a/n: after much delay and much procrastination, i have finally finished writing and editing! this is the official ending now (after saying the last chapter was the ending originally) so please enjoy for it will be the last time for Code Seventy Seven

- - - Epilogue - - -

Muffled gunfire echoed in Sakura's ears as she discharged her weapon. The sound was mostly drowned out by the bulky headset over her ears, but it in no way completely muted the easily recognizable blast. Each pull of the trigger reverberated through her body, but just as she had trained for years, she realigned her sights and got back on target one pull after another.

She drew another deep, even breath as she fired. As her last round hit the target, she dropped her mag and pulled a second from her weapon's belt before she loaded her gun again and racked it back without skipping a beat. Then gunfire ensued once more.

Casings littered the floor at her feet, their metallic clanking muted under the discharge of her Glock. Her gaze was hard focused ahead, a deep frown marring her features, as that familiar twinge began to sneak up on her. She could almost believe her hand was cramping out of overuse from practicing, but as that sharp shooting pain began to sneak up as well, she knew it wasn't. The discomfort caused her last six rounds to go astray, their mark barely making it onto the target some yards away.

The room fell quiet with her last round spent. Through her eye protection, Sakura glared at the off-centered rounds. She had been doing so well up until that moment. Just like every time before for the past six months.

"You're improving," Kakashi said behind her. He raised his voice loud enough to be heard through her earmuffs.

A long sigh escaped her as she released her magazine. She set both it and her gun on the table separating her from the targets downrange before she bent to retrieve her discarded one from where she had let it drop to the floor. "Not as much as I'd hoped," she returned.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kakashi stop next to her but she didn't turn to him as she pulled a handful of bullets from the cartridge on the table next to her gun. With her gaze focused on the task before her, she began loading her magazine once more as she tried to mask the grimace of annoyance on her face. She hated the fact that her hand was still hindering her after so many months after her surgery and though Kakashi was more aware of it than anyone, she still found it hard to meet his gaze. It was embarrassing and she felt flustered under her own expectations.

"How many rounds have you fired today, Sakura?"

His question drew her attention and she glanced at him curiously before looking at the small stack of empty boxes piled on the bench against the wall. "Five hundred, give or take."

"Exactly," he countered. "It doesn't matter if you've had surgery or not, your hands are going to get tired from all that strain."

Sakura didn't reply and didn't want to agree, but she knew her old trainer was right. Her aim had been better when they first started and her hand hadn't ached nearly as quickly. Her fingers were sore from reloading so many rounds and rather than pushing bullets into both her magazines, she settled for filling one before she pulled the lever to bring the target back in.

"Why did you want to train for so long today anyway?"

With the lack of other occupants in the range, Sakura dropped her earmuffs around her neck before she busied herself with replacing the target. "Just wanted to make sure I was improving."

Kakashi looked at her like he didn't believe her, but he didn't press her for details and she inwardly thanked him.

In all honesty, she had chosen to disappear today because of Itachi. He had been pressing her lately to do something other than rack up training hours. She knew that the city and Mayor was all for officer training, but their budget only went so far and she was running out of time to make a decision. She needed to return to her squad or request a transfer back to patrol, but she wasn't entirely sure if she was ready for that yet. She didn't know what to say to Genma and she didn't want him to think that she was leaving Major Crimes by picking up extra shifts on patrol. She was torn on the issue and had been delaying their conversation by hiding behind training hours. It made her stomach twist uncomfortably just thinking about it.

"You know you have more hours training than almost all of the new rookies combined?" Kakashi asked offhandedly.

She knew he was discretely pressing her. It wasn't the first time he had asked her to join him on shift – although the previous request had been much more direct – but just like always she merely flashed him a quick smile. "Perhaps the rookies need to get more hours then."

"They would if you would stop taking them all."

Sakura flashed him a look of amusement before she returned her gaze down the range as she returned the target to her preferred distance. "I don't see anyone else here. Besides, how would you spend your evenings before shift if you didn't have me to train?"

"Probably on sleeping. I don't remember you ever being this needy during your rookie year."

"That's probably because you always had your face in that book," she retorted coolly. "Which you never would tell me the name of."

"I never did such a thing," Kakashi said almost as if he believed the words himself.

She would have retorted smartly that his old age was hindering his memory, but the words died on her lips as the door to the range opened. She turned and physically deflated as Itachi stepped in. Being the only occupants in the room, he spotted the pair immediately and made his way towards them with all the authority a Chief of Police held.

The sight of him in his charcoal grey suit with the white shirt and his navy blue tie combined with his own eye and ear protection was strange, but no less devastatingly handsome. Something in her chest fluttered at the sight of him, but there were nerves interlaced with the reason for her suddenly active heart. There were very few reasons Itachi sought her out while at work and most of them she didn't feel like discussing at the moment.

"Commander," Itachi greeted Kakashi. He removed his earmuffs when he saw her gun was unloaded and left untouched on the table.

He nodded politely. "Chief."

"Would you mind giving us a moment."

It was a command disguised as a question and Kakashi politely excused himself before he left the range. The door closed heavily behind him, audibly making Sakura aware of just how alone they were as his heavy, obsidian gaze settled on her. "Sakura, I thought we had this conversation already."

She took a deep breath and leaned back against the divider separating her station from the next one over as she directed her gaze elsewhere. "We did."

"Then why are you training rather than working?"

She really hated when Itachi spoke to her as her boss. It was hard for her to remain so professional with him with her memory filled with so many nights of them having both formal and casual dinners together, and tangled up in the sheets late at night and on the rare mornings when he didn't have to work. She had taken baths with him and kissed nearly every inch of his skin. This forced professionalism was difficult, even if she understood the need for it.

Chewing the inside of her cheek, she glanced back at him. His expression was neither expectant nor impatient and she felt herself relax a little. "Because I'm not ready."

His brow rose curiously. "You are not? You have logged more training hours than all the other officers your rank combined."

Sakura's brow rose curiously. Kakashi had said something similarly just now and it made her wonder if the pair had been discussing her recent obsession with officer tactics. Since her return from New York, her time had been spent either shooting with Kakashi observing her or practicing ground fighting with Shisui. She had managed to convince Kurenai to organize a few real-life scenarios with some of the rookie officers, but otherwise her time was spent strengthening her body post-surgery. She had improved over the months, but not fully to her expectations.

"I'm just not where I want to be yet," she finally admitted.

