Winters Fire Summers Ice

by Dark Vampress

"There is light and there is darkness, there is fire and there is ice, there is summer and there is winter, there is yin and yang and then Sakura... there is you and me. " Fate had bound them together by the strings of their hearts and the cells of their flesh from the moment the cosmos erupted. Fate did not intend to let them go. Their love would draw blood and corrupt souls.

36. Chapter 36

WELCOME! I only have two more exams and it's over! I'm so excited guys! Finally I'll be done with high school. I thought this day would never come! Guys I just want to thank you so much for all the reviews but most of all, thank you for giving me your opinion. I feel like I might get lost in this story, start throwing in ridiculous drama or something and stray from the steady plot I've built. SO I have a task for you guys! If you notice, or feel like I'm losing track or wandering away or just writing shit all of a sudden, please, PLEASE, tell me. Let me know if I start getting lost. PREPARE FOR THE LONGEST CHAPTER EVER! Well…not really ever for you guys have more long chapters coming. Alright, I'm done rambling.

READ AND ENJOY!

Title:Natsu no kōrino Fuyu Kasai (winter's fire summer's ice)

Standard Disclaimer Applied

I formally apologize for any grammatical errors. Being my own editor and writer among other things is hard.

[Chapter Thirty Six]

"Ino, enough!" I snapped, slapping her hand away from my head, this time with seriousness.

She didn't understand the pandemonium inside of me right now. She didn't understand that I didn't want to do this, I didn't want to wear this, I didn't want to go to school and I didn't want to go the dance. I didn't want to do anything except curl into my bed and cry. I knew it was my fault because I didn't want Ino to know I wasn't into this. It would make her sad and I didn't want to do that. I ruined people's lives as much as it was, I couldn't bear to make them even more miserable. I wanted to make her happy so of course, I was going to wear the clothes, go to school and the dance and laugh and smile and let her believe I was happy. That's the best I could do. Pretend. I couldn't give her the real thing but she didn't know the difference.

I was scared to death to have her see the complete turmoil I was in. With the weird things happening, I didn't want her to feel the disaster and everything I was feeling. It would wreck her and that…I couldn't let her go through something like that again. Ever.

She kept telling me that she didn't remember anything about what happened last week but I knew she was lying. I knew she remembered every single thing but just like me, she was in denial. She didn't want to deal with it and Ino was the kind of hard headed person that if she didn't want to deal with something, she'd just pretend it didn't exist and no one could tell her different. I knew she remembered. My gut burnt with the certainty of it and the shame I felt. I felt pathetic too. I couldn't even keep my feelings under control. How disappointing was that? I tried talking to her about it, especially after last Friday's incident in that meeting but she just wouldn't talk to me about it. That incident made me realize just how deep of a kink our very friendship was in. We too were drifting apart from each other.

However, none of those gave reason to why I slapped her hand away- of course not. I just couldn't take her yanking my hair anymore, it was painful and she was trying too hard. I felt like she was tearing my hair out from my scalp and she was being so nonchalant about it all it was ridiculous. She wanted me to look like some skank or something to only prove the people who hate me right. Not that they weren't right, I mean, they were, we've established that already but still.

Ino glared. "Don't make me smack you upside your head." She warned grabbing back my head callously. "Let me fix this. I don't know why your hair is this long. Do you think making your hair look this good comes without a little pain?" She grumbled.

"Must I wear this?" I groaned unpleasantly.

We didn't have time for a dance or time to dress up for Halloween. Didn't Ino know this already? Things were so complicated that this was the least of our problems. We were all trying to keep tabs on everything that was happening and after tonight, Sasuke would be gone to do only God knows what. I was worried and scared and I just hated this. I hated that I was the cause of this and I just wished there was something I could do to stop it. I didn't want to be the epicenter of disaster but as usual, that's what I was. I came to this town, hoping to lose it yet I was more of an earthquake than ever before- maybe not an earthquake more like a massive tsunami. I just shook up everyone's life and turned it into to rubble. I know no one would ever admit that to me –fear of hurting my feelings and whatnot- but my heart broke and bled and all I could do was hate myself even more because of this. I might be a little on the wonky train –I am admitting this because my therapist said it was okay to admit things to yourself if not anyone else- with unstable emotions and all but I wasn't stupid. I knew intentionally or not this was all my fault.

Granted that it was only a theory but Shikamaru wasn't stupid and neither was Hinata and they knew what they were talking about. They wouldn't bring wrong information to the table and even if it was a theory, they had to have some sort of way to back it up and they did. That unknown lady Kurenai and my mother, sadly but I too believed that my mother must know something. I knew something…I knew some of what she was going to….and I… She couldn't have gone wonkers and put so much hate towards me for no reason. I knew it was all a lie but why had she done that? Even after so long I still didn't even know. This Halloween thing was not important, not like keeping everyone safe and not being the cause of everything was.

Do you really want to be thinking about this right now? Today is major game day Sakura, we need to bring the sunshine today. Like blinding sunlight.

I know… I kind of slumped when she told me this as if I didn't know it already. Today is 100% okay day. I get it, I get it. No stress day for anyone.

We can discuss everything else later.

We have something to discuss? I inquired watching her saunter around in my head.

Don't get smart with me because you know they were talking about me last week in that meeting.

You're the side effect of me being insane because we both know that's what I am. You're not real. I said for the millionth time to her since last week.

"Would you stop asking me that?"

I came back to where I was not speaking with my inside friend but my outside friend. "Is this even school appropriate?" I asked again.

I really didn't think I should be wearing something like this. Minus the fact that I felt naked, uncomfortable and vulnerable in this costume, it was far too short and skimpy for any school I was sure. Granted, Ino's own was incredulously shorter than mine but that wasn't the point. She knew how much I hated showing my skin and even with the concealer and all these things, I didn't like the whole idea. The makeup to hide my scars hardly did anything because even if people couldn't see them, I still knew that they were there and I would have to worry about it the entire time.

I didn't want Sasuke to see me show so much skin either, I mean, the most revealing thing I'd ever worn would have to be a short sleeved shirt and even then sometimes. I didn't know what to expect and I didn't think I could defend against him like I usually did if he dressed up too. He didn't comprehend how he affected me and sometimes, I didn't even comprehend it but he did it. I was attracted to him in a way I was ashamed and far too embarrassed to fully even admit to myself.

"Don't worry. Sasuke will love it on you. He'll undress you a million times." She promised.

My cheeks flushed. "Ino!"

She laughed. "What? Girl you have to give him something to work with." She said. "Besides, don't act like you don't want him to want you. This is the only day it's okay to dress like a slut and no-one says a thing." She said.

"Is that your excuse?" I snickered.

She gapped. "If you must know yes it is and I think Shikamaru could use a little 'easy access' if you know what I mean."

"Oh my god Ino!" I exclaimed. "You have no limits."

She was so confident in who she was and how she looked. She was so different from me and I don't envy but I adore her. Maybe she has never realized it but as her friend, I love who she is and I wish, more often than not, that I was even vaguely like her. To picture my life without her was like living without a backbone. I couldn't do it. Even with all the obvious disaster, she brought some kind of stability.

