What's up, everyone? I know it has been a while, hee hee; I've been very, very slack been so busy I haven't had time to work on my stories or read any other fan fiction stories. But I am really in the mood now and looking for a good Naruto fan fiction to read so if you know of any awesome ones, let me know. Well, look at me rambling once again, onto story business. So sorry for the huge typo with Kabuto when I meant Kankuro, my bad! I've been rereading my story again and I didn't realize that I had so many grammar mistakes and just, ugh! Lots of stuff I can't believe I didn't catch, but it helps so I can continue making the story better for you guys and help to improve my skills for other future stories. I have been working on a new story and hopefully it will debut soon but now let's get back to the latest installment and very long awaited Chapter 22 of Tomboy to Princess! ^_^


Chapter 22: Seeing in a Whole New Light

"Sakura is back on the market, I repeat Sakura is back on the marketttt," Itachi hummed to himself.

"Keep it down, we don't need for everyone to hear," Tobi shushed him.

Itachi gave him a look. "Do not tell me to shush and I can't help that I'm in a happy mood."

"Well I bet one person isn't in a happy mood," Deidara nodded over to Gaara.

Sasori looked over at him. "He looks like he is doing okay to me."

"Trust me, he is dying inside, he just got dumped!" Tobi barked.

"Are you sure your fine?" Shino asked Gaara as they walked to class.

"Yeah, how many times are you guys going to keep asking that?"

"Well we thought you may be depressed or something."

Gaara sighed. "Look you guys, Sakura was starting to feel uncomfortable with us dating. I guess after we kissed she said she wanted us as to go back to being just friends, but she said she just had to think about it, she was confused."

"So you think that she might go out with you again?" Kiba questioned him.

Gaara blew a lock of hair out of his eyes. "If she'll have me."

"I'LL HAVE YOU GAARA!" a random girl yelled to him.

"Yeah let's keep walking," Kiba gave the girl an odd look.

"So if it doesn't work out, Sakura will always be in my life, as my friend no matter what."

They heard someone snort and come out of the boy's bathroom. "Gosh, if you could hear how sappy you sound," Naruto said. We are men, we don't need any women to play with our emotions and treat us like dirt."

"Sakura didn't treat me like dirt," Gaara pointed out.

"No, but you ruined my point," Naruto said frustrated.

"That's because you never had one," Shino said boredly.

"I did, I was about to preach, lay down the law, give him something good-"

"Good morning, there will be no homeroom today, please proceed to your 1st period class," the women over the intercom announced.

"Oh yeah, starting off to be a good day," Naruto grinned fox like.


Gaara looked at Sakura's empty seat next to him in geometry. He started to worry a little. He looked at his phone. "No new messages."

"Where is Sakura?" Naruto wondered out loud. "We should go on a Sakura hunt."

"Stop worrying," Kiba muttered. "I'm sure she is fine."

"But, but she could be in danger, up a tree, stuck in a pipe, being chased by a dog.

"Are you talking about Sakura or a cat?" Gaara looked at him.

"You know, I don't remember," Naruto rubbed his chin.

"Oh gosh, something is wrong with you," Kiba laughed.

"I am perfectly normal," Naruto sniffed.

"Normal people don't have to assure people that they are normal," Kiba informed in.

Naruto was silent. "Whatever. You guys know how I am."

The door opened and a figure walked inside the classroom and handed a note to Kakashi. The guys were too busy arguing over how Naruto was not normal to notice Sakura took her seat.

"Hey guys," Sakura greeted them.

Gaara turned around. "Hi Saku-" He stopped and looked her over. "What happened to you?"

Naruto and Kiba stopped arguing and look at Sakura. "Oh boy."

Sakura had on a pair of skater shorts with Vans, the shoelaces untied, a skull shirt with her hair pulled back into a lazy ponytail under a cap.

"What do you mean what happened to me?"

"Your…dressed like a tomboy again," Gaara stated the obvious.

"Oh," Sakura said. "Yeah, I forgot about that, but yeah, I'm back in the flesh."


