The summary was a just a teaser. Here's the real one:

Sakura's fiancée has left Konoha for fulfill his mission and has never returned. He is now claimed as dead but she believes that he is alive somewhere. Sakura wants to leave home to search for him. But a woman like her can't travel in a world like today. Unless she hires a bodyguard named Uchiha Sasuke...

Hi! This is an idea I was tinkering with. I thought of an anime series I wanted to use. So here it is! My first Naruto fic. This is what happens when you start to read any animé fiction. As soon as you read one, one (especially if it's a good one), you get hooked. (sighs)

Obviously, Naruto doesn't belong to me but their respectful owners. All suggestions are welcome. Just a little reminder that this is an AU FIC, slightly. Some things might be a little screwy. But I'll try not to get a little too AU. Also, there are other hints of other couplings, if you don't support them, just ignore that part...

Thanks and enjoy!

An Undefined Search

PROLOGUE: Desperate News

I got up this morning to the sound of those damn irritating birds chirp. They're too cheerful. It always depresses me in the morning. I shook my head then followed by a stretch of my arms. My legs dragged me to the bathroom where I fixed myself up.

My name is Haruno Sakura. I'm currently working in the Yamanaka-Nara inn and living in one of their rooms. Everyone treats me differently because they think that I'm so helpless, that I would need their sympathy. And it was only because my family has been killed. They were killed during a mission because they were ninjas. Now, everyone thinks I'm "so alone" in the world. Honestly, I don't want it. That's how I became one of those people that like to show that we're able to handle the world by ourselves. I hate it when people give me pity because I'm weak. But I'm not weak at all; I can take care of myself. I'm twenty-one years old, damnit! I can surely take care of myself.

After spitting out the toothpaste, I looked up at the mirror and remembered one good memory that was probably worth while.

Since I was a teenager, everyone would make silent comments behind my back. My only friend was Naruto, an over-hyper-cat-look-a-like type of person. He was always happy and cheerful. Yeah, he did bug me a lot of his constant tries to get a date or attempts to marry me. But he was always there for me. He was my best friend.

Over the years, I've met Hyuuga Neji. He was more refined than Naruto. We would occasionally go on dates, even though Naruto would accidentally appear. I was happy with Neji. He made me feel wanted. Then he popped the big question to me and I accepted. Soon I'll become part of the Hyuuga family.

But a year ago, Neji was called by the ANBU to accompany them in a mission. We both knew pretty much how dangerous it would turn out. But he promised me that he'd be back. And as soon as he comes back, we'll get married. I wished him good lock and goodbye before his figure disappeared in the horizon.

The only problem is...he hasn't returned yet...

It's been over a year; and they claim him and his team dead. I only want to hear otherwise.

CHAPTER 1: Hired

Sakura zipped up her burgundy red, strapless, uniform dress, that was up to only three inches over her knee, under her open over-shirt that came up to the middle of her stomach. The shirt was the same burgundy red color, plain, and sleeves had stopped half-way to her elbows finishing with white lace at the end and gold plated nametag over one side of her chest. She took her customized collar and placed it around her neck. The custom collar was white and had half a completed ribbon on each side. One side had a loop of a garter while the other had a round gold plate. She connected the loop over the gold plate to make the illusion of a complete ribbon and a gold plate covering the knot. She then slipped on her white socks that reached past her knees followed by her red uniform shoes. To finish it all off, she tied her lace headband on top of her pink head. Then I combed out the ends of her hair to add a little style to it.

She stepped out of the room and made her way down the long corridor. Then her feet trailed down the staircase. She saw a familiar blonde in the lobby with her hands resting on her side. She was tall with her long blonde hair tied up. Her uniform was similar to Sakura but it place of her open shirt, she wore a blazer. Sakura recognized that angry face anywhere and especially those haunting eyes. She back turned slowly to creep back upstairs when her voice yelled, "HARUNO!" Damn.

Sakura quickly turned to her boss, scratched the back of her head and laughed, "Haha! Ino-chan! Ohayo!" She walked down the stairs to see her friend.

