A/N: Apologies for the delay, life got involved. New state, new job, less free time. Originally this was written as one chapter but soon it became far too large to expect even my most devoted fans to read in one sitting without feeling somewhat drained. As such I so graciously split it into two movements. Enjoy
Edo Style Tango No.1
The air grew thick around them as the temple collapsed into kindling that set the night's sky ablaze. The duo raced through the inferno that had spread into the gardens, narrowly evading the bullets that pursued them. They climbed a wooden barrier and threw themselves over, tumbling into the streets. The boom of nearby fire engines and police sirens battled the sound of their pounding hearts in their ears as they sped through alleyways, past those that emerged from their homes to gaze at the flames. For once however, luck was on their side. When they finally reached their vehicle after skirting the outside, a mob had formed to gape at the spectacle; thankfully putting a buffer between them and the officers who were most likely looking for them. Pushing past the onlookers, Sasuke and Naruto slipped into the sedan finally seizing a moment to catch their breaths.
"What…what the fuck just happened?" gasped the blonde still trying to wrap his head around the situation. Sasuke fared no better; his teeth were clenched, and his hands gripped the steering wheel as if he sought to asphyxiate it.
"He tricked us…son of a bitch." he seethed slamming a fist against the dashboard over and over. A muffled voice from within the forgotten duffle bag drew him from his rage. Naruto pulled the large two way radio from the bag only to be assaulted by static.
"God-fucking-damnit is anyone on this frequency!? Come in Sasuke!" barked the male on the other end his voice as stressed as it was annoyed.
"We're here." responded the dark haired man taking the radio from his partner.
"For fuck sake Sasuke. The police band is crazy with activity, half the city can see that roaring bonfine, and Tayuya is nagging our ears off trying to find you. What's going on!? exclaimed Sakon.
"…We're going back to base." Sasuke said after a pause. Taking a deep breath he started the car and slowly pulled away.
"Tayuya still—"
Sasuke turned off the radio and threw it into the backseat before he put the car in gear and sped away from the crime scene. The ride was as quick as it was silent, each man dealing with the current state of affairs in their own way. Without taking his eyes off the road the Uchiha deftly retrieved his pack of cigarettes and placed one between his lips.
"Here, for your nerves." he offered holding the pack out to Naruto. The blonde hesitantly reached for it, before he shook his head and returned empty handed. Sasuke could take the hint and rescinded his offer before lighting his own cigarette. The wisps skittered around his face as he inhaled deeply and puffed, but he could find no solace in the usual burn or the high that followed. His teeth dug into the filter in anger before he exhaled and discarded it out the window. Eventually the plume smoke disappeared in the rearview and the mountain range grew larger as they finally crossed into Iizuna.
"Naruto! Sasuke! Thank god you're safe, I heard what happened." exclaimed Sakura with great relief as the two pulled into the warehouse and stepped out of the sedan. She rushed to give them a hug, but Sasuke brushed past her and only Naruto was caught.
"Sasuke…is he alright?" she asked giving the blonde a worried look only to receive a dreary shake of his head. "What happened out there?"
"I'll tell you what happened. You botched a simple fucking recon, Sasuke." snarled the suited redhead, flanked by her attendant as always as they blocked his way. Clearly her only intention was to instigate a fight amidst the chaos.
"Now is not the time." he responded icily, moving to go around her only to have her step in his path again.
"Don't give me that bullshit. Early reports say two Interpol agents: one blonde and one with dark hair and dark eyes were responsible for destroying a goddamn national treasure. Now maybe you can explain to me how the fuck that happened!"
Naruto could see the rising tension and quickly stepped between the two before any one of them got hurt, "It was Deidara, he baited us into the temple and framed us for the explosion."
The clarification however did not lessen her fury. She stared intensely into Sasukes impassive eyes; her face growing almost as red as her hair. He could see it in her eyes; she wasn't angered by the way things had played out, at least not solely. Eventually her anger reached a fever pitch and she took a swing at the man in front of her. Before her fist could reach its mark her wrist was caught by the silent woman at her side.
"Please Tayuya-sama…we can't let this derail our mission. We have to pull everyone back." Kin pleaded struggling slightly against the redhead's strength. Snorting in disgust she jerked her arm away and turned to leave.
"Tch, pull Sakon and Ukon back, the others as well. This is his mess. Let him fucking clean it up." she shot back over her shoulder, making her way through the warehouse and disappearing down a hallway.
"I'm sorry Sasuke-sama…it's just the stress of the situation is getting to her." apologized the black haired woman, offering a token bow.
"Let her throw her tantrum, I'll handle this. Bring everything on Deidara and Matsushiro castle to my room." he responded plainly, moving to leave.
"Maybe it's best to just get some rest Sasuke. We've been through the ringer." Naruto suggested, he and Sakura moving to the Uchihas side.
"In four days Deidara will attack again. We've already been implicated in the bombings, and if he succeeds again we'll be as good as dead. We cannot afford to rest." he explained grimly. They all knew the protocol for this type of situation, Interpol would be investigating if they weren't already involved, and Chief Inspector Gaara was probably outfitting his men for a war. Hell, maybe even the Emperor would get involved.
"Well you know the old saying: no rest for the wicked." Suigetsu chimed sarcastically from behind the group. Apparently the rest of his team had finally found time to welcome him back to the base. "So, four days to catch a psycho bomber in a city crawling with cops. Not the worst we've been up against. No pressure right?"
"Never a dull moment with you, is it Sasuke?" quipped Sai flatly, from amongst the group.
"I say we just kill him." sneered a silver haired man before he stabbed his large hunting knife into the table.
"If that's the case I want a crack at it. I always wanted to cleave that pipsqueak in two." chuckled the tall beady eyed man at the table his sharp teeth gleaming against the dim light hanging in the center of the room.
"Orders were for him to stay under the radar. Technically, he has done so." reasoned the dark eyed man at his side.
