Hey guys! Here's the new chapter of Ichinokusen for you. Thanks so much for those who read, reviewed, and put this story (or me) to your favorite or/and alert lists. That means so much to me.

So, here's the chapter 21. Happy reading!

Disclaimer:

Standard disclaimer applied

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ICHINOKUSEN

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Time setting for this chapter is twelve days after the events in the chapter 20

Chapter 21

It was Thursday afternoon when Sakura decided to go shopping. It had been awhile since she bought something for herself. And she wanted and needed new shoes and clothes now.

The pink haired woman glanced at some shopping bags on her hand. She had bought some clothes and two pair of new shoes. But most importantly, she also bought some new lingerie too; a very sexy lingerie that she had seen in one of her fashion magazine yesterday. She thought she would wear it tonight as a surprise for her husband. She just hoped that it would look good on her and Sasuke would like it.

'Wonder what would Sasuke kun say when he sees me wearing this?' She mused to herself. Her mind involuntarily conjured some naughty images of her and Sasuke and she couldn't help but blushing madly.

"Sakura!"

Sakura jumped a little and was forced to abruptly end her midday fantasy when she felt someone tapped her shoulder. She spun around swiftly only to gaze at a pair of emerald orbs staring at her strangely. "N-Neji kun!" She gasped.

"Hi, are you alright? You look flushed. You have a fever or something?"

Sakura blushed even more if possible by Neji's question. Mentally she bang her head on the wall for fantasizing such a thing in a public place nonetheless.

"Err…Sakura?"

"Oh ha ha I'm fine, Neji kun. It's just… today is so hot, don't you think?" She laughed sheepishly and made a gesture of fanning herself with her hand. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, just need to buy some things. You're shopping?"

"Yes, though now I'm about to go home." Sakura answered.

Silence soon ensued between them. For Sakura, it was so awkward. This was the first time they saw and talk to each other again since their last conversation. She sighed inwardly. Obviously things would never be the same again with her and Neji. She wouldn't be surprised if Neji in any minute would excuse himself, not wanting the encounter last longer.

Oh but she was wrong.

"Say Sakura," He said, "It's been awhile since we talk, right? I wonder if you'd like to go for a cup of tea now. That is if you're not busy of course."

Sakura was stunned at first but soon a grateful smile formed on her face. Things maybe would never be the same again with Neji, but they're still friends. His invitation just now was the sign of his acknowledgement at the fact. And she was glad. "Sure, Neji kun. I'd love too."

"Great. Let's go now then. I'm done here too anyway."

"Okay." Sakura and Neji started to walk to the entrance. That's when Sakura's cell phone vibrated. She saw that it was from Ten Ten. She uttered a small 'excuse me' to Neji and answered.

"Yes, Ten Ten?"

"Sakura chan?" It wasn't Ten Ten's voice, Sakura noticed. It was Fumiko's voice, Ten Ten's mother.

"Fumiko san? What's wrong?"

"It's Ten Ten… she's in the hospital right now."

"Eh? What happened exactly?"

"She collapsed. She-"

"Okay, Fumiko san. I'm going to the hospital right now. Please calm down. I'll be there in a minute, okay?" Sakura then hung up. She turned to Neji, her face was worried. "Neji kun, I'm sorry. I'm afraid that I've to cancel our plan for now. I have to go to the hospital."

"What's wrong?"

"It's my friend, Ten Ten. She is the surrogate mother of my baby and now she's in the hospital. I still don't know exactly what happened though."

Neji nodded in understanding, "I'll come with you to the hospital."

"Neji kun, you don't have to-"

"Please, it's okay. I'm not busy anyway. Besides, it'll be faster to ride with me than you go by the bus."

"Right. Let's go then"

Oo-oO

Ten minutes later, Sakura and Neji wasted no time in finding Ten Ten's room as soon as they got to the hospital. They had asked the receptionist who then told them that Ten Ten was currently occupying one of the rooms on the second floor. And thank God it was not the Emergency Room, much to Sakura's relief.

