Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters. I do own any characters that I made up and the plot. Stealing may result in legal action.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And Then...

Chapter Three

Meeting Team Seven

I yawned and stretched as I walked along the dirt road towards the red bridge where I was supposed to meet the rest of Team Seven.

"Ohayo, Haruno-sama!" Akatsu's cheery voice range out from behind me.

"Akatsu!" I screeched as I put a hand to calm my rapidly beating heart.

"You scared the hell out of me! Don't do that! And call me by my name, like you used to..." I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. Akatsu smiled and rubbed his head sheepishly.

"Gomen, Sakura-chan. And I see that you remembered some things?" He asked slowly as the two of us continued to walk to the bridge.

"Aa....I badgered Natsu into telling me what she knew of my past." I explained quietly as I played with a kunai in my fingers.

"Natsu?" Akatsu asked as he put his hands behind his head, eyeing the kunai slightly.

"My...mother." I said bitterly. Akatsu was quiet for a moment before he grinned.

"Oi! Cheer up, Sakura-chan! I promise that I'll take care of you from now on, okay?" He said cheerfully. I smiled up at him, hoping that my smile didn't look forced. This was still a lot to take in. I think Akatsu noticed the smile, but didn't say anything about it, for which I was glad.

"So, where are you heading to?" He asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Training with my team. I think we have one more mission before the Chunnin Exams." I answered back nonchalantly.

"I think I'll go with you. I want to meet the ones you always hang out with, and the Sensei you do extra training with." I stumbled and nearly fell when Akatsu announced his proclamation.

"WHAT!?" I squeaked loudly. Akatsu stared at me, confused.

"What do you mean? Why can't I come watch you train?" He asked, slightly hurt. I quickly waved my hands in front of me.

"No, no. It's not that. I meant that they don't know anything about what you told me last night, and I don't think they will believe me if I told them about you..." I said softly. Akatsu smiled at me and ruffled my hair.

"Don't worry Sakura-chan. Just tell them that I am your brother or cousin or something. They don't have to know anything else until the time is right." He explained. I slowly grinned up at him.

"SAKURA-CHAN!" Naruto's voice wailed out as he frantically waved at me. I chuckled slightly and waved back.

"Ohayo, Naruto." I then turned my gaze to the black haired Uchiha.

"Hi, Sasuke-kun." I exclaimed happily. He just ignored me.

[Bastard...]

"Sakura-chan, you are late." I turned a surprised glance to Kakashi, who didn't look up from his book.

"L-Late!?" I squeaked. Naruto frowned at me.

"Sakura-chan, you were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago..." He said as he gazed at me with his bright blue eyes.

"Blame it on him." I snarled as I pointed a finger to where Akatsu was. The three just stared at me, like I had grown a second head.

"Um, no one's there, Sakura-chan." Naruto said as he stared at where Akatsu was SUPPOSED to be. I angrily turned around behind and saw Akatsu flirting with a pretty village woman.

"AKATSU BASTARD! YOU MADE ME LATE! NOW GET OVER HERE!" I screeched at the top of my lungs. In seconds Akatsu was by my side smiling sheepishly.

"Ah, Gomen Sakura-chan. I can't help it when a pretty lady walks by." He said and laughed nervously. My eye twitched as I flung a kunai at him. He quickly ducked and started to back up nervously on his hands and knees.

"Uh, um, Sakura-chan, you look sort of scary. Maybe I'll just leave?" Akatsu suggested as he prepared to run.

"Oh, no you don't!" I growled and grabbed the back of his shirt, before pinching a spot on his neck, paralyzing him like Kakashi had done to me the night before.

"Itai..." Akatsu moaned as he slumped towards the ground.

"Serves you right." I snapped at him. A muffled grunt was heard in response. I then put a happy smile back on my face and turned to my shocked teammates.

"What? Aren't we going to train?" I asked as I shuffled my feet nervously.

"Who's that, Sakura-chan?" Kakashi asked as he put his book into his pocket.

"My name is Haruno Akatsu, and I am Sakura-chan's twin brother. A pleasure to meet you." Akatsu said as he jumped up and bowed. All four of us gawked at him.

"H-How did you break the paralysis so soon!?" I squawked. He smirked at me and put his hands behind his head.

"Because unlike SOME people, I know how to counter it." He shouldn't have said that. I twitched and shook my aching hand while Akatsu lay twitching on the ground.

"I guess we'll go see the Hokage now." Kakashi said slowly as he took out Icha Icha Paradise again and started walking towards the Hokage's office. I glared at the book but continued to follow Kakashi, leaving Akatsu where he was.

"Sakura-chan! Wait for me!" Akatsu whined as he picked himself up from the ground and jogged to catch up to us. I rolled my eyes. Sasuke eyed the two of us before snorting.

"Your brother is an idiot." I covered my mouth to stop myself from laughing out loud as Akatsu glared at Sasuke.

"You're one to talk, little Uchiha." Akatsu snarled. Sasuke glared at him as Naruto started to laugh.

"Haha! He called you an idiot, Sasuke!" Naruto said as he continued to laugh.

"Shut up, dobe." Sasuke growled. That got Naruto to stop laughing.

"What'd you call me Sasuke-Bastard!?" Naruto yelled as he glared at Sasuke. This time it was Akatsu who was laughing. I sighed and shook my head as I caught up to Kakashi.

"All three of them are idiots." I muttered, earning a chuckle from Kakashi.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shiroi Hikari: Man, introducing them all was hard. -.- I apologize if this chapter was not up to the usual standards. I really had no clue how I would introduce them all. And now, for some questions that need answering:

Q: When Akatsu said 'You are my queen, Haruno Sakura', it sounded like he was referring to her as his consort/mate. Is there going to be incest in this story?

A: Ah, Gomen Nasai. I didn't mean for it to sound that way. Actually, Sakura is the Shiraha. Therefore, she is the 'queen' of all of the Winged. Akatsu is just her brother, so there will not be any incest (though in some parts it might be indicated).

Shiroi Hikari: Okay, I think that's all the questions. Now, for voting!

Itachi x Sakura: 10

Neji x Sakura: 7

Sasuke x Sakura: 6

Kiba x Sakura: 1

Gaara x Sakura: 1

Kakashi x Sakura: 1

Naruto x Sakura: 0

Orochimaru x Sakura: 0

Shikamaru x Sakura: 0

Naruto x Hinata: 4

Shikamaru x Ino: 2

Shiroi Hikari: Itachi-kun is still in the lead! . Also, please only vote once in the story. I think I will close the polls by chapter five, so hurry and cast your vote!

Ja ne and please review!

::Shiroi Hikari::