"Don't Ohayo me! You're late! How can you be so irresponsible!" Ino exclaimed walking up to Sakura.

"I-I overslept!"

"Overslept? Overslept! You sleep upstairs! It's amazing how you can arrive so late, if you can get to work in just fifteen steps!"

Sakura wailed, "I said I was sorry!" Ino snared at Sakura and grabbed her by her uniform. Ino led her away from the other employees into an empty hallway.

Ino and Sakura have been friends but enemies when it comes to boys. Despite that, they were friends that do actually get along. Ino's family started out with a small floral house then soon grew in territory. After, they had built a larger house to make use of their new area. When the renovation was done, they decided to open it as an inn.

Now that they were in an empty hallway, Ino's long blonde hair whipped behind her as she turned to face Sakura. Ino crossed her arms and tapped her foot. "So, what's your excuse this time? Why did you oversleep?"

Sakura blushed in front of Ino and turned her face away, "I-It isn't worth mentioning. I should get back to work." Sakura tried to slip by. "Like you said, I have to get to work as fast as I can!"

"Iie!" Ino grabbed her friend's shoulder and held it tight, "I wanna know what happened!" Ino paused then smirked, "You had a dream about Hyuuga-kun, didn't you?"

"Eh?" Sakura blushed, "Nothing like that!" She shook her head.

Ino made a seductive smirk, "I bet so. Oh, Neji! Oh, Neji!" She joked as she folded her hands and pranced around Sakura imitating her voice.

"Shut up, Ino-pig!" Sakura exclaimed trying to make her shut up. Yet, Ino kept imitating her voice. Sakura finally took her hand and covered Ino's mouth that was now laughing. "You don't see me making fun of your love life with Shikamaru!" Sakura snapped still blushing at Ino's actions.

Yup, it is true. Shikamaru and Ino had been married for nearly two years. The both of them owned the inn and did equal share, even though Ino was the one who mainly ran everything. Since Ino had taken the part as owner and manager, Shikamaru was usually tending the bar and the bills that came with the business.

"Gomen nasai," She mumbled through Sakura's hand. After things had settled down Sakura released her hand and turned to the lobby, "You do miss him, right?" Ino asked stopping Sakura dead in her tracks. Taking that as a yes, Ino continued, "You do know that they never came back yet? It's been over a year since you, or any of us, has last seen them, Sakura. You don't have to be brave about it. Most of us are accepting that he and the others are gone and never coming back."

Sakura continued to walk towards the lobby leaving Ino behind to mumble little things like how stubborn Sakura is.

Later that afternoon, Sakura walked into the lobby while pushing a cart with room items, such as towels, extra blankets, miniature bottles of shampoo and conditioner, soap, etc. Her eyes were heavy and dark circles appeared under her eyes as she parked the cart next to front desk. Sakura dragged her feet until her body found a seat (behind the counter) and fell onto it. Her left arm hung over the armrest as her right hand rested on her stomach and her head looked like it almost fell over the back of the chair. Sakura's mouth was opened and drool slowly trailed down her chin.

Just walking in with the same uniform and a bunch of papers, Hinata yelped seeing her seat being occupied the scary-looking Sakura. The papers that Hinata held on was now scattered around the counter and floor. "Sa-sakura-chan!" Hinata held her heart hoping that her heart rate would become steadier. "Ar-are you okay? You seem kinda...tense." Hinata replaced the word scary.

"Remind me again, why I have this job?" Sakura mumbled as she took tissue from the box and wiped her mouth. Sakura picked herself up and helped gathered her friends' paperwork. "I just bumped into the craziest person. She was tall and plump. She demanded to have her sheets changed hourly"

"Hourly!" Hinata repeated.

"And had to smell like jasmines," Sakura added picking up the final sheet, "I told her that the inn is trying to conserve the water supply. But she just insisted and demanded for more bottles of the shampoo and conditioner. I gave her five and then she asked if there were other brands because this one destroys her natural hair shine. I tried so hard not to take a towel and stuff it down her throat." Sakura fumed. She sat back on Hinata's seat and started to curl a towel from the cart and eventually split in half.

