Chapter 10

When Sasuke arrived to work Monday morning, the first thing he noticed was the staring. The second was the whispers. He was used to both of course. But the intensity of attention seemed to be hyper magnified. In the elevator, two assistants he recognized were huddled together in the corner, speaking very quietly, their eyes trained on him. At first he thought they were simply being annoying. But then they giggled. And then he heard the barest whisper of a familiar name. Sakura. He whipped his head, awarding them with a curt frown. Their jaws slapped together.

When his floor dinged open, he strode out and walked quickly to his office. As he went, men and women seemed to stop mid-action, watching him stride by, their voices dying down as he passed and then immediately rising again, like a twisted Doppler effect. He stalked past Sakura's closed office door and rounded the corner, noticing his own door was wide open. Great.

Sasuke walked in and paused at the sight of an angry blonde man sitting on his couch.

"What do you want?" Sasuke asked as he put his briefcase down on the desk. Naruto stood, whipping around to face him.

"Did you sleep with Sakura?" Sasuke froze.

"What?" He asked carefully, looking at his friend.

"Oh, you heard me. You dirty, dirty bastard. You slept with her!"

"Shut up, idiot!" Sasuke growled, striding quickly to his office door to slam it shut.

"I didn't sleep with Sakura," Sasuke said quietly, turning back around and eying her window through his own. The blinds were open—she must have been here over the weekend—but the room was dark.

"That's not what Kabuto said. He said after you practically made out with her on the dance floor you pulled her out of the club, and then," Naruto paused for dramatic effect, "you got into a car with her!"

Sasuke rubbed his temple. Fucking Kabuto.

"To take her home," he hissed through his teeth. "I got into a car with her to take her home."

"And did you?" Naruto implored, crossing his arms and leaning forward. When Sasuke didn't respond, Naruto leapt onto the couch, jabbing his pointer finger furiously into Sasuke's face.

"I knew it! You slept with her!" Sasuke slapped away Naruto's finger.

"I didn't sleep with her! I took her back to my place because she lost her goddamn purse and was locked out."

Naruto seemed to loose his steam at that.

"Oh. So . . . you didn't have sex?"

"No, Naruto!" Sasuke breathed, running a hand through his hair. "She slept in my bed. I slept on the couch. Nobody had sex." Naruto nodded slowly, climbing down from the furniture.

"Well, alright then," he said sheepishly. "Just wanted to make sure you hadn't taken advantage of her is all."

"Taken advantage of her? Jesus, Naruto. Have you met Sakura? She probably would have punched my lights out even if I had tried."

"That's true," Naruto said smiling, all anger forgotten. He sat down on the couch, lazily extending his arm over the back. "So, you let her sleep in your bed, huh?"

"Get. Out." Sasuke said, pointing at the door.

"I'm just saying," Naruto crooned, hands raised in defense. "You've never let me sleep in your bed. Hey, the next time I get too drunk—"

"Out!" Sasuke yelled. Naruto scuttled away, laughing manically to himself. Sasuke lowered himself into his office chair, furiously wiggling his mouse to wake up the computer screen. He was going to kill Kabuto.

As Sasuke worked throughout the morning, he began to notice a pattern. Women and men—people he knew did not work on this floor—would walk past his open door, slowly glancing in. After about an hour of the intrusions, Sasuke rose and slammed it shut. Clearly gossip spread through this office like wildfire. Just his luck. He glanced over at Sakura's still dark room. Where the hell was she anyway? If he had to tolerate this, so did she dammit. It was her fault after all.

A firm knock came from the door, shaking Sasuke out of his brooding.

"Come in," he called.

"Sasuke," a cold voice purred from the entrance. Sasuke closed his eyes. Just what he needed. Orochimaru opened the door further and strolled in, coming to stand over the desk. He smiled, looking down at his pupil under hooded eyes.

"What do you want?" Sasuke asked, doing his best to seem unperturbed, and failing miserably.

