AN:/I thought I was loosing my steam on this one, but after deciding that I would end it a particular way the writing came so much easier to me-I just needed to find the time. So yeah, it looks like I will be keeping this story alive for a few more chapters yet, so celebrate some for me. If I didn't get so many reviews and have so many fans telling me they loved this story I would not have come as far as I have.

Disclaimer:/As I have said before I,do not own Naruto or anything in the Naruto world, but you should know that I do own this storiy and it's plot line so please don't steal it! (© Copyright 2007 Vesper chan (FictionPress ID:562926). All rights reserved. Distribution of any kind is prohibited without the written consent of Vesper chan.) Now it is legal!

Warning/ Lots and lots of OOC in this story. There will be no one in character at all throughout this story...'cept maybe Dei kun and Naruto...nah!

Chapter Eighteen

Dolled up and Destroyed

recap

"You'll see them soon, but for now we have to get you ready for your confession."

"Yeah...wait! What confession?"

Tsunade looked like an old fox when she grinned. "When you fall in love with someone you confess those feelings. Hiding them will make no one happy especially when he has already given his own confession multiple times."

Sakura snorted. "What confession, they all come out sounding like demands." But in her mind she shook with the revelation. Holy crap I'm going to confess tonight! I want my mother!

Sakura stared at herself frowning at the woman who was no longer a girl trapped behind the glass. Tonight she was pampered and painted with too many different brushes and pads for skin and coloring it wasn't even funny. But as much as she hated it, she had to admit she looked so much better after it was over. She looked like a woman.

"Why the hell do I have to expose these feelings? I'm sure if I just keep them in long enough they'll go away. He...he's not...no, it couldn't work and I just can't." Sakura closed her eyes and sighed hopelessly upset and frustrated. Inside huge invisible hands were wrapping around her heart, trying to muffle its burning beat. In her mind she visualized a big black box and used it to stuff all her fluffy pink and white emotions in.

"I'm sorry Tsunade but I just can't do it."

Sakura turned around in the small bathroom and wished she wasn't alone. Tsunade had stepped out to answer the phone a few minutes ago and hadn't come back in to finish what was left of Sakura's hair. It was already plenty pretty and curly, but Tsunade said she wanted to do more with it.

Hesitantly, Sakura stepped out into the hallway, hearing muffled voices-or one muffled voice and something like hissing from the phone. Curiosity grew in Sakura and so she crept along the wall towards the kitchen where Tsunade argued with the person on the other end of the line.

"How can you just leave me with just that? Don't you know I-Shit, yes I understand. I know, I know you're doing all you can. No...no I'm not going to. I don't bloody care! It's my decision so suck it and deal with it Philip."

Philip was the name of the man Sakura's parents worked with. He was the map man on all their digs and was like a gold mind when it came to finding the ancient burial sites. Ever since he hooked up with Sakura's parents the work load had increased along with the profits.

Tsunade rambled on, still obviously annoyed. "Yeah yeah, whatever. I understand this is-screw it I was close too! Don't act like your the only one who is suffering here. What do you think their child is going to go through? You need to grow a pair and get me something. We need to move on with our lives. Don't call back till you have something worth hearing to say."

She was wrapping things up it sounded like, So Sakura backed up and skipped back into the bathroom before she could be spotted spying on the older woman's phone call. Something about it was settling deep in her gut, chasing away those thoughts of love for now. Sakura didn't like the new feelings but she was grateful for them just because they kept her away from that mushy love crap she couldn't be seriously considering.

"Sakura?"

The pink haired girl looked up from the brushes she was playing with. "Yes?" She was getting better at bullshitting innocence.

The older woman smiled like there was nothing but sunshine in the world, probably not suspecting anything. "I'm going downstairs for a bit to talk to the men about something real quick. I'm coming back to put the braids in your hair so don't do anything too messy. I promise I won't take long so don't be mad."

Sakura chuckled, twirling a brush before dropping in back into the cup. "I'm not mad, take your time, I don't have to be there early and the guys can go ahead of me if they want so there is no rush. Why, is something wrong?"

A quick tick up in the jaw told Sakura what Tsunade wouldn't. A little gray lie not exactly white. "Wrong? Nothing's wrong, I just need to run something by the guys, that's all. Last minuet chnges to the game plan, I'll be back in a bit!"

The woman left before Sakura could ask much more, and that was all Sakura needed to know that something was wrong. Love was chased from her mind and in place sat an ugly black helping of fear that gnawed and ate away at her confidence in monster sized mouthfuls.

