Title: When the Fire Burned Out

Description: Sakura is crushed after the second loss of Sasuke, but she won't let anyone see the pain besides her best friend Sai. When her next mission leads her through a crash course of love, then to the pain she's been avoiding, can she depend on her friends to lead her back to sanity?

Rating: M. For sex and some violence.

Disclaimer: I realize I forgot it before, I don't own anything. And the song used in this chapter is called Build God Then We'll Talk by Panic! At the Disco

We walked over to the restaurant, carefully stashing our bags in a tree. We were all armed with $50 each, and a kunai on each of our persons, carefully hidden. We stepped through the door, in our carefully chosen pairs, Gaara and I leading the group, as a show of intimacy, our fingers were intertwined, as like most of the other couples, except Naruto and Hinata. Naruto had his arm draped around her shoulders. Her face was bright red, and I was deathly afraid she was going to pass out. We all gave the waiters our reservation names, and were all lead to random tables around the restaurant.

Gaara and I were lead to a small empty table in the dimly lit back area of the restaurant. Gaara pulled out one of the chairs for me, before taking the one text to me.

"Hello my name is Fujimoto, I'll be your server for the evening, can I get you two something to drink while you're waiting for the other two in your party?" A handsome blue haired male asked, smiling down at us.

"Yes please, could we see your drink menu?" I asked kindly.

"Oh course ma'am, here you go." He handed one to both Gaara and I. I studied it for a few seconds before handing it back to him.

"What is your wine of the day?" I asked, smiling.

"Elyse C'est Si Bon, Madam, it's $4.99 a glass, but for $40.00, I'll bring the bottle to the table." I looked at Gaara,

"Do you want the wine love?" I asked, looking into his eyes.

"Sure dear." He winked at me.

"We'll take the bottle sir, thank you." Gaara handed him back the menu, and snickered as the waiter strolled away.

"Do you want the wine, love?" He asked mocking me. I laughed.

"I was trying to sound convincing." I grinned.

"That was horribly fake." Gaara said shaking his head.

"Well, sorry, I'll do better." I said, leaning towards him, and pressing my lips to his softly. "Oh honey, will you marry me"? I asked laughing, "Do you want me to get on my knees?" Gaara laughed despite the blush on his face.

It's these substandard motels on the corner of 4th and

Fremont Street.

Appealing only because they are just that unappealing

Any practiced Catholic would cross themselves upon entering.

"Why, hello Gaara-Sama. And, I'm sorry, I don't remember your name, but I know I've met you before." My blood ran cold as soon as I heard the voice. I looked up to see the chair being pulled out, and Orochimaru filled it, across from me. Next to him sat a young girl.

"Sakura." I said, calmly, despite the fact my heart was thumping wildly with panic.

"Ah yes, you were with the young Uchiha, when I gave him my gift." I cringed at his name, even though the walls were already down.

The rooms have a bit of asbestos,

And maybe just a dash of formaldehyde.

And the habit of decomposing,

Right before your very eyes.

"What are you doing here? Is this a trap?" I demanded, my hand instinctively reached moved to my neck, above where the kunai was hidden between my breast.

"Calm down kunoichi." The female said, catching a glimpse of the kunai. I gave Gaara a quick glance.

"If this comes to a fight, we won't be able to win." I warned him in a low voice. I wished Sai were here so he would hold my hand to keep me from falling apart.

"No, no, Sakura-chan, Gaara-Sama, we are not here to fight you, only to give you information about Sasuke-kun!" Orochimaru said, smiling. The waiter arrived with the wine, setting it down on the table with four glasses. I grabbed the bottle and poured Gaara and I a glass quickly, then handed it to Orochimaru. He smiled and poured himself a glass. "But first, are you two really a couple? How…odd." I shook my head.

"We're all just playing our parts." I said, sipping the wine, trying to seem casual, but inside I was ripping apart at the seams.

Along with the people inside,

What a wonderful caricature of intimacy,

Inside, what a wonderful caricature of intimacy.

"As I thought, though, what a wonderful caricature of intimacy, I mean, the looks she gives you, it's like, you're in love! An amazing act, if it really is acting." He then winked at me, licking his lips. "So, are there other ninja stationed in here?" he asked casually. I glanced at Gaara again, he nodded.

