Peacemaker

Lady Luck

"Even Hell runs on money. I'd be just fine."- Kakuzu

Kakuzu never believed in luck, it was a ridiculous notion. To him, there's no such thing as luck, only the choices one person makes leads them to their present. So, it was idiotic for one to complain about their luck.

Well, that was until today...

"R-ROYAL FLUSH?!"

...as he saw Sakura win her sixteenth match in a row.

This was just ridiculous, either Sakura was just that skilled or she was insanely lucky. Kakuzu still leaned on the former explanation.

Luck really was something he didn't want to acknowledge. However he had a mocking smirk as he took another wad of money counting them idly, "Another poor sucker robbed blind"

Sakura chuckled sheepishly, "Well, we need a lot of supplies. They're not cheap for nobodies like us"

Kakuzu nodded in agreement placing the money in his pockets, "Are we getting an inn?"

"Nope, too risky."

Understandable considering people killed for money in these times, desperation was at a high peek, still didn't compare to the cruelty one would see though.

"You're really good, girly, who taught you how to play like that?"

Kakuzu scrunched his nose up in disgust, even standing at a respectable distance away from Sakura he could smell the alcohol from the man who seemed to be in his early twenties.

Sakura handled the situation calmly by gulping down her bottle of sake, she wasn't even tipsy as she stared at the man through half-lidded eyes, "I'm self-taught"

"You must have been playing long" the man continued twirling a piece of Sakura's pink locks

Kakuzu glared at the man, but he knew Sakura could handle herself better than he could protect her.

One of the reasons he chose to work for Sakura, and the same reason why he's confused Sakura hired him, but he'll ask later. It wouldn't do him good to ask questions so soon.

In the blink of an eye the man passed out, Sakura flipping her hair and also scrunching up her nose in disgust

"Drunkards like you make me lose my faith in humanity"

Kakuzu could only snort, "We should start going now before more idiots appear" he suggested

As usual (and still confusingly) Sakura nodded at him, "Sake here sucks anyways" she muttered walking up to him easily, "Should we hit the next town over or head to my place?"

"Your place, we need somewhere to keep the money"

"Hai, Kakuzu-san" and there she goes being so formal

"Let's go then Sakura"

His eyebrows almost twitched as Sakura crouched down in front of him, "At a civilian pace, we don't need to draw any attention to ourselves" Kakuzu rephrased himself

"Oh!" Sakura sheepishly said as the two exited the bar, the bartender waving happily at them for making him rich.

"Sorry, Kakuzu-san! I'm just a bit eh, dense to the ways of this time? Yes, I'm socially dense"

Kakuzu merely shot the pink haired girl a deadpan look before walking,

"If we keep heading in this direction we should be out of this town in ten minutes, then we can travel faster"

"Sounds like a plan, hey, can we stop for some clothes?"

Kakuzu glanced at Sakura, "The clothes in this town isn't adequate for your career choice, I'd suggest the next town"

"You know a lot about these places Kakuzu-san, may I ask why?" her tone was more polite

The politeness almost made Kakuzu cringe, he wasn't used to people speaking so eloquently and gracefully. Usually people would be screaming, using swear words or speaking rough.

Yet Sakura was more soft-spoken (albeit she did have a short temper if you knew how to push her buttons)

Despite this however he coughed, Sakura paid him to work for her, so it was in his best interest not too lie to someone as perspective as her.

"I grew up on the streets, learn a thing or two while traveling around. People don't take kindly to street-rats nor thieves"

Sakura sent him a sad look, it wasn't pitying, it just seemed like she was sad for him. Confusing, no one had ever cared before.

Only thing people cared for was money. Money ruled. And here Sakura was, so nonchalant about money, enough to just give away things for free to merchants just for the sake of helping others.

There she was helping people with their groceries or giving kids candy for no reason except to see them smile.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that"

Kakuzu shrugged, "Life's not easy"

"But it isn't supposed to be that hard either, especially not for kids like y...us, we're just kids. We're supposed to be learning stuff, not surviving in these shit situations."

"Your way of thinking might get you killed one day, Sakura"

"Eh? Have a little faith Kakuzu-san" Sakura giggled

"Stop calling me that" Kakuzu finally ordered

"Huh?" Sakura tilted her head

"You're always adding a 'san' to my name, it's too weird for me, especially since no one even calls me by my name except for you, so drop the san." Kakuzu demanded

"I didn't know you were annoyed by that, I've been calling you that all week" Sakura apologetically said

"Now you know"

"Next time if I do or say something that bothers you, don't be reluctant to let me know, okay? I appreciate some honesty"

Was it a lie or no, Kakuzu wondered. In the end he couldn't find out, Sakura was an excellent Shinobi that could easily lie, and yet she was different from most too. It was hard to tell.

"Then stop being so generous, it's freaky"

"No can do, it'll be like betraying myself, you know? Anytime I see someone who needs help, I'd lend them my help"

"Why are you so foolishly honest and caring?" Kakuzu frowned

"It's because my friend was there for me when I needed that help, then my teacher, then my teammate. Everyone needs help at some point in their life."

Sakura's voice was firm, but then she had a teasing look as she turned to him "You should learn that it's better to give Kakuzu, it's not so good to be greedy all the time~"

"Hmph" Kakuzu clicked his tongue glancing away from the pink menace

"Money is important, whoever has the most is a winner. Greed is a drive that motives one like no other"

"Determination, goals, dreams, friends, family, love...these things can also be a drive, you know? I don't want you to keep walking down that path you're walking on, the only destination left would be your lonely and pitiful death, then no one would mourn for you" oddly enough Sakura had that knowing tone again, she'd get that whenever she talks about the future

"I'll keep that in mind" Kakuzu mumbled, his eyes locked on a mother and daughter holding hands.

"Well, let's speed up, shall we?" a smiling Sakura offered her hand

Kakuzu was never fond of contact, but he supposes Sakura's hands are clean enough.

His hand grabbed hers, and on cue voices started yelling about their wallets missing.

In that moment Kakuzu realized what had happened, his fingers connecting with Sakura's as they ran away. Her laughter filling the streets as he struggled to keep up, yet he too felt the rush of being chased.

"And that Kakuzu, is how a ninja robs people blind!" Sakura winked at him