Chapter Nineteen

Dinner for Nine?

"Stop it."

"What?" Naruto protested. "I'm not doing anything."

Sasuke counted to ten in his head before allowing himself to look at his friend. "If you don't wipe that infernal grin off your face I'll make sure your chin is permanently pulled up over your forehead."

Naruto waggled his eyebrows. "Because I'm smiling?"

"Because of why you are smirking."

"Aw Sasuke, don't spoil the moment. I would have thought you'd be chilled out a little now... you know, relaxed."

"Naruto I'm warning you."

Naruto held his hands up in surrender and mimed zipping up his mouth. Sasuke turned back to his computer screen, silently praying that the idiot would retreat back to his own office.

"So your brother and his friends huh?"

"That's it!" Sasuke stood fluidly and stalked towards the startled blond.

"Children." Sasuke froze at the lazy voice, turning to see Kakashi leaning in the doorway. "I hope we're playing nice in here."

Sasuke glared at the man – he had been correct in guessing that Kakashi would gossip like an old lady. Sasuke had got to work that morning only to be confronted with knowing looks and snickers. He had been shocked at how juvenile his co-workers were, but then rationalised that most of his gender never seemed to grow up anyway.

"Sasuke please try not to murder Naruto on police property. When you're done I'd like to see you both in my office."

Naruto stared after the silver haired man and gulped visibly. "H-hey Kakashi! Don't leave me here with him."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and walked from the room. "Come on Idiot. You got lucky."

Naruto, back on form brushed a piece of imaginary dirt from his shoulder. "With Naruto Uzumaki it's never luck – it's skill."

"It's delusion."

Their bickering continued until they got to Kakashi's office, the door open inviting them in. "Glad to see you both alive." Kakashi smiled.

"I'm not making any promises." Sasuke griped, moving to a seat opposite Kakashi.

"Anyway," Kakashi continued. "We've listened to the recording you and Sakura got on Saturday and after a discussion with the Superintendent, it has been agreed that we have valid grounds to bring Kabuto in for questioning and to get a voice sample."

"Great." Naruto grinned. "We'll make him squeal like the pig he is."

"Don't go in there overconfident, Naruto." Kakashi warned. "We all know Orochimaru, and I doubt he'd surround himself with people fools who can' keep their mouth shut."

"Sounds like an idea." Sasuke mumbled shooting a glance at Naruto.

"The point," Kakashi continued, smoothly cutting off another argument before it could begin. "Is that I need you two to be prepared to go in there and question him. Know your facts for the case, don't let him wiggle his way out of any gaps. I'll let you two have first crack at him. See what you can get out of him."

Sakura smiled in to her tea as Ino screeched in her ear. The two girls were sat in Sakura's flat, catching up on how the gala had gone. Sakura had returned home early that morning, having spent the whole of Sunday with Sasuke, and had found a dozen impatient messages waiting for her from Ino. She hadn't bothered returning them, knowing that Ino would invite herself over. Sure enough, a very irate blonde was soon knocking on her front door.

They had settled down with a drink and Sakura had filled Ino in about Saturday, skimming over some of the more secretive parts of the case. Ino's attention however was all on the what happened upon their return to Sasuke's.

"Ah I'm so jealous. It sounds like something out of a film. I'm blushing just thinking about it."

Sakura hit her friend with a pillow, laughing along with her. "You would have been blushing in the morning. We found out his brother and friends had been sat in the living room when we got back and had heard everything."

Ino collapsed in to giggles and was inconsolable for a long while. "That's classic. Only you, Sakura."

"Shut up." She groaned good-naturedly.

"Hey it could be worse though," Ino pointed out. "What if Sasuke had forgotten to take off your wires? The entire police force could have been witness to your night of passion."

Sakura buried her face in her hands. "I hadn't even thought of that. I bet Sasuke is getting teased mercilessly."

"Worry about yourself." Ino smirked. "I'll get miles out of this one, Sakura."

They shared a little more gossip, giggling and snorting (in some cases) until the sound of the door interrupted them.

"Expecting company?" Ino queried.

"No." Sakura shook her head.

"I'll get it." Ino offered. "But if it's Sasuke in a white dress uniform come to sweep you off your feet then I'm having the hat."

A pillow soared after Ino, remarkably close to the mark and the blonde laughed, ducking in to the hallway. She pulled open the door and surveyed the man standing on the other side. "Hey Sakura!" She shouted back in to the apartment. "You've got a fine male specimen at your door. Where do you find them?"

The man in question blinked in confusion and Ino smiled brightly at him.

