A/N: I'm sorry that this last chapter took so long, but I really was busy. I'm proud to admit that this, in my opinion, is my best chapter yet for this story, although it is the last. I'm sad that it's over, but I hope you guys like! Your reviews are awesome and thanks for all the support!

A/N: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters associated with it.

It All Started With A Dare

Chapter 9: It All Started With A Dare

Sakura sighed, 'What should I do?' This was a question she had begun to ask herself a lot lately. She hadn't seen Sasuke in weeks- not even one trace of the raven-haired boy who had given her the silver and emerald band which had now found a permanent home on her right hand. She knew her feelings, the confused jumble of emotions they were, but his, his still remained a mystery to the pink-haired kunoichi who sat on her bed contemplating.

Every thing he had ever said, every thing he had ever done, had felt real, but she was till skeptical. Hell, who wouldn't be? Her entire life was spent chasing after him, but he always regarded her in disdain. He had never once missed an opportunity to inform her how annoying she was to him. Sure, there were times she had thought she had actually meant something to him, but she had discovered otherwise when he had abandoned the village leaving her with tears in her eyes on a cold, hard bench. If that wasn't enough to be skeptical, there was still the dare Sasuke mad mention of in his sleep.

She didn't know what the dare entailed; she couldn't get anyone to tell her- not Shikamaru, not Neji, not Kiba, not even Naruto, her knuckle-headed teammate/friend. No one would let any word about the dare out. She had often thought about telling Ino, Tenten, And Hinata knowing fully well they wouldn't speak to any of the guys upon hearing news of a dare, but she had decided against it. Just because her newly formed "relationship," if that's what you would call it, was completely screwed up, it didn't mean her friends' relationships had to be as well. After all, the dare had only fell upon the shoulders of Sasuke; she had confirmed that much.

As more and more days passed without seeing Sasuke, the more irritated she got, and that was the last thing you would want to cross. This irritated pink-haired kunoichi should be feared, although that would be a drastic understatement to say the least. Naruto had mad this mistake while Sakura was on her was to the training grounds. Already being particularly annoyed at getting up late, Naruto had chosen the wrong subject to ask her about. "Have you see Teme anywhere? I haven't seen him in a wh- Oi, Sakura-chan! That sure is a pretty ring. Who gave it to you?" Her answer was prompt. She grabbed the now misfortuned boy by the shirt and slammed him into the stone wall with such a momentum that caused the wall to crumble behind him. She then growled at him and then dropped the boy to the found. Though unspoken, her answer was loud and clear, "Stay the hell away from me." So that what he did, and everyone else too for that matter.

On a rare occasion, such as tonight, Sakura would sit down and really thing about the issue at hand. Her hand gently glided across her face to her lips causing her to remember the taste of his kiss- the tingle it sent up her spine, the burning sensation it had aroused in her heart. It had been exactly one month since this chaos had started at Naruto's slumber party. Remembering the small amount of time she had spent with Sasuke- the late night walk, the date, the "training"- caused tears to form in Sakura's green eyes. "Bastard," She whispered as the tears now came flooding down her soft cheeks while she threw herself into her pillow. "Not just yet my ass!" She screamed referencing Sasuke's last words to her. She didn't quite know what she had meant by the remark, but hell, she didn't know what he had meant by it in the first place. Right now, all she wanted to do was kick & scream & cry, and that's exactly what she planned on doing.

Her fit she was throwing was interrupted when a knock on her door could be heard throughout the apartment. Sakura's head shot up quickly scanning the room for a kunai before answering the door. It was too late for visitors, and by God a pervert was the last thing she wanted to deal with at the moment. She slowly made her way toward the door as she slowly stopped in front of it. She suddenly had a strange feeling she knew who the person at her door was. She clenched the kunai tighter ready to attack if it was the raven-haired boy she thought it was. Did he really think that he could say all the things he did, disappear for a month afterwards, and expect a friendly welcome from her this late at night? 'Fat chance,' She thought to herself as she stood on her tiptoes to see who it was.