"Kabuto gave me the most interesting receipt this morning," Orochimaru said, dropping the paper onto Sasuke's desk delicately. "It would appear that in addition to over eight thousand dollars worth of champagne, you ordered several rounds of high end tequila, various assorted mixed drinks, and—this one is my personal favorite—caviar." Sasuke smirked. When had Sakura managed that?

"Oh?" Sasuke said, picking up the receipt and studying it in mock shock. "That can't be right? Ah, you see, you forgot that I also tipped. What is that, thirty percent?"

"Thirty-two percent, to be exact," Orochimaru replied, plucking the receipt out of Sasuke's hand. "Most generous of you."

"I do my best," Sasuke said, leaning back in his chair. "Those bottle service girls work so hard for so little."

"Quite," Orochimaru said coolly. "I also saw you ordered a town car at the end of the night. But just the one." He added, his voice dripping with unspoken meaning.

The men stared at each other, neither blinking, until Orochimaru smiled, continuing on.

"You can understand my confusion when I saw just how much money was spent at your little after party. I recall handing you a credit card Sasuke, not keys to the kingdom."

"My after party?" Sasuke spat, crossing his arms. "We appear to recall events very differently. I was told to entertain your clients. I did."

"Oh, I'm aware that entertaining took place," Orochimaru said smoothly, tucking the receipt into his suit jacket, "but I don't think it was with my clients."

"I'm not entirely sure why you're here," Sasuke said, unable to hold back any longer. "We both know you're going to submit the receipt to the firm anyway. And unless you've finally run my family business into the ground, I'm sure the firm will have no problem absorbing the cost." Orochimaru's eyes flashed dangerously.

"Don't test me boy—"

A sudden creak came from the door, and the men's heads whipped about. Sakura stood there, her face pale, a fist raised as though she had been about to knock.

"Um, afternoon," she murmured, clearly caught. "Am I interrupting?"

"Not at all Sakura," Orochimaru said, turning back to meet Sasuke's glare. "Sasuke and I were just discussing Friday's events. I heard the clients enjoyed themselves immensely both at dinner and the after party. Ryuu Ono in particular mentioned what a delight you were Sakura. We'll have to see about getting you on one of his company's cases."

"That would be an honor, Orochimaru," Sakura said demurely. "If you're speaking though I can come back—"

"No need. We're finished. I'll be on my way and leave Sasuke here to . . . entertain you," Orochimaru said wolfishly, holding Sasuke's stare before heading out of the room. Once Sasuke was certain Orochimaru was too far to hear anything, he addressed the woman in his office.

"What do you need?"

"Did you tell people that we . . . I mean, that I, uh, slept over at your place on Friday?" She asked, her voice just above a whisper.

Sasuke let out a ragged breath.

"Kabuto," he said simply. "Kabuto saw us leaving together."

"Ah," she said, nodding absently. "That would explain it."

"I see you've been subjected to the whispering as well?" He asked, shifting to look back at his computer screen.

"Don't forget the angry stares," she sighed, walking in so he could hear her better. "I think some of the secretaries may be plotting to kill me. Your assistant offered me coffee earlier."

"I wouldn't drink that," he said drily.

"You're telling me," Sakura said seriously, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. He glanced at her, studying her slim form. She was wearing a beige pencil skirt today with a silky white top, and her long hair hung loose around her face in soft curls. He could see small pearls in her ears, and on her wrist a thin gold chain. She was rather simple with her accessories, he noted, observing also she was wearing black heels sans panty hose. How risqué.

"Was that all?" He asked, refocusing on his screen. Stop starring at her.

"No," Sakura said, taking a seat boldly in one of his guest chairs. "While she was in my office trying to poison me, I gave your assistant those names. The library called a few minutes ago with a quick update. Apparently, the first few people with whom the police spoke are still listed at their original addresses. I'm free tomorrow morning if you wanted to try to track them down with me?"

"Mornings are no good. People are at work," Sasuke said sharply, opening his calendar. "It's better to go after dinner. Think like a telemarketer," he added.

"Point taken," Sakura said, nodding in agreement. Sasuke clicked through his appointments, considered his week.

"What about Thursday night?"

