A/N: Umm…hi? Don't think I have much to say other than I hope you enjoy this chapter. So…yeah do that.
Bossa Nova Nouveau
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The monotonous sound of the machine he was attached to was the first thing to greet him upon regaining consciousness. His breathing was hampered by the respirator strapped to his face. Scowling through his grogginess the man reached to remove the mask only to be met with resistance and the jangling of a chain. His eyes shot open at the realization. He figured he would die in that castle like his ancestors did, not rotting in a hospital. He'd be sure to blow this one up when he got out. The light was blinding, but he powered through it and craned his head to look at the obstruction; what remained of his hand was handcuffed to the railing of his bed. In a panic he frantically scanned the room and struggled against the cool metal with what little strength he had. He croaked out a curse through his cracked lips and reached again to remove the mask; this time only a bandaged nub making contact. The blonde man struggled more and more, his cries of fury coming out as ragged groans until a nurse flanked by three uniformed officers; two males and a female. The nurse removed her mask and went about her routine before making a hurried exit at the behest of the smallest of the three officers.
"What do you fuckers want? Came to gawk at the greatest artist this world has ever seen?" growled the blonde, mustering his best scowl at the stone-faced officers who just stared. The most decorated of them stepped forward from between his two colleagues and stood at his bedside, his gaze beating down on him.
"Deidara…you are hereby placed under arrest, for suspicion of plotting and committing terrorist acts against—"
"Save it pipsqueak. I know what I've done. Doesn't matter, I'll never see the inside of a jail cell." snapped the injured man, glowering at the diminutive redhead. The others approached, surrounding him menacingly.
"If we had any say you wouldn't." threatened the blonde woman, her hand planted firmly on her holstered sidearm, "But you have crimes to answer for."
"We just wanted you to know, before you were sent to be hanged." assured the third man grimly, running his hands through his crop of brown hair. Deidara wanted to lash out at them for all their condescension. Who were they to judge him?
"Get the fuck out of my sight." he bit out lowly, his fist gripping the hospital bed sheets tightly as he stared down in defeat.
"One question." began the redheaded officer with the same impassive gaze, "Who did this?"
Deidara grit his teeth at the thought of how he was disgraced by yet another Uchiha. He was robbed of the redemption he sought for his family; for himself. All because of those eyes. If he couldn't kill them himself, he'd see them burn with the rest of the world.
"Uchiha…Sasuke." he hissed, the name flowing from his lips like blood from a wound. The room was deathly silent at the confession, but none of the officers showed any semblance of surprise. Soon they made their exit, leaving the blonde to his dark thoughts and broken body. They nodded to the officer assigned to guard him before they made their way down the bustling halls of the hospital, digesting the knowledge they had just gained in silence.
"So Sasuke is back. Do you think he is connected to the attack on that office building a week ago?" questioned Kankuro falling behind his younger sibling to let two masked men in scrubs past in the narrow hall corridor. One, a tower among most men; more suited to be an orderly rather than a caretaker, the other dwarfed by comparison but, he couldn't help but get an eerie feeling from him.
"No recordings were left on the buildings surveillance systems; all we have is the blood sample on the weapon and that matched a female suspect." Temari said, her brow furrowed in deep thought, "Tayuya could be a possible connection."
"You obsess over a dead woman, Temari. We at least have proof Sasuke is alive and doing our job for us, albeit a sloppy one." quipped the middle child.
"A criminal is still a criminal no matter what his intentions may be. Interview the officers on the scene of Matsushiro castle. One of them may have spotted the Uchiha or one of his associates." Gaara ordered as they entered the elevator.
"And what of the state of emergency? If Sasuke is truly in opposition to Deidara and Sasori's organization he'll believe the worst may have passed and may be more careless." surmised the blonde, hitting the button for the ground floor.
"…I'll advise the mayor to revoke the state of emergency. The people need it." reasoned the Chief Inspector earning a smile from his older siblings, "As for his carelessness…he never was one to be a hothead like Naruto."
"That's good, and if what Deidara said was true, it wasn't enough to stop him anyway." Kankuro stated grimly.
'But the Uchiha was.' Gaara thought to himself, before exiting and heading for the front door.
Unbeknownst to the officers their captive was being visited by a few "friends". The two sauntered into his room, briefly flashing their identification cards at the guarding officer. Deidara was already asleep when they arrived.
"Guard, can you come in here? We need your help restraining the patient." requested the dark haired orderly from Deidara's bedside. Complying with the seemingly innocent request he entered the room, but soon the door was shut behind him and he was lifted off the ground by the taller man in scrubs. He tried to scream but his cries were muffled when his mouth was covered by a cold clammy hand. The grotesque sound of a neck snapping was enough to stir the blonde from his slumber even before it thudded against the linoleum. Before Deidara could voice his shock the two men removed their surgical masks and caps. He couldn't help but grin at the realization; he was being rescued.
"That was fast. Wasn't expecting to see you Kisame, you old shark bastard, hm." he remarked tugging at his restraint for emphasis, "Now get me out of this hellhole."
"Nice to see you too Deidara, but that'll have to wait." he replied, his trademark grin making the blonde slightly uneasy. Not to mention the way he was fiddling with the machines out of his vision.
"What do you mean wait?" I'm fucking handcuffed here! You just killed that guard! If you aren't going to…" he blanched as white as his bed sheets when he caught his comrades meaning, "You can't…"
"We can, and we will." toned Itachi emotionless as always, as he was joined at the bedside by his associate, "You failed us. You know the price of failure."
"Nothing personal chum just, business as usual." Kisame assured moving to steady the thrashing man and silence his protests with his large hands. Deidara watched in terror as the dark haired man injected an empty syringe into his I.V. and pushed on the plunger. They watched with little interest as his struggles died down and his eyes glazed and only the sound of him flat-lining filled the room. Quickly they donned their disguises again and slipped out the room, as they rounded a corner a group of nurses and doctors came rushing down the hall none the wiser.
"Wasn't as satisfying as I figured it would be… Lunch?" suggested the sharp toothed man nonchalantly.
