Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 11: Falling
Sakura's Notes
Proteins are composed of long chains of amino acids. The structure of the body and the state of homeostasis is governed by proteins through various chemical reactions. An issue in this intricate system could have fatal effects.
A notable class of protein called antibody is responsible for surveilling, alerting, protecting, and preventing foreign substances and organisms from harming the body.
(At the Uchiha's household)
Sasuke lies on his bed; in his hand is the USB that Sakura gave him earlier. Her words repeat in his head like a recording device.
(Flashback)
"I have copied evidence of my commissions as Doll into this USB. Should you ever feel that I'm a threat to your family, you can give this to the police."
"You are not afraid that I will forget our deal and turn this over?" Sasuke asked.
"I have a back-up plan. Also," Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to whisper in his ear, "you are too prideful to be a tattletale."
Sasuke freed himself from her arms and stepped away from the seductive siren. Her smile infuriated him for all the wrong reasons. He took pride in his self-control, yet a few touches and words from her crumbled all his self-defense.
"Why are you doing this?"
Her face fell at the question. His stomach churned at the solemn expression that overtook her lovely face. She had a far-away look in her eyes like she was remembering a painful memory. His apology was almost at the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it back.
When she looked at him again, her lips curved into a stunning smile, "I want to bring someone back."
(End flashback)
It would have been easier for her to blackmail him to make him cooperate. If their roles are reversed, he would have done so. Her deal puts herself at a bigger risk than him. Regardless of his conflict with his family, he truly loves them and would put their safety before his pride and life.
Had it been somebody else, he would report them in a heartbeat.
But it was Haruno Sakura.
Even before he knows about this side of her, he has been intrigued with the rosette. At school, she avoids social contact with other students, even though with her appearance, she could have been extremely popular. The girl is always at the top of her classes, so she is regularly sought out by professors to be their TA or tutor for their classes. She turns down most of them, and never hold sessions after 7 PM.
He never sees her at any parties, clubs, or school events, and he doubts anyone else sees her after classes either. It's like the rosette only goes back and forth between school and home. She is a loner but the way she carries herself is different from the anti-social and introverts.
When he found out she is a "love maiden", he wasn't bothered. It was the fact that she is involved with his relatives that make him hostile.
She has shared that she started working as Doll so that she can pay for her college, and that she didn't mean any harm to Konoha, but this fuel with the government is personal and overdue. He has wanted to press for more information, but her melancholic expression shuts him up.
She must have cast a spell on him because he finds himself believing her every word and the thought of rejecting or turning her in makes his heart aches.
"You weren't at the office today."
So lost in his thought that Sasuke doesn't notice that his brother has entered his room and is casually leaning on the wall next to his door. Sasuke throws the USB under the blanket by reflex, hoping that his brother's keen eyes overlook the act.
Itachi glances at the blanket briefly before his eyes return to his little brother's, waiting for his reply.
"I was meeting a friend. Besides, I'm not required to go to the office."
Itachi raises an eyebrow at his brother's evasive response. He knows that Sasuke can't tolerate anyone else but Naruto, so him meeting a friend is either a lie or he's finally taken interested in a girl. His brother must be very enamored with her for him to sacrifice his precious training at the Konoha Police Force.
If it's true, then his mother's soul in heaven must be crying with joy.
Normally he would take great pleasure in teasing Sasuke and probing for more information, but the current situation at work ruins his mood. He just wants to go home, take a shower, eat dinner, then go to sleep.
He must deal with Konan's request tomorrow. Teasing his brother can wait until much later.
"Very well. You should come down. Dinner is ready." Itachi makes a move to leave the room.
"Wait."
Itachi turns to his brother who is spotting a hesitant and sheepish look. A silence falls over the Uchiha brothers with Itachi patiently waiting for his brother to speak, and Sasuke fighting an internal battle.
"For your first assignment, I want you to…"
Swallowing back his guilt, Sasuke looks at his brother in the eyes, feeling like he just sells his soul to the devil.
"There is a concert featuring Killer Bee next month in Konoha. My friend gave me extra tickets. Would you and Shisui want to come with us?"
"Let's seal our deal with a kiss, Sasuke-kun."
He didn't resist when she kissed him, not even when she laid on the floor and pulled him down on top of her. All rational thought left him when pleasure took over his senses.
(At the Akatsuki's Headquarter)
Sai is in the middle of finishing another masterpiece when Konan visits his cell. The contract killer briefly nods at the detective as a form of greeting.