Itachi studied her a moment before he gestured down the range. She pursed her lips at his silent request, but clapped her muffs over her ears again nonetheless before she reached for her gun. Sakura felt rather than saw him move strategically behind her as she jammed her magazine in hard enough to automatically rack her weapon.

It was second-nature for her to fall into her stance, align her sights and unload her weapon until the last bullet fired. The ache in her hand returned. It was less persistent than her last round with Kakashi, but its presence irritated her and she heavily set her gun back down on the table before she yanked her ear protection off again.

When she turned back to Itachi, he was eyeing her target with an unreadable expression but a contemplative look in his eyes. She recognized it. He was considering something, mulling an idea over in his head as he weighed the pros and cons. It didn't take him long to speak.

"You are shooting at an instructor's level, Sakura," he told her. His words were factual, but she could hear the compliment hidden away in his tone. "Have you ever considered teaching?"

"No, that's not what I want to do."

Itachi sighed patiently. "I know it isn't. However, your aim has improved drastically these past few months with Commander Hatake. Perhaps you could pass your knowledge off to some of the less-seasoned officers in the meantime."

His suggestion only made Sakura frown further. She understood that he wanted what was best for her, but the department had a budget that even Itachi as Chief couldn't get around. His offer to get her certified as a training officer was his way of offering her another option. But it just wasn't something she wanted.

"It's not about my aim," Sakura finally said. "It never has been."

His gaze briefly dropped to her hand as she massaged the soreness out of her palm. Understanding passed behind his eyes, but he said nothing about it. "Then what do you want to do?"

She didn't know what to say so rather than answer, she turned her attention back to her gun. For the umpteenth time she released her magazine, but rather than fill it with target rounds, she began loading it with her hollow-point bullets. She was done shooting for the day. Her fingers were sore and stained that silvery-black color that came with handling so much ammunition. It was going to take days for the residue to fade.

Next to her, Itachi merely picked up her secondary magazine and began doing the same thing. "Have you spoken to Chief Shiranui?" he asked as they worked.

She kept her gaze focused on what she was doing, but loading her weapon had become second-nature long ago and she finished in less than half a minute. She fitted her gun back into her holster and accepted her second magazine from Itachi before she answered: "Not since the afternoon of my surgery."

Itachi visibly gave pause. "That was over seven months ago."

"Now do you understand why I haven't returned to my squad?" she asked flatly.

A soft sigh pressed out of Itachi's mouth. "I have always understood your hesitation, Sakura. But I cannot allow you anymore training hours. I have already made too many exceptions."

"I know…" Sakura agreed quietly. She was grateful Itachi had done so much on his end already to allow her time to collect herself, but given the topic of their conversation, she found herself unable to actually express it at the moment. She just felt lost, like she was finally reaching a crossroads she had been doing her best to avoid for a long time now. "I'll do something soon."

Itachi said nothing, but he finally let the subject drop as they come to somewhat of an agreement. Instead his gaze softened as he continued to watch her. "Will you come over tonight?"

His question forced a smile onto her face and she shot him a mildly amusement look. "I can't even remember the last time I slept at my place. What do you think?"

Her light teasing made the corners of Itachi's mouth turn up in shared mirth.

It was true that she spent most of her nights sharing a bed with him. Nearly a week after her return, she had moved out of her apartment and passed the keys along to Shisui. She had taken up residence in a much smaller apartment a few blocks away from the department. It was so small in fact that Naruto had dubbed it 'The Storage Unit' since it was not much larger than a hotel room. But Sakura hardly noticed. She was never there anyway.

For nearly two months straight, Sakura had crashed in her best friends' spare bedroom. At the time, she hadn't realized just how much they had missed her while she had been gone, but it became more obvious to her the more time she spent at their apartment. They barely left her alone, always wanting to watch television with her or tag along while she ran her errands – something she couldn't have even paid them to do before. The first few days she had been nearly overwhelmed by their constant presence. She hadn't realized how used she had become to being on her own in New York. Ino and Tsunade had been around, but their crazy schedules left her plenty of time to herself and her thoughts.

It wasn't entirely surprising that Naruto and Sasuke had discovered her relationship with Itachi only two weeks after her return. And it had been quite the event.

Looking back on it now, Sakura was fairly certain that the only reason Sasuke had completely turned into a temper-tantruming child was purely because Itachi was his older brother. She and Itachi had merely been enjoying a bottle of wine after unpacking her bathroom when Sasuke and Naruto had swung by unexpectedly. She still didn't know what the reason behind their visit had been. At the sight of Itachi, they had immediately shot out questions faster than she could answer and eventually ended with her sitting on the couch with Itachi next to her as she drank her wine and listened in amusement as Sasuke listed the reasons why they could not be together.

When Sakura finally told him they had been flirting off and on since long before her shooting, he had fallen silent in unmasked shock. Naruto had taken up his place after that, but one remark from Itachi had muted even her loud friend as well. They could justify keeping their own relationship a secret from the world, but frowned upon Sakura finding her own happiness?

It had surprised her Itachi had said anything at all. She had fully anticipated letting Naruto and Sasuke vent to their hearts' desires before she tried to explain the situation, but Itachi had ended their arguments before either of them had really gotten started it. His easy defense had warmed her in ways that had nothing to do with the wine.

Of course, Sakura was fairly certain Sasuke would never fully be pleased with her decision to date Itachi, and in turn Naruto wouldn't either, but they had stuck to keeping their opinions to themselves – mostly. It did slip out every now and then when the subject came up, but Sakura carefully kept the dirtier details of her relationship to herself – and perhaps a little bit to Ino too when pressed.

However, hers and Itachi's sex life had only returned a few short months ago. Just as she promised herself, she had decided to take things slow with Itachi. Three months passed before she finally spent the night with him again and another few weeks before they were sexually intimate. And just like the first time, Itachi had made sure to pleasure her in every way possible.

She loved being close to him like that, feeling him pressed against her, but it was also the intimate connection, of being joined in body and mind that she loved. The words hadn't actually come out of her mouth yet – nor his – but she knew that he had become far more important to her than she had expectant. And she got the feeling that he felt the same way – if the look he was giving her now was anything to go by.

Itachi was staring at her like he wanted nothing more than to drag her into his arms and kiss her until the world fell away until it was just them. But they were still at work and Itachi was currently her superior, and so Sakura focused on the padding lining the table rather than how well his suit fit his masculine form.

