It was late at night now and Griffin was just closing up her shop. Yawning as she locked the door, Griffin wasn't aware that she was being watched. Ten-Ten and Ino both fallowed her to her one bedroom apartment, but there was something weird about it. There was no furniture other than a couch a dining table and then a bed in the whole house. They noticed that there was no color's, TV, music system anything. "Maybe she didn't existed before she came here. I mean she's got nothing on her in the paper work that sakura looked up, and now her house has nothing in it." Ten-Ten and Ino both stopped talking when they saw Griffin reach under her bed and pull out two very small metal boxes. "Those are..." Ino gulped. " Urns containers...do you think she's a crazy killer?" Ten-Ten nodded her head. "Yeah, she keeps the ashes of the people she kills! Come on we have to tell Gai-sensai!"

A half hour later both Ten-Ten and Ino were banging on the door to Gai's house so loudly that the neighbors could wake up any moment.

Gai hadn't learned of the capture of Jiraiya's killer. That had happened only half an hour ago after all. He still was suspicious of Griffen. "It's possible. But we can't get ahead of ourselves. We need real proof."

Ten-Ten slammed a picture down on the table of Griffin holding one of the two boxes. "We have proof!" Ino leaned in and pointed at the second box. "Look you can see a name etched in barley on that box! She's a crazy psycho!"

Gai picked the picture up and raised an eyebrow. "Hmm..." He placed it back onto the table and closed his eyes, unsurprised by this lack of proof. "That doesn't prove anything, girls. Look, it's late and I'm tired. Maybe we can talk about this tomorrow."

Ino and Ten-Ten looked at each other and suddenly they became the scariest thing on the planet...a pissed off pair of girls. "You lazy idiot!" And with a huff they left his house slamming the door behind them

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Hatsumomo sat behind bars, sitting quietly with a stern expression. She wasn't ashamed of her actions, only that she was caught. Now she had to face the penalty. Kakashi entered the prison and stood outside her cell, his arms behind his back. "We both know why you're here, but only one of us knows why you tried killing Jiraiya. I'm guessing it's not personal since you barely know him, but whoever sent you must know him well... so who is it?" Hatsumomo remained silent, her eyes focused on the wall across from her. "I'm guessing you don't want to tell me. That's alright. I can tell the officials to kill you now. No skin off my teeth."

Kakashi started to walk away only for Hatsumom to speak up. "Wait." He stopped and turned around, his eyes meeting with hers. It was the first time he noticed their color - a unique blend of grey and blue. It was also the first time Kakashi had seen her without that dreadful blue wig and saw her natural head of long wavy black hair. "You can't kill me." she said. Kakashi tried not to laugh. "Actually I can, so unless you make this worth my while you won't have much longer." Hatsumomo took a deep breath. "Fine. I'll tell you what you need to know, but you must promise me that you'll let me go." Kakashi leaned as speaking in a rolling voice. "Well, I can't let you go. You're a criminal after all, but being a live prisoner is better than being a dead prisoner, am I right?"

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That morning as Griffin was starting a new mixture of red dyed dough for a cake. Shikamaru and Chouji were both being dragged in by a very angry Ino. "I'm telling you shes the killer!" Shikamaru itched the back of his head. "And what can we do any way? Besides I have things planned" Ino turned to Chouji as her last hope to help her only for both Shikamaru and her no notice that he seemed to be day dreaming. "Chouji?"

Chouji sat with the bag of chips in his hand with mouth hung open. "She's a baker?" rushing up to the shop window he pressed his face to the glass, when he saw the owner of his now dream he placed both of his hands over his heart and sighed out. "I think I'm in love!"

Ino and Shikamaru's eyes bugged. No way did their food loving team mate say that he loved something other than food. "Ch-Chouji are you okay?"

Chouji made a fist and out of nowhere flames appeared behind him. "I'm going to tell her how I feel and then I'll ask her to marry m- WHAT IS HE DOING?!" Pointing a finger at Gai as he entered the shop and leaned against the counter as Griffin had her back turned to him.

