The Grey

Prologue

A loud sigh echoed through the empty room. It was usually bustling with people when she was here. She didn't stay after work very much, had no reason to. She was efficient and time savvy in all senses of the words. Somehow that hadn't been privy to her higher-ups. Emerald eyes closed as the scene from only moments before played in her mind for the umpteenth time in who know how long.

"The company is letting you go. I'm terribly sorry, Miss Haruno." Came from the older male. A taller build, with wrinkles beginning to show. Grey hairs peaked around the base of his head, mingling with pitch black hairs after years of stress she would assume. Journalism did that to you. Especially being head of the board. He did look sorry to his credit, but she wasn't so sure it was sincere. Years of this job can build a pretty convincing facade for people.

"Why?" It was all she could ask. She had originally been planning to do a piece on the local hospital, they opened a new ward for dementia patients, and she knew she had to bring it to attention to the public as it was a disease close and dear to her heart. Her mother. People needed to know that there was help for them readily available now. They needed that. But when she had come to confront her boss, he had mentioned needing to speak to her seriously, and she became nervous. She never really saw the man so serious before. He was quite the joker and yet at the moment, she couldn't fathom that same prankster and his man before her were the same people.

"To be quite frank, dear, your stories are boring. People don't want to hear about up and coming bakeries or charity events, they want gritty things. Things that excite them and pull them in. That pull illicit emotions from them. I'm sorry to say, but bakeries don't quite do that." A convincing frown settled on his face. She almost believed he cared that he was ripping her entire world out from under her. Journalism was all she knew. This was the job she always wanted, a journalist for the biggest documentary company in the world. She had worked her ass off for this position and now when she thought she was so close to being promoted they were going to get rid of her? She would never get another job. Who would want to hire the woman that Konoha Productions fired? The pink haired woman swallowed, trying not to show him how affected she was by the news however she believed that her shaking hands were a dead give away.

"B-but I was going to do a documentary on the new dementia ward! People would love to hear about that! It's compelling, it's interesting and meaningful!" The woman stood from her single leather seat, her hands coming down harshly on the oak desk in front of her with a thud.

"I'm sorry, Sakura, but it just isn't worth the money." Angry tears gathered in her eyes and yet she refused to let them fall. How dare they? Not important enough? Not worth the money? This was people's lives! This was a very real reality that a lot of them would face in the future, and they have no idea! Her mouth opened to try and convince him to let her do the piece and then decide, but something stopped her. She had to calm down. Her boyfriend always told her she was a hot head and at times it was very useful. But at the moment it wasn't going to let her keep her job. She needed to think. Think of something that would let her stay. She needed to bend to their idea of thrilling, but what? She wasn't interested in all that other stuff of murders and kidnappings. It was all so dark, and she firmly believed that these people should not be celebrated on TV. They should be left to rot in a cell where no one ever thought of them again.

"Give me till morning. Please. Give me until morning to find a worthy story, and if you still don't think it's worth it, then you can fire me. But if it is, let me do the piece and then decide if you're willing to let me go. Please." She never enjoyed begging. Hated it. It made her feel weak. But she needed to. She needed this chance. Just a couple hours to find something. Anything. Tanned fingers curled on the hardwood desk as she watched the man stand from his seat and stare at her for a few seconds that felt like years. She could almost feel her legs buckling from under her in fear of his response.

"Okay. You have until 7am tomorrow morning to come and pitch a story to me. If I don't like it, you're gone. If I do, I'll allow you the freedom to create a documentary one last time. Be smart about this Sakura. This is your last shot." And with that, the young woman nodded her head frantically and ran out of the room to go think.

In reality, she ran to her own office and began pouring out over recent news stories and local happenings. And yet nothing. Nothing gripped her. Of course, there were more than enough killings, but she wasn't going to stop so low as to make one of them infamous with a documentary. A sigh left the broken woman. Who was she trying to kid? No matter what she did, it wouldn't be good enough for them. She refused to report on a matter she didn't care about because she wouldn't give it her all. She made that vow to herself when graduating with her degree. It was a hard vow to stick to, but she believed it made her a better journalist. Another sigh left the defeated woman. It was already 4am. 3 hours. As she stared blankly at the laptop screen, she began to click out of all the tabs slowly, hoping something would jump out at her but by the time she clicked the last small red cross on her browser, she was ultimately defeated. Slowly packing up her things, she pulled on her dark coat and took one last look at her office that was still officially her. Because by 7am, it wouldn't be anymore.

