Echoes

Chapter Eleven

Facing Fears

There was silence through the house the next morning and Sakura assumed that she was the first one awake. She lay on her back in the guest bedroom and sighed, rubbing her hands over her face.

Was she crazy, or had she kissed Sasuke the night before? She laughed lowly at herself. She hadn't been drunk, had had all mental facilities working, but the alcohol in her system had given her the courage to do what she otherwise would never have done. She rolled on to her front and groaned in to the pillow. She had no idea how to handle something like this; she'd never had much contact with men.

Although... it had to be admitted that the kiss was something else. Who would have though his lips would be so soft –

Sakura shook her head, trying to reign in her thoughts. It was no good wallowing in her bed, her father would be leaving soon and she would have to face Sasuke eventually. Swinging her legs to the floor, Sakura sat up and stretched her arms out.

"Well, come on." She whispered to Metsuki. "Best face the music." She moved silently between the bedroom and bathroom, not wanting to wake anyone else up.

She was showered and dressed before she heard movement from the room her father was in. She moved to open the bedroom door a little, before returning to sit on the end of the bed and brush her damp hair out. When Kei came down the hallway he poked his head inside.

"You're up early Petal. You decided to come back to Ame with me?"

"Very funny." Sakura winced as she caught a particularly nasty tangle in her hair. "I wanted to be up to see you off. How are you getting back to Ame?"

"The train." Kei said simply. "It's only a few hours I can get some work done."

"A plane would be quicker."

"I'm sure it would."

Sakura placed her brush down on the bed and shook her head teasingly. "I will never get over how a big strong man like you can be so afraid of flying."

"Hey, I'm not afraid," Kei protested. ""If a mission requires me to get in a plane or a chopper then do you hear me complaining?"

"I do if it's in your own free time."

"Well," Kei mumbled. "If I wanted to spend my life sat in a glorified tin can, I would have joined the Air Force."

Sakura stood from the bed and approached her father. "You know, flying is a very safe mode of transport. You have a better chance crashing in a train than a plane."

Kei ruffled his daughter's hair as they made their way down to the kitchen. "Really puts my mind at ease, Petal."

"Want me to make you breakfast? I know you never like the food they serve on the train."

Kei kissed the top of Sakura's head. "That would be lovely."

When Sasuke emerged from upstairs he found Sakura making omelettes on the hob, Kei already eating at the table. She heard his feel pad across the kitchen tile.

"Morning, Sasuke. Here," She passed him a neatly folded omelette on a plate and he inhaled the delicious smell. "Extra tomatoes. I hope you like it."

Sasuke watched the pink of her cheeks intensify and he had to supress a smirk. So she was still thinking about their kiss?

He was glad.

"Looks delicious." Sasuke went to sit at the table and found Kei watching him with a knowing expression on his face.

"So," Sasuke looked for something to change the Major's focus. "When are you heading out?"

"You hear this, Petal? Sasuke here can't wait to get rid of me."

Sasuke didn't even have time to open his mouth in protest before Sakura sat at the able with her own breakfast.

"Oh stop it Dad."

Kei chuckled and smiled at Sasuke. "I'm only messing with you, Sasuke. I'm heading out in a few minutes actually. Got a taxi on the way to take me to the train station."

"I could have dropped you off there."

"Not a problem." Kei waved his hand dismissively. "I've already imposed too much."

Sasuke focused on focused on finishing his breakfast, not wishing to embarrass himself further. He was at the sink rinsing his plate when a car horn sounded from outside.

"That's me then." Sasuke and Sakura followed Kei to the hallway where the man gave his daughter a long hug. "You be careful Miss, or you may just find yourself back in Ame." Sakura laughed sadly and kissed him on the cheek.

Kei shook Sasuke's hand and the older man winked at him. Sasuke raised an eyebrow but said nothing else and followed Kei down the front path. Sakura gave her father one last thug and then Kei clambered in to the taxi.

"I'll see you soon, Petal."

Sakura nodded and waved as she heard the taxi reverse down the driveway. When the sound of the car had faded completely she sighed.

"You okay?"

Sakura nodded at Sasuke's question. "Yeah, I just hate goodbyes."

Sasuke wrapped his arm around her shoulders and turned her in the direction of the house. "Come on, let's get a cup of tea.