"Ino!" Sakura grumbled, coming out of the living room. "You can't shout things like that."

"Good morning, Sakura."

The pinkette brightened at the voice. "Itachi? What are you doing here? Come in."

Ino let him pass and let her eyes peruse his back side. "So you're Sasuke's brother? " Her eyes drifted down and she nodded. "I can see the resemblance."

Her words were ignored – by Sakura because she was used to her friend's and Itachi because he quite simply did not know how to respond. They moved in to the living room and sat down.

"So what can I do for you, Itachi?"

"I actually came here to apologise for yesterday morning. While my friends take great pleasure in teasing Sasuke, I realise that you became a target too."

"It's fine." Sakura said, waving it off. "Besides I think I we probably owe you the apology… we weren't exactly-"

"Quiet?" Ino offered.

"Considerate." Sakura finished flushing and glowering in her friend's direction. "There's really no reason to apologise."

"Still I feel I should I'm also here for another reason. The water situation in my house has been resolved sooner than I had anticipated, and to celebrate I would like to propose a dinner out somewhere. Some more of my friends are coming to Konoha for the occasion and are understandably interested to meet you. I would also like my brother to be there but I know he would refuse unless you agree to come."

"Okay." Sakura agreed. "I'll see what I can do."

"Don't people usually have housewarming parties in the house?" Ino asked.

Itachi glanced at her. "Not with friends like mine."

Kabuto Yakushi was sat in the interrogation room, hands folded primly on the table top, dark eyes staring directly ahead at the mirror on the wall. Behind that mirror Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi stared back, unseen.

"He's way too calm." Naruto muttered.

"I told you, Orochimaru is always prepared. From what we heard on the tape he already suspected that Kabuto might have caused a problem. I think Yakushi in there will be expecting whatever we throw at him." Kakashi looked at his subordinates. "Guess that means you two will have to be imaginative." Kakashi looked at the technician monitoring the recording equipment and gave him a nod. Kakashi turned back to Sasuke and Naruto. "Okay then, he's all yours."

Sasuke picked up the thin brown folder as he left the room and headed next door with Naruto.

Kabuto looked up as they entered and a pleasant smile crossed his face. "We meet again it would seem Officer Uchiha. It is a shame about the circumstances."

"It is." Sasuke said, taking a seat opposite Kabuto while Naruto leaned against the wall by the door.

"So, Kabuto Yakushi." Sasuke turned his eyes to the first page of the folder in his hands. "Went to Konoha University and graduated with honours in biology. You wrote your thesis on microbiological research methods and gained your doctorate." He looked up at the man. "And then you quit your job in the hospital's research department and became an assistant to Orochimaru. Why the sudden change of heart?"

Kabuto smiled pleasantly. "Are we here to discuss my career choices?"

"Apparently we are." Sasuke nodded. "It seems odd to me that after so much studying you would abandon your work to become a glorified secretary."

Sasuke's jibe appeared to have no effect on the man and he shrugged. "It isn't illegal to change your mind is it? Did you know that the average person will have roughly seven jobs in their lifetime? I think you'll find that I am distinctly below par as it stands."

Sasuke was beginning to dislike the man more with every word he spoke. "Then let's discuss why you are here."

Kabuto nodded. "I was hoping you could tell me, I'm afraid I'm at a loss."

Sasuke withdrew two photographs folder and slid them towards Kabuto. The first a picture of Rikei, slumped over his table at the restaurant. The second, a picture of Shin, found murdered in his bathroom. Kabuto glanced at them before looking at Sasuke. "Familiar?"

Kabuto tapped the first picture. "Considering how much this man's death has been reported in the news lately, it would be impossible not to know."

"And him?" Sasuke placed his hand on the photo of Shin.

"No clue... though the picture is quite grotesque."

Sasuke leaned him chin on his hand. "You know nothing else?"

"Just what has been reported in the news." Sasuke nodded. "What about the Jade Leaf restaurant? Have you ever been?"

Kabuto shook his head. "I am rarely in Konoha and am by no means an expert on its eateries."

"Funny." Sasuke mused. "We have your voice on a phone call placed to the restaurant, taking the place of this man." Here he tapped Shin's photo once more. "The day both of these murders took place.

Kabuto leaned back in his seat. "And how do you know it is my voice?"

Sasuke raised his hand and instantly the room was flooded with sound as Kakashi played the recording from the gala. Kabuto's voice rung out, the brief exchange he had with Sasuke playing.

