Dream/Flashback (Sakura)

Sakura was huddled under her blankets in her room. She was so confused, and that's not something that happens very often. "Why?" She whispered. Why did unadulterated rage flow through her veins whenever she saw Sasuke in danger. She was always there in time, of course, but just the thought of anyone harming him made her feel sick and angry all at once.

Knock Knock

A gentle tapping on her door interupted her train of thought. She identified the chakra on the other side as Konan's and flared her own chakra in a silent invitation to enter. The door creaked open and A head of blue hair peaked around the corner. "I assume that means I can come in without being bodily of mentally injured?" She joked.

Sakura winced, "I didn't mean to make Hidan cry..."

"You told him his God made new rules that said he had to give up on sex and live a life of celibacy or die and be damned to a land where he would have to have constant tea parties with small children and stuffed animals..." Konan said dryly.

"I was a little harsh..." Sakura mumbled.

"That's not the point... Sakura, what's wrong, you normally worship all of these men -which is a little scary because they're s-class criminals- and would rip out the hair of anyone who would dare to even think of upsetting them. We're worried Sakura, this isn't like you." Konan explained.

"I-I I'm confused... about a-a a boy." Sakura whispered the last word, knowing at least one of the male akatsuki members was listening in on this conversation.

Konan smiled, "Is that all?"

"Don't make fun! This is serious, I'm scared!"

Konan frowned, "Why would you be scared, who is this boy?"

Sakura saw the glint of protectiveness in Konan's eyes and sighed. They were forever protecting her. "Not like that, it's just... I've been...stepping in when he's in serious trouble. The first time was at the Bridge in Water... You know when I went with Kisame, Zabuza and Haku were fighting him and his team and I-I I yelled at them... I yelled at my friends, and I didn't even feel bad about it! Then, oh, I know Daddy said not to but I wanted to see him again, so I went to the chuunin exams in Konoha. You should have seen him Konan, when he was protecting his teammate, and from Orochimaru, no less!"

Konan stiffened, "Orochimaru?"

"I know. I know everyone said to stay away. I know Orochimaru doesn't love me anymore, if he ever did. He was after Sasuke, when he knocked out the blonde that was with Sasuke, Sasuke was fighting tooth and nail to protect him, it was just like how you all protect me. Then- Then Orochimaru was going to bite him and I got so angry that I just- I-" Sakura huffed, frustrated.

"You what Sakura?" Konan asked gently.

Sakura let out a shaky breath, "I kicked Orochimaru in the face..."

Sakura looked down at her lap and tried to ignore the muffled laughter coming from the shaking woman before her. "S-Sakura, did you really?"

Sakura nodded solemnly. She was upset, Orochimaru was once one of her favorite people in the entire ninja world, she couldn't just let that go, not even for her father, but she'd done it for a strange boy she'd met only a handful of times.

"Oh Sakura dear, I know what that meant for you and it's okay. You know, your father and I met the same way -well not exactly- but similar. Your dad and I knew each other as children and as we got older we grew apart. Well, your dad did anyway, that was around the time we met your mom...She was a fantastic person..."

"Dad doesn't talk about her..." Sakura mumbled.

"He wouldn't... He's either sparing your feelings or mine. He's always protected me, when we were children, and even now as adults. It creates a sort of bond between two people. One, the protected, now knows that no matter what there will always be that one person they can rely on. And the protector, it's almost as if the one they're protecting is the most precious person in the world. They gain an attachment to that person, it's almost like an imprint, someone they just have to be around, in whatever capacity they can. For me and your father, his protecting me turned into loving me, and Sakura, you are so much like your father..."

"So you think I'm in love with Sasuke?" Sakura asked.

"Just think about it Sweetheart, and I'm always here if you ever need me."

"Thank you...Konan-okaa-san." Konan smiled, that was the first time Sakura had ever called her that.