"There are no limits. There." she said stepping back. "Stand let me have a look at my master piece."

With a heavy sigh I rose and turned to face her. She smacked her lips and me and grinned. "You look sexier than I do. I'm jealous." She smiled.

I tried not to laugh or roll my eyes at her comment. There were so many things wrong with me. I hated being complimented but I didn't want to nag. I looked down at what I had on in horror. "I really don't think we should wear this. We look like sluts."

She sighed. "Sexy sluts I must agree. I feel like you don't understand the school that we go to Sakura. Listen, some people will be wearing no clothes, trust me. We're modestly dressed compared to them, besides if we couldn't wear what we wanted the school board would be hearing from a lot of rich, unhappy parents. We're safe." She said.

I looked at myself in the mirror. Somehow, I didn't repel or disgust myself as much as I usually did. She never ceased to amaze me. I always wondered how she did this, to make me look so different.

Ino had stuffed me into a Pretty Playing Card Costume, with the hat, stockings and everything. She was in an Adult Circus Sweetie Ringmaster costume which I honestly thought was just a little too intense for school. She looked gorgeous as she always did with her hair curled and her high heels. She smiled at me. This was illegal. I should not be wearing this. I didn't want to wear this. What would people think when they saw us? However, it wasn't like I could change my mind now. Not after Ino went through so much trouble.

"Admit it forehead. We look very dangerous." She purred. "Don't tell me you're not glad, Sakura you look like a supermodel. Give me some credit."

I sighed. "I do like it." I said lamely.

I felt naked, I had never worn something this…sexual in all my life and I didn't know Sasuke would take it. I wondered if he would hate it or think I looked slutty- which just for clarity I did. I'd never worn something like this and I would be in it all throughout the school day. I shifted in the heels Ino had put me in because well, truly I was pretty short. I tilted my head to side and watched as the hat stayed in place on top of my head. This would be…awkward to say the least. I was doing this for her. I was extensively out of my comfort zone so much that fear started to paralyze me. She didn't understand how much of a huge step this was for me. Today was sunshine, people pleaser, no stress day. That was the deal I'd made with myself.

A honk sounded downstairs and I peeped through Ino's window. I almost choked. I moved away from the window before Sasuke could get out of the car. My heart hammered in my chest. We'd been pretending that everything was fine and that I wasn't like some bomb waiting to explode in his life. I could keep the pretence up, I was good at that but I didn't want to act like this wasn't my fault. It was my fault and I didn't want it sugarcoated. I took deep breaths. I couldn't do this could I?

"Is that him?" Ino asked as she shuffled through her drawer.

"Uh yeah." I said a little light headed.

I didn't want him to see me like this. What if he hated it? What if he didn't want to walk with me dressed like this? So many questions rattled my brain as nerves started to make me tremble. He was such a top notch guy who knew what he wanted at all times. What if this wasn't it? If he hated it, I know he'd want me out of these clothes. He was commanding like that and I would be most obliged to listen to him but I'd feel pretty bad. As if I wasn't good enough to dress like this? Now I was torn. A contradiction to myself like I always was.

She laughed. "Somebody sounds nervous. Sakura, chill would you? You have to own the sexy to sell this costume. I want all eyes on you, your fantastic shape and that big ass of yours. I don't even know how you got the shape, the ass and the boobs. I tell myself it's because you're shorter than I am and they pack you on all sorts of pills so even in sickness, you still look so damn. Not that I look bad or anything." She said laughing.

"I'm too skinny Ino if you hadn't noticed." I mumbled before I could stop myself. Moment of truth, I wanted to slap myself. That is what I hated. I should have taken her compliment with grace and not retorted but my big mouth got the best of me. Of course. This tended to happen every now and then. I wanted to take it back instantly but she spoke before I could.

"No you're not. Why would you even say that?"

I snorted. "When I lie down it's like my ribs poke out."

Truth is that was fact and not opinion. I was skinny. Yes, not skinny like I'm anorexic but I was skinny and I didn't look like a model with it. And I was short, which made it look weird like I was kind of stumpy. Who wants to look stumpy and skinny at the same time? That's supposed to be an impossible feat. If I was taller I would probably maybe look like Ino. Just maybe. Like…by a long shot we're talking here but it was a possibility no matter how minute.

"Foolishness. You're 114 pounds and you're short, it doesn't look like you're slim. It works. Don't get me started." She said like the hardheaded girl she was. "If anything, you should be twig size, did you know that? And you've gained weight –that's a compliment by the way. Three weeks ago, you were way slimmer for your height. And your breasts keep growing. I swear, I don't get it." she said flipping her hair. "Found it."

I looked at her. "What is tha-"

The car horn sounded once again and I sighed. He could be impatient. You would think that after being alive for such a long time, he'd be a patient person. They said patience came with age but he was far too impatient sometimes.

"I'll see you at school forehead. Go before he thinks I'm keeping you hostage. He's anxious to see you." she smiled.

I took a deep breath, waved and headed out of Ino's house. Even with the disaster of the situation, it was almost clearer somehow. Nothing was happening to me, we all knew what was happening to Ino and things seemed to be moving at a pace everyone could keep up with. Things didn't seem so confusing anymore and I wasn't out of loop as I normally would have been. Some part of me had wished though that when I was included in all this information that it wouldn't be about me. I didn't want things to be about me and I didn't want life to keep doing this. I didn't want to admit this to anyone else, ever; not even Sasuke but I wanted this just stop. I wanted to…I wanted this to end somehow. This took so much effort for me to admit to even myself but I hated living. There I said it. But I was being positive about the whole thing because positivity is all I've got.

My mind ran on Atona who I see in class but never says anything to me and doesn't even look at me when we pass each other. A part of me felt terrible like I ruined her life and she wanted nothing to do with me because I'm a terrible person. Yes, we've already established how terrible, selfish and slutty I am. The world knows and I know. But I try not to be that way; don't I get even a little credit for that? I tried to do what she asked me, I tried to leave them alone, I tried not to get in the way…even as futile as it was I tried and if no one could see it, God saw it didn't he?

I hadn't wanted Rin to do what she had done. She had kicked Atona out and only Kami knew how she felt to have her own mother say all those things to her. It's a terrible and awful feeling that never goes away. Some days you don't think about it but other days, it just sits on your chest like the weight you can't get rid of and it hurts. I know the feeling all too well and no one deserves something like that. People shouldn't be treated like that and everyone deserves a second chance. Everyone.

If it had been up to me I would have left the whole situation alone but it was out of my control. The school had called Rin and told her. I didn't. I still felt awful though as if it was my doing and if I had caused all this. Subconsciously, I wondered if I had known what I was doing all along.

I swear you are such a downer to listen to some times, did you know that? None of this is your fault. You didn't ask to have this all going on, to have people treat you this way, to be this important. You didn't ask for it. This is not a downer day so step up to the plate!

I sighed. I wanted to believe her but at this point I just couldn't.

