The Boy in the Park

Chapter Twenty-Three

Naruko did not come over for breakfast. Anko on the other hand remained. They made small talk, and then she left with a wink and a smile. He sighed and was just about to continue his Sunday morning chores when he heard a knock at the door.

This time, he narrowed his eyes and moved to the side of the door, before carefully swinging it open. The moment he saw the blur of the black bagging Anbu enter he slammed the frying pan into their face.

There was a strong 'THONK' noise as the Anbu fell flat on its back.

He snorted and twirled the frying pan.

"Predictable," he said. The next instant he was of course disarmed and face-bagged by the Anbu's colleague. He cursed under his breath once more when he found himself again brought to the Torture and Interrogation department.

Really, this was starting to get old!

"Are you planning on getting a bigger apartment?" Ibiki asked him calmly.

"Eh?"

"Of course, there is the marriage to consider."

"W-What!?"

Ibiki made a fierce smile.

"I'm sure the dating period could be of—"

Then the door of the interrogation room barrelled open with a loud noise, and Anko entered fuming and yelling.

"WHAT THE HELL!? Ibiki! I warned you! I warned all of you!" she said to the nearby Anbu who were watching. "I don't need any fucking babysitters!"

"Anko, language," Ibiki chided the woman. Anko blinked.

He, on the other hand…

Ah…so that was why Anko reminded him of Naruko.

He looked towards Ibiki and then understood.

"Ah…Anko? We were just talking, really," he said slowly.

"Do you usually talk strapped to a chair in one of the least known torture chambers of the department?" Anko queried back, crossing her arms over her chest. "Because if it's like that, then I want in on the kink."

He spluttered. "Not like that!"

"Yes, we were just…talking, and they were about to get some tea, yes?" Ibiki said towards the Anbu, who nodded and left quickly.

"Uhm…" Anko raised an eyebrow. Ibiki sweated, and then untied his restraints. He massaged his wrists and sighed.

"It's all right, Anko, really," he smiled at her briefly, and she pouted for a second.

"Fine!" the girl exclaimed. "But we're going out this afternoon, understood lover-boy?"

He blinked. "Yes?"

"Good! Four o'clock, in front of the cinema: don't you dare be late!"

Then she was out. He turned to look at Ibiki, who actually exhaled in relief.

"Difficult to let them go when they grow up, huh?"

"Think you can relate?" Ibiki deadpanned.

"I basically grew Naruko up alone," he shrugged back. "I did find some similarities between the two…and you just confirmed it to me."

"You know of Orochimaru, right?" Ibiki said carefully.

"The traitor sannin, right?"

"Yeah, Anko was his apprentice. The man took her and nine other kids out of Konoha, and she was the only one who came back alive. The girl was an orphan, and she venerated the man. The moment he betrayed Konoha, she took it the hardest but remained loyal. I was the one in charge of checking her loyalties. We had a few sessions and then she just kept coming back." Ibiki shrugged as he grabbed a cup of tea that had appeared from nowhere. "She became the Torture and Interrogation mascot after that, and then she started working here."

"I see," he replied. "I saw the parallels with Naruko," he grimaced slightly as he grabbed his own teacup. He took a hesitant sip and then widened his eyes briefly. "This is good."

"Course it is, we get it from the Hokage's personal supplies."

He sputtered for a moment. "You steal this from the Hokage?" he choked out.

"No, we just take a loan," Ibiki remarked with a grin. "I must say however…you swung a frying pan at an Anbu, those were some pretty reflexes."

He glanced away. "Well…I eventually do learn the lesson."

He felt sleepy.

"Of course," Ibiki nodded. "Which is why we sometime take a subtler approach when needed."

His eyelids dropped slowly.

"You…laced…the tea."

"See you soon," and then Ibiki's smile was the last thing he saw, before falling asleep.

When he woke up, it was in his bed and the clock was just then chiming the lunch hour.

He exhaled…he just hoped everything would settle down.

It turned out it didn't, because in the next weeks the Chuunin Exams were all people talked about —that and his relationship with Anko.

He had the feeling it was more of a 'sex and go' thing with the woman, but then again he was doing well in his own opinion. The fact he kept on receiving 'invitations' to the Torture and Interrogation department on a weekly basis was something he'd live without, but he couldn't have everything in this life.

One thing, however, he noticed.

Naruko's presence, or lack thereof. The girl no longer came around for breakfast, and if it weren't for the dwindling supply of Cup Ramen in his cupboard, he doubted he'd even know she was eating. Of course, it simply could be that they were all training hard for the Chuunin Exams.

"You know," Anko said with a smirk, as they were at an outdoor café near the centre of Konoha. "I'm going to be one of the proctors for the exam."

"Really?"

"Yeah! I can't even tell you what it's about, but Ibiki's doing the first test," she smiled. "I'm doing the second, so the kids don't stand a chance this year around."

He grinned back. "I heard the rookies of this generation are pretty good."

"You're just taking the brat's side," Anko pouted. "How's she by the way?"

He glanced sideways. "I don't know." He exhaled. "She's not talking to me."

Anko quickly ate a stick of dango, before smirking. "Aw, how cute: she'd doing the precious. If she survives Ibiki, don't worry: I'll set her straight."

"You would?"

"Course I would," she rolled her eyes. "Can't have good sex with a partner who's absent-minded because his sister doesn't talk to him," she narrowed her eyes. "You aren't a siscon, are you?"

He sputtered. "What? No!"

"Good! So…" she smiled. "Want to get rid of the clothes elsewhere?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You know it's still day?"

"So?"

"I know that some believe that all dates should end in 'glory' but…what am I, to you, exactly?"

Anko stilled. She looked nervous. "Look…let's not put feelings in this, all right? This…it's just good company and sex."

"I see," he grimaced. He gritted his teeth slightly. Then he swallowed a retort and opened his eyes again. "Then we can remain as friends if you'd like."

She blinked. "Wait. No, no! I'm not— Oh that came out wrong, didn't it? I mean…argh! Look…" she fumbled around. "It's not the sex with the good company, because you're a bit mediocre in bed that is…it's the good company with the sex. I mean…you're good company and…argh," she brought both hands to her hair. "You're not making this easy to explain!"

"I understand perfectly," he made a small bow. "Well…if you need someone to talk with, my door's always open."

Then he stood up, paid and left.

Of course, the next minute twenty-seven Anbu, two Jounin and three Tokubetsu Jounin kidnapped and carried him straight in the Torture and Interrogation department.

Where Ibiki waited, looking at him with the sort of smile that promised pain.

He looked back at him, holding his gaze.

And then, with a sigh, Ibiki acquiesced.

That was the first time he did something extremely stupid.

It wouldn't be the last…by a long shot.