Ino patted her friends back with a sigh. "As I was saying guys Gai is also helping out with our investigation." Wiggling her eye brows she winked. "Under cover of course"

"Hey beautiful." Gai said like the flirt he was.

Griffin almost turned around but forced herself not to. She reminded herself that she needed to control her urges, it wouldn't be fare to them. Besides her low cover was everything now. She worked with the red dough as it dyed her hands a now bright clean red.

Gai wasn't used to people ignoring him, especially women. "Hello?"

Turning around with red dye dripping from her hands, Gai had to control his face from showing any fear or shock. Then he remember what the girls had said last night, he was pulled out of his thoughts when Griffin waved her now red hand in front of him. "Any one in there?"

Gai forced a grin. He was trying to hide his worries with a joke, but it didn't turn out right. "Why are your hands red? You killed someone or something?" His laughter was a bit nervous, and then he realized what he said and quieted down.

Raising an eye brow she gulped and backed up. Did he know and was just trying to play it off...or maybe he was trying to tell her to relax. No. Something was wrong. //Calm down girl. Its fine// "No Its the dye from the cake I'm making. Red devils cake." she pointed back to the cake leaning on the same counter he was, causing her to get closer that she meant. She found it hard to restrain herself more and more.

"Oh, right. I knew that." He started to break into laughter, but it was short lived. Before Griffen knew it he was leaning against the counter, in a pose you'd expect one of those pick-up artists at the clubs to do. "So, how are you on this lovely day?"

At the sudden pose, Griffin was so shocked that she feel off of the counter and slipped on the marbled flooring with a thud. "Ow, ow ow ow." When Gai looked over the counter he saw her rubbing her head.

Are you okay?" He blinked a few times. He didn't understand why she fell.

Griffin could only lay her head back down on the cool floor with a sigh. "Yeah, I guess I just slipped- Oh a penny!" Her head and arms suddenly disappeared as she reached for the penny. At this point in time, Gai looked freely at the woman who as sprawled out on the floor right under him. Her left leg was bent slightly while her right one was pointed to the ground for support as she wiggled herself under the counter space more.

Her hands froze as she looked at his feet from under the table. Biting her lips she smiled and reached out quickly tying his shoe laces together and then getting up. "I'm out of chocolate, but I do have banana-penutbutter" Dusting herself off she walked over to a display and pointed to the two layered cake. "The filling is penutbutter and the rest is a banana frosting"

Gai lifted an eyebrow. "Really?" He leaned onto the counter, going back into his pose. "I'd like to try that then."

And once again Griffin slipped, and before Gai could say anything she yelled out. "Oh! This time I found a quarter!"

Gai sighed and muttered under his breath, "Your attention span is way too short for you to be a murderer."

"Wha-OW!" Gai heard a rather loud sounding thud and then another that fallowed right after it. "My head...." When he looked over he saw that her legs were pulled up under the counter all that poked out where her sneakers.

"Are you feeling okay? I think you---" He moved his foot and, unknowing to him, his shoelaces were tied, thus causing him to fall over.

When Griffin looked to the side she saw Gai looking right at her. The right side of her lip sneaked up as a cackle escaped, she pursued her lips together trying to keep from laughing. But when she snorted herself she could only laugh.

Gai was at first offended. He was prepared to snap at her, but then he saw the situation and found it pretty funny himself. It wasn't long before he started to laugh a little himself.

When Griffin finally stopped laughing she was trying to calm her breath down while still looking at Gai. "Are you alright?"

"I am." Gai exhaled then lifted himself up, untying his shoes. "Are you?"

Rubbing her fore head she winced and sighed out a yes as she got out from under the table and dusted herself off, turning her back to him she turned her head over her shoulder. 'Do I have anything on my back?"

Gai was looking at more than just her back. He was looking at everything there was to be seen. "No," he said in a whisper. As he was going to take another take his eyes met hers and he whipped back into a lively personality. "So, are you going to get me that cake or do I have to get it myself?"