Itachi shoved Gaara. "What did you do to Sakura?"

"I did nothing and do not put your hands on me again," Gaara growled at him his eyes turning red.

"She goes out with you for one week and now she comes back dressed like a tomboy," Itachi pointed to Sakura across the cafeteria.

"How should I know, I didn't know this was going to happen either, so do not blame me."

"I think she looks cute," Deidara smiled looking over at her.

"Well of course, she is Sakura, but that's not that point," Itachi said.

"Then what is the point then?" Sakura butted in.

"Wow you sure move fast," Itachi looked down at her. "So…I see you have a new look."

"Yeah, you like?" Sakura asked.

"It's interesting, very baggy," Itachi stared at her chest.

"Yeah I know, perverts like you must really love it," Sakura said. "So where are we seating?" Sakura asked Gaara.

"Over by the plant," Gaara pointed over to Naruto, Kiba, Shino and Shikamaru.

"Later alligator," Sakura nudged Itachi out of the way.

Itachi gave Gaara a glare. "I'm watching you."


Sakura walked slowly as she headed towards her World History AP class.

"Do my eyes deceive me; is that my sweet cherry blossom?" Rock Lee skipped over.

"Yeah it's me," Sakura smiled weakly. "I'm just trying to get to class."

"My gosh, your new attire is quite…"

"Quite what?"

"Youthful! I love how it shows your full of energy and ready to take on the day!"

Sakura looked down at the zipper on her shorts and back at Rock Lee. "Uh thanks."

"Whatever you wear my sweet, you will always be gorgeous in my eyes," Rock Lee bowed to her before running back down the hallway.

"That was weirder than usual," Sakura shook her head.

"I cannot believe you," Sakura heard a voice behind her.

"What do you want Neji?"

"How could you deprive my eyes of seeing the beautiful masterpiece of your sexy-"

"My sexy what?" Sakura cracked her knuckles.

"Your, uh, eyes," Neji chuckled nervously. "Your bangs are covering your face."

Sakura glared at him. "I got my eyes on you."

"Ooooh, I like the sound of that," Neji wiggled his eyebrows.

"Not like that you-"

The late bell ring loudly as people scattered to get to their classes.

Sakura clenched her teeth. "Now you made me late for class."

"My bad," Neji laughed again.

Sakura smirked. "Your right you're bad," Sakura stepped closer to him.

"Hey I don't like that look in your eyes. Stop doing that creepy smile, Sakura no, Sakura, no, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"


"Haruno, your late again, don't make it a habit," Gemni muttered with his unlit cigarette in his mouth.

"I won't sensei," Sakura assured him.

She walked over to her table and sat down. The table was covered in pamphlets, brochures and huge envelopes.

"What is all this?" Sakura looked across the spread.

"College information," Itachi said over a booklet.

"Shouldn't you have already started applying to colleges, there are only three months of school left," Sakura pointed out.

"Yeah I know," Itachi said. "I forgot all about it."

"I already applied," Tobi grinned. "I've already gotten an answer."

"You should be glad you got one, dummy only applied to one school," Itachi laughed at him.

"Yeah you got lucky," Sasori said his eyes closed leaning back in his chair.

"Did you already apply?" Sakura asked him.

"This genius here applied to five different schools, got accepted into all of them, he just hasn't made a decision," Itachi turned the page.

"What's your major going to be?" Sakura asked Sasori.

Sasori scratched his head. "Double major, engineering and architecture."

"Ahhhhh, see now that is going to be a lot of work, you are going to be in school forever," Tobi teased him.

Sakura looked at the three of them. "I forgot you guys were seniors."

Itachi smirked and moved his chair closer to up his arm around her. "I know you will miss me."

Sakura moved out of his reach. "I think I'll be just fine."

Itachi pouted. "You don't love me."

"Could you stop doing that?" Sakura asked him. "It's creepy."

"So, you don't love me," Itachi sighed.

"…"

"Or are you so quiet because you don't know how to express your feeling, getting out of a relationship and all."

"Speaking of relationships, why did you and Gaara break up?" Tobi asked.

