Chapter Eighteen
The Gala
"Excuse me?" Sasuke stared at Kakashi like he had lost his mind. He glanced at Sakura and saw that she looked extremely puzzled and he also noticed that Itachi had stiffened.
"Now hear me out." Kakashi raised his hands in a gesture of mock surrender. "It's nothing dangerous. That charity gala I said Orochimaru was going to? It's in benefit of the hospital."
"Ah." Sakura murmured. "Of course, I forgot that it was coming up."
"You know what he's talking about?" Sasuke asked.
Sakura nodded. "Yeah, it's an annual thing. The hospital holds a dinner and gala and people make donations in order to get tickets. I've been once. There's a pair of tickets that are raffled off to staff members and I won one year."
Sasuke turned to Kakashi again. "So what, you're hoping that Sakura will win again so you can have the tickets?"
"Nope." Kakashi shook his head. "I've sorted everything out. I'm sure Sakura is familiar with Tsunade."
She nodded. "My doctor."
"Yes. And she is also on the board of directors. She just so happened to have two tickets to spare."
"You told her what we suspected?" Sasuke scoffed.
"No, that would be foolish." Sasuke rolled his eyes but Kakashi continued regardless. "I merely said that it would be beneficial to an unnamed case if we could have two operatives at the gala. She was actually quite helpful."
"And you need Sakura because..?"
"She's one of the operatives." Kakashi said simply.
"What!" Sasuke exploded.
"She works at the hospital, people won't really give it a second glance if she's there. It's not like I'm going to send her in alone, Sasuke. You will accompany her as her date and see if you can't discover something about Orochimaru."
Sasuke shook his head and Kakashi cut over him. "I'm not asking that she go in and tackle the man to the ground, Sasuke. It's just convenient. Think of the looks you and Naruto would get walking around and not knowing anyone there."
Kakashi looked over at Sakura who was worrying her lip between her teeth. "Sakura, I promise, all I need you to do is stay by Sasuke's side and give him an excuse to be there. I don't want Orochimaru to know we are suspecting him of anything in the slightest – he's as slippery as a snake and he'd probably rush straight back to Oto before we have a chance to find anything."
Sakura tugged on the end of a piece of hair for a moment before nodding. "Okay, I can do that."
"You don't have to, Sakura." Itachi spoke quietly from her side and she smiled.
"I know. But hey, if going to swanky party means solving a case then I guess someone has to do the hard work." She joked and Kakashi chuckled.
"Atta girl." He turned to Sasuke. "I will have a car pick you up on Saturday night and fit you and Sakura with wires." Sasuke merely glared at the silver-haired man and said nothing.
"Sasuke?"
"Hm?"
"I know I keep saying it but I really do have to go back to my apartment."
Sasuke stared at her from his seat at the table. She was washing up some dishes (ignoring his demands that she leave them) and he could only see her back.
"Do you not like it here?"
He saw her stiffen and she let the plate in her hand drop back in to the soapy water with a splash. Turning around, she wiper her hand on the tea towel she had left on the counter and frowned. "What a stupid question!" She sighed. "I love it here."
"Then why is it so important you go back to your place?"
Sakura leaned her arms on the island worktop and shrugged. "I'm paying rent and I'm never there but more than that..." Here she hesitated. "This is going to sound stupid but I'm a romantic at heart Sasuke." He hadn't been expecting that but kept quiet so she could finish. "I have so much fun spending time with you and Itachi... especially you. I wouldn't change a thing about us but I sort of feel we're doing things out of order. I mean most of the time since our first date I've spent living with you."
"To protect you." Sasuke noted.
"Yes," Sakura agreed. "And I'm glad you did because I felt so scared in that flat on my own. I'm feeling better now though and I sort of want to do things right."
"Right?" Sasuke echoed.
She laughed. "Not that you haven't been the perfect gentleman, Sasuke but when I was a teenager I'd imagine a boy coming to pick me up from my house and take me out on a date. I had never thought never imagined living with him after the first date." She paused and tilted her head to the side. "You make me very happy, but I think we have missed big chunks of normal parts of the relationship. I mean I'm amazed we aren't at each other's throats, not having our own space."
