A/N:
So... It's been 2 months, 18 days, 15 hours, 47 minutes, and 14.8 seconds since the last update... Not really, but close enough.
- Insert standard excuse here - ...because time is a marathon champion (or so I initially thought) and procrastination dared to be its contender.
I've been catching up with other fragments of life lately, and they happened to be equipped with jet packs as they raced with time to the finish line. I know, practicing the mañana habit's not something to be proud of. But hey, like they say, awareness and acceptance are the first steps to improvement. Now if I could just rediscover the rest of those steps while you're at this chapter... ;)
Chapter 15
Payback?
"I'm really sorry, Kizashi."
The said man stared down at the wooden desk, holding a mobile against an ear. "You're not at fault. Her anger's directed at me."
"Don't blame everything on yourself either." Irritation accompanied Tsunade's voice. "Sakura's a growing girl, and you know how emotional teenagers could get. You've been through that stage first hand. She's on the process of getting to know herself, and she needs distance to assess her feelings."
Kizashi released a tired sigh and rested his forehead on one palm. "Nevertheless, going outside by herself is too dangerous for her. In any case, I want to make sure she's in safe hands."
Three beats of silence took over, before Tsunade spoke again. "Are there any leads yet?"
"Aside from the CCTV footage, there's none as of the moment. The security officers are still tracking the car's owner."
"We'll find her eventually. Sakura can be reckless at times, but she wouldn't resort to do things that could ruin her entirely. She knows her limitations and is loyal to her core values. Although emotions could get the better of her sometimes, Sakura's still tougher than what we give her credit for. She won't put herself at risk without a strong reason."
Kizashi shut his eyes in an attempt to hold in his emotions. "And I am that exact reason. I've hurt her, Tsunade. Sakura ran away because of me. The worst part is that I doubt if I fully know my own daughter. It seems you know her better than I do. All this time, I thought I had been providing her every need, I hadn't realized she resented me this much. The extent of her rage was far from my expectations."
"There are things that are out of our control, and most of the time, those conditions drive us to change. I know it wasn't in your intentions to raise a hand on her. You did that in defense… because you were also hurt. But… try putting yourself in her shoes too. It's not that I'm taking sides or that I approve of everything she'd said; but Sakura's a big girl, Kizashi. It's time you let her decide for herself and let her learn from whatever the result would be."
Irritation sided with him this time. "The uncertain result of her previous defiance is what bothers me. She is merely a teenager, and the fact that she is my daughter could put her at greater risk. I will not be at ease until I know of her whereabouts."
"And if you did find her, what will you do then?"
"I would personally go to where she is and appoint guards to keep watch of her. Or better yet, I would take her back home and double the security; make sure she wouldn't get through the guards the second time."
A static breath broke away from the phone's speaker, indicating a frustrated sigh from the other end. "It's okay to be protective of your daughter, but too much of it is unhealthy. Don't you think that's why she ran away? Because she seeks freedom to make her own choices? That maybe she's feeling too constrained with all your rules? Give her some space to realize the weight of her actions."
"You don't understand. She is not safe out there! If anything happens to her, I cannot forgive myself."
"I'm worried for her too. We all are. You're not the only one who didn't sleep well or didn't sleep at all last night. Each of us, including the guards – and even Sakura – has a share of responsibility for what happened. So don't carry the load on your own."
Kizashi's eyes rolled up the ceiling; this was not the counseling he expected. "You lecture me as if I were a child."
"Because that's exactly what your behavior suggests." Irritation had another change of heart and re-joined Tsunade. "Everytime there's a problem involving Sakura, you cower and take the fault. You should set a good example for your daughter. I've been telling you to at least try showing courage and tenacity for her sake, but you seem to forget that advice often. And here you are, wondering why your daughter's so stubborn."
His eyes found the picture frame on the desk, locking with a set of green eyes very similar to his late wife's own. In truth, Kizashi had no idea how to raise a child… how to raise a daughter. He had expected to share that great responsibility with Mebuki, but she left him in the air, left him afloat in the midst of a gentle breeze which later on led him into a wind storm. So he took care of Sakura the only way he knew how: by providing things such as gadgets, clothes… money, which he presumed would make her happy; and by ensuring that she would have a bright future.
