Yeah… I have no excuses to how late this is. Sorry :(

"It… It can't be…" another ANBU appeared, and then another.

The orange-haired man glared at every one, making each take a step back in fear. "Bastards, you'll pay for that."

"…Th-the leader… Akatsuki no Pein…"

He… protected her…?

Sakura stared with a mix of shock and confusion. She heard Pein mutter something, and the man was blown back. She gasped when he crashed into a tree.

"How did you…?" She slowly lifted a finger to point at the unconscious man.

"No time. Get ready to fight." On command, she got in a ready position.

She jumped away just in time to dodge a few well-aimed senbon, and to counter with a kunai of her own. She missed the ANBU's head, but hit them in the shoulder. When she landed on the ground again, she counted the enemies. Five, six, seven… twelve, thirteen… they just kept coming!

Most of them surrounded Pein, but they kept flying back from the unknown force. More and more ANBU platoons were rushing in, and they would divide between Pein and herself. Some of them moved in for taijutsu against her, but she easily dodged and sent them bashing into nearby trees.

"How are you holding up?" Pein called from his spot in the clearing.

"Just… fine…!" Sakura grabbed a fist of one of the ANBU and pulled it in, smashing her own against their mask. She was glad that she didn't recognize the face behind it, and moved on to the next one. "How long do you expect us to keep this up?!" Sakura was getting more pumped up with every blow, and she could feel the adrenaline controlling her movements.

"We should retreat." The assailants had obviously heard their conversation, and wouldn't let the Akatsuki get near each other. Sakura focused chakra in her feet and pushed off towards the orange-haired man. "We're gonna' have a small change of plans." He smirked before pushing a mass of ANBU into trees and dashing off. Sakura quickly followed behind.

"Why the hell did they attack?! They can just wait until I tell Tsunade-sama about their recklessness! They could've died!" The two Akatsuki were making their way into very small village miles away from their battlefield. With a very clever jutsu of Pein's, they were able to easily lose the followers.

"Hn." Pein was watching her with an amused smirk in place. She lightly blushed and looked away.

"So… what are we doing now, anyway?" The Akatsuki leader paused for a moment to make a quick hand sign. He was quiet and it looked like he was focusing, so the kunoichi didn't dare ask what he was doing.

"Deidara will pick us up tomorrow." He dropped his hands and continued walking to the local inn.

"A communication jutsu…?" He nodded and opened the door of the building. They had turned their cloaks turned inside out before coming into the village as a precaution.

After getting their room keys they headed out into the village. The villagers watched them with curious eyes and the two couldn't help but laugh a little at it. They stopped at a bench to take a rest. Pein set his wounded hand on his leg and hunched forward, breathing a little heavier than normal.

"Would you like me to take a look at your hand?" asked the medic-nin.

"It's fine." He pulled it into his sleeve, not letting her touch it.

"I have to thank you some way." She reached once again for his hand, but he wasn't having it.

"Now, what use would to be to us if you were dead?" She scowled at him, but grabbed his hand while his guard was lowered. As she quickly applied the healing chakra, the man sighed and gave in.

"Thank you."

"Hn." She almost laughed at his stubbornness. Pein's eyes wandered as she worked on his hand, and he couldn't help but notice the sake stand not too far away. He smirked as an idea formed in his head.

"Wait here a minute." He quickly got up and walked over to the stand, leaving a confused Sakura behind. When he came back with a bottle, she quickly jumped up and waved her hands in front of her face.

"I-I don't drink." She stuttered out.

"But I have to thank you some way." Sakura paused… those words sounded awfully familiar.

"No." she crossed her arms over her chest and turned away.

"I haven't had a drink in ages…" she looked back to see him pouting, and she blushed at how cute he looked.

"…"

"Please, Sakura-chan?"

"…"

"Oh, come on, you know you want to."

"…"

"I'll be your best friend."

"…"

"I'll love you forever and ever."

"If you stop with the weirdo promises I'll have one glass." He smiled victoriously.

"Deal."

"And then I said, 'what the hell- I don't have to take this from you, Sasuke-kun. I'm a strong, independent woman that could whip your ass any friggin' day of the week.'" Sakura laughed hysterically as if she'd told the most hilarious joke in the world. Pein set down his sake glass and crossed his arms, obviously amused.

"Sasuke, huh?" he couldn't help the big grin that made up his face, even if there was a slight pang of jealousy eating at him.

"Totally… except that didn't really happen. But that shoulda' happened!" she pointed a finger at the Akatsuki leader.

"I see." Sakura muttered a "yeah" and took another swig of her sake. Things were quiet for a moment, and Pein watched as Sakura stared at him.

"You're pretty hot, you know that?" Pein nearly choked on his alcohol.

"WH-What?"

"What?" Sakura started looking around, as if to try and find who was talking.

"I'm pretty what?"

"You're pretty?" Sakura pondered that a moment before nodding. "Yeah… Yeah, I guess you are kinda' pretty." Sakura gave another hysterical laugh before collapsing onto the other Akatsuki's lap. Pein watched as her breathing evened out and she got comfortable.

When he thought she was asleep, he started playing with her pink hair, enjoying the feel of it between his fingers.

"You smell good…" muttered the medic.

"Thank you." He laughed.

"Can I tell you something…?" Sakura yawned on the last part. She didn't wait for him to approve, but instead went on with her talking. "I like you…" she left a shocked Pein quiet and frozen as she went peacefully to sleep.

After a while, he continued playing with her hair, and when he knew she was asleep, he picked her up and placed her in the bed of the room they were in. He pulled the sheets up to her chin and chuckled at her peaceful state. "Now I know why you don't drink… but it was entertaining if I do say so myself..." He whispered. "..And pretty flattering." He blushed a little when he recalled all the things she said to him.

His legs were aching, and he didn't really feel like walking over to his room. They were queen-sized beds anyway.

Pein slid onto the bed next to the pink-haired medic and smiled when she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, not letting go.

"Note: buy more booze."

Yeah, I couldn't help it… PeinSaku + booze = awesomeness :D

So very sorry for the late update, not to mention I adore but absolutely HATE this chapter at the same time… it's kinda' stupid but funny at the same time… oh well. Just so you know, I haven't given up on this story :)

Bye bye! R&R!