Kisame: Hehehehe. So, Itachi-san, you excited?

Itachi: -looking as stoic as ever-

Kisame: -sweat drop-

Sasuke: ICHA, YOU SUCK! HOW COULD YOU EVER THINK TO LET SAKURA WITH THESE BASTARDS! ESPECIALLY HIM!

Itachi: -smirk- well someone sounds jealous…

Sasuke: no, I'm PISSED!

Kisame: should I chop off an arm or two for our entertainment?

Itachi: …

Kisame: OKAY THEN! –walks towards Sasuke, grinning, and clutching Samehada-

Sasuke: GET AWAY FROM ME YOU FISH!

Sakura: Well this is interesting.

Kisame: Oh, hey pink bitch kunoichi

Sakura: Hey blue fish bastard.

Sasuke: …

Itachi: The disclaimer…

Kisame: Aaa….Icha Icha Ramen does not own Naruto or the characters. I think that is kind of obvious, ne?

Chapter 28: Itachi's alternate ending!

It was the first days of summer break, and the Uchiha household was oddly quiet. Itachi walked down the hallway, looking about curiously as he passed each room.

Where is everyone?

He got to the kitchen and leaned on the counter. This was odd…usually, Sakura was always here, or even that foolish brother of his…but no one?

He sighed deeply and stood up straight. It was hot in the house, as usual on the sunny June afternoon…why didn't they have air conditioning again?

"I will not leave a letter, nothing at all…I'm sure you won't notice, that I'm even gone…."

Itachi raised an eyebrow as the soft voice echoed from somewhere outside of the house. It was sad…the sound of a girl singing…sweet but sad…

He went over to the porch door and opened it. Slowly, and quietly, he stepped outside and began to walk towards the source of the singing.

"I won't break this silence, we've shared for so long. I will be strong…"

Itachi stopped just a couple yards behind the source of the music. A pink haired girl sat on the edge of the dock, dipping her feet in the cold lake water as she sang softly to herself.

Sakura…?

"I will not leave a letter, nothing at all. I'm sure you won't notice, that I'm even gone. Why did I stay here, stay for so long, when we're so far gone. I feel so stupid, taking this fall. I should have seen it, known all along. I won't break this silence, we've shared for so long. I…will be… strong…"

Sakura paused, brining her hand up to wipe her face…he wasn't sure at first, but once he activated his sharingan, he could see the tear streaks on her cheeks.

"What could you possibly want from me? Can't you see I'm already gone… Everything we thought we'd be, I still don't feel sorry for this loss…"

She made circles in the water with her feet, totally oblivious to Itachi's presence…then again, the ex-ANBU captain had his ways of being undetected, even by the greatest of ninjas…

"I will not waste a moment, thinking these thoughts. Forgetting comes easy, I never cared at all. Hurt became hate now, I'm feeling the strain, there's just too much pain. Falling to pieces, get swept away, left all our pictures, some to fade. I won't break this silence we've shared for so long. I will be strong…"

Itachi sat down on the grass, and watched her as she wiped the tears from her face again. Of course, it was a miracle he could even see these small details…ah, the wonderful advantages this odd alternate universe had…apparently a cure for his blindness…Sakura sniffled, but continued to sing…

"What could you possibly want from me? Can't you see, I'm already gone… Everything we thought we'd be, I still don't feel sorry for this loss."

Sakura stopped moving her feet in the water, and looked up into the bright blue sky above. The clouds drifted peacefully by and she took another breath…

"You don't have to say, anything at all…..I won't stop you from walking away, I'll do nothing at all……"

She paused again, the wind catching her short, pink locks of hair and tossing them aside.

"Sitting here I waste a day, while the memories fade away. You know, I expected so much more from you………"

Sakura stopped singing. Her head was now bent downward, as she looked at her reflection in the water. As she looked down at her, her image morphed, and her imagination placed Sasuke's image there…Sasuke…staring back at her…with those cold, uncaring eyes, and the same, disapproving look on his face…

"Sasuke-kun…" She whispered, entranced by his image. She knew it was just a figment of her imagination…his image wasn't really there in the water…but she still wanted to reach out to him…touch him…

She slowly reached out to the water, her finger tips brushing along the surface of the water, and with a single touch, his image seemed to ripple away, back into herself…

Her eyes seemed to tear up again. Why was Sasuke always out of her reach? Sure, they were 'going out' but lately he's been slipping back into his old reserved self…the one that liked to ignore her at times. The one that accused her of being annoying.

'You make me sick'

She cringed at the voice…Sasuke told her that when he first really talked to her back at the academy, when they first became a team. Did he still think that of her?

NO! I changed. We both did! Sasuke is just…preoccupied…or maybe he is thinking back to something…I should let him be for now, and wait until he gets over whatever he's got running through his head…he loves me…he does…

Itachi noticed the silence, and decided she wasn't going to sing anymore, so he unmasked his chalkra, and walked towards her.

Sakura gasped softly, wiping furiously at her eyes and face before turning around to Itachi.

"Hi…"

"hn…" Itachi sat beside her on the dock, looking out at the lake, and watched the waves as they moved through the water…

It was quiet for a couple minutes…Sakura seemed to relax again around him and he waited a few more moments before speaking up.

