A/N: Summer is finally here! WOOT! Next year I'll be a junior – that's scary and exciting at the same time! Oh, important note, I've decided to stop putting underlined hints in my story. This turned out to be much longer than I expected when I started putting clues in it, so if I continued that, you would all know the killer before I wanted you to. So you're on your own for now. :P As always, constructive criticism is appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Ashes Ashes, We All Fall Down

Chapter 11: Eventually Can't Come Soon Enough

Breathless, both clothes and hair damp from the slight drizzle of rain that had started, Sasuke provided quite a sight for Itachi when he burst into his temporary office. Itachi quickly composed himself from the shock and asked his brother what was wrong.

"It's Sakura," Sasuke choked out, collapsing in the chair Itachi offered. "She's in trouble."

Itachi straightened up attentively. "What happened?"

In reply, Sasuke pulled out the folded note from his pocket and dropped it on his brother's desk. He carefully watched Itachi's expressions as he read the threatening note. At first he revealed surprise but he soon wiped his face clean like a chalkboard and Sasuke could no longer make out what he was thinking.

"Where did she find this?" Itachi asked, switching into detective-mode.

"It was stuck to the outside of her door," Sasuke said excitedly. "The Ripper knows where she lives! She's not safe living there anymore. She's not safe anywhere if she's alone. But she refuses to move in with us temporarily, so I thought that maybe you could make it so that she could stay here at the headquarters when no one is using it – "

"Sasuke," Itachi said patiently, cutting him off before he could continue his rambling. "Calm down. This might not be as serious as you think it is."

Sasuke's jaw dropped. "What are you talking about? Didn't you read the fucking note?"

"Little brother," Itachi said calmly, "you're blinded. How do we know that this note is not a hoax? Yes, it could be from Jack the Ripper, just as the multiple letters we've been receiving could be, but it's also likely that it could be a cruel joke. With nothing against Sakura, I'm sure that she has enemies other than the Ripper."

The sense of Itachi's explanation leaked through the damaged wall of unreasonable stubbornness which Sasuke was still fighting to defend. His voice faltered slightly as he spoke. "But what if the note is legitimate? Isn't it better to be safe than sorry?"

Itachi didn't immediately answer. He ran a hand through his long hair and sighed. "Sasuke, I'm going to explain something to you that you really won't like, but I would appreciate it if you saved your objections until after I'm done." He waited until Sasuke nodded to continue. "I do agree that we should be cautious, because there is a chance that the note is legitimate. However, what you're suggesting is that we put Sakura under maximum lockdown and make it impossible for the Ripper to lay a finger on her. That will not work." Sasuke opened his mouth to retort indignantly but a look from Itachi silenced him. "Think about the content of the note. If those are the Ripper's true feelings, and he is immutably set on making her his next victim, then he will wait. We could hide her for months, years, and if he hadn't found a way to outsmart us by then, he would wait more. We would give in, Sakura would give in, long before he would.

"And just think of how that would affect Sakura. Constantly in hiding, like a caged bird. I'm sure that you of all people know that Sakura would not put up with that. The paranoia and the fear would drive her insane if she did not rebel and sneak out first. No, we can't shelter her. She needs to continue life as normal. Maybe move into a new apartment in the same area at the most, but otherwise she shouldn't deviate from her normal pattern."

Sasuke drew in a shaky breath, clutching the fabric of his pants with his nails in an attempt to keep his emotions under control. "So what you're suggesting," he growled, "is that we use Sakura as bait. We watch and wait for the Ripper to make a move, and hope that we can get to him before he gets to her."

Itachi's face was devoid of emotion as he refolded the note and pushed it across the table to Sasuke. "It's the only way, Sasuke. Sakura would agree." He seemed to hesitate for a moment before reaching over and grabbing the note back up off the table. "On second thought, I should keep this to inform Mr. Reid of this new instance."

Sasuke's fingers trembled as he watched Itachi calmly stuff the note into his vest pocket. Finally he stood up so that he was taller than Itachi, looking down at him. "What I'm still trying to understand," Sasuke said without the least attempt at civility, "is how you can say that without feeling completely disgusted with yourself."

He watched as Itachi closed his eyes and tightened his lips into a hard line. When he re-opened them they were narrowed angrily. "I told you not to get emotionally involved, Sasuke. I warned you that you would get hurt."

A few seconds passed before Sasuke replied. "I would rather be hurt," he spat, "than be as inhuman as you are right now."

Sasuke took wide, angry strides to the door, but Itachi waited until the door slammed shut to rest his head on the desk and allow water to stain the cheap wood.

xXxJackTheRipperxXx

Sakura took a deep breath and released it. She was standing in front of the formidable doors of the police headquarters, determined to go in, but not finding the courage to open the doors. The reason was her shameful occupation. Every time she passed an officer in the streets, their eyes revealed disgust and sometimes even loathing. She didn't hate them for it – she knew her activities weren't respectable – but it still unsettled her to enter a building crawling with gentleman who despised her.

But no matter her unease – she needed to speak with Itachi. She was no less nervous as she pushed through the doors and asked the frowning receptionist where Inspector Abberline's office was. However, as she walked through the halls following the receptionist's directions, she was pleased to note that a majority of the officers seemed to be on duty somewhere else. Actually, she didn't encounter a soul except for when she reached the hall Itachi's office was located in.

