Sorry for taking so long! I fell very ill, then my Hubby fell ill, then my puter broke, then I realized that the next few chapters were really sucky. I haven't been able to get up the inspiration to rewrite till now. Yay! I'm back!

Disclaimer- I don't own. It's terribly unfortunate, though, because I would so have fun warping the story! Muahaha!

Chapter 20!

"So that's it." Naruto looked nervously between the two, taking in Sakura's disturbed stare as well as the unsettled look on Itachi's face. 'Is there someone watching from the window? Is this some sort of joke?!' Sakura stared looking suddenly over at Itachi.

"I think he's serious. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad."

"Please, Sakura-chan?" Naruto's hands clasped hopefully and Sakura shook her head.

'Oh, Kami, you're serious!' Sakura groaned, plopping back against the wall. "It'll be like the old days! Lots of fun, right?" Naruto grinned and Sakura's face fell to her hands.

"Sure." Itachi shrugged and Sakura looked over at him.

"There's nothing better for me right now than to help this village. After all I've done, maybe scaring the living shit out of a bunch of twelve year olds will be amusing." Itachi grinned viciously and Naruto paled. "Uh, don't be too hard on 'em..."

'I guess I'll go ahead as well.' Sakura wrung her hands, worried about what she was agreeing to.

"Great!" Naruto jumped up with a grin and started towards the door. "I'll have a sheet to you in a week! Remember, you're always allowed to give them a test, and if they fail, send them back! You two will make great teachers!" Naruto smiled as he walked out and Sakura just stared blankly at the door.

She turned over to Itachi who still seemed to be mulling over the thought of taking a bunch of kids on a b rank mission, or something of the sorts. Sakura frowned, her hand on her hip and Itachi grinned. "What? They'll live. Never mind that anyway. Where were we?" Itachi grinned and Sakura gasped as Itachi leaned over, pulling her onto his lap. Sakura giggled as he brought his hands to her hips and reached up, claiming a kiss.

This is when the door opened again.

"Oi! They're right in here, yeah. Probably upstairs sleeping." Sakura crashed, her head falling to Itachi's shoulder and he burst into laughter.

"What's up, Deidera?"

"You have a visitor!" Deidera turned to them, surprised by their location.

"If they want any long term commitment, tell them they'll have a bunch of kids with them."

"Don't tell me things are that serious already!" Kankurou's head appeared from the doorway and Sakura smiled pleasantly.

"We were just asked to take on students from the academy. This ought to be... interesting."

Deidera's hair stood on end at the tone Itachi used and he stepped back, sitting quietly across from them. Kankurou sat beside him and Gaara walked in after. He sat down on Deidera's other side and frowned, looking over at Itachi.

"We have a bit of a dilemma and believe you two would be perfect." Gaara cut straight to the chase and the two stared at him, surprised.

"How?" Itachi frowned and Gaara turned to him with a blank expression, the look nearly breaking Sakura into a cold sweat. "There's to be a meeting for the Kages in a week. My general guards are Temari and Kankurou, but for this one meeting no one is allowed to bring a relative. I was hoping you two could watch my back."

Itachi knew this was a great honor, especially since it wasn't even the Hokage. That, though, would have seemed a miracle a year ago...

He looked down quietly to Sakura who was just staring blankly at the red head. "Sakura?"

!! She jumped up with a look of shock and horror, snapping her head in his direction. "What do you say?" Sakura just stared at him for a moment and turned back to Gaara, then over to Kankurou. She shrugged and stood, walking to the hall, up the stairs to her room. Itachi just stared for a moment before turning back to Gaara. "Uh, excuse me for a moment." He stood and turned, following after.

"Sakura, you could say no, I wouldn't mind." Sakura smiled at him and turned, looking out the window. 'I want to know if Naruto wants me as his guard first. I owe him so much...'

Itachi nodded and ran over, throwing open the window. Sakura sat up quickly and watched as he turned to her. "I'll be right back." He smiled and took off. Sakura stared for a moment before grinning. He was so sweet sometimes.

She turned to the door. They were downstairs, probably staring at the hallway blankly, wondering what in the hell just happened. She smiled and walked over, taking one more look at the window, seeing Itachi fly away before she walked back down the stairs.

She walked down and sat on her knees, leaning to Deidera's ear.

"Oh! You two want some tea?" He looked between the two and they both nodded. "Sakura, you're a lot better at that than me." Sakura stood and nodded, walking to the kitchen.

