Chapter 5: POV: Team 7

Pardon the late update, I was on vacation, then I was very sick, then I had some headache-inducing family issues, which included me not being allowed on the computer.

'x' thoughts "x" dialogue "x" Inner Sakura or the Kyuubi.

italics for any extended time either a recap, memory, or dream

"Naruto-kun?"

I looked down, blue meeting violet; I kept walking towards my apartment, "Yes?"

"I'm afraid of leaving Konoha."

I smile down at her, "I'm afraid too… but everything will be okay in the end. Besides, we'll be there to protect you."

"But you'll be leaving with Ruin-kun."

My heart ached suddenly, and felt really heavy. I tried to keep smiling, but whatever was weighing down my heart was doing the same thing to my cheeks.

I turned away so Coriander wouldn't have to see me like this. 'This? What is this? I was so happy to leave with Ero-Sennin, why don't I want to go this time?'

"Maybe you just don't know enough about the situation."

My head snapped back around, incredulous, "… I barely knew Ero-Sennin when I left with him."

"One, you knew him better than you know Ruin-kun, and two, you at least had a vague idea of what you were going to be doing and three, you were more carefree then, as in you're more responsible now." She finished, shifting uncomfortably. I moved her to my hip, pulling her dress down more so the fishnet shirt I was wearing wouldn't leave anymore red diamonds on her skin. Where was my jacket again? 'Hinata…'

"No effing way you're four…" I mustered, shaking my head.

Coriander's violet eyes widened in disbelief, then panic, then shock. I wanted to ask why she looked so panicked, but we all had our secrets...

A deep chuckle, "Only by choice Brat, why haven't you told your friends? Afraid they'll abandon you?"

'Damn Fox… enough of them know already, as for the rest, it's for their safety!'

"Of course…" Ugh, he was mocking me; he'd been talking to me more and more lately…

"Naru-kun! You said a Bad Word!"

The world snapped back into focus, we were about a block from my apartment.

"I did not!" I was definitely indignant, I'd had to put a special effort not to cuss around Coriander, and I thought I was doing a pretty good job.

"Yes you did!"
"Effing is not a bad word!"

"It stands for one!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"
I narrowed my eyes, "Really?" she raised her chin in defiance, I continued with a smirk, no way she'd know this one, "Which one?"

Her eyes narrowed in turn, and she answered simply, "Fuck."

My eyes had to be the size of watermelons; I coughed in surprise and clamped a hand over her mouth, "Cori-chan! You can't say that word! Where'd you hear that???" I had to spread my middle and index fingers so she could still breathe through her nose.

Something thick, slimy, and warm slid across my ring and middle fingers. "SICK!" I snatched my hand away, rubbing it vigorously on my black pants.

"You told me to say it!"

"I didn't think you even knew that word!" 'Though I suppose I'm really not that surprised…' "And if you did, I figured you'd be smart enough not to say it!"

"I'm only four!" She waved four fingers towards my face for emphasis, "You're supposed to be the responsible one! Think before you speak baka!"

I bared my teeth at the familiar insult, "You've bene spending WAY too much time around Sakura-chan!"

"Tch."

That brought back memories… 'Sasuke… Why did I follow Sakura's orders to not engage in combat unless necessary? I always charge right in without thinking.'

"…you're more responsible now." 'Was that true? Was that the reason? Was Sasuke not as important to me now? The changed picture… am I giving up on the bastard?' I shook my head, growling a little, "No! I promised! I'll bring Sasuke back to Konoha."

"Hmm… will it matter if he's alive or dead though?"

'Nani?'

"hehehehe, do you really care about Sasuke anymore… all he does is reject you and your precious Sakura-chan."

Before I could retort, he disappeared. Something thick, slimy, and warm was halfway up my face before I came back to reality this time… Sensing I was back in the real world, Coriander quickly finished the job, ending right below my forehead protector. 'When did she crawl up to my shoulder???' Then she leaped for the ground, arms in front, dress billowing out behind her. She landed on her feet, running.

'She's like an effing cat!' A breeze picked up, freezing the right side of my face, which reminded me that I still had slobber all over me.

"CORIANDER!" I bellowed, wiping my face with the back of my hand.

A high-pitched scream sliced through the air as she ran away, turning the corner to my apartment stairs. I took off like a shot, long legs eating up the sidewalk. By the time I made it to the bottom of the stairs, Coriander was already… picking my lock???

'What the hell? Who could have… Sai!' With a snarl aimed at my dark-haired teammate, I tore up the stairs, taking 4 at a time. Coriander let out another scream and managed to open the lock, she flung the door open and slammed it shut when I was about three fourths of the way up. 'Urgh that little..'

"Coooooooorrri!" There was a scream from inside the apartment… I made it to the top and kept running, the door stopped me, for about half a second. It burst open and I took one step in, after which I fell flat on my whiskered face.

I pulled my head up a couple of inches and turned to stare the conniving little midget down. "You…" I hiss, here her violet eyes widen in fear, and I say the two dooming words to the little girl that dared trip me, "Ramen. Duty."

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"So? Do you accept this mission? One at a time please." My teacher turned to Hinata first, who was still sitting right next to her.

The young woman smiled, all shyness gone for now, "I would love to accept this mission."

Tsunade nods and turns to Neji who raises an eyebrow an utters a simple, "Of course."

And then my sensei's amber eyes were boring into me… 'A machine that takes your mind somewhere… else… how will that affect Inner Sakura?'

"Hm, it'd be interesting to find out."

'You sure?'

"Of course! GO FOR IT! Yeah!"