//He did it again. Oh what the hell, not like any ones going to care any ways.// Raising an eye brow she leaned forward trowds his position, her eyes only on his lips, Gai had to gulp at what she said next. "Depends on how much you want it"

Chouji, Shikamaru and Ino all had binoculars on looking at the scene in the bakery. Each one had an expression of that saying 'Hear no evil, speak no evil and Chouji with see no evil'.

For possibly the first time ever Gai seemed intimidated by a woman. His glassy eyes returned to normal as a smirk snuck onto his face. "I want it... I want it a lot..."

She smirked and pulled back, opening up the sliding door to the cake to check the price. "$32.50 pleas"

A sweat drop was leaking from Gai's head but he tried to keep up his clever look as he pulled out his wallet and revealed cash.

Grabbing his hand suddenly she had a icing bag with a tiny needle tip cap, pulling his hand towards her she started making out a number. 334- "Wops, messed up on that one. Hear let me get it" Leaning down she slowly dragged her tongue over that single number, by some amazement not getting the other ones as well. She finished by writing down an address. "I might need someone to make deliveries for me...come by and tell me what you think"

Chouji had started to eat chips in his own littler corner on the tree. Shikamaru sat eating along with him, except he was watching the scene rather intently with Ino.

Gai was overjoyed inside, images of him dancing with flags playing in his head, but he kept calm on the outside - at least the best he could. He quivered, saying, "Okay! I'll come by tonight!"

Smiling Griffin grabbed his wrist now pulling him forward she whispered in to his ear, her breath running along the shell of his ear. "Just so you don't forget." Gai felt the softness of her lips graze his cheek and then pull away as she handed him the boxed cake.

Gai's grin was wiggly, his eyes in a daze. "See you then." He grabbed the box and marched out of the shop, his movements like a robot.

She could only smirk and she watched him walk away. Closing her eyes she shook her head going back to her work.

Chouji was being comforted by Ino with a hand on his back. "It's okay Chouji, besides she was too old for you any way"

Chouji could only cry more. "But she was perfect. She baked, is single, and is hot!

Ino roll her eyes. "Shikamaru help me out here." Shikamaru could only shake his head. "No way Ino, He's got a point

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Kakashi stood across from Jiraiya who was sitting alongside the wall. "Orochimaru sent her." Jiraiya didn't seem surprised. "Orochimaru, huh? Figures that bastard is still after me. But how'd a hot babe like Mo end up working for him?" Kakashi shook his head. "I don't know. She claims she just ran into him one day and he offered her a lot of money." "Do you believe her?" "I don't know."

Jiraiya crossed his arms. "So what do we do with her?" Kakashi reasoned "Well, we can't let her go. After all she is a possible threat. But we can't keep her in here either." Jiraiya smiled. "We can make her do charity work." Kakashi took a moment to think about it. "We could... but where could she go?"

Just then Gai walked in, banging the door open. "I think I have a lead on who tried to murder Jiraiya!" Jiraiya opened his mouth to say something but Gai continued as opening the mini fridge. "That woman Griffen who works at the bakery. I don't have any proof though so I'm going to work there to earn her trust." As he placed the cake into the fridge Kakashi said, "But we already found Jiraiya's killer, she's sitting in a cell as we speak." Gai popped up. "YOU WHATTT?" Kakashi didn't flinch at Gai's angry expression. "Yup. Now all we have to do is find a place for her to pay her debt." While he was wearing a mask, Gai was pretty sure Kakashi smirked - or it may've been he was just paranoid. "Maybe she can help out at the bakery instead; after all you have enough duties here as it is."

Gai's mouth dropped open. "But-But she invited me to talk business with her tonight! She even gave me her address!" "Good. We'll send Mo there tonight and get it over with." Gai froze, his mouth still open. Kakashi just walked by him and left the room, Jiraiya sitting with a smile. "Man Gai, you've got some bad luck."

