A Parley of Thieves: Part One: Chapter One and Chapter Two (Preview!)

[moor]

Chapter 1

Her throat tight and the back of her neck flushed, Sakura proceeded down the ladder-like gangway, Ino at her side.

“You waited too long,” murmured Ino, scanning the port town they had docked their schooner. The rest of the crew attended to the rigging and cargo, rolling barrels of tar, grain and sugar down the parallel gangways in slick rhythm. Their calls mixed with those of the seabirds, buoy bells and carts that groaned under the weight of the shipment. The splash of waves against the dock rocked their ship gently with the slowly retreating tide. They had made excellent time, arriving while there was still a sliver of early evening twilight available to navigate the bustling bay. The lanterns were now lit, glowing and leading them into the town proper. Above them, constellations glittered; paths navigated for ages by their ancestors.

“I’ll find someone in town,” replied Sakura, adjusting her hair beneath her gold braid-trimmed, everest tricorn.

“Breathe,” said Ino, her thick platinum braid sweeping over her shoulder to conceal the peeks of her thistle-coloured,velvet waistcoat. Anyone unfortunate enough to grab her seemingly innocuous braid would find their palms punctured by the spike-studded leather thong woven through it.

“I’m breathing just fine.”

“Through your mouth or nose,” added Ino as their heeled boots thudded against the hemp rope-hung, granite quay.

Their leather breeches clung to their legs like a second skin and their long coats hid the braces of weapons buckled to their wrists and thighs. The tang of salty air kissed their rosy cheeks as they ignored the calls of the urchins begging for coin. Did they think the pair of pirates didn’t recognize cut-throats and pickpockets? They were cut from the same cloth.

Swallowing, Sakura’s eyes hardened and she nodded. If only her usual partner hadn’t…

“I’ll stay close.”

Shaking her head, Sakura set her shoulders. “No need.”

Ino took in her best friend and captain out of the corner of her deep, oceanic eyes.

“It’s that far along?”

“I’ll be the one needing to leash themself.”

Ino’s relaxed expression twitched as amusement curled the corner of her lip. She turned forward, an extra drop of vigour in her gait. “Should I stay close for his sake?”

“He’ll be able to walk,” groused Sakura. Though she rolled a shoulder, clearing her throat. “In a day or so.”

“I’ll let the crew know they can enjoy an extra day of shore leave.”

“Promise me you’ll make someone other than Naruto the bail keeper.”

Ino swallowed a chuckle.

“And don’t let Sasuke do it, either. He’ll leave Naruto in the town brig so he can smirk at him without fear of retaliation.”

“I’ll speak with Neji.”

“He’ll spend it all on bribing men to stay away from Hinata.”

“Hanabi?”

Sakura thought it over.

“Hanabi would be good. She’s got half the crew terrified of her already.”

“Your student has met her teacher’s standards. She’ll be delighted.”

“You’re just glad I’m not asking you again.”

“You aren’t the only one with needs to be met.”

“Check in every 12 hours with Sasuke.”

“Of course,” said Ino. She lifted a leather-gloved hand to her shoulder, clicking her tongue to summon her dove. She quickly scribbled a note on parchment, tucked it into the dove’s harness, and released her to the sky. “To Sasuke. Then find me again.”

The snowy bird cooed and flew back to the ship.

“To the best-stocked tavern in town,” declared Sakura, hooking her arm through Ino’s.

“It won’t be for long.”

“No,” agreed Sakura with a grin.

Kisame grunted beside Itachi.

“If you don’t like it, you’ll need to wait until I can find you a better one,” said Itachi.

“It’s a dandy coat.”

“Then you’ll enjoy a bit of role play with your dinner.”

Growling in his throat, Kisame donned the brocade coat with a resentful tug. Automatically he ran his pale fingers around the collar, ensuring it stood high against his throat. The soft white linen shirt Itachi had found him was at least more practical, its buttons smooth and the stitching fine. He would have to be mindful with this one; it was very comfortable. Unlike the froufrou jacket.
“At least there’s no lace at the cuffs,” muttered Kisame.

