"What's this meeting for this early in the morning?" Takeru grumbled, clearly hung over as the squad assembles in a conference room Ruka requested on Shin's orders.
"Shin has an announcement," Ruka replied as she sat at the right hand side of the head of the table.
Takeru left an empty seat beside him and Ruka as Ryu rubbed his back. Shou and Anna sat on the other side of the table.
"Any idea about what it is, Ruka-nee?" Anna asked.
Ruka nodded, "I'm not allowed to divulge the details though, Shin's orders. What I can say is that it's about our next assignment."
"Where is Sanada-taicho?" Shou asked.
"Reporting to Shimazu-sama. He said he'd be back in a few minutes."
"Where did you both go yesterday, Ruka-chan?" Ryu asked. "I know you both went to Shimazu-sama's estate in the morning. But after that — well, we got back here at around 3am — don't know if you're both already back by then."
"Ruka-nee was already fast asleep when I got in our room though," Anna provided.
"Yeah. Got one too many encounters with hatamotos yesterday," Ruka sighed as she leaned back on her seat. "We got back at around 1am, collapsed immediately when my bed swallowed me."
"I thought you were only meeting with Shimazu-sama?" Shou perked.
"Well," Ruka shrugged her shoulders. "We were supposed to also meet Date-sama at midnight, but we chanced upon Takeda-sama fishing by the matsuri at Osaka Bay."
"Takeda Benimaru?!" Ryu's eyes widened in surprise.
"Fishing?!" Anna gasped.
"At Osaka Bay?" Shou asked in disbelief.
"Urrrgggh..." Takeru groaned like he was about to throw up.
"Want me to one up that encounter?" Ruka chuckled dryly.
"There's more?" All three exclaimed, Takeru laid his head on the table, looking pale and grey.
Ruka nodded, "Enami Asa joined us in talking with the Entei," Ruka dropped like it was the normal thing in the world. The jaws that dropped was the indication that it wasn't.
"You're telling us," Ryu began, "that Shin, Takeda Benimaru, and Enami Asa were in the same place at the same time... and the place didn't burn down?"
"She held the entire matsuri hostage," Ruka answered flatly.
"That was bold of her," Takeru added weakly, "a kunoichi exposing herself like that. Of course she'll have contingencies."
"But why expose herself though?" Anna queried and Ruka raised an eyebrow at her. "It just seems... weird," the Corporal continued, "the shinobi of Iga have always been mysterious, and now, their best assassin just... revealed herself in the open, and in the presence of a hatamoto no less."
"Good question, Anna-chan. Unfortunately, we can only speculate," Ruka sighed in frustration.
"Any ideas?" Shou asked.
"Do you?" Ruka questioned back.
Shou bit his lip as he contemplated his answer, "Nothing that makes strategic or tactical sense."
"Exactly," Ruka sighed heavily, "and why does she keep calling me nee-chan?!"
Four pairs of eyes turned in a mix of confusion, amusement, and suffering — that last one being Takeru.
"Who does?" Ryu asked.
"Enami Asa."
"She calls you that?" Anna followed.
Ruka rolled her eyes.
Shou stared at her. "Of all the things that happened yesterday..."
"Shoot me," Ruka flatly returned his gaze.
"She probably just wants to get under your skin," Shou suggested.
"Looks like its working," Takeru added.
"Why don't you worry about your own skin?! You look like you're dying," Ruka said, trying to suppress her irritiation. "Where did you go last night anyway? Did you hopped on all the bars and clubs in Osaka?"
"Well..." Shou shrugged his shoulders and Anna dipped her head.
Ruka's gaze turned to Ryu, the most senior one in the room.
"Takeru... uh..." Ryu started awkwardly, no doubt fearing the wrath he expected Ruka would unleash.
"Keep going."
"Well..." the sergeant continued, "he suggested a night-out... called it... 'team-building'..." Ruka's face twitched at the term and her irritation escalated.
"He was hammered by the 4th bar, we suggested going back... he said it was still too early."
"How many bars did you go to?"
Ryu didn't answer.
Ruka turned and raised a brow at the two Corporals.
Anna and Shou hesitated, with the girl blushing profusely.
"Do I need to track your movements through Osaka's network?" Ruka threatened.
"I... uh..." Shou began, "lost count at seven."
"Seven?!" Ruka's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Actually..." Anna stuttered, "...twelve."
Ruka's head turned slowly towards Takeru who was suddenly having a staring contest with the table.
"You're wasted..." she pointed at the sniper, "and the kids are not..." she pointed at the corporals.
"It's not a matter of being lightweight, Ruka-chan..." Ryu said in a soft and cautious voice.
"Then what is it?"
"It's a matter of... self-control..."
"Explain."
"Is it really necessary?" Takeru protested.
"Depends," Ruka replied, "this may factor in whether we'll bring you in our next assignment or we request you a transfer."
"Well... he may have drunk at a pace one would consider..." Ryu struggled to find the words.
"Hazardous?" Anna offered.
"Irresponsible?" Shou suggested.
Ruka groaned in frustration. "Takeru-san..."
"For what it's worth, Kawai-san," Shou spoke up slowly, "Takeru-san didn't do anything that would get us in trouble."
Takeru raised a hand and gave Shou a weak thumb up.
Just then, the conference room doors opened and Shin walks in. The squad stood to salute — all except Takeru. Shin returned the salute and signalled them to sit as he takes his own at the head of the table. His eyes then landed at Takeru.
"Let me guess, drunk too much to impress the ladies?" Shin asked flatly.
"The opposite, sir..." Shou replied.
"Drunk too much because he can't impress any ladies," Ryu finished.
"Does that justify you committing a war crime against your liver?" Ruka was unable to hide her disgust.
Shin scoffed, "he may have better luck at Korea."
"Or worse," Ruka countered.
"Wait... wait..." Takeru raised a hand, his forehead still pressed against the table, "Korea? What is this about Korea?"
"Our next assignment," Shin replied.
"We're going to Korea?!" The entire squad perks up, even Takeru — which was a bad idea. A wave of nausea washed through the sniper. His head rolled before he banged it back at the table, making the entire table wince.
"Can somebody please give him something," Shin rolled his eyes.
Takeru pointed a weak finger at Ryu, "You didn't catch my head," he grumbled.
"I'm not obligated to," Ryu replied, eliciting a stifled chuckle from the corporals.
"We've ordered breakfast, Shin," Ruka said, "and something to help Takeru-san's hang over. Should be delivered here any minute."
"Thank you," Shin gave Ruka's arm a squeeze.
"So, what is this about Korea, Major?" Anna asked.
Shin looked at Ruka who fished the jammer from her pocket. "Eleven bugs in one room. That should be a world record or something," the Lieutenant remarked dryly.
"A jammer?" Shou asked.
Shin nodded. "Whatever's going to be discussed here is only for the ears of those inside this room, am I clear?"
