Part Four

SAKURA'S POV

"Ladies and Gentleman I would like to thank you for your attendance here tonight. Please, enjoy your evening." Applause filled the room as Ms. Senju stepped down from the stage and the band took her place.

"Sakura."

"Yes." I quickly followed her through the crowd to the bar, of course. "Ms. Senju, Shizune said you're only allowed two glasses of champagne."

"Sakura, I am a grown woman." The bartender handed her a cup of sake.

I clear my throat. "Yes, of course, but I need you to be able to function tonight." She contemplate my words.

"Five."

"Three." I offered.

"Four." I rolled my eyes.

"Three and I'll let you leave the office early so you can gamble."

She slammed the cup on the bar. "You drive a hard bargain Haruno, deal."

I informed the bartender that her limit was three glasses and no more after that.

"You should mingle." She tried to wave me off.

"Shouldn't you be present as well?" I was nervous.

"Sakura, you're my successor. These important people need to see the face of who will be taking my place once I'm ready to retire." She knocked her second glass back, the woman could drink I'd give her that.

"Me. What about Shizune? She's been with you for years." I couldn't possibility take her place, she out ranks me.

Ms. Senju smiled fondly at the mention of her closest friend. "Do me proud, girl." She handed me a glass of champagne. "Now get out there." She pushed me forward into the crowd.

After my first conversation with an executive and his wife, it was easier to talk about our hospital and myself in general. The conversation flowed easily; I didn't linger in a group but tried to make my presence known all around the room. Very interesting people are here tonight, some more interesting than other like Dr. Kabuto Yukushi – he was definitely different, I shuddered.

"Oh, thank you." I took the glass that was offered to me by the server. I was taking a break from speaking as I glanced around the room, it was a full house but I should be able to spot him anywhere.

"Sakura!" Ms. Senju was calling me over. "There you are, have you met Gaara Sabaku? He's from Suna."

Gods. Why haven't I seen him before? His hair is brightest color of red, and those jade eyes are definitely going to do a number on me. I take in the rest of his face, a strong jaw and nice lips plus a tattoo – interesting. He's too good-looking for words.

"I don't believe I have." I planned to shake his hand but that thought fled my mind as he pressed his warm lips on the back of my hand.

"N-Nice to meet you." I could feel my face warm.

"So this is the Sakura you've been going on about?" He released my hand and I decided that are limbs are safer behind my back. I can't melt into a puddle in front of my boss, she'd never let me live it down.

I laughed lightly. "All good things I hope."

"Great things." His dreamy eyes lingered on face longer than usual, and I could feel the blush creeping up on me.

"She's going to do great things for this hospital." She's louder than usual, I think Ms. Senju had more than three; I was going to fire that bartender once I got a chance.

"Yes, well." I cleared my throat. "If you'll excuse me, I need to use the Ladies' room." I tried to dismiss myself but he casually leaned toward me.

"Come find me later tonight." Oh Gods, he smells amazing.

I slowly put space between us. "Mr. Sabaku-"

"Please call me Gaara." He interrupted.

I licked my lips and smiled slightly. "Gaara tonight is very important night for me. I don't think I'll have the time for that, I apologize."

"Aa." He understood but reached into his coat pocket. "Call me, when you are have time." I held the card in my hand.

"She will call." I jerked my head toward Ms. Senju; she gave me a pointed-stare. "We'll talk later Mr. Sabaku."

"I look forward to it." He smirked.

Once he was out of sight, I glared at my boss. "Why'd you do that for? I'm not going to call him." She plucked the card from my fingers.

"Sakura, you're going to pass up a chance to ride that man." Oh, yeah she is buzzed, she's talking nonsense.

I gasped. "Ms. Senju!" I covered my red face with my hands, she is so embarrassing.

"Don't act so innocent, Sakura." I hated when she teased me, she was like my second mother. She should not need to know about my sex life or lack off.

I huffed in annoyance. "You look like Shoda when you make that face."

"He is my son."

She sighed, "He is but he needs a father." I eyebrows jerked up, oh, we are definitely not discussing this right now.

"Tsunade, this is not the time nor the place." I said through clenched teeth, I'd forgive her tomorrow. "I'll be in the Ladies' room." I turned on my heel. How dare she bring that up! Especially, now! In front of our co-workers and guests, that bartender was dead meat.

"Excuse me, excuse me." I repeated as I worked my way through the crowd of people, that's when I noticed a head of black hair walking toward the bar, I would recognize the back of his head anywhere.

Sai!

I snuck up on him as he waited to be served at the bar, I felt like a giddy school girl.

I lightly tapped him on shoulder, "Did you miss me, Sai?" I asked, sweetly.

Only when Sai turned around did I realize I made a mistake, the air left my lungs as I stared into familiar onyx eyes, that beautiful color of darkness tat could only belong to him.