'Oooookay crazy…' I looked up to meet Tsunade's eyes, "I'll take the mission."

A sigh, and she turned to Sai who simply nods.

Another sigh, "Very well then. Everyone sign the contract before you leave the room and be ready to go on your mission by…" She turned with raised eyebrows to look at Shinji.

"Tomorrow morning, eight o'clock." He says quietly.

"Nani? That's only a day to get ready to leave! What about shopping, packing, checking weapons, getting all the right medicines??? IT GOES ON TOO! This is ridiculous!"

I happened to be in total agreement with my Inner.

"Well, I've certainly had a lot less time to prepare for a mission." Sai stood smoothly and appeared by the desk, signing his 'name' in his flowing script on the contract. "I'm going to go pack, later Ugly, ja!" With a quick wave and a head tilt, he brought his hands together for the teleportation jutsu and was gone before I could so much as whack him. Teeth and fists clenched, I stomped to the desk, and signed my name with quick bold strokes, then turned to walk out. I'd wait for Hinata though… I hardly ever got to see her these days.

Hiding a soft laugh behind a perfect pale hand, Hinata walked up to the desk and signed her name, then turned to walk out with me. Neji was right behind her.

"Thank-you Hokage-sama, it's unlikely we will meet again, so goodbye." I started lagging behind.

"Ha, you'll be seeing me tomorrow morning, I'll be seeing all of you off."

"Well until then, I'll be go–" The door closed off the rest of that conversation. We three were all walking out of the Hokage Tower, but Hinata and Neji were several feet in front of me, they evidentially hadn't been trying to eavesdrop like I had…

Hinata tugged nervously at the bottom of Naruto's jacket, "I should return this to Naruto-kun…"

Neji snorts softly, "Yeah, I can definitely see that happening in the next ten years…"

"D-Don't make fun Neji!"

"Oooh no 'ni-san'?" He waved his hands around as if he was warding her off, "Don't you have to practice using your 'formal language' for the upcoming mission Hinata-sama?"

Then I was totally shocked, Hyuuga Hinata growled and then snapped, "You know that stuff comes natural now you brat!"

"Hm. You're still angry about the 'Special Cajun Chicken' ramen packet aren't you? How immature."

"Nani?" Yes… Hinata had just hissed… my eyes had to be dinner plates by now… "You're the one that took the packet, you're the one that's immature!"

Neji scoffed, "Using the same insult as me? Lame…" He gave a dismissive wave and walked faster, "You're getting boring Hinata-sama."

I could have sworn I saw a 'Tch' mark appear on her head… I couldn't hold it in anymore… I laughed out loud at their antics.

Hinata jumped and turned around, blushing. Neji just smirked, "You didn't know she was behind us? You do need more training."

"S-Sak-kura-ch-chan!"

I just laughed some more, "Don't be embarrassed, I've just never seen this side of you two before…" Neji raised an eyebrow and I recanted, "Ok, yeah Neji's always sarcastic and slightly antagonistic…" Now Hinata was laughing, hand covering her mouth again. Neji calmly turned and walked up to me, pointing his middle and index fingers. He waited until I was looking up to try and meet his eyes (he's about a foot and a half taller than me…)

"UGH! All our guy friends are growing like weeds! Noxious weeds! It's people like you that make us feel short!" Inner was shaking her fist up at Neji, not that he could see it.

I glared up at Neji who smirked in response. Then I felt a sharp pain sting from my sternum, and it was hard to breathe. "Watch who you're insulting Haruno, wouldn't want to have to kick your ass." Another poke the same pain in the same spot but I could breathe again. "Well endowed as it is, wouldn't want to damage your kunoichi benefits."

"He just used Jyuken on us, AND said we had a big ass!"

While Inner was raging, along with myself, Neji was calmly walking away, long ponytail swishing with each step.

"What's your excuse?" he paused for a second and I continued, "You're not a kunoichi and you still have a big ass!" It was lame… and even I knew it.

"You're a disgrace to the Haruno family… and to us."

'I think I've been sleep deprived too much lately.'

Neji had enough grace to look over his shoulder at his relatively flat butt… "Heh, you mean extremely toned butt…" Unneeded memories of having to give Neji a sponge bath a couple of months ago came flooding back.

Then he smirked again, "Haruno, I'm sorry, but I've already been called a manwhore today, and nothing's gonna top that." Hinata blushed profusely and turned away, actions going unheeded by her cousin, "Even your lame insults aren't going to ruin my good mood." He turned his head back to its regular position and started walking away, chuckling, "and besides, I don't remember you complaining about my 'ass' a couple of months ago." My face drained of blood, he didn't pay any attention to my reaction either… "After all you did insist that 'you were my nurse, and you would be giving me my sponge bath, thank-you. And you Miku-chan can go back to your filing work.'" All this was called over his shoulder in a mockingly high voice as the prick continued to walk away.

All I could do was stare open-mouthed… and blush profusely. 'Damnit he was supposed to be unconscious! I mean he was in a coma for goodness' sake!'

"Hmm… he did have a 'miraculous recovery' half way through that bath though didn't he?"

'That bastard! He was awake all along!'

Hinata giggled behind her hand beside me, "I have to go Sakura-san, but I'll see you tomorrow morning." She waved and moved to run after her rapidly disappearing cousin.

"Wait! Hinata!" I blurted out.

She pivoted on her heel and turned to look at me, "Yes S-Sakura-san?"

"About Naruto…" Her eyes lit up like candles at the mention of her crush, she was waiting.

"Yeah! Go ahead and tell her! It's not just Naruto's decision to make!"

