Light filtered through the window, making the pinkette in bed grimace. Dainty hands raised up lazily, trying to block the sunshine from her face. Realizing the futility of it, she rolled over with a groan, not wanting to get up.

Green eyes shot opened as the images from the night before hit her like a ton of bricks. The spot in bed where the criminal had been sleeping was empty...

'Joke-No... Jack left...'

Her chest tightened as she reached out, touching the pillow he'd been using. There was a war going on internally... Both sides were fiercely trying to take out the other, but there wouldn't be a clear victor in this case.

Pulling the pillow closer, she closed her eyes, contemplating what to do now. For almost two weeks, the clown had become the pinnacle of her fear and caused severe paranoia with every move he made.

'And now?...'

Joker had caused so much harm... He tormented and harassed the pinkette this entire time, toying with her emotions and head. Breaking into the apartment Bruce had set up for her and even the hospital... Killed Jin and hundreds of people who had nothing to do with this... Blew up the Gotham Bridge and shot up a club... That last one really could have killed her.

The maniac even stole a cab and drove her to the bridge just to show her what would happen if she tried to leave. There was so much more on top of that... He even helped himself to her pizza...

'And tried to talk me into hurting my neighbor...'

And yet... He had been someone special in her life.

"Fuck!" Gripping the pillow tighter, she didn't know what to do... What could she do?

What was he even expecting from her? Did he want things to go back to the way they use to be? That was impossible... They were both different people now. Seven years is a long time. It would only be natural for someone to change...to not be the same person from back then...

'Clearly...'

Seven long years... They were teenagers then, almost adults. Jack was a little older, but not by much. That she remembered as well. The memory that resurfaced last night had given her so much information, but there were still far too many blanks. How did they become separated? Didn't he know that something happened to her? Maybe he didn't... The clown didn't seem like the kind of man who would let something go that he wanted. He would have been there.

What happened back then? Where was he when she fell? In her heart, she knew he had nothing to do with it. The memory from last night had explained a lot about what their relationship was like. He always protected her...

Sighing, she held the pillow against her face. It still smelled like him. His own scent mixed in with gasoline and smoke. Right now, he was probably doing something that would upset her...just to cause more chaos throughout the city.

'He's not a good man anymore... He's dangerous.'

Why couldn't life just be calm like it was before?

It didn't change the way her chest tightened when she thought about him or all the time they had been together... Seven years wouldn't amount to even half of the ones they spent living side-by-side.

'We...even...'

Sakura buried her face as it turned beet red. The images floating across her mind told her far more than she wanted to know right now...

"Even if you don't remember me yet...it, ah, seems like your body does."

"Dammit!" The pinkette ground her teeth, feeling embarrassed at the memory of him carrying her to his room. They had been lovers...had plans for the future.

What happened that night was completely messed up. Jack just walked over his dead mother, like she was just a dirty tissue on the floor that someone left behind. He kissed her despite his face being ripped open. Covered her body in his own blood...

'And I let him...'

What the hell was wrong with her back then? It was like a scene from hell. What was wrong with him? It was disturbing...

Jack's parents just died. He'd had been mutilated beyond belief, and all he was worried about was whether she would still want him or not. And to want to go at it right afterwards? There had clearly been some screws loose in both of their heads. It seemed unfathomable to do something like that now..and yet..

'At the time... I enjoyed it.'

Was she completely mental? Did she really love him that much back then, to be willing to fall into madness with him?

Yes...

The memories had trudged up lingering feelings that had been long buried, but what now? It wasn't like things could go back to normal... Not with what she knows now. Even if she didn't want to, it seemed like the 'Joker' was hellbent on getting whatever he wants. It was clear he was coming for her, whether she wanted him to or not.

Last night, the pinkette just kept crying, sobbing pathetically into his vest. There was no way it hadn't woken him up... If he was even sleeping at all, which was doubtful. If he was awake, he didn't let it show.

After a while, she exhausted herself enough to go back to sleep next to him. Part of her was grateful that he just let her get it all out and didn't laugh or make jokes. What would have happened if he did wake up anyway? It would have been too awkward for her, after seeing them together in the past.

Part of her wanted that free life she had before, with no worries, other than work. Perhaps it was because it felt like something that seemed out of reach now. And yet, another side wanted to see him. Some twisted corner in the recess of her heart. That old Sakura wanted Jack again, but he was gone. Jack had become possessed by the Joker and the chaos that came with it. There were no rules in his world... Nothing to hold him back from doing what he wanted, unlike the past.

