10! Oh my God I love groups of tens! (Don't ask 'cuz I have no idea why!)

Chapter Ten

Enter Ayame Sakurai

"You're late. Again," Sasori grumbled as he leaned against a pillar.

Sakura laughed nervously as she focused on a rock on the front steps. "Sorry, I had some errands to run for Tsunade."

He just looked at her as she continued to stare timidly at the rock. What was her problem? He was just shirtless. Sasori gave a frustrated sigh. Then again, what was his problem? He was experiencing way too many emotions at one time.

He kept finding himself eager, annoyed, amused, and calm all at the same time. It was just…unusual. Sasori Akasuna was the kind of guy who was uncaring to almost everything. So why? Why was he like this ever since the brat sloshed her ice-cream on him!

The annoyed bar was raised as he moved away from the pillar. Sasori saw her tense up when he was near. He let out another fed up sigh as he pulled at one of her cheeks. "Stop acting like I'm not here," Sasori growled. "I find it very annoying."

"I'm sworry! Sworry! Sworry!" Sakura exclaimed as a painful tear ran down her cheek.

Sasori pulled at her other cheek. "You should see how ugly you look right now," he smirked. The amused bar was slowly rising as he stretched both her cheeks out.

"You irk! Don't do dat! It hwurts!" Sakura managed to say. Sasori guessed she meant You jerk! Don't do that! It hurts!

"Maybe this will teach you to knock before entering a guy's room," Sasori continued to smirk as he kept her skin taut.

Sakura got a hold of his wrists. "Owwwwwwwwch!" She cried as she tried to pry his hand off of her cheeks.

"Nice try, brat!" Sasori gritted his teeth as he and Sakura struggled against each other.

"Um, what are you doing?" A high female voice asked.

Sasori and Sakura turned to the voice. "Oh, it's you, Ayame, "Sasori commented in his calm manner as he released Sakura's cheeks with a snap.

"Ow!" Sakura rubbed her face tenderly. She turned to the girl. "You're Ayame, as in Ayame Sakurai?"

She gave a sweet smile. "Mmhmm! Nice to meet you, I'm Sasori's classmate."

Sakura brightened up. "Oh, I'm a big fan of yours! You're always so cute and kind!" Sakura's eyes suddenly went pitiful. "How does a sweet girl like you, deal with him?"

Sasori just glared at the roseate haired girl. The nerve! He scowled then looked at Ayame.

He had heard rumors about her. Ayame Sakurai was supposedly the sweetest and cutest girl in the whole school. She had long, black bouncy hair and big gray eyes and she was petite with a babyish face. Even though she looked the part, Sasori still could tell it was all an illusion. No one knew people better than him.

"So did you need something?" Sasori sighed shaking the thought off.

Ayame gave an all too cheery smile. "Just saying hello!" Her eyes flickered over to Sakura but it was so fast that Sasori almost missed it.

Sasori raised a brow. "Well, we'll be on our way. Let's go Little Girl," he ordered as he grabbed her wrist. Ayame was being a little too nice today. Sasori began to drag her away.

"Hey! Sasori can't you stay back and chat a little? I mean she came all the way over her to say hi for crying out loud! Sometimes you can really be a—"

"Sakura, how's Sasuke?" Ayame suddenly called, titling her head innocently for effect.

Sasori stopped; he felt Sakura shudder under his grip. "Sasuke? How's that?" He asked as he dropped her wrist.

She gave such a forced smile that it looked like it hurt. "It's nothing important."

Ayame gave a giggle as she approached them. "Sakura, how can you say that?" She slung an arm over her shoulder. Then she looked directly at Sasori. "He was Sakura's first love, you know? You should have seen them when they were dating." She smiled. "They were so in love." Ayame looked back at Sakura. "You even gave him your first time, didn't you?"

Sakura just stared at her with a quivering smile. "Please stop."