She slowly walked down corridors of the tall building, committing everything to memory as she stood in the elevator, pressing the small round button labelled G. Each faint ding filled her eyes with tears until she finally heard 'Ground floor' and the doors open to the front door. As she left the elevator and walked to her car, the tears finally began to fall. She was going to lose everything.

Sitting in her car, she turned the radio on and began to somewhat listen to the news. Truth be told she had zoned most of it out. A loud beep from an oncoming truck awoke her from her stupor as she slammed on the brake at a red light just in time to miss the giant truck racing through. Hands gripped white on the steering wheel as green eyes widened inhumanly and she felt her heart beating out of her chest. She really needed to pay attention when driving.

"-the man is now in the ICU, critical condition. The attacker being arrested as we speak."

Sakura frowned and turned off the radio. She was tired of hearing about them. All you ever heard about was the bad. No one appreciated the good things people did. Finally arriving home in one piece. She walked through the door to her apartment and looked at the time. 5am. Two hours and she would lose everything. As she removed her black pumps and massaged her sore feet, she looked at her TV and decided to turn on the news in one last-ditch attempt. However, knowing nothing would really come of it. She was clinging to false hope at this point. Flicking through the channels, she grew bored until she flicked onto a channel momentarily before continuing on. However, she heard the name Hyuga before she flicked away. Furrowing her eyebrows, she turned back to the channel and sat down slowly. On the screen showed a mugshot of Hyuga Hinata. A girl she went to school with. She was so shy back then, had a crush on her current boyfriend, not that they were together at the time. They weren't necessarily friends, but she did remember them talking every once in a while. She remembered the shy beauty being incredibly shy but smart. She was so nice and helpful too. Didn't look like she could step on an ant without feeling bad. So what was she doing in a mug shot? Listening carefully the reporter droned on.

"Hyuga heiress, Hinata Hyuga has recently been arrested for first-degree assault and battery with intent to kill. She will be undergoing court shortly but for the meantime will be residing in Konoha City Jail until further action. Back to you, Tamaki." Assault? Intent to kill? Surely not. Surely it's not the same girl. But the woman in the photos looked so much like her, and Hyuga wasn't a common name last name. What did she do it for? She was the heiress of Hyuga Corp. She was rich. If anything she could pay someone to do it for her. So why?

Standing quickly, she ran to her shoulder bag and ripped out her laptop and notepad. Reaching for a pen, she quickly got to work looking up what little information there was on the case. Bright eyes flickered to the clock quickly. 5:20. She had till 5:40 the most to get as much information as possible, drive back and be there on time to present to him. She would not let the opportunity slide because of tardiness.

Mr Ootori checked his watch before looking up at the door. 6:50 and she wasn't here. He didn't think she would be able to do it. It was an almost impossible task. He did like her work ethic, but she wouldn't tackle the real stuff. And that's what this company needed. Just as he was about to leave for a meeting, the woman in mind came bounding up the hallway, haphazardly, dark circles under her eyes as she came closer. It was obvious she hadn't slept at all.

"Sakura, it's 6:57." Dark eyes narrowed in contempt.

"You said 7." Green eyes glittered in renewed determination.

"Please, Sir. I think you'll really want to hear what I have to say." A bushy dark brow raised as he decided to open his door and motion for her to enter first. Might as well give her a chance, he did say 7.

"This better be good, Miss Haruno. Remember, this is your last chance." Normally that would have made her even more nervous. But this time she knew he was going to let her do this. Who could resist a story on Japan's most famous family?

"I want to go undercover at the Konoha City Jail for a story." Blue eyes widened considerably. That was one of the most notorious jails in the nation. It was a very serious claim to make.

"Why?" Green eyes glittered as she knew he was intrigued already. Hook, line and sinker. She wasn't losing this job so easily.

"Hyuga Hinata. The Heiress was recently sent to prison for assault and attempted murder. I know that woman. I went to school with her for years, she wouldn't do something like that. I want to do a story on it. I want to get the inside scoop, and if I act as a prisoner, I'm more likely to get the truth than just interviewing her." The male took a deep breath, his arms crossing as he stared at the woman in front of him. She was obviously determined. And the story was captivating. What was a resident charity producer doing assaulting people? But it was dangerous. And not something Sakura was known to be interested in.

"If you're serious about this, then I'll agree, but you have to be all in. This is a very dangerous prison you would be entering. We would, of course, keep a close eye on you and remove you if anything went south but you'll see things you probably don't want to."

"I'm positive I want to do this. I want to know why."