'But it's not mine either… and he's leaving tomorrow for 2 years!'

"But he'll be traveling with us for a couple of months during those two years… that means traveling with Hinata!"

'He'd never forgive us!"

"Sakura," Inner gave me her 'lecture-the-Outer' tone, "This is Naruto we're talking about, he'll always forgive us."

Hinata was looking at me expectantly, and I said quickly, "Naruto-kun lik–" Her eyes widened, I paused, gulping, "L-Likes the ramen you gave him and I, I don't think Naruto-kun will mind if you keep the jacket." I finished lamely.

"Chicken."

She looked kind of confused, but then she smiled, "O-okay, I'll remember that S-Sakura-san."

I smiled back, "I thought I told you that you can call me Sakura-chan or just plain Sakura." She was always so polite… she wasn't as bad as Neji though…

"Gomen, ja ne Sakura-chan!" Then she turned and ran after Neji who was long gone by now.

"Ja!" I waved and smiled weakly.

I needed to get some fresh medical herbs and ointments. I walked towards mid-town, streets bustling all around me. Smiling faces, screaming children, exasperated parents, random shinobi flying by, a couple of ANBU masks… nothing out of the ordinary. The world seemed to blur around me, I found the store I needed, and pushed the old wood door opened. With a protesting creak, then a noise almost like a bark as it scraped across the wooden floor, the door opened and I walked in. The aroma was extremely powerful, my head would be swimming for a while after a left the shop. Herbs of every different size, kind, variety, and smell were strung from the ceiling, displayed in illuminated refrigerated cases, crumbling out of drawers lining the walls, and growing out of various pots and aquariums. Sunlight lit up everything else, skylights galore in this place. It was like an herbal jungle. The air was about ten degrees warmer than it was outside, and I closed the door before it could escape outside and ruin the herb's delicate environment.

"Nakianu? Are you here?" I called out, though the vines streaming down the walls that weren't covered in drawers, as well as several latticed climbing walls and arches set up around the large building dampened my voice.

"In the back girl! I'm getting some orders ready!" Came a sharp retort from the back of the shop.

Shaking my head, I walked through the shop, stepping around seemingly random placed pots and through the gazebo in the center. I threw some breadcrumbs from a brown paper bag attached to a post into the koi pond. Little ducklings scuttled out from the genuine reeds surrounding the pond and ate them. Purple water lilies dotted the surface as well as some weird looking plants… evidentially more herbs.

"Humph, I thought I told you to come to the back girl."

Startled I looked up at the old man that owned the shop, Nakianu, then I smiled, "This place never ceases to amaze me."

"That's the point, I sell medicinal and kitchen herbs here you know, there's not a store like this anywhere else in the world."

"There isn't a master gardener like you anyone else in the world either."

He snorted and turned towards the back, beckoning me with a hand, "You just need an order early."

I laughed lightly at the old man's gruffness and followed him as he walked a sinuous trail that only he could ever understand or remember through the rest of the store and to the back, which was just one long wooden counter.

"When do you leave on your mission?"

"Tomorrow at eight in the morning."

An irritated sigh, "I won't be open tomorrow so I guess I'll have to just do it all now."

"You're the best Nakianu!"

He scoffed, "I know." Then he bent down and pulled open one of the drawers. He took out a couple sets of mortars and pestles, along with some knives. He grabbed a bunch of herbs and threw them at me, "Make yourself useful while I get the rest, peel off all the leaves and grind them to a paste. It's tedious but you'll get it done faster than I could."

I nodded and started to work. A couple hours and some very sore hands and arms later, I was walking out of the shop and down the street.

With a sign I turned towards home, "Screw walking…" I muttered and brought my hands together to do the correct hand signs for the regular transportation jutsu. The specialized jutsu's were kind of like a fad that went around a couple months ago, we couldn't use them outside Konoha because they made it easy for enemy nin's to identify us. They used more hand signs anyways. When the smoke cleared my small kitchen greeted me. I loved my apartment, every room was pretty small, but functional and convenient. I raided my fridge for some tapioca Ino off all people had dropped off for me. I was a little worried since Ino's cooking skills kind of well…

"Suck." Inner Sakura scraped some imitations of burned piles of sludge I had received from Ino on previous occasions into a garbage with a clothespin on her nose.

I giggled a bit but tried it anyways, I had the munchies. I really wonder sometimes just what exactly Nakianu grows in that shop, my head was still muggy. I pressed the pudding around my mouth with my tongue, it wasn't the best, but it was bad either. Shrugging, I took the bowl out of the fridge and closed it, walking into my living room and down the hallway. I made my way to my bedroom that was across the hall from my bathroom, twisting the knob with my free hand and bumping it open with my butt. I flicked on the light and took the spoon out of my mouth, closing the door again.

I was met with a glaring hot pink bedspread I had bought just to spite Sai and Kiba, who used to always pick on my pink hair. Once they saw my bed, they never complained about my hair again. Squinting my eyes against the neon color I walked to the closet and pulled out my duffel bag that was always packed. Medical supplies (bandages, ointments, wiry string and sewing needles for stitches, along with sterile syringes and soldier pills), shruiken, kunai, wire, exploding notes, Pajamas (I always forget those so I make sure they're already in the bag, a toothbrush and past, and some dried food topped it off. Along with some extra shorts, underwear and bra, and shirts. After eating some more tapioca I rummaged through my closet some more for some formal kimonos and regular dresses. Evidentially our final location was a very formal place… I folded everything neatly and placed them in plastic bags and put them in a separate bag, along with some wooden sandals and a pair of high heels. We were going to be sending our formal wear by wagon to wherever this place was so we didn't have to worry about it while we were looking for Coriander's father. I carefully placed all of the new ointments, salves, and raw herbs I had spent hours preparing into my bag as well. They all came in complementary little porcelain containers since I was a regular costumer. I threw the straps to both bags over my shoulders and cradled the bowl of pudding to my side with my spoon in my mouth and made an attempt to open the door.

