They arrived in Tanzaku-gai just as the sun was setting two days later. It was a lively place, Sakura thought to herself. Where Konoha was busy, the streets back home were always filled with shinobi going from place to place, or mothers out with their children for the day's errands. Here, the crowd was rowdier - and they smelled much worse, she realized as she wrinkled her nose as a pair of drunken men passed by, reeking of stale beer and cigarettes. Kakashi chuckled, glancing over at her with an amused smile on his face.

"It's not what you thought, hmm?"

Sakura shot him a look, stepping closer to him as someone stumbled next to her. "Well, it's certainly not as relaxing as I'd hoped it would be." She answered him honestly. He gave her hand a light squeeze, a reassuring smile on his face.

"It's not all bars and gambling halls." Kakashi told her. "On the other side of the city, there's a nice place with a great view of the mountain."

She arched her eyebrow at him. "When have you been here before?"

Kakashi's back stiffened, and Sakura watched as a shadow crossed his face. "A long time ago." He answered her simply.

Sakura bit her bottom lip and said nothing else as they walked in silence, understanding that he didn't want to talk further on the subject. She looked around as they walked, watching as the bars began to spread out, replaced as they went along by more family friendly places and small shops. The street began to steepen and as they crested the top of the hill, Kakashi stopped and pointed ahead at a series of beautiful wooden buildings cut into the foothills of the mountain that loomed over Tanzaku-gai. The property was outside the secondary gates, but in the dark forest, she could see a well-lit path carving through the trees up to the place that gave the indication that it was some kind of resort.

"We're staying there?" She asked him quietly. "It looks-"

"Expensive." He confirmed with a crinkle-eyed smile and a nod of his head. "But since this is on Tsunade's dime and she wants me to relax..." He trailed off with a chuckle. Sakura's eyes widened and then narrowed as she poked his chest lightly.

"Genma." She hissed the man's name. "When did he tell you? We didn't go back into Konoha after I came back from her office...except...He passed a message to Izumo or Kotetsu, didn't he?" She put it together in her mind. If she wasn't annoyed that it had foiled any chance at surprising Kakashi for his birthday, she would have been impressed by Genma's sneaky ways.

Kakashi just laughed, holding up his hands. "I'm saying nothing." He answered her with a smile. "Except that he's a very good friend who knows that I hate surprises."

Sakura smiled in spite of herself, leaning her head against his shoulder before she cast him a scowl. "He got one detail wrong." She murmured as they began making their way down the road towards the hillside resort. "It's not on her dime."

Kakashi just smirked, pulling a thick envelope out of his coat. "Shizune made sure it was."

Sakura laughed, imagining the look on her shishou's face whenever she realized the stunt her bodyguard and apprentice had teamed up to confiscate her month's gambling money to fund the vacation she'd insisted Kakashi take. "I'm glad we won't be there when she finds out." She snickered.

As they made their way past the gates and up the winding, lit path towards the retreat, Sakura found herself excited at the prospect of spending the next five days in such a cozy setting with him. She just hoped that nothing happened to disturb their brief interlude in the chaos that had become their lives.

The main building was even more impressive the closer they got, with large, rough-hewn timber pillars supporting a roof with a high pitch over the front doors. Kakashi held it open for Sakura to enter first before he followed behind her. She smiled when she felt his hand on the small of her back as they approached the front desk.

"Hello." The clerk greeted them with a small smile on her face. "A room for two?"

"Yes." Kakashi answered before glancing at Sakura with a smirk before adding, "A suite, if there's one available. We'll be in town for five days."

"We have one on the upper floor, if you don't mind the stairs." The clerk offered as her fingers clacked on a keyboard in front of her, scanning the computer screen with her eyes without lifting them to look at Kakashi.

"That's fine."