"Normal is overrated," Sasuke replied but sighed anyway. "Okay, I can see your point. I'm not holding you prisoner her so of course you can leave. Just as long as you know that you're free here any time."
"The same goes for you." Sakura smiled and straightened up from her position on the counter. "Metsuki is going to miss having a garden though."
Sasuke pressed the doorbell and listened to the chime within Sakura's apartment. She had moved out just earlier that week, hurrying to gather her things and make plans, insistent that Sasuke pick her up for the gala as if it was a real date.
The door opened and revealed a smirking Ino. She gestured for him to enter and he eyed her warily as he passed. It had been odd living without her the past few days but he understood her stance on the issue.
He made his way in to the living room and came to an abrupt stop. Sakura was waiting for him, stood in the middle of the room, shifting nervously from foot to foot, waiting for him to speak.
She was wearing an ivory, floor length gown, the silk of the dress clinging to her form seductively and yet not provocatively.
Ino appeared at Sasuke's shoulder and giggled. "Give us a twirl, Sakura."
Sakura flushed and grumbled under her breath but did as she was told. She turned on the spot and Sasuke's fingers found their way in to his collar unbidden, tugging at the fabric. The conservative slash neckline of the dress fell away to nothing at the back, the delicate silk of the dress falling to a graceful dip low on Sakura's back – daringly low. Her skin was all peaches and cream against the pale fabric, and Sasuke had the urge to let his finger run across her spine.
Sasuke didn't realise he was still staring like an idiot until Ino jabbed him in the side with her elbow.
"Oomph... er I mean you look... wow." Sasuke flinched inwardly – his father and brother would have hung their heads in shame at his pathetic attempts at impressing a woman – but Sakura seemed to be very pleased.
Her lips lifted up in to a smile and the blush on her cheeks darkened. "Thank you."
Sasuke spotted Metsuki sat across the room, his tail wagging furiously, and yet he made no move to approach Sasuke.
"Why is he sat there?"
Ino snorted. "Please, black dog hairs on that dress?"
Sakura wrinkled her nose. "Ino has ordered him to stay put... she terrifies both small children and animals."
"It's a gift," Ino shrugged, taking no offense. "Now come on Cinderella, time for the ball."
"Ino, we're going to help Sasuke in his investigation."
"Doesn't mean you can't have fun doing it." She picked up a gold clutch from the coffee table and pressed it in to Sakura's hand.
"Is Metsuki not coming?" Sasuke looked at the dog who suddenly looked very sorry for himself.
"No," Sakura shook her head and picked up her retractable cane, slipping it neatly in to her bag. "We thought a dog would bring a bit too much attention to you and you need to be able to observe, and not be the one being stared at.
"Go on," Ino shooed, took Sakura's hand and placed it on Sasuke's elbow. "Before you turn in to a pumpkin."
Sasuke held Sakura's hand in the crook of his arm and led her downstairs. When they stepped outside on to the pavement, he noticed a few heads turned to them. He narrowed his eyes at the men who were observing the pinkettte with blatant curiosity.
Sasuke guided them over to where the car was parked a short distance away. He opened the back door and helped Sakura in, letting his fingertips drift across her bare back as she crawled in to the car. He slid in after her and shut the door, blocking the prying eyes on the street. The officer in the front passenger seat turned around and handed Sasuke a small black box. He flipped open the lid and saw a tiny, circular microphone nestled inside.
"I need to put this wire on you, okay?" Sasuke asked Sakura. She nodded and shifted in her seat so she faced him more. Sasuke slipped a finger under the strap of Sakura's dress, lifting it up slightly and placing the mike underneath, his knuckle brushing against soft skin. He used his free hand to take a small strip of tape from his fellow officer, securing the device to the fabric.
The officer in the front collected a small computer from the glove compartment and opened a programme. "Are we all set?" He asked.
"I'm ready." Sakura confirmed.
"Hn."
