Everything in my life

by Porcelain.Memories

An ORPHAN child with a dark past,HARUNO SAKURA is acclaimed to be the BEST cold-blooded CIA AGENT and ASASSIN, training under OROCHIMARU. But the price she paid was loneliness and inability to love. That, until she is being entrusted with a crucial MISSION:protect SASUKE and his reputed company from a secret exclusive CRIMINAL organization,while posing as his personal MAID.

27. Asassin - collapsing world

CHAPTER 26

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The only thing that could have been heard in the darkened room was the metal sound of the swords clashing of the skilful fighters, looking like a mysterious moon dance behind the shadows and Sasuke could have sworn he was having the second best time of his life.

"You are a bunch of fools, actually thinking I am going to fall for the same trick twice." His moves were flawless and the way he was maneuvering his katana, through his opponent's weakened defense, made him look ethereal and dangerous.

Blood was surging from the assassin's in front of him right shoulder, after the Uchiha delivered a sharp cut, swinging his body and striking like an unleashed puma in front of the trembling defenseless gazelle.

Actually, the raven haired heir was quite surprised the two other participants to the show haven't once aimed for his figure at the same time, like any other normal professional killer would do, trying to take advantage of the superior number and increase their chances to succeed.

But then he realized that the blindness they were forced to fight in was only passed unnoticed by him, they having quite a difficult time in seeing into the darkness.

So the two far inferior to his superior skills people were not taking any chance to hit one another instead of their target, and kept a safe distance, probably marveling at the way Sasuke had no problem in, not only getting on par with their skills, not bothered that he was outnumbered, but eventually surpassing them both, with the refinement of his precise movements and bursts of energy.

"You are going to pay for that, Uchiha! I am going to make sure of that!" The masked man-he was clad in black leather, concealing his face-who was currently kneeing in front of Sasuke, gripping the sword in his right hand as his last resort, having a firm pressing on his bleeding shoulder with the left unoccupied one, trying to make out his opponent's tall frame shouted at him, but the onyx eyed Uchiha knew exactly what distance should he keep, to make absolutely sure they couldn't properly see his upcoming sudden attacks, just to give his unseen light speed enough space to aim at their vital organs.

Sasuke smirked down at the person in front of him, cockily titling his head on the side, making his midnight locks conceal his high cheeks and jet eyes, totally amused by the reputed feared organization that was not living up to its reputation.

In his mind, they were too weak to even be considered pretty good, and compared to his fighting skills and brilliant strategy and foreshadowing abilities, they were Kindergarten children playing hide and seek in the woods.

"I would like you to do that, because in all honesty, you two bore the hell out of me. And here I thought we are going to have a lot of fun." Yeah, he sounded wicked and sadistic, Sasuke was well aware, but he didn't give a damn about it.

Why hiding the fact that old habits die hard anyways, since his assassin nature was so naturally blending in the picture, determining his other self to manifest in all his glory, urging his precise moves, appearing like a phantom. For the raven haired heir, the two in front of him were moving in slow motion.

As far as they were concerned, his ghostly and deadly appearance made blood freeze down their veins, assassins or not. It was just the way the Uchiha moved, with such an easiness that it looked like he was doing ice ballet instead of fighting, betraying a grace and a mastery of the most advanced techniques, that placed him into another time.

He looked like an ancient warrior from a faraway time, only missing his pure blood black colt and the golden ruby encrusted ring of royalty around his finger to give him enough credit for how insanely good he was.

The mysterious masked man tightened his grip on the sword he had rooted into the floor, pressing the sharp edge down, having difficulties in lifting up his body, sweating and having troubles in regulating his racing pulse and harsh breathes, looking in awe and confusion at the totally serene Uchiha heir.

How could he have just casually held his fearsome long katana, like it weighted nothing, revealing no trace of tiredness, not even in his calm inhales, like he has not even pulled a single muscle or rose any finger to face them, despite the violent collisions they had so far?

"Just stay still and don't prologue your suffering any longer!" He thrust forward, thick sharp sword resting safely in both his hands, lifted above his head, attempting to cut Sasuke in half, but the speed and the totally foreseeable kick made the midnight haired man snort audibly, not able to restrain himself.

With all the calmness in the world, he spun his own sword once, with his elbow parallel to the floor, paring the attack aimed at his head, then shifting his weight to the front leg to let his opponent slip past him, unintentional, taking advantage of the inertia and, swift as a bolt of lightning, impaled his left hand, delivering a well placed hit under his arm pit, making him flinch and drop the sword.

"Hn…and you actually have the guts to call yourself assassin. The concept got quite lenient, I see." Without wasting anymore precious time, Sasuke furrowed his sharp eyebrows, his orbs flaming in concentration, intently focusing on that lethal sensitive spot on his cervical, delivering a roundhouse kick, breaking his spine.

The loud implacable sound of bones cracking filled the thick air around with a horror feel and the pungent smell of fresh hot blood bursting out of the deceased man's mouth gave Sasuke the familiar sense of winning and overpowering his opponents that he loved.

"Pathetic." The perished body that laid limp at his feet was just another memento of many other that found their fate in the same position as him and it was in the moment he felt another careless attack meant to revenge to fallen comrade, has the onyx eyes of the vile looking Uchiha heir shot up to face the sole opponent he has, taking in the pattern of the attacks.

That one was a bit more skilled than the previous one, but not enough to make the killer make it out alive from the room, that soon would serve as a grave. "I am going to send you straight to Hell for what you did!"

"I have already been there. And I must say though…" Sasuke jumped straight in the middle of the bed, balancing on both spread apart legs, with his knees slightly bent to be on the same eye level as his target, avoiding a hit that targeted his liver, with a short swing, keeping his elbows close to his body, careful not to create an opening and turn into a victim.

Underestimating the other opponent was a fatal mistake Sasuke wouldn't make. He couldn't afford to lose or even worse let those two escape his wrath, because that would dramatically change the situation. They were already taking their twisted ideology too far for his liking and someone had to step in and put an end to it. "…it was not such a bad place."

"What are you…." The unspoken question remained stuck down the throat, when Sasuke slashed of the only remaining rival's of his stomach, cutting the soft skin open, tearing down the material that covered the fallen defended on the bad carcass.

The sole thing that Sasuke has not realized at the moment was the fact that the deep wound he made on his opponent's stomach, was painfully reminiscent to the one placed on the other four assassins` he murdered before, necks. The question was: would the INTERPOL agents be that skilled to observe the similitude?

"I am holding them into that."

Sasuke stepped right on the deceased body, not in the bit respectful or solemn with the ones that passed into the other existence, fighting the urge to not spit on their dead frames. Hate?

He was passed that mere emotion that was not comprising enough to describe how he felt about that people.

They were giving him more problems that he would have liked and the raven haired man wouldn't delude himself into thinking he would not turn immediately into a living human target, after they were going to find out about his most recent act of defiance.

And that made him widely smirk. He went straight to the switch, focusing on the small button, so as some remains of the energy he could use were focusing into the electricity, concentrating until his temples started to throb painfully, feeling the familiar rush of jolts creeping up his spine, materializing throught his fingertips.

The lights went on in an instant, illuminating the once bathed in darkness cabin, giving him an idea of how bad the fighting scene truly looked like. Sasuke was so engulfed in how he was going to explain that to a certain pink haired lady and his idiot blonde friend, that he overlooked the detail of his katana still resting soundly into his capable hand.

"This…doesn't look too good." Bottomless ink eyes roamed around the relatively small room, seeing the large pools of leaking blood tainting the grey mattress of the bed and splashed down the wool carpet.

Two cadavers were decorating the already sinister looking room and the pungent smell and touch of death and decomposing flesh was hanging richly above their corpses.

It totally screamed 'If you don't see what I am capable of and what is my real self, then you have to do a brain check up' , but the only matter Sasuke found disturbing remained the way his woman was going to react when she would come across such a scene.

No, he would not lie to himself and shove away the things her presence stirred down his cold soul, because ever since he got a full taste of her skin, the raven haired Uchiha swore he found the other half that was missing from his heart. Sasuke was able to fill in a bottomless abyss inside him that made his heart beat like an enthusiastic drum into his chest.

---

"Fuck…" Quickly, Sasuke worked on his phone, tapping the ID he had on speed dial, clenching his jaw when the idea of having no pertinent explanation to give the pink haired maid, shot his brain.

She was going to get enough of his lies at some point and a possible scenario of her leaving his side was creeping down his spine, in a form of prickling goose bumps on his skin.

Fright.

Sasuke actually felt scared over something and it was such an outlandish concept , that it left him skeptic over how longer was he able to hide his past from her and not let Sakura know exactly what she got herself into, when she so boldly undressed in front of him and more than begged him to take her.

Ah, that one got him reeling into lust, again. The familiar beep of the phone connecting him to the man he wanted to assure he got his job done echoed through his ears. Sakura was going to see his bed much often than she would have expected, Sasuke was to make sure of it.

He had to have her again, that was for certain. Each night, each day, each moment, trapped into her arms, moving inside her. That was ecstasy at his finest, the LSD or other drugs were paling in comparison.

"Already done?" Quite a disturbed voice, that customarily would come out as steadily and confident, held a shaky hint that made Sasuke wonder just what other unfortunate news were expecting him.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, taking a quick sole glance at the wall clock, confirming the time he had until the police would be there. 40 minutes if he was not mistaken. "Why are you so surprised? Like you don't know me."

"I am not surprised, just curious. You don't sound like you are in a foul mood. What is the matter? Has the taste of blood got you worked up again?"

"I guess you could put it like that, if it helps you sleep better at night."

"Then I am taking it as a positive answer. Are you sure you have killed them?"

Sasuke rolled his onyx eyes lazily, coming to rest his shoulder on the window's frame, watching aimlessly at the full moon illuminating the grand peaks, mentally asking himself if that was a coincidence or a funny way destiny had to remind himself of his sins.

Moon has always been rounded when he was out to kill, that night making no exception. "If people are able to live with their intestines cut down and massive loss of blood, then no."

"Heh, sarcastic as ever, aren't we? Good. Well done."

"More importantly, have you called the INTERPOL? How much time do they need to bring their assess up here and play the heroes that have everything under control?"

"I did, just as I told you I will. They are going to reach your position in 50 minutes. 60 at most, if the wind doesn't intensify. At least, this is why their head told me. I just pray you haven't overdone it this time, because self defense is something hard for you to fake, Sasuke."

Of course, he knew all too well about how enthusiastic Sasuke could have been and how many traces to cover his unfaltering steps he left behind. It was not playing in their favor, if the police and Interpol troops started to get suspicious of his actions.

"Useless annoying pests. What does Government pay them for anyways, since they are not able to spot an assassin that roams freely under their damn noses? Self defense? That is a bit too stretched out don't you think? Anyways, it is your dream job to make sure I will never see the bars from the inside, even though we both know I deserve it."

"You know the answer all too well. It is not like we can come out and announce everyone who is the real master behind world's security. Not with them on our assess, anyways. Should I send a plane for you? No worry, you know I will not let my best man be sent to jail. You are too valuable Sasuke."

"This makes me teary…no. I already talked to my secretary and asked him to send me the helicopter. It is easier to reach these freaking mountains that way. Just make sure you send someone to clear my traces from their bodies, I don't want to be nagged with declarations. I already have enough problems."

It was the truth. Sasuke was not afraid of the law or INTERPOL, God forbids. He was only bothered by the fact that with all the upcoming events that would follow, he had to gain as much time as he could, and that meant being free to wander.

Not that he would have attempted to be a hypocrite and say the man didn't help him whenever he was a suspect, constantly keeping an eye on him and take care of his criminal record. Either ways, Sasuke would have rotten into a cell, by that time.

"If you say so. Just try to not attract any more suspicion towards you. I already have enough to deal with in here." He even sounded tired. Now that made Sasuke wary. Was there something he wasn't letting him know for any particular reason?

Well aware of the implications of his more than revealing behavior and the undeniable proofs resting at his feet, Sasuke prompted the phone in between his ear and shoulder, wiping the blood left on his katana, putting it securely inside his bag-he smartly took one of the same size as the sword-and took the sword that the closest to him dead killer discarded on the floor, studying it intently.

Nodding once as if to confirm his thoughts, the raven haired Uchiha casually brought his left hand towards the thick curved sharp blade and without even flinching, cut his arm so as to make it look he has been hurt as well, trying to make it as believable as possible to a self defense.

A thin crimson line materialized on his pale skin, in a form of a tiny river of blood, leisurely leaking down his hand, on the floor. "You sound strange. Anything the matter? Still no trace of our stolen documents? Just why the Hell are you so unprolific with finding the burglars?"

"Actually…I kind of confirmed the fact that there is a traitor among us that pulls the strings from the shadows. Actually…I think you start to get an idea of who might that be, don't you? He managed to infiltrate into my office and it is able to actually go unnoticed, hacking our passwords and stealing our weapons."

That made Sasuke`s onyx eyes snap wide open in amazement. "The Hell? This is something that we have predicted, so why are you caught so out of guard then?"

"They are better than we have thought. Who knows what they might do with those information and I dare to say they are keeping you under observation. They know exactly where to find you, haven't you noticed?"

Of course he did and that helped Sasuke restrain the number of suspects he had in mind. "You said it is someone close to me, right?"

"In a way, yes. Though you do realize I have no idea who might that person be. This is something you have to find it yourself."

Someone close to him, Sasuke wondered…he had an objective, impartial list of suspects down his mind and if he was to be correct, all of them came really near to a possible traitor. Though he wouldn't want to consider some of them being ones.

Because if he found that person, be it a he or a she, death is what it would encounter. No exception.

.

.

*Suigetsu

Ten Ten

Neji

Naruto

His mother

Fugaku

Sakura

His business partners

Juugo

The organizing Committee

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.

.

Each one was able to approach him without arising suspicion and back stab him, Sasuke was well aware. In fact, there were only two people he could have fully trusted and that were his interlocutor and his own person.

And much to his rising anger, Sakura was not one of them. He liked her, maybe even feeling more than he was willing to admit, but he didn't trust her. At all. There were too many things that had no logic when it came to her and he was far too experienced to fall into such a trap.

"I know. Are you certain this were the only ones? I find it hard to believe they have only sent two of their assassins. And they were quite weak as well."

"I cannot clearly see, because our satellite connection was shut down completely. Someone is toying with our system. But I am sure there were at least two more. How many you have actually killed?"

His blood started to boil and the raven haired Uchiha clenched his fingers around the blade he was holding, aware of the danger still present around. There were other assassins as well? Where were they then? After the others? Sasuke was certain he heard a gun shoot coming from the forest, so why…that was…

"Two."

"What?! I thought you take all of them down."

Sasuke felt bile rise up to his chest, totally not able to grasp how was it possible for the two of them to have missed such an important detail. "I only took two of them, their leaders, as you have said. You never told there were others in here as well."

"I did tell you I have no connection and I cannot see you clearly. Sasuke, if there are more assassins out there, then all of you are in mortal danger, do you realize?"

"This is your own damn fault. You should have properly warned me beforehand." Sasuke was already formulating a backup plan to go and murder them once and for all, his skin getting cold shivers at the idea of Sakura and Naruto, as well as the others-though he couldn't have cared less about them-were facing a serious threat.

He has been naïve, just like he has been warned not to. "Stop throwing a temper and go after them. I try to take a clear image from the satellite, but everything there is jammed because of the magnetic interferences at that high altitude, as well as their own devices."

That kind of tone made the raven haired Uchiha snap and bad, his temper not facing the best of the moods.

He was pissed as hell and he still hadn't had enough blood. Those people were in for a good beating, Sasuke was to make sure. "Don't give me orders and do your own fucking job properly next time. Now I have to hurry up before the INTERPOL makes it here and those losers are the least I need now."

"Do that and don't fail."

"I could say the same about you. Call me when this shit is over."

The onyx eyed heir messed his fingers through his midnight unruly spikes, flipping his phone shut, clenching his jaw in enmity at all the livings that were making his existence ten times more complicated and the fact that he has almost been reckless and scolded for it, was stirring the throbbing fire down his veins.

Tightening the hold he had on his sword, Sasuke attempted to spin on his heel and bolt out of the cabin to catch the remaining killers, until the police was to come, not exactly a fan of the idea of they catching him in his little nocturne escapade.

Police be damned. His social status could go to hell, as well as his business partners. Naruto was a moron. But Sakura was to never see that face of his.

Never.

Though life decided to put him to a little test, laughing down at his bad luck, when Sasuke more than heard the familiar creak of the door creeping open and small soft steps cautiously slipping inside the room he has tainted with blood.

The Uchiha felt the tiny hair at the back of his head erect and his heart beat run at the speed of light when the familiar soft bell like voice poured out all the apprehension one would have been entitled to mutter, when taking in the horrid scene unfolding in front of her.

Whisper like words flew like a quivering echo through the excruciating silence, ringing sound and clear into Sasuke`s eardrums. His spine straightened its posture and the only meaningful gesture he did was a quick turn of the head over his stiffened broad shoulder-the left one-to face the owner.

"Oh my God, Sasuke!"

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*****[Ooooooooooooo} EvErYtHiNg{oooooooooooooO]******

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How was it possible for her to find herself in such ridiculous situations ever since she has arrived to Tokyo, came as some sort of twisted way Destiny had to laugh at Sakura`s misfortune, and those were the exact things she had in mind, when the pink haired agent let her running frame lose inside the bottomless forest, wandering in complete darkness.

The fool moon was not helping her case that much, because of the density of fir trees and not only she was not able to see any branch she was supposed to avoid, already tripping over the much smaller confined by the tiny vegetation ones, but Sakura could hear the seldom gun shots crystal clear and that scared her.

The emerald eyed Sound assassin mentally cursed her lack of inspiration to bring her own firearm with her and actually keep it close, only having her famous traditional weapons, meaning poisoned senbon long needles, that were meant for kill, not therapeutic purposes and her Bo Staff.

"Damn, I hope this fuckers are swords fighters, or else I am doomed!" Sakura felt the hair on her forearms rise and her sweaty forehead and neck get cold, making her shudder.

The temperature was low and the air was humid. Not only that, but her little encounter with Sasuke from earlier-along with their other 'activities'-left her hair slightly damp, along with most of her thin clothes.

To put it simply, she was freezing and she was tired and quite dizzy, bearing in mind the after effects of her barely recovered from her injuries state. The thigh started to sting her and Sakura realized she was supposed to have the bandages replaced.

And she more than entered a cold pool, totally not taking into consideration the doctor's advice. It was only adrenaline pumping through her system the one that helped Sakura to keep on going and not look behind to the inviting bed.

No matter how exhausted she felt, the pink haired agent didn't need someone to remind her of the importance her presence there held, well aware she had to support the Akatsuki gang, with all her might.

She checked on her phone, seeing that she was almost there, in the middle of the fright, though the coordinates were not that accurate and didn't help her that much, since all she was seeing in front of her eyes were the silhouettes of the high trees and a veil of darkness enveloping her from all the places.

"C'mon guys, where are you?" Shouting out their names was a stupid thing to do because they were not playing in a movie with stupid foolish teens trying to be anti climatic or the poor unfortunate victims, so the sole intelligent thing that was left for her to try, was to follow the noise or catch the resonance of their steps, in the stillness of the night.

And if she would have been a normal inexperienced woman or a CIA newbie agent, Sakura would have been dead by then, so it was her own long battle experience and skill the things that saved her from a well aimed sword's kick, meant to slice down her head and put an end to her notorious career.

Because the moment Sakura`s ear caught the sound of the well concealed steps press the damp soil behind her back, her sharp reflexes kicked in, acting on pure instinct.

"The hell…" The emerald eyed Sound agent lowered her stance to avoid the circular hit, and as fast and precise as she could, Sakura spun around on her heel, catching the black leather clad masked assassin out of guard, by delivering a painful sharp hit on his solar plexus with the back of her hand, making him wince and take two steps backwards at the sudden impact, almost tripping on a bush he didn't have time to notice, cursing loudly.

When in battle, the pink haired maid never felt lenient towards her opponents so she fully intended to make it short and swift, because if one of them was there, the others might have been really close, probably fighting her friends-that would have sounded like an alien and unusual concept for Sakura, if she would have had time to consider the thought-so she had to provide back up, meaning, she had no time to waste.

So with that thought in mind, Sakura pulled away her Staff and lunged forward, with the sole purpose of breaking the killer's skull and sent him straight to Hell, where his rightful place was, only his decision seemed to not swing in that direction, because as soon as he sensed danger approaching, a sword brought up to his face level parried Sakura`s strong and professional attack.

The piercing sound of two heavy objects forcefully colliding, rung through their ear drums, pants mixing in an anxious creepy dance, adrenaline taking over. Sakura intended to make each second prolific, playing the speed she had, giving her much smaller and lighter condition, in her advantage, so she quickly changed the body weight to her dominant leg, attempting a thrust kick to low level, meant for his groin, but he saw it coming and responded with a pressing block stepping in, making Sakura inhale sharply.

He left a large bruise on her long leg bone and she thanked the Heavens she didn't use the injured leg, either ways she would have been dead meat. There was a short moment when both put a small distance between them, weapons brought in front of their faces, each in their unique fighting scene, trying to look dominant and unfaltering, eyes connected through the darkness, assessing each other's skills.

"You are not bad." Sakura found herself smirking down at the killer in front of her, stating the obvious. "Lorane did you good." And she more than spit the words in his face, dripping tar from her mouth, visibly revolted at the idea. He had to be one of them, because the advanced sword's fighting skills were a major giveaway.

And he actually answered her with a visible amused mocking tone. Was he mocking her? Because the Sound assassin truly hoped she was not being underestimated.

That was a grave mistake her opponents always did, especially the ones that were oblivious to her reputation among the criminal organizations. "Quite sharp…for a small girl. Got lost from your parents?"

He totally didn't say that, Sakura concluded. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her, because the moment she heard that throaty voice pointing out at her orphan state, the pink haired lady could have sworn something vile took over her senses, because one moment she had a Lorane assassin bringing the sword closer to his body, thrusting forward to finish the job, then everything went blurry.

With a newfound energy she didn't know she had into her worn out body, Sakura maneuvered the Staff above her head, gripping it tightly, relaxing her shoulders and spreading her feet at the same distance to have a perfect line balance, spine straight, knees bent and more than enraged, let a deep exhale while she blocked the hit that was supposed to kill her, taking the mysterious man by surprise, because she actually didn't step aside and try to avoid a direct contact.

