[detective AU]

The pinkette sat at her desk, she was looking over the file that was given to her by Detective Hatake. She sighed, clearly annoyed by something, and leaned back in her chair. Sakura and bags under her eyes and her hair was a mess. It was only noon and yet she was exhausted. The words of the infamous Uchiha ran through her mind and she continuously read through his files which she had already read over about eight times.

   A knock sounded on her office door and she looked up with a startled expression. The door opened and a blonde haired boy walked in. "Jesus Sakura-chan, it's just me." He reached up and started scratching his neck. "No need to look so startled."

   The pinkette relaxed. " Oh..sorry Naruto.." Sakura relaxed and rubbed her face with her hand.

   Naruto looked at Sakura with a saddened expression. "What's wrong? Did something happen with Sasuk- I mean, Uchiha's case?"

   Sakura looked up at him with a blank stare that sent a shiver down Naruto's spine. "Close the door." Was all she said.

   "Woah.." Naruto muttered after the pinkette told him the whole story of what happened to her the night before. "That really happened to you, Sak?" The blonde scratched the back of his neck, not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry that happened to yo-" Naruto didn't get to finish his sentence.

   Sakura stood up and slammed her hands on her desk. "BUT!" She basically yelled out, causing Naruto to jump back in fright and fall out of his chair. He wiped the hair out of his eyes and stared at the pink haired detective with wide eyes. "I have a theory." She said with a much calmer tone.

   Naruto got up and dusted himself off, "And that theory is?" He asked, carrying out the last word.

   Sakura frowned and started pacing behind her desk. She placed her thumb and pointer finger on her chin. "The Sasuke we knew in high school would never do something as horrendous as what he's doing now. Right?" She asked in a questioning tone as she looked at Naruto.

   Naruto gave her a weird look. "What are you implying?" He asked.

   Without warning, she slammed her hands on her desk like she did before and stared at the blonde. "I'm implying that Sasuke is covering up for someone!"

   Naruto deadpans. "Sak..I don't think-"

   "Just think about it Naruto!" Sakura basically yelled at him. "That's not the Sasuke I remember! That's not the Sasuke that WE remem-!"

   "PEOPLE CHANGE, SAK!" It was finally Naruto's turn to cut the pinkette off. Sakura fell silent and looked at the blond with a hurtful look. She looks at the ground, her eyes shaded over. Sakura clenched her fist as tight as she can.

   Sakura stepped out from around her desk and began walking towards the door, "I'm not ready to give up on Sasuke." She bumped his shoulder as she made it to the door. Sakura placed her hand on the doorknob and gave Naruto a side look. "Unlike you." The pinkette swung the door open. "Come find me when you've come to your senses." She then walked out of the room and practically slammed her door shut.

   Once Sakura had returned home for the day she swung open her door to her apartment. She stormed in and slammed it shut. Sakura kept mumbling things under her breath like "I'll show him." and "He'll regret being an ass to me." She threw the manilla folder with all of Sasuke's files on her coffee table and sat down angrily. Sakura leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, folding her hands together. She laid her forehead on her hands and let out a heavy sigh. She sat there for a few minutes just thinking of all the possibilities of what could have happened to Sasuke. Then..an idea popped into her head. She looked up at the manila folder and opened it quickly, she flipped to the paper file that had his mugshot on it. Her eyes darted across the paper and landed on his background and family history.

   "Bingo.." She muttered.

   Sakura grabbed all of the essential things she needed. She grabbed the manilla folder and put it in a messenger back. She grabbed her gun and her badge then left without another word.

What is her destination? You ask.

Why it was the Uchiha Compound.

The pinkette made her way through her town, hugging the shadows. She avoided street lamps and stayed in alleyways. She didn't want anyone to see a detective heading towards the Uchiha Compound because no one has been there ever since the incident. It felt like forever until she came upon the big gate. She cleared her throat before jumping and grabbing onto a ledge. She hoisted herself up and landing gracefully on the other side. She smiled lightly at her accomplishment then stood up.  She began walking forward.

   "S-sasuke?" She called out, a light stutter accidentally slipping out. "Sasuke, if you're here, we need to talk." She continued.

"And what makes you think I want to talk to you?" A voice called from the shadows.

The detective began to turn in circles, looking around at her surroundings frantically. She stopped and laid her eyes upon a big shadowy area by a house. She composed herself and put her gun in her messenger bag. "I can help you."

    A figure then emerged from the shadows. "I'm listening." He began to walk closer to her. He wore a gray shirt the was open and showed his bare chest, the collar extended to just below his ears. Blue pants that went to just below his knee and black open-toed sandals to compliment that. Over the pants was some kind of heavy material that was a lighter color from his pants, a thick purple rope was wrapped around the heavy material to hold it up.