"You have all these rules and you think they'll save you!"

Sakura shook her head, sitting up and trying to get the voice out of her head. It was just another game... One he was used to winning. Joker knew how to get into other people's minds and manipulate them. That was his specialty. She couldn't allow him to twist her around his gloved fingers. In the past, she would have followed him to hell if that's where he was going.

"No... I can't..." The were rules for a reason. There was an understanding between people about what was right and what wasn't. The Joker... He was all wrong.

Looking at the clock, there just wasn't time for this shit. She still had to get ready for work, refusing to be late. That was part of the rules she set for herself. Now was not the time to be having an internal debate over a fucking clown.

She stood up, stretching her arms high above her head, shifting her hips from one side to the other. Cracks could be heard throughout her stiff body as she moved, trying to get kinks out. The white bandages drew her eyes. She had almost forgotten...

'I should change the bandage... See what I'm working with.'

Fingers grabbed the edge of the bandage covering her wound and carefully peeled it back, not wanting to rip the light arm hairs off or cause unnecessary pain.

Looking at the pale skin, her eyes widened in disbelief. There was nothing there. No dried blood, no wound... Nothing.

"What?!"

There wasn't even a scar. It was impossible... Completely impossible. Trying to think quickly, her brows furrowed, unable to come up with any logical explanation for the disappearance. There wasn't any doubt that the glass had cut her arm open... That definitely happened, it wasn't part of her imagination.

Sakura stood frozen, feet planted onto the carpet. She was bewildered beyond belief. Jack had bandaged it up last night... Did he have some kind of ointment that could do this? Gotham was an odd place, after all. If there was some kind of miracle product, wouldn't at least some people know about it? Word gets around the city fast about anything out of the ordinary. There was no explanation that sounded right... She would have to ask Joker about the next time he pops up.

Sighing, she ran a hand through her pink hair. Once again, all roads lead to the clown...

'Forget about Jack for now, you have a job to do..'

Walking over to the dresser to get out a fresh pair of clothes, before jumping into the shower, she eyed something on the surface. A lone piece of paper with messy handwriting on it. Picking it up, she scanned the small note.

Hey dollface,

I'll be back later. Didn't wanna wake you after the long night you had. Your sleeping face looks too pretty to ruin. Ya know what they say about sleeping bears, right?

With love, Mr. J

Sakura cursed herself when a small smile played on her lips. Why did reading this make her chest feel so...light? Every other note brought terror and now she was grinning like an idiot. Perhaps the Joker's madness really was contagious?

'He's coming back.'

Sucking in a sharp breath, she grabbed the sides of her head, dropping the note. The throbbing in her head returned. This was such a pain in the ass...

"Fuck!" No matter what happens now, what's been done can't be undone. He was a part of her, whether she liked it or not. Part of the past, the present, and most likely the future... If he has it his way.

A loud bang against the wall made her jump.

"It's too early for this shit! Knock it off!" A man's voice yelled from the next apartment. The pinkette could already feel the vein in her forehead pulse.

'Here we go again!'

The neighbor kept pounding on the wall. He was making more noise than she had just a moment ago. It was always like this.

Scowling, she ripped the drawer open and grabbed clean clothes, slamming it shut. The whole dresser shook from the force. This was getting tiresome... She couldn't stand that man and his constant harassment. Stomping off towards the bathroom, the voice in her head spoke again.

"You have all these rules and you think they'll save you!"


"T-Tasha... What are you doing here?" The tall, dark haired man surrounded by a handful of businessmen in suits walked towards her, breaking away from the others. The bewildered expression on his face made her quirk an eyebrow, not understanding what was so surprising. After all, this is where she was suppose to be...

"What are you talking about? I work here...last time I checked." What the hell was Bruce talking about? Why wouldn't she be here? Today was last meeting with Mr. Hiroshi, before he retuned to Tokyo.

"I just thought you would have taken a few days off... After last night-..." Bruce stopped himself, running a hand across his chin. The way he was acting was off-putting, making Sakura curious.

"What are you talking about? After what last night?" She cocked her head to the side, green eyes narrowing in on him.

His lips parted, opening and closing, not saying anything. The pinkette felt uneasy when he let out a long, drawn out sigh, looking away. Bruce Wayne never had a hard time pulling something from his ass at a moments notice. Yet here he is...unable to form a damn sentence.