I paused in front of Sasuke who just stared at me as if he couldn't even recognize me. I chewed my lip as he observed me from head to toe. He was in costume… I think. He was in a suite and a top had and on his jacket pocket it said "MOB BOSS". He looked very clean, very professional and mysterious and I tried not to laugh. I watched him scrutinize me. He raised an eyebrow and I praised myself for understanding the simple motion. Slowly I turned for him to see.

"I like it." he said finally.

I gapped at him. "Really? You don't want me to change?" I wished desperately he would say yes.

He nodded. "Very, very sexy." He commented opening the door. "Prepare yourself. People will stare."

That was exactly what I was afraid of. Nothing scared me like having people watch me. It felt like they were reading my entire life story, seeing into my past and debating my future. I felt like an object and not a person. I got in and he closed the door. From the rearview mirror I saw a man standing down the street, looking right at us. He looked like a shadow, even in the daylight.

Sasuke started the car and began driving but I could still see him in the rearview mirror. He didn't seem to get smaller as we turned the corner. He was still behind us, the same distance behind us. I couldn't stop staring at him and my heart almost jumped out of my mouth when our eyes finally locked. His gaze was cold like ice and I shivered.

"Who's that?" I whispered.

"Autkio." He said. "He watches you from now on," he shrugged as he started driving.

"Really?"

"Yes really."

"Why?"

"You did not just ask me that." he said.

I smiled. "Am I in danger?" I asked him.

"I'm debating whether you're actually serious. Sakura, someone sent you a cat in a box as a gift. Or have you forgotten?" he asked.

My blood chilled. "No I haven't forgotten." I said softly, sinking into the seat.

How could I forget something like that? I could hardly stomach down food since it happened. I kept seeing the cat every time I went into my room and every time I closed my eyes. I kept seeing myself losing my mind and screaming from the sudden abundance of cat heads. It made my skin crawl.

"I don't want anything to happen to you. We've been through this. I can't be around you all the time. You know that. I just want to know you're safe when I'm not around. Of course that means I have to take the necessary precautions here. So yes, he really watches you."

I slumped. Of course, me again. It's always me. I nodded and pulled up my stockings. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye and flushed when I noticed he was staring. My heart raced –it always did when he stared at me even glared at me. Always. I smiled. I couldn't help it.

"I like those too." He said slyly.

"Thank you Mob Boss." I teased.

He shook his head. "I have enough trouble controlling myself around you as it is. Now with you dressed like that you've given me a very big challenge." He said.

I flushed. "I guess that was the idea." I said, daring to be brave.

He chuckled. "Don't get me started." He warned drawing into the parking lot. "If I do, you'd be sitting there naked and I'm sure you're not ready for that." He promised coming out.

I gapped at him. "No," I said flabbergasted as he opened the door.

He smirked darkly. "You don't know me do you?" he said.

My mouth hung open. "You would?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Ah Sakura, we would never make it to school. But, I can control myself, even though you're sure to make it quite a task today." He said taking my hand and pulling me out of the car. I laughed at him and grabbed my back. "Oh no, now you're just being mean. You are not bending directly in front of me sakura so I can see your ass."

My body shot up like he'd slap me in the face. I jumped around my heart in my mouth. If embarrassment could kill, I'd be dead right then and there on the spot.

"No!"

He glared. "Seriously."

"It's that short!?" I freaked.

Ino was going to destroy me today. She was going to ruin my already messed up life. I tugged down the dress but it was so stuck to me and the fabric wouldn't come down anymore. The color drained from my face. I couldn't wear this! Panic rose in my chest. If I had known it was this short…I felt nauseated all of a sudden.

Sasuke closed the door and grabbed my hands. "Relax," he cooed, pressing my against his car, "I like it short." He said his voice like ice over my skin.

I looked up at him my breath hitching at the tight top of the dress. Oh god. I was embarrassed to admit this but Changling had told me, when you admit things to yourself, you don't have to admit it to anyone else. Still, even now I was ashamed of it but I wondered if Sasuke ever knew how he affected me. I wondered if he knew the dirty thoughts that plagued my mind when he got this close. Thoughts, I was embarrassed to think about, ashamed to even admit I could conjure or even want. I was scared of these thoughts too and the alien feeling that rushed through my veins where he came so close with his warmth, his voice like silk that ran over me and touch I never knew could even exist. I wondered if he understood that I was still a teen girl and I felt the same things as any other.

My heart raced and my breathing increased. He smirked and it was almost like we weren't in the parking lot anymore. He smirked over my lips before he kissed me.

"Let's go." He said taking my hand and pulling me with him.

I looked at my shoes shyly as I walked. I focused on calming my breathing down. Public affection had always been so… public. Yes I know that's why it's called public affection but still. People just watched with eyes like lasers I hardly understood how they even did it.

Everyone had on costumes and I could hardly recognize the school. It had been transformed dramatically over night I had trouble believing it. The amount of money I knew it cost the school to do this. Cobwebs were everywhere, pumpkins and skeletons. The lights in the halls were greens and reds and some halls were almost pitch back. And Ino was right. The costumes that they were all wearing were out of this world, some girls literally had on bras, underwear and feathers saying they were show girls. How could the school allow this? Were they that rich?

People stared at Sasuke and I as we walked to class, meeting up with Naruto who was dressed as a pimp on the way. I couldn't help but laugh at him in his yellow leather pants, green and orange Boogie shirt, purple leather cape-like coat, red top hat and cane. Not to mention his rings and the big chain that said PIMP that dangled around his neck. Sometimes I forget that he was so rich he could afford to waste money.

"You like it right?" he grinned. "You look hot. I've never seen you like this before; I don't know how to react to it." He said.

I could feel myself turning red. "I don't know how to react to it either." I admitted.

"Let me guess, Ino dressed you?"

I flushed. "It's not too short is it?" I asked self-consciously tugging it down.

"Have you seen the costumes around here? Yours is so long you could be getting married compared to them." He said. "Coming to the dance?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, it wouldn't hurt. Who're you going with?"

He grinned. "I asked Hinata last night. She said yes."

"I knew you liked her! I knew it!" I gloated before I could stop myself. "Oh did I know it."

"Liar! You didn't know a thing!"

"Of course I did. I just knew it. I saw the way you looked at her in the meeting. How cute and romantic." I said conjuring hearts in my eyes.

"What's so cute?"

I turned and my face contorted all too quickly. They were making it very easy to bring the sunshine today and I wished they knew how much on the inside I was thanking them for that. I bit my lips, my eyes watering, my cheeks puffing out as I dared not to laugh at Neji. I knew if laughed I wouldn't hear the end of it. Naruto was already laughing like a maniac beside me and I looked at Sasuke, my face turning red as I laughed on the inside. Sasuke bit his lips and was looking everywhere except at Neji who was dressed as –in my opinion- either a homeless person or a Hippie on crack.

Ino was right. This should be interesting.

"Laugh. I dare you Sakura. I dare you. This was not my idea." He said in a hard tone.

The laughter came out like a gust of wind without my consent. My hands flew to my stomach as I leaned into Naruto, the laughter simply killing me. I tried to catch my breath.

"His hair!" Naruto laughed.

"I know!" I laughed. Laughter was good for the soul, the best medicine.

