White Widow Chapter Ten, a naruto fanfic

Title: White Widow
Chapter: Ten
Author: Blue Rose
Pairing: Sasuke/Sakura
Rating: M (Hard R)
Summary: "Running away was easy; not knowing what to do next was the hard part." - Sakura needed to stop fantasizing about running away to some other life, and start figuring out the one she had. [Sasu/Saku, Modern AU]

Disclaimer: I own nothing, and I damn sure don't make a single red cent for this either. So please, don't sue the Blue.

Huge shout out to my beta - CherryBerry12. So amazing and patient with me, Thank you :) 💐

I also want to thank everyone for all of your reviews, kudos, and words of encouragement, I really appreciate it. ✨ ✨

✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧✧･ﾟ* : BR : *ﾟ･✧✧･ﾟ* : *ﾟ･✧

Chapter Ten

Luckily, he was at home when the flurry of texts started to come in. Stepping out of the shower and preparing for his evening, he entertained the first three before the loose towel dropped to the floor at his feet, having fallen from the cut lines of his waist.

As he ran a shorter towel through his locks, his phone chirped again. Sasuke paused, reaching down to see what she was talking about now. He narrowed his eyes at the responses he received and decided to call her directly.

Ring.

Rin-

"...Hello?" Sakura asked, as if she didn't know damn well it was him calling.

"Sakura."

"Oh, hi!" Sakura's voice faded while she spoke, pausing to pull the phone away and briefly speak to someone else. Pressing the device back against her face, she let out a giggle that echoed clearly through the earpiece.

"Hey, you."

"What are you doing?"

"I already told you, I'm having a few drinks… meeting new 'friends'…"

"I'm sure you are."

"At least the new ones aren't as boring as the rest of you guys."

Sasuke could make out the loud music playing in the background and while his phone vibrated with a new incoming message, he stayed on the line with her. Trying to gauge just how serious she was.

"You should come and hang out with me. I definitely need a ride home after the few I've had, but you could come out anyway. Maybe have one yourself while you keep me company…?" She sighed at the end of the sentence, not quite slurring, but the words sounded more breathless than they should have. Almost akin to the way she sounded when she whispered his name in his ear when they—

"Where are you?"

"Already sent you the address." The pleased smile on her face practically bled through the phone.

He moved to check his messages, eyes widening as his feet began to carry him down the hall while still looking at the screen. Stalking out of his bedroom naked, he made a beeline for the coat closet. Sasuke reached inside, grappling with the various hanging outerwear before finding the right one. Reaching, his fingers plucked out the small book of matches Suigetsu had given to him.

He glanced between the object in his hand…

And the photo taken of a small cocktail napkin, with the exact same logo printed on the small black square — sent via text by her.

"Sakura—"

He should have known she'd pull a stunt like this after discovering the small item while they'd been out on a little walk. And she'd been more bothered by the fact he hadn't shared this new crumb of information than if it had just been the digits of some random girl flirting with him.

"What? Don't tell me you've changed your mind already," Sakura continued, still acting innocent.

As if she wasn't somewhere she shouldn't be, doing something she probably shouldn't be doing. And her miserable little pout was evident in her voice, like she wasn't the one responsible for ticking a nerve. He returned the book of matches before padding back to his room, his feet leaving damp impressions on the hardwood floor.

"You were never supposed to—"

"So, does that mean you're coming? Or…"

'Or what?' he thought bitterly. Leave her there alone, possibly becoming a target herself? His frown was deepening with every step towards his wardrobe. Opening the wooden doors, he listened as she phrased it like he had a choice. She was liable to get herself into trouble and considering she had no business going there—

"Tch. Annoying."

"Yea! See you here in a bit. And no jeans... Ok, bye!"

He winced as the call ended, tossing his main phone towards the bed. It only took a few minutes to find something to put on before he was heading out the door. He was still wrapping his mind around how she had him wrapped around her little finger at times. He did have other shit to do, but it looked like some things would be pushed back.

'But you're allowing it. Didn't take much to get you here, did it Uchiha?' he thought, pulling closer to his destination. He chose a self-parking car-lot, instead of the valet offered out front. His short trek down the sidewalk slowed as he approached the red carpet, cordoned off from general foot traffic with velvet ropes.

"You're not here for amateur night, are you? That's happening tomorrow." The bouncer was checking the ID of two young ladies when Sasuke walked up and stood in line behind them.

He glanced at the sign the doorman was referring to affixed to the stanchion, proudly announcing the cash prize available for the upcoming competition as the girls giggled.

Sasuke was allowed inside after producing his own license next, a sudden eagerness overtaking his body. He could only hope that the annoying, little pain-in-the-ass he sought out hadn't gotten any wild ideas of her own. It hastened his steps through the metal detector and pat-down before he climbed the stairs.

Absolute, full nudity wasn't permitted, but this was still one of the most popular strip clubs in and around the city. By no means was he an expert, as Sasuke had only been to one other strip club before, up in New York. It wasn't the worst experience in the world but definitely not something he found himself jumping at the chance to do again. There was also that other time in North Carolina. Then again, that trip didn't count because the party he was with never made it inside. He recalled there being a fight in the parking lot, and everyone scattering after because the police had been called.

Now here he was, patronizing another location and adding it to his list while meeting up with a girl he liked. The only thing left in his favor was that despite Sakura's convincing act on the phone... they weren't exactly here for pleasure.

With that last thought in mind, he reached the landing, moving more to the right as a small group leaving passed by. The dark wallpaper led him right by coat check and further inside.

Soon the short hallway opened up into a dazzling pit of lights, mirrors, and scantily clad entertainers. The music was thumping from all directions, loud and energetic in his ears, matching the energy in the room. Hyped and charged with sexual undertones meant to draw you in from the moment you touched down.

The women were seductively attractive, even the ones behind the bar serving drinks. Dressed just as brazen as the lookers on stage, they attracted their fair share of attention, their flirtatious smiles on display while serving up the diverse crowd.

Some men were still dressed in suits with ties pulled loose around their necks as most had come straight from work. The week must have been shit for most to want to kick off the weekend on a Thursday. The sun had barely touched down for the evening, but it was hard to tell from the scene inside with the party looking to be in full swing.

But through all the smoke and mirrors, he spotted the recent bane of his existence, sitting at the corner of the main bar. Presumably staying out of the way, and on the sidelines of all the fun... but he knew better.

Sasuke made his way closer, effectively pulled in — as he was bound to be whenever they were in the same vicinity. It's something he rarely fought against anymore, but he would still heatedly deny if ever confronted.

Even without the gorgeous shock of pink hair, he caught her laugh in the air, recognizing the amused tinkle while she was looking elsewhere, unaware of the embodiment of sin pathing near her orbit.

