Chapter Two: The Escape
The car swerved out onto the road, bumpers grinding along the curb as it left the parking lot. The radio blared loudly, tuned in to some dubstep station Sakura hated instantly. Bass shuddered through her body, only adding to the tension between her and her unexpected partner-in-crime, Naruto. A sideways glance at him told Sakura he was fuming - his face was contorted into a deep frown and he breathed deeply through his nose. The Naruto next to her now was a different person altogether than the cocky, arrogant asshole she had met ten minutes ago in the bar - and she loved it. He had real character after all, she thought, as she tried in vain to find some real music on the radio.
"What the fuck is going on?"
"Just shut up a second, Naruto. I have to think."
"No, fucking explain this shit right now! Three counts of first-degree murder? I thought you worked for the government! Jesus, if anyone from my department knows I've been seen with you I'll lose my job!"
She almost laughed. "Since when did the government employ contract killers? Are you some sort of conspiracy theorist?" So he still had something in common with the Naruto she had met in the bar - both of them were complete and utter morons.
Naruto was quiet a few seconds before answering, ignoring Sakura's snide comment. "Who did you kill? And how? And why? There ain't no way I want to travel with a psycho killer." She could feel his eyes boring into the side of her head as he spoke. He was still panting with fury.
"I killed a top businessman and two of his low-level associates." she answered, trying to stay calm. The last thing her stress levels needed right now was an argument. "I shot each associate in the chest twice from a distance of about ten metres and the businessman from point blank range, first in the knee and then in the head." She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I guess I did it because I had to. For revenge."
Naruto didn't answer. The tension inside the car was so thick it could be carved up with a chainsaw. It was useless trying to get him to understand her motives, thought Sakura, as she desperately tried to plan her next move. She couldn't go back to her motel now that she was spotted in the township. She had left most of her belongings back in her room there - all she had with her was a day bag packed with some clothes, makeup, her wallet and keys - but she was going to have to leave them. Goodbye shoe collection. She needed to leave Konoha, and fast. And fill up with gas before she left the town, as the meter was close to empty. And pick up some smokes - Sakura was gasping. But first she had to take care of Naruto.
"Where should I drop you?" She noticed his rage had subsided somewhat - he sounded calmer and his breathing had returned to normal.
"What? Didn't you want to hear about the Rogue Shinobi?" Naruto replied, surprised. "I can help you out, help you find him. I know where he is."
"What happened to I'll lose my job?" Sakura answered him incredulously. "What exactly are you on, man? You've changed your mood more today than I've changed boyfriends in my life!"
"Obviously I was fucking freaked out when I heard you were wanted for murder! You should have warned me before we met."
"How the hell was I supposed to warn you, idiot?" She interjected angrily, pink tendrils of hair flying as she whipped her head around to scowl at him before turning back to the road. "Just call you up and say, hey Naruto - I need your help tracking someone but I'm wanted dead or alive by the feds for triple murder so we need to keep things on the down-low, okay? I can see that would have gone down real well with the bureaucrats you work with." She rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Cool down, Sakura. I've every right to be mad after you just shot a guy right in front of me in the pub back there." Sakura opened her mouth, ready to argue back. Naruto got there first. "But I get it now. I understand why you killed those businessmen."
Sakura's jaw nearly hit her lap as she gaped at him in surprise. "You get it? What about it do you get?" This guy was something else. Clearly not the sharpest knife in the drawer. But she could do with some help - she needed a place to stay, and help leaving Konoha as well. Perhaps he would do. He was the only option she had. It wouldn't kill her to treat him a little more politely.
"You're after the Rogue Shinobi for revenge - I've seen the look on your face when you ask about him. And if you killed this businessman for revenge, it must all be connected, right? Probably to something that happened when you were a lot younger. He must have killed someone close to you? I'm an expert on him so I've seen it all before. I know.. I understand what he does to the families of the people he hits." He smirked before trying to break the ice between them. "You know, there's nothing sexier than a femme fatale."
