Note: Hey guys, I know it's been quite awhile, but a lot of things came up and totally ate up my time to finish this. You guys have no idea how bad I want this to end, but unfortunately, it's probably going to be pretty damn long considering the story and all. But hey, I'm going to upload a lot more hopefully since I'm on break and have a lot more spare time. Hope you guys have fun and sorry for the wait, but you guys know me, heh. o3o

Chapter 6

Sakura tried really hard to not feel bad for Sasori. She couldn't possibly imagine how hard it is for him. But before she could say anything, they came to their destination. They all were at the entrance and the guys were chattering in excitement. Sakura stood with Ryu and Sasori while following Zetsu to the ice cream shop.

"It's been so long since I've had ice cream," Ryu stretched. Sakura smiled, "Same here. It's been way too long."

Sasori was silent as they went. Deidara was talking with Zetsu and, as usual, Hidan and Kakuzu were at it again. Sakura walked over to Hidan and Kakuzu, "Don't you two ever stop arguing?"

Hidan turned to her, "He starts them." Sakura shook her head and looked at Kakuzu, "He walks himself into it."

Sakura laughed. She didn't like arguing very much. Fighting usually gets negative and she doesn't want that to become something that will lead to something stupid happening.

"Look guys, since I'm in charge, how about for today let's not argue? I think it'd be a challenge, and a good one, for you both. How about it?" Sakura crossed her arms. Deidara snorted, "You really think they'll go along with that? You're asking for the impossible, girl."

Hidan and Kakuzu gave each other a look and nodded. Hidan replied, "Very well. We will do as you ask only because it is a challenge." Kakuzu nodded in agreement.

"Ah, here we are. The best damn ice cream ever," Dark Zetsu called for the others to catch up, "C'mon, we gotta get in line."

Sakura stopped, puzzled, "Won't the residents be scared off if they see us..?" Ryu nodded.

Sasori caught up and suggested that Sakura and Ryu should fetch their ice cream. He said they'll wait for them to come back so that it doesn't cause any problems they don't want to deal with. Especially trivial ninjas thinking they can best them. After all, they only want ice cream.

Sakura agreed, "That works. Sasori, could you hold our robes for us?"

Sakura and Ryu went ahead of the group. They left them on the edge of town, where a few scattered trees grew and stretched.

They reached the ice cream shop and ordered what they and everyone wanted. When they both came back, everyone hooted, "ICE CREAM!"

"Today's a nice day," said Deidara. He was right; the sky was pure sky blue, followed by clouds in shapes. Sakura looked up, "That one looks like a duck!" She pointed. The guys followed her finger and nodded in agreement. Deidara shouted next, "That one looks like a paint brush!"

"More like a stick," said Sasori, eating his ice cream. Deidara glared back at him while Hidan pointed out a shape, "I see an axe to cut people's heads off for sacrifice!" He laughed.

Kakuzu was next, "I see a cloud that looks like a heap of money." Zetsu raised a brow at them, "You guys are so weird."

Sakura and Ryu laughed. Honestly, Sakura didn't expect the Akatsuki to be like this at all, but she hasn't seen them fight yet. She imagines it to be real scary. She's happy to know this side of them at least.

Everyone finally finished their ice cream, and Sakura felt like getting another one. Ryu and Zetsu decided to accompany her while the rest stayed behind relaxing and chatting. Sakura took a glance at Zetsu, at his plant-like appearance. Zetsu noticed and stared back with a grin.

Sakura smiled, "Sorry. I was just curious about you."

Zetsu smiled, "Isn't everyone."

Ryu chuckled, "To be honest, when I first saw you, I thought you were kind of scary. But now that I've gotten to know you, I think you look pretty awesome."

Zetsu laughed, "Yeah, I know. Everyone gets like that with me." Dark Zetsu chuckled, "It's funny to see people's reactions. They can be quite hilarious."

Zetsu hid around when Sakura and Ryu entered town.

Ryu opened the door for Sakura with a smile. Sakura wasn't sure how to accept everything. She's eating ice cream with the most feared organization. H

She stood in line beside Ryu. Her eyes wandered, taking in the shops interior. She glanced at the people in line and held her breath.

Next thing Ryu knew, she dashed out, running as fast as she could to get away from the shop. Ryu ran after her until she finally stopped behind a random shack a little way from most of the residents. Ryu caught up and took a deep breath before asking, "Sakura? What was that about? Are you okay?"

Zetsu stood right beside him and knelt down, "What's wrong? Did I miss something?"

Ryu thought Zetsu wouldn't know because it had nothing to do with him, but really, he just didn't notice it was Sasuke. Sakura snapped out of it and reached out to Ryu and hid in his shoulder, "I want to go," was all she said.

Sasuke stood in line after being told to do so. Orochimaru ordered him to get ice cream for him and Kabuto.

