First of all I'd like to apologise for being dead to FH. I have no excuses and I'm really sorry about leaving this for so long, I just lost inspiration and had a hell of a writers block. I'm sorry if some of you lost interest in the story.

ANYWAY, I hope you guys liked that last chapter! I was so excited to introduce Narutooo! He's so adorable and loveable! Ahhhh!! Anyways, here's the next chapter. I've taken your poll (yes I know - Not pole as I wrote before...My bad) answers into consideration and I hope I will capture all your best interests. I guess we'll find out.


Chapter 11

"Of all the people in the world, you're with him!" exclaimed Naruto, slightly enraged.

"What are you doing here Uzumaki?" growled Sasuke fiercely, he was in no mood to deal with him, especially when he's not at school. He certainly didn't want to have to put up with Naruto's crap a whole month before school started. He also didn't want Naruto knowing about his private life.

"Oh, so you do know him?" probed Sakura as she noticed the change in the atmosphere; from calm to tense.

"Unfortunately.." whispered Naruto as he turned his back to Sasuke and faced Sakura. "I'm gonna go...Maybe I'll see you around some time? Okay?" he said hopefully.

"I'd like that" said Sakura as she smiled genuinely. Naruto hugged Sakura quickly then rushed past Sasuke, who was fuming, and walked out the door. Sakura wasn't sure if she'd see him again, but she kind of hoped that she would. His personality just radiated, like a bright glow around him. He was so optimistic that Sakura couldn't help but feel the same way.

"What the hell was he doing here?" Sasuke questioned Sakura. She sighed heavily then sank back into her bed and shrugged.

"I only just met him. He wandered into the room and we started talking" said Sakura simply as she stared at the wall. She didn't really want to talk to Sasuke, especially after what happened at the restaurant.

"Tch, of course, that sounds exactly like Naruto. Ignoring peoples personal privacy" he scoffed. Sakura rolled her eyes at his response.

"Well, it didn't bother me. He's actually a nice person. Who says kind things, something that's completely foreign to you" said Sakura with a certain spiteful tone that seemed to cut Sasuke. He glanced at her with a pained expression; she had no idea what she meant to him. How he sometimes used to watch her from around a corner, he used to think that he was so pathetic. Follow a girl that probably didn't give a damn about him, not like other girls; they would kill for his attention. Sakura appeared so excruciatingly oblivious to his interest in her.

Sasuke then realised that Sakura was still angry at him about what happened at the restaurant. He couldn't really blame her. He too was still angry at himself for saying such foolish things, especially when he intended to be truthful to her that night, to tell her everything, to tell her of his affections. But she was so difficult and stubborn. Then one thing lead to another and his frustration got the better of him. He didn't understand why she was crying in the first place, which is why Sasuke researched her a little. That was when he was intrigued to find that Sai Kankyaku, youngest of the clan, was intertwined with her past. It took a lot of digging to find out that vital piece of information. Sasuke then vaguely understood why Sakura was so reserved. She was always trying to blend in, trying to stay quiet. And then when Sasuke found out that her family was murdered by Sai he was furious. Sai had caused Sakura all this pain and torment, Sasuke just wanted to rip him apart, and he could if he wanted to. Sasuke then thought why would Sai do such a thing? He figured that it was his upbringing, that he did it out of cold blood, or some sort of sick initiation process. Whatever it was, it wasn't worth putting Sakura through so much. If Sai loved her so much, why would he do that? But Sasuke didn't know the circumstances, as Sakura also did not.

It took a while for Sasuke to summon the courage and to abandon his pride to say what was on his mind. He was truly sorry and he wanted Sakura to know.

"Sakura..I'm really sorry, and I'm not just saying that. I didn't mean anything that I said..I was just angry, you..You didn't give me a chance to fully express myself-" Sasuke didn't finish what he was saying because he was interrupted.

"Fully express yourself? You were angry?! Are you kidding me? That's your excuse? You are such an inconsiderable jerk!" exclaimed Sakura.

"No, that's not what I mean.." started Sasuke again trying to keep his temper under control.

"Well what exactly do you mean? Why were you even there? And don't give me this coincidence crap, you were evesdropping and you followed me to the bathroom! What is that about?! And moreover, what the hell are you thinking? You've been on me ever since the freezer incident! I cant take all this confusion anymore, I don't need it" Sakura spoke between gasps.

Sasuke was taken aback by her long winded rant, this is the most he's ever heard her speak. it's was so strange, she used to be so quiet. Sakura was starting to speak out. Sasuke took a deep drawn out breath that turned into a sigh, this was it. He was going to tell her what was going on with him. He was going to tell her his feelings.

"Sakura, this is the truth okay. I know I've been acting weird lately, it's just that...something has sort of occurred to me..". Sakura tried to interupt again but Sasuke stopped her.

"No, just let me finish okay?"

Sakura glowered but nodded nonetheless. She stared at him impatiently as she waited for Sasuke to continue speaking.

"The truth is that...Over these past months I've been watching you. I didn't know why, but I figured it out just before the freezer event. I went to tell you what I've realised but then we got stuck and well, I freaked out and I couldn't tell you.." said Sasuke grimly. Sakura tilted her head to the side in confusion.

"So I tried to express it the best way I could.." finished Sasuke. He didn't know what else to say. He wasn't the type of guy to speak his feelings aloud.