"I think he's done some good; bringing your brother and those agents into the fold and all. He is running us into the ground financially though, sophisticated explosives are expensive." mused a tan man from across the table, idly flipping a coin before catching it effortlessly, his scarred mouth curling into a distorted grin.
"He is committed to the mission at least; and to his little vendetta." droned another man his face too obscured by the uneven lighting to make out, but his voice deep and low as if it personifying the rooms pervasive darkness, "Let us hope his new handler will be enough."
"Speaking of the new guy, what's his deal? I hear he wears a mask all the time and never shows his face", wondered the silver haired man as he retrieved his blade, "He must be more grotesque than you Kakuzu.' he mocked, indifferent to the older man's glare.
"He was scouted by the others. We must respect their decision." responded the deep baritone in the dark.
"And whatever they say goes." The tall man shot back, leaning casually in his chair.
"Back to the matter at hand. Sasuke…"
"Will be dealt with by the authorities if not Deidara." interrupted the dark eyed man as he rose from his seat and moved towards the exit. His companion followed suit despite the wordless protest from the meetings de facto foreman. Before long they were thrust back into the hustle and bustle of the Shinjuku streets.
"Your brothers got a bigger pair then I figured Itachi. Brazenly attacking Sasori like he did. A shame it may be, but I would've liked to see the fight." Kisame admired stopping on the passenger side of a black sedan. Despite his comrades blank expression he could tell he didn't much like talking about his sibling's recent activities.
"He has evaded law enforcement before; chalk it up to his training, but do you really think Deidara will be able to stop him?" he questioned once inside the vehicle. The engine revved as they pulled away from the curb and through the streets. As usual he wasn't expecting a response. More often than not he ended up speaking to himself.
"My little brother may surprise us all."
Morning came and the daily meeting began with nary a latecomer, albeit missing one of its key members. Even Sakura found the strength to attend, despite the doctor's recommendation. Every now and then their attention would be drawn to the door as if expecting the Uchiha to appear at any moment, but it was typically more attendants coming to take food away or agents coming to inform their boss of new developments. After several vulgar outbursts from her they began rerouting the information to Kin. The tension was palpable as they sat round the boardroom table picking at the buffet their host had provided. Sakura would periodically glance at Sasukes empty seat finding the situation reminiscent of the days prior to his departure from Interpol. They had always eaten breakfast together when they were just cadets at the academy, and the tradition carried well into their time together at Konoha PD. Those days ended after his father's passing however. After which it had been a week before he emerged from seclusion. Before long the food was finished and removed and the meeting had well and truly begun. Tayuya slid a newspaper across the table; the periodical dragging a few other documents scattered on the table before coming to a stop in front of Naruto.
"Nagano under siege." she seethed as the blonde stared in shock at his own face on the front page with the same headline, "Interpol will definitely be poking their noses in now that it's public that another one of their agents has gone rogue."
"They haven't commented on the incident yet, but it won't be long until they do so." Kin elaborated, attempting to sooth the crassness of Tayuyas opening statement.
"Then they haven't disavowed us yet? Maybe we can contact them; let Tsunade-sama know that it wasn't us. Tell her about Deidaras plan." Sakura urged, receiving only blank stares.
"Contacting her may do more harm than good at this point Sakura." Sai advised flatly.
"If they know what's good for them they'll stay out of this until everything is said and done. Or at least until a few more bodies surface." half joked the shark toothed man who was picking his breakfast from his teeth.
"If we all know what's good for us we'll stay out of it." retorted Tayuya firmly, "A state of emergency has been declared, curfew and all. If we try anything we'll only incriminate ourselves more."
"So we just sit back and let this guy continue killing? They'll blame us for that too!" exclaimed Naruto, crumpling the newspaper in anger.
"More accurately they'll blame you, blabbermouth. You and that asshole Uchiha got us into this mess its best if you lot solve it."
"So that's that? You want nothing to do with us now?" questioned the rose haired woman rising from her seat as if prepared to bound over the table and assault Tayuya.
"I never wanted anything to do with you Interpol agents. If Sasuke wasn't so intent on keeping you around I'd have thrown you out long ago." responded the coffee eyed woman lowly, her anger clearly mounting.
"Tayuya-sama please…"Kin pleaded her voice dwarfed by the escalating standoff between the two women.
"We don't like this arrangement anymore than you do, but I promised Sasuke that we'd be in this thing together. We have a duty to stop Deidara now. And that is what we'll do; with or without your help." Sakura proclaimed sternly, her emerald gaze hard on the woman opposite her. She returned the look with equal vigor rising from her own seat, her fists firmly planted against the hardwood of the table. Suddenly a low chuckle cut the tension in the air before it transformed into a full blown cackle and everyone turned their attention to Sakon of all people.
"Geez so dramatic. Sakura, was it?" broke in the grey haired man as he too rose to his feet, "We're not so dissimilar you agents, in particular, and us. Your sense of "duty" isn't so different from what we called ninkyo under that snake bastard."
"Justice and duty above all else." chimed the identical man at Sakons side.
"Protect others from suffering. Yeah I didn't fucking forget but—" Tayuya responded bitterly.
"And if someone fucks with one of ours…they pay the price. Or did you forget the part we added?" Sakon chided, earning a few snickers and smiles from the room's occupants when their leaders face flushed a deep crimson.
"Fine, goddamnit!" she huffed, finally conceding defeat and returning to her seat. She rubbed her temples in hopes of relieving some of the pressure, "I still want nothing to do with this disaster. It's caused me a big enough headache as is, so Kin will coordinate. Give Sasuke whatever information he needs to clean this mess up."
With that the redhead made her way out of the boardroom muttering to herself all the way about needing a drink. Meanwhile Kin attempted to wrangle the room into finding a solution to their collective predicament, but found it near impossible to compel Tayuya's team into staying as they staged their exodus. Thankfully everyone else had the decency to stay, or they just weren't fast enough.
"Kuso…Haruno-san can you please help me take some of these files to Sasuke-sama for review?" asked the dark haired woman, slightly frazzled as she tried to collect the vast amount of scattered documents in her arms. For Sakura it was a piece of cake for her, even on Interpols worst days she'd seen stacks nearly half her height on colleagues desks.
