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Tales From A Linen Closet	By : Onileo Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 2471 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto; that honor belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. My fanfiction is for entertainment only and is not intended for financial gain.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Material Bonds

     Ino adjusted the strap on her dress, activating the tiny radio hidden beneath. Checking her appearance in the mirror, she smiled. There were certainly some nice perks to working undercover. She would never be able to afford the dress she was wearing with the pay from a month's worth of missions. It was a gorgeous robin's egg blue, gauzy and light, the skirt hitting slightly above her knees. The neckline was just low enough to catch a man's eye without looking sleazy. Her hair had been done earlier that day, piled on top of her head in an array of twists and curls. Her bangs had been parted, and she had to keep tucking them behind her ears out of the way.
     Grabbing the black choker off of her dresser, Ino turned on the microphone and placed it carefully around her neck. She strapped a kunai to her thigh and slipped into her black heels. Glancing one last time in the mirror for courage, she smoothed her dress and spoke.
     "This is Ino, can you boys hear me?" she said in a normal voice.
     "Loud and clear." came Shikamaru's monotone from the receiver on her shoulder.
     "shmame hftr." came the second reply.
     Ino's eyebrow twitched. "Choji! Don't talk with your mouth full!" she growled loudly.
     "Sorry, Ino-chan. I said 'same here'." answered her teammate in a contrite voice.
     "Alright, I'm about to leave the room. Radio silence unless things get out of hand. And make sure you stay in position unless I need you." Ino reminded them.
     "When did you get left in charge?" Shikamaru asked with a hint of irritation.
     "Excuse me! Who's ass is on the line here, mine or yours?" she asked angrily, hands on her hips.
     "Tch, whatever. Just go already." Shikamaru ordered with a sigh. He mumbled something else, but it was lost in the static of the radio before it went silent.
     Taking a deep breath Ino grabbed her bag and pulled open the door. Making her way through the inn, she stopped at the desk long enough to pay for their room before heading outside. If the mission was a success, they would be well on their way back to Konoha before they would be sleeping again. Stepping out into the gathering darkness, she headed towards the club where her target would be waiting. It was only a block down from the inn, so she didn't have to walk far. Just as she reached the corner of the building, she tossed her bag into the adjacent alleyway. She didn't hear it land, so she assumed that Choji had caught it for her. Glancing up towards the roof, she could just barely make out the top of Shikamaru's head.
     Reminding herself that she could be giving away his location if anyone was watching her, Ino straightened and looked ahead. Reaching the entrance, she smiled sweetly and flashed her invitation at the doorman as he let her in. Stopping just inside the door, she pulled her bangs from behind her ears and looked around. Her eyes widened as she took in the interior of the club. Lush and sedate, it was by far one of the ritziest places she had ever been in. It looked more like a cross between a traditional tea house and botanical garden than a club. Brand new tatami mats covered the floor. Low tables were scattered around the dining area, separated by partial screens and hanging plants. There was even a small rock fountain in the corner surrounded by greenery. But on the far end was a dance floor and stage, and off to her left, a bar.
     Since she didn't see the man she was looking for right away, she headed over to the bar and sat down. She ordered a water and turned to watch the band that came on stage. They began to play a soft rock ballad, and several couples wandered to the dance floor. Despite the exclusive look of the place, it was nearly full. The party the club was hosting tonight was to celebrate the start of the very short rainy season in the Land of Wind. There was supposed to be a street party as well, one Ino would rather have attended, but a mission was a mission.
     She turned fully in her chair and let her eyes wander over the patrons. The majority of them looked like the average merchant class crowd. There were a few wealthier gentlemen in one corner, but they seemed content to keep to themselves and not mingle with the others. Her gaze went to the next table and she sucked in her breath. Bingo. There he was. Shun Kusano, one of the newest advisors to Sunagakure. She guessed him to be around thirty, with a robust frame and dark brown hair. He looked slightly nervous, and kept glancing across the room, as if expecting something to happen.
     Ino turned back around and glanced at the bartender. It was close to an hour before the supposed meeting between Kusano and whoever his outside contact was. She would have plenty of time to work her magic on him. Ordering two mixed drinks, she stood and winked at the bartender. "This place is pretty quiet. I think it's time to see if I can't stir up some trouble." she said with a laugh.
     Her radio quietly clicked twice, letting her know that the boys had received her coded message that she had identified the target. As she stood and turned around, Choji's voice whispered up to her, a mere hint of sound in the busy room. "Be careful, Ino-chan."
     She walked slowly towards the dining area, drinks in hand, as she went over the mission in her head. This guy, Kusano, was a newly appointed official in Suna, and already Gaara didn't trust him. With a little investigating, he found out that Kusano was plotting to take over the village and oust him as the Kazekage. He was supposedly buying scrolls containing forbidden jutsu to use in his efforts. And this club was where the deals usually took place.
     Which is why Team Asuma was here. Gaara needed someone that Kusano didn't know to witness the exchange. So he called in a favor to Konoha and her team was picked for the mission. When they found out the date for the next deal, they headed to the village immediately. They arrived two days ahead of schedule and had plenty of time to come up with a good plan. Ino would charm Kusano at the party and happen to be around when it was time for the scroll to change hands. Then she would attempt to identify the broker and, if possible, get her hands on the scroll. Once she completed the mission, they were to return to Konoha with the scroll; where it, and they, would be safe until Gaara needed evidence against Kusano. A piece of cake, right?
     Steeling her nerves and suppressing her chakra, she flashed a seductive smile to Kusano before stopping at his table. "Hey there. All the other tables are full and my feet are killing me. Do you mind if I sit down?" she asked.