"You got a nice voice…" He commented. Inwardly, Itachi kicked himself. What kind of lame start of a conversation was that? He was Itachi Uchiha for gods sake!

Sakura looked at him, her sea green eyes wide in surprise.

"You heard me?!" She squeaked.

"Aa…"

Sakura blushed and averted her green eyes to the wooden boards on the dock.

"Oh…"

"It was quite peaceful…listening…" Itachi stated. He turned his gaze to Sakura, who still wouldn't look at him.

"Why were you crying?"

Sakura's form tensed. He saw me crying…Sakura let a small sad smile fall on her pink lips as she finally met his eyes.

"Because…I'm weak." Sakura laughed dryly. She felt the tears stinging her eyes again, about to spill from her eyes. Itachi's face remained impassive.

"I…I don't know why but…I can't help it! I should be stronger than this…I changed…yet…" She wiped the tears that were started to leak away as she continued on.

"…I'm still seem to cry over the smallest things……and I can't stop…"

Itachi looked out to the lake again. Her tears were starting to get to him…it was like seeing a puppy get kicked, constantly. You wanted to stop it, but in this case, he knew he couldn't…

"You shouldn't waste tears on my foolish little brother…"

Sakura's eyes widened. How did he know…?

Itachi frowned when he noticed her shock. He looked away.

"…I saw…"

FLASH BACK! (don'tcha just love those?)

"Sasuke! Welcome back! How was your….day…" Sakura trailed off once she caught the glare he was aiming at her, and then he walked past her, to his room, shutting the door behind him. Sakura stared at the door…her smile had faded into a confused and sad look…

End of Flashback!

It wasn't the only time he'd seen his brother be a complete ass for no reason…actually, from the middle of the year to just recently he has acted that way. He did claim Sakura…she was his now…but he was making her miserable

Sakura cursed herself. Was she that easy to read or something? Or maybe it was clear to everyone...she just thought they didn't see. Did she do something wrong? Was she a bad girlfriend?!

I did something...maybe I'm not what Sasuke wanted…Maybe he expected more from me…

Sakura felt another tear rolled down her cheek and sighed softly.

"Why am I so weak?! Now wonder Sasuke hates me now, I can't do

anything but CRY!" She hissed, frustrated with herself.

Itachi placed his hand gently underneath her chin, and brought her face up closer to his.

"There is reason as to why I call him foolish, Sakura…Never assume things, either…"

Sakura stared at him…And he sighed.

"Meaning…you don't know if he does hate you, so don't assume he does…and don't instantly think that you are at fault, when it could really be just himself who is to blame…and lastly, you and I both know crying isn't the way to solve the problem.

Sakura bit her lip.

"I tried talking to him…he ignores me, or brushed me off, telling me I'm annoying…I don't know what happened to him…he seemed like he was…different, like he changed for the better! And now…it's like he's back to his Gennin self…"

It grew quiet again between the two, and Itachi let go of his grasp on her. Sakura looked away from him and began to swirl her feet around in the water.

"Then it's about time you test him…see if he really does hate you, as you seem to think…"

Sakura raised a delicate pink eyebrow.

"How…"

"Easy…make him jealous…or at least try to…" Itachi suggested.

That's….actually a really good idea…

"Oiiii, Itachi-san, pink bitchy kunoichi!" The two turned to see Kisame walking towards them. The man had on black capris and a black tank top, being how it was too hot to wear the Akatsuki cloak. He also had trusty Samehada strapped to his back.

"Kisame…" Itachi murmured, looking at the shark man questioningly. Kisame stopped before the two and stretched his arms.

"I was bored."

"Aa…"

"So, kunoichi, want to train?" Kisame asked with amusement, grabbing the hilt of his sword and grinning. Sakura furrowed her eyebrows.

"Heh, no, I don't feel like being skinned alive today."

"Tch. No fun…Well, I'm hungry! Go make me something to eat, pinky!" Kisame barked. Sakura clenched her fist and stood up, glaring at him. Kisame gave a chuckle though.

"Your attempt at intimidation really sucks" He commented, before walking towards the house. Sakura growled and chased after her, calling out to the blue man as she did. Itachi blinked.

"…well so much for finishing the rest of that conversation…" Itachi stood up, and looked back out at the lake…her singing was so peaceful…he wished he could hear her again…maybe another day…

With that thought, Itachi turned back and went into the house, where he found Sakura and Kisame fighting over the Wonder bread loaf…

"I REACHED IT FIRST FISH-BREATH!"

"YEAH WELL I SAW IT FIRST, PINK NERD!"

Itachi sighed, snatching the bread with his awesome ninja skills and looked at the two with narrowed eyes. He went over to the fridge and took out the tuna fish. A small yet evil smile flashed upon his face for a millisecond before vanishing as he quickly made the sandwiches for the three of them and brought the plates to the table.

"…Itachi?" Sakura asked, wondering what made him decided to make the sandwiches. It took him about three seconds, due to his speed, but still…Itachi? The cold hearted, murderous criminal of Konoha…making them sandwiches??

