AN: Chapter three is up! And I've just realised I've completely forgot a disclaimer for the last two chapters. Oops. Well I'll do one at the end of this. Anyway soon, so I'm not sure how many chapters I'll be able to get in before then. It depends how fast I can write (good stuff).

Anyway I know you all want the SasoriXSakura action and I'm not going to promise anything. All I can say is that we all know that there is already a fair amount of sexual tension between the two, as seen in their little tango, but the actual romance will come later. It's just I don't want to rush it, because then it ends up messing everything up, but on the other hand I don't want to have it too late, because then you'll all just get bored waiting for it. So I guess you could say I'm waiting for the right time to strike. Muahahaha! Now I think we should make the happy couple do the disclaimer-

Sasori and Sakura- Happy couple?

Me-of course

Sasori- sighs- alright then

Sakura- shakes Sasori- You're agreeing to this- to this- Torture!?

Sasori- well it's not as if we have a choice. Besides, I don't mind... -smirks-

Sakura- PERVERT!!

Me- Just do the disclaimer!!

Sakura- Glares- Fine! Lovematters does not own Naruto, and I am very glad that she doesn't.

Me- What was that? -approaches menacingly with a mace in hand-

Sasori- Sad! She said she's sad! She's very sad that you don't own Naruto!

Me- puts mace down and looks smugly at a cowering Sakura who is hiding behind Sasori, who looks even more pleased with himself-

Stress: A condition caused by repressing the body's desire to strangle the living daylights out of some jerk who desperately deserves it.

Sakura stared up at the ceiling, absentmindedly massaging her stomach. She winced every time she brushed over a sensitive spot, but continued her massage anyway. It wasn't like she had anything better to do.

The covers of her hospital bed were pushed back, revealing her loose hospital gown, which had been pushed up around her knees. She kicked back the covers a bit further with her feet, so a breath of air reached the rest of her body.

She had been stuck in the hospital for at least a week now, and Tsunade still wouldn't let her leave. She swore loudly in a fit of irritation. It was always frightfully boring at night, and sometimes even at day as well.

It wasn't like she never had visitors. They had come by the hundred, although most of them had been mind-numbing elders wishing to congratulate her on her recent victory.

Naruto, Kakashi, Sai and Ino all visited whenever they could, occasionally bringing people such as Hinata or Kiba with them. Even Shikamaru would occasionally drop by for a game of Shogi. Hell, even Neji had dropped by, and for some odd reason, his uncle. No doubt, they were forming some diabolical plan, which she had unfortunately been dragged into. Knowing them, it would probably involve destiny and arranged marriage.

She rolled her eyes, ceasing her stomach massage. Pushing herself up with her elbows and swinging her legs around, she raised herself up off the bed into a standing position. Stretching her legs experimentally, she walked over to small window and leant down on its sill, staring up into the cloudless night.

Sighing, she absentmindedly twirled a lock of cerise hair around her finger. It had grown past its original length, now reaching the small of her back. This had purely been out of neglect to cut it, not vanity, but Sakura still liked it anyway. She normally had it in a long plait down her back, but now it was flowing freely, as Sakura didn't see the point of going to all that bother every day when she wouldn't even be training.

Catching sight of a glint of gray on her finger, she extracted it from the twirled strands of hair, and held it up to her face.

She started as she saw the object that had attracted her curiosity. The ring. How could she have forgotten?

She slid it off her finger and placed it in her palm, narrowing her eyes as she examined it carefully. She had been wearing this chunk of rock for a week, and she only just noticed?

She let out a little tinkling laugh, marvelling at her own lack of awareness.

Picking up the ring between her thumb and forefinger, she turned it over so that the kanji was visible.

Void

It was sort of fitting really, seeing as that was exactly what Orochimaru's soul was trapped in. Well, inside the ring, which would just be a wide expanse of nothing. She winced at the thought of spending eternity like that. But then again, that was really what Orochimaru had deserved- and wanted, she supposed. He had always desired immortality after all. And now he got exactly what he wished for.

She wondered briefly whether she ought to hand the object into Tsunade, but as soon as the thought appeared in her mind, it vanished. There was not really any need for that. When Tsunade had asked her where Orochimaru's soul was, she had just told her she sealed it. She didn't really have to specify where, and it was apparent that Tsunade didn't care.

Slipping it gently back onto her finger, she felt that same strange burn she had felt when she first put the ring on. Frowning, she stared down at the stone ring. There was something that just didn't really make sense. It was almost as though it was meddling with her mind, although Sakura was sure that wasn't it. If it was driving her to insanity, the symptoms would be different.

