Review:

Staring irritably at Shikamaru for a long moment, Sakura scowled and propped her hands on her hips. "You are getting on my nerves."

"Wow, I'm so shocked to hear you say that," Shikamaru replied, still amused at her irritation. "It's not like you've told me that five hundred other times today… And yesterday. And the day before that. And they day before that-"

"Shikamaru stop!" Sakura exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air. This made Shikamaru and his parents laugh. Finally giving in, Sakura joined in their laughter.

The next morning, Wednesday

Having left his house earlier than usual, Shikamaru was at Sakura's almost a half hour early. To his surprise, Sakura's door was already open before he got there. Freezing up. The thought of her getting attacked again was quick to his mind, but settled down when he heard Shadow and Tank barking from a few floors down. Moving over to the door, he paused when his eyes found Sakura.

She was standing with her back to him with a coffee mug in hand. Clearly still dressed in her pajamas. An old charcoal black quarter sleeve silk nightgown that reached barely to her mid-thigh. Without realizing it, he found himself checking out her legs. It wasn't until Tank and Shadow were approaching to go back inside that he made his presence known. "Your dogs are extra loud this morning."

Sakura visibly jumped at the sound of Shikamaru's voice. She clearly hadn't noticed him standing there, as she spun around quickly. "What are you doing here?"

"I got up earlier than usual," Shikamaru replied, stepping into her apartment, and closing the door after Shadow and Tank came in.

"Clearly," Sakura started, noticing how he was watching her for a long moment. Finally her eyes went down, and her cheeks flared red. "Oh god, I need to go put on some pants."

That had Shikamaru smirking as she turned to speed down the hall to her bedroom. Having noticing her cheeks flush red had him chuckling. Moving over to the couch he gave Shadow and Tank a little attention as he waited for her return.

It didn't take her more than five minutes to return fully ready to go. "I'm ready to go."

Shikamaru's eyebrows rose at the sight of her. She was only carrying one bag on her back, and another on her shoulder. "You've only got two bags."

"It's temporary Shikamaru," Sakura replied as if it was obvious. "We've only got another six and a half weeks until after the festival is over. I don't need to bring that much stuff. Besides, most of my clothes and shoes are in summon scrolls. So I don't have to take up too much space in my bags with those. Most of the stuff is for the dogs and Baby. Besides I still live here. If I need something, I can just come get it."

That had Shikamaru shrugging, as he stood up from the couch. "Well after having Ino as a teammate for years, I just assumed you'd be like her in that sense. She'd have at minimum five bags packed, and maybe even a few boxes."

"I bet she would," Sakura agreed, laughing along with Shikamaru. Reaching over, she picked Baby up from her cat bed on the counter top, and looked over to Shadow and Tank. "Let's go boys."

After locking up her apartment, they started their walk over to Shikamaru's house. It took them slightly a bit longer to get there than usual, as Shadow and Tank were making friends with some of the kids out in the Nara district. When the finally got to Shikamaru's house, both were laughing as they walked inside.

"Stop calling me that!"

"What?" Shikamaru asked, laughing some more. "It's true. You look like a crazy cat lady."

"I do not," Sakura disagreed, laughing despite trying to be serious. "Just because I'm holding my cat instead of restraining her in a carrier, doesn't make me a crazy cat lady."

"It just looks like it," Shikamaru said, laughing even more at Sakura's eye roll.

"I feel your judgment, and I don't appreciate it."

At Sakura's seriousness, Shikamaru had to stop and laugh more. Finally catching his breath, his eyes went over to his parents. "She carried Baby all the way here. I've been-"

"Making fun of me," Sakura interrupted, trying to be serious, but a smile crept it's way on her face. Her eyes went to Shadow and Tank, who had been all over sniffing at Shikamaru's parents. "Hey you two, cut it out."

"It's not trouble Sakura," Yoshino said, laughing as she pet both Shadow and Tank.

The second Sakura set Baby down, she went over to the couch, and jumped up on the arm beside Shikamaru's dad. Sniffing him a bit, she curled up and laid down. Only to hiss when Tank got to close. Leading to Shadow and Tank both barking, and Baby hissing.

