'Target confirmed. Contact in 3... 2… 1'

There was a brief moment of silence as Sasuke's voice fizzled out of her ear piece.

With that Ino squared her shoulders and plastered on a bright smile as she rounded the corner. Coming face to face with the man of the hour; Inoue Takumi.

'Inoue-san! Oh I wasn't expecting to see you here!' cried the blonde, in mock surprise though her voice was softer than usual. It was took only seconds, but through the eyes of his binoculars, Sasuke watched in amazement as everything about the Ino he knew, shifted and changed into the character for the mission.

'I'm sorry but do I know you?' asked the man in confusion whilst eyeing Ino up and down. Beady black eyes steadily raked over her body, stopping to stare appreciatively at her chest before slowly drawing back up to her face. It made Ino's skin crawl.

Fluttering her eyelashes innocently, Ino took a step closer delicately offering her hand out. 'Oh we haven't met yet. Sorry I get a head of myself sometimes. My name is Aino Noriko, I'm here in Suna with my fiancé for the sole purpose of planning our dream wedding. So naturally that means acquiring one of your dresses – oh but we do have an appointment scheduled just later today, at 3 to be precise.'

Takumi smirked, in a way he probably thought woed women in his favour. If it was any civilian it probably would have worked. Still, as Takumi took her offered hand and placed a gentle kiss to the back of her palm Ino was proud she halted her natural reaction of a full body shudder.

'Well I am pleased to make the acquaintance of a beautiful woman such as yourself, despite it being earlier than perceived, Ms. Aino. You said you had a fiancé however I do not see him near?'

'Ah well Kenji-kun is running a tad late. There was apparently this sand garden lovebird tour that just opened a few weeks ago, but you need to book a reservation so my Kenji went there while I did some window shopping.' To accentuate her point, Ino jingled the small bag in her other hand causing Takumi to straighten and take a respectful step backward.

'How thoughtful of him. It always amazes me how generous young couples in love can be for another compared to the ones already married,' mused Takumi chuckling to himself and Ino forced a giggle for conversation sake.

'He is. I can't wait for you to meet him,' coed Ino as she glanced down at her watch. 'In fact he should be here any minute –'

'Nori-chan there you are, I was worried where you'd gone off too,' cried Sasuke jogging around the corner, looking slightly out of breath. Once he reached Ino he easily slid his hand around the small of her back and leaned in for a light kiss. As a blushing bride to be, Ino was more than willing to kiss back only amplifying the image they were portraying.

'You needn't worry Ken-chan, I was only gone 20 minutes,' pouted Ino breaking apart.

'Twenty minutes with my credit card in the shopping district. As much as I love you Noriko Aino, my wallet can't say the same.'

'Guilty as charged,' murmured Ino shyly, placing her hand on Sasuke's chest as she sank into his side. His arm now securely wrapped around her waist as the couple turned to face Takumi. The man had a plastered smile on her face, used for business. Given his trade he was probably completely use to disgusting open displays of affection.

'So you must be Kenji-san. I only just bumped into your fiancée, but already she speaks highly of you.' Mused Takumi as he offered a hand which Sasuke shook.

'Uzami Kenji, pleased to meet your acquaintance. My fiancée has nothing but glowing things to say about your store, sir.'

'Please Inoue-san, will do. I am happy to hear that your fiancée is interested in my work. After all where would I be if not for fellow happy couples to be wed like yourself?' asked Takumi with another laugh, which they all took part in.

'Well as delightful as this was, I do have other meetings scheduled. But I shall be seeing you later today then.'

'Yes we look forward to it Inoue-san.'

'As do I. Please check in with my assistant when you come for your meeting later. I look forward to hearing more of your story, as it deserves my full attention. If the tale of how you two met, is anything like the love you both share when you gaze at one another, I am sure it will be awe inspiring.' Mused Takumi with a fake cheery smile plastered on. If either of the couple weren't skilled ninja, trained in the art of deceit; they may have bought it. It was just a sad reality, that all of Inoue Takumi's victims had.

Ino giggled, pausing to gaze lovingly up at Sasuke; who in perfect timing, looked down at her and stroked her cheek with one knuckle. Breathing in deeply, as if he needed not air; but only the image of Ino's beauty to survive. In response, Ino swooned.

Mental vomiting aside, they really did look the picture perfect star crossed lovers right then.

Sasuke smiled handsomely at his fiancee, 'I'm not one to brag Inoue-san, but Noriko is the love of my life. But you're right, we won't bore you with details. We'll see you later, thank you for taking the time for us briefly already, have a good day.'

Pleasantries aside, the two parties gave another round of farewells before separating.

'That was painful,' whined Ino as she collapsed on the bed. Sasuke who hasn't been able to wipe the grimace off his face couldn't agree more. After a successful first run in with their target, the happy couple "celebrated" (Code: to keep up appearances) by dining out, before doing a hand-holding stroll around the market place (ninja speak, for plotting out escape routes and surveillance.) Then returned to the hotel for a quick de-brief before their meeting took place.

'I mean no one can be that pleasant, especially with people face-sucking in front of you. I was doing the face sucking and I wanted to vomit at it all, no offence.'