As a kid, Kizashi had been deprived of luxury. His parents made the minimum wage and barely get them through a day; but despite their situation, they still managed to send him in elementary school. When an opportunity for a scholarship arose, he grabbed it without falter. He would build their road for a better life was what his parents told him; he would fulfill the dreams they hadn't gotten the chance to attain. And he carried those words with him even after they passed away; even after he graduated, established a business, and started a family of his own.
Until now, he upheld to that principle. If he continued working hard and maintained the wealth he had gained, he could keep his daughter away from the poverty he once experienced. Through focusing on family business, he expected Sakura to see how much he cared about her and her own future. He sacrificed the moments he could have spent with her for office meetings, functions, business meals or factory visits. But at what cost? Sakura became distant from him.
Kizashi wasn't as naïve as what he showed on the outside. He had noticed Sakura and Kakashi's closeness way back from the latter's first days as her bodyguard. Although Kizashi hadn't paid heed to it initially, he couldn't ignore the easy smile and cheerful aura Sakura emanated whenever her former bodyguard was around. His daughter had become more attached to her bodyguard than to him – her own father. Kakashi had taken his place and became a threat to his relationship with his daughter. Jealousy had found its way to Kizashi, so when the position for one of his personal bodyguards vacated, he found the chance to separate the two.
He had been selfish on that decision, he admitted. Sakura had started talking back and arguing with him, making her more difficult to deal with. The more days of her complaining had gone by, the more he regretted assigning her a new bodyguard, but at the same time, the more he wanted to keep Sakura and Kakashi apart. Had he been the one to be separated from her, would Sakura fight to stay with him like how she fought for Kakashi? He didn't think so.
Since then, Kizashi had often sought advice from Tsunade. In fact, being present in Sakura's last therapy session and the vacation trip to Yama were all Tsunade's idea. Kizashi conformed to them, with the belief that he could somehow make it up to Sakura; but that belief had dissolved into a myth. The opposite happened: Sakura turned further away from him.
'I want a parent, WHO'S EVERYTHING YOU'RE NOT!... I HATE YOU!'
Tsunade's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Kizashi? You still there?"
He blinked the memory away. "Yes. You're right… I should be strong for Sakura."
"For her AND for yourself. Stop shouldering all the blame. You get me?... Or else, I'll personally go there and literally beat some sense into you. I mean, you are aware I could throw a punch."
A sudden image of Tsunade as a college student, looking down at a black-eyed acquaintance sprawled on the floor, flashed in mind. "Yes, I am perfectly aware."
A background voice called out from the other line, before Tsunade spoke again. "Kizashi, sorry I have to go for now. I would like to be there for you, but I have to prepare for a scheduled operation today. Just let me know if you've made any progress with the search, okay?"
Doubt and worry struck Kizashi right to the chest. Will they find Sakura? Safe? "I will."
"Great. I'll be going then."
He struggled for an appropriate farewell greeting, but nothing could be more honest than this: "Tsunade… Thank you."
Tsunade didn't answer right away, and he equated it to a gap in time meant for her smile. "Anytime."
A short beep marked the start of another silence.
Kizashi didn't know if he could handle the situation without Tsunade's support. In fact, he couldn't have handled parenthood without Tsunade. That was one reason why he decided to pursue her for the second time; he was drawn to her genuine compassion. He had no idea how to be a father – that was his belief. He figured he needed a hand at parenthood. He thought Sakura longed for maternal care. He thought that maybe… Tsunade could fill that part.
His priority had always been Sakura. Getting back with Tsunade wasn't entirely for his own good. Among all, he had considered his daughter's welfare. Sakura needed a mother figure, especially now that she was in the critical stage of her teenage years; the phase some may call 'the rebellious stage'. He thought having two guardians would be best for her. Tsunade thought the same. But Sakura proved them wrong yesterday.
He placed his phone on the desk, on the space beside his laptop. The computer screen still displayed the view of their gates. It was the CCTV footage taken last night; the evidence that the person who walked out of those iron gates was none other than Sakura. The guards stationed outside hadn't seen her. According to them, all they saw was an SUV speeding off the roadway. Robbery was the first thing they suspected. They tried to contact the ones in the control room for additional information, but no one answered. By the time they found out that the three personnel in there were drugged and that it was Sakura who ran out, the SUV had long been gone.
