A/N: Sorry for the long update! School started again, and I've been very busy. In the past week, I had a big urge to finish this story, but this part wasn't the most fun to write, so I'm very sorry if it seems rushed! I guess I'm just eager to write the SasuNaru goodness that follows this chapter.


On the movie screen, Sean approached Audra's door and knocked. She answered, her auburn waves falling into her eyes, and her silk nightgown clinging to her curves. He stilled, admiring her beauty, and then began, "I want you to know I'm not a police officer." She slammed the door into his face, but he caught it, begging her to stop and listen. He wanted to know what happened the night of Blaine's murder. She said it hadn't been unusual, and like any other night she spent with her clients. He paid for the few hours of her time and left, and he left, she emphasized, very much alive. He believed her. "You're pure," he explained.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Whore," he said under his breath. The blonde ninja, who was slowly rising back to form, punched Sasuke in the shoulder.

Audra wanted to know how Sean had known she was with Blaine that night. "Raquel." Audra's face faulted. Behind Raquel's name lied a plethora of implication. The plot point brought Naruto to full form once again in his seat, excited at the new development.

The scene switched once again to the police station, where David the detective was busy with paperwork. Apparently, the two prime suspects checked out, and no links could be found between them and Blaine's murder.

"It'll work itself out," Roger said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

David looked up at him through heavy-lidded eyes. "How is Raquel?" he muttered through clenched teeth.

Roger laughed. "Exactly, how much will did it take for you to gather to force yourself to ask that? But she's good. She's damn good, as always, she delivers. You know that."

David had the face of a man who was chewing on glass.

"Are you even worried in the slightest that the woman you married is an evil bitch?"

"Now, now," Roger grinned, "she does have her good points, but she does have her good points." He chuckled at his comment. "She's been catching up with an old friend these past few weeks, getting information on her, and trying to help her out some. Audra is her name, I believe."

It clicked. Ten million light bulbs went off. David's eyes widened in realization. He hurriedly grabbed his gun and keys. "Shit! What if I'm too late?" He ran as fast as he could out of the station.

"Hey!" Roger called. "Where the hell do you think you're going?"

The scene switched again to Sean and Audra.

"Everyone knows Raquel." Sean acknowledged the look on Audra's face.

"She was amazing at one point; just beautiful, and talented at everything. I really admired her. She got lead astray though. She got too caught up in things she should have left well enough alone." Her voice was tinged with sadness. The look on Sean's face told of the need to hold her. He took a step forward to act on this need, but was interrupted as the door was kicked open. They both looked up, surprise and horror etched into their faces, at Raquel and three very burly, very dangerous looking men.

"Aww," she chuckled, "it's so sweet of the two of you to reminisce about me."

Sasuke thought back on Naruto calling this woman amazing. Between her and the whore, he thought, his taste in women can't get much worse. He admitted to himself that as much as he can't stand the thought of Naruto having a taste in women, he'll at least have time for improvement when the time comes.

"I'm going to get another drink," he said to the oblivious blonde.

Sasuke walked to the concession stand, fishing in his pocket for the money. When the time comes, he thought again. He had long decided that this wasn't something he could force, it would have to be a natural occurrence so as not to alienate Naruto for life. Lately, especially in the last hour being in such close proximity, he was thinking that natural occurrences normally need a catalyst. He handed the clerk his money, and took his drink off the counter. Maybe not a catalyst, he reexamined his thoughts, maybe more of a slight nudge. He walked back to the theater, imagining what a catalyst would do to Naruto, picturing soft blue eyes growing into two giant white baseballs, and the emission of a "GYA!" so loud that it could stop the hearts of all of Konoha. A nudge, Sasuke decided walking back to his seat, a slight nudge, and since he was sitting so close, he decided that he might try it sooner than he'd anticipated. He took his seat, to the same obliviousness of his friend.

"What did I miss?" He asked disinterestedly.

"We found out a lot! Raquel and Audra were best friends growing up. Then Audra's parents died, and that's when she started selling herself. Raquel offered to help, arranging for Audra's clients. From there it just sped out of control. She realized how easy it was to control others and get what she wanted, and she's wanted power over everything since. Kind of like a mob boss."

