DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. MASASHI KISHIMOTO DOES."

"We didn't do anything! We only took care of him, he was beaten badly, we only gave him food, water and a place to stay! That was only for a single night! He left before we knew it! We don't know what happened to your son!" It was Mebuki's turn to shout at him, scared for her daughter's life.

She was only being honest, they had nothing to do with his son's disappearance. They even helped him that night. They gave him food and water and offer a place to stay which the young man reluctantly accepted. They promised him to help him went back to his home, but he was scared to even speak, he was scared for his life and dare she say that the man before her, before them, this man that kidnapped and accusing them of his son's disappearance may be the one who is responsible behind it and now, their only daughter is in big trouble. They can only pray to the deaf god that he'll keep her safe.

"You're Mine, Only Mine"

Chapter 15: "Friday Misery"

"Sasori asked you for a date?!"

The pinkette slapped her hand on Ino's mouth, "Ino! I told you to be quiet! Someone might hear it!"

The three of them, Sakura, Ino and Hinata are standing amidst of the lockers as the other students gather their things to leave and intend to enjoy their Friday night and the weekends after it.

Sakura was just done informing her best friend, Ino and Hinata about Sasori's request of not-a-date with her.

Ino finally calmed down and looked around her, assuring Sakura that no one had heard it.

Pleased that no one seemingly heard Ino's sudden outburst, Sakura lets go of Ino's mouth. "You know that if someone hears that, that will be a big problem!"

The blonde rolled her eyes, "Because it is, forehead!"

Hinata, being quiet but absorbing all the details that laid before her nods her head in agreement to Ino's reply.

Sakura furrowed her eyebrows this time and sighed. "Alright, alright. I get it, this is a problem but Sasuke knows of this AND don't get me wrong, it isn't a date!"

"If it wasn't a date and what is then, huh?" Ino narrowed her eyes on her pink-haired best friend and puts her hands on her hips as if to challenge her.

Sakura, on the other hand, averted her eyes and murmured something under her breath. To which Hinata leaned on her to hear it and Ino to narrowed her eyes more.

"What was that Sakura?" Ino mischievously asked.

"I said, closure," Sakura said what she had said under her breath but it was no more than a whisper.

"Closure?" Hinata repeated, she was quite taken aback.

The pinkette nodded her head in response.

Ino's face softened in understanding. It wasn't a secret but lately, Sasori's been avoiding them, not entirely, but when Sasuke and Sakura or even if one of them is with the group, he always makes excuses and leaves. Sure, for Ino, Sasori is just an addition to their group, but in a short period of time, they enjoyed his company and they wanted him to stay in good terms with them even if everything didn't go well between him and Sakura.

"Yeah, I noticed that he's been distant and been avoiding us. Especially you and Sasuke." Ino frowned in the memory.

Hinata nodded at this. Sure, she is quiet but she also notices what happens around here -that is something she is good at, being observant- and Sasori's antics didn't go unnoticed by her, "Sasori-san is making a lot of effort in avoiding us too. I saw him last week leaving early just to avoid us."

Sakura frowned on this, this is what she's talking about, this is what shoes been pointing out. The reason why she agreed on the first place is that she wanted them to be good again as friends. Whatever between them is done now and he needs to let go of it. And that's exactly what she's going to give him, the closure and the freedom.

"If you put it that way... I guess you should really go forehead."

"That's what I've been trying to say Ino-pig." Sakura rolled her eyes and opened her locker so did Ino and Hinata.

"You think this will work out?" Sakura suddenly asked, her anxiousness didn't go hidden.

Ino closed her locker and adjusted her shoulder bag. "There's only one way to find out besides there are only two choices, he stays with us or he'll stay out."

"I sure hope that Sasori-san stays with us. He's a great friend." Hinata spoke this time, getting her things inside the locker and putting it in her backpack.

"That's what I ho-

"HINATAAAA-CHAN!"

A cheerful voice enveloped the lockers as they saw the blond-haired teen skipping through the hallways.

"Naruto-kun!" The raven-haired girl closed her lockers and adjusted her backpack.

"Are 'ya ready to go, Hinata-chan?" Naruto looked at his girlfriend and the said girl nodded her head eagerly.