Hinata silently responded, "That doesn't seem very pleasant..."

Hinata organized the paper and sat quietly next to Sakura, "And the strangest thing happened..."

Hinata's attention was now caught. She turned towards her pink-haired friend and spoke softly, "What do you mean?"

"After the meeting with that lady," Sakura picked up a pencil and started to attempt to balance it using her index finger, "There was this guy, in the hall. I think he just checked in because I haven't seen him before. That and he had a travel bag in his hand. He had those dark eyes" Sakura paused, "there was something about them..."

"Are you starting to forget my cousin?" Hinata giggled as Sakura started to debate, "Iie! Iie! Never! I love Neji-kun with all my heart..." Sakura mumbled holding onto the ring which showed that promise, "That's why I have a plan, Hinata. I want to find him and bring him back."

"Bring him back? Demo, you don't even know where he is!"

"Ever heard of follow your heart?" Sakura winked, "Speaking of hearts, Hinata-chan, how's the progress with Naruto going?"

"Hmm?" Hinata blushed hearing his name. She quickly escaped the stare that Sakura made and started fiddling her fingers. "II didn'didn't tell him, yet." Hinata kept her stare away from Sakura.

"Eh? Doushite! " Sakura retorted in disbelief, "All you have to do is walk up to him, face him and look directly and say, Naruto-kun, Aishiteru! and then chuu!" Sakura taunted.

Hinata's blush became redder as she continued to fiddle with her fingers, "If only it were that easy..."

Sakura noticed her friend's actions and sighed. "Really, Hinata, I don't understand why you like the guy. The only thing he's good for is kids."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Take a look." Sakura replied pointing towards Naruto who just entered the lobby with a group of kids. Naruto's features hadn't changed except for the fact that he had grown taller and more built. He still had the sheepish grin and naive spirit. Even though that same grin made others disbelieve in him, he was able to bring it all around.

Naruto ran into the lobby in his uniform; a white dress shirt with his sloppy-done, red tie and the same burgundy red color with an unbuttoned vest. With his sleeves rolled up, he dug his hands into the uniform pants with his black shoes. His facial expression was rather annoyed as kids kept chatting away.

"Naruto-nii-chan, why do you have whiskers?"

"—Because I'm cool." He retorted, not looking at the child.

Another asked, "How come you have the job of watching us?"

"—Because I'm cool."

"Why are you so ugly?"

"—Because I'm—eh!" Naruto snapped hearing the kid's question. Naruto's eyes narrowed as he made a death glare to the child. "What—did—you—say, PUNK?"

"You heard me," The kid replied while shaking his bottom at him, "Ugly butt—ugly butt—ug-ly butt! Naruto-nii-chan has a pretty butt? NO! AN UGLY BUTT!" While the other kids laughed along with him.

"Why you—!"

"Naruto!" Sakura yelled, "Leave him alone! Remember, his parents help Ino with our paychecks, if you know what I mean."

Naruto stared, "No, I don't know what you mean..." Sakura slapped her forehead thanks to his stupidity.

"Ah! Sakura-nee-chan! Is Naruto-nii-chan a Jounin-level ninja?" A little boy climbed the desk area where Sakura was in.

"Of course he is." Sakura smiled sweetly to the little boy.

"And he works here only when he doesn't have a mission, ne?"

"Hai," Sakura still kept her smile.

A little girl climbed the opposite side. "And Naruto-nii-chan said that he is the most handsome-est ninja of all!"

Sakura's faced sunny, happy face turned dull, "Come again?"

"He said he was the most handsome-est ninja of all!"

"Kid, I don't mean to get your hopes up, but I won't call Naruto-nii-chan…handsome."

"She just says it because she's over whelmed." Naruto whispered to his little followers, who just nodded or said Oh.