"Ah, FOOD!" Kisame cheered, running to the table and stuffing the whole sandwich in his mouth. Sakura, having been watching Itachi, noticed the amusement in his eyes...he was watching Kisame…

"mmm….m…??" Kisame's eyes went wide and he began to spit out the food.

"ITACHI! YOU KNOW I DON'T EAT FELLOW SEA CREATURES!" Kisame shouted, scratching his tongue viciously. Itachi chuckled.

"But…Kisame…You aren't really a sea…creature…I hope not. And number two, you're a shark, and sharks eat other sea creatures…"

"HELLO! ITS CALLED SAVING THE WHALES!"

"…but that was Tuna…"

"Ah!" Kisame held his hand out in front of her…there was silence.

"That's enough out of you, kunoichi…I don't need your ridiculing." Kisame let his hand fall to his side, and swiped an apple from the fruit bowl before sitting down. Sakura shrugged and sat down in between the two, while Itachi started munching on his own food, laughing evilly in his head at his wonderful prank.

"Mmm…I feel so…dizzy…" Kisame stated, holding his head, five minutes later. Sakura, being the medic nin she is, immediately went into professional mode and began to question him about his condition while she checked him.

"What did you eat?"

"An apple…." THUNK! Kisame's head fell forward, his eyes closed and he was out like a light on the table top. Sakura stared at him for a minute, before turning towards Itachi, who was still eating calmly, as if Kisame wasn't even there.

"…"

"He shouldn't have eaten that apple." Itachi murmured. Sakura looked at him in disbelief.

"Itachi!" Sakura practically shrieked in shock. He looked at her calmly though, not seeming to be the least bit ashamed for poisoning his own partner.

"It's harmless…just knocked him out for an hour." Itachi stated, shifting in his seat.

"…wow…" Sakura looked back at Kisame, who was drooling now. She grimaced at the site of it.

"Now that our distraction is…distracted, we should be able to finish our conversation…" Itachi stated, sipping the green tea. Sakura frowned, and stared back at Itachi seriously.

"…"

"Jealousy…Its something that should work…we simply make someone who could be viewed as a 'threat' in Sasuke's eyes, and make it seem like they are trying to … hook up with you…or whatever…" Itachi explained.

He leaned back in his chair, waiting for Sakura to think it through herself…

"I guess…but, what happens after he gets jealous?"

"We'll see what he does about it. The way he reacts will tell us…then question him about it. It should force the information out of him. See how he feels…hn…"

"Okay…but who?" Itachi smirked as he leaned forward.

"Well, there are a lot of potential people to choose from, Sakura. We got nearly every Akatsuki member, save for Leader and the Unknown, and then there are Hyuuga and Shukaku's former host …Well pick out three of the people I listed, and test it out…"

"...ok, I guess…"

Itachi grabbed a piece of paper from his mother's listing thing and wrote the names off all the people down on the paper.

"The first option is…Tobi."

"No." Sakura dead panned. Tobi wasn't much of a threat for anything. If he caught on to the plan, he would probably run away, being how he liked to chicken out in the 'tense and fight-involved' situations. Damn idiot…

"Zetsu…"

Sakura paused. If he didn't wear his plant, he could pass for an extremely hot guy…and he was intimidating. She shrugged, and Itachi wrote a circle next to his name, which meant 'possible'.

"Kakuzu"

"No…" Kakuzu was scary, but WAY too weird and creepy for her…

"Hidan"

"No…" He was a pervert!

"Kisame"

"Hahah, no." It'd be too weird…plus Sasuke would see through it.

"hmm…Sasori?"

"….actually, yes…he could work." Sakura said thoughtfully. Sasori might've looked impassive and all, but for people who knew him, he was short-tempered and could get pretty damn scary when he wanted. He did have good looks too, and was smart…it was reasonable.

"Deidara?"

"No." Deidara was almost defenseless last time he faced off with Sasuke…plus, Sasuke wouldn't be that intimidated…

"Gaara" Sakura thought for a minute…hmmm he was scary alright, and Sasuke seemed a little unsure the last time those two were face to face…yeah it seemed he'd be a good choice…

"Would he do it, though?"

"…if Sasori is…I think he will…" Itachi said. After all, Gaara seemed to almost idolize Sasori…why? Well, we shall never know…

"Okay…Neji?"

"….urg…he's Tenten's, and Sasuke knows, so no…"

"Okay then…last choice is me."

"Alright."

Itachi crumpled up the paper, and using a small amount of chalkra, caused the paper to burst in flames right on his palm. The flame didn't seem to affect him, so he was alright…once the paper turn to ash, he put them in the garbage bin and sat back down.

"To make this work, we will need to have it progress little by little…" Sakura gave him a confused look and he rolled his eyes.

"As in, we need one person to subtly come in, and just seem to always be around you so it makes Sasuke a little curious, annoyed and irked. Then, once we see progress we will add in our second person, to do something that clearly states that they like you and are interested. Once he figures out he should act up on it somehow. If not, then I'll come in. Knowing my foolish brother, he will immediately take it as a personal threat and try to use it as a reason to try and beat me."

Sakura sweat dropped. Yeah, that wouldn't surprise me…

"Okay…so who will go first?"