     Kusano glanced up at her. The look on his face told her he wanted to say no. That was until he gave her a once over. A gleam of lust appeared in his eyes and nodding, he scooted over so she could sit down. Ino gave him a grateful smile and set a drink in front of him. Putting her own on the table, she sat next to him. Evidently, he had a soft spot for beauty. Good. That would make things very easy for her. Letting her eyes wander over his face, she met his gaze. "So, are you here for the party, Mr..." she trailed off.
     "It's Kusano, but please, call me Shun." he replied.
     "Alright, Shun. Are you here for fun, or for business?" she asked in a teasing voice. She had to try hard to keep the smirk from her face. He was playing right into her hands.

     Kakuzu adjusted his hood and mask as he walked down the street. It was fairly busy, with vendors and customers lining the road for the celebration. Which was fine with him. While he detested crowds, the best place to blend in was with one. He was just happy that Hidan hadn't argued with him when he said he was going to this meeting alone. The last thing he needed was the Jashinist to cause a stir and blow the whole thing. The scroll he was selling was worth a small fortune. To everyone else anyway. The Akatsuki didn't need it after Pein had a look at it. It must be nice to be able to copy every jutsu you see only once. After Pein memorized it, Kakuzu was instructed to sell it to the highest bidder, to help fund the organization. Surprisingly, the winner came from Suna.
     The meeting was set up, and now here he was. Hidan had wandered off to find a sacrifice, leaving him in peace. Pushing through the people thickening outside, he made his way to the club and stepped in. The doorman started to say something to him, but one look from his hard green eyes had the man practically shivering in fear. Stopping inside, he scanned the patrons. He quickly located Kusano, sitting at a table in the corner. With him was a blond woman in a blue dress. They were chatting casually, and from what he could tell, flirting heavily.
     Behind them at the next table were three shinobi dressed in civilian clothes, making a poor attempt to hide their chakra. Obviously they were Kusano's men. Well, as long as the exchange was made without a hitch, he wouldn't have to kill them. Walking over to Kusano, he sat down opposite him without saying a word. The blonde looked at him and smiled, but he didn't miss the hint of fear in her eyes. He was instantly alert. It wasn't the kind of fear someone displayed unless they knew exactly why they should be afraid. The only people that would be that scared of him were other shinobi. Was she a ninja? And if she was, did she work for Kusano, or someone else?
     Pulling the wrapped scroll from his cloak, he set it on the table and spoke. "Kusano-sama. Here is the item we agreed upon. If you are ready to make a trade, I'd like to get out of here as soon as possible. I hate crowds."

     Ino kept her hand on her glass to keep it from trembling. The last person she expected to walk through that door was an Akatsuki. When he approached and she saw his black cloak with red clouds, her heart hit her stomach. She knew that if things went wrong now, she wouldn't have a chance against an S-class missing ninja. He looked at her, and she smiled at him, reminding herself that she had a mission to accomplish, no matter how scared she was. Then, as she studied what she could see of his face, a vague feeling of familiarity hit her. It was almost like she knew him from somewhere. But she was certain she had never met any of the Akatsuki. She was still alive, after all. So, where did she know him from? Taking a drink, she waited for Kusano to answer him.
     "Kakuzu-san. I'm glad you made it, and right on time. Would you like a drink?" Kusano asked.
     As Kakuzu shook his head no, Ino started to rise from the table. It was high time she got out of there. She had the information she needed. Screw the scroll, it was optional to take it anyway, and she didn't think it was worth her life. Smiling, she turned to Kusano. "Well, I see you boys have some business to discuss, so I'll leave you alone now. It was wonderful to meet you both. And thanks for the company, Shun." she said sweetly.
     She had almost made it to her feet, when Kusano grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back down. "Just a minute." he said sternly. "You two haven't been properly introduced yet. Kakuzu, this is Ino. But then again, you knew that already, didn't you?"
     Ino frowned and Kakuzu stared at both of them. "What are you talking about?" he asked, menace creeping into his voice. If this prick didn't have his money and he traveled all the way out here for nothing, somebody was going to have a very bad day.
     Kusano glared at him. "Did you honestly think I would be stupid enough to fall for such a simple trick? She's obviously a kunoichi. No woman as pretty as her would bother with someone like me, unless they had an agenda. What was she supposed to do, wait until I had the scroll and steal it back from me so you could sell it to another idiot? Or did Gaara hire both of you to lure me here and kill me? Is that it?"
     Kakuzu calmly looked between them. "I don't know her. Now, do you have my money or not?"
     Ino swallowed hard. If she made a break for it now, she might as well be screaming guilty. If she stayed, she might have a very slim chance of making it through this without compromising her mission. Praying her courage held, she tilted her head and gave him a questioning look. "Shun-san, what are you talking about? This is the first time I've ever met him. And what's a kunoichi?" she asked, purposefully stumbling over the last word.
     "Don't play dumb with me. This farce of a meeting is over." he said, raising his hand. Seconds later, three shinobi surrounded the table. Ino's eyes widened. How had she missed them? She thought she was thorough when she went over the crowd. They must have come in after she sat down and was busy concentrating on Kusano. Pointing to the scroll still on the table, he looked at her. "Hand it to me." he commanded.
     Half afraid Kakuzu would attack her for it, Ino reached over and picked the scroll up. The green eyed man just watched her. She handed it to Kusano. Kakuzu glared at him before rising to his feet. "If you don't have my money, then our business is indeed finished."
     Reaching down, Kusano laid a briefcase on the table. "Yes, I had your money. But since you tried to betray me, our deal is off."