"Thursday night works," she said in reply, crossing her arms across her chest as though she was chilly. Perhaps the A/C was working a little too hard, now that he thought about it. In his suit jacket it was harder to tell, but in her thin shirt, she was probably freezing.

"We'll leave here at 6:00PM then. Bring a change of clothing, something that doesn't scream lawyer," he said dismissively, turning back to his work. "And wear flats, we'll walk."

Sakura laughed, and he jerked his head to look at her.

"What?"

"You're telling me not to look like a lawyer? That's a little rich coming from you."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you look like you walked off the set of Konoha Law & Order."

"I do not."

"Oh you do too! Sasuke, please, I've seen your closet," she added with another snort.

"My closet?" Sasuke echoed, smirking. "You snooped," he said slyly, standing and coming around to perch slightly on his desk.

Sakura's face paled.

"No-no," she sputtered, raising her hands up to her shoulders defensively, "I didn't."

"Oh, I think you did," Sasuke grinned, crossing his arms. "Did you take a little tour while I was out?"

"No! I . . . it's just . . . well, the door was open!" Sakura hissed, dropping her hands into little balled fists in her lap.

"Sure it was," he said softly, grinning wider.

"Oh, just, shut up," Sakura growled, standing to leave.

"6:00PM!" Sasuke called after her as she stormed out. Sakura raised a hand, a particular finger extended upwards. "Manners!" He chastised, still grinning widely.

After a few seconds he heard a door slam, and a couple moments later, he could see movement flickering over his shoulder. He turned, and watched as she caught his eye and shut the blinds with a purposeful flick. So immature.

The rest of the week crept by slowly, largely uneventful but for a rather uncomfortable interaction involving his assistant. She was clearly not a fan of Sakura, and on Tuesday he had had to intervene when he saw Sakura break a pencil in half while speaking with Mayuko in the hall.

"Mayuko," he said evenly, leaning next to Sakura over the cubicle wall to stare down at his seated assistant. "Is there a problem?"

He could feel Sakura tense, but Mayuko's eyes widened happily.

"Oh hello Sasuke! Do you need anything? Cup of coffee perhaps?"

"No, Mayuko. I'm fine, though I have a feeling Ms. Haruno might need something," Sasuke said, looking at the woman in question. Her jaw was clenched tightly as she eyed his assistant.

"I just want an update on the list of names," Sakura said out of the side of her mouth, her voice a barely contained whisper of irritation. "The librarians said they sent the final list up a half hour ago."

"Mayuko, give Ms. Haruno the list," he said, speaking as though to a small child.

"Of course Sasuke!" The woman crooned, passing her a folder while keeping her eyes peeled on her boss.

"Mayuko, Ms. Haruno is working this file with us. I expect you to do whatever she asks."

"But she has her own assistant—"

"Mayuko," Sasuke interrupted, his voice hard. "Whatever she asks."

"Hai, Sasuke," Mayuko pouted, twisting away from them in her chair. There. His good deed of the day accomplished, Sasuke turned to leave, but stopped at the sharp inhale of breath from behind him.

"A word, Sasuke," Sakura exhaled, tapping the folder against her leg in an erratic rhythm. What? Did she want to thank him? Sasuke turned back, nodding curtly to her as he followed Sakura into her office. He glanced around as he entered, noticing smugly that her office was noticeably smaller than his.

Unlike his own sparsely decorated space, Sakura's office was crammed with framed photographs and knick-knacks. He fingered a small statute of a model heart that sat on her bookshelf.

"Gift from a client," Sakura said as she closed her door and strode to join him by her far wall.

"And that?" He said, pointing to a frame holding what looked like a large, silver bean with silver cords hanging from the top.

"Another gift. It's a pacemaker," she said, eyeing it with obvious pride. "My first big case with Tsunade actually. The client manufactured those and was sued for patent infringement. We won, of course."

"Fascinating," he said sardonically. She scowled and moved to her desk, dropping the folder on it with a smack.

"I wish you hadn't done that," she said as she faced him. "I was handling Mayuko just fine."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"It didn't look that way to me. I thought you were about to shove a pencil into her eye."

