A/N: Hey guys! Hopefully I haven't kept you all waiting too long...I hate the feeling of waiting for a new chapter to be posted. :) Anyway I tried to keep this one a bit more lengthy just because I felt like it. Heh please read, review and as always enjoy!

Redemption of the Heart

Family History

Sakura's eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times before realizing that the sun was already up and giving life to everything it touched. She relaxed under the golden rays that washed over her body and bed sheets before stretching and releasing a loud yawn. Sakura bit her lip remembering exactly where she had stayed. Her senses were still hazy from just waking up, but the distinct smell of polished oak entered her nose which was a very apparent contrast to the scent of lavender that used to occupy her room. She frowned remembering her room and recalling what happened only a few hours ago. She shook her head in disbelief and briefly looked towards the door. She felt like she should be on a mission...but couldn't tell what the mission was. She thought long and hard after she sat Indian style on the bed with a pillow to cushion her elbows as they rested on her knees. She couldn't stand sitting in that room surrounded by silence. Sakura jumped to her feet and pulled open a drawer, grabbed a grey sweatshirt and pulled it over her frame as she felt a light draft travel up her night gown. She tip toed to the door and looked down the endless hallways before turning to the right and creeping to the next door. Sakura edged toward the door and as gently as possible pushed it open just slightly ajar, peeking through the crack to scan what was inside. To her surprise, this room wasn't as bright as the one she had awoken in. This room was decorated with everything in midnight blue hues. She looked towards the bed and found that it was occupied. She blushed when she realized that it was a topless Sasuke sleeping peacefully among the ocean of silk sheets. She quickly turned her back against the door and shut it. Shaking all perverse thoughts from her head she crept down the stairs and towards the door. Yes, now that she had confirmed the fact that the Uchiha was still sleeping, her plan would carry out perfectly.

- - - -

Sakura marched energetically down the busy marketplace. She had already purchased fresh mochi (1), still warm and wonderfully soft. She walked passed many vendors who called out their fresh produce and products as she walked by. She stopped at an old woman's stall and observed how fresh her peaches were and thought of the perfect breakfast. She bought a bag of peaches and a container of fresh strawberries before stopping by to say hello to her old friend.

Sakura stopped in front of a beautifully presented flower shop. She went inside and found the voice of a familiar blonde erupting from a back room.

"Shikamaru! I told you to clip the thorns off of those roses and put them in a container full of warm water! Look what you did! Now I have holes all over my fingers and the flowers already started to wilt!"

"Quiet down woman! We have a customer and for all I know they might have ran off thinking a monster was running the business!" Sakura cringed as she heard a bone cracking smack. A blue eyed Shikamaru appeared from the back room and greeted her quietly before sitting down with his arms crossed. Ino followed behind but was much more excited to see her old friend than her boyfriend.

"SAKURA! How have you been? I heard about your house, I'm so sorry!" Ino offered her concern with a hug. Sakura smiled and hugged her back warmly.

"It's alright, at least I'm okay right?" Sakura smiled.

"Right, as always. So what can I do for you? You want to pick up some flowers?" Ino said opening the doors to a flower fridge.

"Wow when did you get that installed?" Sakura asked marveling at the huge display fridge that resembled a supermarket freezer isle.

"Actually, Shikamaru installed it! Isn't he just handy?" Shikamaru frowned at Ino's sickly sweet tone and chose to go about clipping various stems off of a few flowers. "So what kind of flowers you looking for?"

"Hm, well I was looking for something to brighten up a room. It's decorated with such dark materials, the room seems like a coffin more than a bedroom. Maybe something yellow?" Sakura questioned.

"Actually I got just the thing! A new shipment of organic yellow roses came in the other day. I can get you a bouquet of those if you'd like," Ino called over her shoulder as she went into the storage room to find the new case of yellow roses.

"Oh that would be wonderful! Oh and if you have red tulips I'll take a bouquet of those too!" Sakura called out.

"Planning on adding a feminine touch to Sasuke's place?" Sakura's smile faded and a blush graced her cheeks. Had word already gotten out that she was staying with Sasuke? She wasn't stepping over her boundaries to put flowers in his home, right? She gulped thinking about all the possibilities. Shikamaru watched in distaste as he could recognize every fear she had surface onto her face, her expressions making her as open as a book. She snapped out of her thoughts as Ino came back.