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As Griffin was putting on her nee length pleated skirt, and then a nice sweater that draped on her shoulders. Just when she was putting in her earrings there was a knock at the door. Walking over to the door the only sound was the clicking of her high heels. She played the image of what she would do to Gai when she opened the door. She first grab him by the back of his neck smash her lips to his and close the door behind her, and then lean up against it and not move until she got what she wanted. When she opened the door thou she froze at seeing a shorter woman. "C-Can I help you?"

The woman pushed a piece of paper into Griffen's grasp. "I was ordered to come here and help you."

Raising an eye brow she snatched the paper reading off that it was from Gai. Her lip went up in a snarl as she ushered in the woman. "THAT BASTERD!"

The woman didn't change her expression at Griffen's expression. "Do you have any orders for me?"

Griffin sat down at the bar stool with her legs crossed and with a pout put her cheek in her hand. "Unless you can find a hot tall guy with the stamina of a ninja..then no.

The woman sighed. "May I come in at least? They sent me here to do work, and if I'm not working I'm expected back at the prison... as if I want to go back there."

Looking up she walked over to the door and let the woman come in closing the door behind her. "You drink?"

"Doesn't everyone?" She looked around then helped herself to the nearest seat.

She laughed and then walked up to the cupboard pulling out 3 bottles of wine along with to crystal glasses. "I only have on rule if you're going to help me out. I don't ask about your past, you don't ask about mine. You keep to that deal and I'll even say your helping me out when you need to do your own thing so the prison doesn't come looking for you"

"How considerate." She smiled. "My name's Hatsumomo, but you can call me Mo like everyone else does."

Nodding her head she sat down handing her a glass and took her heels off. "Names Griffin, the people I used to know called me Griff." Pouring her new worker a full glass of wine she held hers up and sighed out. "Cheers to finding a way around the government"

Mo was impressed she found someone with a similar outlook. "Sorry Gai didn't show up. I don't know him personally, but I'm guessing he was worth dressing up for." She took a sip of wine.

Leaning her cheek back on her hand she sighed swirling the wine in her glass. "Whether or not he was worth it doesn't matter to me, all I wanted to do was use him for sex" Shooting down the rest of the glass of wine she poured herself another glass.

Mo let out a single laugh. "If its sex you want there are plenty of available men. Of course if you get desperate you can always try for old man Jiraiya." She took another sip.

Griffin made a face making both of them laugh. "No thanks, besides I heard Gai's got the stamina of a horse." Wiggling her eye brows she took another sip of her wine. "What about you? Seen any hottys?"

"I haven't really seen what this town has to offer, though I've crossed a hot man or two. Still, I'm too busy to be looking."

Nodding her head she took another sip and hiccupped. "All I wanted to do tonight was has the best sex of my life....but no. He has to chicken out"

Mo smirked. "There's always next time."

Nodding her head she took down her hair and rubbed her scalp. "You got a place to sleep? You can stay with me"

"They expect me back at the prison house, but I'm sure they'll allow me to stay here... long as you can deal with watchful eyes." Her eyes looked away from Griffen and out the window where a figure sat.

Griffin looked to the window and saw the figure suddenly tense up. Walking over to the window she opened it up and leaned out smiling. "Hello Gai"

Gai's eyes became wide, and then a giant smile came across his face. "Hey, Griffen!" He seemed a bit nervous. "How are you?"

Rolling her finger on the window pane she looked down sighing out. "Well, I was hoping that you would come by tonight to...'talk' because I have this real bad itch in the back of my throat I need to get scratched." She leaned forward more seeming to be out of breath in panting as her eyes became clouded, she once again looked at his lips. "I was hoping you could help me...I just feel so hot...I think it might be a cold"

"Wh-What?" He let himself off balance and almost fell off the tree but he caught himself just in time. "I-I can still come in if you'd like."

Smiling down at his hanging form she whispered out sarcastically. "No it's alright, I have company over" and with that she slammed the windows closed along with the curtains. "God that felt good"

Gai fell off the tree, this time on purpose. He had no reason to hang on any further. "What just happened?" "You fell." Gai looked up to see Kakashi standing over him. He quickly jumped you. "You're the reason I'm out here, you know!" Kakashi chuckled. "You're the one who was dumb enough to allow it." Gai took a step back. "That's it! I challenge you to a duel!!!"

