Rose
Thorn #7
That was a lot easier than planned.
When Koharu had escaped the scene quickly after killing off the man that had murdered many, she had known Shisui was already on the scene.
If anything, he's using his sharingan and would know my chakra signature. That's no good. I wasn't fast enough in escaping.
Having gone back home, she quickly washed the clothes that were stained with the killer's blood. She couldn't leave behind any sort of evidence that would lead to her. After all, she was known as the owner of the flower shop, not a ninja of ANBU ROOT.
That killer…how many has he killed now? 100? 200? He's killed many.
Koharu pressed her hands into a light prayer. Even though she didn't believe in anything like destiny, fate, or God, she would do that if the situation called for it.
Rest in peace.
The flower shop owner made herself a quick snack, waiting for the water to boil for her two minute noodles. She had become hungry after eating something light for dinner.
That guy was weaker than I thought. Maybe he's so good at running away that he was able to evade all the people. That being said, the minute he saw me after I sliced his neck, he was shocked.
Koharu sighed and went to her bed, falling onto it on her stomach. She hugged her pillow.
He bought a lot of flowers at the shop, too…this is taking a huge chunk out of my salary.
She only got back up when the hot water had signalled that it finished boiling. She headed over to make her noodles. When she did, she just stared at it for the few minutes that she had to wait, one thought going through her mind.
What would Shisui do if he found out that it's me?
"Shisui, you're a little strange today. Is something the matter?" 2 days later, Koharu and Shisui were in the flower shop. Shisui hadn't been there for so long yet, but he had taken his usual seat by the counter.
I saw you use that sharingan just then, Koharu kept the smile, even though she knew that Shisui had found out. She couldn't afford to break now, or else everything would be ruined. She had to keep up the act.
"Work is just a little stressful." Shisui lied through his teeth, hoping he sounded convincing. It was hard—his feelings were real, but hers was a lie.
After all, she was part of ROOT ANBU.
"Is it really?" She asked, sounding concerned. "You ought to have some time off to relax."
He nodded and reached out to take her hand. He held it like he almost didn't want her to go away or leave.
He's not as talkative today, Koharu noticed.
How much have you kept from me? Are you even 'Koharu'? Who are you? Shisui closed his eyes and brought her hand to his lips.
Why did you have to be a ninja?
"How much do you see with that sharingan of yours?" Koharu asked, finally sitting down across from him. She didn't mind talking about something that he was hesitant to talk about. If it's a fact, it's a fact.
Shisui opened his eyes and looked up at her, wondering why she would start the conversation the way that he didn't want—the way that would indicate that she was just a liar.
Nevertheless, he still answered her question. "…too much to count."
"Shisui, does that include chakra signatures as well?" She asked with curiosity.
Shisui almost froze. He knew where she was getting with this, and with this conversation, it definitely indicated that she knew. That she knew that he knew, and that's why she's the one talking.
Even though she had the same tone of voice as before, like each time they would talk together, it was a blow to him that it was so easy for her to fake it.
As expected of ROOT ANBU, he thought almost bitterly.
"Yeah, that includes signatures." Shisui nodded. It was like she was asking for confirmation. She probably already knew exactly what the sharingan did, but she feigned she did not know.
"That's why I was surprised that you used it just after coming in. You didn't use it at all before. Did something happen?" She asked, quite innocently.
It was almost as if she was forcing Shisui to talk. To talk to her about what he found, to talk to her about her being a fake.
Shisui wasn't able to reply. He stared at their intertwined hands, avoiding her stare.
Why do you have to torture me like this?
"Shisui, I have a request." Koharu stood in front of the Uchiha, blocking him from the exit. She met his surprised eyes, which held a guarded feature that he previously didn't seem to have before.
"What is it?" His tone of voice softened just slightly, but enough for Koharu to pick up on.
"I'd like to talk it over with my side first before anything, so…can I trust that I will stay in your care?" She chose her words very carefully. She didn't want to give anything away, but she implied it. It was a very roundabout way of speaking, but she knew that there might be someone watching them, to report her actions to Danzo.
Shisui studied her for a long moment. He didn't know if it was an act or not. Heck, he didn't know what to believe if it included her.
If she wants to play like this, I'll do the same, then.
"If you'll let me." He ended up saying.
Koharu breathed a sigh of relief, before moving out of his way. "I would explain, but, I can't." She smiled at him.
Shisui was confused. Her words and her smile didn't match.
Since Koharu was closer to the window than he was, 2 seconds into the smile, she glanced outside to see if her hunch was right.
There is one, she counted. Her eyes went back to Shisui, the smile still on her face. There was no doubt that he had seen her look outside, and knowing that he was no idiot, he would have caught on.
"Do you still want the two roses? They'll be on me today." Koharu went to cut the roses, making them at three times the speed that she would normally show others. In less than half a minute, she was done. She handed it to him, "Here you go. Do say good evening to your parents for me." She tip toed up to kiss him on the cheek as she nearly always did.
"Please just for a little longer." She whispered, almost pleadingly, before she returned to the usual bubbliness that happened after she kissed his cheek.
What?
Shisui was a little dumbfounded, but he took the flowers and left the shop, waving at her goodbye.
Shisui honestly didn't know what to think. He thought Koharu was someone that he could trust, but then it turned out she was in ROOT ANBU, and then now she's saying things that don't really match up with that?
This is strange.
He thought back to when she had obviously hinted to him that there was someone watching them from outside.
If someone was watching her from outside, wouldn't that mean that Danzo doesn't trust her enough? That's definitely not normal. And, she said that she would explain, but she 'can't'. Not that she 'won't'. Is someone stopping her from saying anything?
He leaned on his palm against the table, staring at the candle light that sat at his desk. Normally he would turn on the lights but that night felt like a candle one. He would watch it flicker and still, then flicker again. It was almost interesting, had he not been preoccupied with his own thoughts.
It was already bad enough that the timing for this was around now. The coup would be the following week, and it might even get pushed forward, depending on circumstances.
So, he was on edge. But even so, he didn't try to show it.
He wondered how he was able to keep being so strong. The current situation begged for it and the coup's prevention was a higher priority of importance than Koharu, so he shouldn't be feeling much.
For the situation with preventing the coup, he was sure that something might happen so that Shisui wouldn't be able to change the minds of the Uchiha, and for Koharu's, Danzo was backing that. However, he didn't know the 'mission' Koharu was tasked with when it came to him.
Was it getting information? Or was it to assassinate him when the time came for it? He wouldn't know.
All he wanted was for her to explain herself.
But, in a way that wasn't a lie.
"Danzo-sama, you seem busy tonight." Koharu commented, latching onto the outer window of his office. She allowed herself in and went in front of the desk, kneeling down on one knee to show the non-existent respect she had for the elder.
Not that she'd ever tell him, anyway.
"That is of no matter to you." Danzo's words were sharp.
Even so, you could at least indulge in a little information you old fart, Koharu hissed mentally.
She kept up the façade. "I guess so."
"Did you learn anything from him?" The elder got straight to the point.
'Him', huh…he doesn't even refer to him by his name, Koharu's eyes were closed at this point. She normally did this when she was thinking of an answer, or if she was trying to make up something on the fly. Either way, it worked because it always made sense.
"He is tight lipped about the clan and the workings within it. He—"
"So you learnt nothing?" Danzo cut through her with a stern look.
She didn't even need to open her eyes to know exactly what kind of look he was giving her. She sighed gently to herself and opened her eyes, staring at the feet of the desk. "No, I did not."
He was silent for a moment, before he waved his hand. That signalled her to go.
She left, silent as a shadow, internally grinning at how she managed to fool him, too.