A/N-Thanks for reading and reviewing, things are getting intense. I might've really underestimated the length of this story but we'll see. :D. I'll be updating soon, as this story has really claimed my interest. This is just a quickie, part two will be released soon.

3/4

Three Nights

Night Two: doppelganger Part 1

By:Yuhikoi.

Sakura Haruno

Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip…

The sound is sleep inducing, rhythmic and relaxing. The transparent jade of the clawfoot tub has always mesmerized you. It's like you were bathing in the aquamarine waters of the ocean. Idly, you began scrubbing lazily at your forearm. Suds sizzles down your elbow, clouding the surface of the transparent tap with foamy bubbles and streaks of soap.

Steam ghosts over the water, thawing the deep knots wound tightly beneath your skin. You sank back with a sigh, letting your shoulders fall deeper and deeper, until your lips were leveled with the water. Your toes curl against the end of the tub, the enamel smooth to the touch.

You sigh once more, shakier, breathier.

Lips pressed tightly together, you peer at the ceiling mirrored on the water's surface.

Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip…

Concentric circles ripple along the ceilings reflection on the water, making it fade-like a wavering mirage. Or some sort of portal that couldn't replicate reality, not entirely.

Water could be so deceptive, you think, looking your own faint reflection right in the eyes. Your wet hair was still haphazardly tossed into a sloppy bun, though ringlets of wet pink hair still managed to escape on either side of your face. Your eyelids are lightly rouged from sleep deprivation and the color of your eyes seem more gray than emerald.

Gray eyes, they suited your morose mood for the day, though you were positive the water was simply playing tricks on your fragile mind. Your eyes have always been deep strokes of ivy green and flecks of gold-if the light favored you enough.

People were always staring into your face, frozen in admiration, always in a less-than-flattering way. It's rare, in Japan, where the typical color of the eyes are dark brown or light brown. Any variation had automatically made you a target of looks that ranged from; awe struck to jealousy. You're a variant. None of the gals in the House of Gei were like you. In some parts of the country people would kill for your eyes.

Maybe that's what he wants, he's just waiting for a chance to gouge them out.

Maybe you were just grasping at straws to make sense of things. How silly your thoughts were.

Earlier today...

Things seem to fall into their usual paste and the events of the night before are easy to forget, you have bigger dragons to slay.

You address Kakashi the very next morning. He is neither startled nor astonished to see you burst through his office door like vengeance personified. Two hired guns wearing dark grotesque masks have apprehended your forearms-much too late to prevent you from storming inside. As if to compensate for their lack of service, their leather gloves dig into your arm and prevent you from advancing any further. You're within distance to spit but you decide against it. You'd hate to walk this earth without arms and hands.

"We tried to stop her." One of the masks say, in a muffled drone of a voice.

Kakashi is reclined in his chair, the veil that normally obscures half his face is discarded on top his untidy desk admist; gaudy porn magazines, books, iridescent condom wrappers and peppermints. His thin lips were framed around a silver hookah pen, smoke curling from his reddened nose. He takes a long pull from the pin, then smirks around it, smoke snaking through the perfect spaces between his pearly teeth.

"Sssssa," he hisses like a snake, really dragging it out, and then the accompanying silky soft, "Kura."

The odd thing was that you had seen that smirk a thousand times before, always believing it was either comforting you or feeding you some type of strength. You always felt stronger when you were the recipient of Kakashi's very rare smiles. At this moment, however, it felt like alcohol being thrown on a deep cut, like dirt in your eyes. Every bone in your body twitched with unrest, wanting to lurch and deliver something violently accurate to how you felt. Words just wouldn't cut it at this point.

"Should we remove her sir?" the second mask inquired, a note lower than the one who had spoken before. The entire room feels stale and stuffy, your heart is thrashing through your ears as you keep your eyes trained on the treacherous bastard. Silently condemning him like a Salem witch.

Kakashi hunches forward, elbows on the cluttered desktop, his eyes hadn't moved to address either of the mask who apprehend you. He yanks the pen from between his lips, casually whistling out scented smoke, peppermints. He pointed the pin from one mask to the other.