"How much help do you think any of this'll actually be to Sasuke? Hell, we might as well be the ones making the plan." suggested Suigetsu as he watched them tote the piles in their arms and head for the door.
"Planning was never your strong suit Suigetsu. Stick to driving and killing." Kin shot back condescendingly, earning the approving laughter from Karin and Naruto.
Sasuke huffed in frustration as he once again hit a brick wall, figuratively. Apparently there was nothing more maddening then trying to get inside the mind of a madman. He was never much of a profiler though; that was more Shikamaru's specialty. Sasuke sat on his bed; which now had become a sea of documents and schematics, with a dwindling cigarette in his mouth as he pored over the files. Location and time wouldn't be enough to stop Deidara, he was smart he had to admit after their last encounter, but he was also arrogant and had at least one weakness he could exploit. The Uchiha name. Taking one last drag of his cigarette he snuffed out the smoldering butt into the almost full astray on the bed. The room's air was still thick with smoke when he reached for his pack inside the pocket of his slacks. Before he could rest a replacement in his mouth a timid knock came at his door. Not Tayuya coming to berate him or work their frustrations out with her usual physical advances, judging by the sounds lack of force.
"Go away." grunted the obsidian eyed man firmly, as he placed the cigarette in its rightful place and searched for his lighter amongst the clutter.
"Sasuke-sama. Haruno-san and I have documents for you to look at." responded the woman on the other side. Within seconds Sasuke was at the door greeting the two as did the smoke that had made the air stale and acrid rushed out. He must have looked like quite the sight judging from the way Sakura stared, her emerald iris' showing a mix of worry and shock. He shouldn't have been so surprised, his hair was ragged and his eyes were bloodshot. Dark circles had already manifested from his lack of sleep. He stood barefoot against the titles, clad only in a dark pair of slacks and a midnight tank top.
"We have more information about recent developments. Chief Inspector—"
"Thank you Kin, you're dismissed." he answered simply as he took the stack from her and tossed them onto the bed. He reached for the rest in the cherry headed woman's arms but she held them tightly to her chest before she muscled her way past him and inside. Kin attempted to protest but the words caught in her throat, and to her surprise Sasuke waved off the minor violation and closed the door.
"Suppose this means you want to help? I appreciate the sentiment but—"
"Don't fight me on this. I've had enough fighting for one day; let's just get down to business." she interrupted, clearing a space at the edge of the bed before she began studying her stack. Sasuke was slightly taken back at her professionalism, but it was actually quite refreshing. Jugo was the most professional of his bunch and that was mostly due to the man's quiet nature. He resigned himself the same cause as he took a seat beside her and went to work on his pile. They sat in silence for sometime only the sound of shuffling papers filling the void.
"I assume the meeting was less than productive?" he asked breaking the silence as he rifled through useless news articles discarding them into a mass grave at his feet.
"Business as usual. That Tayuya woman is insufferable. How did you ever work with her?" Sakura huffed mimicking his actions.
"We were at odds more times than I could count, but we had little choice but to cooperate. Given the circumstances" he answered plainly, before ceasing his actions to search for his illusive lighter.
"I suppose we have that in common at least." she muttered perhaps a bit too harshly judging from how she gained his attention, at least momentarily before he went back to his search. Spotting the cheap throw away lighter before he did, she swiped it from underneath the papers scattered across the bed. He eyed her warily; cigarette still in mouth, his eyes impassive as always but still begging the question; "Will you still help?"
"They're bad for you." Sakura warned. She and Naruto always had that mother hen way of telling you when they disapproved.
"I'll survive. Besides, there are worse things and they help me concentrate." he reasoned leaning in close for her to give him a light. Slowly she did the same and sparked the lighter between them. For a brief moment Sasuke took in the sight of the woman before him. The faint orange glow of the flame warmed her cheeks and illuminated her eyes. She had dressed herself in a way he'd seen countless times when they were partners at Interpol, simple black three piece suit with an alabaster blouse all accented by a scarlet tie. Her hair was thrown into a messy updo, loose locks framing her face almost too perfectly. He inhaled deep once the cigarette caught the flame, never breaking eye contact with her until he pulled throwing away and exhaled towards the ceiling; to spare her somewhat. He could see the slight pink tinge that teased her cheeks once the flame was gone and all he could muster at the vision before him was a small "thank you" before the both of them turned back to the task at hand.
"So…does he truly intend to blow up Matsushiro castle as well? What if it's another trap?" Sakura asked breaking the growing silence after a time.
"I'm sure it's another trap, but I have no choice." admitted the raven haired man almost nonchalantly, as he ashed his cigarette in the nearby astray.
"So your plan is to waltz into the castle, alone, to face Deidara? Sasuke…" she chided, her voice a mixture of anger and worry.
"I know how it sounds, but it's me he wants." Sasuke reasoned placing his pile of documents on his nightstand before turning his attention to the sea on his bed. Quickly he parted that sea to reveal a large map of Matsushiro castle underneath.
"We don't need a martyr Sasuke. We need a real plan that'll end this madness." countered the rose haired woman, pivoting in her seat and throwing her legs onto the bed to gaze at the massive image.
"That's why you're here, isn't it? Now pay attention." he all but ordered, his tone callous as he stared intently at the blueprint, "Deidara has a flare for the dramatic, but if he's working alone he'll need time to place his explosive charges quickly and efficiently."
"So he'll place them at support structures, older parts of the castle." she surmised, her finger tracing the locations that fit the criteria and that Sasuke had marked with thick black X's.
"Hn. He'll likely also have decoys and other pitfalls to delay me.
"You were never trained in bomb disposal."
"Not yet." he retorted, gesturing with his head to a thick hard covered book on the floor.
