So we have Genma joining the team.
I have the next 5/6 chapters already outlined (And no, I'm not even close to the last chapter)
It is NaNoWriMo and I'm using it to write and write on my two fic. You can expect the next update within a week.
So now I'm off killing plotbunnies that distract me from this fic. Thanks to them I have another already in the pipeline for next month. A Christmas fic with Sakura and Kakashi. A romance/ suspense. I'm excited about it but won't be writing it until the end of the month.
Anyway, enjoy this chapter. I hope you all like it. If you spot some grave errors, please shout out! Thank you :)
Cherry blossoms fall,
Whispers of a crime untold,
Petals hide the truth.
Shortly after the nurse's call, two security personnel arrived on the scene. Sakura wasted no time and quickly briefed them on the situation. "I need all the security footage from last night and today. If Ami is being difficult, just send her to me. Also, check for any unauthorized entries," she directed Ginjiro before turning to the other guard. "Youta, can you inform the morgue we have a body up here? They'll know what to do."
Once the two men left, Sakura slumped back into her chair, overwhelmed by a tidal wave of exhaustion that left her feeling utterly drained. What a day it had been. She leaned back, closing her eyes as she contemplated the long evening ahead. A weary sigh escaped her lips. Glancing at the clock, she noted it was already seven o'clock.
She tried to refocus her thoughts on the new tasks at hand and the upcoming autopsy, but her mind kept drifting back to the unsettling scene inside her office. It was one of the two places in the village that she cherished, the other being her apartment. Now, the missing guard had been in her office. She couldn't help but wonder if she should have taken Ami's unease more seriously, but she had been preoccupied. And now, he was sitting in her office. Based on what she had observed, she couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that it might end up like Yukio's case.
Sakura felt the muscles in her shoulders tighten as she contemplated the possibility. If it were the same, then it likely meant the same killer was at play. Two deaths in two days, meticulously planned and executed without a trace or witnesses. The realization weighed heavily on her, casting a shadow of apprehension over her already weary mind.
Slowly, Sakura opened her eyes, the realization hitting her like a chilling breeze. "This isn't the work of an amateur," she whispered to herself. The magnitude of the situation washed over her. It was evident that an inexperienced killer couldn't have set up such a complicated crime from the get-go. There was no learning curve; it was as if they had already mastered the art of murder.
"Excuse me, Doctor Haruno, did you say something?" The nurse's voice interrupted Sakura's thoughts. She had momentarily forgotten the nurse's presence and turned her attention to the older woman, who stood by the coffee machine, pouring two mugs full of the dark brew.
"No, I'm sorry. I was just talking to myself," Sakura replied, declining the offer of sugar and milk. She then remembered that the nurse had also witnessed the gruesome scene inside her office.
"How are you holding up?" Sakura asked, genuinely concerned for the nurse and feeling slightly guilty for not having asked her sooner. She made a mental note to discuss her suspicions with Kakashi later.
"Shocked, startled, but all things considered, I'm holding up," the nurse confessed as she passed a mug to Sakura. Drawing a chair closer, she settled in. "I do feel a deep sadness and sorrow for Daichi, but I'm not as profoundly affected by death as I once was," she continued, her voice tinged with a mixture of resignation and understanding. "It's not that I'm heartless, but I've been witness to too much tragedy. Nonetheless, I pray that the person responsible is swiftly brought to justice and faces the consequences they deserve."
Sakura nodded, her understanding palpable. She, too, had grown accustomed to dealing with death, both as a ninja and a doctor. "You knew Daichi?" she inquired.
"Yes, we talked sometimes when I had night shifts," the nurse replied. "His poor mother," she added, shaking her head with a mixture of sympathy and sorrow. "She's so far into her dementia that she doesn't recognize Daichi most days, and I heard she has pneumonia and isn't doing well at the moment."
"Oh, that's heartbreaking," Sakura said, feeling a sense of helplessness in the face of such sadness.
The pager beeped loudly, and the nurse set her mug down before vanishing from the room in the blink of an eye. Slowly, Sakura sipped her coffee, the rich aroma bringing back memories of her conversation with Genma the day before. The idea of summoning a cup of coffee during a mission brought a smile to her face. She might as well become addicted to the black liquid.
Savoring the last drops of her coffee, Sakura drained the mug and stood up. Taking the nurse's mug, she walked to the sink and rinsed both mugs before placing them upside down to dry. Her thoughts circled back to Genma. She had seen him quite often in the past few days, she mused as she stepped out of the nurses' station.
Before she could continue her train of thought, the elevator doors slid open, and Kakashi stepped out, followed by an agitated Naruto.
"Sakura!" Naruto almost shouted in worry.
"Hospital, Naruto," Kakashi called after the blonde, who, of course, didn't listen.
Before Sakura could say anything, Naruto pulled her into a tight hug. "You okay?" he asked, his face buried in her hair.
