Chapter 14: Over Already

A/N: Alright guys, chapter 13 got delayed because fan fiction had an error. But I'm back again and now I'm demanding reviews… No Reviews No Updates… Just kidding I'm not demanding… I'm begging I'm sort of addicted to having new reviews to my story. Please R n R ; )

As Sakura entered the tavern, she was greeted by heated arguments between the girls and the boys. "I did not come here to flirt!" Ino shouted as she shook with outrage. "I did not say anything like that," Shikamaru replied calmly but his closed fist gave him away. "Hinata, What are you doing in a place like this? And with people like them? And dressed like… that!" Naruto drowned the now panicking girl. "Uhmm… You see… Uhh…" Hinata staggered. "The truth is…" Ino was about to say when Sakura got in front of Ino as she whispered"Ino, not yet. I'm sorry but I still have to prove something before we can say anything to them." "Were listening… go on…" Sasuke commanded as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "We just came here to celebrate something…" Sakura said extemporaneously. "And what is the celebration all about?" Naruto asked either curiously or heatedly. "That's for me to know and you to find out." Sakura said seductively. "Look we just bump into these guys in the way here. That's all," she continued. "So no further issues to discuss. Let's let that and us rest." she concluded as she swallowed thinking they might inquire further but to a miracle they didn't.

"Sakura, listen you have to explain it to them sooner rather than later. Because…" Ino tried to reason out but was cut short by a disgusted look on Shikamaru's face as he looked at her. "Don't worry Ino… all I need is one to two days tops. He'll understand once all of this is clarified." Sakura reassured as she faced both Ino and Hinata. "Also thank you for your help. I'm sorry things turned out the way they did today," she gratified. "It's fine. But I don't get it. What does knowing hat Kagura was in love with Ken and Ken and Reika were lovers have to do with our mission?" Hinata asked weakly. "It changes almost everything. You should go rest. Thanks again guys," Sakura said as she walked away from them. "Wait, where are you going?" Ino shouted. "I need to clear my head for a while," Sakura replied with her back on them but was waving her hand as she responded.

Back on the ruins…

There was a disturbing commotion caused by the wounded creatures as they sucked the blood of their victims in order to heal their wounds. The Blood Countess just sat in her ancient throne as she watched the massacre below when the huge door opened to reveal a young maiden almost as beautiful as her and walked towards her with no fear. The maiden then bowed and said "Sister, your enemies are moving closer and your numbers are dwindling fast. You must do something, or else defeat would be an option." The Blood Countess stood from her seat and approached her sister. "Mayu, my dear sister… your beauty still remains as it is. The enchanting eyes, those luscious lips, the pointed nose… do you know why?" she said as she stroked every detail of Mayu's face. "Because… I made you!" she shouted as she pushed Mayu's face away from hers. "You're my creation. Therefore, you are not allowed to order me around just because I'm your blood sister. Never forget that it was you who begged me to retain your beauty while you were in your death bed." She now said rather calmly. "I haven't forgotten Reika. But please do understand that though you did create me that fact doesn't hinder me from loving you as my sister before and still now." Mayu voiced out. Resuming to her throne, the blood countess said "Alright, sister take a few of those creatures and see what can you do for me," she said lamely.

Mayu did as she was told. "Mayu, be careful the Xenoliths already gained some powerful allies. They are not a force to underestimate." The man that was always behind the blood countess warned. "Ken, I know my limits. You protect her like always, alright?" Mayu reassured as she headed towards south to the ruins of another castle to plan her attack.

In the village, by the lake

Sakura gradually stepped into the calm cold water. Now her thoughts settled in. Alright, now the things to think about… Kagura was in love with Ken but Ken was in love with Reika so Kagura tried to kill the couple but then in the end it was only Reika who died in saving Ken. Now, Kagura is the leader of the village because she had her penance and was now a new person. Reika on the other hand… I she really the Blood Countess? And where is Ken after all this time? And soon after we've arrived here I had a dream about the blood countess… was it all true?... Urgh, I don't know what to believe anymore. Frustrated, Sakura dived into the water below and re-emerged soon after. Her imagination connected with her thoughts… but her imagination orchestrated a different trick. Kagura was Shizuka, she was Reika and Ken was… Gaara. Sakura stared into the stars as she floated into the glassy surface of the lake while witnessing the play created by her imagination.