I finally managed and stepped out, closing the door with my free hand (but burdened arm), I turned around, looking down.

'Shoes…?' I quickly looked up to see Sai casually leaning against my bathroom door.

"EEK!" Sai caught the bowl and spoon as well as slipping the falling straps to the bags back on my shoulder before I could even finish screaming.

"Don't scare me like that! Jeez!"

"You need to buff up on sensing chakra Sakura." He dipped the spoon in the bowl and took a bite, "Did you make this Ugly? It's not that good…"

"Ino made it!" I made a snatch for the bowl but he just slipped out of the way, taking another bite.

"Ah. In that case it's delicious, especially compared to her other concoctions."

I tried to stay angry, but a smile was threatening to smooth away my frown, "The only reason I didn't sense you is because I'm too used to your chakra! You're over here too much!"

"Your fridge calls me." Another spoonful of tapioca lost forever.

"Nani? What about us!"

I didn't need to fake being angry now, I pushed past him, "What are you doing here Sai?" I made my way out to the living room where I dropped the bags next to the couch.

He leaned against the wall by the hallway, "We're going out."

I coughed in surprise, whipping around, "What?"

"We're going danc—"

"Is he really going to ask us out in his weird pushy way?!?!" Inner had stars in her eyes, hands clasped together.

"–ing, Tenten, Kiba, Shino, are all going out for some drinks and dancing and invited me and sent me to get you as well."

Inner dropped her head and hands, stars gone, "Nope… and yet again a false start."

I sighed and decided to go pack my stuff I needed from the bathroom. Sai scooped more of the white pudding into his mouth and I growled, "Why are you eating it if it's gross?"

A shrug, "It's addicting." Another spoonful.

"Stop eating it, Ino made it for me and you've had almost half already." I was only about a foot and a half away from him now, and I still had the damn munchies.

"Wan it baagch?" He stuck out his tongue with the tapioca still all over it and spoke over the food, his eyes were smirking since his mouth couldn't.

"DO IT!"

Eyes narrowed, I swatted his arms away from him and leaned in, closing my eyes and crashing my lips onto him, swirling my tongue around his. This effectively took back the tapioca, and I was desperately trying to ignore how amazing it felt, he hadn't even started kissing me back yet. His eyes were huge and he was standing perfectly still, then he closed his eyes and just as he started to kiss me back I pulled away, smirking.

"Don't dare a kunoichi Sai-kun." I stepped back and took the bowl and spoon from his now loose grip, heading down the hallway.

"NOOOOOOO! GO BACK! It was just getting good! Go back, you know you want to!!!" Inner Sakura was pressed against the back of my head towards the still in shock Sai.

I called over shoulder, "Pack the stuff I need out of my bathroom if you want me to go!" I looked back and noticed with a smile that he was still standing there, a hand pressed gently to his lips. I pushed into my room and closed the door. I took another bite of pudding, but it didn't seem to taste as good…

"Yeah cause when it's in Sai's mouth it's better!" Inner sulked in a corner of my mind, knees drawn up to her chest.

Rolling my eyes and shaking my head, I set the bowl down on my dresser, spoon slipping into the white muck. The picture of the old Team 7 caught my eye, and the old familiar tug on my heart came back when I saw Sasuke. I stared for a long time, until I heard the door, then the medicine cabinet in my bathroom open and Sai walking around in there. My gaze hardened and I pushed the picture face down, sliding the newer picture of Me, Sai, Naruto, and Coriander at the park, sitting and laughing to the other picture's old spot. Well ok Sai was just giving a fake smile… (he always does that when there's a camera around) but he was sitting next to me so I wasn't complaining about the picture.

With new resolve I walked to my closet and threw open the double doors, fishing out my favorite little black dress. 'Screw Sasuke.'

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My apartment was two rooms, technically three. The kitchen and my room were just one big room with the bathroom sort of screening off the kitchen, with my bed about 7 feet from the outside door close to the window. My closet it horizontal… it's called the floor, which also happens to be my garbage, cabinets, and sink. All this is made evident by random piles of long-sleeved and short-sleeved fishnet shirts, black cargo shorts, regular black pants, orange and black jackets, garbage and ramen bowls. My apartment didn't smell like ramen though, I licked those babies clean.

My apartment smelled like… I closed my eyes trying to think of the name

Sakura, Sai, Ino, Neji, Hinata, Genma, and Shizune were all coming over to my place to hang out, (with my newly obtained couch, there was finally enough room for people to sit when they came over). Everybody filed in after me. I had done the dreaded "ramen duty" so there wasn't any garbage or bowls on the floor. They were all sparkling clean and stacked in the actual cabinets in the kitchen. There was still some random articles of clothing strewn about, but they were all clean. Sakura followed me in with a small smile.

After a deep breath: "This place smells like you Naruto…"

I laughed nervously and scratched the back of my head, 'Okay she's freakin me out with the glazed eyes and faraway smile.'

