Blackmail and Betrayal

AN: I wasn’t able to do it, Allys : ( I tried to have some form of smut in every chapter, but the plot just wouldn’t allow for it this time. /pouts

Not any smutty action this chapter, but the plot moves along! Hope you guys enjoy!!

Chapter 6


“So, are you convinced that I can get you the information that you need?” Naruto finally asked after shutting down and putting away his laptop.

Sasuke slowly nodded. “The hard part is going to be able to put it to use. With the people that he seems to have a hold over, it will make getting him arrested and his case to trial difficult.”

Naruto seemed to still on the other side of the glass, his hand holding limply onto the strap of his bag. “But it can be done, right?” he asked, uncertainty and hesitation barely discernable in his tone.

“It can be done,” Sasuke assured him. “It will just take some fast footwork as well as some fancy politicking to get the information to the right people.” He ran a hand through his hair, weary just contemplating everything that he would have to go through.

Naruto slowly looked up at the detective. “If you don’t think it can be done, tell me now. If we try this and fail, they will kill me and Ino both.”

Sasuke let out a snort. “And do you think that I would get away with just a slap on the hand? Think, moron, if we fail it’s all of our asses on the line.”

“Who the hell you calling a moron, bastard? You don’t know a damn thing about me, so just shut the fuck up,” the blond growled out.

Sasuke hid his satisfaction at seeing the spark ignite once more within those cobalt eyes. “Obviously I know more than I did a short while ago,” he countered mildly.

Naruto’s eyes dimmed just slightly before his face went expressionless. He had always been judged for what he did, had always been looked down upon, disregarded. For some unknown reason however, the thought of the raven-haired man in front of him doing the same hurt. He stood there, trying to pack away his emotions, waiting for the pain of the spiteful words to hit him.

“What the hell you waiting for? We’ve got work to do,” Sasuke grumped as he finished fixing his clothing. “I have my case files out in the car. I think we should start there. If Baki has been accepting bribes from Orochimaru and Orochimaru has suddenly taken an interest in me, then it has to be because of something I’m working on.”

Naruto let out a derisive snort, relief suddenly flooding him at the change of subject. “I could have told you that, bastard.”

Sasuke looked over at him with a frown. “Then why haven’t you?”

Naruto gave him a tight smile. “Because you were too busy doubting my abilities and sincerity to ask.”

“Where do you want to work at?” Sasuke asked, deciding to ignore the blond’s flippant remark.

“Go get your files and meet me in the back. The last door in the hall. We should be able to work back there without too many interruptions.” Naruto looked up and grinned a little maliciously. “Unless you are distracted by T and A.”

Sasuke let out a disdainful grunt. “I have that at home.”

“And yet I was the one pounding your ass into the door the other night,” he replied a trifle smugly.

Unable to deny it and unable to formulate a comeback, Sasuke merely snatched up his jacket and stalked out of the room.

Sasuke pushed the door open that led to the main room, pausing long enough to toss the key at the back of the owner’s head.

A hand flicked up to snag the key out of mid-air, the face never turning away from the pornographic novel. “Thank you,” he sang out cheerfully.

A noisy sniff was made. “Why, detective, I didn’t know you used orange-scented cologne.”

Sasuke shot a glare at the man that should have burned holes through his head and into his precious book.

After grabbing his files, which were stuffed inside of a leather portfolio, he made a dash back into the shop. Passing by the desk, Sasuke noticed that Kakashi was actually up and helping a customer. However, the man’s face was still hidden by a shelf containing various flavors of body paint.

Shaking his head, he made his way to the last door in the hall. He hesitated only a second before carefully pushing it open, letting his eyes scan the room before stepping inside.

He froze when he saw a woman wearing only a thong standing in front of a seated Naruto. She had one hand behind her head and the other propped on a hip. On her other hip was one of Naruto’s hands. The blond’s other hand seemed to be doing something to the woman’s breast and the idiot was leaned forward towards her.

It hit him again that sex was just a job to Naruto. He used it to entice people, to maneuver people into doing what he wanted and none of it ever meant anything to him. Sasuke felt stupid. He had been letting his emotions think for him instead of letting logic dictate his dealings with the blond idiot. Sure he had felt sorry for him after seeing what had happened to him when he was younger, but then the boy was voluntarily in a position that enabled things like that to happen.

He couldn’t forget again that the blond knew what he was doing and knew how to play the game.

