The loud and crackling sound of thunder roared through her apartment startling Sakura awake. She awoke with a jolt of energy. Her TV opposite her bed was broadcasting the news to an otherwise silent household.
"And we are just being hammered by this storm that almost literally came out of nowhere. Expect to see these dark skies for the rest of the day folk." The weatherman said.
Sakura groaned at the news. She didn't hate weather like this, but she knew it made other people moody. Moving her sore neck, she looked over at her clock. It read "1:00pm". She'd been asleep that long? Sakura stretched her arms upward like she did every morning but immediately retracted her arms recoiling in pain. The altercation with Kiba was present on her mind and body. She carefully removed her covers and walked to the bathroom. How was she still sore from something that happened a few days prior? She thought this pain would have subsided by now.
She reached the bathroom and stopped to look in the mirror. Her facial abrasions were almost gone although her nose was still sore. Her skin still looked terrible. The bruises had turned purple the other day some of them had begun to turn black and were extremely sore and others were yellow in hue. She couldn't stand to look at them, but she could help but stare back herself in the mirror as if she wasn't the person she believed she was. Seeing herself like this was really messing with her psyche. It reminded her how close she was to being killed or worse, being raped.
She shuddered the thought away disrobed and jumped into the hot shower. She reviewed her plan for the day. She had a plan to make a drop per Itachi's request, but she also wanted to stop by the precinct and update her partner and captain on all that's transpired. She paused in the shower for a moment to think Is it safe for me to be at the police station? She worried Tenten could be watching her, but dismissed the thought. She'd know if someone was watching her.
Now that her bathing was complete, she moved on to dressing a preparing for the unpredictable day she had ahead of herself. It was definitely one she needed to be prepared for. She covered herself in a towel and walked back into her bedroom. She opened her dresser and selected a shirt. She initially reached for a blue blouse, it had long sleeves and a small opening in the back at the nape of the neck. She ultimately replaced it back in the drawer remembering Itachi had instructed her to wear a black shirt. She ten grabbed a plain black long sleeve shirt. It made more sense to her considering the weather and Itachi's request. She wouldn't admit it aloud, but the longer sleeves gave her a chance to cover her battle wounds from the world. She paired the shirt with a pair of skinny dark-wash blue jeans. She returned to the bathroom to address her hair. She ran her hands through it. The luscious and majorly defining characteristic to her trademark appearance was still wet. She grabbed her brush and brought it to the top of her head and began to brush downward, but stopped. She couldn't the motion was too reminiscent of recent events. She couldn't bring herself to relive the memory. She instead quickly cobbled together a messy bun. She sent herself a fake smile in the mirror. She normally didn't wear buns, she thought the style exaggerated her forehead, but that was not her priority today.
She walked back into her room and put on a simple silver necklace, it had a Sakura blossom on it. Her mother had given it to her prior to her death. It meant the world to Sakura. She only wore it on rainy days just in case she encountered something a little to familiar. It kept her grounded. Slipping on a pair of all white vans, she gathered her belonging and a coat and left the house. Once she got to her car, she realized she'd forgot her phone. She went back in to grab it. The phone Itachi had given her was still on her nightstand. The phone was still fully charged and the screen read "no missed calls". She grabbed it and began to walk out of the room when something caught her attention. I thought I put that blue blouse back in the drawer? It was laid out on her bed. She paused for a moment, then left the house. The blouse was left at the foot of the bed.
By the time Sakura arrived at the police station it was 1:45pm. She had to hustle if she wanted to beat traffic to make her drop in time. Upon entering the precinct she walked directly to her desk before she was stopped by a familiar face.
"Sakura-Chan!" Naruto exclaimed. He never could be anything, but excited to see her.
"Oh. Hi Naruto" She put on a fake smile, it worked.
"Do you have time for me to tell you about my latest case?" Naruto asked hopefully.
