26th April 2032, San Francisco, Time - 7.54pm
He shouldn't be doing this.
He knew he shouldn't.
He'd been told all too many times by various people that he shouldn't.
If anything, even her lingering distrust of him, the wary guardedness with which she continually regarded him, should have been enough warning for him to know what he was doing was wrong.
And yet, to him, the only thing intrinsically wrong about the entire arrangement was the fact that it had taken her so long to stop looking at him with underlying suspicion and finally start to relax around him.
He'd been making an earnest effort (at least, in his eyes) to clear whatever misunderstandings had led her to alter her behaviour towards him so drastically from the first time they'd actually connected over dinner. Heck, he'd gone out of his way to apologise to her, given her what he had deemed a fitting dress for the 'date' he'd inadvertently asked her on (girls were supposed to like that sort of thing, right?) and even acquired a limo as a mode of transport- (so definitely out of character for him). But he'd realised, much to his approval in a sense, that the closest he'd gotten to seeing her relax around him and shed her guarded wary look of reproach, was when he'd started talking to her with as much honesty as he could muster. Of course, he should have known from the start that she wasn't one to be swayed by materialistic luxuries; she'd liked him for his own character the first time round, not the affluence the name "Uchiha" brought with it.
Sasuke wasn't one for words most of the time, but he somehow found himself quite willing to respond to her efforts to make conversation while they were en route to their destination. She stoked a side of him he hadn't realised still existed- one he could only vaguely suppose was part of his character in those early hazy memories of before they'd taken his mother away. One which preferred to take pleasure simply in the times they spent together not focused on any all consuming goal or motive, unlike what his life as of late had largely become.
And in spite of all the warning bells ringing in his head as he chose to sit on her side of the vehicle, rather than on the empty seat opposite her; in spite of his uncle's imminent disapproving glares at his choice of company to this particular meeting; in spite of the fact that according to his brother, he was putting at risk everything they'd been working towards in terms of saving his mother (a task which still hung over him like an ever-present weight on his shoulders)- in spite of everything, the only things which seemed to be of much importance to him at that moment were the small, shy laughs she'd make in response to something he'd inadvertently say, or the way she held his gaze for a little longer every time their eyes met, less guarded and more relaxed each time, or the way she'd begun to gently lean her head against his shoulder as their conversation lulled.
He had no way of defining the growing attraction he was developing towards her; the only things he knew were that he wanted more of her- be it getting to know her, spending time with her, or even, catering to his more possessive side, to claim her as his own; he wanted more, and he knew he shouldn't want anything to do with her.
Moreover, the only thought of significant gravitasse whirring in his head was the echoing memory of his recent dream, the connection it had with the bracelet he'd found on her arm today, and his confused speculation on what significance that could have had. Another memory came to mind, one of his asking her, not so long ago, at a table in Ichido's, the identity of the person who'd given her that particular bracelet. Her instinctive reply was 'you', before she rectified it soon after. Could it be that, on some level, her initial response had been the right one? It was incredibly silly of him to be basing such speculation on merely a creation of his subconscious, but still...
He found himself pulled away from his brooding as he felt her presence on his arm suddenly disappear as she moved towards the car door. A quick check of their surroundings brought him to the realisation that they'd reached their destination, leading him to leave the car, holding the door open as he held out a hand for his companion to grasp onto.
Her soft, creamy fingers clasped in his larger hand reminded him again of the way they'd felt laced through his hair the previous day, before her silken voice drew his attention to the question she posed.
"So I'm guessing Naruto's already told you about his all inclusive plans for the weekend?" she asked, laughing as she watched his stoic expression rapidly deteriorate into one of confusion and dread.
"What plans?" he asked, inwardly face palming at whatever nonsense the idiot had signed himself up for this time.
"Hinata mentioned it last night. Apparently the four of us have promised to take Yuki to an amusement park or something- I think they mentioned a fair actually. Goodness knows how Naruto planned on dragging you along; you're the last person I'd ever imagine going to a seasonal fair of that sorts-" she supplied, a smirk growing on her face at the mental imagery.
"I could say the same for you." he quipped as they walked to the elevator, already noting with resigned annoyance that there was no way he could back out of it without inciting his best friends incessant whining and complaining, potentially hurting Yuki as well from the disappointment. But, a part of him still argued, did he even want to back out?
