Once the plane finally landed in Konoha, Sakura, Taytai and Ryuu were swept up in the crowd of other passengers heading for the baggage area. Sakura found a pushcart and ten minutes later with both twins on the verge of meltdown, their bags finally made it down the conveyor belt. After a quick stop at the airport bathroom, the small family headed toward the front doors and the line of taxis waiting outside. As the first rays of early morning sunlight appeared in the dark horizon, Sakura was approached by a porter who offered assistance getting her and her children into a cab.
"Yes, thank you," she replied. "I need a decent hotel in the college area."
Within five minutes Sakura and her children were sitting in a cab as their bags were being loaded in the trunk and the porter was giving instructions to the driver. A half hour later, the twins asleep on either side of her, Sakura found herself in front of Isoide Hotel.
"C'mon guys, it's time to wake up," she said softly, shaking each child's shoulder.
"Are we there yet?" Ryuu asked yawning.
"Yes," Sakura replied, "now come on. Taytai, you too."
"Thank you so much," Sakura smiled tipping the cabbie who'd placed their bags on the sidewalk in front of the hotel.
A doorman appeared with a trolley and loaded the bags onto it.
"Staying with us for a while ma'am?"
"Possibly."
Taking the twins' hands, Sakura followed the doorman to the desk where a cheery clerk was able to find a room on the third floor for Mrs. Ishino Yasukawa and her two children. Sakura smiled, thanked the clerk and paid in cash. After a short ride in the elevator, they opened the door to a neat little room painted a calming shade of blue. Without even pausing to change their clothes, the twins climbed into one of the two beds and fell fast asleep.
oooooooooooo
A few hours later as sunlight filtered softly into the room, Sakura once again checked the lock on the door and then went into the bathroom to get a shower. When she was done she stood in front of the mirror brushing her short pink bob and rehearsing what she would say. Once she felt confident enough, she got dressed, reached for her purse, and pulled out her mother's worn little phone book.
Flipping through the pages she found herself quickly on the page marked "T". Running her finger down the list of names she found the person she was looking for. Sakura sat down on the bed, took a deep breath and dialed the number. It rang four times before a sleepy voice spoke into the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Hello," Sakura replied crossing her fingers. "Is Miss Tsunade there?"
"This is she."
"Miss Tsunade, do you remember a friend of yours, a woman named Sakuro Haruno?"
"Yes," Tsunade replied, all trace of sleepiness vanished. "Is she alright? Has anything happened to her? Who is this?"
"My name is Sakura Haruno, I'm Sakuro's daughter."
"Sakura," Tsunade exhaled. "Don't scare me like that dear. How's your mother? She called me several times when you went missing, and then once after you were rescued. But you know, that was four and a half years ago. I've tried calling her since that last time, but the line was disconnected. Did your family move like I suggested? Is everything alright? That man's not still after you is he?"
"Oh Miss Tsunade," Sakura sighed trying hard not to cry. "My parents always told me that if anything happened to them you'd be able to help me."
There was the sound of breathing on the other end but otherwise no response.
"Miss Tsunade?"
"Sakura? Sakura dear, what happened to your parents?" Tsunade sounded like she had a head cold.
Tears poured silently down Sakura's cheeks as she briefly explained to her mother's old friend what had happened and why there had been no further communication from Sakuro.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," she finished. "I tried to handle things on my own, but then he found me again. I'm really scared Miss Tsunade. Can you help me?"
Tsunade's voice was shaking when she spoke again, "Sakuro's dead?"
"Yes, I'm really sorry I didn't contact you before now..." Sakura started before she was cut off.
"Shhhhh...now tell me, when is the soonest you can get to Konoha? Do you need money?"
Sakura smiled gratefully, "actually I'm already here. My flight got in early this morning."
"Good girl," the older woman replied. "Now, where are you?"
"I've got a room at the Isoide Hotel, on Ninja Avenue. Do you know it?"
"Yes, I have a friend who works near there. Listen, I've got to take a quick shower and then I'll come see you. Give me about an hour?"
"I'm on the third floor under the name Ishino Yasukawa. And Miss Tsunade, thank you."
Knowing that she had an ally allowed Sakura to feel truly safe for the first time in two days.
"Yasukawa, got it. You're a clever girl. Don't worry, we'll figure something out."
Sakura hung up the phone smiling. Things were going to be okay. Looking over at her still sleeping twins she sighed, now the hard part.
"Taytai, Taytai sweetheart, it's time to get up. Quickly, you need to get a bath." The little girl yawned, but complied.
Ten minutes later it was Ryuu's turn. The sleeping dragon grumbled but eventually did as he was told. By the time Tsunade arrived, all three were dressed and waiting.
Even though she was expecting a guest, when the knock finally came Sakura, whose nerves were completely frazzled, jumped. Pressing a finger to her lips so the twins would be quiet, she called out, "Yes?"
"Mrs. Yasukawa? It's Tsunade."
