CHAPTER ONE| IN THE DEVIL'S NEST
"Tsuru, you've really got to lay off the chocolate ice cream and chips." Nagashima Tsuru tells herself as she struggles to squeeze into her dress.
Or rather, it wasn't her dress, but one that had been delivered to her doorstep in a rather fancy manner, she'd thought. At first, she'd been really creeped out because she knew it was from Obito. But then she figured that Ren had to give him her address so he could pick her up as well. So when Tsuru received the smooth, velvet box with a small smile, she felt slightly giddy. Ever since her break up with Kakashi, she hadn't really dated much. To top it off, she thought Obito was good looking, and though it was for her job, the entire scenario reminded her of a courting process.
The dark haired woman had glanced at the tag attached to the box, reading the most elegant cursive handwriting she'd ever seen.
"Tsuru, I think this will suit you well. I'll be by around nine to pick you up, sincerely yours (for the night), Obito Uchiha." And then, Tsuru squealed like a school girl, in the most high pitched, shrill manner that sent her cats into a frenzy. They began to mewl loudly from their perched positions on her bed.
"Sorry guys, mama's got herself a hot date tonight!" Tsuru had exclaimed rather giddily before popping the box open and promptly frowning. What size did Obito think she was? Tsuru was in good shape, she was healthy and it showed in her physique. But even then, her hips were slightly wide, her thighs had a healthy thickness to them, and she was a bit lacking in the chest department. Surely the dress in her hands wouldn't compliment her. But she didn't quite have anything nearly as elegant in her closet, so it was with that in mind that she sighed and made her way to the bathroom to give the old "squeeze and pull" technique a try.
Which is how, several hours later, she found herself in her current position, on her knees on the bathroom floor, pulling the dark material of her dress over her hips.
"Just a little bit more." She grits out, trying her best not to rip the material as she pulls. It seemed her Netflix and food binges had finally caught up with her. Her tongue slips out in concentration as she focuses on her task before knocking at her door causes her to jump and nearly fall over in the process.
'Oh no!' The dark haired woman panics. Her dress was stuck and that was most likely Obito here to pick her up! Tsuru decides to act quickly, as after all, she didn't want to keep him waiting. The female detective stands slowly, so as not shift the dress down. As the knocking continues, she hurries out of her bathroom into the hallway.
"Just a minute!" She calls out, ignoring how shaky her voice sounded. The dark haired woman quickly grabs the first thing in sight to cover her bra clad torso: her favorite lavender blanket. She drapes the item over her shoulders and pulls it closed, taking in a deep breath before pulling her front door open.
Obito is standing on the other side. Despite having to wait for so long, he appears to be patient about it, smiling down at the sight of her. Tsuru thought he looked nice in his all black attire of slacks, a sweater, and a blazer. Then there was the dark rose he was holding out to her that truly topped it all off.
"Sorry, I was just..." Tsuru trails off, not quite wanting to say that she spent her life binge watching Netflix and overeating to the point that she couldn't fit into the majority of her clothes, including the dress he'd sent her.
"Taking a nap?" Obito guesses, nodding at the purple blanket draped over her torso. Tsuru could feel a blush tinge her cheeks at the intensity of his gaze on her. Luckily, she gains her wits back and quickly steps aside to let him in. Obito hands her the rose before wandering off down the hall, and the dark haired woman has to resist the urge to squeal because this is the most romantic thing someone has done for her in a while.
'What a sad love life you have, Nagashima Tsuru' She tells herself, inhaling the sweet scent of the rose before a small smile appears on her lips. She closes her apartment door before following after Obito. In the process, she slips her rose into one of the vases on a coffee table she passes.
When she catches up to him, he's admiring the pictures adorning her wall. Many of them were from college which consisted of her, Kakashi, Anko, Kurenai, and their late friend, Asuma. Then there were some on the various vacations she'd been dragged on by her boss, Ren. And finally, there were the few of her family and from her childhood.
"You've grown a lot." Obito comments rather vaguely, though she doesn't miss the way he glances at the picture of her from her freshman year of college to her actual body now. Tsuru couldn't tell if he was flirting with her or not, but it still made her feel giddy nonetheless.
"Speaking of growing, we have a small problem." She blurts out, hesitating when Obito raises a brow slightly in question. The dark haired woman sighs quietly before admitting, "I don't know if you know this, but my life kind of consists of food and classical mobster movies, and like, little to no working out. So with that said, I'm not exactly a size two anymore."
Tsuru watches as Obito seems to process the information before a small smirk appears on his lips.
"Is this about the dress?" He guesses finally, rubbing at the back of his neck as he confesses, "Sorry, I'm not really good at shopping for women. I saw the dress and thought it would suit you. You have a very slender torso, which was all I saw in Ren's office. But now that I can fully see your figure, I think the dress will suit you even more."