"Yes." I murmured, glancing around, I couldn't see any of them from the table. "There are…. 10 more I believe."

"Oh! Such a large number, I suspect you plan to go after Sasuke-kun with the information I am about to give you, you'll need your numbers." He warned. "But, here's the information you need…"

***

Kankuro sat across from Ino at the small table, staring at her chest. Ino was smiling flirtatiously at him.

"So, Kankuro, how are you?" She asked, batting her eyes.

"I'm great beautiful, and how are you." Kankuro asked, reaching across the booth and taking her hand. She blushed.

"I'm great, now." Ino said, smiling.

Tonight tenants range from a lawyer and a virgin,

Accessorizing with a rosary tucked inside her lingerie.

She's getting a job and the firm come Monday.

The Mrs. will stay with the cheating attorney,

Moonlighting aside, she really needs his money.

Oh, wonderful caricature of intimacy.

***

"So Hinata? What's up?" Naruto asked, stuffing his face full of ramen, Hinata blushed at the sound of his voice. But, you wouldn't be able to tell, her blushes never stopped, just blended into one another.

"I-I'm fine N-Naruto." She said, her voice almost a whisper.

"That's good." He looked up at her. "Hinata, you look like you want to say something." Naruto cocked his head. Hinata nodded, face even redder then before. "Well, spit it out." He urged, setting down his chopsticks.

"W-w-well, I don't k-k-know how to s-say this…but, I-I-I 'tbelieveI'mtellingyouthisbecauseI'venevertoldanyonebeforebutIthinkSakuraknowssoIbettertellyoubeforeshedoesandIusuallydon'tdrinkbutIamtonightbecauseI'mreallynervousbecauselikeIsaidIreallylikeyou." Hinata said, eyes on the ground. She took another gulp of her Rum and Coke. Naruto smiled.

"You like me?" Naruto's blue eyes were wide and innocent. Hinata nodded. "Wow."

***

CRASH! Temari through a large dinner plate at Shikamaru's head. He ducked and it hit the wall behind him with another crash.

"Whoa! Calm down woman!" He yelled, ducking behind a chair as she threw another.

Yeah,

And not to mention, the constable

And his proposition for that virgin,

Yes, the one the lawyer met with on strictly business,

As he said to the Mrs. Well, only hours before.

After he had left, she was fixing her face in a compact,

There was a terrible crash, between her and the badge.

She spilled her purse and her bag,

And held a purse o a different kind.

Along with the people inside,

What a wonderful caricature of intimacy,

Inside, what a wonderful caricature of intimacy.

***

Tenten and Neji were eating quietly. Tenten cleared her throat. Neji looked up nervously.

"So…It's a shame Lee couldn't come today." Tenten said, conversationally. Neji frowned.

"Not really."

"Why?" Tenten asked surprised.

"Well, he would probably be here with us, and I like having time alone with you." Tenten's face turned red, as did Neji's, she looked at him surprised.

"Really?" She paused. "What do you…. I like you Neji."

There are no raindrops on roses and girls in white dresses

It's sleeping with roaches and taking best guesses

At the shade of the sheets and before all the stains.

And a few more of your least favorite things.

***

We had ordered our food, already, I was still staring at Orochimaru nervously. "I still don't get it. Why are you telling us all this?" I demanded.

"Sakura, Sakura, Sakura-Chan. Sasuke-kun is out of control, I need you guys to stop him for me." He stated simply. "Well, I must be going." He said, standing up, as did his partner, "See you later Sakura-Chan, Gaara-Sama." And with a hand sign, they were both gone.

Raindrops on roses and girls in white dresses

It's sleeping with roaches and taking best guesses

At the shade of the sheets and before all the stains.

And a few more of your least favorite things.

Inside, what a wonderful caricature of intimacy.

Inside, what a wonderful caricature of intimacy.

Raindrops on roses and girls in white dresses

It's sleeping with roaches and taking best guesses

At the shade of the sheets and before all the stains.

And a few more of your least favorite things.

Raindrops on roses and the girls in white dresses

And the sleeping with roaches and the taking best guesses

At the shade of the sheets and before all the stains

And a few more of your least favorite things.

. . .

Is it really just a caricature of intimacy?


Review please,

I know the song is kind of weird,

But, they were all supposed to be acting like couples

And there was a "Wonderful caricature of intimacy."

So…Yeah.