Sasuke's hand came up to the back of her shoulder, sliding closer to the base of her neck as Sakura turned in her seat. She stiffened with indignation, calming like a tropical breeze as their gazes locked.

With her hair pulled high in a stylish bun, she leaned back, tilting to flash him a brilliant little smile under her loose bangs. Sectioned pieces fell around her face, and her darkly lined eyes squinted as she peeked up at him.

Her eyes were much brighter than what he'd expect, coming from someone supposedly too inebriated to drive.

Sakura reached up to kiss him on the cheek while remaining seated in her tall, high-backed bar stool, lips still slanted in pleasure at his arrival. She smelled more of her perfume than alcohol, the honeysuckle base filling his senses, taking the hard-edge lining the attitude he'd come in with.

If only just a little.

There was still irritation there, something he was sure she could feel as he leaned away to look at her again, maneuvering to the empty seat at her right. He rested an elbow on the lacquer glazed bar that was polished darker than molasses and went to order a beer.

Throughout it all, Sakura sat there looking pretty, dolled up and glowing like a literal paradox to the slumbering darkness he tended to cloak himself in.

Her elation at his arrival attempted to hold back his exasperation. Possibly, she was trying to buy some time before he snatched her up and dragged her away before she could cause any trouble.

"Glad you could make it." Sakura smiled, keeping to herself that Ino was the original choice. But it totally slipped her mind that the frosty blonde was out of town and couldn't be dragged along in her shenanigans.

Brushing away a few strands of blossom that tickled her cheek, she figured he didn't need to know that he was really the second call.

Sasuke glanced at Sakura out of the corner of his eyes, determined to get a promise from her that tonight was going to be the last time. From now on, the only thing she would be permitted snooping through were her books.

Sakura shifted her stare forward, away from his piercing stare to finish what little was left in her glass. Her pointed gaze became shrouded, requesting another round with a giggle. But Sasuke was confident now, more than ever... it was all an act, and she wasn't nearly as tipsy as she pretended to be.

"You missed it. We were just making a cheer... to life, happiness, and bad decisions!" Sakura offered, setting the empty glass down to push a finger against the long stem. "Well, I was. They just keep providing the spirits."

The accusation was made in jest, and one of the servers overheard and cracked a wide smile in their direction. "The little lass wants another?" Long, brightly painted nails plucked the used glass from the bar.

Sakura nodded her head eagerly, smiling. "Sure, another wouldn't hurt."

The pixie-cut bartender placed the used glass in a bin, turning as someone called her name.

"Sky, can you stay a few hours and cover me tonight? The sitter just called, my kid has a fever."

Sky's thick eyebrows creased beneath her short, jagged green locks, but it was Sasuke's eyes that widened just a hint. His face remained impassive as she agreed to cover the shift for her co-worker.

Sasuke's eyes finally met Sakura's while the green-haired woman adjusted the choker necklace she wore and returned to what she was doing before the interruption. Sakura gleamed back with an all-knowing smirk. Watching live and having a first-row seat as his mind flashed back to the name scribbled in the book of matches and putting two-and-two together.

It revealed just how fast she worked because unlike him, the pinkette wasn't surprised by the name at all.

"Does that mean you're going to grace us with your presence on stage tonight?" Sakura asked as the green-haired vixen came over to their side of the bar again. The pixie cut framed the bartender's face prettily as she raised a brow, reaching for the Triple Sec bottle. It should have been no surprise that the woman had an eccentric style to match the flamboyant way she had written her name and number for Suigetsu. Sakura perked up a bit, watching the ingredients being added to the shaker.

"Dancing? Oh no, no, no. I have very amazing and skillful hands," Sky said with a sly and flirtatious glance at Sasuke then looked back at Sakura with a smirk. "'fraid I was cursed with two left feet."

"You sure I haven't seen your face, twirling up there before?"

Sky looked at her in befuddlement, before laughing out loud although the pitch was a little dry. "Oh, you must have seen my sister." She finished pouring a shot into the mix, making it a double after a second thought. Lifting the shaker, the ingredients swished around the ice as she jutted her chin. "Star just finished a dance and should be heading out to the floor soon."

All three looked across to one of the satellite stages nestled in a corner. The blonde there was on all fours, collecting the cash from her previous dance. While the two artisans didn't look like twins, they certainly favored each other, except for the hair color and length.

Sky held the shaker over a martini glass, splashing a few cherries inside when finished, along with a little black cardboard straw.

"Thank you." Sakura smiled, accepting the drink and new information. It had been nice chatting it up at the bar, but the other sibling was who they were really there to see. Now was time for phase two, seeing as backup had arrived.

"How much is her tab?"

Sky answered him after Sasuke swiped Sakura's credit card clean out of the air, making her put it away. He grabbed the beer that was opened for him, settling up the debt and leaving a few extra notes. The spunky bartender snatched and folded the thin bills, slipping them under the thin straps of her tank and bralette near her cleavage.

The couple turned away after Sky gave him a parting wink.

"You sure don't waste any time, do you?" Sasuke's guiding hand found the inside of Sakura's elbow as they wandered further into the establishment.

"I came here for a drink and to unwind a little. If I happen to run into a 'friend' of a friend, well… that can't be helped, right?" she explained as they rounded a few overstuffed chairs and low tables. Sasuke realized what he thought was just a long-sleeved top was actually a bodysuit. The fabric curved high near her hips, flashing a peek of skin above the waistband of her dark pants when she turned.

"See something you like?" Sakura meant it in a teasing way, not seeing where his gaze landed as she led the way. She was referring to the women surrounding the place that was on stage or migrating around on the floor. She stopped short and turned, watching as he glanced back up.

"Maybe." But his eyes were only glued to her, and it struck her like lightning that even in a room full of temptation… he could still make her feel like the only one standing there. His eyes fluttered down to her lips playfully. "Problem?"

"No, not really the jealous type," was her sassy reply. Taking a slow sip, she licked her lips and moved closer to his side. "Unless… you want me to be?" she continued on, goading in her teasing.

Sasuke snorted, taking a sling of the beer he held. Her bright eyes widened as she remembered something, pulling away. "Oh! That reminds me… be right back." She unhooked her arm from his, turning around and slipping off somewhere.

Left alone, his eyes scanned the lowly lit room as a pounding beat started, the track an introduction to another act starting on the main stage. Sasuke took another sip as some lights focused on the newest showgirl.

She wore a small purple number that barely covered anything at all and glittery body lotion that attracted a small crowd to one side. Confident in her moves, the dancer started her routine, gyrating against the metal pole that stretched two stories high. Whistles accompanied every twirl of her hips, and her lips parted with a smile at the attention as money started to pool around her feet.

