Of Desperation and Devotion

Disclaimer: Eventhough it breaks my heart to say, I do not own Naruto. (hmmmmp…)

A/N: Thank you to all who gave their reviews for the 1st chapter. I really appreciate it. For those who are wondering why Sasuke and Sakura are not yet married, it will happened on the 3rd or 4th chapter and from then on the story intensifies. Just bear with me. I'll really try to live up to your expectations. And now, on with the 2nd Chapter of Of Desperation and Devotion entitled Despair.

Chapter 2: Despair

"Everyone, I would like you to meet Misao, my girlfriend."

As if everyone went deaf they shouted " WHAT?". The ones who are unfortunate to be drinking at that time tried to stop choking on their sake.

"Yeah you heard it right. She's my girlfriend." Sasuke smirked

And Sakura's world collapsed. Shikamaru's hand snaked on his fiancee's waist to offer restrain rather than comfort. Ino was glaring daggers to Sasuke and sizing up Misao. Naruto was fuming inside. Hinata grabbed one of Sakura's hands under the table.

The group tried to recover their composure and tried to greet Misao.

Tenten awkwardly glancing around the bar trying not to look at Sakura. Everybody was trying to do something not to linger the topic of conversation to the new couple.

At last and surprisingly, Lee stated that since Sasuke is already here, its time to start the party. Everyone readily agreed.

The new couple slid on the couch across Sakura.

'Of all places to sit why would they sit there? Hmmp…' Sakura thought. 'Ok Sakura, you can do this, smile and pretend that you are not affected. Come on, smile. It's just for a few hours then after that you can cry your eyes out at your apartment. Be strong. Naruto and Hinata are here. Ino and Shika are also here. You can do it girl. Smile, Dammit, Smile.' She silently motivated her self. Try to maintain the calm façade that she is trying to portray.

A waiter passed by and Sasuke order sake for him and Misao and asked the group what would they like to order.

"Come on guys, order what you want. This round is on me."

"hey, This is a change Uchiha, I wish you get a new girlfriend everyday so that free drinks will keep on coming." Kiba joke that earned a not so gentle "accidental" step of Tenten's foot on his. Sasuke just smirk.

Everyone had ordered sake. No one cared to ask Lee what he wants because they know that he'll take every chance he could get to drink. They order orange juice for him.

The orders came and everyone started drinking again when Sakura noticed that Hinata is not drinking.

"You got an early mission tomorrow Hinata?" she queried the silent girl.

"None. We scheduled the party after we made sure that everyone is free the next day after. You know how these parties go. The guys will try to drown themselves with alcohol until they passed out." She giggled

"Then why are you not drinking. I remembered once that you tried to beat Ino in a drinking dare."

"Ahh . . . A-Ann-o . . . Sakura-chan. I. . . " she said nervously.

"Gosh Hinata, I thought you've gotten over that stuttering already."

"Gomensai, Sakura-chan. I'm just nervous. I haven't told Naruto-kun yet."

"Told Naruto what?" she eyed her

"I'm 2 months pregnant." The Hokage's-in-waiting wife confessed

"What? You are pregnant?" shouted Sakura

"Nani?" Said Naruto who was until that time busy talking with Shikamaru about the latest mission he had.

The ex-Hyuuga clan Heiress looked up to her husband and said. "I'm 2 months on the family way Naruto-kun."

The Kyuubi vessel's face registered shocked. He looks like someone just punch him in the gut. Then, suddenly a slow smile crept on his faced and looked tenderly to his wife. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face on her hair.

"Thank you so much Hinata-chan. I love you." He said while hugging her. Tears are rimming his eyes.

Everyone hooted and congratulated Naruto. Even Neji smiled as he congratulated his cousin-in-law.

Another round of drinks were passed with the compliments of the soon to be father.

By then the music started to get on their blood and Naruto invited his wife to dance. He totally forgot his promise to Sakura.

"Naruto-kun, I would love to but . . ." Hinata glanced at Sakura. Remembering what he told her earlier. "You promised Sakura-chan."

