Disclaimer: I do own Naruto...sigh...Only in my dreams.

A/N: Ack! I am so sorry the last chapter took so long. I am having major difficulties with this story right now. There are so many places that this can go. Oh yes and I must not forget to thank my wonderful BETA Junsui Kegasu. (sigh) Haunted is now done, but more work is to come! GO JK!

Last time:

More paperwork was explained, as well as the layout for the year. 'Well, this will be an easy A...' Just then, the bell rang. She looked up and found that Sasuke had already left. Sakura packed up her things and made her way to the roof. As she opened the door, the wind whipped hair into her face. As she pulled the strands away from her vision, she saw him. Sasuke was standing there waiting for her, a look of complete seriousness on his face.

"Sasuke, let's talk."

He let a slight smile slide onto his face. "No, you need to talk. I'll listen."

Chapter 8: Warm Air Floats

Sakura let out a big sigh. She honestly didn't know where to start. Finally after a long silence, she spoke. "Ok well. I am having trouble on where to start. Can you just ask random questions?" She looked like a drowned cat: so pathetic; so weak.

"Alright." A look of relief washed over Sakura's face, but it did not last long. "If you just wanted to remain friends, why didn't you push me off of you? You just let me do what I wanted. If I am right, it would have gone further if Naruto and Hinata hadn't shown up."

"Yeah, you are right on that one. I don't know." She looked down at her lap. "I really want to be with you, but I can't."

"Why?" Sasuke didn't understand. She wanted to be with him, but she wouldn't. It didn't make sense to him.

"I can't." She looked like she was about to snap. "You have no idea what I have been through before I came here. In fact, you have no idea the power that, that, that thing has."

"Enlighten me Sakura. Tell me everything. I got a little bit from Hinata, but I want the whole story from you." He lowered his voice. The seriousness of his tone did not go unnoticed.

"Please do not think any less of me by telling you this." Sasuke shook his head in understanding. Sakura began to tell her tale. "After my mother died, I became so depressed. She was everything to me. She was all I had left. No one could talk to me, not even Hinata. All she could do was watch me drift away. That all changed when I met him. His name was Mirai. He was the only person I felt that could relate to me. He helped me when no one else could." Her breath hitched as she started to remember her painful past. "Hey, Sasuke. You don't know what Jin does for a living do you?"

"No." Sasuke shook his head.

"Well, it is common knowledge around Tokyo. It will be here soon." She sighed once again, and continued with her story. "Jin is the top drug runner in Tokyo." Sasuke looked at her with a "you aren't serious" look. Sakura read his mind. "I am dead serious. I am a mafia princess in a sort. Mirai knew that, most guys knew that, but would never think about approaching me. He came to me and offered nothing but condolence for me. I fell for him, and I fell hard. He was everything to me. What I didn't know was that he just used me to get into Jin's good graces. Mirai wanted to be part of the company so badly. He didn't care how he got there." Sakura was on the verge of tears.

Sasuke put his arm around her. She shrunk back at the gesture. "Please don't touch me. I am not what you think I am."

He put her at arms length. "And why do you think that?"

"I'm dirty. I am a whore. I am damaged goods. Why would you want me?"

"You think you are dirty because you made a mistake? That doesn't make you a whore because you placed your faith in someone that you thought you could trust." Sasuke was getting quite angry at her comments. He didn't understand why she would think that she was a whore.

"You don't get it, do you?" Sakura was now crying. "I have made more then a few mistakes when it came to that relationship. Everything started off so good. He was everything to me, and in the end I was left a mere shadow of my former self, and he got what he wanted. Yeah, that's right. He got his spot in the company." Sakura shook her head. "There I was left, with my heart torn out, and a needle in my arm. I know Hinata told you that part. I will never admit it to her, but I know she knows. Do you see what I got for trusting people? I got hooked. I couldn't even pull myself out of it. That is why I cling to Hinata. She was and still is my only lifeline."

"I can understand that, but that still doesn't explain why you did what you did. Yeah, ok. Some asshole hurt you, badly, but I am not him. I am not him in any way. What makes you think I would do that?" Sasuke couldn't believe that he was saying this to her. He was genuinely concerned with her well being.