"Oh look, just in time," Sakura said, finishing off her drink with a grimace and placing it down on a nearby cocktail table. Her clutch was stored under her arm while she grabbed his wrist with the other hand and tugged him closer to the performance.

The blacklights were vaulted to the ceiling and lit up the draped walls, flashing an array of colors across the fleur-de-lis patterned floor as they stepped up closer. The dancer twirled around the LED-loaded stage, which pulsed in time with the playing track.

Both Sakura and Sasuke had to raise their heads higher as the woman climbed the pole to the mid-way point, stretching out a leg as she curled her body around in a twisting motion back down to the floor of the stage. Sakura produced a stack of money, siphoning a few bills from the stockpile and tossing them in the air while the music pumped louder.

The risqué scene was at odds with Sakura's giddy, almost childlike giggles. She was absolutely tickled by it, and Sasuke was pretty sure this wasn't her first time being in such a place. Her movements were too relaxed and the money glided from her hand too easily. A second dancer came on stage to occupy the other pole, but Sakura tipped the girl in purple dental floss again as she bent low, allowing the pinkette to fold a few more bills between the g-string and her caramel skin.

Not wanting to be outdone, a person on the other side tossed more money on the flashing stage. Sasuke looked over as the other man snapped his gaze away from Sakura towards the dancer that pranced over to his side.

A man's ego could be a dangerous thing, Sasuke thought, poking fun of the guy's hurt pride that a woman dared to show him up.

Sakura would have given two shits if she was paying attention but was too busy regarding their target, who had just made an appearance. The blonde sashayed around in her long pigtails, the tips of which were dyed a color just as vibrant as her sister's back at the bar.

The new arrival, 'Star' — was mainly focused on finding her next client, sweeping the floor with a scorching gaze. Their eyes met, and Sakura didn't break away from the stare, conveying her interest with a smile of encouragement while silently surveying her.

'So, there she is…', Sakura vetted their primary objective, appraising the vivacious Fatale that, at least once, had captured the attention of her missing, smart-mouthed friend. She did indeed look to be Kiba's type, although the scruffy buffoon had never been on the picky side. A cute smile, nice shape, and decent personality were more than enough for him. That didn't mean he'd hadn't found himself tangled in some messy situations back in the day when it came to the fairer sex, though.

Sakura leaned closer to Sasuke, showing off the packaged deal and the blonde moved faster through the crowd towards them, interested in the potential earnings. She approached with a dramatic rock in her hips, the long blond ponytails swishing to and fro on either side of her head. And where Sky the bartender had sported short, envious green locks, Star the stripper was dripped in shades of faraway galaxies. Blue fire licked the ends of her hair, the color blending well and forming into an ombre pattern with her natural golden strands.

Sakura went back to tipping the woman on stage a little more and smiled inwardly as the blonde's light brown eyes appraised the money left in her hand. Now that she had her attention, the next part should be a breeze.

Star introduced herself to the couple, unaware they already knew her name. Though she moved closer to Sakura, there was an appreciative eye directed towards Sasuke. She kept her hands to herself, feeling out boundaries and willing to wait a few minutes before she could touch. It was rare but quite the treat to have a little fun with a hot pair.

Star used her best lines and tactics, not realizing it was wasted material as she was playing right into their hands.

Or Sakura's hands.

Sasuke wasn't deaf to the fact that Sakura had taken the helm and was now in control of this little operation. Probably had been from the moment he walked inside. Maybe even a little sooner before that.

He narrowed his eyes but followed both women up the stairs to the more private areas. Passing a hostess, they put in another drink order before selecting a decently sized room, its shape that of a large horseshoe with blood-red booth-seating, piping along the walls.

"Ready to have some fun?" Star asked, unhooking the crystal-beaded curtain after nodding at the security guard posted nearby, giving them a semblance of privacy inside of the room.

"Oh, I'm sure you and I will," Sakura said, tossing down her clutch before making a move. She tugged on Sasuke's shirt, walking him backward before giving a shove. He landed on the crushed velvet with a grunt, just barely saving his beer from spilling. He looked up in question, swallowing back any words at the tinted look swirling in her jade hues.

Sakura had already made her way back to the other side to stand near Star, her eyes keeping him pinned in place while she finished responding to the dancer. "He, on the other hand, has to sit there... and watch."

Star's mouth rolled open as she looked between the two, smiling in glee.

The hostess returned to brush aside the long strands of beads, bringing them their drinks of choice. This time a glass of champagne for Sakura while another fresh beer replaced the one Sasuke was holding.

"Were you a naughty boy today?" Star flirted, flickering her eyes up and down his form as he finally relaxed against the cushions. She moved to the small control box and lowered the lights a little more, the music volume increasing from the amplifiers.

Sasuke slouched further in his seat waiting for the show to begin. He crossed a leg, ankle resting over his knee while secretly committing to Sakura's little plan of action. Besides, why bother answering? Clearly, he wasn't the one in charge at the moment. That had been made crystal clear. He was just here to keep an eye out, making sure she didn't stir up too much dust.

He could really be classified as a lowly bystander at this point, so Sasuke kept quiet and took a sip of his beer, the apple in his throat bobbing under a generous mouthful.

"Or maybe you were the naughty one, all along … and need to be punished." Star mirrored Sakura's actions from a moment ago with a touch less force, making Sakura sit down with a slight nudge. Deft fingers remained in contact with her body and traced the pretty lettering design etched into the thin material of her top, near her shoulder.

'Well, let the games begin.'

The performer leaned over her, placing a hand on the seat near Sakura's head before looking back over her shoulder at the guy sitting across from them as she began her dance. The look she provided was meant to be sultry, drawing him out to play with them, although he was under strict orders to stay still. Bent over as she was, she was giving him a good view, but his eyes remained somewhere near their faces.

Star couldn't tell which of them he was looking at, but Sakura had a pretty good idea. She could feel his eyes piercing into her own under the low lights as the dance really got underway.

The blonde's fingers combed through her long pigtails before gliding up and down her own body. Her hips began to swivel to the music, rocking from side to side. Slender fingers wandered over the expanse of her skirt, smoothing down the pleats of the schoolgirl uniform-inspired outfit. It hardly covered anything at all, and the button was uncapped, zipper sliding down her hip before the garment fell to the floor.

"You're really pretty. I can see why my friend liked you."

"Oh…?"

"Not him… someone else," Sakura corrected Star when those chocolate brown eyes mistakenly swiveled to Sasuke.

"Hmm… Well, I tend to have them coming back for more," Star answered, thinking over the vast list of clientele that frequented the club.

"He seemed to have enjoyed himself. You can always leave it to Kiba to find a good time."

Star's fingers froze in place, and several beats passed before she continued on, hoping her lapse wasn't noticed.

It had been. But Sakura continued on nonchalantly, willing her into a false sense of security. They were working on borrowed time, after all.