The clerk told them the total and Sakura watched as Kakashi handed over half the money in the envelope, exchanging it for two room keys. He slipped them into his coat before confirming which way their room was. They found the staircase to the left of the desk and walked up slowly before Kakashi pulled her to the right. Halfway down the hall, he stopped outside of their room, using one of the keys in his coat to unlock it.

"After you." He murmured to Sakura with a smile. She leaned up and brushed her lips over his as she stepped into the room, sliding her hand along the wall until she found a light switch. She flipped it and the room flooded with light, giving them their first look at their temporary home in Tanzaku-gai.

The room was nicely decorated, with light green walls that was sure to complement the sweeping forest views that lay darkened by the night outside a large, wide window on the far side of the room. The floors were gleaming, golden-toned wood with streaks of rich browns and vibrant orange, giving the place a cozy feel. A massive fireplace dominated the space, surrounded with rustic, natural stones from the river that flowed just outside the city. In front of the fireplace was a long leather sofa and two conversation chairs, a door on each wall leading to two different rooms that they had yet to see.

"It's beautiful." Sakura said quietly as she took in her surroundings, trailing her hand over the smooth, cool leather of the sofa. Kakashi nodded as he stepped in to the room on the right.

"The bathroom is just as nice." He called to her. Sakura turned to follow him in, glancing around to find a huge whirlpool tub underneath a floor-to-ceiling bank of windows with a perfectly framed view of the mountain in the distance. On the opposite end of the room was a large walk-in shower tiled in white marble.

"I want that tub at the farm." Sakura whispered into Kakashi's ear as she looped her arm around his waist, letting her chin rest on the top of his shoulder. He laughed, eyebrow cocked as he glanced down at her.

"I don't think our bathroom is big enough." Kakashi answered with a small smile. Sakura's eyes danced and she moved so that she was directly in front of him, her arms now caging him against the double vanity.

"Our." She whispered as she leaned up to kiss him softly, her heart fluttering as she said the word. "You called it our bathroom."

He blinked, confused. "You did say you want to move in." He told her, bringing his hand up to tuck a strand of crimson hair behind her ear.

"I know. I just...It makes me happy, hearing it out loud." She shrugged, her cheeks tinged pink. "I know we were already staying together every night, but it's different now that we're actively building a life there together, you know?"

His eyes softened, the hand on the side of her face stroking her jaw tenderly. "I know." He nodded before he kissed her forehead and then said, "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

Sakura smiled, leaning in to his touch. "Well, let's hurry and go get dinner, then." She told him. After a short pause, she flicked her eyes to his, a sultry expression on her face as she added, "The sooner we do that, the sooner we can have dessert."

Kakashi's eyes darkened, his touch becoming rougher as he moved his fingertips to her jaw. He gripped firmly before kissing Sakura deeply, his tongue battling hers for dominance that he ultimately won as he smirked against her mouth. "On second thought," Kakashi rasped against her mouth. "I'm actually not so hungry, after all. I think I'd rather enjoy dessert."

Sakura squeaked as he pulled her out of the bathroom and towards the bedroom on the opposite side of the suite that neither of them had seen yet. Neither of them cared much what the room looked like as Kakashi tossed her into the center of the bed before climbing in after her. Sakura knew the second he positioned himself above her, hands greedily pawing at her clothes, that they wouldn't be coming up for air any time before the next morning.

-x-

Late the next afternoon, Sakura groaned as Kakashi led her into one of the seedy bars that they'd passed by on their way into town. "You're sure this is where he'll come to find us?" She asked him dubiously. "I'm sure even he has standards."

Kakashi just smiled as he waited for her to slide into the corner booth he'd found for them. "He'll be here." He reassured her, slipping in after her. "This is his usual haunt. When I've been sent to retrieve information from him before, this is where we've met."

He didn't seem to be worried about anyone overhearing their conversation, although between the loud music thumping from the jukebox in the corner of the bar and the loud roar of the patrons shouting and laughing, Sakura doubted anyone who wasn't right on top of them could hear a thing, anyway. She sighed, smoothing the skirt she'd chosen to wear over her thighs before she looked up at him.

