It was a Thursday morning like any other, the briefing room was filled with the stale aroma of coffee and aftershave. Over the course of the last two weeks everything had fallen into a predictable routine for Sakura. The days always started the same, with one of these briefings, in which cases were assigned and issues addressed. After this it would be time to go and do whatever menial case Kakashi had thrown her way. Sometimes it was chasing down witnesses, sometimes it was a literal foot chase of a suspect through the back allies of Konoha. But most of the time he assigned her desk work.
Part of her believed that he just wanted to keep her in the precinct and within his line of sight. At first it was only mildly irritating, the humdrum of busywork that made the days drag on, but after awhile she didn't have the strength to care. Because once her day was done, it was time to go home and begin more work on the Kyuubi killer case.
It was the only meaningful work that she felt like she was able to do, but it was hindered by the lack of resources. Going off the books certainly had more drawbacks than she had expected. It took that long to find a secure network and browser to even search the few leads that were worth following, and by that time it was well into the morning hours. Something that might take ten minutes on the precinct servers took an hour or more, going in circles so that they couldn't be traced.
Essentially, Sakura Haruno was running on very little sleep and a lot of caffeine. It made her reminiscent of her med school days. As soon as her mind started to drift back in time her eyes grew heavier, to stop herself from falling asleep where she sat, Sakura shifted and folded her arms. Maybe if she moved physically it would be enough to keep her awake for the rest of this briefing. Kakashi's dulcet tone was doing little to help the situation.
Her gaze had now shifted from the display board of the weekly crime statistics, vaguely registering Kakashi speaking of increased activity as she briefly appreciated the exposed forearms of her partner as he pointed to something. It prompted her eyes to drift considerably south.
This is all his fault.
The thought was intrusive despite being correct. Her present distraction had nothing to do with tiredness and everything to do with the tighter than usual pants Kakashi was wearing, and the fact that she still hadn't been able to see what lay beneath. It was pathetic really, they weren't acting on those feelings right now for a reason, there was too much at stake and too much work to do. But it didn't stop her from thinking about what it might be like. If those kisses stolen in the sedan that day were any indication it would be an impressive display, she just had to be patient.
The sound of muffled laughter broke her from her thoughts and pulled her concentration back. People were already standing to leave and Kakashi was gathering papers and handing out files. Had the time really disappeared like that? It was a dangerous habit for a detective to be indulging in daydreams, losing focus on this job could cost dearly.
"Detective Haruno." Kakashi spoke as the other officers began to file out. "A quick word."
She adjusted herself accordingly, sitting more upright and trying to discern if there were any drool remnants on her face.
"Yes, sir."
"What have I told you about the sir... Oh, Genma, let someone else proofread your warrant requests before you send them to Judge Utatane. If I get one more shitty email asking if I'm letting toddlers fill out forms I'll go full Tsunade and things will break."
Shiranui smirked, shifted the toothpick in his mouth before he winked at Sakura and left.
"I hope you swallow that and it perforates your stomach, Shiranui!" The insult she threw out the door at his back was probably childish and beneath her, but these kinds of outbursts gave her amusement enough to stay awake with a brief surge of serotonin.
"It is a disgusting habit." Kakashi agreed as he sat on the edge of the table beside her. They were now alone and Sakura couldn't help but feel like she was about to be reprimanded. "So tell me, is it the sound of my voice or the content alone that's boring you to sleep during my morning briefing?"
"Sorry about that..." she shifted through the muffled apology but Kakashi continued to speak.
"You're lucky I didn't call you out in front of the others and assign you the worst case we've got."
"Somehow I still think I'm going to end up with the worst one, but thanks..."
"What's going on with you?" Kakashi's timbre changed just slightly, Sakura was probably the only one who would notice the way it dropped with concern as he stood and closed the door. "Something happen at the hospital this morning?"
Sakura reached for her phone in her pocket, she hadn't heard from Hinata since last night about Tsunade's condition and she didn't have enough time this morning to physically check her. There were no messages or missed calls so that meant it was unchanged.
"I haven't been to see her yet today, but there's no notifications of change in condition. I barely made it into the precinct on time this morning."
"I noticed." Kakashi checked over his shoulder, the briefing room had many windows facing the bullpen and it wasn't exactly the best place for privacy, he sat on the edge of the table again but this time he was closer to her with his back shielding them from view. "Talk to me, Sakura. Is it too much for you?"
"To what 'it' are you referring?" There was an unnecessary edge of bitterness to her words that she instantly regretted. "It's fine, all of it, I'm just tired."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
She should have known it was a trap.
"Good, because by falling asleep you volunteered yourself for Kiri bridge patrol."
"What?" She didn't care about the volume or tone any longer as she stood. "Kakashi, that's more boring that you and the briefing, if you're trying to keep me awake this isn't the way to do it..."