She came out a few minutes later with a tray. She sat down and looked around, surprising everyone save Deidera with her tea serving. He'd seen it enough that it no longer got to him, but he looked at them and grinned. He remembered doing that, staring at her with a breathtaking appreciation for her intricacies. She slowly poured the tea, obviously green, and placed the cup before Gaara first, her eyes stayed trained on the cup. She sat it on the saucer before him and slowly turned the cup before laying her hands on her lap to observe the locations of the items for the next cup.

Gaara was astounded. Kankurou was highly amused by the way she acted, it was nearly the only femininity she had while not on someone's lap.

Deidera smiled softly and nodded. "Thank you, Sakura-chan." He held his gaze with hers, and she couldn't fight down the blush at the look. She looked down, finally grabbing a cup for herself.

This of course was when Itachi came in. Sakura placed the cup back on the tray before pulling out a saucer and putting it before him. He sat down with a mixed look and his eyes showed his unwillingness to speak. Sakura looked at him the whole time she poured and set his tea, then her own. Finally she finished and was able to just sit and stare at him, sipping over her cup.

Itachi looked back at her, the way she raised her eyebrow, and Itachi shrugged. "He's already taken?"

The way he worded it stopped everyone else in the room and Sakura just stared, jaw dropped. 'were you whoring me out?!' Itachi smiled and leaned in, whispering into her ear. "He has just gotten Hinata to agree. Kakashi is the other guard, and he's agreed to run a bit before them. Naruto's planning on making a move."

Sakura leaned back, staring with her eyes shining.

She grinned and nodded. She was so happy for them! She looked down at her tea with a soft smile and looked up at Gaara, giving him a small nod.

"Is that an acceptance?" Sakura nodded again, looking over at Itachi.

"Unfortunately I won't be able to join, but Deidera here isn't doing anything." Sakura's head whipped around to the raven haired man beside her. He looked at her with a soft smile and the words he'd used that morning popped back into her head.

'Maybe you should try dating him.'

Sakura just stared, as did Deidera. Sakura looked over at Gaara, who just shrugged. "I'm flexible. That will work. I'll be here to pick you up at noon on Thursday." Deidera and Sakura nodded. Gaara stood and walked to the door, smiling and nodding as he exited the house. Kankurou smiled and gave a short bow.

Deidera spoke before Sakura had the chance. "What the hell?! Itachi, are you wanting me to run off with her?!"

"I want to make sure she realizes who she wants, not just who made a move at the best time or whatever. I want to know for sure she wants me." He stood and walked to the stairs, his back to them.

"I want to make sure before I get anymore involved. I'm already in too far, if she changes her mind now it may kill me. I want to make sure, before there's no doubt of it ending me."

Sakura just stared.

She stood, knowing what he meant. She walked over and wrapped her arms around his chest, her cheek against the back of his shoulder. His voice was strained but soft. "I'm going to rest. I'll be down before dinner." He walked away, leaving her there, scared.

She turned to Deidera, who just looked back, wide eyed.

"Uh, so, yeah, what now?"

Sakura shook her head, the look of terror on her felt like a stab to him.

There was a sudden knock at the door and Sakura walked over, opening the door.

Gaara looked at her, his always stoic face shifting to worry. "Uh, is everything alright?" Sakura slid on a smile, the first time she'd had to in a while and nodded. 'it's nothing. can i do something for you?'

"Actually I'm here to help you. I know your throat won't be repairable till after we get back, but it'll be difficult for you to be a guard if you can't be heard. Excuse me a moment."

He moved his fingers to her throat and Sakura felt a winding feeling, spiraling around her vocal chords. She felt him pull his hand back and he tilted his head lightly, eyes narrowed. "Try and say something."

"Li-" She started into a coughing and gagging fit, Deidera there in a second, patting her on the back. "What did you do?!" The blonde looked up as Sakura reached up, grabbing his head and held it to her shoulder. She finally stopped the episode and started breathing, sucking in air.

"It feels weird." She started coughing again. "It'll take some time to get used to. Thank you. I hadn't even thought of using chakra threads like this."

Gaara smiled and nodded. "This is what you learn when you live with Kankurou. You think of all different uses for them. Well, I'll be on my way." He turned and Sakura stood, finally releasing the distressed blond's head. "Thanks again!" Sakura smiled and Gaara waved, not turning his back.

"That was interesting, yeah. I think I have to keep an eye on him."

