Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Note|| three person conversation (three-way *naughty naughty* lolz) : Person 1 | Person 2 | Person 3

Note|| Okay . . . I have unfortunately caused quite a bit of confusion. For that I am utterly sorry. But in my defense . . . *points down* read. I know it has taken a while . . . So I will upload two chapters at once! Please give me love?

Previously: Unavailable At This Time - Proceed To Next Episode

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The Engagement Date
Chapter Eleven
The BlindSided Date

The Ambience of True Never Ending Love. It's Cold, Difficult, and Rare. If True Love was Kind, Easy, and Everywhere. It Wouldn't Be Worth Much.
True Love is Worth More Than Oxygen Itself, Simply For The Fact That It's Cruel, Difficult and Rare. - L.K.P. [me]

Present : Chapter 11

Sakura stared up in confusion. "What are you doing here, Itachi?"

Itachi smiled. His dark eyes skated over her features. "Rescuing you." His smile widened as he relaxed into the cushioned chair. "You are still as beautiful as ever."

She ignored his later comment, choosing to focus on the first. Her brows furrowed. "I didn't ask to be rescued."

"You didn't have too." Itachi chuckled softly. His eyes shimmered in amusement. "A flower always needs to be rescued."

Sakura's jaw locked. "Why are you here?" She wasn't in the mood to play games - far more pressing matters at hand.

Itachi's lips twitched as he fought the wide smile pulling at his lips. He gestured with his hands, "Didn't I just answer that?" He laughed once more while reclining in the chair. Itachi rolled his shoulders.

A habit, Sakura remembered. Her hands clenched under the table. Sakura didn't like that she remembered little harmless facts about the male across from her. She didn't want to remember anything about him.

Itachi's shoulders sagged. "You haven't forgiven me . . . Have you?" His voice softened at the end, afraid of the answer he already knew. Itachi slumped

Her jaw flexed before tightening. No, she hadn't.

"Will you?" Itachi whispered softly. "Will you forgive me?" A deep unrequited pleading fille dhis deep baritone voice, his dark eyes shimmered as he stared at the woman he loved.

Sakura's brows furrowed in contemplation. "I don't know if I can?" Her lips pursed as she stared down at the white table cloth covering the circular table. Could she? Could she forgive him?

Itachi nodded. "I miss you." He whispred softly, half way between wanting her to here and hoping she didn't.

Silence.

Itachi heaved a small sigh and nodded. "I get it." He chuckled at the glare that came his way. "No really I do." He grimaced out a smile. "I was the biggest coward . . . period." Itachi puffed out his cheeks while letting out a breath. "I listened to your sister. I stayed, despite what I knew. I lied to the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I never questioned anything your sister or mother said." Itachi licked his lips. He laughed mirthlessly. "But, in my defense . . . I loved you. And still do." His defense was crumbling before him.

Sakura swallowed hard but continued to stare at the wall to her left. She couldn't look at him. She wouldn't look at him. Sakura clenched her fists and tightened her jaw. As much as she hated to admit it. She was still hurting.

"Sakura," Itachi whispered softly.

"I'm waiting for someone." Sakura blurted out. She wanted him to leave. The longer he was around her, the more memories surfaced. It was too much. Simply too much. A part of her was still hurting. But a bigger part was still angry. She couldn't handle all of the emotions that rose up and fluttered inher stomach. She wasn't ready to face him, not like this and not yet.

Itachi frowned. "Waiting for someone?" He hadn't thought of that.

"Yes. Go." Sakura gave short clipped answers in reply.

Itachi chuckled. "You never could lie to me."

Sakura jerked around to face Itachi head on. "Excuse me?"

"You never could lie to me." He smiled. "I remember absolutely everything about you."

Sakura's jaw flexed - she really wanted to hit him. "I'm waiting for someone."

"What did I tell you?" Itachi shook his head. "I know everything about you."

Sakura let out a slow breath, trying to release her frustration.

"If you knew everything, you'd know her nose scrunched when she lies." A third voice pointed out.

Itachi's spine stiffened. His eyes widened fractionally. He knew that voice. Itachi studied the girl before him Her nose? Had his little flower changed on him?

Sakura's eyes widened as they flittered over to the intruder.

"Itachi, she said leave."

Itachi twisted around with a grace few possessed. "Gaara." He acknowledged, voice hard and detached.

"Itachi." Gaara smirked easily. He was going to enjoy this. "You're in my seat."

Sakura kept her shock in check. She couldn't decide. Was in smart to trade one heart ache for the other?

Itachi glanced back at Sakura.

Silence.

Gaara chuckled. "I don't think you know as much about her as you claim." His eyes narrowed. "Get away from my fiance."

"I see." Itachi swallowed. "I didn't realize this was a date." He stood from his - Gaara's - chair. He stared at the woman who had so easily slipped through his hands. "Sakura . . ."

She ignored him.

Itachi's lips thinned. He knew when to fight, and he knew when to fight another day.

Sakura watched from the corner of her eye as Itachi left. Her hairs stood on end. Which was better? Itachi's presence or Gaara's? Her heart skipped a beat as she took in the red-headed male before her. He looks better . . . than he did at the airport.

'With absence the heart grows fonder.'

"I'm sorry I was late," Gaara announced as he took his seat across from Sakura.