"That could be because he lives here." Genma drawls around his senbon, "Just a thought…"

Everyone laughed, Sakura blushed, and Ino walked in with an orchid, a pink orchid. "Hmm… musk, with some southern spice, it's actually a pretty nice smell Naruto..." She looked at the orchid doubtfully, "It doesn't really match…"

I laughed and walked over, gently taking the flower away and giving her a one-armed hug, "It's great Ino, thanks." I walked over to put it in my windowsill next to my picture of the old team 7. I was going to have to get a new one… Sasuke really was a bastard… but I wouldn't abandon him. I'll never abandon him. I looked behind me, Sai and Sakura were talking with Neji and Shizune. Genma was putting the beer in the fridge. I casually turned the picture to face the window. Hinata looked at me, concerned. I smiled to show I was alright, then jerked my head towards Sai and Sakura. Se just nodded and smiled back… Kami I think my heart just melted…

That was a fun night… it started with talking and drinking games, and ended with and extremely inebriated, and extremely long game of spin the bottle. We were all so trashed we played like you're supposed to, kiss anyone it lands on. The next morning I had navy blue, pink, blonde… as well as two different lengths of black and brown hair on my shirt…

Hinata was also exceptionally friendly that night.. and I was more than happy to oblige her since she wouldn't remember by the next morning anyways. Ha! There were a lot of make-out sessions that night, I STILL use that picture of Sai and Sakura for blackmail… they are in such denial.

'Hinata… that night was really amazing.' For a second I could feel her small arms around me and her lips pressed against mine. I felt my eyebrows furrow, 'No, that can't happen again, goodness knows how far we would have gone if no one else had been around… a relationship between us would be too dangerous.'

"Ugh." My blue eyes flickered to my orange and yellow paisley couch. Coriander was flopped down, the back of her right hand on her forehead.

"Feigning exhaustion are we?" I raised my eyebrow, hands on my hips.

"Do you have ANY idea how many ramen wrappers and bowls you had? Three garbage bags, and half an hour and the kitchen sink… three trash bags!" She stopped for a gasp of air, "… this couch is really old and ugly."

I laughed and walked over, "What'd you expect? I found it on a street corner and Lee's the one that helped me patch it up." I sat on her, ignoring the perfectly open other two cushions; of course I didn't put all my weight on her.

There was an oof! as the air pushed from her lungs, then, "Hey!" She wriggled underneath me, and I ignored her.

"Besides, you know you can have the bed, I offer it to you EVERY time you stay here!"

She stuck her tongue out at me, still trying to push me off, "You're more comfy Orange-kun."

I scoffed, "Evidentially." Whenever I was watching her, I gave her the bed and slept on the couch. I'd tuck her in, and wake up with an unusually heavy bundle of blankets wither curled up next to me or on me. "Ne Cori-chan?" She stopped wiggling for a bit.

"Why are you like this?"

"Like what?"

I thought for a second before answering, "Hyper, obnoxious, happy-go-lucky, antagonistic…" She looked extremely perplexed. Not confused, that was too childish of a word for that expression, for Coriander in general. It was definitely perplexed… like she was calculating.

I continued, "That's how you are with me, but with Sakura-chan you're all shy and kawaii; with Sai you're contemplative, artistic, and smart; Ino, girly to the point of being scary; Hinata…" A pause as my heart wrenched, 'With Hinata you're uncommonly bold… why?"

The answer was immediate, "To make you all happy of course."

'To make us happy? What the hell? She's four!'

"She's more than she seems."

I frowned at the uncomfortably familiar presence, "Yeah I got that much, go away!"

"As you wish master." He mocked, disappearing. He always mocked me.

"Tch." I took a few deep breaths then looked down again at Coriander, "Well Yeah, but who are you?"

She tilted her little head, "Whatever I need to be."

'Nani?'

Her eyes widened considerably, and I realized I had accidentally actually sat on her in my confusion. I stood up immediately and let anger wash over the embarrassment as she theatrically gasped for air. "Take those 'three garbage bags' out to the dumpster!"

She glared, but she complied, dragging the first bag towards the door by the large knot at the top of the bag. I shook my head and walked to the windowsill and picked up Ino's orchid and her Tiger lily (she had brought me that later because she claimed it matched me better). My clothes were already picked up and put away. I cradled the lily in my elbow as I grabbed the picture of Me, Sakura, Sai, Yamamoto , and Kakashi all laughing and making funny faces and/or gestures at the festival. I had the picture taken just a few months after the party at my house. Sai was just flipping the camera off with that fake smile of his, but Sakura and Kakashi were laughing at him in the picture because of it so I had let it go. I stuffed the picture in my pack and snatched up the two remaining garbage bags and headed out the door, kicking it closed with some fast footwork, hey it was hard to kick close a door that opens to the inside when you're going out! I walked down the stairs to the dumpsters, throwing in bags into the open top just as Coriander was about to close it.

I shifted the lily to my now free hand and crouched down, away from Coriander, "Hop on Cori, we're going to Ino's shop to drop these off."

She giggled and complied, for all the world like a normal little kid again… "Yes father." She always said that when she was teasing. I snorted and shook my head slightly, 'Just who are you Caranluin Coriander?'

I stood and snapped my head toward the other end of the street, sensing a familiar chakra signature. But it disappeared less than a second after I thought I had sensed it so I let it go. Shaking my head, I walked towards Ino's, muttering under my breath, "No way the bastard would come to Konoha. Not even he's that cocky."

A gasp, "BAD WORD!"

I grimaced, then yelled in frustration. "OH seriously Cori! GIVE IT UP! I was talking to myself! I can cuss to myself all I damn well want! "

"BAD WORD!"

"AAAUUUGHHH!"