Neji and Sakura took a lift to the second floor and soon walked along the corridor searching for the room.

"This is the room." Neji pointed to a door with '217' written on it, Ten Ten's room number.

Sakura nodded and knocked. A voice answered and they entered. Fumiko san was already there, sitting besides the unconscious Ten Ten.

"Sakura chan!" Fumiko hastily rose up from her seat to greet the pink-haired young woman with a hug. "I'm so glad you make it here." She smiled. Her gaze then soon averted to the man beside Sakura and her smiled widened. "Ah, you are Uchiha san, I presume? I've heard so much about you from Sakura chan here. It's very nice to see you."

"What? Oh no!" Neji swiftly shook his head, "I'm not her husband, Ma'am."

"That's right, Fumiko san." Sakura interjected. "This is my friend, Hyuuga Neji kun. I was with him when you called and he offered to come with me. My husband is still at work but I've emailed him and hopefully he'll be here shortly."

"Oh," The older woman smiled apologetically, "Forgive my rudeness, Hyuuga san. I really don't know. But still it's very nice to meet you."

Neji returned the smile, "It's fine and it's nice to meet you too, Fumiko san."

Sakura moved to the side of the bed and looked at Ten Ten's pale face, "So, what happened to Ten Ten actually?"

"She's fainted when she's working at the bakery. It was her boss who called the ambulance and took Ten Ten here."

"How is she now? What the doctor said?"

"The doctor assured me that it's nothing too serious but the case of over exhaustion and dehydration. He strongly advises that Ten Ten is confined to bed rest from now on, at least until she recovers her strength."

"And… the baby?"

"The baby is fine, dear."

Sakura sighed, "It's because she's working, isn't it? I should've known. I shouldn't have allowed her working. Though it's only as a cashier, but still…"

"I-I don't think it's only because of that, Sakura chan."

"What do you mean, Fumiko san?"

"Actually, since Ten Ten returned home from her first day working at the bakery, she began acting so strange-"

"But I met her the next day. We went to the hospital for the check up and she looked fine." Sakura cut off.

"Yes, I know, I didn't notice it first. But soon she began to look for another job while she also took some part time jobs too. She left home in her usual time in the morning but then she always came home very late. I asked her why and her answer was always 'I was working.' Apparently Ten Ten got herself another job at a book store.

"However what worried me more is besides her two jobs, Ten Ten also works part time too. After her shift at the book store ends, she'll look around for some part time job or pay-per-hour job like that. She works harder and so desperately too. That's why she always came home so late." Fumiko took a very deep breath before she continued again.

"I told Ten Ten that it's not wise for her to work so hard in her current condition but then she always reassured me that she's fine. That she knows her limit. Once she told me that she needed some money but she never told me why. And besides she told me that you've been told about this, Sakura chan."

"She didn't tell me." Sakura relied glumly. "I don't understand, Fumiko san. She told you she needed some money, money for what? Does she want to buy something? If so, why doesn't she just tell me instead of risking her and the baby's health by working day and night?"

Fumiko put a hand on Sakura's arm, "I really don't have any idea, Sakura chan. But I know my daughter. She knows her condition. She must have her own reason for doing this."

"Don't be too worried, Sakura." Neji who had been silent listening to their conversation added. "You see Ten Ten san and the baby here are fine."

"Yes, thank God." Sakura smiled weakly.

The three of them continued to chat before their conversation suddenly stopped by a weak groan coming from Ten Ten.

"She's awake." Neji said as the three of them immediately scurried to the side of the bed. And indeed, Ten Ten's eyes fluttered open.

Oo-oO

The doctor soon came to attend to Ten Ten as soon as he received the note that the brunette had awaken. Sakura used that time to sneak out of the room and called Sasuke. She wondered if he didn't get her e-mail.

She quickly dialed the number and sighed in relief when she heard him answered. "Yes, Sakura?"

