A/N: I'm super mega sorry for the looong long wait!! Thank you very much for being so patient with me! I've been having a hard time where I've been very ill and had tones of school work to catch up that I never really saw much of my computer...
So I want to thank you for the wonderful reviews!! =D I was very glad I got quite a few, and of course all the fave's and alerts! I do try to answer my mails as good as possible! =) So here is the next chapter, with a little lemon in it! And it's longer than usual! *hurrayy!*
Enjoy~
Case Closed
Chapter 5: A little loving
There was a sudden dampness in the air from over the night. Everything felt slightly wet in her hands, which caused a sigh to erupt from her lips. She unclothed herself quickly and with some kind of elegance, then slipped under the shower, letting the steaming hot water pour down her body.
She made sure for the shower to be a short one. Stopping the water, the woman exited the shower cabin and groped for a towel, which was swung around her body with a swift movement.
"Damp too…" She whispered, looking down at the beige colour it carried.
A sudden impact grabbed her from behind, holding her tight, and a heated breath ruffled through her hair.
"N-Naruto?" Hinata stuttered as a rouge line crawled across the bridge of her nose, and her eyes fell wide in surprise.
A wide grin was spread across his lips as he held her "Yup!" He let go carefully, as if scared of hurting her.
The woman turned around with a pleasant smile, "What are you doing here so early?"
He shrugged, "I have a day off today! Thought I'd pay you a visit! Maybe we could do something…together." He grinned anew.
Giggling slightly, she responded: "Sure, just have to get dressed."
December days were flying past rapidly, and Christmas was close to be standing in front of the door. The first signs of decorations, including Christmas balls, trees, small Santa's hanging from roofs and terraces as well as figures presenting the nativity scene displayed in shops and restaurants, were to be seen.
The sports centre seemed iced through the glamour of light silvery roof coverings and walls clad in mirrors or painted white. Inside, there was a ghastly silence. Here and there, small conversations could be heard like heavy breathing.
A ball thumped against the floor and bounced back into the owner's hand, as he pushed it back every time it tried to escape his force.
"You never!"
"You know me" the ball was lead behind his legs, then back to the front, swung into the air, shot, swirled, and flew right through the net of the basketball goal.
Sasuke passed the ball with a heavy heap to his best mate, smirking as he went behind the man.
"You're a bloody liar!" Naruto grinned, bending before shooting the rough sphere in direction of the goal.
"Want proof?" Sasuke leaned back against the cold wall, his white shirt-sleeves rolled up his arms, hands dug into his pockets.
"Course! Not gonna work otherwise, is it? Not like it's hard for you to turn any girl around your finger, but still!" He grinned goofily again, passing the ball back to the raven haired man.
As he caught the basketball and prepared his shot through correct positioning, he couldn't help but somehow feel guilt inside himself.
Guilt?
This wasn't the usual him right now. He wouldn't regret anything, even if he admitted it was the wrong thing to do, which only barely ever occurred. He seemed rather perfect, capable of everything and bad at nothing. He had sarcastic, dry humour, but maintained his charms, and magically, his good looks. He had the women run after him for miles, screeching as he came into presence, which was obvious by his appearances at work.
He used to have this kind of habitual attitude in younger ages, where he'd flirt with some girl of his likings (concentrating on looks, of course), go out with her, sleep with her if he felt like it, then dump her the next day.
Not always did it work that smoothly, and not always did he have his own proper way, but it worked fine for him for some couple years, until he stopped, simply out of maturity.
Sasuke saw it as childish when it came to the dating-sleeping-dumping business, something done in naive youth, not when the age of reality came, where little games as such were seen as unappealing.
Of course there were the little flirts and kisses here and there, the comments and compliments, but they stayed minor, in the background, not to be considered. There was meant to be no regret by dates.
So why was he regretting it now?
After all, Sakura was drop down gorgeous, at least he could have described her as that. One of the rarest beauties he had ever come across. He liked the idea of a date with her, especially knowing her personality, after all, he liked their little encounter at the port.
So why feel guiltiness when it came to an opportunity of taking such a beauty queen out? Simple: he didn't do it for the right reason.