Sakura grinned as she looked to Shikamaru. "Remember, you invited us here alright?"

Shikamaru shook his head, and turned. "Come on, you can put your stuff up in you room."

Later that evening

Leaning back against the railing on the stairs, Sakura smiled as she watched Shadow and Tank running around. Baby sat on her lap, and was currently getting some much needed attention from Sakura. The sun was setting, and the village was growing still.

It's been an interesting day. After putting her stuff away in what would be her room for the next month and a half, she spent the day trying to get used to the idea of living there. It wasn't that hard until after they had dinner, and she took her shower. Thinking of how different it was from her quiet and tiny apartment. It had been quite a while that she lived with other people. It is a little comforting though. After the whole me getting attacked fiasco the night before last, it's nice to have other people around.

The sound of the front door opening was heard, making Sakura look over. Shikamaru was just shutting the front door back. His hair was down from it's usual up-do, and clearly still wet from his shower. Crossing the porch to sit on the opposite side of the step she was on.

Nothing was said for a few minutes, which was unsettling to Sakura enough to make her speak first. "Is this the part where you ruin the nice moment by asking me about what Tsunade came to speak to me about earlier? Because if so, I'm not going to just sit here and listen to you question me."

Shikamaru looked over to Sakura. "I wasn't-"

"First of all, I already got yelled at enough by Hinata yesterday, and that's enough lecturing for me," Sakura interrupted him. "Second of all, I already told you that Tsunade was only telling me that they hadn't found anything out yet. I wasn't even lying, so I don't know why you feel the need to think I am."

"But, I'm not-"

"I agreed to live here didn't I?" Sakura continued on to interrupt him. "That should be enough for you to stop worrying so much. But yet here we are-"

"Would you stop talking for five seconds?" Shikamaru interrupted her this time, a smirk on his face at her taken aback expression. "I understand you don't want to talk about it. Contrary to what you seem to believe, I'm not planning to bother you for more information. I understand you just want to take a break from all the talk, and that's fine. What's important is that I know you're going to be safe because you're here. That's good enough for me… for now anyways."

Sakura just sighed, and crossed her arms. "Great, so I get like a five minute break from your questions then."

"Well, if you want, I can just start questioning now-"

"No, I'm good," Sakura interrupted, lapsing them back into silence. Her eyes focused on Shadow and Tank for a bit more, then went over to Shikamaru finally. "So we don't have any work to do tomorrow, what are you planning on doing?"

Mirroring Sakura, by leaning back against the railing, Shikamaru sighed, as he relaxed. "If I can help it, I'm going to avoid training, and do nothing all day."

That made Sakura smile, as she focused back down on Baby in her lap. "Of course. I wouldn't expect anything less."

The next day

"She must be catching up on sleep," Yoshino was saying, as she was starting on breakfast. "After the past couple nights, I don't blame her."

Shikamaru leaned further back on the couch cushions. "I wish you'd let me sleep in like that."

"Nice try," his mother replied, making his father laugh from where he sat on one of the bar stools. Sakura's cat sleeping on the stool next to him.

That laughter was cut short when the front door opened, and in came Shadow and Tank. Both the dogs went straight to their water bowl to drink up some water. Then in came Sakura. A thin layer of sweat on her skin, and drinking some water from a water bottle. Dressed in shorts, a tank, and some running shoes.

"You went out?" Shikamaru asked, an eyebrow raised at her nodding. "It's only eight in the morning."

"I went running," Sakura replied, sipping more of her water, as she caught her breath.

"How long have you been gone?" Shikamaru asked.

Thinking back to when she left, Sakura hummed. "I left the house around five or so."

"Three hour run, huh?" Yoshino questioned, a smile on her face. "You must have had some energy to get up that early."

