OKAY. FINALLY, HERE IS CHAPTER 9. Again, I'm sorry for how gaddamn long it took :P Okay, on we go! :D

Sasuke's POV:

Today was the day that my friend's girlfriends would come over and hopefully get them to shut the fuck up. They've been whining nonstop (mostly Naruto and Kiba anyways) and this will hopefully get them to stop for awhile. I ran his fingers through my hair at the thought of Ino being anywhere near him…oh sure, she was long over her childhood crush on me, but she took getting over it to a whole new level. She hates me now. Geez, this is why I don't like blondes…better go talk to Taka.

Sasuke walked down the stairs to the cell where "Taka" (he still couldn't get used to calling her that-he knew there was no way that was her real name) was chained up. And chained up tight this time. When I entered the room, she looked up at me. I expected a glare and some profanities, but what I got was completely different.

Her eyes were dull, sunken. There was no longer the sparkle that there was when he first saw her. They were lifeless. She was lifeless. She'd only been here a few days, but you could already see that she'd lost some weight. Even her strange hair looked duller. She looked up at me with empty eyes and frowned.

"What do you want? I've done nothing wrong." She said. I shook my head.

"I know. I just wanted to tell you that some people will be coming over for a couple of days. Some girls. You'll be allowed to talk to them if they come down here." I told her. She shrugged. "One more thing. Are you getting enough to eat?" I asked. She looked at me, puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"You just look really pale. And really thin. Like too thin. Are you getting enough to eat?" I asked again. I felt concerned. Why, though? I could hear Naruto's voice echo in my head: You have a crush on her! I shook the thought out of my mind. Impossible. She's just a prisoner. Besides, she's a murderer of my kind! No way I could have any feelings for her.

…Right?

I realized I had been staring off into space, so I shook my head again and looked at her. "Well?"

She shrugged again. "I guess. I don't know. I never eat that much anyway. But I guess this is even less." She said. I nodded.

"Okay. I'll start giving you more food. And I'll make it better. Okay?" I said. She blushed and nodded. I heard a muttered "Thank you." I turned and walked away, blushing myself. Blushing? What the hell, Sasuke? You don't have any feelings for her! You don't! Oh god, fuck it. I do. I really do. I mean, anyone else I wouldn't have given two shits if they were eating enough. But her…her…I just can't not care. Shit. Shit shit shit. Then I noticed that, for reasons I can't understand, I was pitching quite the tent in my pants. I groaned and headed for the shower.

Sakura's POV:

What the hell? Why in all the hells am I blushing right now? All he did was tell me that he was pretty much genuinely concerned for my health and he'd make sure I got more food. So why am I blushing? This is BULLSHIT! Not like I have a crush on him or anything…do I? How could I? The asshole captured me and locked me up! But he's been good to me. Nice, kind. Well, for the most part. He did almost bite me. But I almost blew him up…oh, fuck it! I do. Goddammit. I don't understand how this could happen. I'm supposed to be totally in control of myself.

Whatever. He said he has girls coming over. Not like he'd ever return my feelings anyway. He's probably a manwhore. Sigh. Whatever. Might as well get some sleep. I closed my eyes, and dreamed of the days when I wasn't involved in this assassination business. When I was normal, home, with my parents, where I belonged.

Next Day

Sasuke's POV:

I waited. I waited for the chaos that was to come. And finally, it came. I heard the soft, timid knock on the door. Then someone pounded.

"What the hell? Did someone"-Kiba opened the door and was silenced by Ino tackling him to the ground and kissing him. They started rolling around on the ground, lost in their hazy love. I rolled my eyes. Hinata walked in the door and was immediately tackled by Naruto, who was practically crying with glee. Tenten ran in and hugged Neji, and Temari just grinned and walked over to Shikamaru, who was sighing.

"Not more women to deal with." He said dejectedly. Temari slapped him upside the head and kissed him.

"What are you guys doing here?" asked Neji, after he had untangled himself from Tenten's embrace.

"Sasuke invited us over." Said Ino, still wrapped around Kiba. They all looked at me.

"I couldn't take your whining anymore." I said. Naruto hugged me and started sobbing how thankful he was. I rolled my eyes again.

"Wait a minute." Said Temari, glaring at me. "Why did Shikamaru say more women?" Ah Temari, ever the observer.

"Have you been messing around?" demanded Ino, glaring daggers at Kiba. He shook his head frantically.

"There has been a woman here, and she's still here. I captured the Bloody Blossom. I'm holding her here until my mother says I can come back home, and then I'm taking her with me." I said. Their jaws dropped.

"The B-Bloody Blossom, h-here? Is t-that safe?" Hinata stammered.

"Don't worry, my Hinata, we've got her chained up tight!" said Naruto, kissing her.

"Speaking of which, go talk to her would you? I told her that she might be able to talk to people that weren't us yesterday. She pretty much hates us." I said. And plus, being girls, they might be able to tell if she has any feelings for me. Goddammit, I am such a teenager.

"Talk to the Bloody Blossom? Are you crazy?" Ino said.

"She's got no weapons on her, and she's chained up. Just do it." Neji said. Ino stuck out her tongue at him.

"Well, what could it hurt, right? Come on guys, let's go." Said Tenten, and they disappeared down the stairs.

Sakura's POV:

I was awakened by loud talking from upstairs, some of the voices being females. Probably the girls he invited over. Then suddenly I heard people running down the stairs. I looked up to find a group of girls looking at me, smiling.

Well, that's it! I really hope it was worth the wait! I'll try to get a new chapter up by the end of next week! Thank you for staying faithful to the story, I truly appreciate it