Anna and Shou exchanged nervous glances while Ryu leaned in against the table.
"If this is how you're starting — I'm slowly not starting to like this Korea thing..." Takeru groaned.
"You could always not come..." Shou said.
"Not an option..." Takeru responded while waving a finger at the corporal. "Korea may hold my forever..."
"But not your liver..." Ryu said, giggling.
Takeru glared at him, "I thought you were my brother."
"Which is exactly why I'm ribbing you."
"Can we get back on track?" Ruka asked with a raised eyebrow.
Ryu straightened in his seat, Takeru didn't move but he fortunately kept his mouth closed.
Shin took a moment to ensure the attention was on him before he spoke.
"Okay. As stated, we'll be going to Korea to assist in... Peacekeeping Operations between its three kingdoms."
"Should be easy enough," Ryu said.
"The Kingdoms are still covertly trying to undermine each other. Small skirmishes still occur in each of their borders, although nobody admits responsibilty," Anna added.
"Doesn't explain the jammer, though," Takeru said groggily as he waved his hand.
"That's because we have another objective, one tasked by both Shimazu-sama, Date Himawari-sama, and Takeda Benimaru."
"The three hatamotos you met yesterday," Shou whispered.
"For the record, I don't like this," Takeru insisted on talking.
"But you're still going regardless," Ryu rolled his eyes.
"In the name of love — OW!"
"Take this seriously, will you?" Ruka complained after she smack Takeru in the head.
"Sorry..." Takeru replied weakly.
As if on cue, the conference door opens and in comes three kitchen personnel carrying a tray in each of their hands. They placed the trays in the middle of the table while another one distributes a set of plates, chopsticks, and utensils. On the trays was a mix of dishes, rice, eggs, grilled fish — tuna by the looks of it, and soup. Ryu immediately poured Takeru a steaming bowl to which the sniper took a big sip before saying thank you.
"Help yourselves before we proceed," Shin instructed. The others helped themselves, taking a generous amount in their plates.
"You're not partaking?" Ruka asked, noticing that Shin did not take anything to his plate.
"Bakura-senpai... forced me to have breakfast," Shin replied.
Ruka shrugged, "That tracks," she said before stuffing her mouth full with rice.
Once the kitchen staff left the room and the conference doors has closed, Shin finally continued with the briefing.
"So, where did we left off?" He asked Ruka.
"Our objective at Korea," Ruka replied.
"Right, thanks. Okay," Shin gave one heavy breath, knowing that what he's about to say is going to be twice as heavy.
"We are going to be hunting gokenin at Korea," Shin dropped. Anna and Shou turned with their chopsticks hanging in the air, Ryu stopped chewing, Takeru's bowl of soup was suspended a few inches from his mouth, and Ruka kept eating.
"Come again, Sanada Shinsuke," Takeru quipped, the color slowly coming back to his cheeks.
Shin allowed himself a quick chuckle at the reactions of his squad. "The hatamoto has each received... concerning reports...that the gokenin are planning to carve a power base at Korea. Said power base will then be used to strike at Japan and the Shogunate. We would be sent there to root out their schemes as discreetly as possible."
"That explains the jammer," Shou commented as he set his chopsticks down.
"And we must do this mission in secret?" Anna asked.
Shin nodded, "We are not to attract attention to what we are truly there for, unless of course, absolutely necessary or unavoidable..."
"... or if we can create a cover story," Ruka added.
"What can we expect that the gokenin are doing?" Ryu queried.
"We don't know."
"So we need to conduct our own investigations once we're in Korea?" Takeru followed.
"Shimazu-sama said that he has some contacts ready to brief us, but we need to meet them discreetly."
"What can and can't we do, taicho?" Shou raised his hand.
"We can do anything and everything as long as we can justify our actions to Shimazu-sama and the shogunate."
There was a few moments of silence as the squad contemplates on this development.
"Are the reports verified?" Anna followed up.
"Three hatamotos gave their endorsement to this. They probably won't if its not verified, or at least... concerning enough to be actionable."
"And what happens if we find proof?" Ryu asked.
"We act on it... immediately. No waiting for official clearances from the higher ups. I repeat, as long as we can justify our actions as for Japan and the Shogunate to Shimazu-sama and the council, the three hatamotos who endorsed us will have our backing."
"And what if we're wrong, taicho?" Shou followed.
"Then Korea would be more of a vacation than a trip to the viper's nest."
"With the vipers being gokenin..." Anna whispered, her eyes fluttering with uncertainty.
"I get your... reservations, corporal, and all of you as well," Shin scanned the entire room. "If the reports are true, we're walking into territory where some of the most powerful military officers in Japan have been operating unchecked for years. We don't know their resources, manpower, and equipment. We don't know who they're allied with in the kingdoms. We may be walking to some missions with the people against us, outnumbered, and outgunned —"
" — but never outmatched!" Ryu declared, slamming a fist on the table and making the plates clatter.
"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Sergeant Takamura Ryunosuke," Shin quipped jokingly while Anna wiped some soup that was spilled from her bowl.
"To continue," Shin continued, "even if with the odds seemingly stacked against us, I personally think it's better to nip this problem in the bud before it becomes an actual threat."
"Can we... actually do this?" Anna followed while placing the tissues aside.
"If we're careful," Shin replied.
"Shin believes we could," Takeru said, setting down his bowl and picking his chopsticks, "I never doubted him before, I see no reason to do so now," he says before taking a mouthful of rice and eggs.
Ryu then scoffed before filling his mouth with a spoonful of fish, "Just when I thought we're going on a vacation."
"It's Shin, Ryu," Takeru grinned. "Of course he'll accept the most difficult shit to dump us on."
"Are you in?" Shin tilted his head while returning Takeru's grin.
The sniper grins wider and raises his bowl of soup, "O, Captain. My Captain," he responds, eliciting a smirk from Ruka.
"Ryu?"
"Someone needs to keep Takeru in check," Ryu replied, grinning as wide as Takeru.
"Going to twelve bars is keeping him in check?" Ruka retorted.
"Twelve?" Shin sighed in disbelief. "I think the kids should keep both of you in check."
Ryu and Takeru just laughed.
"And both of you?" Shin turned towards the corporals.
"I'm with you, sir," Shou replied with no hesitation.
"I just joined," Anna began, her voice still tinged with hesitation but is now mixed with resolve, "it'd be a shame if I back out on my first assignment as one of the Black Dragons."
Shin nodded, pride welling in his chest. He couldn't have asked for another squad to accompany him. Then he turned to Ruka who was smirking beside him.
"I gave my answer yesterday, don't ask me again."
Shin smirked. "Alright. Thank you everyone, and may Bishamonten guide us in Korea."
"And may Takeru find his forever there," Ryu raised a soup bowl which every member mirrored as they laughed heartily.