A tall man with long black hair was walking down the same hall toward her. He walked proudly and confidently, and assuming he was someone of high rank, Sakura kept her eyes averted and simply offered him a polite nod when they neared each other. However, instead of continuing past her like she assumed he would do, he stopped directly in front of her.

"What business do you have here?" he asked flatly, although his eyes regarded her with interest.

Sakura quickly curtsied and introduced herself. "My name is Sakura Kelly, sir, and I have something to discuss with Inspector Abberline."

The man cocked his head to the side and Sakura saw a glint of something in his eyes but then it was gone. "Inspector Abberline, hm? Well, I think he may be busy at the moment, but I am the head inspector of this division, so I can take care of whatever your issue is."

Sakura shifted uncomfortably. "Thank you sir, but this is a matter I must speak about directly to Inspector Abberline."

"Directly to him?" he asked with a frown. "Is it a secret? I'm afraid you're sounding a little suspicious, Ms. Kelly."

Sakura stumbled for the right words in her head. She rang her hands together nervously. "No, sir, I didn't mean it like that. It's just that it's kind of personal."

Orochimaru crossed his arms and tilted his head back slightly, glaring down at her. "As I said, the inspector is working at the moment. If your issue is personal, you should address him later when he is done."

"Please, sir," Sakura begged, biting down her frustration. "It's important. It involves his brother, Sasuke Abberline."

Orochimaru was definitely intrigued now. Smirking, he said, "Ah, the silly boy. What has he done now?"

Sakura straightened her shoulders and glared up at him fearlessly. "Sir, if you don't let me see Itachi now then I will sit down right here and wait until he comes out."

Orochimaru's gaze hardened. "Insolent girl. I will let you get away with speaking to me that way once, but be sure not to do it again." He regarded her with cold eyes until he was sure the message came through. "Do as you wish," he said with a sneer, brushing past her and continuing on.

Sakura watched him go with relief. I hope Sasuke doesn't have to deal with him everyday, she thought. Shaking off the encounter, she followed the rest of the hallway until she reached the faded wooden door that was Itachi's office. She took a deep, calming breath before knocking. She hadn't seen or spoken to Itachi for years, and he was probably just as intimidating as before, or more so.

She was about to knock a second time but the door swung open from the inside, revealing a clearly exhausted Itachi, but he stood straight and professional nonetheless. However, when he saw who she was he allowed his shoulders to slump slightly. "Sakura", he acknowledged with a polite nod. "Please come in."

She did as he said and took a seat in front of his desk. He closed the door and walked past her, collapsing in his chair. He allowed his head to fall in his hands, threading his fingers into his hair. Sakura was surprised; she had never seen Itachi break down like this. She was especially shocked that he was doing is around her, of all people. Not knowing exactly how to handle this, and pushing down her motherly instinct to offer physical comfort, Sakura gently asked, "Itachi, are you OK? What's wrong?"

Itachi inhaled deeply through his nose, blew out, and then removed his hands to look at her with tired eyes. "So many things," he replied. "Some that I can control and some that I can't. Sasuke is in the latter category."

"Sasuke is actually who I've come to talk to you about," she said. "I assume he's already spoken to you today?"

"Yes," Itachi replied. "He told me everything, asked me for a solution, and didn't like the one that I gave him."

She didn't need him to clarify. "He wanted you to hide me," Sakura said, "and you said no."

Itachi hesitated before answering. "That's correct."

Sakura sighed. "Good. He wouldn't listen to me, and I was too scared to continue to object. He doesn't understand that he can't protect me forever."

"No," Itachi disagreed. "He does understand; he understands more than he probably wants to. He wants to do it his way, but if we do it his way – and the note was really written by the Ripper – then it will be more difficult to catch the killer."

Sakura smiled gently. "You don't have to word it so delicately. I know what you mean. If I go into hiding, the Ripper won't be able to come find me, so you won't be able to try and catch him. I know I need to be doing the opposite of lying low."

Itachi regarded her carefully. "And you're OK with that?"

Sakura shook her head. "Of course not. Do you want to know the truth? I'm absolutely terrified, Itachi, and part of me hates you for making this decision. But I won't be selfish. Jack the Ripper has killed four women so far, and the numbers will only keep rising if you don't have the opportunity to catch him. The least I can do is to provide you with that opportunity."

Itachi crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair so that they were on the same eye-level. "You're much more sensible than Sasuke."

Sakura laughed. "Don't worry about Sasuke. He'll understand eventually that you're making the best decision you can."

"Eventually, yes," Itachi agreed with a sigh. "But I'm afraid he'll hate me long before eventually comes."

"And I might be gone long before then."

They were both silent. Itachi met her frightened eyes and could almost feel the butterflies which must have been frantically flapping their wings against the walls of her stomach. He sincerely said, "I truly am sorry, Sakura. But it's the only way I can think of. The note might not even be from Jack the Ripper, but -"

"Either way, it's from an enemy," Sakura finished. She didn't need Itachi's silence as a confirmation. "Well," she said with a shaky breath, speaking the words Itachi was thinking, "eventually can't come soon enough."