"I guess," Sakura shrugged, pulling her shoes off, and going to set her water bottle on the bar top. Scratching Baby behind her ears when she looked up from her slumber. "Even though I have spent quite a bit of time over the past couple weeks, it's still a new environment to sleep in. Sleep is usually weird for me until I get used to the place I'm in- hey boys quit!" Sakura's attention went to Shadow and Tank when their playing around got to them growling and barking. Which when Sakura said to stop, Shadow automatically was like 'mom said stop, so it's time to stop', but Tank kept on a bit longer. "Tank."

At Sakura addressing him specifically, Tank finally quit messing around, and moved to go see what Yoshino was making for breakfast.

Rolling her eyes at Tank's nosy behavior, Sakura turned. "I'm going to shower. If Tank get's in the way, just tell him to go find me, and he'll leave you alone."

A few hours later

Walking back into the sun room from the backyard, Sakura automatically felt Shikamaru's questioning eyes on her. She just got a visit from the anbu unit that had been looking into who attacked her. All they said was that whoever it was had been following her for some time now. Which had her thinking back to the familiar symbol she had seen on the guy who attacked her. A circle with a line down the center.

"You don't have to go have secret meetings."

"Shikamaru." Sakura started in complaint.

"I mean," Shikamaru said, shrugging his shoulders. "You could just actually talk about what's really going on."

"Fine!" Sakura snapped back, crossing her arms over her chest. "Let's talk about how you have serious boundary issues."

That made Shikamaru scoff. "Coming from someone who just a few days ago woke up me up only to push me out of bed, and force me to go running for hours."

Sakura laughed sarcastically "Oh yeah, it was soooo terrible. It's not like you had any actual fun or anything."

Rolling his eyes at her comeback. "You're impossible to win an argument with."

"Then you should probably stop trying," Sakura shot back, a big smile on her face, as she stepped closer to him.

Shikamaru stepped even closer to her, leaving only a couple inches from their faces. Him having to slightly looked down at her shorter self. "Not. A. Chance."

Unable to help herself, Sakura started laughing. Soon to be joined by Shikamaru's laughter.

"What's so funny?" Shikaku's voice was heard after a moment.

Both Shikamaru and Sakura shared a look, before both chorusing "Nothing."

Raising an eyebrow, Shikaku grew a smirk on his face. "Alright then… Sakura there is some guys here for you."

Hearing faintly Shadow and Tank barking from the living room, Sakura turned and went to the doorway from the sun room into the living room. "Oh no."

Having just come inside, Sai and Naruto were standing there. Naruto having been riling up Shadow and Tank. The source of their barking.

"What are you doing here?" Sakura questioned at her teammates.

"Well we found out about what happened yesterday morning," Sai started, watching as Naruto got up from where he was kneeling down beside Shadow and Tank.

Naruto was nodding in agreement with Sai. "Then we also found out that you've been followed the past week or so. We found out from-"

"That bitch," Sakura interrupted Naruto, as she slapped a hand to her face. "Because I've pissed her off, Hinata suddenly thinks it's okay to tell you morons about what happened."

"Hey!" Naruto and Sai chorused. Sai speaking shortly after. "First of all, what are you even doing here?"

Sighing heavily, Sakura moved over towards the kitchen. She began to tell Naruto and Sai what exactly she was doing at Shikamaru's, but not anything about the attack.

Which of course was their next question. "And the attack?"

"I got attacked, that's all there is to say," Sakura replied to Sai's question, grabbing a cup from the cabinet to get some juice from the refrigerator.

"They went into your apartment Sakura," Naruto started, crossing his arms over his chest. "They knew that your pets were there. They are familiar with you."

"Tch," was the annoyed sound Sakura made. "Sounds like you already know what happened. Why should I repeat it?"

"I think it's connected to what happened a few weeks ago on our mission," Sai figured after a moment of silence.

That had Sakura slapping her cup down on the counter top, as she started to unscrew the top of the juice. "Why are you bringing that up again?"

Sai seemed to ignore Sakura's words completely, as his eyes went to Naruto."You know, I have a feeling this has been happening a lot longer than she's acting like it has."