And Tsuru really wasn't expecting such a response, which is why she simply stared at him in shock. So of course she visibly gapes when he steps forward and quietly demands-
"Turn around, Tsuru."
It's a simple demand, but the manner in which Obito says it makes the dark haired woman shiver. Still, Tsuru turns around slowly, wondering how exactly he was going to help her. She felt both embarrassed at needing his help, and light headed at their close proximity when he steps directly behind her. She could feel his breath ghosting across her neck and the luxurious scent of his cologne invading her senses. Tsuru felt as if she might faint any minute.
Obito's hands are gentle , though calloused and cold to the touch when they brush across the bare skin of her side. He continuously shifts the dress to each side and pulls it up, and before they know it, it's fully over her hips. From there, Tsuru is able to pull it up over her chest and slip her arms in the long sleeves. She felt embarrassed that she hadn't thought of such a thing before, and made it known by ducking her head when she turns back around to face Obito.
Imagine Tsuru's surprise when Obito reaches over and lifts her chin.
"I can't tell if you're acting or if you're really this cute, Tsuru." Is all he says before chuckling. Meanwhile, Tsuru struggles to fight off the light headed feeling accompanying the blush burning her cheeks. She watches quietly as Obito grabs the purple blanket from her shoulders and starts to fold it. Tsuru stares at him briefly before glancing at the mirror in her living room.
She hadn't dressed up like this in a while, so the woman staring back at her seemed completely foreign. With red painted lips, and dark, loose curls falling over her shoulder, Tsuru felt beautiful. But in the black, v cut dress that complimented her toned arms and slit in the front that revealed her smooth legs, Tsuru also felt alluring.
'Tsuru, you sexy beast, you' She thinks, puckering her lips and cocking her hip out playfully, only to immediately regret it when chuckling sounds before a very amused looking Obito appears behind her.
"You truly are a tempting woman, Ms. Nagashima." He says, a small smirk on his lips and a certain dark tint to his gaze as he stares at her and adds in a quiet voice, "Perfect to catch an Uchiha."
"Do you know who you're looking for?" Obito asks her when they're seated in the back of his limousine. Tsuru knew that the Uchiha's were wealthy, but seeing it first hand still had her in awe. She kept running her hand over the plush leather seats, and trying to subtly brush her hand against Obito's to remind her that this moment was in fact real.
"Yes" She answers confidently, because she'd spent the entire previous night pouring over the manila folders. Tsuru may be a nervous, anxious, blushing wreck at times, but there was one thing she was good at: her job. She was confident in her field of work, the exact opposite of how she spent her days off crying over romance movies and shoving spoonfuls of ice cream in her mouth. Still, that didn't mean she wasn't nervous now. The Uchiha case was the most vital one in their department at the moment, and now it was resting in her hand's. And then there was the fact that the Uchiha in general intimidated her. It also didn't help that they were quickly approaching their destination.
"Are you nervous?" Obito inquires when she scoots closer to him in her anxiousness.
"No-" Tsuru blurts out before she notices they're pulling into the driveway of the Uchiha Estate and she quickly confesses a meek, "Yes"
"The only thing you should be nervous about is how you're going to be the most beautiful woman in the room, and how all eyes are going to be on you." Obito tells her casually, glancing at his watch as they pull to a stop. One of the Uchiha butler's scramble to open his door, and the dark haired male gives her a small smirk before telling her, "I hope you're good at games, Tsuru. Because you're going to be playing all night."
And with that, he exits the vehicle. Tsuru takes in a deep breath to calm her nerves before exiting as well. The driveway is packed with cars, and it makes her stomach twist with anxiety. The Blood Ball was a popular event hosted by the Uchiha's every October. No one really knew the basis of it, except those invited, and usually, these people were the wealthiest in their town. Outsiders yearned to be apart of the event, even though they didn't know what it consisted of. Tsuru figured it was because of the mystery surrounding it all, but most importantly the luxury and the glamour.
There are people flooding the outside, all in expensive attire with cool looks on their face. Tsuru felt overwhelmed already, immediately grabbing blindly for Obito when all eyes landed on them. Luckily, he seemed to already sense her nervousness, and wraps an arm around her waist to guide her through the sea of people. Obito was a prominent member of the Uchiha family, so it was only natural that his arrival would gather everyone's attention. But also, the people wanted to know who exactly was this unfamiliar woman clinging so desperately to him? Where did she come from? Why was she with him?
Tsuru felt foolish, clinging to him as if she weren't a skilled detective. She knew what she was doing, and she needed to act like it. So with that in mind, the dark haired woman stands tall and proud, and raises her head in the utmost confidence. If she was going to play tonight, she was going to do so to the best of her ability.
"Are you in detective mode now?" Obito asks her, shooting her a small smirk as he adds, "Just when I thought you couldn't get any more tempting, Ms. Nagashima."
And there went her confidence. Tsuru could feel herself blushing already. She figured she probably resembled that of a volcano with how red her face was. How embarrassing, she thought.