Suddenly his phone went off, interrupting the small moment. Those obsidian eyes that never failed to make her feel like the only woman in the world looked away as he reviewed whatever message was just sent to him. He read briefly before he turned back to her. "I have another meeting I need to get to."

She flashed him a small smile. "What time will you be home?"

"I shouldn't be too much longer. Feel free to let yourself in."

Sakura nodded and murmured a farewell before Itachi turned, his attention on his phone as he exited.

Once he was gone, Sakura cleaned up her station. She threw away the empty boxes and discarded her targets before she swept the casings downrange where they would be cleaned up later than night with the rest of them. She double checked her workspace and ensured she had everything before she made her way out of the range and back to the main desk.

Surprisingly Kakashi was outside waiting for her. He was leaning against the counter talking to the officer behind the desk, but his attention turned to her as she entered. "I figured you would have left," she said as she handed over her earmuffs and eye protection.

Her old trainer simply smiled. "I thought you might want to get coffee."

"Coffee?" Sakura asked in amusement. "It's past five."

"Some of us have to work tonight."

A thoughtful hum resonated in her chest before she agreed. She didn't think Itachi would be leaving the department for another hour or so and she would rather spend that time with Kakashi than by herself with her mind replying their conversation.

With the Commander already dressed in full uniform, Sakura moved her badge to her waistband where it would be visible as they headed towards the garage and his fully marked SUV. It had been so long since Sakura had last been in a patrol car that she couldn't help herself from reviewing the computer and seeing what calls were holding.

It was mostly misdemeanors, but there was a call of a possible shooting on the Southeast side of town that perked her interest. A car had already been dispatched to it and she briefly read the description before moving through the rest of the holding list absentmindedly. "You don't want to go across the street?" she asked as Kakashi steered them further into the city.

Kakashi kept his attention focused on the road as he changed lanes and turned onto one of the lesser known roads that led towards the south side of town. "I have found another place I like more."

Sakura arched her brow curiously as she smirked. "Does this place have a pretty barista?"

He said nothing, but she laughed anyway as they continued their trek. Eventually he glanced at her, "I'm assuming the Chief gave you an ultimatum."

The smile on her face faded and she turned her attention away from the computer to study his profile. "You and Itachi discussed this already." It wasn't a question.

"We did," he admitted unabashedly. "He wanted to know my opinion. I told him you were easily the most able-bodied officer we currently have, but I wasn't sure you wanted to go back to Patrol. I did offer you a place on my squad if you want it though."

"No," she sighed not unkindly. "You're right that I don't want to go back to Patrol, but I'm just finding it hard to…find my way back to Major Crimes."

Kakashi wasn't aware of her sort-of falling out with Genma and she had no desire to read him into the situation. It felt too personal to even let him know the entirety of the situation and fortunately he didn't ask. "Well you need to decide something soon. For your own sake."

"I think Itachi wants me to become an FTO."

Beside her, Kakashi nodded thoughtfully. "As far as experience goes, I think you would do well."

His words lingered and when he gave no sign of continuing, Sakura pressed, "But?"

He flickered a glance at her again. "But most officers joining the department look up to officers that have been here longer. And before you say anything, I am very aware that you have more real experience than many of our FTO's, but it's just a matter of perception. You look young – and are young – and therefore may not be taken seriously."

When Sakura said nothing, he added, "It's nothing against you or your understanding of police work. It's just perception."

In the back of her mind, she knew Kakashi had a point. He himself had been an FTO, but he hadn't been instated as one until he had been with the department for nearly ten years. She was only hitting her six year mark and though he was probably right that she had more experience than plenty of other officers, her age would be a challenge in earning the respect of her trainees. Not that she really wanted to be an instructor anyway.

However, before they could continue their conversation, dispatch spoke over the radio again: "18-Alpha-21, state your status."

A moment of silence fell over the radio. Both she and Kakashi waited for the unit to call in, but as the silence extended far longer than it should have, Sakura turned to the screen curiously.

"Any unit in the area please be advised I'm receiving radio silence from 18-Alpha-21."

It had been a while since Sakura had dealt with all the different codes, but she had used them for so many years that she easily recognized the terms. She knew eighteen to be the code for the city's southeast division. She and Kakashi were somewhat close to that area. 'Alpha' meant a two-man patrol while twenty-one was the number for that specific set of partners. Every officer had their own code and she quickly pulled up the computer system and typed in the number. It was assigned to Officers Konohamaru and Sarutobi Udon.

It was most likely that the unit was just out of range or in an area of spotty reception, but Sakura side glanced at Kakashi anyway. She did not want to go out on a call, but this was the same unit that had been dispatched to the call of possible shots fired and if Kakashi wanted to roll out, she wouldn't argue with him.

Unsurprisingly he threw her an expectant look – this was his squad – and she sighed to herself before she picked up the mike. "Dispatch, this is 18-Alpha-10," she said, using Kakashi's code. "You can show us in route to their location."

"Copy that, Commander," they replied.

Immediately the call notification popped up on the computer and Sakura tapped the screen to bring the details up. She recited the address to Kakashi and braced herself in her seat he made a quick turn down the next street. He sped through the back streets towards their location, their headlights lighting up the dark, city streets as she reviewed the information.

"Hm…just says there was a call of shots fired. Not a lot of information here," she said lightly.

Kakashi didn't comment as they raced to the location, not fast enough to need the use of their identifying lights and sirens, but easily over the speed limit. He took them through back roads, avoiding most of the late evening Los Angeles traffic and further into the warehouse district.

They took a quick left turn and nearly skidded as they came to an abrupt stop when they found their abandoned, unresponsive unit parked just around the corner. The sight made Sakura's heart jump into her throat and adrenaline began to pulse through her veins.

With the help of their headlights, Sakura was able to make out the patrol car. It was canted strategically behind an old, grey Honda; its driver's side door was partially cracked showing the suspect's quick bail. By the look of the police car, she knew the officers had immediately given chase as both the driver and passenger doors were thrown wide open. However, what bothered her most was that the light bar on top of the car was off and by the sound, the engine was still running. It made her wonder how abruptly this situation had evolved for the officers to not even have the opportunity to throw on their overhead lights before they gave chase.

Quickly Sakura swiped the mike out of its carrier again, "Dispatch, show us on-scene. Send us more units. Lights and sirens."

"Copy that. All available units, respond to the 300 block of Cherry and West Wood. Code Three."

