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XxxxxxX

Chapter 17

~A Warm Welcome: Welcome Home…?~

Midnight blue turned to purple, light blue, and dark orange when the sun awoke from its slumber. Up and up it slowly rose until the entire sky reflected its rays and erased all signs of the moon's reign.

Emerald green fluttered open to the sunlight's kisses, "…Mmm…" Slowly, she lifted her upper body only to feel a certain weight on her waist. With groggy eyes, she glanced down and saw the younger Uchiha's head leaning on her waist.

She smiled.

Her fingers raked his hair to slowly wake him up, " Sasuke kun…" she called out. Seeing Sasuke, she remembered his confession towards her. I love you. She inwardly cringed at the words. Why couldn't she say that she loved him too? She did, didn't she?

She had loved him at a young age and she had always loved him since. She cared for him like a lover, she worried about him as if she were his lover, she spoke to him as if she were his lover, but her gentle actions and the way her heart beat around him were not of a lover's.

He stirred in his sleep and awoke. Seeing her emerald eyes, Sasuke let out a refreshed, small smile. But, his eyes narrowed when he saw the person behind Sakura. He remembered that he fell asleep while Sakura lay on Itachi's lap and was forced to squeeze on her side.

Sakura, curious of Sasuke's odd reaction, glanced towards the direction where Sasuke was glaring. She let out a gasp when she realized Itachi was staring at her with his crimson red eyes. "Itachi nii san…?"

Itachi stretched out his hand and patted her on the head, "Good morning," he leaned in close to her ear like he did every morning back then and whispered, "…My cherry blossom…"

Sakura's cheeks heated as the blood rushed to her face, "Y-yes… g-good m-morning Itachi n-nii san…" She mentally slapped herself. What was wrong with her? She was acting like Hinata.

Sasuke glared at his brother, but Itachi ignored him—as usual. He rolled his eyes and stood. His white oversized shirt drooped at his shoulders, but he paid it no mind. He was too busy watching Sakura fluster and blush around his older brother. Damn. He clenched his teeth when no one would notice.

"Sakura chan! Good morning, yeah!" Deidara waved both his hands from the other side of the campsite. He rushed over to Sakura, "You did an amazing job, Sakura chan, hmph! They work perfectly, yeah!"

Sakura chuckled, "Good morning, Deidara nii chan. You're welcome, but don't thank only me. Everyone helped out, you know?"

Deidara fiddled with his hands, "uh well…yes hmph…but I wanted to thank you first…un" Towards others, Deidara was tough and quite arrogant. But around Sakura, he showed his cute side and often acted like a little child.

XxxxxxX

"N-naruto….w-wake u-up…!" Hinata was trying her best to wake up her boyfriend from his deep slumber.

"Ah…Hinata chan…" He mumbled in his sleep.

Hinata blushed as her cheeks stained a dark red. She remembered the days when Naruto would mumble out 'Sakura' instead of 'Hinata' before.

"Hinata chan," Sakura stood bending over both of them with a smile on her face. Earlier, she was talking to their newly made allies. Now, she was probably doing her routine check up around the konoha nin. She breathed out a long sigh, "He isn't waking up again?"

Hinata shook her head, "N-no, b-but it's a-alright…"

"No it isn't, Hinata chan. I know you find him cute and all, but we've got a mission to accomplish." Sakura had a hand on her hip as she stretched her other hand towards Naruto. "Sorry, but you know I've got to do this…"

Deidara, Sasori, Kisame and Itachi lingered nearby and watched Sakura's every movement out of curiosity. They were intrigued by this grown up Sakura, and wanted to know more about her.

"What do you think she'll do to that Naruto guy, yeah?" Deidara had his head cocked to the side.

Sasori who looked on with a seemingly bored expression answered his partner, "She is probably checking up on her companions"

"Why didn't she check up on us, yeah? We're here companions too, hmph."

Kisame butted in the partners' conversation, "Do you honestly think we need checking up on?"

"No…" Deidara pouted, "But, it'd be nice if she would, un"

"Dream on Deidara," Kisame smirked from Itachi's side.