"There is a serial killer at the hospices." Konan doesn't beat around the bush and goes straight to the point.
"And you don't know who that is." Sai adds a few strokes to his painting, pulling back to mull over the color.
Konan tries to hide the flinch, but his perceptive eyes catch the slight contract of muscles. Her intention for coming here is too obvious. He places the brush on a nearby table and sits down on a chair, facing the detective.
"How do you think I evade capture for so long?" Sai tilts his head, watching Konan with a curious expression.
"I will admit that you are better than us, but there is no reason to bring it up now."
His lips curve into a secretive smile like he knows something that she doesn't. It infuriates her, how he is looking down on all of them even though he is the one behind bars or glasses in this case.
He is what people would call "a perfect killer". He always finishes his targets, leaves no trace, and shows no mercy. He is the only killer who has a hundred percent success rate. No one knows when Sai has started working as a contract killer. The Akatsuki first caught wind of him two years ago. They got their hands on footage which showed him smiling directly at the camera.
A bounty for his head initiated the worst manhunt ever existed. Usually, contract killers don't get much attention, but because of his choice of target, he is hated by both the mobsters and the polices. However, anyone who comes after him never returns.
When he showed up at the headquarter proposing an exchange, they thought it was too much of a coincidence. Danzou, despite his seedy reputation, is an influential figure in the congress. Without hard evidence, he can't be stripped off his seat. But all attempt has been futile so far. It's a dilemma for the Third and the Fourth Head of Konoha.
Many have raised the question of whether Sai has inside intel of the government's agenda. The man in question just gave a fake smile in response.
"Do you think I'm a villain, Detective Konan?"
"You took the lives of countless people. Regardless of what they did in the past, the act of taking another person's life itself is immoral and illegal."
"So it's fine to take a life if it's moralized and legalized?" Sai leans back in his chair, crossing his arms.
"I never said that. It's still wrong." She exclaims in frustration.
"Then why are you not punished? What is the difference between my past actions and yours?"
"We are not here to discuss philosophy."
"No one cares about our targets, Detective. Their deaths are gifts to the living."
Konan wants to reach into the cell, grabs his collar, and shakes him until he tells her who is the killer. After discussing the case with the members of the Police Force, they have agreed that the serial killer is Danzou's henchman. But the list of suspects is too long, it would be inefficient to question all of them, not to mention, it would alarm the killer.
She should have known this elusive man would not give her a straight answer. They couldn't even touch on the subject without her getting furious.
"Just tell me the name of the killer. It's one of your targets, isn't it? It's a win-win situation for us." Konan raises her voice, her patience running thinner by the seconds.
"Did you know that an autopsy and a proper funeral in Fire Nation cost six-month worth of salary for an average working person in Fire Nation?"
"What does that have anything to with this?"
"Did you also know almost no one visits the cremation urns in the funeral center? The place is more haunted than a haunted house."
"Sai, if you don't cooperate, I will have to resort to interrogation."
"Evil doesn't spare children, Detective. Some of them don't deserve redemption."
She tries to get him to talk, but Sai continues with his vague monologue. The threat of violence doesn't scare him. Deciding that she has wasted enough time with him, Konan leaves his cell.
Finally alone, Sai returns his gaze to the painting. His poker face and fake smile drop and are replaced with an expression of genuine happiness.
In his painting, two little boys are holding hands and smiling fondly at each other surrounded by a forest of cherry blossom trees in full bloom.
(Flashback)
"Does it hurt?"
"Don't worry, Rina-chan. It's not as bad as it looks. Besides, I'm already used to it."
Rina poked at the bandaged torso hard, causing the boy to drop to the ground in pain. His nonchalant demeanor was instantly replaced with pain. Once the pain became bearable, he looked at Rina to see a serious look on her face.
"Alright. It hurts a lot. But we promised not to discuss my injury."
"Shin-kun, but –"
"It's for your own good." Shin silenced his friend with a cold glare, almost regretting his action when she flinched and looked away.
His expression softened. His hand reached out to lay on her shoulder, giving her a gentle smile to show that he was not upset.
"Did you bring what I asked for?"
Rina lighted up like a Christmas tree. Her earlier concern faded away for the moment. She dug into her bag and took out a notebook and a pen. When she handed the items to Shin, he held them carefully in his hand.
Looking at the notebook, the pain from his wound faded into the background. His smile was breathtaking.
"Thank you."
(At Obito's apartment)
After removing her make-up and taking a quick shower, Sakura puts on the lingerie. The garment consists of a rose-gold corset with black lace and matching panties. Normally women would wear a garter belt, thigh-high stocking, and high heels as well, but Sakura like her legs to be bare.
