~ OMG I am so incredibly sorry! Ahhh I haven't worked on this in so longg! A lot has happened in my life since I have written, the biggest being I graduated high school! College was put on hold for a year due to some untimely events that occurred last summer but oh well. Anyyywhooo lets quit babbling and get on with the story shall we?!

I do not own Naruto

Chapter 12 After

Sakura and the guys returned to the base in a matter of an hour after the quick confrontation with the broken Team 7. The guys were all hooting and hollering and seemed very happy about what had gone down.

Sakura on the other hand was torn. Torn between her new love for the male friends she has made and the old friends who have been in her life since day one. Itachi could see the pain in her eyes and reached out to her but, Sakura leaped away.

"Just...leave me alone for a bit okay?" Sakura said with her head down just before she leaped out of sight.

Itachi stood there frozen. He was new to this girly, lovey stuff. He wasn't sure whether to go after her or give her her space. Eventually he came too and decided the best thing to do was to give her her space.

Later that night Sakura didn't show up for dinner. The guys thought it would be a good idea to cook for her because of how tough she was earlier.

"Hey Itachi! Go tell Sakura it's time to eat would ya?" Kisame said over the sound of frying fish he was cooking.

Itachi wasn't sure if he should or not but decided to give it a try. He quickly walked down the hallway and stopped in front of Sakura's door. He could hear the shower running so he just let himself in.

Sakura could feel a chakra signature and yelled from the bathroom'

"Who's there?"

"It's me Sakura, Itachi" Itachi said approaching the bathroom. "Can I come in?"

"No I'm naked." Sakura quickly said with a hint of anger.

"Okay then. Dinner is ready." Itachi said to the closed-door.

"I'm not hungry." Sakura said as she stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself up in one of her pink towels.

"Sakura it's not healthy to not eat. Now please come join us. All the guys made a big feast just for you." Itachi said as he started to bring his hand to the door knob.

"Itachi..don't" Sakura said

It was too late Itachi had opened the door only to find Sakura sitting on the floor looking as if she were about to cry.

"Sakura? What is it?" Itachi said as he crouched in front of her. He was concerned he has never seen Sakura so vulnerable looking. It worried him. Her tough exterior was falling apart.

After a moment Sakura looked up into Itachi's concerned eyes and let him have the truth.

"Itachi...I...I don't know. After seeing Naruto and Kakashi today I actually started missing them."

Itachi relaxed a little. He figured as much that she would feel this way.

"Do you want to go back to them Sakura?" Itachi said as he grabbed her smaller hand in he larger calloused one.

"NO!" Sakura shouted "I want to stay here with you! If I go back then Sasuke might..he might..."

"He won't do anything to you if he values his life. If you want to really go back you can and I will watch you until I know no harm will come to you." Itachi said as he gripped her hand tighter.

"I do miss my friends but..I love you Itachi I want to stay by your side and live out this life with you. You have turned my world upside down but in a good way. I always thought I was in love with Sasuke but thinking back now, that feeling doesn't come nearly as close to the feelings I have for you. I don't know what spell you have me under but...I love it." Sakura said with tears welling up in her eyes.

"I couldn't have said that any better myself. Now let's get you up and dressed before the guys come looking for us." Itachi said standing up and pulling Sakura up with her.

"Okay okay but get out! I need privacy!" Sakura said as she started pushing Itachi to the door.

"Okay but hold on." Itachi said and he quickly spun around and pulled Sakura full force to him and kissed her passionately on the lips.

~ There ya go! Chapter 12! It was rocky there for a minute huh?!

Quick note here: if at any point somebody feels lost and thinks to themselves "well how did this happen" or "how did that happen" let me know! When I write I can "see" the story playing along in my head and I might leave details out that make sense to me but make readers confused and lost. So if any of you feel that way let me know and I will straighten it all out in the beginning of the chapters okay?!

Thanks guys!