"…Gaara…from observing him over the year, I've come to conclude that he wouldn't perform the second part as well as Sasori could…"

"I see…well when should we start?"

Itachi closed his eyes as he relaxed a little.

"As soon as we can, and after we tell the other people involved in our plan…I think I'll have a small gathering here tonight in fact…" Itachi stated, sipping on some more tea.

"whales in bikinis…." Itachi choked on his tea while Sakura whipped her head in Kisame's direction and gave him a 'WTF?!' face…

Kisame started to move a little, his face scrunched up and his eyes started to open…

"Wuh…..Pink…BITCH!" Kisame shot up from his chair and pointed accusingly at Sakura.

"You damn medic kunoichi! You DID one of your voodoo medic jutsu's didn't you?! Did you think it was funny? Put the big guy with the strange skin to sleep so we can laugh at him! Was that your plan?!"

Sakura blinked, while Itachi grabbed a napkin and started to wipe off his mouth. Sakura then pointed right at Itachi.

"He did it."

"ITACHI-SAN!"

"…hn?"

"Did you!?"

"………….aa.."

Kisame had anime tears coming down his face as he sniffled.

"How could you! To such a loyal, polite and truly strong team mate and long time partner?!"

"…you interrupted me…"

Kisame decided to take space in the corner of the room and sulk alone, while Sakura shook her head and sighed. These Akatsuki…they just keep getting weirder and weirder!

"Kisame. Stop sulking like a baby and call up Sasori…"

"…?"

"just do it."

Kisame wiped away the tears and walked off to the nearest house phone.

"What about Gaara?"

"Chances are, he is already with Sasori…"

"HEY ITACHI! WHAT DO I TELL SASORI?!"

Itachi narrowed his eyes as he watched the big blue man stomp into the kitchen waving the phone around.

"Give me that!" Snapped Itachi as he snatched the phone away. Kisame huffed and cross his arms.

"After all I do for him! Not one thanks!" Kisame stated, talking to Sakura. Sakura said nothing, of course…she was still kind of wondering why Kisame was so…energetically odd this afternoon…

"Hello?"

"Sasori…is the ex-demon host there?"

--

Over at Sasori's place….

"DANNA! THIS BRAT IS TRYING TO MAKE ME IMPLODE AGAIN, YEAH!" Deidara exclaimed in a shrill and paniced voice. It was loud enough for Itachi to hear…

"unfortunately yes…"

"Ok good. I want you and the kid to come over in two hours."

"……"

"No deidara, either, whether he tries to follow you, cling to you, or whatnot, he is NOT ALLOWED to come…"

"…how annoying…" Sasori ran a hand through his thick, messy auburn locks as he continued to watch Deidara squirm from the Sand's grasp. Gaara seemed amused, sitting on the couch a few feet away, clutching a Panda doll...

"COME ON, YEAH! YOU SHOULD BE RESPECTFUL TO ME! I AM YOUR ELDER, YEAH! AND WHO DO YOU THINK GOT YOU THAT PANDA, UN?!?" Deidara shrieked. Gaara held the panda closer.

"so…you didn't have to buy it for me…" Gaara replied, and began to make the sand move back and forth.

"ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE ME SICK, YEAH?!?!"

"…yes…"

Sasori's eye twitched. Why did it seem that they always needed to be at his place? Didn't they have anyone else to bother?

"So you'll be there?" Itachi's voice implied that there was only one right answer…

"…yes."

"Good. Bye.." Sasori hung up the phone and walked into the kitchen to get some food…

"I might be a puppet, but I still need to eat something to keep me from being bored…" He mumbled, grabbing a half empty bag of chips. As soon as he turned around, Gaara was standing there, looking up at him.

"…"

"Where is the idiot?"

"…in the living room…"

Sasori paused before peeking into the living room. There Deidara was, imprisoned in the sand and was planted right in front of the tv….it seemed he was being forced to watch Barney again…

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"…put sand in his mouth…" Sasori commented, before heading to his room. Gaara nodded, doing just as Sasori had said before chasing after him.

--

It was 7pm that night when Sasori and Gaara shown up on the doorstep. Itachi let them pass by him and was about to close the door when…

"WAIT FOR ME, YEAH!!!!!"

Itachi slammed the door.

Upstairs, Sakura was laying on Itachi's rather comfortable bed while Sasori sat in the desk chair and Gaara on the floor beside the chair. Itachi's room was normal looking, Sakura noticed, and sighed.

"Okay then…now that everyone is here…" Itachi settled down on another chair near his door and looked at everyone.

"The purpose of this meeting is to…test the mind of Sasuke Uchiha."

Sasori raised an eyebrow while Gaara snorted. Itachi glanced at the red head sand shinobi but continued.

"There is a task required from both of you…" Itachi stated, pointing to the two boys.

"All you have to do Gaara, is show up here at least everyday for the next week. And Sasori, your part comes later on, after Gaara's week of visiting here, you hit on Sakura."

Sasori's eyes had widened considerably as he looked at Itachi rather surprised. Gaara on the other hand, looked like he could give a crap.

"…?"

"The Uchiha boy, as you know, is being an ass…to Sakura. It's to see if how jealous he gets before he snaps." Itachi finished. Sasori looked over at Sakura, who was frowning and looking away.

