Chapter 7

"There is a stirring in my soul, a restless, wild anticipation. I am staring out into the horizon, as far as I can. I can't see what's beyond it, but I can feel it."

…...

"It doesn't make sense, ugh…" I hear the woman snorting angrily, as she flipped chaotic through the victims' file for the thousandth time "I just can't find a reason, Itachi! Why would anyone do that?".

"Have you ever considered not drinking coffee? " I ask as I watch with real concern Sakura's uncontrollable trembling in the middle of that nervous breakdown. "Try some tea, honey. Lavender has a calming effect; I think it could help you feel better! "

"You kidding me? How can you be so calm when everything around you is falling apart?" I could see in her eyes a certain fiercely that fascinated me, that made me understand that she was certainly not just a woman with a beauty beyond words. Inside her was the spirit of a warrior. The flame of justice burned in her — a great fire with an overwhelming heat that miraculously managed to bring a glimmer of hope.

I smiled in the corner of my mouth.

Something about Sakura's way of being unconsciously reminded me of Izumi; of her unstoppable desire to help those in need and to be the voice of those who have lost it. The resemblance of the two women was overwhelming - so great that for a moment I had the impression that her spirit had returned to the world of the living, embodied in the body of the beautiful woman who stood imposing before me and looked at me in despair.

For a damn second, the eyes on me were no longer Sakura's, and the voice I heard no longer belonged to her, but it was the chimes I had thought I had forgotten too long ago.

"These women are like me, Itachi… I know the life they have led because, until I met you, their life was also my life. I remember every moment I cried for help, without anyone hearing me from behind those locked doors. Every slap received. Every insult. Every moment I wished I was dead and yet I was still breathing. And it's not just me. They, all these women… I am convinced that they cried for help and begged for their lives and yet, not even in the last moment of their lives, did anyone care. Nobody heard…"

She was crying now. Her voice cracked on the last words and I suddenly felt the urge to go to the other side of the desk and pull her into my arms. There was real pain, fear and a lot of confusion. And I wish I could do whatever it takes to make her feel better.

"I need to know that everything will be fine, Itachi…" she continued slowly, her lips trembling. "That I will be able to live, knowing that I did everything I could…"

When I spoke again, I did not bother with any of the normal assurances or spiritual banalities that I would normally have used. I chose to be candid because I felt she need a little honesty in her life. "I do not know if everything will be all right. It may not be…." I looked down at my hands for a moment — the hands that carried my wife's bloody, lifeless body to the camp. "You may never be able to wake up in the morning with this type of security. But all I can tell you is that I will do my best to solve the case and catch the killer!"

I could hear her breathing, short and deep, trying to stop the tears streaming down her hot cheeks. It was close enough for me to reach out and pull it toward me. And that's what I did.

I closed my eyes and let myself feel the warmth of her body.

"I won't let anyone hurt you again, Sakura…It's a promise!" her big, apple-green eyes stared at me innocently as her lips muttered a "Thank you!" shy, almost impossible to hear.

I got down to her wrist. It was pure instinct to caress someone who was suffering, but I couldn't get over the heat rising from her body, the way my touch would make her goosebumps on her arm. I stood like that for a short time, with my eyes closed; my hand squeezing his wrist, slowly running my thumb along the lower part of my wrist.

I wish I could kiss that part of jer wrist, press my lips to her pulse.

"Why are you so nice to me? I'm…just an object to you…." if it weren't for her face betraying this curiosity, I could have sworn I imagined it.

"You are not an object, my dear! Not for me. And I hope…I really hope you will one day find the self-confidence you need to face the world."

"I never wanted to go to that club." she finally said in a soft, deep voice, "He made me do this, Itachi…"

"Who is he?" Quiet. Again, that damn silence I run into every time I try to dig deeper into her past. It was untouchable - impossible to make her feel comfortable enough to take the courage to take off her veil and let me look at her as she is - a wounded soul in need of relief.

"I know it's hard for you to open up to me and I won't put pressure on you. When you're ready to speak, I'll be here. I am a good listener… You just have to trust me!"

"What about you, Itachi?"

"Let's make a deal, baby girl! When you're ready to talk to me, I'll be too. I'll tell you everything you want to know. I'm sure you have a lot of questions. "

…..…..….. …..…..…..

"Glad to see you finally decide to show up, big brother! You should have been here for at least half an hour!" he greeted me scornfully, trying to keep the same eternal indifference with which he was beginning to drive me crazy.

I longed to erase that arrogant smile from her face with a fist, but the lifeless body of the woman lying in the mud forced me to stay calm and focus on something that really mattered. That's why we're here.

Victim number eleven - Sumire Hanyu. I couldn't allow Sasuke to distract me; not when things were so bad.

"Yeah, sorry about that, we were stuck in traffic!" the tension between me and my younger, silly little brother had already become unbearable for those around us who were already stressed enough. Hell, I saw Sakura's skeptical gaze as she studied Sasuke with far too much interest.

Why does this bother me?

