Author's Note:  Ahh! It's finals week and I've got one more left.  One!!  But that means I gotta cram today so I'm posting this little part up cause I can't finish the whole idea for this chapter anytime soon.  Characters in this series are a bit OOC, but mostly they're just exaggerated from their original personalities, except Naoko.  I just need to change her image; gomen if that makes anyone angry.  Read and review please.  Thanks to everyone who reviewed, that's why this chapter's coming up so soon.  If only I could write for my other fic…damn schedules and writer's block!!  On with the chapter!!

Disclaimer:  I have as much chance of owning CCS as sprouting wings and flying.

The Hunt for a Cherry Blossom

Chapter 2:  The Phone Call

March 23

As usual, I had the customary stack of papers to sort through; what the hell was I thinking signing up for operator duty this week?  The fucking phone kept ringing too, ladies with cats in tress, lost bicycles, lost wallets.  I mean, couldn't they just do it themselves?  Mind you, I'm not promoting vigilantism, but there's only so much I can do.  Sure I can take down a criminal or solve a crime, but how do they actually expect me to find a wallet somewhere in the city?  And now I have to calm down this woman, whose 'snookums' or whatever she calls that cat of hers, is stuck in a tree.  I wanted to just tell her to get a rake and get it down herself, but no.  Rules of politeness; must say 'Ma'am, we would like to help you, but all of our officers are on patrol.'  And then she would just complain on and on about how scared she was her cat would fall and how it was my duty to help a citizen in need.  I tune her out, not an easy thing to do considering her high-pitched voice.  So she drones on and I'm trying to alphabetize all these reports; what comes after 'Kamiya?'  "What?"

The woman's voice gets even shriller if that's possible; I can swear my ears are dripping blood.  "Well, what are you going to do?"  Absolutely nothing.

"Ma'am we can't help you; maybe you should find a neighbor to help you."  Before she has time to complain more, the phone's already slammed onto the hook.  I can see her, watching her precious 'snookums' from her kitchen window, going 'Hmmp…well I never' in her righteous anger.  Either way, I'm still sorting through this crap, what does go after Kamiya? The phone rings again, the piercing trill grating on my nerves.  I will never do operator duty again.  "This is Precinct 74.  What is the problem?" 

The voice on the other end comes out gasping, a quiet whisper, almost breathless.  "H-Hello?"

"Can you talk louder; I can't hear you very well."  What is it with these people?

"I can't talk louder; he'll hear me."  She sounds fearful, maybe my day will actually have something interesting.

"Who?  What's the problem?"

"I don't know who.  I've been kidnapped; I don't know where I am."  Her panic is evident in her voice.  I sweep all the files onto a nearby chair pulling out a fresh form.  Damn the procedures, but we must all comply, don't we?

"Kidnapped?  Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but I don't know where I am."  I'm surprised at her relative calm; that woman with the cat was nearly hysterical.

"Can I have your name miss?"

"Kinomoto Sakura."  Kinomoto?  "Give me your phone number, quickly."  She sounds hurried; my mind a blank.  I blurt out my home number.  What am I doing?  Before I can correct myself, she's already speaking.

"I'll call again; he's here."  Then the telltale click sounded on the receiver; the conversation over.  Kinomoto Sakura?  Wasn't that name familiar?  I quickly shuffle through the mess of papers, not alphabetized by the way, thank the cat woman for that.  My eyes finally find the little typed name, on the flap of a folder, just like any other report.  Opening it, a single sheet falls out; nothing very impressive.  I look at the case, a few sentences typed, very recent, actually last night. 

Name:  Sakura Kinomoto

Age: 25

Height: Five feet seven

Hair:  Brown

Eyes: Green

Last Seen:  at work at Tsukimine Café down on Fifty-First.  Hmm…I get take out from there, pretty good food too. 

Reported Missing:  March 22, at twenty three thirty by Tomoyo Daidouji, her roommate.  Lives at 5B Sundance Complex on 23rd street.  I scan the notes, whoever was typing really didn't care much about this case. 

Additional notes:  Probably out late, maybe with some guy; give her twenty four hours, she'll probably show up.  Well we know that idea's out the window.  At least it know who I can start questioning….but I probably should just leave it to whoever's in charge of this case.  Let's see…Yanagisawa? 

A coincidence; I see her just rushing by.  "Yanagisawa."  She turns, her face screwed up into an irritated scowl.

"What's wrong?  I've gotta go.  Spit it out!"

If there's anything to know about Noako Yanagisawa, it's that when she's pissed, her innocence just comes off like a mask.  "I got a phone call from Sakura Kinomoto."

Noako looks at me with an impatient exasperation.  "Good, you handle it; I'm on duty now."  She pushes through the glass doors, the blur of her uniform disappearing into a car before I can tell her anything. 

"What's wrong with her today?"  I ask no one in particular.  I almost jump when Yamakazi answers from behind me.

"Didn't you know; she caught her boyfriend cheating on her.  I happen to hear…"  I interrupt not wanting to hear the gruesome details.

But looking at her today…"I wouldn't want to be that boyfriend."

"If you were, you'd be in the hospital."  I stare incredulously; Naoko put him in the hospital?  "Yep, a broken nose and a dislocated arm."  I wince at the thought of it. 

"Remind me never to tick her off."  As if struck by a bright light, I suddenly remember what I have to do.  "Takashi, can you take operator duty for the rest of today?"

"Why?"  His face is all smiley, wait till he has to deal with the crap that comes out of that damned phone.

"Because Naoko told me to take one of her cases."  Okay I lied, but it's sort of true.  That and who wouldn't want to get away from operator duty?

"Sure."  He has no idea what's in store for him; I almost smirk.  But then I'd give away the secret.

"Great.  Thanks."  I pick up the Kinomoto file and leave, nearly running, as far away from that phone as I can possibly get.

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Author's Note:  Sorry for the short chapter, I really need to write more; if only I didn't' have deadlines… Anyway, I hope you enjoyed; I think I'm writing a bit subpar, so excuse the horrible prose.  I'll fix it up during winter recess though. =)