"No you don't get it! I can't do that again. The next time that happens I wont exist anymore. Look at what I have done to myself!" She lifted up her sleeve to reveal her marred arm. Sasuke couldn't even count the scars that were present. Mostly just small punctures but there were two on each arm that caught his eyes.

"What is that from?" Shock was written all over his face.

"That, my dear Sasuke-kun, is what happened after the break up. I got so unbelievably high one night, and just wanted to see how much I could bleed before I passed out." Bitterness dripped from her voice. "If Jin hadn't found me when he did, I would have been dead. I still wished he would have just left me there."

"What the hell? Do you have any idea how much that would have hurt other people?" Sasuke was now yelling at her.

"Ha! I would have hurt other people, Sasuke? What about me? Do you think I like going home every night and being beaten? Do you think I enjoy being molested? I know I can't go to the police. They would laugh at me and turn me away. And when I got home and that thing found out, do you know what would happen? He would beat me again. He would beat me into unconsciousness. He has done it before, and I will not put it past him to do it again. I want to die Sasuke. No one would miss me. No one."

"Sakura..." Sasuke did know where to go with this. He saw her pain, but he never thought it would be like this. "People care about you. What about Hinata? You have no idea how she talked about you before you showed up here. She would miss you terribly."

"Hinata...I truly love her, but that is just one person. She is the only person I have left that didn't fuck me over. Even she left me. I don't have anybody else. No one would care if I were gone. Hinata wouldn't even know if I never had to move. She would have just thought I didn't want to talk to her anymore. There would have been no way for her to know if I died."

"Sakura. Do you honestly think I would be up here right now if I didn't care? You have heard the rumors about me, I am sure. Do I or did I sound like the type of person that would listen to all this if I didn't care"

Sakura let out a small laugh. "No. I guess not. You would have probably just said 'hn' and walked away."

"Please don't think like that. You have people that care. You have Hinata first and foremost, and then there is me and Naruto. Hell, even Neji likes you. I mean he doesn't know you that well, but you are a friend of his cousin's."

"Yeah, but still I feel so alone most of the time. I have friends, but my heart hurts, and I don't want to be alone anymore. As much as I hate to be alone, being hurt is worse. That's what I want you to see. I can't be hurt anymore."

Sasuke felt so bad for being upset with her. "Alright, Sakura. If you want us to be friends, we can do that. I can do that, but just for you. Okay?"

"Thank you, Sasuke." She wrapped her arms around him, and whispered. "Thank you so much."

"Don't worry about it." He embraced her back.

"What? No 'hn'?" Both looked at each other and started to laugh.

'Sakura, please keep laughing,' Sasuke thought as he led her off the roof.

Gaara kept pacing down the empty hall way. To say the least, he was fuming. 'Why am I so mad?' He let a small laugh pass through his lips. The realization had dawned on him. He was jealous. It was even funny for him to think that. Gaara had never been possessive. He had never really been much of anything in anyone's eyes, except for him. Neji saw him as everything, and now once again he was nothing.

He let out another sigh. It had been over an hour of him pacing the halls, and he still was not cool enough to go inside a classroom. He breaths became more ragged. 'No. I don't need this.' Images of his relationship passed into his head.

"Gaara. What do you want for your birthday?" Neji said leaning into him.

"What? You remembered my birthday?" He was shocked; no one ever remembered his birthday. Sometimes Kankurou and Temari would have a small party, but no one else.

Neji looked down at his boyfriend, confused. "Yeah... Why wouldn't I remember?"

"Dunno." He said with a shrug. "No one else seems to."

Neji turned his head up to face him. Gaara couldn't do anything but stare into those pale eyes. "I know what I will get you." He said. The small smirk did not go unnoticed.

Gaara raised an eyebrow at the older boy that resided on his lap. "What?"

Neji leaned down and brushed their lips together. "Me." Was all Gaara could make out, before being completely taken over by Neji.

