"Juro-san?" Sakura shut off the water and dried her hands, slipping her gloves on quickly. "Where are you injured?"

His blush bloomed across his high cheekbones, and he shook his head, looking very sexily disheveled on the hospital bed. It helped that he was shirtless, his massive, impressively muscled chest displayed before her openly.

He stammered as he spoke. "Not injured, Haruno—Sakura-san." He pointed to his left shoulder. "The shinobi sealed my chakra and I haven't been able to use it in my left arm. I could w-wait it out but I didn't want to escort you to the pub with only the u-use of one arm."

Sakura nodded, chewing her lip as she pressed glowing fingertips to his shoulder, trailing down his arm in search. She'd sparred with Hinata and Neji a few times and she'd become quite adept at reopening her chakra points. It was a breeze to do it now. She was rather glad she'd decided to help the medics this morning. She hadn't been able to concentrate on the scrolls at all. "Are we going tonight, Juro-san?"

He was looking away nervously, his blonde lashes fluttering when her hands squeezed his wrist. "I-if you are not busy."

"I'm not." She moved to his palm. "But I invited someone else to come with us, if you don't mind, that is."

He looked at her in a bit of a panic now.

She smiled at him reassuringly. "I invited Temari."

His blush faded and he looked alarmingly pale. "You…Temari-sama will be joining us?"

"Yes. She helped me find a pretty dress, you see, and bought a few of them herself. She confessed that she doesn't have many female friends and from what I know her mother died when she was very young. I don't think she'd had many opportunities to be just a woman and not a shinobi—and well, to have fun in general. So, if it isn't a problem, Juro-san, would you be willing to have two women on your arms tonight?"

He wasn't breathing. "I'd be honored."

"You're all done." She pushed her hand into his ribs so that he sucked in a choking breath, removing her gloves with a snap and a grin. "We'll be ready before nightfall." He stumbled off the bed as Temari entered the room.

Temari waved at him easily. "Hey Juro"

He blushed and bowed before scurrying down the hall, zipping up his vest with large, clumsy hands. She shrugged and threw herself on the bed, looking at Sakura suggestively. "He's a hunk without his shirt, isn't he?"

Sakura laughed, throwing her hand towel at her playfully. "Looks like he's carved out of marble." She got on the bed beside Temari, lying next to her as they both stared at the ceiling in comfortable silence. "Do you like Juro-san?"

She shook her head instantly. "No. He's a good friend who've I've been on many missions with. I've never had that kind of interest in him, not like…"

Sakura smiled. "Not like with Shika-kun?"

Temari nodded grimly. "He'd escort me all over Konoha. I'd sometimes try to get him to take me to dinner and he would but he'd sigh and grumble about it the whole time." She shrugged. "I'm usually not so sensitive but…I don't like feeling troublesome, at least, not in that sense."

Sakura played with one of Temari's bushy ponytails idly. "Temari, Shika-kun is lazy. But I've never seen him act the way he does with you. Sometimes when we'd be on missions together, he'd randomly mention you with no prodding on my part." She tugged at the hair band, searched for the others. "Shika-kun doesn't do that." She removed another hair band. "So how about tonight, we dress you up as pretty as we can, make you look mouth-watering and then have you walk by Shika-kun so his little eyes will pop out of his head."

Temari laughed, a little nervously. As she removed the last hair band her hair fell about her face softly. "I don't think he'd even notice."

Sakura flicked her forehead again, eyeing her loose hair thoughtfully. "We'll see about that."


Sakura grumbled as she ate, glaring at Naruto sullenly.

He whined, his large blue eyes beseeching her forgiveness. "I said I'm sorry Sakura-chan!" He crossed his arms. "You aren't mad with Shikamaru or Sasuke."

She pointed her chopsticks at him threateningly. "This was all of your idea, Naruto!" She pushed away her bowl, her appetite gone. "You broke Sasuke-kun out knowing the kind of condition he was in! He isn't thinking properly right now. Shikamaru came to act as a medium because he knew between you and Sasuke-kun everything would blow to one extreme or another. But worst of all you attacked Shizune—"

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto looked guilty. "We tried to calm her down but she wasn't listening—"

"You're one to say that—"

"I tried to hold her down but then Sasuke had to go and whack her and he wanted to leave her there but of course, we wouldn't and—"

She dropped her head into her hands and sighed. "She's going to kill me."