Naruto nodded in agreement with Sai. "Yeah, a lot longer. There's a lot that she's not telling us-"

"Isn't that my decision if I want to tell you what exactly is going on?!" Sakura snapped finally. Clearly have taken both her teammates off guard. "Believe it or not, there are something's in my life that I don't tell you guys because it's in your best interest not to be involved. I don't like to talk about it because I don't ever want to be put in a position where they go after you guys because you know about what's going on."

It was quiet before Naruto spoke up "Sakura, we have your back."

Sai nodded. "No matter what."

Naruto continued on. "Even if you don't want to tell us now, you know that you always can depend on us."

"I know," Sakura agreed, her expression softening. "But, this is not something I want to involve you guys in. I don't want to involve anyone in it." She turned away to put the juice back in the refrigerator. "I'd appreciate if you guys would please let it go. Please."

It was quiet for a long moment. Finally Naruto moved to stand with both hands behind his head as he grinned. "Fine."

"Good," Sakura started, then turned around to face them. Propping both hands on her hips. "Because I'm not putting up with you two interrogating me anymore."

At Sakura propping her hands on her hips, both her teammates visibly flinched away from her. Naruto a little more dramatic. "Okay, okay! We already agreed so can you stop doing that?"

"What is she doing?" Shikamaru's dad asked.

"She's putting her hands on her hips," Naruto answered as if it was obvious. "That's probably the scariest thing she does."

At Naruto pointing at her, Sakura scowled. "Don't point at me. That's rude."

When Sakura took a step towards Naruto he literally jumped over one of the couches. "I'm sorry!"

That had everyone laughing. Finally Sakura sobered up her laughter, as she focused on Sai and Naruto. "If you two are sticking around, I'm putting you to work. You can go run out Shadow and Tank's energy."

Naruto was more than eager to get out of Sakura's line of fire. Sai just held a look of he'd rather do anything else.

Sakura just gave Sai a dangerous look. "Go away."

Flinching at Sakura's tone, Sai turned to go outside after Naruto. Grumbling irritably the whole time.

Once Sai and Naruto were gone, Shikamaru looked to Sakura. "Well that makes me feel slightly better that you don't tell them anything too."

Sakura's face lit up, as she laughed. "You know, I've probably told you more than I've told them. So that should make you feel real special."

"You have no idea," Shikamaru shot back, making both himself and Sakura laugh. She really doesn't.

That night

Staring across at the other side of the couch to emerald green eyes, Shikamaru studied them. It had been silent for a long moment. It was only a few minutes ago that he found himself being woken up by the sound of Sakura screaming from her room next door to his. He had woke her up, it took her a moment to calm down, then they went out here to the living room.

Sakura was silent, purely because she felt all sorts of shocks going through her body at the vivid nightmare from the attack then night before last. I wasn't even aware that it bothered me that much until now. Focusing back on Shikamaru, she frowned. "It was just a stupid nightmare. Everyone has them. I'm fine."

"Then it wasn't about what happened the night before last?"

Going back to silence, Sakura sipped at her glass of water, and finally looked back at him. "You are annoying to me at all hours of the day."

Rolling his eyes at her trying to turn this conversation, Shikamaru sighed. "I'll ignore that for now."

Sighing at the look of persistence Shikamaru held on his face, she knew she wasn't getting out of this one. Dropping her eyes down to Baby who jumped on her lap, then Shadow and Tank who were both stretched out on the floor by the couch. "It's hard to explain..."

At her saying anything at all, Shikamaru was taken aback, but kept his mouth shut. Wanting her to continue.

"I don't really want to tell you the full story," Sakura continued on, still keeping her eyes focused downward. "Because it's not really going to benefit you."

"It's not like we don't have time."

"I know..." Sakura once again trailed off, but this time it wasn't for that long. "Remember how angry I was about Naruto and Sai getting in my business?"

Nodding his head, Shikamaru crossed his arms over his chest. "It's hard to forget. One time you nearly killed Naruto, and today I thought you were going to jump over the kitchen counters to kill Naruto and Sai."

