Yume

Twenty fourth Dream

"This is going to be difficult. Are we even allowed in Edo?" said Ino.

"Technically no," Kiba replied.

In Tsunades office with Sasuke, Neji and Kiba they were all getting ready to leave for Edo. After Sakura had told Tsunade her vision, the Hokage had immediately summoned the group to be a hunting party.

"Like hell I'm letting something like jurisdictions get in the way of catching a killer while he hunts more girls," she snapped, "Sakura says he won't stop, who knows how many girls will die before the civilians catch him or kill him. Best we do it."

All members of the hunting party had read the report from Edo. Coupled with Sakuras vision they all agreed that stopping the killer was of utmost importance. Everything, even finding Orochimaru, was placed on hold.

"Take as long as you need to bring this animal down," Tsunade told them, "I've made arrangements for you all to stay in Edo, they have an understanding with the higher ups and can be trusted to keep your identities secret." She handed a scroll to Sasuke. "This is the map to the location and also shows the general area Sakura has indicated to be the killers hunting zone so far."

Sasuke nodded and opened the scroll to take a look. He quirked an eyebrow and gave Tsunade a blank stare.

"A brothel?" he asked.

"Oh hell yes," Kiba whispered clenching his fists in silent celebration.

"They're discreet," Tsunade replied, "it wouldn't be good business otherwise. They won't say anything." Sasuke nodded and took another look at the map, studying the area. "The girls are off limits Kiba." Tsunade continued, "Unless you're willing to pay?" she smirked as Kiba sighed forlornly. There was light knock.

"Come in," Tsunade called and Sakura re-entered the room. She was dressed like Ino in a short kimono that reached mid thigh and leggings under sandals. Ready for travel.

"I still object to Sakura-hime accompanying us," Neji said, "she is not a kunouchi."

"She Saw the murder and sensed the killer,' Tsunade explained, "she will be useful."

"Chances are I will most defiantly see another vision," Sakura said, "next time it could be the killer himself."

"You are certain of this?" Neji asked.

"Yeah, according to movie I saw ages ago anyways, this kind of thing happens a lot," Sakura said.

"What's a movie?" Kiba asked Ino quietly.

"Stay close to the brothel when we're hunting," Sasuke told Sakura, "we don't need Orochimaru's men catching sight of you."

Sakura resisted the urge to stick out her tongue. "This is my home town," she told him, "I want to take look around."

"It's your home town from the future," Sasuke replied, "I doubt it looks the same."

"Which is why I want to look around," Sakura said with a smile. "Besides, I could pick something up walking around town that I can't by only staying in one place all the time."

"She's got a point," Ino said. Sasuke huffed.

"Fine, but you don't go out alone," he conceded. Sakuras' smile widened.

"Well of course," she said and Sasuke had a bad feeling he just agreed to something he would regret.

xxx

Sakura enjoyed hiking through the woods again. She didn't get to fully appreciate it during her and Sasuke's desperate escape from Kyoto. She enjoyed the play of light a shadow and the sound of the leaves whispering with every breeze. The smell of rich soil unspoiled by the stench of exhaust and pollution.

Sakura never had the chance to appreciate nature back in her own time. She had been too busy, with school and studying and her friends dragging her out shopping and to movies...she never really had a chance to slow down and smell the roses as they say. She was definitely doing that now. She had so much free time since she came here it was aggravating.

After Kyoto and her move into the Hokage's mansion Sakura caved and requested something to read. Tsunade's aid Shizune had shown her to the library and Sakura had scoured the place for anything that interested her. Naturally, with her parents being doctors and Sakura having aspirations of following in their footsteps, she gravitated towards any and all medical texts she could find. She was learning a lot about holistic healing as opposed to her parents' modern medical techniques. Sakura had no idea how many common ailments could be cured using herbs and natural non invasive techniques like acupuncture and acupressure. Some, like those using questionable ingredients, were obviously incapable of working, but a lot of old recipes had merit.

Sakura began seriously rethinking what she knew about medicine and how it could be applied. When they got back, Sakura intended to ask Tsunade to take her under her wing and teach her everything the woman knew about medicine. In the mean time, she had asked Tsunade if she could bring some of the texts with her so she could keep studying. She also kept her eyes open for any medicinal plants on the way to Edo they could use.

As it was, Sakura carried the medical packs for the group at her insistence. At first Neji had offered to carry her things for her but Sakura turned the offer down. She wasn't some pampered princess who couldn't pull her own weight and she had told him as much. The Hyuuga had just shrugged, not offended, and took his place at the head of the line with Sasuke.

