A/N: Howdy! How ya'll doin' today? Well, as you can see, my (as in, Italova) identity problem has only gotten worse... n.n; But, I think that may be because of the pixie stix I snorted in place of my breakfast... hoo doggeh! Dem be sum gud coke replacements! XD

Well, here's the first chapter of the story... again... Enjoy! (Oh, and we're losing a lot of reviews doing this, so please, in the name of all that is holy, REVIEW!!!)

Lova ya!

LavaLova

Haruno Sakura rushed into her cubicle-office, trying to untangle herself from her jacket and answer her whining phone at the same time.

Ring… Ring…

"Don't hang up!" she shouted at the still-ringing phone, finally freeing one arm and lunging at the plastic device. "Haruno Sakura, legal secretary," she panted into the receiver, setting down her briefcase and falling into her computer chair. "How can I be of service?"

"Took you long enough," Ino stated on the other end.

"Oh, hey, Ino, hold on a sec." Without waiting for an answer, Sakura set the receiver on the cramped desk, pried her other arm from the padded jacket and unwound the scarf from around her neck.

When she picked up the phone again and put it to her ear, she asked, "Who's ever heard of snow in July? That's just uncalled for."

"I know, it's like Hell freezing over here," Ino replied with a sigh. "Too bad it couldn't wait till tomorrow, eh?"

Sakura blinked rapidly with confusion. "Why? What's so special about today?"

"Don't tell me you forgot!" her friend exclaimed with exasperation. "It's your birthday, girl!"

"… Oh," she replied, slumping into the chair and kicking off her uncomfortable shoes. "I thought it was something important, like Ino Appreciation Day."

"Make all the 'Ino's so self-centered' jibes you want, m'dear, but you're not getting out of a birthday party."

"Oh, come on Ino," she whined, sitting up again.

"Speaking of self-centered," Ino ignored Sakura's whining protests as she continued on, "Didn't your beau at least wish you a happy birthday?"

"Well, he's so busy with work and all and he's been so stressed l—"

"Sakura," Ino interrupted, "It's a simple yes, or a not-so-simple no."

Sakura sighed. "No."

There was nothing but silence before her friend asked, "Will he be at the party?"

"Probably not?" The end of her answer turned up into a question and Sakura bit her lower lip. This was definitely going to bring on a lecture.

It was Ino's turn to sigh. "Tell me again why you put up with him?"

"He is fantastic in bed."

"And he's hot," Ino added.

"So hot!"

"Speaking of hotness, did you hear the latest Show Biz scandal?"

"No, but you're probably going to tell me anyway, right?"

"Right!"

"Alright," Sakura gave in without a fight. "Carry on then."

"Well, you know the lead singer for FOR?"

"Uchiha Itachi, right?"

"Exactly, apparently he broke off from the band! He's starting an all new one in a matter of weeks!"

"Wow, the band must be majorly PO'd."

"No, really?" she asked dryly.

Sakura heard a beep and the second line on the phone began to flash, telling her she had another caller. "Oh, gottta go, Ino, talk to you later."

"Party's at six at your place. Oh, and act surprised because I wasn't supposed to tell you."

"Sure thing." With that, Sakura hung up, pressed the button for the awaiting line and greeted her caller.

It was quarter past five and Sakura was wondering what to do until the "surprise" party.

She picked up the phone and dialled the number she'd memorized by heart, but, after several rings, an electric beep sounded and went to voicemail.

"Hey, Baby," she cooed. "Just thought I'd see if you were home, but I guess not. Call me, okay? Love you, bye."She hung up and slumped back into the couch with a sigh.

She so wanted to see him, it wasn't fair.

Then it hit her. She could sneak over to his apartment, surprise him when he got back and come back here for the party!Hell, it'd put on the whole oblivious act if she was a little late, too.

The plan was flawless! So, throwing on her Winter-in-July gear, she rushed out of the apartment and headed down the street, humming the Birthday Song.

Sakura stood outside of the apartment, giggling mischievously, marvelling at the sheer perfect-ness of her plan.

She used her spare key to unlock the door and stepped into the dark apartment.

She could swear she heard voices, though, as she shut the door behind herself. Simply putting it off as the neighbours, she started feeling her way to find a light switch.

That's when she noticed the light spilling out into the hallway.

He's not here, she thought with an emotion caught somewhere between confusion and fear. He's not here, it's just me. Me, myself and no psychopath killer…

Oddly enough, despite Sakura's fear and reluctance to see just who was in the apartment with her, she found her legs carrying her forward, pulling her toward what she didn't want to know.

As she continued onward, her legs moving of their own accord, she noticed just which room the light was coming from: the bedroom.

The door to the room slightly ajar, it reminded Sakura of every scary movie she'd ever seen.

The unsuspecting virgin, driven by naiveté and curiosity, opens the door to see a room filled with bloody corpses and the possessed inanimate object (ranging from a picture to a sports car) is right in the middle of it all, basking in its wonderful evilness.

But, when she poked the door open with the tips of her shaking fingers, there were no corpses scattered amongst the room, and no evil objects straight out of a Stephen King novel.

What was in the room, however, was much, much worse.

A/N: I know most of you have already told us you like this, and you already know who the demon straight out of a Stephen King book is, but PLEASE! It doesn't hurt to tell somebody over again, does it? Come on, this is our self-esteem on the line here! Review, dammit! ... Pwetty pwease? Thank woo! n3n