"Alright then…" Sasori said after a minute. Gaara nodded after Sasori agreed.

"I'm going." Gaara announced as he walked to the door. The red head paused.

"…where's the exit?"

Itachi got up from his place, and proceeded to direct the boy to the front door, leaving Sasori and Sakura alone.

"Hmm, this should be interesting." Sasori replied lazily as he watched Sakura blush a little.

"…yeah…Sasori…if you don't want to do it, you don't have to." Sakura looked over at the puppet master who shrugged.

"I have nothing better to do…besides…it might be fun…" Sasori smirked as Sakura blushed again, and Itachi entered the room.

"So when does this start?"

"…tomorrow." Itachi answered. Sasori nodded, and got up from the chair.

"I'll be going then, see ya."

Sakura sighed as she closed her eyes. This should prove to be interesting, indeed…She thought, though her peaceful state was broken once she felt herself being lifted off the bed and into someone's arms. Her eyes flew open and she was caught with a Sharingan gaze…

For most shinobis, to have locked eyes with Itachi Uchiha would mean instant torture, but in this case, it merely mesmerized her. His eyes were such a glowing crimson…the pitch black commas of the sharingan design seemed to catch her in an endless hole…

She didn't even realize she had been laid on her own bed until Itachi broke eye contact with her. She blushed heavily.

He carried me to my room…and I was soo stupid, just staring at him…DAMMIT why am I so stupid?!

"…" Itachi was hovering over her, and had paused.

She's so close…but still out of my reach……for now

Itachi stood up straight and walked out of the room without a word, and Sakura watched him close the door behind him. She sighed.

Stupid Sakura…how could you have thought he'd even think of kissing you…your still Sasuke's after all…

Sakura let her eyes shut, she was really tired, and allowed herself to fall into a dreamless sleep.

--

It was the last day Gaara was to come over. Sakura sat on the couch, next to the window, waiting for him while Mikoto flipped through the channels on the tv.

"Sakura-chan, what's with the boy coming over lately?" She asked, a smile crossing her lips. Sakura glanced over at the woman.

"He's just a friend." She stated firmly. Sasuke wasn't going to be home until another thirty minutes…just like usual. She wondered why he insisted on training by himself now that summer has come.

It just gives him more reason to ignore me, Sakura thought bitterly as the door bell rang. She got up and answered it, nodding at Gaara as he came in.

"Oh, hello Gaara-chan!" Mikoto greeted. Ever since the first day Gaara came, Mikoto insisted on calling him that…Gaara didn't care though, so it was all good.

"……hi"

"Well, call me if you need anything, you two!" Mikoto sang out as she disappeared into the kitchen. With that, Sakura and Gaara walked up to her room, leaving the bedroom door open so that when Sasuke walked by he would notice that Gaara was indeed there…

"Any reaction yet?" Gaara asked as he took a seat on the floor and began to form his sand into various shapes and such. Sakura sighed and sat on the floor as well, watching him.

"Not much. He twitched the second day he saw you…then when Mikoto brought it up, he twitched and made a grunt noise…and then yesterday he was spying on us through that hole over there." Sakura reported, pointing to the hole in the wall where the bathroom was.

"hmm…" Gaara let his sand mold into a form of Sasuke. Then, another sand clump turned to Gaara and the two mini forms began to battle each other…the Gaara figure won of course. Sasuke ended up being stomped on to death.

Sakura let a chuckled escape as she watched the mini sand gaara skip around the crumbled Sasuke in his victory.

"So…Kazekage-sama, do you miss being back in the shinobi world?" She asked. Gaara furrowed his eyebrows.

"…no…"

"why not?"

"…my mom exists here. Just me, her, Temari and Kankurou (sp?). Our lives here are happier than they were back in our original world…and there are no official duties or paperwork for me here…"

"You didn't enjoy being the Kazekage?"

"…I did. It's just stressful…"

"Oh. Well, that's understandable!" Sakura smiled. Gaara half smiled...and then he frowned again as a presence came closer to their room.

"He's here…" Gaara mumbled. Sakura, who noticed as well, stiffened slightly and they heard the Uchiha hesitate in the doorway. Both turned their heads and met with Sasuke's furious Sharingan eyes.

"…you…" Sasuke growled out, turning towards the red head. Gaara blinked, unaffected by Sasuke's display of anger.

"Why is he always here?!" Sasuke growled again. Gaara narrowed his eyes.

"Why not?" Sakura asked innocently. Sasuke twitched, gritting his teeth as he looked back at Gaara, who remained cool.

"Is there a problem?" Gaara asked in a whispered voice. Sasuke pursed his lips as he continued to glare at Gaara. Then, he walked away, holding his nose up in the air as if he was king of the place, and strutted off.

Sakura rolled her eyes. Why did she like that guy again? Oh yeah, that's right…because he used to care for her at one point…not any more though….

Gaara's eyes were mere slits as he turned his head to that hole on the wall connecting to the bathroom. Indeed, he could see the red sharingan eye watching him.

"…"

"So, Gaara…what do you think we should do?"

