Chapter 1: Mysterious Found the Spitfire and Her Stranger

Sakura's POV

Rigolette's double story building very much looked like an abandoned warehouse, however it housed offices on the top floor, a bar and dance floor on the main floor, and a basement for the loud and wild ravers.

Even inside Sasuke's car, Sakura could hear the muffled beats of loud music bouncing off her side window over the elegant opera singing in the background, showering her with consequential remembrances she had moments before departing with Sai. She had a feeling she left her purse in one of the booths she sat in while spying the dance floor for her boyfriend.

Thankful that she had a ride back into K-city, the awkward exchange of short snippets between her and the young mister made her feel edgier since he was a complete stranger that picked her up off the interstate. She didn't question his motive for helping her out, but she wondered if he had done this often? Was he some good forsaken Samaritan, or did he have a hidden agenda? They pulled into a portal shaped garage and zipped into the VIP section where three valet employees were awaiting them at the stanchion posts' entrance. The moment her stranger stepped foot out of his car and tossed his keys to one of the valets, her inner senses went into full alert.

"This way," He muttered, walking pass her towards an iron clad door which led into the club. She wasn't too familiar with this route since she didn't frequently attend such events and she wasn't as important to use the back door. Sasuke rapped a pattern and the speakeasy panel slid open, a pair of green eyes appearing.

"Passcode."

Great, was this club remotely serious about having an entry passcode? Sakura's mood turned sour. She didn't recall having to say some password to get in before…in fact, she believe she seduced her way in. Perhaps, she should try it again just out of spite of her temper.

"Oh, it's you." The familiarity in the bouncer's voice tripped her up, making her glance between the two men. "Who's she? Your friend?"

"She's not." His answer came. The black haired man stood aloof, phone in hand while his other hand rested inside his pocket, appearing just as annoyed as her. She eyed the glowing device, wishing she had memorized at least one number instead of inputting her contacts on speed dial.

"Your lover, then?"

"No."

"An escort?"

Ticked off, the pinkette ground her teeth before snapping at the bouncer. "Hey, Smeagol, I was here earlier. I left my purse inside."

Both men looked taken aback by her outburst, but Sakura wasn't in the right mood to act nicely.

"Did you just-?" The bouncer started; his gaze held sudden perturbance. Then he laughed haughtily behind the door, "Well Cinderella, looks like you're missing more than just your purse."

Sakura didn't have to look down to know she was shoeless on one foot. Her heel must have fallen off through her struggle to stay in the car when Sai pushed her out. "It's been a long night. Would you mind this once?"

The frown was back again. "No one gets in without the passcode."

The pinkette clenched her hands into a fist, ready to pummel this guy into a pulp if she had the means of taking down the door first. What sort of club even needed a passcode to get in? Was it interchangeable every time? She wondered; she understood if they were checking the age restrictions or at least residential identification. Sakura tapped her foot against the concrete impatiently.

"Maybe I can help." The detective stated, rubbing his chin in thought.

"What are you, her fairy godmother, now?"

Both she and Sasuke shot a glare at the green eyed man before hearing a quiet 'no' from Sasuke and observed from the sidelines. The detective stepped forward and suggested, "How's this… I'll tell you a riddle. If you can't come up with the answer, then you must allow us access inside."

Insert inner frustration; she hated riddles. But she guesses it was a probable possibility for them to get inside.

"And if I do?" Was he really thinking of taking up that offer?

"Then, I'll use some other alternative means to get in."

Or not.

Did her stranger know what he was talking about? Was he going to bribe the guy? He better if worse comes to worse- her purse was inside and if the bet isn't in their favor, then how was she going to get home without her phone or wallet?

"Intriguing. Okay, bring it."

Before she could intervene, Sasuke spoke, "I shoot at people, and sometimes I cut their heads off. What am I?"

Her eyes widened at the very phrase. If it wasn't for the dark humor, then she'd assume Sasuke was speaking out of experience. She swallowed as silence engulfed their surroundings except for the screeching tires off in the distance.

What was the answer? A gun, right? It made sense for him to shoot at people but the whole cutting their heads off didn't sit well with her. A sudden shiver sluiced over her and her eyes lifted, catching the pointed stare of the man beside her. Wait, had she spoken her thoughts aloud? Oh, no.

Then and with a confident tone, the bouncer produced, "A camera."