Naruto paused. "Tsunade no ba-chan knows this isn't your fault, Sakura-chan."

"Naruto," They both turned at the deep call, and Sakura felt herself stiffen as she her gaze fell on Sasuke. "I need to speak with Sakura." His dark eyes were on Naruto, his expression unreadable.

She looked at Naruto in a panic.

Naruto stood slowly."You heard Sakura-chan, Sasuke. We don't know what could happen if you get too close."

"Then I'll keep a space between us."

"Sasuke—"

"Naruto," Sasuke's voice roughened. "I need to speak with Sakura."

Naruto sighed. "Sakura, I'll be right outside the door."

She shut her eyes and nodded, curling her legs up to hug her knees. "Okay."

After several airless moments, she felt him step closer. She pressed her forehead to the top of her knees, trying to slow her breathing. Would her neck pain flare again?

"Sakura."

She shivered. "You shouldn't be here, Sasuke-kun. I told you I could handle—"

"Look at me, Sakura."

She curled her body more tightly. "Please, Sasuke-kun…"

"Come home."

I can't. Not yet. "I haven't figured—"

"Sakura," His voice sounded strained. "Come home. Please."

She looked up helplessly. Please? Had Sasuke just pleaded? He was looking down at her harshly, his lips in a tight, grim line, his beautiful dark eyes tense. Realizing her mistake she shut her eyes again. "Sasuke-kun, please go back to Konoha. Being near you is risky enough as it is."

"Sakura…" She felt him touch her hair gently and her heart stopped. "Come home. I realize that I've made many mistakes but…if you agree to come back to Konoha now, I will try to mend my ways." His hand cupped her chin and tugged her face up as he stood over her. He struggled to say his next words. "I could try to…be with you."

Her heart was thudding painfully. How many years had she wished for him to touch her this way? How much of her life had she hoped he'd say these words? I could try to be with you.

She held her breath as he continued.

"If you agree to come home with us tonight, I'll keep my word. I'll form a relationship with you. You've done so much for my sake and it is only right—"

"You're going to let your life go for a man who is never going to love you? For a man who has never given a damn about you except for the pity you make him feel?"

She touched the back of his hand and pressed it to her cheek briefly, pain flaring hotly within her chest and throat. "Sasuke-kun…thank you, for offering that." She tugged his hand away from her, let numbness take over and ice her voice. "But I'm afraid I'm going to have to refuse." It took her a moment to release his hand. "Please go back to Konoha and wait until I discover a way to cure you. The fact that you came here not only shows your lack of faith in me but displays it to everyone else. I can handle this on my own, Sasuke-kun. Your offer may come from a good place but it is unbearably cruel." Her nails dug into the skin of her legs. "What I have felt and done for you was never a payment. I never expected anything in return. I may have wanted it, it may have kept me going…the way you offered it to me just now, as some cheap temptation to get me to come home…" She'd never wanted to hit him so much in her life.

"You gave me that same offer." He was retreating back into his cold shell, but his words were bitter. "You asked me to stay. You told me you'd be with me, make me happy."

She pressed her lids together to stem her tears. "I loved you, Sasuke-kun!" Her breath was shaky. "What I was offering you was the love I felt for you. What you're offering is to stem your disgust towards me long enough to get me back home because you think I'm in over my head!" The tears seeped past her lashes anyway and she groaned in misery as she shuddered, her hands covering her face in shame. "Please, leave me alone, Sasuke-kun. Please go back to Konoha."

"Sakura—"

She stood, ignored his outstretched arm as she walked towards the door blindly. In a flash he was in front of her, blocking her exit.

His dark eyes were narrowed dangerously. "You can come willingly or unwillingly."

She stiffened. "You'd take me back by force?"

He nodded. "Aa."

She clenched her fists and widened her stance, viciously satisfied when his eyes widened in surprise at her aggressive posture. "You can try."