"Well," Shin rose from his seat. "You guys still have the day off. Shimazu-sama is still finalizing our deployment orders, I'd reckon they'll be ready tomorrow and we'll be on the road in three days. In the meantime, enjoy Osaka while you still can... except you, Takeru."
"What —?!" Takeru protested.
"You'll be resting for the day. Ryu, keep an eye on him, tie him to the bed if he insists on leaving."
Ryu nodded with a conniving smirk.
"And Shou —" Shin called and tossed Shou his car keys. The corporal caught it and looked at Shin with a confused expression.
"You have the car for the day, take Anna wherever you want. Just be careful, that car's worth more than our annual salaries combined."
Anna and Shou awkwardly swiveled their heads as they tried to hide the growing blushes on their cheeks and ears while Ryu and Takeru give them teasing looks.
"And where will you be?" Ruka asked.
"In my room. Sleeping," Shin replied.
Ruka tilted her head, Shin responded by mirroring her action.
"Fine. Call me if you need anything," then she pointed at Takeru without looking at him, "not a word, Takeru-san."
Takeru made a motion of zipping his mouth as he chewed.
Shin couldn't help but chuckle. "I will, thanks. Enjoy your breakfast," he patted Ruka's shoulder before turning and making for the conference room's doors.
The empty green and white halls were not empty when Shin turned the corner as he returned to his room. Leaning against the wall beside his door was a girl, dressed in just a white shirt that hugged her slim figure tightly, denim shorts, and sneakers. Her body was leaner, more muscular, and compact than he remembered. Shin gave a small and almost imperceptible smile – so she did keep training, after all. Years under the shogunate's service didn't make her complacent and lazy, as do most of the officers Shin knew.
She swung one leg back and forth in front of her other leg, a gesture that meant she's been waiting for quite a while. Her hands held a white folder as it hung behind her.
Shin passed by her, smelling faintly of cherry blossoms — true to her name, Shin thought.
"Not even a good morning?" Sakura said cautiously.
Shin scoffed while fishing for his keycard, "Good morning, Kkura."
Sakura gave a faint smile of satisfaction, "thought you were going to pull rank on me again."
"I'm not that cruel..."
"But you can be..."
The panel beeps as the keycard touches it, and Shin's hand froze while holding the door's handle.
"Was I ever cruel to you?"
Sakura released a dry chuckle. She looked up at the empty white ceiling like it was projecting moments she both loved and hated.
"Not intentionally..." she replied without moving her gaze.
"Kkura —"
Sakura's head snapped at Shin, "Do you really want to talk about this here? In this hallway that's as empty as your heart?"
Shin wanted to protest. He wanted to say that his heart wasn't empty... at least, not anymore. He caught himself though, thinking that this may be another "cruelty" to Sakura.
He sighed, pushed the handle down and the door open. He gestured for Sakura to enter first.
A corner of Sakura's lips twitched. She pushed herself off the wall before entering Shin's room. With a heavy sigh, Shin followed her in, closing the door behind him.
Sakura sat on the bed with unusual familiarity, like she's done this thing before — which she did. The only difference right now was that Shin didn't sit beside her. He sat on the chair by the table, right where Ruka bandaged his chest after being kicked by the Entei.
Sakura watched him with wary eyes. A flicker of something Shin can't quite place appeared in her expression before she masked it with a twitch of her lips, a short huff, and an indifferent shake of her head.
"Are you here to talk about what happened at the council?" Shin asked.
"Unofficially..." Sakura replied.
Shin tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.
Sakura lifted the white folder that she held.
"So, Korea, huh?"
"Our deployment orders, I assume?" Shin reached for the folder and Sakura handed it to him.
"Yeah. Heard the higher ups talking about it. Shimazu-sama personally ensured its expedition and that the endorsements were all in order and the shoguns signed on it."
"Thank you for bringing it here... but..."
"I know," Sakura sighed. "Someone else should have brought it. A Lieutenant at most, a cadet at the very least..."
"So...?"
"I volunteered," Sakura replied. "Considering it's also my day off... and I said I'll come find you when I have time. Bringing this makes it a little....."
"A little less suspicious?" Shin then gave a chuckle. "Kkura, you work under the shogunate, no one would look twice at you with suspicion, even if you're not in uniform."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Shut up, smart-ass."
Shin opened the folder. It was nothing he wasn't familiar with. The usual format, the usual template. Only difference is the signatories of three hatamoto — Shimazu Daifuku, Date Himawari, and Takeda Benimaru.
"Did you read this?" Shin asked.
"Mhmm... while I was waiting for you. I've got to say... quite far from home. Tell me, how did you get the endorsement of not two, but three hatamoto for this?"
"Ask what you really want to ask, Kkura," Shin replied while he read the document.
Sakura scoffed, "Fine. How did you get the endorsement of the hatamoto who openly antagonized you during the council, drew his blade against you, kicked you in the chest, and required the interference of two of Japan's best swords to deescalate? And all of that in the presence of the shoguns."
Shin's eyes never left the document though the words and characters were not actually registering in his mind. "If I answer that, I'll antagonize him more. And I'm not going to compromise myself, or my squad."
"Your squad, huh," Sakura scoffed.
A heavy silence settles. Shin kept reading, though he's stuck on the same page, Ruka's. Sakura on the other hand, leans back, planting both hands on either side of her and on the soft mattress.
"Ruka's grown, hasn't she..." Sakura cautiously broke the silence.
"She's..." Shin kept going back and forth Ruka's profile. His eyes always returning to one entry: Year Graduated from the Academy. One year after his and Sakura's batch. "She's become quite reliable."
"She was so cute back then. Didn't help that her family name's Kawai," Sakura chuckled.
"She owned all the teasing the other cadets gave her..."
"And she beat all the bullies..."
Both of them chuckled at the memory of Ruka back in their academy days. She was always a sparkplug, always there when something happens, even if not intentionally.
"She was always smart... not a bad marksman with a bow and firearms, too," Sakura smiled, "but not really the best of fighters when it comes to close combat." Then her eyes narrowed towards Shin, "and in just four years, she's proficient enough to dispatch Iga shinobi."
Shin managed a short laugh, "if you're accusing me of training her..."
"Of course not," Sakura laughed back. "You're not that kind of person, Sanada Shinsuke," she pointed cheekily at Shin. "I'm accusing Ruka of pestering you to train her."
Shin chuckled while scratching his temple absently. "Well... you're not too far off."
Sakura tilted her head, a proud smile, like an older sister's, was plastered on her face.
"She pestered Ryu — Sgt Takamura, first. They spar... a lot. Ryu's size helped Ruka figure out how to fight people bigger than her..."
"Considering she's what? 160cm?" Sakura giggled.
"158," Shin corrected while suppressing another chuckle. "And you're one to talk..." Shin teased her, making Sakura flip him off.
"Anyway, on the flip side," he continued, "Ryu also learned how to deal with shorter and quicker opponents."