"Not normally, no. But it's for Yuki. Plus, it sounds like it could be pretty fun."
Fun indeed. He found the prospect of spending a day out with her, away from the circumstances they were grouped under, with her almost exclusive company, incredibly alluring. (Assuming Naruto didn't cling to him the entire time)
"I'm assuming you'll shoot him down and tell him you're not going, huh?" she asked.
That's what I would have planned on doing. "Who says I don't want to go too?" he retorted, smirking as he fixed her with what he knew was an intense gaze, finding it returned with smouldering emerald irises, refusing to break eye contact as he went on to add, "Maybe we could even find something else to do once the kids are satisfied." Kids being Yuki and Naruto. "Alone"
She looked as though she was about to say something, a light blush dusting her cheeks, but he found himself fixated solely on her simmering jade orbs, which seemed to read every thought that crossed his mind while being so informative as to the mass of excited anticipation, mild humour, and something akin to embarrassment as she read into the possible intentions behind what he'd just said.
All of which were cut short by the sound of the elevator signalling that they'd reached their intended floor, leaving him to forego her hand in lieu of placing his arm possessively around her waist, leading her into the restaurant, to their designated table.
26th April 2032, Jardinière Restaurant, 300 Grove Street, San Francisco, Time- 8.23pm
"We're starting clinical trials next month- I swear Sasuke, we've got an amazing research team this time. There's this one woman- Dr Yuhi, she's only been on the team for six months but I'm seriously considering referring her to join the research team here." The elder Uchiha, who Sakura'd discovered was a cousin of some sort to her own escort for the night, was in the process of animatedly informing Sasuke of what he considered noteworthy updates from the European side of things.
Sasuke nodded in acknowledgement, looking like he was about to say something in response when the fourth member of the table interrupted both men.
"Oh come on boys, that sort of thing is neither here or there. We're here to catch up- save the nitty-gritty for your meeting tomorrow. And Sasuke! You simply must tell us how you ever came to meet a woman as lovely as Sakura. I've never seen you spare as much as a second glance towards the women in your life." Rin Uchiha, who had been quietly making conversation to Sakura till then, indulging her husband's insistence on talking 'business' with his cousin, had finally stepped into their conversation with a stern unspoken demand to move the conversation to more appropriate realms.
Sakura watched as Obito visibly seemed to whine in complaint at his wife's words, before sharing a moment of brief eye contact with the woman in question and nodding in silent understanding- finding their interaction adorable from the vantage point her emerald eyes bought her.
"We ended up meeting through work- a series of well placed coincidences really." Sakura supplied, looking out of the corner of her eyes to find Sasuke's onyx eyes trained unabashedly on her.
"So you work at the Corporation?" Obito asked, eyebrow raised.
"Not really. I'm a cop." she supplied, relishing in the look of surprise the statement brought to their faces.
Rin broke out into a cheeky grin as she looked on in approval, nodding to Sasuke as she said, "It's about time that kid got a strong woman to put him in his place for a change. A cop...well I never."
Sakura offered a graceful smile in response, sinking into an amiable conversation with the couple as their meals arrived and the night progressed, all the while aware of Sasuke's ever-present gaze in her direction, and the hand he subtly placed on her leg; not close enough to her knee to be patronising, not too far up her thigh to be thought indecent, but lightly strumming his fingers along the area in between making its presence unignoreable.
At some point Sakura found herself in the lady's room with Rin, lightly checking her reflection in the mirror and tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ear as the other woman brushed up parts of her makeup.
"Sooo, how long have you been together?" Rin asked, breaking the silence that hung between the two women.
Right. So that's what they've been thinking. That we're together. Sakura face palmed internally, and would have groaned in embarrassment had she any less control over her emotions. Better clear that misunderstanding up. "Well, technically, we're not 'together'."
"Well let me tell you something, love, it won't be very long until you will be." She said with a knowing smirk.
Choking on her own breath, Sakura coughed, her face colouring as she asked, "E-Excuse me?"
"A tip from a woman who's had to put up with that Uchiha nonsense for the greater part of fifteen years- If you know how to read an Uchiha, you can tell when he's serious. And that boy back there is most definitely serious about you." she went on, almost patronisingly (but not quite).
Erm, okaay. Now what am I supposed to say to that? "Hmm... I don't exactly see how you can know that."