"Uchiha." They both stiffened in surprise. Gaara had somehow materialized in the room, his arms crossed, eyes lethally focused on Sasuke. "While Sakura is here she is under my protection. If she does not wish to leave then she will stay."

"It's okay, Gaara—"

"Letting her be captured by Orochimaru and brutalized by his men is protecting her? Where are the shinobi that did this? Why haven't they been captured yet?" Sasuke cut her off, his sharingan bleeding through the black. "Or perhaps it was because the Kazekage was too busy frolicking in a sandcastle with a kunoichi from another village?"

Gaara's eyes narrowed, his sand beginning to whirl about them recklessly. "I suppose stabbing her is better than frolicking, is it?"

Sasuke moved—Sakura pinned him against a pillar with her inhuman strength. He struggled—but she pushed her fist into his stomach, forcing him to lose control over his limbs momentarily. Glaring at Gaara viciously, Sakura held out her other hand to ward him off. "Don't!"

He didn't look at her, only smirked at Sasuke tauntingly. "You haven't grown at all, Uchiha."

His sharingan swirled vividly, and Sakura cursed, knowing this fight was going to break out whether she tried to stop it or not. Against an Uchiha and the Kazekage, did anyone really stand a chance?

Well, one person did. She sucked in a deep breath. "Naruto!"

Her scream surprised them both enough to make them hesitate. Naruto stumbled in, looking panicked and worried. He paused when he saw Gaara's sand everywhere, and Sasuke being pinned against the pillar. "What's going on?"

Sakura gritted her teeth. "Take Sasuke out of the room."

Sasuke gripped her wrists and spoke through his teeth. "Release me."

She shook her head fiercely. "Naruto."

He was over in a flash and she stepped away. Sasuke left with a scowl, Naruto grumbling as he followed him out the room.

She focused on the ground with her fists clenched.

"Sakura—"

"Don't you ever try to pick a fight with Sasuke-kun again." Her nails bit into her palm.

"He was threatening you."

She looked at him furiously. "I could have handled it. Do you think I would have let him? But taunting him like that, reminding him of what he did to me so cruelly—he isn't sound, Gaara!" She tapped her temple as she advanced on him, her green eyes blazing. "He's not well here. What you told him was downright cruel. Would you like it if everyone reminded you of all the people you hurt when you weren't yourself?"

He scowled and crossed his arms. "So I was supposed to let him threaten you?"

She pressed her fingertips over her eyelids. "You were supposed to let me handle it." She felt a searing head ache coming on, both from lack of food and sleep and the over load of testosterone she was dealing with. "All of you are treating me like a helpless child."

"I was not trying to make you feel that way."

She walked away. "Temari and I are going out tonight. Don't expect us for dinner."

"Sakura."

"And I'm leaving for Konoha tomorrow. I've over extended my stay for far too long."

She slammed the door behind her.


"Oh…Oh." Sakura blinked in amazement as Temari stood before her. "Oh, gods, Temari you look incredible."

Temari blushed but gave her a grin nonetheless. "Ya think?"

Sakura nodded, eyeing her work appreciatively. She'd left Temari's hair loose, softly curled it about her shoulders. She wore an eclectic array of silver jewelry, her silvery aquamarine dress clinging to her waist and chest lovingly. The skirt was loose and flowy, skimming her slim thighs alluringly. And on her feet…

"Where did you get those shoes?" Sakura squealed, sitting on the edge of her bed and holding out her hands. "Gimme."

Temari laughed and put her silver heeled foot in Sakura's lap. "I had a mission once to infiltrate the household of a daimyo. His wife had so many beautiful shoes I couldn't help but take a few." She shook her hair back. "And these earrings."

Sakura gave her a playfully chiding look. "Thief."

Temari pulled her foot back. "They deserved that and worse." She eyed Sakura. "That purple dress makes you look unbelievable." She tapped the seal on her forehead. "and, as I said, it matches your seal perfectly."

Sakura pulled on her gold heels, looking in the mirror to adjust the matching gold circlet on her head. "Is that where you got this, too? From the daimyo?"

