I am grateful for all the reviews I have received to far. I hope to update every other week, or earlier if possible. You support is deeply appreciated and this chapter is dedicated to those who reviewed! Note: The summary is changed, due to my sudden change of plot. Please do not worry.

Character info (for anyone curious…)

Name: Ami Kaneda

Birth date: October 25

Hair color: Ivory black, non-natural tan highlights, cropped with bangs passing eyes.

Eye Color: Light gray-blue

Favorite food: Chocolate, spicy food.

Theme: 'Lights and Sounds' Yellow card 'Heart in a Cage' by The Strokes

Likes: Music, drinking, work, shopping.

Dislike: Little kids, paperwork, small-enclosed places.

Disclaimer: My incompetent mind cannot think up anything as amazing as Naruto.

Previously:

"Yes, Ms. Hyuuga, please set up a meeting for bother Lieutenant Kaneda and Uchiha on Monday…10:30?…Ok, good."

Chapter 2: First Impressions

"Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude."

-William James (American Philosopher and Psychologist)

Ring…Ring…

Dammit, I don't wanna wake up…

Ring…Ring…

I groggily get out of my bed, shaking my head, before glancing at the red blinking light the belonged to my cell phone as it vibrated against the wooden bed stand. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I strain to see the time on the analog clock on the wall opposite of me. 9:02…Yawning for what seems the fifteenth time, I ruffle my cropped raven hair, raking out a few ragged knots.

Picking up the Sidekick 2, I check the caller ID, not recognizing the number. "Ami here" I answer, my voice cracking slightly.

An unfamiliar feminine voice speaks." Hello, is this the home of Lieutenant Kaneda?"

I furrow my eyebrows and shift the cell phone to my shoulder as I open the curtains to reveal a breathtaking view of downtown Konoha, skyscrapers, helicopters, traffic and all.

"Her cell phone, yes."

I hear some shifting of paper. "Chief Hatake has requested an immediate meeting scheduled at 10:30 today."

I pause to take another look at the clock, knowing I won't make it there in time. "Okay, I'll be there, thanks."

I hang up and take a final glimpse at the view. I heave a sigh. Oh well…

(Sasuke POV)

"Dammit, they're late…"

Kakashi chuckles overhearing my muttering, and I shoot him a death glare. If looks could kill… I think as wipe the sweat growing on my forehead with the back of my hand.

"Nervous, Lieutenant Uchiha?", Kakashi questions from behind his copy of 'Icha icha paradise', hiding a smirk, though not effectively in my honest opinion.

I inwardly roll my eyes, slouching in the leather chair as I direct my eyes to the clock on the clock. 10:47…

"Just fucking hot…" I say, propping my elbows on my knees, knitted finger holding my chin up.

I can almost feel Kakashi frown, not enjoying the fact that I don't seem in anyways nervous about receiving a partner. I look at the clock once more…10:48…

I shift in my seat. "Tell me, Kakashi," I give him a hard stare. "Are you sure this guy is even smart enough to get to a certain place in a set time? Or is he mentally incompetent?"

Kakashi seems to choke on a laugh and I raise an eyebrow. "What?"

He regains his posture with a mass of effort and glances towards the door. "You should ask her your self."

I freeze. 'Her'? Wait, my partner's a…

The door bursts open, and a breathless raven haired woman bustles in. I look from her to Kakashi, and back.

He can't be kidding…

The woman was wearing a vintage concert t-shirt, a pair of faded jeans, with small rips on the knees and thigh. Her hair was short and cropped, nearly covering her eyes.

(Ami POV)

The man just looked at me as if I had grown a third eye or something. Okay…what's with him?

I shake my head to the side to shift the hair obscuring my eyesight. "Sorry 'bout being late," I smoothen my jeans. "Some traffic along the way…" I cross my fingers behind my back, hoping the chief will believe me.

The raven-haired man snorts. He was wearing a black dress shirt that had its sleeved pushed up to his elbows, and black suit pants. "Leave earlier then," he mumbles.

I glower at him, only to stiffen up when hearing someone clearing their throat, and I salute to Chief Hatake.

"Punctuation is no problem really," he says, motioning towards the leather chair beside the raven-haired man. As I take a seat, giving a stern look at the man beside me, the Chief continues, "Lieutenant Uchiha, Lieutenant Kaneda" he gestured to the two of us, respectively. We both give each other a nod.

Uchiha…I've heard that name before…

"You two will be partnered up for the up coming assignment." He tosses a manila folder on the desk. Before I can reach for it, it is already in Uchiha's hands, as he flips from one page to the next. I watch him with an annoyed expression, until I notice that he seems to freeze, his face seeming wary of the information on the page. The Chief seems to notice as well, and calls out.

"Sasuke,"

Sasuke immediately regains his posture, and looks up from the folder. "The West Bank bombings?" he inquires, flipping the folder shut.

Kakashi nods. "You'll be assigned to label down evidence, and hopefully trace down suspects." He leans back in his chair. "I have full trust that you two will get it done before a second bombing occurs." He pauses. "Am I correct?"

"Yes sir," Uchiha and I both say in unison.

"Wow, first day and you've already got an assignment?"

I shrug as I plop onto my desk chair, while Naruto nods in understanding. He grins, "So, who're ya partnered with?"

I pause gazing at the retreating figure of Sasuke exiting the building, cigarette in his mouth.

"Uchiha."

Naruto gapes at me from his table across me, not believing what I had just said. "You're with Sasuke-teme?"

I burst laughing at the childish suffix, though inside I know that would be the perfect thing to call him.

