her glare at him. He wasn't sure if he felt passion in her eyes or fiery irritation. Either way, he was impressed with her acting skills. He returned her glare with a wink and a heart melting smile that nearly ripped the rug out from under her feet.

Sakura, although now in control of her emotions, felt the corners of her mouth slightly drop at the sight of Neji across the table from her. He smiled so beautifully that it nearly threw her off her game and it unsettled her a bit. She closed her eyes, breathed in deeply—taking in the scent of the restaurant, of her date, and of Kabuto. When she opened them again, Neji was peering intently over her shoulder.

"What is it?" she whispered through a smile.

"That woman at the end," he began, "is acting very strange."

"What is she doing?" she asked.

Neji shifted in his seat and leaned forward. "She keeps glancing at Kabuto, and acting nervous every time her eyes wander over to him. She also keeps shifting in her seat, as though she was uncomfortable, and her date keeps asking if she's ok."

"You can hear him ask?" Sakura asked, surprised. She knew that Neji had uncanny abilities to sense chakra and the slightest changes in people's behavior, but super hearing she didn't know he had.

Neji shook his head slightly. "No, but she responds toward him with a smile and nod and a shrug each time he catches her being so distracted." He sat back in his seat. "Similar to the way you respond when I catch you off guard." He smiled again, and watched Sakura's reaction.

Sakura rolled her eyes, shrugged slightly, and hid behind her menu, but she could feel the heat in her face. She knew what he meant, because every time he had smiled at her, or touched her tenderly, or held her; she had tried to cover her emotions with a smile and a shrug the same way he described. Was she that obvious?

"Mmm…" Neji mumbled, "Exactly the same."

Sakura's eyes darted up to his, and searched for any hint of sarcasm, but there was only a controlled expression on his face, and he was still watching the couple. She looked up to study Kabuto, who had changed songs. It was a lighter, more cheerful melody now. Different than the moody, sensual one he had been playing a moment ago.

She watched as his eyes would glance in the woman-in-question's direction from behind his glasses. She also felt a slight shift in the chakra around her, as whatever genjutsu he was using began to phase into something more. She couldn't quite explain it, but it would seem that this woman had something to do with the change.

"I think he is affecting the woman." Sakura whispered.

Neji nodded slightly in agreement, "For what reason is the question now." He stated through a stiff smile.

Both of them knew that the answer would only come with time and observation. They sat back in their seats simultaneously and waited for the server to come take their order, and waited to see what was actually going on in this little café.

Kabuto played on, seemingly caught up in his song, swaying and bending with each strike of the keys beneath his agile fingers. Sakura kept peeking from over her menu at his hands. She couldn't help but sink into the mesmerizing movement and the dizzying melody, try as she may to fight it. Her heart felt as though it were adjusting its rhythm to match the flow of the notes.

Buh-bum.

Buh-bum.

Buh-bum.

Her breath slowed and her eyes felt heavy. A voice, soft as silk and sweet as bird-song, grew in her mind. It weaved its way in and out of each note calling to something deep within her, and without warning, something primal, something asleep began to stir.

Sakura….

A whisper, faint and captivating, resonated in her mind; calling.

Sakura…

Sa….ku….ra…..

"Sakura", Neji spoke just above a whisper. "Hey. Sakura, snap out of it."

She sat motionless. Her eyes stared ahead, glazed and unfocused. She breathed in stuttered sighs and a rose blush spread across her cheeks and down her neck. Her brow furrowed slightly as her countenance slowly changed from expressionless to agony. No, that wasn't right; it wasn't agony, but ecstasy.

He had seen that look only in his dreams. The only difference was he wasn't the one extracting such an exquisite expression this time, and this wasn't a dream.

"Sakura", Neji slowly reached for one of her hands that still held her menu upright.

She was caught in Kabuto's genjutsu and as he inched closer he wondered why it wasn't affecting him the same way, and he felt a tinge of jealousy.

"Focus", He whispered to himself.

All he had to do was inject some of his chakra into her; the trick was monitoring the amount so as not to pique the interest of the genius at the piano.

Gently, Neji placed his middle and forefinger against the back of her hand. Her hand felt feverish, and it quivered under his touch.

He narrowed his vision, concentrated his chakra at the tips of his fingers and, with one controlled exhalation, released the energy into her system. He felt the energy go from him, confident that the amount was enough to break the spell but not hurt her.