Tears left my eyes as stomach cramps raged but the laughter wouldn't stop. What was he wearing? I had never pictured him as this kind of person; he seemed so much like Sasuke that I half expected him not to be in costume. I hadn't expected this as I stared at him.

"No, you…you look great." I smiled.

"Hey, come on guys, not nice. I think he looks handsome." Ino said grinning. "If I wasn't in a thing with Shikamaru, I think we could have arranged something Neji. I love this look on you, it suits you well."

Naruto and I looked at each other again before the laughter started again.

"Neji," I sniffled and smiled. "Nice." I said.

He rolled his eyes. "I can't believe you laughed."

"It wasn't on purpose I swear." I smiled. "I like it."

"Me too bro," Naruto said slapping Neji on the back, "the look suites you. It speaks to me."

At my class door I saw Tenten who was dressed as a girl scout. She waved and I waved back. I hated that we weren't in the same class. The school wasn't in the zone for learning today and Ino had insisted that I did not take any books to school. I now understood why. Everyone was making a fuss over their costumes, talking to each other and taking mountains of pictures. I took a seat and Sasuke smirked.

"Yeah…it is that short." He said answering my question from earlier this morning.

I flushed. "Really!?"

"No, I'm just fucking with you." he smirked.

Shikamaru walked in dressed exceptionally like a homeless person with a piece of cardboard hanging around his neck that said 'I GIVE HEAD FOR CANDY'. I gapped at him, almost mortified. Ino erupted in boisterous laughter and whipped out a chocolate bar from her bag. Halloween and all she brought the goods everywhere.

"Bitch you better get cracking with me tonight!" she said triumphantly.

I couldn't stifle the laugh, it was impossible as Shikamaru looked at Ino like she was a monster. He gripped the cardboard.

"Oh god no," he dreaded looking at me, "Sakura, save me."

"Oh no, you're on your own." I said turning my head, not about to get into their melodramatic escapade.

"Mhm," Ino mumbled, "I have three candy bars, that's three days honey. I'd advise you get the coffee from now because we shall be going very hard." she teased.

With the amount of things happening and all the thoughts plaguing me, even though I didn't deserve it, I enjoyed having it all be pushed to the back of my mind. Sunshine and rainbows were being brought, despite the disaster that was our lives.

The feeling of having friends to laugh with and talk to was the best feeling in this entire world. I didn't know it was possible to feel this happy and this complete. It was beautiful to laugh with these people who laughed with me, to love these people who I knew cared for me and to trust these people who trusted me. We're friends, so close even though we'd only known each other for such a short time. It felt like we've known each other for the longest of time, as if we were all searching for each other and we finally all met up at the same place in the same zone. It was amazing.

I glanced at the door to see Hinata and Tenten walking in. Hinata was dressed as a Hindu woman and she looked gorgeous. Her eyes seemed too serene with the red dot in her forehead and if I looked into them too long, I got that chill but she was beautiful. Like a goddess.

"Hinata!" Naruto roared. "My date for the night."

Her cheeks beamed reds as she sat on Naruto's desk. "Naruto, you don't have to let the world know." she said slowly trying not to stutter.

I was still slightly expecting a teacher to come to our classes and teach because this was still a school but no one came. I supposed Ino was right –as usual. I don't really think I did understand this school and I was starting to think I was having a misconception. At my old school, Halloween was treated like any regular day, we went to classes and we still learnt. The only privilege the school could afford was a dance which I never attended and the opportunity to wear costumes.

Unlike this school, the cafeteria was never transformed and the only place that got slightly moderate decorations would be the auditorium for the school dances and sometimes the basketball inside court. Kanoha High was far more…elaborate in the celebration and the student council seemed quite adamant about the entire affair. The halls were decorated, the cafeteria, the auditorium was under 'Halloween construction' and the inside basketball court was being used as a Halloween display. This was all very alien to me and when I sat down at our lunch table I had to admire the work the school had done.

I knew this was a well upstanding school, I knew the price for attendance wasn't cheap and I knew getting in was even harder. I just hadn't expected them to go all out and no matter how many times Ino told me how this place worked, it was still taking a very long time sink in.

Tenten had made food for her son and all the other's at his day care and had decided to bring food for us too. Sometimes I forgot that she had a life that I knew nothing about, went home to a different environment entirely. Sometimes I forgot what she'd been through and how far she had come and sometimes I forgot that she was a mother. She had brought and array of things but I only took two apples and before I could even sink my teeth into it properly, Sasuke had it in his hand taking a bite.

"For someone who doesn't like human food, you tend to eat out mine a lot." I grumbled.

He looked at me with his gorgeous twinkling eyes. "Be happy I haven't eaten the entire thing. I'm conscious to leave you half." He said placing the now half eaten apple in my hand.

"You're far too kind." I said sarcastically.

"Don't take it for granted."

"Tenten, where are the cookies?" Hinata asked her voice like a gust of wind.

I smiled. She was sitting with us today and I very much liked that. I had thought it would have been a complete disaster, what with two emotionally unstable people sitting around a haywire Empath but we were both keeping ourselves in check. Hinata shouldn't sit alone, it wasn't fair and we had insisted that she sat with us today. Of course Ino was nervous about it but after a while, when nothing happened she decided that it couldn't hurt.

Tenten looked around. "What cookies?" she asked innocently. Hinata grabbed the back pack. "Hinata, put down the bag and no one gets hurt." Tenten said calmly. "Just put it down nice and easy."

Tenten fought to grab the bag from Hinata who was holding it out of her reach. She looked at Tenten with a mocking eye brow. Hinata glanced at me expectantly. I tried not to smile when I realized that without some help, Hinata couldn't get them out. The backpack opened slightly and I could see the cookies.

"Tenten, stop fighting and give up the cookies. This is a sharing table and you must understand that you simply cannot have them all to yourself." Hinata said in a motherly tone. "Now, I would appreciate it if you would stop fighting for them."

"Girl I'm about to snap your damn neck if you don't give me that bag," Tenten warned.

"Since Hinata makes a solid point." I reasoned leaning over the table and snatching the zip lock bag from the back pack in Hinata's hand.

I gingerly inspected the bag along with its contents and deemed the cookies, Cookie Worthy. Truth is, I wasn't supposed to eat cookies but I haven't had one in such a long time that eating one now couldn't possibly hurt. I was allowed one on Halloween, at least.

"Sakura, I will cut you if you dare take a cookie from that bag." Tenten promised.

It didn't matter what Tenten said because before I could even open the bag, Sasuke was already popping a cookie into his mouth. What was wrong with him and eating whatever I had? I just couldn't understand it. He crumbled his face and spit it back out.

"This is terrible."

"What? That's impossible. I didn't go through that entire struggle a bad tasting cookie. Give me that." Hinata said stunned snatching the half eaten cookie from his hand. Silence feel around the table as everyone watched her face. "Sasuke, what are you talking about? This could be classified as the best chocolate chip cookie I've ever had. Almost." She teased.

"I swear, I'll never do this again." Tenten said. "This is ridiculous, how can you just steal my cookies and look at me without remorse? If anything, I should have poisoned it."

