Chapter 13

Extra: I know it has been months since my last update. A lot has happened...and unfortunately nothing good. My writing, along with many other things, I couldn't bring myself to do. Or even recall how to do to be utterly honest. My writing style may have changed because of it but I hope I kept to the same flow as previously written. I've re-read through two previous chapters and I winced at the typos and unclear scenes. This story is my first ever chapter story and I want to feel pride in it but looking back I feel I rushed it, said way more than needed, and mingled the original plot with whatever had sprung into my mind right then and there.

I know I have said I will go back and edit only to not fully go through all chapters because I found it tiresome and simply wanted to continue onward. I will be shifting through the chapters so they make more sense and editing along as I go. If I winced when reading over some chapters I know many of you readers have probably cringed. Or gave up reading the story completely. I apologize fully for the lack of full enjoyment and/or interest of this story due to that.

Sorry for the length of this A/N, enjoy the chapter and my deep apologies for the very belated chapter update.

It was an extended pitched tone that woke her. Green eyes blearily fluttered over the room before landing upon the pink device. She swiped away the lock screen to view the text. It was Yuna. Seeing who it was front sent a mixture of emotions through her. An odd excitement she couldn't name but brought forth the phantom feelings of what her friend gives her for those down moods...and also a guilty feeling for wanting to feel such a way again after having made that promise to Naruto almost a week ago. She chewed her bottom lip as her eyes skimmed the words uon opening the text message. The soft mound of her bottom lip became squished as she bit down harder as a nervousness coiled in her stomach upon seeing the numbers at the end.

Yuna:. I thought i cud pul sum strings but it was a no-go. Im sry but do u think u can get me $200 by monday?

Sakura dropped the phone onto her stomach and promptly rolled over. Pressing her face into the pillow and breathing deep. She knew she shouldn't of kept the topic going when Yuna brought it up by asking how she was feeling without the stuff two days ago. She had gotten nervous when Yuna told her that her friend who lends her the stuff needed money for the last amount. Sakura could admit she had been getting worried when Yuna said the amount but was eased in the chance that whoever gave it Yuna might consider a discount. Seeing this message though changed that luck around. Luckily Sakura had the amount saved up but it meant she couldn't ask her mother for lunch money now. Her mother couldn't know of this. She made Yuna promise not to tell Naruto. He wouldn't understand. Yuna did though and she owed her friend for going out of her way for her. Pulling her face out of the pillow she replied she had the money saved.

Feeling awake now she got out of bed. Her legs felt odd but what was more so was how her fingers seemed to twitch. She shrugged it off. Moving toward her mirror Sakura checked her appearance. Clean face if really tired looking. Her hair was a definite mess. Feeling a sudden rush to her head she decided against styling it and just swept it up into a top bun. She went about putting on a pair of sweats over her sleep shorts. It was then her phone went off again followed by another ding that drew her attention. The first she figured was Yuna; the second made her stomach burst with butterflies as she read the New Message from Sasuke.

Sasuke: Heyy cant chill 2day gotta do stuff with my dad. I'll be there 2maro mornin for school. C u l8r

Only to come down when she recalled dimly who actually owned that phone number. Sakura sent a quick ok. She went to Yuna's message; green eyes glancing to her underwear drawer where she kept her savings. Yuna wanted to get the money today. Sakura couldn't understand why she changed her mind so suddenly but asked where to meet up. As she waited for a reply she sent another text to Naruto of spending the day shopping with her mother.

"Shoot, Kiba!"

She completely forgot the dog-lover would know if she hung out with Yuna. They were dating. She brought up his contacts and called repeatedly til the boy answered with an annoyed sleep coated; "What?"

"Hey! I'm gonna hang out with Yuna today."

There was a yawn. "Congratulations? I'm gonna go back to bed now if that's all-"

"No no, I need you to not tell Naruto."

"...Why?"

Sakura ignored the tone in that deep voice. It almost sounded like he was suspicious of her which made no sense but she didn't bother to pay it any mind. "Because I'm shopping to get him a gift." came the smooth on the spot lie.

"His birthday already passed though." Some shuffling sounded followed by a sigh and another sound that made Sakura pull a disgusted face.