"SAKURA! I don't pay you to do just sit and yell at this time of the afternoon!" Ino stormed into the lobby. Surprised, Sakura fell back on her chair after hearing her voice.

"Sakura-nee-chan!" The kids shouted in concern.

"I thought you were supposed to clean the spare rooms around now!"

"I finished early," Sakura retorted simply standing up from the floor.

Ino's face became stern as she leaned on the counter, "Didn't I tell you that if you finish so much earlier than usual—" Sakura paused and looked at her boss with a horrified look," —you—" Sakura shook her head in disbelief, "—have—" Ino started to smirk seeing Sakura's reactions.

"NNNNOOOOO!" Sakura shook her head while covering her ears.

Ino's smirk turned into an evil grin, "—Bar duty..."

As Sakura's inner self screamed in agony, Hinata mumbled, "Bar duty? What exactly is this bar duty?"

Sakura stopped her bellyaching and looked at Hinata. "You never had bar duty?" Naruto questioned as the kids pulled his vest and pants out of boredom.

"Of course she hasn't!" Ino shouted glaring at Sakura and Naruto, "Unlike you two, she actually does her work on time and correctly!" Ino faced Hinata and smile sweetly, "Bar duty is just another two words for nightshift. The bar is the only part of the inn that is open after midnight, except for the front desk. It's nothing really."

"Except when you're stuck with smelly drunkards for the next six hours," Sakura whispered.

"Hahaha! Sakura-chan has bar duty!" Naruto exclaimed laughing. One hand was holding his stomach while the other pointed at the now furious Sakura. One by one, the kids behind him started to mimic his every movement.

"Naruto!" Ino shot back, "You must have late night duty tonight also!"

Naruto's laugh came to an abrupt stop when he heard Ino's last phrase, "Heh?" The kids, now stopped laughing at Sakura, suddenly pointing and laughing at their nii-chan, "Wha—Why me? I didn't do anything!"

"You're manipulating these innocent children." Ino's voice suddenly changed when she faced the innocent children and said, "Hey, how do you feel if Naruto-sempai could stay with you a little longer? What do you say that?"

Hoping that they would protest, Naruto prayed. "We'd love that!" They exclaimed. Naruto's mouth hangs down wide. "We love him soo much!" The kids exclaimed as they hung around various parts of his leg.

"Aww, isn't that sweet?" Ino smiled once more as she prepared herself to leave, "Remember you two have the late shift!" Sakura walked and stood next to Naruto with the same facial expression.

"Oni...(1)" Both Sakura and Naruto said narrowing their eyes.

"Ah! Hinata-nee-chan! They're scary!" The little kids exclaimed, looking at Sakura and Naruto's faces.

"Ah! Sakura-san!" A voice called from the door. All heads to see a familiar face to our older characters.

"Konnichiwa, Lee-kun." Sakura commented seeing the man walk closer.

"Hey, kids! It's fuzzy brows!" Naruto taunted as the kids laughed along.

"Konnichiwa, Lee-san." Hinata greeted with a smile.

"Nice to see you still have your sense of humor, Naruto." Lee chuckled back. "Hello, Hinata, how's it going?" He smiled back at Hinata then faced his love, "And you look as beautiful as ever, Sakura-san."

Sakura made a light shade of red appear upon her cheeks before the other kids made little comments seeing the color in Sakura's cheeks. "Arigatou, Lee-kun."

"Ano, Sakura-san," Lee rubbed his arm and asked, "How you please give me the honor of enjoying an evening with me tonight?"

"Gomen, Lee-kun." Sakura smiled softly, "Ino had just given me the late night shift." And in reality, she was happy that she did. "I wish you would have caught me earlier."

"That's okay," Lee smiled, "I guess I'll just come back tomorrow." Lee bowed to Sakura and took her hand and made a light peck on her delicate fingers before exiting with one final farewell.

"Ah, Sakura-nee-chan!" One little girl pulled Sakura's skirt called, "Do you like fuzzy brows?"

"Ano…" Sakura smiled a fake one and asked, "What do you think?"

