And this is the end. I grew bored with this story ages ago; which some of you knew and I only bothered to finish it because some of you wanted to know how it ends.
I do hope at least some of you enjoyed this story for I can't please everyone and if one person enjoyed this story, it is all a writer can ask for. -L
Light after Dark
Epilogue
Several years later
Kiba groaned as a new pile of folders magically appeared on his desk. "Better get to work man." The guy laughed then walked off.
"Oh fuck you! What the hell do you do huh? Oh yeah that's right you sit here all day sipping coffee and playing with a yo-yo while I'm out there actually catching the bad guys!" He flipped off the guy and stood up, stretching his back.
"Calm down Kiba." Shikamaru threw a paper plane at his back. "You know his only talking big because he can't do field work yet. Just wait till the Captain decides to put him out there-his song will change."
Kiba snorted. "Or I can change the lyrics for him right now." He turned his chair around to face Shikamaru's desk then sat back down again. "Tell me we got work to do out there in the real world." He hung his head. "If I have to fill out one more report I think I just might die."
"Stop being dramatic." His friend muttered but stood up. "But yes, we have some investigative work to do."
"YES!" Kiba jumped up with a laugh. "Let's get some lunch first?"
Light after Dark Light after Dark
Tsunade glared daggers at the guard sitting across from her through the bars of the cell she sat in. Periodically, she would shift positions; crossing her legs, uncrossing her legs, folding her arms, tapping her fingers. Eventually she grew bored and cleared her throat. "How long do I have to sit here?"
The guard rolled his eyes at her and unfolded his legs. "Until the jury is finished deliberating."
"Why?" She took a moment to collect herself then smiled sweetly at him. "I mean it's not like they're going to convict me; I'm innocent."
"Right." He humored her. "Nevertheless it is protocol."
Her golden eyes twitched. "I'm innocent!"
"I heard you."
"I'M FUCKING INNOCENT!" Her voice echoed down the hallway, up the stairs and past the bathroom where one jury member was relieving themselves. "SASORI WAS THERE I TELL YOU! ROAMING THE HALLS!" She added in after a few growls.
Light after Dark Light after Dark
Hidan threw his broken cell phone at the back of Deidara's head as they trudged down the gloomy back streets of London, England. The blonde man growled, but ignored him and continued on, pausing everyone once in awhile to pull out his cell phone and check a map.
"How much longer blondie?" Hinata asked, adjusting the backpack on his back.
"A few more blocks fatass." Deidara answered back and looked up into the sky to see dark clouds forming. "Hurry up before it rains; I just washed my hair."
"You and your fucking hair." He heard Hidan grumbled under his breath.
"I swear its times like this I miss Sasori." Deidara growled but continued on.
"Oh? You only miss him for missions do ya blondie? Boy I bet he'd be happy to hear that!" Hidan taunted loudly.
Deidara stopped and swirled around to glare daggers at the silver haired man's face. "Shut the fuck up idiot! Do you want all of London to know what the hell we're doing?" He looked around to make sure no one heard them then resumed walking. "And for your fucking information, Sasori was my friend. Though I'm sure you don't know what the hell that means." He derided.
Hidan fell silent for a few minutes, following the sulking blonde.
"Hey Blondie." He called after awhile.
"What?"
"I think of you as a friend."
Deidara didn't answer.
"I mean a very annoying, stupid, blonde friend…but still a friend."
Deidara strolled to a stop; his hands shoved into his pant pockets and turned around to look at Hidan with a funny look on his face. "I suppose…thanks." He chuckled. "You idiotic, non-artistic bastard." With that said, he turned around and began to lead the way again.
Light after Dark Light after Dark
Ino positioned herself directly in front of the front door so that as soon as her beloved husband walked inside, he would see her and the tiny stick that would change their lives. After a few excruciating minutes of waiting, she heard his car pull into the driveway followed by the car door shutting.
"Oh this is it." She mumbled to herself then quickly tucked the stick into her pant pocket and smiled warmly at her husband as soon as he stepped through the front door. "Good evening."
He looked up at her and smiled a tired smile. "Hey."
"Where are the kids?" He asked as he unbuttoned his light coat and toed off his shoes.
"In bed already." She suppressed the urge to squeal in delight.
"That's good, what's for dinner?"
"Pasta-I'll get you some coffee okay? Go relax in the living room." With that said she darted off to the kitchen with an animated bounced in her step.
Shikamaru raised a curious eyebrow at her back but didn't bother asking any questions; he instead walked into the living room and sunk down into one of the arm chairs.