"Us?" He seems to be coming out of his idiocy bubble and observe Sakura there, sitting behind me, looking at me. "Excuse me, but who are you?"

"Haruno Sakura. I'm the forensic scientist, sir!" Sasuke could only raise an eyebrow, staring at the woman who was clearly an exotic appearance.

"What happened to Orochimaru?"

"He's out of the game. She is his disciple." I answer in her place, reminding her of that idiot with his feet on the ground and not looking like a maniac who has never seen a woman before.

"Okei guys, let Sakura-san in! We need to hurry up!" she took a deep breath before turning around and disappearing after the yellow banner that restricted access to the perimeter around.

The situation was frightening. A small, ice-cold rain had set in, as if to increase the indisposition and anxiety of detectives running chaotically everywhere, looking for any clues that might help us find the killer. I could see them turning their heads to look at each other after they parted, as if they were afraid that the murderer would appear from behind. The cold wind hissed vengefully through the bare branches of the sinister trees, bringing with it a rotten scent — a rotten miasma I knew all too well. The smell of death. It was impossible to describe in words - a sour stench you can't forget. It got into your clothes, your hair, your soul and you couldn't get rid of it.

"I know you don't want me here, Itachi, but our father wants me to get involved in this case. The situation seems to be overcoming you and you really need help."

"Do you want to help me, Sasuke? Do you really want this? Then do me a favor and go to hell and stay there! "

I was still talking about some bureaucratic nonsense with Sasuke, though I didn't pay much attention to him because my eyes were fixed on where Sakura was now. I could see her leaning over her body, carefully examining every inch of my swollen skin. The young woman lay there, face down, clogged with mud and blood as her long, beautiful hair covered a small part of her slender bare back, allowing us to see all the wounds and scars and bruises that had torn her back.

The previous gleam in Sakura's eyes had been replaced by a dreamy, melancholy light that gave you the impression that she was not looking around, far, far away. I knew that she was struggling with her own feelings, that she was trying to control the tears that had gathered in the corner of her eyes because no one would take seriously a forensic scientist who sheds tears after tears for each corpse.

And I knew it hurt.

"Do you think he will cope? I mean ... Sakura looks more like a limp girl, about to faint. "

"Foolish little brother…." I found myself using that tone of affection that I used to have when I felt like I could still love my family. "She may be young and inexperienced, but I think she deserves a chance. I've met her before; she is passionate and thirsty for justice… just give her time and you will see what I see in her…"

Something in my way of speaking aroused suspicion in my brother because suddenly his mask of apparent arrogance fell off. He was looking at me with special interest and a lot of confusion - he had found something and he knew it. "And what do you see in front of her, Aniki?"

"I think spring is coming soon and the cherries will bloom!" He replied with a hint of melancholy in his voice as I watched her get up and look around her, as if she was just now realizing where she was.

"Why do you trust a stranger so much?"

"I find Izumi in her…" He remained silent even though I knew he still had a lot to say.

"What did you find out, Lady Haruno?"

"It's the same way, Detective Uchiha. The victim was sexually abused, injured with a sharp object, but there were no life-threatening injuries. Although at first glance they seem serious, considering the amount of blood, on closer inspection it is quite obvious that they are superficial wounds. Also, it looks like our guy didn't come out unscathed, because her nails are broken and we found clotted blood under them. " she uttered every clear, lingering word in a tone that did not betray the slightest emotion.

But we know better, don't we?

"What makes you think that? Some people bite their nails to the point of bleeding; that doesn't mean much… "

"I doubt. It is very clear to me that she was a woman concerned about her appearance. Her hands were well cared for; her skin looked smooth and soft, her cuticles beautifully cut, and the pattern on her nails was the work of a professional. She invested a lot of time and money in her appearance because this is the only way to attract men…" followed a short pause in which I felt uneasy in her eyes. "It simply came to our notice then. We'll have to find out if there are any traces of semen left after intercourse and we'll have to test the blood! "

"Sakura, what can you tell us about the cause of death?" she turned on her heel and looked me in the eye as she confessed to me in disappointment that nothing, she had found on the spot had brought her to death.

"And then….?"

"Subsequent murders were linked by the mode of operation. Same way as Miss Sumire. Although nothing betrays the cause of death, I am convinced that following the toxicological analysis we will find a compatibility between the substances ingested by all the victims!"

And with those last words, Sasuke turned his back on us, walking away with his swaying gait, far too relaxed as he hummed a bunch of musical notes, keeping his hands in the open jacket pocket. "I want those reports as soon as possible, Haruno! I'm taking over the investigation!" He turned his face to us, throwing one last charming smile at Sakura. She gave him back a smile - a real one, that kind of smile that makes you stop in the middle of a crowded street and watch her until her figure is lost. That smile that could bring peace. That smile that makes my heart beat.

"A brother ... ehh?!"

"Let's go back..."

…...

Hello everyone, it's been a while since the last update but I promised myself that I will finish these stories, no matter how busy my program is, so I do my best to keep writing.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you for reading further. It means a lot to me and if you feel the need to leave comments in which to express your opinion, I would be very, very grateful.