"You can't learn how to diffuse bombs in less than a week. I swear this is sounding more and more like a suicide mission Sasuke." Sakura worried craning her head to look him full in the face. The cigarette clung limply to the corner of his mouth, wisps escaping the tip as his lips curved into a frown. Clearly her words had stirred something inside him even if it was as faint as his smoke. He bent over the bed, his hands planted firmly on the blueprint just staring with furrowed brows. Biting her lip nervously Sakura reached out and rested her hand on his upper arm just below his shoulder. She could see the taut muscles contract underneath the back of his fiery shisa tattoo at her gentle, somewhat surprising touch. Their eyes locked momentarily; her emerald ones matching the fierceness of his guardian dog, comparatively his were dark impassive pools with specks of doubt blotting the surface.
"Let me help." she whispered softly.
"That's what you're doing now, I—." Sasuke responded his voice flat and contained as he pulled away from her touch.
"No…this. I…don't want you to go at this alone. I'm coming with you." Sakura asserted, holding him firmly in place. His eyes narrowed when he tried again to slip her grasp but only received even more resistance.
"You're still injured. I couldn't possibly ask you or Naruto to do anymore than you've already done. After last time—"
"Don't treat me like a child Sasuke!" she barked her concern manifesting on the surface as anger. He could only stare in shock, taken back by her outburst. Slowly her fury melted away as her grip loosened and her hand slipped down to his; her eyes now downcast, "You conscripted us to help. I won't stand idly by and let you kill yourself because you think I can't."
Sasuke felt the knot that had formed in the pit of his stomach rise to his chest and bind his heart. She was right; his noncompliance was the real problem, not her abilities. Releasing a small sigh he snuffed out his cigarette on a corner of the blueprint with his free hand and placed it on her shoulder gaining her attention. His lips curled into a diminutive smile if only as a token gesture.
"I apologize, Sakura. If that's what you want I won't stop you."
"No, I'm sorry…I just don't want to see you—"
"With your help it shouldn't come to that. Now, let's get back to work. Together." interrupted the dark eyed man, no longer wishing to dwell on what may be. She returned his smile, albeit a much more enthusiastic one, before they turned back to the task at hand.
"I won't let you down."
"Nor will I Sakura."
For hours they studied blueprints, police reports, dossiers, and anything that could give them information on their adversary's plot and ideas on how to stop him. Though it wasn't all business, Sakura had an air about her after Sasuke accepted her aid. She was lighthearted despite the looming disaster, and on more than one occasion they shared a laugh at Deidaras expense. For once Sasuke was actually grateful for the company, or at least someone to counter his gloomy disposition without being crass. Kin would intermittently interrupt to feed them information on the happenings of the outside world, and on one occasion to actually feed them. Sasuke hadn't eaten anything all day, but that had never been an issue. He'd always pushed himself to the point of exhaustion, be it as Orochimarus enforcer or during his time in law enforcement. Granted, the nicotine helped suppress his appetite and kept him alert for much of his stint in the former. Though he wasn't above partaking in the food Tayuya's dark haired subordinate had offered, now that he took a break from his chain smoking for Sakura's benefit. She started dropping not-so-subtle hints when he tried to ignite another by coughing passive aggressively.
"Kin, what is Tayuya up to?" Sasuke asked, inspecting a piece of shrimp tempura between his chopsticks as if to check for signs of foul play. Tayuya had a tendency to hold a grudge until the bitter end no matter how petty.
"She…hasn't left her office in some time. This disaster has forced her to cease all operations in the city. As you can imagine, the loss of revenue is weighing heavily on her." she explained somewhat cryptically; her loyalty always ran deep, hopefully Tayuya wasn't taking that for granted. Other than that he could only speculate what "businesses" Tayuya had involved her in.
"She'll drink her worries away for the night and hopefully forget them by the time the sun rises. In the meantime I'll need your help."
"Tayuya has put me in charge in her stead, and I am at your service Sasuke-sama" she replied bowing quickly. Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose; he'd forgotten how taxing her politeness could be. He figured Tayuya would have berated that out of her by now.
"Tell me Kin, does Tayuya have anyone skilled in demolitions on staff?" Sasuke questioned finally eating from the platter between him and Sakura.
"Demolitions…Jirobo has some small skill but I wouldn't—"
"He'll do. Have him make a few mock explosives for me to work on." he ordered in between bites. She nodded in response taking note of it on her clipboard companion.
"Is that all Sasuke-sama?"
"That'll be all Kin. You should get some rest; the world will still be a mess in the morning." assured the obsidian eyed man turning his attention to the newest intel she brought with their fare for the evening. The attendant smiled and bowed curtly before making her exit.
"She likes you, you know." Sakura hinted her interest solely on the food, as she picked at a lukewarm bowl of rice. Sasuke grunted in response doing his best to focus despite her attempt at baiting him.
"A woman knows. I can tell by how she says your name." she continued in between chews staring absently at the ceiling. "The way I used to." she wanted to say the words, but knew that wouldn't be the truth.
"I protected her from a couple of creeps a few times years ago. Her "admiration" goes no deeper than that." he responded lying on his back amongst the documents, his current literature blotting out the light as he held it above his face.
"Creeps? Was she…?"
"A working girl, yes. Once upon a time. Now I'm not so sure what she is." Sasuke mused, inattentively flipping through page after page. Fatigue was setting in and he needed a smoke.
"At least she doesn't live that sort of life anymore. All thanks to you saving her." she praised, shuffling through the ocean of papers as if to find where she left off. Sasuke scoffed at the notion. Was this life much better? Even if he had saved her, what good was one life compared to the dozens he'd taken?
"We'll continue this in the morning, its late enough." he said deflecting her comment; he discarded his notes and rose to a seated position. Unbeknownst to him she had moved closer with a smile that unnerved him somewhat. She had taken off her blazer and loosened a few of her buttons, most likely because of how hot and stagnant his room had become, he preferred it that way. The only space between then was the platter plate that barely measured a foot across. His gaze trailed from her slightly parted pink lips to follow a scarcely visible bead of sweat that slid down her neck and disappeared below her collar. Her hand reached for his face and surprisingly enough, he didn't stop her. He didn't even draw back as her palm rested on his cheek. He only stared into her emerald pools, entranced by the unflinching truth he saw within.