"Are you assholes getting paid to try and prevent my girls from getting to me?" he inquired in a suave manner, though the insult contradicted his tactful tone. The masked guards don't answer but you can feel their fingers thawing off your arm. You jerk away from them, like you were the one with the strength. Immediately you start rubbing to get the blood flowing through your arms. Kakashi's silver brows raise and he's nodding,shocks of silver falling almost motionlessly over his eyes.

"There you go, good pooches. Now, shoo and close the fucking door on your way out."

He doesn't have to ask twice, a gust of air touches your face and the next thing you know, the door is groaning and clicking shut. Kakashi slams the pin down on the table, which overrides your anger temporary and has you nearly jumping out your skin for half a second. Your heart stammering. Kakashi pinches the bridge of his nose, head turned up to the ceiling as he reclines again. He is muttering something along the lines of, 'fucking pooches.'

It struck you as an oddity that Kakashi would have the guards stationed outside of his office door and not in front of the building. They were always positioned at the front door, like two burly pitbulls who only existed to murder intruders who don't pay the building entry fee. That's exactly what they were.

The House of Gei's hours of operation were strictly afternoon-midnight. The place needed tons of maintenance and restocking, the gals needed to be pumped full of baby-resistant pills, checked by the house physician, cleaned thoroughly and looking like they hadn't been fucked into oblivion less than ten hours ago. Kakashi claims the morning hours are a privilege, a way for the gals to cope and get into the correct mindset.

The truth was, mornings weren't for the girls, they were to ensure that the House of Gei was up to regulation and lawsuit free. Kakashi didn't give a flying fuck about any of them, he was only making sure everything ran smoothly under his watch, so as to not be implicated.

Selfish asshole.

"Did you give it some thought?" he asked and then, after careful examination of your hardened and clueless face, "Our conversation last night."

"Conversation?" You ask, not bothering to filter the bite from your voice. "You said I was only standing in the lineup to fill in for an absent gal, liar."

You don't miss the way his jaw hardens, his eyes blacken and then he's breathing through his nostrils. Reigning in those sharp impulses and it looks painful. He places his fingertips together, like the start of a prayer and nudges those fingers against his lips.

"You were," He stated simply. "and then someone wanted you, even payed a pretty penny for you."

"So, what? That just automatically justifies you handing me over like chopped liver?!"

The pitter-patter in your chest feels light but rapid and intense. Like two fingers tapping a single key on a piano. The notes are getting heavier, deeper.

"It's nothing personal sweetheart, although for my part in this, I'm deeply sorry," He claimed, rising from his chair and shoving his hands into the pockets of his new shag robe; white and coarse.

In his defense, he did try and at least look sympathetic-or feign it anyway but it didn't come off as sincere to you. No, he had become the epitome of mistrust in your mind and his fatal mistake was revealing himself to you. It only took you one time to learn a valuable lesson and this was the first one-in a long time-that would stick.

"Tch, you've got a funny way of showing it."

Kakashi withdraws a peppermint from his pocket and carefully unravels it, the noise agitates you. He id always popping those things like painkillers. He's the very reason you'll never eat one again. He tosses one back like medicine and rolls the wrapper around between his palms.

"You're so frustratingly young, your mind can't possibly grasp the opportunity you've stumbled across."

What the hell is that supposed to mean? An opportunity?! Anyone could get fucked.

You're frowning, "Being younger has nothing to do with it, I never wanted to do this from the get go. Being fucked and treated like a mit for dicks isn't some rare business opportunity. Even you can't romanticize this job."

Kakshi is chuckling, tossing his head back and then sighing in exasperation, still circulating the crackling wrapper.

"Oh Sakura, your linear way of thinking is vexingly juvenile. I honestly thought you would assimilate to this give-and-take lifestyle by now. You're so focused on the physical aspect of it all, you can't see that there's always a race before the actual finish line."

What the hell?

"There's nothing more to it but the physical aspect! It's sex, that's all there is."