To her surprise, there was no one at her door. She slowly opened to door to have a look around as she was sure that she hadn't imagined the knocking on her door. Sakura dropped the kunai she had been holding as her eyes fell upon her doorstep. There laid a bouquet of Sakura branches in full bloom with a burgundy ribbon tied around them holding a note attached. The angered look from her face was replaced with a new, thoughtful expression as she opened the note.

Naruto's house, 7:00 tomorrow, don't let anyone know you're there okay? Can't wait to see you ♥ Sasuke

Ps: About the flowers, not even they can live up to your beauty.

She smiled. She had a soft spot for that boy, and he knew just how to use it. Even so, he had a whole lot of explaining to do. She wasn't going to let him get off that easy, but she knew that her anger had ceased for the time being. She rolled her eyes at the thought and proceeded back into the house. 'That lucky bastard,' she thought to herself as she placed her bouquet in a vase of water. He was going to get off easy, a hell of a lot easier than he deserved. Still, she wondered why it was Sasuke wanted her to come to Naruto's tomorrow and not let anyone know she was there. He was up to something, she just knew it. If he was acting on the dare or his own, she didn't know either, but she couldn't deny that boy could be sweet.

Sakura sighed as she looked at her watch- 6:45. She had exactly fifteen minutes before she was supposed to be at Naruto's apartment, and it would take almost all of that to get there. She shut the door behind her as thoughts began to race through her mind once again. She had a lot to think about before arriving.

She wondered about Sasuke's feelings- whether they were true or not. She wondered about her feelings- whether it was worth the pain once again to continue to love a boy who continually hurt her but somehow still remained in her heart. She wondered about how she should answer the question Sasuke had previously asked her- 'yes' or 'no' were the choices, but somehow it didn't seem that simple. Deep down, she knew that this was her chance to finally get over her teammate, but whether or not she should do it was in question. She had always loved Sasuke, but she didn't want her heart to be the only deciding factor in her answer. She had to use her brain. After all, what if it all was just some kind of cruel joke? Could she take it? What if he hurt her again? Could she take that? What if he really did love her? Did that mean a 'happily ever after' was guaranteed? She resigned as she realized she hadn't managed to decide anything by the time she stood in front of Naruto's door. 'I'll just have to sit back and enjoy the ride,' She thought to herself realizing the only thing she could do was see what it was that was going to happen now. It might just be able to make everything else a little bit simpler. She quickly concealed her chakra and slipped inside unnoticed.

"This is so boring," Neji stated dully.

"Come on, Neji! We had fun last time didn't we?" Naruto asked cheerfully referencing the last boys' night in.

"The girls aren't getting here until 7:30," Kiba noted, "and we've already rated all of them."

"Not all of us," Shikamaru snorted pointing to Sasuke.

"Oh yeah! That's right! There's something about a dare with Sasuke to be completed isn't there?"

"What was that again?" Sasuke asked coolly trying to keep his badass reputation he had going on.

"You know what we're talking about Uchiha," Shikamaru growled.

"Actually, I don't really remember the details," Naruto said nervously as he scratched the back of his head. "Could we have a little refresher?" He laughed nervously realizing how stupid he seemed.

"Dobe," Sasuke stated coolly. Naruto laughed.

"Might as well," Kiba stated trying to cover up the fact that he had forgotten most of the details as well.

"It would make this seem more interesting," Neji replied bluntly completely hiding the he too had forgotten about the dare completely. Sasuke and Shikamaru were apparently the only ones who had remembered a thing, but it seemed reasonably. Shikamaru was the one who had given the dare, and Sasuke was the one who was being dared.