"S-Sasuke." I gasped, I need a brown paper bag, all of sudden my lungs have stopped working. He's just as stunned as I am; I felt the blood leave my face, this can't be happening.

"Wh- Wha-" The room is starting to get very blurry before my eyes, I couldn't even finish my sentence before darkness came over me.

SASUKE'S POV

Tonight was a shit-filled night, Sakura was nowhere in sight! She had to be close, Ms. Senju was her idol it only makes sense that Sakura would want to study under her. After fending off the sex-crazed women for the evening I needed a drink, a strong one – preferably whiskey. I was waiting for the bartender to quit eye fucking this redhead when I felt a tap on my shoulder, it irked my nerves that some women couldn't take the hint. I planned to tell her off because that is the only way they seemed to understand but before I could open my mouth, the sweetest voice rang in my ears.

"Did you miss me, Sai?" Great, she has mistaken me for someone else. I sighed softly before turning to face the woman; I wanted to see if her sweet voice matched her face. All the words I planned to say died in the back of mind as soon as I saw her face, that beautiful face with those bright green doe-eyes and full soft lips.

Holy fuck, there she is! She is here. Standing in front me.

I heard her gasp.

"S-Sasuke." Her face paled as she realized who I was, that was not a good sign but at least she did not run.

"Wh- Wh-" Her balance staggered a little bit; once her eyes rolled back, I knew she was going to pass out.

"Shit." I muttered before I caught her limp body in my arms. I managed to get my arm under her knees to hold her bridal style. The guests stopped moving as they looked at the scene; whispers broke through as everyone was curious as to what happened, and if the woman was going to be all right.

"What's going on here? Let me through!" Ms. Senju charged through the crowd like a raging bull.

"Sakura, oh my! Sakura." Ms. Senju came running over along with a man that I didn't recognize, he must be a bodyguard or something. All the wandering eyes focused on us, Ms. Senju took notice. "Here come with me." I followed Ms. Senju into the staff room. "What's happened?" She asked.

"She fainted." I spoke, as I lifted her more securely against my chest. The man did not look too pleased with my presence.

"Here, I'll take her." He reached for her but I held her tightly against me, who the hell is this guy? If I could have bared my teeth at him like a wild animal, I would have, he is not going to touch her especially in this state - she is safest with me.

It was a stare death match, the first to look away was the lesser man I didn't take my eyes off him, not even when Ms. Senju yelled at us for being childish men, not even when I gently laid Sakura on the small couch and not even when he looked away.

Ha. I win.

Ms. Senju got a wet towel, and placed it on Sakura's forehead. "What'd you do to my student, Mr. Uchiha?" Her eyes are hard as she stares at me. "She's only fainted once since I've known her."

My brows knitted together. "This has happened before?" Was Sakura sick?

"Yes, it has. Though, I doubt it isn't what caused the first one." She wet the towel again. "Unless, Dr. Hino, do you have some explaining to do?" Now her intense gaze rested on other man.

Was he blushing? What the hell is going on here? A- Are him and Sakura sleeping together!

He cleared his throat. "I assure you ma'am, that's not the case."

"That better not be the fucking case." I spat out. Both of them looked surprised by my outburst.

"Why would it matter to you, Mr. Uchiha?" Ms. Senju was eyeing me suspiciously.

"Wait Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha?" The doctor spoke up as he put two and two together.

"Yes. I'm Sasuke Uchiha." I felt a smug that he has heard of me.

"You're the asshole ex- boyfriend." He said as he pointed directly at me. I was in his face faster than he could blink, we stood nose to nose.

"I was her fiancé and I'd watch what you say, doc." I threatened.

The bastard had the nerve to smile in my face! "Oh, the asshole ex- fiancé who cheats. I apologize for not giving you your full title." He taunted me.

I grabbed him by the collar of his fancy button down shirt and slammed him against the wall; the impact caused him grunt. "I'll kick your fucking teeth down your throat." I tightened my hold on his collar. "Don't fuck with me." I said menacingly in his face.

"You don't scare me, Uchiha."

"The two of you are really killing my buzz." Ms. Senju was sitting by Sakura's feet, "Stop that fighting before security kicks both of you out."

I let go of his shirt with a little shove, and he smoothed away the wrinkles I made, as we glared back at one another.

"Ugh, men." Ms. Senju rubbed her temples.

SAKURA'S POV

"Sasuke…" My voice was groggy.

I felt like I was in a daze, my head was pounding as I tried to make out the voices in the room, I slowly started to open my eyes and groaned because of sharp pain in the back of head, I blinked a couple times before my vision became clear again.