"How did you..." Kabuto began before he paused and laughed lowly. "I see, your 'date' was apparently a moment of pure serendipity it would seem."

Sasuke kept his face neutral and continued. "Our specialists have compared two recordings and surmise that there is almost no doubt it is you on both."

"But not completely sure?"

"Enough to convict." Naruto piped up

"Ah, I was wondering when the good-cop-bad–cop routine would start. If you are so sure that I have done something wrong, then why have I not been charged?"

"Just running a facial comparison on this." Sasuke withdrew the grainy CCTV image from the restaurant "Things don't seem to be looking good for you, do they Yakushi? It's a pretty big thing to do, even if it is for your boss." Sasuke noted.

"I haven't done anything." Kabuto denied. "And I don't know what you mean by that last sentence."

"We have audio proof of Orochimaru implicating himself."

He played the next sound bite and Kabuto frowned. "That proves nothing, I have been sloppy at work and Orochimaru was reprimanding me. Besides you weren't around when we were speaking so how did you get –" He paused before a look of comprehension spread over his face. "Ah, your date was not just there for the drink and dancing I presume? She is lovely by the way. I would be careful that no one steals her away."

Sasuke's hands slammed on the table before he realised he had stood up.

Naruto moved over to him hastily and placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. His blue eyes narrowed at Kabuto. "I'd be careful about making threats here Kabuto."

"Threats?" The man blinked innocently. "I was merely paying her a compliment."

"Yeah well keep the compliments to yourself. I'd start worrying about how deep in this you really are." Naruto snarled.

Kabuto smiled and folded his hands on his lap. "Somehow I think I'll be just fine."

Sasuke sat on Sakura's sofa, eyes fixed on the floor ahead of him, vacant as he concentrated on the events of the day. They hadn't got much else out of Kabuto during question and eventually they had called it a day. He was mulling over Kabuto's words, the unsettling way he was so calm about everything, when a pair of small hands came to rest on his shoulders.

"You're very quiet. More so than normal." Sakura murmured. "And tense too. Are you okay?" She rubbed the stiff muscles in his back and Sasuke sighed in relief.

"Yes. Just work getting to me." He caught a hold of Sakura's wrist and pulled her gently over the back of the sofa. She laughed as she came to rest splayed across him.

"Your brother came here today."

"Hn?" Sasuke looked down at her.

"Yep. I have some news for you... Itachi is convinced you won't find it good."

"I don't think I want to hear it then." Sasuke grumbled.

"I'll tell you anyway." Sakura said, ignoring his grumpiness. "To celebrate the fact his house is now liveable, he wants us to go to have dinner with him."

"What's so terrible about that?"

"His friends will be there."

"No." Sasuke said simply.

Sakura sighed. "Really, Sasuke? You're all grown men, surely it won't be that bad."

"It will and so I'll cut my loses now – I'm not going."

Sakura wound her arms around his neck and pouted. "Please? I really would like to go."

Sasuke looked down at her, knowing what she was up to and yet curiously powerless to resist. "You're evil."

Sakura laughed, sensing victory. "Feminine wiles."

"You'll see it my way by the end of the night. You'll wish you never met them."

Sakura smiled. "Maybe I will... or maybe I'll just be more convinced than usual that you are a bit of a drama queen."

Sasuke had been called many things in his life but never that and he shook his head. "I'm just being honest." He sighed heavily. "Fine we'll go to this dinner and you can admit I'm right afterwards."

Itachi had picked a lovely restaurant to celebrate in. Sakura was impressed by the pianist serenading the dinners and the delicious smells drifting throughout the room. Itachi's friends however, seemed quite rowdy for such an environment. There was a large group of them and Sakura was trying her best to lay down some distinct memories of each of them so she would remember them in future.

She had already, however briefly met Kisame, Deidara and Sasori, and was running through what she had gleamed of the others in her head. Hidan's voice oozed confidence and he flirted with the waitress shamelessly. Kakuzu did not speak much at all, Sakura had only heard a muttered 'hello' from him so far, and Zetsu was almost as quiet.

"So what made you decide to be a marine biologist?" Sakura asked Kisame politely.

There was a bark of laughter from across the table. "Because only the fish can tolerate him!"

"Shut up Deidara!" Kisame bit back and Sakura blinked. The group seemed to take a lot of joy in arguing.

"So, Itachi." Sakura wasn't yet sure on all of the voices and who they belonged to –such a big group after all – but she thought that might have been Zetsu. "How does it feel to be living out on your own in the big city again?"

While Itachi was drawn in to conversation with his friends, Sakura realised how stiffly Sasuke was sitting beside her. She slipped her hand in to his under the table. "You okay?"