"Oh, I'm sure you remember him and the associate your sister was seeing—"

"Cousin."

Surprise kept Sakura silent, but it did make sense.

"We aren't really twins. It's lucrative to play it up at the club though since we favor one another."

"No harm in adding to the allure. I bet it drives the men wild."

"Sorry," Star said, lowering her bottom into Sakura's lap while undoing her top, still dancing along to the music as if the mention of Kiba's name hadn't struck a nerve. "Lots of pretty-faced boys that come through here." She pointedly glanced at Sasuke before rolling her neck and arching her back. "Hard to remember all of their names. Don't remember a Keto—"

"It's Kiba."

"Yeah, doesn't ring a bell."

Sakura grabbed more money, the crisp bills sliding along each other as they floated down in a waterfall down Star's chest and onto the floor between their heeled feet. The stripper's clear, platform shoes were higher than any pair Sakura ever owned, and she balanced on them expertly, rolling her body forward.

"Well, he remembered. You sure had 'em in a tailspin, that's for sure," Sakura playfully added, hoping to lift as much as possible without setting off warning bells. She raised her eyes, looking across to the other guest. She had almost forgotten about him while she was searching for morsels of info, but her train of thought scattered out of focus when she looked up.

Sasuke was still sitting exactly where she placed him. Leaning against the cushions, he was the picture of collectedness. Seemingly interested, but more composed than he should have been. At least, that's what he wanted to project. It wasn't until meeting his eyes that Sakura knew the truth.

She could see the growing heat even as he lifted the bottle calmly to his lips, taking a drink. His eyes were still on her, hidden thoughts flickering with light behind his dark grey eyes.

The tight, long-sleeved bodysuit and trousers she wore left most of her skin covered, but she felt just as unclothed as the dancer in the room beneath that piercing stare. Something thrilling was fenced in behind all of his control.

The heated eye contact was cut short as Star rose to her feet and turned around, full naked mounds thrust in the air as she continued gyrating. Sakura leaned back, glancing past her hips to lock eyes with Sasuke again. "Shame. We were hoping we would catch him here too."

"Look, I don't know who this Kibble—"

"Kiba," Sakura corrected while tucking a few more bills into her bottoms, the thong and heels the only thing left painting her body. The distraction of money would only get them so far. In-kind, Star probably didn't take too kindly to where all the small talk had led.

"There are a lot of guys that come through here. Are you sure you're not some nosey girlfriend? Because we get a lot of those, too." That would be comically unfair considering the man accompanying Sakura, Star mused while grinding against thin air and winding her hips.

"Hardly. Just looking for a little fun."

A small knock against the frame of the entryway alerted them to the guard standing just outside and leaning against the wall.

Time was up.

"Well…" Star ran her hand along Sakura's forearm, across her wrist to the leftover money in her hand, audaciously claiming the rest for herself. "If it's fun, then I hope you found what you were looking for."

"I think I did. Thank you for the dance."

"Anytime."

Star finished buttoning up her skirt and turned to the other person in the room. "That goes for you too." She left her top off and stood there for a moment, giving him an unabashed view of her chest with a smile.

Sasuke raised a brow, watching as Star walked backward and out the room, finally slipping on her top as the crystal beads fell back into place. His eyes swung back over to Sakura, who leaned back and crossed her legs, tipping back the champagne flute as a deep sigh was liberated from her chest.

"So… it could have been someone else, after all." The bubbles tickled so she licked her lips.

"Or, she was lying."

"You think so?"

He drained what little was left in the stained bottle, a light shrug moving his shoulders.

Sakura's eyes swiveled with his to pivot outside of the room once again, just as she finished off her own drink.

"We could try again…? I would need to withdraw more money, but we could ask someone else? We might be pressing our luck, though."

Sasuke agreed. Any more probing and they would likely be thrown out on their asses, as tossing money around would only get them so far. Establishments could be very protective of their staff, and the first sign of trouble for their girls would not be received well.

His hand went down to his lap in a quick, obscured movement before moving his leg to set both feet on the floor. He rose from the seat in a stretch, something popping near his shoulder while ignoring the brilliant green watching his every move.

For her part, it crossed Sakura's mind that maybe she should have eaten a little something before drinking so much. She wasn't nearly as tipsy as she should have been, credit to her alcohol tolerance, but the champagne buzz did fizzle to the forefront, hitting her unexpectedly.

A few stray, strawberry blonde curls floated near a forming smile as he came up to her. She wondered if he was a bit turned on from the entire performance. The dance was good, but her mind had been too preoccupied to really enjoy it herself. And even if the interest had been for the sake of the mission, she wondered what he thought of the girl-on-girl action he witnessed. She couldn't tell on account of the dark, loose-fitting clothing he wore.

Sakura released a giggle as he approached and quickly lifted her foot.

"I don't believe you were given permission to move yet."

His flinch was superficial because she knew for a fact that the only pressure applied had been to the ball of her foot, which was resting comfortably on the hard planes of his stomach. The dangerous, pointy end of her heel was hovering just above his clothing and safely away. The entire action halted him in place as he stood there with her foot raised, pressed against him while she wondered whether the tiny flecks of glitter would ever come out of her black pants.

Sasuke eyed her slender ankle, mutely keeping track of all the little infractions she was determined to rack up today. He ignored her foot and stretched out a hand to help her stand, dismissing her teasing while simultaneously calling her bluff. She shouldn't start games she had no intention of finishing.

Sakura's chin lifted, looking him in the eye, and when he focused on her small intake of breath, he understood. She wasn't hesitating because of shyness. There was a flicker of interest that fluttered behind her naturally thick lashes, and the fact that she even dared to think about it was telling enough.

His eyes narrowed, and the hand that was extended in support lowered between them to her vulnerable ankle.

She gasped and batted his hand away, jerking away from the deviant touch before lowering her extended limb. The sly smirk he cast was enough to make her ache for him, but she accepted the other hand he offered. Besides, there was no way they would be able to indulge for long before being discovered. The hulking bouncer had gone back to his post but was still nearby.

She glided to her feet with his assistance, pausing at the conviction in his voice.

"This is the last time… right?" It was time for her to find a new hobby. Something that didn't involve her doing things like this.

"Such a sour puss."

Sasuke didn't have to know that she'd already accepted a similar disposition before he'd ever said a word. She had no choice because she was quickly running out of free nights. Any more sleuthing would need to be put on hold. Sakura couldn't help but roll her eyes and almost stuck out her tongue, but she accepted there was nothing left for them there, so they retrieved their coats before exiting, stepping out into the night.

Sasuke shrugged into the lightweight jacket he brought with him. Sakura folded her own raincoat across her arm, comfortable in her long sleeves as they walked back to his vehicle.