Sasuke's POV

Entrance into the club was only but a dial to Kakashi's phone, notifying his arrival at Ricolette in the VIP. The riddle he gave Crayon was of two reasons: he needed to buy time for Kakashi to pick up and he wanted to observe the young woman's actions. She was a spitfire, alright; seeming headstrong especially with how snippy she was being with Crayon. If she did come from this club a while ago like she told him on their ride into K-city, then how did she end up on Hwy-41?

Now that he thought about it, he never really got around to knowing her name. His question went unanswered and he could understand why; she was off in space, probably wondering about his cordial wager with Crayon. Or, perhaps, she thought of him of someone important, someone with dangerous connections…

"It was deliberate." Sasuke answered her thoughts.

"What?"

"Crayon likes riddles. He's a master at them."

"I see… Wait, his stage name is Crayon?"

"No." Sasuke smirked and led her down a corridor. Turning a corner to a set of double doors, they could hear the EDM bounce with vigor, drawing them closer. Once they go beyond those doors, that will be the end between two strangers, cutting off all favors. Though Sasuke didn't care of her nightly agenda, he was still unsatisfied. After all, he still didn't know her name.

"Will you be okay from here on out?" He turned his head towards her.

But she was already reaching for the door, his question lingering in the air. Her frizzled pink hair blocked his vision from seeing the fiery in her eyes as she pulled opened the heavy door and disappeared through it. He shrugged and followed in after.

Inside was a perpetual night of various dancing and drinking. Colored lights strobe the crowded dancefloor as bodies swarmed up against each other, giving no room to walk through. Sasuke red-rover through the cluttered partygoers, avoiding the dancing Gogo girls ogling at him from their tables like the plague and soon reached the farthest bar stationed to his left.

There, centered off to the side, flocked by his closed-knit bodyguards was no other than Kakashi Hatake, his client and boss. He was dressed in a durable cowboy attire, a mask covering half his face and a fedora that hid the glint of amusement he knew Kakashi was expressing in his eye.

"I do not want to know." He said, sitting off to the side adjacent to him.

"One of the guys bailed." Kakashi explained, not caring to put up with his foul mood. "As you know, the show must go on."

"I didn't ask." Sasuke grumbled, waving over the bartender. "Water, please."

"That's all you're having? I said it's on the house. Water is just complementary."

"It's free either way. Besides, I have to drive home tonight."

"Who knew the Uchiha is a party pooper?" Kakashi grinned, mocking him as he called over the bartender and order two shots of Captain Morgan. Sasuke rolled his eyes and leaned onto the counter, hands clasped, ears listening.

"So, what's this about a pink salmon climbing upstream?" His employer pushed. "If I recall, they're not in season yet."

Nosy as ever, Sasuke shook his head. Sure, Kakashi can be one hell of a judge of character but when it comes down to business, sometimes he wondered if the old man was taking things seriously. After all, his club is the sole tryst for gangbangers and business trades- one of which had ended his business in court not once but twice and if Kakashi lands himself a third time, he'll have to give up not just his club but his shares and perhaps his reputation, too. That's why he personally asked Sasuke to investigate into the matter because Sasuke is a winner in court and he knew he'd get the job done. Now, Sasuke is on a side mission of crossing the targets off his list.

"By any chance, you have a lost and found?"

"Why, you lose something?"

Not him, but the little curiosity poking his consciousness for an answer to his question didn't go unnoticed.

"Well, do you?"

"I can't say that we do, but someone came across this and turned it in." Kakashi shrugged and snapped his fingers towards the bartender who reached under the counter and retrieved an item Sasuke was wondering himself. A purple sequin purse and inside it was a phone with the background of a tree. A Sakura tree to be exact. "It was left on the staircase to the basement. Whoever it belongs to will probably remember it come morning."

Taking the phone, Sasuke mingled the phone open and searched for the phone's owner, pondering the possible image of a pink haired woman with olive eyes. Could it be? She did mention that she had left her belongings back at the club and needed to retrieve it but didn't say what. There were no candid photos of the owner's face, but several photos were taken with the phone of a couple on the dance floor.

"Is this what you're looking for? This isn't yours, is it?" Kakashi laughed in a mocking tone.

"Hn." Sasuke clicked the phone off and searched the bag inside and out, finding a tampon, pepper spray and what resembled an ID but was poorly done. Was this woman he found on the side of the road a minor? What was she doing in Ricolette to begin? The many queries building up inside his mind worked himself to stand up and investigate. As a detective, he felt that his duty was a constant reminder to make do of the situation, get to the bottom of things, and finish what he had started. After all, he did bring her into the equation without knowing the facts. Grabbing the purse, Sasuke slid pass Kakashi's bodyguard before the old man could get any nosier. "Gotta go."