"Now that's not nice." I said.

"Exactly and then we couldn't go to the dance." Ino said taking a bite out of my apple. There you go; I lost an entire apple to these vicious beasts. I eyed my second apple. "And that would suck."

If I just ate it as fast as possible, I would be able to eat it all. I took one bit and Sasuke took another without even batting an eyelash. I was starting to wonder if it was a thing for him to take a chunk of an apple any time I ended up getting one. I slumped. I could never win. I settled for two more bites because the wonderful Ino Yamanaka seized the rest.

"Would it though?" Tenten asked. "It's just a dance."

"No, it's the dance and we have to go. It's going to be fun. Look at this, are you telling me we're not having fun already? We are. Boom! Listening to me means having a good time." she said praising herself like she always did.

"Does everyone have a date?" I asked aimlessly. Cheeks flushed all around me and I raised an eye brow. "Oh. So it's like that huh?"

They laughed. "I guess so," Neji said, speaking for what felt like the first time at the table. "Naruto must have the most dates."

People –me included- hadn't failed to notice the fact that they weren't talking to each other and if they were, it was when no one else was around. Neji didn't acknowledge her and she didn't hesitate to ignore him either. It wasn't my place to prey, I didn't really think Tenten and I were such friends yet as hard as it was to believe. She had divulged many things to me when we first met but since that day, everything was kept closed in her life. I didn't feel like it was my place to ask about it.

"Right," Shikamaru agreed giving Neji a high five. "He's the pimp at the table."

"Don't hate the player, hate the game." He said trying to 'pop his collar' and failing miserably at it.

"Are you guys performing at the dance?" Tenten asked nonchalantly as if Neji hadn't spoken.

I wished so badly that Tenten would talk to someone about what was going on because I knew it was eating her away. I wasn't a shrink or anything but I knew it was a past complex she was experiencing and that it was because of all she'd been through that made this hard for her. However, she was going through something and she needed to talk to someone because if she didn't, things really wouldn't change much and I knew she wanted something to happen between her and Neji. I wanted to help her but I didn't want to cross the yellow line I was standing behind.

Sasuke shrugged. "They asked. We didn't give a definite answer. I'm sure they have a plan B."

"You should perform though," Ino said, "it would be pretty sweet." She commented. "Oh and Sasuke, Sakura's going to be at my house getting ready. You're going to have to pick her up there."

"Which reminds me, why are you at Ino's place?" he asked me.

I smiled. He wasn't going to like my answer. "Rin is out." I said.

He looked at me, that look that told me he knew I was hiding something. Sometimes it wasn't convenient that we had that kind of connection and understanding of each other. Just looking at my face he knew I was holding back and just looking into his eyes, I knew that he knew.

"Out where?"

"She's spending the weekend at Sakura's father's house." Ino replied. "Don't get pissed off, I can't really handle negative vibes right now." she warned.

He looked at me with that penalizing gaze. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't feel it was important, not yet." I said honestly.

I didn't think it was. I didn't think it would be important until she came back and she declared the verdict about the man he was now. I did believe he could change. Our relationship was complicated but I did believe he could change. Everybody could. Change was a choice. People couldn't change if they didn't want to and if Rin told me he changed when she came back, I would believe her. I wanted to forgive him and I was ashamed to admit this but I was desperate for the relationship we once had. I wanted to know that he didn't hate me so badly it wasn't even funny.

Even if I did think it was important, honestly I still wouldn't have told him. I was already a problem and he already had so much dealing with that this would just be another thing about me to worry about. Just for once, I wanted to have good things to say about what was going on, lots of good news for real and I didn't want to weigh him down with more things like this. I didn't want to tell him because he already had so much on his plate. I already knew he tried to hide it and he was doing pretty well but I knew everything wasn't okay. I knew he was stressed out, I knew he was anxious and I knew he couldn't deal with anymore dramatic blows right now. Everyone had a limit and he was no exception.

He needed this good day more than anyone else at the table. He'd earned it and I was going to make sure as his girlfriend I gave him that, no matter what the cost would be. That was the whole point of me doing all of this for Ino and for him. That was the whole point of today being a Sunshine and Laughter day.

I slumped. "Don't look at me like that." I said.

"Like what?"

"Like that." I said.

"Fine. I'll pick you up at eight, no problem. If I'm late don't worry."

I shot him a glance. Case in point. I looked at him and dread washed over me. What was he going to do now? Sometimes it was hard to even stomach the thoughts that raged through my head. I knew there was a dark side to him he couldn't bear to show me. I couldn't deny that, even with how much of a good person he was. I didn't want him doing dangerous things and there was no way I could not worry. Anything could happen to him and he did things that even now I still won't know about. However I understood that he had things to do and sometimes, it was best not to tell me about it. I knew that if I didn't exist he wouldn't be so stressed and wouldn't have so many things on his mind. For some reason and I guess this was due to things that existed between us, but I knew that whatever he was going to do had something with me.

"What are you going to do?" I asked even though I knew he wouldn't answer.

I frowned. Of course I never got the answers out of him even when I answered all his questions. How unfair was that?

"Don't do your face like that, you look less sexy." He smirked.

"Not nice." I said rolling my eyes.

"See, I told you." Ino said. "He wants you bad."

"Alright no, just…no." Sasuke said holding his hand up. "Stop right there Ino. We are not talking about this."

"And why not?" Ino demanded with a raised eyebrow and a vindictive smile as if she was about to reveal something treacherous. Oh No. "What? You think I don't know you want to get up in those lace panties of hers?"

I almost died. I was insanely close to death in that moment. What was Ino doing?! Naruto and Neji choked on their juice, Hinata stopped mid-chew of a cookie and Tenten just gapped at her like a fish out of water like I did.

"Good Lord." Shikamaru chuckled. "She has nothing called tack. Nothing."

Ino shrugged. "What? Like hello, I'm feeling the vibes here. Please, keep thinking I don't know. Both of you. And you wonder why I'm horny all the damn time, it's not always Shikamaru just so you know- no offence Babe. You need to drop to fucking second base already because it's killing me here." she said matter-of-factly. "I mean, Sakura I love you and all but allowing a little grouping –not sex because that would make me a bad friend and I would be pissed at you if you did that and I'd probably try to kill you- but a little grouping wouldn't hurt anyone."

"Alright I think that's enough." Naruto said coughing. "Sakura looks like she might pass out."

Sasuke pushed my jaw up, closing my mouth that had been hanging open. Today was very interesting as embarrassment killed me. How could Ino be so frank and brave about everything? She didn't know the meaning of fear or shame. She was so confident and powerful, like she could even defy nature. She smiled. I blew out a long breath. Wow. What a change in topic. I didn't know how to react, I could barely admit these things to myself.

"Sorry. My tongue got loose," she laughed.

I shook my head sadly but I really couldn't say anything to her now could I? This was just who she was. After spending so much time with her, I was surprised by her antics but I was also used to them. She was the talkative one who had always had a problem with keeping her beliefs and opinions to herself. I ran my fingers through my head and Ino smiled. I watched as something evil brewed in her eyes.

"Not cool," Naruto mumbled.