Sakura rubbed her fingers across the smooth ceramic of the teacup, trying to work out if there was a pattern ingrained on the surface. The house seemed oddly quiet with one less person and it reminded Sakura of something.

"Sasuke?"

"Hm?"

"I was speaking with a friend yesterday, and she'd been to my apartment. Apparently all the police signs had been taken down... does that mean they've finished with my apartment?"

Sasuke frowned. "I would guess so, but usually they'd inform you that you can go back."

"Well Ino put down all my contact details."

Sasuke snorted. "That would explain it."

"Explain what?"

He sat down next to Sakura. "I bumped in to Ino at the station yesterday. She seemed a little embarrassed that I'd seen her there."

"Why would she be embarrassed?"

"I caught her coming out of Shikamaru's office." Sasuke smirked.

"Who?"

"Officer Nara. The man who interviewed you at your apartment."

"The guy who sounded half-asleep?"

Sasuke let out a low laugh. "That's the one. I imagine that Shikamaru passed the message on to Ino but she was a little distracted."

Sakura mulled over this new information and was glad that she had some gossip to hold over Ino.

"I can drop you in to the station if you want, check with Shikamaru if you can have your keys back."

Sakura nodded. "Thanks." It looked like she would be going home after all.

The floor on which Sasuke worked was very noisy, Sakura noticed. Sasuke led her through a veritable maze of desks and to the edge of the room. She let her fingers trail out to the side and it passed by smooth glass.

"You get your own office, hotshot?"

Sasuke smirked at her question. "There are perks with being an investigator. I did my fair share of desk work, Petal."

Sakura poked him in the side at the teasing way he used the nickname.

Sasuke rapped his fingers on one of the doors and waited a moment before pushing the door open. At first glance he thought the room was empty, then he spotted Shikamaru slid so low in his seat, barely the top of his spiky ponytail was viewable. Sasuke rolled his eyes and led Sakura in to the room. He gave a sharp kick to Nara's chair and the man bolted upright.

"Sasuke? What-?"

"Good morning, Sunshine." He said sarcastically.

"Troublesome." The other officer muttered, rubbing at his eyes. He straightened when he was Sakura stood on the other side of the desk. "Haruno-san."

"Sakura, please." She smiled.

Sasuke rested his weight against the desk. "We heard that you've finished with Sakura's apartment?" Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah, I did call but the number of your file went to your friend's phone... she came in yesterday and I asked her to pass on the message. I can't release the keys to anyone but you."

Sakura almost laughed – Ino really did have no shame, putting down her own number. No doubt it was in the hopes that she'd be able to fit some flirting in with the police officer.

Shikamaru stood from his seat and picked up a small envelope from his desk. "Here." He pressed it in to Sakura's hand. "Your keys. We got everything we needed from your flat. Tech are running the results as we speak. Some of the floor mats were a little too... bloodied to clean up completely. If you want them back though, they're down in the evidence hold."

"No," Sakura shook her head, fishing the keys from the envelope. "Burn them if you want, I never want them back in my house again." She jangled the keys in her hand. "So I can go back to my apartment?"

"Yeah," Shikamaru yawned. "I would suggest that you pester your landlord about installing alarms though. And replace the locks. The ones he's got put in at the moment are way too easy to force open."

Sakura nodded and thanked the man. Sasuke gave his colleague a thankful look and the couple and dog exited his office.

Sasuke closed the door softly behind him, his gaze drifting across the bullpen and spotting a familiar head of silver hair. "Hey, do you mind if I speak with Kakashi for a moment? There's something I want to tell him."

"Not at all." Sakura shook her head.

Sasuke glanced down the corridor and gently tugged Sakura towards another door. "You can wait in my office. I won't be long."

When Sakura was comfortably situated on his desk chair, Sasuke left the room and around the room for his taichou. Frowning when he didn't see him, Sasuke headed in the direction of the last place he saw him. He poked his head in to the small kitchen to see if Kakashi was getting a coffee, but it was empty save for Asuma Sarutobi.

"Hey Asuma, you seen Kakashi?"

The black-haired man turned around, eyes sleepy and a cigarette hanging from his mouth. "Nope, sorry Sasuke."

The younger man wrinkled his nose at the smoke building up in the room. "You do know it's illegal to smoke in here, right?"

"Yeah yeah, then arrest me." Asuma smirked.

