Once again I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed; I love hearing that everyone likes my story!!!!

As I've added more chapters, a lot of people have been confused. I PROMISE that EVERYTHING will be explained in this chapter. If you are still confused, just let me know and I'll clear things up to the best of my ability.

By the way, this is NOT the last chapter of the story- I still have a lot to get through. It may seem like an ending, but it isn't.

I also realized that my little spacey things between different parts of the story aren't showing up, which may have caused a LOT of confusion. So I'm going to try some different ways of getting them to show up.

Now, with all my annoying little side notes out of the way, I present to you chapter number 5!!!!

Little did Sasuke know, as he walked away with a heavy heart, that Sakura felt just as bad.

How could I say we were just friends? she thought. Sakura didn't mean that at all! She knew that, accepted that, longed to say it, but couldn't. She didn't have the courage.

Now, as she trudged home, miserable except for the fact that she had kissed Sasuke, Sakura turned to the ever present problem of Zaku.

"Okay Sakura," she said to herself, "figure this out! Why don't people like him? What is the danger? Is he apart of it?" She shook her head. It was too much to handle all at once! So, she decided to focus on the more obvious answers.

Question 1: Why don't people like Zaku?

Possible Answers:

1.His appearance- Sakura knew from experience (and just plain sense) that teenagers judged harshly on how one appears. It was unfair, yes, but true. And Zaku definitely did not fit the "requirements" for being accepted into a "cool" group of people.

2.As a result of this "uncool" look, Zaku would most likely be placed in a tougher group. This group tends to revolt the self-proclaimed cool kids. Why? The most probable answer is that they may undermine their strength.

3.For the rest of the school, it is simple: they fear him.

Question 2: What is the danger?

Possible Answers:

1.GAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!! I HAVE NO IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. That was irrational. Let's think this through.

3. You're right.

4. Okay, Sasuke and Neji both hinted towards it having something to do with me letting Sasuke kiss me, most likely because he has already showed an interest in me that no one, except Zaku, would dare to challenge. Obviously it has something to do with me being single so….

5. I HAVE NO IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moving on….

Question 3: Is Zaku apart of the danger?

Possible Answers:

1.Yes

2. No

This contemplation being finished, Sakura found herself exactly where she was 20 minutes ago, except for the fact that she was now standing outside her house, that is.

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Sakura sat sleepily in a dimly lit room looking down at her History Mid-Term exam. It had been a pain, having to get up earlier than usual and walking to school, but she had managed. Now, she attempted to focus on the task in front of her; namely, the test.

Q: What general during World War II was made to apologize to the entire regiment when he slapped a soldier who had been shell-shocked in the line of battle?

Sakura thought for a moment, then scribbled down "George Patton" on the almost complete form. She had been there for what seemed like ages, but was really only 45 minutes. She had 15 minutes left, and decided to finish early and try to catch a bit of sleep in homeroom.

Sakura swiftly completed her exam and turned it in. she began down the hall towards her classroom. The hall was already swarming with students rushing to gossip with friends or visiting their lockers. Sakura saw the vague forms of her friends waving to her. She feebly raised her arms to return the gesture, then trudged onward to the classroom.

Just as Sakura was about to open the door, she noticed she felt less tired. Why does that always happen? she asked herself. While she was standing there, oblivious to anything going around her, and firm hand grasped her arm.

Sakura gasped and spun around. A flurry of emotions ran through her. Relief, for it was someone she knew. Dread, that it was an unwanted face. And fear, because she sensed something bad was about to go down.

"Sakura, haven't seen you in a while." said the smooth voice of Zaku.

"Of, well, you know. I've been busy with school and all." Sakura tried to pull away, but Zaku's grip only tightened. He leaned forward to whisper into her ear.

"But we must spend some time together Sakura." Sakura winced. She hated the feel of his breath.

"Uh, later, maybe." she replied, finally breaking free. Zaku looked at her with piercing eyes. She dropped her gaze.

"Later, then." he said before walking away.

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Sakura breathed a sigh of relief- Zaku was gone. She didn't like the sound of his voice, though, and was a bit apprehensive about it. As she stood in front of the door, she was not looking at the hoards of students speeding down the halls- there were 10 seconds to the bell.

10…

9…

Sakura stood, appearing dazed in front to the door.

8…

7…

"Sakura! What are you doing?" Sasuke's voice resonated in the halls. "If you're caught outside, you get detention!" He was speeding down the hall towards her.

6…

5…

4…

Sakura saw him. "Sasuke…?" Only then did she noticed the utter lack of students in the hall, and the full meaning of his words set it.

3…

2…

"THE DOOR!" they both screamed at once. But it was too late….

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A moment after the sound came through the intercom, the tw tardy students burst through the door.

"Detention." Came the short reply of the teacher. "Sakura, room 019. Sasuke, 114" The two stood their, stunned. They had come so close, and yet they knew it was futile for them to argue.

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Sakura headed to the basement and detention. She had had a most miserable day. She had been silent at lunch and Sasuke hadn't spoken to her- she assumed he was upset about the whole detention thing as well.

"Stupid Zaku." Sakura muttered under her breath as she entered the room. She was the only one in there. The detention policy never allowed more than one student in a room at a time, and as a result the faculty often had to reschedule detentions if overbooked.