"Good," the man nodded. "Your mikes are working." He nodded to the driver and the car pulled smoothly away from the curb, heading towards City Hall, where their mission would take place.
"It was good of Tsunade to agree to this." Sasuke passed Sakura a glass of champagne. He too had one in his hand, for appearance sake only, he wanted a clear head if her was going to make the most of this chance.
"Yes, she is a wonderful person... quite formidable though."
The pair stood off to the side of the room, looking like any other pair of casually talking guests. Many of the women around the room were sending appreciative glances towards the sight of the Uchiha in a black tuxedo, but Sasuke's eyes were firmly fixed on Sakura.
He tore his eyes away from her and scanned the crowd. After a few seconds searching he saw a familiar head of jet black hair. Orochimaru was stood on the other side of the room and Sasuke could not make him out clearly from the distance he stood at.
He took Sakura's champagne glass and placed both it and his own full glass on the tray of a passing waiter.
"I see him. Come on, let's dance."
Taking Sakura in his arms he led them expertly through the crowd under the guise of the dance. As they drew nearer to Orochimaru he could see that he was conversing with another man.
"Who's that talking to Orochimaru?" Sasuke looked past Sakura, his eyes discreetly trained on the ex-cop across the room.
"Hmm?" Sakura was a little distracted as she and Sasuke swayed from side to side to the music.
"Does he work at the hospital?" Sasuke continued. "It doesn't look like he has a hospital name tag on... white hair, glasses?"
Sakura blinked up at him and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, right. Sorry." Sasuke mumbled.
"Why don't you find Tsunade and ask her?" Sakura suggested.
"Good idea I'll – wait! They're moving." Sasuke growled.
"So follow them."
"I don't want Orochimaru to know I'm watching him, remember? I have no reason to approach him."
Sakura thought for a moment and then rolled her eyes. "Where are they headed?"
Sasuke kept his eyes on the passageway that the man had disappeared down. "The hallway directly behind you."
"Okay, one damsel in distress coming up."
"What?" Sasuke frowned when Sakura slipped out of his arms, withdrawing her cane from her purse as she did so. "Sakura wait!"
The girl's smaller body slipped through the crowd easier than Sasuke's could and soon she was at the hallway Sasuke had had seen Orochimaru disappear down. Sakura followed in after them and Sasuke frowned, what was she thinking?"
Sakura moved with light footsteps down the corridor, pausing when she heard a familiar voice. She let her left hand drift out and paused when her fingertips felt the wall end. Tucking herself in to the corner that she had found, she listened to Orochimaru speak from the next hallway.
"I wanted no loose ends. The business opportunity I have been working on for years and I might lose it all because of your stupidity." There was a brief pause before he continued. "No! I don't want to hear another word out of your mouth. Sort this out... or I will."
Sakura listened as Orochimaru's footsteps moved away – thankfully in the opposite direction to her – and frowned, what was that about?
Before she had chance to puzzle on it further, she realised that whoever else had been in the corridor was now moving towards her. Thinking quickly, Sakura stepped out from her hiding spot and rounded the corner too. She collided with a body larger than hers, though Sakura could tell he was smaller than Sasuke.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" She held up her cane in explanation. Maybe she should have become an actress...
She heard annoyed sigh escape the man in front of her.
"Sakura." She smiled inwardly as Sasuke arrived just on time.
"Oh hi. Sorry I got a little lost on my way back from the bathroom. Bumped right in to this man here."
"I told you I would have escorted you." Sakura changed her mind – Sasuke was a much better actor.
Sasuke kept his face blank as he slipped an arm around Sakura's waist, his gaze fixed on the white haired man in front of him. The man's glasses flashed as he adjusted them on his nose and Sasuke stared at him – why did he look so familiar?
"Sasuke Uchiha?"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Have we met?
"No, sorry. It's just that Orochimaru speaks of you quite often. I'm Kabuto Yakushi"
Sasuke supressed a shudder but extended his hand politely to the man. "Oh, you know Orochimaru?" He hoped his voice sounded appropriately disinterested.
