Sakura sank back through the stage floor, into the coolness of the shadows. Crew met her, quickly removing her sound equipment and shooing her away so they could move on to the next part of their jobs.
She snagged a water glass from the table, chugging it down. She felt the moment the cool water splashed into the champagne in her stomach. Sakura withheld a burp, determined to stay lady-like.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the flash of red hair as Karin stomped by on her way to the stage. Sakura didn't turn around, instead picked up a sparkling amber glass of expensive brandy. Naruto and Sasuke appeared around her, claiming water of their own and panting lightly.
She tapped each man's knuckles against her own, winking at the boys.
They slipped out the door into the ballroom as Taka began their set, mixing back into the party. She looked again for Kakashi, and again didn't find him.
Omoi and Lee found them, both men laughing boisterously. "Excellent job, Sakura!" Omoi clinked his glass to hers, cheers-ing.
"Every time you sing, you stir my heart," Lee added sincerely. She blushed. Lee leaned towards her, bushy eyebrows low. "I wish they had asked you to sing some more, you could have stirred the whole party!"
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged looks of mild irritation. "We were up there too, you know." Naruto grumbled, annoyed.
She gave Lee a look, conveying her fake irritation. "I'm happy to party instead!" She lifted her glass for emphasis. "Come on boys, let's find the others." She waved for them to follow, and pushed her way through the crowd, the rich and powerful on every side.
She spotted the top of Neji's head, as the tallest, in an alcove with seats. TenTen was on his lap, hand tangled in his hair as she kissed him with abandon.
Sakura exchanged a look with Omoi and Lee, both men looking vaguely uncomfortable.
They all slid into the round booth, squishing in with Ino, Sai, Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke.
"I wonder who will go on after Taka?" Hinata leaned around her boyfriend to say to Sakura. She shrugged at the Hyuuga heiress. She had no idea.
"I wonder where Temari is?" Ino pondered, looking furtively around the table.
Suddenly the blonde was there, summonded by her name, Shikamaru and Kakashi in tow. "Right here, bitches," She said, hand on her hip. Shikamaru was dressed as Faramir, a detail Sakura did not miss. Kakashi took up a place leaning against a pillar beside the booth, watching silently and slouching.
Temari squished in beside Lee, and Shikamaru after them. Sakura couldn't believe the booth could hold them all, but the design for several people was undoubtedly intentional.
"Tsunade is here too, with Jiraiyah." Shikamaru informed them, linking his hands together on the table before them. "I'm sure she's eager to assess Infinite's new band."
They all nodded agreement.
"Well, Happy Halloween!" Tenten unglued herself from Neji to say, hoisting her drink in the air. The table lifted their drinks as well, echoing the sentiment. Sakura relaxed into the leather seat, sipping on her burning liquor.
Her friends talked while Taka began their set, rock music filling the hall.
"Sakura," Hinata leaned around Naruto again to speak with her. Sakura also leaned forward, arms resting on the table.
"Are you excited?" Her friend offered her a soft smile. Sakura gave her a confused look. "Your wedding!" Hinata raised her brows encouragingly.
"Oh!" Sakura frowned for a moment then smiled. "Yes, of course," She played with one of her long tresses, pulling it between her fingers.
She didn't actually know if she was excited. She...was certainly attracted to Kakashi. But the idea of being married was so strange. What if her soulmate was out there somewhere and she was married to someone else? Or was this situation fate in itself? While Kakashi was no longer a stranger, her emotions were a tangled mess, unnavigable.
Hinata beamed, positively radiating joy for her friend. "Who knew you'd be the first! You'll have to tell us all the details!"
Sakura's eyes flicked to Kakashi briefly and back to Hinata. "Details of what?" She swirled her amber liquid in her glass, watching the brandy swirl in a circle as she waited for Hinata to respond.
It was Ino who answered. She had pressed forward across the table top, grinning like a fiend, her hair pooling around her. The other women had all turned their attention to them, consequently drawing the notice of the men.
Kakashi's head angled a hairsbreadth more in their direction.
