One and a Half Years Ago
Shisui ran his hand down Sakura's bare back, stroking her spine on his way back up while he planted a gentle kiss on the crown of her head. Six months had passed since they agreed to the friends with benefits arrangement. So far, it was working out well. He'd be lying if he said the sex wasn't out of this world. All of his preconceived notions about her had been wrong. She certainly wasn't half as vanilla as he had thought. The red indents leftover from his hemp rope on her thighs were a testament to that.
What he had really enjoyed was bringing her to the edge of orgasm over and over again until her legs wouldn't stop trembling, and only then would he let her fall over the edge. It was then he would thank his lucky stars he thought to soundproof the room the night before. She was fun to tease; he liked running his tongue against her slick folds and around her clit just to see her back arch. He liked the sound of the rope straining against the bed frame when her thighs instinctively tried to close.
"This is nice," Sakura mumbled. She ran her fingers down the center of his chest lazily. Her lips rested against his ribs, he could feel each hot puff of breath against his scar. "Every Sunday morning should start exactly like this."
"Oh yeah? Every one?" He was careful to keep his tone light, his hand in constant motion against her back.
She hadn't meant it, he could tell. She was still in sub space. She was simply telling him what she thought he wanted to hear in order to please him.
Sakura adjusted the blankets further over his body, and he couldn't remember a time when he had felt more cared for. It was all about simple acts with her. In the evenings before she left his apartment, she would prep his coffee maker. After every mission, she would check him over with her chakra and pretend that she wasn't. If she left the hospital before noon, she would bring lunch with her to his office at the police headquarters. If it was after midnight, and he was supposed to be at the ANBU headquarters, she might bring him the stale cookies the hospital cafeteria was throwing out. He couldn't help but want to reciprocate in any way he could.
He pulled her in tighter and let himself be lost in the moment. He let himself be surrounded in her scent, in the softness of her bed, in the pink lacey accents no self-respecting shinobi should have in their room, but looked endearing in hers. He loved her; he couldn't deny it. He had been in love with her for over a year, now. Still, every time he tried to broach the conversation of moving to a serious relationship, she would bring up how much she liked their arrangement. And how much the rules meant to her. She was a liar. But so was he. She was scared he would let her down like everyone else, leave her behind when she couldn't keep up.
He was scared she would leave him if he told her the truth.
Sakura stiffened against him, and it was then that he felt the chakra signatures at the door.
She jumped out of the bed and began throwing on a pair of discarded shorts. "Shit, shit, shit." She threw his clothes from the night before towards him then looked down at her exposed thighs. "Shit!"
Ripping off the shorts, she replaced them with a pair of pants from the dresser to cover the now pink marks on her thighs.
He pulled his shirt over his head and barely had time to comprehend her yanking open the window. One leg was in his trousers when she started tugging him to the opening.
"Sorry, but you have to go!"
She picked him up bodily and threw him down. The wood ledge below the window vibrated against his back. He could hear her greet someone on the other side. Curiosity had his feet hitting the cobblestones of Konoha before his brain could catch up to what he was doing. He walked up the stairs back to her apartment just as he finished buttoning his pants and stood outside of the door for a moment to listen.
3 Years Ago
Sakura shook off the chill as she entered the underground offices of ANBU headquarters. False flame lanterns lined the entrance to send shadows high along the walls. A fear tactic, no doubt, especially when coupled with the hand hewn stone walkway and walls that lined the path further into the mountain. The hallway ended in a fork—the left led the way to the Torture and Interrogation department and the holding cells, while the right led to ANBU operations.
She felt around on the wall for the pinpad and quickly punched in her access number. A dark door opened just inside the entrance to the right of the hall. It was brighter in this hallway. Bright can lights had long replaced the swinging fluorescent rods of her parents' day. They were installed at Tsunade's insistence, a way to mimic the sun and boost productivity for the Konoha-nin that worked exclusively at night.
"I don't need a substitute medic!" a man yelled down the hallway.
Stopping in her tracks, Sakura leaned her back against the cool lime-washed wall.
"You may not need one, but the people under your command do. A good medic is worth more than their weight in gold. I personally guarantee that Agent Slug is worth twice that." It sounded like Tsunade's muffled voice from behind the closed office door. "This is non-negotiable."
"I can't guarantee her safety," the man admitted slowly. There was an incessant click of a heel against the tile. "I do not want to be held responsible for the death of your apprentice."
Tsunade laughed. "There will be a day when you admit you severely underestimated her. For now, she's on your team until Agent Cat returns from maternity leave. Your mission starts in two hours, be ready to go."