"Sasuke," Sakura said calmly, closing her eyes as though gathering herself. "Do you know how hard it is to be a woman in this profession? People don't take you as seriously as your male counterparts. Even other women. Then you add in the fact half the office thinks I slept with you this weekend, and poof," she said, snapping her fingers, "your credibility is entirely gone. You swooping in to save me from your idiot assistant just makes it worse. She's probably going to run her mouth just like Kabuto did. Now, any assignment I get from Orochimaru, or any public praise I receive from any member of the Uchiha side of the firm will be attributed to my supposed relationship with you. Just, let me fight my own battles, ok? I was doing it before you got here, and I'll be doing it long after our case together finishes."

Sasuke looked at her, slowly stuffing his hands into his pockets. He hadn't considered that.

"I wasn't trying to save you," he lied. "But, I apologize if I hurt your pride." Sakura whipped her head to him, her calm demeanor gone.

"Were you not listening to a word I said?"

"I was." They stared at each other until Sakura nodded, her eyes turning away to consider her view.

"I have work to do," she said dismissively. Sasuke frowned. What had just happened?

He nodded, though he knew she couldn't see him, and let himself out, glancing back at the woman who was staring pointedly away. That night, he lay awake in his large bed, unable to fall asleep. He ran the conversation over and over in his brain, trying to understand what he had done to piss her off. He had apologized hadn't he? Wasn't that enough? He turned in bed, glaring at the dark ceiling.

Why was he seemingly incapable of having a conversation with this woman without offending her? He hadn't fallen asleep until almost three in the morning, and when his alarm went off at five for his normal run, he had slept right through it.

On Wednesday, Sakura wasn't in all day, which according to Naruto was because she was taking someone's deposition across town. Naruto had volunteered the information, saying it with a careful grin like he was telling Sasuke some inside joke.

When Sasuke arrived to work on Thursday, Sakura still wasn't back. He walked past her closed door, situated himself at his desk, and began to pour over the paperwork Orochimaru had dumped on him the day before. At noon, fearing Naruto might try to persuade him to get ramen for lunch, Sasuke left for the gym. It had been far too humid to run outside this morning, but the one nice thing about Senju's office space was the private gym on the first floor.

After forty-five blissful minutes on the treadmill, Sasuke had showered, redressed, and returned to work, his mood remarkably improved. Sakura's door was open now, but empty. He wondered briefly if she had gone to lunch with someone.

Thursday flew by much the same as the preceding days. Sakura kept to her office, and Sasuke kept to his. After wrapping up a few matters Sasuke had been neglecting, he finally turned to the Tanaka matter. The boxes the public defender had sent over were stacked against one wall. Sasuke picked one up, situating himself on the couch, and flung open the lid.

He began to dig through the materials, jotting notes as he went. Sasuke had worked a fair amount of criminal defense cases. He was used to the same familiar facts. Rich man embezzles. Rich man gets caught. Rich man pleads out, pays a small fee, and goes home. But this case, with its poor victim and even poorer client, was new, all jokes aside.

The prosecution's theory made sense. The client had probably come to rob the place. But, there was also very little evidence. No eyewitnesses, no confessions, just the anonymous call, the former arrest, and the knife in his house. Damning, but still conspicuously light evidence for a murder case. Sakura's observations about the autopsy had also been apt. Sasuke pulled up the memo she had written, flipping through her scientific pontifications to the end where she had summarized it in layman's terms. The kill had been purposeful, clean, and brutal. It seemed, Sasuke added darkly in his mind, like the work of a contract killer. And then, there was of course the potential drug connection.

An unpleasant thought reared to life in his mind, not for the first time, and he pushed it away dismissively as he had before. But several minutes later, when the thought kept boomeranging back into his head, he stood and crossed to his desk, picking up the phone. After a moment's hesitation, he dialed the familiar number, regretting it the minute he heard the call pick up.

"Tsubaki Tea House, how many I help you?" A woman chirped into the phone.

"Itsumi," he said into the receiver, his voice dull.