"Sorry, Sakura, that's the rules. Whoever falls asleep during the morning briefing gets patrol duty. You're lucky it's the bridge to Kiri and not the Suna border, at least you won't overheat... Air con is still broken in the sedan by the way..."
"Just admit it, Hatake." With the use of his last name he met her eye more seriously, keeping his scarred one closed. "You're making me bored on purpose."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Admit it, I've had nothing but boring witness reports all week, the one time I did any actual field work you made Gai tag along with me and he spooked the guy before I could even question him. You're keeping me here on purpose."
"That's ridiculous. You're being ridiculous." Kakashi stood and raked a hand through his hair in frustration.
"What is it? I'm a detective, Hatake. My mandatory street time may have been cut because of my qualifications but I've still earnt my place here just like everyone else. So, what the hell is it?" The question was punctuated by her fist on the table as she stood.
"It's nothing, Sakura, just calm down."
"You think that I can't handle myself without you? That it?"
"No." Kakashi spoke louder than she had heard from him in some time, it made her pause and he shifted to stand closer to her. "No, you can handle yourself just fine." This time he spoke softly, just for her ears only, paired with the look in his eye she knew the rest. It was Kakashi who wasn't able to handle it.
"Fine. I'll do the stupid patrol duty. But I'm going alone this time, Gai just makes everything harder."
"Good. And, hey, we'll take tonight off. Alright?"
"You sure? We're getting closer to-"
"That case isn't going anywhere, Sakura. I think we both need a rest tonight, we haven't exactly stopped since..."
"Since you shot a guy and the precinct almost blew up."
"Yeah, that. Nice to see you aren't sugar coating it anymore."
They both smiled just a fraction as the tension began to diffuse. No one had told her that the detective life would be easy, between being a cop and trying to hold onto some small remnant of peace of mind as a human being, all of it was hard. Harder still when there were murderers out there free in the streets of Konoha. Sakura Haruno couldn't afford to hit a brick wall here, she couldn't afford to let these men get the better of her, she was here now and she was going to be the best damn detective Konoha had ever seen. All of this work needed to be faced head on, even the menial parts, it was time to rise up.
There was no way Kakashi could have known the path of her innermost thoughts, but the way he was looking at her seemed to suggest that he knew more than he was letting on. No more words needed to be said. Kakashi always seemed to know how to calm her down without her even realizing it. With a nod, they both made their way to the door back to the bullpen, she enjoyed watching the others scurry away like ants at the sight of her.
"Alright, I'm off to patrol, I'll report back later, Captain."
"What have I told you about using that word, makes me feel a million years old, just cut it out already." Kakashi was walking back towards Tsunade's office but she couldn't pass up an opportunity to insult him after what had just transpired.
"Finally feeling your age then, I'll organize a care home while I'm sitting on my ass for the next eight hours."
He poorly disguised a gesture with his hand, Sakura deciding to reserve her judgement of his childish behavior until another time. First things first: coffee, and then she would head over to the bridge before the Kiri border. It was the work of a beat cop and she knew it, but the kinds of activities that were taking place there called for a more expert pair of eyes. Increased criminal activity in a localized area was always a concern. She made sure her kit included one of the nicer long distance cameras from the tech suite. Just because she was tired didn't mean she wasn't about to do the best damn job she could do.
It was a little silly to be imagining herself calling for backup because she'd arrested more people than she had room in the sedan for, but there was little else to do while she sat there in the driver's seat. So far there was nothing remotely interesting to report, maybe a couple photos of some shady vehicles that were lingering, but the most productive thing she'd been able to do was sterilize the dash with alcohol wipes from her pocket. Officers were required to report in while on these kinds of patrols, either through a log into the online system, or a call through to dispatch. Because Kakashi refused to upgrade the shitty sedan it meant that Sakura had to radio in her position each hour. By the third blast on the walkie she decided it might be time to try and fix the stereo that had failed to work in the entire time she'd been at the precinct.
Ever the professional, Sakura made sure first that there were no potential goings on that required her attention, she moved the sedan and parked it beside the gas station. She would need food shortly anyway. First she tried to tune the stereo to a station, unsuccessfully. It was a system independent from the police frequency and there was no reason for it not to work, unless the electrics were finally giving out on the old girl. Changing the mode of it made the CD icon flash up.
It was plain to see why Kakashi was so precious about this vehicle, it had been Obito's after all, but he was especially obstinate about the stereo. After several frustrating seconds in which another language altogether appeared on the small screen, she finally gave up entirely and laid a firm fist on the keypad. She was rewarded with an odd whirring sound before a click, and then a disc shot out and onto the floor.
"What on earth…"
There were two words written on the disc with black marker pen but it gave no actual insight as to what might be on it.
Obito's Mix.