"I hope you don't!" The kid that called Naruto an ugly butt cried, "He has fuzzy eyebrows!"

The others laughed after his comment. If only Sakura had not laughed along, she would have notice a pair of dark eyes eyeing her from the top of the staircase observing the whole scene.

"Ah! Oi! One more round over here, sweet cheeks!"

Sakura smiled helplessly serving another container of alcohol to a middle-aged pervert. He looked at her almost seductively and winked. Sakura shook her head in reply and walked away.

"Oh yeah, she wants me…"

"Please remind me, again, why am I here?" Sakura sighed as she took one seat on counter where Shikamaru just laughed in response. Sakura buried her head into her palms, still hearing the comments from the men on the opposite side.

"Two words: My wife." Shikamaru laughed taking a glass of water out for Sakura.

Sakura looked helplessly at the glass and pouted, "That's it? Not even a shot of alcohol?" Sakura took the glass reluctantly and drank it all in one gulp.

"You're on the job, remember?" Shikamaru received the glass from Sakura and wiped it with the towel cloth on his side. "After working as a bartender, I can sort of tell what people are most likely to do when drunk." He replied sarcastically.

"On the job or not, I need about fifty pitchers of alcohol to make them seem worth it." Sakura commented pointing towards the guys with a beckon of her head.

"I thought you weren't into those types of guys." Shikamaru raised his brow as he handed Sakura one more glass of water, then leaned towards the counter.

"That's the thing," Sakura took the glass and gulped it down, "I'm not."

"Oi! Ojyou-san!(2)" The drunk perv called, "We would like another round!"

"Watch me kill myself." Sakura mumbled loud enough for Shikamaru to hear. He chuckled in return. Shikamaru filled another pitcher. Sakura walked casually as she could to the drunkard. "Here's the pitcher you ordered." Sakura smiled in a fake matter. She had turned abruptly before hearing anymore annoying and perverted comments.

"You're wife has some nerve to make me work late at this hour with these bozos." Sakura sank back in her seat in front of Shikamaru.

"I think Naruto has it worse." Shikamaru chuckled quietly to himself, remembering the little kids around him. "Besides, I don't think everyone here are idiots. That guy in the corner is pretty quiet." Shikamaru beckoned with his head towards a man in the corner. His attire was descent but uncommon in Konoha. His fingers were intertwined with one another and covered his mouth and nostrils. His eyes were closed, which seemed like he was meditating. "I'd say he's my favorite customer, takes his drink, sits in the damn seat, doesn't ask for much, and leaves a good tip as well."

Sakura shivered, "And you didn't mention the cold atmosphere." Even though she made that as an insult (and everyone knows that insults are for people they don't think so fondly of), she couldn't keep her eyes away from him. She had stared at him as if he had some type of spell that was so compelling to her. Whatever it was, it was working.

'Wait a minute. Isn't that the guy I bumped into this morning?'

"Sakura?" Shikamaru interrupted her thoughts. "I think that guy needs a refill." He pointed to the guy. Sakura's eyes wondered to the guy once more to his arm is up raising his glass.

"Oh, right!" Sakura jumped from her seat and took another glass filled up by Shikamaru. She got down from her seat and tried to make her way towards the guy. However she had a sudden roadblock. The drunkards started to play a little game called "screw-around-with-the-waitress"

The drunkard closest to Sakura lifted his leg on the opposite chair from himself to block Sakura from her path, "Oi! Ojyou-san! Another round!" He shook his glass like a little bell.

"Gomen nasai," Sakura said calmly, "Demo…I believe you have had your last drink for tonight." Sakura tried to walk briskly away from him.

"No problem," He stood from his seat and grabbed the glass of alcohol on Sakura's tray. "I'll just have this one."

Keeping her cool, Sakura lowered her balled up fist, "Fine, sir. Demo, that's you're last glass, got it?"

This sudden change in her voice caused the man in the corner to open his eyes and become aware of the uprising action.