"Fine," he growled. "By your will, Hokage-sama."
Sakura could practically feel a sarcastic bow emanating from the other side of the door as she shuffled along the wall, fully intending to eavesdrop on the rest of the conversation.
Tsunade opened the office door with a coy smile. "You can come in now."
A blush rose on Sakura's face, she could feel her cheeks heat all the way to her ears. "Lady Tsunade," she greeted with a nod.
"This is Captain Crow, who you are assigned to until I can find a more permanent solution. His normal medic was his genin teammate, strong bond, large shoes to fill, and all that. She's on maternity leave at the moment." Tsunade left the office, closing the door with a decisive click.
Captain Crow scrubbed a hand over his face beneath his mask and crossed his arms over his chest. "I understand Agent Wolf briefed you on ANBU protocol? You're not officially sworn in?"
"Yes, sir."
She could barely make out his mumbled, "Worse than a rookie."
Anger bloomed hot on the back of her neck, but she held her tongue.
"Fine. We leave in two hours. You'll stay in front of me, in the middle of the formation at all times. If we fall under attack, you are to evacuate to the rear, no arguments. Is that understood, jounin-medic?"
"Yes, sir." She didn't mean for the attitude to slip out and color the 'sir.'
"We'll see."
One and a Half Years Ago Outside Sakura's Apartment
Shisui shuffled his feet in front of Sakura's apartment door and ran a hand through his hair. Curiosity had the better of him, even though he was in sore need of a shower, as he stood outside the door to listen.
"Oh, Sakura!" a middle-aged woman cooed. "It looks perfect for you."
He could hear heavy footsteps inside, a slight limp on one side. There was the clang of a metal wrench from somewhere in the living room on the other side of the wall.
A man piped up near the wrench, "There, that should hold it for now. Make sure you let your landlord know about it."
There was a pause as Sakura's footsteps shuffled toward the man. "Thanks, Dad."
A wry smirk crossed Shisui's face before he could stop it, as a plan came to mind. He raised his hand and knocked loudly on the door. He wouldn't have noticed most people's discomfort even through an exterior wall, but spending as much time in Sakura's bed as he had in the last six months made him acutely aware of her every mood.
Her feet remained firmly planted on the edge of the wall. A burst of her chakra flexed through her security seals in a paltry attempt to burn his fist as he raised it to knock once more. He could hear her with her back against the wall now. When the anxiety in her chakra signature burst, his smirk widened into an outright smile. Knocking again, he zapped back through the security seal and could practically hear the surprised wince on the other side of the wall.
"Aren't you going to answer it?" the woman asked, moving more closely to the door.
"No, it's no one important."
That stung his pride a bit, even though she was a damned liar. He'd made her come on his tongue twice times that morning. If that wasn't important, he didn't know what was. Her unrestrained cries of pleasure were still making his ears ring.
Shisui knocked again.
The other woman's feet moved toward the door, sticking to the cold linoleum with small smacks on the way over. "Just a moment." In a quieter voice she added, "Honestly, Sakura, it's so rude to keep visitors waiting at the door. At least you've put away your shoes for once."
Sakura's father was banging the wrench against a radiator on the opposite side of the exterior wall Shisui was near now. He stopped for a moment and said, "Your shirt is on backward, did you know that?"
Shisui pressed his lips against a laugh as the front door was unlocked and opened.
"Good morning," the woman greeted.
He was sure to throw on the carefree smile he used to charm elders and children. He could feel it slip across his face with surprising ease, he was sure it almost reached his ears. "Good morning, ma'am. I came to see Sakura, but I see she's already entertaining." He extended his hand and introduced himself.
The way her gaze dropped slowly from his head to his toes made him feel naked or like a piece of meat at a market. Her gelled blonde hair bobbed slightly by the time she met his eyes again. "Aren't you handsome? Mebuki Haruno, Sakura's mom, and unfortunately taken. But my daughter is very available!"
She eagerly yanked him into a hug, practically dragging him into the apartment. While not as strong as Sakura, she certainly could manage. His shoes scraped along the tile entrance, and his toe caught on the threshold.
He thanked her and introduced himself to Sakura's dad, Kizashi Haruno. A retired shinobi, veteran of the Second Shinobi War, Kizashi was a bit taller than Shisui. He maintained his military bearing, though it was clear he had learned how to mask it in softness over the years. There was no mistaking the love that the man held for his daughter. The moment the introductions were over and Sakura walked into her kitchen, the man's gaze had hardened. Shisui controlled himself against the small discomfort, and could only pray that he met this man's approval. Why he wanted that, he didn't know.
