Sakura woke up in an empty bed the next morning. 'Hm? Where's Itachi...?' She thought. She was too lazy to look for him but she was also too lazy to get up. Someone knocked on her door "Get up! Meeting!" Pain announced.

"Ugh..." Sakura sighed and got out of bed dragging her feet.

"You still talk in your sleep." Itachi was sitting on the couch.

"How is it whenever I try looking for you, you're not there?" Sakura scratched her head.

"...you don't look we'll enough..." Itachi muttered. "Well anyway hurry up we have a meeting."

She walked to into the bathroom and did her routine in the morning. She brushed her hair, brushed her teeth, and slipped on the cloak. Looking in the mirror checking for anything out of the ordinary and brushed off her clothes. She smiled at herself and walked out of the bathroom.

Itachi was sitting on the couch reading a book one leg over the other. "Done?" Itachi looked up.

"Yep!" She smiled

"Let's go." Closing the book. It reminded her of Kakashi and giggled at the thought of Itachi reading those kind of stories.

Everyone was already there waiting for them. Itachi put his arm around Sakura's waist and Sasuke's narrowed his eyes on her and Itachi.

"Finally..." Hidan mumbled.

"Okay, now we can start. The reason why I've called you guys so early is because we'll be moving." Pain crossed his arms.

Everyone looked quizzically at him.

"Where are we going...?" Deidara asked.

"Land of Snow." Konan replied.

"Why there?" Hidan asked.

"Well, ever since the town incident and what happened with Sakura yesterday... We'll have to leave for a bit. So we're going to our hideout in the Snow. Pain leaned back on the wall. "And Konan wants to go there since it's the holiday season..." He added.

"Come on guys! It'll be fun!" Konan clapped her hands together.

They all sighed. "When are we headin out?" Suigetsu asked.

"Today. So pack your things. No stops, so be sure to go to the bathroom." Pain ordered. "Now go."

All of them got up and left to their rooms packing their essentials.

"I'll be going to my room." Sakura nudged Itachi.

"Need help?" Itachi asked.

"I'm good. I can handle Sasuke..." She replied. Itachi walked away to his room.

Sasuke was almost finished packing when she got there. He was delayed when Sakura walked in, glaring at her.

"I'm...gonna pack..." She gulped. He looked away and continued to pack.

She walked over to her side of the room and began packing. 'Yup...he's mad..' She thought. Sakura was packing fairly slowly, she was deep in thought. 'Is he gonna yell at me? Hit me?...better not... ...hate me?' Another thought.

Sasuke threw his bag over his shoulder and walked out of the room, Not saying a word. Sakura sighed, she felt like she was holding her breath the whole time he was there. She finished packing and met up with the rest of them. She sat next to Itachi and leaned on him.

"We're just waiting Karin and Suigetsu." Konan said.

"They take forever..." Jugo mentioned.

"I'll get them..." Sasuke sighed and left the room.

Itachi whispered in Sakura's ear, "You'll like the new place..."

She smiled and whispered in his ear, "Uh...why?"

"There is only one bed..." he winked.

Sakura blushed bright red and looked down so no one would see her. Itachi chuckled at that and tickled her making her yelp. Everyone's eyes fell on the two and she slapped his hand, still blushing.

"Wait... Itachi... Are you with Sakura?!" Hidan pointed his finger at him.

"...Hmm...Am I?" Itachi looked at Sakura putting his arm around her.

"Um...I guess...?" Sakura blushed even more.

"OH LAWHHDD! NOOO! ITS OVA!" Hidan fell dramatically on Kakuzu.

"Get the FUCK off of me!" Kakuzu tossed him into the wall. Once again they laughed at Hidan.

Sasuke could hear their conversation from afar and anger filled him. 'Sakura... Just wait...I'll replace him..." Karin and Suigetsu stumbled out with their stuff and followed Sasuke down the hall.

"Let's go." Pain stood up along with everyone else.

They gathered last minute items and left the building. They stood in front of the forest and all nodded at each other and went off.

******************KONOHA****************

"Granny! We saw her! She's with the Akatsuki!" Naruto exclaimed. "She's with Sasuke too!"