"It's okay Hinata. Go ahead. This is your night. Celebrate and dance. I'll be fine here." Sakura said

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Hinata asked worriedly.

"I'll be fine. Go ahead you two lovebirds." She managed with a smile.

With that, Naruto pulled Hinata to the dance floor and sweep her to his arms.

Sakura looked at the pair. She can't help feeling slightly jealous of her best friend. He went through a lot of pain in his life but know he found happiness and love and will spend the rest of his life in the arms of the person he loved most.

'I should not feel jealous. Naruto deserve this happiness. Of all people, he best deserves this.' She contemplated.

Prying her eyes away from the couple, she glanced to Sasuke across the table.

Again, jealousy was eating at her heart. She saw Sasuke whispering at Misao's ear and Misao giggled and playfully slapped Sasuke's shoulder. He caught her hand and pulled her to his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist.

'she's beautiful.' Sakura thought. 'No wonder Sasuke likes her. Long blonde hair and hazel doe eyes, I wished I had not cut my hair."

Sakura maintained a shoulder length hair. She thought that it would be practical considering her line of work.

She tore her eyes away from the couple when Sasuke started nuzzling Misao's neck which from the looks of it Misao really enjoyed. She threw her arms along his neck and snuggled closely in Sasuke's lap.

She tried to look everywhere but the couple then she came in contact with Neji's eyes that are intently watching her from the rim of his sake cup. Sakura swore that she saw mocking eyes and his damn smirk despite the ever changing club lights.

"Damn, stoic Hyuuga bastard.' She cursed Neji inwardly.

She was pulled for her silent cursing when Sasuke pulled Misao to the dance floor following Naruto and Hinata who was really enjoying themselves dancing.

The music was a slow sexy one. Sensual and seductive. Misao danced with Sasuke with the bodies touching a little beyond as what the society permitted couples while dancing. Maybe because alcohol somehow lowered her inhibitions, Misao seductively brushed her body to Sasuke while Sasuke, who seemed to enjoy the gesture, was smiling and desire can be seen in his eyes. He draw Misao closer to his body also moving sensually with her.

Despaired and jealous, Sakura fought her tears from falling down. Then, she saw Misao looked at her way with a triumphant smile upon her lips as if telling her that she won, mocking every fiber of her being that she, Misao, was dancing with one of Konoha's most eligible bachelor and own him.

Anger rise inside Sakura.

'Is she mocking me?' she glanced again to Misao. She saw her damn smile again and playfully wrapped her arms around Sasuke's neck and continued dancing with him.

'Oh yes, she IS mocking me. Damn!' she confirmed.

'She wants a fight I'll give her a fight. I can dance more seductively than her.' Sakura had a few sessions from an exotic dancer when Tsunade assigned her to recover a scroll from a man who was smuggling weapons to a group of rouge ninjas in Suna. The man is fond of picking up hot girls in bars. She took lessons upon the insistence of Tsunade that the best way to get the man's attention is to be the center of attraction on the bar and that is by seductively dancing on top of a table while scantily dressed. That was the only time that Sakura accepted a mission of that nature. She explained to Tsunade that she didn't have the guts to do it again. But still, despite that, she learned a lot from the dancer.

'Hmm… whom shall I ask?' she glanced around. Every one of her friends is occupied with the exception of Neji who still has the smirked on his face. Lee has invited Tenten on the dance floor. Chouji was also dancing with some girl who had pried him from eating the peanuts served with sake. Shino was talking to a raven haired girl from his clan. Kiba was on the other side of the bar busy flirting with a brunette. Ino and Shika was cuddling at the couch beside her. Her eyes drifted again to Neji. No way was she going to dance with Neji. He probably doesn't know how to dance.

She looked again at the dance floor and she saw that Misao was watching her, obviously aware of her jealousy and distress. She whispered something to Sasuke's ear and he glanced at Sakura. Misao again whispered to his ear and then they chuckled.

With her anger flaring again, she decided that she'll take steps to blow Misao and Sasuke out of her mind. She drank her full glass of sake bottoms up and purposely walked to Neji's side.