Gaara shrugged, not sure what there was to do. Last time they discussed shinobi things, and different people at the school who had yet to regain their memories. Neji had regained his, but he didn't really feel like having an 'I remember!' happy reunion about it. Instead, the coffee colored haired Hyuuga began to formulate ways in triggering Ten ten's memory to come up.

"Oooo We should play a game!" Sakura suggested, getting up from the floor and heading towards the closet. Gaara raised a non-existent eyebrow as he watched her open the closet.

"You see, there are all these weird games in the world that have no other point than to entertain!...like…this one!" Sakura grabbed the cardboard box and put it in the middle of her and Gaara.

"Twister?"

"Yes! This is a fun one! I played it with Deidara and Sasori once! Deidara ended up knocking all three of us down though, so we all lost…" She trailed off at the fond memory…

Gaara opened the box and pulled out the spinny thingy and the mat, looking at it and finally figuring how it works…well most of it.

Sakura snapped out of her daydream and helped him set up the mat and then spun the arrow around until it landed on Left Foot Red!

"To play, all you have to do is put your hand or foot where it says to put it. When you become stuck or can't seem to move your limb to the next spot, the game is over and the other person who COULD successfully put their arm or foot in that spot is the winner! See?"

Sakura put her left foot down on the red dot, and Gaara, after taking a moment to study the mat, copied her movements.

"Right Foot Blue!"

"Left Hand Green!"

"Right Hand Yellow!"

"Left Hand Blue!"

"Right Foot Green!"

After ten minutes, Sakura found herself tangled with Gaara on top of the mat. He seemed irritated.

"I hate taking orders…" he mumbled. Sakura laughed.

"It's a game!"

"still..."

"Left Foot Yellow!"

"DAMMIT!" Gaara lost his balance, his arm shifted, knocking Sakura off balance as well and they both crashed on top of the mat in a pile.

"ugg…" Sakura groaned. She opened her eyes to see herself on top of Gaara.

Gaara was staring at her, silently…They stayed like that for a moment, until they felt the place start to heat up a bit. Sakura sniffed and looked towards the wall that connected to the bathroom.

"AH IT'S ON FIRE!" She squeaked, rolling off of the former Kazekage who sat up and watched the fire.

"I wonder how that happened…usually, fires don't naturally occur in a place that consists of mostly water…" Gaara thought aloud. Sakura smiled a little.

With a flash of hand seals, she created a water jutsu that quickly put down the flames.

"That should do it!" She said, getting to her feet and wiping pretend dust off her shoulder. Gaara got up as well.

"I guess I should get going…you know, I don't want any spontaneous fires bursting out of no where again…" Gaara stated, rather loudly as he walked through her doorway. He stopped when he caught Sasuke's glare piercing him from the other end of the hallway.

"Hmmm…yes. Damn those random fires…" Gaara said, and then left, knowing his way out. Sakura leaned against her doorframe until she heard the door downstairs close before she looked over at Sasuke.

"Sakura…"

"Sasuke…"

They stood in silence, just staring at the other. Sasuke opened his mouth…but nothing came out. He shut it, and looked away, and then, walked into his room and shut the door.

Ah snap, just when I thought he was going to say something!

--

The next day…

"Sasori?"

"hi…"

Sakura rubbed her eyes and sat up on her bed.

"What are you doing here? It's 10 am in the morning!"

Sasori frowned and looked at her oddly.

"It's too early to be up and about!" Sakura shouted, throwing her pillow at him. Sasori caught it with ease as he jumped down from her window sill and walked towards her.

"I think it's too late to be in bed, Sakura…" Sasori replied, shoving the pillow in her face.

"pft! Fine!" Sakura snapped, and threw off the covers. She stopped and looked at Sasori.

"GET OUT SO I CAN CHANGE!" She yelled. Sasori rolled his eyes.

"No need to yell, I am RIGHT HERE!" He yelled back. Sakura pointed towards the door and Sasori, with a sigh, walked towards it. Once he was out, she slammed the door behind him and proceeded to dress.

Of course, with such wonderful luck, of all people who would it be other than the Uchiha to see and hear everything?

"…Who are you?"

Sasori looked at Sasuke with disinterest.

"I'm a boy." Sasori answered back. Sasuke narrowed his eyes as Sasori smirked.

"I meant your name…" Sasuke clarified.

"I don't feel like telling you…" Sasori replied, now looking at the closed door again.

"Then answer this, what the hell were you doing in Sakura's room?" Sasuke hissed.

"Saying hello…or ravishing her. I don't remember." Sasori studied the Uchiha from the corner of his eye.

"!"

"Sasori! Let's go!" Sakura said as she opened the door. Sakura stopped when she saw a fuming Sasuke standing with his hands clenched in fists, and glaring intensely at Sasori.

"….uhm…Sasuke?"

"WHO IS HE AND WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?!?" Sasuke barked.

Sakura sweat dropped.

"Sasori is here to take me out to breakfast." Sakura answered, with a smile. Sasuke gave her a dangerous look.

"Well, let's not waste time here with a fool. I'm hungry." Sasori stated as he wrapped his arm around Sakura's shoulders and guided her to the stairs.