“I didn’t think you’d take lace well.”

“There’s a time and place for lace,” grinned Kisame, a hint of his sharp teeth glinting in the cabin light. He checked his appearance in the mirror their cabin afforded him, above the jug of fresh water and clean towels.

“Hn.”

Kisame glanced at his partner. Itachi could be quiet, but there was an intensity to him that night that made Kisame wary.

“Do you want to stay behind tonight?” he asked, noting the way Itachi’s gaze kept catching the porthole, the inky darkness of his eyes reflecting the glitter of lights beyond.

“No,” said Itachi after a moment.

“I can bring something back for you… if you think the land is unsafe.”

“It’s not the land,” said Itachi, a strange inflection in his tone.

Kisame watched him, pretending to fuss with his buttons to give Itachi time to think.

“There’s no moon tonight,” said the raven-haired man eventually.

“The better to see the stars and find our way.”

“We’re not the only ones to use the stars,” said Itachi, mostly to himself.

Kisame released his sleeve, his brow furrowing. “You mean we aren’t the only ones here?”

“Not the only ones hunting,” agreed Itachi.

“Then we’ll avoid using our names outside the cabin.”

“Ah,” said Itachi.

“Arms?”

“Yes.”

Suitably adorned, the men left Kisame’s cabin and ventured down their company’s ship into town.

Chapter 2

“Close reach?”

Ino tucked a stray elf lock behind her ear. “Too heavily armed. They’re highwaymen.”

Sakura nodded. She’d thought the same. Lifting her ale, she took another look around the tavern’s dining room.

“Beam reach? No, nevermind. They aren’t armed enough.”

Ino’s eyes flickered in the direction Sakura mentioned before she nodded.

“They have bodyguards. They’re ‘slumming’ for the night to see what it’s like to be big boys.”

“Why can’t they go to the nicer bars and leave us alone? This is a nice, comfortable dive. They’re ruining it.”

“Mmm,” agreed Ino. “They’re just looking for action they can’t handle.”

“Well… We’re certainly that,” said Sakura into her mug.

Ino’s perfect expression cracked a grin. Sakura grinned back.

Lifting her glass bottomed mug, a personal extravagance she allowed herself in order to prevent blind spots when she was drinking in public, Sakura let her shoulders loosen and leaned against the table. It was fun people-watching with Ino. The hunger inside her, unassuaged by the food they’d enjoyed, however, prompted her to keep scanning the room.

“Do you want to try somewhere else?” asked Ino as Sakura shifted in her seat for the third time in a quarter hour.

“Maybe. If nothing interesting happens in the next…” Her voice trailed off. “I thought Sasuke was staying aboard tonight?”

“He is.” Ino’s head turned casually to glance over her shoulder. “Oh, hello.”

“I would have sworn it was Sasuke if you’d said he was ashore.”

“No. Definitely in the same vein, though perhaps a little… hmmm… Do you feel the shadow around him, too?”

“Hard to miss,” said Sakura, forcefully dragging her eyes from the dark angel in the corner booth. “Oh, he has company, too.”

“I was just about to say, I bet he would help you enjoy a week or three before he kissed you goodbye and stole your purse.”

“There are worse things.”

“So much worse,” sighed Ino happily. “A shame about his coat.”

“It doesn’t match his shirt. Or boots,” remarked Sakura thoughtfully.

“Stolen?”

“Obviously. Hmmm.”

“You’re considering the beast before the angel?”

“The angel is too pretty.”

“You’re just spooked because he reminds you of Sasuke.”

“If it wasn’t for the fact that I know the rest of his family never surfaces, I would have sworn they were related.”

“Perhaps a half-cousin?”

“Maybe.”

“Think they would match for certain relevant skills?”

“Please. Please do not bring that up now—”

“It would have ended better if he’d been sober.”

“It would have ended better if it never happened,” muttered Sakura, shoulders sagging in resigned humiliation.