Naruto’s bright hair tilted slightly as blue eyes peered under the girl’s raised arm. “Hey, bastard,” he greeted casually. “You gonna come in or hold the door open all day?” He glanced up at the girl in front of him. “Give them a shake.”

The girl lifted her other arm and shook her chest rapidly back and forth. Sasuke’s hand clenched on the door as something dark streaked through his blood.

“Okay, it looks like it will stay on now,” Naruto said cheerfully, a smile much too large covering his face considering what the day had been like so far.

If Sasuke trusted what he had seen.

The girl gave a happy little “Thanks, Naruto!” before spinning away toward a different door. Sasuke watched the little tassels on her pasties swish and sway as she walked (not strutted, not slunk, but walked like a normal person) out of the room.

He glanced back at Naruto to see the smile get put away, as if it were some piece of a costume that he wore when needed. A much more serious look was directed his way as he shut the door behind him.

“We can go back toward the office area, we shouldn’t be interrupted there,” Naruto told him as he stood and headed back further into the room.

Sasuke couldn’t help but wonder who Naruto really was. Perhaps after so many years of having to deal with his situation, he had learned how to adapt quickly to the people around him, so that he showed them what they wanted to see.

Sasuke shook his head. It really didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that the blond held up his end of the deal. After that, they could go on about their lives and not have to cross paths again.

Suddenly scowling, Sasuke strode after his new partner.

********************
Naruto was confused. Not by the case files by any means, those were actually pretty easy to deal with. It was all just a matter of examining the facts and evidence to determine whether it was something which Orochimaru would have a hand in or, by some extenuating circumstances be involved in.

No, the source of his confusion was currently pressed lightly against his side as they both perused the documents in front of them.

Sasuke had started on the other side of the desk in the small, cramped office space that Kakashi rarely used. He had then slid around to the side so that he could point out tidbits to Naruto for the blond to give his opinion on. He had then ended up sliding around to his current position so that he could better go over the documents, hoping that some previously unnoticed detail would jump out at him and shout for his attention.

For Naruto, it totally destroyed any concentration he hoped to bring to bear on the papers before him.

He didn’t understand it really. He was certainly not unacquainted with members of either gender nor was he by any remote definition innocent when it came to the physical arts of pleasure. Yet, for some reason, he found himself slightly flustered with Sasuke’s proximity.

He could only suppose that perhaps it had something to do with the man knowing about his past. Not many people did and, if they did, not many people would care. If they did care, it was usually in the wrong way which ended up with either him in a fight when they tried to use it against him in a tormenting fashion or with him distancing himself from their pitying words and gazes.

Sasuke had seemed angered on his behalf.

It was a strange feeling actually when he thought about the detective’s words and expressions after he had seen the last clip. At the time he had been too deep within his own misery to really notice, but now that he contemplated it, he couldn’t help but be filled with warmth at the look of anger on the man’s face.

The detective had acted like he gave a shit.

But perhaps that was because he was a policeman; an honest one. One that hadn’t been jaded beyond all reach nor tempted past all redemption.

Naruto wondered if perhaps Sasuke would like to have sex again. It had been several hours since the incident in the booth; surely the man would be ready for some more fun. He had just decided to turn his head and start nibbling on Sasuke’s ear when something caught his eye on the pages before him.

Frowning, Naruto leaned closer to the lines of numbers on the cell phone records. The number he had recognized had been called a few times just before the records completely ended.

“This here,” he said, pointing out the number to Sasuke.

Sasuke leaned closer, his breath washing across Naruto’s scarred cheek. “Yeah, we haven’t been able to track that one down. It is one of those Pay-as-you-go numbers and whoever registered it gave incorrect information.”

“I’m not surprised,” Naruto said wryly, “she works for Orochimaru.”

Sasuke glanced at him and from the closeness Naruto could easily see the flicker of excitement flash through the detective’s eyes. “You know who this is?”

Naruto nodded. “Her name is Karin. I don’t know what her last name really is; we don’t use them too much.”

“You could describe her to a sketch artist though, can’t you?” Sasuke asked hopefully.

“Sketch artist? Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” Naruto reached down and grabbed his laptop. He flipped it open and booted it up, giving Sasuke a smug grin.

“You have a picture of her?” That excited gleam was back in his eye.

“Yep, her and a few others. Sometimes they help me with a set up if I need them to, but usually they are involved in their own business for the snaky bastard.”