"Where are you guys going?", Sakura asked curiously, Ino leaned in too.

Lately, they noticed that Naruto and Hinata has this Friday dates. It started just after they become officially together and since then the two can't be apart from each other. They've got to be the cutest couple ever!

Hinata bowed her head, suddenly feeling shy in front of her friends. Naruto notices it and decided to speak up for his girlfriend, " Oh! Y'know, our usual Friday dates. We'll be watching a movie or maybe eat at a random café! It's fun if you don't have a plan at all, it's exciting and pretty adventurous!"

Hinata nodded her head eagerly, totally agreeing with Naruto. Sakura and Ino smiled at them, Naruto is so gentle and sweet towards Hinata.

"Then, what are you waiting for?! The night isn't too long! Off you go! Ta-tah!" Ino said as she shoved the two on the other direction, getting them a move on and go to their date.

Ino looked back at Sakura and smiled sheepishly, "I'll be going too! I have a date with Sai. Hehe. Do you know the artist? That little brother of Shin-sense-"

Sakura looked baffled, "YOU'RE DATING SAI?!"

Ino scrambled away and run. Leaving Naruto and Hinata looking shocked and Sakura looking mad, "That pig! She didn't tell me!"

"We'll be going now, Sakura-chan!" Naruto said as he clasps his hand on Hinata's, "And oh! Sasuke-teme said to tell you to meet him at the parking lot! Sasori's with him too!"

And with that the blonde and raven couple went for their Friday date.

Sakura does what Naruto had said and gone at the parking lot. As expected, Sasuke's waiting for her so as Sasori, they weren't talking but the atmosphere is pretty tensed.

Sasuke moved first enveloping Sakura into a hug. Sasuke often show his affection publicly which is why Sakura was a little taken aback, nevertheless she smiled and rolled her eyes, 'Territorial ass'.

When Sasuke let go of her, Sasori took a step, "Should we go?" Carefully, glancing at her and at Sasuke who glared at him.

Before Sakura arrived, Sasuke had told him - well, more like warned - not to do anything stupid or else he wouldn't like to know what can he do to him. It was a harsh threat, it's as if he's saying that Sasuke can kill him whenever he likes if something happened to Sakura.

"I think we'll go then? Is that okay, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked Sasuke not bothering to look at Sasori, she has to make sure that his boyfriend is fine with this.

Sasuke, much to his dismay, nodded and looked - okay, glared is the right term - at Sasori. "Remember what I told you. You better think of that, Akaningyo."

Sasori gave him a stiff nod and with that Sasuke steps back and let Sakura walked with Sasori.

Sakura looked back at Sasuke and smiled, "I'll call you right after, Sasuke-kun."

Before they can even go, Sakura suddenly ran at him and gave him a tight hug as she whispered at him. Sasuke smiled a little at what she said.

She let's go and caught up to Sasori who started walking. He didn't want to see their moment. It's good in the eye but not for his heart.

Sasuke still held that soft smile in his face, thinking of what Sakura had told him, "I love you"

He mused how those three words from her always made him smile a little.

"Yo! 'Tachi!"

A cheerful yet gruff voice spoke from the other line.

"What is it, Kisame?"

Itachi's just chilling in the living room, watching some random movies. This time it's 'Venom'

"Yahiko called for another one. You in?"

Itachi paused the movie and focused on his phone call.

"Another one? What for?"

"He said a company offered us a big business deal, I didn't get much of the details. He told me that he's gonna explain it when we get there."

"I don't have any choice, do I?"

Itachi sighed and turned off the television.

He heard Kisame chuckling on the other line, "You don't. I'll be going now. See you there."

"Hn."

Itachi cuts the line and went to his room to prepare.

He didn't have any plans for tonight except that he was about to make dinner for him and Sasuke.

'I guess Sasuke has to do all the work this night.'

Frankly, he's excited to see what business opportunity did they receive this time and whether they'll agree to it. Akatsuki did him good, he has great friends, they have a business and they do things for a cause. Giving back is one of Yahiko's, their founder, advocacy and that's exactly what they've been doing.

He took a quick shower and settled into his casual attire, black sweatpants, a shirt that has the usual Uchiha emblem and a moss green fitted sweater to top it off.