Temari nodded. "I told you it would frame your seal perfectly."

Sakura hummed in agreement. "It does." She touched the back of her pinned up hair self-consciously. "Is it neat in the back? Ino usually does my hair for me."

Temari nodded. "It is. Are you taking any weapons?"

Sakura lifted her skirt to reveal a tiny scroll tied to each of her thighs. "I can summon weapons from this one—thank you, Tenten—and this is what I'm going to use to teleport the sake." She dropped her skirt back down. "I'm holding up my hair with senbons."

Temari laughed. "You're well prepared, Haruno." She lifted her dress to reveal her own scrolls. "As am I."

Sakura whistled. "Those legs, Temari-chan! Are you ready?"

"Yes. Let's go downstairs."

They went arm in arm, giggling as they tried to make it down soundlessly. When they reached the dining room, however, they stopped dead in their tracks.

"Oh, no." Temari groaned under her breath.

Gaara, Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru and Kankuro had Juro seated at the end of the table, surrounding him with deadly auras. Except for Shikamaru and Naruto of course. They were simply giving him irritated looks. Juro didn't look as if he was breathing very well.

They all looked at them, and Sakura felt herself blush as they scanned their clothes with obvious disapproval. Temari gripped Sakura's arm a little tighter.

Sakura cleared her throat and held her head high. "Hello," She tried for brightness as she pulled Temari forward. "You're keeping Juro-san company, I see."

To her complete surprise, Shikamaru spoke up first. "Temari…" He grumbled, scratching the back of his head with a light scowl. "Why are you doing this?"

She felt Temari shiver. "Just accompanying Sakura to the pub. Juro-san is a fellow shinobi who has gone with me on many missions. They invited me since I am a mutual friend." She held out her hand and Juro took it gratefully. They placed him in between them protectively, each of them holding his arms. It struck her as funny that they were protecting such a large, muscular shinobi. He dwarfed them completely, their heads barely reaching his shoulder. But…they were both probably better fighters.

"Then you won't mind if we tag along?" Naruto stood.

Sakura gave him a warning look. "No. You will stay here to make sure Sasuke-kun and Gaara-kun don't kill each other."

"Then I'll go." Shikamaru offered with a blush on his cheeks, his gaze averted uncomfortably.

"You need to help Naruto. He can't handle them both alone." Sakura reasoned with a smile tugging her lips. "Sasuke-kun can't go either because his mental condition is unstable." The words felt like acid in her mouth but she shrugged nonetheless. "We won't be gone long."

"I can go." Kankuro stepped forward but Temari gave him a deadly glare. "I'm not sure Matsuri-chan would be happy to know you're going out to pubs in the middle of the night."

Kankuro went very pale.

They shuffled towards the doors, trying to keep Juro from stumbling.

"Juro." Gaara's dark voice had them all frozen.

Juro's voice was very small. "Yes, Kazekage-sama?"

"I expect them both back early, unscathed, and if they are drunk there is no rock you will be able to hide under."

"Yes, Kazekage-sama!"

"Hey, now, wait one minute—!"

"Let's go, Sakura-san." Juro pulled her through the doors, effectively cutting off her threat.

She growled in frustration as Juro's beefy arm almost lifted her bodily. "I'll drink if I want to!" She shouted childishly. "You aren't my mother!"

Temari giggled as Juro pulled them both out of the room.


Shikamaru grimaced at the cigarette in his hand. He'd never spoken much to Gaara, finding the man a bit too intense for his liking, but he supposed that if he ever wanted a future with Temari he had better start.

He'd been left alone with him as Kankuro and Naruto had sat at the table with scowls, Sasuke looking as emotionless as usual. Gaara had stepped out onto the balcony to watch them leave—and, watching Temari leave with another man, had made Shikamaru have a very bad urge to smoke

He looked out over the balcony, seeing them walk down the street on the arms of the muscled shinobi. They had looked incredible—Temari had shocked him down to his bones. He'd seen Sakura dress like that many times, along with Ino—but Temari?

The dress had brought out a figure he had severely underestimated, the color of it making her eyes striking and hypnotic. Her legs had looked miles long and tempting, her blush a rarity that never seized to tug him under with its lure.