End Dream/Flashback

Sakura slowly opened her eyes to a sight she couldn't help laughing at. Sasuke was tied to a chair in only his boxers and a rubber duck -where did that come from?- shoved in his mouth in place of a gag. Itachi was tied to the chair next to him, only in slightly better condition, his cloths were intact and there was no rubber duck shoved into his mouth.

Her laughter must have went unnoticed because the interrogation continued. "Itachi, I thought I told you to kill your WHOLE clan, yet here sits your baby brother in the process of CORRUPTING MY DAUGHTER!"

Sasuke tried to say something but the duck hindered his voice and it only came out as mumbles. "YOU DO NOT GET TO SPEAK!"

Sakura stopped laughing. "Daddy! That's not nice!"

Sakura stood and marched up to Sasuke and took the duck out of his mouth. Sasuke's whole face turned red from embarrassment that he foolishly tried to cover up with anger. "Dammit, I don't need you to always protect me! I can take care of myself! I don't need you!"

Sasuke immediately regretted his words as he saw Sakura's hurt expression. "Fine." She grunted and shoved the duck back into his mouth before turning and stomping away. Nobody missed her tearful eyes and they all turned vicious glares towards Sasuke.

"Foolish Otouto." Itachi sighed.

Sasuke could only struggle helplessly as he watched Sakura walk away.

Flashback

Sasuke had holed himself up in his room. For the fifth time that girl had swooped in and saved him out of nowhere. His pride hurt and his ego deflated but a warmth constantly badgered his heart when he thought of the pink haired maiden who'd risked her own life for his.

Knock Knock

"Oi, Teme, I'm coming in." Naruto announced just before he burst through the door. "Spill Teme, you've been sulking since that cute girl interupted your fight with Gaara."

"Shut up Dobe, leave me to my thoughts..."

"...'Leave me to my thoughts'? That's it, intervention time, what's up with you and that girl?"

"Nothing, I just-" Sasuke groaned, he was NOT discussing this with Naruto of all people.

Naruto studied his face intently then grinned, revealing his white slightly sharp teeth. "No way! You like her!"

"Shut up! I do not! I don't even know her." He mumbled the last part mostly to himself, though Naruto heard anyway with his kyuubi enhanced hearing.

"You don't always have to know someone to like them Sasuke, that's how most relationships start, a spark of attraction, then you ask her out to get to know her. That's what dating is about." Naruto said.

"How would you know anyway?" Sasuke asked defensively.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, "I have a girlfriend remember?"

Sasuke groaned, "Don't remind me, Shisui still hasn't let me live it down that you got a girl before me."

"Look, I'm not saying propose to the girl, I'm just saying ask her out, you'll never know if you never try Sasuke."

End Flashback

Sasuke paused in his struggling and the akatsuki watched curiously. He focused his chakra to the areas where the ropes met his skin and released it. The ropes snapped under the pressure and he was free. He yanked the duck out of his mouth and chucked it at his brother's head before he sprinted out of the living room and in the direction of Sakura's room. He stopped in front of her door, hearing pounding steps coming from the direction he'd just left he turned the handle and stepped into the room, pulling the door softly shut behind him.

"Sakura?" He asked.

"What?" She mumbled from under her covers on the bed.

"I'm sorry I snapped earlier, I was really embarrassed and I didn't want to be that way in front of you."

"You said you didn't want me to protect you."

"No, I-I I like it when you protect me but- but I want to be able to protect you too. I want you to know that no matter what, I'll be there for you, always."

Sakura's eyes softened, "You're not off the hook yet."

Sasuke smiled, "I didn't expect to be." He inhaled sharply and let out a shaky breath as he ran his right hand through his spiky locks. "Sakura, will you go on a date with me?"

Sakura smiled back from her cacoon of blankets, "Sure."

All the way in Konoha they could hear two very differing reactions to the answer of that one simple question.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" -The Leader of the Akatsuki AKA Sakura's Dad.

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" -Sasuke. :)

Forever Yours,

Fallen Angel