"In a sense, I suppose but I've told you once before, it's not all black and white."

"And, I've told you before, I don't care, I don't want to be some whore. I want to help my parents but I won't sell my fuckin body to do that, even if it somehow pays their bills. They won't be happy knowing that I've chosen to help them this way. They'll blame themselves, maybe even be disgusted in me. They would n-never want me...," you trail off and it's harder and harder to breath. The truth is piercing your chest, like a knife being twisted. "They wouldn't want me to be in a place like this. My parents believe in me to do better things with myself, things that I could be proud of doing…not this, not..here."

A lump pressures your throat and you can't swallow enough to get it down. It doesn't budge, your skin starts to prickle, body a tremor of nerves that won't be shaken. All you can do is stare at the bareness of your toes. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, you console yourself.

You can hear Kakashi shuffling, he sucks in a long worn-out breath and papers are shuffled. He starts murmuring to himself, sucking lewdly on the mint in his mouth; 'Where is that damn thing? Ah...mmh,voilà!'

Your chest feels like it's being grated on a boulder, everything is angrily pulsating under the pressure of revelation. What would your parents think? Certainly no parent wanted to be the producer of a glorified whore. Which, arguably you weren't, not if you had anything to say about it.

Should I quit? And go where, back to center village to beg? I'll take my chances there. What are the chances of Kakashi even letting me free? Unlikely.. I owe him and he knows I owe him. Maybe he'll beat me, he beats everyone else and he's known them a lot longer than he's known me.

"Maybe I've got some sort of soft spot for you kid," Kakashi admits, almost sounding reluctant. Or maybe that's just the way he's designed it. You can smell the faintness of liquor, cheap aftershave and heavy mint. You didn't even know he had made a stealthy move to approach. You want to step back but your legs are shaking with inertia and you're still looking down at your toes like a wary orphan awaiting a verdict.

"but look at this, this is all you."

You blink, hoping to expel the tears that hung somewhere between falling and staying. When none fell, you look up hesitantly. Kakashi is holding a suede burlap sack; it's grey and it's drawstrings are dark red, like blood. It's full and lumpy. Kakashi shakes it and the unmistakable sound of coins being jostled about has your eyes wide.

"It's over 5k, there are two identical bags just like this one," Kakashi announces. "More has gone into this building, than we've ever gotten out of it sweetheart. None of my girls wanted this life either but they happen to be damn good with their very wicked talents. I know it ain't the glamorous and practical life your folks wanted for you-or that you want for yourself but this doesn't have to be a dead end. This job has it's rewards. I know you think I'm a sleazy pimp, just trying to sell you bullshit. And maybe I am but look at this, do you hear that, sweetheart? This doesn't lie."

He shakes the bag again, the sound is louder, like several bells simultaneously ringing. You roll your eyes instinctively wanting him to get to the point. He had a very annoying way of dragging out a punchline and now you realized why, he was an evil son of a bitch. The bad guy always likes to hear themselves talk about their grand scheme.

"Hear me out," he says, somewhat plaintively, his voice softening. "If you want to tuck tail and run, your earnings from yesterday's transaction is more than enough to pay off your ties to me. The loans to your parents, expunged. The severance pay however, won't be much I'm afraid."

Was that really all? You had good reason to be dubious of that. As far as impromptu conferences with you and Kakashi go, things rarely went your way, even when you thought they were.

You swallow hard, tucking a lock of frayed hair behind your ear, looking skeptical. Kakashi is grinning down at you. He's baring more teeth than a shark and you're already prepared for the hurdle that comes with freedom. The catch, so to speak. You gesture with your hand for him to get on with it.

"What else?"

He seems surprised by your pushy tone; his eyes darken even more and he almost looks withdrawn. Did he really think you wouldn't leave? Being here has challenged your morality enough.

"The client. You see, he's paid for three nights and you've only completed one. The deal would be null if you suddenly up and left. I'd imagine he'd want a full refund sweetheart and that just doesn't sit well with me."

There it is. In typical Kakashi fashion, more.

"Can't you just get someone else to do it?"

