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September 13, 2016 8:31 AM
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Sakura followed a beautiful woman with long brown hair, her chocolate bangs swept gently to the right. Her long-sleeved lilac blouse was tucked neatly into an ivory pair of high waisted paperbag pants. She wore low, matching heels that clicked softly beside Sakura's.
The woman had introduced herself as Izumi only a few moments prior.
"I'm so sorry about all the disorder this morning. This is a busy place, but we're normally on top of making sure new employees are well taken care of," she said. Izumi guided Sakura down to the space she would come to know as her office, a recent addition to the building as far as she could tell. The floor transitioned to polished black concrete slab surrounded by starkly contrasting white walls.
"Oh, that's alright. It happens," Sakura replied pleasantly. Inside, the sinking feeling she had felt earlier in the morning plummeted even further.
There was obvious commotion in the building, people up on their feet shuffling around, pacing between offices and phones ringing off the hook.
Izumi spoke through the madness, drawing Sakura's focus back to her. "The Office of the Medical Examiner, your office," she clarified, "is a subdivision of the Forensics Department. You all generally fall under the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, so you are required to report where they need you with your team on the field and autopsy reports are to be submitted to them."
Sakura nodded, her mind focusing on the mention of a team. She knew she would have some others working alongside her but had yet to meet them. "Speaking of my team…"
"Ah, yes! They both reported in yesterday. They helped get everything settled ahead of your arrival. I'm sure you will get on with them nicely."
The pair arrived at a set of gray double doors at the end of the brightly lit hall. There was a shift to them that intrigued Sakura.
Izumi pressed a button that opened the double doors before her automatically. "Here we are, doctor. Please, if you need anything, let us know. You can file requests from one of the computers in your office. Your team should be just inside," Izumi finished just as the doors sat open. "Oh! Before I forget," she exclaimed, holding out a folder to Sakura. "This is some final paperwork. Complete it today when you can and turn it into the Chief Inspector. He will take care of it from there."
Sakura took the folder with a smile. "Thank you. I will be sure to do so."
They parted ways with a final exchange of words before Sakura headed into her new workspace. Beyond the doors stood two men bowed over politely.
"Good morning, Doctor Haruno. It's a pleasure to meet you," they said in semi-unison.
The man with black hair straightened up first, followed quickly by the lighter-haired brunet.
Sakura held out her right hand to the one with black hair and he took it in his, offering a firm shake.
"I'm Kiri," he offered, his sharp and angular features intensifying the focus in his gaze.
"Please, call me Sakura," she said, eyeing them both. She moved to shake the other man, Amai's hand. "We're equals."
Amai's large eyes were noticeably softer, less severe than his counterpart. He offered a smile. "Amai," he introduced. "I look forward to working with you, doctor."
"Likewise." She smiled back. They both stood a few inches taller than her and yet the way that they yielded to her as she moved through the office made her feel taller, stronger, placed on a pedestal she did not want.
She had meant what she said.
Regardless of title, they were equals as far as Sakura was concerned. Forensic autopsy technicians were a great help in the field and in the office, especially. They would collaborate with her to solve and report on deaths with suspected cases of foul play.
Sakura set her bags down on unoccupied counterspace. She exhaled a deep breath and stood akimbo as she scanned the room, taking in some of the unusual grandeur that came with a new lab. Where she had completed her fellowship in Suna, their technology was state of the art, but the facilities themselves were slightly aged. Still, next to this, it was clear that the police department spared no expense in building this new facility.
The Office of the Medical Examiner was split into two main sections: the office itself, which was relatively dark lit, and the autopsy room with a bright contrast. A single pane of two-way glass sat between the wall that separated the two and a caution sign lay plastered to the door. Above that door was an unlit sign that read, 'autopsy in progress'. Another door leading outside sat between a partial wall and the glass pane for autopsy observation.
"This is amazing," she whispered.
"Isn't it?" That was Amai. A wondrous look filled his large eyes as he watched her expression alter from curiosity to excitement to amazement.
Sakura's mouth formed an 'o' shape as a thought struck her. "Oh! I was told you both helped with setting us some of the final touches just yesterday. I appreciate it."
"It was nothing, doctor," Kiri spoke. "Would you like for us to show you around?"
"Please. That would be helpful."
For the next half hour, they acquainted her with the office space, showing her the locations of various tools and running her through the software programs they were instructed to use, all while making small talk about their experience coming into this new position for all.
"So what about you two?" Sakura prodded the two.
"I recently graduated from the Kumo University in forensic science. I'm still unsure of whether I want to pursue medical school and eventually follow in your footsteps or go another route," Amai said.
"As for me, I did my education in Mizu no Kuni at Kiri and obtained my masters in pathology. I held a similar position as this one when I lived there."
"Kiri went to Kiri?" Sakura mused.
Kiri laughed sarcastically in reply, to which Sakura laughed.
"Seriously though, from what I've heard, they have quite a prestigious program. I think we can both learn a bit from you."
"I could say the same about you." An inkling of a smile flashed across his sharp features.
"So I assume that makes you the youngest then, Amai?" Sakura asked, turning towards the decidedly 'cute' man that was Amai. It wasn't so much his appearance as it was his behaviors and wide eyes filled with childlike curiosity.
He nodded. "It appears so. I hope to learn a lot from you both!"
"No, you hope to find career clarity, Amai," Kiri corrected.
"And how do I do that, Kiri? By learning," he said confidently, unbothered.
Kiri let out something like a laugh, his stern façade breaking. He had expected no less from Amai based on their day together just yesterday, and while he took his light jabs at him, the young man was noticeably hard to shake, so very level-headed, his attitude beyond his years. His inquisitive nature made him a perfect candidate for this job. Amai was honest with himself and with others.
Sakura nodded. "He has a point."
Her brief assessment of the pair was enough to draw conclusions about their work ethic and group harmony. She had no doubt both were going to be valuable assets to the mission of their division. There was a light-heartedness in the banter that would soften the solemnness of their duties when time permitted, just like now.
No sooner than the thought crossed her mind, a loud solid beep reverberated in the room, filling the space between them. Professionalism overcoming them all again, Kiri made his way to the 'answer' button of the intercom system, pressing down on it.
A voice came through almost immediately. "ME, do you copy?"
"Copy," Sakura answered, having followed Kiri to the intercom system at the main workstation. Her features hardened in the brief silence that followed before a voice carried through once more.
"Human remains found just outside of the metro. We are sending you coordinates."
"Thank you," she replied. The intercom cut out, and Sakura straightened up stiffly. "Well," she started, taking a step back to face the two. "It looks like we started at a good time."
"It seems so," Amai responded, a thoughtful expression in place.
Within minutes, the three of them exited the door by the two-way pane of glass that led to the below-ground parking garage. Kiri guided them to a vehicle, a white van with black lettering emblazoned on the side reading 'Office of the Medical Examiner' with the police department logo next to it. He took the driver's seat while Sakura accompanied sat in the passenger's seat. Amai entered through the back door and sat on the bench flush against the van wall.
As they pulled out of the parking garage and settled on their way, Sakura chewed on her lower lip. Her stomach roiled. She clung to hope that the body found was not Erina Ueno's, but the feeling that lurched at her heart and mind filled her with certain dread that it would be no other.
Her gaze bore into the changing landscape outside the passenger window as she bounced one leg, tuning out the low chatter of her new coworkers.
Inside, one question resounded repeatedly in her her intuition was right…
Why her?
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A/N: Please review if you have time. I always forget to include this, but for a time estimate on the next chapter's release, check out my profile. I update that often. Until next time, where the mystery truly begins and Sasuke makes his first appearance!