The elder Uchiha didn't pay attention to what they were saying. With his attention fixed on Sakura, his gaze and mind was only on Sakura. She watched him lift the jinchuuriki and shake him like a rag doll.

"Whoa…!" Kisame's beady eyes seemed to pop out of his head, "how…violent…" Sakura's vicious actions rendered the sharkman speechless.

As the need for an explanation dawned on the four, Sai popped out of nowhere with a book in hand, "Ugly always does that to everybody…" he said before walking off.

"Ugh," Deidara had his face stretched as if the sight of Sai disgusted him, "That boy gives me the creeps…"

"He called Sakura ugly…" Itachi's voice trailed off as if he were saying it to himself—no one but he heard it though.

"She does that to everybody?" the mental image of Sakura handing everyone like ragdolls weighed on Sasori's mind.

Back with the three, Naruto had begun opening his eyes. His slit like eyes, droopy and lazy from just waking up, opened to reveal blue eyes. But refreshed sea blue turned fearful as Sakura's angry face was the first thing he saw in the morning, "Ah…Sakura chan…good morning…?" He had a sheepish grin. It was the one he had on when he had done something mischievous, stupid or just something plain wrong.

"Okay everyone, time to go!" Kakashi stood beside Asuma and Nagato.

"Akatsuki," Nagato called out to those wearing the black robes patterened with red clouds, "We go." While Kakashi's was heart warming and welcoming, Nagato's was strict and cold.

And despite the pity they felt in their hearts, the Konoha nin found that it fit them. Only Sakura found that it didn't. To her, cold and cruel were cold and cruel no matter who it was directed to. She let go of Naruto and gathered her things: a traveling pack and a cloak.

"Sakura," Itachi approached her in a slow and steady manner. Beside him was Kisame who had a sharky grin and Samehada on his shoulder, "Kisame will carry your things…" Itachi spoke and Sakura guessed that he didn't discuss what he said with Kisame because Kisame turned to Itachi with a surprised, horrified look.

"Wha?" Kisame, shocked, sighed and lowered his Samehada, "Fine…" Slumped shoulders and a pout, he walked towards Sakura.

"What? No, it's okay, I can carry it on my own." Sakura grinned sweat dropping on the side because it was obvious that Kisame was simply forced to carry her things.

"Don't mind it, Sakura. As you can see, Kisame agreed." Itachi placed his arm on Sakura's shoulder to pull her away from Kisame.

"Itachi nii san! Kisame nii kun doesn't want to so—" She was cut off when she heard a chuckle from Kisame.

"It's okay little squirt. I used to love doing things for you. Must've just gotten used to not doing anything anymore,"

"And believe him when he says not doing anything, hmph" Deidara commented on the side.

Kisame, not wanting to be immature, scowled at the blonde before returning his attention to Sakura, "So it's fine, really. You go walk with Itachi san and catch up on good times…" And as he grinned, at the back of his mind, Kisame knew what Itachi was trying to do.

XxxxxxX

The Aka-Kono group traveled two hours worth of distance. In several 'cliques', they moved at a walking pace and spoke casually with one another. Some Akatsuki were talking to Konoha shinobi who they had, somehow, gotten along with.

Among them were Deidara and Sasori who spoke to Sai—correction: argued. They were debating on the concept of art and its true definition. Earlier on, the partners found out that the resident 'creepy guy'—as Deidara coined it—was an 'artist'. They began talking and eventually it led to the topic of what art was. Of course, Sasori and Deidara would never pass the opportunity to ask a third party who could relate to them. However, they didn't realize that Sai would only complicate things even more.

"How can you make something that is eternal instantaneous and something instantaneous eternal, hmph?" Deidara and Sasori had their brows furrowed at the wide-smiling Sai.

"Well, a true artist can capture something that happens for a fleeting moment and make it eternal and make something meant to be eternal into something that can disappear in an instant." Sai answered the blonde.

"Wha?" Deidara was confused.

"So which side are you on?" Sasori asked, his red hair fluttering in the soft breeze.

"No one's," was Sai's blunt answer. His eyes were turned into upside down u-shapes and he had his wide, plastic smile on.

