A/N: Yo! Ahhh. It's been awhile. Haha. And I deeply apologize for the wait! & Thank you very very much for the reviews.

Important: (About the SECRET Sasuke is keeping) Okay, I realized I may have put in a little too much 'suspense' for something that isn't 'OMG' huge. I know this sounds kind of stupid but (I think) Everyone's expecting the secret to be this massively shocking news. Well, sorry to disappoint, but it's not... Naruto only made a big deal cause (hint: in 'insert chapter one')… well you'll find out soon…

Without further ado…

She stepped into the quiet room. Her eyebrows scrunched up at the sight of Naruto, sitting almost emotionlessly on their glass dining table.

"Naruto…?" She whispered quietly. "Is there something you want to talk about?" She asked. Hope and plead heavily etched in her tone.

He looked at her blankly for a few seconds before he smiled softly. He got up, slowly taking small, careful steps towards her.

"I'm sorry about last night. Won't happen again, I promise."

His lips tugged up into that sweet cheesy grin of his, wrapping his arms around her waist. But Ino was Ino. She will not be taken away by his charm. Instead, she shifted slightly in his arms before poking him in the chest. Her sky blue eyes narrowed up at him.

Honestly, who did Naruto think he was dealing with here…?

"You haven't answered my question." She said to him, sweetly… maybe a little too sweetly.

The blonde man cleared his throat awkwardly before ruffling his hair, gulping nervously.

"It's really nothing." He paused. "Don't worry about it."

Still in his arms, she glared at him.

"You know something don't you!" she accused.

"No! No I really don't!" This time his arms had left her waist, he put them up defensively.

"Hmm…"

She was going to let him get away with it. It wasn't something new. She always let him get away with it… it didn't matter, she was bound to find out soon anyways… She smiled at the thought… She always did…

There was a small pause as she stopped slightly, not knowing what to say about the clipping of newspaper lying hazardously on the table…

"Do you think Sakura is really pregnant?"

… and she got an even bigger pause from Naruto.

And then…

"I need to go over to Sasuke's."

She picked up the ringing device.

"Hello?" she spoke.

"Sakura." She wasn't surprised when she heard his voice. She saw his name on caller ID.

"Neji!" She yelled excitedly. "What's up?"

"Listen. I wanted to talk about that offer today."

Ah-Oh. Honestly, she hadn't given that offer much thought, especially since everything else was going on. Even though she made an agreement with herself yesterday, and because of the outcome the result is for her to accept Neji's movie proposal… but right now, at this very moment. She wasn't so sure anymore…

"Uhh. Okay, sure!" She said unsurely. To her surprise, a soft chuckle escaped his mouth.

"You haven't really thought about it have you?" Damn. He knew her too well.

"Haha…" She let out a nervous laugh. "Not really." She told him honestly.

"Well it's alright… it must be a hard time for you right now. I keep up with the times you know? … anyways I think it's a good idea if you don't accept—"

"No!" She interrupted him. This was her chance at revenge. This was probably the best way to get back at Sasuke. Make him feel her pain! He'd know what she'd felt every time he went filming… with Karin… She couldn't let an opportunity like this pass! It was so… perfectly perfect! …

"Just give me more time…"

'So why the freaking hell are you hesitating?!' her inner chimed in.

She heard him sigh.

"Sakura… I stand by what I've said before. You're still the same Sakura."

She scoffed lightly.

"I hope that's a good thing…"

"Sakura, you think you could help me with something this afternoon?"

"Hmm… depends what it is…?"

"Oh I'm sure it's something you have plenty of experience with." He said it like a tease.

"And what might that be?" She smiled.

"Shopping." He only said one word, and that was all it took.

"Well of course! Just tell me wh—"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Neji hang on." She put the phone away from her mouth before, "Come in!"

Her bedroom door quickly opened.

"Auntie Saki!" Mina called cheerfully. "Lunch is ready!" She said walking up to the pink haired woman sitting on her messy bed.

"I'll be there in a moment." She told the small girl softly with a sweet smile.

Mina smiled and nodded before rushing out of the room.

Sakura went back to the phone.

"Neji?"

"Yeah, yeah. I heard."

"Haha… okay well…"

"I'll call you later." He told her.

"Alrighty! See you tonight!"

… and she hung up, quickly following Mina's steps. Damn. She wasn't hungry…

Bang! Naruto burst through the door without a care.

Sasuke glared at the blonde with distain.

How the hell does Naruto do that? Was it him not locking the door…? Or… Sasuke narrowed his eyes… Does that Dobe have a spare key?!

Naruto intruded the apartment like a mad man.

He began hysterically pacing in front of the sitting Sasuke, massaging his temples.

"Okay. Look. Look." He paused on the spot, giving the dark haired man his full attention. "Sasuke. I'm not angry! I'm not!" The blonde waved his hands exasperatedly.

Sasuke raised his eyebrows at his frantic friend.

"I just wanna help out alright?! No I'm not going to tell Sakura! You're my friend and I respect your choices. And no I won't tell anyone else, but man, SASUKE! Get yourself together!!" By now he was gripping Sasuke by the shoulders, shaking him violently.

A vein probed his head. Naruto was telling him to 'get himself together'?! He was the one going mad!

Sasuke yanked himself out of Naruto's grasp. He narrowed his eyes at the maniac.

"Are you drunk?"

Blue eyes widened incredulously at him.