     "Very well." Kakuzu said before he threw his arms out, grabbing the two shinobi closest to him by the throat. Jumping to his feet with the scroll, Kusano started to take off. He never even got turned around when what looked like a black thread pierced his chest. Ino watched in horror as the man beside him started gasping, blood appearing at the corners of his mouth. Dropping the scroll, he clutched his chest, trying to remove the foreign object from his heart.
     Ino bent down and scooped up the scroll just as Kusano crashed to the floor, dead. A scream erupted from nearby, and the club was thrown into chaos. A few people rushed out in a panic, while others just stood there and stared. The third shinobi tried to attack Kakuzu, but was quickly entangled in a mass of threads. Taking advantage of the distraction, she turned to run. She didn't get three steps before she was pulled to a halt. Looking down, she saw more of the black threads wrapped around her wrists and gathering around her waist. She let out a loud gasp as she was drug backwards towards the table.
     Suddenly, Choji's worried voice erupted from her shoulder. "Ino-chan! What's happening? Ino!"
     "Get out of there, Ino. We're coming in." Shikamaru's calm voice interrupted.
     "No! Stay out! He'll kill you both! He's Akat..." Ino's frantic warning was cut short by a thread wrapping around her neck, closing off her air. She coughed, trying to breathe as she was pulled across the table. Kakuzu released the two shinobi he had just strangled and grabbed her roughly, forcing her to stand in front of him. Grabbing her choker, he pulled it off of her neck and dropped it to the floor. Seconds later, a sickening crunch was heard as he demolished the microphone. He quickly located the receiver in her strap and it joined her choker on the floor.
     She turned her head just in time to see her teammates come charging through the front door. Kakuzu saw them as well and dropped a smoke bomb, obscuring them from her sight. The patrons who were left quickly vacated as smoke filled the room. Reaching around her, he picked up the briefcase before straightening and grabbing the scroll from her hands. Wrapping one arm around Ino's waist, Kakuzu pulled her against him to whisper in her ear. "Make a move or a sound, and you're dead." he hissed. To accentuate his point, the thread around her neck tightened.
     Ino tried to make out where her teammates were at, even as her head started swimming from lack of air. Kakuzu pulled her against the wall and they waited. She thought she could see Choji's outline as he passed mere feet from them. Then they were moving again, towards the front door. Ino wanted to struggle, but bound as she was, all she could do was pray she didn't trip in her heels as he pulled her after him. They made it out onto the street, and Kakuzu picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. The last thing Ino remembered was feeling quite sick as she was bobbed around in the darkness. They were weaving through the heavy crowd on the street, and an occasional laugh rang out as they passed by. Then the pressure on her neck lessened and she took in a great gulp of air an instant before she passed out.

     Kakuzu paced the living room of the abandoned apartment. He had made it here just in time to erect a barrier jutsu and go undetected by the enemy shinobi. But now they would be looking for him, and he had to lay low, at least for the night. Hopefully, they would either think he had left town and would start searching for him elsewhere, or run into Hidan, who would be more than happy to unknowingly solve his problem. Glancing over to the coffee table, his eyes lit up. At least this trip wasn't a waste. He had managed to make away with both the money and the scroll. As soon as he got back to Amegakure, he would have to look up the second highest buyer and see if he was still interested. A groan interrupted his thoughts and he turned to see the kunoichi begin to stir.
     Luckily, whoever had lived here before left their furniture, and he had found a sturdy chair in the kitchen to tie her to. Now she was sitting in the middle of the living room, with her hair hanging in her face. He had taken her decorative hairpins to sell later, and he found that she looked much better with her waist-length hair unbound. Her earrings would have been his too, but they were the type meant to be permanent, so he couldn't get them out without ripping her ears. He had eyed her costly dress as well, but decided against it. She would probably cooperate more if she were dressed. As he watched her groggily come to, he was surprised to find that he knew her.
     A single memory of a chance encounter flashed in his mind. He had been at a hot springs resort with his partner and Itachi and Kisame. By sheer bad luck, some kunoichi from Konoha had been there as well. They managed to avoid each other for several hours, but inevitably, Kakuzu had a run in with the woman before him. She had been very drunk and had wandered in on him as he was raiding a closet for any potential valuables. They exchanged brief words before he left her there and went back to his room. An unimportant event in his life, he was surprised that he remembered it at all. What a strange twist of fate that they were once again alone together. Coming to a halt, he appraised her as she became fully aware.
     There was no denying that she was very beautiful. But she was hardly fragile. A little thin, but her body was well toned from her life as a shinobi. Her dress had bunched up when he had set her down, and he had been in too much of a hurry to fix it. He could see nearly all of her legs, which he found very shapely. Her hips flared just slightly before meeting her tiny waist. Her chest was the perfect size for her frame, and her neck and shoulders curved nicely. Her face was well formed, and when she opened her eyes, the clarity of their blue color surprised him. Very few girls came as well put together as this one.
     Ino opened her eyes and stared at the man in front of her. She had thought for sure that when she passed out, that would be the end for her. But he hadn't killed her. Now she supposed she would be questioned for information. And of course she couldn't tell him anything, it would be too dangerous for the village. Fear threatened to settle over her. This was one of the worst situations a ninja could find themselves in. And the fact that the one holding her captive was an Akatsuki made it even better. She was sure he would have no qualms about torturing her to get what he wanted. Now she found herself wishing he would have killed her and gotten it over with. She wasn't much for pain, but she wasn't big on giving an enemy what they wanted either.