"Details of the wedding night," she said, voice heavy with implication. Sakura's eyes went wide slowly. The wedding night. Hinata turned positively red, but didn't correct the blond.
"Ino!" It was Sasuke who objected, a scowl on his face. "God, women are worse than men," He tossed back the rest of his drink, the gesture oozing his disgust. Lee and Omoi shared the sentiment.
Shikamaru shook with laughter. "Oh man, Sasuke, you have no idea!" Temari frowned at him, her eyes narrowed. "Everyone thinks men talk about sex all the time, but in reality? It's the ladies." He waved his hand around the table, indicating the females sitting there.
Omoi and Lee nodded seriously. "I see, I see." Lee muttered to himself.
Sakura's internal reaction was horror, but this was supposed to be a real marriage, so she winked at Hinata, a wry smirk on her face.
"Have mercy on your man," Naruto implored, a grimace on his face. "You don't all need to be talking about our dicks all the time."
The conversation devolved from there, becoming increasingly inappropriate and childish. They were no better than teenagers. A game of Never Have I Ever ensued, X rated, with a drinking punishment.
Sakura was well set for this game, since her sexual experiences were, well, non-existent. She read plenty of sex, and she'd been kissed a good bit, but she was…inexperienced. But this lack of carnal knowledge was on her side, as her friends drank more and her stomach and liver were spared. She took the occasional sip, but not to the level of those around her. She wondered if Kakashi was paying attention to the conversation. The idea terrified her a bit, but only a little. She had nothing to be embarrassed about, she told herself.
Out of the corner of her eye he shifted slightly, straightening up. His slouchy, slow demeanor changed. He stepped away from the pillar.
"I'm going to use the restroom." Sakura announced abruptly. Kakashi paused. She shooed Omoi and Lee out of her way, and crawled over them, onto the floor.
Kakashi inclined his head in her direction, deferring to her. She plowed into the crowd, forcing her way out of the ballroom into the emptier hallways, scanning for the restrooms.
"You looked a little antsy," She commented over her shoulder as they walked deeper into the Infinite building.
"I also have to use the bathroom," He explained, his voice close to her ear. She shivered.
"Guess we should find them." She met his eyes briefly through his mask, then looked ahead again.
The first bathroom they found was overflowing with ladies, while the mens' had a short line. Sakura groaned but waved Kakashi on. "Go ahead, I'll find another." His mask bobbed in acknowledgement, and he broke off from her.
She wandered through the first floor, finding only a couple more over-packed women's rooms. She resigned herself to wait at the back of a line, tapping an impatient foot against the floor, women coming and going around her. The line got shorter. Sakura moved forward.
Eventually, she got into the restroom, one other woman finishing up washing her hands. She went about her business, humming to herself.
As she was scrubbing her hands, the door opened behind her, and in swept her least favorite redhead.
Karin grinned ferally in the mirror, showing all of her teeth. Sakura swallowed a noise of frustration. She grabbed a paper towel, systematically drying her palms and fingers.
"Oh, if it isn't Sakura." Karin crooned, coming closer. Sakura brought her head up, staring the other woman down, unspeaking. Karin's eyes were darker than usual.
"No guards today?" Karin glanced around, like Genma or Asuma might be hiding in one of the stalls. She found no one, of course. The security at Infinite was overflowing tonight for the party, so no extras were needed. "How fortunate." And then she got right up in Sakura's face, too close for comfort.
"You've got some fucking nerve, you spoiled bitch," Karin hissed with narrowed eyes and flared nostrils.
"What are you going on about?" Sakura asked, her voice flat and bored.
"Taking the opening act. Strutting around like you're better than us," She spat and poked Sakura in the chest, hard. "This is my company,"
Sakura's eye twitched.
"But you're not really better, are you? You're just a pathetic little girl, rebounding onto the next cock after her breakup."
"Those things aren't related," Sakura rolled her eyes, but choked down a little hurt that rose in her. She hated being called a little girl, and she especially hated being called pathetic.
Karin smiled like she'd said something funny. "I think they are. But Sasuke looks like he's doing well. Don't worry, I think Taka could take him off your hands." She quirked a red brow. "Madara always gets what he wants." Her voice was a little flat. Sakura took no notice.