His answer, however, only left Deidara and Sasori craving for a proper answer. "Pick a side, yeah!" Deidara roared, "There's no such thing as being in the middle!"

"That's not true," Sai said, "Being in the middle just allows me to elude petty fights," Again, he stretched his smile at them.

"This guy…" Deidara had his fists and teeth clenched tightly.

"Oy," Yamato appeared, "Stop fighting," He held Sai by the shoulder who glanced at Yamato with a smile and walked away.

"What a weird guy…" Sasori commented on the side.

Yamato simply gave Sasori a quick glance before walking after Sai.

XxxxxxX

Sasuke was forced by Kakashi to stay near Naruto as his bodyguard. For all he knew, Kakashi just wanted him and Itachi to avoid fighting on their way to Konoha. Did Kakashi think that he would be so immature as to attack Itachi if he touched Sakura?

…Sasuke didn't bother answering that one. Kakashi probably thought he would.

The blond was chatting with Hinata as Naruto's arm was around her waist and the three of them walked together. Really, it was supposed to be Sasuke holding Sakura by the waist and Naruto wishing he had someone by the waist and not the other way around with the exception of Hinata in Sakura's place. As Naruto spoke, Sasuke glanced at Sakura who walked alongside Itachi.

His eyes narrowed at Itachi who was drinking in Sakura's image with his eyes. And Sasuke wanted to badly gauge his eyes out. He mentally kicked himself. If he kept thinking about ways to kill Itachi then Kakashi would never let him near the two. He decided to bear it and ignore them...at least he tried to.

"Are you sure Kisame nii kun is fine?" Sakura asked with her hands folded behind her. Every once in a while, she would glance at Kisame to see how he was holding up.

"Don't worry about him. Just enjoy the way back to your home,"

"OUR home…" Sakura corrected him with a smile on her face.

"…hn…"

Sakura watched Itachi as he grew silent. She knew returning to Konoha bothered him, but she also knew that everything would be better. It would take some effort from both parties to accept everything, but if her friends, who were stubborn and hard-headed by the way, were able to do it then so can everyone else…right?

The silence stretched on until Itachi spoke, "You've really grown up…" he, himself, was in disbelief. Had so many years passed that she was now how old? 15? 16? 17? 18? He lost track of time and he felt as if he had wandered in some other dimension for all these years. But perhaps he just simply sunk into his own genjutsu.

"Aa…well…time has gone by…" Sakura gave a small smile, but deep in her heart she knew what Itachi was trying to say: You've changed. She drifted in and out of her thoughts and was so caught in them that she didn't notice a small rock in front of her. The rock tripped her and Sakura would've landed flat on her face if Itachi had not caught her and carried her.

Sakura, realizing her awkard position which was being carried like a bride by Itachi, blushed beat red, "A-ah, I-itachi nii san…I-I'm fine you can put me down now…" She winced in her vulnerable state. She felt his breath on her hair and the slow beating of his heart against his chest.

"It's fine, I'll carry you…" His gaze did not once turn to her. Instead, he kept his hands firm and his gaze at the road. Itachi was careful to avoid any obstacles that would hurt Sakura such as twigs or rocks that would make him trip.

"N-no, please, I insist," She panicked because the way he held her made her heart race and it was embarrassing for her, "please," She pleaded, "put me down…"

"You used to enjoy being carried when you were a child," Itachi stopped as he turned to Sakura.

"WHEN I was a child. I've grown up Itachi nii san…I don't need you to do these things anymore"

Itachi felt a hard pang in his heart. She didn't want to be carried? She didn't want him around? She grew up? Or did she simply not like Itachi anymore? It was possible. He had lied to her through the years, after all. Without a word, he put down Sakura and continued walking on.

Sakura felt her body stiffen. What did she do?

As if on cue, Kisame popped up behind her, "You don't know how devastated he was when found out you 'died', squirt. He probably just wanted to spend time with you…" Kisame was watching the entire scene from behind and prevented Deidara or anyone else to interfere. And, he was deeply disappointed when Sakura begged Itachi to put him down.