"I'm fine, Naruto, really. You can let go." Naruto pulled back reluctantly but continued to scrutinize her.
"You seem pale," concern etched on his face. Although he meant well, Sakura was beginning to grow irritated by it.
"Just tired," Sakura said tersely. Kakashi walked closer, took a quick glance at her, and then proceeded to her office.
Sakura turned and followed him. "I haven't been inside," she explained before he could inquire. "The blinds were closed, and I never close them. I touched the light switch and the door only. When I saw what was inside, I locked the door immediately, had security called, and then contacted you."
They stopped in front of her office. Sakura took a deep breath and retrieved the keys from her pocket, handing them to Kakashi, who unlocked the door.
The moment the door swung open, the air was filled with the overpowering scent of bleach, followed by the fragrance of flowers and the pungent odor of dried blood. Sakura's nose wrinkled in response. She hadn't noticed it earlier, being shocked by the unexpected sight, but the stench hung heavy in the office. The room had been sealed all day in the high temperatures, which certainly didn't help. Sakura couldn't help but wonder if Kakashi's mask also served as an odor filter since he didn't seem to be bothered by the smell. Naruto, on the other hand, gagged slightly behind her before managing to compose himself.
Naruto, now regaining his composure, pulled out the camera and began taking photos of the crime scene as Kakashi moved about the room. He pointed out certain details to Naruto, instructing him on what to photograph, and providing a meticulous account of the scene.
Sakura, meanwhile, felt a rising sense of exhaustion and irritation. She had already dealt with a long day, the missing supplies and medication, the unsettling discovery in her office, and the nurse's comments about Daichi's mother. The heavy scent of blood and bleach, coupled with the stifling heat of the sealed room, made her head spin. She tried to focus on Kakashi's instructions but found it increasingly challenging.
Sakura had walked into her office after Naruto had taken most of the photos of the body, stopping near her desk. She looked around and saw that everything was as she had left it, except for the dead body in her chair.
"I don't remember that," Sakura remarked, her eye fixated on a small vase in the middle of her desk with a single twig bearing cherry blossoms. Kakashi nodded, and Naruto promptly bagged the item before Sakura could examine it more closely.
"Sakura," Kakashi said to get her attention. The stench in the room was still assaulting her senses. She could see Kakashi hesitating to say something, then decided against it, leading her out of her office, across the corridor, and into an empty room opposite her office.
"Sit," he commanded.
"I'm not a child," Sakura snapped, but she complied, settling into the soft chair while Kakashi perched on the edge of the bed. "I don't like this, Kakashi," she began. Kakashi hummed in encouragement for her to continue. "Two deaths in two days. You've seen the cut on his throat, right? It looked the same as Yukio's." Her voice grew quieter, almost a whisper. "What if it is the same killer?"
"The chances are high," Kakashi confirmed her growing suspicion, though it only added to her unease.
"Two people, both connected to the hospital, killed in the same manner, no witnesses, and probably no clues left this time either," she said, growing more agitated with every word. "What kind of killer does this? How can he kill like this? How can he not leave any trace behind, not a witness, not even a strand of hair, nothing." She took a deep breath. "I couldn't see any indication that he fought back. How?"
She slumped in her chair, weighed down by the enormity of the situation.
Kakashi's response was calm but firm, "We'll get our answers, Sakura. We just need to do our job and have a bit of patience." It didn't help to treasure her at all.
"Patience? What if he kills again tomorrow or even tonight?" Dread washed over her as the realization sank in. Who would be next? Another person from the hospital? The elder nurse she had just shared coffee with? Sakura could feel despair welling up within her.
"This can't be the work of a beginner. How many bodies are there and how many will turn up?"
Kakashi surveyed Sakura's office with a thoughtful glance. The aides had already transported the guard's body, Daichi, down to the morgue. Sakura had been insistent on staying to start the autopsy immediately. She had a reputation for that, Kakashi had to admit. Once she began a task, she was fully committed to seeing it through, come hell or high water. Naruto, however, had managed to persuade her to leave and accompany her home. He had pointed out the importance of her being well-rested, emphasizing that overlooking crucial details due to exhaustion wouldn't help in solving the murders and capturing the killer. It hadn't been an easy conversation, and Kakashi was secretly relieved that Sakura hadn't resorted to punching Naruto through the wall, although she seemed close to it. Nonetheless, Naruto's words had struck a chord, and she had left with him.
Kakashi sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. There was little more he could do here for now, so he locked the door. It was what Sakura had said that nagged at him. Two deaths in two days, executed with precision, pointed to someone with experience. Kakashi didn't like that at all. If the killer was experienced, it meant they had killed before. How many deaths could be attributed to them?