"Hai!" His voice imitated what sounded like an academy student's response towards a teacher. Sakura shook her head in response. But the perverted drunkard grabbed Sakura's ass and made a really tight squeeze, "If these would kindly stay on my lap."

Shikamaru raised his head to see Sakura's pre-battle symptoms with a heavy death glare. "Great," Shikamaru sighed, "This happens right after I have the place cleaned up. Arigatou, Kami-san, arigatou. (3)" He raised his arms with such sarcasm. He turned around quickly to pick up the phone located behind him. He dialed an extension and awaited the other end.

"Yamanaka-Nara Inn, Uzumaki Naruto speaking; how can I make your life a living hell?" Naruto yawned through the other line.

"Naruto, you lazy ass bum! What the hell are you doing at the front desk?" Shikamaru raged.

"Hinata left for home already. The kids I was supposed to watch went to their rooms with their parents. And now, I'm taking the front desk until five in the morning. Now, how may I make your life a living hell?" Naruto asked with a hint of drowsiness.

"You're a sad excuse for an employee." Shikamaru sighed, "Since you're here (and a Jounin), do you mind kicking some drunkard's ass? He's harassing Sakura." He sighed. "And I think I'm still under probation thanks to the last fight that I tried to clear up."

Naruto groaned as he slowly got up from his seat, "I'll be there. Now, how can I make your life a living hell?"

"Now, you're just being stupid." Shikamaru commented before hanging up on Naruto.

"Sir," Sakura could reply with the best face she can put up at the last hour it was, "I request an apology for the rude behavior displayed. I don't find it attractive if a man touches a woman in an uncomfortable way." Heck, it was a better response then fuck off.

"How about, no, I won't apologize." He drunkard smiled with a cross between perversely and sheepishly. Sakura glared at the man before kicking his shin then his crotch.

"Bitch!" One of his companions exclaimed willing to punish Sakura. Preparing herself for the worst, Sakura shielded herself by crossing her arms together in front of her face. However, when there had been no signs of impact, Sakura released herself from her defense to see someone already taking the fall for her, except there wasn't really any fall.

It was the man with good tips protecting her. He looked at the drunkard's companion without an emotion. His gaze turned, along with the drunkard's companion, to his hand that gripped the attack. The guy smirked while taking only his hand to cause his body to swing onto the wall.

The drunkard was speechless of this guy's action. Yet, he was still pissed about Sakura's bold action towards him. He got up and raised his palm to Sakura.

However, the guy grabbed his wrist and wringed it tightly. The drunkard looked at this guy and noticed that he had no remorse.

"You shouldn't touch a lady." The man said as he released his grip from the pervert. The drunkard, now feeling crippled thanks to the lost of his blood circulation, fell onto the ground.

The man's piercing, red eyes soon faded into black while it turned towards Sakura who just simply blushed at his actions.

'He's the one,' Sakura thought, 'he's going to help me bring Neji back.'

Her eyes stared deeply into this man's onyx ones. She remembered that it was the same pair of eyes that she had met earlier this morning. She didn't even realize his dark blue hair, or his strange attire that gave away that he didn't live in Konoha. All she knew was that his eyes were taking her in and devouring all sense of feeling.

Naruto ran into the bar and panted, "What—what have I missed?" His eyes fixed on the scene that had just occurred; a damaged wall with an unconscious man, another one on the floor unconscious, a blushing Sakura, and a mysterious expression on some guy's face. Yup, Naruto had just missed a scene.

The man started to walk pass Sakura without a change in expression. "A—ari—arigatou," Sakura stuttered while holding her hands next to her chest. The man, however, did not reply.

He, instead, walked towards Shikamaru and raised his balled up hand to him. "This should cover for the damages." He realized the content onto Shikamaru's hand. The man walked on of the bar without another word said. Well, maybe not…

"You have dried drool on your mouth, and it's really annoying me." He commented to Naruto without facing him. He continued to walk as Naruto wiped the white dust on the side of his lips.

"Sakura-chan!" He called while making his way to her. "What happened? Are you okay? You're not hurt, ne?"