After all they were all blessed with the same parts and the only parts that mattered in a place like this.

Kakashi grimaced and nodded from side to side as though he were running the probability of that working. Didn't seem too favorable.

"You know full well sweetheart that if just anyone could take your place, I would have been able to persuade that gentleman to settle for someone other than you."

As much as you want to somehow deny that to build your anti-Kakashi list, you were there last night when Kakashi tried to convince the stranger to indulge in other samples of women. He was dead set on getting you, he could hardly keep his hands off you while he and Kakashi discussed the arrangements.

His hands…

For a flicker of a second your skin breaks out in a warm tingle of feeling and you can feel the ghost of those fingers on you, melting your skin like a flame does to wax. Hot smoke skidding over your skin, absorbed into your pores. Your ears are still buzzing with those promises, those disgusting words that made your toes curl and your brain float in a blinding haze. Explicit curses seemed enchanted coming from his lips, like some arousing incantation that bewitched your flesh and darkened your mind.

Your heart is writhing wildly, stomach levitating into your throat and you can't tell if this is making you sick or anxious. Nausea should be the first instinct you have in relation to your would be, 'rapist' but there was no revulsion and you weren't entirely sure if it could be rape. You were pathetically pleading for something to go down, up until the moment he realized just how young and inexperienced you are.

It was all so confusing and it shouldn't have mattered because he didn't get you.

He didn't get me.

You remind yourself, almost laughing for some moronic reason.

"Sweetheart?"

Kakashi extends a hand and you stumble backward, away, like he's offering you a dead rat off the street. He doesn't appear to be insulted by your guarded retraction, the bag is at his side and he's staring in your face curiously and then suddenly it shifts and he's narrowing his eyes at you.

It's obvious what he's going to ask but you don't know how to answer so you let him say it, to grant you time to think.

"Did he hurt you?"

Did he?

Not in any way that mattered. Were you even hurt? The guy just realized you weren't his cup of tea and bailed, you had no right to act hurt because of it. Ugh! It doesn't even matter. It shouldn't. You were just horny and angry. It could have literally been any other guy off the street and you would have reacted exactly the same. Physical contact wasn't something you were accustomed to and on the off chance that you were its recipient, you became a slave to it.

Especially when it felt that good..

That was all, it had nothing to do with a particular person. Yes, you were curious, maybe a little even weirded out by the guy but he wasn't special. He wasn't god's gift to underage girls. Obviously not if he had to buy sex-and for three nights at that. That loaded and all he could think of buying was a person?

"If he's damaged you in any way, legally, I may have some type of hold on the assets we've acquired," Kakashi says calculative, giving two shakes to the bag of money to get his point across. He turns on his heel and rounds back to his desk, tossing the bag on top of it. It seemed rather ambiguous to phrase that way and you already catch his drift.

For reasons beyond your understanding, or your mental capacity, something in your chest flares and you're scowling at the very idea.

He would really frame the guy? I wonder how often he's resorted to such desperate measures?

Would the stranger even come back? The way that he left-the last thing he said to you could be interpreted as open-ended.

Best case scenario, he doesn't show up tonight. If he didn't come to get his money by now, you were happy knowing that your confession had done some good. There was one less freak on the streets shopping for women to sleep with.

Maybe you could be some type of vigilante that went around scaring off dirty bastards with your age. This could turn out to be your true calling.

"Sakura, have you visited the physician? If you're hurt, she'll need to examine you, head to toe. What time is it?" he asks more so to himself, he yanks his wrist free from the sleeves of his pelted robe and glances. "Nine…fifty, Tsunade should be in by now, go give her a visit."

Like you care...

"I'm unharmed." You grumble, your arms feel stiff and there's sweat soaking the underarms of your garment. You hadn't realized that you were frozen in the same position the guards had left you in. The building was always so hot in the early morning and there was a lot of pent up frustrations in you. You didn't even think to shower before tossing on clothes and busting into the office. Nervously you finger-comb through your hair, through knots and tangles.