Instead, the brave Sound agent let the Bo rest on her right shoulder, so as to bring it parallel to the ground, set down her right foot in front in a long front stance, while she rotated her front hand, torquing her wrist, and sliding the other left hand down her side, to gain speed, front kicking his Adam apple, blood immediately surging through his mouth, the familiar sound of bone cracking assuring Sakura she has managed to permanently incapacitate him.

The thick but quite short sword slipped from his hands, while his palms gripped the base of his deep cut, muttering incoherent things, while his body hit the wet cushion grass, with a loud thud. His only mistake was his arrogance: even though he had a sharp blade, her Bo was longer and speed allowed her to place a hit on his body before he had a chance to strike first.

"What a fool…"

"Sakura!" A feminine loud voice came from her left side, making Sakura`s eyes dart in the direction of the approaching figure, immediately recognizing her newfound Akatsuki friend with the stylish chocolate buns.

So she has not been able to find Akatsuki, but they managed to locate her first. Nice. "Ten Ten, thanks God." Sakura visibly relaxed her stance, prompting her Staff on the ground, eying the Akatsuki member, who ran towards her, panting heavily.

"I was following one of this fuckers…oh!" Almond shaped eyes cast down on the unmoving carcass, quickly apprehending the result of the fight. "You took one down, this saves us a lot of trouble."

"Yeah…somehow…he was good."

"Tell me about it. I had to chase him all the way here, but I lost his tracks at some point, when he managed to fool me with a dud. I had to jump behind a tree to avoid an imminent explosion, but it proved to be one of those smoke effects they use on stages, during concerts. Are they in a band now or something?" So that would explain why the girl had her hair disheveled, her jacket torn apart under her ribcage and her breaths were unruly and ragged.

Not wasting anymore time, Ten Ten urged Sakura to follow her deeper into the forest, taking one of the narrow paths, careful to her surroundings, watching each other's backs, not wanting to be taken by surprise again.

"Come on, let's find the others."

"Are you all right? You look hurt."

"It is no big deal. He caught me out of guard, but I managed to avoid a fatal hit. Man, was his sword sharp. Was he a Lorane member?"

Was it any room left for question? In Sakura`s mind, the answer was completely obvious. She nodded once out of reflex, well aware the running in front of her Ten Ten was not able to see her.

"I am glad to hear. Tell me if you need medical help. Well yeah, I am quite sure he was. When the police comes, the investigation is going to reveal if he wore the tattoo. We should have checked on his fingers and wrists, you know?"

Another gun shot interrupted the girl's conversation, both cursing the lack of light and the weak GPS signal, because as blind as they were, the chances of getting trapped in a crossfire were pretty high and no one wanted to be a casualty of the battle. "Where is this coming from anyways? Are they using firearms as well?"

"I don't know. When two of them attacked Neji and me, we quickly had to split up and fight them separately. If they had a plan to take us down, it would have been more difficult for them to act if we saw through their moves." That made sense. Sakura silently agreed with the tactic.

The two agents picked up two really close thick fir trees to hide behind, assuring their backs, eyes flying in all the directions to look for a possible familiar face. They were at what both considered to be a safe distance from the previously heard shot, but close enough to not miss a possible Akatsuki man that would emerge from the shadows.

"I don't get it Ten Ten. Lorane is famous for the use of traditional weapons. But ever since this attacks have been going on, we keep on encountering mixed swords and modern firearms assassins, and this throws me off."

The pink haired agent tried to be as quiet as possible, feeling the tension in the atmosphere, making all her muscles clench. In the painful way.

A quick look at her Akatsuki colleague assured her she was too having problems in regulating her breaths and keeping up to appear in top shape, even if she too was still recovering. That was no good.

"What I am about to say is supposed to be a secret, for the moment, but I feel you are entitled to know. Someone steals our technology and uses it in battle."

The pink haired agent's heart had a moment of pause in its throbbing. Was it a chance for Ten Ten to have been high and talk gibberish. "What? You mean…Lord, no. No! This…how….? Is it Lorane? Do you mean Lorane is stealing weapons from you?"

"Nasty, isn't it? They so do this and Itachi and Tobirama are not able to catch the culprit. They are struggling with that one. My guts tell me this is only the beginning of the show."

"So…what they use in this moment is your own weapons? The one that Akatsuki is using? Is this what you want to say?"

"You have got it. And I don't want to imagine it is the big ones, with the laser based technology that was leaked. Shino is still running tests on that one. We are doomed if they lay their hands on those as well."

"Shit. This is bad! So, I suppose the three remaining ones are fighting Naruto and Neji, right?" Sakura was having troubles in keeping her thoughts coherent, the million of unsolved questions surging through her brain. Suddenly, a nagging headache was storming down her head. How come the Sound never told her about that? Or they didn't know either?

The Sound agent checked on her phone, shaking her head in disbelief, deciding to actually discard the useless device on the first trash can. Damn phone was good for nothing, because not only they had no signal, satellite connection to communicate with their respective leaders, but her battery was running low as well.

"I think so too, though I have not encountered Naruto so far. I hope my imbecile fiancé is not facing them alone. God only knows how good they can be in using those guns."

Another shot interrupted the two agent's little chat, both Sakura and Ten Ten pressing their backs on the trunks, holding their weapons of choice, quickly assessing what they had in stock. Sakura observed her CIA colleague was a fan of nunchaku.

"Nice choice. Though I find both of us to be kind of…inappropriate for this situation." Sakura was referring to the firearms. Swords, Bamboo Bo Staffs and nunchaku were intriguing, but paled in comparison to modern technology.

But a swift motion of her coffee eyed friend's eyes towards her right hip assured the pink haired maid that she was more than prepared. Ten Ten also had a fire arms she was not so adamant to use, unless the situation asked for it.

Sakura nodded once in understanding. "Don't worry, I am not solely relying on this kind of weapons. But so as you know, I am not a fan of them, nor I am proficient."

"Then let's just hope that out of the three Lorane dogs, at least one is using a sword."

"Exactly."

A sudden change into the air pressure made Sakura`s senses shot alert, totally aware of an approaching threat. "Ten Ten, there is something…DOWN!" The girls were lucky to have barely avoided a large long sword thrown in their direction, aiming at their heads-it was that large-with the sole intention of taking both their heads down, in one shot.

The sharp metal blade got stuck in the thick trunk, scaring the CIA agents shitless. Just who in their right mind would carelessly throw their weapon towards the target, like it was a boomerang? Lorane were probably testing weed or something, the two women decided. "What the fuck?!"

"Gotcha!" A throaty manly voice echoed behind Ten Ten`s back, the killer's hot breath fanning harshly on her nape, giving her cold shivers. She quickly attempted a low leveled round kick, but of course he saw it coming, paring and delivering a punch straight in her face, through her block, sending her stumbling backwards, barely keeping balance.

She quickly got a massive nosebleed, covering the throbbing split skin with her palm, attempting to pull out her gun and shot the bastard, but Sakura was already two steps ahead. "Ten Ten, stay behind!"

The emerald eyed girl gracefully, but deadly, planted the Bo firmly down the soil to help her close the distance between the other two people in front of her and serve as a leverage and hastily used her left front leg as a footwork, bending her right knee and snapping the foot to the side, impacting the opponent with her heel, in a perfectly executed variation of a hook kick, cutting his outburst and preventing him for hitting Ten Ten once again.

With a whimper in pain, his head hit the trunk, but he managed to somehow regain his senses, probably because the Sound agent didn't have much strength left to begin with, giving her injured state, but before be managed to come up with a counter strategy, another shot that made the two ladies go deaf for a moment successfully put an end to their struggles.

---

"Whoa…" Sakura`s head snapped over her shoulder to follow the direction of the unexpected bullet, her jade eyes cast on the owner of the gun.

Ten Ten stood up, pressing a napkin firmly on her nostrils, she too taking in the mysterious approaching them figure, with a fire arm. "Sakura, was it…"

"Sakura-chan! Tennie! Are you guys all right?" That was one blonde haired Uzumaki that had a perfect timing, running in their direction, being not far away from the scene. He followed the assassin he was supposed to keep an eye on, but lost because he was not having night vision-like cats or owls-inwardly thanking the odds for making it out in the very last moment.

He was panting and sweating madly, gun tightly gripped on his right hand, when he came to rest beside the other CIA gang. The two ladies exhaled deeply in relief. Sakura took a fast peek at the cursing in pain chocolate haired Akatsuki female agent, slightly worried about her nose's condition.

The bone looked broken and she was gulping the rivulets of blood surging from her nostrils. "Naruto-kun, how did you find us? Do you want me to look at that, Ten Ten?"

"Yeah…fuck it hurts like a bitch! Nice timing Uzumaki. Where is stupid Hyuga? Auditioning for Heidi of the mountains?" Sakura furrowed her eyebrows, trying as best as she could to determine the condition of her friend, seeing that she needed medical treatment she could not provide in those circumstances.

Well, she could, but she had to take her medical kit…which was in the cabin…back where the heirs were…were Sasuke was…trouble.

"I think your nose is broken. I need my med kit, but I left it back on the camp."

"Neji is fine. He already shot one of those motherfuckers and he was dealing with one of them that looked a little more skilled that the other one. This one that Sakura-chan so artistically incapacitated, was giving me a lot of Hell. I suck at sword fighting."

Naruto shrugged once, ripping the cut black leather material of his jacket, where the Lorane`s assassin managed to land a successful hit, looking at the fine crimson line and the dripping blood. "Ah, man, this is going to leave a mark! Give me a break!"

"Nice to hear. So you got the short end of the stick, huh? Good to know he at least took one down. So it was my oh so capable fiancé whose gun we heard earlier, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"We need to go back and let me look at you both." Sakura stated simply, the others be damned. Her friends needed disinfectant and bandages and fast. She would explain it to the others…somehow. She could do that, couldn't she?

"Well…no, we can't. We are going to totally blow up our covers." If the situation wasn't life threatening, where not only their lives, but the other almost 40 people ones as well were endangered, Sakura and Naruto would have died laughing at the way Ten Ten`s voice came out, muffled by the napkins she had stuck down her nostrils to prevent the from bleeding, keeping her head bent to not chocke on blood. She looked damn funny.

"Then what do we do? And aren't we supposed to go help Neji as well?" Sakura tried to reason. Call it intuition or sixth sense or fortune telling, but Sakura had those strange feelings that started to root into her mind, ever since she came to Tokyo, that something big was going to happen soon. And she was not sure it was for the better.

Lorane was up to something…huge, she could feel it on her shivering skin, Sakura realized. "And I don't want to be the one to break it for you, but we have to call the Tokyo Police Force. You know exactly what office." Emerald eyes narrowed pointedly at the two auditors. They nodded once, well aware of the fact.

"INTERPOL. Damn, I didn't want them to get involved. This is going to look bad. What are we going to tell the others?" Naruto spoke silenty, almost whispering the words, rubbing the back of his golden spikes, confused of what to do.

What would a bunch of loaded people think about their involvement with the INTERPOL troops, the Uzumaki heir wondered. Sure, they probably heard the gun shoots, but the most recent murders kind of ruined the element of surprise. What was nagging him was their cover and a quick asset to the pink haired agent assured him she was fighting her worries as well.

And, ironically enough, they had a common person crossing their minds, intelligent enough to quickly put two and two together and totally understand how bad he has been lied by the people he was supposed to trust the most:

Sasuke.

"Sakura is right, Naruto. We have to call them here immediately. God only knows how many other of Lorane`s rats are there, waiting to hunt us down."

The sound of an approaching ATV`s engine silenced the three agents, momentary blinded by the powerful lights. Three hands covered the stinging eyes, cursing down at the pale eyed Hyuga that stole their vision.

Ten Ten wanted to beat him senseless, but she had to remain in that position, pressing her nose with one hand, giving him the finger with the other. "NEJI! Turn that shit off, immediately!"

Sakura did her best to not shut her emerald eyes, but she had black dots dancing on her retina, so she eventually had to turn her head over her shoulder, and pray it was not another assassin. ATVs?

Akatsuki were really fans of technologies, apparently. Shino`s toy, the Sound agent has recognized it immediately, because it actually had a custom made red cloud painted on the side. Sweet.

Neji stopped the engine, not bothering to even put on his helmet, rushing down to his friends, having an anxious expression on his usually collected face…and a lot of blood splashed on his chest, as a token of a well done job. "So you guys did some murder, all right?"

At that Ten Ten came beside him, with her head still bent, like a mole's and punched him hard in the shoulder. "Fucking arrogant prick, do you think this is funny? That shit head almost cut our damn necks!"

Neji lowered his gaze worriedly, taking in his fiancé's condition. She still had the mental energy to curse him to Hell and back, so she was probably not in mortal danger, but she was hurt, he could see that much. "Are you ok?"

"Do I look ok to you?"

"Neji, have you managed to kill them all?" That was a moment of Naruto being completely serious, his usually goofy grin pressed down in a straight line, eyebrows furrowed, arms crossed around his chest. Sakura was improvising a tourniquet for his cut, tearing down the hem of her blouse. Poor lady was probably freezing to death, the other Akatsuki agents realized.

"I did. And I see you did your part as well."

"Somehow…" Sakura was intently working on Naruto`s arm, neatly knotting the improvised bandages, biting her lower lip. With the adrenaline rush, her whole muscles felt limp and lifeless, pretty much alike of a hangover. She felt like Tsunade. In a bad mood, because bad mood meant a lot of sake.

Ten Ten smirked down-literally, because she was facing the ground-at the idea of why was she that…she had another aura, because even though it was dark, cold and she was barely dressed and tired, Sakura was glowing. And it was the kind of radiance people had after a mind blowing orgasm.

A small chuckle left her lips, much to the other's horror. Ten Ten was already nuts and the lose of blood was probably killing her sole sane remaining neurons. Neji came behind her to let the chocolate eyed fiancé press her back on his broad chest, because she was kind of dizzy in that position.

"What is so funny all of sudden, dear? Wasn't you the one to shout at me for not laugh at you?"

"Some of us more than did it and I am not talking about the murder part. I just find it amusing, in a sadistic way and…I think I have lost too much blood."

Sakura more than caught the meaning, feeling a lump rest on her throat, faking a cough, her guilty conscience knocking at the door of her decency and morality. She has just won a ticket straight to the mental hospital, in the VIP section for fucking the Uchiha heir in the forest, surrounded by…oh God, it was in that moment when she truly realized the implication of Ten Ten`s words.

Emerald eyes snapped open like plates in the direction of a chestnut eyed friend, who was bowing at all of them, barely containing her giggles.

Two women understood each other, even though Naruto was completely oblivious, doing God only knew what, tapping intently on his phone. Sakura truly hoped he was not playing that games with aliens again or else…

"Ten Ten…you…"

"Totally…busted, honey."

That left Sakura`s mouth hang open, like a fish out of water, the color drained from her already pale face made her look like Casper. She had problems processing what she has just learnt.

Ten Ten….has seen she and Sasuke doing…the Sound agent was roaming intently through the prays stuck in her mind, to find a proper one for her glorious end, totally intending to dig in a hole and bury herself alive in shame.

She wouldn't start imagining Neji being there as well…he totally was, Sakura couldn't tell from the way he was avoiding her gaze, trying to be discrete and not barge into her privacy.

She more than screamed at them. "YOU PERVERTED…."

"Guys, I have good news, GPS is working! We have signal again!" Naruto was completely oblivious at the shameful disclosure, flailing his smart phone in the air, like he was a cheerleader.

That caught the other agents` attention towards the clown acting blonde Uzumaki. He was back to his own self. Apparently, seriousness only worked when Lorane members were breathing in his general direction.

"And what are you waiting for? Santa? Call Itachi, for fuck`s sake!" Ten Ten had troubles in standing straight, feeling her vision double when she raised her head slowly, massaging the muscles at the back of her neck.

"I was just about to do it when you so politely asked me to…"

Three helicopters appeared out of nowhere, making the Akatsuki members and Sakura wonder just how were the able to miss the powerful engine's roar, covering it with their shouts? And they called themselves mighty CIA agents…

And to their stupor, one was looking for a clear place as close to them as possible to land and one was heading to the cabins. There was another one that passed them first, but that one was at a higher altitude, like it was looking for something…else. They didn't dwell on that much though, because when Neji was able to make out the Tokyo Police's INTERPOL department on the approaching them helicopter, everything went…blurry.

He screamed at his friends, aware they were not going to hear him clearly with all the noise. "Who called the INTERPOL, care to explain it to me?!"

"No one, duh! We didn't have signal until now, remember?" Naruto was just as stunned. He was hundred percent sure his friends didn't move a finger to involve the police. At least, not until they killed the assassins and regrouped to formulate a plan to maintain their covers.

"It was not me." Ten Ten assured them. Three pairs of eyes rested on Sakura`s form. The pink haired lady shook her head, clearing the confusion.

"Not me, either. Just as you guys, I am not able to contact Papa, nor even have a proper working GPS. Must be someone else."

The question was…who would have possibly had signal to begin with, know the exact situation and even have such a good timing to announce the troops to come and provide help? It was a complete mystery for all the agents present.

"But…This makes no sense at all! If none of us did it, then who? The wild fauna around?!" Neji`s pale eyes were glued to the helicopter that found a place to land, not far from where they were expecting and as soon as the properrels stopped, two agents came down and run towards the CIA gang, introducing themselves in Japanese.

Sakura rolled her emerald eyes at that one, feeling so alien all of sudden. Like seriously, she should totally get a translator or learn that language. Good thing she hasn't been sent to some tropical island where people communicated through weird sounds and gestures. "Can someone please tell me what is this dude saying, in English or Italian please?"

"Sorry Sakura-chan. I have forgotten." Naruto smiled awkwardly, feeling bad for neglecting the pink haired agent, who too deserved some explanations, briefing her about the situation. "Come, let's go back and see if Teme has been a good boy and didn't provoke some damage. Let Neji and Ten Ten deal with this."

"But…is it ok? I mean…" Naruto put a hand around Sakura`s waist, dragging her with him back to the other heirs, while the other remaining agents were intently explaining the situation to the other Tokyo INTERPOL agents.

"Yeah, they are grown ups. They will handle it."

---

Sakura reluctantly followed Naruto, having troubles in keeping up with his fast strides. She has never realized how cold and tired her feet were, and the emerald eyed agent kind of wanted to ask the blonde Uzumakin to give her a piggyback ride, because all her cells were screaming for water, food and SLEEP!

"Gosh…this is crazy!"

"Tell me about it." Naruto was constantly dealing Itachi`s number, slightly surprised that he only got his voice mail, instead of a proper answer, like he would have expected. Any sane person would have thought that the older Uchiha brother was keeping his eyes glued to the screen and would not have wasted the opportunity to establish the connection with them the first chance he got.

Maybe something unexpected happened to him as well? "Leader is not answering my call and this is screwed up."

Sakura threw a hand lazily around Naruto`s shoulders, supporting her body weight on his own, feeling him tighten his hold on her, not after he quickly removed the jacket he wore and lent it to the trembling in cold lady, she relishing in its warmth.

If she would not get pneumonia after that, the pink haired lady would have considered to be immune to all the bacteria around. "What do you mean he is not answering you? I thought he was supervising us. At least, this is what you have told me."

"Well yeah, but for some unknown reason, he has his phone shut down."

That made Sakura curious. She took away her own phone, flipping it open and tapped Orochimaru`s number. Even though she knew he was busy with figuring out who stole his research, she didn't have a choice.

Something was going on, she could feel it down her spine. She got the same result. No answer. "Damn. Papa Oro went MIA as well. What the heck is going on here?"

"Guess we are on our own."

"Don't say that, this is not a joke, Naruto-kun. What is the INTERPOL doing here so fast and who called them? You do realize that someone actually did it beforehand, do you?" Sakura felt the blood freeze down her veins when things started to get an actual meaning. There was no way someone could have found out about the murder attempt before them. They were the CIA, for Heaven`s sake, so who could have been even faster than that? Aliens? Another rival organization?

His voice went slightly higher, both of them starting to feel the burden weight down their shoulders.

There were too many things that had no logic and the worst part was yet to come. Sakura was able to already see the familiar camp, realizing that the events took place quite close to their accommodation.

That was no good. It only confirmed their worst fears: everyone probably heard the fire arms shooting and more than once. "And so? What does it mean? That someone else knew that we were going to face Lorane and decided to invite the police to the party?"

"To put it simply, yes. Oh, c'mon Papa, just answer already!"

"It is no use Sakura-chan, I have left Teme`s brother a message to call us as soon as possible. Let's just hope shit didn't go down there as well."

"Do you think these attacks were synchronized somehow? Gosh…I think I am going senile. We should have checked their wrists and confirm they were Lorane." Though, Sakura didn't quite needed anymore solid proofs of their identities, because it was crystal clear they were Freemasons, from their great unique fighting skills.

The part with the weapons on the other hand and Ten Ten`s confession, were things that didn't match the jade eyed girl's idea of what was going on in there.

"I have no idea. I hope not. Sakura-chan, this is bad. What do we say to the others? Should we just…not go back?" They were already close to the two buses they came with, stopping dead in their tracks. There was the other INTERPOL helicopter landing in front of the cabins that were the farthest from their own, with many scared people watching in awe at the approaching flying machine. Ok…it looked even worse.

"What are you talking about, we can't make a run for it, that will only stir the suspicion further. Let's act oblivious."

"Oblivious? Then give me the jacket back to cover this damn bleeding cut, although I know you are cold. I am sorry, Sakura-chan."

The pink haired lady quickly returned the leather jacket, quickly assessing the situation-if the police was there, then there was theoretically no imminent danger-so she removed her hold of Naruto and sprinted inside the cabin, up to her room.

There were four or five men and women pacing relentlessly on the small living room, their eyes immediately flying on her panting frame, but Sakura didn't spare them a glance.

They looked fine and there was someone else she would have died to check on at that moment. The rosette truly hoped nothing bad happened to Sasuke because if Lorane, by some miracle, would have managed to put a good one on her and make her completely fail the mission, it would have meant disaster.

Climbing the stairs up in a rush, stepping on two stairs at once, Sakura arrived to the narrow hall that connected all the rooms, until she got in the front of the door she was looking for, gripping the know and turning it, barging inside the room she and her boss were sharing.

