Hi there! Can I just say to begin with, Thank you soo much to everyone who's read and followed since my last update. This chapter's for you guys! A special thank you to my reviewers. As fellow authors, I'm sure you know how much of a help it is when someone compliments or criticizes your work.
To Sariko-chan: Thanks for your wonderful review and I hope the next few chapters do not disappoint!
To Anne: I'm not sure when I plan on making her find out, but I hope you have a pack of Kleenex on you at the time. But Sakura's strong; she'll get through it
So a slight lull in a story, and a surprise at the end! I hope you enjoy, and the next chapter's on the way!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
24th April, 2032, FBI, San Francisco division
"Why're you here?" Shikamaru asked, looking up lazily.
"The team's having a meeting upstairs. You're required." Sakura said.
He nodded, saying, "I'll be there...eventually." he turned away, looking into his computer again.
When she didn't leave, he turned to face her again, eyebrow raised. "Is there something else you wanted?"
"Actually, there is. It's not particularly related to the case though." she started, taking out a few pictures of the list she had found in the Uchiha office. It had been on her mind for a while now, but she had been far too sidetracked with...other things to follow up on it. If one person could help her find out more about that list with her brother's name on it, and what it meant, while keeping it secret from the others, then it would be Shikamaru. That was, assuming he wouldn't be too lazy to start.
She handed him the pictures and said, "If you had some spare time, could you draw me up some files related to the stuff mentioned here?" she asked.
She could have sworn he muttered something like 'troublesome women' as he looked through the first page. He looked at her questioningly as he asked, "What does any of this have to do with you?"
"Can you just not ask questions and look it up when you're not sleeping?" she said, exasperatedly.
"Hmm...I'll do it...maybe...eventually..." he yawned loudly.
After a long pause, a stifled snore drew the conclusion that he had fallen asleep.
Stupid male! To be indolent enough to fall asleep mid conversation! She abruptly changed that with a sharp blow to his head. While he grumbled, rubbing his head, she stalked to the second stop of the morning before she met up with the team to get on with the case.
She really hoped that Shikamaru would come up with something related to that list. If it was a lead on her brother...
She couldn't even begin to believe that he might still be alive.
Walking into the analytics unit she found her favorite white haired, toad like, perverted as hell forensic analyst sitting with his feet on the desk ogling a centre page of the Playboy magazine. She cleared her throat causing him to drop the magazine and straighten up, grinning ridiculously when he recognised her.
"Sakura!" he said, getting out of his chair to join her at the doorway. Raising a suggestive eyebrow, he asked,"Are you here to finally take me up on that offer to assist me with my research?" His 'research' being 'inspiration' for writing pornographic novels.
For all his faults, he was a nice person who was an elderly figure in Sakura's life. So she put up with all of his perverted antics. That did not mean, however, that she endorsed them.
"First of all: I'm over thirty years younger than you, so gross. Secondly: It's about the case we're working on." Sakura said, holding her palms up defensively.
The older man smiled, his eyes creasing warmly. "What have my little tadpoles been up to recently?"
He already knew about the case, so she filled him in on the events of the previous evening about how they found Yuki. "I took her to our doctor. Apparently she seems fine, but that doesn't account for her fever. We talked about this at home last night, and it might be a long shot, but some things don't add up. We think she's escaped from somewhere. And that somewhere might have something to do with our case."
"I see...she must be in shock. You're taking her to a trusted doctor I presume?" the other man asked, his manner serious.
"Family doctor. We're not crazy enough to take her to a hospital at midnight. Hinata's running her through psychological therapy." Sakura answered.
"Why don't you bring her in tomorrow and I can have a look? If there's something she knows, Hinata would no doubt be the breast- er, best bet to make her talk, but I can look her over and run some tests, you know...see if there's anything we could use." The perverted old man said.
"I figured you'd say that. I've got a blood sample with me now so you can have a look at that if you want. I'll bring her in now."
She handed over the small cylinder that contained a second sample of Yuki's blood which she had taken that morning. Jiraya clapped his hands together saying, "Now see that! That, is why you're my favourite tadpole out of this batch! Always one step ahead! And what a perky figure too...bring Ino and Hinata along with you tomorrow why don't you!"
She suppressed the desire to bash him on the head like she had Shikamaru and turned to walk away.
"I'll run some tests and tell you what I find, okay?" He called over her shoulder.