"But the weirdest thing happened," Ayame continued, ignoring her completely. "He dumped you right after didn't he?"

Sasori just stared at them, letting it all sink in. He looked to Ayame's seemingly sympathetic face to Sakura's stiff smile. Sasori did a double take as he saw a tear slide down her cheek.

"You poor thing," Ayame said. "It think it's cute that you think Sasori can fill that gap."

"That's enough," Sasori said icily.

Both girls gave an appalled look.

"S-Sasori?" Sakura's smile was breaking but before she could burst into tears, Sasori pulled her to him. She fell into his chest with a soft thud.

Here I go saying unnecessary things again…

What is he doing? Sakura trembled as she gripped at his dress shirt. I probably look really stupid to him right now. I will not cry. I will not—It was no use she cried softly into his chest. She felt Sasori give her an awkward embrace.

"That's really despicable," Sasori said coldly as he held her. "Who are you to bring someone's past into this?"

"I- I wasn't looking for a fight!" Ayame sounded like she was appalled by his statement. "I just wanted to know how she was doing."

"Quit it with the good girl act. I can tell it's as fake as your nails." A corner of his mouth quirked up. "Afraid of a little completion? I know how it works, another girl shows up and you feel threatened so you try to destroy her." Sasori gave a pitiful shake of his head. "You're as transparent as glass."

"N-no! I swear I was just—"

"Well, you got it something terribly wrong," Sasori smirk grew as he hugged Sakura tighter. "She and I are enemies."

"I'm terribly sorry!" Ayame cried out hysterically. "I never meant to hurt anyone!" Sakura could hear her retreat.

"She's gone," he breathed out as he slide to the ground with Sakura. "Go ahead and let it out. I won't say anything…"

Sakura lost all control and cried with all her might. She didn't care that he was supposed to be her enemy or that she was too close to him.

All that Sakura cared about was that he was there for her.

"I can't believe she actually feel asleep." Sasori shook his head.

"And I can't believe I'm carrying her on my back."

Sakura had indeed let it out. She cried for what seemed like hours and all Sasori could do was just hold her as she wept. He wasn't good at comforting others; he was Sasori Akasuna after all.

While holding her Sasori couldn't help but feel irritated again. Not at the brat but at himself. He didn't know why he felt the need to help her or why he did it.

Is this some kind of way of thanking her again? For blocking the Bitch's slap? She's the only one who's ever done something like that. Sasori narrowed his eyes in aggravation. Not to mention she's the only living person who's ever challenged me. He sighed. Then again, she's also the only one who could trip over a blade of grass on a sidewalk…

What was up with these conflicting emotions! Was he getting attached to her? Sasori shook his head in disbelief. No, that's not possible.

The feelings of wanting to get close to another made him want to vomit. He had learned the hard way that nothing is forever. Absolutely nothing and no pink-haired girl was going to change that.

Those who you have bonds with always end up leaving in the ugliest way possible. She'll be the same…

I just wonder how long I can drag this out until she does.

That made him crack a bitter grin.

She didn't know why she was pretending to be asleep.

Sakura was way too embarrassed to face him.

First, it was the walking in on him thing and now I got snot on his shirt! I just wanna die!

But still, his warm back and musky smell, she didn't hate it...

Ayame slammed the door shut to her room.

Unbelievable! There hasn't been one boy who has resisted my charm! She screamed into one of her pillows. Just you wait, you two! I'll tear you apart, even if it kills me! I don't care if you two are enemies or not but his means war!

Here you go! That was pretty fast if you ask me! Haha Well I'm trying my best to keep updating this but volleyball practice and school start reallll soon so forgive me if I'm late! T^T Anyhoo an awful lot off you wanna know Sasori's secret but, rest assured, it will come. I'm thinking it might come up more towards the end though so please don't freak out!

P.S. I already have a new idea for a story after this and it'll be a SaiIno story! ^.^

HAPPY DAYS!