Shades of Grey

Chapter 36

Sakura loved the feeling of running without her pack. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder to check on her large blue companion. This morning she had taken pity on him and used some of her healing chakra to ease his hangover. She had also insisted on getting in an extra healing session with Itachi before they headed out. The Uchiha had remained silent through his treatment and most of their journey and it was really starting to grate on Sakura's nerves.

"So, what is the plan once we reach Water?" Sakura asked mostly to break the silence.

"We will meet with my contact that provides geisha for Toshiro." Kisame answered. "For the right amount of money, he will get you in, as well as me and Itachi as the guys who guard the girls."

"How well do you know your contact?" Itachi finally spoke.

"Good enough to know that money talks." Kisame assured him.

"If money is his prime motivator than would it not be wise to ensure his presumably good customer is still around to do business?" Itachi questioned.

"Well the problem is properly trained geisha aren't cheap." Kisame replied. "His girls keep coming back too damaged to work. Hell, some of them aren't coming back at all."

"So, he is killing the girls." Sakura felt her anger rising.

"That or otherwise making them disappear." Kisame agreed.

They returned to their silence. The kunoichi thinking about making their mark pay. The Uchiha thinking that there was one girl the filth would not be making disappear or harming in any way. The shark nin wondered if their ship would have a bar.

Finally, the trio reached River's port city and boarded a ferry for Tea. The crossing would take about four hours. Kisame went to find a place to relax below deck. Itachi found himself searching for their pink haired companion who had somehow given him the slip. At last he found her leaning against the railing staring over the water.

"Lovely view isn't it?" Sakura asked when she felt his approach. "I have always loved watching the sunset over the water."

"Indeed." He agreed his eyes never leaving the sight of the kunoichi before him. "It does have a certain calming effect."

"When we get to Tea, I will need to do a little bit of shopping." She turned to face him. "I am afraid that I don't have any kimonos."

"Is there no way that I can talk you out of this?" The Uchiha sighed.

"We have already had this conversation." She turned back to face the water a tinge of anger in her tone.

"Sakura." Itachi whispered her name. "I do not ask you to back out because I doubt your abilities as a kunoichi. I already told you to list you as anything other than S-ranked would be an insult."

"So, then what is the problem?" Sakura asked.

"I do not like what this mission entails." The Uchiha admitted. "If I were to have to choose a team to fight at my side you would be on it, but this is different. This Toshiro will have to be placated until the effects of your poison kick in. I am most unpleased with the things that you may have to do to complete this mission."

"It won't be the first time." The woman told him. "I have been on three missions like this. Trust me, it is not pleasant, but it is part of the job. As a kunoichi there are times when we must use our bodies to get access to things that our male counterparts cannot. I promise you that I will be alright."

"But I do not know if I will be." He admitted to her. "The only two people that I consider friends are on this boat. It is simply unthinkable for me to allow someone to handle you in such a way. As your friend it is my duty to protect you from such lowly individuals, not deliver you to them."

"And as your friend it is my duty to keep you from facing off against an unknown number of missing nin alone." Sakura insisted. She felt some of the annoyance that she had been feeling begin to dissipate. It was not that Itachi thought she was not good enough; he was trying to look after one of his very few friends. "Look Itachi if you think about it rationally you know that this is the best option. I trust you; I know that if things get out of hand you will have my back."

"That doesn't mean that I have to like the situation." Itachi retorted.

"No, it doesn't." Sakura agreed. "Sasuke and Naruto were once my back up in a similar mission. They didn't like it very much either."

"Uchiha men are very jealous." He informed her. "I can see how Sasuke would be unhappy in such a situation."

"Will you stop that?" The kunoichi huffed. "The relationship that you like to think I have with your brother doesn't exist."

"Will you tell me about your relationship with him?" The Uchiha was curious about his little brother's life.

"I tell you what, I will tell you about it tonight while I am working on your eyes." She agreed and offered him another of her breathtaking smiles before turning her eyes back out to the sea. "Beautiful."

"Indeed." Itachi's eyes once again did not leave his companion.