Naruto seems oblivious to my mirth and continues sternly. "You know, he only thinks about his job." He stops to glance at Sasuke from the glass door, checking to see if the Uchiha was aware of what we were talking about. "Not money, not family," he grins, "Not even women…"

I hold back a smirk. "Ooh…and that's bad?" Naruto chuckles, "I'm pretty sure…"

I ponder a thought for a second, "You two are friends?"

"More like rivals," he rubs his chin thoughtfully. "But I guess that'll pass."

He continues, "Sasuke's been here almost as long as me, three years, and he's already gotten city wide recognition from the governor herself! That bastard has it all. That's what I guess."

As I watch Uchiha's figure shift to ground out the cigar, Naruto frowns. "I can't believe all the women are all over him too. Ino, the bartender, pretty much started the 'Sasuke fan cult'. Even Sakura worships him!" He ends with a wailing tone, dropping his head on his desk table dramatically.

I make a mental note to see who Sakura is, as I drum my fingers on my desk, watching Sasuke come back inside from his smoking break. Naruto instantly shuffles back from his fetal position and props up a head on his palm, pretending to be looking over some papers. Meanwhile, Sasuke stops at my desk, placing the file of our assignment on my table.

"You better look over it. I'm going to West Bank remains."

I give him a stern look. "And what, I stay and read some goddamned papers?"

"Yeah, that seems about right."

He glances at me for a moment, and curtly leaves, leaving me there fuming. "How does a woman like that thing?" I mutter, hearing Naruto sigh. "Like I said before, that bastard has it all."

Rolling over the thought, I look at the case number tab, seeing it read #2038491.

I flip open the file, to see a bunch of file, each describing the details of the information of the building; blueprints, employee names, number codes, everything.

I furrow my eyebrows in thought, as I place the files back in the folder.

I pick up the phone and click the speed dial number for the information department. I wrap the spiraling cord around my finger as I wait for and answer.

"Information department, Kurenai speaking."

I pause for a second, collecting my thoughts. "Yes, this is Lieutenant Kaneda, I would like some information on case Number 2038491, and mainly the exact time periods which the explosions took place."

"Please hold on." I nearly expected elevator music to go on, but in a few seconds, my fax machine started to print out the files.

"Is that all?"

"Yes for the moment, thanks."

I hang up the phone and put the newly printed-papers in the case file. I look at Naruto. "Gonna leave early…I'll work at home."

Naruto wishes me good luck, and I leave the department, opening the front doors and standing outside. I look down to see the disintegrated cigarette that Sasuke used. I growl and pound the thing to a pulp with my foot, before setting off towards my home. I walk alone for a couple of minutes, thinking.

"Hello." A musical voice comes from behind me.

I slowly turn around to see the man from the bar a few days ago. "Hey," I say warily, not knowing what his intention was to greet me. The man seems to notice.

"I just saw you walking alone and though you could use some company."

I hesitate, and shrug. Anyways, if he tries anything funny, I can just shoot the hell outta him.

He quickens his pace, until he is just beside me. "Where are you coming from?" he asks. A sub-conscious shiver runs up my spine, hearing his velvety voice, and I wonder where that came from.

"Work." I turn to look at him, and he is the exact replica as the last time I saw him. Broody, crimson eyes, long black hair tied back. He wore a black leather jacket on top of a blood red silk dress shirt, with a black tie. After taking a moment ogling him, I remember a thought. "By the way, I need to thank you for the drinks." I pause to look at him. "I should pay you back before I forget somehow…"

The man only shakes his head. "There's no need." He gives me what seems a smile, though his eyes seem intense. "I should thank you for the company."

I feel my heart skip a beat, and I try to fight down what felt like a blush, off my cheeks. "Don't mention it." I struggle to say such a simple three-word sentence, praying the man didn't notice.

Silence broods over us, and I wring my hands nervously. Okay, now his company is just jotting me to my wits end!

I clear my voice. "Where are you headed, Mr…"

He doesn't speak for a second "Itachi"

I give a nod of understanding as we turn a corner. "So, Mr. Itachi, where are you head-"

"Just Itachi." He interrupts, "I'm just taking a walk, it gets your head off things." He sighs and shakes his head, almost in a dramatic, sarcastic manner. "It seems the family and I aren't really getting along recently."

I give an earnest smile. "That's why I like to get as far as them as possible."

He gives a deep chuckle, and looks at the passing car. "In my case, they just can't let me out of their sight."

"I don't blame them." I wince when hearing I had said that out loud than in my mind, and I look away hoping he didn't notice. I see my car just down the block, and for some strange reason, I wish it were a bit farther away.

"Well, the family's more worried about how things'll turn out of me." He stays quiet for a moment I walk to the driver door of my car

I search my pockets for the keys. "I think things will turn out fine for you," once again, I mentally hit myself for saying that out loud. Itachi merely nods before looking at me once more. "Good bye, Ami."

I smile as I open the front door. "See ya." As I slide into the car, I can almost feel him watching me, as I turn on the engine. I wave goodbye, and drive off.

And then it hits me.

How the hell did he know my name?

I stay quiet, as I wait for the traffic light to turn green, re-running all the conversation, though very few, that I had with Itachi. I shake my head. I must have told him sometime…I assure myself that, turning on the CD player.

Wow, chapter two…Well, I an sorry for the late update, it seems that this story needs a lot of preparing (mostly the police case) so I am sorry for that. However, any recommendations are truly appreciated. Once again:

Review!

Preview of Chapter 3:

"You know little brother, you'll never guess who I just spoke with today…"