Rain came down in the city hidden in the leaves. But, that was Konoha for you, even when the sun was shining, the rain still came down.

Shikamaru Nara stared at the wording on the frosted glass, from behind his beat up desk. His eyes traced the words "Sarutobi and Nara Detective Agency", written backwards from his vantage. He needed to have it changed. It had been 8 months already. Eight months since he lost his partner. Eight months since he lost his mentor. Eight months since he lost a friend. Eight months since a wife lost her husband and a child lost a father, one she would never know. He knew he should change it, but instead he sat in the dimly lit office and stared at the lettering, punishing himself for it all. Drinking, smoking, and passing on cases. Everyday he came into the office to stare at the lettering. His penance for not saving Asuma Sarutobi and not shooting down his killer in time.

He heard the click-clack of heels coming down the hallway before the shadow darkened the lettering on the door. After a pause, the handle turned and in stepped an attractive woman with pink hair down to her shoulders. She was dressed in a white blouse, charcoal pencil skirt, and red heels. Her hands gripped her clutch and a dripping umbrella. Her large green eyes peered at him. "Shikamaru Nara?"

"Yes."

"I don't know if you remember me? I'm Sakura Haruno. We went to school together."

He remembered, but he knew what she was after. She wouldn't be here otherwise. "I'm not taking any cases."

"My boyfriend, Sasuke Uchiha… I need you to follow him. He's been acting strangely. More distant, angry, and more secretive... than usual. I'm not sure if there is another woman or what he's mixed up in." Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

"I already said, I'm not taking any cases."

"I'm friends with Ino Yamanaka. She sent me here. She told me you're the best…"

His brow furrowed and he sighed, as he got up to escort her out the door.

Sakura desperately grabbed his arm, as he tried to move her to the door. "Please! Ino said I can cash in one of the favors you owe her!" Shikamaru froze. He owed Ino more favors than he'd ever admit, and she wasn't shy about calling them in.

"Troublesome." He shook her grip free and walked back around the desk, as he gestured for her to take a seat. "Do you really want to know the truth? Do you really want to know if he's out with some other woman?"

Sakura hesitated as she sat, looking down at her clutch and the umbrella gripped in her hands, contemplating her inner strength. "Yes." She looked up resolutely and stared into his eyes. "Yes. I want to know. I need to know."

"Never ask questions you don't want to know the answers to."

She was strong now, determined. "I understand that, and I accept it."

He couldn't contain a sigh, "Alright. Do you have a picture of him? Where should I be able to find him? Anything else that might help my investigation?"

Sakura pulled a photo out of her purse and slid it across the desk. It was a picture of the two of them. Sasuke appeared a stoic guy, but his arm was wrapped around her waist with a corner of his mouth slightly turned upward. Pale complexion, messy black hair, and eyes so dark they looked almost black. The picture refreshed his memory, and Shikamaru vaguely recalled him from school. He was quiet and brooding, even then, but that didn't seem to deter the girls. He never understood it.

From the picture, Sakura beamed with a light blush on her cheeks and a smile. So different from how she looked now, and he hated the unbidden thoughts of how her face would crumple and tears would stream down those cheeks, when he would show her pictures of the other woman. Ninety-nine percent of the time, there was another woman or man. It was rare for it to be something else. His job usually boiled down to breaking up relationships and marriages, ruining lives with the truth that people tried to hide in the shadows.

Next Sakura pulled out a business card and passed it across the desk. "He works in the District Attorney's office as a deputy district attorney. This is his business card, which has his work address. Recently, he's also been frequenting a club called The Sound." She glanced down at her lap. "I think he goes almost everyday, now. He started being really secretive about his visits there. Everything seemed to start about two months ago."

"Yeah, I know the place." He wasn't going to mention that wasn't a good thing. "So, how do you want me to reach you?"

"I'll write down my phone number. I also work at the DA's office as a secretary, so I'll give you my home number." Shikamaru pushed her a pad of paper and a pen, polishing off his glass of scotch as he watched her write it down.

Once done writing she looked up into his eyes, leaving the pad and pen on the desk. She watched as he moved to fill his empty glass. "This is very important to me." He could read between the lines that she really meant, 'You better not screw this up.'

He knew the picture he painted. His dress shirt sleeves were rolled up, top couple of buttons undone, and tie loosened. His clothing was rumpled, looking as if he had slept in them. And to be honest, he had. He knew reeked of liquor and old smoke. He knew his eyes were a bit bloodshot, from the lack of sleep caused by the nightmares, which ruined his former favorite pastime. He could feel his black hair escaping the band pulling it back, high, off his face and neck.

Yeah, he knew he didn't look like someone to trust, or even someone able to take care of themself. Probably looked like a drunk bum. But he owed Ino, and, somehow, he was starting to feel invested in the case. "I understand. I am good at my job, as much as I wish I wasn't."

That seemed to give her all the assurance she needed, and she nodded. "Please let me know whatever you find first. I don't care if he's into something illegal. I just want to know, so I can help him." She looked guiltily to her hands. There was no need to read between the lines of that. She didn't care what it was, she was in love and planning on sticking by his side.

"Sure." He was pretty sure that would change once he found who Sasuke was seeing on the side, but love made people idiots. "That's all I need for now. I'll be in touch." Shikamaru went to stand and walk her to the door.

"I can show myself out. Thank you… Shikamaru." She stood and headed out the door.

As the door clicked behind her, Shikamaru pulled out a new cigarette, briefly pausing to stare at his lighter. "Ugh, what a drag."

Tailing Sasuke had been easy enough. The information Sakura had provided was right on the money, and Shikamaru found himself trailing him to The Sound after he had finished his work at the DA's office. He sat in his car and waited.

The sun had sunk below the horizon and night creeped in, much like the clientele that made their way into the club. It looked unremarkable from the outside, and the dim streetlights did it no favors. The owners had tried to make it upscale. Perhaps they were still trying, but it was just another grime covered building to Shikamaru. For the city hidden in the leaves, hardly a tree was in sight. 'Konoha should be known as the city hidden in the dirt.' he mused.

Shikamaru was acquainted with the club. He remembered the seedy customers that frequented it, from the case Asuma had been working. The one he had stepped in to help his partner with. The case that left Asuma in a pool of blood at his feet... He wanted a drink. No, he needed a drink. 'Lucky me, I know just the place to get one.' He buttoned his shirt, tightened his tie, and fixed his hair. Now he didn't look like a complete bum, but still not so nice he'd stand out. Stepping out of his car and pulling on his suit jacket, he ventured to the darkened entrance.

Author's Note: Let me know what you think! This will be my first time writing a longer multi-chapter story. :)