     Straightening up, she tried to move her body, and found she couldn't. Looking down, she saw that she was still restrained with the black threads that he had wrapped around her in the club. She was sitting in a chair, with the threads holding her upright in the seat. Her hands were behind her back, palms tied facing each other so she couldn't form hand seals. So much for escaping with jutsu. She struggled against her bonds, but as expected, they didn't budge. Steeling her nerves for the inevitable conversation, she lifted her head and locked gazes with the hard red and green eyes of the most dangerous man she had ever met.
     "Let me go." she ordered.
     He didn't even look amused. "No."
     For some reason, that single word struck a chord in her brain. The feeling that she ought to know him was back. Maybe if she got him talking she would figure it out. "What do you want from me?" she asked.
     "You already know the answer to that. I want to know exactly what your mission was." he answered.
     "Then you already know that I can't do that. I won't betray my village." she said defiantly.
     Kakuzu walked right up to her, anger showing in his eyes. Ino pulled her head back as far as she could to put some distance between them. He closed in on her until he saw fear replace the determined look on her face. "I don't have forever to play games with you. You will tell me what I want to know. If I don't have answers by morning, I'm going to solve my problem one way or the other." he growled at her.
     "Go ahead and kill me then." she said.
     Kakuzu scoffed. "You aren't worth anything to me dead. Besides, I said I would solve my problem, not kill you. There are other fates worse than that I could send you to. I know several wealthy men who would pay quite a bit to have a woman with your looks and spirit. Or I could hand you over to one of the lesser ninja villages looking for an edge over the competition."
     "How would that work? You don't know where I'm from. You could accidentally take me right back to my own village."
     "You are from Konoha." he stated.
     "How do you know that?" she asked suspiciously.
     "We've met before." he answered.
     At last, she was getting somewhere. "Where?"
     "I didn't carry you all the way here for a casual conversation. Now tell me what I want to know." he demanded.
     Ino ground her teeth as aggravation set in. Her mission had flopped, she was kidnapped, tied up, and now this prick was demanding answers to questions he knew she couldn't give him. Her temper flared and she struggled against the threads holding her down. "No, I already told you, I won't sell out my village!" she yelled at him.
     Kakuzu just stared at her. "Everyone has a price. You will talk, once that limit has been reached."
     Glaring at him, Ino spit in his face. Kakuzu raised his hand, as if to slap her. She flinched, and he paused. Turning away, he walked over to the dusty couch and sat down. She was quite stubborn. Threatening her was getting him nowhere. And even as irritated as he was, he didn't think he could actually slap her. He didn't want to mar her beauty. She was his polar opposite in terms of looks. Then an idea came to him. Maybe if she got a good look at him, she would change her mind. Fear could be a powerful motivator. Watching her closely, he reached up and popped open the first clasp on his cloak. Her eyes widened.
     "What are you doing?" she asked him suspiciously.
     He ignored her question and continued his task. Once his cloak was open, he pulled his arms out of the sleeves, revealing the large stitches that bisected his muscles. Ino's breath hitched as she watched him take off his cloak. She didn't know what she was expecting to see, but it wasn't this. She stared at him, saying nothing. He pulled his hood back and lowered his mask. A small gasp escaped her lips when she saw the stitching spreading out from either side of his mouth. He reminded her of a heavily mended rag doll. How he could have come to look like that, she hadn't a clue.
     He stood then, and turned around to pick up his cloak. With his back to her, she could easily see the porcelain kabuki masks stitched into his bare back. He slowly folded his cloak and set it beside the briefcase on the table. When he turned back to her, Ino closed her eyes as fear hit her hard. Her control broke and tears made their way down her face. She was going to die here, by the hands of someone who looked more like a monster than a man. Her body stiff, she waited for him to do whatever it was he was planning on to get her to talk. Long moments passed and no one moved. She was so tense that when she felt him gently cup her chin in his hand, she squeaked and jumped reflexively. Squeezing her eyes tighter, she waited for the pain to hit her.
     "Look at me." he commanded harshly. Lifting her lids, Ino did as she was told. His face was as hard as ever, but he didn't look like he was about to attack her. He stared at her a long moment before speaking.
     "I already know that what it would take to get you to talk isn't worth my time. And frankly, I don't give a damn about your village loyalties. Things as intangible as that are useless to me. But I can't just let you get up and walk away either. You know too much about me to risk it." he said before he released her chin.
     Ino dropped her head. "Can't we make some kind of deal? I swear I won't tell anyone about you." It shamed her to ask it, but the thought of being free and not getting tortured or sold into slavery was too tempting to pass up.
     Kakuzu looked thoughtful for a second. "Agreed. But your promises mean nothing to me. They are easily forgotten after a short time. Lift your chin."
     Warily, Ino did as he asked. She watched as he rapidly formed a series of hand seals before laying his thumb over her windpipe. She felt a burning sensation before he pulled away. "What did you do?" she asked him, fear creeping into her voice.
     "It's a sealing jutsu. Anytime you think or say anything related to me, it will constrict your throat, making you pass out. Memories aren't affected, just conscious thought. But it won't be in effect until I release the last seal." he explained. He frowned when he saw a small mark appear on her throat where his thumb had been. It wouldn't go away unless the jutsu was dispelled, but he had a good idea for hiding it. Holding his hand out, he released a few of his threads. They wove together into a thick braid before wrapping around her neck, knotting at the back. He snapped off the excess and stepped back. She gave him a terrified look as she felt it settle snugly on her skin. "It won't hurt you." he stated. "It's just a reminder to not go back on your word."
     Ino swallowed hard. "So, you'll let me go now?"
     "No."
     "But you just said..."
     "That was the price you paid for protecting your village. Silence for silence. Your freedom comes at a far higher price than that."