Sasuke shook his head and left the older officer to it. Giving his search up as a lost cause, Sasuke headed back to his office and was surprised to hear Sakura laughing from within. Wondering who else was in there, Sasuke pushed the door open and froze.

"Kakashi?"

The tall man held up a hand and his face crinkled in a smile. ""Yo."

"I've been looking for you."

"I know," Kakashi nodded. "Sakura told me."

"Then why didn't you come and fine me?"

The man paused for a moment and then shrugged. "Didn't feel like it I guess."

Sasuke would have screamed at that... but he was a Uchiha and so he merely glared a hole in Kakashi's head. Sakura coughed in to her fist and Sasuke could tell she was greatly amused.

"Sakura and I were just having a lovely conversation about what we did last night. We'd just got to the part where you all went out for dinner. I on the other hand was forced to eat takeout that had been in my fridge for the past week."

"Then go shopping you cheapskate."

Kakashi shook with silent laughter. "I may make it a mission that you and Naruto have to keep me well fed."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Sasuke ignored the man's blabbering. "I ran in to an old friend at the restaurant last night."

"Oh? Anyone I know?"

"Orochimaru."

Kakashi's pleasant smile fell from his face and he looked nonplussed. "I thought he'd moved his entire base of operations to Oto."

"So did I," Sasuke shrugged. "But there he was, doing business apparently."

"I wonder how long he's been back in Konoha." Kakashi shuddered. ""Now I'm going to feel creeped out wherever I go."

"What's so bad about this guy?" Sakura asked, her feet tilting her chair to and fro. "I mean, I know that he left the force, but didn't any of you like him while he was here?"

"Nope." Sasuke snorted.

"Can't say I did." Kakashi paused. "The man is completely insane. Delusions of grandeur and all that." He paused and ruffled Sakura's hair much like her father was prone to do. "Not dangerous though, just a little freakish… liked to wear a lot of eyeliner."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Good to know."

"Any way. What are you two doing here? I didn't think you had to come in today, Sasuke." Kakashi steered the conversation back in to friendlier waters.

"We just picked up Sakura's house keys."

"Ah, so you're allowed back home?" Kakashi laughed lowly. "I bet Sasuke is going to miss having such a lovely roommate." Kakashi 's voice was full of mirth.

Sasuke sent him a withering glare but Sakura just smiled and shook her head. "I'm sure he'll be glad of the peace."

Kakashi gave Sasuke a pointed look at that, jerking his head towards Sakura. Sasuke frowned and raised a quizzical eyebrow, fearing that Kakashi had finally snapped and gone loopy.

Kakashi's expression dropped in to one of despair and he ran his hand down his face – hopeless...

"Never mind." Kakashi stood and stretched. "I'll leave you to it. Sasuke," He eyed his subordinate pointedly. "I'll inform Sarutobi-sama about our visitor. In the meantime try and make sure Naruto gets some work done." He patted Sakura's shoulder gently. "Nice to speak with you again."

"Bye." Sakura smiled and listened to him leave the room.

"Well," Sasuke said, tipping back on to his heels slightly. "What would you say to going and checking out the apartment?"

Sakura bit her lip in a show of uncertainty but nodded nonetheless. "Okay, let's go."

Sasuke observed the apartment carefully. The guys had done a pretty good job tidying things away. They'd obviously had a cleaning crew in here to get rid of the blood smears that had been on the floor.

"Have you been in touch with the insurance?"

"No." Sakura shook her head. "I'll do that today."

Sasuke hummed and looked at the empty space where Sakura's TV and stereo had been. "I'll let Shikamaru know that you need the police report for the claim. He'll send a copy on."

"Thanks, Sasuke." Sakura ran her hand around the kitchen counter and sighed. Metsuki was sniffing around the place carefully, ears back in remembrance of what had happened here just a few days ago.

Sasuke eyed her as she moved about the room slowly, hands touching the sides and walls lightly as she moved. She moved from the kitchen in to the living room, and bumped her hip in to the sofa. Sasuke stepped forward to steady her but she regained her balance quickly.

She placed her hand on the back of the sofa and frowned.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke touched her elbow lightly.

"Nothing, just, my things have been moved. Not by much, but I know how they were before."