Sakura nodded stoically. She really wasn't sure how to answer that. Heck! she wasn't even sure of how to talk to him. How do you talk to the man you love? The one you are trying to ignore? The one you are trying to forget? Trying to move on from? Sakura shifted in her chair and reached for the glass of wine Sakura had told herself she wouldn't touch.

Gaara frowned. Something was wrong. After all the time they had been apart, he could still read her. "What's wrong?"

"Why are you here?" Sakura berated herself as the words slipped passed - against her will - her lips. She didn't really want to talk, not to him. She' rather he talked, to her. She loved his voice. Warm honey sliding over wet silk - dangerous and messy. It would be any woman's downfall. It probably had already fallen many women.

"What do you mean?" Gaara questioned as he stared at the pink haired woman across from him. His body hummed, blood thrumming through his entire being. After their split at the airport one thing had becom very apparent to the red haired. Only Sakura could awaken him inside. Only Sakura could shock his system, bringing to life his desires.

Sakura's brows furrowed. Huh? "Why are you here?" That was a pretty easy question. There were no hidden meanings. Why was it difficult? "I'm not . . . Saying, I'm not h - happy to see y - you." Kill her! Kill her now! She was freaking stuttering over her words. Dear ancestors, I am ready to do. "I am."

"You are?" Gaara didn't fight the smile that over took his lips. She was happy to see him. His heart fluttered every so slightly.

Sakura's cheeks tinged a deep red. Her head lowered as she tried to use her hair as a sort of shield. Sakura swallowed. "Yes, I am." She gazed up at him through thick lashes. "Very glad."

Gaara's breath hitched. Damn, she was was beautiful. "I'm glad to see you too." I wished, I had never let you walk away. "But why are you asking why am I here?"

"Because I really don't know." Sakura's head cocked to the side as she tried to decifer the unknown.

Gaara frowned. "Didn't you ask for me?" What the hell is going on? Sakura - from his knowledge - had never been this forgetful. "Naruto told me."

"Told you . . ." Sakura trailed off, brows furrowed in complete confusion. "Told you what?" Ask for him? She ran a hand through her pink hair, what the hell had Naruto done now? Asked for him? She shook her hair, pink tresses swaying before framing her face once more. "I didn't."

Gaara smiled softly. Adorable. "You didn't what?"

"I didn't ask for you." Sakura replied before her mind could catch up with her mind.

Gaara froze. She hadn't wanted to see him? But she was happy to see him? She didn't want his help?

"No!" Sakura exclaimed sitting forward as she saw the emotions flit across his eyes before dulling. She shook her head onc emore. "I didn't mean . . . Not like that." She chewed on her lower lip. Seriously, anytime you're ready. I'm ready ancestors. "I just didn't . . . Naruto asked me . . . Why are you here again?" Her shoulders slumped as she hunched forward, confusion showing on her face and coloring her voice.

Gaara chuckled, he couldn't help it. "Naruto said you wanted to meet me . . ." He trailed off slowly. "Well, Tema-" He stopped. Temari. He heaved a loud sigh. "I believe they've conned us both Saku." The nickname slipped out easily. Too easily.

Her cheeks reddened. A tremor started at her toes, working it's way up. Sakura forced her body to still. "Temari?

"Naruto said you wanted to meet me here." Gaara started. "That is what he told Temari to tell me."

Sakura nodded - finally starting to peice everything together. "Naruto said he wanted to meet me here because-"

"Your family still thinks we are engaged." Gaara finished. "Naruto told Temari everything - they," he pointed at Sakura, then himself, before making a little circle motion with his index finger, "cooked this up."

Sakura's head cocked to the side. "Really?"

"They said you wanted to have lunch with me." Gaara stalled, staring at the pink haired vision in front of him. "You wanted my help - you wanted me to go with you back home, once more. To pretend we are still together . . ." He trailed off at the expressions on her face. "Does this not sound even a little familiar?"

Sakura shook her head. "I never said that, I did talk to Naruto - he suggested we meet here to come up with ideas." Sakura licked her lower lip and reached forward towards the waning glass of wine.

Yeah, she was going to need a refill soon. Very soon.

"I see." Gaara whispered. So, she didn't love him. She didn't even ask for him. His shoulders sagged.

Sakura bit her lower lip.

Buzz. Buzz.

Sakura's head lowered as she looked down to the purse on her lap. Slowly she pulled out her I-phone. Her brows furrowed as she looked at the message.

Ask him for help. I
pre-brain-stormed

Love Foxxy ^.^

Sakura heaved a sigh. Naruto. Pre-brain-stormed. Really? She bit her lower lip. Ask him? Her emerald green orbs shimmered in the light as she studied the oblivious red head across from her. "Gaara?"

Gaara's head shot up. His dark hunter green eyes penetrating through her soul. "Yes." Whatever it is, yes. Always yes, Saku, always.

"Will you?" Sakura's voice was small. "I know we were tricked, completely blind-sided. But . . ." She trailed off.

Gaara shifted in his seat. "But?"

Suck it up Sakura! "I would love it if you'd help me."

Gaara smiled. She'd love it. "Of course. You are my Saku." Mine.

A blush marred Sakura's cheeks. A giggle slipped passed her lips. "Thank you."

Understand?

It was a curveball that didn't go according to plan cause of faulty internet and lack of sleep. Did you EnJOY?

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