And the moment Sakura came across the scene that has been going on there, life has drained from her lungs, and the arms she had on the door knob fell limp on her side, jaw dropped to the floor.

She once had a nightmare like that. And it has been anything but pleasant. The only thing coherent she was able to form, came out as a strangled stutter whisper like sentence.

"Oh my God, Sasuke!"

Sakura had to blink rapidly as to make sure her vision was not deceiving her or her tired mind was not playing a fata morgana effect, even though she was not in the dessert or highway.

There, in front of her looking in horror emerald widened eyes, proudly stood no other than her supposed to be boss, Sasuke, with his straight spine on her, turning his head over his shoulder, the moment she made her presence known in the same space as him, looking like…like he was those unusual beautiful sinister porcelain dolls, in the horror stories for little children.

"Sakura." Even her name on his thin lips brought creeps down her arms, and that time, it was anything but arousing. It was so cold and deadly, that gave the frozen in shock pink haired maid the need to turn back and make a run for it.

"W-What are you…" There was nothing left for her to say, because every single detail spoke volumes. Two dead bodies were lying limp on the floor, with their lifeless orbs crept open, almost like wanting to scream for help, but she recognized to be their last breath living their lungs.

Fresh blood was pooling at their feet, decorating the macabre looking floor, in a sinuous pattern.

The window was wide open and the sound of the blowing wind hitting the wooden frame was only adding to the menacing atmosphere, almost like the audience would have expected a noble old vampire craving for fresh meat and young red salty vital liquid to emerge from the shadows and materialize into the room.

But the most unexpected vile thing, was definitely Sasuke`s presence. Sakura couldn't make up her mind where to start scream in dread from.

He was having a sharp, long and thin steel sword, in a form she has never seen before, but looked able to cut through everything, secured in his left hand-she already knew left was his dominant hand and ironically enough, it was the one with the weird moon birthmark-lowered at his foot, with the end stuck on the floor, like waiting to use it again.

Then he decided to act even funnier, when leisurely he lifted his right hand and licked the blood streaming from his injured skin, like a graceful cat, tracing the remaining rivulets on his lips, with the tip of his tongue, never removing his stare from her.

That was creepiness at his finest, Sakura decided. And to her utter shock, it affected her mental sanity as well, because that twisted attitude held a dark erotic hint that made the hair of her neck perk.

His usually impassive hard onyx eyes that gave nothing away, were gleaming with an unusual fire, that looked like a mixture of both blood thirst and reluctance of fully turning around and face her and that threw Sakura off for real.

"….doing here?" The way he elevated his regal nose a bit, was telling Sakura she put a stupid unnecessary question, because even a retard would have been able to assess the situation.

But the thought was too foreign to Sakura, to imprint it into her mind, or even worse, process it and let it fully sink. Sasuke has murdered two Lorane assassins and he was not even panting, only slightly sweating, but that was already hard to observe. It was surreal.

There was a moment in which Sasuke found himself unable to say a word, and not because he usually was not communicating with people too much, but because he was at lost of proper words to say. What was there left to mutter anyways?

A lie? The truth? Which of the two of them should he let her know?

Something in between? Of course, what else. He was Sasuke Uchiha after all and he knew all too well how to play the physiological battle into his favor. But not her. Sakura…he didn't want to play her as well.

She was not a deck of cards or a bet. That was a woman he wanted around. And the shock into her viridian sparkling eyes sent a frozen icicle down his heart. She wanted to run away, it was written in all her body language.

Unacceptable.

"Self defense." Well, it was not the actual truth, but not entirely a lie either.

"What?" The answers kept on going into Sakura`s confused mind: why was he having a sword, like Lorane-that was a big thing she totally overlooked and it almost made her faint-why were two additional killers they have not been announced of, or didn't appear on the GPS, how was he able to take them down and not be caught out of guard, did he actually know about the attack, so on and so forth.

And the INTERPOL troops were right there, probably securing the place and searching for any other party. How was Sasuke going to explain it was self defense? Because it looked like anything but.

"Are you all right?" Was he referring to her? Because Sakura was not sure she knew the difference between reality and dream any longer. It felt, not like a dream, but more like a nightmare and she was the lead actress.

His voice was velvety low and soothing, just like he used to whenever he felt her distress, turning around to fully face her. It was pure instinct that made Sakura step backwards , afraid of…something.

It was something dark she could not identify into Sasuke`s behavior and the thing that dreaded her was not his sinister aura per se, but how utterly natural it felt to see him in such a scene. Like he was killing people on daily basis and that time was only part of a long practiced routine. "…I…" Words did not come out at all.

"Sakura…where have you…" Been? I have to go, there are still other killers around that I have to deal with, were Sasuke`s unspoken words. But how could he have voiced them out without making her faint and probably never recover? He couldn't. Not without revealing his past.

And he didn't want to do that. Not in that moment. Not like that. Sakura deserved a better proper explanation, instead of a horrid scene consisting in two skilled top fighters lying dead at his feet, before her scared eyes.

"Why…how…you did…are they dead?" Why was Sakura stuttering that much as if she hasn't just killed some Lorane lackeys not while ago? Just what was going on in there, because she felt the world crumble before her eyes and the floor slip under her feet?

That was no crazy bikers with a bigger ego than brain, at the top of a mountain, picking on them for no reason. Sasuke has just killed two professional assassins belonging to the most fearsome old criminal organization, and he was not even looking tired. At most, he was bored. "Yes." His answer was simple.

"Damn…" The Sound agent shook her head once, blinking rapidly, letting go of the door knob she was holding for support, fully entering the room she has attempted to leave, snapping out of her stupor. She was a CIA agent, for Heaven's sake, not a little girl and she should act accordingly. "…you are hurt."

Sasuke dropped his onyx eyes that were intently resting on Sakura`s approaching figure, to the cut he did himself, not actually feeling that much of a pain. He even forgot about that. At most, it slightly burned. "This is nothing."

"What do you mean by nothing? Let me see!" Without waiting for a permission, Sakura took Sasuke`s injured arm and did a quick scan, confirming that it was indeed a blade's cut-probably with the one he was holding, judging by the shape-assessing how deep it was.

"This is going to leave a scar all right." She stated as a matter of fact, already slipping past the dead bodies, to her bag, where the first aid kit was. Sasuke raised an eyebrow in surprise. She didn't even blink or freak out when she almost stepped on one of the assassin's hand, in search for whatever she needed in that moment.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking for the med kit, what else? Though I think we should call the morgue." Sakura couldn't wait to get the Legist's report.

She was going to spend a lot of time studying those files. The pink haired lady knew that some Hozuki agent was going to be really busy in the next few weeks.

While she was busy looking for the medical kit, something caught her attention and made her consider actually taking a peek at the killed people in the room. She could see their faces, because their masks were dragged from their faces. And she lost it for real. "Oh shit!" Both hands covered her mouth in shock.

She knew that people. "…I cannot believe it! This two…they are…"

"…the dear capable guide of ours and the polite and pleasant woman from Turkey. Quite the combination if you were to ask me."

Realization hit the emerald eyed agent hard. It suddenly made sense. At least the part when Sasuke told the guide to change routes. He knew.

It was in that moment when Sakura understood that her boss knew about people following him from the very beginning and that changed the game completely.

She, Naruto and the other Akatsuki, were foolishly heading straight to Lorane`s flawless trap and she had no doubt that, without Sasuke`s incredibly knowledge about the situation and quick thinking, all would have been dead. He saved their lives.

"You knew! Sasuke? You knew about them, didn't you? This is why you suggested him to follow another way! How?" Suddenly, Sakura felt like she was talking to a dangerous stranger, instead of the man she has just…oh God, she has slept with him not long ago and knew she was the witness of him killing someone.

That started to sound like a perfect scenario of an action movie. A good one. There was no point of denying the obvious, Sasuke decided. But it stung his heart to see the fright those glowing forest green eyes were displaying, while searching intently for his own. "I did. From the very beginning."

He didn't even hide the fact. Sakura heard ruckus outside, from the open window, probably coming from the INTERPOL. She realized one of the helicopters was probably scanning the surrounding area in search for anymore assassins. "But how? And why didn't you say anything?"

"I already told you there are people that want me dead, Sakura. This is why I said standing by my side is not safe." It was the truth. But what Sasuke didn't know, was the fact that it was the other way around.

Sakura`s dread has suddenly been replaced by hurt. Was he implying she should leave him? It did sound like that. "…I…am not…leaving…if this is what you want to say."

She couldn't possibly be true. Sasuke`s jet eyes went slightly wide in disbelief. What kind of woman was Sakura to not have any problems in staying with a man she has only met a month ago, that was entangled with such people?

Not a normal one, that was for sure. And it was suspicious. Sasuke couldn't overlook it. "There are…others outside as well."

Her mind went blank. What?! He knew about the other four killers as well? But Akatsuki and she had no idea about the two lying dead ones. Just who was Sasuke to have access to such information, anyways? How was a civilian able to find out something like that? Was he…emerald eyes bore into the coal ones she grew to adore, searching for the answer.

She found it. Sasuke Uchiha…was more than a filthy rich heir. The problem was…how much more and whose side was he? Because, by the look of it, he seemed like part of one of Lorane`s rival gangs, or even worse, ex member. It was the only explanation Sakura could come up with, to cover for all the missing parts of the puzzle.

He was able to have access to data and gather information CIA didn't have. That was a big thing. "Maybe this is why the police is here. They came earlier. Maybe we should…wait for them and…" She tried to act like any normal people would have.

"Leave it and let's go." Sasuke grabbed her forearm, making Sakura stumble on her feet, throwing the sword carelessly on the covered in blood bed sheets, heading to the door, dragging her along.

Sakura didn't try to pry his hand away, but patted his shoulder to catch his attention. What did he mean by leaving the place? The INTERPOL was there right at their door, there was no way they could have just run like nothing happened. Well, Sakura could have done so, but not Sasuke.

That stunt, self defense or not, was going to cost him a lot of visits to the police station for interrogation. "Go…where?"

"Home."

"What?! No! The police is here, Sasuke." The Uchiha heir didn't even flinch, continuing to walk, till they exited the room, descending the stairs. Of course he knew about the INTERPOL troops, since he and his associate were the ones to call them. As usually, they were two steps backwards,

"So what?" Was he serious?

"What do you mean by what? Sasuke, you have killed people, for fuck`s sake!" They headed downstairs, crossing the living room, attracting everyone's attention to them.

Sakura dropped her voice to a whisper tone, not wanting to let out such a piece of gossip to spread among the hungry for another hot topic to discuss panicked people. Their faces were indeed priceless. "You cannot leave just like that! We have to stay back and wait for further instructions."

"We don't have time for that. Who knows when they are coming back." True. Sakura knew that the raven haired Uchiha was being reasonable, but too bad that was not how law worked like. He had to prove his innocence in the Court. What a good start for the Mangekyou heir, having such a problem.

"B-But…what about the fact that you are not supposed to leave the…" She waited until they were outside. Sakura already spotted some INTERPOL and police force troops securing the area, instructing people to remain indoors. "…crime scene?"

"Leave that to…my lawyers." Sasuke stated simply, not dwelling much on the fact. He knew those things were not even going to be registered into his criminal record. Well…his criminal record has been cleared as well, but Sakura didn't need to hear it.

As far as the emerald eyed Sound agent was concerned, they were heading back into the forest, when they came face to face to Naruto and his distressed goofy looking face. He looked like he has been running to the peak and back, sweating. He has probably provided backup help to the police force officers. "Sakura-chan! Teme?!"

Sasuke took in his friend's appearance. He called Sakura first and his breaths were ragged and he was not surprised by the roaming around people clad in black with guns-yes, Sasuke already spotted the INTERPOL troops-which made him twice more suspicious in his eyes. He knew as well, that was for certain. "Dobe. Where have you been?"

"Forest, duh! Why, are you suffering from Alzheimer or something? I went for a walk." Naruto shrugged once, trying to act like a non CIA agent, not to blow their cover. His raven haired friend was brooding at him.

"A walk? And? Have you found something…inspiring or possibly…entertaining?" His tone more than mocking, like the onyx eyed Uchiha caught him in the middle of the act.

It slipped Naruto`s vigilance, but not Sakura`s. Sasuke was suspecting them both and that was not a good sign. "Nah. I got bored and come back, when I have seen those gorillas there with guns and helicopters. What the hell is going on in here, anyways? And where are you two going, by the way? Police has told us to immediately go inside."

Sakura`s eyes were flying around her, while she was deeply praying for Ten Ten and Neji not to emerge from the woods and put an end to their charade. If her and Naruto`s guilty looking figures were not being a major giveaway, than the Akatsuki couple clad in full agent gear and ATVs were surely going to do the trick.

It took Sasuke a moment of deeply brainstorming to come up with his answer. Something was fishy with Naruto and Sakura, but he couldn't quite put the finger on it.

The way they acted was a bit…too relaxed for his liking. "It looks like all the sudden deaths are not random. They target someone from here as well. And I am afraid it can be any of us. We have to get out of here."

Naruto`s face went pale like Sakura`s when she first set an eye on the dead bodies. "Huh?! Wha…are you crazy, Bastard or have you possibly been shot down the head?! Didn't you hear what I have said? We have to go back inside or else the police is going to…"

"We are leaving. If you want to come stop complaining and follow. If not, stay here and wait for the police to watch your back…because they proved themselves competent so far." Without wasting anymore time, Sasuke pulled a rooted in place Sakura after him, heading back to the forest, leaving a stunned looking Naruto behind, mouth agape.

Sakura only managed to point her finger towards the room she and Sasuke were occupying, he nodded once in understanding. There was no way they could have stopped Sasuke once he had his mind set on something, so he let it pass.

"Where are you taking me?" Sakura realized they were somehow heading back straight where the first INTERPOL plane has landed, meaning where the Akatsuki were. Why was that?

"My private helicopter. It should be somewhere in front of us." Sasuke tightened his grip on Sakura`s cold hand, mentally cursing the narrow full of branches path, slowing his pace. He felt the pink haired maid's tiredness pulsating through her veins.

He turned around abruptly, making the surprised girl to collide with his broad chest. She didn't bother to stay high alert. Police was there, Lorane was gone for the moment and…Sasuke was holding her hand. He was no treat to begin with, or that was what she has been chanting down her mind ever since they left the cabin. "You are tired."

Sakura let out a small 'yelp', resting her palms on his pectorals, out of reflex.

His hotness made her inwardly search for more, lowering her head, not able to face him while her mind was screaming at her to embrace him and get warm. She was freezing and he was just as barely clad as her. "I am cold."

Two strong arms pulled her into a tight embrace, rubbing her back energetically, making her almost moan in delight. Sakura could actually feel the prickles upon her skin and the blood surge her cells.

And she shut her emerald eyes when the raven haired Uchiha brought his mouth in the junction of her neck and shoulder and blown a hot stream of air, making her melt. "I know. We are almost there. Bear with it for the moment, ok?"

She nodded once, already feeling her stiffened shoulders relax. No matter how much of a killer he could have been, the pink haired girl felt safe into his arms. There was just something about him that screamed both danger and security, in an amazing combination. He was one of a kind. "Yeah…I am sorry."

"You have nothing to feel sorry for. Let's move, either ways we are going to freeze."

"Ok."

---

They made it towards a clear place into the forest, where the terrain was rocky, having Sasuke`s helicopter in their vision. He helped her climb and as soon as the onyx eyed heir closed the door, the pilot wasted no time in taking in, rising above the high fir trees, leaving the place like they have never been there. For Sakura it felt like another reality.

As soon as they stood down on the white leather chair-not surprisingly, that helicopter was a fully equipped luxury one-she buried her face into the crook of his neck, resting on hir lap, inhaling his strong scent. She was dead tired and she had too much stuff to do when they got back. And she realized…she left all her things back on the cabin. The only thing she had was her phone. "Sasuke…"

The said Uchiha prompted his head on the headrest, hugging his maid protectively towards his chest, looking on the window to the dark sky and faraway city lights. That was…a disaster. He had a lot of shit to do and it was not going to be pleasant. "Hm?"

"How did you know they were going to attack you beforehand and call for your helicopter?" Did Sakura really want to know the truth? She was kind of afraid of whatever answer Sasuke decided to give, but her curious side got the best of her.

In all honesty, her mission was to protect him no matter what. She was not the one to question CIA`s orders and Orochimaru would have not sent her straight in the embrace of the enemy, so she was fine. The reason only mattered for her own acknowledge. She had to know though…

"This…I have my ways." He didn't want to lie to her, so he kept it as impersonal as possible. Sasuke was not hiding the truth, nor did he provide any proper answers. He hoped Sakura would understand he didn't want to talk about that.

And she did, because she nodded once and placed a small kiss on his throat. He was massaging her shoulder with his palm, soothing her. She felt so small into his arms and her delicate bones were molding perfectly on his touch. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

'I will make sure of it' Were the words she would have liked to say, but couldn't.

"It will not. Rest. I am going to wake you up when we land." And she did just as so, letting sleep take over her. She was beyond exhausted. Meanwhile, Sasuke was tapping his message, not wanting to risk and wake her up.

'I am heading back to Tokyo. I leave the rest to the INTERPOL. They came just in time.'

He got a reply soon enough. 'Good. No need to thank me. I hope no one saw you.'

'My maid did. But she is…not going to question. I leave the police and their procedures to you. Just make sure this doesn't leak up to the press.' Sasuke sensed the sarcasm, but he was not going to be found dead thanking that person. Not openly, at least.

'Be careful with her. I will deal with everything else. INTERPOL is not going to bother you. You just do your job and send me those formulas as fast as you can. The expert is almost there with the hieroglyphs. We need to put the two things together and read the message behind.'

'Of course. Don't forget about the Ball. They are probably going to be there as well.'

'I am already working on that.'

'I will hold you onto that.'

He finished the conversation, looking down at Sakura`s peaceful face. She nuzzled her nose on his collar bone, sound asleep. He smirked at her, placing a chaste kiss on her forehead. "I am sorry…Sakura. For everything."

.

.

---

*****[Ooooooooooooo} EvErYtHiNg{oooooooooooooO]******

Same time, Ravenna Italy, Akatsuki`s weapons base

---

A shiny black bulletproof limo was parked outside the base, with a very rushed man jumping out of the vehicle and a blonde woman following him suit inside. Orochimaru was everything but content in that moment.

He barely had any signal to contact Sakura and the other agents and he has just found out about another terrible case of stolen goods inside the CIA, that time, having Akatsuki as the victim.

"Hurry the hell up Tsunade, we don't have time to waste."

"Slow down a bit will yea? We have been running constantly and I didn't have time to drink my coffee."

Tsunade`s harsh voice came echoing behind the Otokage, who slipped past the bowing at him security guards, not sparing them a glance, heading straight to the room where all the weapons were supposed to be, finding a large spartan room with empty walls and a distressed exhausted looking Uchiha Itachi, along with Kakashi.

"Hello gentleman, I would say good evening, but looking around, this is not an appropriate thing to say."

Itachi furrowed his eyebrows, shaking the Otokage`s hand firmly, Kakashi doing the same. It was not that he was having anything personal with Orochimaru, but there has always been something about him that made it hard for people to trust him.

Maybe it was his mysterious aura that looked like he was hiding a big secret that made Sasuke`s older brother paranoid.

Nevertheless, his presence was more than welcomed, giving the situation. The snake faced man was a person many hated, but his skills were undeniable and his intelligence unbeatable. "Indeed. As you can see for yourself, they took everything."

"Even the experimental weapons." It was a statement. Itachi nodded once.

"I think those were the first to target. They left some bullets and smaller revolvers around, but they took our main supplies." Kakashi already counted and made a list with everything that was missing, sending it straight to the HQ. The CIA head was not coping with it any better.

"I see. This is not good. As you can probably suspect yourselves, we have a spy among us. Someone that works for the Freemasonry and stabs us in the back, constantly." Orochimaru`s statement didn't come as a shock. Inwardly, everyone suspected it and if the notorious Otokage had his suspicions as well, it only meant serious business.

"I agree." Itachi already made a list of people he had in mind as possible 'candidates' for the traitors part, including the names of all the rookie agents and other people that would come as suspects.

And he hasn't decided if Orochimaru was one of them…yet. Yes, Itachi was just one of those people. The ones that found even their shadow to be suspect. He was not Konoha`s team leader for nothing.

"Do you have someone in mind?" Kakashi smartly asked.

"At this point, no. Their work is flawless. And this bothers me."

"Every work has its flaws. I agree."

"Although this was supposed to be the Sound`s problem, I cannot ignore the recent events. We have been robbed as well. And I can assure you both that it is one of the most valuable thing we possess." There was no point in letting the male ego lead their moves.

The problem has long transcended one office's borders. If that would go on, soon CIA would be only a name in history. And that meant disaster. Tsunade was pacing around the room, studying it intently, looking for any clues left or anything similar to what they had encountered.

Kakashi and Itachi`s jaws almost hit the floor at that. If the Sound has been robbed as well, then they had another thing coming.

Things got suddenly worse. And Itachi could hear the constant beeps on his phone, but it was not like he was somewhere near a computer to help his team. They had to deal with it themselves…for the moment. "You can't be serious."

"I don't joke with such things, Itachi. Someone that I suspect to be the same person, stole me and my colleague's, Tsunade over there, research. And left no trace."

Itachi pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling dizzy. Just what was going on in there, because things were escalading from worse to disaster and fast.

"What…kind of research?"

"To be more specific, I am talking about a top secret experiment CIA has done some years ago."

Tsunade came beside Orochimaru, placing her hands on her hips, not trying to hide her contribution. She knew that eventually, the truth would come out and she was not going to hide and let her friend take all the blame. It was their problem to solve. "Me and Orochimaru have been the lead researchers."

"So…your research about…whatever that might have been…needs an arsenal to be…accomplished? I hope you haven't designed a nuclear destructive weapon or something." Kakashi has been dealing with such cases during his CIA missions. It was anything but pleasant, because imagination had no limits.

The answer took them both by surprise. "It is even worse than that."

"Even worse? What do you mean by that?"

"The main topic of our research…" Orochimaru looked for Tsunade`s approving stare, not holding back that time into make it known to his colleagues-the term nagged him-that something bad was going to happen because of some mistakes they did in the past.

And Itachi and the Hokage`s Vice both gaped in synchrony, not bothering to play it cool. That was one Hell of an answer, worth of the Otokage`s reputation:

"…is immortality."