Sakura looked at him suspiciously, wondering what was going on in that smart brain of his. It was clear he knew something... At least about her being at the bridge last night. Why else would he say something like that? Had he been there? Did he have someone watching her?

'Probably not the latter, otherwise he'd probably know something about the Joker.'

A bright smile tugged at her lips as she played the part of the fool. This had nothing to do with him, and she didn't want him to get involved, for his own sake.

"Oh-Okay... I'm sorry. Everyone has been so shaken up about the bridge and you just came to Gotham recently... I just assumed you might have been scared, so I thought a few days away from all the stress here would help.."

Bruce was lying. She could feel it in her gut.

"No, I'm fine. What a terrible thing to happen, though... It's been all over the news." Biting the inside of her cheek, she hoped this conversation would end already. He always had a way of seeing through people and knowing more than he should.

Tasha... The name she's been going by for the last seven years felt different now. Foreign...

"Yes, it's a tragedy. Absolutely horrific. That Joker is completely out of control anymore..." Bruce turned his head towards the door of the meeting room, rubbing his forehead. "I guess we should get this over with. Mr. Hiroshi wasn't happy when I told him you wouldn't be here today..."

Sakura nodded, trying to hold in a chuckle. That old pervert. "I'm sure he was..."

Bruce leaned in closer after looking around. "Can I ask you a question? Earlier he was talking with his men and said 'so korai' when he was looking at me, then they all started laughing... What does that mean? Was he calling me an asshole or something?"

The pinkette coughed out a laugh, not expecting it. This was one of the reasons Bruce liked having her here. Unlike other interpreters, she didn't try to sugarcoat what was said...too much.

"Do you mean, 'kuso kurae'?"

His face lit up, snapping his fingers and pointing towards her. Staring at his hand, Sakura couldn't help the image of a gun forming in her mind. This was ridiculous anymore. Everything was reminding her of that damn clown or his shenanigans-if that's what someone would call mass-murder and total destruction. Dark clouds remind her of smoke from a fire, a thumb and index finger pointing suddenly become a pistol, lipstick and foundation makes her think of his greasepaint.

"That's it. So what did he call me?" Bruce's voice broke her out of the strange thought. She shook her head, looking back up into his dark eyes.

"Oh, um... He just said... Eat shit..." She chuckled, still feeling distracted.

"Hmm. Interesting..." He smiled, motioning towards the door of the meeting room with his hand. It was strange to see how different Bruce was to the clown when she compared their reactions. Someone tells the billionaire to eat shit and he laughs it off, seemingly entertained by it. If anyone had the balls to say hat to the Joker's face, he'd probably cut their off. Then again, Mr. Hiroshi said it in Japanese, figuring no one ould understand him without an interpreter there. Bruce only knew a few very basic phrases, barely enough for a tourist to get by with. "Let's get this over with."

"Sure... Just try not to fall asleep this time. I'm going to end up with back problems from apologizing all the time."


It was such a nice day out, despite all the havoc going on throughout the city.

Sakura walked down the path through Gotham Park, letting the little ray of sunshine that broke through the clouds warm her face. Usually this time of year was bitter, but today wasn't too bad out. It was still cold enough to need a coat on, even if she enjoyed the chill. Sitting down on a nearby bench, she let her head fall back, enjoying the fresh air in this area of town.

This was the only place in Gotham that someone could go to appreciate a small portion of nature. It was a pretty spacious park, the only place that hadn't been ripped up with tall buildings erected in its place.

People were walking through the leaves littering the ground, crunching them beneath their feet. The trees were beautiful during this season. Handsome shades of green, red, and yellow... It was always a gorgeous sight to witness, before everything died and fell to the ground. The pinkette was surprised at how many folks showed up here, considering the clown's siege over the city. Perhaps they wanted to go somewhere peaceful during such chaotic times...

The pinkette sat back, watching what was going on around her. People walking dogs, couples holding hands, others just enjoying their own company. Kids played in the grass, running around and laughing. It was pleasant scene, but...it made the hollow space in her chest just feel that much more empty. Sometimes, all it took was seeing the things that seemed so out of reach to make Sakura realize how little she actually has.

"Ahh..." This was her first time coming here, since returning to Gotham. It was like an oasis in the desert.

'Ino was right. It's such a beautiful place...'

After work, the pinkette walked the streets toward the apartment complex, but decided to get some fresh air. That would do some good right about now, especially with everything going on. Without a destination in mind, she aimlessly wandered block after block, finding herself at the entrance of the park.