The four of them traveled in single file, to hide their numbers Sasuke explained, "We can't take any chances with Orochimaru and his men. It's a sure guess that he will be watching the area around Konoha very carefully."

Kiba was scouting ahead with his massive wolf hound named Akamaru. Sakura thought it was too cute a name for a beast so massive. Ino had told her he was a lot smaller when he was a puppy. Sakura didn't believe her.

"We'll rest here," Sasuke said. He snapped a painted stick, a signal to tell Kiba to come back. Ino and Sakura hurried to catch up with the other two. Ino sat down with a small sigh and scanned the sky through the trees.

"Sun won't set for another hour," she said with a questioning look at Sasuke.

"I know, but there is a village near here that was hit by bandits last year I want to check on," he said. Sakura looked at him startled then glanced around. They were in a clearing. A very familiar clearing.

"Oh!" she said touching her hand to her mouth in surprise. "This is..." Sasuke nodded.

"This is where I found you," he said.

"This is where I came to this world," Sakura explained to the others. She skipped ahead and cast a look around. "Here!" she called back pointing to specific spot. "This is where I was when Sasuke-kun found me." She smiled, "This brings back memories." The smile slid a little, "right memories..."

Ino looked around the clearing with an interested expression, "Really? I don't see anything special about this place..."

Sakura crouched down and ran her hand lightly over the top of the grass. "I can feel the asphalt," she whispered to herself. The wind picked up suddenly and Sakura could hear many voices talking all at once, a massive crowd. Her hand was hot from heat radiating off the road. The blaring of a horn, the screech of tires trying to stop too quickly, conversation turning to screams.

She jolted back to reality when a hand pressed down on her shoulder.

"You alright?" Sasuke asked with a worried look. Sakura glanced at him and nodded.

"Just remembering," she said with a shaky smile. Sasuke tilted his head, thinking.

"Was it bad?" he asked, "coming here?"

"I-I don't know how it happened," Sakura replied, "I almost died. That truck should have killed me, it was going so fast and I fell right in front of it. There was no way it could have stopped in time. But I came here instead and" she paused looking lost, "I don't know." She fell silent looking into Sasukes eyes. "I still have nightmares about the truck."

"I don't know what a truck is," Sasuke began, "but it can't hurt you now, and if it ever came back, I will protect you." Sakura fought back a smile and failed.

"I know," she told him, "Thank you." Sasuke nodded and held out his hand to help her stand.

"Come," he said, "we have a village to visit."

xxx

They arrived in Edo later the next day, Sakura marveled at just how close Konoha was to the city that would one be the capital of a unified Japan. Now that she thought about it, it might not have been that much of a coincidence that Edo was chosen to be the new capital by the Emperor.

Like before in Kyoto, Sakura covered her hair with a light scarf as they wove their way through the throngs in the city to make their way to the red light district. Sasuke and Neji led them while Kiba and Akamaru followed. Ino kept her head down, doing her best to look submissive and cowed. Sakura assumed there was a reason to do so and she did her best to emulate it. People moved out of their way and gazed on the girls with pity.

The group passed through a gate within the city itself into the red light district. An odd place for ninja to base themselves since it would be difficult to sneak in and out. But then again, Sakura thought, this is Konoha ninja they were talking about. Undoubtedly they had their ways.

They brothel itself was quite nice. The store front was richly decorated with carvings and brightly painted. The group went around back where many of the ladies that worked there were waiting for them. The madam took a step forward when they entered the ornamental garden.

"Welcome," she greeted, "I am Konan and I run this establishment. Tsunade wrote me to tell me you were coming to investigate the murder of that poor Botan girl."

"Yes," Neji said with a slight bow, "I am Neji and we have strong reason to believe that the murderer will strike again and we have been sent to stop him."

The girls whispered among themselves and glanced nervously around. Konan silenced them with a sharp motion with her hand.

"How sure are you?" Konan asked.

"Absolutely positive," Sakura said, "The murderer is a serial killer and this type of person does not stop until they are caught."

"Who are you?" Konan asked with a sharp look. She had been expecting one of the men to answer not this waif of a girl.

"I am Sakura," Sakura replied with a smile.

"And what are you? Bait?" Konan questioned.

"No, that would be me," Ino said, "I am Ino."

"Enough," Sasuke cut in before Konan could ask anything else, "we have much to prepare and you ask too many questions."

"My apologies," Konan said with a small bow, "This murder talk is something that is of great interest to us all and I got carried away." Sasuke nodded his head, accepting her apology, "Yuri will show you to your rooms." Konan indicated a pretty girl with large brown eyes and a heart shaped face with long brown hair. Yuri stepped forward and bowed from the waist.