Sasuke eyed the sofa and tried to match it with his memories of the apartment. It did look like it had been moved backwards a little, most likely moved and then replaced while the police officers were combing for evidence. He looked at Sakura who was worrying her lip between her teeth. "How about we go around the apartment and I'll help you put things back where they were?"

Sakura's face relaxed and she nodded. "Thank you."

It was how they spent most of their afternoon, Sasuke following Sakura around as she navigated the apartment and pointed out what needed to be moved. Sasuke was no expert on how Sakura's bedroom had been before, but he could tell that it had been different to how it looked now. The bed clothes had been rolled back on to the foot of the bed, looking for all the world like a recruit's bed in a barracks, the pillows piled on top.

The whole apartment smelled lightly of disinfectant, and the closet in which Metsuki had been trapped was splintered along the bottom, although the blood had been scrubbed away. Sasuke made quick work of putting the pillows and duvet back in place and turned around to see Sakura stood at her dresser, hands touching the small, mirrored box that was on top. He approached carefully and watched as she opened each of the three velvet lined drawers and felt around inside.

They were all empty.

Sakura scoffed lightly. "Most of this was junk jewellery anyway. Cheap little things that Ino and I would buy when we were out shopping." She said over her shoulder. "I just wish they'd left my mom's engagement ring... for the sentimental value at least."

She closed the box and turned to face Sasuke. "It was always a little too big for me and I didn't want to have it resized. I wanted it to be exactly like she had left it. Ino suggested wearing it on a chain around my neck but I always thought it would be safer in here." She rolled her eyes. "What a joke."

"We'll find those guys, Sakura." Sasuke promised, taking her hands in his.

Sakura hummed in a non-committal way ad sighed. "I'm sorry, I've eaten up all of your day. Didn't Kakashi want you to get back to work?" Sasuke shrugged and Sakura felt the movement travel down his arms.

"I'll head back now. He's probably not even noticed I've gone." He squeezed her hands once more and hesitated. "Will you be okay now?"

Sakura nodded. "I'll lock the door when you leave," She raised her hand. "Scout's promise."

Sasuke snorted. "Like you were ever a scout." Sakura cracked a smile at that and followed him to the door. It was only when he had left and she was lone in the apartment did Sakura realise they hadn't yet spoken about their kiss the night before.

Work was hell for Sasuke. Naruto had apparently lost all interest in any case other than the poisoning, and so was complaining about having to work on their less exciting backlog. Although TV shows didn't often show it, there was lot of paper work involved in policing, and a lot of researching.

Neither were Naruto's strong points.

In the end Sasuke had physically moved Naruto in to his own office (pushing the protesting blonde's chair along the corridor) as he could not stand the whining any longer. It was a relief when he managed to clear the last of his reports and could head home for the night.

The sky was dark when he made it to his car and he rolled his shoulders to get rid of the knot forming between his shoulder blades. The drive home was blessedly quiet and Sasuke was soon in the familiarity of his house. He grabbed a ready meal from the freezer and put it in the microwave, eating it quickly when it was done, desiring nothing more than to be in bed.

His house seemed quiet with just him there now and he couldn't resist peeking in to the room Sakura had occupied. He frowned when he saw the bag on the floor next to the bed. He had completely forgot about getting Sakura's stuff from his house. They had gone straight from the station to her apartment.

He looked at the bag and thought of the girl... in turn thinking of her kiss and made his decision.

He glanced at his watch and decided it wasn't too late. He still had time to pay a certain pinkette a visit.

Night had well and truly fallen, and yet Sakura could not find her mind tired enough to sleep. She was sat on her sofa, knees pulled up to her chest and Metsuki curled up on the pillow next to her. The room was silent, with no TV or music to help her take her mind off the fact that she was terrified at being there.

Every groan of pipes or footsteps in the corridor outside put her on edge, and she kept one hand on Metsuki's back at all times just to make sure he didn't disappear. She shook her head at herself , knowing that she was being silly and yet she couldn't help it. Her home no longer felt like the safe haven it once was. Sakura wished she had someone there with her and she sniffed suddenly, feeling the stress that had built up since Sasuke left overflow as tears sprang to her eyes.

She rubbed at her face furiously and pushed the tears back. She wasn't a child afraid of the monsters under her bed dammit! Not feeling brave enough to retreat to her bedroom however, Sakura shifted down the sofa a little, curled in to a small ball with Metsuki's side pressed against the back of her thighs.