"Hon, you should have seen the way that boy was looking at you- you'd think he thought you're the only woman in the world, now ain't that sweet?" she went on, her expression letting Sakura know how adorable the other woman found the entire description.
I'm pretty sure that's the last thing he had on his mind.
"Don't give me that expression now- I haven't misinterpreted, have I? You do have feelings for him don't you?" the older women asked, a look of embarrassed concern on her face.
No. Of course she didn't. When they first met- perhaps she'd liked him. Until he'd proven to be a lying bastard. But he had done his best to apologise. Not ruling out the team's suspicion that he was still tangled up in the mess their current investigation was slowly trying to unravel. There was no logical reason for her to even consider Rin's question. Yet, she had no way of resisting that strong, inexplicable pull he had on her. As though it were strong enough to disregard every suspicion surrounding his actions and strip them down to what they were meant to be; signs of affection? Not to mention the growing part of her which seemed to agree with what Rin was trying to say; recognising certain habits and subtle nuances in the way he acted around her, as though she instinctively knew him?
She thought back to the first night she honestly found herself liking him for him, and not for any of the work- associated trouble which surrounded their meeting. And then again back to the soft, tenderness in his eyes as she woke up to find herself clutching his hand, his eyes bare inches away from her own as they peered on, his thoughts lost somewhere in those obsidian pools. If she thought of him alone, separated from the mass of circumstantial evidence that pointed against her, she found every fibre of her being willing to trust him completely; as though she could see a side of him which was torn apart and submerged in the mess of deceit and secrecy which surrounded her investigation and his company, and it was a side she was more than comfortable to engage with.
Did she like him? Impulsive as it may have seemed, her final answer always boiled down to a Yes. An inexplicable, undeniable yes. Repercussions be damned.
And she answered the same to the brown haired woman who stood by her side, studying her expression cautiously through her reflection in the mirror.
26th April 2032, Jardinière Restaurant, 300 Grove Street, San Francisco, Time- 8.53pm
Sasuke peered at the cousin sitting across from him over the rim of his wine glass. Both women had left the table several minutes prior and neither had spoken a word since, both absorbed in their own thoughts allowing a companionable silence to ensue. However, having finally allowed himself to sort his thoughts to his satisfaction, Sasuke leaned forward slightly and began to speak.
Incidentally, his cousin chose to do so at the exact same moment.
"How are you tackling the Ethical Committee for those trials?"
"A cop, Sasuke? Seriously, a cop?!"
Both sat blinking blankly at each other for a few moments until Obito started talking, shaking his head knowingly as he grinned. "Like I said, we've got an amazing research team. Good at presenting sufficient evidence and handing it over to us so we can handle the Committee. And Dr Yuhi is looking for a change of pace- she seems on board with a promotion to HQ here, even."
Sasuke nodded with approval, satisfied with the response before adding, "If you bring her file along to the meeting tomorrow, I'll have a look. We might need more people on this side of things."
Still grinning, Obito pressed, "You've not answered my question yet, Sasuke."
"I don't see what there is to answer." Sasuke supplied, unwilling to explain himself to the likes of Obito, as though he were a child caught doing something he shouldn't.
If possible, Obito's grin widened, in danger of becoming a permanent feature on his elfish face. Sasuke looked towards the hallway through which Sakura had disappeared with Rin earlier, involuntarily willing her to return sooner.
As if by design, a head of pink hair emerged, followed by the brunette she'd left with earlier, and he could vaguely hear the tail ends of whatever conversation they were having as her laughter reached his ears like chiming bells.
"...and don't get me started on their limited vocabulary!" He heard Rin saying.
"Always talking in 'Hn's or 'Aa's" was Sakura's response, followed by further laughter from both women.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he realised their laughter was a joke- at their expense.
As both women reached their table and Sakura slid onto the smooth leather seat next to Sasuke, he reached out an arm to wrap around her waist, ignoring her surprise as he pulled her closer to lean against his side.
Leaning down till his lips brushed the shell of her ear, he smirked and whispered suggestively, "You know, I can be an expert communicator when I want to be." relishing in the light blush that dusted her cheeks in response.
26th April, 2032, Unknown Location, San Francisco, Time - 9.38pm
"Do you honestly think he can pull this off?" a sleek, feminine voice cut through the darkness from their perch, an office somewhere in the higher floors of a private-owned multi-storey compound, the only other occupant of the room her male associate.