Slowly, he made his way through the corridor, pondering and searching for the nurse on duty. He knew the chances of getting useful information were slim, but he couldn't overlook the possibility. Perhaps she had seen or heard something, although he had his doubts. The same went for the patients in the vicinity of Sakura's office. It was unlikely that any of them had noticed anything suspicious. Sakura's office was strategically located, close to the stairs, offering a discreet entry to the floor. Still, Kakashi felt compelled to check, as there was always a chance that someone might have heard or seen something.
Thirty minutes later, Kakashi found himself waiting for the elevator. As expected, the conversations with the nurse and the patients near Sakura's office had yielded no valuable information. One patient was on sleep medication, and the other used earplugs. Kakashi couldn't fault them for it; he, too, despised sleeping in hospitals. The constant beeping of monitoring equipment, the never-ending buzz of lights, and the drone of the air vent were enough to fray anyone's nerves. He made a mental note to remember the earplugs in case he ever had to spend another night in a hospital.
The elevator doors opened, and Kakashi stepped out into the nearly deserted lobby. Visiting hours hadn't ended yet, but most visitors had departed. The receptionist's desk was vacant, with the receptionist either gone temporarily or on a break. Kakashi walked behind the desk and entered a small corridor leading to an office.
Inside the office, one wall was adorned with four screens displaying various entrances to the hospital. In the center of the room, a large desk dominated the space, adorned with an array of smaller monitors, phones, and stacks of paperwork. A slim man with long, tied-back black hair occupied the chair behind the desk, engrossed in nibbling on some cookies and watching a comical video about ducks.
On the left side of the office, there was another desk, and the wall bore a clocking system used by the hospital's administration to ensure employees' proper clock-ins. Kakashi knew from Sakura that this system wasn't for personnel; theirs was located downstairs in the basement, along with the lockers. He had heard stories about the receptionist's unwavering commitment to tracking down incomplete clock-ins.
"Living the high life, I see," Kakashi remarked, silently entering the office, which nearly caused the man with the cookies to jump, spilling his treats across the desk.
"Yo, Kakashi," the man said as he gathered the cookies back into their container and settled back into his chair. "Are you here to give me a heart attack, or perhaps you're interested in a career change to security? The pay is better, you get to be home every night, and there's no chance of getting killed." He grinned mischievously.
Kakashi grimaced behind his mask. "Poor choice of words, Youta. Wasn't it the night guard who was killed?"
The security guard, Youta, leaned back in his chair and shrugged. "Yeah, well, he wasn't a ninja. I told the folks upstairs to hire a ninja, not a civilian, for the job. Even if the nights have always been quiet, and we function as backup."
Kakashi pulled up a chair and took a seat. "I believe Dr. Haruno asked you for the tapes."
"Nah, she asked Ginjiro. He's making his rounds, but I think he left them ready for you here somewhere," Youta replied. Sitting up, he began to sift through the papers and eventually pulled out a stack of CDs with a triumphant yell. "You want to watch them here?" He inquired, handing Kakashi the CDs and gesturing toward a computer in the corner. "Or at home?"
"Thanks, I'll watch them at home," Kakashi responded, taking the CDs Youta held for him and securing them in his pouch. He didn't feel like spending much time here.
"You do what you want. Put some music on if you're going to watch them. There's no sound, and they're generally quite boring," Youta commented, redirecting his attention back to the videos and resuming his cookie-eating session.
Kakashi shook his head and stood up. "Thanks, Youta," he said, then left the office. He had known Youta from his ninja days, and the man's motto had always been "lazy rather than tired." It seemed little had changed.
Kakashi left the hospital and ventured through the quiet streets. The sun had set an hour ago, and most people were already at home. Despite the lingering warmth, the oppressive heat of the day had given way to a more comfortable, gentle warmth and a soft breeze. Kakashi preferred this evening atmosphere to the daytime heat, so he decided to walk home instead of taking to the rooftops. It might have been faster, but something was gnawing at the back of his mind, a matter of pressing urgency—the murders.
Kakashi shoved his hands into his pockets and meandered through the streets, heading toward the busier part of the village, where bars, restaurants, and other establishments awaited. Hunger had set in. His thoughts drifted back to the first murder, that of Yukio, and the unsettling similarities with the most recent victim, Daichi.
As he walked, a few white flower petals drifted into his line of vision from a nearby tree, causing Kakashi to come to an abrupt halt. Petals, pink flower petals, and two individuals connected to the hospital, one of whom was even found in her office. A tight knot formed in his stomach. While he didn't entertain the notion that Sakura was involved in the killings, he couldn't dismiss the ominous coincidence. No, it wasn't a coincidence. Sakura was somehow involved, unintentionally, but involved nonetheless.
Kakashi took a deep breath and continued on his path. His mind raced, attempting to connect the dots, but he had too little information to form a clear picture. The only connection he could make was the modus operandi. It spoke volumes but left many questions unanswered. Kakashi pushed his hands even deeper into his pockets and wished he could go home and delve into his books. Yet, if his suspicion about Sakura's involvement held any merit, he had no time to waste with reading his books.