"…." Whatever Kakashi wanted to ask, got stuck in his throat. What was there to ask to begin with? Were they working for NASA all of sudden and no one found it appropriate to announce it?

Itachi pulled his phone out of his pocket, seeing that Orochimaru did the same, checking on his GPS. He had some missed calls from the agents, but no SOS from them, which meant they were ok. "I think, Otokage-sama, that we all need to have a little…chat."

"Indeed. But first, I want to have a look at the broken security system."

"Of course. This way."

"Tsunade, have you brought my equipment?" They all stopped at the entrance, with Orochimaru studying the lock. It was weird because that one was not forced as well. He rubbed his chin intently, stare hard, thinking.

The blonde Senju handed him a small device, no bigger than a phone, with a large screen and a mini antenna, he taking it with a small thank you. Itachi and Kakashi were eying his moves intently, trying to determine what was he doing.

"This is not forced. Our suspect has all the passwords here apparently. The only door that has been forced was the one from my lab, because that is the only door that only two people know the combination of and it is me and Tsunade."

"True. This is what makes us think we have a traitor among the CIA members. No one is skilled enough to hack all of our passwords, with Aburame and his team constantly updating our passwords and security systems." Itachi stated simply.

Orochimaru nodded once, measuring something on the door's high tech lock. He furrowed his brows, not liking what he was seeing. Itachi was right, there was not even a bug in the system. It was not hacked or virused at all.

"I agree. But we don't have to check on everyone that works for the CIA to discover the culprit. Our list should be reduced to the ones that have access to all the rooms in here. This one included."

"You mean the higher ups?" Kakashi asked as a matter of fact.

"Not only them, but I would start with them. The CIA head included." Orochimaru knew that those accusations were no child`s play, but he had no reason to lie the two agent. He trusted them, as twisted as that might sounded.

"True. Have you found out something that caught your eye, Otokage-sama?"

"I confirmed there is no skilful method of hacking the security system, letting us the false impression of it being flawless. Indeed, this is not forced. At all."

"I would like to take a look at the door from your secret room that has been forced, with your permission of course. And I will ask Aburame and his team to come and do a complete investigation." Itachi reasoned.

"Sure. Drop by tomorrow morning, when he is going to arrive. I am going to give you all full access."

"I will." Itachi threw a glance at his phone, immediately recognizing the ID of the caller. Tobirama Senju.

"I have to take this call." He excused himself, while he instructed Kakashi to explain whatever Orochimaru wanted to know, not until the Otokage informed him about Lorane attacking his team and Sakura.

"Take your time." Meanwhile, Orochimaru returned his attention to the lock he was eying for good ten minutes, with Tsunade staying glued to his side.

"What? Is there something interesting to this stuff we the mortals are not able to see?" She said mockingly.

Orochimaru rolled his eyes, not facing her. "And here I thought you were smarter Tsunade. Guess I know where you got it from." He got a punch in his shoulder for insulting Tobirama ever so tactfully.

"Kakashi, who sets the passwords in here?"

"Usually it is Jirayia the one to take charge of our weapons, along with Ten Ten and occasionally me. Though I don't remember who set it last, because we change it often to prevent such things to happen. Guess that was not a good plan, either."

"So it is only people you trust."

"Exactly."

"What about the CCTVs?"

Kakashi shook his head once, looking at the empty spot in the corner of the wall, where once the cameras were. "Nothing. They deleted everything. It takes one hell of a technology to do that."

Orochimaru turned his head over his shoulder, eyebrow rose. "Do what?"

"Creating such a powerful magnetic field, in such a short period of time, able to erase any trace and jam the technology, computers and satellite network included. It is a technology that Shino has experimented with, but never got it stable."

"Interesting. The data matches the way they dealt with Shiseido Ginza incident. So it only means Lorane is involved in these incidents as well."

Kakashi`s sole right visible eye went wide. That was something they didn't take into account before. "So you mean it is not just a coincidence?"

"There is no such thing as coincidence in the world, Kakashi. Not in our area of expertise. Lorane wants to destroy us from inside out and so far, they have the upper hand. With my research and your weapons, they are likely to become quite dangerous."

"Damn."

"Let me copy the data from the last record of the security cameras."

"Follow me please."

"Come Tsunade. Stop daydreaming. We are not at opera."

"Arrogant jerk." Although she followed the two men's fast strides, Tsunade didn't miss the way Orochimaru let out an almost invisible creepy smile before he checked on the lock, confirming something on his own device, before turning it off. She would have to ask him about that later on.

---

}{

---

"Hokage-sama."

"Itachi, what is going on in there, I have ten missed calls from you. You know I cannot answer while in a conference, for fuck`s sake." Oh the joy, he sounded pissed off, Itachi noticed. No wonder, he has been cursing the people he had to encounter the moment he got in the jet.

Itachi went into an adjacent room, his onyx eyes fixing Orochimaru`s limo on the window, already checking on his laptop to see how his team was coping with Lorane. The connection was slowly but surely getting stable. "I am sorry for having interrupting you but we have two latest incidents that I had to brief you about."

"Incidents? What incidents?"

"First of all. I am sure you know about the trip the heirs that are going to take part into the upcoming ball two days from now, are currently on."

"Ah, that useless silly shit, how could one have missed it? Isn't Konoha already there?"

"Precisely this is the problem. Lorane had planned a surprise attack on their team. Athena of the Sound was there as well, to back them up. I am trying to establish another connection with them because our devices got jammed again."

Tobirama sounded anything but content. His voice was hard and throaty, although it was crystal clear he was trying his best to keep it whisper level.

All the ruffled sounds in the background assured the older Uchiha brother that he was probably still in the meeting room. "What the heck is with them and the fact that they stand out so much this days? Have they managed to kill someone? Don't tell me I have to take the first flight there and deal with it myself. And why is the Sound involved…again?"

Itachi almost dropped the phone from his hand, not believing his eyes what he was seeing. Not only his screen was full of unbelievable messages, but he has just learnt that INTERPOL has already been there, though no one from the CIA has asked for their presence.

"They…Haruno has been there, guarding my brother, along with Naruto. Ten Ten and Neji kept a low profile. I see their messages and they seem fine. No one has been hurt, fortunately, but someone we don't know about, got the INTERPOL involved."

"What do you mean someone we don't know the identity of? Wasn't any of you?"

"Neji tells me that no, no one has called for the police, but they managed to be there just in time, like someone has warned them beforehand. Weird."

"This is no coincidence Itachi. It is just like the incident with the four suspects, when someone from the outside has announced the Tokyo police force in advance. These events are related." Whoever said Tobirama was stupid, clearly was just mocking him. He was not the Hokage for nothing and his mind was working intently.

Itachi put his phone on speaker, already tasting to Neji, who was briefing him about the situation. He was content to find out that they managed to murder all the Lorane`s henchmen and evacuate all the heirs. They were already in their way home. "I am afraid I have another bad news and I am sure you will not like it in a bit."

"What bad news?"

"Someone barged into our weapons building and stole everything. Not only that, but Otokage-sama is here as well and he actually told us they too got robbed from some ultra secret experiments they did."

Itachi pressed his hands on his ears, cautiously, mentally trying to envision the windows break. "WHAT?!" That much for Tobirama`s collect attitude. He more than roared from the other side of the line.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?! Someone stole our weapons? Fucking Hell! When?"

"Last night. Not only that, but they actually knew our password and lock combination because the door is not forced. The only one that didn't have access to, was the one from Orochimaru`s lab. Everything beside that is untouched. Their work is flawless. Like I have suspected, it is someone from the CIA that is probably working for Lorane."

"No more time for jokes. Itachi, I am going to send you another password to reset all the ones in your offices and weapon stores. Check on everything and take all the data to the DS&T. Also, call for a meeting with the General Counsel. The situation around the world is shaky at this moment. I want the Director to be there as well. We need to take drastic measures."

"I understand, Sir. I will deal with it right now. Tomorrow I am going to take a sight at the Sound`s office as well and compare the data. Aburame is going to lead the analyses."

"Just don't involve that Snake Man more than necessary, I hate his guts! And inform the Directorate of Intelligence about a meeting I would like to organize. We have to discuss politics and economics latest data. Have you seen them?"

Itachi could have cared less about that at that moment. Someone was free to rob them like they were naïve kids and his team was dealing with Lorane in the woods. That could wait. Until he heard what Tobirama stated next. "No."

"It involves that brother of yours as well. Take a look at the TV more often and stop living in caves, like that freak Orochimaru and his lunatic team."

"What about the Mangekyou? Sasuke is dealing with it just fine." In fact, Kakashi was keeping Itachi updated with the news related to business and global economy, much to his horror and he got an idea of how the stock markets were doing. Compared to the other companies, Mangekyou barely lost something and it was due to his brother's genius.

"I don't know how it is going, but if he has branches in the Western Europe then he has a problem."

Itachi didn't like the sound of that. If Tobirama said that there was something bad happening, then he was more than right. The Congress he was attending gathered the most powerful Governmental organizations that dealt with peace and security around the world, as well as hundreds of other experts in various fields of interest, such as economy, so he knew better. "Why do you say that?"

"They are going to face a crises in the upcoming weeks. Austria, Germany, Finland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway and Spain have announced that they are not able to pay their loans to the World Bank Group or the International Monetary Fund. They have stopped the import of most of the goods and they are currently changing all the currency to dollars and send everything to the export to pay their debts. The others are already in major collapse. And it is all thanks to Lorane rising the taxes to gases, oils and energy."

Itachi already felt his mind shut down. He quickly accessed the online news channels, confirming the Hokage`s statements. Many countries from the Eastern Europe and part of the Eastern Asia were already declaring national insolvency.

Suddenly, the situation turned upside down. That was a bad sign, he knew it.

"What is happening in here?" He almost feared about what was going to happen in two days when all the people that were having running business were going to come together. He was already contacting the INTERPOL. They needed a security like never before. Then he was going to gain courage and call his little brooding brother.

---

}{

---

"Orochimaru, care to explain to me what the heck have you copied from Akatsuki`s security system?" Tsunade has been nagging her colleague ever since they got into their limos heading back to the Sound`s HQ, but he was intently working on his tablet, not paying attention to her.

And that bothered her. She took a pillow that was meant for resting the hand on and threw it to his head, the said man dodging it without even watching at the flying towards him object. At most, she was childish, as his wife. "Stop that, you are distracting me."

"Distracting? Don't you dare hiding something from me, or else I am going to hunt you down, before Lorane does it. Now spit it all, what was that?"

"What was what?" Good, Orochimaru was having a clear image of the mountain and the cabins his agent was, as well as the rest of the Akatsuki gang. They looked fine and Lorane looked…a little dead.

"Your mother's wedding anniversary…the thing that you have downloaded from that not so forced lock, you smartass. Why would you need that for anyways, since we have already confirmed they knew the pass code?"

"It was just that. I want to know the last password they broke, that is all."

Tsunade was eying the Otokage in disbelief. Was he smoking weed or being high was part of his immunity system? She was dead worried for Sakura, since they had no way to communicate and Anko has been feeling really sick that morning, so she was at the hospital, waiting for the blonde medic to come and bring her supplies and dumplings. She had no time for that. "For what?"

"Are you trying to annoy me Tsunade? Because I must say it is working. I want to compare the letters and watch for a pattern in the system, that is all. Besides, I have something in mind that bothers me, so I want to keep it that way. Let`s do a scan of all the passwords Akatsuki and the Sound are using and see if we can find a match into the logarithm. Something to lead us to them."

"I don't understand a thing."

"This is because you are stupid like your uncle, that is why. Damn that Tobirama spilled his seed in his predecessors, making all them cretins. The one that breaks our passwords is someone that has fully access to all of them, meaning either someone that is close to the Director or someone that sets most of them and knows the pattern. You know we don't just throw them at random, like the one from our lab. If I can find a mosaic they are using, maybe it is going to lead me to whoever Lorane has sent to trick us."

Orochimaru smirked down at his colleague, who was already having a bottle of sake in her right hand and donuts on the other, stuffing her face. Poor woman was not dealing with the stress properly. "Does this make it any clearer for you, Tsunade?"

"You are fucking insane."

"And you are going to get fat."

"I hate you."

"Cherry is fine. She managed to kill one of Lorane and Akatsuki took on the rest." The woman visibly relaxed, leaning further into the comfy chair.

"You are not going to win me with this. Tell her to call me as soon as possible. I miss my Blossom."

---

}{

---

Riiiing Riiiing Riiiingg

He snapped really bad, cursing the living daylights out of whoever dared to interrupt his sleep. "What?!"

"Stop screaming into my damn ears, I already have a headache the size of the Chinese Wall. I got news for you."

"They better be good, or else…"

"Don't you dare threatening me, since I am your superior. Now stop the bitching and put this call on the other line. I want to talk with the others as well. Better make it as one call and save my damn time."

Reluctantly, the middle aged man, with the long golden hair, kept neatly into a ponytail went into his office, pressed a secret button under the office desk and instantly, a large flat screen appeared. "I hate you all."

His and his interlocutors` face appeared instantly. There was another window with a mysterious person hid in the shadows, that looked like he was seated on a…was that a throne or was he imagining things? "Where is he?"

"Patience. I gave him a call."

Inoichi felt his insides clench in anger. Not only were they bothering him with other probably unimportant stuff, as another failure, but he was forced to wait for the last person to join their little chat. What the heck? "Then give him another, I don't care. I have stuff to do.?"

"And what do you think we are doing? Making sand castles?"

"Gentlemen, violence has never been the answer. Love and mutual understanding is the key to peace." The third person spoke, silencing the other two.

Inoichi looked at him like he was seeing the Devil. Who was that man anyways? "What about you stop spouting nonsense, like we are in the philosophy classes and at least show your damn face when addressing us?"

"This is going to happen pretty sure, don't worry." Much to his horror, it was not the man on the weird chair the one to answer. Was he ignored, because that would be rude and totally unacceptable?

"I want him to answer to my fucking…"

The other party joined the conversation, his bored looking face popping on Inoichi`s screen. All of them could have seen each other and communicate in real time, despite their different time zones. "I see all of you are here…in a way."

"It was about time you join as well. Now, what is going on in here boss?"

The said person let out a deep growl, totally annoyed by the ridicule tone Inoichi used. "I will tell you exactly what is going on in here. You three, are a bunch of incompetent losers and I will tell you the reason why. Not only you have totally failed in catching the Uchiha heir-again-, but CIA has gotten the upper hand this time, which I don't approve."

"I remember clearly telling you not to underestimate them, but you are too arrogant to even see the truth. They are going to discover us and it is going to drag all of us down." The bored person has talked, not even having the decency to face the web cam properly. He was reading a newspaper, drinking coffee. "And I remember telling you to let me deal with the Mangekyou."

"I see you staying there like a fucking useless plant, doing nothing. This is why I sent Inoichi and his daughter to help you out. Why are you two so unprolific? Don't tell me you have second thoughts. You know what happens to the ones that chose to betray me."

"Quit the threats, you don't impress us. We are equals in here, don't forget. You need us as well. Leave it to me and this blondie here to deal with that. You just do your own stuff. It is not like your precious assassins have managed to do shit during the trip. No one has been injured."

"Equals? Don't misunderstand. You all own me your own heads, you fuckers. Besides, this is not my job to begin with. Nagato, you failed again."

Tree pairs of eyes were cast on the said unresponsive man. The only thing that could have been seen was his massive ring with the feared pair of compasses and the big crystal glass of scotch. His face was completely concealed. "It was not a failure. It was to confirm my thoughts."

"What thoughts? That you didn't manage to take down some kids? I don't mean to offend you but you are a loser."

"If the thing you wanted to confirm is the fact that someone else is helping the CIA from the shadows, then you are a retard for letting those killers die in vain. I thought this was obvious."

"Heh…at least there is someone else who is not a complete moron. Is this true, Nagato?"

The leader of the Lorane nodded once, his weird colored purple eyes beaming at the camera, taking all the other two people that were watching him by surprise. Was some kind of fashion trend to wear contacts in that organization? "It is. I sent two of the best people available I had and they have been effortlessly taken down and it was not the CIA`s doing."

"Really? Then who would have been this skilled to make a fool of your marvelous organization?"

"Watch it Inoichi, as long as you collaborate with us, it is your organization as well."

"I don't give a damn about that. Nagato?" So that was his name, Inoichi kept in mind. Weird name with a weird resonance, just like his general appearance. Just what has he gotten himself into, anyways? Those people were…an unexpected mix, that was for sure.

The answer made all of them got silent and reflect. Truly, no one expected that, although the way Nagato was making it sound, looked casual.

"Uchiha Sasuke. Mangekyou`s CEO. He is the one that came to CIA`s rescue, I think more than once."

Inoichi`s cerulean eyes budget out of their sockets, clenching his fists at his side. To think his precious daughter was supposed to seduce a man that could have taken on their assassins easily was not something he has planned. It started to get dangerous. "Are you shitting us? This is a joke!"

Nagato spoke evenly. "Are you calling me a liar?"

"Are you taking us for fools? Do you really expect me to believe such a thing? What does he have to do with all this?" The other participant to the conversation neatly folded his newspaper, having troubles in grasping what Nagato was saying. It was truly something anyone would have find hard to believe, without a solid proof.

"I have no reason to lie. Uchiha Sasuke is at least an assassin and a really talented one. We have searched for his background, but found nothing. Not even in the FBI`s database, or the INTERPOL`s."

"What about the CIA?" Inoichi smartly asked.

"Nothing in there as well."

"What about the files you stole from them? Do they contain something about him?"

"I doubt it. This are more…science fiction related. Though it is exactly what we need to complete another step of our big plan."

"You want us to rule over the world using ancient stories? Are you all nuts or something?" Inoichi didn't like where that was heading, but he had no choice. They helped him and his company survive and his family didn't have to face poverty. He has long ago sold his soul. But Ino didn't.

"They are not ancient stories. You are an impatient man. Be careful not to cost you dearly. You know God praises perseverance and patience."

The blonde man snorted loudly at that. The others were just having their arms crossed over their chests, mirroring each other's postures, one looking extremely angry, the other being impassive, with such a natural talent, that it was a miracle he was even breathing. "Oh, spare me the details please. I want to know when are we going to come to the light. This thing is taking too much."

"Soon. To be more specific, tomorrow."

"Oh? So you actually plan on doing something. What about the upcoming Ball? That is a good chance to take down most of those snobs in one shot."

"They have probably called for the INTERPOL to provide help. It is going to be difficult."

"This my dear friends, is going to have a different approach. We are not killing anyone there. In fact, we attack no one." All the eyes were on the first to speak man.

"How so?"

"Because what I have on mind is going to successfully land a good blow on the Mangekyou and its playing Batman heir. This is your chance to approach him and annihilate that company once and for all. Don't lose it."

"I don't see what you can possibly do, but I will play my part like I promised.
Inoichi turned his attention towards the lazy man, resting on his chair, in what looked like his living room. "You are going to help me."

"Don't give me orders."

"I told you all to cooperate. Nagato, how are the companies we have managed to take over?"

"Good. Europe is in collapse. Soon, Asia is going to follow. I am leaving America the last, because a global financial crises is going to affect them too. Then we can successfully have the undivided control over the world's economy, Nothing is going to stop us."

"You do realize you are not just going to win with only that."

A small arrogant smirk. "True. But we have an upper hand and the secret lays in the data we have stolen. That, and the fact that we have another surprise for some insignificant pests that are going to have a meeting in two months from now."

"Pests? What pests?"

"Some pests that are in the way to success and we are going to eliminate from the equation."

Inoichi looked dumbfounded. It was Nagato the one to explain. "The world`s leaders. We are going to take them down then. And that…is going to throw the people into despair and learn the true meaning…of pain."

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It was the first time since Sakura has started to work for Sasuke when she actually prayed for something to happen and put an end to that more than uncomfortable silence that was hanging above her and Sasuke`s heads.

Truly, it was so thick that she was certain that if she tried to use the large knife she used to chop off the tomatoes and leak, the pink haired agent would have succeed.

"Won't you say anything?" Ever since Sasuke has woke her up when they landed on the roof top of Mangekyou`s HQ and took one of the raven haired Uchiha`s white limos-he had such thing in the underground parking lot, who would have guessed-he said nothing to her.

Not a single word, looking lost into his thoughts. Well, she should have been as well if she was to kill some Lorane lackeys and get caught in the act by her servant, but it was too much.

Sasuke was staying still on the table, waiting for Sakura to prepare them something to eat. It was 6 am in the morning and even though they were dead tired, hunger was taking over. He let his onyx eyes take in her features, sensing her distress, but chose not to comment. "Hn…"

It was not like he didn't want to say something, but in all honesty, he had no idea where to start from. Sasuke knew what Sakura wanted to know, but he could not tell her why he killed the guide and the Turkish woman, without disclosing something from his past as well. "I don't speak the alien language Sasuke, so you have to do more than that."

Not wanting to make a fool of herself, or even worse, cut down a finger or two, Sakura decided to make pasta. It was the quickest thing she could have prepared that was not fast food.

No, that wouldn't do. She already boiled the water and dropped the spaghetti inside, preparing the sauce.

Sasuke was rubbing his temples with his palms, having purple deep bags under his onyx tired eyes. He too was exhausted, but at least was trying his best to not let it show. Sakura on the other hand, was yawning constantly. "You don't have to explain anything to me, since I cannot say much about myself either. But at least…say something. Anything."

"What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know."

The midnight haired Uchiha folded his hands on the table in front of his eyes, thinking about how many hours of sleep would he need to make half of his brain function and go straight to his damned company.

He had a message from Jugo that didn't sit right with him and some formulas to email. "That is not helpful. There is nothing else to say. They wanted to kill me. I only took them down and saved my ass. Is it good enough?"

"What do you think?" She didn't mean to be rude, but it was difficult for Sakura to ignore the fact that the man she was supposed to guard, was probably having better fighting skills than her. She looked briefly at the bandaged arm-her work in the helicopter-thinking about the size and the way the skin was pierced.

It didn't look like he got that while in battle. It was too…smooth and precise. Sasuke understood the harshness behind her words, choosing to remain silent.

Normally, he would not permit anyone to use that manner of speaking when addressing him, but of course, Sakura was different. She ranked higher in his top, that was a fact. "That we should drop the subject."