"Daijoubu, Naruto." Sakura smiled weakly, thanks to the sudden attention of Naruto.

"Who the hell was that guy?" Naruto scoffed. "He had the nerve to act all high and mighty, like he's part of the ANBU."

"I don't even know his name, Naruto." Sakura sighed. Shikamaru suddenly yelped causing the two to turn heads, "Shikamaru?"

"He—he—gave us. An—an extremely…large tip this time." Shikamaru laughed almost psychotically.

Hinata leveled the papers, the next morning. She placed the sheets in it's appropriate places without noticing a familiar friend walk up to the desk.

"Ohayo, Hinata…"

Hinata took some papers from a folder and greeted, "Ohay-ooo!" Yet she screamed at the last syllable causing all those paper to fly. She had seen Sakura's heavy-eyed face. "Sa—Sakura? Is that you?"

"I shall repeat, Ohayo, Hinata…"

"Sakura, a—are you okay?" Hinata went to the other side to guide Sakura to an office chair next to hers.

"I'm tired." Sakura sighed.

"I can see that." Hinata exclaimed seeing Sakura's disrupted uniform, "Was last that horrible?" She helped Sakura fixed her tilted skirt, uneven socks, incorrectly done collar, headband, and her sideways name plate, while she explained her story. "I guess it was that horrible…"

"That same guy I told you about yesterday was there." Sakura made a small smile that Hinata couldn't see.

"So? What's so important about him being there?"

"Remember I told you yesterday that I had a plan to bring Neji back?" Sakura asked with a little smirk. All Hinata could do was respond with a simple nod. "What if I told you that my plan to find him involves a man that helped me yesterday?"

Hinata nodded slightly but her eyes widened realizing what Sakura was hinting. "What? Are you kidding me—?"

"—Shhhh!" Sakura whispered her, "I don't want anyone else to know!"

"To know about what, Sakura?" Sakura and Hinata's head turned to see Ino holding a folder with one hand and holding her hips on the other. All Sakura responded was incoherent stutter while Ino would repeat her question.

"She wants to find Neji." Hinata blurted out.

"Arigatou, Hinata…" Sakura said sarcastically.

"You want to find Neji and bring him back?" Ino asked with disbelief. "You gotta be kidding me! I told you yesterday about my feelings about this. He hasn't been found! The odds are that the guy is dead!"

"I'm not willing to give up," Sakura eyes Ino with a serious tone, "Not now at least."

"Then how do you plan on during this?"

"Well, I—I was thinking of hiring someone." Sakura reasoned.

"And just who would someone be?" Ino responded.

"Excuse me," Someone tapped Ino's should then signaled for her to move. Ino stared at this person with her mouth hanging a little. She did as she'd been asked for as the person made his way to Hinata. Ino faced Sakura who sat stiff looking at this familiar face.

"May I ask you a favor?" This guy asked Hinata without any intention of flirting, "I'll be out for a couple of hours, so if, by any chance, someone comes looking for me, please tell them that I'll be back soon."

"Umm… okay." Hinata wrote the request on a little piece of paper. The guy bowed his head slightly as he walked his way to the door. "Oh, you're name, sir?"

He turned, for what seemed, slowly with grace, "Room 214." And exited.

Ino walked closer to the counter and slightly titled her head to Sakura, "That didn't happen to be…uh…that someone?" Sakura nodded softly while Ino made one large sigh, "I wouldn't mind hiring him at all, and keeping him for long hours if necessary."

"INO!" Sakura and Hinata exclaimed shockingly. "Have you already forgotten a certain phrase that goes like 'I'll always love you, Shikamaru.' ?" Sakura raised her eyebrow.

"Did you see that guy?" Ino responded in disbelief. "Hinata, look for Room 214!" She commanded the poor girl while she flipped through the pages thoroughly.

"Room 214; assigned to…" Hinata read, "An Uchiha Sasuke."

"Uchiha," Ino started.

"Sasuke." Sakura finished as the three remained silent for a little while.