'Focus, Tsuru, focus!' She reminds herself quickly. But her thoughts are quickly cut short when they enter the mansion and Tsuru is met with the most intricate decor she's ever seen. Glass chandeliers, marble floors, velvet carpet, silk dresses, expensive glasses of champagne, and bright lights is what greets her. It was a lot to take in, but Tsuru found that she was short on time.
"Looks like your game pieces have already been set up for you." Obito interrupts her thoughts as he nods in a direction that Tsuru quickly follows only to swallow thickly at what she sees.
The female detective had spent the entire previous night reading over the files Ren had given her. They consisted of everything that had been gathered on the Uchiha Case thus far. Some of the stories Tsuru had read had done nothing short of terrify her. But she had to read through them to get to the gist of her mission. Tonight, at the Blood Ball, Tsuru was to find the three individuals leading the Uchiha family. She knew it would be difficult considering she was surrounded by Uchiha's, but luckily the files had given her enough detail to guess.
The first individual listed was the Weasel. The Weasel was said to be the most difficult to pinpoint. They worked quietly, but sufficiently. The majority of anything concerning the financial ends of the Uchiha family were handled by them. The Weasel kept the Uchiha family wealthy, by any means necessary.
The next was the Hawk, which was said to be the easiest to spot. The Hawk was listed as rash and easily angered when displeased. This individual and his men did the dirty work for the family. This individual had enough blood on their hands to have him locked away for life. The Hawk got his hands dirty, so that the rest of the Uchiha family could keep theirs clean.
The final is the Beast. The Beast is said to be more powerful than both the Hawk and the Weasel combined. The Beast was the Uchiha family, eliminating them would be the closest thing to taking down the entire family. The Beast did a combination of both the Hawk and the Weasel's work. But most importantly, the Beast was the heart of the Uchiha family. And Tsuru was expected to take him down, with the Weasel and Hawk as well.
"And it looks like your first move is being made as well." Obito whispers to her, successfully breaking her from her thoughts as he watches a figure approach them.
Tsuru swallows nervously as she takes in the pale, dark haired male approaching them with a glass of champagne in his hand and a small smirk on his lips.
"Obito, it's nice to see you." They greet in a smooth, deep voice that makes Tsuru shiver when their dark eyes land on her, "And who is this lovely woman you have with you?"
And so, Tsuru thought, let the games begin.
Itachi Uchiha stares in boredom down a glass of wine. The chatter surrounding him is distant as he racks his brain for a reason to leave. But then he remembers that he's Itachi Uchiha, and he doesn't really need a reason. So with that in mind, Itachi stands from the table right in the middle of conversation. All eyes turn to him at the action, but he could care less.
"If you all will excuse me." He mumbles half heartidly because he isn't quite that rude. At least not like-
"Leaving already?" A familiar, annoyingly conceited voice asks. Itachi resists the urge to roll his eyes when they add, "How typical of you."
"It's nice to see you too, Sasuke." Itachi greets his brother. Sasuke rolls his eyes at the greeting, standing before his older brother in his suit with his longtime bodyguard, Naruto Uzumaki who's helping himself to an entire platter of finger sandwiches. Itachi greets the blond with a small nod, "And you as well, Naruto-Kun."
"We have a problem." Sasuke states before Naruto can return the older Uchiha's greeting. He's not staring at Itachi anymore, but rather in the direction behind him. And it makes the older Uchiha frown before he turns and follow's the direction. He doesn't spot anything out of the ordinary until his eyes land on their cousin Obito, or rather, the woman clinging to his side. It wasn't unsusual for an Uchiha to bring a date to the Blood Ball, rather, it was a custom. What was unusual was for Obito to bring a date to the Blood Ball. He'd never brought anyone before. So who exactly was this woman? And what was she doing with Obito?
There was something so suspicious about such a small thing that made Itachi's frown deepen.
"Should we get the Beast involved?" Sasuke wonders aloud, watching the woman and Obito closely.
"He already is." Itachi says simply before turning and walking off. His younger brother calls after him, but Itachi ignores him. His initial plan had been to abandon the Blood Ball, but now he had new task that gave him every reason to stay: find out the identity of the woman clinging to his dear cousin, Obito.
She wasn't an Uchiha. He could tell that much at first glance. But neither was she a familiar face either. In fact, she was completely unfamiliar and said fact didn't sit well with him. When you were involved in things that his family were involved in, it was best to always be familiar with your surroundings, including those in it.
'Who are you?' He wonders as he watches Obito give the woman an assuring smile that she hesitantly returns with a small smile of her own.
Itachi Uchiha would find out before the night was over with.
AUTHOR'S
NOTE
i hope this story is okay so far! the chapters will get longer as the story progresses so sorry if they are too short at the moment! i wonder who could be the hawk, the weasel, and the beast XD (it's obvious ik)