Sakura finished the tomato sauce, taking two plates she had filled with hot pasta, pouring sauce and parmesan on the top, placing one in front of Sasuke and the other in front of her.

She wasted no time in taking a large bit, not bothering to let it cool down. Her stomach was killing her slowly. "What subject? I am doing all the talk…if you can consider this talk."

"Let me get this straight. You said you are not going to question my actions, just like I don't question yours, but at the same time, you keep on nagging me with telling you something you don't even know how to voice out. Is this logical, Sakura?" He missed the way she was preparing pasta, Sasuke decided. It was melting inside his mouth and…she looked at him from the other side of the table, with a sad and worried expression on her face.

Damn he couldn't stand that look on her emerald eyes, because each time she did that, he had an electric jolt cross through him and it bothered him. "I am sorry." She said softly.

"No. You have all the right to know. You saw me killing someone. That is understandable."

"I don't want something from you that I cannot return. I just…" She paused, facing the plate. "…I think I am tired. And stressed. This is why I don't cope with it so well. But I can't help it. Sasuke, did you know who they were from the very beginning?"

What was the point in denying the truth? "Not from the very beginning. I only realized it when the guy that played the guide took a longer route. He only kept on insisting us to reach the peak of the mountain, no matter what. It was suspicious. Although, I never guessed the Turkish woman was helping him."

Sakura lifted her jade eyes, seeing that Sasuke`s onyx ones were boring into her own. Her cheeks were getting a rosy hue, making her gulp once.

Whenever she looked at her like that, the emerald eyed agent was reminded of their passionate moment from the waterfall. How would things be the same again after that? "I see. Well, you said you know there are people wanting to take your head."

"I am who I am Sakura. Just like the other famous business people you have seen on the news, assassinates happen. Though you realized it is no coincidence in here."

"Why haven't you hired bodyguards then?" It was a question Sakura always considered, but never had the chance to ask. That was a good moment, since he looked completely honest with her.

She wouldn't be a hypocrite and pester him into confessing things he preferred to keep for himself, since they have already establish neither of them was a normal person, but she felt like…he was dangerous. Of course, he wouldn't harm her, but he had power. Power that she didn't understand.

"What for? I can take care of myself all right. I don't need losers to stay stuck on me, like my father does. It is pathetic."

They both finished at that time. Sasuke placed the plate into the dishwasher and Sakura did the same. They both headed-more like dragged their bodies-upstairs, with only one thing in mind: sleep. Though they both stopped for a moment in the hall, sharing the same thought.

Sakura pulled her lower lip in between her teeth, playing with her hands, not knowing what to do. Sasuke was having his back on her, a hand on the knob of his bedroom's door. He hesitated for a moment, like wanting to say something to her, but decided not to, then went inside.

The pink haired girl felt at lost of what to do, but the moment she felt the cool blow of air coming from her airy solitary room, she realized that she couldn't get inside, because she started to feel like belonging somewhere else.

And it was not her bedroom. The opened door of her boss` chamber-he never let the door open-was telling her all she had to know. Sasuke has been given her a choice: come and sleep with him and overlook the incident, or put some distance between them.

"Well fuck this shit…" Didn't she kill more people that she could have counted before? Heart was calling her and she couldn't deny it anymore.

Sakura entered the room, seeing Sasuke`s frame rest on his side, with a hand under his pillow, and the other resting on his bare chest, his back on her.

So she took off her shoes, leaving them at the entrance and approached his bed, slipping past the navy sheets, cuddling close to him, burying her nose in between his shoulder blades, hugging his waist.

"Can I stay here?" Her voice was muffled by his hot skin, and she already felt the familiar warm ray inside her chest beam, when his scent engulfed her. He was hot and he smelt amazing.

"You are here."

"I can leave if you mind."

He turned around to face her, throwing a hand around her back, pulling her flat onto his chest, resting his chin on the top of her head. He smirked when she mirrored his movement, placing a chaste kiss on his pulse.

Did she actually think he was upset on her or just had fun with her in the woods, like some teen in the trip with his classroom, in search for a juicy gossip to brag about to his friends?

Wrong. Sasuke had no intention of letting her go anytime soon. And she was warm and her hair smelt like cherry blossoms, lavender and sandalwood, making him leisurely inhale deeper, feeling his tired muscles relax, sleep taking over him. "Sleep."

But instead of taking his advice to heart, Sakura found herself lifting her chin, angling his head and press her lips on his own, kissing him, while her hand roamed on his back. When Sasuke started to reciprocate, kissing her back and letting his hand slip past her waist, down her ass, everything suddenly got really intense.

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Emerald eyes crept open tiredly when the first rays of the morning brushed over her long lashes, making her bury her face into the pillow, moaning contently at the strong scent that welcomed her, because she realized that she actually knew that familiar manly fragrance and it belonged to the one and only Uchiha Sasuke.

Then a pair of panicked forest green orbs flew open, shifting her body so that she got completely entangled into the navy silk cover, darting her hands on her sides, realizing that she was completely alone, into Sasuke`s room.

"What the…auch…" A small palm went straight in between her thighs, where a very sore sensation gave her a good wake up call, blinking rapidly, while her fingers were intently looking for any blemish on the smooth skin, uncovering her legs to check on her injury. It looked good.

It only hit her what has been going on the moment she has seen a very compromising piece of evidence in the form of her dark lace bra, aimlessly thrown near the bathroom's door, making her rosy cheeks burn in shame. She hid her face behind her palms, trashing her body like a little child.

"My god…" It was going to take her a lot of time to get used to the idea of not actually pose as the raven haired Uciha`s not so humble maid, but as his secret girlfriend, because she has been quickly reminded of what a wild night did they have.

Reluctantly, Sakura got off the inviting warm bed she would have liked to stay in forever, scratched her messy pink hair that was sticking in all directions, heading straight to the shower-Sasuke`s-yawning lazily, while she was dragging her legs towards the wardrobe, looking for a bath towel.

She was too tired to go and take one from her room. Her room…did she even want to go back? Would Sasuke mind her stay into his own, from then on? The Sound agent had a million questions racking her head, but she was going to deal with it after a long hot shower.

"Gotta call Papa…and Karin. She is going to freak out, I am sure of it." The jade eyed lady turned the shower on, relishing under the hotness that hit her skin, giggling at the sight of Sasuke`s shampoo and shower gel. Should she…?

Smiling deviously, Sakura grabbed the large bottle, pouring down the man shower gel, rubbing her palms together, until she got as much foam and bubbles as she could have, washing her body off, inhaling deeply. It smelt just like him and she was already having dark thoughts crossing her mind.

Thoughts she has never considered before, Sakura realized and it was not necessary a bad change. At least, modesty was something she has long paid her farewells to, since the onyx eyed sexy Uchiha took her three times last night, leaving her body covered in his love marks, and making her stumble on her feet.

Why were women walking in a funny way after sex? Sakura vaguely remembered Karin giving her a very scientific explanation she was too horrified and stupefied to even listen to, which proved to come in handy at that point. Too bad she couldn't remember a thing, but that was going to change the moment she called her.

After the emerald eyed agent finished using half the bottle, not getting enough of the joy of actually using a male's bath, trying to live each new experience at its fullest, relishing in every passing second, she stepped out of the bathroom, folding the towel around her slim curves, heading to her room. She has been hit by the coldness of the space, feeling cold shivers adorning her milky skin, down her arms and spine.

That until she realized she, in fact, didn't have the laptop, because Sasuke so conveniently dragged her along, without giving her the chance to take her luggage. "Oh shit…" She would have to call Naruto and ask him if he took their stuff, because not only her computer was there, but her weapons as well.

So she took her phone instead, mentally cursing the much smaller device and the inconvenience of talking at that thing, going back to her boss` room, throwing her body on the king sized bed, resting on her tummy.

Sakura dialed the number she knew by heart, not bothering with the speed dial, planting her nose on the pillow. She vaguely asked herself where Sasuke was, but knowing him, he was probably at his company. She would give him a call later on.

Another equally throaty voice answered on the second call. "Cherry? I called you on the laptop and I was just about to try reaching you on the phone. I was dead worried." Orochimaru`s usually smooth voice has been turned into one of an old man's, that has been a passionate smoker. He seemed tired, but relieved.

"Papa…I…don't even know where to start from. You have been so busy this weeks and I honestly can't even remember the last time we have talked. Are you updated with everything? I assume Tsunade-shishou briefed you about my hospitalization and I am sure you are aware of what happened yesterday, aren't you?"

"Of course, my dear. I know about your injury and I am sorry for making Tsunade do all the talking, but I assume you wouldn't want me to make you more uncomfortable. How are you? Are you taking care of you?"

She was so not taking care of her, Sakura realized, but she had a nagging Sasuke that reminded her to eat and not neglect herself. Plus, he had a very good way of relieving her of stress, though the method was a bit…more personal.

Not that she minded, the doctor has told her-in front of Ten Ten, who wouldn't cease her laughter-the benefits of an active sexual life. ""Yeah, I am fine now. That doctor that tended me and Ten Ten is a friend of Tsunade`s. He is very skilled. I only have one deeper injury on my thigh, but is healing rapidly. Other than that, I am fine, really."

"Good. Let's go back to our business. I have not been able to catch the one that stole my documents, nor figure out his identity, but as you know, I suspect we have a traitor among the CIA members, though they are too many to check on and it is taking us time."

"Us?"

"Itachi and I are working on the case. You don't know because no one had time to announce you, but yesterday night, someone has barged into Akatsuki`s weapons base and stole their guns, including the newest ones Aburame has been testing. And what is even more worrisome is the fact that the lock is not forced. You know what it means, don't you Cherry?"

Sakura`s emerald stunned eyes flew open wide, palming her forehead, letting the information sink in. She had no idea and something told her that Akatsuki only found out later on as well, since no one actually had signal.

That was twice as bad as she has first envisioned. She already had a suspect in mind, but Sakura had to first confirm it with her Papa. "They had the combination."

"Exactly. In fact, the only door they have forced their way through, is the one from Tsunade `s and my secret laboratory. Though, they knew the password of the other doors that lead them to the last floor, even the one of the elevator."

"It could be anyone. Even the security guards. They have all the keys after all. Or the higher ups. Aish, this is confusing."

"It is most likely someone of a higher rank. Though I doubt it is only one person."

"Is it Lorane Oro, isn't it? The ones that robbed both you and Akatsuki. Ten Ten told me yesterday, while we were fighting the assassins that Lorane is copying their arms, because the guns are identical to ones they use in combat. Something big is about to happen, I can just feel it."

"You have just spoken my mind Cherry. I already knew that. Currently, Itachi, Kakashi and Aburame`s team are investigating our HQ, but nothing relevant so far. He told me everything. Tobirama is on his way here. But I loathe the idea of him tagging along."

"Try to deal with it Papa, Akatsuki are cool. In fact, I think we have become friends, can you believe it? Ah, by the way, how could have I forgotten this? Papa, about what happened yesterday. I am sure Itachi filled you in with everything, because he was the one to supervise us, as much as he could, giving the fact that we had no GPS connection."

Orochimaru confirmed he was well aware of the mountain trip`s events. He was also keeping a close eye to the Akatsuki, who were a bit too familiar with roaming around his lab and office, but he had no choice.

Itachi has been honest with him and disclosed everything he knew. Tough the Otokage couldn't help but feel that he was gravely overlooking a crucial fact, but he couldn't quite put a finger on it. "I know everything, as you have suspected. I was the one that announced him about Lorane. It is the only thing I could see on the satellite."

Oh, the best part of it was about to come, Sakura realized. The only regret she had was the fact that she didn't have the laptop to see Orochimaru`s expression when she was going to reveal such thing.

"But…there is something you probably don't know, that left me speechless. And I am not talking about new Tiramisu recipe that fancy restaurant from the downtown is making by adding vanilla butter into the mascarpone. Papa, believe it or not, but there were actually two additional Lorane members, who were posing as an utterly annoying woman from Turkey, who in fact, is quite a reputed jewelry dealer of something and our guide."

"So there were more than I have anticipated. Damn. I hope you didn't have problems because of my carelessness."

"This is not your fault Papa Oro, you didn't have internet, is understandable. But neither of us had to deal with them, and you know why? Because there was a certain someone that not only read through their every move from the very beginning, but took both of them down, without breaking a sweat."

She could hear Orochimaru`s ragged breath echo through the speakers and she kind of guessed what kind of reaction he had in the next few seconds. Should she shout it out loud so as Itachi would hear what kind of brother did he have? That would be twice the entertainment.

"Someone else? What do you mean by that? Weren't you the only ones there? Or did police provide some sort of unexpected back up?"

"None of the above. The person that killed the two of them, after he so smartly saved our assess from a certain death, by realizing we have been lead towards a trap, and came with the brilliant idea to change the route or our hiking, is Sasuke."

There was a pause of about three minutes, during which Orochimaru said nothing as if letting the information sink in. Sakura wouldn't have blamed him, for she clearly remembered her own reaction when coming across the murder scene, and the bloody aura around the midnight haired heir's person.

But she couldn't forget the flickering inside his dilated pupils, when his tongue came in contact with his own blood, dripping from the cut. It looked like he was almost…enjoying it, in a sadistic guilty pleasure and it was maddening. "Are you sure of that?"

"Sure? Fuck Papa, I have seen it with my own eyes. He was standing there, with a sword in his hand, while they were dead and gone. You should have seen the look in his eyes, it was…frightening. Later on he even confessed that he murdered them and it was not the first time he did it. Moreover, in the CV you have given to me it was indeed stating that he is a black belt karate fighter, but his skills are ten classes above the average. Adding it to his LSD trips during high school days and strange flashbacks, makes him even more suspicious. What is the real deal with him anyways?"

"That is all the information I have received from the Director. If there is something you find suspicious, investigate. I would like to help you, but we are kind of busy in here."

"Papa, do you think Sasuke knows about Lorane? I mean he told me he knows there are people on his ass, but he didn't go into further details and I don't dare to ask him simply because that would mean blowing up my cover as well."

"I don't know. Judging from what you have told me, one would think he actually knows about them, which I highly doubt. Maybe he has a guess that they are a powerful organization, but I don't think he has our information."

"Leaving that aside, there is something I find intriguing in all this equation. You said that he has confessed to you that he has killed before, is that right?"

The truth was that only a dysfunctional questioning pair like the two of them would have found it thrilling to talk about how one of them had experience with murdering people and not being behind the bars, after a round of mind blowing sex, that left her stingy all over. "Yeah. Why?"

"Why would someone like him that has a reputation to keep would say such things to a woman he barely knows something about?" Oh, he was not a genius for nothing, Sakura totally overlooked the fact.

Her cheeks were growing red and she felt a knot on her stomach, while thinking of the less embarrassing way to tell Orochimaru about their secret affair. That if they did have one to begin with… "Well it is because I…we…"

She couldn't say those words to a man, that she considered to be her father, the pink haired agent concluded. Damn, she needed a long girl talk and fast. Good thing the Otokage didn't have much time to waste on youngsters in love, so he let is pass with a well chosen comment.

"I see. I am not scolding you for getting…personal with him, nor do I want to know about how far did you guys get. But all I say is to stick to your mission and don't let Lorane get close to him. At any cost. Remember the Grand Charity Ball from tomorrow. INTERPOL is going to help you out as well."

"Ah, by the way. I have two more things to say, though I am sure you are going to act accordingly. Someone has called for the INTERPOL yesterday, because they came pretty quick and there was not enough time for them to be at the exact time we have finished the chasers off, so it means someone has announced them beforehand."

"Wasn't it one of you? Have you asked the Akatsuki? Or the other heirs?"

"It was neither of them. Please look into this matter as well, because it is deeply connected to the four decapitated Lorane henchmen and I think it is the same person that keeps a close eye on us the one to do the job from the shadows this time as well."

"I will ask Shino Aburame to track the phone call, as soon as I personally contact the INTERPOL. Anything else you want to say?"

"Yes. Though I am sure it is pointless to tell you this, since I am sure you already suspect it. Make sure Sasuke`s criminal record stays clean. I don't know how, but do something and don't let him get under investigation or worse jail. Can you do it?" It was a huge thing what was she asking, Sakura was aware, but she would suffocate if the young Uchiha would have been detained by the police.

And it was not such a big deal for the CIA to deal with such things, because they took care of their agent's criminal offences on daily basis.

Also, Sasuke simply stated that he had a way to deal with the problem, probably by hiring the best lawyers or use his connections to bribe the prosecutors or the judges. Many others like him did it anyways. "I can. Leave that to me."

"Thank you." Sakura could clearly hear Itachi`s deep voice calling the Otokage probably to show him something, so she knew she had to end the conversation, though she truly hoped for them to talk more. The pink haired girl truly missed her Sound colleagues and it pained her everyday to be so far from them. "I miss you Papa."

"I miss you too Cherry. Don't forget that even though I look like I barely have time to even exist, I am always watching you. Understood? You are not alone."

He did his voice to have a soft tone with her, because God only knew that Orochimaru loved Sakura like she was his own daughter and it absolutely killed him slowly to know here so far away from his protective gaze.

"Go. They need you. Call me when you have time. Tell Shishou and Anko that I said hello. Love you."

"Ok Cherry. I love you too. Ciao."

"Ciao." She hung up on Orochimaru, rolling on her back, changing positions, gluing her emerald eyes on the wall. She checked the alarm clock and realized it was in fact 1 pm. Did she sleep that much? No wonder she hasn't even realized when Sasuke has left.

"Karin…I need Karin…" Sakura quickly called her friend, biting her nails in an anxious matter, hoping that her friend was not in a mission. She got the voice mail, which only meant she was kind of busy, probably with seducing and killing another loser.

"Damn it!" No, she would not call Anko, even if she would have been the last standing woman. If the red headed was a pervert, Otokage`s wife was giving Jirayia a run for his money.

No way in hell would she tell her about the way she and Sasuke were conveniently 'communicating' ever since they did it in the forest, like in the movies, surrounded by enemies.

Wouldn't that make for a good action movie, she wondered, while making her way downstairs into the kitchen to prepare something to eat. She even forgot to take her medicine, but her stomach was throwing a fight, so she had to comply. That until she opened the fridge and saw an appetizing Tiramisu cake winking in her direction.

She wasted no time in grabbing the dessert, placing a hand over her heart, solemnly. "I am sorry Shishou…I already sold my soul to the Devil. Come here my little friend."

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Sasuke was having the worst day of his life, like seriously and it was thanks to all the ridiculous unbelievable things that were happening to him, in the form of the most horrific events he wanted to quickly solve, with a flick of his sharp sword in the right direction, and as much discretion as possible.

But no. After he has been attacked in the mountains hours ago, karma decided to kick his ass hard and bring the person that made it to the top on his 'people to get rid of in a lifetime' list, in the form of his 'beloved' totally getting on his nerves father expecting him in the meetings room.

The first thing Sasuke did in the morning was to call his secretary, that was constantly placing a hand on his shoulder to make him not forget where he was and not lose it for real, and ask for an urgent meeting with all the shareholders available.

After he has been updated with the sinister news around the world and took the pulse of the auction market in New York, realizing his stocks have dropped with 2%, he felt his temples explode. He had some bad news to deliver to the snobs that were only interested in profit and dividends he was not going to share for that trimester and to top it all, his father decided to grace them with his presence.

The first thing he said when the rightful raven haired CEO barged into the meeting room like a hurricane, scaring the other already gathered people around shitless with the fierce annoyed look on his face, was 'you are late, son'.

Not only did he so obviously made it sound like a scolding, but he purposely pointed out to their unfortunate family lineage, much to his disagreement. Sasuke would have long severed any connection with the Uchiha family, if not for his mother. And he had some cousins that were not that bad either, though they rarely saw each other.

Sasuke went straight to the end of the long table, turning on the video projector, not even blinking in the direction of Fugaku and his countless bodyguards-that stirred the beast within his boiling blood-when he casually slipped past them, like the former CEO was not even there, not having any shame in giving him an answer worth of a high class business man.

"No shit." Jugo was right on his tail, well aware of the animosity between the two relatives, placing the thick file in front of him and the small notebook and tablet. That was going to take a long time, he knew.

Sasuke opened the file he has been studying before the meeting, addressing to the audience, speaking low, rarely and clearly, not leaving any trace of doubt into his speech. "We are facing a loss. The charts are not lying. Therefore, we have to drop the value of our shares on the market."

Disapproving stunned whispers came from all around the table from the not very content people. 'Here we go' Sasuke chanted into his mind, eying each of the people around with an impassive look on his face. Deep inside, he was beyond tired and all he wanted was to go home, take a long shower and go lay beside Sakura in his bed.

Seriously, it only took her angelic features squirming under him and screaming his name to turn him on and distract him from a job he was not in the bit pleased to do, but he had no choice. If God gave him a runaway imbecile older brother…

Fugaku was frowning at him, glaring daggers at his skull, but it had no effect on his younger son, and he probably was well aware of the fact, but chose to ignore it.

He was livid at the calmness in Sasuke`s tone, when blatantly stating they didn't manage to maintain the profit and advantage they had towards their competitors. "Unacceptable. This is going to determine us to lower our authorised capital, meaning the number of stocks." He shouted out at his son.

Sasuke was painfully clenching his jaw, fisting his hand under the table, visibly growing livid, doing his best not to snap at his father. Was he that much of a loser or he was just doing that to rile him up?

It was obvious that with an upcoming economical crisis, maintaining the initial prices was impossible. No one would blame him for anything, for the ebony haired man did more than enough to be on the top for so long.

He more than hissed the words to his father, eying him in a way that promised permanent impaling if he dared to be a smartass once again. Sasuke decided he was not in the mood to take shit from Fugaku.

"It is unavoidable. What happens in Europe directly affects us. The cars companies are facing insolvency so I thought it is clear for even the ultimate idiot to understand that they will no longer need car components."

"Can't we just lower the prices or at least, drop the custom taxes, until the situation is going to get better?" One of his shareholders tried to come up with a solution.

The others were watching him expectantly, probably waiting for Sasuke to come up with a genius solution like he normally did. If only his mind would have not drifted to other things… "It is not that simple. What we are going to do is going to heavily affect the other investors as well."

Another followed, though he was dumber and more aggressive. "Who cares about them? I want my part of dividends, as I own twenty percent of this fucking shares!"