"Sasuke kun, did you get my e-mail?"

"Yes."

"Where are you then? Are you busy?" She asked. However, there's no answer. "Uh, Sasuke kun? Are you there? Sasuke kun? Hello?"

"I'm here." Sakura yelped when she felt a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind. She spun around and pouted when her emerald eyes met Sasuke's onyx ones.

"Mou, Sasuke kun! You scared me!"

"Hn, I'm sorry." Sasuke leaned down, pecked her lips softly. And she melted.

"It's okay." She smiled.

"So, how is Ten Ten san? Where is she now?" Sasuke asked.

"Oh, she's in there. She's just awoken and doctor is examining her now." Sakura answered. "I think we better wait until the doctor is finished before we can talk to her."

"Hn."

The room door suddenly opened. Both Sasuke and Sakura immediately turned to see Neji came out.

"Sakura, I think I've to-" He didn't finish his words as he caught the sight of Sasuke beside Sakura. His eyes widened momentarily but soon he managed to compose himself again as he approached the couple. "Uchiha san." He nodded politely at the raven haired man.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly but nonetheless he returned the gesture, "Hyuuga san."

The two males kept their gazes at each other and Sakura decided that it's the right time to break the ice. She squeezed Sasuke's hand, averting his attention to her. She knew what exactly on his mind right now. "Sasuke kun, I ran into Neji kun in the shopping mall. We were about to go to have some tea when Fumiko san called me telling Ten Ten is in the hospital. Neji kun then kindly offered to come with me, thus he was here now." She was looking at him, silently reassuring him.

"I offered to help Sakura because we're friends, Uchiha." Neji added. And, though it's subtle, but Sasuke managed to catch the stress in the word 'friends' on his sentence.

The Uchiha heir squeezed his wife's hand back as he stared at another male before him. He couldn't deny that his jealousy over Neji hadn't diminished completely and maybe would never have because no matter what Neji would always hold a special spot in his wife's life. However, he wouldn't be selfish and contradict the fact anymore. Sakura loved him and loved him only. She had told him that he's the only one for her and that's what matter the most.

"Thanks for helping Sakura." Sasuke said and sounded so genuine at that. He offered his hand to the bewildered man in front of him.

Neji was taken aback. For a while he just stood there, looking at Sasuke's offered hand disbelievingly, mentally questioned himself if what he heard was right. His pearly orbs then once again locked at Sasuke's onyx ones and soon recognition washed over him. Sasuke still didn't like him, he knew that. But there's acceptance he saw in the Uchiha's eyes, an acceptance for his presence as a part of Sakura's life. And Neji thought that was enough. The Hyuuga heir smiled and accepted Sasuke's hand. "No problem."

Both men shook hands. They didn't say anything but their eyes spoke for everything. Each secretly felt relief for finally understanding each other.

Neji smirked as pulled his hand back. He turned to Sakura and said, "Ah, right. I actually wanted to tell you that I have to go now, Sakura. My uncle needs me in the office."

"Oh sure, Neji kun. Thanks again."

"Anytime." The long haired male answered, smiling. He nodded at Sasuke once again before made his way toward the lift.

Sakura waited until Neji was out of sight before she faced Sasuke again and kissed him softly on the lips, "Thank you, Sasuke kun."

And his answer was only a very loving smile.

Oo-oO

It was about thirty minutes later when finally Sasuke and Sakura were be able to talk to Ten Ten. Fumiko san had excused herself to retrieve some clothes from their apartment after a brief introduction to Sasuke.

Sakura hugged Ten Ten briefly, "Hey Ten, how are you?" She asked.

Ten Ten shrugged, "Okay, I guess."

Sakura looked at her best friend seriously, "We need to talk, Ten Ten."

Ten Ten sighed, "Look, Sakura. I'm fine, really. I-"

"You know that's not it!" Sakura cut off her words sharply, earning a surprised look from Sasuke. "You're not fine! You're dehydrated and over exhausted because of you carelessly abandoning your current condition and working non-stop. Ten Ten what are you thinking?"