She laughed. Loudly. "You're delusional. Sasuke isn't going anywhere. Definitely not with you."
Karin struck, her hand flashing forward and grabbing one of Sakura's extensions. She pulled, ripping it out and dropping it to the tiled floor. Sakura hadn't had time to react.
"You think you're so untouchable. But it's a lie. You're weak. And your fans are turning on you. You know what they say online? You're a whore, who slept her way to the top. FireDrive would be better off without you. Why don't you go back to the land of-"
Sakura slapped Karin with as much force as possible. It was not the slap of a movie. No, this was aggressive, violent. "What the fuck is wrong with you? I've literally done nothing." She hissed. Karin was insane.
She spun on her heel and fled the bathroom, leaving Karin with a crimson handprint on her cheek.
She hurried back to where she left Kakashi, but he had disappeared. Distress gripping her chest, she fisted her hands, put her head down, and made for the elevator bank. She ascended higher into the building, picking the fifth floor at random.
She swept into the hallway when the doors opened, trailing poppy petals in her wake. Laughter echoed from doorways leading to the balconies over the party, but she turned away from them, moving towards the outer part of the skyrise, passing office spaces and conference rooms. It must not have been a studio floor.
She found a set of French doors that opened onto a rain drenched balcony on the exterior of the building and turned to it to step out. The building blocked the worst of the downpour, just a little bit of spray dusting Sakura's skin and raising goosebumps along her flesh.
She took a few shallow breaths and tried to drag herself back under control. Her scalp ached where the extension had been torn away, and her eyes blurred with rain.
Now she really was being pathetic. Karin's opinions mean nothing. And the ideas of nobodies on Twitter also meant nothing.
She hated that words like that could hurt her. She had heard enough internet nastiness to be numb, so why did that little thing hurt? She hated that she had let Karin touch her. She should've stopped her. God damnit she knew how to! She hated that she had slapped her in response. Sakura abhorred violence. She should have been in enough control of herself to avoid that situation entirely.
Sakura had never actually done anything to Karin, except exist. It was not an attack on Karin that Sakura was cast in the better roles. Sakura didn't go out of her way to take them from her. And Sakura never sought Karin out for drama. She simply could not be bothered for such childish behavior. Jealousy spurred Karin's actions, and Sakura would not be ruled by something like that.
It was an effort to get herself in check, her chest heaving. Her temper was often a problem, but she was not going to make a scene for herself. In public she could keep her anger simmering under the surface, like an underwater lava vent.
She wiped delicately under her eyes, careful of her makeup. Her hands were shaking a little, so she tucked them into her dress pockets and spun on her heel, squaring her shoulders and ducking back inside the building.
She stopped just inside the door, irritation breaking over her as she realized she was lost. How many turns had she taken to get here? She couldn't remember.
Resolving herself, she took off to the right, stalking down halls and peering into rooms to try and see if anything looked familiar.
She slowed down as she approached the door to a conference room, keeping her footsteps quiet as the hairs stood up on the back of her neck. Something was wrong here. It was a deeply rooted instinct that told her so, the result of growing up in a war-torn country.
Sakura edged forward and carefully peaked her head in the little glass windows that lined the door.
Her hot blood froze in her veins as she took in the scene before her.
A group of rough looking men were crowded around one end of the conference table, items spread about before them. They looked like little, tightly wrapped packages, along with strange instruments she didn't recognize, and a ton of cash.
But it was the two men lounging against the wall on the opposite end that made Sakura weak in the knees. They were dressed in matching black jackets with blood red clouds accenting the fabric, their gazes equally lethal. One had slicked back light hair and face paint, while the other had the most dead, terrifying eyes she'd ever seen.
The Akatsuki.
These men were members of an international terrorist organization. They had popped back up in the news in the years following the last war, a radical group who wished to reignite the flames of battle across the continent. Rumor had it they had started the last war. Psychopaths. They disgusted Sakura. What was wrong with people that they wanted to waste lives with violence?
They were talking in low voices, clearly in a deep debate over something.