While the computer finished loading, Naruto glanced through the file once more. The man that the case was centered around had been found dead, apparently stabbed multiple times and mugged since all of his valuables were missing.

“What’s this guy’s story anyway? Who was he?” he asked, curious despite himself.

“His name is Gantetsu, he’s a small time bookie, numbers runner. He isn’t worth much really, but apparently he had pissed someone off enough for them to take him out. He was stabbed several times and robbed. Whether from someone who had lost to him or from someone who had perhaps thought he had some money on him, we weren’t sure.

No one seemed to know anything naturally. All of his shady buddies have alibis and there wasn’t any discernable evidence on the scene to pinpoint anyone. The guys at the station seem to think that it was just a matter of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it just doesn’t feel right.

The fact that there was, in fact, nothing at the scene screams professional to me, but apparently I am the only one,” Sasuke explained, a faint note of frustration threading through his voice.

“Did you guys search his place?” Naruto asked as he started to pull up a picture of Karin.

Sasuke nodded. “Nothing much there. Nothing that would indicate any foul play.”

“I’m surprised you hadn’t closed the case by now,” Naruto murmured.

Sasuke ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, my captain has been harping on me about… it…” he trailed off, eyes narrowing.

“Wanna go take another look?” Naruto suggested. “I can’t see anything else in here besides her number. Maybe I might recognize something else in his place.”

Sasuke nodded, thinking that it might be a good idea when Naruto turned the laptop slightly to show Sasuke the picture.

The dark-eyed man shuddered slightly. “She looks psycho,” he muttered.

“She is,” Naruto affirmed. “And a total skank, too.”

Secretly glad that he had never had a run in with the woman on the screen, he stood and began gathering his files. “Come on, moron. Let’s go check out that apartment again.”

“Stop calling me moron, bastard,” Naruto muttered absently as he stood, stretching his stiff body. He was aware of the stare he was receiving but chose to ignore it as he gathered his own things together.

“I guess I’m riding with you,” Naruto said as he shouldered his bag.

“Hn,” came the ever-so-verbose response.

The two of them stepped out of the back, blinking in the harsh light of the fluorescent bulbs in the main part of the store. Apparently they had been at it longer than they had realized since it was now dark outside.

“Ahh, nothing like young love. You two boys have fun back there?” Kakashi asked from behind the half blown-up doll he was inflating for a display.

Sasuke shot him a scowl and Naruto couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thanks for letting us use your desk. Hope there weren’t any important papers on it,” he said with a grin.

“Just tax papers, nothing that I can’t use in any condition,” Kakashi chuckled. His eyes moved over to the stoic young man waiting impatiently. “If you need any more toys, you know where to come.”

“Pervert,” Sasuke growled as he grabbed Naruto’s arm and jerked him towards the exit.

“Ow! Hey, bastard, be careful with the merchandise!” the blond protested.

Sasuke immediately halted and yanked Naruto around to face him. “You aren’t merchandise,” he hissed out before he stormed towards the door, once more dragging the other with him.

Inside, Kakashi slowly smiled around the air valve of the “Sucking Susan, now with humming action!” doll.

*****************
While Sasuke was able to walk fearlessly into the apartment building where Gotetsu had lived, Naruto made sure that he took a more unobtrusive route of entry. The area was not controlled by Orochimaru, but Naruto was known in certain circles and preferred not to be noticed.

They met outside of the appropriate door where Sasuke brushed aside the police tape and unlocked the residence.

“They are supposed to release the apartment to any living relatives as soon as I give the go-ahead,” Sasuke said casually as he looked around the rooms, noting that everything was how he had previously left it.

He watched as Naruto started searching around the desk with a rather outdated PC sitting upon it.

“I take it you guys looked on the computer already?” he asked as he ran his hands along the edges of the desk.

“Of course,” Sasuke drawled.

Naruto then proceeded to open all the drawers, reaching back into them to feel behind them as well as up along the tops. Sasuke was about to point out that the place had already been searched thoroughly but decided to hold his peace. Maybe Naruto could find something they had overlooked or maybe not. Either way, he got to watch the other man as he moved about the cluttered little abode.

Sasuke was coming to the uncomfortable realization after having been closeted away with the blond for several hours that he was interested in the blond in a way that went beyond sex. The other man was interesting, had been exposed to life and had still come out somewhat intact. And even though he had been forced into a twisted form of prostitution, he still had passion and desire within him.

Naruto had endured and found a way to make his situation work to his advantage, slowly squirreling away the information he would need to escape it. He didn’t crumble, didn’t give up and it impressed the hell out of Sasuke.