"He's an old family friend." Sasuke very much doubted it but let Kabuto continue. "So what is KPD doing here?"
Sasuke shrugged. "It's just me I'm afraid. I'm Sakura's plus one." Sasuke glanced down at Sakura and frowned when he saw she had gone as white as a sheet.
"Oh, do you work at the hospital, Sakura?"
Sakura nodded jerkily and Sasuke stepped in, not sure why she was panicking.
"She works with blind and partially-sighted children in the outpatients department."
"How... rewarding." Kabuto said, not sounding interested in the least. "I myself used work in microbiology research. Quite boring really, developing vaccines and new medication." Sasuke filed that piece of information away but doubted it would lead to much – if this was dealing in any of Orochimaru's shadier projects, Sasuke doubted the man would be stupid enough to go blabbing about anything incriminating.
"Used to? It sounds as though it would be fascinating work."
"A career change I suppose. I work as Orochimaru's… personal aide you could say."
"Fascinating." There was no emotion in Sasuke's voice and Kabuto seemed to recognise the subtle dismissal.
"Well, I ha best get back to the party. Lots more benefactors to chat with. Nice to meet you both."
Sasuke nodded at the man and he watched him turn the corner back towards the ballroom. Turning to Sakura, he grasped her shoulders gently. "What's wrong?"
"That voice..."
Sasuke gripped Sakura's elbow tightly and led her across the dance floor and towards the exit. He ignored the curious looks from the other guests as he dragged Sakura along , his wide and angry strides too long for her to keep up with and so she was forced in to an odd little run.
A man near nearest to the exit opened put out an arm as Sasuke went to pass him.
"Are you okay, Sakura?" The concern in his voice was clear to hear.
"She's fine." Sasuke spat, impatiently.
The man glared at Sasuke. "I wasn't asking you."
Sakura knew the voice – he was one of the consultant ophthalmologists and specialised in paediatrics. He was a kind man and always made time to speak to Sakura when he was in the ward.
"I'm fine Doctor Tanaka." She spoke, cursing the shakiness of her voice.
Tanaka gave Sasuke another distrustful look. "You may want to loosen your grip there."
Sasuke's eyes glanced down at the hand on Sakura's arm and he saw how tightly he was holding her. He let go and saw that his hand left behind white imprints of his finger which quickly flooded with colour. He moved to grasp Sakura's hand instead and sidestepped the doctor.
"Come on." He muttered.
Tanaka opened his mouth to say something more but Sasuke had always pushed through the doors to the ballroom and away from the party before he had a chance.
He led Sakura to the car where his fellow officers sat, still recording everything and told Sakura to wait, quickly peeling her microphone from under the strap of her dress. He turned to the car and opened the driver side door and jerked his head. "Out."
"What?" The officers inside blinked up at him.
"You heard me. We've got enough, you two can call it a night."
Sasuke reached under his collar and detached his own mike, pressing both devices in to the man's hand.
"What about the car? How are we going to get back to the station?" The driver complained.
Sasuke reached in to the car and pulled out the radio handset. "I need a pick up for two officers outside City Hall." Once the dispatcher confirmed the request, Sasuke threw the radio back in the car. "Sorted."
He ignored the protests from the two men and took Sakura by the elbow, taking her to the passenger side door and helping her in. Without so much as a second glance back at his co-workers he hopped behind the wheel and pulled out of the car park, tyres screeching against the tarmac.
Sakura's words were still ringing in his ears, filling him with equal amounts of anger and fear.
'That voice… he was the one off the phone call. We were stood talking to a murderer.'
Sakura was nervous – not of Sasuke but of his silence. She knew he was angry with her actions but she didn't know what the fall out of it would be. He remained silent the whole drive and Sakura could hear the occasional sigh of frustration escape him.
From the length of time it took them to get to their destination, Sakura assumed that Sasuke had decided to return them to his house. She remained seated even as he parked the car and got out, not moving herself until he opened her door and took her hand once more.
They were up the front steps and in the front door before Sasuke exploded.
"What were you thinking!?" Sakura didn't even flinch at his raised voice. "You were specifically told not to move from my side and yet you still run off."