He did it for a deal, some stupid idea lead by Dobe. The Dobe. The biggest Dobe that ever existed. Those bets were always nonsense, but at least Naruto never had to fear that Sasuke came up with emotions of regrets.
Too wrong now.
"What's up, Teme, you look weirded out!"
"How d'you wanna know that?"
"Simple, you missed the net." Naruto quirked an eyebrow and gave his friend a confused look.
"What?" He shrugged, shaking it off, "Everyone can miss, nobody's perfect!"
"Yeah, but not you! Wait, wait a sec-"
"No, no don't even think about it." Sasuke shook his head, grabbing the ball that came to a stop on the wooden ground.
"You actually like her! You're coming onto her! Right!?"
"What?! You're talking shit." He stared at him in disbelief.
"You can't hide it!"
"I have nothing to hide, I barely know her, so don't come up with this nonsense."
"Oy, never heard of love at first sight?"
"Yeah, but don't believe it!" Sasuke gave him a serious expression, obviously displeased at how the discussion had turned out. He didn't need some kind of talk through from the Dobe, nor a loving relationship with a bloody co-worker, "Yeah, she's hot, and yeah, I've just admitted it, but no, I've got no interest in her at all, thank you very much."
With that he turned around, leaving the scenario whilst still bouncing the ball from time to time, causing an echo to jump across the gym.
"Jesus, he's very serious…" Naruto was slowly starting to return to normal after the neck braking shiver that ran down his back, "But obviously not truthful" and a grin plastered itself onto his face.
So the deal was set, obviously somehow, by both Naruto and Hinata going to the same restaurant Sasuke would be taking Sakura to.
"Gives me a chance to get her out!" Naruto had explained as reasoning, and Sasuke agreed.
"Alright, so you know the location of the Japanese restaurant?"
"In Denia?" He gave a helpless smile.
Sighing, Sasuke explained the location in detail, suggesting to Naruto to text-message him if it were necessary, "But don't sit near us! Make sure Sakura can't see you."
"What if she does?"
"Pretend it was coincidence. Best not to let Hinata notice how you stare all the time." He rolled his eyes.
"What! I don't stare!"
"You do, Dobe, so don't make it obvious."
"Alright! But don't forget to kiss!"
"Are you seriously expecting me to randomly press my lips against hers, just to satisfy your sick mind, and behave like I was a teenager again?"
"Course! Just do it, she won't ask about it too much." He winked, still grinning.
"You're a loony."
"And your best friend."
"Sadly enough…"
"What did you say?"
"See you then."
Sasuke had arranged to pick her up. He knew her address simply by asking Ino.
Putting on normal trousers and a black shirt, with opened sleeve-ends and leaving a few buttons open to breathe, he grabbed another dark jumper with a widely cut neck.
As he quickly finished his styling up, which took him barely more than five minutes, the obsidian eyed man got his thick brown coat and grasped the keys he needed.
"Be back in a while, Jingles." He smiled at the black lab that lay sleepily on the rug, yawning.
It didn't take long to find her house, it was actually quite easy, and it turned out she didn't live too far from Sasuke. Would be a good 35 minutes walk per foot maybe, on a good weather's day, understands.
So he left the car, sensing how the weather would most likely soon turn against his likings, yet ignored this firstly.
The doorbell went off, Sakura swung her head around in surprise of the punctuality and rushed to the entrance.
The lock unfastened and the door finally opened, "You're early." She commented with a smile.
He noticed her hair was still wet and curled in millions of corkscrew locks. In one hand she held a towel, trying to drench out most moisture from them. He noticed the long, dark blue dress she wore, with sleeves commencing at the side of her shoulders, ending just before the tip of her fingers. The dress folds swung just above her knees and the whole structure of the clothing seemed to cling lovingly to the russet's body. A black, thin piece of material was tied around her waist, the ends swinging at her right side. She wore no shoes, but black tights.
"One sec, sonny" She opened the door wide enough, indicating he could enter, which he did, closing the door behind him.
She disappeared into a room which he guessed was the bathroom. It didn't take long and he heard the hairdryer turned on.