Sakura turned back to look at her body in the mirror, dressed only in a nearly see though robe and slip with artfully styled hair and a face that could make a man drop dead. Her dress was waiting for her on her bed but she wasn't allowed to slip into it until her hair was finished since there would need to be some sort of hairspray for the curls that wouldn't last a half dozen hours of sweat and spotlight.

Sakura left the bathroom for her bedroom and sat down next to her dress frowning as the bed dipped under her weight. She stared at the garment for a long time, thinking and waiting till a knock hit her door. Without looking up she called out.

"Come in."

It wasn't Tsunade who walked in like Sakura' expected.

"W-what are you doig up here? I thought you were going to be with the rest of the guys downstairs."

He blushed, looking away from her dazzling form. "Sorry, I slipped away while the others were sure not to notice. They're playing more games."

"Oh..."Sakura looked down, pulling a bed sheet up to her chest for modesty. "What...what did you come up here for, Gaara?"

He looked sad or at least disappointed but tried to smile all the same and she could see that with frightening confidence. It was as if she could read it in him. "I'm sorry if I am upsetting you Sakura, but I felt that you were in some sort of pain and it hurt me and I just had to come up here to see you. I had to make sure you were alright. You don't seem well."

"I don't feel good."

His eyes widened and he took several steps towards her, falling onto his knees to grip her sides with concern for her health. "Can I get you something to eat. Maybe you are dehydrated. Have you had your water today? Not enough will give you headaches."

She laughed, shaking her head and leaning it in to touch his own. His cheeks and ears were a red blaze at their proximity. "No Gaara, no, not that kind of sick. It's... it is like something is going to go wrong tonight. I just starting feeling sick with this fear not too long ago."

"What are you afraid of. If it is any of the other men I swear to protect you with my life. I won't ever let any of them hurt you, good intentions or not!" For a while there Sakura could have sworn she heard his voice deepen and shred like that of a wild animal's. He seemed so determined to protect her it comforted her a bit.

"No, it's not for myself. My mom and dad...I think something happened to them and Tsunade it trying to keep it from me. I feel like...I don't know. I don't like it when I am kept out of the loop like this. It's driving me insane and I need to know my mom and dad are alright. They should be safe. I just sent them letters. Their voices are on the answering machine.

She hadn't notice the tear until Gaara reached up with his thumb to brush them away. More came and he leaned in, kissing them away while he frowned to himself.

His woman, his love, his reason for living was crying and suffering and there wasn't anything he could do for her to make her better. He wanted to take her fears away and hide them in himself. He wanted to suffer her sufferings in her place and make life perfect for her. He wanted to do so much but was utterly and shamefully powerless. That was something new to him and he hated it. Never before had he wanted to be a god as much as he did now. He wanted to do anything and everything for her, the woman who looked at him and his demon and saw past it. For touching him and accepting him like that... oh, she was his angel and he would be a devil in order to keep her safe and happy.

"They will be fine, I am sure, Sakura. Please don't cry."

Sakura felt his hands on her ribs shake and looked down to see his own eyes squeezed shut and moist with tears of pain. He whispered to her again, urging her not to cry and she felt stupid for worrying so much. She was hurting him with her tears.

"I'm sorry, Gaara. There's nothing anyone can do so don't feel bad."

"I wish I could help you," he whispered, dropping his head onto her shoulder. She could feel drops dampen her skin and slip. His hair tickled that parts of her exposed flesh and so she tried to focus on that-not the pain of doubt.

"Gaara, could you do something for me?" She asked, eys closed.

He shifted, pulling back to stare at her, dark lined eyes hard with determination that tinted them amber in this light. "Anything! You only need to speak it and I swear anything I can I will do for you."

She could have asked for the head of the world's most powerful man and she didn't doubt he would get it for her. He would move mountains if only she asked for it, but she didn't want mountains or heads or stars. She just wanted one thing. "Can you hold me, Gaara? No romantically or anything but... my dad would squeeze me in his arms whenever I got scared and I feel like I really need someone around me."

Sakura looked away, cheeks pink with embarrassment. It was probably a silly thing to ask when she put it like that. She sounded like a kid afraid of thunder or something silly but even so, she needed to feel safe.

Gaara didn't seem to think it stupid, since he just smiled and got up, sitting along side her and wrapping his long strong arms around her shoulders till she was resting against his chest. She snuggled in and he dragged her onto his lap, rocking her softly with his lips on the shell of her ear, pressed against those her, in that moment, he wasn't one of those guys she would have to pick from and/or heart break, he was just another person reminding her of the world and of tomorrow.