She muttered a vague 'thanks' before walking towards the office upstairs. Their case had been at an annoying standstill, and there was lots of work to be done to solve it before the week was up.
"Sakura? Why are you here?" Their unit chief stared down at her from the top of the staircase. Hinata stood beside him, looking down with a worried expression.
"What's there for me not to be here?" Sakura asked, confused.
"I thought I told you to take a day off. You were in an explosion yesterday. That doesn't call for you to spring back to work the following morning." he reasoned.
She glared at him.
"Besides, how did you get past our mother? I thought she was going to have you under house arrest?" Hinata added.
"I slipped out" she replied.
Neji pressed a hand to his temples in exasperation. "You'll be of no good to the investigation if you're not in working condition. Hinata, go home with her and make sure she doesn't try to come back. You can try and see if Yuki knows anything, or maybe take her back to Tsunade."
They're just concerned for you. Sakura thought to herself as she bit back a retort. She didn't like being restricted.
She reluctantly agreed to Hinata taking her back home.
"Hey Hinata..."
"Yes Sakura?"
"I don't suppose you'd have a problem with me walking with Yuki up to Tsunade's office? I think she's due for a checkup. Especially seeing as her fever hasn't subsided yet."
"I'll go with you. We can't really talk to her until she's healthier."
Hinata had a degree in psychology, and supervised all civilian interactions. She also took part in interrogation through behavioural analysis. She had been trying to speak to Yuki and coax the poor girl out of her shell the previous night, as well as the following morning, but so far with no luck. She was scared beyond words and sick from some unknown cause. It had left all of them worried.
"It really is too good a day to waste sitting cramped up in a stuffy car, isn't it?" Hinata asked as they walked along a street not far from the sight of the explosion last night.
Of course, the police had cleared it up and the FBI were keeping it quiet until they moved on to another investigation. There was no point in attracting unwanted attention- they had passed it off as a gas leak.
"It really is." Sakura agreed.
Yuki walked between the two women. She was still quite weak, but the medicine they gave her that morning had temporarily improved her condition.
They walked past an open ice cream store and Sakura saw Yuki looking at it...oddly.
Of course, all things aside, Yuki was only a small child. Like all kids, she must love toys and treats.
Her brother always used to come up with small treats or trinkets back when they lived on Lost C oast. Sometimes it would be sour candy, or truffles, or small toys or necklaces or stuffed animals. Sometimes he would find a whole box of ice creams or a dozen cupcakes - small treats that would make her squeal in delight and hug him tightly. They would spend a whole afternoon enjoying the rarity. She never used to question his sources then.
She smiled sadly at the memory, looking down at Yuki, before suddenly changing there course towards the ice cream shop. Hinata nodded in approval as she saw where Sakura was headed.
Hinata leaned over to nudge Yuki gently and ask, "Is there any particular flavor of ice cream you want."
Yuki shook her head quickly looking slightly embarrassed as though she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
Sakura laughed and got them three ice creams- if Yuki was having one, it was only fair the two of them joined in too.
As they were turning to walk away, she heard a shout followed by a boisterous cry of, "Hey! Hinata! Sakura!"
They turned around to see a strange blonde haired man with blue eyes, whiskers, and an orange jacket walking towards them.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Sakura asked politely. She was contemplating how fast they could run away from this seemingly insane man, until she noticed Hinata looking at him with a hint of recognition.
Then it hit her- Whiskers? They only knew one person with said 'whiskers'.
"Sasuke? Why is your hair like that?" Hinata asked.
"Are you trying to disguise yourself or something?" Sakura asked with a laugh, reaching a hand out to tug at what must have been a yellow wig.
Sasuke yelped in pain and pulled away, rubbing his head saying, "Hey! This hair is the real deal! I swear! And why are you calling me that idiot's nam-" he looked up in shock, as though realising he had made a big mistake, and covering his face with his hands.
"What was that?" Sakura asked, slightly confused.
"Nothing!" he said through his fingers. "I absolutely did not say anything just now! I did not just accidentally let slip that I'm not Sasuke and Naruto's not Naruto and I'm actually Naruto and he's actually me and I'm actually him and we just switched roles by accident on that day in his office! I absolutely did not! It wasn't me- you know?" he said in one incredibly rushed breath.
"Excuse me?"
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~Raven