But it did take long for it to turn off.
He waited a good quarter of an hour for her to finish her little drying tour, and finally exit the bathroom.
The outcome was that her hair seemed a little bit straightened, yet still curled around many times at the bottom.
Slipping on a pair of black high-heels and grabbing her handbag as well as a coat, she stood in front of the Uchiha, smiling sweetly, "If you want, we can go."
With a smirk he nodded, both leaving the apartment.
"So you've been here more often?" She asked, taking a seat opposite of him as they entered the restaurant and were allocated a table.
He shrugged, "Yeah, a couple of times I guess."
"If I remember correctly, you are Japanese, right?"
He nodded.
"I'm half Japanese. From my father's side. Yet I grew up in America, but only barely ever spoke Japanese to my father."
"But do you know it?"
"More or less." She looked to the side, trying to suppress a grin.
He chuckled slightly.
"Hey! Why don't you teach me some of it!"
"Teach? I'm not a good teacher."
"Come on, you can't be that bad!"
"Well… I guess if it has to be."
She smiled widely, obviously amused, leaning forwards, "Okay, teach me something?"
Just then their first dishes were bought to them.
Sasuke pointed at the delicately cut fresh fish that was served raw, "Sashimi."
Rolling her eyes, both began to eat, picking up the wooden chopsticks and separating them with a clack.
The restaurant was neatly decorated with lanterns, having different symbols painted onto them, as well as large pictures of geishas or samurais. The patterns on the walls were simple yet eye-catching, the plants mainly being Bonsais or other Spanish flora.
From the side, Sasuke noticed spiked, blond hair, and someone next to it.
He's here. He concluded, continuing his meal.
On his way to the restaurant, he had decided to ignore the fact it was actually all about a bet. This gave him the opportunity to go out with a magnificent lady in long time, and one that actually seemed interesting. So it was to his pleasure, in some kind.
Sakura looked up, her eyes clashing with his as he had been staring at her.
"Is something?"
He shook his head, a faint smile on his lips.
"You seem amused."
"And, is it a crime?"
She shrugged, "Don't think so."
"Well then, tell me something about you." Why was he even asking?
"Tell you something? I've told you loads! You're the one who owes me." She tapped him playfully.
"I'm curious, I'm sure there is more about you."
"Why so interested, Uchiha?"
"I actually don't know" He admitted, looking through the window, "but It's something different from all the daily business."
Somehow accepting his answer, she thought for a point to start at, "What exactly is there to tell?"
"No idea….your dreams maybe?"
"At night?"
"The other ones."
Her eyes flickered in understanding, "My dreams…well, I always wanted to do something with theatre and cinema and that. I never really saw myself as an actress though, so I had the idea of working behind the scenes. I'm a little bit artistic, and too imaginative, and I believed being a stylist would be some fun."
"So you never wanted to be anything else?"
Next came their second dish, containing thin pieces of meat and grilled vegetables, seasoned with soy sauce and different ingredients used by the cook.
"Not really. I guess I had these childhood dreams, you know, like becoming a vet, or becoming a popstar, but those ambitions quickly pass by. I at some point actually considered opening up my own model agency, but after being engaged to Seth, those dreams literally died away."
"Why that? Because of his obsession?"
She sighed, "He was too overprotective, I guess. He was all loving and caring, but he wouldn't really let me do my own thing. He didn't even like the idea I would work. Seth was always talking about some great business ideas with a friend of his. Soon he seemed all stressed and angered; as if he had been in a massive row. I left him soon after he turned a little too insane for my taste. He gave up his job, telling me he had something else planned, something better in sight." She shook her head, a sad smile forming on her lips, "Haven't heard from him since."
"So you don't know where exactly he is?"
"I guess in Los Angeles still…"
"Should be careful with such stuff. Obsessed lovers don't give up that easily."
"But he doesn't know where I live."
"He could find out."
"Sonny, are you trying to scare me?" She laughed.
He smirked, "No, not really."