Genma sat in his usual dimly lit corner of the restaurant, idly twirling his chopsticks between his fingers as he waited for his order. This was his customary spot, his go-to place when he didn't feel like eating alone at home, which happened more often than not. The evening crowd was thinning out, with most families having headed home, leaving behind couples strolling in. Just as it had been for the past few days, Genma's thoughts inevitably drifted to a particular woman.
He gently set his chopsticks back on the table and picked up his cup of sake, taking a sip. His mind involuntarily wandered back to the events of the afternoon. He had found himself standing under that tree before he even realized he had detoured to his home after his shift ended. It had rattled him, and initially, he had intended to leave just as quietly as he arrived. However, something about her distant gaze had drawn him in.
"Yo Genma," Kakashi's voice pulled him from his thoughts about her. He nodded in greeting as Kakashi pulled a chair from under the table and sat down. The gray-haired man let out a sigh as if he were burdened by the weight of the world.
"Rough day?" Genma inquired for the second time that day, eyeing Kakashi closely. He observed as Kakashi ordered some sake and food for himself.
"Just came from the hospital. Another victim there," Kakashi replied, his demeanor somber.
Genma's concern surged. "In the hospital?" His immediate thought raced back to Sakura. She had been performing an autopsy on a murder victim. Had something happened to her?
"Yes, the night guard was murdered and staged in Sakura's office," Kakashi explained, seemingly unaware of Genma's inner turmoil.
Genma exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, earning a curious look from Kakashi. "Staged?" he uttered, surprise coloring his words. He wanted to inquire about Sakura, but he was unsure of how to broach the topic without revealing his thoughts. Genma blinked, questioning his hesitation.
"Did you hear about the woman's body we found in the alley a day earlier?" Kakashi asked. Their food arrived, along with Kakashi's sake, and they fell into silence, waiting until the waiter left again. Genma seized the opportunity to attempt to organize his thoughts. He knew he had to investigate why he couldn't stop thinking about that woman, why he had even sought her out. He tried to ignore the fact that his heart seemed to quicken every time her name was mentioned.
"Yes, I heard about it through the grapevine," Genma replied, taking up his chopsticks and delving into his tempura.
"Did you hear the details?" Kakashi asked, picking up his chopsticks.
Genma, with his mouth full, could only shake his head. He had only heard the basics—a young woman under 25 found dead in an alley, nothing more.
"The perpetrator slit her throat, cleaned her with bleach, and left her in the alley. Sprinkled a substantial amount of cherry blossom petals around and on her," Kakashi explained.
Genma swallowed the tempura and had to chase it down with a glass of water, as it seemed to be stuck in his throat. "Cherry blossoms?" he croaked around the tempura. Kakashi shot him a concerned glance, but Genma shook his head and took a few more sips of water. Eventually, the tempura released its grip on his throat, allowing it to continue its journey to his stomach.
"Yeah, cherry blossoms, a whole lot of them," Kakashi replied, shifting his focus back to his food and eating in silence. Genma's curiosity continued to swell with every bite he took, but he kept eating until both of them had finished their meals.
"So, the night guard? Cherry blossoms as well?" Genma inquired once a waiter had cleared their table. Genma had filled his cup with sake, feigning a normal amount of interest as he watched the clear liquid swirl in the cup. He was eager to hear the rest of the story.
Kakashi nodded slowly and began describing how he had discovered the night guard's body after Sakura's call. Genma's unease grew as Kakashi recounted his suspicions that this wasn't the perpetrator's first murder.
"The level of skill is too high for a beginner," Genma concurred, concern and intrigue mingling in his thoughts.
"That is what we are afraid of too," Kakashi replied, his voice heavy with concern. He fell silent once more, leaving Genma waiting for him to continue.
When he didn't, Genma prodded further, "If it isn't his first time killing, then there are likely other cases with a similar modus operandi."
"Yes, and that means I'll be buried in old cases the whole day tomorrow," Kakashi sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Care to join?" he offered, taking a sip of his sake.
"Sure," Genma agreed, taking some satisfaction in seeing Kakashi choke on his sake. He gazed at his own sake and reluctantly admitted to himself that the primary reason he agreed was his concern for Sakura. He couldn't shake the growing unease and worry that had settled within him after hearing Kakashi's account.
"Say, Kakashi, those cherry blossoms... you think they mean something?" Genma inquired. He watched as Kakashi carefully set his cup on the table and met his gaze.
"Cherry blossoms, Sakura. I believe they are too significant to ignore," Kakashi replied with a serious tone.
Genma leaned back in his chair and promptly drained his cup in a single gulp, the unease, fear, and worry settling heavily in his stomach.
TBC