Sasuke nodded. "Still think she's amazing, Naruto?"

He scowled at his friend's taunting. "She can change. Besides, I'd do her."

Sasuke choked on his drink a bit to Naruto's satisfaction and slight worry that Sasuke had picked up on the underlying meaning of that statement.

The man from earlier glared at them, clearly indicating that along with a character's morality, their sexual attractiveness should be kept quiet while in a theater too.

On the screen, Raquel and the men had cornered Sean and Audra.

"You killed Blaine, didn't you? And now you're going to frame Audra, you sick bitch," Sean fumed.

"You can't prove anything. Besides, being a sick bitch is something you've always loved about me." Her smile was sadistic.

Raquel informed the room that Sean had chased after her years ago, wanting nothing more than a simple night, but he never had a chance, he simply wasn't good enough for her.

"By the way, I've alerted the police. The pieces to the puzzle have fallen in place. All we need is the clincher," she looked at Sean. One of the burly man took out a knife and held it to Sean's throat. "The police will be here soon. What do you think they'll do when they find a dead man in your bed? You're a whore, it's not like they won't believe you because of your 'purity.'"

Just outside of the door, the camera panned to David, wiping sweat beads off his forehead. "Once and for all," he whispered, "I have to do this."

He threw a smoke bomb into the apartment, much to the confusion of its inhabitants. A burly man ran out. Bang. Then another. Bang.

"No!" Raquel grabbed the arm of the other burly man. "You're my protection! You can't go out there until we can see the shooter better!"

Sean grabbed Audra, whispering to her, "Stay with me. While they can't see, we'll crawl out the back window, okay?"

"Okay," she answered.

They crawled into the kitchen, finding a window with a conveniently placed fire escape underneath it. All the while, David had entered the room, determined to confront Raquel. He shot her last protector, and came face to face with her. He raised the gun to her.

"I loved you at one point. Maybe some people would say it was only infatuation, but I know the way I felt. It was love."

He chucked the gun to the side, and put his hands around her neck, too quickly for her to have a reaction.

"Pity." She was serene even in the face of death.

"You're right. It is a pity you turned out to be who you are, someone who had so much to give the world. A pity you turned out this way, and didn't bother to turn back."

Her smile could've chilled bones. "And?"

"Ruining an innocent girl like that, not to mention killing all the people you have just to get ahead."

"You were like me once." She wasn't pleading, merely stating a fact.

"I killed that part of me long ago." He bared his teeth and tightened his hands around her neck, her body falling limp moments later.

David stepped out of the building, joining Audra and Sean, who were seated on the curb of the street, the gray cement and brick wall behind them outlining their figures.

"We should go," he said to the others. They shared a meaningful look, one that expressed that this experience bonded the three of them together forever, that they would have no choice but to support the others, and survive in the underground, away from Raquel's powerful and probably vengeful husband.

Sasuke sighed. Looks of determination and purpose always seemed so trite in movies like these. He glanced over at his friend, who currently had tears welling up in the corners of his eyes, and a pout across his face, looking seconds away from an ear-splitting wail. He rolled his eyes, figuring that as cheesy as a move it was, he may as well do it anyway. He reached his hand over to Naruto, and locked his hand into the other's, their fingers intertwined. Sasuke was relieved to see that Naruto didn't reject this gesture, but a bit upset that it elicited no response either.

The trio on the screen shared one more determined, life-changing look before the screen faded to black, and the lights in the theater went up. Aside from a few girlish giggles directed at the two cute boys holding hands, they remained unnoticed. Naruto wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket, and Sasuke simply rolled his eyes at his friend's overly-emotional state.

"You're such a girl, come on." He stood up, tugging his friend up, never letting go of his hand.

"I'm not a girl," he managed to get out between sobs, "you're just a bastard."

They walked out of the theater, with Naruto sniffling along the way, mostly invisible to the crowded lobby, except to the grumpy guy who sat beside them.

"You're awfully close not to be boyfriends," he taunted as they walked by him.

Sasuke was delighted when the comment elicited no response from Naruto.