"It's his brother you have to worry about. He's had a thing for me for years." Sakura turned back into the house and plopped down on a tatami, leaning against the wall. "So, now what? Itachi wants us to go on a date."

"And you don't feel comfortable." Deidera smiled and Sakura nodded weakly. "How about this. We go on a date, you two go on a date, and you try and make up your mind by the mission. Whoever you choose goes with you." Sakura nodded, looking longingly out of the window. "That sounds good, but not right now. There's a few people I have to go and see." Sakura stood quietly and left, leaving Deidera staring.

She knocked at the door, knowing things here would be hard. "Who is it?" She heard from the other side and she laid on a smile, as fake as she felt at the moment. "Sakura! Please, I need to talk to you!"

The door crashed open and there was the blonde she'd longed to see for so long. Sakura teared up, seeing her for the first time in forever. "I've missed you so much!" Sakura held her hand over her mouth, surprising the other. "You, you stole my husband!" Ino growled, her ferocity flailing and Sakura shook her head. "I need your help. You always said I could come to you if I was having guy trouble-"

"I'm not going to help you get Sasuke! Are you fucking insane?!"

"It's Itachi and Deidera! Sasuke was out of the picture a long time ago." Sakura tried to keep from blinking, to try and keep the tears in her eyes. Ino's eyes widened.

"Itachi and Deidera?!"

"Ino, can we go get a drink? We need to catch up. You'll understand."

It was about two hours later that Sakura had explained it all and Ino stared, surprised. "I heard the picture was a fake!"

"No!" Sakura laughed, covering her mouth. "Well, the nudity was, but they were both there, and now they're both living with me again, and they're so wonderful! Itachi wants me to date Deidera, to make sure who I want to be with, but I, What do I do?"

Ino's eyes shone and for the first time in what seemed to be forever, Ino reached across the table and took her hand. "Sakura, I'm so sorry! All this time, all that anger,"

"I would have been pissed too! I'm just sorry I couldn't get a message here to you! By the time I found out what had happened, I knew I'd have to talk to you person to person!"

"And that woman that came here, she's just here to find somewhere to live, she's not with him..."

"She's fourteen! Sasuke was there when we found her, pregnant, tied to a bed, that poor girl, her father was selling her. I can't imagine what she's gone through in her life, but she's here to be safe from her family."

Ino nodded. "I've made such a fool of myself..."

"You're fine. It happens. Sasuke pointed something out, though. If I marry Itachi, he'll be my brother! How messed up is that?!" Sakura laughed and Ino grinned.

"Maybe I'll give him another chance." The two looked at each other and smiled.

"But what do I do?" Sakura sighed, stirring her tea with an absent frown.

"Bitch smack him." Sakura turned, seeing Sasuke behind her, Ino's eyes widened. "Sasuke..."

"Tell him he's being immature, you've made up your mind, he should be happy with that."

"But he won't be." Sakura sighed and scooted over, offering him a seat. "Why do you keep popping up? Are you following me?" Sakura grinned and Sasuke sat, looking over at her.

"Yes." Sakura stopped abruptly, staring confused at him, his eyes tired. "Naruto told me to keep an eye on you, make sure no one tries anything 'inappropriate'." Sakura rolled her eyes looking over at Ino. "I could kick half of the people in this village's ass, but Naruto wants me watched for unwanted passes."

"Seems like that's already a problem." Ino winked.

"Maybe a little. It's not that I don't have feelings for Deidera, I do, but I don't want to date him. I don't want to give him the chance to break my resolution. I love Itachi. With all my heart, I love him. I don't want him to turn away. Even with Deidera there, when he left us alone, I felt so... cold..." Sakura looked down, fear and anger darkened her eyes.

"Sakura, I'll start clearing another house. I don't think this will be cleared up till he moves out of your house. If I choose a house near yours, he can still come visit often, but you and Itachi can still have your privacy."

"We'll help!" Sakura looked over, a small shine of hope returning to her. "Deidera keeps going on about his artistic talents, this would be great for him, and maybe working like that will help me and Itachi work through our trouble."

"It's not trouble. I'm about to go beat the hell out of him. He was doing so well..."

"It's understandable. He's worried he'll get closer to me, then I'll change my mind. He said if we were any closer he wouldn't survive it." Sasuke's eyes watched her, surprised at her words. "Sasuke, I can't do this. I can't date Deidera. I need Itachi. I don't just want to be with him, I need him. I needed both of them to get over this place, but now that I'm here, I hate to say it, but I think he was someone I needed to help fill the void from here. I'm home. I'm not saying I don't want him around, I do, I still..." She held her hands over her heart and looked down, surprising Ino. Sasuke reached over and slid his arm over her shoulder. He pulled her to his chest before she started to sob.

