The Darkness Before Dawn

Panic

The news blared from the tv in the background as Shinju worked her way into the back rooms of Nara Technologies' labyrinth of firewalls.

"Doctors have reported that after weeks of fear and uncertainty, an effective treatment has been found, thus lowering the virus' fatality rate. Medical scientists and the National community are calling this a miracle and and example of modern medicine triumphing over nature..."

A few keystrokes later and she was in. She found the contracts she was looking for and with a simple click of her touchpad each and every contract was cancelled and erased.

Shikaku looked over the designs for the new assault vehicle Kiri had requested. He needed to find a way to reduce the weight and drag of the vehicle to make it a more efficient machine. "Dad!" Shikaku looked up from the blueprint to see his son burst into his office. "Yes?" "Our contracts, fucking gone! Our research, gone! Our money, GONE! We've lost everything!" Shikamaru said as he slammed his hands on the desk.

Shikaku turned to his laptop, typed in his access code and looked through the company's records. His son was right, everything was gone. Years of research and government bidding gone. His face paled as he quickly turned on the tv in his office.

"...breaking news. Defence giant Nara Technologies has just cancelled several contracts with governments around the Nations according to Iwa's Prime Minister who spoke exclusively with our reporter stationed in Iwa..." the reporter's voice became white noise as Shikaku stared at the tv in horror.

Shinju smiled as she set up the transfer of money from the company's accounts to Mother's and their accounts. Billions poured across the wires and she laughed softly as she watched Nara's account run close to empty.

"...Nara Technologies, a defence industry pioneer and innovator, has closed its doors and ceased trading on the stock market. Founded hundreds of years ago during the First Great War, the company rose to fame for its simple, but effective, weapons and became the supplier of choice to militaries around the World."

Shikaku and Shikamaru emerged from the front of the building. Seeing the reporters and cameras, Shikamaru sighed "what a drag. Let's go home, old man" as they walked to their cars, got in, and began thinking about their uncertain futures.

"Done!" Shinju said happily. "Whose life did you mess up today?" Yukiko asked from the couch as she flipped through a magazine. Closing her laptop Shinju replied "just a defence giant. No one special." as she sat next to Yukiko, flipping through the channels.

"Mistress Yukiko? You have a telephone call" Tenno said from the entrance to the room. "...ok" she said as she got up and followed Tenno. Picking up the phone, she placed it to her ear and waited. "Hello? Yukiko? Are you there? It's Konan" she heard. Swallowing, she said "I'm here. What can I do for you?" "You said you knew information. Do you know anything about these crimes or what happened today with Nara?" "Possibly. Meet me for a drink at Lèvres Rouges tonight at 10." she said as she hung up the phone, not giving the other woman a chance to respond.

Hidan groaned with impatience as Umiko checked him over. She knew he was fine but she took the opportunity to run her fingers over his firm chest and back as she listened to his heart and lungs. "Ok, you're cleared to go" she said as she stepped back from the bed.

"Yes!" Hidan shouted happily as he hopped off the bed like a child. "Thank you" Kakuzu said to Umiko as Hidan quickly changed from his hospital gown into the suit Kakuzu brought him. Adjusting his sleeves, fixing his tie and making sure his silver hair was slicked back, "I look fucking good!" he said. Yes, yes you do, Umiko agreed silently. Hidan turned to her and took one of her hands in his. "Thanks! You're a fucking great doctor! Goddamn gorgeous too! Can I call you sometime?" Umiko removed her hand saying "if I need to talk to you, I'll call you. You're still at 911, right?" Kakuzu coughed to hide his laughter as Hidan just stared blankly at Umiko, the gears in his head practically smoking as he tried to understand what she meant. "Tch, whatever bitch. I'll find you!" he said as he left the room. Kakuzu sighed "why couldn't you let him die?" he asked the empty room. "Because...he's kind of cute" Umiko said quietly.

"Oh! Dr. Hoshigaki! Good morning! I brought you your coffee, as you like it, here!" his assistant said while thrusting a hot cup of coffee in his hand. "Hang on, let me get to my desk" he chuckled. He dropped his bag and laptop onto his desk, threw his jacket over the back of the chair and tossed his phone on top of his stack of reports. Sipping the hot coffee he looked at his phone. She hadn't texted last night nor this morning. Maybe sometime today she would?

"Don't get too comfortable. Pein has called a meeting now that everyone is back" his assistant said. Sighing, he got up and headed to the conference room, taking his coffee and phone.

Opening the door he saw that everyone was seated at the table, him being the late one. "Sorry" he said as he sat next to Itachi. Pein frowned but nodded. "What do have?" He asked, his purple eyes boring into each man, daring them to give him bad news. Deidara cleared his throat and pushed the Kumo file towards Pein. "Similar hit, yeah, in Kumo. Same marking on the casings, hm." Pein scowled as he opened the file and glanced through it. Itachi pushed Suna's files towards Pein saying "Suna has also reported a similar assassination, same style." Pein grit his teeth as he flipped through the files.

"Are we looking at a criminal organization?" He asked. "I can't say for certain if it is an organization but I can say that if it's the same person then they have discovered the Fountain of Youth. Based on the timelines, these assassinations started before the First Great War." Pein sat back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. "First it was a hit, then an outbreak, now the financial sector has been hit and Nara taken down. What the FUCK is going on?!" He yelled.

"Chief?" A mousey looking woman asked, peeking into the room. "WHAT?!" He roared at her. "The Mayor's office called. He wants to see you." Pein stood up, "get your shit together gentlemen, and figure this out!" he said as he left the room. His secretary handed him a note: Working late, don't wait up. Konan. He crumpled up the note and threw it in a trash and he passed by. Just fucking great. The City is going to hell and his wife couldn't be bothered to come home.

Mother sat outside, sipping her tea as she looked over the vast English garden from her veranda. She smiled as she savoured the headlines from the City, proclaiming Nara's demise and panic gripping the financial sector. She had been right to rescue these girls from the shit lives they had been leading. Good work my lovelies, she thought as the sun began setting in the horizon.