"Alright let me get this straight, am I under the misconception that we're all friends who can trust each other? Because I don't think I am the only one seeing that we're in a whole bunch of shit and will be in even more shit if Shikamaru is right and we're basically all screwed. I hope you guys don't believe that because I talk about Halloween that I don't understand the situation." she said seriously.

"You're not wrong." Neji said.

"Then hey, why keep secrets that aren't really secrets? Besides, let's not all pretend that because of how Sakura is, that she's not just like me. Because she is. On the inside. Every teen is like me on the inside and if they're not, a girl wild like me lives inside of them somewhere. Fact."

"I am not like you." I said flabbergasted. "How can you even say that?" I laughed

Ino grinned. "Sakura don't let me start popping some bubbles here,"

I stared at her. "You wouldn't, ever, say anything. That was nothing and it was like…once. Like really? That doesn't make me like you."

She tipped her head back and laughed, her hair swinging like a separate entity behind her. Her eyes twinkled and her grin widened. She was relentless.

"I take it this is where I ask: what was one time?" Sasuke asked curiously.

My cheeks got hot like red peppers. Ino wouldn't dare tell him would she? Of course not but then I saw her mouth opened and again embarrassment killed me right there.

"So when we were kids we use to take these dance classes. I convinced her it was exercise for us to get her to join me. Sakura was spending a week with me when we were fourteen and this lady who Midnight as a stripper was 'babysitting' us. She was pretty cool. Of course my parents didn't know her backdoor profession, no shit. Let's just say, Sakura has more moves than I do." she said taking a swing from her water, spreading wide red lips to show pearly white teeth.

"No way." Naruto said choking.

"Oh that's a lie, right Sakura?" Tenten asked.

I sat there and stared paled face at the table. I wished the world would open up and swallow me. If this was going to continue, I couldn't face the rest of the day. I wasn't equipped for it, not if Ino was going to divulge all these embarrassing things. There is a level of familiarity and comfort within our friendship. There was a level of nakedness between us that…being me was so much easier with her.

That was… Ino was the one who forced me to dance and it was just us girls. We weren't dancing with or for anyone and we had stupid music playing and Keeli was teaching us how to 'seduce' and how to 'be sexy in our hips' and it was such good girl time. I was fourteen and being chaperoned by Moonlight stripped and Dominatrix, that was enough reason and she insisted on teaching us and honestly, it had been a whole lot of fun. Of course I've never done those moves in front of anyone. She had bucked the music, closed the shutters and well…you know how she is. It wasn't a talent or anything and I would have never told anyone about that either. I wasn't even healthy enough to do anything.

"It was all innocent fun." I mumbled.

Sasuke chuckled. "I never knew this." he said.

"Alright, alright, that's enough. Sakura can't take the embarrassment, Ino you're killing her." Neji said smirking. "But maybe that's what she gets for laughing at me his morning."

I tangled my hands in my hair and the embarrassment only grew inside of them. I felt even more exposed than before; even more naked. I ripped open the chocolate bar I had sneakily taken from Tenten and took a bite. Before I could take another bite the bar was gone. I gapped at my empty hand. I slumped. I looked up to see Sasuke passing the bar to Naruto.

"Here, she's not supposed to eat this."

"What? Just one more bite, it's not going to kill me." I frowned.

He cut a glance my way. "How do I know that? I feel like I don't know you anymore. You dance now?"

I laughed. "Oh that was so low, even for you Sasuke." I said slinking my arm around his wonderfully comfortable and strong frame, placing my head on his chest.

Who would have thought that a day would come when I ever did something like this? A day when I could be so comfortable with another person that wasn't Ino to invade their personal space without even a thought? Who would have thought that I would have friends and wear costumes and decide to go to dances? I never thought I would get here. I never thought I would have someone…someone like this. His arm fell around my shoulder keeping me squished against him and I felt my heart explode. This is what being cared for felt like.

The lunch went on and the day seemed to have ended faster than I thought it would have. I tried my hardest not to think about all the things that happened over the week. It was only the end of October, almost no time had passed yet it felt like everything had changed over a very long period of time.

I sat outside in the parking lot on Sasuke's car as we waited for Ino to emerge from wherever she'd ran off to after school. It was hard for me to sometimes really understand that he actually and genuinely cared about me as he stood in front of me, hands on my waist talking to me. He talked to me, like actually talked to me. Sure he didn't say a lot most of the times, he actually said very little and brushed of most of my questions but he talked to me more than anyone else. He slid between my legs and I rested my head on his chest and mumbled in response. We didn't talk about the obvious situation and I personally didn't want to talk about it much either. I was happy to not have to think about it.

Ino had to practically drag me out of his hold to get me in her car when she returned. He promised to pick me up and not to think he stood me up if he was late. I got in the car and decided I had nothing to worry about. I trusted him; he'd take of himself, right? Today had been good so far and the ultimate test now was to make sure he enjoyed his time at the dance. Dangit! I wanted him to be happy! Today has to go well.

"Would you stop freaking out like a nerd already?" Ino asked coming out of her shower as I lay on her bed. She sighed and used her towel to towel dry her hair and now she was naked. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not freaking out."

"Oh yes you are." Ino said. "Relax a little. Everything will be fine and whatever." She took a seat around her little 'beauty station' and started examining her face. "Today was a good day."

She looked at her face from every possible angle there was, stretching her cheeks, pulling up her eyebrows, inspecting her teeth and her neck. She examined her tongue, her lower chin and her hair line.

"Do you like this Ino?" I asked softly.

She turned to me in her chair. "Huh, what'd you say?"

"Do you like this?"

"Like what?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

I waved my hand around. "All this."

She turned to her mirror and started to comb out her wet hair with a large comb. "Of course I like all this. Why wouldn't I? Mundane lives are for losers and we're not losers. This is…weird, I have to give it that but I wouldn't have it any other way. This gives me a story to tell."

"But aren't you worried?"

"Sakura, of course I am, what kind of question is that? But I mean, what the hell are we going to do? It's not like we can just turn around and walk out on it. This is slowly becoming our lives now, there isn't much we can do but accept it. And I mean, really, it isn't that bad. It's hard and I know shit only gets worse for me and whatever is going on but we just have to woman up and deal with it." she said matter of factly.

"I just don't know what to do anymore." I sighed.

"That's because there isn't anything you should being doing except taking care of yourself. Really, that's it. You worry too much, take it from me." she said soothingly.

"Ino, this can only get uglier and it's-"

"We've only been here two months. It feels like much longer than that but when you check out, that's basically it. There isn't anything we can do and we can't just stop living our lives because of this and sit around waiting for the big KABOOM, whatever that's supposed to be. Let's just try to have a good night and make good memories for a change. It's about time we started doing that." Ino reasoned.

"I'm just not sure about this dance."

"I know that, it's your first dance ever, of course you're going to be nervous but you know it'll be alright. Stop freaking out, you'll get worry lines and that's not attractive." She said lightly. "Now, it's going to take us a while to get ready, we have to eat and I've got some changes to make to your dress. Go shower." She instructed.

"What changes?"