"WAIT JUST A MINUTE THERE, PINOCIO!" Sasuke yelled, using his speed to flash right in front of the pair. Sasori stared at him boredly while Sakura faked a surprised look.

"Sakura is mine, therefore get your…wooden paws off her and go away!" Sasuke exclaimed, grabbing the poor girl and bringing her into his own embrace. Sakura hissed.

"Sasuke! You idiot! Let me go!"

Sasuke turned his attention to her.

"You, what game are you playing, bringing these guys around here?" Sasuke asked her in an angered tone. Sakura glared back at him.

"It's none of your business, Sasuke. They are my friends, and I can do as I please. Now let go."

"You're kidding! Sakura, these 'friends' are just about a step away from claiming you. And you belong to me, and only me. Got it?"

Sakura pulled away, glaring at him.

"You certainly don't act it! You haven't even gave me the time of day before I started having them over the beginning of this week!" Sakura pointed out.

"Hn!"

"Okay, well I think we should go, hmm?" Sasori took Sakura's hand, and led her away from her steaming boyfriend. Sasuke, stomped to his room, where he grabbed the nearest pillow and screamed into it.

"SON OF A BI--!"

"Foolish little brother…"

Sasuke dropped the pillow instantly and spun around to face Itachi, who was casually lying on his bed.

"Itachi!"

"You let her slip away from your grasp so easily…I wonder, is she really even yours anymore?"

Sasuke's face darkened.

"Shut up! She belongs to me, and ONLY ME!" Sasuke raged. Itachi chuckled, though.

"In a scenario likes this, that decision isn't up to just one person, you know….Sakura has a voice, too."

"She wouldn't"

"Wouldn't she?" Itachi got up, walking slowly towards Sasuke with an evil smile tugging at his lips.

"Now that you screwed up this relationship….Sakura is mine for the taking. I am not holding back anymore, you proven yourself unworthy of her affections. Such a foolish little brother you are." Itachi flicked Sasuke on the forehead before moving past him and out of the room.

"She is still mine, Itachi!" Sasuke shouted after him. Itachi snorted and closed his bedroom door. Before Sasuke could say anything further, the phone rang.

"Hn?"

"Heeyyyyy, Sasuke-kun!" Purred a feminine voice from the other line. Sasuke relaxed as he leaned against the hallway wall.

"What."

"Wanna come over again? I got a surprise!"

"No."

"Sasuke-kun! Why not?!" The voice on the other end whined.

"Because, I need to find Sakura…"

"Oh forget Billbrow! You and I both know she isn't as strong as I am, Sasuke-kun…She may have 'chalkra control' but does she have a powerful kekkai genkai (sp?) like me?" Ino asked. Sasuke was silent for a moment.

Makes sense…

"Fine. Give me five minutes…" Sasuke hung up the phone and closed his eyes.

Ino was right…she's been trying to convince him about that issue for months now…and she was right. Her Mind Transfer Jutsu combined with the Sharingan would seem to be a more powerful combination that what Sakura could offer…Plus, if his interests were of the best for his future clan…..

Sasuke pushed off the wall and walked to the door. As he left, he didn't notice the door crack open to Itachi's room, Sharingan eyes watching him as he left, and then the pale hand click off the phone. Yes people…Itachi Uchiha had been eavesdropping!

--

"You know, even though he is a shitty boyfriend, his little possessive/jealous side is sure fun to watch!" Sakura exclaimed, as she sipped on her Cream Soda.

Sasori chewed on his hot dog while he listened to Sakura tell him all the things he would do when Gaara came to visit.

"And then he even set the WALL on fire!" She finished, smiling.

RING RING!

Sakura put down her soda, and grabbed her cell phone.

"Moshi moshi?"

"Sakura…I got some news…"

Sakura cocked an eyebrow, while Sasori continued eating.

"Its hard to explain on the phone…so…when your done, come to my room."

"Okay, then. Bye!"

The phone was hung up and Sasori gave her a curious glance. Sakura sighed.

"News…about Sasuke I would think…."

"Hmm…Sakura…"

"mm?" Sakura took another sip of her soda.

"Do you still like Sasuke?"

She paused, a frown brushing across her face as she slowly put down her soft drink. She looked away for a minute.

"After this week…I've realized…just how much I was kind of missing…How much more fun I could have without Sasuke than I could when I was with him…I don't know really…"

"Hm"

Finally the two finished up their breakfast meal…which really turned out to be lunch…and left the place. Sasori drove Sakura home in Deidara's car, and soon Sakura found herself climbing up the stairs to Itachi's room.

Itachi was waiting for her when she got there, his face was expressionless so she had no idea what was running through his head, nor any hint of the so called news he was about to give her.

"While you went out…Sasuke got a phone call. From Ino Yamanaka. Supposably, Sasuke has been spending time with both of you, and is only using you two for the powers and skills you possess…due to his goal of rebuilding our clan."

Sakura blinked. Of course, Ino of all people…why was it always Ino? And Sasuke…He just NEVER stopped being so stupidly selfish and just…A BASTARD!

It's decided. He doesn't love me…he doesn't even like me I bet. He has been using me…so from this day forth, I will NOT ever again love Sasuke Uchiha!