Sasuke woke relatively early, given the events of the previous night. Granted he couldn't even remember when he'd lost consciousness. Obviously it was sometime before they had patched him up like a mummy, save for his face. He lay in bed for hours despite his desire to do just the opposite but, he was just too damn sore. 'Better sore than dead', he reminded himself as he slung his legs over the side of his bed with great effort and a grunt. Finally finding his way to his feet he rummaged through what little remaining clothes he had left and painstakingly donned a dark pair of slacks and a plain white shirt, which he half-heartedly buttoned and tucked into his pants; the less movement the better. He slipped into his mud and blood caked shoes before he slunk from his room with a slightly hobbled stride. His face soured at the slight squish that accompanied each step; the mission had not only destroyed his body, it nearly decimated his wardrobe. Sasuke wandered the hallways aimlessly, using the walls for support when available. He was lured to the hanger by the sounds of cheering and once he emerged from the corridors he could see why. Tayuya was grandstanding again; holding a popped bottle of champagne in one hand and waving the day's newspaper about.
"Last night we struck a great blow against Akatsuki. More importantly we taught that terrorist son of a bitch not to fuck with us!" she exclaimed, earning herself another round of hoots and hollers from her men and women. As always she was quick to stake claim when glory was involved; not that he ever had any particular interest in praise even when it was earned. She spotted Sasuke far off in the distance and shot him a scheming grin before continuing with her speech.
"And as promised we'll be celebrating this victory tonight. So line your pockets and gird your livers; we're back in business!" proclaimed the redhead, taking a good swig from the bottle, much to her subordinates delight as she leapt from her perch into the crowd, leaving the rest of the libations to them. She emerged from the dispersing congregation with the same smirk as she made her way towards him.
"Speak of the devil or what's left of him." she quipped coming to a stop rather close to his body. She rested her hand on his left shoulder, watching him flinch reflexively, "How are you holding up?"
"No worse than when we went on missions together."
"Tch! I've pulled your ass out of the fire more times than I can count, and in way better condition than this." Tayuya shot back at his snarky remark, "I never should have let her go with you."
"If I couldn't stop her, you couldn't. To think a woman arguably more hardheaded than yourself." he mused, casually turning and leaving.
"I doubt it. Regardless, this hardheaded woman owes you a night on the town and a few drinks," she retorted, following his slow retreat.
"Do you think that's wise? Sasuke questioned, painfully leaning on a wall for support. Inwardly he cursed himself for letting her see him in such a condition. Surely she'd lord it over him for some time.
"The people are out in the streets celebrating your victory Sasuke. Our victory." Tayuya asserted, stepping in his path waving her newspaper in his face. Needless to say he was surprised when he saw Deidara clinging to life on the front page. 'So, he survived to take the blame? Serves him right.' he mused inwardly. When he tried to brush past her she firmly held him against the wall and leaned in close enough to whisper, "No reason we shouldn't have some fun ourselves."
"There's still much to be done, "fun" can wait." he countered, shooting her his most convincing glare before he pushed past and made his way down the hallway. Tayuya grit her teeth in frustration, using what little restraint she could muster to stop from firing back a response that would almost guarantee a confrontation. 'It can wait', she told herself watching him retreat. He rounded a corner and was almost immediately assaulted by his blonde comrade.
"Sasuke! We were looking for you! How's the arm feeling?" exclaimed Naruto, taking care not to hurt the mentioned appendage too much in his usual bear hug greeting. Sasuke hadn't noticed Sakura a few steps behind the blonde until he pulled away.
"Stiff." he responded, soothing his wound before turning his attention to the cherry headed woman, "I appreciate the patchwork."
"W-well, it wasn't me this time. I was a bit banged up myself." she joked halfheartedly, tapping a delicate finger against her bandage wrapped forehead.
"Say, have you heard about the party Tayuya-chan is throwing? It's bound to be a blast with all the work Kin-chan is putting into it." beamed the blonde rambling about something or other even as Sasuke started moving away.
"Hn. Don't get too drunk, we're leaving for Tokyo in the morning." Sasuke all but ordered, despite Narutos groan of dissatisfaction. Before he was too far away he glanced back at Sakura, "I need to speak with you, when you're free." The emerald eyed agent stared absently as he hobbled away, just as puzzled as the gaze Naruto shot her.
"What's with these secret meetings between you two? I thought we were a team again." he questioned, his tone somewhat sullen. Sakura flushed prettily and turned away in hopes of hiding her embarrassment. If Naruto knew what usually happened in their "meetings" he'd probably lose it.
"You know Sasuke…secretive and reclusive as always. I'll be back soon." she covered, quickly moving to follow the Uchiha. She reached to steady his stride but he waved off her aid.
"I'm fine. Besides, we need to talk about last night."
"A debriefing? Shouldn't we do this with everyone else…and not in your room?" she questioned warily as they came to a stop in front of his door. He could see why she might have thought he had less than decent intentions. Sasuke motioned with his head for her to enter as he opened the door, which she hesitantly accepted.
"The other man with Deidara…the one who escaped. Did you ever see his face?" he questioned, closing the door behind them and taking a seat on his bed.
"The masked man? No, I never did." she answered, shaking her head for emphasis. The man was a mystery to even her, and she lived to square off against him.
"Do you remember anything about him? Anything at all?"
"He was fast; clumsy, but fast. One moment it seemed like he could dodge my bullets, the next I had him wounded on the ground." Sakura elaborated, taking a thoughtful pose as she played the events back in her head, "Somehow he just got away; practically disappeared…I'm sorry."
Sasuke grunted at her apology. It was probably for the best that the masked man chose to flee rather than fight. With Deidara they at least had a notion of what they were up against. Frankly he was surprised she'd even attempted to go toe to toe with the mystery man.
"Don't be. You did more than I could've asked for. Putting yourself in harm's way." Sasuke commended, watching her lips part in surprise and a faint blush rise to her cheeks. You'd think she had never heard such a thing. She had always been a good officer; and an even better agent, one of the best in his book. Even so, she had no reason to be so uncharacteristically gung-ho in the face of such an adversary. The question irked him even more than what his next move would be. He had to know. So he asked, "Why?"
Noticing her mouth had only gaped wider at his question she turned away and resorted to the old habit of nervously nibbling on her bottom lip, "I did it…for you." she admitted quietly, finally turning back to face him. It was his turn to be surprised by her candor. His eyebrow quirked at the confession; onyx gaze piercing her jade irises, wordlessly asking her to explain. "At first I thought this was all an act. Going after Akatsuki." Slowly she moved from her spot near the door closer to him at a languid pace. "I figured all you wanted…was your brother." Sakura could see how his gaze hardened and his head lowered to avoid her own, "But I was wrong. Out there…you're just like you were at Interpol. You give your pound of flesh and more, even though the world would vilify you, and never thank you for the good you've done." her voice was soft now; as feather light as the fingers that rested on his cheek.