"Umm, not right now, but after I finish up some errands I have this afternoon, I'm all ears." She replied to the man.
She was sitting at her computer terminal. She wanted to get more information on Tenten. Sakura launched a database search while Naruto began to talk about his latest case. Sakura didn't hear one word of it.
Tenten's name was covered in charges and links to suspicious events. Robbery, weapons charges, and she'd been the suspect in a variety of murders in the other areas, but there was always a lack of evidence that cleared her name. Naruto's words yanked her out of her latest reading spree.
"Sakura? Are you there?" He questioned.
"What Naruto? I'm sorry I was-" She was interrupted.
"Ah nevermind, I can fill you in afterward. I don't think he's the guy you're looking for anyway." Naruto concluded. He stood up and walked away. Before she could question him further the captain walked into the bullpen and spoke.
"Alright, listen up people, we are transferring a high-value target today: Inuzuka Kiba. I want security around here to be tight people and I mean it. No screw-ups. We move in 20 minutes." The captain had finished speaking and everyone started to hustle and bustle around the station. It was like a beehive that had been shaken. Sakura closed the search window and logged off her computer before scurring after the captain into his office. She was confused and upset.
"Now is not the time detective." He said with his back still turned walking to his desk to sit. He anticipated this reaction from her.
"I thought you weren't going to make this a public event?" She questioned.
"I'm not, he's just going for a transfer. We can't keep him here any longer. We'll send him to another county to serve time there for some minor crimes. The judge agreed to keep this hush-hush." He assured her.
"I know, this may overstep my bounds, but Captain, couldn't you have informed me of this change beforehand?" She was still confused as to why he had to be moved.
"Yes." The captain replied.
"Yes?" Sakura asked back.
"Yes. As in this is overstepping your boundaries. I've got a department to run. I can't solely cater to one detective. We'd have chaos around here" The captain was right.
"I understand. Can I have thirty minutes to talk to Kiba before you transfer him?" She needed answers.
The captain looked at his watch before speaking "You've got 5 and you're on your way." He said in a very matter-of-fact tone.
Sakura didn't argue or bargain, she immediately left the captain's office and began to saw through the buzzing crowd of officers and staff. As she made her way over to the staircase Kiba's previous conversation with her remained in her head. He had mentioned the 'pompous captain' she needed to explore that further.
By the time she reached the downstairs holding cells, Kiba was already awake and expecting company.
"Come to see me on my deathbed?" He said sarcastically.
"I don't have time for your witt-less humor. I met Itachi." She said directly.
Kiba stopped for a moment. "Oh good, I bet he liked you. He always had a soft spot for arm-candy." Kiba teased.
"I'm taking your place, just like I said I would. I guess not all of your theories work out, huh?" She said crossing her arms.
Kiba stopped again. He wouldn't admit it aloud, but he knew Itachi didn't generally move this fast unless he needed to. He opted to keep this to himself.
"Welcome to hell," Kiba responded. His tone was almost sinister in nature.
"You're in for one hell of a ride." Kiba continued. "Itachi Uchiha is a man who does not like to be lied to, to play with, and does not take too kindly when COPS get his way. I bet he's already figured you out." Kiba let out a laugh that annoyed Sakura.
"You must really enjoy it, huh?" Sakura started.
"Being in jail. No, I prefer fucking random whores in hotel rooms, but this'll have to do." Kiba replied.
"No. I mean being wrong. I'm going to stop all of you twisted people." Sakura countered.
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. I'm going to die today and you can't even say a prayer for me? I'm shocked." Kiba said.
"It's a transfer to another facility in a different county. You're being dramatic." Sakura felt something was off. In the background, the lighting and rain roared on.
Kiba looked up at the concrete ceiling of his cell as if he was inspecting the sky for imperfections.
"Tenten's going to get me. Itachi probably ordered my execution. That or my so-called 'protection' is finally pulling the plug on our little arrangement." Kiba deadpanned.
