Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor any of it's characters. I do own any characters that I made up and the plot. Stealing may result in legal action.

Shiroi Hikari: Sorry about putting double chapters up last time. wasn't working, and I guess I clicked on the 'submit' button too many times. Anyways, I'm going to put the author note up here instead of after the chapter. Here are the voting standards:

Itachi x Sakura: 17

Neji x Sakura: 13

Sasuke x Sakura: 13

Kakashi x Sakura: 2

Gaara x Sakura: 2

Kiba x Sakura: 2

Shiroi Hikari: And Itachi-kun is still in the lead! But Neji and Sasuke are catching up. Remember, be sure to get your vote in before the next chapter comes out!

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And Then...

Chapter Four

No Mission For Me

I sighed heavily as I pulled a glaring Akatsu behind me. This was really getting annoying.

"Hokage-sama, we are here per your request." Kakashi said as he put his book away and bowed to the Hokage. Sasuke, Naruto and I followed his example, though Akatsu just gave the Hokage a brisk nod before going to sulk in the corner. My eyebrow twitched as I glared at my brother.

"Sakura-san, would you mind explaining why that young man is here with your group? You seem to be of some relation to him." The Hokage asked as he blew out of his pipe.

I sweatdropped and laughed sheepishly.

"I apologize, Hokage-sama. He is my twin brother, Akatsu. Though it seems as if he was never taught any manners..." I said lowly. An aggravated grunt was heard from the corner. The Hokage's brows rose, but he didn't comment further.

"Yes. Anyways, I am assigning Team Seven to a D-Class Mission. It should be fairly quick. You just have to pick someone up a little bit outside the border of Konoha, and escort them back here. It will most likely take around a day and a half. Any objections?" The Hokage asked as he surveyed the ragtag team.

"I apologize, Hokage-sama, but Sakura-chan will not be able to go on this mission." Akatsu said as he appeared by my side. I squeaked and backed away a few steps before I realized what he had said.

"WHAT?" I screamed at him. He just stared back at me, a tint of annoyance in his eyes.

The others looked just as shocked as I did.

"And why, Akatsu-san, can she not go on this mission?" The Hokage asked as he stared at Akatsu, his eyes narrowed just the tiniest bit. Akatsu stared back evenly.

"She will not be able to leave the village until after the Chunnin Exams. She has training to do, and cannot miss a second of it. You will just have to go without her." Akatsu said, a final note to his voice.

"Oi, who said you could make the decisions for me?" I snarled and lifted my hand up to hit Akatsu.

"Do not hit me, Haruno-sama." Akatsu said quietly as he held my wrist. I gaped at him.

"H-Huh?" I squawked.

"Your training is very important, Haruno-sama. Do not make me take you by force." He responded, his eyes narrowed. A shocked silence was all that met his remark.

"Hey! You can't boss Sakura-chan around like that!" Naruto yelled, pointing a finger at Akatsu.

"Naruto, stop." I said quietly as Akatsu released my wrist from his grasp. I turned to a surprised Hokage.

"Um, I am sorry, but I cannot accept this mission. The others will have to go without me." I said quietly as I bowed my head.

"Are you sure, Sakura-san?" Hokage asked. I glanced at Akatsu before giving a brief nod.

"Very well. You may leave." Hokage said. I nodded, said a quick goodbye to my friends, and took off after Akatsu.

"Akatsu! Why did you do that? And why did you look all freaky. You're eyes were glowing gold." I said and rubbed my wrist slightly. Akatsu glanced at me, and his gaze softened.

"Gomen, Sakura-chan. Our species can get a little possessive, and it's ten times worse in males. I did not mean to frighten you or anyone else. You may punish me if you wish." He said quietly. I froze in my tracks and gawked at Akatsu's back.

"P-Punish you? Why would I do that?" I mumbled as I caught up to walk beside him.

He glanced down at me with a tiny smile.

"Sometimes, you are too innocent Sakura-chan. Innocence is the only thing I can thank Natsu for. For if you had grown up in our clan, all you would have faced was hardship after hardship." He explained quietly. I had no way to respond to that.

"It...must've been hard for you, Akatsu." I said after a few minutes. A bitter laugh slipped through Akatsu's lips.

"You have no idea, Haruno-sama. I am just glad that you escaped the horrors of my life." He continued as we walked towards the edge of town, the orange and red leaves around us gliding in the wind.

"Ohayo, Sakura-san!" A voice called from behind us. I winced slightly as I turned around, Akatsu following my lead with amusement in his eyes.

"Good morning, Lee-kun." I said slowly and smiled at him.

"How are you- Sakura-san! Who is this man beside you?" Rock Lee asked as he glared at Akatsu. Akatsu just coughed and tried to hide his laughter. I smiled at Lee as I elbowed Akatsu in the ribs.

"This is my twin brother, Akatsu. Akatsu, meet Rock Lee. Lee, meet Akatsu." I said, a slight tinge of boredom in my voice.

"Nice to meet you, Akatsu-san." Lee said as he bowed slightly. Akatsu just nodded.

"Same to you. Well, I guess we should be going, as Sakura and I have some training to do. Ja." Akatsu said quickly as he grabbed the back of my dress and pulled me along. I waved at a confused Lee.

"Bye Lee-kun!" I called out as we turned a corner. As soon as Lee was out of site, I grabbed Akatsu's wrist and forced him to let go of me.

"Jeez, what's the hurry?" I grumbled as I brushed the dirt off my dress. Akatsu rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Um, I didn't want to be late for training?" He supplied. My eyebrow twitched and I glared at Akatsu.

"Try again." I hissed through my teeth.

"Er, that Lee kid's eyebrows were freaking me out?" I sighed and rubbed my temple as I shook my head.

"You are hopeless." I mumbled before grabbing his arm and pulling him along to the forest where we 'met' last night.

Shiroi Hikari: I was gonna write more, but I figured that you guys had waited long enough. The next chapter will contain the actual training between Akatsu and Sakura, as well as TONS of information on Sakura's past, as well as some info on my creation, the Winged.

Ja ne and please review!

Shiroi Hikari