'The sun will rise again and everything will be okay.'

"Sakura?" Tsunade called down the hall, coming in front the front door. Hearing her, Sakura sat up and slipped out of Gaara's arms-much to his displeasure- and headed out to greet the older woman with the red head following close behind.

Tusande's eyes grew wide when she saw her daughter like figure coming out wearing what she was with a guy so close to her. And not just any guy, but a lovesick puppy that was emotionally bound to desire and pine after the green eyed girl with everything in him. "Sakura, what are you doing...Gaara when did you sneak up?"

Gaara just shrugged, looking board. "When you were talking with the old men? I was outside when you went in so you probably didn't see me."

"Tsunade," Sakura interrupted. "Who was on the phone just a little while ago?"

The blond stiffened a bit and then sighed. "That was Philip. You would have found out sooner or later, so I guess I'll tell you now."

Sakura shivered and Gaara moved closer to her, an arm wrapping around her shoulders with an affectionate squeeze. He could feel her fear seeping out through her pores like steam from a roadway grate in the middle of a December winter.

"Are they okay?" she asked.

Tsunade blinked, then smiled and barked in laughter."Oh dear, I'm so sorry. You thought that they were...oh no, no, no Sakura. That's not it at all. Maybe this is actually good news in a way if you want to be optimistic. Your father and mother stumbled upon a rather large find and have to extend their stay longer than planned to excavate and such. They won't be coming home anytime soon because of this so I was hesitant to tell you, but I can assure you they are perfectly healthy and fine. They'll probably be making a lot more money from now on and be better known in their community."

Tsunade sighed happily and ran her nails through her hair. "That's it. I'm sorry if you have bad thoughts."

Gaara felt all the tension and fear built up in Sakura release, leaving her near weightless. She was happy and that was something he could feel inside himself. He was sure if something terrible had happened he would feel her pain in his own chest and cry alongside her. That was how close she was to him.

"I'm glad they are alright. Kami, you scared me there Tsunade."

"Sorry, sorry. But now that we have that cleared up..." The blond glared down at the redhead. "Gaara, you need to book it before the others notice you missing. You know their first thought is going to be something along the lines of you sneaking off to take 'their' Sakura chan. Possessive tendencies are only growing stronger in you guys."

Gaara hugged Sakura closer to himself, pouting a bit. "Sakura isn't theirs. She's mine."

Tsunaed rolled her eyes while Sakura just blushed light pink. "This is what I'm talking about. Sooner or later one of those pricks in going to come barreling through the door screaming-"

"LET GO OF MY SAKURA CHAN YOU SCREWED UP SAND RAT!" Sasuke hollered, jumping into the apartment with wild eyes.

"Holy crap, that was perfectly timed, Tsunade," Sakura murmured absently. She was staring to get used to this.

"Saubaku!"

"Sabaku, you Uchiha prick."

"Let her go Saubaku!" Sasuke demanded, completely ignoring the correction concerning the name of his eternal foe.

"Not a chance, neaderthal," Gaara growled, eyes narrowing.

Sasuke stormed over two the snuggling red head who was glaring possessively over Sakura's head. Sasuke sneered and stomped down on Gaara's toe before jabbing the guy in gut. On reflex, before he could really think about anything his body was doing, Gaara released Sakura and went backwards a few steps, nursing his injuries. Sasuke took this chance to grab Sakura and drag her with him to one of the back-rooms, plowing over a crumbled Gaara in the process.

Tsunade watched with mild interest the whole ordeal and chuckled at the outcome. Gaara grunted and straightened, eyes glowing amber as he swept his surroundings, searching with feral instincts for that which was most precious to him. He was still a bit dazed from that blow Sasuke delivered to Gaara's head when he was run over, but he still knew to look for his Sakura.

At this the blond frowned, not liking how Gaara's canines were growing and his hands tensing. His transformation, unintentional or not, would end up harming Sakura since she had stunned coils for the night, so Tsunade had to act fast.

"Gaara!"

Hearing his name the red head turned only to be dealt a vicious blow to his solar plexus. The whites of his eyes grew and his whole body trembled before he slumped forward onto the sheman's legendary fist that was known both far and wide.

"I know you love her kid, but I do too and I can't let that love hurt her."

