Hahahaha, gotcha!! You thought that last chapter was it for the week?? Nah, brah, I gotchu! 😜 This is my early Thanksgiving day present for you guys! Even though you don't normally give out present for Thanksgiving, who cares!! It's for a good reason and plus I'm pretty charitable 😊

It's short, but meaningful! Pay close attention to details! It'll give you hints about the future chapters *wink 😉 wink* Hope you enjoy and have a fantastic Thanksgiving, my lovelies!!

~Kei-chan 💜💋🎀

Chapter Thirteen:

The Wrap Up

"Are you alright?" I asked Bukio for probably the thousandth time.

"Yes," She laughed. "Just a little tired. I wish the royal police would hurry up and get done here so we can leave. I would like a shower and a hot meal."

"Same here," Naruto agreed. "I would actually prefer some warmer weather while we're at it."

"Now that sounds nice," Kakashi laughed.

We were all setting in a room right outside of the welcome center. Bukio said it was a storage closest, but it was either this or setting outside of the police station for hours on end until the royal police finished inspecting things and taking forensic evidence.

"Some make shift interrogation room," Sai commented. "I'm tired of looking at these walls."

"I wonder if they took Jolly's body away?" I asked, checking Bukio's temperature again.

"Probably not," Kakashi answered. "They usually won't for a day or so."

"It's been at least three hours since anybody has been in here to see us," I complained. "How long does it take for them to get an interviewer?"

That's when the doorknob rattled and opened to an older, balding man wearing the black royal police uniform.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting so long," He smiled. "My name is Kurine Sota, chief of the military police. If you would please follow me."

We did as he said and followed him through the cautioned off streets of the vacant city. Military police surrounded us all and around and the few civilians on the sidewalks were interrogating them.

"What's going on?" One woman asked. "My husband is a member of the police, where is he at?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I can't help you right now," The man replied, ushering the growing crowd back. "Just please go back to your homes. Everything is fine!"

"Why are you here!?" Someone yelled.

"Are you here to sell out more of our land?"

"More of our businesses!?

"No," He answered. "We're here to help you. I assure you all of that!"

"Yeah, whatever."

"Just take yourself back where you belong."

"In hell!"

"Now that's enough!" He yelled. "Go home or I will have to use force!"

I didn't here the rest of the conversation after that. We were ushered into a nearby store and given food. Sasuke had been strangely quiet throughout the entire time. In fact, he hasn't even looked at me since when he first arrived in the lodge.

I glance over at him. He was taking a drink of his tea, staring out of the window, setting across the room from us. I made my way over to him and sat down on the couch. I was trying to figure if he was looking at the billboard across the street from us or the crying wife setting on the bench next to it when he looked at me. His eyes were tired and his cheeks were paler than usual.

"Hn?" He said, setting down his tea.

"Nothing," I leaned back in my seat. "Just looking."

"At me or outside?" He raised his eyebrow.

"Both," I smiled. "Can't decided which ones prettier."

"Uh huh," His lips curved as he took another drink. "And what did you conclude?"

"You," I looked back outside. "Definitely you."

"Sure," He said. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I guess so," I sipped my hot chocolate. "How about you?"

"I've seen worse," He admitted. "I've done worse."

It was quiet for some time until Captain Sota came back into the room and called us one by one for questioning. As it turns out, Jolly, or rather Franz Hiki, was dying of kidney failure. In fact, he was going to take Naruto's kidneys. The money they had gained showed in profit around the city. From the fountains, to the updated skating rink, and back to the newly expanded school, it was everywhere. There was no leads to who the woman was Jolly spoke about, but they were still investigating it.

"What are you going to do now?" I asked, two days after our interrogations. "Who will take over the police station? These people need that."

We were at the cafe where Bukio had came to us, hurt and exhausted. It was a pretty day, children playing and birds flying around.

"I will be sending in reinforcements until the next group of police graduate in the summer," Chief Sota said. "Then once there here will stay for a little bit, get them use to things, and ship out after that."

"What about the hospital?" Kakashi asked. "All of those people without jobs?"

"Well," He stroked his mustache. "If Franz had of done his research he would of known that the hospital was adding on more labs this winter and they were going to hire back every single person who was laid off."

"When?" I asked.

"December," He answered. "Construction would begin then and by March people would have their jobs again. With the new income from those labs, more people would integrate here and bring more jobs with them. I hope it'll still work now."

"That's awful," I stated. "To think, if he would've just read a little bit more no one would have died."

"I agree," Chief Sota nodded. "What about you all? When do you get to leave?"

"Friday," Kakashi informed us. "Lady Tsunade called this morning and told me. Our bus will be here Friday at twelve."

"We leave in two days!?" Naruto said. "Fantastic! I can't wait to be back home. To stretch out in my own bed, to eat at Ichiraku's, to see Hinate . . ."

We seemed to drown him out after that and focus on something else.

"So what do we do for the rest of the day? And tomorrow?" Sai asked.

"Is there anything for Sakura to do at the hospital?" Kakashi asked.

"Not that I know of," He shrugged. "We have so many royal police and medics here that there's no jobs left for you. I suppose you may spend your last days here doing whatever you please."

"Let's go skating!" I smiled. "I've always wanted to."

"Let's go skiing! And sledding!" Naruto chirped in. "Ooo, and lets make snow angels!!"

"Hold up you two," Kakashi calmed us. "What about the woman behind it? Are you going to continue investigation?"

"Yes," He nodded. "Until we find her, we won't stop. Don't worry, we'll get her and put an end to this terrible tragedy."

"Just keep us up to date about everything," Kakashi nodded. "It's just strange for us to be sent out with the case being completely closed."

"We will," Captain agreed. "I just sent one of my men to info Jolly's family of the incident."

"Family?" I asked. "I didn't realize he had any."

"Yes, a brother and mother," Captain twirled a coin between his fingers. "It's just terrible."

"Yeah," I shook my head. "Just thank kami he was stopped. Who knows who woulda been next?"

"I couldn't agree more," Captain said, rising from his chair. "But I must go now, things to do and people to see. I don't think we, as a city, could thank you all enough for everything you did. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay and please don't ever hesitate to come back."

"Thank you," Kakashi said. "And we will."

As Captain walked away, I noticed two children setting together on the bench. The girl was smiling at the boy, who seemed uninterested. She touched his hand and he looked over at her. Then something magical happened. He leaned over and kissed her. She turned as pink as a blossom then jumped back.

"Hey," Sasuke shifted my attention. "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing," I smiled. "What are you looking at?"

"You," He touched my nose.

"Alright," Kakashi sighed. "What do you guys want to do first?"

"Sledding!" Naruto yelled.

"Skating!" I said.

"Well," He rubbed his hands together. "Let's get started, shall we?"

I glanced over at Sasuke as Naruto and Sai got up and started for the exit with Kakashi trailing behind him. He was looking at me, his eyes softer than usual. He held out his hand and I placed mine in it.

"Let's go," He said, pulling me with him. "Before Naruto starts to yell."

"Sakura-chan!! Teme!!" Naruto yelled. "Come on!!"

"Too late." I laughed as Sasuke pulled me through the door.