"There's no one here by that name," the woman chirped back, "perhaps you have the wrong number—"

"Tell her Sasuke Uchiha is calling," Sasuke ground out. A minute later, he heard a click, and the soft whisper of a woman's voice.

"Well, Sasuke Uchiha, I never."

"Itsumi," he acknowledged, closing his eyes.

"The very same. How can Tsubaki help the great Uchiha Clan?" The woman purred, her voice tinkling with humor.

"A meeting," he said unfazed.

"Oh? We've never been worthy of your attentions before. Why the sudden change?"

"This phone line is not secure, Itsumi," he warned, clenching the receiver tightly.

"Oh alright you careful thing. Tonight then. Say, 9:00PM? I'll send a car to your office."

"I don't have time tonight, my evening is already full," Sasuke said, glancing at the wall he shared with Sakura.

"Find the time," the woman replied in a commanding lilt, "or I won't find time for you."

The phone went dead.

At 5:58, Sakura walked into the hallway, shifting her cloth tote bag onto one shoulder so she could lock up her office door. Tsunade had kept her insanely busy today with more deposition preparation, and she had barely had time to slip into her faded blue jeans and white t-shirt. Taking Sasuke's advice, she had also pulled on a pair of grey keds and pulled her hair into a ponytail. She had even put on make-up, which Ino insisted made her look older and less stuck up. Friendship. What would she do without it?

Sakura rounded the corner and knocked on Sasuke's door. It opened instantly, and she stepped back, surprised by the sudden movement.

Sasuke looked down at her with emotionless eyes, and her heart skipped so many beats she almost smacked her fist to her chest in an attempt to steady the rhythm. He was wearing black jeans and a grey t-shirt, the sleeves straining slightly at his biceps. She moved her gaze down his body, settling on his shoes, which were rough leather motorcycle boots she had no doubt cost a small fortune despite their worn appearance.

"Done?" He asked in a bored tone when she returned her eyes to his face. Caught in the act, she winced to herself.

"You're going to be hot," Sakura said to cover, turning to walk down the hall. She heard the shut of a door and then footsteps as he followed her down the largely empty floor. That, at least, was a welcome sight. She hadn't been able walk down a hallway all week without the heat of women's angry eyes boring into her back. If they only knew what a dick he was they wouldn't be so jealous, she sighed to herself.

The whispers and stares were one thing, but the interrogatories from Ino, Temari, and Shizune had been unbearable. Upon arriving home Saturday, Ino had made her recap the entire evening and morning down to the most minute detail. Ino, as Sakura expected, was now convinced Sasuke and her would eventually sleep together.

"He let me stay there out of pity," Sakura had tried to explain as she lay in bed, watching Ino pace in front of her like a general debating what strategy to take in the next attack.

"No man puts you into his bed unless he could visualize you there naked," Ino had replied, shaking her head at Sakura sadly like she was speaking to a moron.

"I concur," Sai said from the chair in the corner, nodding knowingly. Advice from Sai, Sakura mused. That was how twisted this whole thing had become.

Temari and Shizune had had similar reactions. Before she even made it into the building Monday morning they had grabbed her in the lobby, hauling her into a conference room to blast her with questions.

"How do you even know about this?" Sakura had exclaimed, panic setting in. The women shrugged.

"Everyone knows," Temari said simply. Of course they did, Sakura whimpered as she put her head into her hands.

"Did you really spend a quarter of a million dollars at the club?" Shizune asked excitedly. Sakura blanched. Surely they hadn't spent that much?

After retelling her story, pausing to give Temari a dirty look when Temari implied Sakura had purposefully lost her bag, the party lapsed into silence, considering the events of the weekend.

"Is Tsunade mad?" Sakura finally whispered to Shizune, growing a little concerned as the full weight of what had transpired began to settle onto her shoulders.

"I haven't seen her," Shizune said softly, "but I wouldn't worry too much."

When Sakura reached the elevator vestibule, she jabbed angrily at the down button. Wrong Shizune. Very wrong. Tsunade had not been pleased to learn there were rumors circulating the office that her student had slept with Sasuke Uchiha at a work event. Somehow, the fact Sakura had gone to Sasuke's place had been absorbed into a story about them having sex in the back of the club. Terrific.