Without hesitation, Sakura threw off her seatbelt and scrambled for the extra portable radio next to car's computer. She clipped it to her hip before she reached behind her seat to grab the spare bulletproof vest she knew Kakashi kept stored there. She yanked it over her head and pulled it down over her shirt before she adjusted the straps to keep it in place as Kakashi unlocked his department-issued assault rifle stored between the seats.

A frown momentarily marred Sakura's features as she realized she didn't have her own – she had only been going out for coffee – but she was fortunate to have been training with him that afternoon; she had all of her spare magazines and they were all fully loaded.

Her heart pounded against her chest as the blood roared in her ears, but she forced herself to take a deep breath and focus. With her weapon drawn and a flashlight in her non-dominant hand, she slipped out of the car, her eyes searching for any possible signs of movement.

With a quick but thorough sweep of her surroundings, Sakura cleared the street and windows of the nearby warehouses before she approached the patrol car along the passenger side. Kakashi mirrored her movements on the opposite side of the vehicle, but as they drew closer, they found the car empty. The keys were still in the ignition – a miracle it hadn't been stolen in this part of town – and both assault rifles were still stowed and locked between the seats. Kakashi reached in and killed the engine, taking the keys with him as Sakura scanned the area, trying to determine where their officers could have vanished to.

Her flashlight locked on the closest warehouse. A side door was left haphazardly ajar.

"Kakashi," she called.

He followed her gaze and muttered a curse under his breath as the scream of sirens in the distance began to grow louder. As one, they both hurried towards the door, keeping their heads down but their pace rushed. Upon reaching it, Kakashi stepped one foot inside and did a quick, initial sweep with his flashlight as another patrol car rushed to a stop behind Kakashi's SUV. Less than a minute later, Shino and Kiba were beside her with Kiba's K-9, Akamaru, at his heels.

Kakashi stepped out again. "I can't see anything in there," he told them, "and I don't hear either officer."

"If they're not answering their radios, they could be dead. And the suspects might still be around," Shino said.

Kakashi breathed out through his nose in agitation before he pressed the talk button to his radio. "Dispatch. We're entering the warehouse north of the vehicles. Be advised - possible Code Seventy Seven."

"10-4," they replied without pause. "All responding units, Code Seventy Seven. Use Caution, possible ambush."

There was a quick reply of multiple acknowledgements over the radio, but Sakura was already focusing on Kakashi, their senior officer on site. "We'll cover this in two teams until more units arrive. Haruno, with me. Inuzuka with Aburame. This door is in the middle of a hallway that immediately separates two directions. We'll go one way, you two go the other," he told Shino and Kiba. "Watch your six, stay alert."

After a rumble of agreement, Kakashi stepped inside the warehouse with Sakura close on his heels. She felt Shino enter behind her, but he and Kiba quickly broke off in the opposite direction with their K-9.

They had entered into a narrow hallway just as Kakashi described. Its walls were off-white, the ceiling a similar color and only a few feet above their head. Just as they had discussed, she followed right behind her old trainer as Shino and Kiba turned in the opposite direction away from them. The warehouse was utterly silent with the exception of their own footsteps and the pulse of blood in her own ears as her adrenaline kept her focused. The further they moved away from the door, the more alert she became, very aware that at any moment they could be taken by surprise. The whole situation was made worse by the fact that there was nothing to hide behind to protect them from gunfire.

A sharp tang of metal burned her nose and dust threatened to make her sneeze as they moved towards the heart of the warehouse. The only light came from the flashlights in her hand and she kept a tight grip on her gun as she followed Kakashi's footsteps, her finger resting parallel against the barrel to avoid an accidental discharge, but ready to move to the trigger at any given moment.

Kakashi lead her easily using the light on his assault rifle, his weapon a much more serious threat than her handgun. She hardly dared to breathe as they finally reached the end of the narrow hallway. It took a sharp right turn and she waited silently for Kakashi to clear the corner before she followed after him.

This hallway was wider but just as long. The wall to the left was the same color as the entrance while the right was lined with glass that even their flashlights weren't bright enough to break through. However, the further they travelled, the more anxious Sakura became. Dark memories were flickering dangerously on the edges of her mind and a feeling akin to fear was making it hard to breathe. Every shadow was nearly making her jump, but she forced herself to focus on Kakashi. She had to remind herself she was not alone.

Suddenly the radio flickered to life, visibly making Sakura start. "18-Alpha-10, state your status."

Kakashi immediately stopped and pressed the mike attached to his vest at his collar. "We're in the warehouse north of the cars. Haruno and I took the hallway left. Inuzuka and Aburame went right."

"Copy that, Alpha-10," another voice said. "Dispatch, we're just arriving on scene."

"10-4," dispatch replied.

It was at that moment that another flash of light caught Sakura's attention. She blocked her light and peered through the glass just as another flicker of light caught her attention. "Kakashi," she hissed.

He glanced at her and followed her gaze until the light flickered again, this time closer. After a few minutes of observing, they realized it was their missing suspect and officer.

Immediately Kakashi took off down the hall in the opposite direction they had come from. Without pause, Sakura followed and she swiped her radio from her hip as they searched for a way down to the lower floor. "Dispatch, we have eyes on our missing officers," she told them as she chased after Kakashi. "Heading towards the back of the warehouse. I think South."

"We're on our way," Shino replied.

At the end of the hall, she and Kakashi reached a stairwell with a dead 'Exit' sign above the door, and he pushed the door open and cleared the stairwell before leading the way down the concreate staircase. Dispatched replied to her response, but given the amount of cement above her head, their reply came in broken and with too much static for her to make out. She tried to call them, but by the sound of her mike, she knew she wasn't sending and so she quickly snapped the radio back onto her hip just as they reached the next floor.

They found themselves on the same level they had seen the flashlights, but now that they were in the room, they found it was large and open and just as dark as the hallway they had just been in a floor above. The pair gave pause as they searched the immediate area with their flashlights, the beam revealing old machinery scattered about the floor. The room itself was still from years of abandonment and layered with heavy dust. It felt as if it was only them in the warehouse, alone and waiting in the endless darkness.

Then a distant but audible order was heard: "Drop your weapon!"

They sprung into action like toy soldiers after being wound up. Kakashi led the way with Sakura filling the booted-footsteps left in the dust in his wake. Quickly but strategically they followed the echoing of heavy footfalls, using all of their senses, all of their training to pinpoint the location of their officers. She wasn't even entirely sure if they were dealing with one or two suspects and the unknown made her breath quicken and her muscles tense, ready to fight or take cover.