Sighing she swung Gaara's limp form over her shoulder and left the apartment, planning on dumping him off with the others and coming back for Sakura once she had made sure there were no more hormonal men ready for a hoedown-ninja style in order to get to their Sakura. Heaven help her if any of them were smart enough to notice Sasuke missing and think he was with Sakura.

Meanwhile, Sakura had been spirited away-not really caring anymore at this point-into her parent's room where Sasuke was quick to lock and barricade the door just in case Gaara should coming chasing after them.

"Sasuke-Mph"

"Sakura chan," the youngest Uchiha purred, hugging her around the stomach with his head nesteled right beneath her breasts. He was on his knees, after all.

"You guys are getting crazier and crazier by the day. It's getting kind of freaky you know," she commented, patting the top of his head absently. Days ago she would have freaked, screaming bloody murder at the slightest touch from one of these guys, but somehow she had grown into their presence.

"I could feel it too, you know."

"Eh?" She paused.

Sasuke sighed, content with his position at the current moment and closed his eyes. "You were in pain and there was fear and then you were relieved. I tried getting to you sooner but I had to wait till the blond woman or any of the other guys wouldn't see me leave. I had to get to you and see if you were alright."

"What do you mean you could feel me? Gaara said something of the same earlier. How could you have known I was scared?"

Sasuke grunted at the mention of another man's name in such a manner, falling from his darling's lips. He released her to stand up and then dragged her to the bed by the wrist to explain. "Hn, that makes sense since he came through the book at the same time as me. We were the first though so our bond is the oldest and strongest with you. It just started recently and I'm sure it's not going to be as powerful as it was tonight since you coils are stunned, but whatever emotion you feel we are aware of them. It's like smelling or seeing or hearing. It's a sixth sense."

"Then what about the others?"

"What about them?" Sasuke didn't look happy to be talking about other males with Sakura. He was all she needed!

"Can they feel this as well? This bond?"

"No, only Gaara and I can for now. But that doesn't matter. I'm just happy you are well. I was so scared that there might be something wrong I couldn't right with you. It nearly crippled me I was so frightened for you..."

Sasuke leaned in and kissed Sakura on the temple, causing her to blush and pull away. He smiled sadly at the reaction. Of course she wasn't ready for intimacies beyond hugging. She let Gaara hold her in the hallway and Sasuke had lived through an embrace around the waist, but apparently there was a line still involved.

"I love you, you know that Sakura? I'll protect you from everything that ever threatens your happiness." He grabbed her hand and pulled it to his cheek, feeling the soft warmth from the contact. He loved her so much even just this little touch could make him feel like the ruler of a universe. "I'll make you happy, so don't...don't take this away from me."

"Sasuke..."

"Maybe I'm not as knighly as Gaara or as princely as Itachi or Pein or funny like Naruto or cool like Sasori, but I...I really like you Sakura. I love you so lease don't loose sight of me. I feel like I'm being cut out of your views and your looking other places where I'm not, but just keep me in sight and I...I don't even have to be that one guy but don't leave me. I want more days where I can be like this with you."

Sakura felt frozen in front of him, sick in her stomach as the black box in her mind rattled louder and louder. She could feel it too, his emotions and they were overflowing with love and affection. So much she could drown in it all. How could he feel this way for someone like her? Did she really deserve it? There was no way she could think this was a false love and it hurt to admit that, because that was something that made them all so much more human to her. They were growing closer and closer and confusing her so terribly that her mind was a scrambled mess. Who did she love? Who was it, him?

Sasuke moved closer and she felt his breath on her face, fanning over her lips as he hovered, teasing her with what could soon become a kiss. A few more inches, a slight bob of the head, gravity crashing down and they would be lip locked. For some reason this froze Sakura solid and she couldn't move away from him. Did she want to? She should but it was strange and unsettling how her body didn't seem to be her own anymore. She couldn't even put up a verbal protest.

"If I was braver I would...but, I'm far too afraid of loosing any positive feelings you might have for me, so I won't." Sasuke pulled away with a sad smile and it looked like he was on the verge of a breakdown in his eyes. "Even if I really want to."

There was banging on the door and Sakura recognized Tsunade's voice, even though she couldn't distinguish the words as well as Sasuke could. He moved past her and scooted the chair out and unlocked the door, mumbling something under his breath in a grumpy tone to the older woman.

"About time, we don't have all night and Sakura has to finish get ready. Go back down with the guys before they start crawling up here. There are a few of them who are already biting at the bit and I don't want to tease them any more."