She walks back to Obito's bedroom to see an empty room. The sound from the bathroom lets her know that Obito is taking a shower. She turns off the light except for the nightstand lamp, then lays on the bed, and rolls into a comfortable position under the blanket.
Obito's apartment is simple and minimal. He doesn't decorate for pleasure, just fills up the places with the necessary furniture. The color theme is neutral colors, making the place seems almost cold and bleak. Due to her pleading, he has bought a better mattress for his bedroom and put a selection of female products in the bathrooms.
Among her clients, Obito is the domestic type. He prefers homemade food and spending time at home rather than going out. She smiles fondly at the memory of him shyly confessing that he was worried she might find him boring because of this. She teased him by saying that if she was bored, she wouldn't show it since it was her job. The poor man was so troubled that he took her out on the following date.
The sound of water ends abruptly. Obito walks out without any clothes except a towel around his waist, his hands using another one to dry his hair. She pulls back the blanket and turns her body sideways to face him. Her eyes follow the trails of water rolling down his chest until they are absorbed by the tower at his waist.
Obito drops the tower in his hand on a nearby chair, then lifts his head to lock eyes with Sakura. He sweeps his gaze over her body, lingering on her cleavage which is accentuated by the corset, and her long, slender legs. Despite the fatigue, he slowly becomes aroused by her presence, especially since it has been so long since they last met.
Guilt grips his heart painfully. He has planned for their date today to be special. He has wanted to cook her dinner, then they would take a shower together. He would offer to wash her hair and massage her scalp which he knows that she secretly enjoys. They would play that video games that he recently downloaded because she has absentmindedly mentioned that she prefers it over other activities. After she beats him in the games, he would paint her nails while listening to her rambling about her classes.
While waiting for the paint to dry, they would look over photos of cats. She would coo over the picture when he would argue that dogs are much better pets. She would try to hit him with a pillow, and he would pin her down on the bed. He would slowly remove the lingerie and worship her body to make up for lost times. He would make sure that she is fully satisfied before Bakashi arrives.
However, the recent case has exhausted his strength and mind. He had fallen asleep instantaneously when his back hit the bed and only woke up to the grumbling of his stomach and the smell of delicious food. After devouring his food like a starved man, he fell asleep again, and this time he woke up on the sofa. The sound from the guest bathroom indicated that Sakura was taking a shower. A glance at the clock told him that he ran out of time to do all the things that he had planned. Then, the sight of Sakura in lingerie and on his bed awakened his primal side and made him succumb to selfishness.
Right now, as he is standing before her luscious figure, he knows that he won't be seeking her pleasure. He would pin her down, tear off the lingerie, and thrust inside her without making sure that her body is ready to receive him. She would scream due to pain and try to push him off, but he would restrain her hands, and continue thrusting. He would keep up the maddening pace until he spills his seeds inside her. Then he would start over until he rids himself off the accumulated stress and tension.
Deep down, Obito knows that he is a selfish man. He tries to be a thoughtful and caring lover to Sakura, but he is not above losing to his physical needs and using her to relieve himself. He doesn't want to subject her to this for fear that she would leave him.
Even if this is pretense, he doesn't want to lose her.
Sakura slowly sits up, breaking Obito out of his thought. She reaches out to him with outstretched arms. Her lips curve into a gentle smile.
"Come to me, Obito."
Like a moth to a flame, he answers her call.
Notes: I noticed that at the beginning of the last chapter, Danzou's name was spelled as Danson. Just want to clarify that I mean Danzou.
To answer a reviewer, I suspect that the series would be around thirty chapters with three main arcs. I have written out the complete plot and details for each arc. I want to finish the series before the fall semester starts, but it won't be possible. I will try to update one chapter per week, but I can't promise anything.
As I mentioned in the disclaimer in the early chapters, the inspiration for this series comes from many rental girlfriend mangas that I read during the quarantine. However, when I started writing, I realized I can't write a romance story, so I add a mystery subplot to it. Then, this subplot turned into the main plot, since I enjoyed it so much. I took bits and pieces from movies and books. The Silence of the Lambs is an example.
I want to share/hint that the plot is not complex, since crime fiction is not my specialty. The story is a collection of many people's lives. When their lives become intertwined, conflicts of interest arise, and each must make a choice. The story depicts the choices they make and the consequences.
Thanks for your interest in the story.
Reviews are much appreciated.