Chapter 9

I'm *wheeze* back! Sorry I took so long…*gasp* but writer's block was *cough, cough* holding me hostage… But alas, I -*pant, gasp, wheeze* - managed to prevail! *cough* Please enjoy…this chapter…I'll just be *wheeze, pant* over there, laying down, *gasp* for awhile…

PLEASE REVIEW/COMMENT! & ENJOY

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Sakura shifted in her bed; sleep giving way to consciousness gently as her body slowly was released from the bindings of dreams and entered the world of reality. She sighed peacefully, enjoying the warm feeling her covers gave her and the renewed energy a good night's rest had given her. Lazily, she pushed her covers from her head, allowing just the tiniest amount of light to touch her face, and she smiled.

She opened her eyes and rubbed the sleep off them as she pulled herself into a sitting position and yawned, causing her eyes to water slightly. She simply wiped her eyes and lifted her arms high above her head, taking in a deep breath as she stretched her back; lowering her arms and exhaling after a few short seconds.

She looked around her room while she waited for sleep to fully leave her before she tried to move and make herself dizzy. It didn't take long. With one final stretch, Sakura stood up and slipped her feet into a pair of fluffy slippers with panda faces by the toes. She loved her panda slippers.

And she loved mornings.

She took a quick glance at the small clock by her night table, which indicated the time was 8:14am. Quite a nice hour to wake up at, she thought. Not too early but not too late either.

Quietly she made her way to the main floor after she stopped in the bathroom where she splashed some water on her face, and turned a corner into the kitchen, ready to make herself some breakfast.

"`Morning, love."

Sakura, startled, looked up at the red head by the stove who was holding a frying pan in one hand and a pair of eggs in the other, winking at her over his bare shoulder…wait a minute, back up. Bare shoulder?

Indeed, the young rascal had no shirt on but only a pair of long, loose-fitting black pants that hung just over his hips.

"Good morning, Sasori," she responded pleasantly with a small smile. "What are you doing?"

"Waiting for you to wake up so I can make some breakfast," he chuckled as he placed the pan on the stove and set the eggs beside it, then sauntered over to Sakura and wrapped her in a tight hug. "I'm curious to see what a little flower like you relies on for her beauty," he murmured into her hair.

Sakura blushed as she shifted in his embrace. She didn't mind hugs, but since he was taller than her his hugs always left her with her face right by the crook of his neck. "Sasori, that's very kind of you to say, but you're my guest. You shouldn't have to make your own breakfast; least of all wait for me so you can eat."

He shrugged easily. "Nonsense, Sakura. I'm your guest, which is more than enough reason for me to make breakfast. You've already supplied my family and me with everything else, and you're graciously allowing us to intrude your home for a month. The least I can do is make you your first meal of the day."

"He's right," said a new voice from behind them. Sakura turned her head to find the youngest of the Sabaku family standing on the entrance of the kitchen. "You have provided everything for us; the least we can do is cook one meal for you."

"Gaara," smiled Sakura as she wiggled out of Sasori's arms and stepped up to his brother, who returned her smile with a smaller one of his own. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

He nodded once. "I did, thank you. And you?"

"Just fine."

"And me, well, I slept quite comfortably too, thank you very much. Just peachy, in fact. Not that you asked."

Gaara resisted rolling his eyes at Sasori while Sakura turned and smiled sheepishly at the older brother, scratching the side of her mouth absentmindedly. "Sorry, Sasori, I meant to ask you that but I got sidetracked when I saw you ready to make breakfast."

Sasori smirked at her, taking a step closer to her. "Why? Like what you see?" he asked deviously, reaching up with his hand and brushing back his messy ruby-colored hair, effectively, casually, flexing his muscles.

Before Sakura could react, Gaara's hand shot out and smacked Sasori on the side of the head. "Don't tease her like that." Sakura was instantly reminded that that's what Sasuke constantly did to Naruto when the latter was being unnecessarily annoying, or loud.

Sasori growled at him before huffing and turning away, heading back to where his pan and eggs awaited him. "Whatever. I was just having fun," he pouted, picking up the eggs and juggling them easily in one hand. He turned to Sakura, the eggs still flipping easily back and forth in his hand without him so much as paying attention to them. "You don't resent me for that little joke, do you?"

Gaara raised his non-existent eyebrows in disbelief. He knew very well that Sasori wasn't joking, but he said nothing.

Sakura grinned, and shook her head. "No, Sasori, I don't." He smirked.

"Good then. Now that we're back on topic, what would you like for breakfast?"

"Um… what can you make?"

