Ninety Two Seconds, And It's Checkmate.
"Happy to see me again?" It had been three days since Sasuke was held in this box, making this her third visit.
"Ecstatic." The Uchiha's sarcastic reply had nowhere to travel to in this closed room.
Everything looked the same way it always did: Dark and surrounded by far too many ANBU. Or that's just what Kimiko thought anyway. She easily underestimated everyone, and so she didn't believe Sasuke was all that powerful.
"I hope you don't mind, I have a few questions for you." The interrogator didn't care if he minded or not, she was going to force the answers out of him either way. If she didn't get them, Tsunade wouldn't be so happy. And if the Hokage's not happy, no one is happy.
But Kimiko wasn't clueless, she knew Sasuke would be a hard one to crack. Anyone would be able to tell by taking one good look at his emotionless face. Plus, he completely refused to answer all the questions yesterday, making the visit completely useless.
"Do you have any information on the Akatsuki?"
"I forget what sunlight looks like."
"That's not relevant. I asked you if you have any information on the Akatsuki."
"Hn."
But today, she was determined to make the Hokage proud.
"Why were you near Konoha anyway?"
Asking straight forward questions without figuring the criminal out first was a stupid move in any interrogator's book. But Kimiko always tweaked the rules around, doing everything however she wanted to. Besides, the Uchiha wasn't one to open up with anyone anyway. So she decided to take her chances and just see what happens. But no way in hell does that mean she came here unprepared. After hours of thinking yesterday, she found one tiny flaw that he had.
He was absolutely predictable when he was around society. Just like Tsunade had told her in the past, he was most likely like any other S-ranked criminal.
"Most S-ranked criminals won't speak with words, but with actions. Reading body language is key, so watch their reactions."
And he did exactly what Kimiko wanted for him to do. The ravenette turned his head, completely ignoring the question.
'So predictable.' Her maroon spheres studied his facial expression.
"Do you remember who saved you?"
The two sat there in silence, one waiting for the other to answer, and one taking a deep breath in. There was a twinkle in her eyes when they caught another clue.
His breathing finally relaxed, allowing Kimiko to make sure she was correct.
"The famous Uchiha huh…" Her slender frame stood, and she circled around him, almost tauntingly. "You look pretty pathetic to me."
There, he inhaled again, his nose slightly flaring as he did so.
'Bingo.'
Suddenly, her hand dove for the pen and made two quick notes.
Takes a deep breath in whenever he's mad.
Didn't seem so happy when I asked him if he knew who saved him.
"Just kidding." Her humor was dark and frightening, even enough to make Sasuke feel uneasy. "Now why don't you tell me this? Why did you get mad when I asked you if you knew who saved you?"
It was obvious what she had said surprised him, she could see his gaze intensify.
"Hmm? I asked you a question, so answer." There were only a rare select of people Kimiko respected, and he wasn't one of them.
"…How did you know I was mad?"
For some reason, she felt proud of herself right then and there. He basically admitted defeat and she took the question as a compliment.
"People think you're hard to read, but that's only because they don't try." The intelligent girl was eye level with him again and she clutched her notebook into her chest. "With that scowl on your face, no one would dare to go near you." Her voice was overbearingly sweet, adding onto her teasing smile.
"You're in no position to tell other people that." Both of her eyebrows mounted up, slightly marveled by his sudden regain of confidence.
"You're right." With her manicured finer nails, she combed back her wavy hair. "Diplomacy's just not our forte."
"Tch." Although he would never admit it, this girl was really something else. From far away, anyone would think she was just a normal, happy-go-lucky girl walking the streets of Konoha. Of course you would smile and make eye contact with her once you get closer.
That's when the smile drops.
Her eyes seem to be watching your every move, almost like she's inspecting you. If you thought there was a smile on her face, it was most likely a prideful smirk for saving yet another life. She was known for being a boastful medical-nin.
"And people do try." His onyx eyes made her somewhat nervous, as they were just like hers. "I just reject them." Watching and analyzing your every single move.
Kimiko maintained her cold expression but his response cut the connection.
"Is that right?" There was a hint of hopelessness in her voice, making her flinch. No way was she going to bring him down with her. It was selfish to want for him to have the same story as hers.
It was foolish to think they could have the same story anyway. What was she thinking, hoping she and the S-ranked criminal could have had a connection?
"Did I just hear a form of feeling in your voice?" She didn't have to face him to see that haughty look on his face.
"I'm the interrogator here, so back to the question."
"Hmm, I only lasted ninety two seconds."
She raised her right brow, a gesture that showed she was getting irritated. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"All I wanted to do was see how long you would forget about the question. You forgot about the question at hand for ninety two seconds. Maybe you should brush up on your skills Miss interrogator."
Checkmate.
And there was no way out of this loss.
Color crept up her neck and then covered her cheeks. The dim lights covered the blush on her face but it couldn't mask the surprised look on her face.
"…That's enough for today."
She absolutely hated it. Being pushed into a corner like that never happened before.
Kimiko left without looking back, knowing she was too ashamed to even hold her head up.
She didn't need to write this one down into the notebook, as it was stuck in her head already.
Don't underestimate Sasuke Uchiha.
Her feet took her towards the more populated areas of Konoha, and the pink had finally drained from her face. The black haired girl couldn't help but feel determined to try even harder now.
Half of the determination came from wanting to win, half came from wanting to defeat Sasuke in this mental battle.
She opened the ebony notebook and scanned her progress. There was one note that stood out from the rest.
Didn't seem so happy when I asked him if he knew who saved him.
That would be her next step.
'Naruto.'
Her hands clasped together, closing the book.
The ramen stand was just down the street, so she made her way there.
Kimiko had her goals set and fixed. She was going to enter with questions and leave with answers, even if it meant her paying for his bill of forty three bowls of ramen.