Chapter Five

Takahashi uneasily pulled away from her grasp, looking at her suspiciously. "What about my eyes?"

Sakura gazed into unblinking red and silver eyes, her heart in her throat. Closing her eyes, she shook her head slightly and looked back at Takahashi, the image of red and silver having disappeared into gold and blue eyes. Just my imagination…

"Your eyes," she said when she finally found her voice, louder this time. "I've only seen one other person with two different eye colors like that. Is it natural?"

Eyeing her warily, Takahashi finally relaxed. With a soft smile, he said, "No, they're not." After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Who are you?"

Blushing at her rudeness, Sakura bowed stiffly and replied, "I am an ANBU squad member from Konoha, assigned to protect and escort you to Amegakure."

Taking this all in, Takahashi chuckled. "I asked who you are, not what you are."

Stiffening, Sakura replied, "I am known as the Wolf of Konoha."

Head tilted, he gazed at her for a long moment. "So you will not tell me your name?" When she did not reply, he sighed. Feigning indifference, he said, "Very well. I guess I won't tell you how I happened upon these eyes of mine."

Frowning, Sakura gritted her teeth, knowing very well what Takahashi was trying to do. "No fair."

At this, Takahashi let out a short, quick laugh and Sakura bit back the urge to smile, knowing she had already fallen into his trap. With a charming smile, Takahashi said, "It's not? It seems perfectly fair to me."

After a few moments, Sakura uneasily relented. "My name is Haruno Sakura."

Smiling, Takahashi nodded. "It seems to suit you… although I don't really know why…"

At this, Sakura was confused, but then realized that she had left her hair as that plain brown color, from when she was posing as a traveler. Deciding not to say or do anything about it, she said, "Well, a deal's a deal."

Smirking, Takahashi said, "Alright, alright. I received this blue eye after I lost my own in a hunting accident. A medic-ninja happened upon me and was able to transplant my eye…" Trailing off, the happy spark in his eye died off, and he refused to make eye contact with her.

Noticing this, Sakura frowned. He's hiding something from me… But before she could say anything, he spoke. "Forgive me, but I am forbidden to tell more of my tale… I promised I wouldn't, and I intend to keep that promise."

When he looked to her, his eyes holding both sadness and hope in them, Sakura smiled. "It's okay." When he sighed in relief, she said, "You are going to be a great leader, Takahashi-sama."

Blushing, Takahashi rubbed his head sheepishly, his long bangs falling back into place, covering over half of his face. "You really think so?"

Smiling at his modesty, Sakura said, "Positive."

With a happy smile, he took Sakura's hand in his, gazing into her eyes. "Thank you, Sakura."

After a moment passed, Sakura began to feel a little uncomfortable. Standing, she beckoned Takahashi to do the same. "Come; we have to meet with the others." With a nod, Takahashi followed after Sakura.

Soon, Sakura and Takahashi arrived at the barricaded base, in the heart of the city. There she found the ANBU captain, Raccoon and Cat waiting for them, looking tired and battered. At least they're still alive, thought Sakura.

Sparing a glance at the ANBU captain, Sakura cringed. Crap… he's definitely pissed… Slowing her pace some, she attempted to lift her head high, squaring her shoulder, but it was really hard to do when the ANBU captain was practically glaring daggers at her.

When she finally met his eyes, they were full with such disappointment and anger that Sakura felt her shoulders sag, as if in defeat. Turning his attention to Takahashi, the ANBU captain said, "Ah, Takahashi-sama. I'm glad to see that you're still alive."

With a smile, Takahashi said, "It's all thanks to the Wolf. Without her, I'm sure I'd be dead by now."

With a huff of annoyance, the ANBU captain looked at Sakura with a glare that said 'I'll-deal-with-you-later'. Turning back to Takahashi, he said, "I'm sorry that we did not sense the danger sooner; maybe if we did--"

With a shake of his head, Takahashi interrupted. "No. If anyone is to blame, it should be me. I should've chosen more trustworthy men for my entourage. The fault is mine, and mine alone."

Stepping forward, Sakura put a gentle hand on Takahashi's arm. "Please, Takahashi-sama. Don't blame yourself. We all should have been more careful… especially me."

Slowly turning to her, Takahashi smiled a pure, happy smile. "Thank you, Wolf. I shall not forget your kindness."

With a blush and a nod, Sakura returned the smile, although it was hidden behind her mask. Yet, despite this, Takahashi's smile widened, as if he saw some change in her that gave away her smile.

Gazing into his blue and gold eyes, Sakura started. For there, deep in their depths, she saw something she hadn't seen in a very long time. It was something that had once graced Naruto's lively blue eyes, and one that had been in Lee's odd eyes before he married Tenten. It was a look of admiration and adoration, and it was directed to her, just as Naruto's and Lee's had once been.

And it frightened her. Not because Takahashi's feelings were too strong or because she did not want them; what scared her was that within her she felt the seed of attraction being planted within her, a seed that filled her with a throbbing need to simply hold him in her arms and never let him go. And she did not know if these feelings were for him or for the one he reminded her of.

After a moment, the ANBU captain spoke, shaking her from her thoughts. "Well, Takahashi-sama, it's been… fun." With a small salute, the ANBU captain nodded to his team and left in a puff of smoke, followed closely by Cat and Raccoon.

Sakura made a motion to follow, but Takahashi interfered, capturing her hand in his. "Sakura," he said, and when she turned to him, he lifted his other hand as if to remove her mask, pausing in mid-air, fingers twitching as if he longed to see the woman beneath. "Will I ever see you again?"

With a small, sad smile, Sakura gently pulled her hand from his hold and replied, "Yes, but not for the reason you hope, I fear."

Tilting his head slightly, Takahashi stilled. "Why?"

Slowly, Sakura said, "I have recently learned that an old friend of mine is here in Amegakure, and so I shall be spending as much time as possible to try and find him. I might ask you for aid in my search."

Taking this in, Takahashi nodded. Then, he tentatively asked, "This… friend. Do you care for him?"

"With all my heart," Sakura replied, silently shocked at how immediate and natural her response was.

Gazing at her for a moment, as if gauging her response, he nodded. "Then I shall do my utmost to assist you."

"Thank you, Takahashi," replied Sakura with a bow. After a moment's hesitation and a quick check to make sure the coast was clear, she reached up and took off the mask Takahashi longed to remove. With a smile, she placed a quick kiss on his lips. "Goodbye."

With a slight flush and wide, wide eyes, Takahashi watched Sakura disappear in a puff of smoke, waving as she did. Putting his hands to his lips, extremely shocked at both her actions and beautiful features, he whispered, "Goodbye… Sakura."


Yea! I finally revealed something! Well, two things. But you guys probably already suspected it... you clever readers you! I'm so glad. All that build up and cliff hangers... I'm so very tired of it all. But that does not mean I won't stop doing them... they're just too darn fun. Alright. And for those of you who are all... scandalized by Sakura kissing Takahashi... let me just say that I'm sorry, but I just had to do it. Takahashi deserved something. So why not a goodbye kiss? And how was Sakura gonna kiss him with her mask on? Huh? Huh? Yeah... that's right. She wouldn't have been able to. Anyway, please keep reading... I promise it's gonna get good real soon. Promise. Okay. That's all. Laters.

I do not own Naruto.