Sakura handled in carefully, looking around before she placed it back into the mechanism gently. At first she thought the thing was just completely broken. There was no sound, the ignition was on and the volume was turned all the way up. Turning the ignition off, she admitted defeat and went to get some gas station donuts to sustain the rest of her shift, it was going to be an exceptionally long day.
She wasn't sure what she'd expected of the day, maybe to apprehend some low life scum, maybe to show her fellow officers that she could tough it out just like the rest of them. Bottom line was she still had something to prove. Perhaps she hadn't won with the car stereo but she would win the long game, she would get through this patrol, and the next. She would be the best cop in Konoha. Coming back to the sedan Sakura made sure to check her surroundings again, be thorough, if she switched corners to observe from she would have more success. And she did manage some small success, just not in the right place.
As soon as she turned the key it hit her. First it was a tinkling of something that sounded like a wind chime before it was accompanied by another sound. Glorious string music before a warbling voice burst to life. Sakura grinned, she had done it, she had revived the sedan. It was just a bit of a surprise that Obito appeared to be very much into smooth jazz and crooners.
Instead of spending her shift catching criminals, Sakura felt as though she was getting to know the detective who had once driven this sedan. His effect on Kakashi had been profound, but she knew little else about him. Her own memories of Obito were minuscule compared to the hours he would have spent with Kakashi. But she would never forget that face, that smile, when he had told her that her talents were wasted in medicine. Obito seemed to have a way of making people believe not just his words, but in themselves. She could feel the hopefulness in this music, feel the thought he must have put into compiling these songs together, she had to wonder if he had done it for Kakashi at some point.
The CD played through in its entirety more than once through the rest of Sakura's shift. It certainly had her in a more upbeat mood about the shitty assignment she had been so displeased with this morning. It was the soundtrack that played in her mind when she apprehended a suspicious juvenile who was selling on the street corner. It wasn't anything as malicious as Bijuu, but the kid was still selling prohibited substances, so she called in another car to take the kid back to the station for processing. He was young, too young to be charged with anything, but his parents needed to be found and he didn't want to talk to Sakura.
The sun had set, the streets were now painted orange with street lights and a thin blanket of rain that was persistent enough to be annoying. Her phone lit up as she reached out to touch it on the dash.
"Haruno."
"Relief team is on it's way, you can head home now." Kakashi's voice sounded every bit the bored monotone over the speaker as it did in person.
"Protocol says I should turn in my log book, seeing as this car is so ancient it doesn't have a digital hook up..."
"It can wait until morning, I'll take a cab home, you take the sedan tonight. Also, she's not that ancient, she's younger than the both of us..."
"She? You gave your car a gender?"
"Of course, like a fine ship."
"You've got a letter wrong there, Hatake." Sakura heard the huff into the receiver and smiled to herself. "Fine, I'm heading out. It's getting late."
"You sound in a better mood than I expected to find you. Something interesting happen?"
Sakura found herself stalled thinking of an apt reply to the question, because nothing had actually happened, she just felt a little more at peace. Maybe she was recharged, maybe she'd needed that time alone, and maybe Kakashi had known that all along. Perhaps it was Obito's influence. It was all a little too subjective for her to put into words for her partner, so she answered with the truth.
"No, nothing at all."
There was a pause.
"Okay then, color me intrigued. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow."
"Does that mean you'll be on time for once in your life-"
The dial tone kicked in before she got an answer to her glibness. Chuckling quietly to herself Sakura kicked in the ignition and turned towards home. The prospect of a night off was actually starting to sound pretty reasonable, the guilt that laced it had started to ebb. The work wasn't going anywhere and it wasn't going to come easy if she was too exhausted to keep up with it.
The roads at this time of night were usually deserted, especially on weekdays, the weather and bitter cold probably a contributing factor to this. The night air was cool though it wasn't unusual for this time of year, it just seemed icier than normal to Sakura. Maybe she could curl up with a nice cocoa and some soft programming, Lady Katsuyu would probably like the change from grizzly crime scene photos on the screen. Just as she was deciding which mindless show would suit her needs the CD stopped and the police radio chimed in.
"Homicide unit, respond, code 187. Repeat..."
The call out was for her, there was no one else on patrol right now for homicide, Sakura pulled over just as her building came into view.
"Badge no. 12601, homicide unit responding. What's up?"
"This is patrol 56, I was responding to a dispatch, called in a 4-1, flat tire assistance on the highway out by the entrance to Kuro forest. There's no flat here, but there is a dead body. Are you available, Detective?"
Sakura mulled it over as she chewed her lip. She couldn't afford to wait very long and her gut was telling her to take the opportunity to do some real detective work. Her night off to herself would just have to wait.
"I was just heading home but I can be there in 20, tape off the scene."