"Accessibility changes." Ino teased. "Sakura, this is going to be a great dance. You're going to have a good time. Sasuke is going to have a good time and well, it'll be the shit." Ino reasoned. "Shower, like right now."

~O~

Sakura smiled the satisfaction swelling in her like never before. She wasn't putting much effort into this but at the same time she was. She ignored all the stares, all the chatter and alienation from the rest of the school. They were never one and the same to begin with, their disgust and their pity she refused to notice and she was not going to fail tonight.

He didn't tell her that he was having a good time but he didn't have to. She could feel it and she knew him enough to know that he didn't really like when she was able to tap into him like that. Yet, here she was and with such ease able to identify it.

She hadn't been to a dance before and this was her first time and she had to admit it wasn't as bad as she thought it would have been –even with the hate and everything else. The music was loud, the costumes were extensive, the auditorium had been wonderfully decorated and people were laughing, dancing and drinking. She could see couples in corners all cuddling and talking, kissing and showing affection and never had Sakura thought that she would be one of them. Tonight she was.

They had retired to a corner near the back of the room where the neon lights neglected to flash, enveloped in each other's company. They had been with the group but Ino went to dance with Shikamaru in her glorious hotness and confidence, pulling envy out of every woman who saw her with the famous and well known Shikamaru. She simply devoured the attention.

Naruto and Hinata had 'vanished' almost half an hour ago and no one intended to go and look for them. Sakura didn't want to assume what was going on; she wasn't that kind of person. Awkwardly Tenten had excused herself and no one had seen her return just yet and Sakura was starting to assume that she didn't feel comfortable. She wanted to go and check on her however, Sasuke refused to let her go anywhere. Her place was now in the corner he had said and she wasn't allowed to go anywhere else.

Neji had brought a date, it wasn't as if it was a hard thing to get considering every girl in all of Konoha and then some would die to have him breathe on them. He didn't really loiter around them for most of the night and she assumed it was out of respect for Tenten and he didn't want to make things award or make her feel bad.

"That's not the problem." His eyes danced and twinkled in starlight darkness.

"Oh? Then what could possibly be the issue?"

His eyes darkened. "Are you sure you want to go there?"

"I just want to know what you're getting at is all."

His hand slid up the rip of her dress. "There is this." his hand bucked at the end of her panty hose, his fingers snaking around the claps that held her underwear and the stockings together and she looked down at his hand almost hypnotized. Where his flesh touched hers felt hot, as if he was setting her skin on fire. His other hand sank down in the dip of her neck line. "There is also this. I didn't know you had so much…of a handful." he said.

"This is hardly my fault." She flushed, her cheek burning hot, blood draining from her head making her light headed. From his simple touch she'd already started trembling and panicking. She felt like her knees would give out. Did he know how he affected her?

He leaned back and slumped. "Have some mercy on my poor soul is all I'm asking. Never let her dress you again. I can hardly deal with this and you're so damn beautiful as it is without this."

"I think if you thought I was hideous it would defeat the whole laws of attraction." She pointed out.

"Don't get smart." He said casting seductive orbs her way. They were trapped in their own bubble, not music no lights…just them. "You make want to do things," he said.

She raised an eyebrow. "Me?" She asked innocently.

She watched Sasuke's eyes turn to slits and his tongue run over his teeth very slowly before tucking in the pocket of his jaw. The simple movement seemed so seductive and erotic that Sakura's eyes followed every single movement. His hands smoothed around her waist to her back before cupping her ass and tugging her to him. She squeaked but he didn't even budge or make any attempts to let her go.

"Don't. Tempt. Me." His voice like wind snaked around her ears as he spoke, his mouth dangerously close to her neck.

Her hands pressed against his chest and her head swayed. She took deep sharp breath, trying to calm herself but she couldn't. She dared look up at him and he was looking at her with challenge. She pressed her lips together but smiled anyways.

"I won't let you intimidate me." She said her voice wavering.

"No?"

"No." She said.

A feather kiss planted on her neck and she shivered. "There are many ways I can intimidate you." he said trailing the kisses higher. He felt her knees tremble and he smiled over her flesh. He leaned back and smiled. It was a real smile, a full blown out smile. "But I won't do that." he said.

She laughed. "You're going let me win this time?"

He nodded. "Just this once. It's only fair, I know it's hard to resist my charm." He said.

"Good and as the winner, I earn a bathroom break."

He released her. "By all means." He said.

She laughed and every minute she looked back as him as she left the noisy auditorium and went to the bathroom.

Sakura looked at her oily face in the girl's bathroom. She was grinning from ear to ear and she just couldn't stop it. Tonight had her more nervous than any other point throughout the day. He was having a good time; she knew it and she could feel it and she couldn't even explain how happy that was making her. She didn't think it was fair for him to have so much on his plate yet no time to enjoy the little things. She'd never been this relaxed with him before either she had to admit that she was having one of the most amazing times. She'd never been this comfortable with him before, never this at ease and she wondered if he noticed.

The school knew how to have a dance; she had to admit it for it was exceeding all her expectations. She might not understand a lot of things about the school or see the point of wearing costumes to school and then to the dance, but she saw the point of the fun. Her first time at a dance wasn't as bad as she thought it would have been.

Given the series of past events, people seemed to have 'sympathized' with her and of course, she wouldn't let anyone to know how much she hated that. It was just that most of the girls seemed to have left her alone for a while. That was a good thing but what they were saying behind her back, well that was another story. Of course they all thought Sasuke was with her out of pity and maybe he was, she didn't know but if he was, he was doing her a favor.

She turned on the tap and opened the clutch purse Ino had loaned her. She quickly took her medication and washed her hands. There were so many things going on in their lives that seemed forgotten. Her resolve was strong and unshaken, even if it meant doing it by her cells alone, she was going to ensure that Sasuke had a night like no other and she was doing a great job so far. It seemed impossible to repay him for all he'd done for her so far yet she was trying to find some way to do it. As short a time as it had been, she felt like it had been so much longer.

She let out a sigh and headed to the door when it opened and the devil herself walked in. She was dressed as an Angel, go figure with a crooked halo attached to her head. She smiled with Hanabi and the unknown girl falling in behind her, also dressed as angels.

"Sakura, funny seeing you in here." Tami said her voice a string of darkness. The alluring kind.

She couldn't deny that Tami was gorgeous, even with her nose too straight, she was beautiful but Sakura wasn't happy to see her. She had a plan to carry out and she didn't want to face Tami now.

Hanabi turned and locked the bathroom door. "You know, I almost felt sorry for you but then I realized that was your plan all along. What a card to play. Wouldn't you agree Tami?" she asked.

"Of course I agree and after much consultation with myself, I've figured it all out." she said stepping towards Sakura with intent. "You thought I forgot about you didn't you? I know I've led you to believe that I accept breakups silently and that I will hate you from a far but I'm not that kind of girl. I'm not over you taking my boyfriend but the events have enlightened me. See, I know Sasuke is with you out of pity. I know because believe it or not, he has a little heart. However, we both know that pity doesn't last long now don't we?" she asked.

Sakura stepped back. "I don't know what you're talking about." she said.