"Well, I only get so mad because I don't want them involved. Just like I'd really like it if you weren't involved. It's better that not that many people know what's truly going on," Sakura said, then she shook her head. "However, I will tell you that this isn't exactly a new thing for me. It's happened for while. For a long while. Over the years I go through periods where they won't bother me in the slightest. But, that typically only happens because I had to make contact with them to force them to back off, if you catch my drift."

"I get it." Shikamaru said with a nod to continue.

"When I was almost sixteen, as it was one of those moments. Forcing them to back off. They left me alone the whole entire year I was sixteen. But, it was about a few months after I turned seventeen that they started popping up occasionally. Like around January. Not ever making contact, but just following at a distance. That didn't last however, as you know, my team and I were attacked on our mission. Just a few months after they started to show up again."

"What are they after? If they are that committed to come after you the past few years, and I'm assuming even more from what you said, then what is it that keeps them interested? What keeps them from giving up?"

That had Sakura quiet again, as she looked down at her glass off water in her lap. "That's a different conversation… For a different day."

Nodding his head, Shikamaru realized that what she did tell him was enough for now. He shouldn't push further. "You haven't told anyone this?"

"I've told a few people. Tsunade when she became Hokage. I told Hinata while ago. My family knows as well, but that's kinda obvious," Sakura replied, looking back at Shikamaru again. "The people that know the full truth are at risk to the people after me going after them. I don't want you to feel like I'm leaving you out, but it's in your best interest to not know the full story as long as you can."

Staying quiet for a long moment, Shikamaru leaned back against the pillows behind him. "I guess I can understand that." He told her, then they lapsed back into silence. His eyes focusing up on the ceiling. The dark room around them was only lit by the moonlight coming in through the window on the door, as the big windows had the curtains over them. She still didn't tell me that much. But, the way she talks… How big of a deal is this?

The next morning

Stretching his arms up above his head, Shikamaru finally opened his eyes. Blinking as his eyes adjusted to the light filtering in the room. He found himself staring up at the ceiling of the living room. His eyes swept down to see Sakura curled up on the other side of the couch still asleep. However, he noticed the reason the room was so bright was because the curtains for the big windows were now open instead of closed.

"So you finally wake up."

Hearing the voice of his mother had Shikamaru looking to his left, and both his mom and dad were sitting on the couch opposite to Sakura and himself. "Morning."

"Good morning," his dad greeted back.

His mom on the other hand had her first question lined up. "What are you two sleeping out here for?"

That had Shikamaru once again looking at Sakura. Her face snuggled against the back of the couch, and she was fast asleep. Baby was curled up in the space between the back of the couch, and Sakura's stomach. His last thought was of him and Sakura sitting their in silence. Not having said anything else after she explained what she did to him last night. Looking back at his parents. "We both ended up waking up at similar times last night, and we came out here. We must have fell asleep while we were talking."

"That's all? Talking?" Yoshino asked almost as soon as he finished talking, having a tone of disbelief in her voice.

Sighing at that, Shikamaru rubbed his temples. "Yes mom. That's all. What did I say about making this whole situation into something it wasn't?"

"Shikamaru, it's not like I don't trust you-"

"That's exactly what it is," Shikamaru interrupted irritably.

"Son, we do trust you," Shikaku said, smirking at how he noticed Shikamaru's face flushing red. "But, you're a teenager-"

Sakura taking a breath in interrupted Shikaku from speaking, as she apparently just woke up. Bringing an arm up so she could rub her face, then she stretched her legs out.

"Hey," Shikamaru's voice was heard. "I'm right here."

"You shouldn't be in my way," Sakura mumbled back. Hearing laughter that wasn't Shikamaru's, her eyes opened, then she looked over to see his parents sitting on the couch opposite to them. His dad having been the one to laugh, while his mother was smiling. "Morning."

"Good morning Sakura," Yoshino greeted back.

Sakura closed her eyes to yawn. Almost as soon as she did, she felt Baby's claws start digging into her arm. "Ow!" She exclaimed when Baby got her good on her shoulder. Flipping over only to fall onto the floor. Proceeding to groan when Shadow and Tank took that opportunity to jump on top of her, and lick her. "Okay, okay. I get it! You all need food. Stop stepping on me boys."