"Once she felt she could take Ryu on — and mind you, Ruka still can't beat him most of the time — she began pestering me, stating that she's a match now for Ryu and therefore, can stand toe to toe against me."
"She's not," Sakura laughed.
"Nope. Not even close," Shin smiled faintly, his gaze was directed to the door, which, like Sakura with the ceiling earlier, seemed like a projector screen of memories.
"I agreed to give her one round of sparring a day, just to get some peace and quiet — demolished her in under two to three moves for about three weeks. It was only after the third month did I realize that she's already giving me a run for my money. She never won but, each round went longer than the last."
"Shin..." Sakura called softly.
Shin paused and looked quizzically at Sakura.
"Nobody spars with someone for three months just for some 'peace and quiet.' Somewhere, somehow, you enjoyed it."
Shin scoffed.
Sakura scoffed back.
"I know you, Sanada Shinsuke. You don't get... invested, on anything that much. And don't object —" Sakura raised a finger as Shin was about to protest. "You're too talented. Everyone from our batch bored you. That's why you started challenging our senpais. Only Mina-senpai was able to stop your rampage, and after they graduated, you were bored out of your mind..."
Shin recoiled at the mention of Mina. The mission Date Himawari gave to him echoing back in his ears, dulling Sakura's words. He only hoped she didn't notice the change in his expression before he managed to shove it down. Fortunately, Sakura seemed to also be reminiscing in her own bubble to notice.
"... which was why it wasn't a surprise when you decided to go to the most active war zones in the country once we graduated... it was the Imagawa succession crisis, wasn't it?"
Shin nodded. "The crisis was the bloodiest at the time," he recalled, "— nearly spilling towards Kyoto as an Imagawa claimant rushed to pressure the shogun council in declaring him as legitimate by holding the city hostage. I was part of the city's defense force. We held the siege for two weeks before relief forces from the Takeda daimyo at the time arrived."
Then he turned to Sakura, "weren't you at Osaka after our graduation?"
Sakura nodded. "I was also part of the defense force in case a claimant marches against the city. No army marched, but a fleet nearly reached Osaka bay."
"The Hojo fleet incident..." Shin recalled.
Sakura nodded, "the Hojo clan allied with a claimant named Imagawa Satoru. They used the small Hojo fleet to sneak a smaller Imagawa force to hold Osaka. We never saw action though as the fleet got too close to Shikoku, to Tokushima, to be exact, in an attempt to avoid detection by the shogunate fleet..."
"Instead, they were met by the Chosokabe navy..." Shin continued. "No vessel remained afloat once the sun set, and they didn't even catch a glimpse of Osaka Bay."
"And after that, you jumped from conflict to conflict... requesting to be assigned at every active battle, every crisis, every rebellion that rises..."
Shin just huffed, a melancholic smile creeping from his lips.
"... and then you were promoted to 1st Lieutenant only eight months after our graduation after being part of a team that held off an ambush against the Oda shogun's family. With that, you were slowly assigned a squad. First, was Sgt Takamura, then Sgt Maeda... then," Sakura hesitated, her gaze turning towards the wall. "Then Ruka requested to be part of your squad once she graduated the year after us..."
"Did that bother you?" Shin asked.
Sakura chuckled, closed her eyes, and let her body fall down on the mattress. "Of course it did. I knew she liked you... or at least... admired you, back when we were still at the Academy. Everybody did, especially the kouhais. Understandable, you were the best fighter, decent looks... your brooding nature just... pushed a lot of them away."
"Didn't stop you," Shin muttered, almost inaudible, like saying it would open a Pandora's box of unresolved issues, unrequited love, a night at Hokkaido, and a confrontation at the Academy where guns and blades were drawn.
"Yeah..." Sakura replied in the same small voice Shin used. "It didn't stop me. And sometimes I wished it kept not stopping me."
And Pandora's box was indeed, opened.
"Kkura —"
"You know how I felt — you nearly felt the same... that night at Hokkaido was proof. Tell me if I'm wrong, Sanada Shinsuke..."
And now... the contents are spilling.
-- Hokkaido. Shin and Sakura's graduating year. Five years ago. --
"It's fucking freezing, Miyawaki," Shin grumbled, "and you say you want ice cream?! Does anybody even sell ice cream in this weather?!"
"Anytime is a good time for ice cream, Shin-kun!" Sakura retorted, hair flipping as she turned around with a beautiful smile on her face.
She wore a white fur coat that reached to about three quarters of her legs where it was met by a pair of leather boots, she also wore a white bonnet she knitted herself. Shin on the other hand, wore a black coat with golden buttons, black jeans, and something of a cross between combat boots and sneakers — also black. He wore a knitted white scarf around his neck, the only article of clothing that wasn't predominantly black — and knitted by Sakura, a Christmas gift she said.
Sakura dragged Shin by the hand through the streets of Sapporo, looking for an ice cream shop to satiate her craving.
"Don't blame me if your brain freezes," Shin chuckled.
"That's part of the fun!"
"You're a freaking menace, you know that?" He followed because he has no other choice — or at least, that's what he tells himself.
Sakura turns back around, still smiling that playful smile that would make any ice cream melt even in this weather, "Someone has to be when it comes to you."
She steered him towards an ice cream bar. The interior looked like the interior of an igloo — if igloos had a bar and a few rows of tables with table cloths designed to look like icicles and chairs that looked like they were carved from large ice cubes.
The lone employee by the bar looked surprised as Shin and Sakura entered. Understandable as well, Shin thought. Who would be mad enough to enter an ice cream bar in the coldest days of winter — apparently, Miyawaki Sakura was. And does that make Shin madder because he let himself be dragged into this place? Perhaps, but he has no choice now since they're here — or did he?
Sakura's grip tightened as her excitement escalated. The employee's greeting was drowned when she turned towards Shin, "What do you want?"
"You."
Then Shin caught himself awkwardly.
Sakura tilted her head, trying to suppress a smile.
The employee pretended he didn't hear what Shin just said.
"I mean... whatever you'll have..." he tried to clear the air, but then realized how futile it is when he saw Sakura's shoulders rising and falling.
"Don't let it get in your head, Kkura. You dragged me here, I'm not in the right mindset to think clearly..."
"Yeah, yeah. Clearly you were thinking of me," Sakura retorted, tapping her chin with her index finger as she scanned the LED screen showing what the bar has to offer.
Shin scoffed. Anything he says won't have any effect on Sakura anyway. She thinks whatever she thinks and does whatever she does, a left over trait she got from Minatozaki-senpai — the devil of Mina-senpai's batch.
"I'd have the strawberry," Sakura pointed at the picture on the screen. The employee almost wearily keyed it on the register.
"Yours?" Sakura turned to Shin. "Aside from me," she inserted with a wink before Shin can reply.
Shin rolled his eyes, "I'll have some cookies and cream, please."
