Chapter 11: Caught Up In You

Shikaku rolled out of bed, thankfully the sun was up, not o-dark-thirty like every other morning this week. Tsunade, bless her, had said they should take a day off. He sat on the edge of his bed, trying to clear his head.

Had last night been some type of weird dream? He shook his head, cobwebs finally clearing. No, it had been real enough. But what had it really been about? Was Jiraiya seriously implying that the source of all this was one of the Hidden Villages? More than one? Was he actually even suggesting that…

Bullshit. It was all bullshit. Had to be. They were just stoned and talking big.

He thought back over the previous night's conversation and kept coming back to the image of Inoichi's face, wide-eyed as Jiraiya carried on. Something about that image angered him, made him mad that Inoichi might even consider doing something that stupid. Stupid puppy.

"Inoichi!" he barked as he slammed open his friend's bedroom door. "Get your lazy ass out of bed!"

"Shit, man, lemme sleep," Inoichi mumbled pulling a pillow over his head.

"Now, get your lazy bones moving," Shikaku laughed, pulling the sheets off his friend, "You two have been gone a whole week and I've been cooped up in a lab and we need to train. C'mon, let's go down to the training field and spar, taijutsu only."

Inoichi grumbled, sitting up in bed and rubbing his eyes. "What is with you, man?"

Chouza appeared at the door, "What's going on?"

"Shikaku has lost his mind," Inoichi yawned and jerked his thumb toward his friend. "It's Saturday morning and he wants to go goof around, sparring and shit."

"C'mon, you guys. I have been inside for an entire week…," Shikaku started.

"With Tsunade." Chouza added helpfully. Inoichi smirked, wiping the last of the sleep from his eyes.

"Unpacking and running cables and piddly shit. Stuck inside for a whole week…," Shikaku ignored the interruption.

"With Tsunade's tits." Inoichi chimed in.

"And I just need to beat the crap out of something, preferably your sorry hide Inoichi," Shikaku snapped, but by this time he was smiling, too.

Inoichi draped one arm over his black-haired friend's shoulders. "Too much pent up energy, face it, Shikaku, bro, you need to get laid."

"Agreed," Chouza said, "However, I suppose you'll have to settle for getting your butt kicked, Shikaku. C'mon, let's get breakfast on the way."

After breakfast the three friends made their way to their favorite training grounds. "Taijutsu only," Shikaku said, facing Inoichi first.

Taijutsu only with Chouza was pretty much a lost cause – Chouza could whip him in fairly short order. But with Inoichi it was usually a more involved match – they were more evenly matched despite the blonde's few centimeters on him. He could work up a good sweat with Inoichi and still stand a reasonable chance of beating him. And he did want to beat him. Something about that look in his eyes bothered Shikaku no end, Yamanaka should know better than to even think about wanting any shit like that.

They started with some basic kicks and blocks, Shikaku grinning because even though he'd said taijutsu only and he would never cheat on Inoichi, the taller boy just couldn't get it through his head sometimes that Shikaku couldn't turn his own shadow "off." It threw him off, adjusting for a greater reach than what Shikaku really had. And the earlier in the morning or the later in the evenings they worked out together, the greater the effect.

The two of them were really getting into a good sweat by now, Shikaku able to land a couple of good solid punchs because Inoichi was blocking a fraction of an inch off, thrown off by his shadow.

Inoichi managed to get in a good kick on Shikaku that caused him to stagger back. "Hah! pencil-dick!" he shouted.

Shikaku caught his balance and kicked back feeling the resounding thud as he came into contact with Inoichi's thigh. "Bishi-boy," he chided. He came in close for another punch which Inoichi couldn't block.

The last failed block caused Yamanak to lose his balance and fall on his ass. "Cheater," he laughed looking up at Shikaku.

Shikaku smiled, "Liar, I never once used ninjutsu." He held his hand out, leaning forward to help his friend up.

And promptly lost his own balance as he fell face forward into the image of Tsunade's bosom generated by Inoichi's genjutsu. He only managed to catch himself from falling on top of Inoichi by using his shadow to brace against the ground.

"Fucker! You're a one-trick pony, Inoichi. Can't you come up with anything other than Tsunade's tits?"

Inoichi was on his back, laughing up at him, "Whazzat? Shikaku? Couldn't hear you."

Shikaku was bent forward, hands on his thighs, catching his breath. It had been a good workout overall. "Tsunade's tits, it's gettin' a little old don't you think? Can't you come up with something else." In the background he saw Chouza waving to him, he lifted one hand in reply.