He waited as he searched her face for sentience. He sensed a change in the energy of the room and let go a breath he had not know he was holding as light began to shine from Sakura's eyes once more. However, her face now reflected horror rather than ecstasy. Her eyes became jade saucers and brimmed with water.

"No…." Sakura whispered with a stuttered sigh.

Her hand quivered under Neji's lingering touch and she fought hard to keep the sobs pounding at the door of her throat from escaping.

"Shhh… Sakura, it's fine now, you're ok. Just shhhh…." Neji spoke quietly while squeezing her hand.

Sakura's eyes turned from saucers to slits in a flash. A single salt tear trickled from her maddened eye, and she ripped her hand from his.

"No, it's not 'Shhhh,' Neji." She spat out with a rasped whisper, adding vehemence to the last word.

The restaurant's patrons seemed to stop everything to look at them. Thankfully the music didn't stop, which would've meant they'd garnered the wrong attention.

"Sakura, you're making a scene, calm down and gather your thoughts. You were in a genjutsu of some sort. I thought you were better than this." Neji spat back.

Sakura closed her eyes, and wiped them dry with the back of her hand. Her brow furrowed and through a grimace she spoke almost inaudibly.

"I know damn well what was happening. You don't know how much better I really am because you assume I am weak." She clenched her fists and began to slide out of her seat.

Neji reached for her hand to stop her, "Sakura wai…"

But he was interrupted as she moved her hand away from his attempt, "You shouldn't have stepped into my battle. You shouldn't have interrupted like that." She slid the rest of the way out of her seat, brushed the wrinkles out of her garb as she stood and, after glancing around at the onlookers, gingerly turned toward the exit.

"You looked a little too pleased. I don't think you wanted to fight what was happening. You liked what the jutsu was showing you didn't you?" Neji coughed out as she began to step away.

He knew he had said too much when she stiffened. She did not turn around, but instead she trembled and Neji could feel the rage emanating off of her.

"You know, you put the ass in assume." She ground out, and proceeded toward the door. Right as she was about to disappear from his view, she turned her tear soaked face in his direction and mouthed the words—WATCH KABUTO AND MEET ME IN FIVE MINUTES OUTSIDE, holding up a hand to demonstrate the 'five'.

It was an act? She could fool me just like that? Neji wondered to himself trying to maintain the feeling of the moment and a fabricated sulk in his posture.

Of course he had to maintain the act. Otherwise, Sakura's diva-like performance would go to waste.
He was thankful that they had spoken to each other low enough that the other patrons couldn't tell what they were actually saying. For all they knew, they thought it was just some lover's tiff.

Neji was also curious to see how Kabuto would react to such a scene.

He frowned as the waitress, who had been waiting next to him with her tablet, cleared her throat.

"Are you still interested in ordering, sir?" She asked, glancing at the exit.

What would a man in this situation actually do? What should I do? I was never trained in this….

At that moment a thought, inspired by the legendary Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, flashed across his consciousness.

Neji balled his fist and slammed it on the table, making the waitress flinch with the suddenness.

"Hell. Bring me some Sake. I need to think about how to tame my little fox!" He gritted out, inwardly pleased at his improvisation.

The waitress nodded and quickly headed for the back.

In the mean time, Neji watched Kabuto.

The musician didn't seem fazed at all. His ministrations to the keys and his absorption in his craft seemed oddly intensified.

Was that a frown on his face? Was that sweat on his brow? Were they just because he is really getting into the music, or was he worried about something? Neji wondered.

The waitress appeared abruptly and set his Sake before him and gave a slight bow.

"Is that all you needed, sir?" She asked, still slightly bent forward.

Neji nodded and grabbed his cup and Sake pitcher and poured himself a drink.

He looked intently at the cup he held before his face, realizing that this would be the first time he had actually drunk anything alcoholic. Well, intentionally he never had. However; there was that one time that all that wine had been dumped into that Curry a long time ago.

Man that was a trip. He thought to himself. I still don't know if it was the curry itself or the alcohol that knocked me out.

"Here goes." He muttered as he dumped the small amount down his throat.

"Are you pleased with it, sir?" The waitress asked.

Neji smiled and poured himself another round. "Indeed. Thank you."

The waitress walked away, and Neji's attention was back to the musician.

Neji, feeling a bit dizzy all of the sudden, noticed Kabuto watching him from the corner of his eye.