Tami laughed. "Of course not because you don't know shit. You're just a bimbo slut; I don't expect you to know much. Let me make it as clear as possible, so even you can understand. I will wipe you off the face of this planet in due time, sleep with your eyes open because you've never met a girl like me. I don't take kindly to others taking what doesn't belong to them and Sasuke doesn't belong to you. He belongs to me and what is mine is mine. You will be out of the picture soon."

"And out of the lives and memories of anyone who has wasted their precious time knowing you." Hanabi said smiling. "Bitches like you never get very far."

"Exactly." Tami said nonchalantly leaning on the sink. "I'm trying to be as kind as possible about this to prevent things from getting dirty. Really I'm doing you a favor here and all I'm asking you to is kindly to leave Sasuke alone. Just leave him be, have a conscience and go home tonight. He's not supposed to be here with you as it is. You don't go well with him, I see it, you see it and well honey, everyone else sees it. You're trash and trash doesn't go well with gold I'm afraid." She said looking at her perfectly manicured nails.

"There's a back exit, take it and get the fuck out of here." The other girl finally said. "We don't want you here."

"Or things will get pretty ugly for you." Tami said. "You don't want me as an enemy."

Sakura took a deep breath. If she wasn't so hell bent on this or so determined, she would have tried to comply with them but she just simply couldn't. That would spoil his night and she wouldn't do such a thing. She just could not so such a thing. That would defeat the sole purpose of tonight and the quest she was walking with. This was far more important to her than any consequence that would come her way. She swallowed.

"I can't leave." She said kindly.

Tami looked at her incredulously. "I'm sorry, what was that? I think I went delusional and you said the unfathomable."

"I cannot leave." Sakura repeated.

Tami pushed herself off the sink and backed Sakura into a stall door. "I'm not fucking asking you to leave this damn dance, I'm telling you. I don't care what you want to do, you are going to leave or I'll make you wish you had." she sneered.

"I'm not leaving." Sakura said again.

Of course Sakura was trembling on the inside; tearing apart at the seams but someone once told her that courage wasn't the absence of fear. She just refused to let this night go down the drain. She was not going to be a burden to Sasuke tonight, she wasn't going to have him fret and worry about her. She was tired of her sickness ruining everything, tired of having him take care of her and rush her to the hospital and she was sick and tired of knowing that every minute he worried about her and didn't have a second of his own to breathe. Tonight was going to be free, cool and smooth. She wasn't going to give him anything to worry about. She would not do it.

Tami laughed. "You know I did my nails today." She said to no one in particular.

"Tami, don't. Not tonight." The other girl said.

Tami sneered. "Shut up." she said sharply. "Since you're used to this kind of treatment, I think it's what you like. That's why I don't feel sorry for you." She said grabbing Sakura by her hair and chucking her into the bathroom sink.

Tami's gold stiletto slammed into Sakura's stomach so hard Sakura's body hit the floor with an audible thud. Tami was raging and screaming but with Tami's foot slamming into her chest and into her abdomen with so much force, Sakura could hear absolutely nothing else. A hand vengefully grabbed her by the hair and dragged her across the floor, Sakura's retaliation not enough due to the pain coursing through her stomach. Getting on her knees Tami gripped Sakura by the throat.

"I don't think he hit you hard enough when you were a kid. You will leave Sasuke alone." She said slamming Sakura's head against the wall. She made a kiss sound when blood splattered from Sakura's mouth. "If you won't leave him Sakura, bet your slutty ass I'll make sure he leaves you." She rose and laughed. "You don't look too good. I think you should go to the hospital." She said.

"Oh, would you like us to get Sasuke for you?" Hanabi asked. "Such a shame, all you do is ruin his fun." She laughed.

"Well, we'll just leave you to decide the course of action you'll take." Tami said. "I just love your costume. It would look way cuter on me though," She sneered unlocking the door and sauntering out.

Sakura gasped and groaned, her eyes welling with tears unshed. Taking a deep breath she gripped the bathroom sink and dragged herself to her feet, ignoring the burning pain in her stomach. She swallowed and her chest burnt before she coughed, vomiting all the food she'd eaten throughout the day. Her elbows rested on the sink, hands shaking as she puked, watery liquid coming out. Such a waste to know everything she ate was finding its way out the same way it came. The asthma started to sneak out but Sakura was quick as she bent and pulled the pum from her purse without even taking the pump up. Vomiting tired her but Sakura washed out her mouth and looked at herself in the mirror.

She shook her head. No. she wasn't going to let Tami win, not tonight. Sakura gritted her teeth and snatched her clutch from the floor. She fixed her makeup, fixed her hair and her costume and pressed her lips into a hard line. She was going to give Sasuke a good night even if it fucking killed her. She swore down to her core that nothing was going to ruin this night. Her eyes darkened to a hot, viscous green with the center an electric pink with determination. Sakura –pain slicing her like never before- walked out of that bathroom like nothing happened. Tami was not going to win tonight. I'm walking out on Sasuke's arm tonight even if it kills me. She said making her way to the auditorium.

Sasuke was standing at the entrance to the auditorium. "I thought you left me." he said.

She smiled radiantly. Somewhere she didn't feel like herself. "I considered eloping with the janitor but then I changed my mind." She said wrapping her hand around his arm. "I couldn't bear to leave you."

"It's the beauty of my face, isn't it?"

"Why yes it is. You're just so handsome," she laughed.

He smirked. "Oh stop it; you're going to make me blush." He said as he pushed the doors open and the entered into the party once more. Sasuke leaned into the ears, "I think you've rendered every woman here jealous tonight." He said.

She smacked her lips and smirked. "I haven't given them anything to be jealous about but tonight, I'm okay with that." she said softly.

"We haven't given them anything to be jealous about?" he inquired.

"I don't think we have." Sakura said walked with him through the dance floor.

"How about we fix that?" he whispered tugging her body to his, onyx eyes dancing.

Sakura laugh, partly because his stubble action sent pain racing through her lower body and she didn't want to him to notice. "You are having a good time aren't you?"

"I most certainly am." He said his voice ashy as his lips hovered above hers. "How about you make the last move?"

"Why should I?"

"Well let's see," he said rolling his eyes to the ceiling, "you've never kissed me before."

Sakura we're not making this girl win.

Sakura's eyes darted around the dance floor nervously. She wasn't a big fan of being noticed but when her eyes locked with Tami's some demon in her hit against her body with rage.

Do it!

Their lips touched. Heaven sent.

Well guys, there you have it. Another chapter added to the story and you realize that for the first time, Sakura's 'Inner' took control of her body twice in one night? Have you guys realized that? The pieces of the puzzle guys are being put together at this point so stick with me.

PS: SMILE AND LAUGH. IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW HARD THEY HIT YOU BUT ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES YOU GET UP AFTERWARDS. IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING SCARED, IT'S ABOUT BEING AFRAID AND DOING IT ANYWAYS. IT'S NOT ABOUT PAIN AND SADNESS BUT IT'S ABOUT THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE TO GET UP AND FACE THE WORLD EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE WORTHY AND YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

Endless Love,

D.V