“OK, he should have admitted he was a virgin first—”

“Ino—”

“And that he loved you but was too scared of you to ask first—”

“It isn’t worth analyzing—”

“And it probably would have been better if he hadn’t cried at the end and begged you not to tell everyone he was afraid of not meeting expectations, and how did he do—”

Sakura groaned and reached for her mug, only to find it too light and dry.

“Oh come on,” muttered Sakura at the insult added to her injury.

“Refill?” asked a male voice.

“Please,” begged Sakura, lifting her mug and eyes only to meet those of the dark angel from across the bar.

He poured straight from the grog into her cup, not spilling a drop. Sakura couldn’t look away from him.

“Is your friend free?” asked Ino, tilting her head towards the broad man in the brocade coat still seated at the table across the tavern.

“Very.”

“Score.”

Ino abandoned Sakura to the stranger who looked so familiar and so beautiful. He took Ino’s seat and raised his tankard—also glass-bottomed.

“Cheers,” he said smoothly.

“Cheers,” said Sakura, snapping out of her haze.

Their cups clinked.

“So why are you here when you could be razing this town, Captain?”

Blinking, Sakura leaned back in her seat, a new appreciation for the man across from her.

Interest kindled in his dark eyes when she lifted her tricorn, allowing the waves of coral hair to slip loose and tumble down her shoulders and back.

“No need for this anymore, then, is there?”

“No,” he said, his voice husky. His eyes caressed the newly revealed hair and Sakura shivered like it was physically manifested upon her.

“What are you looking for?”

“Company,” he said simply.

“You could choose far safer company.”

A hint of a smirk lifted his lips.

“How many live to tell the tale of meeting the Pirate Queen of the Eastern Sea?”

“Enough for her to have a terrible reputation.”

“Only if they were on the wrong side of her.”

“Smart man,” said Sakura, tilting her head as her emerald gaze glittered and reflected his interest. His smouldering eyes lit the fire inside her, dangerously close to the gun powder trails practically tied to her blood.

“Is my man safe with your partner?” he asked as Ino and the ‘beast’ in the eyesore coat made their way to the exit, arm in arm.

Sakura smiled genuinely at the man across from her.

“As long as he makes her happy.”

“For how long?”

Sakura laughed.

“Long enough,” she said, grinning. “She’ll be very clear about what she does and doesn’t like.”

“Ah.”

His attention turned back to Sakura.

“Are you?”

“Hm?”

“Clear about what you do and don’t like?”

Crossing her legs beneath the table, Sakura swirled the ale in her tankard.

“I feel like you are very perceptive to communication, both verbal and non.” She arched a brow. “Are you?”

“Would you like to find out?”

Sakura’s smile turned sensual.

Itachi’s heart hammered in his chest when he lay eyes on her.

It was her.

She was the one whose call summoned him that night.

But how in the gods had they found themselves in the same place, at the same time, on earth?

She was supposed to be oceans away.

And he was supposed to be…

Well, he was where he was.

Kisame stared at him before sighing.

“She’s the one?”

“Yes,” agreed Itachi, voice thick.

“I suppose I could have a thing for blondes tonight,” said Kisame.

“Please.”

“She’s almost done with her drink—” remarked Kisame, but Itachi had already slid out of their booth, heading straight for the wet bar, his movement fluid like water. He grunted, shaking his head. The kid went for it, but Kisame had never seen Itachi move with such predatory grace outside of a fight.

A few minutes later, Kisame looked up from his table to find the most beautiful, dangerous woman he’d ever seen smiling down at him.

“Looks like the bosses want a night off,” she said. “I’m Ino.”

“Same (sah-may),” said Kisame.

“Shark skin? Suits you,” said Ino. “Does that mean you’re rough?”

“Not everywhere,” replied Kisame, grinning at Ino. “Unless you’re into that.”

“Why don’t we find out what we’re both into?”

With a bark of a laugh, Kisame rose, looking Ino over and approving of everything he saw.

“Why don’t we?”

TBC 

Will be posted to AO3 starting later this weekend! This is a story in three parts; above would be the first two chapters of Part One.

Fun Skull-and-crossbones divider created by the fantastic Tumblr user: firefly-graphics.