     Ino glared at him. Kakuzu glared right back. "As you can see, I don't have any money on me."
     "It would take you years to earn the same amount of money I could get by selling you. And I'm not willing to wait that long." he said.
     "Then what do you want?" she asked.
     Kakuzu let his eyes wander over her frame. It had been forever since he had had a woman, and never one like her. He was tempted to take advantage of the situation and just do as he pleased. But no matter how far he sunk in life, there were some things he refused to do. And now that she had seen his body, he was sure she would rather rot in hell than let him touch her. Looking her over one more time with a hint of regret in his gaze, he spoke. "What I want is irrelevant. What you are willing to offer me is the important thing."
     Ino's eyes widened as she thought of the only thing she had that he could possibly want. "Are you trying to tell me you want me to sell myself to you?"
     Kakuzu folded his arms across his chest. "That would be an acceptable trade. Unless you can think of something else. But your offer has to be made freely. I won't let it be said that I ever forced a woman."
     Ino stared at the floor as she thought over his words. She tried to think of anything else that would grant her freedom. But every idea she had ended in failure. She didn't have a lot of money, neither did her family. As amusing as the thought was, offering him a lifetime's supply of flowers would probably get her nowhere. The village wouldn't negotiate with him, and he wouldn't be willing to meet with her teammates. That would just result in a fight. So in the end, she came to the same conclusion he did. One night with another shinobi for her freedom sounded a lot better than spending years being held captive by some pigheaded aristocrat or an enemy village. And it's not like she hadn't done things like that before. There had been several missions where she had to lure a man to her bed to get what she needed. She just didn't talk about them with anyone. There were some things she did for her village that no one else needed to know about. She could just consider this one of those things.
     Lifting her head, she looked him in the eyes and took a deep breath. She could do this. "Alright. I offer my body to you for one night in exchange for my freedom." she said.
     "I accept." he said, forcing the hint of excitement from his voice. "But know that you must be willing at all times. And you are free to cancel the deal at any time. Just remember what the alternative is before you do so."
     Ino nodded and waited for him to untie her. Instead, he walked into another room, leaving her alone with her thoughts. As messed up as this situation was, she couldn't help but feel a little excited. He wasn't going to kill or torture her. And if she could manage to make it through the night without refusing him, she would be free to return to Konoha. It was true that she found his looks disturbing, but he was still a man. As shallow as she sometimes acted, she knew that what counted was on the inside. And even though this guy was an elite ninja and a criminal, he didn't seem to be interested in twisted things like making her suffer to feed off her fear.
     Besides all that, what other kunoichi could claim that they had seduced one of the notorious Akatsuki? It would definitely be a notch on her belt. If anyone even believed her. And if she could bring herself to talk about it. Once that damned sealing jutsu was reversed. She was sure that after she returned to Konoha, either Tsunade or her father would be able to undo it. Her confidence helped to ease her tension and a small smile escaped her. This would definitely cancel out that embarrassing incident at the hot springs resort several months back. She had gotten ripped, wandered into a closet, and ran into a guy that was not only unamused by her, but was very rude as well. As those hazy memories surfaced, she was shocked to discover that the man she was thinking about looked a lot like Kakuzu.
     Lifting her head, she watched him walk back into the room. No, he didn't just look like him, it was him. "It's you." she said, half in wonder.
     The stitches around Kakuzu's mouth twitched upward into the semblance of a small smile. "So you finally remembered. I'm surprised. You were quite drunk."
     "And you were quite rude." she shot back at him.
     Kakuzu just shrugged and walked over to her. Releasing the threads around her waist, he helped her to stand up. Guiding her by her still bound arms, he headed towards the doorway, stopping long enough to grab the briefcase and scroll with his free hand. He led her down the apartment's short hallway to an open door at the end. Stepping inside, Ino found herself in an empty bedroom. There weren't any lights on, the sole source of illumination coming from the half moon that hung in the cloudless sky outside the window. The only furniture in it were an old dresser and a bed with a bare mattress. Walking over to it, she eyed the bed. While she couldn't find anything physically wrong with it, it looked very uncomfortable. With a frown, she turned and looked at Kakuzu. He was standing in the doorway, briefcase and scroll still in hand, watching her. She stood there for several minutes as her nerves tried to get the better of her, but he made no moves to come closer. Only when she had sat down on the mattress did he set his briefcase and scroll on the dresser and walk over to her.
     The position she was in was putting pressure on Ino's shoulders, so she flexed them and looked up at her captor. "Aren't you going to untie me?"
     Kakuzu gave her an amused stare. "I haven't lived this long by being stupid. Just because I made a deal with you doesn't mean I trust you."
     But even as he spoke, she felt the pressure on her wrists lessen. She took this as a good sign until he leaned over her and grabbed her waist with both hands. Her slight weight must have been nothing to him, because he easily lifted her and set her in the middle of the bed. Then the threads around her wrists began shifting. Her hands were forcibly separated, and she found herself being pulled backwards until she was lying flat on her back. She heard two dull cracks as the ends of the threads lengthened and pierced the wooden floor on either side of the bed, holding her in place. Ino reflexively struggled to free herself, even though she already knew it was a vain attempt. After a moment, she stilled. Kakuzu left her legs free, for which she was grateful. If he had completely tied her up, she just might have to call everything off.