"That's none of your business," Sakura crossed her arms.

"So nosy," Sasori told him.

"We were just curious, wondering if it had anything to do with your new look."

"Maybe it does," Sakura played with her pencil.

"Ah ha! So it was Gaara," Itachi said.

"It's not Gaara okay," Sakura beat the table, pencils rolling off the table unto the floor.

"Rawwr, somebody is feisty today," Tobi joked clawing towards her.

Sakura grabbed Tobi by his collar and pulled him across the table. "I suggest you keep your mouth shut."

Itachi surveyed the situation. "Yeah, uh, Tobi I think you should do as she says."


"What have you done, you have created a monster?" Deidara directed towards Gaara.

It was afterschool; all the guys were standing outside talking about the way Sakura had been acting.

"She has been very aggressive today."

"Did you hear? They found Neji in the hallway, Sakura gave him an ultimate weggie and they had to take him to get medical care."

"Ouch, that sounds awful."

"Maybe it's that time of month," Naruto shrugged.

"Dude, DO NOT let her hear you say that or you will be super dead, we won't be able to help you," Kiba shushed him.

"I don't know what's going on with her today but it's not like her," Itachi told them.

"Who cares?" Sasuke said boredly.

"Anyway, here she comes," Naruto whispered.

They watched as Sakura walked across the courtyard, her untied laces swinging back and forth as she walked.

"Sakura, over here," Naruto called her over.

Sakura looked over at the group. She shook her head and walked off to her dad's car parked off to the side. They watched as she drove off down the road.

"She seems a lot glummer than anything," Sasori observed.

"You're right," Gaara said looking at the road.

"What happened between you two?" Itachi asked forcely. "Something is going on with Sakura and we need to find out."

"She just said that we should go back to being friends, I think she was confused and she said she need time to think," Gaara informed them. "She was happy, she enjoyed beating you guys up."

"Yeah, she did so if it's not you, then what?" Deidara frowned.

"Uuugh this is too depressing, my best friend is the dump we have no clue why?" Kiba said.

"Your right, this is depressing, I know a place we can go to get some good food," Naruto said.

"Sure where?"


"Seriously Naruto, a cupcake shop?" Gaara gave him a look.

"What? There cupcakes always put me in a happy mood," Naruto cheered.

"I'm shocked we didn't go to a ramen shack," Shikamaru looked around inside the café.

"Oh, did I tell you? They have ramen flavored cupcakes," Naruto smiled brightly.

"That sounds disgusting," Sauske snarled.

"You said disgusting, who would want to eat Sasuke if you were on the menu, sounds like a barf feast."

The guys sat at the stools near the front and ordered their cupcakes.

Itachi glanced around at the pink décor. "I'm too depressed to even care about being seen in this place."

"Same here," Deidara agreed unwrapped a mint in the dishes placed around the table.

"Do they have any normal food?" Sasori asked looking over the menu.

"Nope," Naruto said. "Only sweets."

Their cupcakes arrived on time. They slowly started to indulge in the cupcakes; soon the counter was covered in empty cupcake trays.

Haku walked inside the cupcake shop and walked to the front desk. "Hi, I'm here to pick up an order."

He looked around the café and noticed Gaara's bright red hair at the counter.

"Hey everybody," Haru cooed to them.

Gaara frowned. "What are you doing here?"

Haru switched over to them. "Well I'm back again, doing a photo shoot and there is an upcoming fashion show yours truly will be in."

"That's nice," Sasuke muttered.

"I know," Haru smiled widely. "I'm gonna look so hot walking down the catwalk."

"…"

"So what are you guys doing here, never expect to every see you guys in a place like this," Haru said squeezing Itachi's bicep.

Itachi gave him a look and pulled his away slowly. "We were listening to Naruto."

"Oh that explains it," Haru nodded understanding.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Naruto asked defensively.

"Well Sakura told me you were a little slow," Haru flipped his hair over his shoulder.

"I'll have you know I'm super smart, I never miss anything."

"Then how come you didn't know that Hinata was madly in love with you?" Haku asked him.