"Here we are! A dozen organic yellow roses and half a dozen red tulips! That will be free of charge ma'am!" Ino declared with a thumbs up.

"Ino! No! Really I insist that I pay for it. I'm...well...going to be buying flowers from you everyday so you have to accept my money," Sakura said already pulling out her wallet.

"Oh boy. Alright, fine, I'll charge you for the yellow roses but the tulips are on me!" Sakura smiled and nodded as she took her flowers and headed back to the Uchiha mansion.

She reached the gate and placed one bag on the ground to free her hand as she pushed the black iron gate open. She picked up her bag and headed up the path to the mansion but for some odd reason she felt like she was looking at a different house. Sasuke's home, the previous night, had looked awfully gloomy and dark, but in broad daylight it seemed very much normal. She could see the detailed carvings in the stone bricks and how green moss climbed the walls of her former teammate's home. The bare trees that littered his lawn didn't seem so much like skeletal beings, but seemed to melt and become one with his estate. The whole scene was bathed in gold hues from changing leaves and streaming sunlight. Sakura felt a sense of new inspiration dawn upon her and rushed to the door.

Sakura didn't take the time to fold the sweatshirt as she flung it carelessly on a coat hanger and stumbled into the kitchen where she began rummaging through the drawers while humming a tune to herself happily. Sakura smiled as she pulled her bag of flour, milk, eggs, fresh fruit and powdered sugar out of her grocery bags. She had found a pretty little pink apron in a drawer next to the stove. Must be Sasuke's mother's too. She pulled the apron around her neck and tied the strings in a neat bow around her waist as she opened the flour and moved on to find a bowl to mix it in. She opened the cabinet and what she saw almost brought tears to her eyes. The plates that were stacked, high on each shelf, was flawless chinaware, the only thing wrong with this picture was the fact that each stack of plates and bowls were covered with dust and cobwebs. All these years, Sasuke lived alone, dined alone and slept alone. All he did was dwell in this empty place called home that reminded him of his family yet he didn't dare touch anything. Sakura blinked her tears away for him. He wouldn't appreciate tears of pity. No wonder he acts so cold, he's had to endure growing up alone and keeping up to the expectations of others to preserve the honor of the Uchiha name. It's so obvious now why he's such an ice block. She sighed and began prepping a breakfast that Sasuke would never forget.

----

Sasuke awoke to the aroma of freshly made baked goods and the sweet scent of fruit. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and cringed. He sensed bright light on his right but immediately became confused when he realized that his window was to his left. Sasuke sat up in his bed and turned to see what was so bright in his room. The only lively item in his room...it had been years since his room seemed alive. A lone glass vase filled with long stem yellow roses sat on his nightstand.

Sasuke found this new object in his room quite frightening. The last time he had flowers in his room were when his mother had grown sunflowers in the yard and plucked one out for his room. It seemed like an eternity that something like a vase full of flowers could quell the feeling of longing from his expertly buried emotions. He shook the feelings aside and instead opened his closet door and pulled a loose shirt over his naked torso. He opened the his room door and the smell of breakfast struck his senses in a wave. He took his time descending the stairs but found himself amused when he peered around the end of the hall to see Sakura scurrying to put the last of the dishes away. He caught the faint dusting of flour on her cheeks and nose. He smirked that she had been successful in cleaning the kitchen but hadn't bothered to check her own state. He coughed.

"Sasuke! You're awake! How did you sleep? Oh what am I saying? I made breakfast, let's eat." Sakura offered walking into the Uchiha dining hall and pulling back a chair for him. He eyed the seat almost suspiciously before he said a curt 'hn' and proceeded to sit. Sakura quickly took her apron off and neatly tucked it away in the drawer she had found it before sitting across from Sasuke at the table. Sasuke eyed the food set out before him. Honestly, he had seen Sakura as the type people would label as a tomboy. He thought she lacked grace and poise, things that would be hard to obtain as a female ninja. But then again, that was when he knew her back then. A large silver platter sat before him filled with two high stacks of freshly made pancakes. Sakura watched Sasuke intently as he eyed the food.