Naruto turned to Sakura with a wide grin on his face, expecting to see her cheeks red with rage, expecting to hear her spit words of venom at him, call him a misogynist prick, an asshole, a douche bag, and any other cuss-words she could muster up.
But he was unprepared for what sat before him.
Her cheeks were red - but her eyes were sad, the corners of her red lips down-turned. Her knuckles were white, small hands gripping the steering wheel too hard. Silvery tears dropped from her eyes onto her lap.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped out of his office, taking off his glasses to rub his eyes as he walked back up to Sakura's desk. She had managed to clean her keyboard rather thoroughly, though a slight shimmery pink still stained some of the keys. She hoped Sarutobi wouldn't notice. He was a great boss and she knew he would want to replace it straight away, but she didn't want to cause him any extra trouble. Especially as he looked so stressed.
"Is everything okay, Sarutobi? Did that guy give you an ear-bashing?" Sakura asked him with a smile. He really did look poorly.
"Sakura, a business associate has just invited me out for drinks tonight and I need you there. I'll pay you overtime."
She breathed a sigh of relief. An excuse to get out of her date was what she needed. Ino would be pissed off but it couldn't be helped.
"Dress up nicely. I'll send a car to pick you up at seven." Sarutobi turned his back on her as he headed into his office.
Something about his demeanor unsettled her. She called out to him. "Are you alright, Sarutobi?"
He turned around to face her, and he looked older than ever - his wrinkles were deep groves running through his skin. He scratched his head nervously before replying.
"Sakura, I need you to be careful tonight. This guy isn't an ordinary company executive. He's into some pretty dirty business. But he's helped me through some pretty tough financial troubles so I'm personally indebted to him. He's going to try and make me squirm, make me feel weak, pathetic. I guess..." he paused. "I'm trying to say, don't get involved. Sit down and be quiet. And then leave. Please." His eyes were downcast, and despite his wrinkles, he suddenly looked younger than she had ever seen him. A little lost boy in a big suit and tie. His sudden show of vulnerability made her uncomfortable. She mustered up a smile as she answered him.
"I promise, Sarutobi."
"This man is not human, Sakura. He's a devil. And if you fraternize with him, like I have, he will drag you down into the fiery pits of hell. And you'll never fully take control again."
How did an idiot like Naruto manage to hit the nail on the head? Sakura was kicking herself. Here she was, crying in front of a guy she hardly knew. It had been so difficult for her to overcome her past but for three months now she had been letting it come back, wash over her like a tsunami. She was drowning in this hatred, this compulsion for vengeance, and she couldn't bring herself to swim. It had already eroded her life to the point where she couldn't go back, and she'd never felt so alone.
Naruto was nervous, fidgeting with the hem of his sweater. He shot her furtive sideways glances from time to time, opened his mouth to say something, before shutting it again like a goldfish. If she wasn't so distracted, embroiled in her internal turmoil, she might have laughed.
"Sorry about this, Naruto." She needed to distract herself from the storm brewing inside her mind. "that just brought up some unpleasant memories."
He chuckled awkwardly. "It's okay. I was just surprised to see that you actually have feelings, I guess. I thought you were a psychopathic crazy bitch before just now."
"Shut up, asshole." Sakura retorted, as she wiped her tears away with her sleeve.
"I'm only teasing, Sakura."
She smiled. And then she laughed. She hadn't laughed for the longest time. And it hurt. But it felt good. It felt so good to let go.
The thick ice between Sakura and Naruto was beginning to melt. And Sakura was surprised to find that he was quite an amicable road trip companion. He agreed to buy gas and cigarettes when they stopped at a station. He agreed to let her play classic rock on the radio. He even agreed to put her up for a few days.
"Are you sure, Naruto?" Sakura blew out a cloud of smoke in his direction. "You were with me at the pub, and if anyone finds out you could have jail time as an accomplice."