"Well, who knows, he may even be dead, which I don't wish for, but knowing how crazy he was when I left him" she shrugged, "But that's left behind now, wasn't like I really loved him anyway, only did it to-"
"Please your father, I know."
"Exactly."
"I guess I am somewhat similar there then."
A glittering came into her emerald eyes as she watched the man opposite of her, stabbing his bowl of rice mixed with vegetables cut into tiny pieces, "Are you actually gonna tell me something?"
"Might as well, might I not?" He sighed, still smirking.
"What was your father like?"
"Same, nearly. He was very strict, cold, he was ambitious I guess. He very much liked my older brother. He had confidence in him, knew he'd bring honour to the family's name and continue his businesses as soon as he would retire. After all, my big bro was intelligent, famous, had many contacts, was perfect in manner and attitude, simply a genius."
"And did you get jealous?"
"At some point, for sure, but it also told me something. I knew I would never want to become like that; to follow my father's orders. I didn't want to be controlled, I wanted to choose for myself, see what I liked. I know he knew I was capable of many things, but he tried harshly to pull the strings in the direction of his liking. I guess I escaped his control early enough.
"Weirdly enough, my brother supported my idea. I don't know if it was for love, or simply so he could run the businesses alone, which I believe was the case, but I got away with it. I didn't actually know what I wanted to be. A very good friend of mine somehow suggested I should become a detective. I still don't know if he actually meant it back then or was just making jokes, but it inspired me none the less, and I soon found a skill for it, for solving cases."
"That's what made you worldwide famous." Sakura smiled, both hands neatly folded above each other as her head rested on them.
"I guess…"
"But why did you stop?"
He hesitated, opened his mouth, breathing in deeply, but stopped again, "I…." He saw a flicker of movement in the reflection of the window, "I don't really talk about that."
"Aw, Come on! It's turning interesting!"
He sighed, "Back then something hap-"
A loud sneeze was heard from one of the neighbouring tables.
Dobe!
"Bless you." Sakura called, amazed at the loudness, "Weird" She said to Sasuke "somehow, it sounded familiar, don't you think?"
Sasuke's eyes were a little bit wider now, "You believe so? Not to me, anyway."
"What were you gonna say?" Her curious eyes returned again, focused on the raven haired man in front of her.
He smirked, "Nothing, not important actually."
"Bless you" Hinata said, handing him a tissue.
"Thanks" He murmured, cleaning his nose, "I guess I breathed in too much pepper."
"May well be." Hinata smiled sweetly, continuing with her meal.
As his eyes cleared from the blurriness bought to him after his sneeze, he tried to catch a glimpse in the reflection of the window which Sasuke and Sakura sat next to.
She was smiling in pure amusement, and he seemed not too bad either.
Why the hell have they never met before?! Oh yeah wait, I always forgot to introduce them to each other…
Realising this, he made a sheepish grin.
"Is something?" Hinata asked gently.
The blond returned back to normal "No! Nothing, of course." Grinning again, he proceeded eating as well, making sure Hinata wouldn't notice his silent spying.
The evening soon came to an end, and Sasuke couldn't help but feel slight displeasure at how fast it went by. He had actually enjoyed this evening very much, for the first after having many dates with girls, even though Sakura's questions could be annoying at times. Yet he liked her presence.
After he had paid, both of them left the restaurant silently. Sasuke took a quick side glance at his mate, and noticed, for once, that he had used his brains. He made sure Hinata would be having her back to the entrance as well as Sasuke and Sakura, as to not notice them.
Sighing in relief, he left.
And noticed the raging rain that poured down outside.
And with it, he remembered the kiss. But as his eyes averted themselves to the sight of the sweet russet, he couldn't help but feel more guilt boil up in the pit of his stomach by the thought of a meaningless kiss.
Fuck the bet, He smiled to himself, staring into the darkened sky.
"Damn, why does it have to rain like this now." Her words got him back into their current situation, "Bloody rain!"
And just as she spoke those words, harsher, larger drops came falling down like a violent storm, "Wait, I didn't mean it!"
"I think it's hail. We have these type of rains sometimes during autumn and winter." Sasuke sighed.