"Whatever you want me to. I'm the cook of our family," he said proudly. Sakura was surprised and turned to Gaara, who grudgingly confirmed this with a nod of his head. His father was a terrible cook, his sister could make a few simple dishes and Kankuro only made poison… quite literally too, even if he didn't mean to. Which is why he was never allowed in the kitchen when dinner was being prepared.

"Okay then," Sakura sighed as she thought about something nice but not too demanding. "I feel in the mood for some homemade waffles; with an omelet on the side."

Sasori nodded. A delicious meal that was quick and easy to make. Plus he secretly loved waffles. They were good for snacks and he could add whatever he wanted to them, so he had some experience making them. "What kind of waffles would you like?" he asked, opening the pantry and rummaging for the necessary ingredients.

"Um… aren't they all the same except for the toppings?" Sakura answered back, unsure. Sure, she knew there were many recipes for waffles, but most of the ones she had eaten were plain, with a little brown sugar and cinnamon for a slight caramel taste or the batter mixed with blueberries and topped with syrup.

Sasori chuckled. "You'd be surprised how tweaking the recipe a little can change a dish so much. And what would you like in your omelet?"

"Ham, cheese, and tomato, please."

"It shall be done as my princess commands." He smiled gently at her before turning his back on her and his brother, focusing on making the best waffles and omelet he had ever made in his life.

Sakura watched him work diligently, surprised that he knew where to find all the equipment and ingredients he needed so quickly. As she wondered what Sasori's cooking would taste like, she glanced at Gaara who was leaning against the kitchen entrance, looking down at his feet with an expression that to others would seem impassive, but for Sakura it only seemed a little sad.

She walked up to him and gently tapped him on the arm. "What's wrong?" she quietly asked him.

He looked up at her, the faintest trace of surprise in his sea-green eyes. "There's nothing wrong, Sakura," he answered her, but she was unsatisfied at his response.

She stepped closer to him; their faces mere inches apart and she looked at him dead in the eye. "Do not lie to me, Gaara," she growled in a hushed tone. "If there is one thing I cannot stand, is a liar." She paused, and backed off slightly. "Plus I want to help you if there is something bothering you."

Gaara looked at her, weighing what he should say. Personally, he was surprised and somewhat delighted that she was already so attuned to him. Even his own family sometimes had trouble figuring him out, but this girl whom he had known for less than twenty-four hours could already read him like a book. After a few seconds went buy, he hesitantly answered her, "…I…I, uh, wish to help…" He wanted to smack himself. Why did he sound so unsure?

Sakura seemed to relax a little, although she also appeared confused. "Help? If you want to, go for it."

"I…" he coughed, his throat suddenly feeling dry as he saw Sasori skillfully preparing their breakfast as easily as if he were writing. "I don't…know how."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't help because I…I can't cook," he admitted. And it was embarrassing for him to admit such a thing.

"Oh." She turned her head to look at Sasori, who was focused on his task while contentedly humming a tune she wasn't familiar with. As she watched, he effortlessly chopped up some tomatoes and green onions before tossing them into the sizzling pan. She turned her attention back to Gaara, and took one of his hands into her own. "Well, that's alright," she said. "It's not a crime or something embarrassing to not know how to cook. It's just a nice skill to have, and useful. You can help another way if you like."

Gaara looked at her and solemnly nodded. He wanted to help, somehow. He didn't want to look less than his brother who already had so many advantages over him.

"You can set the table," Sakura instructed with a smile. "And make some orange juice."

"Make some…juice?"

"Yep," she chirped before turning and tugging Gaara back into the kitchen. "Here, I'll show you." And she did. She took out what looked like small pan that had been punch inside out with small waves on the outside. There was a small white plastic jug attached to the bottom with a section curled into a lip that allowed the liquid to flow out. Next, she took out six large oranges from the fruit bowl on the table and placed them on the table. Finally, she asked Sasori to scoot so she could take out a small, albeit sharp, knife. "Watch," she instructed. She took an orange and swiftly sliced it in half. Then, she took one half of the juicy orange and pressed it on the small oval pan so the little metal mountain pressed into the juicy parts of the orange. With minimal effort, she added more pressure to the orange until the juice begun to flow freely down the pan's sides and through little holes into the plastic jug. She twisted the orange half back and forth to make sure to squeeze all the juice before picking up the now empty shell and putting it aside. She turned to Gaara, who had been watching her actions intently, eager to learn, and eager to please. "Now you try."

He took the remaining half of the orange and did exactly what Sakura had done, but with slight moments of hesitation and unsureness now and again, but sure enough he did it. He looked up at Sakura to see if she approved of his work, although it wasn't as neat as hers. "Excellent, Gaara!" the girl praised him, and he smiled, glad.

