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Wind and Fire Chapter 10

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Occurring at the same time Sai is near the field sketching….

Sakura, Kankuro and Jento were bored for most of the day.  Yes, they kept their eyes peeled for anything unusual.  Sakura, of course, had radio contact with Sai so if anything were to happen at his end, she would immediately know.  So, as you would guess, random conversations would pop up now and again to break the silence.  Some were more boring than others, but at least it kept the time moving along.  There really wasn’t anything for them to do other than monitor if Kanoshi would show up again.

“So how is it having Naruto as the Hokage,” Kankuro asked Sakura.  

“It’s different….and yet again, at the same time, it’s not.  I’ve been around him so long that even the slight changes he’s made since taking over from Lady Tsunade haven’t been too difficult to adjust to,” said Sakura.  

“I think I know what you mean.  Gaara is my brother so when he became Kazekage, nothing really changed for me….except now he has more say,” said Kankuro.

“Yeah, exactly!” said Sakura.  “Though in Naruto’s case, as much as I respect him and love him, I’m very happy he has others at his side.”

“You mean like Kakashi?” Kankuro asked.

“Well sure, him, but Shikamaru and Lady Tsunade as well.  She doesn’t say much these days…not unless Naruto is making a really bad decision.  She’s very much enjoying her time now that she isn’t the Hokage anymore.”

“I can just imagine,” added Kankuro.  “I can’t even imagine what it would be like not to work as a shinobi any longer.”  It seemed to Sakura to almost be as if that would be a good thing for Kankuro.

“You don’t like it anymore?” asked Sakura.

“It’s not that I don’t like it,” explained Kankuro.  “It’s just gotten…not as exciting as it once was.  When I was young, everything was about being a shinobi for the Sand.  Now that I’m in my 20s and have lived through a hellish world war, there are other things that I find pique my interest a bit more.”

“Really?  Like what?” Sakura asked.  

Kankuro looked over at Jento, who by this time was dozing on a branch in a nearby tree.  As much as he liked the kid, he still didn’t want him hearing this type of stuff.  After all, he still had his pride as one of the top shinobi from the Sand.  Kankuro jumped down from the branch he was on so that he now sat directly next to Sakura.  

“Family, kids, that type of stuff,” Kankuro stated.

“I never would have pegged you to be the type,” admitted Sakura.  “You were always the one who got jonin the fastest, one third of the incredible sand siblings and all.”

“Well, you know how it goes.  People grow up.  What about you?  Does all this shinobi work still excite you?” Kankuro asked.

“Well…,” Sakura started to answer.

“What?” Kankuro prompted.

“It’s a little different for me.  I haven’t been on a real mission in a while.  That’s why I was so excited to go on this one.  Since the war, I’ve worked mostly as a medical shinobi and as a teacher of medical ninjutsu,” explained Sakura.  

“Ah, I see,” said Kankuro.  “So this is something new for you.”

“Not so much new as…how do I put it…nostalgic?” Sakura added.  

“I guess I can see that.  I suppose if I hadn’t been on a mission in a while, that I would find it something I’d look forward to,” admitted Kankuro.  

“Don’t force yourself to tell me something you don’t really believe,” said Sakura.

“I didn’t say I wanted to quit or anything,” Kankuro corrected her.  “It’s just not at the top of my list anymore.”

“Well, I think the desire to get married and start a family is a noble one.  I think many of my friends are heading that way now that they have gotten a little older.  And there is nothing like a war to make one feel like they want something bigger and better out of this world,” Sakura explained.  “So….who is the lucky lady?  I am assuming you already have someone in mind for this wife and family you want.”

“I’m not entirely sure yet.  I’ve barely had time to look.  My nose is normally firm against the grindstone.  Though there is at least one good candidate out there already.  I’m not entirely sure how we would make it work, but it never hurts to try,” Kankuro admitted.

Sakura couldn’t believe that he pretty much said it outright.  If she were completely oblivious, it might have gotten past her, but she could tell immediately that Kankuro was talking about her.  

“So what are your sister and Shikamaru going to do about the whole two village thing?” Sakura asked.  