Off to one side, out of the corner of her eye, Sakura saw a flicker of movement – a mere darker shadow against a dark backdrop – a second before a door burst open. She and Kakashi both turned in time to watch their suspect exited the back of the warehouse and disappeared out into the night, one of their missing officers hot on his heels.

"Move!" Kakashi shouted.

Without even needing his order, Sakura pushed her legs into action. With an actual direction, she felt her adrenaline renew and pulse through her veins like a shock of ice water. Kakashi jumped on his radio as they gave chase, his voice pitched higher and his words a little short of breath as he gave their location and direction of travel.

Sakura was first out the door, the fresh air a blast in the face without the heavy dust to coat her lungs. The alley they had appeared in was dark without streetlights, but after having been trapped in the pressing darkness of the warehouse, her eyes adjusted rapidly and she sprinted after the other officer, her only objective catching up to the chase.

Both the suspect and the officer were exhausted from their extended run and it didn't take long before Sakura began to close distance on them. Ahead of her, they exited the alley and broken through onto the street, the overhead light catching a glint of silver in the suspect's hand. "Gun!" she warned as her grip tightened on her own.

She broke out onto the street, fully intent on following them when the glare of headlights caught in her peripheral. She barely managed to skid to a stop in time as a car slammed on their brakes, coming to a halt a few feet in front of her. The possibility of what could have just happened made her heart jump into her chest, but she forced herself to push her panic aside as she skirted around the vehicle and continued on.

She was catching up slowly but steadily and as she drew closer, her mind raced through all the scenarios of how this confrontation could end. She didn't know where the officer's partner was, how tired or how well-trained he was or how desperate the suspect was to get away. This was a dangerous situation with far too many outcomes to make her comfortable.

Beside her, she could hear the hard footfalls of the other officers. She hadn't realized Kiba and Shino had caught up, but it did relieve her some to have more backup. She was fast, especially without her duty-belt to slow her down, but Kiba was faster and Akamaru was fastest. All she saw was a white streak race out ahead like a bullet past her, past the other officer until he sprung forward and latched his teeth into the suspect's leg.

The man fell to the ground hard as he shouted in pain. Sakura saw him roll over and attempt to take aim at Akamaru, but before he could, their formerly-missing officer tackled him, further pressing him into the ground. Kiba reached him then and together they struggled to get their suspect detained. The gun was still in his hand, but before he could attempt to strike any of them, Sakura kicked the weapon out of his grasp so hard, she was sure she broke a finger or two. Pinning his arm beneath her foot, Kiba finally dragged Akamaru off the wailing man before Kakashi and the other officer flipped him over onto his stomach.

It took a few more minutes of cursing on the suspect's part and barks of orders on their end before they were able to finally get him restrained. With him finally under control, Sakura took a step back and stared in surprise to find he looked like he was still in his teens. He had to be in high school, but with the tattoos decorating his arms, she knew he had been taken into the gang life. It was a sad fact, but she chose not to dwell on it as another set of officers helped him to his feet. She hadn't realized a patrol car had caught up to their chase and she just watched as Choji took custody of him as she holstered her gun and caught her breath. They must have backtracked out of the warehouse and returned to their car to catch up to them.

"It's not even a real gun," Kakashi said.

Curiously Sakura turned to the Commander. He was standing a few feet away where the suspect's gun had come to rest after she kicked it away. His own rifle was strapped across his back as he examined the weapon. However, rather than pulling out a magazine full of bullets, there was a cartridge filled with little pellets. She rolled her eyes as Shino approached to take the weapon from Kakashi. "The kid is lucky he wasn't shot."

"That's an understatement," Kakashi muttered.

Sakura turned away from them to watch Choji search their suspect. He dropped a small bag onto the trunk of the patrol car, but from her distance she couldn't tell exactly what it was that they had found. Once he finished searching him, Choji helped the teenager into the backseat before he asked if he wanted his injuries to be looked at by the fire department. When he stubbornly declined, Choji shut the door on his face before he began asking Kiba the details of what happened.

Her attention then turned to their missing police officer. The young, brown-haired male looked like he was barely off FTO-training and now that the adrenaline was wearing off, she felt her annoyance grow. Why hadn't he answered his radio? And where the hell was his partner? Perhaps it wasn't her place, but it irritated her with just how incompetently he had handled the situation. Instead of a few bumps and bruises, this evening could have ended with someone in the morgue.

"You, officer, what's your name?" Sakura asked as she approached him.

He looked over at her in surprise and stared at her in confusion a moment as he took in her plain clothes under her vest before he spotted the badge on her waist. "Uhh, Konohamaru," he answered, meeting her gaze once more.

"And where is your partner, Konohamaru?"

His gaze travelled to the slowly growing mass of officers and frowned slightly. "We were sent to a call of shots fired and saw this suspect jump into a car. We chased it for a block before he bailed out. We gave chase and must have seperated inside the warehouse. I thought Udon was behind me, but I guess…not."

Her eyes widened incredulously. "So you have no idea where your partner is? Right now? At this moment?"

"No."

She shot him a dark look. "Do you realize how completely unacceptable that is? You should know where your partner is at all times. And why didn't you answering your radio or tell dispatch where you were?" She looked him up once, not seeing the device on his duty-belt. "Where is your radio?"

Konohamaru opened his mouth before closing it immediately. Around them, the eyes of the other officers settled on them, but no one said anything as they poorly pretended not to listen. Konohamaru briefly glanced off to her left before returning his gaze to her, not quite able to meet her eye. He muttered something she couldn't understand.

"Speak up," Sakura snapped sharply. "Where is your radio?"

"In the patrol car," he said again.

Her expression changed to that of open disbelief. "In your patrol car?" she repeated. Then her voice hardened. "What the hell is it doing there? Do you realize the situation you put yourself in today? The situation you put everyone in today?"

Again his gaze drifted off to her left and she realized he was looking for Kakashi to interject. However, the Commander merely shook his head. "Don't look at me. She's the one talking to you."

His attention quickly snapped back to her, but she spoke before he could open his mouth. "Do you understand the severity of your actions? You could have died tonight. Instead of arresting a suspect, we could have been carting your body off to the morgue. You realize that, don't you?"

