Survival of the Fittest

Note: sorry...about de delay! me just looked back over me chapter and realized I forgot ta tank so many people! *sigh* me sad...well besidez that...thanx ta all that reviewed! If if forgot ta mention any of ya last time...let me noe...

Kaira-chan: me so so sorry...me forgot ta mention ya last time...*bonks meself on head* i could be a bit dense at times...XD

oh yea...and kavah...ya noe de site ya told me ta go ta? *grumble* therez ta many chapter! i can't read them all! don't have de time! *smiles* newayz...which chapter does itachi come in? well let me noe...

Lakergurl262: hey ava! wassup! i can't wait till de dance tomorrow! itz seriously gonna be de bomb! *poutz* y can't ya come?! it'll be more fun! ur parentz EVIL...sigh* i mean seriously...it is after all...the first dance at hs...

Magical Fox: lol...wassup? even though i haven't learned ya name by now...so yea...XD newayz...YA ALWAYZ AWAY WHEN YA ONLINE! *SIGH* hehe...well IM sometimez...

~*~

Sakura felt the fear and tension heighten in the room. The normally cheerful atmosphere had been replace by a brutally cruel one. She shuddered. The last line of the letter scared her...

...more then one of your friend's life hangs in the balance...

What did it mean? She bit her lip nervously. As far as Sakura could tell, that there were going to a slight bump in their vacation plans. She paused. More like...their whole vacation had turned into some sort of nightmare. The kind that would cause you to toss and turn, and scream in fear. The kind...that...reveled your deepest...and darkest secrets...

She shot a nervous look at Sasuke and Neji. What were they going to do? They were after all, one of the strongest and smartest boys she'd ever met. They would find a way out of this....they had to. Sakura's eyes widened in surprise when she noticed that Sasuke was grinding his teeth furiously, his eyes filled with sadistic hate and disgust. She felt her heart twinge with pity.

...Sasuke....

Sakura could only imagine what was going through his head at the moment. When he'd only been no more then a child, he'd suffered through so much pain. And all of it...had been caused by his brother...Itachi...

His own brother had murdered his own clan, but for some unknown reason, had allowed Sasuke to escape. Sakura sighed, her eyes filled with concern. And ever since that fateful day, Sasuke had been quiet and detached. Always pushing others away...and truthfully Sakura didn't blame him. After all, who could?

It must have hurt him dreadfully when someone he'd trusted had betrayed him in such a brutal fashion. So now...he was so cold...so bitter about everything. Sakura studied him carefully. Ever since they'd first became teammates she'd been impressed by his diligence and dedication to his training....but she hadn't truly understood it...until now.

He need to avenge his clan...his family. He was an avenger...nothing more. Sasuke never wanted to become a ninja for power or just for fun. He had a mission, a goal that he strived to accomplish...a goal that he could never reach...

Sakura wanted to do something to make him feel better...to hold him tight against her. She wanted to tell him that there was always going to be someone out there looking out for him...to know that she'd always be there for him no matter what. To tell him...that she cared about him...that she...understood...him...

She held out her hand to touch his shoulder...to let him know that he wasn't alone. Slowly she reached towards him...closer...and closer...until she was only a mere inches away.

"Sasuke-kun?" she whispered meekly, when she squeezed his shoulder softly. "Are you alright?" she said softly, her emerald green eyes were filled with guilt and pain. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier...I didn't know..."

Sasuke slowly turned towards her and studied her with his dark unfathomable glaze, while he mentally slapped himself. No matter how angry he'd been, he shouldn't have forgotten about Sakura. She was too innocent...to cheerful...too honest. He knew that it wasn't her fault that Itachi had showed up...as a matter of fact it was quite the other way around.

Sakura's life was now in jeopardy, and it was all his fault. If he hadn't met her...if he hadn't fallen for her...she would have been safe...and happy. His brother always wanted what he didn't have...always...

Now Sakura would be no more then a pawn in the game...

...The Survival of The Fittest

A game that he knew how to play with deadly skill..one that he knew he could win if given the right incentive. As long as Sakura is safe...he would do anything in his power to protect her from harm...anything...

He was jolted out of his raviere when Sakura wrapped her arms around him. "Sasuke-kun? I'm sorry...please don't be mad at me..." she whispered desperately.

Sasuke sighed and ran his hand through Sakura's silky hair. "It's not your fault," he said gruffly, looking a bit nervous. He just held her waiting her for to calm down...

"I'll always be there for you...forever..." she whispered, but was shortly interrupted by the sound of clapping...

Sasuke and Sakura turned around and faced...

~*~

Note: sorry this is so short...me have ta go shopping for me outfit taday! XD well until next time! *smiles* well...i have ta admit..i. personally didn't really like this chapter...it was a bit lame...XP oh well...don't forget ta REVIEW!