"Are you saying someone other than Itachi is protecting you?" Sakura pressed on.
"There isn't enough sand left in my hourglass to tell you what's going on. I'm going to die today. End of story. Itachi will have my head on a spike by morning." Kiba replied.
"I told them you were dead." Sakura flatly said.
Kiba let out a laugh.
"I mean, you're not wrong. They are gonna kill me." Kiba's words were really starting to annoy her.
"You're so dense. Once I get you, Tenten, and that Uchiha behind bars, I'm going to make you all pay." Sakura boasted. She honestly didn't know if she could do that.
Kiba walked up to the bars of his cell. Sakura backed away. He canted his head to the left a little before laughing. The thunder and lightning from the sky got louder for a moment.
"Just wait until you meet Itachi's brother." Kiba began in a low whisper. Sakura began to rub her arm again. "You thought Tenten was bad…"
"His brother?" Sakura inquired.
"Sasuke. Itachi is bad, but his brother is evil." Kiba cackled.
As Kiba's laugh continued, Naruto walked into the room with seven other officers.
"Alright, Inuzuka. It's time to go. Face away from me and walk backward slowly with your hands sticking through the bars." He spoke. The other officers began to the procedure of securing Kiba. Sakura stared at all the people in action before turning and walking out of the room.
"Where's the captain?" Sakura questioned. She needed more time or at least to know what county he was being sent to.
"He stepped out for a moment," Naruto replied. "He left me in charge of Kiba's transport."
Sakura spun on her heels to leave. She had somewhere to be according to Itachi, but she was pissed she didn't finish her conversation with Kiba.
"IT WAS NICE KNOWING YOU, OFFICER SAKURA!" Kiba shouted. She didn't even look back to acknowledge him.
Sakura walked upstairs and out to her car. The phone Itachi had given her read "no missed calls". She walked to her car, got in, sat just sat plainly staring ahead at the precinct. It was completely unfair that the captain was tying her hands behind her back with this case. She pulled down the visor in her car to check her reflection. Her facial bruise was almost invisible. She could barely see it, but she felt it when she smiled. She looked down at her arms those bruises were almost gone as well. She was starting to look like her normal self, but she really didn't feel like her normal self. She flipped the visor back up just in time to see the doors of the department open again.
Other officers walked out of the station into the rain creating a secured path for the prisoner and escorting officers to walk along. The doors opened and out came Kiba. He was handcuffed behind his back. Naruto on his left and another officer on his right side. Kiba wore a bulletproof vest and was shackled around his ankles. The path the officers led him along was directly to an armored transport van. He spotted her in the car- they locked eyes as he walked. Kiba had an unreadable look on his face, almost like he was fearful. He was usually so cocky and confident, but now he looked…vulnerable almost.
BANG.
The sound was deafening. A singular gunshot rang out.
Kiba dropped to the ground. Bright red liquid poured out of the side of Kiba's skull as he laid motionless on the ground. His tattoo just barely visible on his arm. Fragments on his skull and brain-matter lay on the ground beside his lifeless husk. All of the officers in the area ducked down. Naruto radioed in the call of "shots fired. Subject down" into his radio. Sakura sat in her car horrified by what she just witnessed. It was unbelievable. She was frozen in terror over the scene that unfolded before her eyes. Kiba's dead. She was having trouble processing input aside from visualizing the limp and pale body with vibrant red blood mixing into the falling rain.
The officers on the scene began securing the site. Naruto approached Sakura's car and slapped the side of it with his hand. Blood splatter painted the side of his face. It was a stunning site to Sakura.
"Sakura. Get out of here. GO!" He yelled.
Time seemed as if it had slowed down until Naruto had interrupted her train of thought. She immediately started the car and began threw it into reverse. Wildly backing up the vehicle. She didn't even notice the tears streaming off her face as she rapidly left the scene. Her mind was on autopilot. She was beside herself.