Gaara leaned over the sink, trying to catch his breath. "No. Stop. Go away." His breath started to calm as the memory faded. "I didn't want it to be like this. I just wanted to be happy." He slunk down and heard footsteps enter the bathroom. "For him." He closed his eyes, and waited for his breathing to return to normal.

"For who?"

'Dammit. Why do I keep running into him.' Both boys thought, looking into each other's eyes.

"Huh?" Gaara was still in a daze.

"You said 'for him.' Who's him?" Neji stared down at the small boy. He never realized it, but Gaara looked so small huddled up in the corner.

Gaara got up and splashed some water on his cheeks, careful not to upset the eyeliner surrounding his eyes. As he was walking out he turned to face his ex, "You," and with that he walked out.

Neji was left in the wake of his words. 'Why did he mean by that? Was it just me, or was he actually smiling when he looked at me? His whole face just seemed to be at peace. Argh! Why do I keep thinking about him? I am with Deidara; well I'm fucking him at least. I wouldn't call us a couple.'

Neji washed his hands. "I need to forget." With that, he set off to find his partner.

It was the last class of the day, and Sakura took her seat beside Hinata. Both looked at each other before letting a small smile pass between them.

'Everything will be alright,' both of them thought, as they got ready for today's lesson.

Sakura couldn't help but stare at her new teacher. She seemed so familiar, but where had she seen her before? That long blond hair, that chest, not to sound perverted, but that amount would be hard to forget. Most of all it was those eyes. She knew that she had seen her somewhere before, but where?

Unlike most of her classes, Tsunade's held true to its title. This really was advanced healing. Sakura had already missed so much on her first day. Thankfully, she had Hinata, who had taken the liberty to rewrite all of her notes so Sakura would have her own copy.

Tsunade didn't even recognize that she had a new student in her class, and kept on with her teaching. For once, Sakura was happy that this teacher wasn't boring. She didn't seem that enthusiastic to be teaching, but her dry sense of humor was more then enough to keep it entertaining.

She almost felt bad for the teacher when one of the hormonal boys was caught ogling her rather large chest. Within five seconds of catching him, she stopped her lesson, verbally castrated him, and continued on with her lesson. Sakura could do nothing but watch in amazement.

Hinata really wanted to check on her friend, to make sure everything was ok with her and Sasuke. At the rate Tsunade was going, that didn't look like it was going to happen. Hinata would have to wait until after class to get her answers. Every now and then she would take a glance at her pink haired friend. She looked happy enough.

Sakura couldn't believe this class. She looked over the curriculum again; there wasn't one thing that this teacher didn't have covered.

"Okay class. Now I am going to need you to study this material, and you will have a quiz next class period. I realize the bell is going to ring soon, so pack up."

With those last few words everyone began to pack. The slamming of books, and mindless chatter filled the room. Sakura could barely make out the weak voice beside her. "Sakura, What happened? Did you get a chance to talk to him?" Concern was all that could be made out in her face.

"Yeah, me and Sasuke talked, and everything is cool. Don't worry, Hinata. Did you think I was going to come here and break up the group?" Sakura let out a small laugh.

"N-N-No! I just--"

"Haruno Sakura! Please see me see me before you leave this class."

"Yes, sensei." Just then the bell rang. "Hey, Hinata. Wait for me outside by the tree. I will be there as soon as I am done talking, alright?" Hinata gave a small nod before retreating out of the class room.

Sakura walked up to Tsunade's desk. "You wanted to speak with me?"

"Yes. Miss Haruno--"

"Sakura is just fine, sensei. I don't believe that there is any need for formalities here."

Tsunade looked up into her students face. "No, I guess there aren't. Do you even remember me?"

"You look so familer, but I cannot remember where, or why."

"Maybe this will help." Tsunade began to take out the tie that held her blond hair on top of her head. It flowed right past her shoulder blades.

Now she remembered. Tsunade had been a part of the company. She couldn't remember much about her. She had left shortly after her mom had died. Sakura remembered a few visits where the blond would come play with her. "How the hell did you get out without being killed?"

"We will just say that Jin owes me a really big favor, and he let me out because of it. I did so much dirty work for that organization. He really didn't have a choice in the matter."