"So you prefer us to lower our capital and face possible insolvency just because you cannot live without your expensive car for a month or two? Get real." Sasuke knew it was going to turn into a disaster. Why couldn't grown ups act more like their age?

"He is right. What is the point in keeping my stocks in here, while I gain nothing?"

"I don't know, maybe because there is currently no other company to offer such shares like us and have this income? Use your damn brain, if you claim to have one!"

"If we drop the value of our shares, we should reduce the number of shares as well. Some of you have too many anyways."

Fugaku folded her hands upon his chest, finding it a good moment to mock Sasuke. "Good job in coping with the situation Sasuke. Just what I have expected from…the other son of mine." And the way he said it, bringing Itachi into the conversation, made Sasuke`s bottomless eyes narrow dangerously, snapping his head towards his father.

If he was smart, he would not provoke him like that. Not after he faced danger from more sides. His rich baritone harsh voice successfully silenced the commotion.

"Quit the annoying ramblings and listen up. This is not shogi we are doing here, so stop coming up with unrealistic lunatic ideas. So for the ones that don't know the basic definition of the term 'global financial crises', kindly take your stuff and vanish from my sight."

Sasuke was gripping his pen with all his might, eying each one in the eyes, making the once loud men present get uncomfortable and gulp once. When Sasuke felt like acting like a boss, he did it flawlessly.

"So regarding the shares, we are going to drop their value until our cheapest share is going to be with only 0.26% more expensive than the ones of our rivals ones. As for the problem with the car factories, we are maintaining the custom taxes in order to not elude the international laws, but we are going to sell our goods without including the value-added is going to make up for the custom taxes, because those are higher than the VTA in the countries we are talking about."

"What about the dividends?" Seriously, Sasuke was one step away from taking his laptop and throw it in that man`s fat head.

Has he even had graduated from University? Who the hell asked for such things when the world was basically screaming collapse. It was enough to turn on the TV and realize how bad the situation really was to not dare being greedy.

"We are using all the profit we gained for the past two months to maintain the authorized capital and not lower the number of shares. We are going to see how this works. Any profit after that is going to be shared accordingly between all the shareholders. Is this good enough for you?" And if it wasn't, Sasuke didn't have enough 'fucks' into his bank account to give.

That man could go to Hell and take his father while he was at it. Fugaku was openly disapproving with his plan, coming up with childish solutions, that had no connection to reality, Sasuke understood.

And when the young Uchiha started to make a comparative presentation between the main stock markets, Fugaku claimed they were not updated with the latest values.

Sasuke inhaled sharply once, trying to come up with the best silent killing method he knew. Seriously, he couldn't take that anymore. Plus, the older shareholders present tended to give him credit. He couldn't wait to get out of the place that started to suffocate him.

"Jugo?" he addressed his secretary to some point, while the other occupants of the spacious meeting room were busy trying to understand the charts, probably checking for answers online.

"Yes Sir?"

"Any sign from the police?" The onyx eyed heir was referring to the two Lorane members he killed. He had to personally make sure there was no trace of him into their database.

"Here. Look at it yourself." Jugo took away a sheet of paper, handing it to Sasuke, who took it leisurely, not wanting to arouse suspicion. He eyed the content once, smirking and nodding approvingly.

"Good." Police has not even mentioned his name while recording the incident.

"By the way, has Sakura left any message?" Oh, he couldn't wait to get home and ravage her. No joke, but Sasuke found himself unable to stay away from her and it was such an unusual concept for him, but his heart was not betraying him, though he often chose to ignore it.

Sakura was doing something to his insides and it was a thing he liked and approved. He was letting her in, he knew. And not shockingly, he didn't mind either. His maid was…different. Unique.

"She did. She told me she didn't call you on the mobile phone because she didn't want to be a bother. I told her you are going to give her a call as soon as the meeting is over." Jugo didn't question further, and it was out of respect and devotion. He could clearly see the attachment his boss had towards the pink haired girl.

Sasuke smirked once, taking much pride at the fact that he made her think about him non stop. Wasn't he doing just the same? "Smart girl."

Sakura…she has been into his mind ever since he woke up in the morning, with a delicate hand embracing him possessively and a soft body pressed on his own. It was the best morning of his life and it was almost like the mystical creature with pink hair was able to take away the tiredness.

He had million thoughts that floated through his mind regarding their relationship, but the most powerful of all remained her soft lips attached to his neck and her ethereal feminine image when he deflowered her.

Never in his life has Sasuke so ardently longed to go back home, because he knew there was someone very special there probably waiting for him, and that sole thing gave him enough strength to endure the unpleasant tensed atmosphere around.

He only had to survive that day and his father's constant glares and disapproving…

---

}{

---

"Jugo, I would like you to bring me the files with the bank account I have opened in Switzerland, as well as the report of today's meeting. I need to sign those damn files and give my consent regarding the lowering value of our shares."

Sasuke tiredly entered his office, with his secretary following him suit, a strong dark coffee in his hand, tablet in the other.

"I am waiting for their response, because I have asked for the account statement. It is going to be delivered to us in one hour, at most."

"Good. You can leave. I am gong to handle everything here." The raven haired Uchiha threw his body on the chair, opening a large file at random, massaging his temple. He so didn't want to be there and work. "And for fuck`s sake, don't let my father come in. Tell him I am busy."

Jugo chose not to question, only nodding once in understanding, heading towards the door. "Of course Sir. I will let you know if something else happens."

"Hn…" He was already engulfed into his work, losing the track of time, occasionally drinking his coffee. He loathed the taste with burning passion, but it gave him energy.

Only, the Heavens didn't caught the meaning of his words, meaning not wanting to be disturbed, because not ten minutes after his secretary politely took his leave, a totally unexpected guest decided to interrupt his moment of peace.

When he sensed the door opening slowly, like it those thriller movies when the assassin wants to prolong the main character's agony, Sasuke`s onyx eyes snapped in front of him, feeling his head explode at the sight of a sultry golden haired woman boldly barging inside, like she owned the place.

His reaction was immediate and innate. He slowly rose from his seat, glaring daggers at one smirking at him Ino Yamanaka, who finally got the chance to meet the famous heir in person. Her eyes were all on him.

"Who the hell are you?" The harshness in his voice betrayed all his anger and tiredness in a not so polite manner. Usually he was not rude with ladies-Mikoto taught him better than that-but 'usually' was the key word.

Plus, the attractive blonde entered his office uninvited, something akin to what Fugaku used to do just to annoy him, and it was unacceptable.

"Just someone that couldn't wait to finally meet you." He voice was honey coated and she was swinging her hips seductively, like stepping on the cat walk, approaching him slowly, but surely.

Sasuke measured her from head to toes, as in to confirm his suspicion that she was another fan girl, adopting a very uninterested look on his face. It was not that much of a problem, because in fact, she didn't manage to catch his eye.

She was one thousand Sakura years late for that. "Just someone has no right to even ride the elevator up to this room. State your fact and make it brief. And I hope it is a good one."

Ino felt her insides squirm in pleasure at his snapping commanding dark voice. He was just like everyone described him: alluring, bossy, mysterious, fascinating and impossibly handsome.

That was quite the catch. She licked her lower lip, eying him sultry, smirking. "You don't know me, do you? I must say I feel disappointed. Though, your reticence deeply intrigues me." She told him faking that she was hurt.

"You are that Yamanaka' s daughter." Sasuke throw the insult back at her without any remorse or consideration. He knew about their unexpected growth, but it was nothing to impress him.

He knew why she was there, of course. A possible relationship with their rival's CEO would have been beneficent. Too bad he gave no damn. "That is absolutely correct. But I am not here to discuss...business." She said scoffing her small nose, getting close to him.

Sasuke didn't move his body to put distance between them, just because that was his space and she was not going to determine his actions. She was the one that needed to vanish pronto. "Then you have just wasted a plausible excuse to try and flirt with me, so if there is nothing else interesting you would like to say, you know where the door is."

Ino closed the remaining distance between them, boldly lifting her hand to trace a perfect manicured finger down his chest, feeling him stir. She could clearly make out the ripped muscles hiding underneath and it gave her chills.

"Who said I am here to flirt? You are quick to jump into conclusions." Baby blue eyes were looking straight into his onyx ones.

A hand trapping her wrist firmly prevented her to further explore something that did not belong to her. "I am not a very patient man." He growled at her. Her empty look was nowhere Sakura's loving full of warmth gaze. That on that made him...like her?

Ino wouldn't back down, although she knew about the plan. She was deeply offended by such an obvious rejection. Where was the major player everyone knew? Because that Uchiha Sasuke in front of her was another person. "And I am an impatient woman. Don't we make a good team?" She was using all her charms.

"I don't team up with women like you."

"This is not what your reputation says about you."

Sasuke grew annoyed by that model. She had a lot of time to waste, but he did not. All the files, the monthly reports, documents that had to be send as fast as possible, checking on the Swiss bank account, were all time consuming. "Than you should know that in my eyes, you would at most be a one night stand."

"Is this the case, huh? Then what if I can become more than just a one time fun?"

"I would tell you to stop smoking low quality weed and fuck off my office, until I personally make sure you got the main idea. You have already wasted more of my time that I was willing to give."

Ino cockily tilted her head, eying him confidently. She couldn't wait to have him at her mercy. "So you want to play hard to get? Very well, I won't back down from a fight. Tell me...do I have competition?"

"Hn...you are not worth enough to be anyone's rival. You will never be, so I suggest you go find yourself an idiot willing enough to overlook your shallowness. I am the wrong man to try and fool."

"Au contraire Sasuke, soon enough, you are going to be under my magic spell. Then whoever she might be will have to admit the fact that I never lose."

That made his gaze cloud dangerously, shoving her filthy hand away from her. Sasuke turned his back on her, heading towards his phone. "Get out."

"For the moment...but I always get what I want. Au revoir! Have fun at the Grand Ball." She said cryptically and knowingly, seeing his shoulders stiffen for a moment as in sensing the subtle threat, but did noting else.

She left his office feeling victorious all of sudden. If the sexy Uchiha would have kissed her ground like all the others, the game would have been boring. And she absolutely loved his untamed burning attitude. That man was probably a God in bed, she could tell. Into couldn't wait to find out.

'Soon Sasuke...'

}{

Mikoto couldn't wait to meet her son, although she has visited him four days ago and that was precisely why she followed her brooding husband to the Mangekyou, waiting patiently for the meeting to end , so she could visit Sasuke`s office.

When the familiar 'click' of the elevator coming to a halt announced the beautiful mother that she has arrived to the desired floor, she almost didn't wait for the doors to fully open and that almost cause a collision between her and another younger lady, who wanted to go down.

She put a palm on her racing scarred heart, smiling politely at the blonde. "I am sorry."

Ino waited for the elder woman to exit the elevator, bowing once, returning the smile, recognizing the iconic brunette. Uchiha Mikoto has made a name among the most reputed philanthropic organizations and press conferences. "Please, Madam."

"Thank you dear." Not realizing from where did she come from, Mikoto stepped out and crossed the long silent hall, towards the black leather office door.

Ino pressed the button to the underground parking lot, resting her hands on her hips, watching into the large mirror behind her, admiring the way her Elie Saab silk short blue dress was exposing her long legs. "Better win the mother's heart first. My future mother-in-law." She liked the idea of marrying into the Uchiha family.

.

.

.

---

A small knock on the door caught Sasuke`s attention, onyx eyes darting on the other side of the room. It better not be another loser of a shareholder that couldn't understand the plan, or a major slut, or he would truly take his car keys and make a run for it. Like Itachi.

To his relief, a motherly figure with a brilliant beaming enchanting smile made her presence known, belonging to his mother. "Sasuke-kun, are you busy honey?" Sasuke smirked at her, following her soft steps and the way her equally ebony luscious hair was fluttering behind her slim waist, like the soft feathers of a delicate black swan.

"Oka-san." He rose from his seat, approaching the lady that gave him life, letting her hug him dearly, just like she did when he was a kid, ruffling his raven locks. He kissed her forehead, relaxing under her fondlings.

That was the reason why she loved her the most, because Mikoto never once put anything or anyone above her children. "Have you come for the Ball? Where are you staying?"

"The same hotel the party is going to take place. Your father's idea." Of course, Fugaku was smart enough to not invite himself in his son's home and risk to be murdered in his sleep. Much to Mikoto's dismay, the two relatives were avoiding contact as much as possible.

"I see. Should I bring you something to drink?"

Both headed to the sofa, taking a sit, with the Uchiha matriarch placing her youngest son's hands into her lap, shaking her head. "No, it is fine. Your father is waiting. I just couldn't wait to see my son's cute face. How was the trip? Did you have fun?"

She had no idea. "It was ok, I guess. Nothing I haven' t seen before." He spoke vaguely, not wanting to upset his mother. He only wanted to stay in her presence as much as possible. Couldn't she just leave Fugaku's ass on the expensive room and come stay with him?

"If you say so...tell me, are you nervous for tomorrow? I talked to Kushina today. Naruto is already looking for a proper attire to match his personality. This is what he said." Mikoto giggled softly at the way Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Dobe is going to embarrass us all...like usual." No problem, Sasuke would act like he didn't know him. He was good at that.

"I think he is sweet. But Sasuke-kun, aren't you going to at least wear a mask? It is a masquerade after all." Inwardly, Sasuke smirked wickedly. He was wearing a mask all right. The problem was, no one knew...beside him.

"You know I find it childish."

"You are just like your father." The elegant lady said heartedly. Sasuke shuddered at the thought. God forbids. "Both of you should relax more often."

"I guess we are both extremely busy people." Sasuke with the company and Fugaku with making his life Hell. That counted as a job too.

"Then...what about her?" Mikoto winked at her son, who quickly caught his message. He has been thinking about her all day and he found himself at loss of what to do. Should he make it official, or keep their affair out of the public's eye? What if he would endanger her life, or throw her in front of the media's unforgiving eye?

"She...is someone...different."

The insightful woman, with her equally pearl black eyes observed that Sasuke didn't use the word 'something', meaning unimportant. "Someone you like?" She insisted.

Sasuke looked deeply into her eyes, not saying anything. It was no need ,because his mother was able to figure it out. She knew him like the back of her hand. "..."

"You don't want her to get hurt." It was a statement, not a question. "This is why you hesitate."

"Aa." The young Uchiha answered, removing his gaze from her mother's face, brushing her hand through his messy hair. "She has been with me as well. To the trip."

It didn't surprise Mikoto and she understood what did he mean by 'being with him'. They have been intimate. "She is a very cute girl. Beautiful as well. I see the way she looks at you or speaks about you."

"What do you mean, mom?"

"You know, the way she cannot stop smiling whenever you are around."

He smirked, nodding once. It has always been so easy to talk to Mikoto. She was discreet and she was not making him embarrassed. All her discussions were mature and discreet. An eloquent madam. "Add blushing too."

"Then...should I give her another reason to blush?" The Uchiha mother unclasped her purse, pulling out a golden small envelope, with green borders, handing it to his son. "It is good to be cautious Sasuke, but be careful not to miss the magic of the moment."

Sasuke`s eyes widened slightly, taking the fancy looking object, darting his stare from it to his mother. It was not like it didn't cross his mind as well, but he found himself hesitate. "Do you actually think this is a good idea?"

"I like her." The Uchiha matriarch stated genuinely, flipping her hair over her shoulder, standing up. She knew how impatient her husband was. Better not make him wait, either ways she would have to act out of character and scold him. "If you do not feel the same, then make your own choice."

"Are you leaving already?"

"Your father is waiting. He wants us to meet us for dinner tonight. I wanted to let you know. The usual place at 7." Mikoto was talking about the restaurant Sasuke brought Sakura to, when she has been discharged from hospital. And before he had the chance to refuse, she added. "Please be there. For me. And for him as well."

He nodded once, lingering his look on her face a bit more. "Can you do something for me?"

"Anything honey." She smiled in a cheerful motherly way when Sasuke pointed at the object she has given him, caressing his cheek. "Are you sure?"

"I am not good with this...things."

"Very well then. I will bring them to your home tomorrow."

Sasuke leaned in to kiss his mother goodbye, leading her towards the elevator. Before the doors opened, she turned around and asked him. "There was a pretty blonde lady I met when I came here and she didn't look like an employer." Mikoto smartly added. "Who was she?"

Sasuke brushed away all her worries, shrugging casually. "Just something."

"I see. See you later son. And don't forget." She pressed the last button, heading to the parking lot. "…in life, it is easy to make mistakes, but sometimes you should give fate a push in the right direction." Those were her parting words, before the doors closed.

Sasuke remained in front of the elevator, until he saw the number of the floors displayed on the small screen. "Arigatou, oka-san."

---

}{

---

"Mr. Uchiha!" Jugo emerged from one of the room, where his own office was situated, with a file on his hand, approaching Sasuke. "I have the documents you requested."

The ebony haired Uchiha put his blank face, slipping his hands down his pockets, signalizing to his secretary to follow him into his office. "Good. I take it that everything is in the right place."

"Yes Sir. Check it out yourself." Sasuke quickly scanned the contents of the papers, nodding once approvingly. "Is there any flaw?"

"Is this the latest account statement from Switzerland?"

"Yes."

"Then no, I see nothing wrong. The money is all there. 34 million from all the donations and our contribution. Why is it in euro though? I clearly remember I have chosen dollars." As far as Sasuke knew, their economy should have still been stable because of their neutrality and independence in the main economic areas.

"The exchange currency is in favor of euro. The dollar had a sudden drop in its value. We would have lost the interest."

"I understand. No problem then, it is the same thing. Did they suggest this?"

"Yes Sir. They have sent all the documents. The exchange and the transfer have been made via internet banking. Everything is ready for tomorrow when the Organizing Committee is going to announce the sum."

"Internet...damn I so don't like this shit. It can easily be hacked." Sasuke said as a matter of fact. Not that he didn't do all the transactions and payments online as well.

Technology saved him time and he saved money, but it was not safer than the traditional ways. "Don't worry, Mr. Uchiha, they assured us of the confidentiality. The money is assured in case something happens." Jugo took back the files from Sasuke, after he signed all the pages, giving his approval.

"Hn. This is what all say." Why did they make him take responsibility and open a bank account on his name anyways? Oh yeah, because the other were cretins. His sole concern was how didn't he force the Hyuga to deal with that?

"I am sure everything is going to be perfect. By the way, if I may ask..." Jugo waited for his boss' consent to keep going, even though he sensed it was a more personal question. "...have you chosen a proper costume to wear?"

Sasuke was shooting lasers from his eyes. He did find one. It had trashy clothes, a white mask and a chainsaw.

What was wrong with everyone asking him if he would willingly think about the best way to make a fool if himself. Ladies wearing elegant masks was all right and had an original beat, but men...

---

}{

---

"Hello Miss, how can I be of your help?" The polite receptionist clad in the police uniform asked the first moment she raised her eyes towards the sparkling emerald ones.

"I am here for the Interpol's report, regarding the mission from yesterday." Sakura stated simply, seeing the middle aged woman stare at her in disbelief.

"You know we are not allowed to disclose such secret information to strangers or civilians." The security guards and some random police officers that were keeping an eye to the detained criminals that were arrested eying her in a funny way. They probably thought she was insane or high.

Sakura impolitely rolled her eyes at that, remembering the way she was dressed-beggar style-taking out her CIA card, throwing it on the counter. "Sakura Haruno from the Sound. I hardly qualify as a stranger."

She looked amused at the dropped jaw if the receptionist. The woman took the membership with trembling hands, making sure it was not a fake. "Now be a good girl and tell me where the autopsy room is. I don't have time to waste."

"S-sure...let me confirm your identity into the database...hold on a moment please..."The lady with a long ponytail and big round glasses quickly tapped on the computer, searching for Sakura. She immediately found her among the top CIA agents. The Sound was notorious, no doubt. "Haruno Sakura...you can go to room number 104."

Sakura took back her membership, turning on her heel, heading to the said door. "Thank you." A group of police officers and a receptionist were watching in awe. Athena of the Sound...was a weird lady.

The pink haired agent knocked twice on the indicated room, waiting for a feedback. "Come in!" Came the masculine voice of the legist she knew. They have met before. "It is opened."

She turned the knob, slipping past the door, feeling the pungent smell of formaldehyde hitting her nostrils. "Good afternoon. I am sorry to interrupt." She approached the table the legist was currently working on, immediately recognizing the body of the fake guide.

The others were each occupying a different bed, spread around the room. That was quite an enjoyable job, Sakura realized. No wonder it was insanely well paid. "I am here for the results. Found anything useful?"

The doctor was intently taking down notes, based on his observations nodding one. "Please look at that file, Miss Haruno." He pointed to a thick pile of papers on his office desk. "You may want to take a look at that."

The Sound agent approached the desk, brushing a corpse's leg unintentionally, pushing the bed aside, feeling cold shivers run down her hands. "Fucking..." She hated the morgue for that particular reason. They all looked more like sleeping. Karin and her stupid passion for horror movies... "Is it related to other cases as well?"

"Actually, it is. I managed to find something really interesting about this and the previous case. A connection." Sakura's emerald eyes scanned the data on the file, feeling a lump rise on her throat, kicking the air out of her trachea. "I am sure you have all the details fresh into your memory."

"B-but this is..." The stunned agent quickly took another sheet, reading further. The expertise report was not lying. All the data were accurate. "...are you absolutely sure about this?"

The legist wiped his hands, coming to stay beside Sakura, taking a red pen and a picture she was gripping, explaining his finding to her. She felt her vision cloud. "I couldn't believe it myself, but I have checked it twice and reached the same conclusion. See the shape and the depth of the cuts? It is the same pattern and I even managed to measure the G force of the hit. It matches."

"You mean...it is the same? To all the dead ones?"

"Precisely Miss Sakura. I have no doubt the ten suspects all work for the same organization. The tattoos on their wrists confirms it. They all belong to Lorane. I have a team to investigate the resort, the cabins and the surrounding area and look for any trace."

Her voice came out as a silent whisper, not having the necessary energy to hide her distress. The legist thought it was because of the morbid atmosphere. After all no one could have felt comfortable among dead bodies. "Do you have any suspect?"

"Except for the fact that it is all the same mysterious assassin's doing, none so far. But then again, I was asked to not dwell on the fact that much, which I find it suspicious, but my job is not to question the orders of my superiors." He casually stated, returning to his work. Sakura placed a hand on the desk, chocking on air. That was an incriminating proof, but it has been dealt with. "I just found it appropriate to let you know. Someone is being the silent hero."