He grabbed the key to his car and all the necessities that he needed.

Itachi went downstairs to check all of the appliances, Sasuke wasn't home yet and he didn't want him to go home with charcoal for a house. Seeing that everything is off and safe, he headed for the front door which opened before him.

"Sasuke?"

He didn't expect his younger brother to come home early. After class, he usually spends time with Sakura somewhere else but when they hang out in their house, Sasuke always informs him.

But there isn't any Sakura with him, it's just him, taking off his shoes and setting it aside.

When Sasuke raised his head, he notices Itachi's attire, "Going out?"

Itachi nodded, "Duty calls."

Oddly enough Sasuke shrugged and didn't say anything else. We went pass Itachi and headed straight upstairs.

"Don't forget to lock the door."

Itachi stared for a while and knocked out of his daze. 'Now that was weird'

Sasuke never really took Itachi's absences too much. As he became older, he understood that Itachi's business with his fraternity is important. And with him acting like that is highly unlikely, something else is up.

He'll get back to that later. For now, he has some business to do.

Itachi heads for the door and went out, remembering Sasuke's reminder to lock the door and drive to the Akatsuki mansion."

"I'm sorry if I had to avoid you in this past few days. I really don't want it to became awkward nor to make your feel uncomfortable."

Sasori sighed as he tried to explain everything to Sakura.

Sakura nodded her head slowly in understanding, "It's fine, really. I understand, Sasori-kun. I know it's hard for you, well... It's only your fault since you played too much!"

Sasori chuckled at her, he could never imagine that Sakura would still joke about this but he guessed that this is her way of getting people to trust and to like her, "That's what I like about you, you know."

Sakura immediately blushed on what he said. She never really get used to compliments.

He continued after seeing her blush, "Don't blush on me like that! I swear if a ninja is spying on me and report it to Sasuke, I'm dead meat!"

This got Sakura's attention and laughed at his words and his reaction, "Sasuke-kun won't do that and he certainly can't hire a ninja to do some spying...

Sasori sighed in return, "He might hire Ino though."

This time she furiously looked around to see if Ino was spying on them. Sasori laughed at this, "Relax, I was just kidding!"

Sakura rolled her eyes and glared at him, "The last time I want is to have Ino spying on me! Revealing my relationship to the whole village is not a great idea!"

Sasori smiled at that, it wasn't ideal if Ino heard them talk, it was Ino who told him that Sakura and Sasuke are now officially dating and the last thing that he wanted is to lose Sakura.

He still thinks of it sometimes, how things could go well if only he saw her in her light years ago if only he looked at her the way he looked upon her now. Why does it how to be the way it was? Why does he have to saw her in her light when Itachi asked a favour to make his brother, Sasuke jealo— that's right.

No one told her.

She wasn't aware of it.

All of a sudden, his face turned grim. And went into deep thought. Will it be too much if he told Sakura what he knew?

'Does Itachi told his brother about his plan? Does Sasuke know about this whole ordeal? Did anyone informed Sakura?'

"Sasori-kun? What's wrong?"

Sasori snapped out of his silent musings when he had heard Sakura's worried voice. She noticed.

"I-it's nothing." He cursed internally. Now, Sakura knew that he's lying.

"You may fool everyone, Sasori, but that doesn't count me."

He can hear her voice become serious and he knew by now that there's no turning back.

"It's about... Itachi."

He started slowly, not being able to look at Sakura, instead, he settled into looking down on his lap.

Sakura fairly looked confused, "What about Itachi-san?"

He looked at her and meet her gaze and to look down, he sighed.

When Sakura thought he isn't going to speak, she reacted, "Sasori, I kn—"

"Listen."

He interrupted her, he became much serious now. Although, the underlying nervousness and anxiety are still laced under his serious voice.

Sakura silently nodded her head, a sign to make him continue.

"Before I went to transfer, Itachi and I were friends because of the Akatsuki. I suppose that you know that by now?" Sasori asked just to confirm if Sakura is paying attention and taking this seriously. He was awarded by a nod and so he continues,

"We happened to talk about you and Sasuke. At first, we were surprised that we are mutually connected to you and after hearing how we met and how we became friends... Itachi came up with a plan." Sasori can feel that the atmosphere is becoming tense each time he speaks, whatever he is doing will result in something that he will regret.

