I am glad with the reactions from last chapter - both being expected and unexpected, but I am happy with everything! Bahaha, please enjoy for chapter three c:

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Digging in her black purse, Sakura watched under her thick lashes as the tall, muscular man ripped her wallet open to find nothing but a couple hundred dollars tucked away, as well as a security card that had a well-known stripper bar logo on it. The man next pulled out her leathered whip she picked up and handcuffs, looking at her with a raised brow and she simply giggled as he went on. Slipping the long package of condoms out, Sakura couldn't contain her soft laughter.

"Protection is important to all clients, you know?" she pointed out with a sweet wink to the bodyguard behind the man at the door, who flushed and looked away. "You know how it is in the business, I assume."

The lead guardian huffed and clapped her purse shut, shoving it back to her. "You have an hour until Zabuza-sama must ready himself for his plane ride," he grumbled as he stepped aside. "Make it quick and we can offer you some refreshments on the way out."

"Lovely!" Sakura cooed as she strut her way in her high heels, knowing that all three men were looking at her legs in fishnets underneath her trenchcoat. Rolling her eyes once she knew that they couldn't see her face, Sakura made a disgusted expression as she allowed herself into Zabuza's room and closed the door shut.

The room was decorated for any popular dealer in Asia, really, expensive champagne and bedroom decor. It was nothing new to her, since she had been to so many hotels, private buildings and parties that had more money than anyone could count - she wasn't impressed. Besides, as Sakura thought about it, her husband always gave her more simple and better items to present to her, no matter how small or inexpensive it is.

Tossing her purse to the corner of the bed, Sakura flipped her auburn wig over her shoulder as she sought out her handcuffs and slipped it into the built-in bra of her outfit underneath her coat. Hearing Zabuza in the restroom, gurgling his mouthwash, Sakura rolled her eyes disgustingly at the noise and began to untie her belt, getting ready to reveal to the biggest dealer her reason for visiting him at this time.

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Slipping the curtain to shield herself into a private changing room of the car, Sakura allowed herself to silently tear up and bury her face into her hands. Naruto, being oblivious to her quiet weeps and sobs, went on to speak freely to her on the other side of the car.

"And not a minute too soon, Sakura-chan," he said with an obvious smile in his voice. She bit her lip to stop herself from yelling at him, and unzipped the side of her outfit and pulled out her wedding ring from tie of her thong. Quickly slipping it on her ring finger, she shut her eyes and balled her hands into tight fists; holding them to her chest as if she couldn't sacrifice them to anyone.

"So, Sakura-chan," Naruto went on with the conversation, and she had to remind herself to continue on getting ready to go home and finish dinner. "I think that wig you're wearing makes you look a lot more like Auntie. Did you pick it out because of that?"

Sakura smiled suddenly, knowing that he could read her so well with her appearance. "Yeah, was it that noticeable?"

"Nah, Ma had to tell me," Naruto chuckled brightly. Sakura slipped out of her corset and ripped off her fishnets with no regret. "It makes you look really pretty in disguise, too - I mean, much more prettier… You know what I mean, 'ttebayo!."

Sakura wanted to shake her head no to him, telling him that he is wrong about that - Sasuke didn't give her a second glance when he left from their encounter in the hotel, and his voice sounded like he was disgusted with her. It broke her heart, but she knew that he had no idea that it was her in the first place.

Pulling her sweater on, Sakura sniffed quietly and opened the curtain back, her eyes dry and smile bright and meaningful. "Has Tsunade-baachan said anything about giving Hinata-chan a leave of absence for her pregnancy?"

"Yeah, it should be in the next month or so," Naruto said cheekily, his hands tapping the steering wheel with pure happiness. "I can't wait to have Hinata-nyan home so I can cuddle her and feed her cinnamon rolls and-!"

"You're still on line for working, you know!" Sakura grunted and pulled his hair again, making him whine. "Like hell am I going to have my best partner leave for another seven months! I would have Ino-chan, but this is the busy season, you know."

"Sakura-chaaan, you're hurting me, Dattebayo!" Naruto cried out. "How come you don't do this to Sasuke-teme, ne? Doesn't he ever piss you off and you pull his hair?"