'None taken,' input Sasuke lightly as he grabbed a drink from the bar fridge, settling into a chair in the shade. It was the middle of the afternoon and the sun was at the highest point in the sky. To top it off Suna was in the middle of a heat wave, and that was saying something, being in the desert and all.

Rolling onto her side, her head propped up on a bent elbow, Ino cast the last Uchiha a questioning look. 'So what did you find out?'

'Takumi travels around with a troupe of body guards. Disguised as civilians as not to draw suspicion. But they effectively tailed him the whole way there. He has a driver – Ryo Kujo; who is a dismissed mist nin.'

'Dismissed?'

'He allegedly murdered a family he was assigned to protect, however no one could actually link him to it. So he was dismissed of active duty. He dropped off the radar five years ago. About two years ago he popped up in Suna as Takumi's chauffeur.'

'Interesting… So he has ninja as well as body guards in his employment. That fact that they're disguised probably means he's doing something he shouldn't and the fact he has them, is because he's afraid of something….'

'Well he does kill people for an living. That's bound to accumulate a lot of vengeful relatives.'

Ino tusked, dismissing the thought immediately.

'No if he was a simple psychopath he wouldn't bother with the hired protection.' Mused Ino, tapping her chin thoughtfully. Deep cornflower blue eyes gazed in concentration at a random spot on the wall and Sasuke watched as a series of emotions portrayed on the blonde's face as she went through the motions in her head. It was times like this that Sasuke was reminded of his first days after his recapture and imprisonment in Konoha ANBU interrogation headquarters.

At first he had been surprised to see Ino there, had even laughed thinking the village was so desperate to hire a girl like her. If she was anything like the person she was from what their childhood then surely it meant she hadn't amounted to much after all these years. But it was when he was mid laugh that it hit him – he hadn't even sensed her move, before he was convulsing painfully on the floor. It had only lasted seconds, enough to knock the wind out of him and send a good shock throughout his system. But it had been a painful shock that lasted with tremors minutes after. It was then Sasuke had reevaluated his opinion and chanced to look at Ino again; only to see her staring right back at him with the same expression she wore on her face now.

He had been there once before, and he honestly could say he felt sorry for what Takumi Inoue had coming to him.

'Well as you enter your mind palace of horror, I'm heading over to case Takumi's office and set up surveillance before we head back there for the meet.' Stated Sasuke, finishing his drink and standing.

Ino just waved her hand in dismissal, which Sasuke smirked at before taking his leave.

He would never say it out loud, but he was glad Ino and him were on the same team.

Fin. 06

Author's Notes

Welcome to the world of 2014! (Two years now humanity has survived the end of the world, I feel like I'm living in a surreal time line, waiting for the other shoe to drop. *ahem* embarrassing confession, I was a 2012 believer; hence my reference.)

I'm uber stoked because I calculated that my fanfic account is ten years old! Woot woot. I mean I haven't really done anything that can honestly amount to ten years of time but still… it served as a way to motivate me to update! (which is another thing, I didn't honestly think almost 3 years have passed since I last updated – was 2011 really that long ago? Don't mind my rambles, I'm terrible for time – once I even forgot my age.)

Another thing, in honor of logging in to I have uploaded peektures for most of my stories in the fancy "put yer peekture huuuurrr" tab. As well as I changed my pen name again. Don't know why but I think I outgrew my identity has Never-chan. So we shall see how long thing one sticks… but yes If you're like "Wait didn't Never-chan write this – did this person steal her story, how dare they! Hark thief!" … then fear not. It's still me.

I doubt anyone actually knows me by my pen name though, and perfectly fine with that seeing I don't know other fanfics by the author. -_-; I would be utterly bedazzled though if someone spoke old English in my defense… just cause it would be awesome.

Back to the story, lo and behold lookie that; I actually got in some time with their mission! Who knew? Am I sensing a plot forming here?! #So proud of myself it should be illegal.

Well that's all… I shan't make empty promises to you about updating sooner. It might take me another whole decade -_-; if that's the case, and during that time I do die… I promise to inform my mother to update my profile to give the world a heads up. So those loyal reviewers who post between the years and plead for updates aren't left hanging. Wow, that was a depressing thought. But it stemmed from good intentions!

To everyone who gave a shout out from chapter four; thank you for your love, your praise and your thoughts. It always made my day when I would get a random email saying someone reviewed my story. If you stumbled back here after the haitus like I have, I hope this chapter appeases you like the rest have. If you are a new reader to this story I hope you enjoy. Also please don't be disappointed when I jet off for a year…. Or two… or five. :D

Later days!

***EDIT from the year 2016 ***

Well, I wrote that nice lovely blurb; completed two chapters… and just let them sit on my computer for two years. Sorta feel like an asshole now, hence why I didn't delete my memo to save face – the world of fanfiction should know my guilt! *apologizes profusely* … see you in Chapter 7 - One day?

Also I wrote this chapter, well 2 years ago with all the Japanese suffixes attached to names; 'san', 'chan', 'kun' as well as putting last names before first names when introducing yourself. If that is a little confusing, I can either explain it better, or go back and take it out. I'm not sure if I will continue with it, but this chapter I was all meh.

Side note… when they get down to the mission and work together; Ino and Sasuke don't argue as much, I have to admit it's not as fun. Curse their truce, it forces me to write them all lovely-dovey. :P