I'm Back and after a long break! But here is the next chapter. Please Review! I like critisism- good and bad. Thanks for being patient. Sorry this one is so short. Enjoy!

Chapter 11 Kankuro's Pep Talk

After Sakura had finished watching the movie John Tucker Must Die with Ino, she wandered into the kitchen for a bite to eat, and found Kankuro chowing down on a bag of chips, his face buried in a text book. What a nerd.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you lived here," Sakura smiled. "I seem to see you more than my own housemates."

Kankuro shrugged. "What can I say? I like it here. I like the people."

Sakura grinned. "I can see why you'd think that." Sakura pulled open the cabinet and searched for a snack. Coming up empty, she checked the fridge. As she closed it, she was face to face with Sasuke.

She turned abruptly and took a seat at the table next to Kankuro, grabbing a few of his chips. She caught the two of them exchanging a look before Sasuke disappeared down the hall, probably to his room, which he now shared with Naruto. Ino had insisted moving back into her own room, giving Naruto his old room back.

Once Sasuke was gone, Sakura whirled on Kankuro, "What? Are you two friends now?" she demanded. Her anger rising. Wasn't that some code: friends aren't friends with their BFF's enemy? Kankuro was violating that.

Kankuro gave her a hard look. "No, we aren't friends. We just understand each other, that's all."

Sakura frowned. "You understand each other? Great, then tell me why he acts the way he does. Why does he flip a switch so often, I can't tell which side of him I'm going to run into? Why did he leave me that night in the Gardens?"

Kankuro closed his eyes to compose himself. "I can't tell you why he did what he did. That's something for the two of you to figure out. What I know is that he is so deeply sorry, Sakura for all the hurt he's caused you. He was in a lot of confusion, what with him dating Ino and all. Look, I hated him about as much as you did, but he's changed. I can see that. Why can't you?"

"I have seen bits of the real Sasuke come through. Like that day in town before Christmas. It was probably the nicest day we had had together, but then he comes to party, knowing I was dating Naruto, and he pretty much makes us break up!" Sakura exclaimed.

Kankuro shook his head. "No, you broke up with Naruto, remember. Hinata wasn't going to say a thing about it. It wasn't her place, and she knew that. I think deep down, you used that as an excuse to be single again, so you can date Sasuke."

Sakura shook her head. "No. I did the right thing because I felt Naruto deserved to hear it from me and not someone else. I was being the bigger person!"

Kankuro nodded, "I know you were, but after all Sasuke has done trying to get you to see him for who he really is, it almost seems like you are just looking for things to be mad at. He took care of you the other night; I didn't. Sasuke hasn't really pushed you into something you don't want. I can see that there is a part of you that wants him, and I think you should go for it."

Sakura looked away. The sad thing was that Kankuro might have been right. Sakura couldn't figure out if she really wanted Sasuke or not. A part of her did. That part wanted him so badly she could hardly stand it. The other part of her was scared. What if it's all a ploy? What if he would just use her and then break her heart? But, she trusted Kankuro, and Kankuro trusted Sasuke.

"Look, Sakura. I'm not asking you to marry the guy. I just want you to do what your heart is telling you. Take a chance. Take a leap. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space."

With that, Kankuro got up and left, telling her he'd see her later. Sakura just sat there, lost and confused. Why did love have to be so hard? Why couldn't there be an easy button?

Sakura walked out of the kitchen and into the living room.

She found Sasuke sitting on the coach, hunched over a text book. Sakura could only stop and stare. She wanted to really look at him, to see what all of his fan girls saw. He had raven black hair that was messy, but also alluring. His onyx eyes could see right through you, but it also was the sexiest color Sakura could imagine. His lips were full and tasted oh so good. Sakura had no doubt that muscles lined his chest and that he had iron hard abs. The muscles in his arms were relaxed now, though she could still see them.

Sakura thought about who he was as a person. He was cocky, rood, selfish, conceited, a jerk, made girls cry. But, he could also be kind, caring, generous, fair, loving. He had been there for her when it counts. And, it really didn't matter that he was cocky, because he had the skills to back him up. Though he had been a jerk, he was trying to change, and that should speak for himself. Because of this change, he wasn't as rood, selfish, or conceited.

He was changing into a good person. Sakura had seen that all along, but she had been too afraid to admit it. If she admitted it, all those mixed feelings for him would bubble to the surface, and she was too afraid to feel them. She didn't want to feel them, she had seen what happened to her mother when her father had died. Her mother had been too devastated to keep going, forcing Sakura to be the parent and her mother being the child. Sakura didn't want to feel that dependence towards him. She didn't want to be vulnerable enough where he would take advantage of her.

"Are you just going to do something, or are you going to stare some more?" Sasuke asked, never glancing up from his book.

Sakura frowned at him. She'd give him one chance to prove to her he deserved to be with her. "I'll suffice for just sitting here. You don't mind do you?"

He shook his head.

Sakura took out her Ipod and pretended to be listening to it. Sasuke asked, "So, what are you listening to?"

Sakura shrugged. "A little of this, a little of that."

"Mind if I listen too? It helps me when I study to have some kind of background noise."

Sakura merely offered one of her ear buds and selected a song. Sasuke had to sit closer to her since the earbuds wouldn't stretch far enough. So, the two of them sat there, studying for chemistry. Sakura watched as Sasuke wrote down equations and notes. She gave him some pointers on the important information.

After a while, they heard the front door open and Naruto and Hinata came bustling through. Naruto glanced at the two of them and gave Sakura a knowing smile. Hinata waved shyly and the two of them disappeared into the kitchen for a snack. Ino came bustling down from her and Sakura's room looking like she just got up from a nap. She also disappeared into the kitchen after a look aimed at Sakura.

Sakura sighed and got up. Shoving the Ipod into her pocket, Sasuke got the impression she was waiting for something. Sasuke grabbed her wrist when she turned. "Are you busy tomorrow night?" he asked.

Sakura thought for a moment, "No, why?"

"Well, I was wondering if you would want to go catch a movie, go to dinner afterwards?"

Sakura looked at him, long and hard. She was having a debate with herself, but finally caved. "Sure. You know where to find me." She headed up to her room.

"Be ready by six!"

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