She still wondered what would have happened if she had pushed him further in that dark room. She doubted that he would have done something like taking her fully in the middle of the room, and she questioned her own reasons for daring to push him. But wasn't this a natural thing? To test boundaries? Not that he was the type to be played with.

Of course, that didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun…

Sasuke opened the passenger door for her to get inside, yet Sakura had other plans. She closed it shut, leaning against it while looking defiantly up at him.

"You act like you aren't happy to see me…"

He leaned back a little, mindful of the car that was now parked beside him in the lot, and released a huff. He raised a brow in her direction but she was already smirking and using her free hand to pull him down for a kiss. Sasuke was the one to break away after the first small peck, but Sakura's small noise of inconvenience pulled him back for more, locking them together in a delightful softness despite the urgent way her fingers looked for purchase in his clothing. His tongue boldly entered her mouth but still had a gentle way of confessing that yes, he did enjoy inhabiting her space when given the chance, as the full height of his frame crowded against her.

A car door slammed somewhere off to the right, further down before an unknown woman passed by near the front of his truck. The sound of footsteps stopped with a gasp — the spectator obviously surprised to see them there and kept moving along as they stayed wrapped up in each other. Sakura laughed to herself, barely witnessing the stranger's quick exit out of the corner of her eye.

Most of her attention was reserved for the bodily distraction in front of her, wandering fingers traveling under his jacket and up his strong back, while his grip found the slope of her waist, fingers splaying while hooking a thumb into her waistband.

And how she longed for a time when there were no rude interruptions— as his phone buzzed insidd his pocket, vibrating against her front that was wedged so close to his.

Sasuke separated them with a furrowed brow. One glance at the number and he sighed, answering the call.

Sakura just moved her slow kisses down his neck, burrowing her nose while waiting patiently. There was always an undertone of smoke to him. Not from weed or cigars, but something more natural and fierce, like the crackling of logs in a fire pit. Woodsy at its base, and when mixed with the scent of leather and danger, it became a fragrance she couldn't resist. Her nose pressed further into his shirt, frowning when the call lasted much longer than she assumed it would, although he did not speak much on his end. She thought he would yell out a brief 'fuck off', or better still, ignore it.

A frustrated sigh sounded in her ears… but it didn't come from her. Above her, his breath fluffed across her bangs, and she timidly backed away.

Sasuke lowered his chin, his steely eyes flashing from hers to somewhere lower. His warm palm came up between them, cupping along her jaw, and she leaned into his calloused touch. His words were at odds with his promising touches, though.

"Yeah… give me an hour, I'm on my way."

Sakura's frown became a full-on pout, and she lowered her head more, attempting to hide her disappointment. Sasuke didn't allow it. He tilted her head towards him instead after hanging up the phone, stealing a gentle kiss flowing with apologies.

I'm sorry.

"Come on, let me take you home," he said instead as he released her slowly. She nodded, allowing him to open the door and help her inside.

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A sharp horn rang out as traffic slowed to a crawl, signaling the start of the evening commute. Watching the congestion swell from his vantage point, a man in heavy boots relaxed in his seat on the balcony and enjoyed a well-needed pull. The cigarette dangled from his thin lips as his folded hands relaxed behind his head. With his feet propped up on the metal railing, the space easily fit the small wooden chair.

Coming out here allowed the man some fresh air without having to leave out the front door. Although the views left much to be desired. The skinny alleyway, sidewalk, and main street were all he could see from here, but at least the setting sun wasn't shining directly in his face.

His solid weight balanced the chair on its back legs as he moved a hand forward, grabbing the cigarette to flick some of the ashes away. His ears perked up when a shadow approached from the other side of the sliding glass door.

Karashi gently moved the screen panel aside, stepping out onto the narrow patio. He pulled out his own cigarettes, sparking the tip of the tobacco while staying at the far end of the narrow space.

His employer didn't acknowledge him, instead, remaining fixated on the cars traveling across the small bridge half a block away. The sweet purring of an engine made the teen turn to look as well. The expensive sports car revved up again, before taking off when the light turned green.

"Sick car," Karashi commented, his eyes following it down the road until the sightline was cut. It made him excited to get one of his own. Probably not one as expensive but with the money he'd made recently he was definitely going to score something with a V8 engine.

A dry snort made him turn to look back at the older man.

"Tch. If you prefer plastic toys. Nothing like the muscle cars that used to be around. Great classics that were made from real metal and ingenuity."

Karashi was quiet and chose to keep his eyes forward, feeling the tension build inside of himself despite the little pep talk he'd given inside of his head before coming outdoors.

'Fuck my life,' the faltering consensus was making it hard, now that he's here.

Such a stupid, stupid, thing, because since the beginning he'd aimed to complete this project as quickly as possible.

Why then, when he finally accomplished his goals, did he find himself hesitant. Such a conflicting thing especially when he didn't know the internal reasons. He wasn't sure who or what he was protecting. It couldn't be himself, right? This was why he was sought out for.

So why were these thoughts of delaying appearing out of nowhere?

His employer went still as if he could hear the internal squabbling chatter, and it was then Karashi realized he was being watched.

The tall mercenary didn't have to turn his head to trap Karashi in that unnerving gaze. A look from the corner of his eye was all that was needed. Sitting down and relaxed — completely exposed while leaning back in a chair... and the man was still a central source of apprehension.

If he found out that Karashi had held onto this information longer than necessary...

Shaking out of his daze, Karashi's hand went into his pocket, holding out the folded piece of paper. It felt heavier than bricks between his fingers. In reality, it was nothing more than a flimsy sheet of paper that he'd ripped from the bottom of a notepad after he'd scribbled some important information down.

Sharp eyes followed the movement, the wooden chair falling down to all four legs with a dull thump. A large hand reached out towards the teen, long fingers snagging the piece of parchment from his slack grip. Curious, he opened it, his glimmering eyes running across every letter.

"You're sure…?" he asked with a dangerous smile.

The teen stiffened, but the man's eyes remained on the small piece of paper he held in his hand, his question dripping in excitement. There was a current of something dark there. Something willing and able to cause great amounts of pain, and Karashi knew without a doubt it was better for whatever that was to be directed towards someone else rather than himself.

"Yeah, I'm sure. That's the name on the account," Karashi confirmed, a testament that self-preservation made for very loose lips. "I checked it twice."

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"I'm telling you, if Ben Cruz wasn't traded, there's no way you'd be talking shit right now." A few law enforcement officers of different ranks and stations were scattered about the area, roaming throughout the central squad room.

"What?! Are you going to blame your team's losing streak on 'wonder boy' being traded? He was injured at the start of the season."

Located on the first floor of the precinct and behind the main lobby reception, space well lit from the windows and translucent wall panels sectioning off the large area. Many individuals were utilizing the room, scuttling around and tending to business while four figures sat in the back near the northwest corner, desks close enough to speak freely to each other.