"Ehhh. That's too vanilla, Shin-kun," Sakura mockingly teased.
"Thought you were giving me a choice."
"Didn't know you'll choose so boringly. How about the mint chocolate one?"
"Might as well make me eat toothpaste."
The employee snickered at Shin's reply.
"Ditto," Sakura scrunched her face. "How about matcha?"
"Looks gross..."
"You're stereotyping the color green."
"I'm not... cucumbers are green and..."
"He'll have the matcha, please," Sakura told the employee.
"Why even ask me in the first place?"
"Why even ask me in the first place..." Sakura made a face as she teasingly mimicked Shin while the employee keys in the order.
Sakura gives her card.
"Well, that's new..." Shin smirked.
"I'm not that cruel nor insensitive, Sanada Shinsuke. I dragged you here and chose your order for you, least I can do is treat you."
"This ain't actually free, is it?"
Sakura retrieved her card and bowed in thanks to the employee before turning her head back towards Shin. Her reply was a simple but adorable wink, whatever dark plan she has was betrayed only by her wicked grin.
"Miyawaki Sakura —"
Sakura cut Shin off with an evil chuckle while pushing him towards an empty table in this otherwise empty ice cream bar.
"We're graduating, Shin. Two prep years then three years at the Academy, don't you think you've earned yourself a little... time to enjoy? At least until deployment orders arrive," Sakura said as she pushed Shin down a chair then sitting right beside him.
"I have time to enjoy..."
"Yeah. Sparring and beating our kouhais. Can't you do something normal? I think even sparring with an entire class bores you."
"Do what? Like... like a date?"
Sakura flinched slightly. She never expected Shin to say the "D" word first — and it flustered her.
"No... maybe... yes..."
"The hell does that mean? Maybe no, or maybe yes?"
"Maybeee...."
"Does this count as a date?" Shin asked innocently.
Sakura nearly choked, "No... maybe... I... uh..." she stammered as her cheeks were turning the color of the flower she was named after.
"Did you drag me out on a date, Kkura?"
"Nooooo... ice creams are... not my idea of a date... too common and too... young... soft... we're going to be soldiers, Shin-kun," Sakura denied though her heart was racing out of her chest.
"So you just dragged me out to the cold to treat me to something colder...?"
"It's team-building, Shin!" Sakura forced out of her mouth. "Do you really have to give it a label?" She followed, grumbling.
"Kkura, we've been to hundreds of team-buildings at the Academy..."
Sakura made a noise that may have been her chuckling or mocking Shin, "you're either dense or just so freaking clueless." She then shrugged her shoulders, "well, that probably adds to your charm."
"What charm?"
"Exactly."
Sakura's grin was so wide it contrasted with how Shin narrowed his eyes.
Just then, the sole employee comes in with a tray with two bowls — one pink and the other pale green.
Both Shin and Sakura bowed in thanks, the employee bowed back while placing the bowls on their table along with a pair of spoons. The employee bowed once more before leaving the two of them alone.
Sakura grabbed her spoon and excitedly clapped her hands together.
"Itadakimaaasu!"
In a span of about three seconds, Sakura stuffed her mouth full of her strawberry ice cream. Shin on the other hand, had his face twisted while he poked the green blob with his spoon.
"Come on," Sakura whined. "Give it a try!"
"It looks like wasabi..." Shin said, trying to hide his disgust as the spoon pierced the softness of the igloo shaped green thing.
"You don't like wasabi?"
"I like wasabi... I just don't like how it looks..."
"You have a prejudice with the color green?"
"No. I'm from the Shimazu, I see green everywhere I go... especially whenever I return to Kyushu."
"Then what's the problem?" Sakura teased before stuffing her mouth with another two spoonful.
"Ert. Or Shirmarzu-shama wil harv yor herd."
"What?" Shin can't help but chuckle.
Sakura swallowed hastily.
"I said eat or Shimazu-sama will have your head!"
"Why would he have my head?!" Shin protested.
"Because the Shimazu colors are green — and you're discriminating against food that are colored green!"
"I'm not! I eat cucumbers, and they're the most hated food that are colored green!"
"Sounds like someone who hates eating green would say," Sakura grinned, stuffing three spoonful inside her mouth.
Shin glared at Sakura. He scooped a spoonful without breaking eye contact. He placed the spoon inside his mouth, and Sakura grinned for the nth time in an hour.
It was good, Shin thought, sweet at first, with quite a bit of... earthiness. Then came the aftertaste, and Shin's expression twisted, making Sakura burst into laughter.
"What's with the face, Shin-kun?" Sakura said while holding her stomach.
"This is why I wanted the cookies and cream," Shin grumbled as he speared the ice cream with his spoon and left it there.
"Where's the fun in that?" Sakura wheezed.
"And only you're having fun, Kkura."
"At least one of us is."
Shin rolled his eyes and leaned back against the seat before crossing his arms. He made a mental note not to touch his spoon again while watching Miyawaki Sakura gobble up her strawberry ice cream.
Just then, the door opened again, and in came a group of about seven boys. Rowdy, rough, and clearly tipsy, Shin's eyes fixed on each of them, noting builds, heights, movement patterns, and possible hidden weapons under their coats.
Sakura followed his gaze and sighed heavily. "Not everything's a threat, you know."
"Just... force of habit..." Shin dismissed yet his eyes never left the group even as they waltzed noisily towards the register.
"Then again," Sakura's voice dropped a little bit, "your instincts are always on point it's terrifying."
They both watched the group as they ordered. They were loud, obnoxiously loud, and both of them can see that it's taking every bit of patience for the employee at the register to cater to them.
"Why aren't we leaving yet if you're having a bad feeling?" Sakura asked quietly.
"It's not us I'm worried about..." Shin replied, his eyes on the employee.
"Should we call the cops?"
"Not yet. They've done nothing yet."
The group finished ordering and they turned to find themselves a seat. That's when one of them, a lean one, about Shin's height and clearly an athlete in build — a boxer perhaps — scanned the room, and his gaze landed on Sakura.
It was a gaze Shin knew well.
It was a gaze Mina-senpai and her friends often get whenever they drag Shin and other underclassmen of theirs in a bar or a club.
It was a gaze of drunken desire.
It was a gaze that assumed a girl is weak and can't defend herself.
It was a gaze that means these boys will either end up at the hospital or the police station when everything is over — and the latter is actually the better choice of the two.
The corner of the boy's mouth curve wickedly — and Shin was sure that at least this guy will be sent to the hospital.
He tapped the chest of his friend next to him to get his attention. That's when the whole group turned towards their direction.
What they probably saw was a girl and a guy. The girl looked pretty, soft, and delicate. The guy, a loser — like everyone else is when you're with athletes who are drunk, arrogant, had the numbers on their side, and probably never took a real beating in their lives.
What Shin saw were seven reckless boys about to get their asses handed to them.
What Sakura probably saw were seven boys in stretchers.