Ten Ten opted silence. Her eyes fixated on a random spot on the ceiling.

"Your mother told me that you told her you need some money. If that's the problem, Ten Ten, you could have just asked me to help you instead of over exhausting yourself and make everyone very worried."

"Hold on there a sec, Sakura? What's this all about?" Sasuke asked his wife. He really didn't get it. What's with the sudden tension between the two women?

Sakura exhaled then told Sasuke everything Fumiko san told her earlier, "I want an answer from Ten Ten." She said, finalized her explanation.

Sasuke nodded finally came to understand the situation. He also disapproved of Ten Ten's action but he thought maybe, like Fumiko san had told Sakura, she have her own reason.

"Ten Ten, you're like a sister to me. If you have problems, any problems, I really hope you can tell me. You're not alone, you know."

Sasuke nodded, "I agree with Sakura, Ten Ten san. I hope you could tell us your problem, perhaps we can help you."

Sakura held Ten Ten's hand tightly, "Please, Ten Ten…"

Ten Ten looked at the couple before her and her resolve was crumbled. Sasuke was looking at her with determination and encouragement while Sakura was looking at her with sincerity and love. Sakura said that she was like her sister and she was indeed. Sakura, as well as her mother and also Sasuke san here, would always be there for her, she didn't doubt that.

Ten Ten heaved a sigh. She suddenly felt so silly. She should have been realized by now that, as Sakura put it, she's not alone, not anymore. She began to tell her reason.

"I'm working because I need money, Sakura. So much money…" After taking a deep breath, Ten Ten then proceeded to tell them her encounter with Shinji and the deal she made with him. "I just wanna end everything so that I can start anew, completely buried him as the part of my past. That's why I agree with his offer in the first place. I'd just do anything to make him leave me alone forever."

"You should have come to me in the first place, Ten."

"I know. But the two of you have helped me a lot which I'm very thankful. This is my business with Shinji and I'm too embarrassed to burden you more."

"You forget that you're helping us too, Ten Ten san." Sasuke said softly. "In fact, you're helping us with something that even more precious than money. And we will always owe you for that."

Sakura nodded in approval at her husband's words. "Therefore, let us help you now, okay?"

Ten Ten couldn't hold back her tears anymore. "Thank you very much." She nodded gratefully.

The two females soon hugged for awhile, and when they finally pulled away Sasuke spoke, "So, tell me more details about this deal with him. When are you supposed to meet him again?"

"It is the day after tomorrow."

"Hn, I think I have an idea. You said that he left you in the first place years ago, that's enough cause to ask for divorce. You don't have to pay him the money, Ten Ten san. I'll contact my lawyer, Shikamaru, to help us. He's a genius. In his hand, your husband will have no choice but to comply."

Ten Ten shook her head slowly, "If I may, I would like to stick on the deal."

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged a surprised glance. "Why? I think we can get you divorce without you have to give him your money. He won't get anything from you."

"I have no doubt in that and thank you but no, thank you." Ten Ten slowly said. "I can tell that Shinji is in trouble right now, this is not the first time. He needs the money." She paused momentarily. "And as much as I hate him, I don't know… but I think I want to help him… for the last time." Ten Ten smiled bitterly, "Stupid I know, after all what he's done to me…"

"I think I understand, Ten Ten." Sakura smiled softly. "Though, yeah, it's stupid." She chuckled. "Don't worry, we'll still help you."

"I'll make sure the money's ready and I'll still contact my lawyer too just to prepare all the matters concerning the divorce."

"Thank you… the two of you…"

"Everything is gonna be alright, Ten Ten…"

Ten Ten nodded. Yeah, everything is gonna be alright. She hoped so…

Oo-oO

That's chapter 21. Thank you for reading. There's only a few chapters left of the story and I hope I can see you soon.

Reviews are always greatly appreciated.

Hope you all have wonderful day. xD