Sakura almost drowned when she realized what she was thinking. "What the heck was that about?" Sakura almost shout out loud as she shook the dripping water from her hair. "I need to rest," Sakura left the lake and was heading towards their room when she saw a familiar figure. "What are you still doing here? You should be home now… you're drunk." Sakura recommended. Syaoran approached her or tried to approach her but fell down. "I was on my way home you see…" Syaoran whispered with alcohol reeking from his mouth. Sakura turned her head as not to take full credit of his breath then a thought hit her. "Syaoran, are you really Ken's brother?" Sakura inquired knowing that he was now too drunk to refuse. "Isn't it obvious? I know he's good-looking and all but some of it rubbed on me." He replied honestly as Sakura eyed his face comparing it to the face of the person she saw in her dream. "Where is he then?" "I don't know, they said he never returned after Kagura apologized to him. He's dead to me anyway." Syaoran confessed as he struggled to keep his eyes open. "You know what I think I dreamt about your brother but I saw…" Sakura tried to tell but was cut off by Syaoran. "You saw my brother breaking up with Reika and Kagura being all too innocent to be blamed, am I right?" after this Syaoran laughed incessantly. Then recovering from his laughter, "I was Kagura… she wanted too look like her story to appear to be true so she controlled your dream." Syaoran confessed yet again.

Now things are a little brighter. Then Sakura felt Syaoran caressing her exposed legs, "Syaoran what are you doing you should be in bed now. Alright, tell me where you live and I'll help you get home." Sakura offered as she carried Syaoran by assisting him with her shoulders. Then suddenly Syaoran pushed Sakura to let her fall on the ground with him over her. "Syaoran! What are you doing! Get off me!" Suddenly a hand of sand emerged from the ground and gripped Syaoran. Sakura got up rather quickly to see that it was… Gaara with a pissed off emotion written across his face as he ordered his sand to tighten its grip on the drunk bastard. "That's enough, put him down," Sakura ordered.

Gaara did as Sakura said but instead of putting him down her threw him in the nearest patch of grass. "Thank you," Sakura voiced out as Gaara glared at him. Gaara proceeded to the lake. Sakura as if having no choice followed him.

Stopping at the edge of the river, Gaara quickly spoke, "What were you doing!" "Look I was just on my way back when I saw Syaoran and I thought he needed help to walk so I tried to help him…" Sakura explained. "No, before that," he said shortly. "It was a mission to prove something. If I am right I might be almost a solution to all our problems." "I only cooperated with Ino and Hinata because they are the only ones who can help… it's a girl mission," she clarified. Gaara could only exhale loudly in reply.

Then Sakura heard a sound, "What was that?" Gaara took something from the ground and handed it to her "Here, I accidentally killed it's mother." She stared at the cute little white tiger that dangled from his lose fur on the neck. It's eyes were blue and sparkled rather amazingly. "Since when did you have a care for animals Panda-neechan," Sakura teased as she look the cub into her arms. Gaara merely grunted in reply. She then got in front of him and grabbed the hand that was before holding the cub. Seeing it full of scratches wounds, "I see you two already met each other formally," she teased as she transferred the baby tiger to the other arm and healed Gaara's hand with the other. After that, "Thank you," she said sweetly as she tipped toed and then kissed his rescuer. Feeling the addicting sensation of her lips yet again, it was not long when Gaara took over the kiss. She let him conquer her very consciousness but then the cub clawed its way in the middle of the two. As they broke away, Sakura couldn't stop laughing as Gaara grunted loudly. "Now I have a name for you… Azrael," Sakura said in between her laughter. "So tell me Panda-neechan, why you held my hand in the cave?" she teased. "B…because you were trembling like an idiot that's why…" he stammered as he started to turn to walk away. "Ah, so it was you," "I was not sure at it was you or Syaoran at first so I'd figure you might give in and guess what you did," Sakura walked ahead of him as he stared at her incredulously.

Before the two entered the building, "Oi, don't ever dress like that again," Gaara ordered superiorly. "Or you'll what?" Sakura challenged him as she walked in front of him and faced him. "I will kill somebody," Gaara stated as Sakura again tip-toed to smack his gentle lips.