"What now then?" She started to laugh, surprising Sasuke, as she stared at the small hail balls.
He shook his head, pulling off his jacket, which was quite thick and tough, and handed it to her.
"I'm warm enough, thank you." She quirked an eyebrow, but earned another shake of his head.
"Put it over your head, it's quite strong, it'll protect you until we get to the car."
"Thanks" She spoke with a sudden smile, yet hesitation, "What about you?"
"I'll manage, don't worry. Now come on, quickly, I think it calmed down a little bit."
As Sakura pulled his jacket over, they headed straight for the car, the savaging lumps crashing down on them mercilessly. Sasuke quickly opened the vehicle and jumped inside, banging the door close.
He noticed Sakura entering next to him, tearing the door shut with all her might.
"Jesus!"
"You alright?" He asked, panting.
She nodded a few times, smiling once again, "Thanks. Are you alright yourself?"
"Yeah, think one of them hit my head, but it isn't too bad."
"You sure?" She looked with worry at his hair, trying to notice something.
"Don't worry, am alright!" And he started the engine, driving off.
"Ouch!" He muttered, rubbing the back of his head but earning a slap on his hand instead.
"Don't rub it! You'll make it worse."
"I can't help it."
He was on the sofa, leaning forwards, and she was right opposite of him, actually on top *cough* of him, trying to look through his tightly grown hair.
"How does your hair stay like this?"
"That's one of the eight world wonders."
"There are only seven."
"With me, eight."
She nodded in approval, giggling, and cramming through his hair. Her cleavage seemed dangerously near his face, and he felt the heat rise to his cheeks.
"It's quite big, actually!" She complained.
"Bruise, or blood as well?"
"Bruise, you're lucky."
Shrugging his shoulders, she bent down again, "Where do you keep your first aid stuff?" She looked around the house curiously.
After they had driven off, the hail became worse, and figuring out that Sasuke lived a lot closer to the restaurant than Sakura, they drove there instead, until the weather would calm down and it was safe to leave the building. Having entered the house, she noticed the dog straight on.
Jingles greeted her immediately with slobbery kisses and barks, his tail wagging excitedly around as he jumped at the newcomer.
Sakura indicated her love for dogs, as she used to have many large dogs when she was younger. She even said how the aggressive guard dogs her father used to have, in order to protect the company buildings, were only controllable by her.
"You don't need to do that." He commented, finally, trying to stand up.
"Just tell me." She said, still on top of him, pushing him back.
"Bathroom, white box with a lock." He admitted, staying put as she went to get what she needed.
Coming back, she dabbed something cold onto his head, exactly over the bruise, causing him to wince. Then she stood up again and disappeared inside the kitchen, looking around the fridge.
"What're you planning?" He asked, but got no response as she hummed a tune unknown by him, then ran off to the bathroom once more.
This time she had something wrapped inside a towel, and he guessed she must have found an ice pack.
Sakura pressed it against his head as she was opposite of him once more.
"Ouch! Jesus, that's cold!"
"Can you guys only ever whine?"
"Yes!" He retorted, smirking, then taking the pack off her hand and holding it against his head himself.
She was bent on the sofa in front of him, whilst he had his legs spread, passing by on either sides of her, leaning against the edge whilst holding the cold healer.
"Thanks…" He muttered after a short while, attempting a smile, but letting it be as he felt dumb.
"Wow… were you actually gonna smile for me?" She smirked at him mockingly.
"…No…"
"You were."
"You were just imagining."
"I believe you're lying."
"I'm an honest person."
He seated himself now, slightly bending forward, "Really?" He arched an eyebrow.
"Sure am…" She heard him whisper as she began to feel his hot breath fanning against her neck.
"I wanna see that then." Sakura's voice was barely above a whisper, and he slowly let the cold ice pack lower down onto the sofa, as he pushed his head forwards and united his lips with those of the emerald eyed woman.
She just stared dazedly, shutting her eyes and enjoying the little kiss.
It was simple, sweet to begin with, and he separated from her, suddenly smirking as she couldn't hold back a smile.
"Is that honest enough for me?"
But she shook her head and neared him again.