"I pull his hair, but not in anger, you stupid fool," she laughed honestly, thanking Kami for her beloved cousin's presence to cheer her up when all she wanted to do was to put a barrel in her mouth.

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Pokerface

Sasuke's face was buried in the pillow of his bed. Shirtless and wearing his sweatpants above the covers and blankets that his wife arranged earlier in the day, Sasuke inhaled the scent of her laundry-doing, loving the smell of the flowery and mint aroma. He didn't pay attention to Sakura walking into the room, knowing fully well that she was just as excited to see him home early from work. He came home on a whim, not caring that his father has been ringing his cell constantly to the point that he turned it off. Itachi had given him the okay though, and Sasuke was grateful for his brother's understanding of wanting to be left alone after that incident a few days back at the hotel in Tokyo…

Where they still haven't gotten a name of the woman with auburn hair.

Feeling the mattress rise with the new addition to the bed, Sasuke sighed when Sakura's soft and gentle body slipped ontop of him, her legs on either side of his body as she leaned onto him. She pressed a kiss to his shoulder and rubbed her thumbs on the tight muscles of his shoulder.

"You're home early, Sasuke-kun," Sakura whispered into his ear with a smile in her voice. Her fingers tangled in his hair carefully, massaging him to the point he wanted to purr. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming home? I just parked the car and slipped into my pajamas."

Opening his eye, Sasuke glance to see her dressed in his college sweatshirt that hung low of her thighs, her pastel hair wavy and messy over her shoulder. She was pouting a little as she snuggled her cheek onto his shoulder. "It was a stressful day at work, that's all."

"I assume you don't wanna talk about it?" she frowned and sat up, balancing herself when her husband rolled underneath to face her. "It's fine if you don't want to talk about it, Sasuke-kun."

"It's not that, love," Sasuke scoffed, his hands slipping up her soft legs. His head resting on the pillow as he gazed lovingly at her saddened expression. "My father just has been pushing me lately and it's starting to affect me more than it should."

"Is there anything I can do?" Sakura asked with a tilt of her head. Her little hands fell ontop of his and curled around his wrists. "I can make you onigiri, or that pasta I made the other night you seemed to like. Just add some more tomatoes for you, but I'd have to stop by the market in the morning."

Sasuke shook his head and resumed to close his eyes. "I'm going to ask for a week off soon."

Sakura frowned a bit deeper and plopped herself on him, burying her face into his neck, relaxing her whole body on him. She sighed outloud. "I suppose I would have to agree with you, too; work is getting a bit difficult as well."

"And do you want to talk about it?" Sasuke asked, one hand slipping up to wrap around her, making her smile childishly and cuddle her cheek deeper into his neck.

"There's a new plan for our policy, and it's getting hard to communicating with the higher ups and sorting things out," she explained, her tone bored and slow. "I don't know why it's happening so fast, but no one is explaining it to me in the first place."

Sasuke growled a bit, knowing fully well how Sakura's position as the head advisor for the hospital and head surgeon with her sister, and he gets the idea on how important it is for her to be on everything and anything that deals with the hospital in general. "Don't be afraid to kick some ass if they're being idiots."

"I'll just call you," Sakura giggled brightly. "It gets hard to kick in a skirt with heels on. Not that I can't, but you know."

"Sure," Sasuke smirked and kissed the top of Sakura's head softly, a gentle peck that displayed a lot of affection and sweetness he fills her heart with only. "What time is it anyway?"

"Ten-thirty!" she chirped and brought her head up. "Wanna go to bed now? I feel like it's early, but it's also late...I can go make a snack for you, if you want. It'll be something light, like toast - not a lot of butter, otherwise you're gonna get really squishy."

"Squishy…"

"Like a water balloon!" she emphasized happily. She touched her nose with his and grinned. "You need a snack?"

"Not if you're calling me fat," he mumbled and tilt his chin, kissing her gently before sitting them both up against the headboard of the bed. He reached over and turned off the lamp of the room, emitting darkness that was comforting to both of them.