Shikamaru started laughing at the sight of Sakura finally sitting up to observe the scratches on her arm. "I definitely can't see why you like pets so much."

That only had Sakura looking darkly back at him. "Okay, well I definitely can't see why you like to do nothing all day. But, I don't just wake up in the morning, and bitch at you for your likes. So you shouldn't do it to me!"

While that had his parents laughing, Shikamaru just moved to stand up. "I'll feed the dogs, but you can feed Satan."

"Her name is not Satan!" Sakura called after he started walking away. Laughing when she heard Shikamaru say that maybe she, herself, was Satan. Turning her head to the couch where Baby was just rubbing her head up against her shoulder. Moving to scratch Baby behind her ears, she smiled at her. "You're just a sweetheart with a little bit of an attitude when it comes to food."

That evening

The smell of dinner for that night was in the air, as the evening was in full swing. After a full day of working on things for the party they were all ready for dinner, and ready to relax. Shikaku and Yoshino were over by the stove. Shikamaru was on the couch that faced the kitchen, and was in full relaxing mode. Sakura had just finished getting together all their folders and papers, and had briefly set them down to reach down and pet Baby.

Shikamaru was watching her. "So are you-"

"Oh my god!" Sakura screeched, interrupting Shikamaru as she jumped up onto the couch beside him. That movement alone had Shadow and Tank up barking. Sakura's balance was lost as she stood on the couch, and she ended up leaning slightly back on the cushions of the back of the couch. Her hand steadying herself by resting on Shikamaru's shoulder.

"What?" Shikamaru asked her, his eyes wide at her sudden movement.

"There's a spider," Sakura replied, pointing on the ground by the table where she had been standing.

"A spider," Shikamaru repeated slowly, his eyes on Sakura now. Shadow and Tank finally stopped barking, but were on edge at the sight of Sakura still not down from where she was sort of sitting on the back of the couch. "Really, you have come across much scarier things being a ninja than just a little spide-"

"Big spider! It's not little! It's huge!" Sakura interrupted him, her eyes going to the spider again, she shivered, and closed her eyes. "Kill it."

"It's not that big of a deal-"

"I'm not kidding Shikamaru!" Sakura interrupted him, as she shivered again at the thought of the spider. "Just kill it already!"

Smirking and rolling his eyes, Shikamaru reached forward and rolled up a magazine on the table. Killing the spider easily, he scooped it up with the magazine before going to get rid of it outside. Coming back to the couch he looked at Sakura and smirked. Tossing the magazine back on the table. "The big bad spider is now dead. Happy now?"

Sakura smiled, even though she knew Shikamaru was sort of making fun of her. She moved to accept the hand he held out, and stepped off the couch. "I know you think I'm crazy, but yes. I'm much happier, thank you."

To Shikamaru's surprise next, Sakura had leaned closer to him, and softly kissed his cheek.

"A token of my gratitude," Sakura said, laughing lightly as she reached down to pick the folders off the coffee table. "One less demon spider on this earth." Moving towards the small hall that led to the stairs. "I'm going to put this stuff up now. If anymore spiders show up, I'll be sure to let you know."

Sakura disappeared then. Shikamaru, meanwhile, was frozen to the spot. His hand moving to rest on his cheek where she had kissed him. Did she just…

Unknown to Shikamaru, both of his parents were watching him from the kitchen. Both watching their son's smile grow on his face, making smiles grow on their own.

After dinner

"So let me get this straight," Ino started up, having been staring back and forth between Sakura and Shikamaru. "You two are working on this party together, and that's where you've been the last almost three weeks Sakura?"

"Yep," Sakura answered Ino. Her eyes switching from the ceiling to looking over to the opposite side of the couch. Having been slouched back, and not really interested in this conversation. After dinner, Ino and Choji appeared on Shikamaru's porch. Apparently having heard something from Naruto and Sai about Sakura being over here. So now she and Shikamaru were on one couch, and Ino and Choji on another. Ino had been practically interrogating them the last thirty minutes.