The CCTV camera fronting the immediate road captured Sakura rushing towards the SUV. All they got so far was the license plate number, since the information behind it was categorized as confidential, which could mean that the owner was either a wealthy criminal or a VIP. Kizashi decided to be optimistic about that and hope for the latter. It would take a while before they found out the owner's identity. Legal processes should be undergone first, but the security personnel were currently working on it.
At one o'clock AM, the sudden news had launched Kizashi out of bed, and until now, he couldn't bring himself back onto it. He had lingered in the control room for hours, either reviewing the footages with the guards or calling and consulting the authorities. When that was over, he walked up to his office and pondered over what Sakura had just done, or rather, what he made her do. It was now 6:30 in the morning. Even the guards had sacrificed sleep, except for those three stationed in the control room last night.
Kizashi breathed a laugh and shook his head. He couldn't decide if he should be mad at Sakura for drugging those guards or be proud of her for even managing to do so, along with how she was able to slip through the gates. Maybe he should have attached a tracking device into Sakura's mobile when he had the chance. That way, it would have made finding her a lot easier. Then he remembered Tsunade's words about giving Sakura some distance. Was he that over-protective?
Sakura's a big girl… That remark sounded foreign to him. Was he in denial of it because he hadn't bonded with her much during her childhood days and now he wanted to compensate for those times, or did he fail to notice it for the exact same reason? Was he afraid to admit that his daughter had grown up? Was he afraid of letting her go?...
Three consecutive knocks tugged Kizashi's eyes to the door. Hope bubbled in his stomach. It could be one of the guards with information about Sakura.
"Come in." He called, trying to keep an even tone despite his anticipation.
The door leaf swung inward and a familiar black-haired bodyguard stepped inside. The other guards must have chosen him to bring the news, since he was the most responsible among them for Sakura's safety.
"What is it, Sasuke?" Kizashi said as the bodyguard walked towards the desk, a barely noticeable scowl on his face. Surprise and panic raced to Kizashi when another bodyguard followed. It was Kakashi.
Is Sakura in danger?
The two guards stopped in front of the desk and bowed in greeting.
"Kizashi-sama," Sasuke said, "I have an assumption I wish to speak with you about." He threw a side-glance at Kakashi. "In private."
Before the Haruno could respond, Kakashi snatched his attention. "Pardon me, Kizashi-sama, but I am your personal bodyguard and it's in my duty to be informed of any conversation you may have with a co-bodyguard. He represents the entire security officers, and one's words are the group's responsibility. He may speak with you in my presence, that is, unless you wish otherwise."
The longer they delayed what they have to say, the more nervous Kizashi got. He noticed the two never faced each other, much less made eye contact. "It's fine Kakashi, you may listen to our conversation. I hope you don't mind, Sasuke. Go on, what is this assumption you speak of?"
If Sasuke minded having Kakashi around, he didn't show it. To be more specific, he didn't flash any emotion at all as he spoke. "Sakura must be at the Yamanaka residence. We should perform a search there as soon as possible."
Of course, if Sakura would choose a place to go to, the first options would be at her friends' houses. How could Kizashi have overlooked that? "That's a good idea. Let's find her other friends' addresses too, and then discuss which place to visit first."
"I suggest we begin the search at the Yamanakas. Sakura's closest to Ino. There is a great probability that Ino's her first choice."
Kizashi's mind accelerated faster than the stock market value. "We have to take into account that Sakura must have considered this situation. What if she had foreseen that we would inspect her friends' houses, and she thought about hiding at another place instead?"
Sasuke answered in an instant, not sparing a second to contemplate Kizashi's theory. "She may have also chosen an obvious place. To where she thought will be too apparent for us to search into."
Kizashi nodded. "She could… and she couldn't have also. Either way, we will collect her friends' addresses and go through them one by one. I want to search for her in person."
"If we want to find Sakura soon, we have to work more efficiently. We can leave the researching to others, while we go ahead to the Yamanakas. I know their address. We can just contact the other guards along the way."