They both made eye contact and Shin rolled his eyes. "Why do you have to be so pretty?"
"Woah," Sakura couldn't help but crack a smile despite the current circumstances. "That's like... the first time you called me that."
"That's because it's become an inconvenience."
Sakura grinned, "I should drag you to more situations like this, then."
"Please don't. Or our instructors and seniors will have our heads this close to graduation."
"Great point."
"Cold evening, nee-chan~" one of the boys greeted as they crowded around Shin and Sakura. They smell of cheap sake, not a good sign.
Shin took a quick glance at the employee who seemed to be talking at his phone. He's probably calling the cops. Smart move, a smarter one would be calling an ambulance first — one that could fit seven people.
"Are we celebrating something? First date, perhaps?" One of the boys slurred.
"Graduation." Shin replied flatly.
"We didn't ask you nii-chan," another one said grumpily.
"We're celebrating something ourselves," the one who saw Sakura spoke. He then unzipped his coat, proudly showing the championship belt in his waist to Sakura. "You're looking at the newly crowned amateur lightweight boxing champion of Hokkaido, nee-chan. The belt was wrapped on my waist by Date Himawari-sama herself. Impressive, isn't it?"
"I thought it was lightweight because you can't hold your drinks," Sakura replied coldly, clearly unimpressed. Well, when one has seen Shin defeat an entire bokken wielding class bare handed, a boxing belt doesn't seem that impressive anymore.
The group laughed, the kind of laughter that said alcohol has taken leave of their senses.
"You've got jokes, nee-chan~"
"They say... girls like it when a man... can fight for them ~" the champion stuttered.
"You'll do better with us than this —" the group looked at Shin, "scrawny nii-chan. It looks like any of us can knock him out in one blow."
Shin never bothered to reply. His build was hidden mostly by his coat, so he understands why these boys would think he's scrawny — but they don't need to know that he's not.
"Why don't you come with us, nee-chan... hic... and we'll show you some... hic... moves..." another one hiccupped, the smell of alcohol escaping his mouth with every pause.
"I do know some moves," Sakura replied. "Why don't you list them?" she said to Shin.
"Well..." Shin began. "A level three black belt in both karate and taekwondo. A red and black belt in jiu jutsu. And extensive training in kick boxing, muay thai, krav maga, and a few kung fu styles. That's just listing what you know in hand to hand."
"Oooooh..." the group collectively reacted.
"How about you teach us what you know then, nee-chan~" the champion says.
Shin didn't know what to feel. On one hand, he felt frustration. They already listed what Sakura can do, and still they insist in pushing their agenda. No doubt they think they can overpower her with numbers when it came to it.
On the other hand — the boys have to learn.
"Say, nee-chan," champion intrusively sits beside Sakura. "Why don't we..." his hands slowly creep on top of the table. "... go somewhere priva — AHHHH!"
His body arches painfully on top of the seat as Sakura twists his wrists while he was about to reach for her hand. The other boys recoiled and stepped back, unsure of what to do, unsure of what even is happening.
"You must be going to a really shitty dojo," Sakura commented as she stood and the champion was on his knees. "... to not learn respect. You do not deserve that belt, kid."
A snap.
A scream.
The champion curled on the floor, sobbing while clutching his broken wrist.
His companions froze, eyes snapping between their friend towards Sakura who was standing over him with a cold smile.
"I take it you're all boxers too?" Sakura asked.
The boys assumed their stances.
Shin smirked, suddenly the matcha ice cream looked like the most delicious ice cream he'll ever taste.
"Well then," Sakura continued. "If you really want to do this, I guess it's honorable to make this fair, isn't it, Shin-kun?"
"Suit yourself," Shin replied, "I'm eating matcha."
Sakura chuckled as the champion kept groaning on the floor. She then placed her right arm — her dominant arm, behind her. Then she raised her left hand and taunted the boys to come at her.
Shin took another tentative spoonful of the ice cream — ahhh... satisfying, he thought.
"What are you fucking waiting for?!" The champion yelled. "Get her!"
The remaining six boys yelled in unison, and charged.
Sakura ducked the first, then struck at his liver, making him crumple in pain, groaning on the floor.
She made eye contact with the employee, then raised her hand, "Sorry for the mess!" she yelled.
Another boy launched a left hook at her. She slapped it away with her left, then followed it up with a flick to the boy's forehead. He staggered back and was caught by two of his friends.
Shin took another spoonful of matcha, his eyes widened, the bitter aftertaste slowly growing on him.
Two more boys charged, throwing haymakers and making Sakura doubt if they were really boxers at all. She blocked and parried them all while moving backwards, four arms against her left.
Is this how Shin felt whenever he spars with people at the Academy? It felt satisfying, yes, but that's because these kids are idiots and deserve this beating. On the other hand, it was boring, the gap in skill was just too wide.
She then caught one of the boy's hands, the one to her right. She blocked the other one with her elbow, then flung the fist in her hand towards the other boy's face, hitting him with his friend's fist square in the nose.
He staggered, allowing Sakura to give the first boy a mean left hook. It caught him on the chin, and he crumpled immediately.
The second boy recovered quickly, but Sakura was quicker. She gave him a back hand to the cheek as she moved her fist in position. The boy staggered again, but before he could recover for a second time, Sakura's fist embedded itself on his diaphragm, knocking the wind out of him and making him fall to his knees wheezing for air.
Four down, three to go.
Shin took another spoonful. A twisted part of his brain wished there was a rock track playing in the bar as Sakura dismantled these idiots.
"Still want some?" Sakura asked the three remaining boys like someone asking a kid if they want more candies.
The boys looked at their friends on the floor. Their champion friend was still writhing, his hand clutching his broken wrist gingerly.
Doubt fought against their pride. On one hand, they're boxers, fighting seven against one, initially, and versus a girl at that. One of them was also the champion of Hokkaido.
On the other hand, said champion was on the floor, squirming in a fetal position. Three more of their friends were dispatched with only one hand by this girl – while the guy she's with was just eating his ice cream.
Sakura stepped forward.
The boys stepped backward.
Shin took one more spoonful of ice cream.
Then sirens blared outside — cops. Shin breathed a sigh of relief as their strobe lights flooded inside the bar. Seems like ambulances won't be that much of a need after all.
The door opened, and a team of four cops burst in. They scanned the bar, three frightened boys quivering in front of a girl almost half their size, four others in various fetal positions on the floor, one guy eating ice cream nonchalantly on a table, and one employee whose face said that this shift went way too long for his salary.
Then the boys simultaneously pointed at Sakura. "It's them officers! That girl suddenly started beating us up!"
Sakura sighed then faced the cops. Shin stood, then flashed his ID Card. "We're cadets from the Nippon Defense Academy. These boys were... unruly, to say the least. You can ask the employee for details."
The boys' mouths dropped, those on the floor even stopped squirming in shock. Finally, they knew who they were messing with.