Sakura backed up, her body slow to respond to the command, and she tripped over her own shoes. She caught herself at the last second, but the noise of her scramble seemed to echo out around her. The voices in the conference room stopped.
She back pedaled rapidly, her heart in her throat. She turned and bolted, but she already knew it was hopeless. She couldn't reach the end of the hall before those men reached the door. Who knew what they would do if they caught-
Sakura was yanked bodily off of her course, and drawn into a dark closet, strong arms wrapped around her torso with one hand pressed over her mouth. The closet door clicked shut at the same moment she heard the conference room door burst open.
Darkness fell over her eyes and Sakura opened her mouth to bite the hand of her attacker, but stopped short when his breath stirred her hair as he spoke.
"Don't you dare," Kakashi whispered gruffly, his grip on her tightening.
Sakura relaxed back into him, the fight leaving every cell in her body.
"You going to stay quiet?"
She nodded, and he withdrew his gloved hand from her mouth.
"Good girl."
Sakura leaned heavily back into him, and dropped her head back onto his shoulder, letting his gunpowder and leather scent calm the storm in her for a moment. Forget the drama with Karin-This was the most pressing matter by miles.
"That's the Akatsuki," She breathed as footsteps pounded by their hiding place. She'd already forgotten her agreement not to speak. Kakashi sighed, the sound nearly inaudible, his breath rustling her hair.
The door handle to the closet jingled, causing her heart rate to spike back up. She was going to go into cardiac arrest at a premature age with all of these stress events.
She felt Kakashi's arm shoot out and he gripped the handle in an iron vise, preventing it from turning.
"This one is locked," a muffled voice carried through the wood to them. Kakashi maintained his grip on the doorknob until the footsteps faded away.
"Yes, that's the Akatsuki." he breathed on to the top of her head. "How do you always manage to get yourself into the worst places?" He asked. Sakura didn't answer, and in the silence, she felt him press a kiss to her head.
"Where the fuck have you been?" She hissed at him. She didn't like that she couldn't see his face. It unnerved her, and she worried he could hear her heart beating like the wings of a moth in her chest.
"Looking for you, before I found those fuckers," He replied into her hair, his face pressed to the top of her head. "I've already altered the ANBU." He released her, stepping around to access the door better. "Come on, I think it's time we ditched this party."
She could feel his eyes on her face, even though she couldn't see him. After waiting a few more seconds to determine the coast was clear, he pushed the door open, letting in the harsh hall lights that momentarily blinded her.
His costume mask had been pushed up onto his head, and he pulled it back into place as they exited, concealing himself as her faceless fiancé again.
He reached back for her and took her hand in his, giving it a squeeze as he led the way through the halls, his movements careful and speaking of years of cautious work. He frequently paused to listen, head cocked to the side, straining for any hint of the terrorists near them.
By a stroke of luck, the first Sakura had had in days, they didn't encounter the Akatsuki as they left, slipping down the back stairway to avoid running into anyone.
Sakura stared at her fingers where they were interlaced with Kakashi's, her mind stuck on the fact that those dangerous men were here. Why? They had almost looked like they were waiting for something in that conference room. And now that she thought about it, those packages on the table had decidedly been drugs, though she couldn't begin to guess what kind. How had they even slipped by the security crawling all over the building?
They arrived on the ground floor, noise rushing in on them as Kakashi opened the stairwell door and tugged her into the lobby after him. The party remained in full swing, unaware of the danger lurking in this building, or the special operatives on their way to handle it.
Itachi was still standing at the door as they left, opening it for them gallantly. Sakura took several steadying breaths as they stepped outside, her usual paparazzi face on. Cameras flashed as they appeared from within the building.
Itachi and Kakashi exchanged quiet nods, meaning heavy in Itachi's gaze, as they walked by.
Sakura came to a stop on the curb to wait for Tenzo, her mind spinning in circles.
"Did you know?" She asked quietly, pieces clicking together in her head. Her eyebrows scrunched low over her gaze. Kakashi had deliberately disappeared more than once tonight, which was not something he ever did unless her other guards were with her. And he'd somehow shown up at just the right time. That look he had just shared with Itachi had been so meaningful.