"Sakura." he breathed, still taken back by her sincerity. Sasuke never wanted thanks; he never needed it. His actions were his own for better or worse; always had been, but this…he didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve her kind words and tender touches. He didn't deserve her. That was what he kept telling himself even as she took his face full in her hands and craned his head up to meet her gaze, her evergreen gems shining in the dim light of the room. Sasuke was greeted by her gentle smile, but the sight only made his chest tighten. Since when had Sakura's touch so easily broken through his defenses and shed light on the dark inner workings of his being? Her warm words eroding his callous core to the point where he truly believed the accolades she offered. She was close now. Close enough for him to smell the intoxicating crisp sweetness of the cherry blossom hair that was her namesake; close enough to be tempted all the more by the sight of her swollen bottom lip that begged for attention.
"Thank you, Sasuke-kun." her words came out in a hushed whisper, sweet sounds for his ears only in the quiet room. His mind was a haze and the only word he could muster was her name, though it was lost in the ether when her lips descended upon his. Unconsciously he wrapped an arm around her waist drawing her closer and deeper into their kiss. He was becoming addicted to this. Sakura's dainty hands trailed down to the exposed skin of his chest below his half buttoned shirt, and for the first time he could sense a base desire beneath her purity. Sasuke groaned against her supple lips when her fingers swept across his tattoo seeking to explore more of him. He had been forbidden fruit for so long, and she could feel her restraint slowly slipping as their tongues waltzed. The obsidian haired man could take no more. He pulled her into his lap with such urgency that it knocked the air from her lungs.
"Sasuke-kun, I want…" she murmured hotly, her gaze heavy on his as she squirmed in his arm. As if he hadn't known what she wanted; what they both wanted. However, despite her earlier bravado she seemed hesitant in her next action. Sakura broke eye contact as a deep blush crossed her cheeks; slowly her hand crept to the hem of his slacks. Sasuke caught her wrist before she reached her goal, drawing her eyes to his. Gingerly he pressed her fingers to his lips and kissed them before shaking his head. It wasn't that he didn't want to; god how he wanted nothing more than to take her but, he couldn't, not when she was shaking like a leaf in his lap. Not to mention it was likely neither of them would make it out of the compound alive if Tayuya got wind of such an indiscretion. He could read the mixture of emotions on her surprised face; a touch of fading desire, a hint of sadness, even a smidge of relief. He wanted her to want him without a shadow of a doubt; with nothing but red hot desire burning in her core.
"It's ok Sakura." he assured flatly, releasing her from his hold and tucking a loose lock of hair behind her ear. There was more he could say, but past experiences with this sort of thing had taught him that less was usually better. This time it seemed to do the trick. She offered him a bashful smile for his understanding before she wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his chest. He stifled a ragged moan as she brushed against him; if only she knew how hard she was making this. Just then a knock came at the door and they broke apart; Sakura nearly leaping across the room in surprise.
"Sasuke-sama? I brought some of your clothes. We couldn't get all of the bloodstains but I think…" chimed the dark haired attendant as she entered the room totting a pile of laundry. "Oh Sakura. I had no idea you were here."
"I—I was just leaving actually." piped the rose haired woman as she made a quick exit, avoiding the burning gaze she could feel from Sasuke on her backside. 'Pervert!' she thought, all but slamming the door shut behind her.
"Did I…I didn't mean to interrupt anything." Kin apologized, bowing lowly before placing the stack of shirts, slacks, and turtlenecks on his bed.
Sasuke scoffed and waved off the very notion, feeling it only necessary that he keep the intimacy of their rendezvous a secret, "She's a worrier. Insisted on examining my wound. Annoying."
"She's a kind woman." she defended, giggling to herself as she took a seat beside him, "Not the usual type of woman you surround yourself with."
He was surprised to say the least at hearing such a jab from Kin of all people. Though then again, Sakura had that effect on people. There was something about the air she exuded, you couldn't help but feel comfortable in her presence, even if it was only for a moment. Clearly Kin had fallen prey to it, "You do yourself a great disservice, Kin. Tayuya could learn a thing or two from you."
"Y—you flatter me Sasuke-sama, but in this business kindness is often considered a weakness." responded the dark haired woman, timidly staring at her lap as Sasuke moved from the bed to inspect the remnants of his wardrobe. He watched her from the corner of his eye as she sat there twiddling her thumbs.
"You didn't come here just to talk business and deliver laundry. What is it Kin?" questioned the onyx eyed man, his attention still on his clothes as he sorted through them, "Let me guess, Tayuya sent you?"
"Ano…Tayuya-sama wants you to attend the celebration tonight. It would mean a lot to her."
"Of course it would." he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. True there was quite a bit to be celebrated, namely the fact that he was still alive; not to mention two steps closer to his brother. The last two weeks had been more eventful than his last six months on the run. But all he wanted was to rest. "And Sakura." added the voice in his head knowingly. He could debate this all day but the fact of the matter still remained, they were still Tayuya's guests and sadly he was still honor bound to accept a harmless request. "The last thing I would do is leave my people in her care, so I will join everyone."
"Wonderful!" she exclaimed, jumping to her feet in triumph, "Ahem. Thank you Sasuke-sama, and for what it's worth, it's been…nice working with you again."
He watched her retreat with an odd tug at his chest. That blabbermouth Naruto must have mentioned their planned departure to her. Sasuke had been so enthralled in his mission that he never took the time to reflect on the aid of his former fellow criminals in arms. He would never understand what made people follow him though hell and high water; much less do so when he hadn't ask for said aid. After tonight he would have to cut ties and go back to believing they were dead again; if only for their own safety. The thought only soured his mood further. It wouldn't matter; not if his host had any say in the matter. She always made light of the worst situations, even if it was rarely constructive or without the aid of alcohol. Sasuke smirked to himself as he took a seat on his bed once again. A drink would surely solve some of his anxiety. Now, if only he had a solution to his battered shoes.
The streets of Nagano were alive that night true to Tayuya's word; the people were literally rejoicing in the streets. Throngs of people chanting, cheering, and singing tunes indecipherable to the occupants of the small convoy of SUVs and sedans. The foreboding miasma that clung to the city's air for the last week had finally dissipated and the people were well into their celebrations, and their cups. Sasuke wasn't sure whether the lifting of the state of emergency was due to his exploits, or Tayuya's penchant for buying the leniency of less than straight laced officers and threatening others, or even a stroke of luck; either way there was a lack of police presence amidst the crowded streets. Sasuke watched from the middle row as she rolled down the passenger side window and took a deep breath of the night's air.