This time, his cold hand trailed to her cheek, causing Sakura to jump from the cold, but nonetheless continued kissing the man in front of her.
By pushing his tongue against her lower lip, he managed to gain entrance inside her mouth after biting it slightly and making her gasp. This caused a clash between their tongues, and he quickly enjoyed the taste, pressing harder, pushing her petite body further down onto the sofa.
His other hand wandered down towards her dress, travelling to both arms as his other hand joined, pushing down the sleeves gradually.
Sakura split for a pause to breathe, sluggishly opening her eyes, yet shutting them soon and wrapping her arms around his neck, pushing lustfully against him.
He smirked against her lips, which she felt. Her hands grasped his jumper in an indication for him to take it off. And so he obliged, continuing with trailing sweet wet kisses down her neck.
He nibbled her earlobe, breathing heatedly into it and causing the woman underneath him to giggle in pleasure as she moaned. Liking the sound, he forced his thrilled lips against hers again, pushing down on her.
He felt lustful and ecstatic by now. This had turned out better than expected, and he was enjoying every bit of it. He could finally click off his mind, just concentrating on the matter in hand, which was, clearly, Sakura.
But as his desirous lips pressed for more against hers, his tongue delighted to meet hers once again, he was interrupted fiercely by the loud musical sound of his phone.
Nara!! He roared in his mind, grunting in annoyance.
But he knew he couldn't ignore it.
His shirt half off, he jolted up, grabbing inside his bag and dabbing the green button in annoyance, "What?!" He hissed.
"Whooaa, calm down buddy, you sound as if I have just woken you from a deep sleep. And we all know how bad that is."
"Whatever, what you want?" He sighed, leaning against the wall next to the sofa now, watching as Sakura got up, staring at him.
"Well, I have interesting stuff, mate. We've got some information about that Japanese mafia gang running around in Los Angeles. Also figured out something about their plans, if not much, but it is a point to start at."
"Can we discuss this tomorrow?" He rubbed the back of his head, touching the bruise.
"Tomorrow may be too late. You said that yourself."
"Yeah, back then, I'm really busy now." He complained, seeing as Sakura was pulling up her dress again.
"Yeah, sleeping is no business! Come on Sasuke, this is really important and I think you'll like this stuff! And bring Jingles with you!" He hung up before Sasuke could retort anything.
He sighed.
"Bad news Sonny?" She spoke harmonically, enchanting him in some subconscious way.
"Type of, work calls." He rolled his eyes.
"Can't change that, sweetie, you better go." She smiled, which could have knocked down even the toughest in Sasuke's eyes.
He nodded in displeasure, pulling up his shirt and closing the buttons.
The woman stood up, neatly clothing herself again and then grabbing her coat and handbag.
"The weather has calmed down, I'll drive you home."
He reached her house soon. It was still raining, but the hail had stopped finally.
"See you at work I guess." She said, holding the door.
"Yup. Was nice."
"Was indeed." She smiled, then left the car.
"Bye Jingles!" She called inside, and winked at Sasuke himself. Shutting the door, she ran up the few stairs to her apartment.
He watched the light go on, then drove off in direction of the main police station.
"What could you discover?" Sasuke questioned right after his entrance, taking seat in one of the larger, swivelling chairs.
Jingles pounced in and stopped next to his owner.
"They're seen around sometimes, in Los Angeles, but they leave no kind of pattern." Shikamaru sat opposite of his friend now, "Seems the organisation has grown. 700 members at least, they guess they've only got skilled men at work, and women of course.
"In the past they were known for small crimes such as robbery and murders here and there. The corpses could normally be distinguished, the tracks to the criminals found sooner or later. Later on, they started with throwing the bodies into rivers, lakes, even placing them on graveyards, in old houses that they burned down. It was turning harder and harder to catch the culprits or finding out the necessary information about the victims." He watched as Sasuke inspected a stress ball he had picked up, nodding as an indication of his attention, "I believe those corpses we found here were their work too. Nowadays it's hard to find out who did it, especially as they leave no trace, but such mysterious cases usually lead back to that yakuza organisation."