Sakura looked up suddenly as she felt something brush her forehead. Her sharp reflexes in play, she made a snatch for the object, her fingers closing around it. Opening her hand up, she frowned when she saw a mere slip of paper. She raised her eyebrows, picking it up and examining it in the same fashion that she had scrutinized the ring. Deeming it to be nothing more than a piece of paper, she gave it its emancipation, watching it flutter away in a strangely choreographed fashion, off into the night.

Checking her watch, Sakura started when she realised just how late it was. She looked over to her bed, deciding that it would probably be the sensible thing to at least try and get some sleep. If she was grouchy in the morning, she would be more likely to shout at any innocent visitors, and it wouldn't do to have her life supports scared away.

Yawning loudly, Sakura took one last look out the window, before trailing over to her bed and flopping down upon it.

Tsunade had promised her she would be able to go home tomorrow, but then again, she had been promising that all week, so she wasn't really expecting to depart anytime soon. But she could still hope...

"You've identified the killer?"

A curtain of silence fell over the room as the question was uttered. Nine pairs of eyes fixed themselves upon the newcomer, some filled with apprehension, others, newly found excitement.

The figure tossed her hat lazily to the side, and ran one hand through her dark blue locks, possessing a mild look of irritation about her.

"A 'hello and welcome back' would be nice," she snapped, lacing her fingers tightly together and shooting a glare at the occupants of the room.

"What the fuck is your problem?"

The blue haired woman gave an oddly feral-like snarl and stood up, snatching out in an attempt to throttle the offender, only to be pulled down by the man sitting next to her.

"Konan, calm down," he ordered, before turning his attention to the enquirer and sighing, "Hidan, must you always swear?"

Said silver haired man gave a snort of annoyance, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms, looking rather like an insolent child who had just received a scolding. This caused the man seated next to him to snigger, earning him a very dirty look from his source of amusement.

"If you are quite finished...?" drawled the heavily pierced man next to Konan, drumming his fingers on the table in an annoyed fashion.

He smirked as the room fell silent again, before saying calmly "Konan, I believe you had news?"

"Yes, Pein" she said, taking a calming breath. "Yes, I do. I have identified Orochimaru's killer, and I have also discovered the whereabouts of the ring and its current possessor. Fortunately, or unfortunately, they are, as we expected, the same person."

"Who is it?"

"Haruno Sakura"

Pein's eyes widened slightly, before he said "Isn't that the one-"

"-who killed me," finished Sasori in a murmur, staring at Konan in a calculating gaze.

"Yes," Konan confirmed, retrieving a book from inside her Akatsuki cloak. "This is what I've managed to dig up on her."

She opened the book, and began to read, "Haruno Sakura: age- 18, rank-ANBU. Currently in Kohona's hospital receiving treatment from a serious stomach wound obtained in her fight with Orochimaru. She is on a team with the Kyuubi container, the copy ninja, and some root nin named Sai. Her sensei is Tsunade, although she has long surpassed her, and she is widely renowned as Kohona's best medic."

She snapped the book shut and looked up at the rest of the Akatsuki members, who looked slightly shell shocked.

"Fucking hell," muttered Hidan "No wonder the ring didn't reject her when she put it on."

Pein turned to Konan and said sharply "You're sure about this?"

"I did infiltrate Kohona's defences for this. Of course I'm sure," she snapped sourly. "There's more in the book, but that information is irrelevant for now."

"So we have our newest member," mused Pein, looking thoughtfully at Konan. "And she doesn't know?"

"She doesn't know anything about how the rings work," confirmed Konan "I'm sure of it."

"Good," he replied, a hint of satisfaction lining his voice.

"What are you planning," said Konan, narrowing her eyes suspiciously; "You're not going to kill her, are you?"

"Quite the contrary," disagreed Pein "You say she is on the Kyuubi's team?"

"Yes," said Konan.

"All the better," murmured Pein, sounding oddly content.

"I thought we had given up on our hunt for the demons," said Konan warily.

"Indeed we have, but Kohona doesn't know that yet, do they?" he said.

Konan frowned "How does that-?"

"Well, we will need to let them know, and you know they'll do just about anything to get us off their backs. We could even throw an alliance into the bargain."

"So you are saying," said Konan slowly "that we seal the deal?"

"Exactly"

AN: Thanks for reading and please review!