     Feeling the bed shift beside her, Ino turned to find Kakuzu sitting beside her waist. He was still dressed, which surprised her. She figured as soon as she was secure, he'd be stripped and jumping her bones. But he just sat there, watching her, his hard green and red eyes going over every inch of her body. Unable to take the intensity of his gaze, she turned her eyes to the ceiling. Several minutes passed and he still hadn't moved. Then, all of a sudden, her view of the plaster was broken by a mop of dark brown hair, bronzed skin and black stitching. He was hovering over her, barely an inch from her nose. She locked gazes with him, and was surprised to find that his stare had changed. She couldn't really say that it had softened any, it was more like looking down on the eye of a green hurricane from the sky. She found herself getting mesmerized by the swirling emotion he was displaying when his deep voice interrupted her.
     "Are you ready?"
     Nodding, Ino tilted her head back slightly and closed her eyes. She willed her muscles to relax. Keeping her breathing slow and steady, she waited for him to touch her. And once again, his actions came as a surprise. Instead of groping her, or ripping her dress off, he closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers. His kiss wasn't hard or demanding, rather it was slow and gentle, the exact opposite of what she was expecting. A tiny spark of hope sprang into her heart. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as she feared. Encouraged by his show of restraint, she tentatively kissed him back. He responded by deepening the kiss, and she felt the rough texture of his stitches as they brushed the corner of her mouth. Just when she thought he would ask for more, he drew back and sat up.
     Cracking an eyelid, Ino looked at him. It was a mistake, because the first thing she saw was the mask on his chest. It reminded her of the ones on his back, and she had to suppress the wave of fear that threatened to wash over her. Then he was touching her, running a hand through her hair before brushing her bangs out of her face. She opened her eyes fully and gazed up at him as he trailed his large calloused forefinger across her forehead and down her cheek. He lifted his hand long enough to find her ear, and he traced the outside of it before following the line of her jaw to her chin. Switching directions, his fingers ghosted down the column of her throat, over the choker he made her, pausing when he reached the hollow between her collarbones. His touch was firm but gentle, and Ino found herself relaxing under his hypnotic strokes.
     Leaning down, he pressed his lips against the soft spot as his palm smoothed over her skin, slowing making its way across her collarbone, over her shoulder, and down the inside of her arm. His mouth wandered lower, and Ino's steady, measured breaths became irregular and more rapid as her body responded to him. When he reached her neckline, he stopped and sat up again. He let his hand pick up where his mouth left off, running his palm over the material of her dress, down the valley of her breasts and across her flat stomach. His fingers lazily found their way to her hipbones, and drifted over her upper thigh. Ino held her breath as his hand landed on the slight bump where she had her kunai strapped to her leg. He glanced up at her face before his hand found the hem of her dress, and sliding underneath, he tugged the blade free of its resting place.
     Holding it up, he let the dim light in the room shine on the kunai before expertly throwing it across the room. A dull thwack was heard as the tip buried in the wall just above the briefcase. Meeting his eyes, Ino expected him to be angry that she was still armed. Instead, the stormy expression he wore had intensified. Releasing her leg, he leaned forward and kissed her hungrily. As he did so, he climbed fully onto the bed. Straddling her thighs, he let his weight settle over her as he deepened the kiss. His caresses must have affected her more than she realized, because as he pressed against her, the pressure of his body sent heat curling through her stomach, and Ino couldn't stop the little sound of pleasure that welled up in her throat from escaping.
     Kakuzu nearly froze as Ino softly moaned into his mouth. He had been taking his time with her, enjoying this rare opportunity to its fullest, but he never expected her to actually respond to him. That one small sound ripped through him like a tidal wave, sending desire straight to the pit of his stomach. Suddenly, he wanted more. He wanted to hear her make that sound over and over until he had wrung the very last ounce of passion from her. Lifting his head, he broke the kiss and looked down at her. Her clear blue eyes were darker, a mixture of desire and surprise swirling in their depths. His gaze lingered for only a moment before he started moving again. Sliding down her body, he nudged a knee between her thighs, making room so he could settle between her legs. Grasping the hem of her dress with both hands, he slid it up and over her hips, taking care not to ruin the light fabric.
     As he revealed more of her body, he let his gaze roam over her skin. To the untrained eye, it looked flawless. Even he nearly missed the thin white lines scattered over her stomach, scars from old injuries that were too deep or too large to heal completely. She must have learned quite a few hard lessons in her life as a shinobi. It was a good thing that Konoha had excellent medics, otherwise, she just might look as ragged and mangled as he did. One stood out more than the rest, running from her ribs down into the waistband of her panties. It looked like someone had sliced her open with a katana.
     The dress grew taunt, and Ino lifted her hips so the material could slide up her body unhindered. She knew he was staring at her scar, the one that was the bane of her existence. She hated it when attention was drawn to the uneven white line, so she distracted him by allowing him to pull her dress all the way up until it was resting like a flimsy band above her breasts. His eyes fixed on her chest, and Ino was suddenly glad that she had bought new underwear for this mission. It was a matching set, the silk was the exact same color as her dress, light blue. Small butterflies were embroidered in silver thread and the whole thing was encased in a black, lacy mesh. Evidently, Kakuzu liked the effect as well, because he released her dress to slowly trail his fingers along the upper edge of her bra, never lifting his eyes from their focal point.
     Kakuzu delved deeper, sliding his hand beneath the barrier to firmly cup her breast in his palm. Ino's eyes slid shut as his rough skin brushed over her nipple. A murmured sigh of pleasure escaped her as his fingers began caressing the sensitive flesh on the underside of her breast. He then pulled it free of the restraining material, and leaned down to graze his lips across the surface of her bare skin. His other hand wandered to her neglected breast, releasing it to the air before kneading it with his fingers. His change in position brought one of his knees forward, and right into contact with Ino's core. A genuine moan escaped her at the contact, and her legs drew up of their own accord. Inhaling deeply, she tried to calm the sudden rush of hormones that swept over her. But it didn't help. All she managed to do was breathe in his scent, a mixture of sandalwood, linen and man. It was intoxicating, and she felt herself dampen in response to him.