Images of a white sheet on a metal table flashed across her mind. She could still clearly remember the day she said good-bye to Neji, but she shoved those memories away. She knew she was getting emotional, her anger channeled by her own mistakes, but if it could prevent this officer from making the same grave errors as her, then she was okay with scaring him straight.

"But the gun wasn't real."

His answer only succeeded in infuriated her further and Sakura stepped up to him until they were standing toe-to-toe. He was a few inches taller than her, but with the intensity of her anger, she towered over him. "Did you know that?" she snapped. "While you were blindly chasing after him with no back up and no one coming because no one knew where you were, did you know that that gun wasn't fully loaded? You think that because we now know that it's only a pellet gun, that this situation is any less dangerous? You got lucky today."

The young officer bowed his head, unable to meet her eyes. Only because of their close proximity was she able to hear his muttered apology.

Eventually she breathed out her nose heavily. "Go find your partner and get back to the department," she ordered.

Immediately he stepped away from her and hurried off the scene. She watched him go before she turned around to find everyone watching her. Shino said nothing before turning away from her to join Kiba who was openly grinning.

A flush of embarrassment warmed her and made her collar stick to her neck uncomfortably. She hadn't meant to go off on him with everyone within earshot, but she was glad to have gotten her point across. She was close with Kakashi and knew Kiba and Shino somewhat well. It angered her that this new officer had put some many of them in potential danger and it was best to correct his actions now while he was still learning.

Kakashi flashed her a look of amusement as she approached him. "I think you nearly scared the life out of him."

She shrugged unapologetically. "Good. He needed to hear it."

"You don't think you ever made any mistakes when you were fresh on the street?"

"Not like that," she defended.

However, Kakashi cocked a brow. "What about the time you got into a pursue in the middle of the night in gang territory by yourself?"

Sakura threw him a look as she wondered how he even remembered that. It had not been her finest hour by any means and she had been lucky that night to have backup get to her location so quickly. "Yeah, I made a mistake," she admitted. "And you know what? I got my ass chewed out and I never did it again. As police officers we understand we're not perfect, but we learn from our mistakes. I guarantee he will never do this again."

"After witnessing that, I don't think any of us here will ever do it either," he retorted sarcastically.

She rolled her eyes at him, but couldn't completely mask the amused smile tugging on her lips. Instead, she merely pulled out her phone from her pocket and sighed as she realized the time. She wasn't going to be able to go home for a few hours at least. "Coffee before we head back to the department?" she asked.

Kakashi muttered an agreement before the two began their hike back to the car.

Sakura staggered to the front door. After fumbling with her keys, she finally slid the deadbolt out of place before stumbling inside with a soft curse passing between her lips. She was beyond exhausted and more than ready to crawl into bed and pass out. She wasn't entirely sure what time it was. The last time she had looked at the clock, it had been nearly two in the morning; that had to have been an hour ago.

The house was dark, but she had come to know its layout well and she was able to blindly slide her hand across the wall until she found the exact location of the light switch. The sudden brightness momentarily blinded her, but she blinked her eyes into adjustment before she wondered into the kitchen. She didn't bother turning on the light in there. She merely dropped her backpack onto the table, cursing again as it tumbled to the floor. None so quietly, she grabbed it again and tossed it back onto the table before she returned to the main room, her mind set on heading upstairs and falling into bed with Itachi.

The thought was so appealing that she didn't notice a presence in front of her until she nearly knocked into the person standing on the last stair. Confused, she flash stepped back and blinked her vision into focus. "Itachi?" she asked.

He had obviously just been roused from bed, his hair down and messily framing his face. He was wearing nothing more than his usual sleepwear consisting of a black undershirt and a pair of briefs. Even utterly exhausted, she immediately knew she had woken him.

"You are home late," he rasped.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," she said. "I sent you a text a couple of hours ago."

Even in the low-light, she saw him study her. "I received it," he told her. Neither of them raised their voices over a whisper as if the darkness of the night was keeping their tones hushed. "However, I did not realize you would be this late."

Sakura smiled tiredly. "I didn't either. Went out for coffee and ended in a foot chase. I only finished my report an hour ago."

Itachi's expression changed minutely, but Sakura was far too tired to have the conversation he wanted to have and so she merely moved to step around him. However, Itachi stopped her and descended the final stair to stand on her level as his fingers traced over her hip and up her side. It was at that moment she realized she was still wearing Kakashi's bulletproof vest. She had been shouldering the familiar weight for so long that she had forgotten to take it off and return it to him before leaving for the night.

She opened her mouth to explain only to close it again as Itachi's fingers began pulling at the Velcro, loosening the armor until he could slip it off over her head. She raised her arms to help him and sighed in quiet relief as she finally felt its absence.

He merely draped the vest over the railing before he turned back to her. His hand cupped her jaw and she leaned her head into his palm as his thumb brushed over her cheek. "You look exhausted," he murmured.

As if proving his point, Sakura yawned, causing him to chuckle quietly. "I am," she admitted as soon as she could speak again.

He withdrew his hand from her jaw to wrap his arm around her middle before he bent to hook his other arm under her knees. Effortlessly he swept her into his arms and cradled her against him before he turned and carried her up the stairs. His warmth and familiar smell curled around her senses and further lulled her weary mind towards sleep. She was nearly dozing in his arms by the time they entered the bedroom.

Through her tired haze, she felt Itachi set her down on the blankets before he unclipped her gun and badge from her hip. At no point in her life had she ever thought she would be comfortable allowing another to touch her weapon, but she had come to trust Itachi so completely that she merely rolled onto her side to give him better access.

After he laid it to rest in the drawer in the nightstand next to her side of the bed, he turned his attention to pulling off her shoes and undoing the belt and button of her jeans. Sakura lifted her hips enough for him to pull the material down, but otherwise didn't bother lending any more assistance as he slid them the rest of the way off her legs.

Only once she was down to the bare essentials did Itachi finally crawl into bed with her. Her threw the blankets over her small figure before he gathered her in his arms and pulled her towards him until her back was pressed flush against his chest. And just before she finally lost her grip on the waking world, she felt him brush her hair away from the back of her neck to place a chaste kiss against the exposed skin.

He murmured something soft and quiet to her, but it fell on sleep-lulled senses before she was asleep, completely unaware to the world.

When Sakura woke in the morning, she was warm and comfortable and alone. The bedroom light was off as well as the bathroom and closet. The digital clock on Itachi's nightstand read it was nearly half-past six in the morning, early enough for Itachi to be up but not necessarily out of the house yet.