"Look at it. The city is electric. My city." mused the redhead, reaching out to feel the crisp summers eve air against her skin, "Almost as good as Shinjuku, eh Sasuke?"
"It smells better than Shinjuku, I'll give it that." he retorted plainly, the vehicle rumbled with small chuckles from its passengers. Despite the fact that it sounded like a joke he had always detested that ward. To him it was the center of corruption and Orochimarus seedy seat of power. Naturally he was all too familiar with the districts and each vice they represented; it was no surprise Tayuya merited the comparison.
"Ha! You're right about that. Only things it's missing are the red light district and the artists."
"Artists? I never pegged you for a patron of the arts Tayuya." chimed the ever silent pale man in the back of the SUV
"Tch, we may be criminals, but that doesn't make us classless thugs. Besides, I meant tattoo artists."
"I see, irezumi. I'd very much like to see yours." he said, showing more emotion and interest than most had seen. The vehicle once again turned silent Sai's obvious forwardness once again making the situation awkward. Tayuya however cut through the silence with a boisterous fit of laughter.
"There isn't enough alcohol in this city to get me drunk enough to show you that." she jeered wiping a stray tear from her eye as her laughter died down. Soon after they arrived at their destination, much to their surprise it appeared to be nothing more than a simple family restaurant. At least Naruto and Jirobo were interested in the idea of a celebratory feast as they sauntered into the establishment.
"This place looks amazing Tayuya-chan! It smells even better!" Naruto enthused, taking in the thick bouquet of food. However they didn't stop. The chocolate eyed woman led them deep into the back of the restaurant until their pack reach a thick metal door hidden from prying eyes. Tayuya banged on the barrier causing a slot to slide open and reveal a pair of scrutinizing dark eyes. Quickly realizing exactly who was requesting entrance the door swung open to reveal what appeared to the surprised onlookers to be a gambling den. Sasuke wasn't the least bit surprised; this sort of thing was so cliché in Tokyo.
"I've gambled with my life enough in the last week to last me a lifetime Tayuya. Tell me this isn't what you've planned." Sasuke droned, noting how some patrons stood and bowed in their presence while others avoided glances like the plague.
"Oh ye of little faith. The best is yet to come, obviously." Tayuya assured bringing them to yet another iron clad door in the back of the smoky den. Before she could utter a word the two large men guarding it bowed to her and opened it revealing a rather steep set of stairs leading down a dim stairwell. Hesitently they followed her deeper into the depths, though Naruto couldn't help but shake the feeling that they were about to be "whacked", to use the term of her profession. However the further they traveled the more the walls seemed to pulse and carry a sound other than their footsteps. Sakura spotted the small glint of Suigetsu's grin as it grew in the faint light; did he know what was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairway? It became very clear exactly what was in store once they could make out the deep resonant pulse of a heavy bassline beating down on the final barrier, "I'm sure this bash will be worthy of our accomplishments."
With that she pushed the heavy door open and they were greeted by the thunderous sound of the music mixed with the joyous cheers from the sea of Tayuya's subordinates. The group stared in awe at the would be underground warehouse turned into a lavish lounge. If Sasuke didn't know any better he'd believe she had been planning this for days. The space could easily house three hundred people despite the large performance stage and ample seating on the outskirts of the dance floor. There was even a large overhanging structure above the stage with a view of the whole room, an office most likely. Before they could be swamped by suits, Kin was there to usher them towards the back of the space and their rather large table. There were already several bottles of their host's favourite whiskey, enough champagne to quench anyone's thirst, and saucers of food as big as their heads, waiting for them. Sakura literally had to hold her fellow agent back when he rushed towards the table, most importantly the food.
"Geez, even Jirobo has some self control." jeered Sakon, yielding the way for his "superior" to take the first seat at the center of the roundtable. Sasuke scowled inwardly as the eyes turned to him to take the next plush seat in the booth. It was a Yakuza tradition for the seating to be dictated by ranking; clearly something's hadn't died with Orochimaru. Slowly he shrugged out of his blazer and begrudgingly took his due place beside her. He watched her companions all file in the same way they had for the last year or so. Frankly, only Sakon cared; half the time Kidoumaru and Jirobo swapped places. Sasuke's team however was an anomaly. Even though Karin and Suigetsu had technically been Yakuza they never sat on ceremony while under Sasuke. He suppressed a smirk as he watched them comingle; Sai had taken the bold choice of sitting at the edge of Tayuya's side, obviously he was still interested in inspecting each of their individual tattoos. If it hadn't been for Naruto shaking Sakura's grip and plopping down beside Sasuke, the official members of Taka would've seemed stuck in their ways. The cherry headed woman sighed to herself and quietly took the outside seat. As everyone settled and began their assault on the evenings fare Kin silently made her retreat.
"Aren't you going to join us Kin?" called Sakura, her voice rising above the pounding beat in the background to draw the dark haired Rapunzels attention before she ventured too far.
"I really shouldn't. The rest of—"
"The rest of the men will survive. God knows they like a bit of chaos. Have a drink Kin, that's an order." insisted Tayuya, having already gone through half of a whiskey bottle pouring her compatriots drinks. Conceding to the will of her superior Kin eyed the last remaining spots on the outskirts, and much to everyone's surprise, she chose to sit beside Sakura. The two exchanged smiles as the emerald eyed agent handed her a glass of her own. Tayuya rose to her feet, clearing her throat and raising her glass high.
"A toast, to the best sons of bitches in the business! And welcome, to our newest brothers and sisters in arms." she began, her eyes sweeping across the table, "You've fought beside us, bled with us. Hell you've even fought us! Cheers, and death to Akatsuki!" shouted the redhead, rousing the tables occupants and even those close enough to hear her over the music as they touched glasses and threw their drinks back, or at least tried to. Sakura coughed at the high potency of the auburn liquid that she could feel warming her insides already.
"It only gets easier from here, I promise." offered the dark haired woman at her side, gently patting her back as she sipped her drink. Sakura genuinely hoped so as she finished the remainder of her drink before Jugo almost immediately refilled it for her. Curiously enough the quiet ginger haired man was abstaining from drinking, even though she was sure he could drink them all under the table based on sheer size alone.
"So Sasuke you've gotta tell us what happened out at the castle! The newspaper had some pretty gruesome pictures." Naruto mumbled, his mouth still half full with assorted foods.