He sighed and blew out another bitter cloud of smoke. "Is she…close to Juro?"

Gaara nodded curtly. "They've known each other since childhood."

Of course. He inhaled sharply, letting it burn his lungs pleasantly. "Should I be worried?"

Gaara looked at him now, his face stony, a deep irritation set in the lines crinkling his eyes. "About Juro? No. Temari has never been interested in him."

He threw the cigarette—Gaara's sand caught it inches from his face, crushing it to ashes that fell at his feet.

"About me, however," The sand dissipated without Gaara moving a muscle. "You should be worried."

Gaara vanished in that puff of sand and Shikamaru sighed.

Troublesome.


"Don't you think that's enough?" Temari asked incredulously.

Sakura tapped her chin. "Yeah. Maybe." She pulled out her scroll and placed it on the ground, moving the five crates of sake onto it. She hunkered down, careful not to flash anyone, performing the hand seals quickly. They were out in the alleyway behind the pub, a few straggling drunk men here and there. It wasn't the fanciest of places—but it was cozy and rustic, loud and chaotic. It had a rough charm to it.

The crates of sake disappeared with a small puff of white and she straightened. They should be in her room, perfectly safe.

"Sakura…" Temari leaned against the wall casually. "Down the alley to our left."

She stretched, feigning disinterest as she scooted beside her. "They have chains." She looked at her nails nonchalantly. "Where's Juro-san?"

"Bathroom." Temari grinned.

Temari had challenged poor Juro to a drinking contest—and Juro had failed miserably. The very suspicious looking shinobi were eyeing them a bit lustfully, but perhaps they could have recognized them and were attempting to appear as normal drunken men.

Sakura gave a small smile and waved. They walked a bit closer. She lifted her skirt slowly, sensually, and she saw their eyes riveted to her exposed thighs. "I'll put them in the air and you can do your thing."

Temari nodded.

She lifted her hands into her hair as she simpered towards them, tugging out the senbon holding her hair up. They whistled sharply as they left her hand, and though they were drunk, they were still shinobi. As expected they leapt up into the air—and with a laugh Temari swept her fan gracefully, striking them several times before she allowed them to hit the ground again. Sakura leapt over them, slamming her fists into their stomachs then cracking their heads together.

They were out instantly.

Juro had showed up a bit late, looking panicked and somewhat green. "Are you hurt? Did they injure you anywhere?" He asked them frantically, his handsome face tortured.

"We're fine, Juro." Temari snapped her large fan shut. "Looks like we have some interrogating to do."

Sakura finished snapping their chakra sealing chains about them, hog tying them with cruel satisfaction. "I remember this one." She lifted him by his white hair, glaring at him accusingly. "You're the one that kept grabbing my ass."

Temari snorted. "Looks like our night is cut short."

Lifting them both onto her shoulders, she gave Temari a grim look. "I only had two drinks."

Juro was still looked a bit woozy as he stepped forward. "I'll carry them."

"No, it's fine Juro-san—"

"Please."

He gave her a puppy dog look. She handed them over with an exasperated roll of her eyes. They walked slowly, almost a bit sullenly. It was a pretty night, the moon large and bright, the air icy.

Temari kicked up dirt with her heel. "How are you so monstrously strong?"

Sakura laughed. "Amazing chakra control and a monstrously strong teacher."

Temari leapt onto Sakura's back and she hunched forward obligingly, carrying her easily, her body providing warmth from the nights chill. They walked in silence for a few moments. "I don't think Shikamaru even cared about my dress."

"He did." She sighed. "But they were too busy restraining themselves from killing Juro-san to even notice how pretty we looked."

Temari grumbled.

"You both look incredibly beautiful." Juro suddenly blurted, the alcohol seeming to give him a bit more courage. "Especially when you were fighting…in your dresses…"

Sakura laughed. "You look very handsome too, Juro-san."

"Very." Temari agreed and they giggled when he almost stumbled.

The Suna anbu disappeared almost as quickly as they had showed up. They'd ripped the men out of Juro's arms, bowed curtly and vanished in a puff of smoke. Temari had shuffled back to her room a little sleepily, as had Juro, and Sakura followed suit.