Inoichi was curling up in laughter. "I still couldn't hear you!"

Shikaku had caught his breath enough to yell "TSUNADE'S TITS! Getting a little old, don't you think?"

Inoichi was apoplectic, tears of laughter streaming from his eyes. Chouza was waving frantically to him.

Shit.

Shikaku took a deep breath, hands still on his thighs. "Motherf-, she's right behind me, isn't she?"

Inoichi just nodded weakly.

Shikaku straightened slowly. He looked carefully over his shoulder. Shit.

The three legendary sannin stood on the embankment leading down to their training grounds. Jiraiya was leaning his forehead against Orochimaru's shoulder, laughing hysterically. Tsunade stood with her arms crossed over her chest, tapping her foot furiously. Even Orochimaru was smiling at him.

"Shikaku, could I have a word with you for a minute, please?" She called down to him.

"Uh…yeah…sure," he dusted his hands against his pants leg and groaned. Before he started to walk up the embankment he hissed down at his friend, "Payback's a bitch, Yamanaka."

Reluctantly, he ascended the small hill. "Yes, Tsunade, what is it?"

"I just needed to let you know that I'm going to be gone for a bit – definitely tomorrow, maybe Monday, too." She scowled over one shoulder looking back at the cackling Jiraiya and the smirking Orochimaru. "I have some information I need to follow up on with these two," she said, jerking one thumb back and pointing at her teammates. "I'll send for you when we get back."

"Yeah, um, sure, okay," he answered, not really able to think of anything else to say. With her gone, there was nothing he could do in the lab by himself. "Is there anything you want me to work on outside the lab?" he asked.

She shook her head, "Nothing right now, if something comes up I'll get a message to you."

He agreed and they bid each other goodbye. Before he left, Jiraiya called back, "Remember, Shikaku, keep your eyes open and your mouth shut." Then laughingly he added, "For your own good."

Tsunade, between her two friends, whacked the back of Jiraiya's head with one hand. Then just for good measure she whacked the back of Orochimaru's, too. As they walked off into the distance Shikaku heard a faint round of name calling from all three sannin that sounded remarkably like him with his own teammates.

Shikaku, having caught his breath and collected his thoughts, launched himself back down the hill, determined to show Inoichi that payback was, indeed, a bitch.

Later that afternoon, after he'd showered and changed, Shikaku left his friends back at the apartment to pick up some lunch and run some errands, the most important of which was to buy Yoshino a birthday present.

He smiled to himself, yes, they actually had "a date" tonight. She'd teased him, asking if he was sure it was actually a date this time, since he'd made such a fuss about it in front if Inoichi and Chouza last time. And he'd teased her right back by shutting her up with a kiss, like the first time, which she didn't seem to mind at all.

So, running a hand back through his hair again, he looked at the line of shops in one of the main shopping centers in Konoha. Where to start?

Clothes? Well, he had no idea where to begin there, not sizes or styles, nada. Books? Hah, Inoichi had a better chance picking out something she'd like. He had a sneaking suspicion that he could drop the two of them off in a bookstore together for hours and they'd spend the time poring over Gojiro merchandise like two little kids in a toy store. Jewelry? Maybe?

He stopped in front of a jewelry store, an assortment of items displayed in the glass front cases. He went in the store, completely unsure of himself, never having purchased jewelry before other than his own earring, and never for a girl, certainly not a girlfriend (there was that word again) but the clerk was more than happy to assist. A short while later he emerged with a long slender velvet box feeling very satisfied with himself and hoping that Yoshino would like the bejeweled hairpins he had chosen.

They were 6″ long of black bone with a lacquer finish that sparkled in the light. Each was topped with a blue lampwork bead and an ornate silver filigree bead cap with crystal separating the beaded top from the bone of the hairsticks themselves. Silver plated blue heishi beads dangled from the top of each one.

He really hoped she'd like them because he had no idea what else to get her. When the clerk had asked him to describe the girl he was shopping for, all he kept coming back to was her sleek, long black hair. Shikaku was a little bit nervous because he had no idea how these things worked, how could two plain sticks hold up a curtain of hair like hers anyway? But the clerk had reassurred him that they would work and Shikaku had completed his purchase and left.

Back at her house, Yoshino waffled for about 1 minute in indecision over what to wear. She took out her new outfit, the cloud dragon tunic, she'd bought to wear thinking of Shikaku and she was damned if she was going to think one more second's thought about grabby-boy Tsuyoshi trying to paw her in it. She slipped it on, loving the feel of the silk as it slid cool against her skin.