Sakura couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "That whole thing is nothing but dirty work, and you know it."

"I see my innocent Sakura-chan is no more then."

"As I remember it used to be 'Sakura-sama', but then you are no longer part of the company." Sakura waved her off with a hand. "To tell you the truth I never cared to the -sama part anyways."

"I just wanted to let you know. If you need anything, I can help. I may not belong to the company, but I still have my inside contacts, and I know exactly what is going on. If you need anything, I will help the best way I know how."

"Thanks. But how about we just stick with the student, teacher relationship. I have a feeling you class will be enough to keep me on my toes." Both women laughed. "Now if you excuse me, Hinata is waiting for me."

"Dismissed." Tsunade lie down on her desk, and decided to take a nap.

Sakura went outside to meet up with her friend. Hinata was sitting under the tree with an obviously tired Naruto in her lap. Sakura couldn't help but laugh at the situation. Hinata's face was priceless, and Sakura even thought she stopped breathing for a minute.

"Hey Hinata. Sorry that took so long." Sakura knelt down to her friend.

"It's ok. What did she want to talk to you about anyways?"

"Oh nothing. Just what I had missed last class. You know, the usual." Sakura turned her attention to the blond that was residing in her best friend's lap. "Hey Naruto, are you comfortable?"

"Very." He snuggled closer into Hinata's lap, and wrapped an arm around her waist.

The moment of silence was brought to an end when Sasuke decided to wake him up. Standing behind Sakura, he took a paper ball and hit Naruto right in the face.

"Hey! What the hell was that for?" Naruto jolted out of Hinata's lap, and stood facing his friend.

Sasuke shrugged. "I thought you would want to wake up. School's over, let's go home."

"Dammit Sasuke. I was comfortable. Why couldn't you just let me stay there? Hinata didn't seem to mind." Sasuke couldn't help but laugh back in the blonde's face. This only further pissed Naruto off. "I should kick your ass right now!"

"Well, now, a violent inferior, are we? Not only are you attempting to engender the illusion that you have some form of intelligence scattered in that vacancy you call a brain, but you are imposing violent acts on society." With that said, Sasuke turned away.

Naruto didn't know whether to be pissed or confused at what had just transpired. In the end he let it go. Helping Hinata up Naruto had an idea. "Hey, let's do something fun tonight. I mean, the weekend does officially start today."

"Well, I don't know of anything that will be happening. I didn't hear about any parties."

"That's because it's the first week of school. No one has the time to throw a party." Everyone jumped at the new voice intruding in on their conversation.

"Shit. Gaara couldn't you announce to people when you come up? That pop up thing is rather unsettling." Naruto shook his head. "So what do you propose we do?"

Gaara looked down for a minute. "I think Kankurou has a job tonight. I will call you, and let you know when I get home, alright?"

Naruto jumped up and down, while the two girls settled for a smile and a small thanks. "Shouldn't we tell Sasuke? I feel bad just leaving him out of this weekend." Sakura stated absent-mindedly.

"Well, just call that bastard when we find out what is going on, and let him know."

Sakura nodded her head. "Alright, let's go home."

Sakura had just gotten off the phone with Hinata. Gaara's brother did have a job tonight. From what Sakura could understand, he did some free lance bouncing at certain clubs here. Now she had to call Sasuke.

Sakura quickly dialed the number on her cell phone, and waited for an answer. It was already the fifth ring and no one had answered. Just when she was about to hang up, a voice picked up.

"Hello?"

'Wow, ok. He sounds really pissed.' Sakura thought.

"Oh hey Sasuke. Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"Huh? Um... No. Did you need something?" Sasuke had calmed down a little bit.

"Well it seems that Gaara's brother is working tonight, so Gaara invited us to go to the club. I was just calling to let you know. I mean, in case you wanted to go."

Silence graced the other end for a moment. "Sure. I need to get out. Maybe even have a little drink."

"Alright. I will see you at the club." Sakura proceed to give him directions, but she was cut off.

"Sakura."

"Huh? What?"

"I will pick you up at eight."

"Um. Ok."