"Exactly! Which means he was well-rested and raring to go before he was yanked."

The group was largely ignored, and with the mounted televisions turned on and running the news, most of what they said translated to mere background noise for anyone bothering to listen in.

"Aburame, tell this clown I'm right, and that he doesn't know shit."

The two officers turned from their desks to look over at the detective seated at his own, feet propped up and leaning back in his chair. The newspaper he held crinkled as he folded a portion back to look at them. His black hair was mostly hidden beneath the flat cap he wore, while his eyes flickered behind his glasses over to the two seated men.

"Don't drag me into it," Torune Aburame's monotone voice replied, wanting nothing to do with the conversation. He quickly went back to reading, not bothered by the distant ringing of phones, and found where he left off.

The short, blonde patrol officer didn't give up, and he swung around to the aloof detectives' assigned partner, instead.

"What about you, Fū? Help me out here!"

"I'm going to have to agree with my partner on this one, sorry." Fū stood and approached the large bin by the coffee station, throwing away the cold black americano left in his styrofoam cup. It was his second one today but surely not his last.

While eyeing the self-serve brewing machine, a flicker of roseate caught his attention. Pulling his shoulders back, Fū's head turned to gaze past one of the open-access points that led across to the main lobby. It was bustling with activity for an otherwise mundane weekday. And as his eyes darted around, he hoped to catch sight of something he wasn't sure he'd really spotted, to begin with.

"Fū? Hey, Fū? Yo… Yamanaka!"

"Eh…?" The man snapped out of it, the sound of his name rousing him from his daze.

"You ok? I called your name like a hundred times," the blonde patrol officer said.

"Yeah…" he trailed off, turning to look at Torune. "I thought I saw that chick we had to interview a while back."

"The crazy bitch who sicced her dog on her ex-boyfriend?" Torune didn't bother to turn away from his newspaper, flipping a page while answering in a bored drawl.

"No, no… the other one, a few days before that. The hot one with pink hair." Fū referred to a different case, leaning into one of the hallways and looking down another corridor.

It was probably just his imagination.

There was no reason for her to be here unless she'd been summoned, and he certainly hadn't given her a call. Torune had shot down his plan to get her phone number after they met with her. The other officer had never interfered with Fū scoring dates while on the clock before, but this one was different, and Torune wouldn't give him many details but said once they'd finished, they were to keep clear.

Fū could have been mistaken about seeing her a few minutes ago. He never did get a good look and was probably just seeing things. There were many people around with oddly colored hair — and with his mop of apricot, he was hardly one to talk.

"You want to go pick up a few slices from Jerry's? My treat." The blonde patrol officer had given up arguing with the other seated cop and instead grabbed his jacket.

Fū agreed, aloofly waving the whole thing off when walking back to his desk for his belongings, never one to often turn down a free meal.

Torune declined to join them, suddenly less interested in the article he was reading, eyes sliding to the front of the precinct. He was tempted to go take a look around himself when he was stopped by the school resource cop who stayed behind as well.

"Hey… do you think you could score me a little…" The officer slid a hand into the pocket of his jeans, keeping his voice low as his eyes dashed around. Torune frowned, still a little distracted but grunted in answer.

He was a little annoyed that the other cop was coming to him again for 'candy', quickly realizing he'd need to put a stop to this soon before the other man mistook him for his personal corner boy. Considering the said man worked at a school, he should've been able to find his own connection for narcotics.

Oblivious to the mild hostility, the plain-clothes officer left the area soon after to start his moonlight gig, leaving the dark-haired detective in the empty corner of the squad room with his thoughts. Torune looked over across to the concourse again before picking up the paper in dismissal.

He would just have to believe that Fū was probably mistaken, as he said… and that the girl had not materialized. Since they were the ones who took the lead on the case she was associated with, she had no reason to be here.

As it were, the case had been assigned personally by Lieutenant Shimura... with the strict understanding to bury the investigation as quickly as possible.

The less information logged — the better.

And although they were kept in the dark as to why he was determined to follow any order given to him by his superior. Torune had no reason to question anything and kept even his own partner in the dark as to all that was going on. It was better that way, and Fū went along without any objections or hesitation because he trusted his partner. And as long as they were being handsomely compensated and their hides covered… he found no reason to doubt any orders either.

Torune's stomach let out a rumbling growl, and he sighed, admitting it was time that he go pick something up for lunch as well. Something a lot healthier than the greasy slop his partner was seeking out.

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Sakura was escorted down several halls before she was led to a windowless room. Dull grey walls surrounded her completely, and she took a seat as the door was closed, willing herself to relax. There was a missed call from Tsunade she needed to respond to, but only when she finished up here, considering she didn't want anyone to know her whereabouts.

After a few minutes of privacy, the door opened once again and a new person stepped into the dull box of a room. He circled around the table to the other side before laying down his phone, a folder ledger, and the wire-bound memo book he carried.

His simple dark suit was tidy and neat, as was the pulled-back ponytail he wore, although the ends of his hair were jagged and spiked.

He slowly unbuttoned his jacket, revealing the smartly pressed shirt while glancing down at his materials. He was handsome enough in a classic sort of way, and though he wasn't her type, the onyx stud he sported was mildly intriguing and he softly cleared his throat.

"Ms. Haruno. I'm Detective Nara. I want to thank you again for agreeing to come down and meet with me."

"Sure…" Sakura trailed off, not really sure how to respond. She didn't necessarily want to come down here but was absolutely tired of authorities showing up on her doorstep. She'd just moved into that building too and was very concerned with how it all might look to any nosy neighbors. There really was no choice but to accommodate the police if she wanted to avoid a scene.

"I'm glad we picked a day with a little more sunshine. The rains this week have been a pain."

"I'm sure you wanted to speak to me about other things than just the weather."

Shikamaru stifled the sigh he'd almost slipped and released.

Well... at least he tried.

He was told by mentors in the department that when it came to speaking with others, he should maybe... take a more, personable approach. Well, turns out he wasn't the only one who preferred to get straight to the point and skip the small talk.

Of course, there was no way for him to know that her previous interactions with the police didn't go over so well. He pulled out a chair, holding his tie as he leaned in and took a seat. His notebook was opened, several pages flipping up before he uncapped his pen, writing on the page.

"You are a student, correct?"

Sakura frowned, before clearing her throat and sitting up straighter. "I was on hiatus, but will be returning soon."

"School can be a pain, but it's worth it in the end if you stick it out," Shikamaru said, scribbling down notes. "Your parents pay for your education?"

After a few silent seconds, he raised his head in the subsequent stillness, watching her... watch him.