Sakura, who was still giggling, pulled her side of the blanket up to crawl underneath. Sasuke was a bit picky when he wanted to sleep under a blanket, and it was good enough for her to let him choose if he felt like going under or above the covers. Setting her blanket to a comforting layout, she rolled back to hover over her husband, tossing her left arm up to his pillow and his black hair, touching the tips carefully with her fingertips. His own hand slipped up her soft arm and fiddled with her fingers, touching that special ring he gave her, smirking as she sighed sweetly and calmed herself down from her hyperness.

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3:27 AM

Sasuke's eyes snapped open at the obnoxious noise of his phone vibrating against the wooden desk of the night table and lighting up the dark room with a blue light that stun his eyes. Mustering the most deadliest glare at his technology, Sasuke brought his numbed arm up and bonked it against hard objects, making him bite back an annoyed grunt incase he woke up Sakura before he opened the call and brought it to his ear.

"What." A voice that was croaked and angry, he hoped to whatever God that it was worth it.

"Hey, man!" a familiar, loud, nasal voice that made Sasuke roll his eyes at. He was hoping that this person wouldn't come back for another week, due to a long assignment up in Brazil set up by Fugaku. "How'ya doing, Sasuke? It's been too long, wanna go out for a drink?"

"What do you want, Suigetsu?" Sasuke said in the low voice, his gaze watching as Sakura sighed in her sleep and nuzzled her nose into the sleeve of the sweatshirt.

"I want a lot of alcohol. You in?"

"Why are you calling me so early..?" Sasuke sighed and rubbed Sakura's back when she began fussing and rolled off of him, settling herself on the other side and hugging a pillow near her. He waited a moment before getting off the bed and leaving the room. He was silent enough to close the door with ease and strolled down the hallway with crossed arms. "This better be worth waking me up, you dumbass."

"I heard about the lady you were looking up because of that oopsy-daisy back at the hotel in Tokyo," Suigetsu snickered with no fear. He was one of the very few men Sasuke's age who didn't care if Sasuke would punch him in the gut for talking like an idiot. "So, as your dearest friend since high school, I took the liberty of helping you out. And, guess what? I got her."

Sasuke, being stunned for a moment by the newfound subject of conversation, blinked and straightened up. "Are you serious?"

"Yup, and you're not going to believe what I found. I'm almost too nervous to tell ya, can you believe that?"

"Start talking, Suigetsu," Sasuke snapped.

Suigetsu made a whining noise, but eventually submitted to Sasuke's order. "It's a chick that hasn't been on the files for a while, and we found evidence of one-hundred percent matches from the surveillance cameras in the lobby and hallway. Her name is Terumi Mei, and she was filed as exterminated from about twenty-something years ago. Someone set a bomb in her house when she was pregnant and basically blew her up - identity was found on her and her husband, but that's her alright."

"Did you sent it to my phone?" Sasuke asked.

Suigetsu had a smile in his voice as he answered yes, and he waited as Sasuke multitasked on his cell to see the files that was sent to him. While talking and looking on his screen, Sasuke peered at the profile photos of Mei, an auburn-haired woman with bright eyes and dark-shadowed makeup. Pale skin and a smile that was polite yet attractive was framed by the bangs and cuts of the shape of her head and locks, and Sasuke knew by instinct that this was her. Reading the file along with the autopsy photos, he also discovered the anatomy matches from when she was alive and pregnant.

"I dunno about you, man, but I am guessing that this Mei chick was the real-deal," Suigetsu sighed finally. "There isn't much on the Uchiha Corp. files, but we do know that she was a solo-act and took care of business as if she was born to do it."

"Her acting was pretty damn convincing as well," Sasuke muttered darkly.

"If ya want, I can dig deeper into the Boss's computer and see if I can dig up some dirt he's not letting me see," he offered with a chuckle, loving his specialty of hacking and doing things out of the rulebook. "Since it's a twenty-year old case, I am positive that there is something we can't see; I'll also ask around, see if some old farts can answer some stuff, too."

"Aa," was the only response.

"Don't get your thong in a bunch, Sasuke-chan. Just enjoy your time with your wifey and meet me up for some drinks later. But you're buying. Bye-bye, Sasu-poo!"