Sakura was outside his room's door, pacing back and forth while reciting her so-called lines.

"Are you sure you want to hire him?" Ino asked with a tone of worry, following the storming Sakura along with Hinata. "He might be…you know…a bandit or something like that."

"That's true," Hinata agreed holding her hands to her chest, "You didn't even know his name."

"I know that he is more than qualified to escort me." Sakura responded without turning her head back to her two concerning friends.

"You could have hired any ninja to escort you." Hinata reasoned, "Just ask Hokage-sama, she'll give you a strong one. I bet Naruto wouldn't even hesitate to escort you."

"Hai, hai," Ino nodded, "If—if you're alone with someone you don't know, especially him, who knows what'll happen—"

"—I don't know if you two were listening," Sakura stopped abruptly and turned to both Ino and Hinata, "But he saved me—"

"—From only drunkards!" Ino shouted.

"—But still saved me." Sakura glared. "I'll do anything to find Neji and bring him home."

"Ohh, man…" Sakura rubbed her fingers together trying to take out all the time that now developed.

Sakura walked back into the lobby where Hinata looked at Sakura with worry. Slowly, Sakura approached Hinata and asked in a low voice, "Did he return?"

Hinata lowered her gaze from Sakura and softly replied, "Hai."

"Arigatou," Sakura turned to head towards the large staircase.

"Sakura!" Hinata called, causing Sakura to turn so abruptly, "Be careful…"

Sakura sighed once more before taking the courage to raise her arm and ball her fist. Her fist started to shake once more out of fear. 'You can do it!' Sakura's inner self scolded. She mustered up her courage once more then closed her eyes. She knocked with three quick taps of the door. She opened her eyes almost happy that she had gone passed this stage. 'Thank him first, then introduce yourself, then ask if he escort you…' Sakura's inner self said repeatedly making sure Sakura never lost track of what she was supposed to do.

The door creaked open. Sakura stood still awaiting for this Uchiha Sasuke walk through the door.

When the door fully opened, she almost got a nosebleed seeing what this guy was wearing. Sasuke's body leaned against the frame of the door thanks to his arm that pressed against the frame, shirtless. Sakura felt her blood boiling seeing this man's well built, six-packed chest. Her eyes were so fixed on his chest that she didn't notice the black sweatpants he was wearing.

"Do you intend on telling me what you want, Sakura?" He glared.

Sakura shot opened after hearing her name, "How—how did you know my name?"

Sasuke pointed towards her nameplate. Sakura had a small tint of red because: 1) she showed some trace of stupidity and 2) where he was pointing.

"Ano…" Sakura tried to remember what she was supposed to ask.

'Thank the incredibly sexy man!' Sakura's inner self screamed.

"Arigatou!" Sakura bowed, "I don't know if you heard me last night but I tried to thank you for saving me from the sexual harassment I had."

"I heard you." He responded as if he was starting to become a little annoyed by her presence.

"Th—then…" Sakura was doing it again…

'Introduce yourself to the incredibly sexy man!'

"I—I'm Haruno Sakura, you—you saved me oth—other night—"

"—I believe we've stated that fact." Sasuke sighed.

"Okay, th-then…" Sakura mentally slapped herself trying to think of what to do. This guy was catching everything she had rehearsed.

'Ask the incredibly sexy man to escort you!'

Sakura's blush became a little redder while replaying what her inner self said, and thinking of some impure thoughts that came to mind. Instead of asking him about her situation, she asked, "May—May I come in?"

This caught Sasuke off guard. She? She wants to go into a guy's room? Was it even legal for the maid to ask the customer if she could step into the room? Whatever it was or not, Sasuke moved out of the way and allowed Sakura to enter.

(1) Devil/ Demon
(2) Means "Lady" in a polite way
(3) Thanks, God, thanks.

So, what do you think? Is it worthy to be actually called Naruto fiction? (laughs) Thanks for reading and please review! It makes the authoress a very happy person. (And it tells her that she needs to continue (chuckles)!)