Before them a large computer mainframe lay open- various screens with various videos, analysis units and data streams on display.
The main focus of their conversation, was however the enlarged screen which played out footage from a surveillance camera planted in a restaurant of their particular interest; specifically the quartet consisting of two Uchihas, a wife and a target, which was currently in the process of ordering tea and after-meal beverages. And at that, no ordinary surveillance. State of the art undetectable surveillance planted specifically for the purpose of recording both the visual and auditory proceedings with extreme detail.
"Itachi has assured me of his compliance-" the gruff male voiced.
"Itachi doesn't know what's at stake." The woman cut off harshly, her voice barely above a whisper the entire time. "He knows almost nothing." she continued, looking at the other man pointedly, "He doesn't even know I exist." she said, laughing mirthlessly as she looked at the other man pointedly, adding an insidious after threat of, "And you'd best keep it that way."
Turning back to the screen, she sighed and added, "Besides," her head inclined towards the digital image of Sasuke Uchiha, "That boy isn't nearly as tightly under his elder brother's thumb as you'd like to believe..."
"Still enough under his mother's to know what needs to be done." he retorted.
She glared at him, her sapphire eyes icily staring him down as she questioned him sceptically, "Ask yourself in all honesty- does that look like a man who's guided by his logic?"
26th April, 2032, Hyuga Mansion, San Francisco, Time- 10:47pm
He'd intentionally let their driver station their vehicle beyond the gates to the mansion's grounds- with the pretence of accompanying her to the front door to see her home safely. She didn't seem to mind in the least though, he noted with gratification.
"So I'll be seeing you this weekend, I take it?" he said, watching as she came to a stop just out of line of sight of the main house.
"If you actually want to go. Don't force yourself." she quipped, looking at him with soft concern.
"Do you honestly think I'm the type of person who would?" he asked, smirking.
She returned his smile, saying, "No. No, you wouldn't."
He felt his smirk drop as her own smile fled from her face, a look of apologetic guilt replacing it. She looked as though she were about to say something, so he waited for her to start talking.
"Look, Sasuke...I can't say I completely trust you, even now." she started.
He felt the corners of his mouth tugging into a frown before she went on to continue her line of thought.
"..But I haven't been entirely fair to you either. I've not seen you be anything but sincere in your attempts to apologise for that entire mess we started off with. And..I've been pretty hard on you I guess. God, I'm rambling now." he watched as her eyes betrayed the emotions flitting through her mind, her face equally as expressive to him in that moment- her initial hesitation, her resigned guilt, and even her shy embarrassment at the end.
He found the urge to smirk increasingly undeniable, especially in light of what he realised was an attempt at a proper reconciliation coming from the incredibly attractive woman standing next to him.
"I guess, what I mean to say is, I won't even dream of saying I don't like you- that would be me lying. I believe there's a man under all that corporate nonsense and stoic exterior- a man I met that night in Ichido's. I liked that man. And, as much as you might have been lying about your identity then, that man is you. Erm, I suppose I'm trying to say we could-"
"I think that's quite enough." he interrupted, his smirk teetering on the brink of breaking into a genuine smile- remaining a smirk only by a small margin. You've said more than enough for me to understand.
He watched her frown, slight confusion marring her dainty features as she opened her mouth as though to say something.
He took a step towards her, commanding her attention with his eyes as he leaned towards her, saying, "I get the general idea.." he said, swooping down to catch her lips in a tentative kiss, momentarily concerned that he may have misinterpreted the situation entirely when he felt her stiffen against him, before relaxing in satisfaction as he felt her respond to his lips with a rapidly intensifying hunger. For him.
He felt his hands involuntarily reach around her, pulling her petite form closer to his as his hands roamed over her lace- covered back, overcome with the overwhelming need to feel her close to him, eventually finding one of his hands tugging urgently at her silky tresses, tilting her head upwards to an angle which allowed him better access, with the other hand reaching the dip of her hips, pushing her more firmly towards him.
She responded with equal vigour, her body rolling against him in ways that did nothing to abate his growing arousal, almost as though she was trying to make him lose every ounce of control he had remaining. He shuddered at the contact as he felt a hand slowly start stroking up and down his chest, pushing his suit coat aside so there was nothing but the fabric of his shirt separating her hand from his skin, fingers ever so subtly slipping between the buttons of his shirt to tease his bare skin before darting away again. Her other hand slowly dipped below his abdomen, boldly rubbing his thigh with a tender, irresistible touch. Gods, she was driving him crazy.