To Sakura's relief, however, Tsunade had seemed willingly to let the whole thing go.

"Don't make this an HR nightmare, Sakura," Tsunade had said after berating her student for a solid five minutes for being, in her words, careless. "Mixing business and pleasure never ends well."

Oh, no risk there, Sakura thought miserably as she stepped into the elevator, selecting the ground floor. She was never—and she meant absolutely never—sleeping in Sasuke Uchiha's bed ever again.

The two rode the elevator down in silence, and when the doors binged open, she strode out, finally turning to address her partner.

"So," she said, "which name first?"

Sasuke reached into his back pocked and drew out a square of paper. He unfolded it and glanced down.

"Since the police largely interviewed neighborhood people, I don't think it matters. Let's just start at the top."

"Fine with me," she said, glancing at the printed list of addresses. "Suppose we should just start walking towards the store then."

Sasuke agreed with a curt nod, and they began to head east, not speaking. After a few blocks, to Sakura's immense surprise, Sasuke spoke.

"I was thinking more about the client's story. How are we going to explain the knife?" he said over the traffic.

"Planted," she offered.

"By whom?" Sasuke replied, dodging a pothole in the street as they crossed. "We're not getting that kid out unless we have a good, solid answer to that question."

"Well, we'll just have to find the answer then," Sakura said stiffly, wondering suddenly why they were walking. It was another ten blocks at least.

"Why are we walking?" She asked, looking at him. He returned the look, a smirk rising to his lips.

"Are you hot?" He mocked.

"I'm fine," Sakura said, looking away. "I just don't understand why we're walking the length of the city when you could have driven."

She heard Sasuke sigh.

"I'm going to hazard a guess and say you've never been to this part of town before. If we rolled up in my car, people would take one look and know we had money. Which means they're not going to talk to us. I supposed I could have called a car, yes, it's not that far Sakura."

"I know," she bit back, though the strap of her bag was beginning to pull painfully at her shoulder. She reached up, moving it to her other shoulder. Stupid men with their stupid pockets that let them hold all their things, Sakura thought pitifully.

"Is your bag too heavy?" Sasuke suddenly asked, eyeing her.

"No," she snapped, readjusting the strap in hopes it would relieve the pressure. Perhaps bringing the entire binder of the police interview notes from the investigation had been ill advised.

"Here," Sasuke said, reaching over and pulling the bag off of her shoulder.

"It's fine!" She said, reaching back, but he waived her hand away.

"I'll carry it," he said, turning back to the street. "It's another ten minutes at least." Sakura just blinked, her pace slowing slightly as she watched Sasuke walk with her bag. Maybe, she thought bitterly as she revved her pace back up, he felt bad about being an ass earlier this week in her office. Pride, she snorted in her head, recounting his words. He didn't get it at all. The pair continued in silence until they neared their target. They both slowed to take in the shabby corner store as it came into sight across the street.

"I thought it would be bigger," Sakura pondered, tilting her head slightly.

"The first address is over there," Sasuke said, pointing to a run down apartment building to their left across the street. And so began what Sakura started to feel was a great cosmic joke. For the next two hours, when Sakura and Sasuke knocked at each address, one of three things happened.

One, nobody would answer.

Two, somebody would answer, but inform them that the person they were looking for had moved.

Three, if the person they wanted was still there and didn't immediately slam the door in their faces, they would have absolutely no idea what Sakura and Sasuke were talking about. A Tanaka kid? No idea. The storeowner? Yah, they remembered him. No, they didn't remember he had been brutally murdered in an alley. Had they spoken to the police? How strange, they didn't remember doing so.

After the tenth unsuccessful door, Sakura slunk onto a bus bench, running her hands through her slightly sweaty hair.

"I know it was a few years ago, but this cannot be a coincidence," she said exasperated, looking at Sasuke as he sat down next to her. "I do not believe for a second that every person the police questioned has conveniently forgotten their local store owner died a few feet from where they lived."