She lay there, eyes open but unseeing and listened to the sound of traffic outside. Her hand slipped in to the pocket of her jeans and pulled out her phone. She gripped it tightly in her hand and felt better knowing she could always call for help if she needed... she wasn't sure if her house phone had been plugged back in to the wall.

She wished that she had called Ino and let her know she was back at the apartment. Her friend would have proposed a sleep over and brought wine and gossip, and would have curled up with Sakura in her bed, knowing that it was exactly what she would have needed.

Sakura wriggled a little deeper in to the sofa and squeezed her eyes closed, counting back from one hundred, hoping that the repetitive task would take her mind off everything else. She had not even reached eighty however, when there was a knock at her door.

She bolted upright, feeling Metsuki do the same next to her, and held her breath. There was another knock and Sakura had to rationalise that no thief or criminal would knock to announce his presence and stood from the sofa. Metsuki stayed close to her side and Sakura felt glad to have him there.

She made sure the chain was pulled across the door before opening the door a crack. "Hello?"

"Sakura?"

She nearly slumped over in relief. "Sasuke? What are you doing here?"

She pushed the door closed and slipped the chain off before letting Sasuke in to her apartment. Something brushed against her legs as he passed her and they moved in to the living room, Sakura switching on a lamp for Sasuke's benefit as she went.

"I brought your bag from my house. I thought you might need something from inside." There was silence and Sakura felt Sasuke's penetrating gaze on her face. "Have you been crying?"

"No!" Sakura defended... it wasn't a complete lie after all. Sasuke remained silent and Sakura sighed. "Not really anyways, I was just having a bit of a freak out.. stupid huh?"

There was a muffled thump as Sasuke dropped her bag on the floor and he took her hand in his. "No, not at all. You look exhausted though. I could... I could stay here tonight if it would make you feel better?" He sounded very awkward as he asked.

Sakura blushed and nodded. "I'd like that."

Sasuke made towards where bedroom but Sakura dug her feet in. "Not the bedroom."

Sasuke's voice was soothing. "Relax, I'll stop on the on the sofa."

Sakura swatted his chest. "Don't be stupid, I wasn't worrying about that... I just think I'd prefer to stay in the living room for tonight at least... I feel safer there for some reason.

Sasuke rationalised that she probably appreciated having the front door within better reach but said nothing, allowing Sakura to tug him to the living room. They sat on the sofa and Sasuke was amused to find Metsuki giving him what he would class as a dirty look – apparently he had stolen his spot.

"What have you been doing since I left?" Sakura shrugged. "Not much. All my electronics have been taken and I didn't feel like reading."

"So you've been sat here worrying?"

"I prefer the term 'thinking' actually." Sakura sniffed but her haughty expression was spoiled by the yawn that escaped her.

"You're tired." Sasuke chided. "Come on, lay down."

"Only if you lie down with me." Sakura said as she slid to lie on her side on the sofa. Sasuke waited a heartbeat before doing as she asked.

Sakura found herself pressed back pressed tightly against Sasuke's front as he squeezed in to the gap behind her. She wiggled around for a moment to get comfortable and the two then lay in silence.

Sasuke looked at the mass of pink hair in front of him and frowned pensively, finding that his mental filter had apparently taken a temporary leave of absence. "Why did you kiss me?" Sasuke would have quite happily punched himself in the mouth – he sounded like such a girl.

"I thought that would have been obvious" Sakura mumbled sleepily and Sasuke waited a beat for her to speak again. "Because of the wine."

Sasuke felt oddly disappointed at her answer until he felt her shake with silent laughter. "I'm playing." She paused and he saw the corner of her lips curl in to a smile. "I did it because I wanted to."

Sasuke opened his mouth to retort but he realised Sakura's breathing had become slow and rhythmic. He watched her sleep for a moment before reaching his arm out to turn the lamp next them off, and slipping his arm under her head carefully. He tightened his grip minutely and let his own eyes drift shut.

Sleep was peaceful for them both.

Everyone hates Orochimaru... it's official.

A little pressed for time tonight so I'll save you my ramblings. Many thanks for all the amazing reviews. I love waking up and seeing an inbox full of awesomeness.

Did you like this chapter? Let me know your thoughts and I'll catch you guys next week.