She combed her hair and pinned it back neatly with two barrettes and surveyed her look in there mirror. Satisified, she began to search around for her shoes. With one in her hand she searched for the other one under her bed, stretching to reach it as she heard the doorbell ring. Startled she jumped up and slipped the shoes on, starting towards the doors.

Earrings! She didn't have earrings yet! She dashed to her jewelry box, looking for simple silver studs to match her outfit. She could hear muffled conversation below as her mom and dad talked to Shikaku. She smirked, well, she'd told them her date was a jounin, she just hadn't told them he was older than her, than any other boy she'd ever brought home. She wondered what they'd think of his beard.

Rushing to her bedroom door she had to make herself not go running down the stairs. Shikaku looked up and she smiled to see the way he was looking at her. She'd take that as approval of her outfit. After an awkward round of introductions, the two of them left for dinner.

The restaurant was quiet, dark and intimate. Little candles flickered on the tables, casting a golden glow around the diners. Yoshino loved the place, loved talking with Shikaku, loved how he had one elbow on the table, his chin in that hand leaning forward and talking to her, listening to her, loved everything about the night with him.

Shikaku was totally captivated as well, watching her eyes sparkle in the candlelight, hearing her laugh, seeing how the light caught on her hair and made it shine…

Her hair!

He'd forgotten to give her her present. Reaching into a pocket on his vest he drew out the velvet box and slid it toward her. "Here," he said, "Happy Birthday."

Yoshino beamed. "Thank you!" then opening the box she gasped in surprise. "Oh, Shikaku, they're beautiful, thank you!" She held them up in the light, noting how the crystal caught and scattered the glow. "I'll… if you'll excuse me…I'll… I'll just go put them in, okay?"

He smiled and just nodded and watched her walk away. He was glad she liked them.

A few moments later she returned but the transformation was remarkable, something he had completely not expected. The little silver barrettes at the sides were gone, her hair no longer swaying to her waist. Instead it was swept up elegantly, knotted and held in place by the jeweled hairsticks, silver beads catching the light as she walked. A few stray tendrils twined down on either side of her face, framing it artfully.

Shikaku was wondering if simply being a kunoichi was its own brand of genjutsu. Which one was his date – the girl he'd brought in here or this elegant young woman? Or both? How'd she do that?

"So, um, how do they look?" she asked shyly, casting her gaze down, waiting for his answer.

The effect was striking. Shikaku thought he would do anything, say anything to have her simply look back up at him now. "You look beautiful," he said hoarsely, reaching across the table to cover her hand with his own. He wanted to leave now, to take her with him now, to simply take her…

Where?

Back to his apartment with his party boy roommates? Sure, he'd brought girls back to the apartment before. Inoichi may have been more prolific but he and Chouza weren't completely shut out in the girl department. Of course those girls tended to be more of the party girl variety.

Back to her house with her mom and dad?

WTF? What did you do with a young kunoichi?

It didn't matter – he just wanted to leave now, to be alone with her now, anywhere, just a walk, just anywhere to be where he could hold her. Arm in arm they left the restaurant, strolling in the moonlight. They neared the walls of the village, casting flickering shadows as they passed streetlights. He stopped and pulled her to him, kissing her deeply.

Yoshino circled her arms behind his neck, pulling herself up against him. Sliding his hands down over the cool silk, he slipped them up under her tunic, sliding up until he reached the warmth of her skin at her waist. Further still, one hand covered her breast, thumb circling the center. She moaned into his kiss, turning her head slightly and he kissed roughly, hungrily down her neck across her shoulder.

Daring to, she skimmed her own hands down his body, coming to rest at his waist, fingers tickling along the waistband of his pants. He held her by her hips then, pulling her against him. She could feel his hardness pressed against her, it both frightened and emboldened her to know what she could do, what she was doing to him.

"Yoshino," he rumbled against her ear, "Yoshino, I…"

"Yoshino Sakamoto?" a masculine voice that he thought he faintly recognized jolted Shikaku. He and Yoshino disentangled themselves from each other to stare at the two ANBU who had appeared.

"Could you come with us, please? We have some questions for you."

Yoshino looked at Shikaku, eyes wide having no idea what was going on. "I'll um, I'll see you later, okay?" she whispered to Shikaku.

"Yeah. Sure. I'll see you tomorrow," he mumbled watching her as she walked off into the night with the two ANBU.

Fucking hell?