"Yes," Sakura finally answered. The question was not weird on its own, but her confusion was growing. This wasn't going in the direction it ought to be.

Shikamaru's eyes lowered back to the notepad, flicking back to the previous page. "What about employment? Are you one of those brave souls that can work and go to school full time?"

Sakura's eyes broke away and cast off to the side, although the detective kept his head lowered.

"Full-time student until I took a small… hiatus. During that time I was involved in volunteer work overseas."

"Ah. Charitable work is very noble."

Sakura folded her hands in her lap, eyes still gazing off to some unknown point on the brick wall covered in thick grey paint. The delicate arch of her brow furrowed, lowering as a small line appeared at the bridge of her nose.

"You would think that, but I know they helped me more than I did them," she confessed, a small smile edging the corner of her mouth as she recalled the many faces she'd been lucky enough to have met. A humbling experience indeed.

It was all done in hopes to ease the burden surrounding the unfortunate souls left behind in the aftermath of wars or famine. Counteracting the bad with offers of aid and compassion.

"Sounds like you're on the straight and narrow. You have basically stayed out of trouble, right? I didn't see anything on your record-"

"You looked me up?" Her eyes were like stained glass as she turned back to look at him again.

"Nothing too evasive. I like to know just whom I'm speaking with." Shikamaru's own brow rounded in subtle amusement, but Sakura was far from laughing.

"I thought we were here to speak about important things." Like maybe an update regarding her missing friend? She half wondered why she was speaking with him anyway, and not the other two assholes who seemed like they couldn't be bothered last time.

"We are, believe me. We've barely just begun." This time he reached for the folder, tilting it slightly to skim over the only open case he thought she was involved in. Clearing his throat, his voice took on a more heuristic tone. "Sometimes people get mixed up in things they had no intentions of. Wrong place, wrong time…? Trusting the wrong people…"

"What are you getting at?"

The detective chose that time to remain silent. It was the longest he'd gone without talking since arriving. He folded his long fingers together above the case folder and studied her. But Sakura was quick to spew her frustration.

"Look, I came here as a courtesy."

"And we appreciate—"

"So, I would like it if you would just ask whatever it is you want to ask." Sakura shifted forward in her seat, bracing her wrist against the table as she made a move to stand. "I think this was a mistake. I thought this had something to do with Kiba—"

"Mr. Inuzuka? Unfortunately, he is not accepting my calls. That would make things a little easier, if you'd asked me."

Was this some sort of sick joke? Sakura held her gaze steady as she removed her wrist from the cool surface, curling both of her hands into fists under the table. "What are you playing at? Why am I here?"

Shikamaru's aloof gaze sharpened into something far more calculating. His eyes skipped across her face, tracking the minute tics around her jawline as she wrestled between anger and confusion.

Sakura suddenly felt like she was in the hot seat and did not like the scrutiny.

Shikamaru leaned back in his seat, keeping his eyes trained on her. "You really don't have a clue, do you?"

Her face relaxed in confusion while taking a calming breath, a small crease extending along her brow, though her eyes remained defiant. Detective Nara spoke up once more, moving along to his next question.

"When was the last time you used 'Dollar App Mobile'?"

"...beg your pardon?"

"The mobile payment service, used for currency exchange-"

Sakura raised one hand, waving him off. "No, no… I know what it is-"

"Nice to hear you are very familiar with it-"

"No! What I mean is, why are you asking me about that?"

A telling light settled in his eyes and his head cocked to the side. His hypothesis was correct, it seemed.

"Ms. Haruno, when was the last time you used the service?"

"I don't know… a while now, I guess. I don't understand…"

His hand dropped the pen, laying it down on the padded paper gently before indicating with a smooth motion of his hand— "If you please, would you open the application on your phone now?"

She slowly shook her head, not in refusal but in blatant confusion. Shikamaru just nodded his head in encouragement so she reached for her backpack purse, dragging the designer wear closer and unzipping the main compartment. Sakura was prompted to download a new critical update, which restarted her phone.

Shikamaru waited patiently in the silence. His hands folded across the lower half of his face, slowly blinking in thought.

Sakura's eyes darted from the phone, up into his eyes, and back again. Licking her lips, she tasted the root beer chapstick she wore and typed in her log-in information and password, randomly accepting the notifications and warnings about changes and updates.

"Ok…?"

Shikamaru's dark brown eyes never left her face yet he gave a slight nod, gesturing to the device she still held in her grasp. "Have a look, tell me what you see?"

"Nothing much. Looks like the same interface. The annoying ads are still here." She said, rolling her eyes.

"Is that all? What about recent history?"

"There shouldn't be much there, I hardly use the thing. Look, are you going to tell me what—"

"Humor me, would you? Please take a look."

Sakura had half a mind to mouth off some more but her fingers were moving in reluctant curiosity. Really, anything that would speed up this process and get her out of here? She was all for at this point—

The surprised noise she suddenly made in the back of her throat sounded like the faint squeak of a dying bug. And Sakura clutched her phone tighter and brought the device closer to her face. Her eyes were going to be screaming with strain later, but she couldn't help glaring back and forth across the screen.

"That's what I partially wanted to speak to you about."

'Yeah?' she thought bitterly, "Well, that's not surprising at all."

Sakura wanted to calm the perplexing feelings starting to blind her. She swallowed thickly, her manicured thumb still hovering above the screen.

She really wished that out of all the calls Kiba had been ignoring lately, this detective's solicitations weren't one of them, and that he would have picked up to explain himself.

Because she had no idea why her friend had sent her payments with more zeros than what was stashed away in some of her trust fund accounts.

'Kiba… just what the fuck have you dragged me into?!'

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There was an audible click at the end of the second ring, but black silence followed, and she wasn't so sure if anyone had really answered. She checked the screen before speaking up.

"...Hello?"

"I'm here. Just waiting to hear what trouble you've gotten yourself into now."

"Uncle," Star sighed in relief, swinging her tote bag into a seat and propping herself up on the bar while one of the bartenders gave her a stinky look. Did it really matter if she sat up here? The place wasn't opening for another half hour. She went back to her call. "I'm glad I've finally been able to reach you."

Her previous calls had gone ignored and unanswered, something by design if his disgruntled voice was anything to go by.

"I couldn't be bothered to deal with whatever bullshit you might have found yourself involved in. You know I'm a busy man."

Star flinched, crossing a leg and reaching down to tuck an untied shoelace into the side of her sneaker.

"Are you locked up? If you—"

"No, Uncle. I'm not in jail."

"Good, because I would have no problem letting you fester there a few days before having you released, after the stunt you pulled last time."

That had been a very unpleasant night. A bad drug trip on a wild night of partying mixed with alcohol had gotten her in a scuffle that almost trashed a local bar. Being hauled away in cuffs and forced to sober up overnight in the clink hadn't been the worst of it. The person who owned the place was good friends with her boss, and she was almost fired when she returned to work a few days later. It was one thing to embarrass herself off the clock, and it was another to get recognized while in someone else's establishment.