Itachi did not say anything to Sakura but it was obvious that he felt bad. He slowly walked, aware that Sakura was trailing nearby and watching him. But, no matter how much he could sense in her green eyes that she wanted to apologize, he would not let her—not until she thought about what she did.

It was immature of him, but what could he do? Years of not being together and all he wanted was a chance to hold her again. And now that she had pushed him away because she had "grown up", he would make her regret it. He would make her feel sorry and make her run towards him to apologize like she always did in the past. He would not break, he would not apologize, he would not admit it was his fault—he never did.

XxxxxxX

The journey to Konoha took a few more hours and it was noon when they reached the towering gates of the village hidden in the leaves.

"Ah we're finally home!" Kiba was the first to release his relief. He stretched his arms up into the air, giving Akamaru a toothy grin.

"WE'RE BAAAACKK!" Naruto was next to express his heartfelt relief as he threw his fists up into the air.

"N-Naruto…" Hinata shyly stood behind him with her hands on her chest, "C-calm down…"

But Hinata was the one who needed calming when a careless Naruto leaned close to her with innocent eyes, "But aren't you glad? We can relax at home together!" A wide grin spread itself on his face.

Hinata, realizing the closeness of his face, turned beat red and, letting out steam through her ears, fainted.

"ACK! HINATA CHAN!" Naruto caught Hinata and carried her up in the way a groom carried his bride, "WAH! I need to get her to the hospital!" Naruto panicked, stomping his feet and getting ready to run, but he was stopped when Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Calm down, Naruto. Let's get inside first. Besides, she doesn't need to go to the hospital. She just needs you to bring her home." A wide grin was evident behind his enigmatic mask.

"Home? Okay," Naruto tried to calm down, but it was all too much for him. He ran towards the gates and, with his free hand, knocked loudly at the door. For some reason, the gates were closed when they were usually freely open, "OOOOIIII let us in!"

Sakura stared at Naruto as he carried Hinata in his arms. Hinata fainted when Naruto drew close and also turned a dark red before she did. She also blushed hard when Itachi carried her, so what did it make of her? Hinata blushed because she liked Naruto and he was too close. Sakura blushed because Itachi was too close…

…

Then it dawned on her. Did she like Itachi nii san? And why did saying 'nii san' after his name feel so awkward? This was bad. She was beginning to realize something she didn't understand and wanted to ask Itachi nii san about it, but how could she? When he refused to speak with her?

Sakura shook out of her thoughts as the doors parted to allow a small crack, "Who's there?" A familiar voice called out.

Startled, Naruto took a step back.

"Oi, Hagane san," Asuma called out from the middle of the group, "Let us in,"

"Oh, Asuma san," Izumo, Hagane's friend and usual partner, opened the door a little more and poked his head out, "You're back! How was the high profile mission?" He grinned.

"Why don't you ask them yourselves?" Asuma, cigarette between teeth, grinned back at the two who stepped back out of fear or surprise or maybe even both.

"It's okay," Kakashi spoke, "We've traveled with them for two days and they haven't hurt anyone…" Kakashi assured them as he began stepping his way through the Konoha gates.

Slowly, the huge doors began to turn with a deep creaking sound from its gears. And, lo and behold, when Konoha in its traditional splendor revealed itself to Akatsuki and Konoha shinobi alike.

"Ah," Lee stretched, "We are finally home. Now me and Gai sensei can go back to our youthful training!" His teeth sparkled as he did his nice guy pose, "And so I can become stronger as well!" He turned towards Sakura, "So I may win the heart of my dearest Sakura san!" He yelled out his love, expatiating it for all to hear.

Those who were overprotective of Sakura, meaning Akatsuki and Sasuke, all glared daggers at the green spandex-wearing shinobi.

Sakura could only smile and sweatdrop. However, she was glad. His little scene took out the heavy, regretful feeling in her heart.

XxxxxxX

"THIS CANNOT BE!" Three elders stood in the Hokage office. Tsunade sat with her elbows on the table as Kakashi, Asuma, Sakura, and Shizune stood near the door, "HOW can you let them waltz right in Konoha?" The one speaking was an elderly woman with her gray hair tied into a bun and a shawl curtained her shoulders.