"How long do you think it'll be before he shows up?" She asked Kakashi, glancing around the room warily. There weren't many other women in the place, and those that were there seemed to either be working the bar or working the men. Kakashi arched his bisected eyebrow at her, an amused smirk on his lips as he placed his hand over hers on her thigh.

"Don't tell me a few drunk men scare you, the Fifth Hokage's apprentice."

"I'm not afraid." Sakura scoffed, narrowing her eyes in annoyance. "I just don't like the way some of them are looking at me, that's all."

"Oh?" He asked her casually. "Which ones? I would be more than happy to let them know just who you're with."

She rolled her eyes. "We're supposed to be keeping a low profile, remember?" She told him. In spite of her words, she subconsciously glanced at two of the offenders whose eyes hadn't lifted from her chest since the moment she'd sat down. Kakashi's gaze followed hers and then flicked back to her face, a sigh falling from his lips.

"I suppose you're right." He agreed.

A waitress walked up then, asking if they'd like anything to drink. Kakashi ordered them a bottle of sake, to which Sakura glanced at him with surprise. She knew that he occasionally drank, but she'd never seen him do so on a sanctioned mission. Seeing the look on her face, he shrugged.

"It would look strange if we weren't drinking." He explained, leaning in to her ear again. "Besides, this isn't really a mission, is it, Sa-ku-ra?" The hand on her thigh tightened its grip, and Sakura took a stuttered breath as he added in a completely casual tone, "This is a vacation - and I fully intend to enjoy every second of it."

Sakura cursed under her breath when she felt him kissing his way down her neck. Her face heated in either embarrassment or arousal - she wasn't sure which - when she realized that the same two men were watching Kakashi tease her. Determined not to let him succeed in his clear goal of turning her on, Sakura gripped his wrist firmly and turned her head to shoot him a firm stare.

"Not here." She murmured to him. When she glanced at his smirk, she felt her resolve slipping and cleared her throat as she added, "I don't want Naruto to-"

"He doesn't know it's me." Kakashi grinned, leaning towards her neck again. She stopped him, placing her other hand on his chest.

"He-" Sakura started before being cut off by someone she didn't recognize the sound of.

"Is he bothering you, little lady?" A slurred, deep voice from behind her asked. Sakura didn't have to look at him to realize that one of the men who'd been staring all night had finally approached her. When she saw the tightening of Kakashi's jaw, his neck thrumming, she realized immediately that this would not end well if she couldn't get rid of the drunkard by herself.

"No, thank you." She answered without looking, keeping her eyes on Kakashi's as she silently willed him not to interfere or cause a scene.

"Because, if he is, I'll-" The man continued on as though Sakura hadn't answered him at all. Oh, shit, she thought to herself when Kakashi tore his gaze from hers to stare daggers at the man standing so close to her that she could smell the stale beer on his breath.

"You'll what?" Kakashi cut him off with a smug smirk before he sighed when Sakura tightened her grip on his wrist. "You heard the little lady - she's fine. Now, I suggest you walk away before I lose my temper and decide to take you up on your challenge."

"Sukea." She hissed his code name. "Don't."

"Now, what seems to be the trouble over here?" Another booming voice added itself into the mix. Sakura turned around, finding Jiraiya standing there, a thick arm hung over the drunk man's shoulder as though they were pals before he said in a more serious tone. "If I were you, friend, I would take the man's advice." He suggested, adding in a loud whisper, "He's a wanted fugitive."

"W-What for?" The drunk stammered, casting a sideways look at Kakashi and Sakura before looking back at Jiraiya with wide eyes.

Sakura had to hide her face against Kakashi's arm to stifle the giggle she felt bubbling in her chest as Jiraiya loudly whispered his answer, "He killed the last man who even looked at her."

