DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any other characters belonging to the Anime series. However, I do own the characters that were created by me – they will make their appearances in the later chapters.
Summary: Sakura and Tenten – both FBI Agents – are on a vital mission to eradicate one of America's largest and most feared Mafia Gangs. Sakura has no memory of her past. What happens as she finds the missing pieces when she encounters the mesmerizing, drop-dead attractive, Sasuke Uchiha, leader of the gang? PAIRINGS: Sasuke/Sakura with an equal share of Neji/Tenten. More pairings are included.
WARNING: This Fan-fiction contains VERY explicit content in later chapters. If sexual content, mild violence and aggressive language bother you, then it is advised that you discontinue reading this fiction immediately.
NOTE: 'Inner Sakura
'Thoughts' (Except for the short preface at the beginning of each chapter & Flashbacks)
Narrator's POV
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
A Price…
Mornings had never seemed as physically painful before, for Sakura. She only hoped that no one would notice the awkward way in which she walked, as she made her way down the corridor. She dreaded having to walk up the steps at the moment; in fact, any form of movement that involved moving her legs, was a pain. Now, she needed to see Temari – the only woman who was experienced enough to give Sakura some decent and hard-proof advice on her current situation.
Sakura knocked at Shikamaru's door twice, loud enough for anyone inside to hear. As expected, Sakura was greeted by a sleepy Shikamaru. That was not surprising to her at all.
"Yo," he greeted.
"Morning, Shikamaru. Is Temari awake?" Sakura asked, hopefully.
"Yeah…she woke up like two hours ago. She's probably in the kitchen, knowing that troublesome woman…"
Sakura chuckled and said a quick 'thank you', before making her way into to the kitchen.
Tenten groaned as she awoke. Instantly she felt that something was strange.
'Oh, right – Neji slept on the bed…'
She frowned. No, that was not it. She turned to Neji's side of the bed. It was empty…
She looked around the room which looked awkwardly half-empty. Then she realized what the problem was – Neji's belongings were gone. She raked through her hair with her hand and sighed. She felt as if something was missing…she felt a hollow space in her chest.
"Why does he make me feel like this? God…I feel pathetic…"
She chuckled.
Swinging her legs off the bed, Tenten pulled herself together – or at least she tried – and lifted herself onto her feet. Then, she silently made her way to the bedroom's exit. As she opened the door, Tenten became face to face with a surprised Sakura.
"Hey…did I scare you?" Tenten asked, already wearing an apologetic expression on her face.
"Yeah…it's okay. How are you?" Sakura asked.
"I'm fine…Neji's gone but I'm fine…" Tenten replied, with a broad smile.
"That smile is not gonna fool anyone Tenten. I'm sure you're a little upset that he left," Sakura said, folding her arms.
"Fine…yes, I'm a little upset. But it really doesn't affect me in a big way 'cause nothing is going on between Neji and I," she replied, "So what's up?"
"Pain," Sakura answered, "There's a real sharp pain between my legs, in the 'you-know-where'. And don't question me about that because, trust me, you really don't wanna know…"
Tenten sighed, and nodded. When Sakura said that Tenten would not want to know something, she was usually right, and so, she did not bother to ask.
"You were heading to the kitchen?" Tenten inquired.
"Yeah, you want anything?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah, whatever you're having for breakfast will suffice," Tenten said. Sakura warned Tenten that she would take a while in the kitchen because she needed to speak with Temari; however Tenten had no problem with that.
When Sakura got to the kitchen, Temari was cooking up some bacon and eggs. Both women greeted each other. Sakura walked over to the sink and decided to help Temari with the dishes. It had been a while since she worked in the kitchen with company.
"How is the baby doing?" Sakura finally spoke.
"He's fine," Temari replied.
"Oh my goodness – it's going to be a boy?!" Sakura squealed. Temari nodded.
"I'm getting excited already! Does Shikamaru know?"
"No…he doesn't. I want it to be a surprise for him," Temari answered. Temari was almost four months along by now.
"That'll be nice. Have you started thinking of names yet?" Sakura asked, placing the dishes into the rack.
"Not really. A few names popped into my head including –"
Temari was interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. She walked over to the counter and picked it up, staring at the Caller ID in slight horror. She pressed the 'ignore' button.
"What was that about?" Sakura asked.
"Nothing…"
"You just looked as if you just saw a ghost. So don't tell me that it was nothing," Sakura said, placing the last dish into the rack and folding her arms.
"It was my brother," Temari explained.