Kizashi was about to protest and argue as to why Sasuke was so insistent on going to the Yamanakas, when another knock at the door beat him to it. He let the person in. It was one of the guards taking charge in the control room. Like a while ago, Kizashi prepared himself for the worst.
"Kizashi-sama," the latest guard began, "we have identified the car's owner."
Kakashi turned to the new comer, while Sasuke fixed his eyes in front. The Haruno ignored them both for a moment as a drum roll started in his chest. "Who is it?"
"The car belonged to the Yamanaka family. It is registered under Yamanaka Inouichi's name, but it is reported that his daughter uses it frequently."
Ino… Sakura's indeed with Ino. Kizashi stood up, grabbing his phone and the coat draped on the seat's backrest. "All right. Call the police and tell them we can handle it from here. We're heading to the Yamanakas."
"Should we inform the Yamanakas beforehand, Kizashi-sama?"
He shook his head. "No, Sakura might evade us if we do that. Inform Kotetsu and Genma to meet us at the garage. Kakashi, get the car ready. Sasuke, you're coming with us."
The messenger bowed and jogged out of the room. Kakashi stayed in place; his eyes narrowed on the Uchiha beside him.
"I'll be at it, Kizashi-sama," he said. "There's just something I want to ask Sasuke."
Sasuke met the other guard's stare, and a sudden tension erupted between them that Kizashi may rip to shreds if he intervened.
"How did you know Sakura's location?" Kakashi said.
Sasuke didn't blink. "You heard me. I said it was an assumption. An obvious one."
"Is there anything else you're not telling us?"
If possible, Sasuke's stare intensified even further. "None."
Another silence formed. The Haruno broke it when he cleared his throat. "You could continue the questioning later. As for now, we have to leave." He made his way to the door, passing by the two guards who were still engaged in a glaring battle.
What's the matter with these two?
"That's quite a harsh thing to say, forehead."
"I know, but…" Anger tried to stitch her brows together. Sakura was reminded of the sting on her cheek, and all the trouble of running away from her dad proved to be worth it. "It's the truth."
Ino took a sip from her coffee mug and placed it back on the nook table. "If I were him, I would have slapped you too."
"Ino…" She warned.
"Twice."
"Not helping."
"On each cheek."
Sakura set down her own mug. "There's no stopping you, is there?"
"So all in all, that's four hits."
She blew a breath that played with her bangs. "Fine. Maybe I kind of deserve that."
Ino shrugged. "Well, you can't change the fact that he's your father. And you, his daughter."
"Biologically speaking, of course… but I just can't feel the 'fatherly vibe' from him anymore. I'm not even sure if I felt it before. Sakumo-san was always the one covering up for his absence."
"Your dad's a single parent. Like he has to work and look after you at the same time. Don't you think you're being unfair?"
"He's the unfair one. All he does is work and control my life."
"Maybe he just wants to keep you out of harm. After all, you were always kidnapped before and that can also be a bit traumatic on his part. He worries about you. That's what parents do."
"Well, he SHOULD have at least consulted me before making big decisions that will directly affect me." Like having a relationship with my shishou.
"And you SHOULD also think about the people around you before taking reckless actions. How do you think your dad would feel when he wakes up to the news that you're missing?"
Since the ride to Ino's house, all she did was lecture Sakura about how hard it was to be a parent. In a way, Ino could have learned it through experience, since she treated Kurama – her three-year old Shih Tzu – like her own flesh and blood. When they arrived at Ino's, exhaustion struck Sakura; so Ino hadn't pried on the details of her and her dad's exchange until now.
Sakura propped her chin on one palm. "Whose side are you in, really? You're my friend, Ino."
Ino blinked in mock innocence and picked up one toast from a pile between them. "I AM your friend, forehead. Why else would I grudgingly skip my morning yoga routine, waste energy trying to put some sense through that thick skull of yours, and join you for an early breakfast against my will?"
Sakura eyed the toast with butter on one side until a chunk of it disappeared into Ino's mouth. "Uh… To have an excuse for ditching your diet?"