Sakura narrowed her eyes as her cheeks burned in anger. "Don't yell at me like that, I am not a child!"
"No." Sasuke agreed, his voice still loud and frustrated. "Even a child would not have the sheer stupidity to run after someone we expected of being a murderer."
"I thought you would be happy. Have I not confirmed that that Kabuto man was the voice on the phone call?"
Sasuke knew that she had potentially provided them with their biggest break in the case so far. They would have valid reason to bring Kabuto in for a voice sample to compare to what they already had on file. He knew this, but his emotions, for once, got the better of him. "And what if Orochimaru had spotted you there? Hell, you're lucky that Kabuto seemed to buy your bathroom excuse. They've already murdered at least two people, you think they would have let you go if they thought they'd been compromised?
"Damn it, what if Kabuto goes to Orochimaru and tells him we were around the corner?"
Sakura pursed her lips, not liking how she was being reprimanded and shouted back. ""Maybe they will do you a favour and get rid of me huh? This big annoyance in your life."
Sakura suddenly found herself pressed against the front door, Sasuke's mouth covering hers. She gasped but did not struggle. Sasuke kissed her thoroughly and she was left breathless as he pulled away.
"Don't ever say something like that ." He growled. "You aren't allowed to leave me alone."
He captured her lips again, and Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck, murmuring her agreement. Their embrace progressed and the heat built between them, and soon Sakura found her legs wrapped around Sasuke's waist as he pulled away from the door. His hands wandered along the bare skin of her back left on display by her dress and down to hold her rear as he approached the stairs.
Sakura's hands slipped down and into the neck of his shirt, and Sasuke growled as her fingers found the bare skin of his shoulders. He pressed her against the wall and Sakura's hands swept out to the side, knocking some picture frames clean off the wall. Neither of them paid it any mind.
"Sakura." Sasuke said lowly, pulling his head back a little. He knew they had recently talked about doing things more traditionally… but he could not deny that this felt right. "Are you sure?"
Sakura sent him a wicked smiled and entangled her fingers in his hair. "You talk too much." She smashed her mouth back on to Sasuke's who wasted no time in moving them both up the stairs and to his room.
Sasuke woke the next morning feeling more relaxed than he had felt in a long time. He blinked his eyes, feeling the sleep leave his body. In its place it left a slight tiredness – but what a pleasant sort of tiredness it was. He looked down at the warm body curled up against his side and brushed his knuckles against the swell of Sakura's cheek.
She stirred slightly at the touch, her bright green eyes fluttering open slowly. She looked confused for a moment before she raised her hand up to Sasuke's and realised where she was.
"Hi." She whispered, the shyness clear in her voice.
"Morning." Sasuke returned. "How are you feeling?" Sasuke knew that she must be feeling the aftereffects of their night but she just smiled dreamily.
"Perfect."
Sasuke stroked her cheek again. "You want to get up and have breakfast?" He glanced at the clock over Sakura's shoulder. "Or lunch."
Sakura laughed softly. "I'm tempted to stay here." The sound of a stomach rumbling cut her off. "But I wouldn't want you to starve."
Sasuke couldn't help the smile that lifted his lips, he felt lighter than he had in a long time. He untangled himself from Sakura and climbed out of the bed. He glanced over to see that Sakura was feeling around on the floor for her dress when her fingers found his shirt discarded from the night before. She shrugged and pulled that on instead and Sasuke felt a surge of masculine pride as he saw her small form wrapped in his button up.
He grabbed a fresh pair of boxers from his drawer and slipped them on before taking Sakura's hand and leading her down the stairs. He helped her bypass the smashed pictures they had left in their wake the night before and in to the kitchen.
He froze in the doorway however when he saw his brother at the kitchen table, calmly drinking a cup of tea. Worse still was that several of Itachi's friends were there with him and they all had matching grins. He wanted to pinch himself, hoping that it was just a horrible dream that he was seeing Kisame, Deidara and Sasori sat in his kitchen.