Kakashi said nothing, the silence tight.
"You knew they were going to be here tonight," she went on, voice raising in pitch.
"Wait to get in the car," Kakashi said, a commander giving orders to soldiers. Sakura wanted to hit him. He did not give her orders. That was not how this worked.
She crossed her arms over her chest but obeyed, if only because of her own desire to preserve her image. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, most likely one of her friends wondering where she had gone. Her black SUV slid up before them, the engine purring in the night.
She held her words in until they were securely in the back seat, pulling away from the curb. He removed the Dragon mask from his face, tossing it onto the seat beside him.
"You knew they were going to be there. That's why you kept disappearing," She accused, eyes bright with anger. And hurt she didn't want to acknowledge. "You abandoned your post."
Kakashi dragged a hand down his face, which had solidified into impassiveness over the last few minutes. Only the gesture gave away his exhaustion.
"You are part of my job," He said, voice low. He may as well have slapped her. Not his partner. His job. She didn't know why she had ever thought anything different. Especially when it was her own behavior that set the line. Intentional behavior.
She reeled back for a moment, shook her head, and snapped back. "This is your job!"
Kakashi's hands balled into fists in his lap, the veins in his arms standing out. "This is part of my job. I am also doing a final job for black ops."
Sakura had no idea what to do with that. Her mouth opened and closed twice, words escaping her. She hadn't expected that. She had thought he was just. . . she didn't know what. Keeping an eye on things? But he had been lying to her. Sakura thought they were playing chess together, but it turned out that she was the only one on the board, and Kakashi was the grand master.
"Tsuande knows." He added softly, the words more of a breath.
"Are you fucking blaming this on my boss?" Sakura clenched her fingers, her hands needing movement but having nothing to fiddle with.
"No, I'm just making you aware that she knows I'm also working for the government. Guarding you allows me to do that," He wouldn't meet her eyes, his grey ones focused on the door handle, like he was debating throwing himself from the car instead of having this conversation.
"You're guarding me, while what, hunting the Akatsuki?" She asked, incredulous. "And you didn't feel the fucking urge to share that information?"
"It's safer if you don't know much. The Akatsuki seems to be interested in you, so guarding you is perfect to keep you safe and keep an eye on them. I think those two upstairs may have been waiting for you."
"How could you possibly know that?" She demanded, her thoughts swirling. The danger of the Akatsuki tonight hadn't even been related to her!
"I was listening to them. They were waiting for an opportunity, which you almost gave them," he cut her a pointed look "because they said their boss wants you." He looked away again.
Want her? For what? And if Kakashi had suspected they wanted her, then he wasn't just doing both jobs tonight, he was…
"Oh my fuck. You used me as bait." Her voice was loud in the interior of the car, echoing in her own ears. The glass divider between them and Tenzo hummed quietly as it raised. He had known they were going to be in Infinite Dream, and suspected they were interested in her. It was just a theory, just her jumping to conclusions, but Kakashi's hesitation confirmed her wild leap in logic. This betrayal felt an awful lot like heartbreak, for someone who wasn't in love. She didn't know why it hurt so much.
Kakashi had the sense to look a little ashamed.
Sakura had been deluding herself. She had become complacent, fuck, domestic with her guard. She had liked having someone else cooking with her, had been enjoying not being alone, had enjoyed his eyes on her, the feel of him when they practiced. The opposite of all the things she had held so dear these years. And he had been using her. She could forgive herself for being attracted to him, that was just natural, but everything else? She was a fool.
"Not exactly. You would have come to this event either way." That may have been true, but it did not assuage the hurt settling in her chest and weighing down her bones.
"What the fuck do they want with me?" She demanded, the hurt beginning to drown out her anger. She folded into herself, wilting as the fight left her.
Kakashi briefly met her eyes before looking away again. "That is unclear. Perhaps because their leader is an obsessive man, perhaps because your parents are influential and you're a public figure and taking you may help them cause strife or they could ransom you. Probably both."
She closed her eyes, unwilling to keep them open.
"Who's their leader?"