     Kakuzu reveled in the desire that washed over him when he heard her pleasure filled voice. His body hardened, craving more. Releasing her breast, he let his lips travel down over her torso. His hand followed suit, tracing the curve of her ribs and the gentle lines of the lightly visible muscles in her stomach. Each time he hit a sensitive spot, she would suck in her breath, and he would tease the area until she made some sort of sound, whether it was a gasp, a moan, or in the case of the skin just under her ribcage on the left side, a giggle. His lips wandered down the line of her scar, pressing firm kisses to the divided flesh as he went. By the time he reached the top of her underwear, she was breathing rapidly, with her head tilted back and her knees resting firmly against either side of his waist. Lifting his head to watch her in a beautiful state of submission, he hooked two fingers into the waistband of her panties, and tugged them down to massage the soft skin just above her pubic bone. She actually cried out when he did, and her hips lifted slightly off the mattress, trying to press up into his palm. The sound was more than his control could handle, and scooting back, he used both hands to slide her underwear off.
     Ino strained against the threads holding her wrists when she felt the cool air of the room hit her sex. She was burning up alive, her body tight and hot from his touch. If she were free, she would have tackled him before now, demanding that he give her some relief. But she was at his mercy, and she could only lift her head and watch as he stared down at her. Her heart was pounding, and when he finally touched her again, she thought it would burst from her chest. A wave of lust hit her hard as she felt him run a finger down her cleft. She moaned, and the muscles in her legs contracted as she pushed herself up into his hand again. He wasted no time then, sliding one finger into her as far as it would go.
     Ino felt her inner muscles tighten, trying to clamp down on him. Then reason left her as he curled his finger and slowly drug it down her walls. He repeated the stroke, and with each pass, Ino felt her body wind tighter and tighter. And when he added another finger and began massaging her clit with his thumb, it was more than her sensitized nerves could handle. Digging her heels into the mattress, she threw her head back and bit her lip to suppress the scream escaping her. Her back arched under the force of her orgasm, and her head went dizzy an instant before her entire body relaxed.
     She felt Kakuzu withdraw as she came back down. Trying to steady her ragged breathing, she listened to the slight swish of material as he undressed. Lifting her head, she took in the sight of him, completely bared to her gaze. His bronzed skin was smooth, pulled taunt over his heavy muscles. A light dusting of black curls covered his chest, running in a line down his hard stomach. Her eyes darkened as they wandered over his erect manhood. He moved then, and her attention was drawn to the black stitching crisscrossing his thighs. She watched his muscles flex beneath them, and she wondered how they would feel rubbing against the insides of her legs.
     She didn't get a chance to find out, because when he closed in on her again, he lifted one of her legs and let her ankle rest on his shoulder. Her other leg he slid up the bed until her heel was nearly touching her thigh. Sliding one hand under her bottom, he lifted gently and supported his weight with the other as he entered her. Ino sucked in her breath as he invaded her, the friction sending her desire to a new level. She released it as a strangled moan when he was buried to the hilt, and her walls clamped down on him. He groaned and struggled to keep still as her body adjusted to his. When her grip on him lessened, he began moving, nearly pulling out before burying himself deeply again.
     His strokes were deep and slow, and Ino reveled in the way her whole body seemed to tingle as he rocked against her. Lifting her eyes to his face, she watched him watching her, his predatory stare sending fire racing through her veins and striking a playful chord in her heart. His want of her was undeniable, and she relished the way he was making her feel like the most desirable woman in the world. Unable to resist torturing him a little, she squeezed her muscles around him as he pulled back. Emitting a low growl, Kakuzu let her leg drop to the mattress and pulled her closer, the tension on her arms both aggravating and exciting at the same time. Leaning forward, he let his arms rest on either side of her as he captured her breast in his mouth. As he teased her, his hips picked up a faster rhythm, and it was then that Ino felt a slight tickle creep up her legs. Tilting her head to the side, she looked down and her eyes widened. Thick black threads were winding their way around her thighs and hips, interlacing to form a net over her skin. They slid underneath her, and when they met at the base of her spine, she felt them knot together and tighten. Her hips were lifted, the threads firmly anchoring her to Kakuzu.
     Lifting his head, Kakuzu looked her in the eyes, before thrusting into her hard. The new angle and the pressure of his body on hers sent Ino into a frenzy. Her back arched and she closed her eyes when she felt him close in on her breast again. He started to pull out, and Ino couldn't stop the whimper that escaped her. Her body was completely on fire now, and if he didn't finish soon, she was sure she would die. As soon as the sound left her lips, the threads around her constricted, and he started pounding into her. Each thrust sent her higher, until she was spiraling out of control again. When she reached her peak, he groaned aloud as her muscles captured him, pulling him deeper than he thought possible. He convulsed as his seed spilled into her, and he let his head rest on her chest as the tremor from his orgasm swept over him.
     Several minutes passed and Kakuzu made no attempt to move. The room was quiet except for their slowing breaths. Opening her eyes, Ino looked down to see if he had fallen asleep or something. He was lying there, his eyes half closed, and for once, his face held a soft, satisfied look. A small smile crossed her lips. He probably didn't have many chances to enjoy a woman's touch, and she was suddenly glad that she could give him a small measure of peace in a life that she was sure was difficult at the best of times. It didn't matter at the moment that they were enemies, or that he practically coerced her into sleeping with him. She just wanted this feeling of physical contentment to last forever. She felt the threads around her waist and hands recede, and suddenly she was free. But she made no move to get away from him. Instead she stretched her stiff arms before wrapping them around his shoulders and burying a hand in his wild hair.