"Gee. I've always known you're a genius." The playful tint swimming in those blue eyes faded. "Seriously, just think about what I said, Sakura. I'd be a hypocrite if I say I don't feel bad when my dad messes up with my business. But then I thought: Isn't it worse if he doesn't care at all? The fact that he gives a damn about what happens to my life means a lot. It took some time for me to understand that. But for you… who knows? You have a bigger forehead, maybe you'll figure it out faster than I did."
Ino deserved a glare for that last comment and Sakura was generous enough to throw it at her. "Controlling and caring are two different things. Honestly, I feel like Kakashi-sensei cares more about me than my father does."
"There it is again!" Ino pointed the now half toast to Sakura's direction, tossing some bread crumbs on the table. "You always find a 'father figure' in your past bodyguards when your real dad was right in front of you. You know, you're lucky you still have a parent. WE are lucky. There are some orphans out there who never met either of their parents, but they move on with their lives anyway. They don't make a big fuss over it. Instead of feeling self-pitiful, they make use of it as a motivation in finding true happiness."
Sakura never knew that Ino could be this humane and down to earth. And downright an expert at guilt-tripping. "Great. So that makes me an ungrateful brat."
"I didn't say that."
"I guess it's because I spend a lot more time with the bodyguards than with my dad. They're like my babysitters for goodness' sake."
"That bad huh? Isn't your dad making some effort to have some bonding moments with you?"
The image of her dad in the shooting range and their hiking trip waved in front of Sakura. But she couldn't help to associate them with more disappointments toward him. "There were a few times, but they really can't be considered as bonding. He didn't talk to me much, and his attention was mostly elsewhere."
"Well, have you tried talking to him about your concerns in a 'civilized manner'? You know, some heart to heart talk without the shouting and all that."
Sakura ran a quick search through her memory. The chirps of a stray bird from the Yamanakas' garden filled the silence for a few seconds. "No…" She whispered.
Ino sighed. "Sakura, as far as I know, uncle Kizashi's not a fortune teller or a psychic. He can't read your mind. A good conversation is important for any kind of relationship and you know that."
"But that's the thing, Ino. I find it difficult to open up to him these days. It's like he has become a stranger to me now."
Ino gave a soft smile and put down her third toast. "You have a great father, Sakura. At least he's trying to get close to you again. I know you want him to make up for the times he didn't spend with you, but he can't do that by himself. Not without your help."
All this talking made Sakura feel like the great villain in her father's life. As much as she hated to admit it, Ino had a point. Sakura kept most of her complaints to herself and expected some changes from her father without letting him know. And in the times she did voice out her thoughts, she mostly attacked him with anger. She became blinded with her dad's shortcomings that she hadn't noticed her own faults as a daughter. It was official; Ino had just become the greatest guilt-tripper that ever existed.
Sakura shot the blonde a mock glare. "I really hate you right now."
Ino shrugged and retrieved her toast, nonchalant. "I hate you more." But then a grin betrayed her words. "Anyways, how did Tsunade-san react to your scene?"
Shishou… Sakura hadn't given much thought about Tsunade's feelings yesterday, but the hurt in those hazel eyes when she waved her away could speak for itself.
There was a monster growing inside Sakura's stomach and she decided to name it 'guilt'. Her mind had been so clouded with anger that she only cared about herself. But now that she could observe her previous actions with a clear head, she realized Tsunade hadn't done anything wrong at all. The thought of a competition between them was just that – a thought. She just made it all up.
She had always longed for a mother's love and her dad's attendance, but now that she could possibly have both, it turned out she still wasn't happy.
What is wrong with me?
Why couldn't she be happy for her dad? Was it because she was afraid of being alone again? If her dad found a lifetime companion, then Sakura would be completely left behind. Just like her mom, Sakumo-san and Obito-san – although in a different way – her dad would leave her too; the same way her Kakashi-sensei abandoned her. And by then… she would have no one.
But wasn't she causing that exact thing right now? Wasn't she pushing everyone away by avoiding them? If she wanted to let them know her true feelings, she could just speak with them about those.
Sakura released a tired breath. Easier said than done. "Let's not talk about that for now, Ino. I feel like a horrible horrible horrible person."
Ino wrinkled her nose. "Seems like it. You went for the third power there." She chewed the last bite of her toast and clapped the bread crumbs away from her hands. "So what are your plans? You do realize your dad's bodyguards will find you sooner than later. For all we know, they could be on their way."