"This is troublesome," Shikamaru said shaking his head realizing that he was in a room filled with of idiots, "but here's the just of it. Sasuke claimed to be unattracted to Sakura, bluntly stating that he didn't see anything so attractive about Sakura." These words hurt Sakura who was listening into the conversation. She fought back the tears determined to hear the rest of the nature of this dare. Shikamaru continued, "But as we all know, Sakura is the most attractive girl in Konoha." All of the guys in the room with the exception of Sasuke nodded their head in agreement which caused Sakura to blush and feel hurt at the same time. "So Sasuke was dared to ask Sakura out on a date which he did. Giving it that he hadn't ever technically rated Sakura previously; he now has give us his rating of Sakura which he has seemed to have warmed up to drastically." Shikamaru said referencing Sasuke's actions toward Sakura at the dance hall which caused Sasuke to twitch uncomfortably.

"Oh yeah! Sasuke-teme you really seemed to be falling for her!" Naruto blurted out realizing what Shikamaru was talking about for once. Neji nodded in agreement remembering how he had asked Sakura to dance and everything while the rest of them sat at the table and watched their dates dance without them. Kiba wasn't sure what it was they were talking about but had decided that this was getting interesting either way.

"Hn," Sasuke said turning his head in the other direction toward a confused Sakura who was hiding in the hallway anxiously waiting to hear more of the conversation.

"Wait! I remember now!" Naruto shouted remembering the dare despite Shikamaru already going over most of the details, "If Sasuke rates Sakura anything other than a 10 then he wins, but if he honestly sees her as a 10, Shikamaru wins. Then depending on who wins, the other-"

"Shut up, dobe," Sasuke interrupted Naruto, "Everyone here already knows this."

"Really?" Naruto laughed nervously while scratching the back of his head as he noticed the glares of stupidity he was getting from his friends.

"Soo… On a scale from one to ten…?" Shikamaru asked raising one eyebrow as he examined Sasuke closely to be able to tell whether Uchiha was telling the truth or not.

The room grew tense as they all anxiously waited the raven-haired boys answer. Sasuke closed his eyes and opened his mouth to give his answer. Sakura couldn't think straight as she waited for his answer. Sakura was both anxious and scared about the reply that was about to come out of his mouth. She wanted to be a 10 in Sasuke's eyes even if it seemed childish and stupid.

"Eleven."

Shikamaru's jaw dropped followed by Neji's, then Kiba's and Naruto's, and finally Sakura's. Sasuke smirked at everyone's reaction as he got up to leave the room.

"T-T-That's not an option!" Shikamaru stammered dumbfounded by the answer he had just heard.

"That's my answer." Sasuke laughed as he headed for the hallway where he hoped Sakura would be waiting.

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura stuttered with shock and confusion in her voice. Questions were written all over her face.

"I'm sorry," Sasuke looked down, "I'm sorry it took a stupid dare for me to notice you. I'm sorry it took a stupid dare for me to ever give you a chance." Sasuke continued to stare at Sakura's face afraid to bring his eyes to hers. He couldn't deal with the immense amount of guilt he was feeling, but somehow it felt better having gotten it off his chest. He couldn't face her for weeks because his conscious nagged at him over and over to tell her the truth. He didn't know what Sakura was thinking.

"I'm sorry too, Sasuke," Sakura said coldly. Sasuke's head dropped even further as he realized he was going to get rejected. It served him right. After all, he did deserve it. He took a deep breath ready to explain that he understood as Sakura continued, "I'm sorry I questioned your feelings for me."

Sasuke's head shot up to see tears in the pink-haired girl's eyes. She wasn't rejecting him. Sasuke smiled. Sakura smiled. For that moment, her head had finally cleared, his guilt had ridden itself, and they completely understood each other for the first time.

Naruto and his friends had slowly recovered from Sasuke's answer but were still unsure of how to reply to it. After hearing a knock on the door, they pushed it out of mind as they all got up to go greet the girls. "Come on in!" Naruto shouted before turning the corner. The door opened just as the guys rounded the corner both finding shocked looks on each other's face as the scene before them registered. 'That lucky bastard,' the Konoha boys found themselves thinking. 'That lucky bitch,' the Konoha girls found themselves thinking. Neither meant it in a mean way, but they found themselves envious as they watched Sasuke and Sakura in the middle of a passionate kiss, both of which who were completely unaware of the world around them. They could feel the passion, the intimacy, the commitment between the two just watching them. The love between them was obvious, whole, and consummate- the best kind of love to have, the kind of love that would make the whole world jealous.