"Certainly you can't let THEM STAY in Konoha," The old man with glasses turned to glare at Naruto and Sakura, "Have you gone mad?"

"Moreover," Another elder man with bandages all over his body and a cane in hand spoke, "You are endangering our village. If the other villages get word of them being in Konoha, then they will not think twice to strike. We are aiding the enemy"

By now, several veins were throbbing in Tsunade's forehead. Her teeth were clenched and she could feel her temper rising with every other word said. She so badly wanted to grab her chair and toss it outside—no—better yet, she wanted to grab all three of them and punch them to oblivion.

"And you sent our shinobi to this mission without consulting us!" The old woman who kept frowning and twisting her shawl into knots finally spoke, "You may be the hokage but it has always been priority to talk to the elders whenever you make a big decision!"

Tsunade's nails dug deeper and deeper into the table.

"What would the first hokage think now?" The old woman wouldn't cease her infernal yapping, "My, if he saw you I bet he wouid be disappointed!"

That was the last straw; Tsunade snapped. She broke the table in half and hauled it past the three old people, "Now you three listen! I did Konoha a favor!" Her red lips trembled with fury and her hazel eyes were enraged like a golden ameterasu—they simply wouldn't die down. "Because we talked to the Akatsuki the kyuubi is no longer in danger!"

"No longer in danger?" Danzo took a step forward, "You have just damned our village! Why, I wouldn't be surprised if the raikage came down and killed you!"

Tsunade marched over to Danzo and was about to grab him when Sakura came running and, with her own brutal force, stopped her sensei. "Tsunade sama! Please! Calm down!"

Tsunade, seeing as her own strength was equally at par with Sakura's, thought her efforts were futile. She suppressed her anger and lowered her arm.

"How was she able to grab hold of the hokage's arm?" Nagato whispered from his corner. Amidst the fighting, when no one noticed, Nagato and Konan had entered the room and settled beside Naruto.

"Well," Naruto was about to explain when Kakashi grabbed him by the shoulder and gave him a look that said: 'now isn't the time to talk'.

Nagato, unsatisfied with not knowing the answer, let his eyes wander around the room.

"We won't let this pass Tsunade! When war comes none of us will be there to solve your problems! We'll watch and see how your stupidity burns down Konoha!" Danzo's voice erupted and echoed throughout the room. The four were at their wits end, and was just a word away from grappling each other and engaging in a fight.

But, Nagato was not paying attention to their fight. His eyes were locked on the man with bandages, the one that spoke earlier.

Danzo

Something dawned in Nagato, and Konan could feel the sudden boil of anger inside of him. Konan gripped his hand to ease him even if she was full aware that their feelings were mutual. However, Nagato wouldn't let the moment pass with his silence.

"IF Konoha does engage in war with the other shinobi nations," Nagato caught their attention as the four turned to him wide eyed—Danzo was the most taken aback, "Then if you'd like, those who'd want to fight would fight. Better yet, if you're so keen as to not lose any men," His voice was taunting and venomous. His words were mockery-coated words, sliding off his tongue like it were venom off of a snake's fangs. "Then the Akatsuki will fight for your village along with Amegakure."

Silence befell the elders and Tsunade. What could they say? Nagato was offering something that would end their argument, so why not just accept it?

"However," Nagato wasn't finished, "Why would you care so much about not going to war…Danzo?" His name rolled off his tongue like it were some curse or taboo, "Didn't you always solve things with an iron fist?" Gray eyes stared at Danzo's free eye.

Danzo scowled and the scar on his face scrunched with the rest of his face, "Hmph, that may be so, but putting Konoha in danger isn't acceptable."

"Konoha's in no danger," Nagato argued, "It's simply gained fortifications that the other shinobi nations will envy."

"Fortifications, you say? More like burdens to me. Especially that you're here."

Nagato scoffed and ignored his comment, "Well whether you three like it or not, majority of the shinobi have accepted us, and we've already sworn allegiance to Konoha." He turned towards the door.