"A battle. Nothing more, nothing less." he responded plainly, taking a measured sip of his drink. He laid his drink down and slowly rolled his sleeves up to the elbow, revealing parts of his tattoos, "It was a…bloody affair however."
"Word is you sliced him up something fierce. How'd you manage that?" questioned Suigetsu, enjoying bits and pieces of the fare himself.
"I had to lure him from his comfort zone, goad him into my fight. If I hadn't, that castle would probably be a pile of rubble with Sakura and me under it." explained the onyx eyed man, his gaze steely on his liquor as he recalled the events, "A short history lesson led to a bit of swordplay, and after playing possum for a while he got reckless. That's when he lost his arm."
"Tch. You should've killed the bastard for all the trouble he put us through." Sakon chimed, unceremoniously biting the top off of a champagne bottle with a satisfying pop.
"Deidara surviving means we'll be cleared of any involvement…Right?" asked Naruto, having just cleared a third of the feast almost single handedly; Jirobo was just about finishing the rest.
"Who knows how persistent they'll be. Interpol never quits." Sasuke mused into his glass before finishing the remainder in a long swallow. Everyone's gaze turned to him to which he simply quirked his eyebrow, "What?"
"Your lips are getting looser. Must be getting drunk, Sasuke-kun." teased the Karin, treating herself to yet another glass of champagne.
"Not the only thing getting looser." quipped the shark-toothed man at her side seemingly unafraid of the impending beating. Sakon and Kidoumarus' childish snickers at the remark turned into full blown laughter once said beating actually commenced despite Jugo's attempt to intervene. Even Ukon found some enjoyment in the spectacle. This was why they were here, no? To get good and drunk and forget about the stress that came with this lifestyle. A small smile tugged at the corners of Sasuke's lips as the bickering went on. Even though he didn't show it very often, or ever, he was grateful for these moments of levity. They gave him a reason to not contemplate on the dark days that surely awaited them. He shook his head in an attempt to break his train of thought; he must've been drunk, reflecting on such things now of all times.
"Say Sasuke, are you going to get any more?" inquired the blonde at his side vaguely. Sasuke could see he was already good and drunk by the color of his cheeks; shouldn't have expected anything less.
"Any more what?" he asked, noticing how the stocky man poured more alcohol than necessary into both their glasses. Sasuke smirked when as he took it from him, Naruto didn't plan on going down alone.
"Tattoos, are you planning on getting any more of them? Was it painful?" he asked again, this time tugging at the hem of his sleeves to inspect it further.
"You'll need to get your shoulder touched up. Might as well get some more work done to commemorate the death of those assholes as well." suggested Tayuya, her own hand finding its way to his shoulder.
"I wouldn't have the time to get any more. Besides, I didn't kill anyone if Deidara still lives.." he responded, his eyes finding their way to the woman that had been on his mind constantly for the last week, "It was Sakura who put an end to Sasori. Perhaps she should get one."
"M—me get a tattoo? Don't be silly!" she deflected, trying to hide her face in embarrassment behind her glass.
"It's important to remember the hardships we've been through." Kin explained, thoughtfully sipping her drink.
"I don't think I'll need anything else to remember him by." she admitted remembering the wound in her side as she mimicked her actions. It was already becoming easier to down the alcohol; she even found some satisfaction in the sweet oak burn that accompanied each swallow.
"They're also quite the chick magnet." Sakon added, flashing his own amidst the laughter. A demonic samurai bathed in ominous purple flames along his left forearm; identical to the one on his brother's right. Kidoumaru also joined in the exhibition, showing his collage of thick black interconnected spider webs that trailed all the way from his wrists and even further past what was shown beneath his alabaster shirt, "Speaking of woman. I think it's time we find ourselves some "entertainment" for the evening. Kidoumaru, let's go!"
"Don't do anything stupid brother. I don't feel like working tonight." Ukon droned, sliding from his seat along with Jirobo and Sai to let the two out of the booth.
"Hmph, no promises!" he called back, as the two disappeared into the crowd of dancing suits.
"Men. Always thinking with their cocks." muttered Tayuya, before she downed the dregs of her glass and slammed it on the table. As she refilled her glass her free hand found its way to Sasuke thigh, tracing lazy patterns against the fabric of his slacks. He nearly choked on his drink when she roughly grabbed his fleshy appendage under cover of the table. Growling lowly at the smug glance she shot him he swatted the offending hand away. Sakura noticed the looks the two exchanged briefly and couldn't help but feeling that all too familiar pang of jealousy. Twisting her lips in an uncomfortable frown she emptied her drink with a sad swallow. She watched as the redhead leaned in close, practically on top of him, and whispered something provocative enough to force Sasuke to leave the table with a scowl on his face before he vanished into the horde. She was already passed tipsy at this point and considering some highly irrational reactions in response to what she saw. Even if whatever Sasuke and she had was a secret she wanted nothing more than to bound the table and throttle the woman taking liberties with the man she'd yet to enjoy intimate pleasures with! But that was the alcohol talking.
"Sakura-chan! Lets get out there and dance!" Naruto exclaimed, practically hopping over the table to reach the outside and offer her his outstretched hand.
"I should go make sure things in order. Enjoy yourself Sakura." enthused the dark haired assistant before she began making her rounds. Sakura gladly took her blonde companions hand after Kin moved allowing her to leave the booth; anything to clear her head for a moment. She rose to shaky legs as he pulled her into the crowd.
"Tayuya-sama?" Sai began, his pale cheeks faintly colored by the drink, "Are you drunk enough to show me your tattoo yet?"
"Tch! You're a cheeky fucker aren't you…" mocked the redhead, clearly peeved by Sasuke once against spurning her advances, "I'll show you something alright." The remaining occupants took a cue from the icy tone she settled on for her threat and decided now was a good time to take their leave, lest they be caught in the impending scrap.