     Kakuzu let her hold him for a minute, enjoying the feel of her willing hands running through his hair and over his shoulders. It felt so nice that he seriously considered keeping her anyway, not to sell to some worthless prick who couldn't fully appreciate her, but for himself. But he had made a deal, and he always followed through. So he would have to let her go, and probably never see her again. Lifting himself off of her, he hovered over her and stared into her blue eyes before kissing her softly on the lips. Surprise surfaced in their depths as she realized that it was a kiss goodbye. It was still several hours until morning, and she figured that he would want to claim her until the very last moment. He deepened the kiss before breaking away. A small smile made its way onto his face before he looked away and spoke. "Next time, don't sell yourself so cheaply, Ino. You're worth far more than you believe."
     Completely stunned by his words, Ino just stared at him as he climbed off the bed before leaning down and pulling her dress back into place. Then he began dressing, and realizing that this was it, Ino tried to think of anything to say to him. "Are you leaving?" she asked.
     "Yes." he stated simply, his hard mask of indifference back on his face. When he was finished, he walked to the bed where she was still lying, and began to form the last seal for the jutsu that would keep them both safe. Suddenly, her arm found his, and he paused, looking into her eyes.
     "Kakuzu...anytime you're around Konoha and are in the mood for business, I'd be interested in striking another deal with you." She knew at that moment that she had gone totally nuts, but the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.
     He stared at her, that stormy look in his eyes again. "I'll keep that in mind." he replied. Not that he could do enough to deserve such comfort from her freely, but the hope sparked in his soul that maybe he could find a way into Konoha and steal it away from her whenever he could. With guilt and regret plaguing him, he completed the last seal and watched as she began struggling against the pressure on her neck. Luckily the jutsu worked fast, and after a few seconds, her eyes rolled up in her head as she passed out. He waited until her breathing was slow and steady, then retrieved his briefcase and walked out the door.

     Ino woke to the headache of a lifetime. The rain pounding outside the window picked up the rhythm of the jackhammers torturing her brain. Forcing her eyes open, she glanced out the window to see that it was still dark. She didn't remember where she was at first, but as she took in the room she was in, her eyes landed on her kunai, still planted in the wall above the dresser. The briefcase that had been there was gone, but the scroll was still lying where it had been dropped. She sat up with a start as memories flooded her brain. She started to wonder how long Kakuzu had been gone when she felt her throat start to tingle and tighten. Quickly turning her thoughts elsewhere, she grabbed her underwear and pulled them on before sliding out of the bed. Walking to the dresser, she retrieved her kunai and the scroll and started out the door. She had to find her teammates as soon as possible. They were probably worried sick about her and searching everywhere.
     Turning in the doorway, she looked over the room once more. It was a place she would never forget, but she wasn't sure how to feel about the whole thing. Her emotions were swirling around, one minute she felt glad that it was over and she was free, and the next she was inexplicably sad. She wanted to work it out, but she didn't want to wind up passing out again. One dose of that jutsu was enough for her. So keeping her mind carefully blank, she walked down the hallway and out of the apartment. The barrier surrounding it was gone, and as soon as she stepped out into the wet street, she let her chakra flare so her teammates could find her quickly. She had only been standing there for a minute, when she felt them approaching her rapidly. Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile onto her face. Shikamaru reached her first, dropping in front of her from the building across the street.
     He was watching her carefully, and she knew he was taking in every detail of her appearance. She met his eyes, and he nodded in greeting. "Are you all right, Ino-chan?" he asked.
     "I'll live." she replied. She wanted to lie and tell him she would be fine and that nothing had gone wrong, but there was no getting around Shika's sharp eyes, so she didn't even try.
     "Ino-chan!" Choji cried enthusiastically, pulling her into a hug when he finally reached her side. "What happened to you? We were looking for you for most of the night."
     Widening her smile, she lifted her hand to reveal the scroll. "Mission complete." she said.
     "But where is that Kakuzu guy? Did you have to fight him? Did he escape? If he hurt you, Ino-chan, I'll kill him!" Choji fired off rapidly.
     Shaking her head, Ino ran her free hand through her hair. "I'm really tired, Choji. I'll explain everything later. Let's get the hell out of here and back to Konoha."
     Shikamaru met her eyes again, and she gave him that look that told him that whatever had happened, was off limits for discussion. He was the only one who knew about some of the things she had done before, and even though they had never talked about it, the understanding was there. Breaking eye contact, he yawned and laced his fingers behind his head. "She's right, Choji. Let's get started back."
     "But it's raining."
     "It's troublesome, I know. But the sooner we return to Konoha, the faster we can report to Tsunade and convince Asuma-sensei to treat us to barbecue. Besides that, if any of Kusano's goons are still around, they'll be looking for us."
     "Fine, but I need some more chips before we head out."
     Shikamaru sighed. "Fine."
     Normally, Ino would have complained about the delay, but right now she needed the normalcy of her boys. Her mind was still swirling around, her emotions and rational thoughts mixing into each other in a muddled mess. But she knew one thing for sure. If she ever got the jutsu removed from her throat, she would have a hard time forgetting a certain someone. Until then, she hoped her teammates would forgive her for suddenly developing the habit of passing out at the drop of a hat. Glancing one last time at the building, she sighed and followed Shikamaru down the wet street, absently running her fingers around her choker and praying her dress wasn't getting ruined in the rain.
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Tales From A Linen Closet