I don't own Naruto, and please read the AN on the bottom of the page! – VZ

The underground basement of Akatsuki was eerily quiet, not a single soul stirred. The only movement and sound was coming from the office of Pein, the leader of the criminal organization. And in that dark, newly renovated room (thanks to a certain pinkette) were eight of that organization's members. The next two appeared soon after everyone else had settled down. The images of Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki flickered into existence and faced the pierced man who was sitting comfortably in a large chair. His blue haired partner stood next to him, her face impassive yet calculating at the same time.

"You know why I have summoned the both you." Pein's voice was calm and cool, much like his ringed gaze.

Itachi's eyes narrowed ever so slightly and his partner's mouth was set into a grim line.

"The target?" He questioned.

"Eliminated."

The Uchiha was suddenly reminded of the man they were meant to kill; they did accomplish their task of course. Although, both men had taken out their frustrations on the poor man. And when they were not able to locate a certain pinkette, they knew that they had to finish their mission at some point. If not, leader would get rather impatient.

In all honesty, he wished to finish this meeting so that he can go back to finding his blossom. This was a waste of time and he wanted nothing more than to continue searching for the girl that made him...feel. Itachi Uchiha would never admit it out loud but the child he had first met a few weeks ago meant something to him. In the beginning he found that she resembled a weed that grew on his side. Slightly annoying and can be eradicated very easily. Simply put, She was weak and beneath him.

However, when he first sat down and spoke with her. He was instantly reminded of his little brother, who was always on his trail, demanding his death as a compensation for their entire clan's demise. So the little pest and her similarity to Sasuke intrigued him. But in the end, he realized she was brighter, kinder and much more selfless than his foolish younger brother. And what amazed Itachi was her innocence. How it remained untainted even after all the deaths and men she'd killed.

Yes, she was a kunoichi who kills on demand. But her mercy and pure compassion made the blood on her hands meaningless. And after He'd seen the brilliant, compassionate fire within her green eyes, something stirred within him. It was no longer mere curiosity but something more, something deeper. And when she turned back into her real form, a true woman. The Uchiha would finally, grudgingly admit that he was wrong. No longer was she pesky undergrowth, but a flower. She had blossomed into a rose, complete with thorns that had the power to draw blood when threatened and that beautiful vivid red he so desperately admired.

"The mission?"

"Accomplished."

The main point of their task was to kill a man who had been abusing his power and creating some trouble for the majority of the villages near their underground base. And as of this moment, their target was busy rotting in the ground somewhere hidden in the deepest parts of the forest.

"The child?"

This time, the dark haired man had no answer for Pein, who looked as if he expected this.

"I see…."

Deidara's voice immediately penetrated the silence of the room; his tone was soft yet charged with energy. As if he himself were a bomb ready to go off at any moment.

"Where is she?" He faced Kisame and Itachi, who both appeared sober; something he found was definitely not a good sign.

It was silent but that was answer enough for the blonde.

"The hell?! The two of you were assigned to-"

Hidan's rant was cut off by leader's stern but soft voice.

"To kill a target who's been an annoyance to me for some time now. They are not babysitters. It's an unfortunate loss but the child is nothing to Akatsuki."

It was quiet and Pein took the liberty to fill the silence with his words, which were harsh and cold but true.

"She holds no information that threatens our mission. Actually, she might not even be suitable bait for the Kyuubi container, considering that the boy hasn't tried to find her yet."

"Then why?" Sasori questioned, his hazel eyes intense.

"Yeah, why keep her here in the first place?" The resident bomber added, quite curious to why leader had kept the girl hidden from the world in their base at the very beginning. Deidara wished, in the darkest and deepest part of his heart that Sakura had never come here in the first place. That way, he wouldn't feel the immense loss chewing him from the inside. It's like a gaping hole had been punched into his heart, this time, there was no pink haired medic-nin to heal it.

"Payment, for ruining my office."

Akatsuki's leader responded with a malicious glint in his grey eyes.

"Leader….I wish to search for the girl."

Leader faced him and stared for a while, then he spoke.

"Why's that Itachi? Have you grown attached to the girl?"

"Hn…"

Ringed eyes demanded and answer and so did everyone else in the vicinity.

"She is mine….I prefer to have my belongings within my reach." The dark haired man replied, his red eyes daring Pein to refuse his request and order him to leave the girl. Something that he had no plans of doing.

"Three days. I will summon you once more in seventy-two hours. If you do not have the child, then leave her be. Although, if you do succeed…. then by all means, bring her home." Leader tilted his head and gripped the arm of his chair. He was not accustomed to taking 'requests' from his followers, but he was intrigued. The Uchiha must be really desperate, and it seems the majority of his supporters were as well. Was she this important to them? An amusement? A lover perhaps? Itachi made that quite clear….only time will tell he supposed.