Once Sasuke ended the call with his co-worker, he looked once more at the private email sent to his phone, looking at all the pictures of Terumi Mei and remembering her shy voice, polite to a simple bellboy of a hotel after killing four grown men that could take down anything in a minute; no sign of reaction to it like everyone else in the work field of an assassin. Shutting off his phone and removing the battery, he slipped it into his suit pocket for tomorrow at work, where he will look up anything else he can dig up about this woman.

Going back upstairs, he went back into his room and found Sakura still sleeping soundly in bed, now rolled to her back and arm clinging to Sasuke's pillow. Smirking to himself, he strolled to his side of the bed and gently pulled down the blanket, making his wife stir when he sat down. Her green eyes breaking open, she gazed up to Sasuke and instantly reached for him with both arms.

"Sorry if I woke you, baby," Sasuke whispered quietly, settling down and wrapping both arms around her and let her hide her face.

"Where'd you go?" she asked sleepily, rubbing her eye with her sleeve. Curling into a ball against him, she rested and closed her eyes again with the body language of falling asleep.

"Stupid phone call. Wrong number," he responded, hands resting on her flat belly and rubbed with his thumbs. "Go back to sleep…"

"Mmhm," Sakura gurgled and fell asleep again, her breathing slow and deep as Sasuke stayed wide awake and stared at the ceiling. Thoughts invaded his mind as he played the encounter with Mei over and over again.

Anger built up, but he bit it all down on his tongue as he blinked and pressed his nose into his wife's hair, inhaling her sweet scent that always calmed him down. Simply pressing his lips to her head, Sasuke proceeded to think out a new plan for tomorrow.

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What is done in vain, the truth is hard to swallow.

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"And Ino-chan asked if we could stop by her open house this weekend," Sakura chatted away cheerfully on the phone, while Sasuke scanned his computer at lightning speed. "So do you wanna go around six-ish? It'll give you enough time at work and we can see them for an hour or two. It's been a while since you've seen Shikamaru, right?"

"Aa," Sasuke mumbled.

On the other end, Sasuke heard his wife huff and realized his mistake. "Baby, don't worry, I'm paying attention to you."

"If you're busy at work, why didn't you say so, Sasuke-kun?" she said politely, not sounding mad at all. "I could've let you go and let you get back to work, you know!"

"It's not that at all," he countered, swiveling his chair around and faced away from the computer screen that posed Terumi Mei's profile. "How about this, I'll get out of work early tonight and I'll take you out."

"Aah! Don't do that just because you're busy!" Sakura scrambled hastily into the phone, making him smirk in response. He had to cover his mouth so no one could see the rare occurrence of the Uchiha Sasuke smirking at work. "Sasuke-kun, I swear to God, don't spoil me just because you think I'm mad about you working so hard. I'm proud that I have a husband who is so dedicated, you know?"

"I'm still taking you out to dinner."

"Then, you'll have to get an extra reward later," she said almost as a threat.

He chuckled darkly into the phone. "I don't know if I should be scared, or if I should be excited about it - I'll have to take you out somewhere really nice, then."

There was a twinkling giggle, and Sasuke knew that he can't wait to clock out. "I'll talk to you later, baby. I will pick you up at the house when I get off."

"Okay! I love you lots, Sasuke-kun!"

"Aa."

Hanging up, Sasuke twisted lazily back to his computer and scrolled up to the main profile picture of Mei. Black and white, Sasuke recognized every detail of Mei's face, from the small nose to the naughty eyes that were an odd shade of emerald green; the tiny chin and defined cheekbones of her face, she was a fairly beautiful lady with auburn hair. Sasuke somewhat recognized her from somewhere, yet he was at a total loss from it all.

Instead, he focused on the given information.

"Terumi Mei, age fourty-something...Height is five-two and one-hundred and ten," Sasuke began mindlessly reading aloud in his office, right next to his brother's and father's office that was always opened for co-workers to come in, while his alone is the only one closed. Graduated in honors in high school and attended private college in USA-."

"Married at age twenty-two to a professor in Kyoto and died pregnant in her third trimester," Itachi's soothing and calm voice startled Sasuke to look up and see him sitting lazily in the chair infront of him. Smiling, Itachi tilted his head to the side and crossed his leg. "One of the Uchiha Clan's greatest enemies when I was a kid. She was the best at her job, even Dad gave her praise at one point."