Sakura stared at the flower garden through the kitchen window, before shifting her gaze back at the clear blue sky that was her friend's eyes. "I think I'm ready to settle things with my dad."
"There's the forehead I want to see. Good morning! Glad you finally woke up!"
Sakura wrestled with her grin, but it managed to beat her by knock-out. "Same here."
Ino straightened her back and flashed a mischievous smile. "Now let's move on to the next topic. How's it going between you and your hot bodyguard?"
So Sakura told her everything that happened from the mountain climbing to the awkward atmosphere with Sasuke this summer. She owed Ino this much after the numerous favors the blonde had done for her. Sakura could at least provide Ino's all-time favorite entertainment – gossip. When she finished, Ino looked at her the same way she eyed Kurama right after he peed on the carpet.
"You know forehead, sometimes I wonder if you're just playing stupid."
Sakura frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You can't always shy away from what's bugging you. If you have issues, face it! Or else it will hunt you down for the rest of your life. You have the hots for Sasuke, so why don't you tell him? Okay, the almost-kiss can be a huge revelation for that but you have to balance it out with verbal communication. He might not understand your intensions well enough, 'cause… let's face it, he looks pretty dense to me. So it all comes back to this: he can't read your mind."
"But what if he doesn't feel the same way? What if he ignores me like how he brushes off his fangirls? …like what he did at Yama." Sakura couldn't bear another rejection. All her life, she had been getting a handful of those, either from their house or from school. Now that she had tripped and was just about to get back on her feet, Sasuke's rejection could be a boulder waiting to crush her face-first onto the ground.
Ino reached over for Sakura's hand and held it tight. "Sakura, that's a part of taking risks. Whatever his response would be – pleasant or not, it will definitely save you the trouble of guessing and wondering about those unending 'what if's'. Often times, the things we fear the most are either non-existent or not realized."
Ino's words pulled the corners of Sakura's mouth in a smile. What would she do without Ino? And who knew Ino had some words of wisdom up her sleeves? "Wow… That's deep."
"Actually, I just read that from here." Ino pointed at the plate of toasts on the table. Indeed, her last sentence was written along the outer circle of the porcelain plate. "We have a set of those; each has a different quote on it. Just how cool is that?"
Now would be a perfect time for some cricket sound effects, and Sakura could very well imagine it as she moved her eyes from the plate to Ino. As if they had planned and practiced it together, they laughed at the same second.
Ino recovered first. "Those words may have come from a plate, but who cares? It's a fitting advice for you."
"Thank you, Ino. I'll remember that."
"Please do."
"Girls?" A maternal voice called.
They turned toward the kitchen entryway for Ino's mom.
"I hate to break your girl talk, but…" She offered Sakura a worried gaze. "Someone's here to see you, Sakura."
Sakura's breath hitched. She had to confront her dad this soon?
Ino's mom smiled in apology. "Karin's in the living room."
She had to gather her thoughts first, and then… Wait. "Karin?"
After the confirmation from Ino's mom and declining Ino's offer to join her, Sakura made her way to the living room with confusion written on her face. How did Karin know she was there?
When she arrived at her destination, Karin jumped off the couch in an instant and ran towards her.
"Sakura!"
For a moment there, she thought Karin would hug her, but the unsurprising thing was that she didn't.
"You have no idea how relieved I am to see you."
Karin? Relieved to see me? "Wouldn't have dreamed of it."
"Look…" Karin's earnest gaze startled her a little. "Uncle Kizashi wants to talk to you. He wishes to sort this mess between you."
The monster in her stomach shifted, announcing its presence. "Where is he? Why are you here on your own? Why you?"
Sakura didn't want to sound rude or anything, but it was impossible to believe that Karin would come over here to bring the news. Just then, Karin's aura switched back to its normal state – the maleficent kind of aura.
Karin snorted and folded her hands in front. "You think I wanna be here? My dad begged me to come and get you."
"What?"
"Since we're 'friends,' he thought you'd willingly go with me. Uncle Kizashi's at our more elegant and more spacious mansion." Karin averted her gaze and eyed the living room. "He got there this dawn, and asked my dad for some help."