"Don't worry, it's not going to kill you. I can cook you know. I actually go over to Kakashi's place and have a nice dinner with him and Suiren, but I do all the work of course" Sakura said smiling to herself as she remembered the couple always bickering about what kind of pasta she should make. Sakura smiled and picked up a plate, stacking three pancakes on it and then topping it with the chopped peaches and strawberries. She then uncovered a bowl full of sweetened home made whip cream and placed a good dollop right on top. "Eat up! I wouldn't want you to spar on an empty stomach." Sakura said while making a plate for herself. She didn't bother to watch if he ate it or not. Honestly she was convinced he would have said she was stupid and left by now, but for some unknown reason he stayed and quietly began cutting up the pancakes. He lifted his fork to his lips and paused for just a brief moment before taking a bite. He said nothing and ate in complete silence. As he ate, he felt a dab of cream fall on his hand. He looked up to reach for a napkin but something else caught his attention. In the corner of the living room, that connected to the dining hall, a silver vase of red tulips sat atop a coffee table. Forgetting the cream that was currently making his fingers sticky, he put his fork and knife down.

"Did you buy those?" Sakura looked up at the question. At first she had no idea what he was talking about. Obviously, she had to purchase all the items on the table for them to be eating at all, I mean for a place that is considered a mansion and a person who is wealthy, his fridge was completely bare. When she had looked up she saw that his head was turned away from her facing the direction of the living room. She peered around his head and saw that his gaze rested on the vase of tulips and she smiled.

"Yeah, I figure I'd help Ino and become a valued customer. I think flowers would brighten up the place." Sakura said digging back into her pile of pancakes.

"No one asked you to do that." Sasuke answered coldly. Sakura knew there was no point in defending herself or rather telling him how pathetic his home seemed. She sighed and gave in.

"I know..." Sakura replied weakly. "Sasuke, friends do that sometimes you know. Do things for people without being asked to do so..." Sakura picked up her glass and sipped some water. She put her fork down after she saw that Sasuke had put his down long ago and was gathering his dishes together. She wanted to smile when she saw that he had finished his breakfast. The only remains of her cooking were a few crumbs and the juice that came from the fruit. He stood and walked into the kitchen placing the dishes into the sink.

"I'll do the dishes when you're done," with that Sasuke headed back up the stairs to his room to prepare for his morning spar with Naruto and Kakashi. Sakura shook her head at his usual demeanor. She placed the rest of the pancakes and fruit into a container and cleared her seat. She always did cook too much, might as well feed the others before they spar. She put the containers into a bag and packed a few napkins and two forks. She thought for a minute and packed an extra utensil.

-----

The bridge glowed with the bright morning sun. Sasuke had silently walked with her to the bridge, more for protection than friendship. They sat comfortably on the railing and waited for the others to arrive. Sakura sat with her lips pursed as her mind wandered off to distant memories of her house.

"The food better not slow me down," Sasuke said breaking the silence. Sakura snapped her eyes to him as he spoke. "You put enough food on one plate to feed an army..." Sakura giggled at Sasuke's joke. She was happier now that she realized that he wasn't going to be the usual stoic stubborn ass he always had been.

"I'm always around you boys, I guess I'm just used to making monstrous amounts." Sasuke smirked as a genuine smile crept onto her face. He had thought that she'd never smile for him again, but she was more stuck on him than he had expected. Even with the arrival of Ichigo, she was still attatched to him. Duh, you were a teammate. Far more important than some new chump who walked into town. For once, Sasuke liked what his inner voice was saying. He watched as she stifled a yawn as the long wait for their ramen obsessed friend and perverted ex-sensei continued. Sakura sighed as she felt a swift wind rustle her clothes and hair.

"Good morning Sakura-san." Sakura's eyes widened as she recogninzed the deep mellow voice.

"Ichigo! What are you doing here?" Sakura exclaimed.

"I had seen you early in the morning at the market place. I asked that blonde friend of yours if you ever train and she suggested that I catch you here where you and your ex-teammates spar." Ichigo said taking a step closer to her. Sasuke jumped off the railing and stood between the two.

"You're not going near her." Sakura's jaw dropped at Sasuke's command. She had suspected that perhaps he had been jealous that she was devoting time to a man she barely knew, but she never expected him to be so protective. "I know you're the one behind the attacks."

"You're gravely mistaken. I would never hurt Sakura. I know the bombing of her home may seem coincidental that it happened merely a few moments after I had taken her home, but I wouldn't lay a finger on her" Ichigo said narrowing his eyes as anger began rising within him.