“From what I can see they have either talked about it and are just keeping it between themselves or are waiting to see where things take them before crossing that bridge.  Either way, they still enjoy each other’s company when they are together,” said Kankuro.  “No one ever said dating had to begin with the promise of marriage right away.”

“So, you want to start dating?” Sakura bluntly clarified.  “You haven’t even asked me if I was interested in anyone.  Maybe I already have someone else in mind.”

“You don’t seem opposed to it.  And if there is anybody else, I would have thought I would have heard about it.  I’ve definitely heard through the gravevine that you might be interested in me,” said Kankuro.

“Perhaps that might be true.  I’ve heard similar things as well about your feelings towards me,” she added.

“Hmmm…,” Kankuro hummed.  “It seems we’re nearing a mutual agreement.  That wasn’t too hard.”

Sakura punched him in the shoulder, playfully annoyed at how he was flirting with her.  

“Good afternoon, Dan,” Sakura heard over the radio.  She and Kankuro got serious quickly when they heard the stranger’s voice.

“Shhhhh,” she shushed Kankuro.

“Is that him?” Kankuro asked.

“Well, duh,” Sakura whispered. Interesting choice for a cover name.

“Who is Dan?” Kankuro asked.

“Tsunade’s former lover.  He died a very long time ago.  Apparently that’s the name Sai picked as a cover,” Sakura explained.

Everything stayed silent after that brief explanation with Sakura and Kankuro intently following the conversation at the other end of the radio.  That is until the voice on the other end started talking about family.

“I, too, am without family,” said Kanoshi.  “I’m sure you already know how hard it can be without anyone’s support behind you.”

“Well, that seems to confirm that this is our guy for sure,” said Kankuro to Sakura.  “No family.”

“It can be very lonely,” Sai added.  

“Do you mind if I ask how he died?” Kanoshi pressed.

“Why does he need to know that?” asked Sakura.  She was well-aware of Sai’s story and didn’t want him opening those old wounds if he didn’t have to.

“He was very ill.  We were about the same age, which made it harder when he died because at the time, we only had each other.  One day, he just coughed up a lot of blood and succumbed to his disease,” Sai explained.

“I can’t believe he told him the truth,” said Sakura.

“It’s always easier to tell the truth to keep things straight,” Kankuro said.  Sakura knew this, but still her heart hurt for her friend.

“Were you then old enough to join the shinobi corps?” Kanoshi asked.

“Oh my God, what did he just say?” asked Sakura.

Sai paused in a panic.  “Shinobi?” he said aloud.  “I’m no shinobi.”

“Shit,” said Kakuro, jumping to his feet.  He thought he was going to have to get to Sai….and fast.

“Jento!” Sakura shouted to wake their younger teammate up.

“Oh, my mistake,” Kanoshi said.  “For whatever reason, I thought that you were.  I just assumed….”

Sakura and Kankuro paused at hearing that last line.  Was everything ok…or wasn’t it?  There were a few extra seconds of silence at the other end of the radio.

“I am a simple villager.  I moved here recently looking for a new start in some place smaller than the one I came from.  I’m sure I’m not the first villager here that is merely looking for a clean slate.  Although I haven’t found work yet, I enjoy drawing.  I always have.  So I have come to this place to be outdoors and enjoy nature.  As you already know, I have no family and no support.  I have always had to cater to others and I am not about to start again now with you.  I don’t mind a friendly conversation or even answering some of your questions, but if you are going to accuse me of something…” Sai said.

“Wow,” Sakura said.  “That was quite the acting job.”

“Yeah, get overly upset and offended and it makes you more believable.  Good job, Sai,” said Kankuro.

“No, no, my apologies my dear Dan.  I didn’t mean to offend you in any way.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I do have an appointment to keep.  It was very nice talking with you.  If you decide to continue coming to this area, I’m sure we will meet again,” Kanoshi said.

“What’s going on?” Jento asked now standing, stretching his arms above his head.

“I thought you were the one who wanted to learn about being out in the field?” asked Kankuro.  “The target just made contact with Sai and I think you slept through the whole thing.”

“I did?!” Jento exclaimed.  “Crap.”

Sakura rolled her eyes.  Kankuro plopped back down.  

“Coast is clear,” they heard Sai say quietly from his end.  “That was close.”