I can't believe I agreed to put up with this nonsense. Granted the alcohol helped considerably, I still found myself annoyed by the very idea of celebrating such an accomplishment. I watched from the sidelines as Tayuya's subordinates got more and more uninhibited as the night progressed. Even to the point that some of her more gregarious female staff tried to…entice me, knowing full well Tayuya would have their heads if she ever found out. They were every little bit her people, impulsive and disorderly. It was surprising to say the least that she'd managed to organize them at all much less into a functional criminal outfit. Sakon and Kidoumaru seemed to be enjoying themselves, having relocated to another booth with more female companions than they could plausibly handle between the two of them. I moved amidst the fluctuating neon lights until I reached a pair of guarded stairs, it didn't take long for the inebriated suits to realize who I was and wave me on up the stairs. I opened the unlocked door and entered the lavish office; wall to wall crimson carpeting and expensive furniture. Tayuya's office, of course. I examined the space critically, I didn't care much for the décor, but at least it offered a reprieve from the pounding electronic music. Searching her desk at the end of the room I came across something…interesting. Atop the solid slab of hardwood lay a framed photo, of him, of all of them. I could remember the day it was taken like it was yesterday. We all stood in the old master Nobu's studio, having just finished the last of my art. Taut, proud, and half nude we stood displaying our elaborate badges of honor. Myself at the center amongst my fellow enforcers; all with gazes as steely as our resolve and willfulness to shed blood, in his name.
"Snooping, are we?" called a voice at the door. Apparently I couldn't even get a moment to myself in even in her abandoned office, I shouldn't have been surprised.
"For a woman who is supposed to be dead you're awfully sentimental." I responded, dropping the photo back to its rightful place before turning to face her. She threw her blazer carelessly across the room only to have it land just short of the couch in the far corner
"Can you blame me? This isn't the sort of life you can just quit." she retorted crossing the distance in a few lengthy strides to examine the photo herself, "Besides, those were some of the best times. Even you can't deny that."
As if I'd admit to something like that. Those were different times and they were different people, at least I was. Orochimaru welcomed me with open arms, being all too willing to have an Uchiha under his thumb. As long as I proved my loyalty. The seal was a formality, what he cared about back then was the blood I was willing to spill. At first they were simple; disciplinary judgments on those that broke his code of conduct. Severe, but at its very core they were reminiscent of demerits laid down by the commanding officer at many law enforcement bureaus. Preparation for the harsh realities of life amongst the Yakuza. The "good times" as Tayuya called them were some of the bloodiest I could remember. Constant turf wars wreaked havoc throughout all of Tokyo and only succeeded in drawing me deeper into the underworld I resigned myself to; and closer to my new comrades especially the woman beside me now.
"I try not to look back on those times." I said simply moving to the window to stare down at the sea of people socializing. Half of them he'd never seen before; rookies looking to get rich and act every bit the gangsters they believed they were. It wouldn't be wildly inaccurate to say that some of them fell into this line of work solely out of desperation however. Orochimaru knew best that someone at the end of their rope was willing to fight tooth and nail for an opportunity to get out of their situation. Although most never made it out, unless it was in jail or an unmarked grave. I spotted Sakura and Naruto amongst the horde laughing, smiling even. Mingling like they belonged; they were visitors in this world of mine. That is how it would be, if I had it my way. Yet they pressured me, Sakura most of all. Wanting to aid me in whatever way she could. But in this world, when you reach to help someone you only get pulled deeper into its depths.
"Things were simpler back then. We knew where we stood in the world. And who stood against us." continued the redhead who followed me to the window, handing me one of her rolled cigarettes as she lit the one between her lips. Graciously I took it, finding it hard to remember the last time I had nicotine in my system. I watched the ever changing neon lights dance across her visage as she sparked the end it. Even at this proximity I wanted to take out my more carnal frustrations out on her like we used to.
"Where do you stand now? All of this…the money must come from somewhere." I asked inhaling the heady blend of her tobacco deep into me before exhaling against the glass. I could already feel the pressure the pulsing music had manifested in my head dissipate.
"As always, business is on your mind. Weapons and extortion mostly now; until you showed up Sasori was more focused on corporate espionage." she explained nonchalantly as she gently exhaled a plume of smoke up into the air, possibly the only ladylike gesture in her repertoire, "You know the typical extortion, torture, assassination plots. Boring work really."
"You make it sound like you'd rather be out there murdering again." I countered, turning my hard onyx gaze to look her full in the face. Her lips curled into a scornful smile as she removed her cigarette and blew straight into my face. Charming as always.
"Maybe I would. Maybe I'd rather have someone help me bring this gaggle of children into line. Teach them what it takes to make it in this business." hinted the crimson haired woman who apparently fancied herself a crime boss.
"Don't be stupid. I got out for a reason. Besides, I have things I need to take care of." I responded, my eyes automatically locking onto the two bodies that stuck out in the crowd.
"Things you've managed to take care of quite well with my help. All I'm suggesting is a partnership of sorts." she admitted, slyly stepping in front of me to gain my full attention. Despite her rough and seemingly one dimensional personality she knew when to use her "assets" to get what she wanted. A born dragon lady if I ever met one.
"What is your proposal, Tayuya?" I asked, giving her the benefit of the doubt for once. After all she had been conducting herself respectfully around me for almost five minutes. A new record.
"Stay. We can rule this city together." she breathed, leaning into my body. Her breath a heavy mixture of sweet whiskey and bold tobacco, just as it had been in my dreams following her supposed demise.
"No."
"You'll have everything you need to stop Akatuski—"
"No."
"We were unstoppable together, and now we'll—"
"Stop this Tayuya. There is no more we." I said with stern finality. She fidgeted under my harsh stare and took a rueful drag of her dwindling cigarette before snuffing it out against the window.
"Why not? If not for your mission what then?" she barked her voice rising in desperation before she looked over her shoulder and scowled at the sight below, "For her?"
"She has nothing to do with this." I defended flatly. I was slightly taken aback by her perceptive jealousy. She couldn't possibly have known what little Sakura and I had done; the brief touches and stares we shared.
"Don't lie to me!" she snarled bearing her teeth in anger as she fought back the tears that threatened to spill from the corners of her eyes, "I saw you with her in the armory that night. You think I wouldn't have surveillance systems?"
I was stood there in silence as she wiped away her sadness and once again returned to her temper for strength. The shame of what happened that evening returned and I could feel my stomach knot and churn at the idea of her watching us. It didn't bother me that she had seen the deed; it was the fact that she had known for days and still looked him in the eyes as if nothing had happen. She harbored that hate for Sakura, the feeling of betrayal festered in her heart because I had gotten too worked up.
"You used to only want me, Sasuke. Not something pink and soft. Something weak." she spat, knotting her hands in my shirt roughly as she pulled me against her, "You used to be a man."
I growled at her blatant attempt to get a rise out of me. The alcohol clouded my judgment and all I could do was react to her attack on my pride. She knew better, but she didn't care; not even when I crushed her body between my own and the glass partition. Her chest heaved against mine as she clawed for purchase against my clothing and flesh.