"No," Sasuke said in agreement, looking equally annoyed. "They remember. They're just afraid."

"Of what?" Sakura asked, reaching into the bag Sasuke had returned to her to grab her chapstick from the small internal pocket. She uncapped the little blue stick and rubbed the clear wax on her lips, before throwing it back into her bag with frustration.

"How the hell are we going to get anywhere in this case if no one will talk to us!" She exclaimed, looking at him as if the lack of cooperation were somehow his fault.

Sasuke leaned back on the dirty bench, extending his arm up over the side as he looked out at the quiet street. It was almost 8:30PM, and the crowds had noticeably thinned as the night crept in.

"We've handed out cards," he said quietly, his eyes still directed ahead as he watched the sun setting in the distance. "That's the best we can do. We can't make them talk to us," he added, looking down at her.

Sakura nodded unhappily, meeting his eyes.

"I suppose not. Is it always like this?" She asked him. He looked at her, nodding slowly.

"Investigations are a waiting game. You run down every lead you can, until you don't have any leads left. Then, you wait, and hope somebody is brave enough to speak up. We just need to be patient."

Patience—Sakura thought to herself—had never been her virtue.

"There are a few more names on the list," Sakura added hopefully, "should we try them?"

"No," Sasuke said, still looking at her. "Not tonight at least. It's getting late, and I have somewhere to be." He pulled out his phone and fiddled with it for a moment before tucking it back into his jeans pocket.

"A car will be here in five minutes. It's too far to walk in the dark," he said. Her heart pumped painfully. Where had she heard that before . . . .

As if in mutual realization, Sasuke looked at her and smirked.

"So, tell me Sakura," he said, shifting back to relax against the bench. "When did you order the caviar?"

Sakura tried not to grin, but she had always been rotten at hiding her feelings. Her small smile ripped open into an all out beam, and she laughed loudly into the quiet street.

"Oh god I forgot about that! Was Orochimaru furious?"

"Very. Luckily though you happened upon us before he ripped my throat open," Sasuke said, his voice low and playful.

"That's a relief," she gasped, breathing in deeply. "I didn't even get to try any of it either, what a waste."

"Try what?" He asked, still looking at her.

"The caviar!" Sakura said, rolling her eyes. He huffed in amusement, and she met his gaze. His eyes really were intense, she mused dreamily to herself.

A sharp honk came from the street and they jumped, turning to watch a car slowing to a stop in front of them. The moment broken, Sakura stood, shaking herself from her dangerous thoughts. Sasuke had no interest in her. She needed to get that through her head.

"Can we go back to the office? I want to drop this off," Sakura said, gesturing to the bag. Sasuke seemed to hesitate, but nodded, reaching to open the car door for her. As she had grown to expect from him, he waited until she was seated before shutting the door and walking to the other side of the car.

"That's fine, I need to head there anyway," Sasuke said as he climbed in and buckled his seatbelt. "But hurry home, it's getting late."

Sasuke instructed the driver, and the car sped off. Sakura watched Sasuke discreetly out of the corner of her eye. If he had been warm in his dark pants and shirt, he hadn't shown it. He looked so at ease as they rode, his attention directed out the window, watching the city as it faded into the dark.

When they pulled up to the office at about ten to nine, Sasuke paid the driver and climbed out, stretching. Sakura opened her own door and stood, turning to look at her colleague.

"Well, that was a bust," she said, shrugging.

"There will be other leads," Sasuke responded simply, walking to stand by her. "You should go put your bag away and head home before it gets too dark."

"Thanks dad," she scowled, turning on heel to enter the building. She buzzed herself up to her office and dumped her bag on her guest chair, deciding to leave her suit hanging on the back of the door as well. She was exhausted, and the idea of walking home carrying her purse and garment bag was an unappetizing prospect. Instead, she slipped her phone, keys, and wallet into her pockets, and returned to the elevator bank.

Once back on the ground level, she exited the building, waiving at the nighttime janitors who, unfortunately, knew her by name. She had to keep better hours, she thought tiredly as she pushed open the glass door to the front plaza.