"Fine, fine, I'm going. But you had better hurry yourself. I don't want to wait long to see Sakura again." With the usual moody attitude that hadn't been seen in a long time, Sasuke pushed past Tsunade and left the apartment.

The older blond woman huffed, displeased with the treatment she received from the Uchiha and fisted her hands on her hips-something she did when she wasn't happy with a situation. "What a brat some of these guys can be. I tell you, it's getting harder and harder to find...Sakura? Sakura is everything alright?"

Sakura had her back to the door so all Tsunade could see that would tip her off to the girl's distress was the limp posture and unmoving stature. Slowly, Sakura turned to face her second mother and exposed the glass like layer that had collected in her eyes. She looked like she was ready to cry but as Tsunade knew her, Sakura was far too stubborn to expose her weakness just like that and let everything go without an attempt to appear strong and stoic.

"Tsunade, it's...I don't know what wrong. I-I don't love him but why is it hurting like this? Why can...how can I be feeling like this for him? I don't know what's wrong with me and I feel terrible for it," Sakura whispered, fearing the pitching and dropping of her tone would only unleash her tears.

Tusande took a tissue to Sakura's eyes and dabbed the moisture away. "Hey now, don't cry about it or else you'll ruin your make up and they where will we be? This is, sadly this is normal when you are in a situation like this. It's hard to not love someone who so purely and honestly loves you. But you are strong like me and you won't compromise so you think that tearing yourself up and hiding all you feelings is the only option you have, am I right?"

"But I don't know anymore!" Sakura almost wailed. "I thought I did but...but I don't know who it is anymore. I can't be feeling like this so soon. I'm not another one of those emotional girls who goes weak in the knees for the guys in the magazine. I'm not that! I'm not supposed to be feeling like this."

"You are human Sakura, you are not perfect."

"But what do I do, then?"

"You breath, Sakura. You breath and you keep on breathing. The world is ending and the sun is still burning so we're all going to be fine. If your heart is a mess like this than maybe it is better not to play with it. Do you know who you want to confess to anymore?"

"Not anymore...and it's not just because of Sasuke, I...it's not...oh kami I don't know anymore."

"Well, first thing first then. Straighten up and stand tall. We'll get you fixed up and maybe snack on something sweet. You need to calm down more than anything and think this thought. You don't have a deadline for anything so take your time. Take as much time as you need."

Sakura closed her eyes and nodded, intending to do just that.

Meanwhile, with the guys...

Pein looked up under long eyelashes as Sasuke stomped into the apartment with a gloomy expression that told everyone who saw him that he was in a emo mood and didn't want to be bothered at the moment. That didn't stop Naruto though.

"Teme, where the hell have you been? You should have seen what the old woman brought back. She said she caught Gaara trying to sneak out and gave him what for! Serves the guy right for trying to sneak a peak at my future wife when she's changing."

"I told you that wasn't what I was doing!" Gaara growled from on the couch in the living room, looking just as grumpy as Sasuke-if not more so.

"Sure it is Gaara," Neji sighed, obviously not believing anything the redhead said. He had been giving something the old man with white hair had called a rubix cube and was trying to figure it out for himself, but having no luck.

In frot of the television Sasori, Deidara, Hidan and Kisame were playing something on the PS3. Kimimaro was in the back room talking with his dad while Pein and Itachi sat against the large glass window, looking as board as always. Itachi appeared absent to the whole group, staring out into the almost twilight with vacant eyes while Pein appeared astute.

Pein wasn't one fond of letting his mind wander and even during those moments when he was, he always made sure it looked like he was paying close attention to his surroundings. He was still so inclined to the old ways it was somewhat awkward. He wasn't in the old world anymore, there were no such dangers here. No, here there were horror much more deadly. Ten different males the lovely lady Sakura could choose over him. The older male suppressed a shudder, hoping he didn't have nightmares.

"Shut up, dobe. Your voice is hurting my ears."

"What the hell did you say, teme?"

"You heard me."

"If I wasn't worried about messing up my new threads I would teach you a lesson and make you regret that!" Naruto huffed, cheeks turning red from the anger he had to trap least he explode on Sasuke and make a mess of himself. He wanted to be looking his best for Sakura.

"Than hurry up and shut it," Sasuke growled, scuffing up the back of his hair to make it look more wild and untamed. Itachi blinked and looked to his younger brother when he saw this but soon returned to the window. Pein suspected this was something Itachi knew more of than the rest of the males. A old habit maybe?