Sakura sat down in the wooden desk and proceeded to drum her fingers on it. She had brought nothing to do for a half an hour, and was utterly bored.

So tired….

She wondered how Sasuke was doing, and if they would possibly meet up after school, she doubted it.

Must rest….

What if Sasuke never talked to her again? What if her friends started to hate her? What if… what if….

Before Sakura knew it, she was fast asleep.

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"Hey! Kid!" Sakura maoned- she was still asleep.

"WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!" Sakura jolted upwards and hit a solid object. The teacher stumbled backward holding his bruised chin. Sakura rubbed her sore head.

"Owwwww…" she mumbled.

"Hey, kid, your time is up. Your free to go."

Sakura smiled inwardly at this. It sounded like she was being released from prison.

"Uh, thanks, I guess." she said as she walked out. The teacher merely grunted; his chin was still swelling up.

Sakura walked into the hall. It was eerily quite. After school, all the students left as quickly as possible, and the school was placed under an unusually silent spell. Sakura's footsteps echoed loudly as she walked up to the main floor (the first one). Even though there was no reason to be scared, she felt a stab of fear as she walked down the empty hall. She had a feeling something bad was about to happen.

How right she was.

"Sakura, you didn't think I would forget, did you?"

Chills ran up Sakura's spine again. She turned slowly around, her eyes closed tight. She opened one slowly, praying that the person standing behind her at the end of the wall wasn't the one she most wished to avoid.

It was.

Zaku strode towards Sakura with an evil grin on his face. Sakura began backing slowly away, hoping she could make a run for it out the door. She didn't want to go too soon, or all hope would be lost- Zaku could easily overtake her.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Zaku.

"Um, home?" replied Sakura weakly.

Sakura began to turn, but Zaku grabbed her arm. Sakura gasped in surprise as she was spun around to face Zaku.

"I don't think so, Sakura. Remember our 'date'?" Zaku was pulling Sakura closer, while she was attempting to break free. But Zaku's grip only tightened, as it had that morning.

"W-well, I-I only said later, I-I didn't say when later was." Sakura tried. But it was no use. Zaku was drawing her closer, and Sakura's free hand was useless against Zaku's iron grip….

Wait!

And idea flashed in Sakura's mind. She twisted her left hand (the one held fast by Zaku) so that is grasped his wrist. She then twisted her hand in a circle in order to pull Zaku's arm in an awkward-and painful- position.

Zaku howled in pain and clutched his sore arm. He looked up at Sakura with anger in his eyes, but she drew back her balled up hand and punched him in the eye. Zaku reeled back, hand over his injury, and Sakura took off.

The hallway was longer than she expected, and Zaku was now chasing after her. He was getting closer, and Sakura knew she wouldn't have a chance alone. She closed her eyes (which is a really stupid thing to do when you are running) and prayed for a miracle.

It came.

After a few seconds, Sakura opened her eyes to check if the door was any nearer. What she saw instead was Sasuke- staring at the scene with a mixture of surprise and anger as Sakura rushed down the hall.

Relief flooded through Sakura's entire being. She raced towards her potential savior with all the strength remaining in her. When she reached him, she flung her arms around his neck in a close embrace. She could feel Sasuke's shock at this, but there was no time to spare.

"Please, help me!" she whispered into his ear. Sasuke nodded.

"Of course."

Sakura released him from her grasp and watched as he and Zaku faced each other. Zaku was already running, and didn't think it necessary to stop for Sasuke. He clenched both his fists and hurtled straight at the Uchiha with a deafening roar.

Sasuke, unafraid and level-headed even in the most pressing situations, merely stuck out his foot. Zaku didn't have time to stop and went flying with a look of shock upon his face. Sakura, not wanting to miss out or give the impression she was weak, swung her Messenger Bag full force at the airborne Zaku.

The bag hit it's target and Zaku slammed into the wall, unconscious. Sakura was breathing hard and sunk to the floor, relieved and tired.

"You okay?" Sasuke's voice was full of concern as he helped Sakura up off the floor. Sakura nodded her head as she stared into the intense onyx eyes.

"Please Sasuke, what was that all about?" Sakura was fed up with no one telling her anything, and Sasuke seemed to sense that. Nevertheless, he couldn't find words to accurately describe it, so he tried the best he could.

"Sakura, Zaku is…well, he's kind of a perv." Sakura's eyes widened. That was all he had to say. She understood now.

"So….the reason I needed to have a boyfriend was…" she started.

"…so that he wouldn't bother you anymore." Sasuke finished. "Zaku is a creep, but he wouldn't dare try to do something like that to a girl who had a boyfriend. I…" Sasuke seemed to be struggling for words again. "I just wanted to protect you."

Sakura felt her heart leap- Sasuke did care about her. She moved closer to him.

"Thank you, Sasuke."

Before she knew it, her arms were around him again. He pressed his lips to hers so gently, yet so passionately. Sakura blushed slightly, and from the heat emanating from Sasuke's face she could tell he was too. It seemed to last for an eternity, and Sakura cursed lung capacity for making her let go.

"So," started Sasuke, "want a ride home?"

And there you have it! Mind you, I'm not done yet, but there is the explanation everyone wanted. If there are any questions, please let me know. Until the next chapter, then.