Groaning into her mouth, he slipped his tongue out, ever so lightly running it along the length of her lower lip, feeling her shiver in pleasure as her closed eyes snapped open, looking at him with a fiery desire with an equally suggestive moan that did nothing to help his quickly waning control. Her lips parted, sighing in contentment as her own tongue darted out to meet his, deepening the contact at her lips as his hand left her hair, reaching down to one of her legs and lifting it up till it wrapped around his waist, still grinding his hips into hers as their tongues warred for dominance.
The hand at his chest half heartedly pushed at him as she broke the kiss, gasping for air, her eyes still clouded with lust as she breathlessly whispered the first word that came to her mind, "Wow."
He smirked, looking down at her dishevelled state, realising he must look no better, but finding he didn't mind, yearning for more of her as he dipped his head down again, this time to latch onto her neck, just below her ear, and leave a trail of hot, sensual kisses along her neck, in a steady path toward her collarbone. Her hand left his thighs to wrap around his back, her leg gripping his hips in what she must have known would be an all too seductive tantalisation.
"I- we should -maybe do- take elsewhere if we-" she attempted at letting her words form some coherent string of thoughts, grasping on to whatever logical sense must have been rapidly fading from her head in light of what he was doing to her.
"You're wearing too much." he muttered in response to this, still attacking the column of his throat, smirking at the thought of the possessive marks he'd be leaving on her, as though staking claim.
"You bought me it..." she quipped, her hands tugging his at his hair, moving his lips back towards her own as she pushed their lips together, sucking delightfully at his lower lip through a sensual moan.
A hand moved to the back of her dress, playing with the zipper with every intent to pull it away the second they decided to move to a more secluded area.
Her hand abruptly left his hair, reaching back to grab onto the one which was splayed over her back, pulling it away from the zipper. Still finding it hard to speak, she pulled away from his lips by a hair's breadth, panting heavily as she said, "Not here. Not today."
So that's how it's going to be, huh? Finding it almost cruel to have to let go of her after letting her work him up so much, he dipped his head once again to catch her lips in yet another carnal lip lock, teeth scraping lightly against her tongue as he mercilessly attacked the inner caverns of her mouth (with the full intention to sweep her off her feet with a kiss).
Finally pulling away after he felt his reluctance had been aptly conveyed, he smirked at her near-dazed expression as they tried to extract themselves from their...intimate position.
"As you wish." he whispered, his hot breath tickling her ear as he spoke.
He was gone before either of them could recover from the intensity of the moment.
26th April, 2032, Unknown Location, San Francisco, Time - 10.54pm
"If you really believe he won't be committed enough to bring her in, then why not enter the scene yourself and stress the importance of his completing this task?" the gruff masculine voice asked her, almost taunting the woman to whom he was speaking.
Her poignant look of disapproval was enough to have him quickly looking away with a muttered apology, "Do not forget your place. You are merely a messenger. His lapdog."
"At least I am loyal to him." the man interjected.
Her voice shook with laughter, though there was no humour to her expression as she spoke, "There is no delight in being loyal to a crazed psychopath. Dare you question my dedication to seeing this completed?"
"You and I both know you've not an ounce of loyalty in your being. You're in this for yourself alone." he pressed, towering over her in spite of knowing she held the final authority in their situation.
"Of course, did I deny it?" she asked.
Scowling, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her unceremoniously towards him till his face was close enough to hers to see the malevolent intent practically oozing out of him. "I'm watching you. You slip up, you're dead meat."
He released her and stalked out of the room soon after, leaving her to turn away from the computer monitors and towards the window outside.
Pale, tired hands reached up to press into her temples, the heels of her palms absent-mindedly rubbing into her face as she let out a haggard sigh.
Cynthia at long last moved her hands away from her face, looking wistfully out at the distant view of a mountain visible in the distance from the window of the office, trying her hardest to ignore the way her heart leapt at the prospect of meeting him again, if Zetsu's words were to be truly heeded in her taking a more active role of involvement. Despite the morbid circumstances, her heart wouldn't let go of its longing for the boy she used to know.