"EW! Kiba are you seriously peeing with a girl on the phone!?"

"Heh, ya say that like I give a shit." A flush sounded. "If you get off my phone in 10 seconds I won't tell Naruto."

"Thank yo-"

"9...8.."

"Gosh you are so not a morning person!"

"Nope, 4...3.."

Sakura ended the call with a glare to her phone as if the jerkwad could see it. At least she knew Kiba would keep his word. The jerk. Geezes it amazed her how that boy had as many friends as he did. Shaking her head some she checked her appearance, changed quickly as she found it lacking, and applied some light makeup before bidding her mother goodbye. The walk to the train was nice and quiet. It took her less time than expected to reach the meetup spot; her heartbeat speeding up in nervousness. What if Yuna didn't show? Sakura couldn't say she was all that comfortable knowing she had $200 bucks in her pocket. The ride was a smooth ten minute trip. She breathed out a relieved sigh upon spotting the back of Yuna's form outside the cafe she had mentioned being just outside the satation. Her forming smile fell upon seeing her friend talking to another person.

An older looking man.

Feeling nervous once more she swallowed ot down it and crossed the street to the pair. "Hey Yuna!"

Yune turned to her with a big smile. Sakura waved back as she hopped onto their sidewalk. The two girls hugged. Yuna asked the pink haired girl to turn around as she complimented Sakura's outfit; gaining a laugh. The brunette giggled too before motioning to the man beside her. The man was definitely older. Taller than both girls but slender build even under the hoodie and vest. He had brushed back hair, heavy grey eyes in an angled face, and an air around him that made Sakura's forgotten nervousness from seeing Yuna return full force. The man's opening smile doing nothing to put the feeling coiling in her stomach at ease.

"As my dear Yuna said, my name is Natsu. You must be Sakura." The man's eyes swept over her. "Befitting name. I like the hair color."

"Thank you."

"Anyways Sakura, is it okay if we go somewhere else instead of the cafe?" Yuna gave an apologetic look. "I forgot I promised to give some sugar to Natsu buuuuuut I can't really do that in a cafe."

Sakura blinked. "Sugar?" Yuna tapped her nose discreetly. "Oh! Oh...umm...I guess that's fine. It's not far is it? I have to shop for a gift for Naruto." She added feeling uncomfortable with this sudden change in plan.

"It won't take long at all! And for being so cool about this I'll give you some too!"

And a car ride later they were stepping into a house. Going down some stairs into a cozy but roomy gameroom type basement fitted with a big t.v, open bar, and plush seating. Sakura felt uneasy as she took the offered seat on the couch. Natsu sitting on the other end with Yuna in the middle. They talked a bit before the brunette offered to get some drinks. Natsu grabbed her wrist, tugging her down, speaking in a low tone into her ear. Yuna's went from startled to confused then flicked to Sakura before she nodded in understanding. She left the two after getting a baggie from the bar and dropping it on the coffee table with a smile to Sakura.

"Is that all for you?" Sakura couldn't help but comment upon seeing the amount. "I've never seen so much before..."

There was a laugh beside her. "No no, I never use so much of my own goods. This, I am willing to share with you, my dear."

Natsu's smile this time was lip-sealed and seemed more genuine somehow. He made a kinda may-I gesture to which Sakura nodded to. He cleared off the glass table and plucked the baggie to shake out a bit of the cocaine; just enough. A card was used to divide and section off the powder into lines til 6 lines were presented. Natsu tapped the card against the table to get the mini grains off before turning to look at the girl beside him. He shifted a bit closer; pulling out an unopened straw from his vest pocket. "Here, ladies first."

"Oh-no I couldn't. I umm, made a promise," Sakura gently shook her head, green eyes moving from the papered straw, to the man, and to the coke. Her fingers curled into fists against her knees. "and I still have to pay Yuna for-"

"Say no more." Natsu set the straw onto the table but soon held up a fingers in a sign to wait a moment. "Why don't you try this? Not breaking a promise if it's not the same thing, right?"

"Well..I.."