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"I can't believe I got dragged into this," Neji replied dully, but with a hint of anger in his voice.

"It's not my fault Tenten made you," Sasuke laughed lightheartedly. He had changed a lot in the past couple weeks, thanks to Sakura.

"You're the one who started it," Naruto snapped at Sasuke.

"It's not my fault that Hinata dragged you into this either," he laughed harder as he turned around to see his teammate in a blue kimono and a powdered face.

"What's so funny?!"

"You trying to start something dobe?" Sasuke laughed with a grin on his face.

"What if I am?" Naruto boldly announced clearly angered by his teammate's newfound sense of humor. Sure, he was glad that the stick was out of his ass and he was more fun to be around, but now he was the center of his joke.

"I'm sorry," Sasuke said convincingly, "but I don't fight girls." Sasuke had erupted in laughter now.

"You're wearing a kimono too!" Naruto yelled.

"I know," he smiled, not that he particularly liked it, but he was much more amused with the faces of his friends all of who were wearing kimonos.

"This is so troublesome," Shikamaru sighed.

"It was your idea," Sasuke reminded him.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "You cheated," referencing the dare.

"I don't know what you're all upset about," Sasuke said crossing his arms, "I got you all girlfriends didn't I?"

Neji, Naruto, and Shikamaru all rolled their eyes knowing that Sasuke was right. He had in fact given them the advice that had allowed them to get themselves girlfriends, but he didn't have to rub it in their faces. If it hadn't been for them and the stupid dare, he wouldn't have Sakura either.

"We're here to pick you girls up!" Chuckles came from the group of girls who were waiting outside of the door. "We have dates remember?"

"Come on guys, brighten up!" Sasuke laughed, "At least we look pretty!"

Neji, Shikamaru, and Naruto all raised their eyebrows at Sasuke. Sasuke had really changed… a lot, but they knew that it was for the better. He had a warm, inviting personality now, and he smiled a lot more. He was happy.

"Well," Naruto said, "I guess it does compliment my figure well." Sasuke, Neji, and Shikamaru slapped their foreheads knowing Naruto was being serious.

"Dobe," Sasuke muttered as he opened the door. An explosion of laughter erupted from the group of girls who were waiting for them outside.

"You're look cute!" Tenten exclaimed as she threw her arms around Neji's neck.

"Not as cute as my Shika-kun!" Ino exclaimed as she latched onto his arm while she gave him a peck on the cheek.

"I-I-It compliments your figure well…" Hinata stuttered.

"I knew it! See, guys, see?" Naruto exclaimed wide-eyed. Everyone else slapped their forehead, 'Those two are perfect for each other.'

"We'll see you at the dance hall at 7:00, right?" Sakura asked while grasping Sasuke's hand in hers.

"Yeah," the other couples shouted as they walked off on their way to dinner.

Sakura turned back to Sasuke with a huge smile on her face, "You look very pretty, Sasuke-kun, you're new look is definitely going to be a big hit with all your fangirls."

"And you're not one?" Sasuke smiled.

Sakura gave him a huge grin, "Maybe."

"So, what about the answer to that question I asked you a while back" He asked as he pointed to the ring on Sakura's hand.

"You have to ask?" She smiled a huge grin throwing her arms around his neck.

"So, you're not at all mad about the dare, huh?" He said placing his forehead against hers.

"No, after all, the dare only got you to ask me out. You falling for me? That, on the other hand, was all you," She smiled as she gently pressed her lips against his.

"You're awesome, you know that?" He asked as he gave her another small kiss.

"Yeah, but I always could use some reminding," She laughed stealing another kiss from Sasuke's lips, "But I do have one question."

"What?" Sasuke asked rather confused.

"Why did you say 'not just yet' when you gave me this ring?"

"Because I didn't want our relationship to start with a stupid dare."

Sakura's lips curved into a smile before entering another passionate kiss, "Oh, but baby, it all started with a dare."