The cops saluted them. Cadets of the NDA are considered higher in rank than rank and file police patrolmen. Shin and Sakura saluted back.
Sakura went to the cops' team leader, one with three chevrons on his patch whilst the others only have two. One of the cops secured the three remaining boys who were standing while the other two checked on those on the floor.
"Call one ambulance," Sakura said, "one of them has..."
"Broken wrist here, sir!" One of the officers yelled. "Looks badly twisted!"
"The rest are fine... mostly..." the other one called back as he started cuffing one of the boys.
The officer Sakura was talking to nodded.
Well, Shin was... partly right... champion was indeed getting sent to the hospital, the others would spend a night behind bars.
He then went towards the employee and handed him a small tip. "For your troubles... and for the mess..."
The employee bowed and took the cash. "Your girlfriend's a badass, sir," he said.
"She's not my girlfriend," Shin responded, his gaze gravitating towards Sakura who was talking with the police.
The employee just scoffed. "Then better make it official. She's one of a kind, it'd be a shame if someone else steals her off from under you."
The corner of Shin's mouth twitched upward for just a microsecond. Sakura finally finished talking with the officer and started making her way towards him.
"I'll leave you two alone, sir," the employee bows. "And... uh... thank you, for the tip... and for not messing up the bar."
Shin bowed back as the employee walks towards the officer who was beckoning him closer.
"Nicely handled," Shin complimented.
Sakura grinned and made a show of bowing. "Were you entertained?"
"I was busy devouring my ice cream."
Sakura playfully grimaced.
"Got to say though, you did a good job restraining yourself. Your style has always been efficient, trying to end the fight as quickly and as fatally as possible..."
"To compensate for my smaller build, I know..." Sakura interrupted.
"I get the feeling our champion won't be champion for long, though," Shin gestured with his chin as the champion was being escorted outside the bar.
"He can still box..." Sakura followed Shin's gaze. "Though his fist won't have the same power it once had."
"And you say I'm cruel..." Shin scoffed.
One of the officers approached them and saluted, which they reciprocated. "Good evening," he greeted, the pair bowed curtly.
"Normally, we would ask for your statements, sir, ma'am. But the employee's statement seems already sufficient, there's also a CCTV Footage."
"Thank you," Shin said.
"Graduating?" the officer asked.
"Yes," Sakura replied.
"Congratulations and thank you in advance for your service."
"Thank you for yours as well," Shin reciprocated.
"So, are we free to go?" Sakura asked.
"Yes. May you both have a, uh... nicer night ahead."
They both bowed at each other. The pair made their way out of the bar at the same time the ambulance arrived. The champion can't look at them in the eyes as paramedics examined his wrist.
"So, that was a fun date," Sakura beamed, looking proudly at Shin.
"So it was a date," Shin smirked.
Sakura reddened immediately. She turned her back from Shin as she walked ahead both of them, back to their hotel.
"Where's your roommate?" Shin asked as Sakura led them to her hotel room.
"In a club or a bar... or wherever graduating cadets go in Sapporo if they're still having a great night," Sakura replied.
"You didn't have a great night?"
"Don't get me wrong, Shin. Teaching those kids a lesson was satisfying... but it ruined my mood for the night."
Sakura removed her coat, revealing a pink shirt that hugged her torso tightly, a leather skirt reaching halfway down her thighs, and black stockings. She tossed the coat on the bed closest to the window before standing in front of it, looking at the foggy, snow-capped landscape of Sapporo.
Shin leaned against the wall as he stared, because every man in his right mind would — which probably implies he's still in his right mind.
Sakura was beautiful, arguably — no, the prettiest in their batch. She was lean, not thin, with delicate curves that would make one doubt that she's a highly capable fighter.
Shin slowly removed his coat. He was wearing a black knitted sweater underneath — also knitted by Sakura. He placed the coat beside her’s before standing behind her by the window.
"Sorry..." Shin whispered.
"Hmmm," Sakura hummed when she saw his reflection on the glass. "You did nothing wrong."
"I did, though."
Sakura stared curiously at his eyes through the glass.
"I knew you wanted a date. I just... don't know how to respond to it."
Sakura made a noise that was a mix of a chuckle and a huff of disbelief.
"And here I thought you were just some dense muscle-brain."
"I probably am... most of the time," Shin chuckled quietly.
Sakura smiled tenderly. She took half a step backwards before feeling Shin's chest against her back. She leaned against his body, and Shin let her.
Shin's fingers twitched, like he was debating where to put his hands — on her shoulder? Her arm? Her waist? Or around her?
Sakura felt his shoulders tense. Her smile got wider, sensing correctly what Shin is thinking.
"Just do what you feel is right, Shin," she said softly, eyes closing halfway but still staring at their reflections. "Stop thinking for once."
Stop thinking, start feeling — easier said than done, Shin thought. It's not like battle — or is it?
Every fight he fought has always been about instinct. There's tactical choices, what stance to take, what the enemy stance is, how many enemies there are. Decisions are made like who and where to fight, what resources to use, which personnel are most suited for a certain task — all things taught to them at the Academy.
But the moments guns are raised and blades are drawn — his body takes over. The strategy he thinks about only lasts for about two moves before his opponent screws it all up and he needs to adapt or adjust mid movements.
Is it the same right now?
Is his feelings similar to a fight?
He's been fighting what he feels for almost all his life. Thing is... he doesn't know what it takes to win, or to lose.
In fights, he faces opponents — but is Sakura her opponent right now? She certainly feels something for Shin. Something similar... or perhaps greater. That makes her not an enemy but a... partner?
With what he feels, there is no opponent to defeat, no clean objective, no instructor telling him whether he made the correct move. And if he makes the wrong one, it is the same as losing a fight, probably even worse.
"You're overthinking again..." Sakura whispered, sighing in frustration. "We're not playing shogi... just do what you want, Sanada Shinsuke..."
Shin swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Don't make me force it out of you..." Sakura teased, bumping her head softly against Shin's chest.
His fingers twitched again — but this time, he relaxed.
He closed his eyes.
His head dipped to rest on her shoulder.
His hands wrapped around her waist.
He pulled her tighter.
His mind raced whether this is the right move or not.
He feared whether she'll pull away.
Her breath hitched.
Her hands wrapped around his arms.
"About time," she breathed.
"I was... afraid..." Shin whispered on her shoulder. "Afraid that you don't want the same thing I do..."
Sakura allowed herself a soft chuckle, "I've been chasing you for three years, you dense idiot. I wanted this more than anything else."
She felt his lips twitched on her shoulder.
"You wanted a date for the last three years?" Shin joked.
"I wanted it to happen three years ago. Didn't know it would happen three weeks before we graduate..."
"Only have it ruined —"
"We're still here... together. Doesn't this still count as a date?" Sakura leaned her cheek against the side of Shin's head.