Naruto lent his feet, tightly clad in black combat boots, on the dashboard. "My department can sort it out. Perks of the job I guess - I can hang around with whatever lowlifes I want and not get dragged down with them."
She punched him hard in the arm. "What is your department anyway? Something to do with tracking, right? Military?"
"Something like that. We're called the ANBU. Funny story, that. We specialize in hunting down contract killers."
Sakura looked at him with shock. "So our meeting..."
"Yeah. I was actually going to arrest you and hand you over to interrogation. But surprise, surprise, you're not a contract killer - you're just a bona fide murderer! How would I have guessed?"
"How can I trust that you're not going to arrest me now?"
"I'm letting you stay in my apartment. I obviously want to have sex with you. So keep me hanging out for it as long as possible so that I won't feel inclined to arrest you! How's that?"
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Prick."
"I'll just introduce you to the department as an important informant. You'll be surprised what any sort of knowledge can help us with. And being a government department we're used to dealing with shady sources. Though we've never had a triple murderer before." He grinned with glee at this revelation.
"You're enjoying my situation, aren't you?" said Sakura with chagrin. His jokes were starting to wear thin.
"If I'm being honest," Naruto lit a cigarette, taking a long drag before expelling a thick cloud of smoke, "I haven't felt really relaxed like this in a long while. So I am. It's been nice to meet you."
She smiled. "Thank you, Naruto."
They sat in amicable silence the rest of the way, listening to Sakura's old CD's until they reached inner-city Konoha. This was where Naruto owned an apartment. It was certainly flashier than her old, dingy one back at home. The building was painted in a clean white, which, combined with the bright white of the snow underneath their feet, managed to reflect the afternoon sun straight into her eyes. She reached for her sunglasses in her day-bag before remembering she had left them in the motel with the rest of her belongings. Why didn't she bring them with her when she left that morning? It had seemed unnecessary at the time but she really regretted it now - she couldn't possibly survive with just one change of clothes.
"Sakura! Snap out of it!" Naruto shouted from the front entrance of the building. "Come on, it's cold as fuck out here."
As they entered the lobby, she admired the Christmas decorations which filled every corner of the large room. The smell of pine was almost overwhelming, creating a surreal, forest-like feeling as Naruto led her toward the elevator. He chuckled.
"This is definitely the most unusual Christmas Eve I've ever had."
Sakura couldn't hold back a laugh. It certainly had been unusual. And, for the first time in the last three months, she had been distracted from her vengeance. If only just for a few minutes.
She sat in front of her mirror, carefully applying her red lipstick. Sarutobi's words were racing through her mind. Who was this mysterious businessman who called out of the blue, spooking Sarutobi so much he could have been the reaper? Sakura's stomach was in knots. And this apprehension she was feeling brought back unpleasant memories. Memories she had shut away years ago. The flash of a silver blade. A shout, a scream, a thud, silence. Blood trickling through the crevices between wooden floorboards, ever closer toward her.
She shook her head, trying to erase the images. The past was the past. And the present was the present. And right now, she had an obligation to fulfill. There was nothing in thinking back to that time. So why was she dwelling on it now?
She stood up, pulling on black pumps and her favorite navy coat, before leaving her apartment. It was 7:00 exactly and Sarutobi was always on time. But breathing deeply did nothing to relieve the feeling of dread coiled in her abdomen.
Even when she stepped into Sarutobi's car. Even as she was swept away across the city, to a swanky nightclub she had never heard of before. Even as she ascended the stairs, Sarutobi in her wake, to the dark room filled with the smell of sweat and the thick, heavy bassline of club music.
The feeling never left her.
hey everyone :)
speedy update, I know - but this is my first ever fic so every follower or review I get just fuels my inspiration :) it's an amazing feeling! Thanks to everyone reading, I have worked really hard on this story so far so it's great to know that some people out there appreciate it.
I would really love it if readers could leave a review if they can - it might even tempt me to update really quickly again ;) thanks again to my first ever reviewer, this chapter is dedicated to you3