"It's done" She whispered. Itachi watched her, feeling a bit guilty for having to tell her but…it was necessary.

All those years of loving him and he does THIS to me! I can't believe him! He should pay for what he's done to me!…of course…what would hurt him most, than to have his cherry blossom chose his brother over him? Besides, I've come to like Itachi more than the other two…maybe choosing him wouldn't be such a bad idea after all…Maybe…I can find love again…

Sakura looked up, grabbing Itachi's cloak and pulled him towards her. Taken by surprise, Itachi fell forward, but was stopped right when his lips met Sakura's.

It wasn't just any kiss either. In fact, it was full of need and want. Sakura pulled away from him, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. Maybe he can show me happiness?

Itachi looked back at her, at a loss of words…So instead, he pulled her in for another kiss, soft and loving…finally, he thought

--

Later that evening, Sasuke came home…It was near 12 o'clock…and the house was eerily dark…

"Where is everyone?" He mumbled to himself as he climbed up the stairs to his room. A noise made him stopped. Turning his head toward's Itachi's room, he noticed the glow of a tv spilling out into the hallway.

He walked towards it, and soon found some random movie on, with Itachi and Sakura cuddled up on his bed……asleep.

Sasuke growled, angry as hell. Itachi, being the light sleeper he was opened his eyes and smirked.

"Foolish little brother…she no longer belongs to you…but to me."

Sakura came around as she heard something crash and looked up to find Sasuke there in the room.

Itachi picked up his brother from the ground and proceeded towards the door.

"Sakura! What were you doing with him!?" Sasuke yelled out. Itachi stopped and looked over to her as well, still holding Sasuke up, ready to throw him out of the room.

"…Because…he has one thing you don't have Sasuke.." Sakura said, as she sat up.

"He loves me!"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her.

"Bitch! WHO SAID I DIDN'T LOVE YOU?!"

"YOU USED ME, SASUKE! AND YOUR WITH INO, TOO?!" Sakura stood up from the bed, coming towards him, her fist raised.

"You son of a bitch, I loved you before, you had your chance, TWICE! AND YOU BLEW IT!"

She planted her fist right into his stomach, sending him right out of Itachi's grasp and into the hallway wall. It cracked upon impact, some of the wall breaking as he slid down it, to sit on the ground.

He coughed up a little blood and looked up at her. She was livid.

"I am going to make you sorry, Sasuke Uchiha!"

She picked him up by his stupid bowl collar and continued to fight him. He used his Sharingan and would block or dodge an attack every so often, but Sakura seemed unstoppable…

Sasuke ended up as a pile of bruises, cuts, and broken bones as he landed in his room, via Sakura's foot.

She was about to do more, but a hand stopped her.

"Enough. I think he learned his lesson." Itachi said coolly. Sakura glared at Sasuke, not quite satisfied, but relaxed. Itachi slid a hand around her waste, and pulled her in for another kiss. Just to tick off his brother.

"Foolish little brother…" Itachi said, as he guided Sakura back to her room. Sasuke fell into unconsciousness. Who knew Sakura could kick his ass so bad?

--

Sakura climbed into her bed, pulling up the covers while Itachi watched. Her cherry blossom colored hair sprawled around her head on the pillow, giving her an angelic look, as she stared at him with her entrancing green eyes.

"After waiting for so long…it's good to finally have you…" Itachi murmured, as he kissed her cheek. Sakura grinned, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck and pulling him in for a kiss on the lips.

"You better not go off and ignore me too, after this." Sakura whispered, kind of sadly. Itachi frowned.

"I'm not a fool." Itachi got off the bed and went over to the door.

"Good night, Itachi…"

Itachi closed the door behind him.

"Good night, my cherry blossom."

!!! THE END!!!!

Icha-chan: YAY! ITACHI FLUFF!!

Deidara: TT.TT well atleast my alternate ending was BETTER, yeah!

Itachi: -glare-

Kisame: Ah, Itachi, he is just moping because he lost the pink bitch again…

Deidara: SHE ISNT A BITCH, YEAH! –tries to punch Kisame but is held back by the blue guys hand-

Sasori: So immature…

Deidara: AND YOU! You were trying to steal Sakura-chan away from me too, yeah!

Sasori: e.e

Icha-chan: Okay! So there you have it folks! That's the last alternate ending…and now…THE MINI SERIES!

Tobi: YAY!

Icha-chan: So yeah. Well I actually think the Deidara ending turned out better than this one, but oh well. I tried!! TT.TT so anyway, the mini series should be out soon! Where Sasuke ends up NOT being the bastard he acted like in the two alternates!

Sasuke: hn! You made me look weak and stupid

Itachi: That's because you are weak and stupid

Sasuke: ITACHI! IMMA GUNNA KILL YOU!!

Itachi: -walks off uninterested to find his cow…-

Sasuke: DAMN YOU!

Icha-chan: ehehe…well that's all people! I hope you liked it!

Itachi: -is riding his cow and plows over Sasuke-

Sasuke: AH!

Itachi: Review, or I shall run you over with my cow…

Sasori: O.o At thirty pages of story-ness, I think we should wrap this up now…bye…

Itachi: REVIEW!

Cow: MOO!