"Bring it on." Gai charged forward at Kakashi who dodged. Gai then fell forward, but caught himself. "You know you'll lose. Fighting out of rage always equals failure."

Both men froze though when they heard two female moans coming from the second story window. Looking at each other they both climbed up in to the tree, but not being able to see in because of the closed blinds they could only listen to the sounds coming from inside. "God I should of-Uh- Hired you earlier." Both men's jaws dropped at the sounds. But inside both Mo and Griffin were trying not to laugh at their ploy.

"Do you hear... what I'm hearing?" asked Gai. "Yeah." responded Kakashi.

"OH SHIT!" Griffin could only cover her mouth adding to the sounds as she bounced down on to the couch. The springs doing more for the imagination than anything. "More Mo!" Griffen almost laughed but Mo covered her mouth.

Like two dogs, Gai and Kakashi whined in frustration as standing beneath the window. "It sounds like they're having fun in there." said Kakashi. Gai suggested "We should get a better look."

Griffen moved her hands around for Mo to make sounds as well.

Both girls froze when they heard Gai say they should get a better look. Looking at Mo's face of laughter, Griffin yelled out in a moan. "I want you in the shower!"

Mo gasped a flirtatious laugh. "I'd like that."

Gai rushed up to the window, trying to pull it open. Kakashi came behind and pulled him away. "Don't hog the show to yourself!" Gai pushed Kakashi. "I got here first!"

Griffin could only keep going as she turned on the shower and then grabbed Mo by the hands back out to the living room where she turned on a soft back light letting the boys see their shadows. Griffen pulled off her long sleeve sweater to show her tank top.

Mo tried not to laugh. "Oh Griffen... I've never done this kind of thing before."

Griffen nearly busted out laughing at her next statement. "Don't worry, you're not my first virgin"

Gai and Kakashi stopped their fighting and viewed the sight side-by-side.

Just when griffin reached to pull down her skirt the light went off and the entire image was gone.

"Well, show's over..." Kakashi started to back away, but Gai sat with tears streaming from his face. "No! My fantasy!!" He started to scratch at the window.

Griffin walked over to the window to check if the boys were gone her shirt still off, as she opened the window it slammed in to Gai's nose.

Gai gripped his nose, losing his balance, and fell off the tree he was using to peek through the window.

When he lifted his head Gai saw Griffen looking at him. He quickly jumped to his feet and tried to act normal, even with a bloody nose. "I was making sure that criminal wasn't harming you, ma'am."

Griffin sighed out in bliss and leaned against the window pane with a smug look on her face. "Harming? Dear god I haven't had that much fun in years"

~The next morning

Griffen had opened up the shop with Mo walking around inside. "So what do you think? I know its small but...it's homey"

Mo took a look around. She smiled, but with a clever lift of the eyebrow. "It's nice." She started to walk by the shelving units, seeming to inspect each of the sweet desserts.

Griffin was looking over her calendar noticing that she was a month late, as she flipped it over her face went pail and she seemed to go stiff. "Is today the 14th?"

Mo lifted her head and looked at Griffen rather than what was in the cases. "Yes. Why?"

"Oh nothing...it's just...." Griffin turned around to show the calendar picture with a big box of chocolates. "Valentine's day"

When Mo raised an eye brow Griffin pointed at the door to see that there was already a long line of girls and men to get in to buy something for a loved one or a secret admirer. "It's going to be a long day"

"It's a good thing you have me to help out." She worked her way behind the counter as if she knew the place by heart. She obviously didn't because she started to curiously wonder, "What do you need me to do?"

Griffen once again slipped on the floor her leg twitching in the air. "Like I said, it's going to be a long day"

~half way through the day~

It was noon which meant that they both got a lunch break. Both of them were covered in sweat and all cooking goods. Mostly Griffin as she was the only one that knew the recopies. She had no books, only her memory. It was a way to stop her secrets from being stolen. "Lunch break!" Jumping over the counter she looked around and realized that the only thing left was the chocolate cake. "Hey Mo! Save the chocolate cake. I need it for something on my own!" Griffin yelled in the back as Mo ate her lunch.