'Isn't it worse if he doesn't care at all?' Ino's words fed the monster in her. Even Sakura couldn't stand herself right now, and to top it off, Mr. Uzumaki also had to get involved in her troubles. She didn't deserve his concern. She didn't want to worry him any further, because he was a kind-hearted man… because he was very much like her Sakumo-san.
Sakura's curiosity sparked. "Are you with some bodyguards?"
Karin took more time to answer than necessary. "No… Uncle Kizashi thought they might scare you away."
It wasn't until Karin had stopped talking that Sakura realized she was expecting to hear Sasuke's name. "Oh."
Karin tapped one foot on the floor. "So? Are you coming or will you waste more of my time?"
"As appealing as the second option sounds, the need to see my dad weighed more. Wait here."
Sakura walked back to the kitchen to inform and thank Ino and her mom. The Yamanakas were all generous and understanding, including Ino's dad, who was currently out of town for a business trip. Sakura may have taken another thing for granted, and that was the fact that she was blessed with awesome friends.
In a rush, Sakura washed herself and changed into a shirt and a pair of jeans. Ino and her mom wished her luck and waved goodbye from the front doorstep, while Sakura and Karin walked down the driveway to the car.
"Why didn't you let the driver wait inside the gates?" Sakura asked as she adjusted her back pack strap.
Karin didn't turn to look at her and remained a step ahead. "Because the yard's filthy. Ino's germs are everywhere."
"You have got to be kidding."
"Just shut up and walk faster, freak!"
"Look who's talking." Sakura murmured, before starting to formulate some ways of saying an apology to her father. Shame would no doubt cling to her once she faced her dad again, but she had to suck it up. She had a chance to make things right.
They reached the pedestrian gate, where a guard held it open for them. Sakura thanked him as they walked past.
"Hey Karin? Is Tsunade-shishou there as well?"
"Uh… Yeah, sure." Karin strode over to the lone vehicle on the street – a dark green van with tinted windows. It was parked meters away from the gates.
Sakura frowned. She had never seen that vehicle of the Uzumakis before. "Is that a new car?"
"So what if it is? I'm rich – that explains it."
Karin whirled around to face her when they reached the car. With a too enthusiastic smirk, she slid the door open and stepped aside for Sakura.
"What are you waiting for? Get in!"
There was something off about Karin's demanding tone, but then again, she was always like that. Sakura rolled her eyes, removed the bag from her shoulders, and climbed into the van. She scooted over to the window and placed the bag next to her as a means of buffer between her and Karin. When Sakura raised her head, she froze in place and stopped breathing.
A man occupied the passenger seat, starring back at her. She didn't recognize the driver either.
"Who are you?" She whispered.
The door slid closed, and the two men grinned – a simple gesture that showcased imminent danger. Sakura didn't need to hear their answer. She had a concrete idea who these people were.
She turned to Karin and gathered air into her lungs to tell her to go back outside, but a hand reached over from the back and muffled her shout. Sakura raised an elbow and swung it backwards, hitting the stranger's temple.
"Ow! Little bitch." A masculine voice murmured, before another set of arms from behind locked her hands together and started tying them with a rope. Sakura heard some of them chuckle, but she couldn't be sure with the pounding in her ears.
Beside her, Karin also thrashed on her seat while a fifth stranger tied her own hands. "Hey! What do you freaks think you're doing? This isn't how an interview works!"
The man on the driver seat chuckled before pushing his eyeglasses up his nose bridge. His grayish white hair resembled Kakashi's, but his vibe was nowhere near a bodyguard's. "I guess we'll have to thank you, little miss. You led the Haruno to us. Heh, saves us the trouble."
Karin continued to struggle. "Then why tie us down? We have a deal! Weren't you just after some gossip? You're the paparazzi, right?"
"Not quite."
Karin's eyes widened. Realization dawned on her as her eyes traveled from the man to Sakura. "Ohmygosh." She breathed out, before she started screaming. "Get me outta' here! Help! Somebody!"
"No can do… You already know too much. Gag them up." The white-haired man revved-up the engine and advanced the car, before he took the mobile from the man on the passenger side and raised it on an ear. He met Sakura's eyes through the mirror, and then smirked.
"We got her… with a little bonus in tow."