At this, Sakura couldn't contain her laughter, hiding it with a cough as Kakashi glared at the man, giving away no hint of the story being the fiction that it was. The man didn't say another word as he quickly uttered his apologies for the misunderstanding before he stumbled away quickly.

Jiraiya chuckled as he slid into the booth next to Kakashi, shaking his head as he looked over at him. "So, Tsunade was right, after all. You've finally found a woman who can tolerate you, huh? Good for you, Sukea."

Kakashi just smiled as he glanced at Sakura. "I didn't expect my love life to be so fascinating to someone with your reputation." He told the Sannin, lacing his fingers with Sakura's as his tone became more serious as he said, "It certainly isn't what we're meeting about."

"No, I suppose it isn't." Jiraiya nodded. Just then, the waitress reappeared with the bottle of sake that Kakashi had ordered. Waiting until the woman had left, he continued, "One of my contacts in the Sky District reached out to me as recently as a week ago with news that there have been a slew of kidnappings in Sora-ku. All of the missing children are girls in about the age range of a certain little girl you visited recently."

The air immediately became thick with tension as Kakashi spoke. "Nekobaa said nothing about any kidnappings." His grip on the half-full glass of sake in his hand tightened as he deduced, "They started after we left."

Jiraiya nodded, his eyes sharp. "Yes." He confirmed, fishing a scroll out of his robes. As he handed it over to Kakashi, he added. "I advise you to stay clear of the area and let another team handle the investigation Tsunade will no doubt launch in the Sky District."

"And why would I do that?" Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "I know he's rogue, but Itachi meant something to me once, Jiraiya. The same way your three little orphans meant something to you, once upon a time. Or are you telling me you wouldn't lift a finger, even now, if one of them needed you?"

Jiraiya's mouth tightened into a thin line as he returned Kakashi's glare. "Because my intel suggests that Root is behind the kidnappings. Tsunade sent word that Danzo is up to his old tricks, pulling strings behind the curtain. She also told me that he's got his eye on you, specifically. You are too valuable an asset to risk falling into a trap so far from home when Danzo is involved." He spoke sternly. "I'm sure Tsunade will agree. I've suggested a team I am more than confident is capable of sorting out whatever is going on in Sora-ku."

Kakashi's shoulders stiffened and Sakura placed her hand on his shoulder. "Who's on the team?" She asked the Sannin quietly, her worried green eyes lifting to his dark ones.

Jiraiya's eyes held her gaze as he answered her. "Nara Shikaku, Sarutobi Asuma, and Haruno Hizashi."

Sakura stopped breathing, and Kakashi pulled her close, resting his hand on her hip. "We'll leave first thing in the morning." He told Jiraiya, who shook his head.

Jiraiya nodded, his eyes glancing at Sakura's watery ones. "I assumed as much. Sakura, don't worry. I've been on a mission or two with your father, and he's a very talented spy. He has a good record on missions like this one; he'll be fine."

The tears in her eyes began to spill over. "I have no doubt in him." She told Jiraiya with as straight a face as she could muster, her words shaky as she tried to maintain her composure.

Jiraiya glanced back at Kakashi with a nod of his head as he turned to leave. Before walking away, he turned his head over his shoulder and looked at Sakura, speaking again. "Before you leave tomorrow, why don't you meet up with Naruto and I for breakfast? He's missed you, and I'm sure seeing him will be good for you, too."

Sakura's face brightened, and she glanced at Kakashi who nodded with a small smile. "What about that diner near the gates?" He suggested casually. Both Sakura and Jiraiya nodded and the Sannin said a quick goodbye with the wave of one of his large hands before slipping back through the crowd. Although she was excited at the prospect of seeing Naruto in the morning, she felt sick as she thought of her father and the mission Jiraiya was recommending him for. She knew without needing to be told that Tsunade would approve it, and that her father would be accompanying Shikamaru's father and the Hokage's son to the Sky District. She just hoped that all three of them made it back in one piece.