"Tasha!" Turning around, Sakura sighed when she saw the tall, dark-haired man running along the path. What now?

Bruce jogged towards her, slightly out of breath. When she opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, he put up a finger, silencing her. Was something left unfinished at work? She was sure everything was done before leaving... It wasn't like the pinkette to leave, until there was nothing left to do. That was one of the rules she set for herself a long time ago.

'Be on time. Don't leave until everything's done. Never mix business with personal affairs...'

"Don't worry... Nothing's wrong." It was like he already knew what she was about to say. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about after the meeting, but you left so fast... I didn't get a chance." Standing tall after gaining his composure, he motioned with his hand for them to walk.

"Oh?"

'Please don't bring up the bridge... Don't talk about the Joker again either...'

Reaching up to slick his hair back in place, Sakura threw Bruce a sideways glance as he fixed himself, adjusting the front of his suit. This man always had to be the image of perfection, no matter where he was.

"Well, you see... I meant to talk about this before, but I've been so busy lately." His dark eyes looked down at her as he spoke. The two of them walked at a leisurely pace down the littered path, stepping through the colorful array of leaves. "Are you ready for the fundraiser for tonight? The one Wayne Enterprises is throwing in honor of the District Attorney? Everyone on the guest list has been checked off who are attending, except for you."

The pinkette scrunched her brows together in confusion. Fundraiser? For the District Attorney?

'Harvey Dent...'

There probably wasn't a single person in Gotham who didn't know that man's face. He'd been all over the news in the last few weeks for a multitude of reasons. The most recent was his war with the mafia that resulted in over 500 people being arrested. Aside from Bruce Wayne, the District Attorney was one of the most popular men in the city... Whether you loved him or hated his guts.

'That "I believe in Harvey Dent" slogan is everywhere.'

"You...didn't forget, right? We all had a meeting about it last week. Remember?" Bruce leaned forward when she glanced away, finding the bark on a dying tree suddenly very interesting.

Sakura didn't say anything, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip... She might vaguely remember something about a fundraiser, but didn't pay it much mind. How could she? Night after night, the pinkette was holed up in her bedroom with a cellphone, waiting for some psychotic clown to break-in. Throughout most of the presentation, she was in the back of the dark room, where no one could really see her, trying to get some much needed shut-eye. Compared to the looming threat of the Joker, a fundraiser was very low on the priority list.

"I..ah, might have..." It was quiet, almost low enough for the Bruce not to hear. It was embarrassing to admit... She was almost always on point, usually ahead of everything. For the pinkette to forget something like that ... It wasn't like the other employees hadn't mentioned having plans either. It just didn't connect in her mind that was drowning in purple and green.

"Sakura... That's not like you to forget something so important... All the employees are expected to attend, everyone is going to be there. We need to give Harvey our support, show him what our company's all about. I'm the face of Wayne Enterprises, so I have to be responsible for eveything and everyone."

"Well, ya know... Running off with the entire Russian ballet that was supposed to perform in Gotham isn't a good way to start things off...or show how responsible you are." Bruce froze, taken off guard by the blunt comment. It wasn't like her... The words just came out. The pinkette almost covered her own mouth, realizing what she just said.

'Where the hell did that come from?...'

Bruce laughed, shaking it off as she narrowed her green eyes on him. "Hey, I have a reputation to uphold as a playboy. I guess you saw that in the paper? To be honest, it's really not like that. Those women flock to me, because they just see a rich, handsome man. They don't know the first thing about me... I just let everyone come up with their own ideas."

They walked off the path and through the grass, passing by large trees. Sakura led the way, not really knowing where she was going. This place... It felt familiar. Did she come here before? The feeling in her gut was saying yes.

"Tonight? I don't even have something appropriate for an event like that. Not for the type of people you have at your little parties. Sorry, Bruce... It must have just slipped my mind." It wasn't a lie. There were plenty of clothes suitable for work or to be casual, but a fundraiser for the District Attorney? Come on...

They continued in silence as the man next to her looked deep in thought. Walking through the trees, a small lake came into view. The pinkette sighed, looking on at the peaceful view. It was beautiful here...

Bruce strode ahead, plopping down on the dying grass by the edge of the water. He seemed to be contemplating something when he picked up a small rock and threw it, watching it skip over the water.

'This... This is familiar. I've seen something like this before...'

Sakura's eyes widened, staring at the man tossing stones into the water. Searching her mind, nothing surfaced as she tried to concentrate.