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I had packed her makeup (she had double of everything for when she had to go on missions), 2 different sticks of deodorant, and travel size shampoo into a little beige zip-up bag I had found, and had even moved all the things from her duffel bag to her pack for her. I pulled out the deodorant again, smiling at the memory.

"Oooh you smell good today, what is that Sai?"

I made a wierded-out face at her I had picked up from a picture book, "My deodorant..."

Her eyes lit up, "Really?"

"Why would I lie about deodorant?"

She ignored me, "Do you have it with you?"

"Yes… why?"

"Let me see it."

"Sakura that's just weird." Naruto was giving her a genuine wierded-out look from the other end of the couch in her apartment.

"Just let me see it Sai."

Not taking my eyes off of her – not that that was hard – I reached into one of my pockets on my jacket and pulled out the deodorant, handing it to her.

She opened pulled of the cap and smelled it, eyes glazing over, "Wow it's just like cologne! Is this what you wear when all of us go dancing and to the festivals?"

"Yes… it doesn't get used much since I can't use that kind when I'm on missions, too identifying."

She smirked, "Then you won't mind me stealing it."

"Sakura, that's guys deodorant..." Naruto stated slowly from the other end again, as if saying it slower could make her see reason.

She scoffed, "Yeah, and it's made to smell good to women, so I'm stealing it." She pulled a towel off the coffee table and wiped the deodorant stick on it… evidentially to 'sterilize it of all Sai cooties'.

The blonde shook his head, "You're a freak Sakura-chan…" I had to agree.

A 'tch' mark appeared on her forehead, and she punched Naruto off the couch.

"Ow…" he moaned, "Sakura-chan." He sounded like she had just betrayed him in some horrible way.

"Cut the theatrics Naruto!" She hissed, then turned to me with a glare that could give someone a heart attack, "Do you have anything to say?"

I threw up my hands defensively, "Keep it!"

Her face went back to normal and she snuggled back into the couch, taking another sniff of the deodorant, I added with an eye roll, "Wouldn't want to interfere with your freaky ways."

I chuckled, putting the deodorant back and zipping up all the bags. I had that bruise for a week, she refused to heal it. On top of that, she had made me buy the stuff for her every time she ran out since then, and had worn it every time she was in Konoha, and out of it as long as it was a low-key mission, where it didn't matter if people identified her as Haruno Sakura.

I heard the bathroom door close, she was evidentially touching up on her makeup before we left. Now was as good a time as any to get changed. I opened up the bag I had brought with me and pulled out some loose dark-wash jeans, a tight long sleeved tee, a bracelet, and some civilian sneakers I had bought a couple of missions back. I bent down and pulled my sandals off, then slipping out of my pants and half jacket, standing in my black boxers with purple hearts on them… a gift from Ino to Neji, who had handed them promptly to me, not wanting to accept that kind of gift from Ino. I had taken them without a second thought, they were comfortable, hadn't been worn before… and as for the purple hearts… it wasn't like anyone actually saw them anyways. I folded my previously worn clothes and stuffed them into the now empty bag. I heard a crash from the bathroom, and I chuckled, 'Probably fell over putting her heels on again…'. I slipped the jeans on and then the T-shirt, along with the dark bracelet made of little wood beads. 'What was with that kiss earlier? Was it just her responding to my 'dare' or was she… what had Ino called it… ah yes 'flirting'… with me?'

I shrugged, it was too hard to tell and I wasn't going to figure anything out anytime soon. I sat down and put on my sneakers. I was tying the laces for the second shoe when the bathroom door opened and Sakura walked out in a black little number I hadn't seen before. It was a halter-top that flared out at the hips, ending mid creamy thigh. Black heels with straps going up her calves and an obsidian pendant necklace I had given her at a festival a couple years back to match. Her hair was in a messy bun with bangs left out to frame her face and lip-gloss on her lips along with reapplied eyeliner and mascara. Her headband was tied around her small black purse.

'Finish tying your shoe, stop staring, insult her, and head to the bar.'

The first command went off without a hitch, I knew I wouldn't be able to manage number two even as I thought it, and as for number three, "You look… incredible." I whispered, 'that wasn't what I was supposed to say…' evidentially my mouth was against me, 'it's her fault for kissing me.'

Her smile lit up her entire face and washed away all regrets about not insulting her. She sauntered over to me, hips swaying, and grabbed my hand, helping me up, "Let's go."

"Uh-huh." Was all I could manage as I was dragged out the door, happy to remain behind her and enjoy the view.

"You look good too Sai." She slipped a note under her neighbor's door, "So they can take care of the plants and feed the fish." She explained and started down the stairs.

Ah yes… the psychotic beta… that fish was suicidal.

"Stop staring at my ass and walk next to me." She called from halfway down the outdoor stairwell. I leapt over the railing and landed at the bottom, leaning against the side of the stairwell wall, waiting for her. "I can't help it," her eyes lit up more and I waited until she was next to me to continue, "That thing's gravitational pull got ahold of my eyes." She bared her teeth and was about to snarl something at me when I put my hand on her ass, "Hm… seems to have gotten my hand too."

She stiffened, and looked like she didn't know whether to feel embarrassed, angry, or happy about the current position of my left hand. She evidentially settled with all three, as she 1.) blushed, 2.)hissed angrily, "Sai!" she reached behind her and raised my hand to where it was around her waist, and let out a huff, "Let's just get to the bar." 3.)(The happy part came in where she didn't punch me to the next Hidden Village). With a smirk I tightened my grip on her waist, giving a squeeze to her ribs, which earned me a squeak and a wiggle, then I headed out towards the bar before she could get away from my arm. I was in a good mood, these 'flirtatious' days didn't come often and I savored them when they did.