"And you're going to keep helping him up until the actual week of the party," Ino continued, before waving her hand quickly in their direction. "Then you're going to have to attend the party as his date."

Shikamaru looked over to Sakura. "I believe that's all stuff we already said right?"

"I'm just confirming," Ino answered before Sakura could. She had Baby over on her lap, and was petting her. "This is so weird."

"I know you're just devastated that he didn't ask you to help him plan the party Ino," Sakura started up, her head propped up by her hand. "But, out of the both of us, I'm apparently less troublesome."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes at Sakura sticking out her tongue in Ino's direction, then Ino proceeding to throw a pillow at Sakura. It had been just him and Sakura cleaning up after dinner. His parents had to go over to one of his aunt's and uncle's house for some reason he wasn't really listening to. Then of course Ino and Choji show up after only a few minutes of being alone. His eyes focused back in on Sakura. "I don't know. You prove to be more troublesome everyday."

"He's just mad because I'm not telling him all my secrets," Sakura explained to Ino and Choji, before patting Shikamaru's arm. "He's really a sensitive guy under all this laziness and pretending not to care attitude."

Which that had made both Ino and Choji laugh. Shikamaru grumbled under his breath. "Thanks a lot Sakura."

Checking her watch, Sakura moved to stand up. "Well this interrogation has been so much fun and all, but I have to get going."

"Where?" Shikamaru questioned, as he assumed she didn't have anywhere to that night.

"She's probably just meeting Hinata to get wasted," Ino said before Sakura could speak. Rolling her eyes as Sakura had started to pet Shadow and Tank and tell them how much she loved them dramatically.

Hearing what Ino said, Sakura looked away from Shadow and Tank and smiled at the others. "That's not exactly the plan, but if it ends up that way, I won't be disappointed. It's not like anything important is going on tomorrow anyway right Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru nodded back. The front door opened then. In came both of his parents.

Yoshino right away looked to Choji and Ino. "Good evening you two. It's been a while since you've been over."

"Good evening Yoshino," Ino greeted back, light in her eyes, as she loved Shikamaru's mother just as much as she loved her own mother.

"Good ev-ing," was Choji's greeting as he had a mouthful of potato chips.

Shikamaru stopped the greetings short, as he questioned his mom. "Why exactly are we not working tomorrow again?"

His mother looked back to him with her hands on her hips. "Well your cousins and your aunt and uncle are doing fine Shikamaru, thanks for asking."

Shikaku grew a smirk on his face, as he looked to his son. "Your mother and I already told you that some things have come up, and we won't have much time to work."

"Either way, Shikamaru this is the perfect opportunity to go train," Yoshino spoke before her son could. A smile on her face at his obvious displeasure. Her eyes went to Sakura then to see her putting her shoes on. "Where are you off to Sakura?"

"Hinata asked me to come over once she gets done with training today," Sakura replied, finishing putting on her shoes, then giving Shadow and Tank some more attention. "We're not going to really be doing that much of anything."

That had Ino laughing, as she mumbled something under her breath.

That had a dark look appear over Sakura's face, as she looked over to Ino. "Shut up."

"I didn't say anything," was Ino's reply, as she continued laughing.

Ino's response only seemed to infuriate Sakura more, as she growled lowly. "I will fight you."

"Go drink with- I mean hang out with Hinata," Ino shot back, a big smile on her face as she moved to grab a magazine from the coffee table.

At Sakura's dark look, Shikamaru started chuckling. "I thought you only get angry at me on the level."

"You're not that special," Sakura shot back, finally getting a smile back on her face.

Shikamaru's parents and Choji laughed at that. Yoshino was the first to stop, as Sakura had moved closer towards the door. "Hold on one second Sakura." She moved over to the kitchen, and opened a drawer. Coming back with something in her hand, she held it out to Sakura. It was a key. "Just so you can come in and out whenever you need to. I know you sometimes are out late when you work at the hospital, and it'll make it easier on you."