"Am I drunk?" Naruto asked, scandalized. "No I am not drunk! I was drunk yesterday!"

And so Sasuke whacked him.

"Oww! What the hell was that for bastard?!"

"For acting like a damn maniac."

"I AM NOT—OWW!"

Sasuke whacked him in the head, again.

"What was that for?!" he exclaimed, nursing his going-to-be bruised head.

"For barging in." He said simply.

Naruto gave a thoughtful look for a moment before shrugging. "Fair enough."

"What do you want Naruto?"

"I told you. We're gonna get you out of this mess." He sighed.

"I don't need your help." Sasuke said emotionlessly.

"Is that what you said when you started courting Sakura?" he taunted, although they very well knew, that wasn't how it went down.

Sasuke glared him at.

"Okay okay! Geesh. Only kidding." He paused.

"I got it under-control."

"Ahuh. Right, right, right, right. Is that why you're living Sakura-less and looking like a damn zombie?..." He paused, quickly changing the subject. "You know, I think you should tell Sakura, I mean it's only right if she knows cause—"

Sasuke's intensely dark expression and clenched fists made Naruto come to a halt.

"Get the hell out." He hissed.

"Shutting up right now…"

"Mmm…" Sakura moaned as pleasure unfurled in her mouth, delighting her taste buds. "This crème brûlée tastes soooo good!"

Three pairs of eyes stared strangely at the pink haired woman.

"Auntie Saki!" Mina pouted. "You're supposed to be eating this first!" Her small hand reached over, and with her fork she poked the small dish of salad in front of Sakura.

"But I don't want to eat that." Came her childish reply.

From the other side of the circular dining table she saw Itachi frowning slightly at her before it quickly turned into a small smirk.

"You're a bad influence on my kids."

For a second Sakura widened her eyes, feigning shock, before she let out a small giggle.

"I never said I was a good one." She poked her tongue out at him.

"Do we have to eat this?" It was Shin who spoke this time.

"I hate vegetables!" He complained.

"Just eat it." His dad told him.

Both Itachi and Sakura watch as Shin cringed while he scraped all the greens to one side of his plate, then stabbing the piece of tomato with his fork. He shoved it into his mouth, munching on it contently. Onyx eyes found emerald ones before they both erupted with laughter. Itachi reached over and ruffled his son's hair.

"You're so much like Sasuke."

Of course Shin had no idea why his father just said that, but Uncle Sasuke was so cool! So he figured it was a good thing… probably…

They sat quietly on their own sofa, an unknown movie playing faintly in the background.

"Sasuke, man I'm starving…"

No reply.

"I wondered how you survived these days…"

No reply.

"What—how do you eat?"

Stomach grumbles.

"…There's nothing in your fridge."

No reply.

"I checked ten minutes ago…"

No reply.

"You're not hungry?"

No reply.

"I really think we should go out or—"

Twhack!

"—or not."

Later that day…

x

It was noisy inside and out. It wasn't really crowded. But…

Drip! Drip! Drip! Drip! Drip!

It was pouring outside the store. Heavy drops blasted down from the darkness above. She let out a small sigh. Good thing they got here before the rain, because inside the walls, it was warm… and even better, dry.

Srchhh.

The automatic glass doors of the supermarket constantly opened…

Ding!

… and closed again.

People started to peel in, probably because of the rain…

"I can't believe this!" Sakura whined.

"Believe what?" The attractive man from beside her ask, amusedly.

"This! Shopping?" She paused. "This isn't shopping!" She protested childishly.

"Oh." His smirk broadened. "So grocery shopping isn't shopping?"

Sakura narrowed her eyes.

"Well, grocery shopping... This wasn't what I had in mind…"

"But we're still shopping right?" the amusement never leaving his face.

"Oh shut up Neji." She said as she slipped her tongue out at him. "Let's get this done!" She said half excited as she push her trolley through the isle.

Drip! Drip! Drip! Drip! Drip! Drip!

Two figures quickly ran across the car park.

"You dope!" The dark haired man screamed. "I knew this was a bad idea!"

"So what? A little rain gonna bring you down teme?" Naruto taunted, ruffling his flatly dampened blonde hair.

Sasuke glared at his friend.

"What the hell are we doing here?"

They were both standing outside, in the undercover area of a large supermarket, half drenched.

"To buy something to eat obviously." Naruto grinned.

"What, you couldn't go for take out?" he grunted, before promptly rolling down his sleeves. The chilly winds and specs of water that still reached them got the better of him.

"Sometimes it's nice to have a home cook meal." Naruto told him with a sly grin. "Obviously something you've been lacking…" He teased.

Sasuke's eyes only narrowed more at his comment.

"Heh. I'm sure you talk from experience."

Naruto only grinned back at him.

"Real men know how to fend for themselves."

"Hn…"

Srchhh.

A few seconds later they finished attempting to dry up from the rain.

Ding!

They watched as people filled the supermarket, trying to run for cover from the heavy rain bashing down. Just as the two were about to go in…

Srchhh.

Naruto's cerulean eyes widened in surprise.

Ding!

"What is it Naruto?"

Srchhh.

"I don't think we should go in…"

Ding!

A/N: I know I said there was gonna be a SasuSaku moment but I'm sorry... I did NOT want to rushly write it, and the only way this was gonna be updated today was if I left it here... soo sorry!!

(on Mar 28)Happy belated Birthday to Sakura! (and it's mine today!! -pokes tongue out- heheh)

-30.03.08-