"Wait, I thought Kankuro was dead –"
"Yes, Kankuro is dead, but the brother I'm talking about is Gaara. I've never told anyone about him. Gaara Suna is the Director of the CIA, and the youngest of family. Kankuro and I kept our distances from him because Gaara is very…very violent. He hates his family. He threatened to kill me once. That's why, if he finds out about Shikamaru and I, we're in big trouble…"
"That's horrible," Sakura commented, "I suggest you get rid of the SIM card so he won't be able to trace it. Temari, I promise that I won't let anything happen to you, Shikamaru or your unborn child."
Sakura knew that it would be unwise to have Shikamaru and Temari frequently move to different hiding locations. Temari was nearly four months pregnant and it would be rather stressful for her to be moving around to different hiding locations so often.
Temari emptied the garbage can, leaving only crumpled sheets of clean paper, and put it in the middle of the kitchen, away from furniture, paper and cloth. She then discarded her phone's SIM into it and stroked a match.
Erasing all traces of existence…
That was what this was called. For Temari, at some point, it would not seem hard – becoming nonexistent to Gaara and the rest of her family would be easy. She needed a break from that. But by alternating her identity, she would also be erasing herself from the lives of the ones that were dear to her…
"Temari, I wanted to ask you something…"
"What is it, Sakura?"
"What exactly do you use to ease pain that's well…you know…" Sakura said, motioning to the area between her legs.
"Oh! I usually go to the gynecologist. Here's one that's really good," Temari replied, scribbling on a piece of paper on top the counter. "You don't need to make appointments in order to see her. She's a great doctor," Temari continued.
Sakura thanked her and proceeded to leave but was stopped abruptly by Temari's sudden question…
"I was right, wasn't I?"
Neji handed the innkeeper the keys to his motel room before exiting the building with a black case in his hand. It contained all the necessary weapons he would need to carry out his personal mission. He opened the trunk and put the case under a safe-like compartment. With all the memories coming back to him, he closed the car trunk and got into the car…
TEN YEARS AGO…
Hiashi took his seat among the Elders at the table. Because of the sudden tragic event, a gathering was important. Neji sat at the corner of the room, away from the table of Elder Hyuugas and his uncle. There were no women present. Each man at the assembly maintained a firm and stern look. All the branch members removed their head band, revealing their 'cursed mark'. It was a sign of respect to the Elders and the Leader of the Hyuuga gang – Hiashi Hyuuga.
"Shall we begin?"
All heads turned toward the Elder Hyuuga – Hiashi's father.
"I will begin by explaining the situation thoroughly to everyone. We can no longer keep this secret from the branch members. Hinata Hyuuga has been taken hostage by Federal Authorities of the United States. They are demanding that the Hyuuga Gang surrender or she will be harmed. Live footage of her has been sent to the base a number of times as evidence."
There was mumbling among all other members.
After a long discussion, it was decided that turning themselves in to the police, was a nonsensical approach, however the safety of the Hyuuga Heiress was indeed important.
"Sir, if I may," one of the branch members interjected, "I would like to make a suggestion."
"Please, go on," permitted Hiashi.
"I think we should strike a deal with one of the Feds…one that can be trusted –"
"And who exactly, would that be? There is no such person," the Elder Hyuuga snapped.
"There is, Lord Hyuuga," interposed another branch member, "His name is Kabuto Yakushi. He is better known as the Two-Faced Cop. Technically he's on our side; being a two-faced cop enables him to get information from Federal Agencies and provide gangs with them for a price. I think he'll be able to help us; he's our only chance…"
"If what you say is true," Hiashi began, "then I will do whatever I must in order to get Hinata home, safely; I will make the necessary sacrifices."
"Are you saying that you wish to precede with that plan, my son?" the Elder Hyuuga asked Hiashi.
"Yes…"
Neji started the car and speed off onto the highway…
Gaara clenched the phone in his hand tightly in anger. He growled, and then dialed his sister's cell phone number once again only to find that the number no longer existed. The door clicked. Matsuri had entered.
"Here are the files you requested, Sir," she said, handing it to him. Gaara had requested for the files containing information on the last mission that was assigned to Temari as an FBI Agent. It appeared that she was working as a spy in the form of a prostitute. Sexual innuendo can definitely make relationships serious. What if she had gotten attached to one of the gang members?
'Onikage…' he recalled mentally. Again, he scanned the files, searching for a specific location. There was none.
"Matsuri, were there any other cases linked to Onikage?" Gaara asked firmly.
Matsuri thought for a while, and then she remembered Sakura and Tenten's mission.