He tilted the small gel like pill held between his index and thumb a tiny bit. "I promise, this is actually much better for you than that crap." The hand was extended to Sakura. "I should know, I've tried both and this one doesn't mess you up. Also rather unnoticeable in most situations unlike coke." Still seeing the girl's unsure expression, he verbally nudged a bit more. "It won't hurt to give it a try, it's like taking a pain reliever, pop it it, swallow, and done. No one would anyone since there no residue to worry about."

Sakura took the pill and looked it over in her grasp. "You say no one will know?" Her eyes looked to him once more. "If this is really like a pain reliever type, it's not illegal and considered a drug, right?"

"Definitely not illegal."

"Does it do anything though then?"

Here Natsu smiled once more. "As I said, it's better than coke. Breaths a new life into, my dear. All your nervousness gone, you can feel utterly confident on this stuff, and trust me when I say it gets you to the places you want to be but had fear holding you back from getting there. It's a wonder pill, really. No unusual side effects either"

Sakura said nothing as her mind rolled. She wouldn't be breaking her promise to Naruto if she did this. It wasn't illegal after all! If this guy was comparing it to regular over-the-counter medicine than it must be ok. And it sounded good. This was like a brave pill. She could become a lioness instead of being stuck as a kitten. A little kitten that needed Naruto to feel safe at parties or public places. A kitten that was too shy to do the things she felt she could do. She could be a lioness that was capable of getting what she wanted. A lioness that knew how to play without a care like her friends. A lioness that was brave, strong, beautiful and ready for whatever. Sakura could feel a blooming warmth spread into her from these thoughts as she stared at the pill. Her mind racing with things she'd do differently; and one such thing was Sasuke Uchiha. If this didn't have the side-effects she noticed Yuna's stuff gave her than she really could be the girl for Sasuke and still be the girl Naruto knew her as. Only better.

She was drawn from her thoughts as the man, Natsu she recalled the name, tapped her with the straw.

"You can always try a line and then the pill. Compare the two and see how you like either or."

"I would like that, is that okay?"

He smiled once more. "Of course."

It was just as she finished a second line did Yuna return. The brunette set three cans of soda and two water bottles onto the table a little ways from Sakura's dunked head. Her eyes watched the pink haired girl a moment until her attention was taken by the sole male there. Natsu tugged her around the waist to sit upon his lap. A front touched his slim lips when Yuna pushed herself off to sit beside him instead. She pointedly looked to Sakura then gave a curious look to him. She watched as he raised a hand out of Sakura's view to make a shh signal without fully bringing the digit to his lips; followed by a wink. A smile touched her lips.

"I'm sorry it took me so long, I got a call from a friend. She's having boy trouble."

"Boy trouble?" Sakura asked as she sat up fully, discarding the straw on the table. "What happened if you don't mind me asking?"

"Maybe you can help actually!" Yuna leaned over Natsu who was seated between them. She made sure to angle herself in a way that kept the other girl from seeing the man's hand slip under the back of her shirt. "TO get you caught up, she used to cry a lot because she was so frustrated with herself, ya know. She really liked this boy but whenever she had the chance to talk to him she's fumble fansticaly."

"Oh no…"Sakura shook her head some. "I know how that is."

"She was so upset that she made such a fool of herself. She kept crying about it." The brunette went on. "She felt so trapped inside her own self. But now it seems the guy can't get enough of her that she doesn't know what to do to get him to give her some space."

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked confused.

"Well, I helped her out how I do you when you need a little boost to brighten your day only I gave her this pill that Natsu here recommended and it worked like a charm." Yuna smiled brightly then shook her head fondly as she continued to speak. "Unfortunately it worked a little to well and now that the boy has seen her out of her shell he's like completely hooked on her!" She laughed, leaning into Natsu's form in a sign to laugh along with her.

Sakura's green eyes lowered from her friend's amused face to the pill she still held in hand. She looked from it to Yuna and back again. Natsu's words echoing in her head. This would be perfect if it helped Yuna's friend. It did remind her of her own boy trouble. Only she couldn't see a downside of having too much of Sasuke's attention on her. "Do you mean this pill?" She raised the pill into view. "Natsu gave it to me to try."