"You never were the same after that night in Yotsuya!" Tayuya roared, her fist connecting with my left cheek before I could restrain her shoulders, "That was the last time I looked the real Uchiha Sasuke in the eyes!"
"Shut up!" I hissed, slamming her against the glass with a thud in an effort bring an end to her instigating. She had no right to drudge up my ghosts for her own petty motives. She was just a relic of my past that I had buried many times over. I was too wrapped up in Tayuya's childish badgering to realize that some in the crowd below began gawking and cheering at the spectacle. They must have believed their omnipotent leader was getting the rough rooting she needed to lighten up.
"A real man…who never batted an eye when he killed. The Sasuke who let nothing stand in his way and took what he wanted." continued the redhead, her face now inches from my own. She snapped at me with her teeth in a last desperate attempt to hurt me with more than just words. Her strength quickly drained and her breathing became heavy with exertion as she tried once again halfheartedly; this time coming for his lips, "The Sasuke who fucked me like an animal and left me raw night after night…"
I was already seeing red after she began her verbal assault; more so after she struck me, yet not even my blood red gaze could deter her from getting some semblance of satisfaction from our confrontation. My body reacted on its own to her advances as she clawed and pressed against my manhood seeking to free it from its clothed prison and give it achy release. It didn't help that she began leaning into my hold and lunging for my mouth, breathing her lustful chant against my neck all the while nipping at it when she could.
"Fuck me. Just fuck me Sasuke. Fuck me like you used to. That's all I want…"
It was mildly believable in the heat of the moment given the considerable amount of alcohol she'd consumed. Though she wanted more, and I knew it. She wanted power. The kind she couldn't attain on her own. That was the nature of power in this bloody business. Power belonged to no one; not until it was taken, seized, seized through sex, violence, money. Our lips brushed against each other briefly and I knew I was a hair away from giving in to both our desires for flesh. I grit my teeth when she finally succeeded in snaking her hand into my pants her triumphant smirk growing against the skin of my neck.
"Enough!" I croaked, pushing myself away from her having finally found the resolve to do so. Quickly I collected myself and made for the door. Her fists were clenched and her eyes were downcast, hidden behind the length of her crimson hair. She was a strong woman, truly, but if she had one weakness it was for me. The thought saddened me, but I knew that if I was to move forward I would have to leave what we had in the past with all of my misdeeds. It would have been easier if she had stayed dead. This was like burying her all over again.
"I'm leaving for good Tayuya. There isn't anything you can say or do that will stop me." my voice came out harsh and cracked as the concoction of fury, depression, and sexual frustration subsided within and I turned once again to look her in the face. There was a time when we shared the pains delivered unto us from this cruel world; as comrades, as lovers. Despite the all of the comfort we brought each other, despite the strength; we could never be anything more than what we were under Orochimaru. Enforcers, criminals, thugs, murderers. That was the only life she knew, what she would live and die doing. That was why I left her behind so long ago, "Take care of yourself." I did my best not to linger too long on her pained expression as I made my exit.
"Don't make me the one to bury you, Tayuya." I whispered on the other side of the door as I descended the steps and back into the fray.
Sakura was sick to her stomach and not because of the alcohol. She was still reeling from what she saw transpire between them in that room. Images of the way he held her against him; how he allowed her to touch him in the most intimate passionate ways. She didn't cry at the sight it was only anger that filled her as she pushed and shoved her way through the crowd, even going as far as striking a man who got too handsy hard enough to leave him sprawled out on the dance floor unconscious. She had never known him to be a promiscuous man, but he had the nerve to do such things with spectators nonetheless! Perhaps she didn't really know Sasuke or what kind of man he'd become. To think that even now he was probably fucking her brains out, same as Sakon had claimed. To think she almost…
"Sakura? Sakura? Hey Sakura, are you alright?" called a feminine voice that followed her march to nowhere. She must have looked a sight judging from how Kin's furrowed brows only deepened when she spun around to face the woman.
"I'm fine Kin-chan. I just need some air." she huffed, running a hand through her tousled pink hair.
"I've had a bit too much to drink myself, I'll join you. Please, this way." responded the dark haired woman taking Sakura's hand in her own and ushering her towards the back of the warehouse. Her attempts to protest were muffled as the background music approached its climax much to the patrons delight. After passing through a set of steel doors they emerged in an underground parking garage. Kin inclined her head to a few men enjoying a solitary smoke outside and without a word they left the two women to their own devices. They stood in silence for some time before Kin took a deep breath of the night's air, or what could find its way into the enclosure.
"I'm sorry about what you must've seen…Sasuke-sama—"
"Don't say his name." Sakura interrupted callously, clearly in no particular mood to speak about it just yet.
"I…I get that you must be angered by what you saw, but you have to understand that Sasuke-sama—"
"Can we please not talk about this Kin?" she exclaimed, cutting the woman off again the harshness of her words tearing through her throat with such force she felt it become raw. This time it was enough to get the woman to slowly slink away.
"…He never looked at her the same way he does you, you know?"
Was that supposed to comfort her? Make her forget how he'd toyed with her emotions and body just to cast her aside for another? If Kin's claim was true, why would he do that…was it her? Sakura had struggled for years trying to come into her own. A young woman in law enforcement was rarely ever thought of as anything more than a pretty face in a pressed uniform but, she fought an earned that respect from her peers and even some of those she put behind bars. For Sasuke to show up after years away and make her doubt herself; the thought only infuriated her further. Before her dark haired friend could completely disappear behind the steel door the sound of a gunshot rang out followed by distressing cries from the crowd. It was her training and instincts that urged her to rush towards the sounds of danger. The scene was frantic as people pushed and shoved themselves amongst the swarm, unaware of what exactly was going on. Several of the operatives already had drawn their weapons in the wake of the commotion. Sakura pushed her way through towards the mass of blonde she saw over the top of the crowd. As she neared she could make out the large cluster of people who had disrupted the party, there had to be at least twenty of them. Heavily armed men and women equipped with shotguns and assault rifles and wearing Kevlar vests, each of them dawning glinting golden badges. They were bold, brandishing their weapons when they were outnumbered nearly ten to one.
"Uchiha Sasuke, show yourself!" bellowed a man's voice for the far side of the warehouse as he approached the standoff. A diminutive redhead dressed like his compatriots and a grim demeanor to match the grave situation.
Before she could reach Naruto she was roughly grabbed by the arm and pulled back. She spun to face her would be assailant, locking eyes with dark orbs. He dragged her further, gripping the shoulder of the blonde in the fluctuating darkness and pulling him deeper into the sea of suits.
