Quick update, enjoy!

Chapter 16: Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Sakura was able to successfully remain in a mind numbing fog as she collected the scrolls from her desk and then went home to prepare for her mission. It was when she had herself completely packed and ready that she suddenly burst into hysterical tears and collapsed to her knees just inside her front door. Sobbing she slowly bent forward and leaned her head against her door shaking and trying to gasping for air. After several minutes she was thankful for her new mask because without it she surely would be hyperventilating.

"I'm so fucking stupid!" she thought, gently banging her head against the door. " What did I think would happen he'd just disappear and I'd never see him again?"

In fact she knew deep down that's what she was hoping for. He'd just return to Suna and she'd never seek him out again. Now here she was, supposed to be his personal caretaker or something. To heal HIM after what he did to her, and she did to herself. A wave of guilt rolled over her at her reaction. She knew the whole thing was not Ryu's fault she could've stayed at the bar with Ino. WHY didn't she stay at the bar with Ino.

"Oh my gosh, what's he going to say when I see him? What do I say? What is Kakashi going to do?" Sakura froze at this thought stilling her crying.

"Time to grow up Sakura," she said to herself forcibly calming her breathing, "You're a ninja and you need to act like one."

Slowly Sakura rose from the floor, pulling herself up on the door knob. Absently she reached into her pack for a new mask as the one she had on was currently soaked. Dry mask donned she took her pack strapped in on, made a mental feel for all of her weapons placed around her body since this was a new outfit, the layout was a bit different. Knowing that she had everything she needed physically she took a quick look in the mirror she had beside her door to check herself before she left.

"I look fine," Sakura thought a little stunned.

With the fresh mask on it hid most of the signs of her little fit and anyone would think that she was calm cool and collected. Because she looked it she started to feel that way as well.

"I think adopting this mask was the best idea I've had in a long time," Sakura thought securing her confidence and locking up her apartment.

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Kakashi poofed into his apartment and quickly got his things together in preparation for the mission. He was extremely worried about Sakura on this mission. Frankly he was worried about what he might do on this mission.

He went over in his mind exactly what he had said to Ryu when he had him under his spell.

"I will then hypnotize you once more so you do not remember me ever coming here or talking to you and the only thing you will remember is the pain of what you're going through now so hopefully you will never prey on an innocent girl again. Oh, and you will never ever go near my Sakura again or even think of touching her or telling anyone what you did to her you sick little oversexed pervert."

How was this going to work out with him commanding Ryu not to go near her.

"I guess it will all depend on his interpretation of the commands. Near could be 10 feet or 1 inch," Kakashi pondered. He should have thought this out more carefully, but truthfully he never thought they would ever be on a mission together.

"I should have just killed him," Kakashi thought pouting as he secured his pack and made his way to the gates. Despite what Tsunade had commanded, he wasn't going to be there nearly on time for her, but to keep an eye on Sakura.

"I might have to use my Sharingen on him again to adjust the commands," the copy-nin pondered as he made his way across the village. "This could be terribly awkward."

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"Naruto-kun, do you know how long you'll be gone?" Hinata asked meekly as she leaned against the wall of his apartment watching him pack.

"At least three weeks, probably more like a month and a half. Depends on how long it takes to get to Suna with this injured guy, and then how fast Sakura-chan is able to fix Gaara-sama," Naruto replied shoving cup after cup of ramen into his bag.

"Do you think that you'll actually be able to find anything out about your old team mate on your mission?" asked the white-eyed girl.

"No doubt about it Hinata-chan! Me, Kaka-sensei, and Sakura-chan are sure to figure this thing out!" Naruto replied with his typical confidence.

"You always have so much confidence and faith in your team Naruto-kun. I admire that so much," replied Hinata lovingly as the blond haired shinobi stood up and put on his pack.

"I have faith in you too Hinata-chan," Naruto said, bending over the Hyuuga and kissing her thoroughly.

"Good luck on your mission Naruto-kun!" Hinata called as Naruto straightened his pack and ran out of the apartment waving cheerfully back at his girlfriend.

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"So what exactly happened to you?" Genma asked leaning against the city wall with the sand team and toying with his senbon. He was chatting with the injured on while the rest of his team was off about 100 yards away doing a little training.

"I don't know. It's the craziest thing. Whenever I try to remember it's like my mind just slides around the answer. I was on a date with this really hot girl-," Ryu started.

"Hot girl?" Genma asked now at full attention.

"Yeah, she's a real babe. I've never seen anyone quite like her before. I met her in Suna when she was on a mission there. Pink hair. She's like right out of a porno you know?" Ryu elaborated. "Well I remember bringing her back to my room and I know that she was totally hot for me and I can remember what we did together you know, but I can't get it out. I just couldn't tell you if my life depended on it. Then I don't even remember anything until Masaru and Takumi over there found me. Now I keep shaking at odd times and I can't control it and I feel . . . unbalanced."

"That's really strange," Genma said thoughtfully. "Pink hair? You can't mean Haruno Sakura do you?"

"Yeah! That's her," Ryu said. "Why, you know her?"

"Somewhat," Genma answered, "Hard not to know the only girl in town with pink hair."

"Yeah, well one thing I am able to say about that night. I'd stay away from her cause she's a cock-tease," Ryu muttered bitterly.

"I would keep thoughts like that to yourself since she and her team are going to be the one's accompanying you and your team back to Suna," Genma said in a dangerously quiet voice.

Genma glared at the young red haired Jounin in front of him switching his senbon from one side of his mouth to the other. He was getting bad vibes from this guy and he wasn't an idiot. He could put two and two together between what this guy just said and the way Kakashi had been acting about Sakura, he knew something bad had gone down and he hoped that it hadn't gone as far as it seemed like it had. He wondered about how Tsunade could not have put two and two together on this. Even if she didn't know about how weird Kakashi had been acting the past few days she should have questioned Sakura since she was the last person to see this guy and figured something wasn't on the up and up. He needed to know more.

"Did you tell the Hokage about you and Sakura?" Genma asked forcing his voice into a friendly one.

"Tell the Hokage herself that her apprentice is a cock tease? Hell no! I just said I didn't remember anything at all about that night. I was just mentioning it guy to guy," Ryu said defensively holding up his hands.

"Thanks," Genma said trying not to roll his eyes.

Sure he had more than his fair share of the ladies but they were all more then willing when it came time for sex. He may flirt a little heavy even if they didn't want it, but it was all in good fun and most knew it. Genma got the sense that this guy was more forceful in taking what he wanted and took a dislike to him. Women were wondrous beautiful creatures and he didn't like the idea of this guy messing with them. He decided that he didn't like this guy and he was going to have a word with Kakashi to get some details as soon as practical.

Sorry for the short chapters! I'm just trying to pump this thing out for you! The mission officially starts next chapter! How will Ryu and Sakura interact? What about the hypnosis commands Kakashi gave Ryu? What will Kakashi have to say to Genma? How are Ryu's teammates going to react to the goings on? If you know the answer to these questions and more then why aren't YOU writing the damn story? JEESH! (sp?) Is there actually a correct way to spell that?