"Thank you...for telling me, that is."

"Orochimaru is a close acquaintance of mine. I wouldn't turn him or his agents down." He turned his eyes over the shoulder to watch the anxious maid. "Are you all right Miss? Would you like a glass of water?"

"N-no, thank you. It is fine. I guess...is just stress taking the best of me." That would be a major understatement. She needed to go home fast and do a little research. And she knew exactly from where to start looking for. "Is there Hozuki Suigetsu in his office?"

"Along with the other friends of yours, agents. He told me you would eventually come as well. Though you hold your ground better than the blonde kid." The legist pointed to a bucket resting under the sink. "I like to be cautious. In my job, having an eye for details is mandatory."

"I see. Thank you for your time. I am not going to keep you from work anymore. Can I have a copy of this files?"

"You can take those. I have everything saved in my computer."

Sakura shoved the thick file down her bag, nodding once to the doctor, paying him goodbye. "Then I am taking my leave. Have a great day."

"Good luck, Miss."

She exited the cold room, heading to Suigetsu's office, placing a palm down her sweating forehead, briefly shutting her eyes. She almost hit an officer in the process, making him spill the contents of his coffee. "Hey, be careful!"

"I'm sorry. I got distracted."

She shook her head in disbelief. Although her Papa kept his promise, the evidence was undeniable: Sasuke was the one that killed the four Lorane assassins that robbed him. And he completely lied to her. The reason why police found nothing at the harbor, was because he personally for his stolen goods back.

And he rode the very same motorcycle he had, when they had their little escapade. The trace on the ground showed a perfect match of the wheels. And the cut around their necks was the same.

She let herself into Suigetsu's office, finding the whole Akatsuki assembled there.

"Hello, guys. Mind if I join the gathering?" Sakura tried to act as unaffected as she could. Deep inside, she was mortified and shaky.

Suigetsu smirked at her, from his chair. He had his legs spread across the large desk. "There is always room for a hot lady in here."

"Pervert."

She was tempted to disclose the fact to the other agents, but decided not to freak them out. She would first dig into the story and have more insight on what exactly was Sasuke Uchiha.

Or, the question was...who exactly was he?

---

}{

---

"Not here..." She threw the books she was deemed unimportant, after flipping the pages as quick as possible, feeling the hair at the back of her neck raise. It was getting difficult to breathe in that room and she was feeling her lungs getting heavier with each passing moment.

But Sakura was perseverant in her roaming through Sasuke`s office room, looking for any relevant proof of his suspicious actions. After she left Suigetsu`s office, the sole thought on her mind was to find relevant documents at home to clear the insecurities away.

"Not here either…" The pink haired maid used the large chair to reach higher, taking all the files in turn, finding nothing on the shelves. "…c`mon Sasuke, show me something worth of your reputation."

She was tempted to blow the lock of the small secret locker she knew he had on the other side of the room, but she knew that it was not something she could have used…for the moment.

Plus, it would automatically turn her into suspect number one in his eyes and he was already too informed about her private life. "Now the only place where I should look for…" Her emerald eyes were cast on the office desk. "…is here."

She quickly opened the first s drawer and was surprise to actually find quite a lot of neatly folded papers and hard covered files. She took one at random, hitting the nail on the head.

Forest green eyes went wide as saucers and a pair of petal like lips parted open in astonishment. "What the…" What she was holding was a full replica of the formulas and hieroglyphs Sasuke wrote on his wall, during the LSD incident. "…when did he make this?"

Sakura aimed for the other sheets of paper, realizing that not only Sasuke has entirely copied them-when he did that, she wouldn't know-but he actually tried to come up with a logical explanation, and damn right if it didn't look scientific and complex.

"Wow…are this…demonstrations? Don't tell me he actually knows how to read hieroglyphs…" She even found a small notebook that was full of algebra and mathematic formulas that seemed to be related to the ones he designed in his moment of delirium.

"Amazing…did he actually figure it out?" Sakura checked for the hour, seeing that it was almost 7 pm, so usually Sasuke would be home at 10 or 11 pm, so she still had time to scan everything and send a copy to Orochimaru.

The pink haired maid quickly took everything she found in the drawers and bolted to her room, turning on the laptop and the scanner. She had a lot of work to do and her eyes were stinging her.

Naruto indeed took both her and her boss` things and brought them back to Tokyo. She put his bag inside his room but resisted the urge to roam through his personal belongings…well…she already searched through his office…but that didn't count!

"Oh…why is it taking this much to load…" Sakura let her head hit the pillow, looking at the screen and the green line that was slowly filling up, showing the process of scanning. "…damn Sasuke…"

She knew nothing about him, the Sound assassin realized. Nothing at all. Uchiha was a mystery and a dangerous man that one should have approached carefully, because there was something about him that made alarms ring down her mind.

The raven haired man she grew so attached to was able to kill Lorane members without breaking a sweat and it was frightening. All the times she swore to protect him, it has been the other way around, Sakura realized.

But even so…she wanted him and she wanted what he had to give so much that it hurt. Where did they stand after what happened in the mountains? They conveniently agreed to not talk about that incident anymore, but what about them?

Sakura wouldn't freak out at the fact that Sasuke was acting like an assassin himself, because her mission was to protect him without hesitation, but she grew unsure of their relationship as man and woman. How did he view her at the moment?

Should they make it public? They were both wanted people, so it was not like they would endanger one another. And her cover…it crossed Sakura`s mind often, that it has become unnecessary to conceal her physical appearance, since Lorane found out who she was. And she told Sasuke she was rich. Should she start to act like she normally did?

Would it freak him out? "Aish, this is crazy!" She messed her hair, pouting comically. She was at loss and her friend decided to go MIA on her. She took her phone and quickly sent her friend a short message, with a very suggestive emoticon. 'Call me asap. I need a good girls talk. Cherry.'

With all the bothersome thoughts crossing her mind, Sakura went down to the kitchen, preparing something to eat, going through the security plan she got from Suigetsu. Indeed, the INTERPOL was going to help the Tokyo police force and the CIA to secure the place where the famous Charity Ball was going to take place.

Sakura was intently searching for a good spot to hide and keep an eye of Sasuke, without being seen by him, but found nothing to satisfy her. There were not so many places she could have remained confined into and it made her go crazy.

When she finished scanning all the sheets from Sasuke`s office, she put them back into their rightful place, thanking all her lucky stars that the raven haired Uchiha has not caught her into the act, still not coming home.

She knew where he was, because he sent her a message and let her know that he was having a family dinner, so she should go to bed and not wait for him. Sakura took his advice literally, heading straight to his room, still feeling insecure.

Sure, he let her sleep with him last night, but maybe it was out of guiltiness or pity at her troubled looking features, so he decided to let it pass. Though…she could clearly feel the change in attitude and the closeness they had ever since she gave herself to him.

Sakura quickly undressed of the clothes she wore, taking a pink cotton large towel and slipping on the shower, into Sasuke`s bathroom, feeling like a total creep, because she inwardly decided to use his shower gel again and be a full time stalker.

She felt alone in his airy villa and it provided her some kind of comfort if she caught the scent of him. The moment she started to clean her body, playing with the bubbles, gluing her nose of her shoulder, sharply inhaling his scent on her skin, Sakura felt ten times lighter and his gorgeous looking face popped into her mind.

The steam got hotter and more delectable and so did her thoughts, because the pink haired lady found herself having urges she never felt before and she didn't know how to react.

It was crazy and disgusting in her opinion, but the more she was reminded of Sasuke and what he did to her, the more her hormones started to react in a funny way and her body temperature started to rise involuntarily.

She felt her thighs suddenly weigh more, dragging her down and there was the familiar boiling pool and throbbing area manifesting down her navel and much to her horror, Sakura knew she was aroused.

And what she did next was only out of reflex and unbearable need, because her movements got slower and more precise, focusing on the spots of her body she never much played attention before, like the back of her knee, the junction between her shoulder and neck or her armpits. "Mmm…"

As she started to explore her body, Sakura shut her emerald eyes to double her senses, placing the bottle of shower gel down to have both her hands available and started to act more out of character, doing things Karin was bragging about being able to bring her pleasure.

Of course, listening to Karin was like watching adult movies, but even so, Sakura found her hand slip in between her legs, tentatively touching her inner folds and look for her clit, rubbing it. She quickly felt tiny electric jolt down her spine and she exhaled softly.

It was nothing like she felt when Sasuke did that to her, but it has encouraged her to touch herself more and test to find out what she most liked. The other hand went straight on her bare breast, massaging the base slowly, then giving it a little squeeze.

It felt good, so she applied even more pressure until she was at the border between pain and pleasure. Sakura then rubbed her nipple, feeling it harden instantly, pulling at it to see how it felt. "Ah…" Another thought suddenly hit her and it was outrageous, but she couldn't help herself.

The emerald eyed girl wondered how would it feel to try and lick her nipple and see if she got the same effect as when a certain Uchiha did that to her.

She could easily do that because she was endowed enough to press on her rounded mound until she brought the rosy bud as close to her head as possible, bowing her chin to its level and touched the tip with her tongue, flicking it over for a few times.

When her skin covered in small shivers, she engulfed it with her lips, sucking on herself, while her fingers were rubbing at her inner lips, tracing her labia and clit, then twirling inside her core, slowly slipping a finger inside.

It was the strangest of the sensations to feel her inner walls, their soft texture and the tightness of her passage but not in an unpleasant way.

She then realized why it hurt her so much when Sasuke entered her. She was really tight, just like he said. So the dirty talk was not just empty talk. "Oh…" She pumped once to test the friction and it was perfect, so she started to finger herself at a slow peace, testing the waters.

It was the first time she did that to her body, so somehow she was afraid not to hurt herself or make a mistake. Ironically, she had complete faith in Sasuke, but she was afraid to do that herself.

Sakura inserted another finger, while she continued to lick her nipple and breast, fastening the peace of her fingers. It was very pleasurable, but she soon realized that doing it by herself, was not enough. There were small tingles and pricks down her skin and her muscles constricted slightly like in anticipation, but that was all.

The only thing she felt clearly, was the painful constriction of her core and it started to bother her. She wanted release but she herself couldn't get there. "Damn…I can't stop…" Soon she grew worried. She tried to push a third finger inside, but she was not slick enough and it hurt, so she only resumed using two fingers at a normal peace.

But she learned to press her thumb over her clit to double the stimulation. She was panting, both in frustration and relaxation, while the hot steam was pouring down her back. Sakura was totally oblivious of the outside world, trapped into her own steamy fantasy.

---

}{

---

Sasuke entered his home deeply exasperated. The family dinner was, in his most honest opinion, catastrophic. Seriously, she even entertained the idea to take his food plate and empty the contents on Fugaku`s head. It has been that bad.

Not even bothering to turn on the lights, he aimlessly threw his briefcase on the sofa, as well as his suit jacket, untying his tie and rolling up his sleeves, making his way upstairs.

He didn't need food because he has just eaten, but maybe he wouldn't mind an aspirin for his headache. Since his father would not stop criticizing his way of dealing with that day's meeting, Sasuke did what anyone else in his place would, meaning drinking a little too much for a family gathering.

And he even drove like that, miraculously without getting involved into a car crush. Good thing the streets were almost empty at that hour. He was not drunk, only tipsy, but his senses grew alert when he saw that the door of his bedroom was wide open and strange sounds were emerging from his bathroom.

Of course Sasuke knew that Sakura was probably going to sleep into his room-he was not going to let her sleep somewhere else-and the light on the bathroom and the sound of the shower assured him that she was being there, washing her body.

And no, it was not the fact that he was a major pervert, but it was because realization that she was actually moaning and panting inside, the thing that urged Sasuke to go inside and see what she was doing.

The raven haired Uchiha silently pushed the door open and what he saw made his mind go blank and his member stiffen instantly. He froze for a moment with his hand glued to the knob and his onyx eyes two times bigger.

There, in front of his stunned gaze, was Sakura, his supposed to be maid, stark naked, taking a bath in his own damn shower, using his shampoo, fingering herself, moaning heavily.

It was pure reflex that his legs took the lead, taking him closer to the said pink haired beauty, as silent as a feline, sneaking behind her back. Sasuke had a million dirty thoughts crossing his mind in that moment and he quickly did a mental choice of the method he was going to use to punish her for playing with his tired conscience.

Although…a model like looking gorgeous lady, displaying such an erotic, but not debauched attitude was not entirely a bad thing, on the contrary, it was just the thing the raven haired Uchiha needed to cease away to horrid events of that day.

But he let his stare linger for one more second and enlighten his lustful lighted onyx eyes with the way she was cupping her soft rounded breast, pinching her nipple and how she so tentatively pushed her fingers inside the core he has previously rammed into.

Sasuke smirked at that. She was a beginner, but it was the most arousing thing he saw, particularly because she ironically enough, looked more than innocent while doing that.

He came impossibly close to her, until his chest hit her back, feeling the water getting him soaked, bringing his hands in front of her chest, palming and squeezing her breast, scaring her shitless.

"Whoa…." Sakura almost jumped in surprise, attempting to turn around and punch the living daylights out of whoever had the guts to touch her, totally snapping out her little dirty moment, but Sasuke prevented her to move, pressing her torso heavily onto him, gluing his lips to her ear.

When she realized who it was, she visibly relaxed into his touch, though he could clearly feel the erratic heartbeat pulsate through his palms. "Why Sakura, I had no idea you were into this kind of things. Though I wouldn't say I don't find it…..hot." His husky voice was sensual and amused, feeling her stiffen, turning her head over her shoulder to face him.

A pair of totally embarrassed forest green eyes clashed with the black sapphire ones that were eyeing her cockily. She has been caught doing to most shameful thing ever, and her cheeks were already flaming. "I-I was just…w-why…are you here anyways? Are you stalking me? You pervert!"

Although, when his skilful hands replaced her unpolished one, slowly massaging her breasts, rolling her nipples between his index and thumb, she started to reach the turned on state she was desperately looking for. "Pervert?" He faked a hurt look.

"Should I remind you that you are the one that plays with herself into my bathroom…" He took a long lick on her neck, smelling his shampoo on her. It drove him insane. "…using my cosmetics…" One hand reluctantly left the full mound he was pleasuring, slipping past her stomach, in between her legs. "…and you dare to call me a pervert?"

"Ahaaa….p-pervert…" Sakura bit her lower lip when Sasuke started to rub her hard, trying to assess how far has she been able to go without him, taking much pleasure when he realized her body was reacting to no one else beside him, not even to her. She was barely wet.

"Hn…hardly. Usually women come to me, Sakura. Though not this time." He shoved two long fingers inside her, pumping her hard, deciding not to go easy on her. The reaction was immediate. Sakura threw her head backwards on his shoulder, moaning loudly.

"Ah…S-Sasuke…" The pink haired lady brought her hand around his neck, pulling him down, mashing their lips together in a needing kiss, while their tongues wasted no time to taste one another, in a long wet battle. "Mmmm…."

When the need for oxygen became unbearable, Sakura detached her lips from Sasuke`s, while he retracted his fingers from her, facing him, brushing his damp hair away from his face, studying him.

He looked dead tired. Equally handsome, but wasted. And he smelled like a strong beverage as well, though she couldn't consider him entirely drunk. She understood why he did it. It was his father…

"Are you ok?"

He smirked lazily at her, placing another full kiss on her mouth, while he pushed her back more under the shower. "I am now."

The Sound agent would not blame him for all the stress, with all the constant pressure from the media, his company related work and murder attempts going on around. It was a mystery how was he still able to never chase the smirk off his face whenever he had her on his sight. Or maybe she was that much of a scar tissue or a painkiller.

"And I am going to make it even better." In one swift motion, Sasuke removed his belt, never once breaking eye contact, while Sakura was slipping her hands past his damp shirt, unbuttoning it, trying her best to get rid of the sole barrier between her touch and his toned body.

"Is that so?" She tried her best to be seductive, while her emerald eyes were taking in the way he used his belt to tie her hands on the shower`s wall bar, keeping them trapped above her head. She didn't know what he intended to do to her, but her body was trembling in anticipation.

Her full rounded breasts looked richer and firmer exposed under his hungry darkened gaze, and he could not deny himself the pleasure of cupping her hip bones, while his tongue left wet trails of saliva down her neck and collar bone, coming down to her chest, but refraining from directly taste the soft rosy tissue of her mounds.

Sakura took a sharp breath and let out a half strangled moan at the way hot drops of water coming from the rapid shower stream, were hitting her nipples, hardening the growing erect buds, pointing expectantly towards the curled up in a small approving smirk on Sasuke`s lips.

She pressed her thighs together, rubbing them, well aware of the tingles and pinches those stimulating acts had on her hormones.

Everything around was ten times hotter than normal: the shower wad too hot, Sasuke was impossibly should be forbidden hot and her hot body was on fire. Was this how Hell was supposed to feel like? Melting lava suddenly felt like a second nature under his touch.

"Mmm...S-Sasuke..."

"Electrifying, isn't it? I never tried this with anyone before."

"W-why...not?"

"Because I had no intention to pleasure anyone else before...you."

"Ah!"

"The way I do to you." Sakura threw her head back, whimpering in pleasure when Sasuke more than teasingly, used the tip of his tongue to flicker and graze her pleading to be suckled nipple, not coming in contact with every other part of her skin. How wad it possible for him to be that precise?

"Please..."

Sakura arched her back to push his face more into her chest and make him engulf her fully, but Sasuke has more than anticipated her body language, because his firm hold on her hip was preventing her from ruining his fun.

And that only caused her throbbing lower abdomen to rub on his tightening bulge into his pants, making him growl at the feeling. She was desperately asking for it, Sasuke was aware.

And he had no plan in denying it. That feel of her perfect body melting under him and the warmth she was surrounding him with, when he thrust his member inside her was a guilty pleasure Sasuke was never going to give up to.

"Need something Sakura?"

"Argh...I-I...only...ask to..."

"Tell me and I am going to see if I can give it to you."

"...!" Sasuke clamped her nipple with his lips, gently rubbing the sweet rosy bundle in between his teeth, inside his mouth, while his tongue was massaging it to cease away any pain she could have felt.

His left hand snuck around her waist to unglue her back from the cold tile and bring her closer, while the other went lower, to squeeze her buttock.

"AAAh! D-on't stop! More!" Sakura hooked one leg around Sasuke`s waist, while her exposed inner lips and core were rubbing at the front of his pants. She absolutely adored how their bodies immediately responded to one another, each time with a more explosive sensation than the previous one.

She had electric jolts in all her body, that time, crossing the shy border of her spine and lower abdomen. And it was maddening. She loved the way he was spontaneously touching her, expertly working on her most needing hot spots.

He actually knew how details would make a difference, only causing more milk juices to stream down on her thigh and his pants. His large hand was skillfully massaging her ass, while his long fingers were brushing her lower lips from the behind, occasionally slipping past the small crevice to tantalize her dripping entrance.

She couldn't take it anymore. There as only one thought in Sakura's mind and it came as an obvious answer to her clenching burning muscles. She wanted him and wanted him bad.

"Sasuke...do it with me."

"This was the plan from the beginning. But I plan to do more than taking you." Sasuke pressed his canines down her areola, biting her nipple down, making her moan in both sudden pain and unexpected pleasure accumulate down the boiling pool into the pits of her secluded regions.

He took a long bold lick on her breast, up to her long slim neck, whispering hotly and darkly into her ear. "I am going to make you scream my name, until your are going to implore me to stop."

If there was something more erotic in the Galaxy than his sensual baritone voice saying such scandalous threats, Sakura would have liked to learn about, because she went slicker in essences than the Milky Way. "Make me...scream, but I will not tell you to stop."

"I will hold you onto that."

Sakura boldly helped him discard of all the clothes the moment Sasuke freed her hands, while he bent her over the bathtub, with her stomach pressing on the cold marble edge, while she was gripping the other side tightly.

He lifted one leg over the bathtub, keeping a firm hold on the back of her knee not to let her fall, exposing all her private parts to him to explore, displaying a lustful view of her ass and damp vagina. It was more arousing for Sakura because she couldn't see and predict what he was going to do. That made her both thrilled and scared.

"Sasuke..." He was tracing his index on her thigh, groin and circling her small ass opening and it was a way of touching her that he hasn't used before.

"Shhh...don't be afraid. I will never do something that is going to not be pleasant."

Her lips parted in relief when she felt a tongue pressed on her core, lapping the juices sticking to her folds greedily. Nonetheless, she started to tremble when the onyx eyed Uchiha started to suck on her clit and roll his tongue upon her lower lips, eating her out.

He used his available hand to part her rose lace folds more, blowing coolly upon her entrance, making her push her hip backwards, towards any source of relief.

Sasuke was teasing her and her inner walls were clenching rhythmically, almost painfully. Plus, Sakura had mixed feelings at the way he was lifting her bent leg as high as her flexibility allowed, openly exposing her intimate womanhood so freely, that were making her both aroused and insecure.

Did he like what he was seeing? Was she coming close to his expectations, or she was just another average girl, with a fuckable hole for him to find release? Albeit Sasuke has never gave her reason to feel his inferior, she couldn't help it. She was after all a shy girl without men experience and that was how her tensed body reacted.

Almost like he has sensed her distress, Sasuke pressed his torso briefly towards her back, placing butterfly kisses down her shoulders and neck, while his growing erect member was rubbing in between her buttocks. "You are beautiful, Sakura. You have never been any less than perfect. Everything about you is delicious."

The way his chest vibrated through her ribs and spine was even more delectable in Sakura's opinion. "Sasuke..."

"I want you, because it is you. I want what is yours, but only what you can give." Sasuke was absolutely sure that his little maid didn't need any fore play, because the way she was soaking wet and with all the rinse from the shower, she would take him all in no problem.

Oh, he couldn't wait to melt inside her and that was the reason why he wasted no time in aligning himself to her entrance, slowly but firmly pushing his milking tip in between her folds, sensing her spine straighten and shoulders going stiff.

He knew she was particularly tight, even if they had been having sex before, he didn't plunge inside her like he intended to. He had enough time to take her to infinity after she accommodated to his length. He was nowhere near average, that was for certain.

"Ah...it..."

"I will be gentle, I promise. You say how much. I will comply." He refrained from using obey.

Sakura nodded once, lowering her body into him so as his member was surely making its way to the hilt, stretching her muscles apart. She bit the inside of her cheek, clenching her hold into the sink, emerald eyes compact.