Doing what she was told, Mo removed the cake carefully, but as putting it away asked, "And what would that be?"

Griffin raised an eye brow. "What was our deal?"

Mo chuckled. "We made a deal not to bring up the past. How was I to know the cake had something to do with your past?" He placed the cake gently away then patted her hands.

Griffin giggled. "Well every moment that isn't the future is the past. So yes, last night was in the past"

As Mo handed her the wrapped cake Kakashi had walked in at that same time that she was leaving, holding the door for her.

Kakashi watched Griffen leave from the corner of his eye. Once he was sure she was out he let the door go and entered the shop, pretending to browse. Mo knew he was moving too quickly to actually be browsing though. She had a feeling he was there to check up on her, so as soon as he approached the counter she crossed her arms. "May I help you?" she asked. Kakashi replied, "I'm just here to do my assigned check up. Is everything well?" Mo averted her eyes from his. "Just fine. Why? Have you decided to kill me after all?" Kakashi closed his eyes. "Not unless you've been a bad girl." Mo snarled. "I'm not all that bad, you know. The only reason I tried killing Jiraiya was because I needed money." Kakashi casually looked at his fingernails. "Isn't greed bad?"

Mo huffed. "Are you going to buy something or not? Because I'm here to work, not to chat." Kakashi lifted his hands. "Easy now. Don't get defensive. I'll leave... just tell your boss that Gai wants to see her, okay?" Mo didn't reply. She just glared, waiting until Kakashi left.

~mean while~

Griffin had been wandering around for quite a while now. She was sure that he had to be fallowing her by now. Just barley looking over her shoulder she saw the unmistakable green jacket and pitch black hair, letting a small smile form to her lips as she walked back towards her house she made sure that he was fallowing her.

Just when she walked in to the office that she had seen him go once, she sat down and opened up the carrying case for the cake and brought it out taking a bite from the first piece she picked. Leaning back in to her chair with a sigh of relaxation of the busy day she moaned at the feeling of the rich chocolate going down her throat. "You know Gai...you can join me"

"I'd love to." He sat down across from her, smile across his face. "Chocolate is my favorite after all." With that he helped himself to a piece.

When Gai sat down across from her, picking his piece up off the platter on towards his plate Griffin let her foot 'accidentally' slip and softly brush up against his leg. Gai was so shocked at the light touch that he dropped his piece of cake on to the table. Looking up at the woman sitting across from him, her face seemed to be a haze, all except for her eyes. Oh yes, she knew exactly what she was doing. She was playing his game almost as good as he did. Raising an eye brow her brown eyes could only seem to taunt him. "I'm sorry, hear let me get you another piece."

Leaning forward a bit she reached out an picked up his plate, along with the serving tool as she placed the cake sideways on his dish. Of course Gai would have noticed all of this, if it wasn't for the fact that his eye couldn't come off of her eyes as she watched what she was doing. He was brought out of his haze when she asked him a question. "Are you alright?" And just before he could answer her foot slipped again, but this time it stayed on his leg.

"I'm... sorry I didn't scratch your itch last time. Maybe... maybe I can do that for you now?" Gai's eyes looked Griffen up and down then met back onto her eyes. "I mean, I'm sure you and Mo had your fun, but I can do a lot more for you than she could ever."

Griffin gave a small laugh and reached her arm out, letting her fingers graze over his hand as she placed it there. "Gai, nothing happened between Mo and me. We knew that you were out there and were just messing around with you."

Willy: Dun dun dun! Cliff hanger! So here's the thing, Tilly and I have decided that because we wrote this so long ago, were not really sure if we want to continue. So we want feedback from you guys. Tell us if you think we should continue, if we should add something, or take out some things? Or maybe even stop it all together! So it's up to you guys, we won't post up the next chapter until we get 50 comments.