"I couldn't trust a man who came to live in Konoha mysteriously, let alone a man who would try and charm his way into a woman's heart just to kill her." Sasuke hissed.

"STOP! No one knows exactly what is going on. For once can I just have some peace? My life has the been the latest gossip in Konoha and believe me, I don't enjoy all the stares and snickering!" Sakura said squeezing her eyes shut. It was like every moment she had to sort her mind, something had to happen.

"Who the hell are you anyway?" Sasuke asked balling his fists. Sakura rolled her eyes at Sasuke who obviously completely ignored her outburst. Ichigo sighed as he knew this had to be the time in which all of his ambitions were revealed. They had to know someday and it had to be now, to ensure the safety of Sakura.

"I am Ichigo Nagusame. I am an eternal guardian of the Haruno family." Sakura's eyes nearly bulged from her sockets. Her family never had a guardian, let alone an ETERNAL guardian.

"What are you talking about?" Sakura questioned.

"Long ago, the Harunos resided in every hidden village. Each first born son of the Haruno family was trained to become one of the best shinobi. With such elite blood running through the family, Takada Haruno made an alliance with another great family, the Nagusame. My family has protected the family of Harunos for centuries. For as long as the Haruno's existed, we the Nagusame swore to protect them."

"So you came to Konoha to protect me? Wait, that's not even my main concern, how did I not know about my family being some kind of elite shinobi family? And as a matter of fact, who the hell is Takada Haruno?" Sakura shouted putting her hands on her hips. Maybe she didn't like Ichigo after all.

"Takada Haruno was your great, great grandfather. The reason why you have no recollection of this family history is because Yamatoshi Haruno, your grandfather broke away from the family. You see, when the alliance was made, my great great grandfather made his part of the deal. He wanted to make sure that his family rival would never marry into yours." Ichigo said, his face stern as talk about their great elders continued. "Our family rival wanted to marry into your family so that the generations to come would have wealth and a high position in society, allowing them to do nearly anything they wanted, but what they wanted was to start an elite family of rogue shinobi. Your family has dignity and honor and so refused the idea of letting such a thing happen so they made the deal with my grandfather."

"That still doesn't explain why I didn't know all of this. I mean, my great great grandfather may have broken off all contact from the family but that doesn't explain why I'm here and there are no other existing Harunos in the other hidden villages." Sakura was beginning to have that faint sensation of her stomach dropping.

"After this alliance was made between our families, your great great grandfather ran away. At the time he was only 17, but his interests did not lie in becoming a shinobi or a ninja. He had his heart else where, so he fled his family. After he settled here in Konoha, our family rival began seeking revenge. They wiped out all the existing Haruno families and now they're after the last one."

"Why are they after her now, after so long?" Sasuke cut in.

"The Haruno family that resided in Konoha was never a threat. They knew why Yamatoshi had left, he didn't want to become an elite shinobi, so they had nothing to worry about. But now that Sakura is at the prime of her age and is highly skilled...they want to carry out their plan. They want her dead." After Ichigo spoke his last sentence, Sasuke's eyes narrowed into deadly slits.

"Your family rival wants me dead? Who are they?" Sakura asked weakly. In the span of five minutes, her entire world began to spin in a blur of colors as she added up the past few days. First she was attacked, her house was blown to bits and now she was being informed about a family history she didn't even know existed.

"The Akumas..." Ichigo's voice was low as he whispered the name of the family that shook fear into the hearts of every man who knew them. Even now, every Nagusame who swore to protect the Haruno name trembled in fear of the Akumas. Sasuke could tell from Ichigo's expression, that this was not a family that was easily defeated. It was deathly quiet as the three stood on the bridge but after what seemed like a moment's peace an evil cackle ripped through the empty forest.

"I guess that's my cue to introduce myself. I am Fuyu Akuma, sworn enemy of the Nagusame family, and the murderer of the last standing Haruno. It's wonderful to finally meet you, Sakura-san."

Note:

(1): Mochi- a soft and sticky rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed that chapter! I was actually going for this story line the whole time but was afraid that I couldn't pull it off. Most of the stories I read that have Sakura as part of some royal family that she never knew about always seems so cliché and boring but hopefully mine isn't like that at all! Anyway I'll be updating again soon and please review! J