"We need to go, now." he urged, never skipping a beat as he made haste for the backdoor.
"Was that Gaara? What's going on Sasuke!?" questioned Naruto as the shouting behind them escalated. The demand for the Uchiha resounded through the hall, meeting a cacophony of replies from the rebels and drunken malcontents.
"What do you think, it's a raid." Sasuke responded shouldering his way through the doors and into the parking garage. He could already hear the approaching sirens as he jumped into the nearest unlocked sedan and searched for the keys. He knew this was a terrible idea from the beginning.
"Wait, what about the others?" worried the cherry haired agent as she and Naruto stood idle watching him search franticly.
"Jugo can handle them." replied the obsidian haired man, finally finding the keys before starting the engine, "We don't have much time we need to go."
"But everyone else…"
"Will survive. Now let's go." he bit out, shooting a demanding glare at the two impeding their getaway. Begrudgingly they hopped inside, barely having time to close the doors and buckle themselves before Sasuke peeled out with a screech. He wheeled around the enclosure until he found the exit, the gated exit. Growling in frustration he revved the V6 engine before flooring it in the direction of the metal obstruction. Knowingly, the passengers braced themselves for impact as they crashed into the gate with enough force to break through to the other side. The sedan fishtailed onto the streets, its undercarriage sparking against the pavement with enough force to jostle the car's occupants. Within seconds the sirens were upon them. The red and blue lights penetrated the dark tinted windows and illuminating their faces as they made their mad dash down through the streets. Sasuke gripped the wheel hard as he rounded corners and struggled to keep the sedan under his control and on the road. Sasuke had never been the best escape artist, nor did he claim to be, hell had it not been for the adrenaline coursing through his veins his inebriation might have actually been an issue. There were more patrol cars now, and he could feel desperation begin to seep into his being.
"Sakura, take the wheel." demanded the onyx eyed man as he rounded yet another corner, the engine roaring against the ever constant sirens. She blinked blankly in at his command; this all seemed like some sort of fever dream or hallucination brought on by the alcohol, but it was real. Everything seemed so surreal the moment she grabbed the steering column. The way he leaned out of the window and drew his weapon; the sound of bullets piercing glass and perforating metal, the pop of tires followed by the thunderous crunching of steel on steel. None of it seemed real until it was over and the sirens and the lights faded into the night. Sasuke returned to his seat and took control of the vehicle again, his hand covering Sakura's as he did. He could feel the tension in them even as her grip loosened and she pulled away. Before she could do so however he trapped one and squeezed it thoughtfully. He had always had a sixth sense about her. She wore her heart on her sleeve and even when she was quiet he knew when something was up. Her lips curled into a somber scowl as her heart fluttered at the contact; she hated that even when she was angry with him a simple touch still affected her in such a way. Finally she tore her hand away almost making them jump the curb in the process.
"I didn't kill them." Sasuke said, finally cutting through the thick tension and silence as he turned off onto the dirt road and into the forest, "I made sure I only stopped their cruisers."
"You still could've killed them!" contested the blonde, no longer able to bottle his fury. Roughly he grabbed the driver seat jostling it for emphasis.
"What else could I do? Let them capture us? Hope for some miracle?" retorted the dark haired man, his voice hardening at his presumptuous comrades tone as he entered the hidden tunnel leading to the base.
"There's always another way!" Naruto maintained, his azure eyes glinting against the darkness.
"Don't be naïve."
"Teme—!"
"Stop it! I-it's done. Nothing we do can change it now." Sakura barked, interrupting the feud before it got out of hand. They settled for silence rather than confrontation yet again. The sedan pulled into the hanger and stopped with a jarring screech, Sasuke hadn't noticed he was nearly flooring it all the way through Iizuna and the forest. He exited the vehicle with such haste that he was halfway across the room by the time Naruto and Sakura did.
"Pack everything you need. We're leaving." he called across the warehouse, his voice carrying through the vast starkness.
"Leaving…now? For what? Tokyo?" questioned the blonde.
"Anywhere but here." responded the dark eyed man, mostly to himself before he vanished down the long length of a hallway. Sasuke released a ragged sigh and ran his hands through his hair in an attempt to collect his thoughts and himself. He was so focused on the last few hours and his next move that he failed to notice Sakura had followed him all the way to his room until she slammed the door behind her.
"Sakura we don't—"
"Is this it then? What this life is about?" she asked, her voice stern enough to bring a deep frown to his lips, but not stop him from tossing odds and ends into his dufflebag.
"…This is hardly our modus operandi. I've told you before, we aren't common criminals."
"You're no better, you know? No matter what you say. You're no better than them, than her." seethed the emerald eyed woman, her nails digging into her palms painfully. He froze in his actions; he'd never heard her say anything with such maliciousness. What was it about this particular evening that incensed all the women around him and made them want to pick fights? Her words stung, but he knew now that it wasn't just the officers' lives he endangered that was causing her to fume and confront him.
"Why do you think we're leaving!?" Sasuke roared, his mask slipping as his anger mounted at her tone. He couldn't look her in the eyes however, that all too familiar feeling of shame surfacing once again, "This place, the vices…Tayuya; they're all poisonous. They try to pull you down with them." his voice cracked as his fury crumbled slowly.
"I'm trying, Sakura." Sasuke he softly, his forehead rested in his palm. Truth be told he believed he was no better than a common thug for a long time, the only difference being that he wore a nicer suit. But with Orochimaru's demise he could be something else, something better, "What would you have me do?"
Sakura had never seen him so vulnerable, so raw. It almost made her regret confronting him now, but the deed was done regardless. She had faced him wanting nothing more than to curse him into oblivion, threaten to leave, strike him, anything to make him feel like she had. Though she hadn't expected him to so readily denounce the redhead crime boss, and in the wake of recent events it made her feelings of jealousy seem petty by comparison. He was staring at her now; practically right through her, waiting for her words of comfort but, she had none.
"Try harder, Sasuke." she said lowly as she turned and left him to his solitary silence.
There it is. I have to admit this one was tricky to write. Introducing Nagano P.D., Deidara's unfortunate…everything, the SakuSasu goodness that I had to stop myself away from going full blown lemon on. I do have to say that the ending was particularly hard for me. Sakura's steely last words. Oooh character development scary business. Well that's enough from me, as always thank you for reading and don't be shy with the reviews or PMs if you have any questions comments or concerns.
Next Chapter: Maritime Madrigal
Until next time! Sayonara!