"Yeah! That's the one, it's pretty amazing I think!" A nudge to Yuna's side and a hidden pointed look. "I haven't seen a downside to this stuff; she's pretty happy despite having her crush all over her. "She laughed once more.

A hand reached for the water bottle. The pill was swallowed down with a gulp of liquid. Sakura exhaled a breath. She looked back at the two others and smiled; feeling lighter already. "There."

"Perfect." Natsu smiled back. "Now onto business, hm?"

"Business?"

"Of course, you owe 200 don't you?"

"Oh yes!" Sakura pulled out the money from her pocket. Happy to not have to walk around with it but a bit discouraged to give it up. 'Here."

Both girls watched as the older male counted the money. He folded the bills over and tucked them into an inside vest pocket before setting his eyes upon Sakura once more. A small frown touching his lips as he tilted his head a bit. "I, uhh, don't want to sound mean, but- oh wow this is gonna be awkward, but uh.."

"What is it?" Sakura asked worriedly. "You okay?"

"I think there's been a misunderstanding, my dear."

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't cove the price for the pill nor the two lines you did."

Green eyes looked on confused. "I don't understand..I thought-"

Natsu's eyes widen as he seemed to realize something. "Oh no..you really did misunderstand! My apologies but those weren't for free."

Said girl's eyes widen. Her lips parted as her body froze despite the tingles she could feel in her limbs. "I...I'm so sorry! I don't..I don't have anymore money on me."

"That is a problem. For you see, that was the last pill I had, and I was under the impression when you tested the two of them that you had the money to cover it. I can't just give this stuff away for free, you understand? It's a business and it's how I get by day to day myself."

The tingled turned into a warming rush. It flowed upward into the brain and swept a relaxing shudder down the body. Sakura felt suddenly so good. Her heart beat faster as she flooded with energy and thoughts of things she could do it was hard to focus on Natsu's words. She knew she owed this man though and it was her fault for not being clear. Mistakes happen, it wasn't a big deal she felt. The feeling overriding the worry that struggled to make itself known from under the pressuring dominance of the drugs. "I understand. I'm so sorry! What can I do to right this?"

Her words would of went on, gaining speed as she spoke, if Natsu didn't press a finger to the girl's lips. "Next time you see Yuna here outside of your little school, give her the money."

"Alright! I'm so very glad that's settled. I wouldn't wanna be the reason your business started going down and you couldn't live."

"Me neither, my dear. Now, it's gotten pretty I think we should all get home. I'll drive you to the train, Sakura, but if you want to use the restroom it's just upstairs by the kitchen."

Sakura nodded her thanks with a beaming smile. Her feet stumbled slightly but not enough for her to have taken notice. Nor any notice of the watchful grey eyes of the man. When her steps faded up the steps, Yuna's form appeared from a dpor just by the bottom steps. She waited for the faint sound of the bathroom door to shut before walking up to Natsu. Letting the man pull her onto his lap. Her own arms coming to rest upon his shoulders as she looked down at him.

"You will text her the amount of 300 the moment we drop her off. Be sweet and friendly about it. Make sure she agrees to the amount." His hands squeezed up the younger's sides then down to curve over her ass. "I want it all in written form just incase the little girl backs out or blacks out."

"It'll be done, sir."

"And Yuna," Natsu pressed a light kiss to her lips. "no names dropped."

"Of course."

He claimed her mouth this time.

A/N: End of chapter 13. Shorter than previous chapter but more to the point of the story plot. Natsu is a OC and has a big place in this story as the obvious Drug Dealer bad guy that he is. No more characters will be added; in fact a few previous ones will actually be removed. Such as the mention of Hinata, Shino, Gaara's brother and random students tagged with a known name just because really. Sasuke's friends are not main characters but do play a role in the story just not as much as Naruto's friends do. The members of Akatsuki and Gaara are the same level of importance as Naruto's friends; maybe even more so.

This story I can tell you is going to take a dark turn. It will be lengthy but kept to the point of the plot as this chapter was. I hope you look forward to it as I do getting the chance to write it.

R&R would be greatly appreciated!

& THANKYOU FOR STICKING WITH THIS STORY! 3

Chapter 14 already done.