'Ahh... Nothing...'

Hanging her head, it was so frustrating. This was déjà vu... Even if the images wouldn't appear, her instincts said otherwise. Yes, she'd been here before... Probably with Jack.

"Well, in case you forgot the rest of the details... It's a masquerade ball.." Bruce's voice distracted her from the things she was dwelling on. "It was Rachel's idea. She thought it would be fun. Of course, with all the craziness going on in the city, security will be tight. Everyone will have to take their masks off and show ID at the door..." Seeing the pinkette's confused expression when she sat on the grass next to him, he slapped his palm against his forehead.

"Rachel... One of my oldest friends? I know I've mentioned her to you before... She's a lawyer?...and Harvey's girlfriend." Sakura could see the weariness in his eyes, despite the smile playing on his lips.

'Ah.. I remember now... Why am I forgetting so many things lately? This is embarrassing..'

"Anyway, I know it seems a bit late in the game now, but it would mean a lot if you came. If you're worried about what to wear, I can have something delivered to your apartment right away. It's not an issue... The fundraiser doesn't start till late tonight, so there's still plenty of time." The look on his face made it feel like she should do this for him. He's done nothing but try to help, and asked for barely anything in return. After all, it wasn't his fault that she forgot...

"Fine. I'll go...It's my responsibility as an employee and I'll feel like an ass being the only one not there. Guess it's a good thing I didn't have plans tonight... By the way, you just love fixing everything with money, don't you? Always getting your way, huh?"

Bruce chuckled as he threw another stone across the water. "Not really. I just enjoy seeing the people I care about happy...and having a good time."

The pinkette looked away, not knowing how to answer. He cares about her, that was clear with all that he's done to help out.

Tonight... What if Jack comes back and she's not there? Part of her felt conflicted, remembering the note on the dresser. Would she be able to look him in the eye, after remembering that night from years ago?

Shaking her head, there was no use dwelling. The only thing that could be done was to go with the punches as they came.

"So... Harvey Dent, huh? I thought he wasn't up for reelection for a few more years?" Sakura picked a blade of dead grass off the ground, twirling it between her fingers. Anything to distract herself from the war going on inside.

"That's right... After meeting him, I realized he's exactly what this city needs right now. The people love him... The criminals, not so much. He's this city's 'White Knight'. We need him... Gotham needs him." Bruce looked out at the water, his expression shifting. "In just a few weeks, he's cleaned up the streets in a way that's never been done before. Batman couldn't even manage to do that..."

"I don't know... I haven't lived here long, but isn't Batman like a hero in Gotham? Dent is hauling people in, sure...but Batman is also saving lives." The pinkette tapped her chin, thinking about how the caped crusader saved her life. If it hadn't been for him, she would have died, after smashing into the rocks below the Gotham Bridge.

"Well, sure...but I bet he's probably tired of what he's doing, even after a year. No one can keep that up, it'd be too much. Eventually, he'll need to retire... Have someone else take up the mantle. After all, he can't do it for the rest of his life." Bruce's dark eyes watched her carefully as she looked down at the blade of grass in her hands. "Dent could be the answer. He's becoming the face of Gotham City."

"Yeah...but every life Batman saves is still precious. Even if he doesn't haul off hundreds of criminals at once, he's still making a difference. Each life saved affects countless others." If she had died that night, what would have happened to Jack? What would have happened to Gotham afterwards? "I don't see why Gotham can't have both Dent and Batman. The city is big enough for the two of them. They do what they think is right in their own way, but even the smallest difference, is still a difference..."

Sakura chuckled, tossing the grass in the air. The wind carried it past them, towards the water. "If Harvey Dent is the 'White Knight of Gotham', then Batman can be the 'Dark Knight'. One can work in the light being the face of the city, while the other works in the shadows... Either way, Gotham needs them both."

Bruce's stared at her, lips parted like he wanted to say something.

"What?" Why was he looking at her like that? Throwing his head back, he laughed heartily, hand clutching the front of his expensive suit. "What's so damn funny? Huh?"

"No!... No... I'm sorry! I was just surprised at what you said. How insightful..." Leaning back to lie down on the grass, he folded his arms behind his head, looking up at the sky.

"You know what? The other day when I talked to Dent, he said something very interesting... He said, 'You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain'... What you said just reminded me of that."

Sakura stared at the man looking up at the clouds, thinking deeply.

'You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain... Interesting...'