A: This chapter is the beginning of the end.

N: You mean…

A: That's right. I've planned IT for next chapter.

N: NEXT CHAPTER?!

A: Yes. IT will happen… In chapter 12.

N: IT IS GOING DOWN! SHIT'S GOING DOWN IN CHAPTER 12!!

A: So this chapter will check in with our friends at the magical hotel in the city.

Once again, he woke up in a cold sweat. "That's it," he said, "I need to write it." He picked up a pen and started writing as fast as he could. When he'd finished, he folded it eight times and put it in the pocket of his green sweatshirt.

Lee and Neji were doing their regular, "Tenten's MINE!" routine, and as usual, Kakashi was watching. But, this time, Sasuke felt different. He wasn't really watching, because it was always the same thing. No, he was thinking. Thinking that he'd been there too long. He should be looking for Itachi. That bastard. He'd wasted too much time here. Besides, he was running out of cash. But when Sasuke voiced his monetary concerns…

Kakashi laughed. "Out of money, eh? Well I guess it's time I told you kiddies… I own this hotel!"

"WHAT?!" Roared Sasuke and Neji, advancing upon Kakashi.

"Hold it boys!" Cried Tenten, shoving them out of the way, "Mr. Hatake," she said, giving the silver-haired man a big bear hug, "Does that mean that we can stay here for freeeee?"

"Oh, yes, that would RULE!" Lee exclaimed, punching the air.

"All right. You guys can stay. For free," he sighed. 'Besides, Tenten squishes her chest against you when she hugs… Who could say no to that?' Thought the pervy, and apparently, very rich man.

"No, fuck that," said the young Uchiha, "I'm outta here."

"Sasuke," whispered Kakashi, "I know who you're looking for. And I've got people looking for him."

"What do you mean?" Sasuke hissed, "How do you know?"

"Itachi Uchiha. On the night of August twelfth, 1989, killed his entire family in a vicious rampage that stained the streets red. Only one survivor: his younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha, who attended school not too far from here, in the suburbs, for eleven years, until leaving abruptly in senior year. Had a tiny fling with a certain pink-haired girl, and failed English II twice in a row. Are you set, or should I go into more private details?"

Sasuke stood, gaping. "How do you-"

"Do you really think I'd tell you that?"

"Well, no…"

"I do have people on the case right now, so if you could just… Relax and enjoy this nice little hotel free of charge, that'd be great." He smiled.

"…Fine. I'll stay. But only if you promise that if you find him, I'll be the one to kill him."

"It's a deal."

Over the next two weeks, Chouji and Ino visited Kankuro eight more times. They spent the rest of their time (when Ino wasn't with Sakura and Chouji wasn't with Shikamaru) together.

"Ino," said Chouji one day, "These have been the best two weeks of my whole life."

"Mine, too," she replied, kissing him. Kankuro grinned.

"You know," he said, "the second I saw you two I knew you'd be a couple. You guys look so happy."

"I am!" Chouji beamed. He finally had the girl of his dreams. "Oh! You know Hinata, right?"

"Yes," said Ino.

"Who?" Kankuro tilted his head.

"She's one of our friends," Chouji explained, "And she's going out with Naruto."

"Really? I knew she liked him. That's so great for them!" Ino smiled.

"Ino, you have the most beautiful smile of anyone ever," Chouji said truthfully.

"Oh my God, I love you," she said, "you're so cute!"

"I… I love you too, Ino. Oh man, I've wanted to say that for so long!"

Kankuro grinned even harder, but behind the grin hid an intense loneliness.

Temari lit up a smoke. She liked to smoke after sex. Shikamaru liked to sleep after sex. He liked to sleep after everything. And during everything. Temari could have sworn that he'd fallen asleep during sex more than once. And right now, he was asleep, in Temari's bed. They usually fucked at his place, but his mom was on the apathetic warpath (if that was possible), so they drove the few blocks to Temari's place, and kicked Gaara out.

She loved him, but wasn't sure he was capable of love. But then again, girls matured faster, and she was three years older than him anyways. It was just that he was different from other guys. He was so smart, yet so lazy, and didn't let anything "troublesome," phase him. Until recently, that is. Lately he'd been acting different.

And Temari didn't like it.

"Oh, I just remembered, Sakura wanted to meet me," said Ino, at sunset.

"Oh… Okay," Chouji said, trying to hide his disappointment.

"Don't worry. I'm just going to tell her I'm through with her shit. See you later, okay?" She kissed him and skipped out the door.

"She was your ride, wasn't she," Kankuro said, once again exasperated.

"Sure was," replied Chouji.

"Then you have to call for one, because my car is kind of crappy, and needs many repairs. We wouldn't want you dying on account of my piece of shit vehicle, now would we? By the way, nice jacket."

"'Sokay, I'll get one from Shikamaru. And thanks." he was wearing the jet black one that he'd found on his floor that day he'd come home to a ransacked room.

He grabbed the phone and dialed the number. It rang once, and then all he could hear was screaming. He hung up quickly "Okay, that was his mom, and from what I gather, he's at Temari's house." Kankuro's face fell at the sound of his sister's name. She wouldn't even pick up the phone when he called now.

Temari's phone rang. "Hallo?" She said casually, not even bothering to check the caller ID.

"It's Chouji."

"Oh."

He sighed. Just, 'oh.' Not even a 'hi.' "Is Shikamaru there?"

"Yeah, lemme wake him up. Shika… Phone."

He grunted. "Hello…?"

"It's me."

"…Oh."

Chouji sighed again. "Can you give me a ride? I'm at… erm… Kankuro's apartment," he said awkwardly.

"All right. Fine." He hung up. "C'mon, Temari. He needs a ride."

"Oh. Okay." She pulled her skirt on.

They had driven for five minutes before they saw two people walking they half expected to see. "Need a ride?" Shikamaru asked Naruto and Gaara.

"Why not, 'ttebayo?" The climbed in. Nobody talked after Shikamaru explained where they were going, and why. They all knew how Shika felt about it.

Another five minutes passed by. "Stop!" Cried Naruto, gesturing towards a lone figure on a park bench. He got out and hugged the figure. They talked for a minute, then Naruto and Hinata got into the car.

She was crying. And trembling.

"They… they…" She tried to find the right words. "They're going to kill someone!"

"What? Who?" Asked Temari.

"Sakura and Ino!"

"What?" Said Shikamaru incredulously, "I can't believe that. They couldn't kill anything."

"But… they have guns!"

A: Next chapter, IT happens... -Sniffles-

N: Dear God, what have we done?