"A plan?" Sakura repeated, tense vibes from Sasori made her feel that this plan that he spoke of is about her.

He nodded his head confirming it and clarifying that he wasn't using the wrong term for it, "He asked me to..."

'Now is the hardest part.'

"He asked me to became more attached to you, to get your attention, and to be with you, always. To make Sasuke jealous." He said those words with a heavy defeated sigh in the end.

He searched for Sakura's face and he saw confusion, the sudden realization and there it was the pain.

He needs to say something fast! "But it worked out! Sasuke let his feelings flow, he didn't need to constraint himself for what he feels. Itachi was right! Sasuke felt something deeply for you and Itachi's plan worked!"

Sakura looked angered by it and she glared at him, "All of this was a lie?"

'She didn't choose to hear it out.'

Sasori became panicked, "No! Sakura! Don't think of that, Itachi... Itachi knew that it was for the better and it worked!"

"Sasuke never loved me...", Tears starting to form on her eyes.

"He did Sakura and he still does! He just needs a little push and he did. He worked himself out of his shell, he stood proudly for you, he acknowledged the love he has for you!" Sasori is partly screaming now.

Sakura shakes her head as the tears that were building up started to fall. "It was all a lie!"

Sasori was startled when she screamed back at him, he knew that everyone was looking at them as they were making such a commotion.

"Sakura, no! Hear me out! It wasn't! When-when Sasuke threatened me when I told him that I can get you and toyed you, he burst in anger and slammed me on the wall! I can see it in his eyes Sakura, he's truly devoted! He loves you more than you could ever imagine. And I saw it for Sakura! I saw it right before my eyes. I knew that face, I knew the feeling that reflected upon his eyes. He loves you. Please, Sakura, just calm down." He started to scream it to her until his voice faded out, trying to calm her down.

This is what he is afraid of. This went too bad.

Sakura's tears didn't stop falling. She felt that she was toyed with, that her feeling were played. She felt cheated.

Finally, she raised her head and looked at Sasori, clear anger showed in her eyes, "And you?"

Sasori looked at her in the eyes, "At first, I did just for the favour that Itachi asked...", He flinched when he saw Sakura's glare intensifies but he continue nevertheless, "... But as time passes by, in that short period of time, I learned to see... The light you are on. I started to like you too. I took Sasuke on as competition to your heart. But I know that I will never win, he has your heart right off of the beginning and I was no one but someone that will strengthen the relationship of the two of you. I know that I stood no chance. Sasuke... He, he loves you deeply than no one ever could and he gave it to you, he's forever devoted to you. I can see it in his eyes. You're his light Sakura. Please, believe me. Sasuke-He really loves you."

Sakura scoffed, her tears had subsided and she smiled sarcastically. She wanted to laugh, she wanted to laugh at her situation. She didn't know what to say nor what to believe in.

Itachi was like a big brother that she never had, 'Itachi-san would never do that. He... He can try to convince Sasuke in different ways than this... This dirty little trick.'

And Sasuke, 'Does Sasuke knows? If he did. Why didn't he told me? If he didn't, if he discovered that he got played, would he be mad? To me? To Itachi? Will he think that I took him for granted. After all, all if this can just be Sasuke's drive for competition and to winning. And I just might be Sasuke's trophy for their stupid competition.'

Sasori, 'What if this is Sasori's dirty tricks? What if everything that he said is a lie? What if he's just doing this to get me to hate Sasuke? So he can get me? Just so he can win. What if...'

Sakura grimaced at her thoughts and forcefully smiled, 'What if everything is true...'

She shook her head as the tears started to fall again. She couldn't take it, she didn't know what to believe in, she couldn't identify what is real. She just could think straight and so, she smiled at him even if her tears are still falling.

"I can't believe this."

She whispered and she gathered her things with force as she was about to leave Sasori held her wrist and looked at her.

"Sakura."

A/N: Come on! Place your bets on what's going to happen next!

I also wanted to thank the people who are still supporting me through reading!

I hope you enjoy my story!

Please do a review so I'll be able to know your opinion about this. That will be a great help!

~Yatsu Narurasuke