"There's still good in you Sasuke." she breathed, her face inching towards his. He felt like a deer caught by a pair of headlights; his mouth slightly agape and glassed over eyes as she drew closer by the second. His mind was in such a haze that he could have sworn he heard his name being called moments before she was upon him, but then it came louder and more distinct, again and again until it drew him from his stupor with a crash.
"Sasuke!" exclaimed Naruto as he finally burst through the door with enough force to make the rooms occupants jump several feet in opposite directions, "Are you and Sakura-chan still racking your brains over this mess?"
"I-I…We were just about to call it quits Naruto" Sakura piped, grabbing a handful of random documents in her arms before retrieving her abandoned blazer and joining her comrade at the door. Her eyes wide and face flushed as she fumbled with her things and her thoughts before making her awkward exit. Naruto eyed her retreat with curiosity but shrugged it off before turning back to Sasuke.
"Aww you guys ate dinner without me?" Naruto groaned eying the half eaten platter on the bed before he moved in for a closer inspection. A mouth inspection. Sasuke sighed silently as his former partner scarfed down the remnants despite their coldness.
"It's well past midnight Naruto it could barely be called dinner." retorted the Uchiha as he checked the time on his watch.
"Midnight snack, whatever." he mumbled his mouth still full, "So what's the plan to take down this bastard? What am I gonna do?"
"Nothing's set in stone just yet. Sakura and I need to plan more before we make our move." he elaborated taking one last good look at the blueprint before rolling it up and clearing his bed of all other papers.
"We? Are you planning on taking Sakura-chan on this mission?" asked the blonde his voice taking on a more serious tone.
"It was her idea." answered the dark haired man finally turning to face the critical look Naruto was sporting. He couldn't tell whether the other man was incensed or just troubled. He got his answer when Narutos fists clenched and he began his approach.
"She's pushing herself for you, ya know?" he countered taking another step closer. Sasuke narrowed his eyes at his supposed aggression. It wasn't uncommon for him to get this way especially when Sakura was the topic of conversation; after all, they'd considered each other rivals ever since they were raw cadets in the academy; and not necessarily for her affection either, "You had better protect her. Or else, teme."
Sasuke couldn't help but smirk at his threat and the same old insult the blonde threw at him. Usually it would incite a verbal or physical confrontation, but this time it didn't. Narutos demeanor softened and without warning he captured the dark haired man in a bear hug.
"Did I ever tell you it was good to have you back again?" he beamed, his signature fox-like grin spreading from ear to ear. Sasuke grunted as he struggled against the stockier mans grip until he finally broke free. Before the blonde could open his mouth again and jabber on about anything else he "politely" kicked him out of his room. Finally alone at last Sasuke resigned himself to the comfort of his bed and sleep as he turned off the lamp on the nightstand. Unfortunately sleep didn't come as easily as expected thanks to his rose haired comrade. He could feel the phantom touch of her hand warming his cheek. She was bold in her action and he was all too willing to let come what may. He couldn't explain it; something about her words left him spellbound. Maybe it was the sincerity with which she uttered them, as if she truly believed he wasn't the black creature years of servitude to Orochimaru had made him. It didn't help that she was just as aesthetically pleasing, if not more so, as she was years ago. He cursed his body for reacting so predictably to the idea of her evergreen eyes darkened with desire as she writhed beneath him, her soft lips against his own, his name spilling from them wantonly, "Sasuke-kun!" Scowling at the uncomfortable growth in his pants he trudged into his bathroom knowing full well the only solution would be a scolding hot shower. Thankfully it was enough to stave off his impure thoughts of the cherry headed vision not two rooms down from his own. However, she still found her way into his dreams.
The next few days passed by at a languid pace; the atmosphere becoming more ominous and volatile as the expected date of Deidara's attack approached. The compound was filled to the point of bursting now that the state of emergency forced them to cease all illicit activities in the city under Tayuyas order. Luckily they'd been pulled from the field quick enough before Gaara could send his hounds in to sniff them out. The Chief Inspector had been a thorn in her said ever since she'd crossed paths with his sister, Inspector Temari. However, Tayuya was never caught outright; after all, she was supposed to be dead. The redhead crime boss roamed the compound with her right hand woman preparing for the coming days. Sasuke had yet to report how he intended to do to deal with Deidara and if, "shit hit the fan" as Tayuya had stated, they needed to be ready for anything.
"All vehicles are fueled and essential personnel have been briefed on contingency plans in the event of a breach." Kin remarked, reading from her trusted clipboard as she followed her superior through the compound.
"If the authorities never found that snake bastard here they'll never find us here." she shot back hotly. She had become even more of a hot-head as of late much to everyone's displeasure, "Where is Sasuke, still sulking in his room?"
"Ano…He wasn't in his room when I came with food for him and Haruno-san." She responded, instantly regretting her candid answer. The redheads fists clenched and her pace picked up; just the thought of another woman alone with him threw her into a jealous fit. She didn't even hate the other woman necessarily; she hated the way she herself acted when Sasuke was involved.
"Where?" Tayuya asked harshly, her disposition clearly palpable judging by how the subordinates she passed either hurried out of her way or hid their fear with deep bows.
"The armory perhaps. Sasuke-sama requested dummy explosives to—" the coffee eye woman didn't need to hear anymore as she increased her pace in that direction, "Tayuya-sama please, they're only trying to stop Deidara."
"I know a wanton whore when I see one, Kin" she spat instantly regretting it when the words left her mouth. She stopped in her tracks and turned to face the woman who had followed her out of Orochimarus shadow and into uncharted waters with nary a protest. Her eyes were downcast and the long length of her hair hung over her shoulder, clearly fighting showing how the words had affected her physically, "I-I'm sorry Kin. You know I didn't mean that. It's just…"
"I understand, Tayuya-sama", she said shaking her head before looking the other woman in the eyes, offering a small smile, "You still care for—"
"Tch! J-just shut up already!" stuttered Tayuya feeling the heat rising to her cheeks at her confidants remark before turning back to her search for the Uchiha. Kin's assumption turned out to be correct as they were greeted by a frustrated growl from the onyx eyed man; his gaze hard on the device before him on the large metal table. Tayuya shot a glare at the rose haired woman at his side, herself too absorbed in a large manuscript to notice their arrival.