The temptation to return to the world of dreams was strong, but she fought against her own desires as she sat up in bed and rubbed a tired hand down her face. She hadn't slept for long, but the few hours she had been unconscious, it had been restful. She wouldn't have minded getting in another couple of hours but she wanted to see Itachi before he returned to being Chief.

Without bothering to turn on the light, Sakura blindly searched through the basket on the floor of the closet until she found a pair of sweats. She stepped into them as she padded out into the hall, already knowing they were Itachi's just by the size of them. She tied the string in the waistband as she followed the steadily-brightening light at the foot of the stairs.

As she suspected, she found Itachi standing in the kitchen, dressed in a dark blue suit and ready for work. He was leaning back against the far counter, silently drinking from a coffee mug as he read something on his phone, but his gaze dropped from the device as she entered blinking hard against the light. "I didn't expect you to wake so early."

Sakura attempted to tame her locks by running a hand through the strands as she stepped around the island to stand next to him. "I sleep better with you there," she murmured.

The corner of Itachi's mouth curved upwards into a smile and he set his phone on the counter behind him before he held out his arm, silently inviting her to come closer. Without pause, she stepped into his embrace and wrapped her arms loosely around his middle, her head resting on his shoulder.

"I was just reading Commander Hatake's report," he told her. His fingers were playing absentmindedly with the ends of her candy floss strands, twisting and splaying them across his knuckles and further molding her into his side.

She hummed noncommittally.

"He says that you verbally corrected a newly appointed officer's mistakes."

Sakura stilled, her early morning bliss fading as her mind tried to catch up to the conversation. She didn't know if Itachi was asking a question or trying to understand why she had stepped out of her authority. Slowly she picked her head off his shoulder and pulled away to look up at him. "I did."

His grasp around her middle tightened, not allowing her to move away from him. "Have you given any more thought as to what you want to do? The offer still stands to become an instructor. It would be an easy process to get you certified-."

"No," Sakura interrupted. She smoothed her hands over his suit, distracting herself with straightening his already perfectly fixed tie to avoid his gaze. "I haven't thought about what I'm doing yet. I ended up out in the field yesterday merely by circumstance and it didn't make me think any further about what I'm going to do next. I know you're trying to help me, but I really don't want to discuss it right now. I'm tired and sore and I just…I don't want to talk about it."

When she finally dared to peek a glance up, she found that rather than rub Itachi the wrong way, she seemed to have done just the opposite. There was a smile of amusement playing on his lips and she watched as he set his coffee mug down before turning back to her. She closed her eyes as he cupped her jaw just below her ear, his palm warmed from the hot drink, and angled her face towards him. His lips pressed against hers, soft and still tasting of coffee but it only lasted a moment before he pulled her into a close embrace again.

She rested her chin on his shoulder and smiled as she felt him press his face into the side of her neck. It was an intimate moment, one of many they had shared over recent months. The warmth of his breath fanning across her skin sent a shiver straight down her spine and she breathed out a sigh of content as she held him tighter, just enjoying their simple moment together.

A faint whisper ghosted across her memory as she recalled the way he had held her the night before. The press of his lips against the back of her neck just below her hairline suddenly became vivid in her mind, but it was the words that followed that washed over her. She had been too tired to comprehend their meaning last night, but now it was only too clear.

"You said it to me last night, didn't you?" she asked softly. "Right when I was falling asleep."

The only indication Itachi gave that he had heard her was the sudden stillness to his form. They remained tightly embracing a moment longer before Itachi eventually pulled back to look at her. There was no definitive expression on his face, but the tenderness in his gaze made butterflies scatter in her stomach and her breath caught.

He inclined his head and brushed his knuckles across her cheekbone in a feather-light caress. "Yes, I did."

She inhaled again as a sweet smile crept up upon her face. "Is it too late to say I love you too?"

A smile broke out across Itachi's face. It was subtle, the tilt in the corners of his mouth just inching upwards, but she saw the relief and tenderness flicker across his face. "No, it is not."

"I love you too, Itachi."

Her words were whispered, but the conviction in her undertone was strong and she suddenly found herself engaged in a passionate kiss. His tongue traced the seam of her lips and she readily let him in, her own tongue meeting his in a slow, unhurried dance.

His hands came to rest on her hips and he gently drove her backwards until her lower back made contact with the opposite counter. Their pace remained languid as he gripped the back of her thighs and lifted her up. She released his shoulders with her sudden height increase and slipped her hands inside his suit, her palms coming to rest on hard muscle. The smooth glide of his hands up her back along with the slow, yet persistent demand of his lips made her sigh softly into his kiss.

It didn't take long before Itachi tangled his fingers into her hair and angled her head back to allow him access to her throat as his hips pressed between her thighs.

"Itachi," Sakura mewled.

Through their clothes, she could feel his growing excitement and she wrapped her legs around his waist to pull him against her.

"Yes?" he practically purred.

His lust-roughened voice sent arousal curling straight into the pit of her stomach and she twisted her fingers into the material of his suit, nearly yanking it from his waistband. She wanted nothing more than to feel his skin against her own and silently she cursed herself for bothering to put sweats on; they were only a hindrance at the moment.

She opened her mouth to tell him exactly how she wanted him when his phone suddenly rang, breaking them apart.

He half-stepped away from her to silence it and immediately returned to her. Desire was still smoldering in his onyx eyes, but it was slowly cooling. He ran his fingers through her locks, straightening out the mess he had made, but there was still a smirk playing on his lips. "Will you be over tonight?"

She shouldn't have been surprised by his question and she smiled tantalizingly. "Unless you want me to meet you in your office to finish what you started."

He threw her an unimpressed look. "We have discussed this already."

"I know. I still think it would be fun to be bent over your desk," she teased.

His eyes darkened fractionally, the idea obviously as appealing to him as it was to her, but he stood his ground and merely leaned in to kiss her again, his mouth a mere ghost against hers. When he pulled back again, he helped her off the counter before he smoothed out the straps of her tank top.

"Come see me tonight."

"I will," she smiled.

She accepted another kiss from him, this time to her forehead, before he straightened himself out and set his coffee mug in the sink. He gazed at her softly a moment before he collected his phone and was out the door. She watched him go and remained in the kitchen even after she heard the garage door close as she replayed their moment over in her head.