Naruto's jaw dropped. "SHE WHAT?"

"She likes you, I figure that out in one night at your dance, gosh you really are slow," Haru shook his head in shame.

"So Hinata likes me, like likes me likes me," Naruto tried to understand.

"Okay this isn't kindergarten; she loves you," Gaara butted in.

"Why do you think she faints all the time around you?" Shikamaru pointed out.

"I just thought she had a fainting problem," Naruto shrugged. "It seemed like a serious condition, she should get that checked out."

"Well you can't get any slower then you," Sasuke smirked to himself.

"Nobody was talking to you," Naruto scoffed. "Don't make me come over there!"

"Hn."

"Don't Hn me, that's not even a real word," Naruto laughed. "Now who's the slow one?"

"Still you," Sasuke smirked.

"Could you all just be quiet for a minute?" Sasori told them.

"Yeah we came here to figure out what is wrong with Sakura," Gaara reminded them of their mission.

Haku frowned. "What do you mean what's wrong with Sakura?"

"She has been acting weird lately, we thought it was because her and Gaara broke up but it doesn't appear to be so," Itachi filled him in.

Haku's mouth fell wide open. "You and Sakura were going out?"

"Yeah…for a week," Gaara blushed a light pink.

"Awwwww that is so cute, Sakura's first boyfriend," Haku squealed.

A few people looked up from their tables to stare at the group.

"Okay, let's keep it down, squeaker," Tobi warned him.

"Soooooo tell me all the deets, I need to know everything that happened."

"We don't have time for that," Gaara said. "Look I asked her out, she said yes, we went out, and then she decided she wasn't ready for a relationship and she wanted us to go back to friends."

"So now Sakura came to school today dressed as her old tomboy self, she was being kinda moody and she seemed I don't know a bit sad."

Haku's lip turned into a straight line, his face serious and as he stared up at the ceiling.

"Don't you guys know what today is?" Haku asked them, looking at each of their faces.

They shook their heads one by one.

"Today was the day her parents decided to get a divorce, eight years ago to this day."


Sakura's dad knocked on her door. "Sweetie, are you sure you're not hungry?"

Sakura rolled over in her bed. "Yeah dad, I'm fine."

He paused as he stared holes into her door.

"Do you want to talk?"

"No dad, it's fine."

"Sakura, I know your not at very good at expressing your emotions, expect violent ones, that's probably due to me and your mother, but Sakura, we love you very much and we know-"

Sakura's door opened up. He looked at his daughter dressed in gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt she wrapped her arms around his middle and buried her head in his shirt.

"I know dad, I know."

They held each other for a while. "I know no child wants to see their parents get divorced, but some things just happen for a reason."

"Yeah sorry I've been such a big baby today, it still gets to me sometimes," Sakura secretly rubbed the corner of her eye.

"Are you crying?"

Sakura scoffed. "Of course not."

Her dad laughed. "You always got to be so tough, don't you?"

Sakura smiled. "You know it. I surely did not get it from you."

Mr. Haruno huffed. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Come on dad, you're a softie, just deal with it and live with it."

"I am a real man," he puffed out his chest.

"I can hear everything you and mom say when you video chat each other."

He gulped and blushed. "Everything?"

Sakura smirked. "Everything."


"That would explain a ton," Deidara nodded his head.

"Poor Sakura, I bet she needs somebody to hug," Tobi said sadly.

"No, we don't need to do any of that stuff that she finds annoying," Itachi said seriously. "We need to comfort her."

"Hn," Sasuke folded his hands together.

"Minus one chicken hair prick," Itachi glared at him.

"We should go over there now," Naruto suggested. "Maybe take some flowers."

"You know, you're finally using your brain for once," Gaara smiled.

"Cherry blossoms for a cherry blossom," Kiba said.

"You too!"

"Hey, I use my brain; I'm way smarter then Naruto."

"That's not true."

"…"

Haku snapped his fingers. "Okay people, let's not start arguing, we got to think, there are no flower shops open at this time of night."