"Oscar-Kilo-Sierra-Tango-Niner…" Sakura muttered to herself tracing a diagram in her text, "The red wire" Sakura consulted finally looking up from her book to notice the onlookers, Sasuke however paid them no mind as he went about carefully clipping said wire. The improvised explosives timer slowed to a halt allowing the two technicians to release their baited breath. The wave of relief however was short lived when the devices telltale timer sounded off once again, this time counting down more quickly. Cursing under his breath the raven haired man inspected the explosive again, checking the ignition, serial number, and wires but could find no underlying issues. Knowing full well what was about to happen, Kin and Tayuya took several steps back; the former covering both their faces with her clipboard. Confused by their actions Sakura did the same thing practically backing into a corner. Before he could clip any more wires the device reached zero, releasing a high-pitched wail and combusting in a spray of crimson paint. Sakura and Kin stifled their mirth at the sight, while Tayuya doubled over laughing at the top of her lungs. The dark haired attendant offered him a handkerchief as he wiped the goop from his face with the sleeve of his turtleneck.
"Bomb disposal for dummies class going well I see." quipped the crimson haired woman grinning sharkishly at the sight.
"Jirobo, what went wrong?" Sakura asked turning her attention to the husky man in an adjacent corner. He approached the scene and picked up the remnants of the device carefully cleaning off the paint and revealing several pins in its underside.
"A standalone failsafe ignition designed to activate in the event the primary ignitions connection is interrupted." explained the mohawked man.
"What was the point then?" demanded the dark eyed man, seething inwardly about more than his now ruined clothes.
"Explosives can be sophisticated or barbaric, sometimes both. And sometimes even the right answer isn't enough to stop them."
"So what will stop them?" questioned the rose haired woman noting specks of paint on her vest.
"If not brute force", he mused tossing the gadget back and forth between his hands before he crushed it, "nothing will". Sasuke reflected on Jirobos candor momentarily before he nodded, mostly to himself.
"Give me the next one, and there better not be more paint."
"I guess you better get this one right." chuckled the orange haired man with a smirk, as he grabbed another brick of "explosives" setting the timer for two minutes before placing it in front of Sasuke.
"Did you come here for something or just spectating, Tayuya?" wondered the Uchiha carefully examining each wire of the device. Tayuya reddened having actually forgotten the reason she sought out Sasuke amidst the entertainment and continued to do so upon her own realization of the real reason.
"I…Um…I—it's my compound I can go where I please." she shot back, defaulting to her typical foul attitude to mask her embarrassment. He grunted in response paying her little attention as he went about tracing the wires to their origin.
"I believe Tayuya-sama only meant that she wished to finalize the plan with you." Kin blurted trying to soften her bosses' callous tone.
"No need to be concerned. We've got everything under control." he droned snipping several wires at once bringing the timers monotonous beeping to an end.
"Well if you didn't need my help you would've left long ago. You'll need my weapons and vehicles, at least. That is, unless you plan on talking Deidara out of blowing another building up." snickered the redhead firmly planting her hands on her hips. Sasuke frowned at her smugness as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"We haven't made any escape plans, Sasuke. And with the city on high alert the authorities response will be quick." reasoned Sakura.
"Good, we can discuss that. You know where to find me Sasuke." decided Tayuya turning and leaving before he could protest.
"I should go while she's still in a good mood." Sasuke sighed dropping his tools to the table and turning towards the door, "We can continue this later Sakura. I shouldn't be long."
Sakura watched his retreat releasing an exhausted sigh of her own, Sasuke had been running her ragged as of late and her head was filled with diagrams of explosives and serial numbers to the point of bursting.
"It takes its toll doesn't it?" Kin chimed seemingly out of the blue, drawing the other woman's attention, "Helping Sasuke-sama, that is."
"Pfft, like you wouldn't believe." she huffed massaging her temples to alleviate the pressure that had built up.
"Tayuya-sama can be…trying at times as well." admitted the dark haired assistant, warily eyeing Jirobo fiddle with various things in the armory, "I'll walk you to your room." Nodding numbly Sakura followed; she hadn't had much interaction with the woman but she could tell something was on her mind.
"You and Sasuke-sama have made some amazing strides in such a short time. I can't recall the last time I saw him so…determined." Kin praised finding it more awkward than expected to have an actually conversation. Truth be told, she had become more used to being talked at rather than talked to.
"Thank you…it's mostly Sasuke, I just watch and chime in every now and then." Sakura countered modestly, increasing her pace so she walked beside the long haired woman, "Do you mind if I ask you something Kin?" her companion nodding enthusiastically.
"When you met Sasuke…what was he like?" she asked finding the question more embarrassing and ridiculous out loud than it sounded in her head but, she was curious. They were still practically strangers despite the time they'd been spending together. Years of growing far from the presence of each other had changed them both; Sasuke more so. Sakura could see the small blush akin to her own that appeared on the other woman's cheeks. She shouldn't have been surprised, Sasuke had a similar effect on many of the female recruits at the academy at first; he was probably the reason many of them hadn't passed in fact. She herself had a difficult time coping with the distraction the illustrious Uchiha Sasuke was during countless training exercises.
"He was…cold; so angry at first. Fury without purpose…He gave him purpose." revealed the dark eyed woman her tone softening to just above a whisper as she alluded to her former employer, "It was a difficult transition…as you can imagine."
Sakura frowned knowing full well the things Sasuke had supposedly done under Orochimaru. Kakashi had tried to keep the worst from them, but the reports they stumbled upon often kept her up at night, "I suppose he never talked about Naruto and I?"