Neji watched her approached him and quickly stand up. Sakura was surprised when Neji grabbed her hand and dragged her to the dance floor. "Coincidentally" not far away from where Misao and Sasuke was dancing.

He twirl her with his one hand and stopped her by pulling her close to his body.

"Dance" he commanded her

"What?"

"I said dance."

She just eyed him blankly.

Neji irritable sighed

"Dance with me as if I were Sasuke." He growled in her ear and proceeded to sensually sway his body with Sakura.

Surprised at what he said she allowed him to guide her body in tune to the music.

Suddenly Neji twisted her so her back was facing him and swayed her hips seductively. Neji put her hands on her shoulders and gently tugged the jacket that she was wearing. He slowly pulled them down her arms while still swaying intimately with her. She felt warmed breeze at the back of her neck and was surprised that Neji discarded her jacket and she was just wearing her red body hugging halter top which shows a portion of her delectable cleavage and her black mini skirt. She felt Neji put his arms around her middle while his chin is on her shoulders moving sensually with her.

Maybe it was because of the alcohol or the hurt and jealousy she felt towards Sasuke and Misao or that her rebellious nature started to surface, she put a hand up to Neji's neck and while the other hand on top of his at her middle. She leaned slightly to the side allowing Neji more access to her neck.

Their group was surprised to see Neji dancing seductively with Sakura. Who would have thought that the Byakugan holder has moves on the dance floor and could move his body as seductively as he was now while dancing with Sakura. (boy, I'm feeling hot here. Hehehehe …) But they are more surprised when the pink haired mednin was allowing the boy's advances as if he had the right. Ino was practically opened mouth staring at her best friend and Shikamaru tried hard not to stare or else he'll get a bonk in the head. Shino, Lee who finished dancing with Tenten, Kiba and Chouji was trying not to get nosebleeds.

Sakura's body was moving in tuned to the music while seductively brushing her body against Neji. Eyes closed and lips with a slight smile she set aflame most of the hot bloodied male in the bar. They are practically gawking at her, intently watching her swaying hips and the rise and fall of her chest. While the female population in the bar was drooling overNeji. Tall and well-built, the handsome shinobi was definitely doing a slow sexy dance his eyes never leaving Sakura's face.

This was definitely a night of surprises, their gang thought, when they saw Sakura turned to faced Neji and put her arms around his neck still eyes closed and feeling the music with her body.

Neji smirked and continued dancing but not after he stole a glance to the last of the Uchiha and his girlfriend. He saw Sasuke's jaw clenched and Misao's eyes narrowed.

While all of this is happening, in Sakura's mind she was transported to a place were inhibition does not exist and hurt and despair is an alien feeling. She imagined that she was dancing sexily in front of Sasuke. That the hands that was holding her belong to him. She was performing this dance for him, only for his eyes.

Her cheeks are flushed and lips parted as she continued to dance while in the arms of Neji while somewhere in the middle of their dance had firmly attached his hands to her hips. She was giving her all, catching attention and trying to block the pain from her heart. Her arms slowly closed around Neji's neck drawing him nearer but were stop when two hands hold her arms away from his neck and settled it on his shoulder. Then she was awakened from her trance when a deep voice whispered to her ear.

"You can stop now."

"come again?" Sakura said confusedly

"I said, you can stop now. They left 5 minutes ago." He answered

Sakura glanced around the dance floor only to find that Sasuke and Misao is nowhere in sight.

"They left the bar 5 minutes ago. Sasuke walked Misao home but promised to come back after."

"What? So you can read minds now?" she mocked. There is no way that Neji could've known what happened to them

"Lips, I can read lips." He answered

"Hmmmmnnn.." she pouted

"Well, I guess our performance ends tonight cherry blossom that is, if you don't want to continue this in private?" he taunted.

"Are you hitting on me Neji? Get a life. You know damn well that will never happen. Blame it on the alcohol, Dammit." Sakura cursed him.

Neji chuckled. "Well, I guess we could blame it on the alcohol."