Sakura's emerald eyes watched Nagato exit the room and Konan follow after him. Danzo and Pain otou sama know each other? When she thought about it, Sakura hardly knew anything about Pain. He was a mystery, and the more she knew about him, the more she felt confused.

The three elders turned to Tsunade, "Well, I suppose this argument is useless." The old man said, "But don't forget, we warned you. It will be your responsibility if anything happens to the village. Don't soil the first hokage's name any further." with that being said, the two took their leave while Danzo chose to delay his leave.

His eye glanced at everyone in the room before he, too, exited the room.

The door slammed with a heavy thud. Tsunade clenched her fists and walked towards the window. She glanced at Kakashi, Asuma, Naruto, Sakura and Shizune through the reflection in the glass, "Those three…some day I'm really going to punch them…" Tsunade brought her thumb to her lip, biting it after doing so.

"Hokage sama," Sakura stood firm, "This is my fault, I asked them to join and—"

"You're damn right it's your fault." Tsunade stared at Sakura through the window. Her brows created creases on her forehead but, it eventually subsided as her nerves began to calm, "Yes it is your fault Sakura, and I'm disappointed that you didn't inform me before making any decisions."

"But—" Sakura was about to protest but Tsunade beat her to it.

"I suppose you take after me in impulse, and getting things you want." She turned to smile at Sakura, "I must've influenced you too much."

Sakura calmed down. She swore she felt her heart stop when Tsunade told her it was her fault. If anything, she didn't want the only person who believed in her abilities as a child to look down on her.

"But, take note, you're going to be watching over them."

"I was planning to take responsibility, hokage sama." Sakura lowered her head in respect.

"Heh," Tsunade smirked, "Well, I believe the Akatsuki are downstairs. They'll be housing with you, by the way."

Sakura's eyes shot up as a sudden concern was remembered: Akane oba san didn't like men. "Ugh…" Sakura's gaze lingered away as if unafraid to meet her master's eyes.

But, Tsunade knew fully well what was going on in her mind, "I've already asked someone to inform your aunt. Don't worry"

Again, Sakura felt her heart calm. She held her chest and sighed with relief.

XxxxxxX

"And this is the ramen stand! Ichiraku ramen is the BEST place in all of konoha!" Naruto had his arm stretched out as he grinned from ear to ear. Naruto had suggested taking their new allies on a tour of the place as there was still time.

"Eh? This place? It's just a small stand." Kakuzu commented, "Do they really earn that much?"

"Ichiraku san doesn't make ramen because he earns money! It's because he loves making ramen!" Naruto argued narrowing his eyes at Kakuzu's materialistic ideology.

"hmph," Kakuzu scowled, "If I owned this place I would've had it earn millions already."

"Oh really?" An old man, familiar to everyone in Konoha, popped out from the stand with his cooking uniform. Ichiraku stood with a delivery box, grinning. "Then why don't you give me some money-earning pointers then?"

"WHA?" Naruto jumped up, "BUT BUT if you do that then you'll make ramen for the sake of money!" Naruto waved his arms around.

"Well, I do love making ramen especially for you, Naruto. But, it wouldn't hurt to get a little more than what I get, ne? Besides, with how much you owe me, I'm incurring losses."

Naruto, remembering his debt, shied away from Ichiraku. "Ugh yeah about that…I owe…um…" he held, in his hands, his green frog wallet which, when opened, revealed flies and endless space.

"But," the old man was grinning again, "If you deliver these I think I can take out some of your debt and—" he didn't need to say another word. Naruto dashed and grabbed hold of the food.

"Dobe…" Sasuke commented on the side as he stood near Sakura, "He's still the same."

Sakura, grinning, agreed, "yeah…Kind of…refreshing, isn't it?"

"hn," Sasuke didn't meet Sakura's gaze. Instead, he busied himself with 'inspecting' his katana.

Sakura, knowing that that was his way of agreeing, just smiled and turned her attention to Kakuzu who was giving pointers to old Ichiraku.

"So I shouldn't let customers owe me?"

"Not very long, anyway" Kakuzu had a small notebook out. Inside of it, there were notes on how to do businesses that he picked up over the long, long years of being alive.