"In fact…there was…"
"How did you know?" Sakura asked in shock.
Temari's lips curled into a smile. "You were worried. That's how. If I wasn't right, then you'd simply let the pain pass and be calm about it. But instead, you consulted me – someone more experienced. I've noticed that about you since we were in the FBI Sakura."
"Oh," was all Sakura could say, "Well…now you know. Please don't tell anyone about this; not even Sasuke. Only Tenten knows about this…"
"It's okay. I won't tell Shikamaru either. Don't worry," Temari assured her.
"Thank you…"
Sakura grabbed her keys from the counter and the paper containing the directions to the gynecologist. Temari handed her a plate with bacon and eggs which she carried to Tenten's room.
"Thanks," said Tenten.
"You're going somewhere?" she asked, eyeing Sakura's keys and her coat.
"Yes…I'm going to the doctor. I won't be long though," Sakura replied with a smile. They said their goodbyes and Sakura was now on her way to the garage.
Matsuri handed Gaara another file – the one which contained details on Sakura and Tenten's incomplete mission…
'MISSION RANK: S-rank.
MISSION ASSIGNED TO: SENJU SAKURA; SENJU TENTEN (ALL NECESSARY BACK-UP SHALL BE PROVIDED)
Full Detail: Onikage is a Mafia Gang founded by the Uchiha residents of the United States. Leadership in this gang has been passed on from father to eldest son over the years. At present (2009), Onikage is known to have four members:
Uchiha Sasuke (Leader)
Uzumaki Naruto
Nara Shikamaru
Sai (Last name is unknown)
UPDATES: Onikage's main base is situated in Oakwood Canyon, Oakwood, United States.
MISSION STATUS: INCOMPLETE'
Matsuri noticed the way Gaara's lips slowly curled into a smile. His knitted eye brows and the iniquitous glint in his eyes gave character to his smile; and an idea of his intent. Honestly, it scared her but this was one of the main reasons she had the urge to learn more about him. He was by far, the most interesting character she had ever come across in decades. Whenever she was around him, she felt a strange, heavy aura; a dark aura – something she had been drawn to ever since he arrived.
Currently, he had been staying at her apartment, in the guest room. She assisted him in every possible way without getting in his way, at the same time.
"Matsuri," he spoke, "pack your things. We're going to Oakwood…"
Sakura pulled into the parking space, in front of the doctor's office. As she was about to exit the car, her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID – it was blocked…
"Hello?" she answered while hoping that it was not Sasuke at the same time.
"Sakura…it's me…"
"Oh…hi Guren," Sakura said, breathing out a sigh of relief, "What's up?"
"I've got tabs on Orochimaru – very close tabs. I've got all of his locations; everything, even where he's gonna be this evening," Guren informed.
"Fill me in…" Sakura demanded.
"Meet me at the abandoned Bill Shack Warehouse 5miles from where you're at…"
Sakura pushed the door to the old warehouse, open. She walked in slowly, as she scanned very inch of the room. The place was untidy – old pieces of wood were everywhere; galvanize sheets were on the floor; the walls contained graffiti.
"Guren?" she called. There was no answer. Had she been tricked? Did she just walk right into a trap?
"GUREN?!" Sakura shouted, almost entirely enraged.
"Relax…I'm here," Guren said, appearing out of the shadows, at Sakura's right.
"You have information for me, and I want it now," Sakura demanded.
"Why so hasty? You know you have hours before you'll be able to make any contact with Orochimaru," Guren told her.
There was something about Guren's tone that pissed Sakura off to no end – a venomous; nasty tone. Why the sudden change of attitude?
"Plans have changed, Sakura Haruno," Guren said suddenly. Sakura gave Guren a questioning look.
"What are you talking about? What do you mean there's a change of plans?"
"Nothing in this world comes without a price, Sakura Haruno…"
OKAY! End of Chapter 22. Sorry for the tardiness. Something went wrong with my password to my account on …long story…
I know this chapter contained many confusing parts, but please bear with me.
+15 reviews for Chapter 22 = 380 in total.
NEXT UPDATE: 23rd Dec. 09.
NOTE: FANART FOR THIS STORY WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM ANYONE! So, if you guys decide to draw a scene or Characters from Quantum of Memory and would like to share it with other fans, feel free to contact me via the Personal Messaging System. All art pieces will be posted on DeviantART.
AND: CHECK OUT The Dark Coven – my other fanfic..
Please excuse any errors you may have found…and I'm sorry that this chapter is a bit shorter than usual...
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
--Iz.