"So, did the boys do anything today?" He asked conversationally, straining to hear what Ino was doing in the kitchen.
"You mean actual work? No." She smiled as she walked back in and placed his cup of coffee down in front of him on the coffee table. "But they did figure out some genius way of increasing something or the other."
"Interesting." He muttered and looked up at her; she beamed down at him, hands on hips, face flushed and one corner of her lip was tucked into her mouth as she chewed on it. "Why are you looking at me that way?"
She burst out laughing and clapped her hands as she bounced up and down happily. "I'm pregnant Shikamaru!" She blurted out and looked down at him to see one eyebrow raised and a slightly bored look on his face.
"Congratulations?" He offered.
"Conga…" She quickly dug in her pocket to whip out the pregnancy test. "See? I'm not lying!" She shoved the stick down into his face.
Shikamaru turned his head away from the stick, slightly disgusted. "I believe you Ino, really I do."
"Shikamaru! Is that anyway to respond to such great news?" She slapped the back of his head and glared at her lazy husband. "I'm pregnant! You should be happy!" Her blue eyes blazed with anger. "Why are you like this every time I'm pregnant?" Just then a small smile broke out on his face and he pulled her down into his lap and kissed her on the lips. "Because then you won't have any excuse to hit me." He whispered before pulling her back down for another swift kiss. "And if we keep up at this rate we're going to have to buy another house."
Light after Dark Light after Dark
Naruto frowned as he spread out his crate filled with the kids work onto the kitchen table top. Seated opposite him sat Sasuke, staring forlornly at the papers with a cup of coffee in his hand. "Naruto do you have to occupy the entire fucking table?"
Baby blue eyes narrowed as he took a seat and began to sift through the mess to locate his grading log. "Yes Sasuke; you know why? Because I have a job that requires work." He glanced up at the onyx eyed male. "Why don't you get one? It might make you less cranky." He offered, reaching into the crate and pulling out a bottle of Advil.
"Because I don't need one?"
"Just cause you're living off your inheritance doesn't mean you shouldn't get a job." Naruto muttered under his breath, popping open the bottle and swallowing one dry.
"What was that?"
"I said maybe you should get a goddamn job."
"Why the hell should I? I have enough money to feed everyone's fat ass here plus more." As soon as the words left his lips he regretted it; he felt the hair on the back on his neck stand up as a shadow fell over his frame. "Are you calling me fat?" A low, dangerous voice asked. His back went ramrod straight as a blur of silver shot over his shoulder. "Hm Sasuke?" Kakashi leaned over him and picked up his cup of coffee and took a sip.
Sasuke swallowed thickly before he began. "Semp-"
"Because I swear that is what my ears heard a few seconds ago. In fact, I believe you implied that my ass was fat to be exact." He continued on, ignoring whatever it was Sasuke was going to say. "Though-and don't quote me on this-you are the one who comes over to my house, eats all of my food, and on occasion brings fast food as compensation?"
"Oh give him a break Sempai." Naruto butted in distractedly.
A silver eyebrow rose in mild shock. "You're defending him?"
"Yeah." Naruto scribbled something's down on a sticky note before looking up with a mocking grin. "He's taking me to the Land of Eng with him. Of course I'm going to be on his side."
"What?"
"Oh yeah." Sasuke leaned away from Kakashi a bit. "He's going on vacation with me."
Kakashi snorted, leaned up and turned to leave the kitchen. "Okay." He muttered disbelievingly. "Whatever you two say."
"Hey Sempai?" Naruto called after him. "How's work?"
"Good enough-they're always someone doing something wrong."
"Such is the life of a policeman ey?"
Kakashi chuckled and looked over his shoulder. "So I'm getting hungry…I'm thinking pizza?"
"Sure." Naruto dug into his pant pocket and pulled out some money. "Here, my part." Baby blue eyes glanced up at Sasuke to see him twiddling his thumbs. "Hey."
"Charge me for it." He shrugged. "I don't have any cash on me."
"You lying."
"Spent it all on gas on my way here."
Kakashi shook his head, grabbed his coat and went out the front door.
"So…Itachi's in England?" Naruto asked, beginning to correct the stack of papers.
"Yup. You really are coming along?"
The blonde man chuckled and drew a quick smiley face on the page before putting it in a folder. "Of course; why the hell would I pass up a free trip to England?"
