Rose

Thorn #5

"Shisui, are you going on another mission again?" Koharu asked, setting down a hot cup of tea in front of him. He was sitting on the opposite side of the counter while she sat behind it with her own cup of tea.

It had been a while since the two of them had sat down and taken the time to talk and relax. Shisui had been busy with missions and Koharu had been taking care of the flower shop.

"Yeah." The ninja breathed, nodding slowly. His fingers went around the tea cup ear, pulling it closer to him when he lifted it to his lips.

"There seems to be lots of missions for you lately. I'm a little lonely that you can't be with me a lot more." Koharu confessed, twiddling her thumbs.

Shisui's eyes softened and he took a light sip of his cup, then put it down and reached his hand across to hers, wanting to take hold of it.

But, a sudden thought made him stop, and he pulled his hand back with a tight lipped smile.

The girl was a little surprised, yet disappointed, that he pulled his hand away. She knew what he was going to do, but why did he stop?

It looked like he was troubled by something…Koharu's brows knitted slightly together, and she took action instead, doing what Shisui was too hesitant to do.

She placed her hand over his, slowly squeezing it as she stared him in the eyes. "Shisui, what's wrong? You're troubled."

The male sighed, relaxing his shoulders under her touch. "I'm just stressed from work, that's all."

"How stressful is it? Do you have to do something you don't like?" She questioned, looking at him worriedly.

Shisui nodded just briefly and held her hand with both of his, bringing their hands to his lips, where he closed his eyes in a prayer like pose.

"Shisui…?" The flower shop owner tilted her head just slightly.

"Sorry…just let me stay like this for a while." He seemed to bring her hands closer to himself when he said those words.

Understanding that he needed time to sort out his own thoughts, Koharu nodded and kept silent, occasionally taking a sip of tea while she worked with her free arm.

"Koharu, have you ever had a time when you were too scared to continue, knowing that something bad will happen from it?" Shisui suddenly spoke, looking up and opening his eyes.

"What do you mean?" She asked gently.

"I mean, have you ever done something that you knew wasn't going to benefit you or another in any way in the end?"

I have plenty, she thought.

"Yes." She nodded. "There are a lot of things I've done that falls into that category."

The male looked a little dumbfounded, "A lot of things?"

She nodded with a small smile. "Yeah. A lot of things." After a momentary pause, she continued, "You know, just like us. You're a ninja that always goes on missions that involve life or death situations. I'm just a mere flower shop owner. When you're on missions, I pray for your safety but I don't know whether or not you would come back to me alive." Koharu admitted.

"You thought those things…every time I went on a mission?" Shisui was careful in the use of his words, not sure whether or not his voice would crack at how much those words hit home.

He felt the same way, except he didn't know whether he himself would come back to her. Especially when it came to the coup and what was stirring behind the scenes.

He absolutely didn't want to involve her in any of that. He wanted to keep her in the light, where she would shine, and continue to shine, while he dipped his body in ink, into the depths that wouldn't allow him to ever be in the light. He was fine that way.

He only just wanted to be by her side, to protect what he needed to protect.

But he knew in the long run, it was likely that Danzo, the sole opposition to everything he wanted to do for a peaceful negotiation and resolution, would try to stop him.

It wasn't as if Shisui was doing it in a horrible way that would cause danger to the village in regards to the coup, but rather, Danzo had his own ways of doing stuff. He thought he was always right in the sense where he would protect Konoha, not even considering another's ideas that would greatly benefit.

I don't want to get you caught up in any of that, Shisui's onyx eyes bore into hers.

"Sh-Shisui…what's with this intense look…?" Koharu felt her cheeks go red as she averted her eyes, feeling shy.

"Is it wrong for me to look at my girlfriend?" He teased with a grin. Her expressions always lit him up.

She made no sound as her face exploded in red.

Shisui laughed.

"I trust that you're keeping up your act?"

"Yes, Danzo-sama." The woman, dressed all in black, was kneeled down on one knee, her eyes on the elder as he casted a shadow over her form.

"Good." He manoeuvred around his desk and in front of her, "You know what will happen if you disobey me."

"Yes."

"Good girl."

"Danzo-sama, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Won't you let me see them? I haven't seen them in a while."

The elder was silent for a moment, contemplating his options. His eyes knitted together just slightly, but he nodded.

"Very well." The man headed out the door while the girl blended into the darkness, following his shadow.

I hope they are alive and well…the girl thought. She quickly erased her thoughts, needing to keep calm.

After all, she was a part of ROOT that was under Danzo's influence and control.

Even if she was blackmailed into it.

"Momoka?"

"Koharu-neechan? Is that you?" A younger girl, no older than 12, had woken up, rubbing her eyes as she carried her blanket with her out into the living room. After rubbing her eyes, she blinked a few times, adjusting her browns to the dim lights. "Koharu-neechan…!" Her voice didn't seem to come out when she rushed forward, leaving behind her blanket as she threw herself on the older woman, hugging her like her life depended on it.

Koharu, clad in her black outfit made for ROOT, took off her head attire and leaned down to hug her younger sister, embracing her warmly.

Danzo stood at the door. The current residence they were in were for Koharu's family members. Her mother and her sister.

"Has anybody done anything to hurt you?" Koharu cupped her younger sister's cheeks and waited for an answer.

Momoka shook her head, letting her short curls bounce. "No, they didn't. They haven't done anything to us."

"That's good." The older sister sighed in relief and ruffled the younger girl's hair. "You should go back to sleep. It's late."

"But it's been a while since I've seen you! I'm not allowed to talk to you outside of here so I've missed you! I can't even visit the flower shop that you work!" She cried.

"That can't be helped. You're under surveillance. I'm sorry." She brought her sister closer. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry."

Momoka couldn't help but let the tears escape her eyes. She cried, hitting her sister weakly on her back, before eventually hugging her tightly.

"Where's mother?" Koharu asked, taking a look around the room.

"Mother's gone out to get some medicine from the Uchiha compound." The girl responded, wiping away the tears that she deemed ugly.

"Medicine?" Koharu pulled back and stared at her sister with wide eyes. "What for?"

"Lately mother's been feeling sick, so she's been getting treatment from a doctor from the Uchiha compound."

She's sick…? Koharu's brows knitted.

"Okay, time's up. Let's go back, Koharu." Danzo tapped his cane against the ground, signalling the end of their reunion.

So quick, the ROOT member thought with spite.

She controlled her emotions and smiled softly at her kin, kissing the top of her head. "Wish mother well for me, Momoka."

"I will! Please come back and visit soon!"

"I will. Stay safe."

Once they were out of the residence, they headed back to Danzo's office. Koharu had to put her head gear back on, in order to not allow her identity to be found out.

"Remember the reason why you are in ROOT." Danzo used his cane to press it to Koharu's shoulder, pushing it where she would wince.

But, she did not.

She didn't allow herself to feel something outwardly. If she did, it would break the whole entire premise of her impeccable streak where she would be the best actress.

She was different from the other ROOT ANBUs, and she knew that. Danzo knew that. She was the only one that was allowed to have her emotions, the only one that didn't need to have a mark seared on her tongue.

She was the ANBU that was able to keep up a real emotive response, unlike the other ROOT ANBUs that would have only an empty backing—an obviously fake demeanour.

But, despite her having 'leeway' in terms of being a member of ROOT, she didn't, and couldn't, disobey Danzo, because her family was held hostage.

Even if it meant lying to the whole world.

"Yes, Danzo-sama."