Many of the Akatsuki members found satisfaction in hearing 'home' as if she actually belonged here. But the majority of them were quite displeased by the claim Itachi had made on the pinkette.

During the entire meeting, Konan had stood on the sidelines quietly. Watching the members with a keen and calculating eye. It was fairly surprising when many of them seemed almost worried for the missing girl. She and Pein had been off on private missions concerning the several, smaller criminal organizations that proclaimed themselves better than Akatsuki. Needless to say, her partner wasn't pleased. He even insisted on accompanying her to the enemy bases and…. speaking with the so-called leaders. In the end, they left a bloody trail of limbs and bodies.

After a moment, the mist-nin and his partner nodded, their images flickered and soon faded into nothing. Konan pondered on the missing pinkette and the effects her stay and absence has had on their organization.

"Give it."

"No."

"Give…it."

"No."

"GIVE IT!"

Suigetsu's laughter rung throughout the entire clearing, tears were threatening to fall from is eyes. While the white haired man was busy laughing his ass off, Sakura was rolling her eyes.

"I said it once before girlie, and I'll say it again…..No."

The pinkette threw up her hands in the air in complete and utter exasperation, her green eyes looking up at the heavens, as if asking 'Why Kami?'

"Aw, are you pouting? That's so cute, are you sure you're not a really a kid?" He asked, balancing the shiny red apple on the top of his head. Sakura narrowed her eyes at the fruit, wanting nothing more than to chomp on it until absolutely nothing was left. Yes, she was that hungry. Why was she currently starving? Well, it's all thanks to a certain annoying Uchiha, the younger one. He wouldn't let her have a bite to eat, not willing to let her chakra reserves replenish.

She tried lying once again that her chakra had shrunk down, much like her body. Naturally, he wouldn't believe a word she said. The medic-nin was beginning to wonder if he was simply that good in sniffing out a lie or that she was awful at fibbing.

"Trust me, I am not a child."

"You look like one though."

"Really? I didn't notice! " She said in a mock surprised voice eliciting yet another chuckle from the man towering over her.

"I just want one bite, that's all."

Suigestu shook his head, delighting in her constant begging. It was free entertainment after all. Besides, he rather liked the cute girl. Not only was she witty and nice but fiery as well. She was like the little sister he never had.
"Fine, be a heartless bastard like him." She crossed her arms and looked away, trying to forget the loud grumbling noises her stomach was making.

"What? Juugo is a nice guy, when he's not going crazy and trying to kill everyone in sight."

A pink eyebrow twitched at Suigetsu's reply, it was obvious that he loved getting on her nerves just to see her riled up. In a way, he reminded her of a nicer, not so vulgar, shorter version of Hidan.

Sakura shook her head viciously, sending pink locks flying everywhere. No, that part of her life was over. She shouldn't be thinking about Akatsuki and their members, much less the perverted one. Although, a part of her preferred being under the watchful gaze of Itachi and Kisame, the warm company of Deidara, even the odd and slightly perverted relationship she had with Hidan, than being near Sasuke. It was positively awful, waking up after a brutal hit to her neck (courtesy of the youngest Uchiha).

At first, Sakura didn't want to wake up. She'd rather enjoy the blissful ignorance that was her sleep. Unfortunately, she wasn't that lucky. Instead, Sasuke was there. Everywhere she went and every time she moved. It was creepy to say the least, however there is absolutely nothing she could do about it. Escape was pointless with him guarding her like a loyal watchdog. What the pinkette didn't understand was why? Why keep her here?

"You know who I'm talking about Suigetsu, don't play dumb."

"Yeah, I know. But I'm curious, what's the guy done...for you to hate him so much?" He asked, an amused glint in his oddly colored eyes.

"…If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all." She muttered, copying his words from the night before.

"Nothing? Absolutely nothing nice to say about him? Not even his good looks?" Suigetsu poked her cheek with each question, very eager to hear an answer.

"He is not good looking."

He scoffed at the girl and sat down, Indian style. Once he made himself comfortable on the grassy plane, he pulled the pinkette and dropped her in between his legs. She yelped and scrambled around his legs until he calmed her down with a hand on her pink head.

"Chill Sa-ku-ra. I'm just bored, be useful and entertain me a bit."

Another wave of nostalgia hit her right then, reminding her of a certain person who teased and played with her name like that.

And so, the medic-nin sat there and stayed still as Suigetsu played with her long, silky locks of hair.

It was silent as he tugged busied himself with her bubblegum colored hair, amazed by the softness of the strands.

"You were saying something about our leader?" He questioned, twisting several strands of pink hair around his finger.

"I was saying that he isn't-"

"Try telling the truth now." He drawled.