To her surprise, Sasuke was still standing in the dark, his eyes directed on the street as though waiting for something. Waiting for her perhaps, she thought with a small jolt of hope before quashing the feeling like a bug. He's not interested, Sakura reminded herself for the second time that night.

"Well, goodnight," she called to him.

"Goodnight," he said quietly, eyes still directed on the street.

"Ok, then," Sakura mumbled, turning to leave. Her face collided with a strong, muscled chest, and she fell to the ground. Towering above her was a man the size of a refrigerator, his muscles bulging out of his tight black shirt. Next to him stood a much smaller man, whose face could only be described as weasel in nature.

"This way girly," the little man snarled with a thin grin cut across his bony face.

"She's not coming," Sasuke said as he sprinted over, helping Sakura stand. She righted herself, brushing gravel off her palms from where they had scraped against the pavement.

"What?" She asked confused, looking between Sasuke and the weasel.

"Nuh uh, pinkie here is coming too," the weasel said, his thin lips curling into a nasty smile.

"No. She. Isn't." Sasuke repeated slowly, his voice suddenly deep and icy cold. Sakura shuttered despite the warm air. She had never heard Sasuke speak that way.

"Listen, Uchiha," the man said, shifting his jacket just slightly. Sakura's eyes locked onto the gun holster strapped to his waistband. Who the hell were these people? "If I say she comes, she comes." The muscled man behind him crossed his arms threateningly, and Sakura took a hesitant step back at the same time Sasuke seemed to move forward, blocking her slightly with his wide shoulders.

"There's no reason to involve her," Sasuke said, his voice still low and edged with a dangerous flair.

"Get in the car," the man bit, pointing to the large black van that was parked behind him, "before somebody has a very, very bad night."

A long moment stretched, and the man suddenly jerked forward, grabbing one of Sakura's arms violently and pulling her to him.

"Let go!" Sakura cried, kneeing him as hard as she could in the stomach. Her knee collided with his thin frame, and the man let go with a puff of air, falling to the pavement in obvious pain. Before she could enjoy her victory, she felt a large hand grabbing her roughly at her waist and lifting her into the air.

"Sakura," Sasuke shouted, moving quickly towards her. He stopped cold as a gun was quietly raised in front of his chest. The large man stared at Sasuke, and cocked the gun.

"Get in the car." He repeated, slowly. Sakura's heart pounded in her ears, and she breathed heavily, her terrified eyes strained on the gun. Run you idiot, she thought savagely. Just run!

"She doesn't have anything to do with this," Sasuke tried again, his hands raised defensively. Why wasn't he running!

"I don't give a shit. We're bringing her as insurance, and I would highly recommend you get her to behave," the man said, looking down at the woman in question. Sakura stayed perfectly still, her eyes fixed on Sasuke. He didn't say anything, just stared at her a long moment, as if running through in his mind every eventuality. She could see his brilliant mind working, until it seemed to slow, and he gave her a very small, reassuring smile.

"Let her go," he said finally, his voice still low, though the edge significantly dulled. "We'll cooperate."

"Keep your pet on its leash," the man said as he tossed Sakura back to Sasuke. He caught her and circled his arms around her back, pulling her into him tightly.

"Just do what I say. It'll be alright," he whispered quickly into her hair, before he pulled her around so she was pressed against him, but able to walk. She clasped her hands into his t-shirt, panic rising in her despite Sasuke's calm words. It wasn't every day you were kidnapped.

The man jabbed the gun at them in a gesture to walk, and Sasuke began to move, coaxing Sakura to walk with him. The weasel on the ground had clearly regained his breath and was struggling up, cursing angrily as he looked at Sakura. She swallowed hard, and felt Sasuke's hand tighten around her just a little. When they reached the van, the muscled man pulled open the door, and they climbed inside.

Author Note:

Was that too much? I couldn't tell. Either way, things are heating up!

And to the guest reviewer who asked if I was from Detroit, I am not, though I do live in a major city in the States. I can understand why you were thinking that though based on how I described downtown Konoha last chapter!