Trying to make as little noise as she could with her heels, Sakura passed the library when she felt arms wrap around her.

She squeaked as Gaara tugged her back into his chest, his mouth pressing over her cold ear. "You look beautiful."

Her body softened slightly against him, chills prickling over her skin. She tried to hold onto her anger as best she could. "Please release me."

He obeyed. She faced him, tugging her dress skirt down self-consciously. The dress was a bit skimpier then she was used to wearing but standing in front of Gaara…she felt much more exposed.

His eyes lingered over her legs, wandered all the way up to the gold circlet on her pink hair. "How was your night?"

She crossed her arms. "Productive."

"Productive?"

"The sake." She shrugged with a nonchalance she didn't feel. "Tsunade-sama will be pleased, I'm sure."

Gaara looked adorably disgruntled. "I could have just had it brought with a letter."

Sakura nodded. "It was a chance for me to take a breath."

"From me? Or the Uchiha?"

She growled in exasperation and began to walk down the hall, her heels sharply clicking with every angry step. He followed beside her easily.

"From both of you. From myself. From this entire, impossible situation."

She felt his hand touch her shoulder, stopping her quick walking. "I heard what he offered you, Sakura." She looked up at him in surprise. His forehead was furrowed, his eyes a bit darker than usual. "He offered to be with you."

She swallowed. "Yes."

He pulled her a little closer towards him. "Are you going to accept? Is that the reason you are leaving?"

His voice was rougher than usual, his hands gripping her tightly, almost reflexively. The insecurity in his eyes made her heart ache. She didn't know what to say because either answer implied things she wasn't ready to think of. Had she not been moments away of giving herself to him completely last night? Wasn't she just afraid that if he pushed any harder, she'd fall in love with him, too?

He lowered his head slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. She tipped her face up in answer, his hands pulling her into his body as he kissed her fiercely. He backed her against the wall and she wrapped her thighs around him as he lifted her. Her hands gripped his hair tightly, a moan breaking from her throat as he hiked her dress up.

He ripped his mouth from hers. "Stay with me tonight."

She shut her eyes when his mouth pressed to her neck. "Tonight?"

"Let me have you." His hand slid into the neckline of her dress and cupped her breast possessively, making her gasp when his thumb circled her nipple sensually. "Stay in my bed tonight."

She let her head fall back. "Someone can walk by and see us."

His mouth lowered to her chest. "Aa." He took her breast into his mouth, his tongue rasping over. She gave a muffled cry and after several moments wasn't sure if she was tugging his hair to pull him away or keep him there.

"Gaara…" His other hand slid up between her thighs, cupping her intimately. She arched, trembled when his fingers grazed her teasingly. "Gaara someone can walk by any minute…"

Slowly, he slid his fingers beneath her panties. Still, he didn't give her the touch she craved most. "Do you want me to touch you?"

She cracked her eyes open in confusion. "What?"

"Do you want me to touch you?" His eyes were ruthless, his breath fanning over her exposed breast. "Answer me."

"Yes." Gods, yes. She pushed him away from her. "But...not here."

He let her slide to her feet, his hand still toying with the tip of her breast as his other hand came to rest on her hip. "Will you come to my bed?" He pinched her softly, watching her soft gasp with enigmatic green eyes.

She was leaving tomorrow. She wouldn't see him for a long time—possibly ever. She didn't know what she was feeling for him but it was something she thought she'd only feel for Sasuke—and she wanted tonight with him, even if it would be their only one.

"Yes." She pressed her face into his chest, surrendering. "Yes, I'll stay with you tonight."


Bre-Renee-are you kidding me? Of course I'd be happy. In fact, negative comments would probably still make me happy. No. No, actually, they wouldn't. *sighs* Thank you for reviewing so much ^.^

As for the guest reviewers-Here's the next chapter. Not too lemony, tho, is it? Don't hate me.

I'll try to update tomorrow to make up for it, promise.

Yeah, next chapter (no surprise) is going to be a full on lemon.

Until tomorrow then!