Light after Dark Light after Dark
Itachi sat at one of the boots near the back in a small, quant coffee shop on Main Street. He sipped his coffee, relishing its warmth as it settled into his stomach and warmed his chilled limbs. It began raining on his walk to the coffee shop, and old habits die hard he didn't walk with an umbrella. His clothing was relatively dry since he opted to wear a water resistant trench coat but his hair was soaked and dripping wet spots onto his black shirt.
He sat in the coffee shop for about fifteen minutes, watching customers walking in and out before someone caught his eye. Now walking in, chatting with a blonde haired man was his little brother. He would have known him anywhere; like him his hair was drenched and dripping water down the back of his neck and the collar of his shirt. He wore a black jacket but shrugged it off revealing a dark blue oxford sweater and black slacks. He stood near the door of a few seconds, dripping water before his eyes sought out Itachi's; wordlessly he walked over to him, the blonde man following silently.
"Itachi?" He asked lowly, walking up to the booth.
"Sasuke." Itachi nodded opposite him. Wordlessly, Sasuke sat down and the blonde man sat beside him.
"I see you made it." Itachi stated.
"Yeah. I did." Sasuke ran a hand though his wet locks before clearing his throat uncomfortably. "This is my friend Naruto."
Itachi nodded in acknowledgement, Naruto did the same.
"Thanks for meeting me." Sasuke swallowed thickly, taking in his older brother. He noted that they had the same pale complexion and body build but the similarities ended there. Itachi had lines under his eyes from stress while his own skin remained flawless; his older brother's eyes were dark and filled with the horrible knowledge of the world, his hands had scars running along them from who knows what.
"Of course." Itachi nodded and sipped his coffee. "But would you mind telling me why you insisted?"
Sasuke smirked and raised and nodded at the waitress making her way over to them. "Is it so wrong that I just want to get to know my older brother?"
Light after Dark Light after Dark
"I pity you Hinata." A young woman with short, jet black hair and pale skin leaned over Hinata's shoulder to stare down at the paper work.
"What? Why?"
"Because your Ino's assistant of course." She backed up to look out the window and stare down at the hustling people below. "The last girl didn't fare too well you know…the fashion industries pretty cut throat and Ino isn't known for being nice…not to mention the fact that she has kids!"
Hinata sighed and abandoned the paper work to look over her shoulder at the gossiping young woman. "I've been working with Ino for years." She stated and removed the glasses she wore to read. "And not once over the years have I been mistreated." Her long lavender hair cascaded over her shoulders as she moved to stand up. "I don't know what gossip magazines you've been reading but I can assure you that their information is wrong. Now will you please get back to work? Today is your first day in this department, if I were you I wouldn't want to get in trouble."
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"Congratulations Shizune." Kabuto handed Shizune a gift bag. "You passed the test." He smiled mechanically and adjusted his glasses.
Dark eyes opened wide in shock as she numbly accepted his gift. "Yo-I? Really?" She asked, her voice going up a few notches.
Kabuto's smile faltered a bit at the thought of the woman screaming happily but he nodded nonetheless. "Yes Shizune. You've got your license to practice medicine." He reached out to clasp her on the shoulder. "I hope to see you bright and early Monday morning to start your new job Doctor." With that said, he quickly left the lobby, hoping to be out of earshot before the news sank into her brain.
Light after Dark Light after Dark
Sakura sighed, absolutely contented with the way her life turned out. There she sat on a small but quaint porch swing, snuggled into Gaara's solid chest. They now lived on the outskirts of Hiroshima's Hospital for the Mentally Ill; which owned much of the land and gave its 'rehabilitated' or 'healed' patients houses to live in. They lived in one close to the lake; it was a small, charming little house that had two bedrooms, but the only used the master, a kitchen, living room, one bath, and a porch that looked out onto the lake. Every day they attended some sort of therapy session; be it at the hospital itself or taking a long, soothing walk in nature.
"This is nice." Sakura murmured as Gaara pulled the Afghan off the back of the swing and draped it around her legs.
"Yeah…it doesn't look like it will rain at all." He spoke gently, a tone he reserved only for her.
"Mmm…I think it may rain tonight though…but the flowers will like it." She adjusted her head so that her hands were nestled between her cheek and his chest.
Gaara nodded and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her even closer to his body. "Probably." Was all he said, content to just share a quiet afternoon with the pink haired beauty he fell in love with.
Light after Dark ~ End
L.
I hope you enjoyed this story; if you did I hope you will check out the link in my profile to keep up with my stories and happenings.
Also, check out my other stories.
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