"Can't we just lock her out?" Shikamaru asked after seeing his mom hand Sakura the key.

Picking up a pillow from the couch, Sakura threw it at Shikamaru, and stuck out her tongue at him. Turning, she looked to his parents. "Thank you. I'll probably end up seeing you tomorrow." She moved to leave then, a smile on her face when she heard Shikamaru's laughter.

At Hinata's house

Sighing heavily, Sakura let her head rest back on the wall behind her. Her eyes on the ceiling of Hinata's closet. That's where she and her best friend were currently at. Hinata was in the process of unpacking a bag she had with her on a mission from the day before the attack on Sakura happened. She had held it off as she had been working with the anbu unit to get any clues at to the attacker's identity. So she was just now getting around to unpacking the bag. They were well through a bottle of wine, and had been getting distracted every other few minutes. Now was one of those times.

"I can't believe your little secret activities with Shikamaru just blew up like that. Everyone knows now."

"It's not that big of a deal," Sakura replied, taking a long drink from her wine glass. "I just didn't want my team to know. But since they know now, there's no point in me really hiding it anymore." Drinking the rest of her glass down, she grabbed the bottle, and sent Hinata an annoyed look. "Of course they wouldn't know at all if someone kept their damn mouth shut."

Rolling her eyes at Sakura's look, Hinata took a long sip of her own wine glass. "Well if someone would act like a grown up instead of a child, and tell them on her own, that wouldn't have been such a big deal."

Sakura was quiet as she refilled her wine glass, then sipped her wine. "I am a grown up. A very grown, grown up. I am such a grown up, I didn't murder the anbu unit that came by today for being so over watchy in my business."

"That's progress Sakura," Hinata replied while she laughed. "I'm proud of you."

Sakura laughed at Hinata laughing. "I want to go out. Let's go out."

"Cupcakes?" Hinata asked.

Sakura nodded seriously before downing her wine. Getting up, and stumbling a little. "Tsunade won't even notice we left the village to get them."

The next morning, Saturday, May 23rd

Opening her eyes, Sakura felt as if the world around her was inside out. Forcing herself to sit up after a moment, she groaned deeply when that didn't help. Shadow and Tank were both alert at her moving, and both of their tails were thumping on the bed. She wasn't aware of how long she had been sitting there like that, but when a glint of sunlight managed to get past her curtains and into her room, it had got her to move out of bed.

Standing up, the world took a turn, then steadied after a moment. Talk about hangover. I don't even remember coming home last night. Taking a few steps only proved to be worse, but she kept moving to push past it. Managing to find shorts to put on under her long t-shirt, she started towards the door.

She was greeted with a lot more sunlight when she finally opened her bedroom door. While she flinched away from it, Shadow and Tank bolted from her room, and down the hall. Groaning at their wide awake energy, she trudged out of her room, and down the hall after them. Not at all surprised that Shadow was waiting for her at the end of the hall instead of completely leaving her. Managing a smile as he trotted over to walk beside her.

Getting to the end of the hall, she was greeted by a lot more light, and she had to close her eyes and pause in the living room. The world feeling like it was inside out again.

"The princess has awakened."

The inside out world suddenly froze when familiar voice hit her ears. Her eyes snapped wide open, as her heart started racing. "Holy crap."

A/N: There you go everyone. I wrote most of this chapter in the middle of the night, as the power was out and writing this didn't require internet. Why I was up you ask? Because my house was about as hot as hell. I tried sleeping, but after three hours of still no sign of power, I got up. Mind you, it's been about five hours now, and still no power. I'll be putting the chapter up when I do have power eventually. What was your favorite scene?

Don't forget to review, favorite, and share this story with others. Also be sure to check out my other stories.

Be sure to like my page (Ruby1235 Fanfiction) on Facebook and follow me on twitter ( Ruby1235Fanfic) for updates, sneak peeks, and hints for current and new stories :)

Also be sure to check out my blog: ruby1235fanfiction. blogspot .com (no spaces)