"You think I'm lying?" Sakura tried to face him but his hand swatted her cheek, commanding her to face forward.

"It's not that, I think that Sasuke is too much of a girl magnet to be ugly. I'm guessing, that you used to like him. But he didn't return your affections, so now you're just bitter."

The medic-nin was silent and had no idea how to react. Was she really just sour about his rejection? Well…yes but he also betrayed our village. However, wasn't she ready to help him? Offering her love and life to him near that bench on that fateful day?

"Am I right?"

Sakura then realized that her anger did not stem from his rejection. Even after that, Sakura wanted him back in the village. It didn't matter if he was there just as her friend or as her lover. As long as he returned so that team seven would be together again. That would be enough for her, for Naruto. But no, what made her so hurt was his rejection to her, but team seven and their village in general.

"I am aren't I ?"Suigetsu ruffled her hair, a smirk on his lips.

She looked up, not surprised to see him standing a few meters away. Although, Sakura knew if he couldn't hear her (which is doubtful) he could read her lips. The pinkette looked him straight in the eye, wanting him to read every word. To feel the pain he'd caused her and everyone who loved him.

"No, I feel nothing for that pathetic excuse of a man. Sasuke Uchiha is dead to me."

The words were unbearably harsh and cold, her green eyes sparking emerald fire. A tear slipped past her defenses and trailed down her cheek, landing on the grass.

As soon as she finished her sentence, he appeared and used one hand to grab the back of her shirt. Lifting her up and away from the white haired man sitting on the grass.

"Oi Sasuke-"

"Suigetsu, help Karin pack the supplies."

His voice was arctic and demanding, in contrast to Suigetsu's cocky and indifferent tone.

"Eh?! I don't wanna go near that bitch."

"Leave us."

This time, the Uchiha's voice left no room for arguments.

Once he left and Sakura was left alone with the cold and twisted man, he dropped her onto the ground.

Sakura didn't bother moving, it was pointless to run. He would catch her as soon as she lifted a finger, even she knew that.

"Enough."

The medic-nin rolled her green eyes and narrowed them at the stoic man before her.

"Speak in complete sentences Sasuke, or are you incapable of proper speech?"

You're pushing it girl. Inner warned, appearing out of nowhere.

I know.

And she loved every second of it. There was this strange appeal to insulting the man she used to devote herself to. The odd and tempting allure to challenge this twisted and vile being.

Do you want us to die before we get laid?

Sakura wondered when her inner got so perverted.

Oh please, like you weren't wondering the same thing.

…

See?

….whatever.

The dark haired man interrupted her thoughts with his voice, which was smooth and unaffected. That fact made her even angrier than before. Won't this man show any human emotion other than dull and boring?! Her patience was running thin at this point.

"Weak and helpless, that's what you are and ever will be."

She snapped like a twig under too much pressure.

"That's what you think Sasuke! And I do not care about you or your opinion of me. You and your thoughts could just burn in the hottest pits of hell for all I care." Sakura snarled at him, her eyes smoldering with heat so intense it could've fried him.

It was silent after her declaration, and then he spoke.

"Prove it."

Sasuke stared her down and his eyes were vivid red instead of the usual inky black.

"Fight me Sakura, show me how strong you've gotten." His gaze was basically daring her to agree but also challenging her to refuse. However, if she did that, then she would be validating his previous words. That she was weak and just as useless as before.

No...I am not weak.

"I won't heal your bloody corpse Sasuke." The pinkette ground out, glaring at the stoic man.

"Tch...you won't even be able to scratch me." He countered, not at all deterred by her threat. If anything, he looked rather amused.

Sakura didn't even bother to answer, she believed actions spoke louder than words. And she planned to hurt him for everything he's done to her and everyone else, something that seemed highly impossible but she didn't care. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins and only one thought registered in her mind - Kick his ass.

"Watch me Sasuke, I'm going to leave more than a scratch on that pretty little face of yours."

In the distance she could hear a 'I knew you thought he was good looking!', but her green eyes were focused on Sasuke Uchiha and taking him down.

AN : Thanks for reading everyone :) Firstly, i'd like to give lots of love and thanks to my reviewers. Especially those who take the time to type me insanely long reviews :) But I also appreciate asdf's review, i mean...I LOVE hearing your wonderful ideas but please don't get too disappointed whenever i don't write what you want.

However, I am grateful for your ideas and thoughts. It helps me whenever I'm having a writer's block or something like that. Anyways, i hope this chappie is good for you all. Don't forget to tell me what you think ;) Read and review! make that 385 reviews into 400! hehe, not to be greedy or anything... the way, it would really mean a lot to me if you guys try to read my other story 'Rapture' I combined all the chapters so that it would be one super long chappie! Till' next time ;) - VZ