A look through the door's peep hole showed Sakura a blonde woman about her height with large breasts.
"Tsunade?" She asked opening the door a crack.
The blonde woman smiled warmly and Sakura found herself pulled into an embrace.
"You know," Tsunade said holding Sakura by the arms and looking her over, "you look just like your mother. But those eyes." Tsunade peered into Sakura's bright green eyes. "Those eyes belong to your father."
Sakura smiled, pleased.
"Now, I think the best thing for you to do is come stay with me while we figure everything out. Are you hungry? I make a mean omelette."
"Well," Sakura hesitated. "Are you sure you have the room?"
"Of course, I have a guest room that would be just perfect for you."
Sakura bit her lip, "but it's more than just me. You see..."
"Mommy, I'm hungry, is this lady going to make us breakfast?" Ryuu called.
"Does she have Pop Tarts?"
"You have children?" Tsunade asked wide-eyed.
"Two, I have twins." Sakura confessed. She opened the door wider and called to her children, "Ryuu, Taytai. Come here and say hello to our friend Miss Tsunade."
"Hello there," Tsunade smiled at the children who suddenly decided to play shy behind Sakura's legs. "His?" She asked addressing Sakura.
The younger woman nodded.
"No matter, they're also yours. And they're Sakuro's grandchildren." She grabbed Sakura's hand and held it tightly. "Didn't I mention that I have two guestrooms? Now, get your things. Ryuu, can you hand me a few suitcases? I'll meet you in front of the hotel after you check out."
Oooooooooooo
"Hey kids, why don't you go play outside for a little while until breakfast is ready?" Tsunade asked as the small group entered her house.
The children looked outside where she was pointing and saw a playset complete with swings, twisty slide and a sandbox.
"Can we mommy?" They asked, faces alight.
"Go ahead," Sakura smiled. "But be careful."
Once the sliding glass door closed behind them, Sakura followed Tsunade into the kitchen and sat at the table watching the older woman busy herself with making breakfast.
"Tea?" The blonde asked.
"Yes, please. Can I help with anything?"
"No, just sit and rest. It seems to me that you've had enough excitement to last a few lifetimes. But tell me this," Tsunade's brown eyes met Sakura's green ones.
"Your children. It was a forced pregnancy wasn't it?"
"Do you mean was it rape?" Sakura asked.
Tsunade nodded.
"Yes, he raped me. The same day he killed my parents."
Tsunade's eyes filled with tears as she walked over to Sakura. Setting down the mug of tea she smiled sadly at the younger woman and hugged her tight. Sakura let herself be held as she sobbed into Tsunade's shoulder. Emotions she'd kept buried for years, all the fear and pain she'd kept carefully locked inside for so long came bursting to the surface. After several minutes she was finally able to speak.
"When I found out I was pregnant, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Even when I went into labor, I still didn't know. But once I saw them, I fell in love. They were so perfect and innocent. I thought that as long as he never found out," she sighed.
"I thought we'd be safe."
"But he found you."
Sakura nodded, "luckily the kids knew how to call the police."
"Did he mention to them that he was their father?"
"He may have, but I don't think they realized what was going on."
Tsunade nodded and after an affectionate squeeze on the shoulders, went back to making breakfast. The women were quiet for a few minutes, Sakura drank her tea and inhaled the comforting aroma of eggs cooking.
"Sakura?" Tsunade asked breaking the silence. "Are you still thinking about going to college to become a doctor?"
"I wish I could," Sakura smiled remembering all the big plans she'd had before Sai forced his way into her life. "But between not finishing my Senior year, and having two small children, I think that's a dream that needs to be forgotten."
"You took your SAT's right?"
Sakura nodded.
"Did you get a decent score?"
"1475."
Tsunade turned around smiling brightly, "You are smart, your mom always said that you were. Don't give up on your dreams just yet, you'll find things are a bit different here..."
Oooooooooooo
Sai smiled as the sound of his steps echoed through the silent halls of Kanpeki's new headquarters. It may have taken four and a half years, but he'd found her. The silly girl trying to live her silly little life away from him with her children...his children. That thought caused his fists to clench at his sides, but the smile stayed firmly in place. Now she'd run off again and taken his children with her. But just like before, it was only a matter of time he told himself.
"So where did she go?" He asked entering a small room with about eight people seated at computers. There was a steady rhythm of clicking as the industrious little ants went about their Intelligence work.
"We're working on it sir," a small wiry man Sai knew to be the department head, answered bowing. "We should have something for you in just a..."
"I found her sir," a woman in glasses called from her computer. "She's in Japan," the woman paused peering at her screen. "A town called Konoha."
Sai smiled widely walking over to a world map.
"Didn't I tell you that you can't hide from me, Sakura-Chan?," He laughed stabbing a thumb tack onto the word "Konoha".
A/N – I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks to my Beta Reader InosBane for the fixing the chapters up to this one. I'll see you fans with more chapters soon.. Bye