"Ano…on occasion. At Tayuya-sama's request, and usually when they were…very drunk. "
"They spent a lot of time together then?" questioned the emerald eyed woman feeling a familiar pang of jealousy in her chest. She had heard the rumors of their "relationship" the kind she fantasized about as a young woman and the thought of seeing Tayuya in his bed just yesterday still irked her. What could have possessed him to even give such a callous woman the time of day much less indulge her in that kind of relationship? The kind they both could never have, being colleagues and all. He knew she had a romantic interest in him once upon a time, but now…she wasn't so sure. If anything her physical attraction to him remained if not increased. He had become a more rugged man than she remembered, with his growing stubble and the more physically imposing way he carried himself. He had always been a condescending prick in the academy though, and even into their tenure at Interpol, but now he seemed more down to earth, as if someone had actually succeeded in knocking him down a few pegs. Though his demeanor was far grimmer, reminiscent of the days he spent investigating his brother's involvement with Akatsuki at Interpol.
"Tayuya-sama, like many others didn't trust him. It took some time for them to consider each other comrades, and even then they were still at odds with each other most of the time." Kin elaborated, somewhat surprised at what she was willing to divulge to the rose haired woman questioning her. Soon they reached her bedroom and the inherent awkwardness bore its head again as they stared at each other.
"I appreciate you sharing with me Kin. Thank you."
"M-my pleasure Haruno-san."
"Please, just Sakura is fine." smiled the pink haired agent as she reached for her door.
"Gomen, it's a force of habit. Thank you Sakura." she returned flashing a smile of her own before the woman entered her room, "Um, Sakura? …Sasuke-sama, he always spoke highly of you."
Sakura could only blush bashfully and nod her thanks as she closed the door between the two of them. Slumping down on her bed with a thud she slid out of her vest and stared at the ceiling blankly, her new friends words floating about her head. A small smile spread across her face at the idea of Sasuke praising her, seeing as he barely ever did so in all the years they spent working alongside one other. His flattery in that time never amounted to more than a "well done" or a grunt of approval. Sasuke was however prone to letting his filter slip under the influence of alcohol; that at least hadn't changed. Sakura chuckled at the memory of the three of them celebrating their graduation from the police academy. At Narutos behest they, and other former cadets, painted the town red hitting as many bars and drinking as much as they could stomach. Sasukes father was so livid when the three of them showed up at the precinct hungover that he slapped them with desk duty for several months.
"How did we get here?" she asked herself quietly, curling up on her bed comfortably. Somewhere along the way their paths had diverged and they grew apart. It must have been some cruel joke that only the universe was in on that they'd be pulled back together as vigilantes. Eventually her eyes dropped on their own accord and she drifted off to sleep. Several hours later she came to and cursed under her breath knowing that Sasuke was most likely waiting for her if he hadn't abandoned their plans because of her tardiness. Hastily Sakura rushed out of her room and through the compounds labyrinth of halls until she reached the armory. Much to her surprise the raven haired man was nowhere in sight, not even in the firing range. Huffing in frustration the rose haired woman's gaze shifted between a pair of earmuffs and a box of ammunition to her own sidearm. It had been sometime since she last practiced. Forgoing the search for protective eyewear Sakura grabbed the box of ammunition and picked one of the numerous stalls before she began loading her magazine. Placing the earmuffs about her head she carefully took aim at the paper target down range before firing at it in bursts. A sly smirk found its way to her lips as she struck the target center mass multiple times until the weapon was empty. There used to be a time when she would flinch at the recoil every time she fired her weapon, but now it had almost become second nature. Her cheeks flushed prettily as she pressed bullets into her magazine, thinking about how she learned to be more comfortable with her service weapon. Sasuke had personally shown her, and it was probably her most vivid memory of one on one time they spent together. She snuck from her dormitory one night in hopes of improving her shot grouping and level of comfort as preparation for an upcoming assessment. Even without instructors looming over her and the sounds of others firing their weapons she was still unnerved, even more so when the academy's number one cadet appeared and offered to aid her. Sasuke held her from behind pushing her feet into a proper firing stance with his own, taking her hands in his own and masterfully squaring her shoulders as he instructed her; his breath hot against the shell of her ear. "Inhale. Exhale. Fire.". Sakura was too focused on her exercise that she hadn't noticed the man she was waiting on now watching her from afar. Sasuke leaned against the doorway, taking in the sight of her firing round after round into her paper adversary. It didn't take much longer for her to notice him, letting out a squeak upon spotting him.
"Sasuke-kun!" she piped, removing her earmuffs and placing her gun next to her ammo. He had a knack for sneaking up on people when they least expected it, or wanted it.
"You've improved a great deal." he said simply as he slowly approached her, "Sorry if I kept you waiting, Tayuya insisted I walk her thorough our plans."
"It's alright. I haven't been here that long." responded the emerald eyed woman trying to steady her heartbeat, knowing full well she must've looked like quite a sight with her flushed face and slightly mussed hair, "S-should we get back to the bombs then?"
"Not just yet." Sasuke murmured having crossed the distance between them before placing the back of his hand on her least favourite feature, "Are you feeling well? Your face…"
"I-it's just a bit stuffy in here is all." she lied staring up at him with doe eyes as if to make her case more believable.
"You're still a terrible liar, Sakura." disputed the onyx eyed man, his eyes narrowing as he gingerly palmed her waist; noting how she winced, "Does it still hurt?"
Sometimes Sasuke could be as thick as Naruto. It was all his damned touching that made her face as red as a tomato and her body feel aflame. Maybe he knew deep down and just enjoyed toying with her. Although she too was partly to blame; after all she had almost kissed him several nights ago. Even after running the events of that evening over in her head she couldn't quite pinpoint what made her act so forward. Perhaps it was the impending danger and her own mortality making her want to do things she never dared before. In the days following that minor indiscretion they tried to keep their physical contact to a minimum, but found it caused more issues than it solved. Their fingers would linger together for just a moment too long as they exchanged documents or their stolen glances would catch one another.
