Your responses were pretty funny, I have to admit… You should read those reviews XD I had a good time doing so. And if I were to have someone, it's either be Kakashi or Naruto. Well, I think I'll pick Naruto. He's such a sweetie. : ) It'll be fun to do stuff with him.

Anyway, a new (err, filler coughsorrycough) chapter awaits you!

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It was odd how this group of men, who were deemed to be extreme, ruthless, killing maniacs, could actually be ordinary beings when they wanted to be.

Sakura stared at her rice bowl, her expression pensive as she held her chopsticks in her right hand, unmoving. She had yet to finish eating, while the rest except Deidara had vacated the kitchen minutes ago. Her mind was, as usual, whirling with thoughts, but this time those thoughts conflicted with each other.

"Ne, Sakura," Deidara called opposite her, waving a hand in front of her face as she blinked. "You okay?"

Concerned azure eyes connected with jade. "Yes, I'm fine. Just thinking," she responded, mustering a half-hearted grin.

"Tsk. Women think too much, yeah," he responded with eyes narrowed. "Stop thinking."

…How can I?

"Hm." A noncommittal grunt escaped the pink-haired girl as she forced another spoonful of rice in her mouth, staring moodily at her bowl. Her eyes shot to his frame when he stood up.

"Well, I'm gonna go shower, yeah. Today's sparring made me stink like hell," he sniffed, wrinkling his nose. "And Sakura," he said, his eyes serious. "Stop thinking so much about whatever it is you're thinking about." He shot her a gamely wink before walking out of the kitchen.

Sakura was once again left to her thoughts in silence. In the span of ten minutes she had sat down with the Akatsuki members (yes, they ate that fast), she had simply stared at every one of them, studying their movements and their bantering between one another as they ate.

And it was so… normal. The thought gripped her deeply in her chest, giving her a familiar, tugging feeling she hadn't felt in a long time.

The last time she had felt it was the day everything else changed in Konoha.

How could she actually feel some semblance of affection for these people? It was yet another mystery of the heart that she may never understand. Nonetheless, it was a stupid, stupid heart, but it contained so much power and capability to find something good in everyone. And it definitely found a grain of goodness in these people. Somehow, Sakura knew these nins had once been innocent, good, individuals, and somewhere along the line of things, their selves diminished and ugly shells emerged to replace what they used to be.

Briefly, she wondered at what Itachi must have gone through… and Deidara… and Kisame… and Hidan… and Pein. Someday, maybe she'd find out, but at the moment, she knew absolutely nothing, and yet, she absolutely knew with all her heart that they definitely have hearts, just like her.

They were just well-hidden from everyone else. Sakura remembered when Pein had explained his goal of Akatsuki. His eyes flashed with stubborn determination when he spoke and his tone became increasingly softer when speaking of peace… And although his view was warped, he had actually harboured good intentions, doing only what was deemed necessary in his eyes. And he only needed one last person to finish it all, to achieve his longstanding goal.

Sakura gave a bitter, empty laugh, digging into her rice bowl, still deeply immersed in her thoughts. How ironic was it that the person he needed was in front of him all this time?

Her.

Just as Sakura's thoughts were about to embark on a more depressing scale, a familiar chakra flared from behind the kitchen door, as if its possessor wanted to make himself known before entering. Her thoughts were firmly halted and a nonchalant mask was put in place as the Leader of Akatsuki entered the kitchen a few seconds later, with a package in tow.

He spared her a glance and an acknowledging, silent nod before waltzing to the cabinet and opened it. Sakura paused in her eating motions and studied him.

It was either he didn't notice her stare, or simply did not mind it, for he didn't bring it up. Instead, he placed the package near the stove area and reached for what seemed like a tea sachet, its contents making a soft, swishing noise in its movement. His other hand deftly reached for a teacup near the sink and the sachet dropped in it with a soft plop, while he rummaged in the drawers and brought out a teaspoon-

"I'm making some tea. Would you like some, Sakura?" The girl jumped in her seat when he spoke in his usual, courteous manner as he turned towards her, holding a teaspoon in his right hand.

Sakura almost laughed at the sight. She managed to stop short and stood up, giving a genuine smile instead, revealing dimples in both cheeks. "I'll do it myself," she responded. Almost hesitantly (and already regretting the idea of making tea next to him), she walked over to him, who was already pouring boiled hot water from the kettle into his teacup.

She stood behind his imposing figure, catching a whiff of his masculine, woodsy scent before clearing her throat. "Er, excuse me," she mumbled, and he promptly moved to the side to make way for her as she opened the cabinet.

And tried not to panic as she saw the tea sachets on the highest shelf of the cabinet. After a quick internal debate, she leaned against the counter, sighing in a defeatist manner. Proceeding to tiptoe, she extended her arm, her slender fingertips reaching for the sachet that lay closest to her.