Tsunade rubbed her chin "So you guys came back because you need reinforcements?"

"Yes, Tsunade-Sama." TenTen said.

"I see..." Tsunade looked out her window.

"Well? Aren't you gonna do something?!" Naruto walked up to her.

"I'll send in reinforcements...but I want you guys to stay undercover." Tsunade mentioned.

"What?! Why!? Let's hit them with all we got!" Naruto argued.

"I want to see what her plan is... If it gets out of hand we'll butt in... But for now just stay low." Tsunade ordered.

"This is the Akatsuki were talking about!" Naruto objected.

"I know... but Sakura doesn't do something without reason. Let's just wait and see what she has up her sleeve." Tsunade looked down.

"What if she doesn't have anything up her sleeve?" Shikamaru mentioned.

"Then if that's what she wants then so be it..." still looking down.

"WHAT?! Granny!? She's your student! You can-"

"She can do whatever she wants to. I pushed her too hard... That's why she's not here with us today..." Tsunade sighed. "I will still send reinforcements... but only for a limited amount of time."

Naruto was angry. He didn't understand why Sakura left. He just wanted her here, he wanted both of them here...

***************LAND OF SNOW***************

They arrived at a partially frozen lake around sunset. Trees surrounded the area. the You could walk on the ice, but not for long... It was snowing lightly and everyone put on the hood of their cloaks.

"We're here." Konan smiled and came to a halt.

"I don't see anything...?" Karin said.

"Wanna do the honors?" Konan asked Pain.

"Of course." Konan did hand seals and the ice split and opened into an underground ice tunnel.

"Whoa..." Suigetsu's mouth dropped.

They walked down into the tunnel and the temperature began to drop drastically. Sakura's shoulders began to shiver until Itachi hugged her from behind leaning his head on her shoulder. Sasuke was watching again making his rage increase.

They reached a second entrance and this time it was made of concrete. They pushed open the door and were introduced to a wide living room with a fire place and three leather couches. Unlike the other hideout this one had more space and welcoming. Hallways leading away from the living room into the bedrooms. The kitchen was big as well, along with the bathroom. All of this under a frozen lake...

"So...same bedroom setup. You guys should know where you belong." Pain said. "Just settle in and we'll meet up later for dinner."

Itachi walked over to the fire place and started a fire with one of his katon Justus. He took Sakura's bag and lead her into their new room.

'He was right...only one bed...' Sakura thought.

"We're the only ones with one bed." Itachi unpacked his things.

"Oh... What about Konan and Pain?" Sakura asked.

"Them too. But our bed is softer..." Itachi finished unpacking and laid on the bed.

Sakura took her bag and began to unpack as well. When she finished she jumped on the bed taking most of the space pushing Itachi off the bed. He smirked and jumped on top of her holding her down.

"We're gonna have so much fun..." He leaned in for a kiss and Sakura closed her eyes.

She broke the kiss, "Not now. Later..." Removing his grip getting off the bed.

He shrugged, "then what the hell are we gonna do?"

"Well I wanna go outside in the snow." Sakura smiled.

"Have fun..." Itachi turned onto his side.

"You don't wanna come?" Sakura looked at him.

"I'm really tired..." He closed his eyes.

"Alright I'll be out there if you need me." She kissed his cheek and put on her cloak along with some sleeves.

Everyone was in the living room by the fire talking to each other. Sasuke looked at her as she walked out. He wondered where she was going and followed her silently from behind.

The snow stopped leaving a clean white meadow. The moon was glistening off of the ice and it was silent. She walked over to the running water part of the lake and stared at the scenery around her.

Sasuke watched her as she carefully observed every object around her. He decided this was his chance to talk her, he came out from hiding and walked up to her silently.

"Are you happy?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura turned around, "Pardon?"

"With him? Are you happy...?" Sasuke walked next to her, the crunching of snow followed his steps.

"...Sasuke... I don't want to hurt you..." Sakura looked down at the ice cold water.

"...I'll take that as a yes..." Sasuke made a fist.