"You think I can have a copy of that?" Ichiraku inquired.

"Yeah sure…but it'll cost you."

Ichiraku let out a laugh, "That's a good one."

Kakuzu simply stared at his face, "…I'm serious."

XxxxxxX

"And this is the Yamanaka flower shop," Sakura, seeing as Naruto took off earlier, took over the tour. They had gone through the forest of death, the training grounds, the hokage rooftop, and several other sites. This was the last stop before heading home.

"Forehead!" Ino, clad in her flowering apron, stepped out with a watering can in hand, "what're you doing?"

"Ah, Ino-buta chan," Sakura grinned, "just touring everyone."

"oh I see…" Ino smiled.

"Oi Ino! Where did you—" Shikamaru appeared from inside the flower shop and stopped when he noticed the Akatsuki, Sakura and Sasuke outside. "ah…it's you guys…"

"Shikamaru, you want to help in the tour?" Sakura smiled, "You know the best views around her."

"Nah," Shikamaru gave them a lazy look that he usually had, "it's too troublesome…"

"Aa, fine." Sakura waved at Ino, "Well it's getting late. We'd better go ahead and leave you two alone." She winked at Ino who had her mouth wide open.

"FOREHEAD!" Ino's voice echoed through the orange and purple painted sky.

XxxxxxX

Sakura, Sasuke and the Akatsuki made it home when the sun's tip barely touched the edge of the horizon, "well, this is it."

"Wow, hmph," Deidara admired the house, "You live here all alone?"

"No," Sakura replied as she slid the door open, "with my aunt…and recently Sasuke." Sakura heard a thud as Deidara and some Akatsuki members stumbled upon hearing Sasuke living with Sakura. "is something wrong?" She asked them.

Kisame, with Samehada on his back, gapped at her, "you live with Itachi san's brother?"

"As in under the same roof, yeah?"

"Aa, it was under my shishou's orders. I was to keep Sasuke under surveillance."

"As if I needed to," Sasuke commented from his own little corner.

Though quite…disturbed, the Akatsuki entered the house and dropped their shoes off on the side as traditional Japanese do.

"SAKU CHAAAAN!" As soon as Sakura dropped her shoes off and closed the door, several footsteps came running towards Sakura. Akane appeared, her red hair flowing behind her and her gray eyes watery with joy, "YOU'RE HOME!" She flung her arms around her niece. "I'm so glad! Did the Akatsuki agree with you on the kyuubi thing?"

Sakura, barely able to breathe, said, "Why don't you ask them?"

For a moment, Akane stood their confused. It was only when she followed Sakura's gaze and when she saw the people clad in black and red did she realize the meaning of Sakura's statement. "Oh my! I'm so sorry! I didn't see you!"

Akane, going through and purposely ignoring everyone else, ran towards Konan and held her hand in greeting, "Hi I'm Sakura chan's aunt. Come in! Oh Sasuke kun, welcome back as well." Her gray eyes turned into slits as she led Konan and Sasuke into the room. "Come, I'll make you all some tea. For four then?"

"Oi, we're here too!" Hidan yelled with a deep scowl on his face.

"Oba san…" Sakura threatened her aunt. She knew very well what was going on in her aunt's head. She was purposely ignoring the specie she hated the most: men, "You've received orders, haven't you?"

With that, Akane slumped her shoulders and sighed in defeat. She turned around and with a plastic smile on said, "For you men, you can get some water."

"OBA SAN!" Sakura scolded her aunt.

"Oh alright. Why're there so many anyway?" She flipped her red hair and placed a hand on her hip. "Hmph, men, they're just going to destroy the house." She didn't bother listening to the retaliations of Hidan and Deidara. Instead, she walked away and headed into the kitchen.

"Sorry about my aunt," Sakura turned to the Akatsuki, "She doesn't like men. Long story…" She sweat dropped.

"Don't worry," Kisame had his beady shark-like eyes fixed on the kitchen doorway, "it kind of turns me on…"

The others, especially Sakura, gapped at Kisame who turned right and left before defensively putting his hands up, "WHAT?"