She didn't notice the way her red long-sleeved top had stretched upwards with her movement, revealing pale, bare skin and a small, toned waist.

She also didn't notice the way the man's gaze snapped from her face and was suddenly glued to her waist area.

After a moment or two, she gave up. Her pride refused to let her jump like an idiot in front of the man, and she turned to him, her eyes pleading.

His eyes immediately shot up, far, far away from her waist into her eyes as he raised an eyebrow, coolly maintaining his nonchalant expression.

"… A little help?" The pink-haired girl opposite him clasped her hands in front of her, her eyes wide and her lips turning up in an unintentional pout.

Pein tried valiantly not to stare at her lips. Shifting his position to face the cabinet, he reached easily for a tea sachet, handing it to her wordlessly.

"Thank you!" The girl beside him flashed a grateful, dimpled smile as she moved around him, cups clanging and teaspoons clicking in the process. He realized belatedly that he had been stirring his tea for too long and walked over to the dining table, sitting down. A minute later the rosette followed suit, sitting opposite him as she sipped on her tea. Her elbows were placed casually on the table as she held the teacup up to her lips, a thoughtful frown marring her features.

For a moment they sat in companionable silence, neither willing to break the silence as they drank. Then Pein spoke, his ringed, violet eyes landing on her face, his expression seemingly impassive.

"How's your arm and thigh?" His voice was smooth and deep like velvet, and it washed away her thoughts in an instant. She looked at him, their gazes interlocking. Well, that wasn't what she expected of him to ask. A small smile passed through her features.

"It's perfectly fine now," she responded pleasantly, taking a sip of her tea. Steam wafted into the air before her from the teacup, curling and forming little clouds, and she brought the teacup to her lips, watching it absentmindedly.

The man opposite her took in the sight, a smirk growing on his lips. "By the way, congratulations."

Sakura peered from the rim of her teacup, looking at him in surprise. "For?"

"Winning the fight."

She laughed, an amused smile crossing her lips as she sipped on her tea. "Thank you."

He shot her a smirk, and they sat in silence once more.

It was then that her mind decided to plague her with disturbing thoughts of their first encounter, when she had fainted and he had carried her. She flushed a deep red, her mind running with crazy, wild notions of what had happened afterwards.

She decided it was time for her to ask.

"Um… Pein?" She ventured, and received a slightly curious look from the man in response. "Do you remember when I, um, fainted? That day?" Great. She sure sounded confident there.

Her heart almost leapt out of her ribcage when he shot her an amused look, his lips curling in a smirk. For a moment, he looked breathtakingly handsome like the typical hero in a romance novel. Sakura willed her heart to still, but it was still thudding rebelliously in her chest.

Damn hormones.

"I believe I do remember. I had to carry you back to your room," he responded, his smirk still in place.

Sakura unconsciously leaned forward against the table, her knuckles white in gripping her teacup tightly."And? Did anything happen… after?"

"After…?" He asked, a deceptively nonchalant look on his face. "What do you mean, Sakura?"

His voice went dangerously, dangerously low when he spoke her name. In fact, it sounded almost… husky.

"I mean… did you change my clothes?" Oh god, she was blushing madly like there was no tomorrow. And he wasn't even intentionally flirting with her!

Wait. Was he?

At that moment, Sakura didn't even want to think about that possibility.

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't," he smirked handsomely as he continued to stare at her.

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw his eyes darken visibly before her. She forgot how to speak.

She was lost in a sea of violet and his unique, masculine scent overwhelmed her across the table.

Unbeknownst to her, he was also gripping the teacup tightly, his senses picking up on everything that was her. Her jade irises, he noticed, were speckled with darker green flecks, and had never been so expressive till this moment. Her eyes were wide with wonder and curiosity, and a pleasant strawberry scent washed over him, assuaging his senses.

It was in that moment that he knew, he was knee-deep in something he should have seen coming.

He stood up abruptly, breaking the tension. Reaching for the package he had brought in, he walked up to the pink-haired female and placed it gently on the table. She looked up at him from her seat with curious eyes.

He had to fight the urge to devour her then.

"Welcome to Akatsuki," he said softly, his breath a soothing caress on her face.

Then he left, his cloak swishing behind him as he exited the kitchen. Sakura gazed at the black package warily, and began to open it.

Her fingers delved into the torn area, opening the package wider and she sat back on her chair, her heart palpitating for the third time that day as she stared at the object lying before her.

Folded neatly inside was a familiar black cloak, fashioned with red clouds.

Lying on top of it, in all its splendour, was a beautiful, shining white ring.

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New poll: What do you find best/admirable about Sakura?

I know you want to review and answer this poll. HIT IT GUYS! XD