Ino watched, completely astounded. "You've changed so much... Sakura, I'll do whatever I can to help. Sasuke..." Ino looked up at him and he looked at her, nodding.

"Not now. We'll talk later." Ino nodded.

Sasuke and Ino walked her home.

Deidera smiled and backed away from the door, allowing them in. "She didn't get into any trouble, did she?" He walked over and took over, holding her head. She sobbed into his chest, he softly sat, pulling her onto his lap. He stroked her hair, his arms protectively around her shoulders. Ino watched the display of intimacy with interest.

"No trouble at all. If anything, she helped me out so much..." Ino smiled at her and she nodded, as if she were trying to respond.

"Sweety, don't get yourself so upset. You'll get injured again. To let you know, I've already made up my mind. I'm not going to stay here." Sakura's head shot up, staring at him wide eyed.

"What?"

"I'm moving back to the village. They need someone to protect them. I knew so long ago that you chose him, he's just being stubborn."

"We were talking about fixing up a house for you here."

"It's not my home, yeah. This is your home, and I can't be a part of it anymore. Sakura, I love you, I can't ruin your life. Not like this. The instant he went upstairs, the instant you left, I knew. I'll leave in three days."

Sakura just stared.

She threw her arms around him, apologizing.

Ino was mortified. She could tell. The three of them, they really did love each other. "It's too bad you and Itachi don't have anything going on. This would be a great three way."

She'd meant it as a joke, Sakura looked over terrified, Sasuke clutched at his mouth, trying to keep from laughing at the thought.

Deidera looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Who said we didn't, yeah?"

Ino froze. Sakura froze. Sasuke ran for the bathroom.

Deidera looked down at Sakura and smiled. "I'll be fine, you should know that. You can come visit whenever, yeah, and if anything happens to Itachi, I'll always be there." Sakura nodded, clutching her arms around her chest. "Deidera...."

He looked down at her and smiled, sliding her over to Sasuke's lap. "I'm gonna start packing. Do me a favor?" Sakura looked at him and nodded, gripping to whatever words came out of his mouth.

"Don't name any of your kids after me. It's a bad omen, yeah."

He smiled and walked up the stairs.

Sakura burst into sobs again and Sasuke started rocking her, trying to calm her.

Ino watched the whole thing.

She looked at Sakura, shaking with worry and sudden self loathing.

This was when Itachi came downstairs. "Sakura, if you don't calm down you'll hurt yourself." He looked over, seeing Sasuke comforting her. He stared, surprised as Sasuke slid her over to Ino and stood, walking over and smacking him hard across the face.

"Deidera just told her he's leaving. He's moving in three days. She let him go. Is THAT enough proof that she chooses you, or are you completely dense?"

Itachi looked at her, his gaze shifting to worry. He ran over and lifted her from Ino. "Sakura! Are you sure?! You're going to let him leave like this?!"

"What other choice to I have? It's not fair to make him stay. He loves me, and forcing him to stay here, to watch us, it's so cruel. I can't do that to him. I love him, Itachi, Enough to know when to let him go."

Itachi held her, his knees wavered for a second and he fell back, sliding down the wall, her on his lap.

"Sakura, I'm sorry."

"Don't. Don't you dare be sorry." Sakura sobbed and Itachi looked up at Sasuke, surprised.

"I've done all this, I've worried till I broke my vocal chords! You didn't even ask me how I could talk!"

"Sakura, I never left your side. You may not have seen me, but until you started on your way back here, I was always beside you." Sakura looked at him, surprised.

"Gaara put chakra threads in your throat to reverberate for your voice. You went to Ino's and you two went out for coffee. You were trying to get ideas on how to deal with us."

"You really were there." Sakura looked at him and he nodded.

"No matter what I say or do, I'll never stop being there for you. It seemed just then, though, that you needed them more than me."

Sakura laid her head on his chest. She listened to his heart beat. She felt the warmth of his arms around her. He looked down and smiled at her, brushing her hair back. He leaned down, stealing a kiss, and they just sat there for a while, their lips together.

Ino smiled softly, looking over at Sasuke. She held out her hand and he looked at her, surprised. "Are you sure?"

"I am." Ino smiled and Sasuke reached out, taking her hand.