"We are not sure. He keeps himself far away from the action, sending down orders from high and hiding. He wasn't their original leader, he took power after the war. After I…terminated the treat of the first leader. He slipped into the power vacuum and took over what was left of their numbers. There's not many of them left. They've been after you for a while. That stalker of yours?" Her eyes popped back open, flying to his face. "That second time he was too coordinated, too prepared, to be some random fanatic. And they may well have caused your car accident, too." He looked at her now, his gaze tired and heavy. "The stalker from that incident had some loose ties to the Akatsuki, and that's when I was brought in."
Cold spread through her, every nerve in her body going numb with it, her face slackening.
"My accident..." She said woodenly. Her hands moved of their own accord, tugging her dress up until her left hip was exposed, allowing her fingertips to ghost over the white scar that rested just above the bone. She heard Kakashi inhale sharply.
When she had been launched from her car, fiberglass had bitten through the lower part of her abdomen, directly above her hip. It had remained there for the 30 minutes it took emergency services to pull her out, oh so careful to prevent her from bleeding out. Sakura had called out for her driver, trying to turn her head and look for him over the broken glass around her on the pavement. He had not responded.
Her abdominal wall had been punctured, as well as part of her lower intestine. The scar was long, curved, and thick, though it had reduced significantly in visibility over time. She was extremely cautious to hide it, even with her scandalous outfits. High waisted pants, skirts, and shorts. Even her bikini bottoms came up and rested directly on top of the scar, obscuring it from view. She didn't think anyone would actually care about its existence, but there was no need for her to broadcast it.
Her fingers moved over the tissue distractedly. Kakashi's eyes followed the movements.
"How did you know they'd be here, tonight?" She asked, her fingers not stilling.
"I received a tip."
"Holy…" Sakura held her hand up, overwhelmed.
Kakashi stopped talking and lapsed into silence.
They wanted Sakura, probably for all kinds of nefarious reasons. And Kakashi had had ulterior motives since he started his employment. He wasn't retired from the ANBU - yet anyway. He had used her as bait. This was why he had agreed so easily to the marriage.
"Why would the ANBU allow you to marry me? Doesn't that complicate things?"
Kakashi shrugged. "Not really. It allows me to maneuver around you more easily, and this is my last contract. After we get the Akatsuki off your back, it's not their concern." His eyes were dark. Sakura didn't like his explanation very much.
"I've been protecting you from the beginning. I'm going to keep protecting you, Sakura. Nothing has changed."
She supposed not. Nothing had changed. She took her tattered pride and wrapped the pieces around herself. This was all a lie anyway. She was just as much a liar as he was. What a pair they were.
Kakashi was perturbed by her silence and reached out to take her chin in his fingers, forcing her jade gaze to meet his.
"They've been trying harder recently; their leader must be tired of waiting. I will not let them have you. They will not take you from me." His voice was low and fierce. She said nothing and turned her head away. She let her icy mask fix into place on her face. Kakashi dropped his hand and set it on his lap in a fist.
Sakura wanted to go to bed. Desperately. A headache was forming behind her eyes. Her phone buzzed in her pocket again, but she ignored it.
She should have been excited to return to her own domain, but the excitement was dead, murdered by the evening's revelations. The Akatsuki had been lying in wait for her while they went about their other illegal business.
By the time her house came into view, Sakura had decided she didn't even care enough to take her makeup off, she would go right to bed.
But life seemed to be laughing at her. It had been for a long time.
Kakashi trailed behind her as she pushed her way inside, unlacing and kicking off her heels. She made to go right down the hall, but Kakashi caught her elbow, halting her between the kitchen and the living room.
She tore out of his grasp, incensed by his casual touch. She was too much of a mess right now to tolerate contact. Volatile words were posed on her tongue, but Kakashi jerked his head to his right, gesturing to the living room.
Sakura turned her head, and any energy she had left went right through the floor, along with her stomach.
She hadn't noticed the lack of dogs greeting her at the door, but now she saw all of them, sitting in a ring around the sofa, ears alert to the intruders.

A/N: Please remember that The Proposal (2009) was just the inspiration and the catalyst to this story!