"Still, I'd have a sound mind, seeing it on record. Don't worry, this is just a minor precaution…should this deal end tragically I'd like to be assured that the money stays."

Yes, as long as the money is safe...

"Whatever. I'm gone after this, Kakashi."

Kakashi twists back around and his arms are tightly woven over his chest, he looks you over a few times and then, he nods.

"I really wish you'd reconsider but yes, if all goes well, you're no longer indebted to me. Let's just hope the streets will be kind to your return."

You scoff in disbelief at the fact that he is trying to intimidate you.

"Yeah, well, anything is better than here."

You don't know if you mean it or not. Just seemed like a thing to piss him off. And it does.

Presently...

This time around, you're better prepared-or just slightly more aware. You didn't have an impressive wardrobe, so you had to borrow a silky violet kimono from one of the gals close in age. Hinata Hyuga. It wasn't very often you crossed paths with the, 'Demure Princess' as most referred to her but the few times you had, she was very easy to talk to. Even though it wasn't often that she actually talked at all. You did most of the talking and maybe that's why you could tolerate her, even if she probably hated your guts for constantly complaining. She never bothered to tell you to your face.

It's not like you wanted to look good or anything but your favorite-and only Kimono had been shredded to bits the night prior. You certainly didn't want any of the gals to see you waltzing around looking like you had just gotten mauled by a bear. Though that was an accurate depiction of the act.

The lineup began as it always had, the girls would come into the assembly room and stand in three lines, ranked by age and experience. The gals standing in the first rank were young, often new. The more seasoned whores were in the back row.

You had procured a space beside Hinata, whom met her approach with a generous little smirk. There was a lily tucked into her silky done up bun, you could see the bobby pins tucked to keep it in place. The girl took great pride in her appearance and you had enlisted her in your endeavor tonight.

"Will this thing stay?" you grouse, feeling along the metal ridges of the hair stick tucked painfully into your hair. There is a silver embossed wyvern wrung tight along the length of stick and pretty trinkets that clattered like crystals on the end. You weren't use to this level of sophistication, it's only natural for you to fuss about the pain of maintaining an image.

Hinata pops your hand good-narturedly.

"Leave it alone and it just might," she scolds. You shoot her a leer and she smiles innocently. "You look so pretty."

You roll your eyes so far back into your head, they almost feel stuck.

"I just want to get this over with.."

If he even bothers to show up. You hope it's a repeat of the last time, you hope you escape with your virtue.

The gals in the line behind you are helping each other, teasing their hair, fixing their clothing. Like they were participating in some kind of pageant. You didn't understand why they had to look perfect, nothing about them would be untouched.

The assembly room is quite small, voices carry and soon, everyone is talking. When Kakashi walks in, the chatter goes mum. Kakashi has changed into a darker robe, thats open and revealing the start of his pectorals. His shoes shrike fiercely against the varnished wood, the stranger at his heels, eyes already on the line.

"Cherry, dear,"

You cringe at the name but otherwise remain silent.

"Mr. Uchiha is here for your company."

What?

Your eyes are drawn back to the stranger, a brow arched. The room is silent and you know you should be moving as ordered.

You stare at the stranger and he looks vaguely familiar but it doesn't match up to your memory and something is off.

Those onyx eyes are obstinate and unreadable, cheekbones prominent, the slight arch of his aquiline nose like you remembered but the hair.

It's gone..

The long dark mane that you remembered, it wasn't there.

"Cherry?" Kakashi asks, tight-lipped and impatient, like someone who has had enough of your shit.

You're shaking your head at him and the ornaments in your hair break the tension, like voltage in the air.

"That's not," you began, your voice a tremor of bewilderment.

"Sakura, what is it?"Hinata whispers without turning towards you.

The impersonator has raven dark hair, that spills over one eye and drops around razor sharp jaws. He never breaks his stare on you and you can't peel your eyes off him, as you try to make sense of this sorcery.

You are certain that you've never met this man a day in your life but parts of him seem familiar.

Does Kakashi think you're that dumb?

That isn't, 'Mr. Uchiha'.

Then, who is it?