"If you will follow me?" she indicated with a delicate movement of her hand. She walked a head of them as if walking on air. Sakura heard Ino sigh with envy. Yuri led them to the upper level of the brothel to a series of rooms at the end of an isolated hall.

"These will be your rooms, they are away from the entertaining rooms so you should not be disturbed," she said.

More like will not disturb the other 'guests', Sakura thought as the girl knelt and opened the largest door and bowed them into the room. It was a large common area with two doors on either side. Sakura walked over to one and opened it to reveal a decent sized bed room. There were two futons on the floor and a small wood stove for cold nights. There were silk paintings on the wall depicting beautiful geisha.

"There is another room across the hall if you should need it. If you would like anything just pull the red rope and I will come, feel free to summon me at any time," Yuri told them and bowed her way out and slid the door close.

"Nice girl," Kiba commented.

"No Kiba," Sasuke said.

"Oh come on!"

Sakura chuckled and walked into the bed room with Ino, who was sharing with her. Kiba announced he would take the room across the hall since there was no room for him and Akamaru.

"Sakura," Sasuke called. Sakura returned to the center room. Sasuke stood by the window and indicated for her to cover her hair again. "We'll take a walk around where the body was found to see if you sense anything. Neji, you canvas the area to see what the locals know. Ino rest. You and Kiba will go out tonight to see if you can fish the bastard out. Best to start as soon as possible. Kiba you will remain out of sight and keep surveillance as Ino walks around. See if Akamaru picks anything up." He got a round of yes's and he opened the window. He climbed out and held out his hand for Sakura.

He helped her onto the roof and together they climbed over neighbouring roof tops and made their way over the wall. Sakura couldn't have done it by herself. There was a time or two where Sasuke had to carry her. She would be lying if she didn't enjoy those parts a little more.

Eventually they had made it back to the ground and Sasuke let her down. His touch lingered before he stepped back and Neji landed beside them. Without a word they walked out of the alley they landed in and mingled with the crowds of the town of Edo. Neji split from them and went to gather information where he could while Sasuke and Sakura headed towards the river.

"She wasn't killed by the river," Sakura said quietly to Sasuke. He drew close to her and bent his head down to listen, presenting to the entire world just a couple on a stroll. "She was killed further away and her body was dumped in the river to hide evidence and throw off investigators."

"Do you know where specifically?" Sasuke asked.

"No," Sakura replied, "There wasn't a lot of detail and it was quite dark." They stepped off the road and made their way down the grassy slope to the water side.

"Difficult -grunt- place -grunt- to dump a body," Sakura panted, "difficult to carry all that dead weight down an incline like that by yourself."

"Probably dumped the body elsewhere and this is just where she drifted," Sasuke said. The pair stood by the river and gazed over the water as if the answer would jump out at them. Sakura knelt on the bank and trailed her fingers in the water. She imagined there were flower petals riding on the waves.

"Pretty," she whispered.

The sun was setting and had cast the river into an orange glow. Sasuke studied the sunlight and how it played off Sakura's features, memorizing every dip and curve. She glanced up at him suddenly and caught him with her unique green eyes. She smiled her knowing smile that was so mysterious and tucked a stray strand of hair cautiously behind her head scarf.

"Do you know?" Sasuke asked her suddenly.

"Know what?" Sakura replied softly.

"How I feel about you?" He said.

"Yes," she replied after a moment. Sasuke looked away and stared over the water. Sakura watched him and smiled.

"Do you know?" she asked him, "How I feel about you?" he glanced back at her and she caught his eyes once more and held them. Her heart was pounding, her pulse racing.

"The same as you," she said. Sasuke faced her fully, and the look on his face sent her pulse into overdrive. A warm sensation flowed through her and she felt a familiar sense of belonging. He took a step back, and held out his hand. This was becoming his habit, Sakura noted as she took it and he helped her up. Sasuke also had to help her up the slope since it was so steep.

"Sakura," Sasuke began, "when this is all over, everything, I will go with you."

"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura began.

"I belong by your side," Sasuke continued, "In this world and yours. I imagine it will be...interesting. But no matter what, Sakura, I will go with you."

Sakura couldn't think of anything to say. She reached up and placed her hand on the side of his face and tired not to cry. If a tear or two escaped, well...

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun," she said. He nodded, clearly having used up his vocab of the day and guided Sakura back towards the red light district.

Across the street, a man listened to their conversation. He found it very interesting.

"Sakura," he whispered. He would visit her soon. But tonight he had another to meet.

End of Chapter