She knew from their past experiences that her raven haired boss was well gifted and she had to relax and breath deeply and not show him any resistance, because that would make the pain increase.

It was always uncomfortable at first, but Sakura couldn't wait for him to ram into her like he did before, when she grew comfortable and it was for that short moment when her mind exploded in colors she would endure all the stinging sensation. The orgasms he gave her were like exploding comets.

"Deeper...g-go deeper..." She knew she almost took him in all, but Sakura found her body crave for all of him, as a sort of a full connection and pride, even though she felt Sasuke`s shaft tear her innards apart.

But since she was not pure anymore, the lack of barrier made the pain subside faster. When she felt him all inside, it was that sensation of completion that bloomed inside her, accompanied by the clenching throb deep down her navel.

When Sasuke found himself all the way inside until there was not anymore space to separate their bodies, he put a hand around her stomach, pressing her ass on his abs, not moving until she gave her consent.

It didn't matter for him to stay frozen inside, because the hotness of her slick passage and the welcoming home call she was radiating through every pore was enough to make him content. Happiness. It was the exact thing he needed and he found it in her. Always.

He buried his nose into her damp short hair, inhaling his shampoo on her and it drove him insane. The fragrance blended into her own smell, giving it a feminine touch. "This...smells better than I would have thought."

"...go..." Sakura found it funny how such small gestures that were so alien in comparison to what kind of man Sasuke was, got them cozier with each other and she liked that. He was not only using her naivety in his favor. He was honest. But what she wanted in that moment was for him to make the knot inside her belly go away. It became unbearable.

And he complied, by slowly retracting out of her until he was almost all the way outside, then pump inside, testing the friction of their rocking bodies. It was hot, slick and tight. In a word, it was perfect.

Sasuke used his strong hold on her waist and knee to keep her in place, while he set a normal tempo, parting her inner walls more with each jerk of his hips hitting her sweet spot all the way to the top each time.

Sakura got air get stolen from her lungs when she felt the raven haired man moving inside her, her emerald eyes rolling deep inside their sockets. She was mewling and pressing her nails into the white marble edge of the bathtub anchoring her body trying her best not to fall inside.

Even though Sasuke was not entering her with all his might and abandonment, like their first time, his thrusts were hard and precise. He found the perfect angle to hit her and the position he was keeping her steady in, even tough it was kind of acrobatic, allowed him a deep penetration. "Oh...Sasuke...move..h-harder!"

An immense pleasure that the pink haired agent openly craved for started to make its presence known, announcing an explosive mix of sensations, in the form of splashing juices pumping out of where thy were so deliciously connected, making Sasuke`s eyes and mind get clouded at the sight.

Next time, he was going to do her in front of a mirror and let her see their love making and marvel like he did. "You don't have to ask. But I am dying to hear you beg for it."

Instead of going faster, Sasuke deliberately thrust slower, leaning in to trace his tongue over her spine and placing damp kisses in between her shoulder blades, teasingly, feeling her shudder.

Her taste, her body around him and her musical strangled soft moans were throwing him over the edge every time. "Sasuke...faster...I n-need this f-faster..."

"Implore me to do it and I shall comply." It took all of his will power not to ride her mercilessly and primal, his own lower abdomen bursting in flames and muscles clenching painfully, but Sasuke took great pleasure in watching the usually refined and delicate pink haired maid do some dirty talk. She was very hot when she decided to actually act seductive.

Sakura placed her palm over Sasuke`s one, over her stomach, leaving small scratches on his wrist, panting heavily. It was still unusual for her to use that kind of foul language, but strangely, as lascivious as it was, it turned her on more. "Just...f-fuck me already! Damn Sasuke s-stop the teasing and...just...take me h-harder! Like t-that time!"

Sasuke knew she was referring to their first time. That was something he had imprinted into his mind for the rest of his life and four other reincarnations from there on. "I love it when you curs, Sakura. It makes you dirty."

He went at top speed, almost making her fly forward if not for his grip on her, fucking her senseless, each time going deeper and rubbing her g-spot, leaving aside any inhibition.

"Aaahhh! YES! Like this!" Was that her, Sakura wondered. Because the abnormal strange sound coming out from her mouth sounded more like something Karin would say.

Oh, her friend was going to be so proud of her state. She was bent over a large bathtub, screaming in ecstasy, while the sexiest man alive kept all her secret spots unfolded in front of him, fucking her from the behind, like in an adult movie. And her moans turned into cries and screams in pleasure, much to her dismay. Goodbye her decency, welcome debauchery.

"F-faster! Sasuke!" Sakura realized that even his name had an erotic musicality into the syllables and it was something she so much enjoyed to shout.

And she was supposed to be his maid...that was kind of kinky, the thought of domination. Sakura so didn't mind leting him screw her until she saw stars and crushing meteors, because it was too good.

"Fuck, you are so sexy when you scream my name, Sakura." Sasuke`s own breath was uneven, he too feeling his member rock his way to release and her utterly impossible thick passage caging him and increasing the abrasion was not helping much. His forehead was all sweaty and he had troubles in keeping her secure glued to his body.

The constriction inside his abdomen was burning him like hot coals, his full of semen balls were hitting her inner folds with each passing fast thrust, weighing heavily and painfully, begging for release and he felt himself being close, but he wouldn't deny her orgasm first. "Mmm...ohhh..."

"Damn...you are so...fuck..." Sasuke slipped his hand away from under her soft one, placing it upon her widely parted lower lips, tingling her inner folds, then pulling and pinching her clit.

The way she threw her head back forcefully, almost hitting his forehead in the process, announced him that she was close. Good thing he was taller and she came ricocheting on his collar bone, screaming. "AAAAH!"

It took all her CIA flexibility and years of training to keep herself in that position, with one leg up the edge of the sink, back arched impossibly deep and glued to Sasuke`s chiseled chest. The skin on skin contact was undeniably ravishing.

Her hand went around his neck, fisting into his damp raven locks, pulling and shouting out loud in bliss to every ghost inside the house and neighbors that she felt her body go feather like and float above the clouds.

"Is this good enough for you?" Sasuke`s mouth stuck to her ear shell, biting the elastic cartilage softly, pulling at it, while taking in the way her so finely shaped sphere breasts were widely and freely bouncing up and down, while he was ramming her, cursing nature for not granting him an additional hand to pinch and squeeze them and pinch her swollen nipples.

"...yeeeesss...I am...Sasuke I w-will...the same like before..." An immense orgasm crept from her confined places, stirred by the feel of Sasuke planting himself inside her as deep as his well endowed shaft would go and the circular massaging of his fingers, hardly pressed above her clit and folds. And the fact that he was licking her shoulder was giving her cold shivers down her spine, blending with the tremors and the throbbing of her muscles.

"SASUKEEE!"

It was impossible to resist, so when Sasuke lifted her leg up in the air more, making her unglue the heel from the edge and push him impossibly deeper three more times from that position, she came like a spring river, after all the snow has melted and raised the water level, flowing down rapidly and angrily. She milked Sasuke for all his worth, taking him over the peak as well.

"Fuck Sakura..." Hew came as well after managing two additional pumps, fusing their juices, feeling his head go light and muscles flush.

He did his best to fold his both hands around her and support her smaller limp body and prevent a fall. Sasuke could clearly feel and even hear the loud drum of her thrilled heart pumping ardently inside her chest and her harsh pants.

"...S...asu-" Sakura was too exhausted to even state his rightful name. Her head lolled from his chest to his shoulder and her hand fell on her side. She heard his unsteady heart thumping rhythmically like a joyful carousel ride at the same staccato tempo of her own. She loved to see what effect she had on him. It meat the world. It held value. And feelings.

"I think that this is what they call...the perfect welcome home."

"...you...still stalked me in the bathroom...pervert."

He chuckled deeply, his manly ragged voice reverberating through her back. "Why Sakura, should I remind you that it is my bathroom?"

She smiled softly, creeping her emerald eyes leisurely open, looking around the fog created from the shower. A window should be open wide fast. No wonder she was not cold. "B...but this is...my privacy."

"Hn...then let us share some more of this privacy."

"Wha-" Sakura quickly shot her hands towards Sasuke`s broad lean shoulders descended down, swiftly turning her around, sneaking his hand behind her knees and lifting her up, carrying her bridal style towards the room, smirking sexily at her deep blushing flushed face.

"I hope you don't mind another round."

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A delicate French manicured finger was the precise contour of Sasuke' s lean pectorals, cuddling closer to the warmth provided by his bare form under the bed sheet.

Sakura let her cheek rest on his shoulder, aimlessly focusing on his sharp jaw line, fanning her uneven breaths on his neck. He had a possessive hold around her shoulders, resting on his beck, with his left hand bent under his head, facing the wall.

After he adorned her in countless caresses, stolen dark whispers, and hungry kisses, he more than rocked her world, actually succeeding into proving her that it was possible to come two times in a short period of time, while having the skill and a godly gifted manhood.

And she praised him with long red marks down his torso and back, making him god deaf with her high pitched sharp screams. He was right. He made her chant his name until her vocal chords got sore.

But the best part was the way his strong arms immediately found her trapped to him, making Sakura's legs entangle into his own. She loved the gentleness of his smooth skin and ripped muscles. Being with him was as natural as a perfumed gentle summer mountain breeze in July.

"I have grown up in an orphanage, in Vicenza." She started casually.

Sasuke`s shoulders stiffened not expecting her to bring that subject up, saying nothing. She went on. "There were nuns that took care of me and the other girls, but most of them were old and didn't have patience to deal with the little ones, like me."

Slowly, bus surely her voice got quivery and it didn't escape Sasuke`s sharp mind. He let her continue. What she was telling, as much as it would be, it was the truth. "It was difficult. I have always been too...energetic and didn't like to obey rules. They would lock me inside the basement when I misbehaved and not be given me anything to eat. There was a kind nun that took a like on me because I was helping her with the chores and she would bring me a warmer blanket or keep the rest of the food from the kitchen, when I have been punished."

Past memories she didn't want to reminisce were shooting through her mind. She twirled one of Sasuke`s raven locks around her finger, gaining courage. She couldn't stop there.

"They were strict and made us learn thick books in order to someday become nuns like them or teachers. The nuns were educated, that I won't deny. Most of what I know is thanks to them." Sakura's next statement cleared up Sasuke`s confusion over her refined manners. "I learnt French and German from them, as well as Latin. I polished my skills later on."

"I even made a friend there, the only that approached me without the intention to mock me, Isaribi. She was one year older and her parents died in a plan crush two days after she was born.

Her grandparents didn't want to raise her and abandoned her to the orphanage, the next day after the funeral. I heard the Principal talking about it, though I have never told her. She had a necklace from her mother and I wanted her to cherish the memory."

Sasuke made no attempt to stop her, nor saying a word. But she knew he was intently listening. She went on, her voice getting lower. "We have grown up like two sisters, doing everything together.

The other girls were constantly picking on us, pulling pranks and blamed it on us, so we often got scolded or punished. She used to give me her piece of bread or pasta because I was a walking skeleton, as she stated once. She was a little...plump you know?" She giggled once at that, remembering the kind expression on her friend's face.

"The nun I have been telling you about helped us with our homework. She was really good, teaching us math, science and even literature. Goethe and Nietzsche were her favorite authors. And, believe it or not, she taught us martial arts as well. She started to teach Isaribi, then my friend passed the knowledge to me. All behind the Principal's back."

Vaguely, Sakura realized that Sasuke was brooming his fingers through her hair, in a soothing manner. Like wanting to assure her that if the monsters of the past would emerge from under the bed to take her soul and throw her back into the time, he was not going to let her be swallowed.

"Life is difficult when you have to spend your days with other 300 mean girls and nuns that don't want you there. I have no memory or any information about my parents or any living relative. To the world, I am completely alone."

Sasuke quickly overlapped what the pink haired lady was telling him, with what she wrote in the CV. So she was indeed an orphan, but the situation was tremendously different.

That girl had no farm, or any possession whatsoever. It changed everything. But then again, she told him that she was not poor anymore. Something big happened before that, he concluded. "The only think I know for sure is that they named me Sakura. I have no idea what my family name is, though. I got the Haruno part to be able to enroll in high school and get an identity card."

Ok, that made Sasuke`s heart skip a beat, painfully jump on his throat, preventing him to inhale. Sakura didn't have a real family name, or origins for the matter. Of course he couldn't understand her suffering. He had Mikoto, his angelic mother, but Sakura had none.

"When I turned twelve, Isaribi got really sick. I remember she only stayed in bed, not able to move. I knew she was going to die because I never left her side, crying constantly. She was like the relative I never had. And she told me to run away from there and make a living outside. That was why, in a night, she gave me her necklace telling me she wanted to see me get free from that prison until she died. It was the last wish I granted."

"So I snuck inside the Principal's office, stole a train ticket she had to Ravenna and run, straight on the window, leaving my friend and the orphanage that was my shelter for twelve years behind not once looking back."

Sasuke secretly wished for her to never stop until she told him all the truth. What were the events that marked her and threw her in depression and agony and what made her so strong and turned her into a real lady? But he would never push her further. All she wanted to say, he was going to be content with and...repay her.

"But life outside the orphanage has been anything but simple. I managed to somehow fake my personal information and go to school. They gave me testes that I passed them and I had some advantages because I was an orphan. The nuns never once looked for me because I suspect they never cared to begin with. I rented a small room in a deprived neighborhood somewhere in the vicinity of the metro station, having all the society rejects as neighbors that you could think of. You know, sluts, drug dealers or wanted criminals."

A small river of tear pooled inside her foggy emerald eyes, rolling down her cheeks. It was not out of sadness though, it was relief. She was able to finally tell Sasuke something real about her and she was glad how that felt.

He was a source of great support and comfort. Most of all, he never judged or look down or pitiful at her. "School was only difficult because I had no money to afford books or notebooks, so I befriended the janitor and the librarian to let me stay at school and us the library. I got top scores at most of the courses and a scholarship to pay the daily supplies. But I had it rough. I had to suffer the bullying coming from the rich kids that laughed at the fact that I could not afford proper clothes in winter, or had no money to eat in the cafeteria."

If the next thing she said shocked him, Sasuke was good to hide it. "One of them was Amy Watanabe. The one that has been killed." But it took him by surprise nonetheless. The events were connected in a way. He never liked that woman and good thing he run from her.

Sakura threw her hand around Sasuke`s chest, nuzzling closer to him, thanking all the Heavens he was not disgusted with her state. She was loaded as well and had a reputed job many would only dream of, but he didn't know that, nor was he making her feel pressured to confess more.

He even told her she was the most beautiful woman he ever saw. If anything, that Uchiha was not superficial. "The room I lived in was two times smaller than your bathroom and I didn't have a kitchen or a bathroom. It was cold during winters and I barely afford electricity. No one wanted to hire me, but I refused to take on...inappropriate jobs."

Sasuke knew what she meant and his respect only grew tenfold because she valued herself. She didn't become a slut or a burglar. But what she said next beat most of the horrid scenes he has been witnessing.

"I know how it sounds and I will not blame you for feeling sick, but there were times when I used to beg for food and when I didn't get any, I would eat street cats or even rats, because the starvation got unbearable."

"Sakura..." She shut her moistened eyes briefly, when a pair of lips attached softly to her forehead, his voice low and husky. "...you are amazing. This will never change."

"I didn't want to do this, but I..." She inhaled sharply one gulping on air, feeling a sob escape her lips. Damn she didn't want to cry, but it was unavoidable. "...so much pain. I didn't have a proper door and there was the constant fear of someone barging inside and kill me or rape me. It didn't happen though, probably because I was viewed more like a beggar. But no one would give me a job, not even to mop the floors, because I lacked credibility."

Sasuke felt cold drops of water tingle on his skin, from Sakura's uncontrolled tears and he wanted to stop her. That was painful to listen to, even for him, but somehow he realized that she was disclosing tnat harsh part pf her existence because she wanted to let it go and move on.

But he brought his available hand on her cheek, brushing away the sadness from her face. She leaned into his touch immediately, when he cupped her jaw. "During my sophomore years I thought I was going to lose mind and ironically enough, I realized that I have been better at the orphanage, where at least I had a proper bed and food, so I started to cut myself often and even attempted to commit suicide. But it never worked and the school's nurse, a woman I would occasionally help, was constantly sending me to the hospital, where they would give me blood transfusions and nutrients."

So she has been suffering from depression ever since, Sasuke realized. She told the doctor the truth. Oh God, the way his blood boiled inside his veins was inhumane. He felt the urge to take his jet and fly straight to Italy and make the people that let her suffer face his wrath.

Why did it matter for him to have all the money in the world since she has been suffering like that? Sasuke suddenly got a better understanding of his mother's philanthropic activity.

Many people were struggling like Sakura all around the world with no one to acknowledge them and put an end to their misery. "I was not lying at the hospital Sasuke."

And she went silent after that, silently letting her eyes empty of unshed tears, gripping his torso tightly as if to make sure he was not going to leave her. It was the last thing in Sasuke`s mind.

And before he could stop himself he asked: "But this is over now, isn't it?" He was pointing out to whatever it might have happened when she turned eighteen. Sakura's story stopped when she got in the eleventh grade. So the change was there, it was obvious. "Don't answer this if you don't-"

She cut him halfway. "I am not poor anymore. I told you before. I met...my savior during Christmas. And he introduced me to people that care for me and never left my side. I am a changed person. They changed me and filled the void inside my heart. My best crazy friend included." She couldn't help a wide smile made its way to her lips at the thought of Karin.

Sasuke`s onyx eyes went wide when he realized how similar to him she was from that point of view. He too found someone to put an end to his rebel attitude and pull him out of alcohol, sex, violence and drugs and show him another way. And he didn't hide that fact from her. Oh, the urge to tell her everything was leaving him breathless. "Just like me."

She raised her head to fully face the black orbs she so loved, finding everything that melted her insider there: understanding, acceptance, praise and want. Sasuke said he wanted her but it has never felt that powerful. "Sasuke..." She knew they were the same, because Naruto told her about his high school days, as much as she knew.

"I am sorry. For everything that you have been through. And my deepest regret is that you haven't met me earlier." Sakura didn't know if that was a meaningful confession, but she felt like she has sunk into a river of honey and chocolate when he brought her chin down and kissed her fully and slowly, letting her taste the meaning of his words.

She returned his kiss contently and greedily until they both pulled apart when their lungs felt like exploding. "Sasuke...this is...I know it didn't mean too much but...I hope you accept it because is coming from my heart."

She was looking at him with wide puppy eyes, like a small child, expectantly. He brushed a fallen strand of hair out of her face, behind her ear. "You are wrong. It means a lot."

He then intertwined his fingers behind her back, bringing her body atop of his, maintaining the eye contact while he did his own confession.

He told her everything about his family and high school days, including his rivalry with his brother Itachi and the hate and disappointment with his father but conveniently left aside the name of the person he got help from.

Or should he say...people. But he didn't hide the fact that he had advanced fighting skills, explaining her that fighting and killing people...was something he did before.

But surprisingly, it was Sakura who gave him a mind blowing sensual French kiss when he finished his story-at four am-before she fell on his chest sound asleep. They were so much alike like it was meant to be.

The Hyuga had an inspirational word for this, Sasuke understood before he too fell asleep, and that was destiny.

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The following morning, clad in only a large shirt-Sasuke`s-Sakura was biting her fist, desperately trying to reach her red head friend, Karin, constantly getting the same annoying voice mail.

She had a million things to confess and million emotions washing over her body and she needed someone to confess to and give her an advice. Sasuke left early, explaining to her that he was part of the Organizing Committee of the Grand Charity Ball and there were some more things to be double checked.

She already had the security plan from Suigetsu, so she would have to once again confirm the latest changes in the schedule with Naruto and the other Akatsuki. But not in that moment.

Diiiingggg Doooonng

"Hm? Who could it be?" Curious, Sakura made her way down the stairs, trying to figure out who could have been so early in the morning, because Sasuke wouldn't ring and his friends had a spare key.

She opened the door, popping her head outside, finding no one. "What the…am I going insane?" Must be her imagination playing tricks on her. Stress could do that to people, she concluded. "…oh?"

But just as she was about to shut the door, the emerald eyed girl came across a large blue box, with a small fancy looking envelope on it, winking at her. "A gift? Santa, are you here?" She fully exited the house, taking a quick peek around, to see who left the mysterious package, but she found no one.

It couldn't have been a bomb, could it? "This is weird." Shrugging once, Sakura took the pretty large box inside, closing the door, heading to her bedroom. Better not explode the whole living room.

She pulled away a special device designed to scan contents and look for any suspicious goods inside, finding none. So it was not a trap. "I swear this is how all the horror movies start." She studied the envelope, opening it, reading the note inside.

Jade eyes were glistening with incredulous tears while she realized what she was holding. Her palm went straight on her mouth, to contain a sob.

"No way…I can't believe it!" It was the first time when Sakura felt all the joyful impatient butterflies from her chest being set free from their cage and burst outside.

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Author`s Note: I know I know, I am so guilty for letting you guys wait this much for this update and I am not even going to justify myself. I was re-reading the first chapters and then I realized that they were so bad and I almost get ashamed of writing something like this, so I quickly decided to make some changes, of course, in the way of writing them, because the main idea still stands, but the grammar, along with the confusion of terms and...writing in general left me speechless...and angry. So I will reshape the first ones. This is the reason why I have not updated on the other stories as well.

I suck at writing fighting scenes and I know it:(( I truly hope the first part of this chapter was not too boring and it somehow...satisfied your taste. If not, I am truly sorry. I realize I am better at portraying emotions than writing action. Maybe it is because of the lack of practice...or vocabulary. I don`t know. I wish I was able to do better.

Ah, I almost forgot...the person that Sasuke talked to on the phone in the previous chapter is not Fugaku, his father. I am sorry for the confusion.

Thank you all for sticking out with me and this story, even though I now realize that my start was kind of...unfortunate, but you still gave me a chance and I would have never been to grow up without your support, especially those who always found time to left me a word and express their appreciation.

I do hope the next update is not going to take this long and I am doing my best to fix what is left and what I deem poor, before I put an end to this story. Until next time...thank you all for reading this story.

Ah, and not to forget...let`s all have a moment and shout it out to the world that Sasuke and Sakura is so happening, that it should be turned into a national holiday!