XxxxxxX

"So, oba san, I think you should know all of their names," Sakura sat on the couch across her aunt with a glare directed at the woman. She held a Japanese teacup halfway her face so the light refracted in the tea reflected in her eyes, "…Ne?"

Akane, with her own blunt gray eyes fixed onto her niece, scowled and sighed, "Fine…" She let her gaze detach from her niece and wander around aimlessly—she refused to make eye contact with any of the men especially the blue skinned one.

Kisame, for a good quarter of an hour, had been staring at the red head without taking his beady shark like eyes off of her. Of course, Akane noticed this and purposely ignored the eccentric blue-skinned man.

"This one," She motioned towards Deidara who was disgruntled and wasn't pleased with Sakura's aunt, "Is Deidara nii chan," Then Sakura shifted her gaze towards Sasori, "And Sasori nii sama. They're artists."

"Yes, artists one and all—seen a good number already." Akane remarked with dull, uninterested eyes.

"And this one is Hidan nii san and Kakuzu nii san," Two pairs of eyes glared sharp, spiteful daggers at the red head who feigned ignorance and acknowledged them with a sip of her tea.

"This is Pain otou sama and Konan okaa san," Pain and Konan both gave a curt nod to which Akane responded with a nod of her own.

"And this dashing gentleman here is Kisame nii kun," She pointed towards Kisame who was still, it was now a good 30 minutes since he began, staring at her.

Akane gave a soft 'hmph' and pretended to avoid the blue skinned 'man's' gaze.

Kisame, slightly heartbroken with her indifferent actions, finally tore his gaze away and shifted it towards the ground.

Sakura narrowed her eyes at her aunt's rude and mean actions, but she would scold her later. Instead, she moved on. With hesitant eyes, she glanced at Itachi. He looked as if nothing had happened. Why did he still refuse to talk to her? It hurt tremendously, but Sakura bore it. "And this," She paused to glance at her aunt who was indifferently gulping down the rest of her tea, "Is Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke's brother."

The moment Itachi's name was said, Akane lifted the cup from her lips and shifted her attention to Itachi. For a moment, everyone did not notice, she and he locked gazes. Akane's light gray eyes stared into his dark gray ones. Then, as if there was some silent agreement, they both looked away and Akane nodded towards Sakura's further descriptions.

"It's getting late," Akane interrupted Sakura. She placed her cup down on the coffee table and stood, "You should escort our guests to their rooms."

"But Oba san—"

"Sakura," Akane's tone was low, cold and authoritative. Sakura had never ever heard her aunt talk in that manner nor had she ever seen that cold look in her eyes. Without a word, she stood and motioned for the others to follow, "Aa, Akane oba san is right. We should go." With one last glance at her aunt, she turned and headed towards the steps with the Akatsuki trailing after her.

"You alright, Sakura chan yeah?" Deidara asked.

"Aa, I'm fine." She flashed a smile at Deidara before she proceeded to climb the stairs, "Good night, Akane oba san."

"Good night, Sakura, Sasuke…" Akane had her back turned from all of them. Her red hair hid her face from all of them, "Akatsuki," By that time, they were half way up the stairs with Itachi at the tail of the line, "…and Uchiha Itachi." Akane walked on and disappeared into the kitchen.

"Good night," Itachi, too, had his back turned towards Akane, "Akane san," He held the railing in one hand and climbed the stairs seamlessly.

Akane leaned on the kitchen counter with a champagne glass in hand. Red wine swirled in her glass and reflected her metallic gray eyes. The moonlight shimmered through the clear window pane, "…A good night indeed," She scoffed, "Welcome home…"

XxxxxxX

-Yes, this was done sooner than usual. =D The ItaSaku moments are starting to heat up w Ah and don't forget to view Itachi5lover1's videos! They're kick-butt awesome! =D

-Next time on Tabula Rasa: With Itachi refusing to speak to Sakura, how will they pull through? And what happens to Kisame knowing Akane has no interest in him? And why is Akane so interested in Uchiha Itachi?

-"Oh how I'm so afraid to admit this feeling in my heart." Madam Obscurum