"yeah and you'll become a stoic bastard once you are sober again." She added with a impish smile.

"and you'll become Ms. Prim and Proper who is single because Sasuke won't take notice of her." He lashed back

Beginning to get tired of their banter Sakura pushed away from Neji.

"Look Neji, I thank you for 'inviting' me to dance and I'm sorry for lashing out on you. Eventhough we are not that close you're sensitive enough to know what I am feeling tonight. It's just that I'm just emotionally drained and I . . ." She couldn't finish because her voice started to quiver.

Neji pulled her back to his chest. "I'm sorry too for manipulating you and using your feelings when you're vulnerable. Hey come on cheer up. I may be a stoic bastard but I don't make women cry." He joked.

"Thanks Neji. Thanks for being a friend when I badly need one. But you're still a stoic bastard." She chuckled

"Oh is that right, Ms. Prim and Proper?"

Sakura smiled slightly.

"Umm, Neji, we better get back at our table."

"yeah, that would be a good idea."

When they arrived at their table, hoots automatically sounded. Remarks like "wow Sakura-chan you got them good." "Sakura, you set the dance floor aflame." and a "you're H-O-T, Sakura" from Kiba who got a smacked on the back of his head from the ever protective Naruto. Neji was also not sparred when Shikamaru pointed out that Neji got moves and evilly eyeing the browned hair man.

Sakura and Neji took their seat and across Tenten and Lee who was still giving them teasing glances. Not long after, another round of drinks was passed. They were finishing that round's sake when Naruto suggested transferring at their house and raid their wine cellar which as far as the group know is quiet extensive, thanks to the constant gifts of Naruto's Jiraiya-sensei. The group agreed and Sasuke was just in time to join them when he arrived.

At Naruto's house, (well it was more of like a small mansion having 8 bedrooms, a spacious living room and a more spacious kitchen, 4 toilet and baths and a very big lawn ), The group settled on the cushions on the floor. Most of them are a little tipsy from all the sake they drunk from the bar. The group started to reminisce about all the funny times they had.

"Hey Naruto, you remembered the time when you tried to ask Hinata's hand from Hiashi?" Chouji said

"Yeah, I remembered that. I was so nervous that day."

"I remembered that day too. It was when you tried meditating to calm your nerves but when that didn't worked out you tried to ask for my help and when I didn't, you practically followed me while I was bug hunting while shouting. Unfortunately I was so irritated at you that I'm considering throwing a kunai when one of your flapping arms accidentally knocked off a beehive. God, I could have died laughing that day." Shino added

Everyone was laughing.

"You could have seen him Hinata, he had these red bumps in his face. Hahaha…" Kiba was rolling on the floor while clutching his stomach.

"Enough dog-breathe. That was funny but painful. What's funnier is when you tried to make your moves on a beautiful blond while commenting how nice her ass and rack is and how long and shapely her legs are." Naruto countered

"yeah I remembered that we just came back from an A class mission that had gone well without a hitch and we decided to have a couple of drinks. I think Kiba was roaring drunk that night not to notice that . . . hahaha. . . the girl . . . hahaha. . .is . . .a . . . " Sasuke was laughing so hard.

"MAN!" Lee, Shino, Chouji, Shikamaru and Naruto finished for him.

"Hey no fair, she doesn't really look liked a man with all those stuff and curves on the right places." He objected whiningly.

The talk went on. An hour passed and Hinata kissed Naruto goodnight. Telling them she needs to rest and the rest of the group should continue their fun. She also told them that the 7 guest rooms are all clean and they can use it if they are too tired or too drunk to go home. With that, she climbed the stair to their bedroom.

The party continued until two in the morning. Everybody was TOTALLY drunk and so Naruto suggested that they take the guest rooms. Sakura and Tenten took the two rooms upstairs at the left side of the house. Shikamaru and Ino took the remaining room upstairs. Sasuke took the farthest room downstairs. Lee and Neji decided to share a room as well as Kiba and Shino. Chouji slept alone. No one wanted to sleep beside a drunken Chouji in fear that they would be squashed while sleeping.