"That's true."

"Wait, Shika's girlfriend's family owns a flower shop."

"Do you think she could get us some flowers?" Haku asked him.

"I don't want to ask."

"Come on dude, she is your girlfriend."

"What a drag," Shika sighed and sent her a text.

"Okay that's good now, we need to do something with your look," Haku looked over them.

"What's wrong with how we look?" Tobi asked, a huge ring of chocolate icing around his mouth.

Haku smiled. "I'm going to dress you guys up!"

"Never," Sasuke frowned.

"Then don't come when we go to Sakura's house."

"Good I won't," Sasuke got up for his stool and walked out the door.

Itachi waved his hand. "Good we don't need that loser anyway. So what do you have in mind?"

Haku grinned evily to himself. "Oh I've got something good."


Sakura stared at the picture on her dresser. She walked over slowly and lifted it up to take a closer look. Sakura was five years old in the picture, grinning happily with her two front teeth. She looked at her parents, staring at each other, seemed like it would last forever, the love. But sadly life wasn't a fairy tale and life likes to screw with you in awful ways.

"Uh Sakura, you might want to come downstairs," her dad called up the stairs.

"What is it?" Sakura yelled down.

"…I'm not entirely sure," he said slowly.

Sakura put the picture back on the dresser and took the stairs two at a time. She noticed her dad staring through the curtains at something. She opened the front door and stared out into their yard.

Itachi, Gaara, Naruto, Shikamaru, Sasori, Shino, Tobi, Kiba, Deidara and Haku stood on her grass stretch out in a line wearing black two piece tuxedos. Each one of them held a single cherry blossom in their hand.

"…what is this?"

They said nothing as they turned their backs to her. Haku lifted his fingers and snapped. "One, two, three, four!"

Music cued and both Itachi and Gaara stepped forward and started singing. "We think your pretty without any makeup on, we think your funny when you tell the punch line wrong."

They froze as statues after singing their lines and Naruto and Kiba stepped forward and started dancing. "Oh, oh, oh, ooooooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, oh, oohhhhhhh yeah, yeah, yeah, beautiful I just want you know, your my favorite girl."

They paused with their butts poked out and Tobi took center stage and started strutting. "Your so hypnotizing, could you be the devil, could you be an angel." He then pulled out a wand. "You're from a whole other world, a different dimension, you opened my eyes and when you go lead me into the lighhhhhhht."

Bright lights shined on the lawn as Haku walked over and go into position. "Your are beautiful, like dream come alliveeeeee, incredible."

Sasori and Deidara slowly walked up and the lights dimmed. "Cause your amazing just the way you are."

They got back into their line, kneed down on their left knees and held their cherry blossoms out to Sakura.

They heard clapping and looked around to see all of Sakura's neighbors outside smiling and cheering.

"That was beautiful."

"You are one lucky girl."

"You guys do realize that it is like 10 o'clock," Sakura told them.

"Who has time for sleep when there is a party going on," Haku grinned.

"SHUT UP AND GO TO SLEEP!" someone screamed a few houses down.

"Well somebody is cranky," Naruto scoffed. "We had to learn that in thirty minutes."

"Come inside guys," Mr. Haruno said.

They all filed inside and gave Sakura their flowers. "What is all this for?" Sakura asked confused.

"Well," Itachi cleared his throat, "Haku told us what today was, soooo we thought you needed some cheering up."

"So Haku suggested we do a dance/singing performance for you."

"Yeah he is very bossy, we didn't get any kind of break," Kiba whined.

Haku put his hands on his hips. "Time was running out, we had to get it down before it got really late."

Sakura touched the cherry blossoms softly. "So you guys did this all for me?"

"Of course, we want you to be happy, no matter what," Gaara assured her.

"We don't like seeing you upset," Deidara frowned.

Sakura sniffed and rubbed her eyes.

"Are you crying?"

"No!"

"Awww trying to be tough, it's okay Sakura just let it out," Itachi said pressing Sakura against his chest.

Sakura bawled her fist together but then took a deep breath and wrapped her arms around Itachi's back.