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I had left Juugo, Karin, and Suigetsu back at the camp. They didn't question me, they were used to me taking off on my own for a while. They were evidentially still stepping on glass so to speak around me as they knew I was still in a bad mood. Being this close to Konoha didn't certainly didn't help either, the guilt was heavy. That stupid dream had brought a lot of emotions to surface that were better left in the dark recesses of my mind along with that fool Orochimaru. Shaking my head, I masked my chakra and used Henge to appear like an ANBU. I didn't need to be questioned by anyone, and as far as I could tell, all genuine ANBU were either away from the village, or guarding various buildings, which I could easily avoid. This disguise allowed me to keep my sword as well without suspicion. I stepped out of the forest and walked calmly towards the massive gate of the Hidden Village. The two Chuunin on guard hardly spared me a second glance and I entered the place that had once been my home. Speaking of home… on another rare turn of nostalgia I headed over the rooftops towards my old apartment. Reaching it, I saw that there was obviously someone else inhabiting it. Growling with anger, I was prepared to go in and scare away whomever the hell it was that had taken over my apartment, when I saw a note pinned above the doorway. It was yellowed and wavy with age and weather, and the writing was messy, and it would have been almost indecipherable even on nice clean white paper. 'Naruto wrote this… hey t, teme? Most likely… hey teme, your cap t the state. What?' I thought about if for a second, 'Hey teme your crap is at the estate.' Satisfied that was what it said I turned away and began to walk to the Uchiha section of town.

Thoughts of Naruto however, led me towards his old apartment instead, 'I doubt he moved after all these years…' I rounded the corner to his street and saw him crouched down, a flower in each hand, with some little girl behind him. Whispering a and moving my hands to a jutsu that increased my hearing I wondered, 'What is he still doing D-rank missions like baby sitting and gardening?'

The jutsu finished.

" – Cori, we're going to Ino's shop to drop these off."

I smirked, definitely baby sitting.

The little girl giggled and got on his back, "Yes father." My heart stopped, my eyes widened, and I coughed in surprise as Naruto stood up. I saw his head snap towards me and I realized I had let up the mask on my chakra. Swearing I immediately masked it again, and watched with bated breath for his reaction. He just shook his head, and muttered, "No way the bastard would come to Konoha. Not even he's that cocky." He began walking away and I smirked, 'Wrong as always Naruto.'

He faded from view as I stood there, 'But a kid? How did that happen? She looks around 2 or 3, Kami he'd have to have been 14 or 15 when she was born! Who's the mother? Maybe she's just an orphan…' I decided to follow him, silently. He had taken to the rooftops as well so by the time I had caught up with him, he was standing in front of the Yamanaka flower shop and was talking with a girl. Hyuuga Hinata… that was her name, and she was wearing one of Naruto's jackets and cargo shorts, with a grocery bag over her shoulder. The little girl jumped off of Naruto's back, ran around him and leaped into Hinata's arms. Hinata laughed and held the girl gently to her chest, while chattering in that stuttering way of hers with Naruto, who was still holding the flowers. 'Was the Hyuuga the mother?'

The advanced hearing jutsu was working, but there were so many people walking by where they were that I could only catch snippets of their conversation, and if I used the Sharingan to read their lips, it would glow through the eye slits in my mask…

"—wash it y-yet."

Naruto was laughing, "I'm not worried about it, you can –"

"Ahahaha I know! Did you see the way he was looking at her? It was disgusting! What a freak!"

"I know right? Gross!"

I growled in frustration, a group of Ino wannabe's had just walked by. 'Can what? Wash it later when we get home? What was she washing? The jacket? The dishes?'

Laughing, they walked into the store, and I heard Ino's voice call out a greeting, and a "Sakura's leaving her plants to her neighbor! Can you believe that? I would totally hav–" the door shut with a jingle of a bell, cutting off the conversation.

My black heart wrenched at the sound of her name. Where could she be? The woman that haunted my dreams… Scowling, I took off across the rooftops, searching for her chakra signature, for her pink hair, for her green eyes and open smile. Suddenly Naruto and his wife and kid seemed unimportant as roof tiles and shingles passed beneath my feet. It was almost dark, it would be in half an hour. I was crossing over a street when I saw a head of pink hair. I landed on the building I had been going for and looked down. Sakura was on the 4th step away from the bottom of a staircase leading to the apartment building I was on… she took my breath away. She was in a halter-top black dress that flared out at the hips and swished every time she moved, it ended mid-thigh. No way was she exposing that much skin in public. High heels clicked down the last remaining stairs and she had a fist raised and was snarling at a man who was waiting at the bottom of the staircase..

"I can't help it," the man said, and she lowered her fist, whole body relaxing. 'Who was he… ah yes Sai.'

She walked up next to him and he continued, "That thing's gravitational pull got ahold of my eyes." She tensed up again and was about to raise her fist again when he put his hand on her ass. I snarled from under my mask as he said perfectly casually, "Hm… seems to have gotten my hand too." 'That was it, no way she would stand for that.' I smirked as I waited for her to rip his offending arm off, or punch him into a crater, but my heart sank and my smirk faded as none of those actions were taken. Instead she just hissed his name, and told him they should just go to the bar. And she didn't take his hand off of her." I snarled again, face twisting with rage. The dream came back unwanted again, "I've replaced you." With what? With this boy? What was he compared to me?

I watched, simmering as he tickled her, and kept walking, not letting her go. It was taking all the self-control I had to not lunge off of the building and thrust my katana through his pale throat.