"Sakura, Sakura are you all right?" Ms. Senju seemed a little frantic as she helped me sit up, I rubbed my back of my head, then it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I tensed as I looked around the room, Sasuke Uchiha was standing there with his hands in his pockets looking very on edge, while – FUCK! Sai was standing off to the side leaning against the wall.

I wished the earth would swallow me whole.

"Sakura." When he said my name, the hairs on the back of neck stood up. "Sakura, what's going on?" He wanted an answer; I bit my bottom lip so hard I was surprised I did not draw blood.

"Sasuke, what are you doing here?" I nervously glanced back and forth from him to Sai.

His nostrils flared. "Answer me." Oh man, this side of Sasuke is making my mouth dry as he stands there with this crazy look in his eye, as if he's ready to steal me away as soon as I give him the okay.

I gulped. "I- I -"

"She needs to be looked over." Sai saves me from my stuttering self but Sasuke looks like he's out for blood.

"I'm fine." I try to brush Sai off, for his own safety.

"Sakura let him." Ms. Senju is watching the whole scene unfold right before her eyes, if she's curious she doesn't ask, at least not yet.

I watch as Sasuke's jaw clenches in anger as Sai kneels in front of me, "Follow the light." He pulled a little flashlight that is the size of a pen out of his coat pocket. I do as I'm told, the room is dead quiet and I try to control my breathing because I might start to hyperventilate, my heart is pounding in my ears.

"Relax, Sakura. Breathe." Sai's voice is so calm. I'm trying but I can't seem to focus on what's happening right now; flashbacks from five years ago flash before my eyes before everything stops on Shoda.

Oh God.

"You need to leave the room." Sai stands at full height; he is slightly shorter than Sasuke. "Your presence is causing her distress." He tells him.

"Fuck you. I'm not leaving." He argues back.

"BOYS." Ms. Senju shouts, "Both of you get out of here. NOW." She is serious.

"I'm not leaving." Sasuke repeats myself.

"Mr. Uchiha, if you'd like to keep your balls where they belong I suggest you follow Dr. Hino out of this room or so help me." Her honey-eyes showed no fear as she stared down the Uchiha.

"Sasuke, please. I- I need a minute." I said weakly.

It looked like he was having an internal battle with himself before he caved, "Fine, I'll go but I'll be right outside that door. Don't-- Don't even think about running Sakura… please." His dark eyes softened, before he turned out of the room closing the door behind him.

I was up and off that couch in a heartbeat; I started pacing back and forth in front of Ms. Senju.

"Well, now I know why you weren't interested in Mr. Sabaku, you do alright Sakura. I'm proud. I mean Sasuke is a little aggressive but that must be a good time in the sheets."

I stopped. "Now is not the time, woman!" I squeaked. "What am I supposed to do?" I started pacing again.

"Back in my day, I let the men fight over me. Only the strong survive."

That was the last thing I wanted, I'm sure Sai could hold his own against someone else but not Sasuke, martial arts is in his blood!

I flopped on the couch next to her; she wrapped an arm around me and squeezed tight. "I know I joke but are you going to tell him?" I froze.

"Hm." I picked some imaginary fuzz off my dress, flicking it away.

"Don't play stupid, Sakura. If I didn't know you barley met Sai last year, he'd be a dead ringer for Shoda's father."

I whined.

"Now, Mr. Uchiha here seems to know you very well, in fact while you were unconscious he wouldn't even let Sai breath in your direction." My eyes widened.

"Care to explain why that is?" She looked at me, waiting for an answer.

"SasukeisShoda'sfather." I mumbled, hoping she couldn't make out the words. I found that my hands are very fascinating, as I looked them over.

"And he has no idea, does he?" I could feel her eyes burning into the side of my face.

"Sakura." Her voice was hard as nails, I flinched.

"Yes?" Ms. Senju bopped me in the forehead.

"Ow." I cried out, it wasn't hard but it hurt my feelings.

"Stupid girl." I walked right into that one. I rubbed my forehead as Ms. Senju sighed.

"You have to tell him, and you have to tell Shoda. I honestly can't believe you kept this a secret for so long." She was disappointed in me.

"I know." I whispered as my lip trembled.

"Don't cry." Ms. Senju held my chin up as she looked into my eyes. "I'm sure you had your reasons but none of them are going to be reasonable when he hears what you kept from him."

I tried to keep a straight face. "I know, I'm a terrible person."

"Don't feel sorry for yourself, it's too late and what's done is done but you can't keep this from him any longer. They both have a right to know one another." She said as she stood up from the couch.

"So, who do you want to face first." She said with a Cheshire grin.

I groaned and threw my hand over my eyes, I had a gut-wrenching feeling that tonight was going to end very badly for me - tonight I would have to come clean, Sasuke's never going to forgive me but at least Shoda will know he has a father.

Sasuke's POV next! Thanks for the love and support!