"Yeah," he murmured. "Just keeping my guard up. I'm sure something is going to come hurtling at my head in a moment."

Sakura smiled. "They don't seem that bad."

"They are behaving themselves so far – probably because you're here. Give them time and you'll see what I mean."

In the end, Sakura had to concede that Sasuke was right. By the time the main course had been finished (and a lot more alcohol had been drunk) Itachi's friends were fully out of their 'conserved' shells.

Hidan had a foul mouth, Kisame drank like… well like a fish, and Deidara and Sasori were arguing over what constituted true art.

The others were more quiet, but Sakura thought she had a pretty good grasp on their personalities.

Kakuzu had apparently tallied up who owed what for the bill and was arguing that they shouldn't leave a tip. Zetsu became a completely different person when he had a drink – his previously ultra-polite persona giving way to someone who was apparently itching for a fight.

"I'm telling you that waiter is giving me funny looks." He hissed to Itachi.

Itachi gave a long-suffering sigh. "That may be because the table is obscenely loud." He tried to placate the man.

Zetsu went back to mumbling darkly to himself and Sakura shifted closer to Sasuke.

"Told you."

Sakura poked him in the side. "Hush you. You said you'd get hit by something. I haven't noticed anyone make you a target so far."

"I'm telling you Sasori art is beautiful when it is fleeting!"

"What's that all about? Sakura asked aloud.

Itachi sighed next to her. "Deidara is a performance artist."

"Unemployed." Sasuke muttered.

"And the sculptures he makes are destroyed in public places. He says it is expresses the transient nature of beauty." Itachi continued, ignoring his brother.

"And Sasori doesn't agree?"

"No. He's a tattoo artist – he most definitely appreciates permanence."

"And dolls." Sasuke interjected again.

Sasori apparently caught that remark for Sasuke found himself pinned under an unwavering glare.

"Puppets." The older man said simply. The rest of the group seemed to remember that Sasuke was there and they turned their attention to him gleefully.

"So what's new in your life Sasu-kins?" Deidara grinned at him. "I see you've embraced the occult because only some really freaky stuff could have actually bagged you a woman." He paused and a wicked grin upturned his lips. "Actually, Sasu-kins agrees with me when it comes to art, Sasori. I mean after what we heard the other night, he certainly appreciates fleeting performances."

"Watch it." Sasuke growled.

"Yeah Deidara," Kisame laughed, reaching for another bottle of sake. "Wouldn't want him to arrest you."

"Don't tempt me." The younger Uchiha muttered. "See what I mean?" He turned to Sakura.

"Well I think you brought that on yourself." The girl laughed.

Dinner continued with Sasuke as the target of incessant teasing and , once the bill had been settle, Sasuke was on his feet, Sakura's wrist in his grasp.

"Leaving so soon?" Kisame laughed. "We were just about to hit a club."

"No thank-you." Sasuke ground out. "I've had more than enough stupidity for once night."

Deidara howled with laughter. "Listen to him! It's like Itachi 2.0 but with added grouchiness."

Sasuke groaned lowly. "Come on, Sakura."

"Hey!" Kisame sniggered, gleefully jumping on the renewed torture of their friend's little brother. "Maybe Sakura wants to join us at a club. Surely it's not sleepy time for you kids yet?"

"Oh Kisame," Sakura said with mock-exasperation in her voice. "We have no intention of sleeping."

Sasuke could have kissed Sakura then and there when he saw Kisame and Deidara's jaws drop at her answer. He smirked at the group. "Enjoy your night together gentlemen."

Sasuke led Sakura from the restaurant and waited until they were out of sight of the doors before planting a firm kiss on her lips.

"Sasuke!" Sakura laughed. "What was that for?"

"For shutting those idiots up for once. The look on their faces was worth all the torment they've put me through in the past."

Sakura wound her arms around his neck and smiled up at him coyly. "I'm glad I could be of service. Now how about you take me home so I can make good on my promise?"

Sasuke let out an amused breath. "It would be my pleasure."

Yet again I had this chapter written for the longest time, debating of whether to change anything only to decide to post it as it is. Oh well!

Thank you all for your awesome reviews for the last chapter – I'm glad that you enjoyed the ending as much as I did. A little more Akatsuki in here just to torture Sasuke a little more.

I've been planning the rest of the chapters out and I think another ten chapters or so and then we're finished. I have a few chapters already written and I can't wait for you to read them so I had best get a move on and write the rest.

See you next chapter!