She closed her eyes hard, tears were developing in her eyes.

"I'm not going to lose you again." Sasuke looked up. "I lost you once. I'm not letting this happen again."

"Sasu-..." She tensed.

"I don't care if you're taken... You should know I'm up for a challenge..." He smirked.

She shivered and rubbed her arms. She turned around to start walking back to the hideout until Sasuke pulled her in for a hug.

"Sasuke! Stop." Sakura attempted to push him away.

"Did you hear me Sakura? I not gonna lose you again..." Sasuke hugged her tighter closing his eyes.

Sakura wanted to push him away but for the first time in a while she felt a spark. "Sas-" she leaned on his chest. He pulled away slightly and looked at her. He cupped her face and wiped the tears that streamed down her face.

"Why are you crying..." He asked.

"I-I don't know..." Sakura stepped away and wiped her face.

Sasuke sighed, "I don't care how long it will take... You will love me again..." Staring at her intently.

"It won't be by force... I'll earn your love back..." He told her.

"How are you going to do that?" She crossed her arms.

"I'll stay this time..." He said

Sakura's eyes widened. 'He'll stay this time...? He won't leave...?' She need to break this awkward moment.

She crouched down got a handful of snow and threw it at Sasuke but he dodged it.

"...what are you doing?" Sasuke wiped off the snow.

She got several handfuls of snow and began throwing them at him. He evaded all of them and appeared in front of Sakura and grabbed her wrists. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"You're so serious!" Sakura giggled, he held back his grin and let go.

"We should be heading back now..." Sakura turned around toward the hideout then something cold hit the top of her head.

"Am I serious now?" Sasuke smirked throwing a snowball up and down.

"Oh it's on now." Sakura hid behind the nearest tree and gathered snowballs behind her wooden fort.

'Am I really gonna do this...' Sasuke thought. 'What do I got to lose...?' He also went behind a tree and gathered a good amount of snowballs as well.

He waited for her first move, before he could think a blizzard of snowballs flew at him. He shielded them with his arms and jumped out of the way. He tried to locate where Sakura was but snow kept coming and coming. '...okay. You wanna play that game?' He smirked 'I'll play one as well...'

This time he let the snowballs attack him. Sasuke flew back dramatically and fell on his head. Pretending to be unconscious.

Sakura stopped throwing snowballs and saw Sasuke on his back.

'Shit! I wasn't that hard on him...was I?' She thought and rushed to his side.

"Sasuke. Get up!" She kneeled down and shook his shoulder.

No response.

"Shit."Her hands glowed green and checked his vitals. "They're normal?" Her hands moved down to his chest and she looked down concentrating.

Without anytime to react Sasuke sat up and kissed her on the cheek.

"I think it's that time to be heading back now..." He smirked leaning on his hands behind him.

Sakura was getting hot, really hot. She could feel the snow melt underneath her knees. She looked at Sasuke still leaning on his hands smirking at her and punched him, making him unconscious for real this time.

"You're funny..." And bent over to his ear, "and by the way...I STILL love you... But you're gonna have to try harder than that." And kissed his cheek.

Sakura pinched his arm and he awoke.

"Ow. What the hell?!" Sasuke rubbed his temples. "What did you do to me?"

"I punched you." Sakura giggled.

"God Damn Sakura..." Still rubbing his head.

"Here." She raised her hands slightly.

Sasuke flinched, "Don't hit me again."

"Haha. I won't...I promise." Sakura reassured and rested her palms on his forehead.

He closed his eyes absorbing the soothing touch.

"There. Let's head back now. I'm freezing..." Sakura stood up.

Sasuke grabbed her hand and hugged her from behind, similar to the way Itachi did. "He's not here...let me enjoy this..."

Surprisingly she held his hand, relaxing on his body as they walked back slowly to the hideout.

They were a couple feet away from the entrance and Sakura entangled from his grip.

"I'm gonna go in first..." Sakura smiled and he nodded.

"I'm gonna be out here for a bit..." Sasuke said. Sakura walked in and welcomed the warmth.

'Hopefully that did something...' Sasuke hoped and walked in a couple minutes after.