"It's still a bit tender. Nothing to worry about, really Sasuke-kun" Sakura insisted, offering a reassuring smile.
"May I?" he asked, his hand already clutching the hem of her blouse. Her words of protest caught in her throat as she opened and closed her mouth wordlessly. Taking her silence for coy consent Sasuke carefully lifted her as if she were weightless and planted her on the small ledge holding her pistol, before kneeling to inspect to the wound. The woman above him inhaled sharply as he lifted her top and tentatively prodded the stitches. He frowned at the sight; feeling he was as much to blame as Sasori had been for marring her once pristine skin. His calloused fingers traced the injury causing her to shakily whisper his name; the sound drawing his attention from her cut to her face, her cheeks rosy color rivaling that of her hairs.
"S-stop fussing over me so much!" she demanded, her voice gaining enough ground to sound confident as she adjusted her blouse.
"I just want to know you're up to the task." Sasuke assured, Narutos threat resounding in the back of his mind as he rose to his feet.
"I'll be fine. Geez, when did you become such a softie?" she shot, hopping down from her seat onto shaky legs. Sakura stumbled into Sasuke's chest before he caught her shoulders to steady her landing. He was close enough to smell the sweet scent that rose from her body mix with that of the lingering gunsmoke that, combined with their proximity, was enough to make the blood rush to his loins.
"Tch, I promised the dobe I'd protect you. Don't be so stubborn." chided the raven haired man lowly, his dark baritone sending a shiver down her spine as she looked up to gaze into his dark pools. She could feel the heat radiating off of him; he was warm, scarcely a few notches below burning. She always figured his skin would be as cold as his demeanor typically was. And now here she was, in his arms, taking in his crisp evergreen scent laced with hints something oaky and sweet.
"You're drunk, Sasuke-kun…" accused the emerald eyed woman softly, averting her gaze upon the realization. Was she so cheap that he was only interested after he'd been drinking, with her? Her hands found their way to his chest, pressing with her palms to try and gain some distance from him and the upsetting thoughts that burrowed into her head, but to no avail he was too solid.
"Hardly, just one glass this time. I suspect she's still recovering from her bender." he returned, noticing how she tried to shy away from his hold. If it wasn't the sheer embarrassment he saw on her face it must have been his questionable sobriety that irked her. The events of their last "intimate" rendezvous played in the back of his mind bringing a small smirk to his features. She had piqued his curiosity that night; about her intentions, her feelings towards him. He always knew she held some form of affection for him during their more formative years at Konoha PD but, they were both too professional to jeopardize their careers for a fling. To see now that her feelings hadn't subsided, maybe even grown in the time they'd been apart intrigued him to say the least. Unexpectedly he took her delicate chin in his hand, tilting it back up to his smoldering gaze, "Say it again Sakura."
"W-what?" she breathed, finding air hard to come by as her body reacted to the way it molded with his in the confines of the shooting range booth. Her heart pounded in her ears as his face closed in on hers, the sound so deafening she almost missed him repeat himself.
"Say it again."
"Sasuke-kun I don'—!"
Her words were swallowed whole when his lips covered her own, making her heart jump into her throat in shock. Reflexively Sakura's hands gripped the fabric of his turtleneck to keep her steady and autonomous from her failing legs. His lips moved tenderly against her own, stars bursting behind her tightly shut eyes. Slowly she leaned closer into his lips, returning the kiss with fervor much to his surprise. Sasuke's hand slid from her shoulder down to her waist making its home just above her hip. Sakura gasped as his fingers brushed past her wound through the thin material of her blouse, her body jolting forward at the unexpected contact. Seizing the opportunity to deepen their kiss Sasuke's tongue invaded her cavern in an effort to coax her own into participating; his hand trailing from her chin to the nape of her neck, tilting it to gain better access. Her eyes shot open at the sensation before dimming in bliss, she caught a glimpse of the raven haired mans own gaze; heavy with desire. She let loose a broken moan reminiscent of his name as her moist appendage joined its guest in a heated dance. Rapt in the throes of passion Sasuke pressed himself against her harder, unconsciously seeking more, his lowest hand snaking its way under her top and cupping one of her ample mounds through her bra.
"Sasuke-kun…" she moaned, her breaths coming in heavy pants as her grip loosened on his shirt. Hearing his name pulled him from his trancelike state whilst he stared at her flushed face and darkened jade eyes, the realization of what had just transpired hitting him like a kick in the nuts. His hands retreated, relinquishing their possessive hold on her body lest they go any further. He took several steps back and ran his hands through his hair, wiping the thin veil of sweat into it. She hadn't refused him; like he'd expected her to, like part of him wanted her to, so why did it still feel wrong when she returned his kiss?
"Sakura…we shouldn't—I shouldn't have…" he bit out through clenched teeth, palming his forehead as if afflicted with a sudden headache. His curiosity had gotten the better of him and his urges almost took hold. The urge to rake tooth and tongue over every sinfully sweet inch of flesh she offered him; to take her right here and now. 'So do it. It's what we do. We take what we want, we corrupt.' pressured the all too familiar sinister voice in the back of his head. Sasuke opened his mouth in an attempt to make the situation less awkward, but before he could utter a word, Sakura bolted from the room. He lingered in the starkness of the shooting range doing his damndest to collect his thoughts. Spotting the abandoned firearm on the booths ledge he crossed the distance in two quick strides before gingerly picking it up. Quickly he released the magazine and pulled back the slide performing a simple chamber clearing exercise. The unspent round jettisoned itself into the air, Sasuke reached out to grab it with his free hand, only for it to slip from his grasp. He grit his teeth angrily at his failure to do something that was once a reflex, clearly he was still too frazzled; because of her.
Don't fret at the impromptu fade to black the next chapter is right around the corner! Hell, its coming in hot right behind this one! So get ready cuz it's a doozy if I do say so myself. Will Sasuke's dark thoughts make him do something drastic or will he reach for the light? Who knows? Technically I know, but you should keep reading to find out!
Next Chapter: Edo Style Tango No.2
Until next time! Sayonara!