Sai looked up at the sky, "We're going to be late," he swept Sakura up, careful to make sure her skirt wasn't riding up. She squeaked in surprise, but he silenced her with a simple, "You can't run rooftops with what you're wearing on."

'Then why don't you let her go back in and change?' I snarled at him mentally.

She then relaxed, relaxed! In his arms and he took off, leaping up to the first low rooftop and then jumping across town. I was pushing off the roof I was on and following his every move before I was even aware of it. He looked behind him, eyebrow quirked.

"What is it?" My cherry blossom was talking to that boy.

"There's an ANBU tailing us…"

'Shit he sensed me?'

"He's masking his chakra though… and I can't see his mask from this far away."

A laugh, "It's probably just Neji playing a prank."

'Hyuuga made ANBU?'

A disbelieving snort, "More likely trying to get another look at your ass." She punched his arm, I smirked. "Neji insulted my 'ass' earlier this afternoon so that's unlikely."

"You realize I'm carrying you with that arm right?"

"You can carry me with one arm, you've done it before."

'He's done it before?'

"I've let you run by yourself before too."

"Not while I was wearing a dress!"

"There's a first time for everything Ugly."

'Ugly???'

A huff, "What happened to 'you look incredible?'

"Spur of the moment, I said it before I got a good look at you." I had pulled out a kunai, ready to throw it into his civilian clothed back.

"Yeah and I'm sure the way you reacted earlier was spur of the moment too."

A short laugh, "You instigated that. I was afraid you'd hurt me if I didn't react the way I did."

'What the hell happened earlier?'

"Ooooo!" She punched him again in the shoulder out of frustration, and he let her drop. My eyes widened, I wouldn't be able to catch her in time! Though it served the bitch right for letting him touch her.

She landed, hands holding her dress down, on her feet, heel's digging holes into the dirt street. She stood up straight, face still in concentration mode. It was the first chance I got to see her whole face again since that mission. She had on makeup… eyeliner, mascara, and gloss. Apple-green eyes reflecting the neon light above her.

'Same perfect face Sakura…'

Sai landed beside her with a small thump, "Good timing Ugly." He pointed behind him with his thumb up at the sign that read, 'Saito's Café, Bar, Dancehall.'

Her eyes lit up as her beautiful smile appeared on her face, showing off her cheekbones, "I always have perfect timing Sai-kun."

"Yeah, as long as it involves injuring me." He rubbed his sore shoulder.

She laughed, and to me it sounded like clear bells ringing across the night, like a spring bubbling up from the earth, smooth and pure, it made me want to listen to it forever. She raised a chakra covered hand and pressed it against his shoulder.

"Let's go Sai! I want to dance!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the bar.

I watched through the window from across the street and fumed all night as after every drink they danced closer and closer together, all but ignoring Tenten, Kiba, and Shino. After the fifth drink, and the tenth slow song, that boy had lowered his head and kissed my Sakura, who had kissed the bastard back. By the time they stumbled out into the clear night air around midnight, nearly 3 hours later, they were practically one sickening being. Kiba followed, being supported by his large dog, and yelled after the pair, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

Tenten snorted, walking out of the bar and leaning heavily on Shino, who hadn't drank anything all evening, evidentially the only one of the bunch with a brain, "Kiba there isn't anything you wouldn't do."

"Exactly!" He laughed and after a few tries, managed to swing himself onto the dog. I nearly killed the impudent mutt right then and there, but my attention was more focused on the pair that was stumbling away down the street.

Sakura was giggling like a little academy girl, and Sai mumbled in between their face-to-face contacts, "I think–" contact "it'd be–" contact "mmfh, better if I–" contact "used the–" contact "transpor– " contact "Mmm…tation–" contact "jutsu."

Sakura laughed again, "Ookay." With Sai's help, she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist and he brought his hands behind her back to do the hand signs. They disappeared in a maelstrom of ink and I didn't care to try and look for them. If she wanted to sleep with the boy that was her problem.

'You have changed Sakura, I have no place in your life anymore. I'm not going to leave any space for you in mine either.' With one last snarl I took off, breaking roof tiles, scattering shingles, and eventually snapping branches again. A couple hours later I reached our camp. I had overheard during their evening out that they would be leaving Konoha on a mission tomorrow, a very long mission.

I dropped through the trees to land next to the fire, startling Karin who had been putting something in my canteen. Suigetsu jerked awake, Juugo calmly regarded me from his perch up in one of the surrounding trees. Karin dropped the canteen in her surprise and cursed, I ignored her. I stretched out my hands towards the fire. It was hard to uncurl my right hand, I had bruised it from gripping my katana hilt so tight all night long.

"A team from Konoha is going to be leaving tomorrow morning, the Kyuubi container will be with them. We'll wait until they're about a week out of Konoha, then we'll be giving the team a surprise visit."

The other three members of my 'team' looked up sharply.

"We'll try and take the Kyuubi container hostage."

"And the rest?" Suigetsu asks sleepily.

"Do what you please with them."

Suigetsu and Karin smirked, Juugo frowned disapprovingly.

"We move out in 5 hours." I turned and got into my sleeping bag, taking a quick look at the stars before I closed my eyes. A small arch of white light streaked across the sky, 'A shooting star huh?' I let out a small laugh and closed my eyes, turning away from the fire and everyone else, 'I wish…'

Thank you PinkxxxReaper, numberoneklutz, and FakeCompassion for your reviews.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Tell me what you think; I tried to do something a little different. And whom do you guys want Sakura to be with?