Eventually Sakura pushed off the counter and climbed back upstairs. She kicked her borrowed sweats off and slipped back under the covers, sighing at the lingering heat. With Itachi gone, the desire between her legs was fading quickly and her eyes grew heavy.

She was still tired from her long night, but found herself unable to immediately fall asleep as her mind replayed Itachi's confession the night before. She smiled into her pillow. Even now the words made her heart race and warmth flood her. It felt so natural repeating those words back to him that she couldn't believe it had taken her this long to say them in the first place. But she was glad she did. She wanted Itachi to know the extent of her feelings.

It warmed her to know that he had come to care for her as much as she did for him. The happiness around her all felt surreal. She had her best friends, both here and New York, and her mother was back in her life after years of holding grudges and underlying anger. She had Itachi too; who she knew would be keeping her company for years to come.

But for all her happiness, there was still something missing. She didn't have her squad.

Sakura rolled onto her back to stare at the shadows dancing across the ceiling. She wasn't sure how long she laid there, her mind heavy with doubt as she tried to sort through her thoughts. Her conversation with Genma had been so long ago and yet was still so fresh in her mind, his condemning words branded bright into her memory.

It had occurred to her not for the first that Genma hadn't meant for her long-term absence. He was a good Deputy Chief and a fair superior. He just wanted her to understand the consequences of her actions – something she did better than anyone that had been involved, which was why it was so hard for her to come back. The hole in her chest had started to heal, but the ache had yet to fade completely. She needed – wanted – to go back, but she was struggling in finding the courage to do so. She lacked closure. And she knew she needed to find it soon.

With a heavy sigh, Sakura closed her eyes to the morning light creeping in between the curtains. She tossed and turned for a little while, but eventually she faded back out with Itachi's scent circling around her.

Sakura couldn't remember the last time she had been this nervous. There was a shake to her hands and an uncomfortable churn in her stomach that made her want to retreat and return to safety. But as much as she wanted to go, she also wanted to stay.

A silent observer, she teetered in the doorway between the hallway and the Major Crimes workspace. The morning was still early, casting a crisp light into the room and helping to chase the worry from her mind – if only slight. There were some shuffling about, but all were just passing through and none were giving her much, if any, notice.

From her vantage point, she could see Shikamaru's desk. It was empty, his chair half turned away in his haste to get home the night before; Anko wasn't present, but the gathering of papers told her the older woman was most likely already at work only having stepped away to get her second cup or third or fifth of coffee. Sakura's own desk was hidden from sight, but the unease swirling in her stomach renewed upon laying eyes on Neji's desk.

The last time she had seen it Tenten had been collecting his things, leaving the tabletop and drawers empty of his valuables. Now, however, it appeared that another had moved in in his place. Her grief briefly flared, but she swallowed it back as she suddenly wonder if Genma had done the same for her position.

The abrupt realization forced her to take an unconscious step backwards. Coming here suddenly felt like a bad idea and she turned ready to make her escape when she realized with a start that she was being watched.

Deep hazel contrasted sharply against viridian green as Sakura met Genma's piercing gaze. He observed her across the room from where he sat behind his desk in the office reserved solely for his use. Neither dared move and Sakura barely breathed as she inwardly debated whether to turn tail and run or force herself to face what she had been running from for months.

The decision weighed on forever and yet passing in mere seconds, but she wasn't given the chance to make her choice. Genma decided for her with an inclined of his head; a silent gesture for her to come to him.

Sakura hesitated only a moment before she took a calming breath and forced herself forward. Her steps were soft but even as she carried herself across the room, coming to a stop once she reached his office. The door was open and though it was unspoken that she had permission to enter, she knocked nonetheless.

"Sakura," he said. The use of her given name in replacement of her rank was not lost on her. "It's been a while. Come in."

She followed his order without pause and left the door open behind her as she stopped in front of his desk. "Sir."

He looked her over slowly, his eyes lingering longest on her hand, before he met her gaze. "I was not expecting you to be gone for so long."

"Neither was I," she admitted uncomfortably. "There were some…things I needed to come to terms with before I came back."

"Like Neji's death," he said bluntly.

She dropped her gaze at the mention of his name. She had hoped to avoid this topic, but knew its upcoming would be unavoidable. "Yes," she finally said after a small pause.

His hazel eyes pierced into her as his expression changed minutely. "And did you come to terms with it?"

She gave him a ghost of a smile and shrugged as she gazed out the window. It was such a bright morning, a contrast to her current mood. "Some days I do, yes."

"You have to move on, Sakura."

She sought out his gaze again at his words, a deep crease between her brows and a small shake of her head. "I don't think I know how."

Genma slowly sat back in his chair and breathed out a sigh. "That is something you'll have to figure out on your own. No one can give you closure but yourself."

In her heart Sakura knew he was right, but wanting closure and having it were two separate things and she knew that she could not find it within something or someone else. She was still healing – both physically and mentally – and would continue to do so for some time. Her wounds were still raw.

"But you're here now," Genma continued. "I can only assume that means one thing."

She stood a little straighter. "If you'll still have me."

Another sigh. "You are the biggest pain in the ass that I've ever had under me, Sergeant." She didn't dare move as he shot her a hard look and straightened in his chair. "But I do understand why you did what you did and I know it would be unfair of me to hold it against you forever. Which is why your position is still available if you want it."

The breath she didn't realize she had been holding was released with a long exhale as her tight muscles unwound. A flicker of a smile crossed her face as she nodded. "Thank you, sir."

But his expression remained hard. "I don't think I have to tell you what will happen should you defy me again."

"No, sir."

A paused filled the air before Genma relaxed, his expression softening and the start of a smile on his lips. "Good. I'm assuming you remember where your desk is."

Sakura nodded again, her smile widening. "Yes, sir."

"Then get to it. You have a lot to get caught up on."

end

a/n: as stated before, there will not be a sequel and at this time, i am not looking to write any one-shots based off this universe. i do have a scenario blog on tumblr, so if you would like to follow that, please message me and I will give you the name. (i do have a blog under Sariasprincy, but it is not my writing blog). i also have an account of Archive of our Own under Sarisaprincy. i will most likely be posting works there (that may or may not be posted here).

there's so much more i want to say. i've received so many positive and constructive reviews that i am just thankful you took the time to read my story. this was really my entry back into fanfiction so i'm glad so many of you took the time to follow my progress. there will be more stories, i'm just not sure when. but enough rambling.

thank you everyone for reading! it was a joy writing this and i'm glad you decided to see it through to the end with me!