With that the line went dead. It was four o'clock. Sakura had plenty of time to get ready. For once in her life she actually had time to relax. Little did she know, this feeling was only fleeting.

Several men sat around in a dark room, conversing on things to come, and future plans of their organization.

"So. Does she know anything that is being prepared for her?"

"Not a clue. She isn't quite of age yet, but when she is, you will be the first to welcome her." A man with red eyes gazed at his fellow comrades.

"Yes Jin-san. Sakura is in for a real treat with me." A look of pure evil crossed the face of a man with raven hair.

"Poor Sakura. She has no idea what she is in for. Does she Itachi?"

(A/n: I sooooooo want to leave it here, but I wont.)

Sakura called up Hinata to let her know that Sasuke was coming to get her, and she would see her there. They had a long talk about the Uchiha, and what was going on between them. Hinata was satisfied that he would not hurt her friend. In the end Hinata told her even if he did hurt Sakura, she would always be there for her no matter what.

Sakura let the words replay in her mind as the water ran over her body. Sasuke had finally deemed it safe to take off the bandage. He just told her to be careful when she was washing, and brushing her hair.

'Well, yeah, my life is pretty bad, but I still have friends. Hell, Jin has done everything to me that he possibly could. As long as I can obey him somewhat, I wont have my friends put in danger.'

She looked at the clock after exiting the shower. It read seven. 'All right, I have one hour, that's plenty of time to get ready.'

Sakura went to her closet and pulled out a pair of black shorts. She was never complete with out something fishnet, so a pair of tights was put on underneath that. She then took out a dress shirt - well what was left of it. Apparently, it had been slashed and torn in strategic places. The sleeves were shredded, the back had three long slashes, and there was two on the front, one on her stomach and the other was right above her chest.

Sakura went to her mirror and pulled her hair up into two half pony tails, and spiked them. It was rather hard to do with her hair considering the lack of hair she had in the middle of her head, because of Sasuke's little hair cut. She finished doing her makeup, which consisted of some black eyeliner. It was drawn on thick and smudged.

Sakura looked at her clock again, and decided to lie down until her ride got there. The next thing she knew, there was a hand cross her mouth, and an arm around the back of her waist, lifting her off the bed.

She opened her eyes in shock.

A/N: Wow... OK yeah blah, this took forever. I didn't want to leave it here, but I did. So, blah to you to. Yeah ok I am really tired now. Now it is time for responses! On another note congratulations to JK. Both Haunted, and Lost and Found are done. Go read them. They are the best!

JK: yeah I feel slow now. Hehehe. You have finished up both Haunted, and LaF before I got this to ya. Damn your speediness. I hope our email doesn't eat this chapter before I get it back. Hehehe

Sessome Yamato: That "guy" was me. I hated the way the ending turned out for that chapter. Oh yeah and I'm a female. JK just commented on it because, I had been talking to her about how much I hated it.

Tank: Yeah Naruto is a dense one. And he will continue to be that way.

Sakura Girl 2005: Thank you so much. I was actually stuck in one spot for a long time. Then I get here and saw your reviews and got on a typing storm. I answered a little bit about the guy in Tokyo. Yeah feel so bad for Gaara too. (glomps) Don't worry I like honest opinions. You can't offend me, so don't worry about it.

MC: You never disappoint me with your reviews either. Yeah I know I used my shirt in my story... so what. Thank ya! Thank ya!

Crazyabutsasuke: Thank-you so much, your review made me smile. Yeah I know it is rare, if not unhured of to have a Yaoi pairing with Sasusaku. In my true fashion I dont care. Hehehe. Thank you for understanding that it is my desision in the end. I am glade you like it. I hope to hear more from you in later chapters.

And thank yous to the following: sasukefurever, Fiona Mckinnon, astarigitloh, Johnnynotsid, serpentslayer, and Shinobi Darkbeak. If I forgot anybody, Please don't kill me! I swear its just cuz I am tired. It is five thirty in the morning!

Junsui Kegasu's BETA notes: Yosh. Thank god this story is still going…god knows how I need something to do…(BAWL) I'M A WRECK WITHOUT WRITING!