"Thank you," she mumbled into his chest.

"Whooooa he wasn't the only one who helped make this magic possible," Tobi said cutting in between the hug.

Mr. Haruno and Haku watched the guys fighting over Sakura demanding rewards of affection for their hard work.

"Ahhh young love," Haku sighed.

Mr. Haruno cleared his throat loudly. The guys let go of Sakura and stepped away.

"That's better," Mr. Haruno nodded.

"So what did you think of our performance?" Deidara asked.

Sakura smiled and rubbed the back of her head. "Well actually I was laughing, I know you guys meant for this to be sweet and cheer me up but I couldn't take it seriously."

"What? Are you kidding me? I worked hard to get them to learn those moves," Haku huffed.

Gaara grinned brightly. "As long as she is happy, I don't care that we looked like complete fools."

"I wouldn't say complete fools," Sakura looked them over.

Mr. Haruno went to the kitchen to get everyone drinks.

"Actually," Sakura circled them slowly, "you guys look pretty sexy in your suits, very suave."

"W-we do?" Tobi asked.

"Yeah I just wanna rip them off of you," Sakura grinned like a cat.

Itachi's jaw dropped.

"Okay I'm back, one for everyone," Mr. Haruno said passing out the drinks.

Haku giggled. "You really are evil Sakura."

"What happened?" Mr. Haruno asked confused.

"Nothing dad, right guys," Sakura raised an eyebrow sipping her drink.

Sasori loosed his bow tie and took of his jacket.

'Is it hot in here or is it just me?" Deidara fanned himself.

The doorbell ringed. "I'll see who it is," Sakura said walking over to the door and opening it. "Sasuke, what are you doing here?"

Sasuke was quiet outside. "I wanted-"

Sasuke looked over Sakura's shoulder. "What are you guys still doing here?"

Itachi glared. "What are you doing here is the better question?"

"Yeah you said you weren't coming or that you care," Naruto announced.

Sasuke stood there silently giving everyone the death glare.

"Unless you do care," Haku smiled slowly.

"Hn."

"If you didn't then what are you doing here?"

"…"

"Oh my gosh, Sasuke has a heart," Kiba gasped.

"I thought he was a vampire, waiting to prey on our poor Sakura, to suck on her pretty neck," Naruto whispered loudly.

The guys then slowly stared at Sakura's neck, it exposed completely in her t-shirt, smooth, soft and rosy. "Stop looking at me," Sakura growled.

"Then stopping being so beautiful," Itachi winked.

"Okay I think it's time you guys leave, this is just a bunch of nonsense with you guys standing around."

"Awww but we were just having fun," Tobi whined.

Sakura opened the door wide and pushed them all out. She twisted on the door knob and stared at the welcome mat on the porch. "Thank you guys for everything though, you really cheered me up."

"Well if Haku would have let us do my idea you would be more then cheered up," Itachi smirked.

Sakura frowned. "What was your idea?"

"Strip show, would have set you on fire," Itachi licked his bottom lip.

Sakura blushed a bright red. "Uhhhh-"

"You just wanted to take off your shirt," Kiba scoffed.

Itachi ripped the buttons off his dress shirt; Sakura watched them dropped to the ground, spinning as they fell flat. She looked up to see Itachi's chest glowing in the moonlight. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Good night," she squeaked closing the door in their faces.

"Huh? Well thanks a lot Itachi," Tobi glared. "You scared her away."

"Oh I don't think she was scared," Itachi flexed.

Sasuke glared at his older brother. "I hate you."

"I return the feelings," Itachi smirked at his brother.

"Well what now," Gaara said looking around the empty neighborhood.

Haku skipped down the stairs. "I have an idea."

"What is it?" the guys wondered.

Haku rubbed his hands together evily. "You shall see but it involves kidnapping Sakura tomorrow.


And that is it for now, I feel it may have been a little dry but I hee hee many secrets will be revealed in the next chapter which I am working on now. I've having a lot of fun writing this chapter. I shall see you guys again in Chapter 23: Confession Time.