The next day…

In the meeting room, all was there except for Kagura and Sakura. Conversations vary from happiness to jealousy to hang-over. "My head feels like it's going to blow," Fuuma said. "Yeah, we hit it big last night but the thing is I don't remember who we're with or what drank or even did," Syaoran replied the other three nodded in unison while Kouga explained "Hey weren't you with boss and her friends? You know a celebration or something," "What? I can't remember a damn thing," Hyakku said.

Meanwhile on the other part of the room, "Ino, I can't do this anymore. I have to tell Naruto why we were there for. He keeps questioning me," Hinata voiced out meekly. "You think you've got problems? Shikamaru entered the tavern and saw me leaning against Fuuma… sweetly. He thinks I'm a playgirl! He wants to break up with me!" She blurted out almost near to tears. "Sakura really need to explain things today or else," she continued.

Shikamaru and the other boys were across Ino and Hinata. Staring at her girlfriend with distaste, "I think they're hiding something," Shikamaru shared. "I think so too," Naruto said as he looked at the two girls. "I don't care who they were with I just want to know WHY were they there," Sasuke informed. This time Shizuka, Temari and Kankuro approached the group as Shizuka shared "I don't want to tell you guys this but since you're my friends and all. You know what I heard Fuuma got this thing for Ino and Ino well I can't say," This only caused Shikamaru's expression to worsen. "Hinata well Naruto uhm… I don't want to tell you this but she said since you two were already over you don't give a damn about who she's with since well you ain't got any right," Shizuka said meekly. Naruto steamed up like a boiling pot.

At this same moment, Sakura entered the room she was them greeted by complete silence followed by constant mutterings. Go Sakura you can handle this. She encouraged herself. "I don't expect anyone to believe what I'm about to say today since I've already proven myself incapable to be trustworthy," she was then bothered by Shizuka's loud snickering. "What happened last night I can completely explain, I asked Ino and Hinata for a favor. Well, it's not exactly what I call a favor since I told them that that would be a mission not made by Kagura or any other superior but me." "Then why only them when you could have asked the rest of us as well?" Sasuke inquired as Ino and Hinata sank back into their seats in shame. "The mission only requires the skills of women and nothing more," she wasn't finished explaining when "We're women too! Why only the two of them? Maybe you only picked those you can sway," Shizuka raised sarcastically.

Sakura was now losing her patience "Because Shizuka-SAN, as I've said this mission was made not by Kagura or any other superior but me. JUST THINK, WOULD YOU TWO HAVE FOLLOWED MY ORDERS KNOWING I WOULD ORDER YOU AROUND CONSIDERING I'VE ALREADY LOST MY SUPERIORITY?" she replied with a tome not be meddled with. This reply shut Shizuka up. "As I was saying, the mission was in fact simple. I just needed to verify the information given to us by Kagura, so we needed them (gesturing towards the four xenoliths) to help us. I'm sorry guys but we needed to get you guys drunk in order to achieve that purpose alone." "Boss, why can't we remember anything at all?" Brick asked innocently. "Because she slipped something into you're drink to make you forget," Shizuka answered for Sakura. She was in fact expecting an up roar but "Cool, you can do that?" Hyakku praised. "You should definitely be our leader," Fuuma continued. "What! She drugged you guys to ignorance and all you can do is say cool!" Shizuka said unbelievably. "Yeah, it was really degrading to have a woman as our leader but this only proved she thought way ahead of us," Syaoran explained. "Alright, now that that's clear. The information I've received were surprising…" Sakura continued her explanation from her discovery of the truth behind the Blood countess' death to Kagura's ability to control dreams.

"Wait how can you be sure that all your informations were accurate?" Sasuke questioned as he did the doors of the meeting room opened. Sakura immediately shot a kunai towards the person entering. The kunai was countered by a dagger. The two met at their very point so that one shot to the left and the other to the right. "Because, that's the truth. Am I right… Kagura-san?" Sakura questioned. Kagura stood in silence for a while then "Yes, it's true. I'm sorry I deceived you guys I was just ashamed of what I did before. But knowing that wouldn't change a thing, would it?" Kagura revealed. "On contrary, Kagura-san it changes EVERYTHING," Sakura replied.

A/N: Want to know a secret? I already have chapter 15 in mind. So please R n R.