"I don't understand" Sakura replied simply as she shrugged. She had no idea what Sasuke was mumbling about. She'd never seen him like this before, she could barely understand a word he was saying, which was strange for Sasuke; usually he was very articulate. Sasuke was about to repeat himself however Itachi entered the room. Sasuke frowned then retreated. He sat down in his seat, slightly angered and disappointed that he couldn't portray his feelings clearly.

"Sakura, it's great to finally see you awake" spoke Itachi softly. He placed his hand upon hers as he closed the proximity between the two. Sasuke's frown intensified. Just before Sakura went to make a cold gesture towards Itachi she realized that hehad not done anything to upset her, nothing in the least. She smiled weakly.

"Great to be awake, even though I'm kind of tired for some reason. I've only been sleeping lately.." she said. Itachi laughed quietly.

"Yes, that is true.." replied Itachi with a warm smile. The two looked at each for several seconds, Sasuke steadily become infuriated. Itachi was moving in on his girl, well not his, not yet.

The next day Sakura was released from the hospital. Her doctor had announced her healthy as a horse, Sakura was ecstatic. She hated occupying a room when she was perfectly fine when others weren't. Itachi brought Sakura change clothes so she had something clean to wear. Sakura signed the release papers with Itachi as her guardian since she wasn't eighteen yet. Sasuke stalked out of the hospital first with Sakura on his heel then Itachi after her. When she strolled out of the hospital doors a bit too confidently she was met by the bright sun which took her by surprise. She immediately squinted her eyes and held up her arm to shield them. She missed her step and stumbled forward, Sasuke heard her gasp and turned to have her fall into him. He caught her instinctively and held her for several moments. She peered up at him, first with a shocked expression which quickly evolved into a glare. She was positively seething. Sasuke sighed, she was still angry at him. He was saddened by this fact, however he found her anger quite endearing. She didn't seem the type to hold grudges, she was so gentle. Sakura pushed her way out of his arms and stormed forwards, unaware of her destination.

"Sakura, are you alright?" asked Itachi who brushed past Sasuke. Sakura didn't respond, she stopped halfway down the pathway when she realised she didn't know where she was going.

"The car is right here Sakura" drawled Sasuke, holding back a smile at her apparent rage. Sakura peered over to follow Sasuke's line of vision and she saw a sleek black Mercedes-Benz parked in the pick-up zone. Itachi walked to the car and held the back door open as Sakura followed then clambered in. Itachi followed after her. Sasuke walked to the passenger side of the front seats and slid into the seat smoothly. The driver turned on the car quickly and began to drive towards the Uchiha estate.

When back in her room Sakura felt a little more at ease. She was forced to remain in her room to relax and rest, as Itachi had put it. She yearned to continue her duties as the maid and clean the house, this was when she heard a knock on her door. Desperate for boredom to cease she ran to the door.

Please not Sasuke, please not Sasuke

Her plea was heard as she opened the door to see Itachi smiling down at her. Sakura sighed in relief.

"Sakura, we have to talk" said Itachi. Sakura narrowed her eyes slightly, what was this about? Itachi saw the sudden change in her facial expression and quickly intercepted.

"Don't worry, it's nothing bad at all!" Itachi urged. Sakura calmed down a little but still felt tense and on edge. Itachi placed his hand on Sakura's shoulder to reassure her. He then lead her over to sit on Sakura's bed. They sat in silence for several seconds. Sakura stared at her hands.

"So, I had a discussion with Sasuke and we've come to an agreement" spoke Itachi. Sakur quickly rose her head and stared at Itachi in confusion. "We've decided that we don't want you to be our maid anymore" he continued. Sakura's eyes widened, was this really happening again? Did Sasuke convince Itachi to fire her? First Sasuke, now Itachi? Sakura thought that she could trust him, he seemed like the only decent man alive, and to have him betray her now? Sakura could feel anger and tears building up inside her, but the anger came first.

"WHAT? Are you firing me?!" Sakura burst out in a fit of anger. She rose to her feet quickly and began to pace across the room. "I've been working her for so long and then Sasuke goes ad hits on me and what? That's my fault? I didn't talk to anybody! I kept my head down and I worked dammit! Then you go and ask me out! And..and we have a nice dinner and then Sasuke fires me! What the bloody hell for I dont know okay? And then I ran off, I know that was stupid but I was upset! This is the only place that I sort of feel safe. I dont belong anywhere else, I have no where else to go! I'm not going into foster care, I just cant.. How can you do this to me?" Sakura took a huge breath and continued to flail her arms around and spoke again "Its not my fault! You cant fire me! I dont want to be alone.. I need to be here.. I need.. Dont do this to me, dont leave me again.." and then the tears came and poured down Sakura's red cheeks. She collapsed to the floor and began sobbing.

Itachi sat in shock of the whole outburst, he wasnt expecting this. He composed himself then ran over to Sakura and held her on the ground.

"Sakura I'm sorry.. We're not leaving and neither are you. You've got me all wrong" said Itachi reassuringly. Sakura looked up and peered at Itachi, he replied with a warm smile.

"I'm confused" confessed Sakura.

"Yeah, that's my fault. Sorry" replied Itachi through an embarrassed smile."We dont want you to work as a maid because you wouldn't have the time since you'd be in high school" finished Itachi. Sakura shot a glance at Itachi and blinked several times, as if that would rewind his words so she could hear them again. Then she laughed awkwardly.

"Sorry, I just thought you said something about me going to school" spoke Sakura.

"I did"