Kizashi reclined against the sofa while Mebuki and Sakura chattered in the small apartment kitchen. Motioning for Shisui to join him on the sofa, Shisui obliged and sat down next to him. All pretense of joviality had left his face as he inspected Shisui.
"So you're dating my daughter?"
"No, sir, we're just friends and colleagues."
Kizashi leaned forward and picked a long pink hair off of the shoulder of Shisui's shirt that he hadn't noticed. Shisui's smile dropped, and he matched the other man's serious expression.
"Try again." He held up the hair to the light then dropped it on the floor.
"We are dating, as friends." Shisui held his breath, hoping the conversation would naturally die away.
Kizashi leaned back again. "Don't think I haven't heard about your womanizing. I might not be able to fight you, but if you hurt my baby girl, I will find a way to ruin your sterling shinobi reputation, former Captain of the Palace Guard. My second cousin is the daimyo's advisor. I promise, I will use every bit of influence my family has in the capital to be sure you're stationed in some godforsaken corner of the world."
"Understood. Though, I would never and have never laid a hand on her."
"Not all hurts are physical."
3 Years Ago
Sakura inhaled beneath the cold ceramic mask that covered her face. Agent Slug, they called her. Of all things to have as a code name. Tsunade certainly had a sense of humor, just not a good one. Well, most of them. Captain Crow still insisted on using her normal title. In her opinion, it was an insult to her abilities. A thin tree branch slapped across her mask, and the ANBU agent in front of her snapped his head in her direction.
Agent Bear, at the front of the formation, held up his fist, and they all jumped from the tree branches.
"Fall back, Jounin!" Captain Crow barked.
Irritation flared. She was tempted to throw a chakra-laden punch his way to prove a point. Unfortunately, that was strictly against the rules Kakashi - no, Agent Wolf - had laid out for her. Rule one: protect your identity. Rule two: do not use identifying jutsu. He was the sole exception.
Sakura melted behind a tree, camouflaging herself against its truck with a genjutsu she had stolen from Sasuke. Steel clang against each other as the ANBU team blurred against the enemy. Agent Bear had pinned one of the enemies to a tree with a brace of senbon, and the man flared and thrashed against his bonds.
As difficult as it was to keep up with the pace of the battle, one thing was clear: they were losing. Five shinobi were challenging Captain Crow, their faces entirely covered with some sort of diving gear and breathing apparatus. The line between his shoulders was tense with every movement. A red glow beneath his mask gave away what Sakura had suspected—he was an Uchiha.
Agent Bear screamed out as blood blossomed over the top of his ripped shirt.
Wisps of red hair fluttered in the wind as Agent Rabbit's hood fell down and she rushed in to help him, only to be cut down. Blood mixed with the dirt below, Captain Crow glanced away from his own battle, the tension in his body growing as he saw his comrades fall.
Disregarding the captain's order, Sakura rushed out and pulled Agent Bear to the shelter of the mulberry bush.
"I need to activate the seal," he rasped, his hand on his stomach.
Sakura said nothing as her hands began to glow green. There was an explosion behind her, the heat of it immense, the resulting shrapnel embedded itself into the trees just above her head. "Done. I need to help the others, stay here."
Captain Crow was on his back now, his head moving from side to side with disorientation. He held his hand to the back of his head, the black leather slick with blood as he pulled it away. Jumping up, he looked around wildly, then the red glow of his sharingan met her eyes and the tension in his shoulders dropped slightly.
Kneeling down next to Agent Rabbit, Sakura squeezed her eyes shut and concentrated on mending what had been torn. Blood cells were rapidly reproduced to replace the blood that colored the dead grass. Agent Rabbit's eyes shot open, Sakura kept her hand on her shoulder before she could tear the newly repaired wounds.
"You're alive, you're in allied hands," Sakura reassured her.
Captain Crow had Agent Bear's arm draped over his shoulder, two ANBU packs on his other. "We need to take refuge and regroup," he said quietly, moving her way. "There's a ryokan nearby—an ally of Konoha, and very discreet."
"Agent Weasel, sir? He's still out there."
The Adam's apple in his throat bobbed with a hard swallow. "Agent Weasel will be fine. He knows the backup plan. Besides, he has his own mission to contend with."
Sakura nodded without understanding. This wasn't how Konoha teams were supposed to work. Not even in the slightest. Teamwork above all, so why then did she want to trust this man and follow through with a plan that would surely end in all of their deaths?