As soon as Kabuto realized that Neji had noticed his attention, he looked away suddenly and his frown intensified.

He was definitely upset by the recent passing of events, but why? What is it to him if a couple has a little tiff?

Neji looked around the room and noticed that every table was occupied by a couple who seemed very much in-love.

Is this the genjutsu, a makeshift love potion in the the hands of a sound ninja? If so, then what is the purpose of such a technique? What is he gaining from something like this?

Neji resigned to knowing that the answers weren't going to just fall in his lap, but he knew that once he and Sakura converged… Sakura.

It's been longer than five minutes. Shit!

Neji reached for his wallet in his pocket, pulled out an overly sufficient amount of money and set it on the table.

He slid out of his seat and, as he stood, the room began to spin. He grabbed the table in order to stabilize himself and carefully made his way to the exit.

As he stepped outside, his face collided with a fist.

"What the hell were you doing in there!" a female voice yelled out.

Neji held his nose with his hands as his eyes began to water from the impact.

"Thakura", he mumbled through his palms.

"I said five minutes! Not a fucking hour!" she screamed with her hands held out by her sides.

Neji shook his head to clear the fog from her punch. His nose still stung but was still intact; he found from feeling for any damages and came up with a positive prognosis.

"You're making another scene, Sakura." He stated calmly.

He still felt dizzy, and couldn't quite tell which of the two images of Sakura to look at when he spoke.

Sakura sniffed the air around Him and wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"So that's why you were in there so long. You were getting wasted?" Sakura shook her head as she accused.

"That's not it!" Neji held his hands up in defense. "I only had a couple drinks. What else was I going to do with the situation you left me with? Huh?"

He was beginning to feel angry now.

"And what is it with you accusing me of being in there for an hour? That's quite an exaggeration!" He pointed at her with a shaky finger. "I barely went over the time limit you set for me. What the hell?"

Sakura reached for his hand that still pointed at her and firmly grabbed his wrist. She shoved the watch that was set there into his face. "You tell me. Does that look like just over five minutes?"

His eyes slowly trailed down from her face to his wrist. His vision wasn't as clear as it should be, but there was no mistaking that she was right. It had been over an hour since she left the table.

It didn't make any sense. It didn't feel that long at all.

Then it hit him like a ton of bricks.

The genjutsu was a lot more intricate than he had originally thought. Not only was it a love potion, but it was a time-alteration jutsu. It had to be.

Everyone there was lost in the throes of love and infatuation. Of course they weren't going to notice a lapse in time.

He now knew the method, but he was still at a loss when it came to the motive.

Sakura stood there with her hands on her hips wearing an I-told-you-so expression.

"Sakura, I think I know what's going on. I just don't know why yet. I think I was cau…." His words cut off as the dizziness he desperately tried to control won the battle.

"Sa…" he tried to speak again and reached for his partner with a final attempt at stabilizing himself.

"Neji, "Sakura called out and caught him as he fell into her arms and darkness flooded his vision.

The last thing Neji could remember was Sakura lugging him over her shoulders and muttering "For the love of God," just before she trod back up the street.

Getting to the hotel was going to be tricky, since she didn't know any normal woman who would carry her guy over her shoulder up a cobblestone road. That's just asking for weird looks. Still, it had to be done. She didn't want to explain her situation over and over again outside of Aishte No Motto every time someone saw her standing over a passed-out Neji.

She only hoped she could get him to the Swan's Nest before too many rumors started. At that thought, she quickened her pace.

"Oooo! You have some explaining to do Neji. I swear I'm going to kick your ass if you don't have a good reason for putting me in this situation!" She ranted under her breath.

Now she only hoped that he didn't wake up until they were safely inside the room. His face was inappropriately just above her derrière and his arms dangled dangerously close to the backs of her thighs. If he woke up in this position, not only would she be embarrassed and (she had to admit) turned on a little, but Neji would leave a trail behind from the massive nose-bleed, and she didn't need that kind of attention from anyone.

Thankfully, she being lost in thought made the time seem to pass quicker. She could see her destination just up the hill and she felt a huge sense of relief. No one had stopped her or bothered her on her way. Luck was on her side, so it seemed; but she knew it was too early to start counting her lucky stars.

Well there it is. I know it was shorter than the others, but I can't help the writer's block I fought for months. Anyway, hopefully (since some personal matters have smoothed out a bit) I can write more and with less obstructions. Thanks again for all of you guys' patience.