"So you think they have a location somewhere here in Spain?"
"I'm assured they do. But we can't make out a leader."
"What about their plans? Did you find a witness?"
A nod from Shikamaru's side, and Sasuke's attention gradually grew.
"Elder, retired man in the north of Los Angeles. Said he heard rumours going around about some shark loan business. Something serious, anyway. They wanna make the big money, but to start off the businesses they begin with older geezers who stink of money. Fake marriages, murders, accidents, such stuff. Most time these men have contracts with their business, which gives them a large profit. But it's not always the case, otherwise it would be too obvious."
"So they hide well. Some of their victims earn the large money sums through contracts, others are gained through secret agents marrying them, another bunch might as well just be murdered and stolen." Sasuke summarised.
"Yes. And they surely have some co-workers in police businesses and data controlling systems. They manage to erase all information, somehow. We're still scrambling for some kind of data resource. Subscriptions maybe, friends. It's hard, most of the victims don't seem to have a family."
"They have good tactical thinking." Sasuke nodded, swirling slowly from left to right in his seat, "So those corpses we found…most likely those are co-workers."
"Co-workers?" The pineapple head frowned, his dark eyes focusing on Sasuke, trying to see through his thinking.
"Yeah, traitors, useless people, maybe too much. They're trying to cut down their people, so that they gain a higher profit, if you get what I mean."
"Ah, I understand…and they do this in another country to lower the chance of being found out."
"Exactly." Sasuke pointed a finger at him, "Which means, the guy with the bruises, seemingly in a fight" He paused, thoughtful, "He was in a fight. He must've either resisted, or it was the reason for his death."
"So…what shall we do next?"
Jingles began to bark, jumping up and leaning his paws against the table.
"What's up, boy, you've got an idea?"
Another loud bark that echoed through the room, and suddenly the Labrador jumped towards the door, back on his heels, pulling down the handle with his jaws, then leaving the room.
Sasuke jolted up from his seat, "Oy! Jingles! Comes back!" Both men ran after the dog who chased to the entrance, flung himself against the door and left outside into the stormy night.
"Jingles!" Sasuke called, but the dog just barked, running off, turning faint, "He's never done that before!"
"Maybe he's tracked something." Shikamaru suggested, "But we won't find him at this time, especially not during this weather."
"I hope the idiot doesn't make me worry." The raven haired man grumbled, "I'll be heading home, I'll give you a ring when I have an idea."
His old partner nodded, watching how Sasuke pulled on the jacket and left for the freezing world outside.
He writhed in his bed, dreaming fractions of images that popped into his mind. Part of these were about his date, the bet and his nearly getting off with a world wide beauty. The other part revolved around the case, the different signs, the dead corpse of the beaten man…
"So you don't know where exactly he is?"
"I guess in Los Angeles still…"
Sasuke spun to the other side, frowning in his drowsiness.
"Elder, retired man in the north of Los Angeles…"
Sweat pearls began to drip down his side and he muttered something incomprehensible.
"Why that? Because of his obsession?"
She sighed, "He was too overprotective, I guess. He was all loving and caring, but he wouldn't really let me do my own thing."
With a sudden jolt, he sat up, panting and sweating heavily.
"Of course, for fuck's sake! Jingles, you're a genius."
And he hopped out of bed, seeking a specific place...
Preview:
The charcoal eyed man stopped, pulling out a specific corpse covered through a turquoise sheet.
"Ready?" He asked, yet never awaited an answer but instead pulled the sheet off the body.
For a good handful of seconds, all Sakura managed to do was glare. Not out of anger, but confusion. Afterwards, her eyes widened to a dangerously large size, emerald sparkling in horror, surprising even Sasuke. Sakura stepped back, swallowed, shut her eyes and shook her head.
"Is that Seth?"
A/N: You were antiscipating it, were you not? Sakura finally sees Seth again, but the state he's in...she may regret it! So, what secrets are to be revealed in the next (already existing, if yet needing corrections) chapter?!
REVIEW and you'll find out, 'cause no review, no chapter! =D So write me nice little reviews and you'll get the chapter ASAP!!