Just then Kimimaro came out from the back with something shiny and silver in his hands. The pale male looked around and frowned, clipping the expensive looking watch onto his wrist with quick movements perfected from repetition. His father and Jiraiya were probably still in the back talking about things they didn't want the others to hear.

"Is Sakura not done yet?" Kimimaro asked sounding as disappointed as he looked. He was good at hiding, but Pein saw through it all.

"No, she's still getting ready with the old lady, isn't she Gaara?" Naruto said, trying to provoke a fight. the blond idiot was stupider than anyone ever thought.

"Shut up, Naruto!" Gaara growled, ears red with a blush.

"...Fine. Does anyone know what she's going to be coming down then?" Kimimaro asked.

"Boy, do you want an answer to that question?" Pein asked, finally speaking up with the aristocratic edge and boredom lacing his every word. Kimimaro turned to face the older male and frowned, seeing Pein reclined against the window seat looking as if he were king over all of them. Maybe king was the wrong word.

"And why wouldn't I want to know?" Kimimaro asked, not responding well to the arrogance.

"That would imply we knew something about Sakura you don't, and that would imply inferiority on your part. Do you honestly suspect any of us would know unless we went up there ourselves? You spoke with the old woman yourself so you should know just as much as I."

Kimimaro frowned and glared. "A simple no would have been good enough."

"And where would the fun be in that?"

"I really hope Sakura decides to throw you out."

"I bet you do, boy."

A few of the guys looked up from what they were doing to pay attention to the exchange between the two males. Neji had paused in his puzzle solving and Deidara had looked away from his game. Sasori was still staring at his screen but being a puppeteer he controlled his character and listened in on the events. Itachi didn't look away from the window but he was still probably listening.

"You really have something loose in that skull of yours if you think you have something up on me regarding Sakura. We've known each other for years so I'm closer to her than all of you combined! When did you show up? A few days ago? You think that's anything to be proud of. You know nothing!"

"And yet you are this frightened, interesting."

"I'm not frightened of something like you!" The last word came out sounding like a sneer.

Pein tiled his head to one side and smiled, lifting a single finger and propping it under his chin. He seemed so withdrawn from his emotions and confident in his logic while the often soft spoken boy was starting to get worked up. Pein's silver ringed eyes seemed to spin with mirth as he played a bit more with the male who claimed to be closer to the divine angel who had summoned him through that book and into this world of hers.

"Then are you frightened of yourself? You say you have know our dearest Sakura for years before any of us and while this may true, it is not necessarily something to brag about. Why have you not professed your feelings for Sakura if you have any. Are they not as strong as you would like to think them or have you already tried that only to be shot down by the divine." (The divine being Sakura.)

"There is nothing wrong with waiting for the right chance to tell her."

"No, but it is stupid if that time is never to come. I am not fearful of expressing my feelings so readily from the beginning. If I love a woman I will tell her so," Pein said, his eyes now hard and serious. The godly aura was stale now and seemed serious instead of teasing.

Just then Jiraiya walked into the room with a handful of straws and a grumpy looking Orochimaru trailing behind.

"Alright boys, Tsunade just called and said they would be down in five minutes so it's time for us to decide who gets to ride with who. We only have three people who can drive so we have to draw lots to decide who takes what car/van to get there."

"Which one is Sakura taking?" Neji asked, tossing his cube behind him without a second thought.

"She's riding with Tsunade, there are only two more free seats in that car unless you squeeze-don't even think about it Naruto- so only two of you will be riding with her. The rest will be stuffed like sardines in a car with either Orochimaru and myself! Sound like fun?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...Oh hell no."

AN:/ When writing this I feel like I've returned to some of my roots and I can't say I don't like it. I think there is certainly a difference between this type of writing-the AU, harem, Humor, romance- and the more detailed plot driven writing I'm taking up with Dance with the Devil. What do you guys like better? Please let me know in a review.

So, Sakura does have a man in mind, but now it doesn't seem so easy or clear to her, so she will have her little moments with most of the guys before I decide to end the series. Who will it be? Deidara, Itachi, Pein, Sasori, Neji, Naruto, Gaara, ummm, Hidan...or the other dudes who I added in there. Sorry Kisame and Kimmy kun! You will get your fluffy scenes later on.

And before I forget, I'm having another contest in October. Please check that out and keep an eye out for it when it comes around. I would like to know that there are at least 12 people willing to enter before deciding to go ahead with it. I'm looking forward to all the entries.

REVIEW!