   Sakura didn't realize she was staring and quickly averted her eyes to look into Sasuke's onyx ones. A light smile spread on to her lips and a light blush touched her cheeks.

"I'm helping you get out of here."

  Sasuke and Sakura didn't have much time to plan. All they did was pack Sasuke's stuff in a duffel bag and they were off. They did just as Sakura did when she was heading towards the Uchiha Compound. They avoided street lamps and stayed in alleyways. The two of them made it to the pinkette's apartment. It was Sakura's idea to go in through the window..that Sasuke just so happened to break last time he visited. The detective led Sasuke to the back of the apartment building and there they saw a ladder. "Perfect," Sakura mumbled. She grabbed onto the ladder and began climbing up, Sasuke following suit.

   "Not at all.." Sasuke said with a sly and smug tone.

   "I won't be afraid to kick you off." Sakura threatened.

   They eventually got to Sakura's floor and lightly jumped onto the metal pathway. "Come on, let's go inside." Sakura went climbing in through her window but stopped herself and turned to face Sasuke. "And be quiet!' She whisper-yelled. Sasuke saluted her without another word and followed her inside. "I have to grab a few things, stay here and I'll be right back."

   Sakura went down a hallway to their right and was gone for about five minutes. She then came back holding a book bag. She threw it at Sasuke and he caught it with ease. "I thought you were grabbing a few things, what's in here?" The ravenette asked.

   "We don't have time to talk about what's in your bag, just essentials to get you by for a little." She said as she was heading towards her door. "Now let's go." She opened the door, and once again they were off. They traveled down to the parking garage which was next to the apartment building. Sakura pulled out her keys and unlocked her car. Sasuke got in the passenger seat and Sakura was in the drivers. She pulled out quickly and headed towards the highway.

   "Where are we going?" Sasuke asked.

   Sakura chuckled, "What's with all the questions?" She asked back.

   "Just curious is all."

   Sakura chuckled again. "I'm pulling off to the side of the highway once we get farther up."

   Sasuke looked at her confused then decided to ignore her for the time being.

   The ravenette was then taken off guard as Sakura said what she was going to do. She pulled off to the side of the highway. "Get out." She said as she walked over to Sasuke's side of the car. He got out, leaving the bag in the car. Sakura held the keys out to him, "Take them." Sasuke looked at her with wide eyes.

   "Sak..-"

   Tears started flowing down Sakura's cheeks. "It's the only way you'll be safe from Naruto and the others."

   Sasuke looked down at his feet in thought for a minute, then he looked back up at Sakura. He gently took the keys and put them in his pocket. Sasuke lightly touched the sides of the pinkette's face, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "Thank you.." He pulled her towards him and, their faces were inches apart. "For everything.." He finished his sentence. Sasuke closed the gap between them and Sakura widened her eyes but then sunk into their kiss. She closed her eyes and placed her hands on his. He pulled away and looked right into her eyes. "I love you." He said that and it made Sakura smile. "I always have.."

   The next thing she knew, Sasuke was driving away in her car. She smiled and waved to him as he left. Little did she know, Sasuke was watching her through the rearview mirror and smiling at her. A genuine smile. Believe it or not, Sasuke hasn't genuinely smiled since he was a child. He knew that she was the only one that could make him smile, and she had finally done it.

   Sakura called Naruto to come pick her up. He asked why she was out there and she told him not to worry about it. They arrived back at headquarters and Sakura had invited Kakashi to her office. A knock sounded on her office door and she looked up. "Come in." She called.

   Kakashi opened the door gently and entered, closing the door behind him. "What is it, Sakura? Have you found any clues on the Uchiha case yet?" He asked.

   Sakura stood up slowly, "That's what I wanted to talk about." Kakashi had a confused look on his face as she said that. "He got away. I want to be put on a new case." She said bluntly.

   "What do you mean he got away?"

   "I saw him drive away, out of town. He is another town's problem now." She then folded her hands in front of her and bowed. "Please put me on a new case!"

   Kakashi gave Sakura's suggestion a thought and placed his chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Fine." He finally said. He went to leave and gave Sakura a quick side glance. "And don't disappoint me."  Kakashi left the room without another word. The pinkette smiled as she gripped the manila folder in her hand.

   The sun was setting below the horizon as Sakura was standing in front of a fireplace. The manila folder still clenched in her hands. She sighed and kept thinking back and wondering if this was the right thing to do. Finally, she looked up from the ground and stared at the fire. She lifted up the manila folder which had the words 'Sasuke Uchiha' written on the front in Kakashi's handwriting. Without hesitation, Sakura dropped it into the fire and watched as the manila folder and its contents burned up into non-existence. Tears streamed down her face as she choked out four words.

"I detective never lies..."

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