"Should I finish the other oranges?" he inquired. She nodded.

"If you can get the container half-full that would be great. I think six oranges should do it since they're pretty big, but in case they're not sufficient you can take more."

"Ah. Don't worry then, leave it to me. And I'll also set the table."

"Then you better hurry," said Sasori from across the kitchen. "Because I'm nearly done." True enough, there were already two omelets on two of three plates, with the waffles already turning a golden-brown in the waffle maker. Gaara didn't answer him but merely returned to his task, finishing all six oranges and adding a seventh one in a matter of minutes. Who says being a ninja only served in battle?

In no time at all, the table was set for the three of them and three plates with warm omelets and waffled decorated the table; the aroma so enticing it could coax a person to eat the fiberglass plate just to taste the sauce that soaked the food.

Sakura, who had sat on one of the chairs of the table and watching over the boys as they worked, smiled gratefully at the two brothers. The table had been set tastefully, and the food looked and smelled like it belonged in a restaurant of the highest class. If she wasn't hungry before, she truly was now; although she also found it a pity to eat such a masterpiece.

"Please," said Sasori, his faced lightened up with a smile directed at her, "enjoy."

"I'm sure I will," she replied. "Thank you for the food. And the juice." Gaara nodded. She raised her glass of orange juice into the air. "Cheers! For the first day of the beginning of our future. For a permanent friendship and for possible love!"

"Cheers," the boys echoed her and the three tapped glasses.

Sakura cut into her omelet, and just as she was about to delicately place the yellow roll into her mouth, there was a loud, demanding knock on the door, followed by an impatient ringing of the doorbell. Sakura sighed. She was so looking forward to eating her breakfast with her two new friends. She quickly excused herself and told her guests to go ahead and eat, that she wouldn't be long. As she headed to the front door of her house, which was still getting unjustly banged on, she wondered what madman would cause such a racket at that hour.

No sooner had she opened the door than Ino yelled at her. "Forehead! How could you? You're my best friend and you didn't tell me something so important! How? Why? Don't you trust me with something so important? You though I wasn't going to find out, but I did, and not I just-!"

"Ino!" Sakura cut her off. "What in the seven hells are you going on about? And why are you screaming? Half the neighborhood is still asleep! And why are you here so early in the morning?"

Ino huffed but quieted down as she stalked past Sakura and into the living room. "I'm talking about your engagement!" she clarified. "Did you really think I wouldn't find out? Never mind that," she whipped suddenly turned on her heel, nearly causing Sakura, who was following her close behind, to crash into her. "Why did you keep this from me?"

"Ino…"

"I thought we were friends. Best friends!"

"Ino."

"But apparently you can't tell your best friend you're engaged! And I don't even know to whom! Who is it?"

"Ino."

"Naruto? Nah, he's too much like a brother. Sasuke too, so that counts him out. Lee is a nice guy but not really your type. Now that I think about it I don't even know what your type is after the Sasuke phase. For all I know it could be Choji, Neji, even that lazy ass Shikamaru, or –"

"Ino!" Sakura snapped, causing the blue-eyed blonde to look up at her. "I didn't tell you because I just found out last evening. It's an arranged marriage; I didn't even know my fiancés until last night. I was planning on telling you eventually, I just didn't know when since it's been so short a time. How did you find out so quickly anyway?"

"Arranged? Oh, Sakura, that must have been…" She stopped. "Wait a second, did you say 'fiancés'? As in, plural?"

Sakura sighed, wondering how she was going to explain her situation to a nearly hysterical Ino when a voice came from the kitchen.

"Sakura? Is everything alright?"

Ino turned towards the voice as Sasori, followed by Gaara, stepped out from behind the wall the separated the kitchen from the living room. The blonde girl's eyes widened as she took in the two strangers, in their sleeping clothes, both were freaking topless, and were looking at Sakura expectantly, casting wary glances at the newcomer.

"Sakura," Ino said, not looking at the girl. "Why are there the two hot redheads from yesterday in your house? At this hour?"

"Well, they and their family are staying with me and my mom for a month, so…" She didn't get to finish.

Ino turned her head back at the pink-haired girl, and her eyes widened more. "Don't tell me they are…" Sakura nodded in confirmation as she stepped between the toe males.

"Guys, this is Ino Yamanaka, my best friend. Ino, these are Gaara and Sasori no Sabaku," she said, waving at each boy as she introduced them; nearly regretfully. She feared what was sure to happen when the rest of her friends found out, most likely from Ino than from herself. And Ino was known to stretch the truth a bit, so she was absolutely sure their friends were going to overreact. With a deep breath, silently praying for strength, she finished the introduction. "My fiancés."