No formal complaints were filed thanks to her boss's relationship with the other owner, and she was released to her own recognizance in major part to the relative she was speaking with now.

"I'm not in any trouble, I promise." Star assurance didn't ease the tension. "I haven't seen you in a while, but I did try to reach out sooner to let you know. Something… odd, happened a few days ago."

Another dancer came in through the front and nodded in Star's direction, giving her a small wave. Star dipped her chin in acknowledgment, more concerned with her call even though her shift was starting soon.

There wasn't much of a response, and she felt like his attention was miles away.

"Uncle? Are you listening to me? Someone came by asking questions."

"What are you talking about? Who the hell would ask a silly girl like you anything at all?"

"Uncle, please-"

"And what exactly did you say?" The seriousness sounded dark in her ears, filled with untold hostility. She'd almost forgotten just whom she was dealing with, kinfolk or not.

"Nothing. I didn't say anything."

"Good. And it should always be that way. I shouldn't have to tell you that."

Her back stiffened, and she didn't take too kindly to his tone. It reminded her too much of the condescending ones she had to endure listening to every night.

But still, wasn't he the least bit curious as to what she was talking about? Granted, he rarely cared if it didn't directly involve money, power, or himself. Especially since she no longer pushed anything for him through the strip club anymore.

Still, she herself was intrigued to know a little bit more as to what may have happened. Had thought so little of it all up until now—

"Is that all…?"

Well, if he wasn't concerned then maybe…

"I guess so," she stumbled. "I just thought that, since I haven't seen him around-"

"Who…?"

Star stifled a sigh. She was right; he was barely paying attention to her.

"...No one."

"Good answer."

A sharp whistle caused her to look up, and an evening manager was looking at her through narrowed eyes. Star rolled her own eyes and slid off the high bar, her feet landing softly on the decorated carpet.

"Don't bother me again unless it's important. Just keep your mouth shut. And just be lucky I don't question why any of my siblings decided to procreate."

She was listening, but now it was her mind that was wandering.

She was an attractive woman, and it wasn't often she was ghosted, so when the shaggy-haired man with the cute puppy did just that, it had left a slight impression on her. But maybe she was reading too much into everything. There could be other reasons he stopped calling. Even though the last time had been after arranging—

"...Suiren?"

Star grimaced at the use of her real name, paying attention to her elder once again.

"I understand."

A strong wind picked up wherever he was, and Star heard the crackling noise through the earpiece.

"I need to go. And make sure you call your mother. You know she worries since you've moved from that swamp town to here, clear across the country."

She flinched this time, now anxious to end the call as quickly as he was.

"Ok, I'll talk to you—"

A resounding click ended the call.

"...later?" Sighing, the exotic dancer hung up the phone, grabbing her belongings and heading backstage to the locker rooms. She still had a face full of makeup to do in less than twenty minutes.

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The hood of his car was still warm as he leaned against it, watching the coast guard boat float by on choppy waters. The winds had started to pick up and created interference with his call. He wasn't in the mood to compete with the sound, not when he was tired of the entire conversation anyway. He had too much on his mind to deal with the silly prattlings of his niece.

"...Suiren?"

"I understand." She quickly replied on the other end.

Approaching headlights on the service road made the lieutenant turn, glancing over his shoulder at the other vehicle parking behind his own.

"I need to go. And make sure you call your mother. You know she worries ever since you moved from that swamp town."

Not that he really cared. It just stopped the annoying messages from his siblings wanting to use him as a go-between.

"Ok, I'll talk to you—"

He straightened while blindly ending the call, moving the phone to his pocket as he waited for the dapper individual to get closer.

"I didn't expect you to make it on time. There was a huge accident in the tunnel," the officer remarked as he watched the other man circle around.

"I came across the bridge," was the curt answer. The gold timepiece he wore flashed from beneath the cuff of his suit as he reached up to remove his sunglasses. "Was it that awful? Shouldn't you be out there, helping?"

"Do I look like a traffic cop to you?" the disgruntled lawman asked, but he brightened at an idea. "Now if there was a fleeing suspect, then I'd lend a hand. Haven't performed a good pit maneuver since my highway patrol days."

The new arrival said nothing, gazing out at a slow-moving cruise boat tugging along in the canal running parallel to where they were.

Tasting the salt in the air, Detective Shimura spat at the ground and got down to business. "What's been the hold-up? The shipment was set to arrive in Miami no later than two days ago."

"It has."

"And?"

"It was short."

The scar slashing across his chin puckered as his mouth fixed into a deep frown.

"It was taken before the voyage set sail, courtesy of your new connections. 'For their troubles' is what the captain said. He certainly wasn't holding out on anything. My people ripped the cabin to shreds. There was nothing there."

The wind died down, and Danzo sighed, scratching the shadow of his mustache.

"I'll deal with it."

The taller of the two frowned. "Is this what we can expect in the future? Low life, piece of scummy shits who think they can steal? From us?"

Danzo grunted, running his tongue across his teeth in irritation.

"They called it... 'renegotiating,' chose to make a move after everything was already loaded and ready to go. Left the captain with no choice but to bring what they had."

"I said I would take care of it." And that would be the end of it. Despite this gross oversight on his part, he was still in charge of this operation, Danzo thought bitterly, wanting to check the man in the finely tailored suit that cost four times his own.

He cleaned up messes like he called the shots, and this slight setback would be no different. At least there was something on the way, despite the carelessness. There were just too many fires being put out lately and strings being plucked too thin.

Circumstances will be much easier with his upcoming promotion that was almost guaranteed, and with more power in the police force, it was only a matter of time for things to finally start paying off for him.

"Let me know when things finally make it past the Virginia border," Danzo ordered, finally standing and reaching for his phone. His companion hesitated, so he sneered. "What is it now?"

The other gentleman paused, dark eyes steering towards the water. "...Nothing. I'll give you a call when it's done."

"Excellent. Always a pleasure," Danzo jeered, before driving off and kicking up little pebbles in his wake, red lights fading from view.

The other man stood there for another minute, lighting a cigarette in the darkening twilight and considering whether he should've asked for assistance with this other… 'problem.' It was the officers' fault that they were all in this mess, to begin with. Maybe he should have to share in some of the wretchedness that had befallen himself and his operations.

Another inhale and the cigarette was flicked aside into the night.

No… they would handle this themselves. It would probably be quicker that way than if they waited for the crooked cop to follow through with anything.

His mind flickered back to the name his brethren had recently procured and passed along to him.

Besides, just how much trouble could a girl named Sakura Haruno be?

End Chapter

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