If she didn't take the call it meant that whoever was on the night shift after her would respond, and who knows how long it would take them to get to the scene. If she got there quicker she could relieve the patrol officer and get the ball rolling a bit faster. Surely Kakashi would have been notified already. Sirens blaring, Sakura turned the sedan and sped into the darkness.
Kuro forest had always been a foreboding presence in Konoha. While she'd been in elementary school the kids had called it the Forest of Death. It was where children were left unwanted to fend for themselves, an old wives tale to scare kids into behaving. As an adult however it still felt eerie, but maybe that was because of the darkness and tall trees, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched from the second the sedan got close to the trees. The scene of the crime was easy to spot, the lights of the patrol car and the tape stuck out like a sore thumb. Before she exited the vehicle she made sure to phone in her location through dispatch and arm herself with the necessary tools and weapons.
It was freezing outside of the car, she could see her breath hanging in the air around her, an officer was waiting for her at the edge of the cordon.
"What have we got?" Sakura questioned before testing her torch and falling into step beside her colleague.
"Responded to a call from Officer Izumo, someone stranded in Kuro Forest with a flat tire, I came out here 20 minutes later to find a dead body. Looks like a hit and run."
Sakura scanned her torch over the dead body of a man as they came to a stand still. The female officer beside her was seasoned enough not to flinch or say a word. Something on the ground ahead of the victim glinted and caught Sakura's eye, she flashed the torch over to see a tire iron laying there before she knelt beside the dead man.
"This is no hit and run."
"Why's that, Detective?"
"Three bullet holes to the chest is what." Being careful about what she touched, Sakura examined the body as closely as she could. The man looked to be in his late 30's or early 40's, well dressed. His own vehicle was behind them. "This was a trap. He was lured to the side of the road, got out to help someone, and was shot three times in the chest at close range. Stippling around the entry wounds on the clothing suggests within two meters of the vic..." She was talking to herself more than to the officer standing behind her. Running herself through what she was seeing just as Kakashi had taught her to do, it was just a lot quieter and easier without his little quips back at her. Straightening herself, she turned her attention to the SUV. "Did you run the plates?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Registered to a Zabuza Momochi. License picture confirms that he's our victim."
"Good, okay, get me contact details for next of kin. I'll phone in forensics to sweep the scene..."
Sakura had been examining a firearm that was sitting in plain sight on the dash of Zabuza's vehicle. She couldn't tell the caliber of the bullet that was inside the man's chest but she was making assumptions on the man's character now. Who needs to carry a gun on their dash? What kind of things was this man into? Donning gloves she examined the wallet that was next to the weapon. Identification for Zabuza Momochi, cash, credit cards. Ruled out robbery.
But there was something else that became much more interesting. A small flyer that was neatly folded into one of the pockets, an advertisement for the Hidden Mist Circus that was in town... with Zabuza's name proudly embossed on the bottom of it.
"I'd heard the Kiri circus was in town...": The officer behind her spoke as she looked over her shoulder. If it were a man, or one of her fellow detectives, Sakura would have bitten her head off. But there was something about this place that made her appreciate the closeness.
"Yeah, it's a pretty popular one from the chatter I hear. Apologies, what's your-"
"Officer Tenten, Ma'am, we've met before..."
"That's right, nice to work with you again, Officer."
Sakura turned and smiled at Tenten, she seemed like one of those overzealous patrol officers who put their heads down and got their work done. Those kinds of people were good to have around. As she was turned, her torch light fell to the roadside and the row of trees, and that was when she saw something that made her whole body charged with electricity.
Just like her own breath was hanging in the cold air, she could see the puffs coming from the trees, and a pair of eyes reflected by the torch.
"Hey! Who's there, show yourself!"
Her words were loud and cut through the night and right to the heart of this person hiding themselves in the darkness. Sakura watched as their breathing hitched before she heard the rustling as they took off.
"Hey! Stop!"
Without any seconds to spare, Sakura withdrew her weapon as she ran full tilt towards the line of trees. It was cold, wet, slippery and unsafe at the speed she was running, but she couldn't stop now, there was someone in her line of sight. A man was running from police just meters from the scene of a homicide, this was her moment, she couldn't let him get away. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, but it was all black and white, pitch black when the larger trees came up right next to her. It felt like an obstacle course, dodging one trunk as another came up in front of her, but she would not lose sight of this guy.
Her heart was pounding in her ears in time with the crunching underfoot. The panting of her own breath and the man in front of her as she got closer. She could do this, she would do this...
"Freeze!" She shouted with such ferocity that it startled the man and he collided with a large oak tree face first. The crunch of nose against bark was satisfying but it was nothing compared to the sight of his hands slowly rising in the air in defeat. "Now, turn around slowly…"
Any and all satisfaction was replaced by utter bewilderment as the perp slowly turned on the spot and she finally got a good look at his face. Those beady eyes, that orange hair spilling onto bulky shoulders. She knew this man.
"It's you…"