"Don't things like this come after the date?" Shin asked innocently.
Sakura couldn't help but snicker, "perv."
"Kkura — that wasn't —" Shin tried to release the embrace but Sakura held his arms in place.
"Don’t... don’t let go. Keep holding me, Shin..."
Shin hesitated for a heartbeat before pushing himself tighter against Sakura's body.
Is she heating up? Shin thought. He looked at them in the mirror, her cheeks were reflected with a light layer of red.
Seconds, no, minutes passed. They just stared at each other through the window's reflection, the winter landscape of Sapporo forgotten or ignored. Only their eyes mattered, and their bodies pressed against each other.
"Do you... want to dance?" Sakura said softly, breaking the silence.
"My idea of dance may be different from yours."
Sakura giggled. Then she turned, finally facing Shin. "Do you associate everything with a fight?" She asked, bopping Shin's nose with her index finger.
Shin could only chuckle in response.
"Besides..." Shin finally responded, "we don't have music."
Sakura smiled softly, and Shin melted in her eyes. She then rested the side of her head against Shin's chest, right where his heart was.
"We have all the beat we need right here," she whispered. "And it's beating quite fast."
They swayed, awkwardly, following the beating of Shin's heart. The tempo was erratic, sometimes Shin calms down, slowing her heart, then he remembers what's happening, and it starts speeding up again.
Sakura and Shin chuckled.
"We're not very good dancers," Shin quipped.
"I don't care," Sakura wrapped her arms around Shin's neck, "it feels good."
Shin's reply was to hold her tighter.
A snowstorm could have covered the island. An avalanche could have rolled over and toppled the hotel. Or a bomb could have struck and obliterated the city —
— yet they would keep dancing awkwardly in the dark.
Two hearts that finally, after three years, started beating as one.
Sakura exhaled, carrying three years of uncertainty with it, of chasing someone who seems to not want to be chased. She felt lighter as she looked up, straight at Shin's black eyes that were looking back at her.
Her gaze lowered to his lips. She stroked his hair, hesitating to pull him down. She noticed a twitch on one corner of his mouth — she bit her lower lip, her breathing gradually speeding.
"Now who's overthinking?" Shin teased, reading her mind accurately. "Just do it if you want to do it..."
"Shut up, smart-ass," Sakura quipped back and finally pulled him down while she stood on the tips of her toes.
Their lips met. Sakura's body melted. Her feet faltered at the heat her body released. She staggered back, Shin kept her on her feet.
Her back hit the window. Shin pushed forward. Sakura's mind was going haywire.
She made a fist, pulling Shin's hair back yet pushing her head in. She's fighting back with the kiss with desperation, just like how she always fought back every time they sparred.
Shin held her waist, squeezing her soft flesh over her shirt. Sakura moaned with pleasure.
This is happening, she thought. They're kissing. Gods, please don't let it stop at just kissing.
She lifted her right thigh and wrapped it behind Shin's. She pulled it back and urged him to move his hips against hers.
They both gasped as they kissed, but neither wanted to let go. Neither wanted to stop. Neither wanted this to end like this.
Slowly, Shin's hand moved upwards, to the swell of Sakura's breast. Once he places his hands upon it, there will be no turning back.
Sakura's skin flushed with anticipation, her hair stood on edge, waiting for the inevitable moment when his palms would cup her chests...
Five inches...
Her head banged softly against the window.
Four...
They both whimpered as his hips met hers.
Three...
His lips left hers, moving towards her jaw.
Two...
She can feel the pressure of his touch just underneath her breasts.
One...
— BEEP!
The hotel door beeped — and both of them disengaged, red faces shrouded only by the dark room.
The door opened, carrying the voice of Sakura's roommate who was talking to somebody outside.
Sakura and Shin looked at each other. Frustration at the interruption was clear on their faces. Yet they didn't know who smiled first, who chuckled first. What they know was that Sakura's roommate was faced with the absurd sight of Sanada Shinsuke laughing with Miyawaki Sakura.
--- Osaka. Shin's room. Present day. ---
BEEP!
The door of Shin's room beeped, pulling Sakura and Shin out of their thoughts. They know what each other were remembering, and they know what each other were feeling.
The door opened, and Ruka enters, spectacled eyes fixed on the tablet on her hand, hair tied to a messy bun and fixed in place with a ballpen. White shirt, track shorts, and slippers — almost eerily similar to what Sakura was wearing.
"I received an email, Shin," Ruka began without removing her eyes from the tablet. "Our deployment orders... seems like Shimazu-sama personally expedited the approval and..." she trailed off as she finally raised her head. She registers the room, Sakura sitting on Shin's bed, Shin sitting on the chair by the table. A flicker passed on Ruka's expression so quickly that Shin couldn't tell what it was.
"Am I... interrupting something?" Ruka asked cautiously.
"Mornin' Ruka-chan..." Sakura greeted softly.
"Good morning, Sakura-senpai —" Ruka greeted back, her brows furrowing. Her gaze then shifted to Shin.
"Don't worry, Ruka," Sakura began, "you're not interrupting anything. I just... came here to deliver the hard copy of your deployment orders. Seems like the staff also emailed you a soft one."
Shin closed the white folder and raised it. Ruka nodded in understanding. That solves half of her question, the other half though — why was Sakura in Shin's room?
"Anyway," Sakura stood from the bed. "I'd best be off. It's not healthy for anyone to spend their day off in the lair of a brooding Black Dragon, isn't it, Ruka-chan?"
Ruka turned to her in confusion. A flicker also passes on Sakura's face, something Ruka was unable to understand.
Sakura turned to Shin. "I'll be off, Major." She saluted, but didn't wait for Shin to return the gesture.
Silently, Ruka and Shin watched her walk towards the door. Sakura grabs the handle, pulls it down, then pauses.
She turns her head back towards the pair, "Just so you know, there are rumors that Takeda Benimaru-sama is planning to make a Task Force specifically designed to track, apprehend, and if necessary... neutralize the Crimson Blade, Enami Asa."
Both Shin and Ruka perked.
"Apparently, this is because Takeda-sama personally encountered the Crimson Blade in a matsuri yesterday..." Sakura continued.
Shin and Ruka exchanged a look, remembering their encounter with both the hatamoto and the kunoichi yesterday.
"With what happened in Echigo," Sakura leaned against the wall, still looking at the pair, "I'll be requesting that my team will be assigned to this Task Force."
Shin narrowed his eyes, he knew exactly why Sakura wants this assignment.
"Is this a threat, Kkura?" Shin asked coldly.
"No." Sakura replied with the same coldness. "But if it's proven that you've associated yourself with her, Iga, Hattori Hanzo, and their rebellion... it will be."
Ruka looked back and forth at the two officers. It seems like she can see a thread pulled taut between them, just waiting to be cut and everything would explode.
Instead, Sakura finally pulled the door open... and left without looking back or saying another word.
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