“Too close,” Sakura said where she was, though she knew Sai couldn’t hear her.  

“I don’t expect anything else today.  I’ll stay for another hour or so, but you three can head home if you want,” Sai said quietly.

“You two head home,” said Kankuro.  “I want to stay out here with Sai just in case.”

OlOlOlOlOlOlO

“At what point do I try something?” asked Sai around the dinner table that evening.  “You must admit that we aren’t getting anywhere fast.”

“But you have definitely intrigued him…else why does he keep showing up every few days,” said Kankuro.

“I’ve spoken to him twice,” said Sai flatly.

“Exactly,” said Kankuro.  “Twice, yet you want to go do something different.  Has Jento been talking to you or something?”

Jento sat at the table with a mouth full of rice and perked up upon hearing his name.  “What?” he muttered.

“Sorry,” said Sai.  “I guess I am getting more impatient.  This man makes me so uncomfortable.  I can’t tell what he’s thinking at all and I just want it to be over.”

“That’s understandable,” Sakura chimed in.  “…and if I could change places with you I would, but you already know that’s impossible.”

“Two more days,” said Sai.  “Something had better happen in the next two days else I want a new plan.”

“Fine,” said Kankuro.  He must really be creeped out to let this affect him so much.

OlOlOlOlOlO

Just before bedtime, Kankuro pulled Sai aside.  

“Would you mind if we swapped places tonight.  I know that we agreed it would be best for you to sleep with Sakura and I’d stay with Jento, but there are a few things I want to privately discuss with her before going to bed and it would just be easier if we were in the same room,” Kankuro said low enough so that only Sai could hear.

Sai gave him a questioning look.  

“Oh c’mon, I’m not going to do anything,” Kankuro said.  

Another pause.

“I’m serious…I really need to talk to her…alone,” Kankuro said.

“Fine,” said Sai.  “I’ll sleep with Jento.  You owe me one.”

“Yes, I do,” said Kankuro.  

Sai walked into the bedroom he had been sharing with Sakura (earlier when they had to decide who would stay with Sakura, Sai did win out as the closer of the two friends), picked up some clothes, and walked back out into the common area presumably on his way to the other bedroom.  Kankuro watched this all happen from the living room.  When Sai had finally cleared the way, Kankuro then walked into Sakura’s bedroom.

“What’s going on?” Sakura asked.

“I asked Sai for a bit of time with you this evening.  I thought we could continue our discussions from earlier,” said Kankuro.

“You seriously kicked Sai out of the bed he’s been using so that you can flirt with me some more?” Sakura asked.

“No, he didn’t know I would be flirting…only that I had some things to talk with you about,” Kankuro clarified.  

“So which is it?” Sakura asked.

“Maybe a little of both,” Kankuro said.

Sakura pulled down the blankets and crawled into bed.  “So talk.”

“We are on the same page, here, aren’t we?” Kankuro asked.  

“I think so,” Sakura replied.  

Kankuro slipped between the blankets on the other side, but remained sitting while he continued to talk.  

“So, if we’re dating….how exactly is this going to happen?” he asked.

“Why don’t you take your own advice and we’ll take it as it comes,” said Sakura.  “We’re together now, aren’t we?”

“And on a mission I might add,” added Kankuro.

“But alone right now.  As long as we don’t disrupt the mission, I think it will be fine,” said Sakura.  “I wasn’t planning on not going out tomorrow because I’d rather go on a picnic with you.”

Kankuro smirked.  “You don’t seem like the picnic type.”

“I’m not,” Sakura answered.  

“Ok, we’ll see how it goes,” said Kankuro.  

He was talking while looking at the wall in front him, not facing Sakura at all.  When the conversation ended, and nothing was left to be said, she gently laid her hand on his shoulder.  He turned to see what she wanted, and she leaned in to give him a gentle peck on the lips.  

She leaned back, smiled, then turned over to go to sleep.  They were on a mission, after all.
Title:  Connection

Sai's second meeting with the target, this time from Kankuro/Sakura's viewpoint.  Flirting and finally, a connection.  

Chapter 11:  fav.me/d7nbsmk

Chapter 9:  fav.me/d7ldzsu
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