"Welcome to the man club, Sasu-kins." One of them crowed, causing Sakura to jump in surprise.
"Shut up Kisame." Sasuke snapped walking the rest of the way in to the kitchen with a now-reluctant Sakura being dragged behind.
"What are you doing here? He asked his brother. "I thought you were moving in to your house this weekend?"
Itachi shrugged. "It turned out that there was a problem with the water supplier. The others had already arrived to help me move things in and so I had to give them somewhere to stay until the water came back on."
"In my house?!" Sasuke snapped.
"It was closest." Itachi replied simply.
"And I'm glad we did, yeah!" Deidara piped up suddenly. "Man what a show!"
Sakura made an odd noise between a squeak and a whimper and pushed herself behind Sasuke slightly.
"What?" Sasuke said darkly.
"We were in the living room." Sasori supplied, looking the most disinterested after Itachi. "We heard you when you came in."
"And when you went upstairs." Kisame wiggled his eyebrows. "They make these houses with thin walls nowadays don't they?"
Sasuke felt Sakura press her head in between his shoulder blades and could feel his own ears burning in embarrassment. "Come on" Sasuke muttered to Sakura. "We'll go out for food."
He turned around to guide her back upstairs and Deidara let out a low whistle.
"Wow, you look like you lost a fight with a tiger, Sasu-kins."
Sasuke shook his head in exasperation and continued on his way. " Nice to meet you Sakura!" Kisame called before he and Deidara collapsed in to laughter.
Sakura threw herself on to the bed when they entered his room again, smothering her face n a pillow. "How embarrassing. I'm never leaving this room again."
"I wouldn't complain." Sasuke offered, trying to diffuse the situation. Sakura's shoulders shook and Sasuke frowned. "Sakura?" She rolled over and he could see she was laughing.
"What a ridiculous situation! I don't know what's worse, that complete strangers heard us or your brother."
Sasuke sat next to her. "You're lucky they are strangers to you – I wish I could go back to a time when they were"
"They're... very spirited."
"If you want to be polite about it." Sasuke stared down at her and his gaze drifted to her arm, glad to see that there were no bruises there. "I'm sorry about being so angry last night. I didn't hurt you did I?"
Sakura shook her head. "No. I'm sorry about running off, I didn't mean to make you worry."
"You were right about yesterday. You heard Orochimaru implicate himself. It might not be solid without anyone else to verify it was him around that corner, but if we can match Kabuto's voice to the tapes we'll have him."
"Sounds like you're making progress on all fronts." Sakura smiled slyly, her hand running up his side.
"Hn. I'll call it in to Kakashi and give him an update. I suspect he'll want me to go in later for a full debrief." Sakura cocked an eyebrow at his choice of words. "Behave." He said lightly and Sakura shrugged, an innocent look on her face.
"What? I'm just waiting for you to take me to breakfast." Sasuke looked at her, hair splayed out as she lay on his bed and had a better idea. "I've changed my mind – I'm kicking my brother and those freeloaders out and we're going to continue our... discussion from last night."
Sakura laughed loudly. "Is that what it's called nowadays? Well okay then, Officer Uchiha. I look forward to discussing many things with you."
Once Sasuke had successfully gotten rid of his brother and company, he made a phone call to Kakashi. The man sounded very pleased by what Sasuke reported.
"If this leads to an arrest, I'll give you a raise... actually I'll give it to Sakura. I'm surprised you waited until now to all me."
Sasuke snorted. "I sent the tapes back to KPD last night. I wouldn't have expected you to pick your phone up that late on a weekend at any rate. Besides, I was busy."
"Oh really?" Kakashi's voice was amused. "Well in that case I'll forgo the raise with a clean conscience – looks like you already got your reward."
Sasuke disconnected the call soon after, muttering that he was surrounded by perverts. He grabbed some fruit and bottled water from the fridge before heading back upstairs. He had no doubt that Kakashi wasn't already passing the news around the KPD.
Ah I loved writing this chapter for obvious reasons.
Thank you all for all your feedback on the last chapter, keep it coming you beautiful people!