He found himself wanting to get to know the blond better, to see if his instincts were correct and there was a lot more to him than what was on the surface. At worse he would be someone interesting to talk to, perhaps someone that he could actually be friends with.

He would just have to ignore that his friend was sexy as hell.

As Sasuke contemplated the term “friends with benefits”, Naruto continued to scout around the apartment. If the man had really been some kind of numbers runner, then there had to be some form of written record. Unless the man had been some kind of genius and had retained all of his information in his brain.

Naruto grimaced. Sometimes he had a hard time remembering which clothes he had worn the day before, he couldn’t imagine trying to keep track of something as complicated as dozens of betting odds within his head.

Where in the hell could it be if the cops hadn’t found it?

He stared at the computer a few moments longer, willing it to tell him something useful. With no answer forthcoming, he walked around to the back of the desk, wondering if the man had taped it on the back panel of the old, but sturdy metal desk. He couldn’t help the critical eye that wandered over the decrepitly ancient PC as he leaned over; noticing that the side panel screws weren’t even in.

Curiosity getting the better of him, he popped the panel to see just what kind of crap that was in the overgrown paperweight. His eyes took in the dusty motherboard and the onboard sound and video cards with a snicker. It had a CD-ROM and a slow one at that, a floppy drive and one small hard drive.

“What a piece of crap,” he muttered.

“Hurry up, moron, we aren’t here to sightsee,” Sasuke muttered, his eyes on the tight ass in the even tighter leather pants before him. He tried to tell himself that he had already seen that earlier today and shouldn’t be already thinking of it again so soon. He ignored himself and observed how the orange mesh shirt hinted at the hard body underneath it.

A surprised “What the hell?” caught his attention as the blond reached into the innards of the machine he had just been criticizing.

“Ah-ha!” the blond cried out triumphantly as he pulled out a small one gig flash drive. “This, my friend,” he said looking over at Sasuke, “should give us some interesting information.”

“Oh really?” he asked dubiously, unable to keep himself from teasing the other man lightly. Inside, he felt like a hawk that had just spotted a napping rabbit.

“Well, either that or it is his porn collection, but being a bachelor I doubt he would hide it.” Naruto shrugged and looked at the computer. “You want me to fire it up and see what’s on it?”

Sasuke shook his head. “That thing took forever to boot up last time. It’s late and I’m hungry. You can look at it on your laptop while we go eat.”

Naruto smiled enthusiastically. “Food sounds awesome right now! I know this really great place that serves the best ramen in the city!”

Sasuke scrunched his nose up in distaste. “I don’t think so. We’re getting real food, not some cheap imitation of it.”

Naruto had a look on his face as if someone had just told him Santa Claus was fake. “Oh my god, I can’t believe you said that! Ramen is like the food of life! Like the nectar of the gods!”

“Obviously not of gods of agriculture or hunting,” Sasuke grumbled. “Come on, let’s go grab food. We can decide what to do then.”

“Meet you down at the car,” Naruto grinned.

********************
Sasuke parked his car across from the Chinese restaurant that they had finally agreed upon. Of course one of the main reasons why Sasuke was so willing to order from there was that he had a menu in his glove box so they could call it in ahead of time.

Naruto’s face was illuminated by the light of his laptop screen, once more making his eyes glow an azure blue. However, the effect was somewhat ruined by the scowl on his face.

“What’s wrong now?” Sasuke asked warily. He didn’t want to hear that they had hit a dead-end after having had his hopes raised by potential new evidence.

“The file is passworded and I don’t have the program on my laptop that will get me around it,” he grumbled.

“What do you need to do it?” Sasuke asked.

“Just an internet connection. I know what site it is on and I can download it from there. It will give me the password on the file and then I can get in. It’s nothing extremely complicated; it’s not like the guy was a computer genius or something.”

Sasuke sighed, quickly deciding the best course of action. “Let’s get our take out, head back to my place and you can do what you need to get into that file. I want to know what’s in there.” He looked up to see Naruto gazing at him steadily.

“What?” he practically snapped.

“Nothing,” the blond murmured. “Just thought it was cool to get invited to your place is all.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes as guilt prodded at him. “It’s nothing,” he muttered uncomfortably. “I just want to get this case solved.”

“Ah, of course.” Naruto looked out the window as Sasuke sighed once more before getting out of the car to retrieve their order.


TBC