"What ties does she have with us?" Sasuke asked.

Rubbing his chin, Itachi thought for a moment. "She was in business since she was a little kid, if I remember right, with her sister… They were both part of another family business of the Haruno Clan. They once helped us with a heavy contract that we couldn't finish, and I think Mei was the one to put it away - it was some big list of hardcore killers that were hiding out, and she found them."

"That female-ruled company? I thought they were exterminated."

"They are, don't worry," Itachi grinned. "Mei was the last one to be hunted; they bombed her place when she and her hubby were sleeping. Poor thing was pregnant and hoping to retire by the time her kid was born."

"Do we have any medical records of her?"

"Besides her autopsy report, her family has been her medical assistance. The Haruno family were very skilled in nursing and surgical stuff," Itachi hummed and flipped his hand aimlessly. "No way would the Harunos' be put into file on medical records; we only get their basic profile."

"Not much is said of her sister…" Sasuke pressed to Itachi, who frowned and shook his head.

"They're very careful with that. Family always comes first when in business, so they make sure we can't find anything important." Itachi shrugged and added, "Women are very delicate creatures, I say."

Sasuke snorted and resumed his work towards the computer, since his brother wasn't much help anyway. He didn't say anything as Itachi got up and peeked at the computer screen, seeing pictures taken of Mei by a private investigator, a couple with her husband, too, a tall man with blue-ish grey hair and pale features. Terumi Ao was a well-respected teacher at the college he worked at near Tokyo, Sasuke read once, and his funeral was packed with mourning students and colleagues. Itachi let out a low whistle at a particular close-up of Mei, who was smiling and pushing her bangs back up to the sky, which was a special photo to spies.

"She's a pretty one, I see," Itachi said with a 'hn'. "Kinda looks like Sakura-chan, if you ask me."

"Excuse me?" Sasuke snapped with surprised accusation.

"Your wife. Sakura-chan!" Itachi grinned, pointing to the screen. "They sorta look alike in the face, see? The shape and eye color…" He reached across his desk to a photo of Sasuke and Sakura during their vacation to the beaches in Italy. Holding it up to the screen, Itachi picked out similarities for Sasuke to compare. "See what I mean?"

"They look nothing alike," Sasuke growled, snatching the photo away from him and placed it back. "Why would you even think that?"

"It just occured to me," Itachi shrugged. "Don't get so crabby about it."

"This woman ruined a plan I was assigned to, and she's suppose to be dead about twenty years ago. If you can tell me how there's evidence confirming her death and how she's waltzing around in pure daylight, then please, do tell."

"Maybe her death was played out," Itachi offered. "Or maybe she has a very good look-a-like."

"No one has done look-a-likes since Grandfather's time, nii-san," Sasuke bit out. "Even if it were, who would want to risk their life playing as a dead assassin who had her head priced more than what I make a year?"

Itachi shrugged again. "Why don't you ask her that next time you see her?"

Almost asking what the hell he was talking about, Sasuke watched as his older brother pulled out a sheet of paper and place it on the desk infront of him. "You have another hour before you gotta pick Sakura-chan up for dinner; but I found something that might peak your interest as mine would, think of it as a brother-bonding activity. Unfortunately, I ate a very bad burrito for lunch and need to save my ass before it's too late, but I figured you could use some exercise.

"She's downtown, and I'm sure she's getting something that can lead us to her next target," Itachi smiled and slauntered to the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must take care of other business at the oval office."

Staring at the piece of paper, Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously to the photo taken from a public camera from a light post. There was Mei, dressed in a fancy, strapless dress that fell to her mid-thigh and her long, auburn hair down and curled. Wearing big sunglasses, it was hard for Sasuke to mistaken that naughty smile and stiletto shoes with fishnets, walking with major confidence and intentions in mind.

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke picked up the phone and quickly dialed the number he memorized by heart. When the other line answered, he crumpled the photo of Mei and tossed it to the waste basket before grabbing his gun. "Sakura, baby, how about I take you to that restaurant you wanted to go to for a while now...Yes, Ichiraku's. Is it alright if I meet you there? Yeah, I'll be there by six-thirty."

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AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE- Pffffffft….