Around 4 am Sakura woke up feeling thirsty. She went down to get a glass of water and proceeded to raid the Uzumaki residence Medicine cabinet for some aspirins for her hang over. As she was going up stair the room where Sasuke was staying had its door ajar. She can see Sasuke's head buried in the pillow while he lay on his belly, the blanket only covering only his waist downwards. He must have discarded his shirt before sleeping. Half-naked Sasuke was a sight to behold. Even asleep his muscles ripple every time he breathes (hmmm…. Getting hot again.. drools).

Sakura stared to the raven haired man she loved dearly. She realized that somebody now owns him. He now belongs to that bitch Misao.

It must have been that she still has a high content of alcohol in her body or that her head is pounding because of hang over that she decided to enter Sasuke's room.

Sakura knows that Sasuke sleeps like the dead when he's drunk that's why as much as possible he doesn't drink if there is a mission coming. Fortunately tomorrow is a rest day for them.

In a split second decision, she discarded all her clothes and took of Sasuke's short and boxers. She stood beside the bed taking in the wonderful sight of Sasuke's naked body. Then she slipped under the covers and wrapped her arms around Sasuke's waist and fell asleep.

Sasuke mumbled incoherently in his sleep and wrapped his arms on the warm body next to his. He settled once again and continued sleeping.

0000----0000----0000

The birds are chirping and sounds from the kitchen can be heard.

Naruto slowly opened his eyes and a smile formed on his lips. 'Hinata-chan must be preparing breakfast' he thought.

He contemplated the news of her pregnancy for a while and then stood up and entered the bathroom to take a quick shower.

True to his guess, Hinata was in the Kitchen and fixing breakfast. Most of their friends are awake and was waiting for the food to be served.

He notice Sakura and Sasuke was the only ones still not up.

Naruto wrapped his arms around his wife and gave her a kiss.

"Hey sweetie, good morning. Where's Sakura-chan and Teme?" he asked

"Sasuke is still asleep, I guess. I already asked Tenten to wake up Sakura but she's not in her room. Maybe she took a walk. " His wife answered.

"I should wake up Sasuke-teme. I bet that will piss him off. Hehehe.." he grinned

Naruto went to the guest room that Sasuke normally occupies whenever he sleep over in their house. Sasuke always chooses the farthest room because it has a nice view and it's away from the kitchen which means that he's far away from Naruto's early morning rambling of Ramen.

With every intention of shocking him, Naruto gather air on his lungs, opened the door and shouted "SASU---"

His shout was caught short when the image that greeted him robbed him of his speech.

There in the bed, lay Sakura and Sasuke, under one blanket and from the look of the discarded clothes on the floor are both naked. Arms and legs entwined with each other. Sakura's back is leaning on Sasuke's chest and his one arm is around her waist holding her close to his body while the other arm is under Sakura's head. His head is buried in her pink hair.

The scene that greeted Naruto implied that something happened that night. Something that involves Sakura's virtue and Sasuke's libido.

His protective instinct kicked in and without a thought, Naruto rushed at the side of the bed, grabbed Sasuke's arms away from Sakura and shouted.

"DAMMIT SASUKE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING NAKED IN BED WITH SAKURA."

Hearing the commotion from Sasuke's bedroom the remaining of the gang rushed inside it only to be greeted with a unbelievable scene.

They saw Naruto shaking from anger about to maul Sasuke, shaking the half-asleep raven haired man to awareness.

Sasuke, now fully wake was eyeing Naruto in confusion.

And Sakura, obviously had just woken up because of Naruto's voice, began sitting on the bed and slowly began noticing that all her female friends is looking at the three of them in disbelief and the male ones are looking at her, particularly to the sheet of blanket slipping from her shoulders.

Reality sink-in to Sakura. Memories of the early morning, hours ago came rushing in. She started to panic and try to find a way to escape this compromising situation. She choose the easiest way.

She fainted.

A/N: That was a long one. So chapter two entitled Despair is now up. I hope you will all like it. Keep the reviews coming. Chapter 3 is coming in a few days.