'Why am I in line doing an outrageous errand!' was all that was on his mind, until he sensed someone coming in. He couldn't identify who it was, but he did see them dash out the minute they came in. Sasuke got skeptical, 'I'll go check it out.' He dashed out of the shop after them. Whoever it was moved really fast, but Sasuke was just as fast, until he couldn't hear them anymore. He stopped dead in his tracks. He was surrounded by families and children. He glanced at them all, thinking how lucky they were every second of it. He shook his head and concentrated, 'Where are you?'

'Gotcha.' He dashed towards a small house and skid behind it to find who he did not expect at all. There she was, clutching on to some guy next to a plant thing. Sasuke stood there, surprised. Zetsu noticed him there and gave a small gasp, "Sasuke? Here? Wow." Ryu looked up and saw Sasuke.

"Sakura?" Sasuke muttered. Sakura heard him and she looked up, "Sasuke." She stood up, and so did Ryu. Ryu took a step in front of her. Zetsu was behind them both watching the scene. Sasuke was trying to figure out whether what he heard about Sakura was true.

"Sakura, is it true that you left the village to join the Akatsuki?" He asked calmly, ignoring Ryu's protective gesture. Sakura could only stare, but she didn't want to be this Sakura anymore. That's why she left, didn't she? She didn't want to be hypnotized by him anymore. She didn't want to be manipulated or thought to be weak by him.

She closed her eyes, "Yes," She opened them, and as she did, her eyes changed colors. They were no longer that light blue shade of green. They were now purple, and dominating, but still innocent. Ryu saw the change and his eyes widened, "I knew it," he said. Sakura looked straight at Sasuke. Sasuke saw her change too, and thought, 'her eyes, they changed colors. What did they do to you?'

He grew angry, not wanting to believe all this, not wanting to believe Sakura left the village, not wanting to believe she left to join his brother, "Why?" was all he could manage to say through clenched teeth.

"Why did you join Orochimaru?" She asked back at him, not playing along with his stupid realization. Sakura was still herself, only now, she's finally standing up for herself and not being afraid to say anything.

Sasuke stared at Sakura and thought, 'As if you could ever understand me.' He looked down, and shook his head. Sakura suddenly heard his voice in her head, and replied, "No Sasuke, I do understand. What I can't figure out is why you would leave if you knew what it was like to lose someone."

Her eyes softened, and showed a feeling of longing.

"This is interesting. They know each other," muttered Dark Zetsu. Zetsu nodded.

Meanwhile, Ryu was having random thoughts, 'Is she going to leave me for him? She's not going to abandon me, right?' He was looking at her now. His expression looked hurt, and upset. Sakura 'heard' him and looked at Ryu and smiled, "I'm not going anywhere." Ryu's face brightened.

Sasuke was trying to figure out how she could have replied, and how could she even say that to him when she knows his situation. He's after revenge. 'Yes, revenge,' he thought.

Sakura heard him, "Don't do it Sasuke. You'll regret it, literally." Sasuke looked at her, confused, but still clouded with anger. Sakura is walking toward him, and he froze, 'what is she going to do?'

When she was only a foot away, she opened her arms and gave him a hug, "This'll probably be our last hug for a long time." Her voice was hurt, sad, and painful to Sasuke. He could only hug her back just as tight. Sakura didn't want to let him go. Actually, her intention at first was to not let him go but she would have to eventually. Sasuke breathed in her scent, the smell of her hair, everything. He already calmed down, and had no intention of letting her go either. Their hug lasted for quite awhile, until Ryu finally broke the moment, "Ahem," he pretended to cough. Sakura realized it was time to let go, and when she did, he didn't.

Sakura placed her hands on his shoulders. Sasuke didn't want to let go. This whole time, this whole entire moment, he was thinking, 'If I let her go with them, how will I know she will be safe? I can't believe how caught up I am in this. I wonder if she's listening. If I didn't leave when I did, we wouldn't be in this damned situation.' Sasuke's love for Sakura is real, but he couldn't recognize the feeling. I'm sure we all know why.

Sakura did hear him, but decided to ignore it, 'I mustn't let him catch me in his web. Not again.'

She was beginning to tear up, and Sasuke knew it.

Sasuke felt cold. How could she be this idiotic was all he thought. Then, it hit him.

'She's with my brother.' In that complete moment, he came up with a plan before Sakura could fathom what it was.

"Sakura, would it be okay to meet every now and again?" He knew this was risky as Sakura would think it suspicious since he never acted this way towards her. Sakura blinked, in thought, then she shook her head no.

"No, Sasuke. If you think you can start now to be nice, you must really have impeccable timing. No, I don't want to see you, not until I can take you down myself."

Sasuke was taken aback by this reply. Did she really change this much?

'Is she finally denying me? Well then, if she wants a fight, she'll get one. As if she could ever hope to take me out.'

Sasuke grunted, and tore himself roughly away from her, "You'll have your fight. Just tell me when and where and it will be yours."

Sakura tilted her head, "Let's do this two years from now."

Sasuke raised a brow, "Very well. You'll have it your way. I'll see you in two years."

And with that he left.

'Something's different about Sakura. The way her eyes changed, they way she spoke and responded was so unlike her. Something's wrong...'

Sasuke shook his head and quickly made his way back to Orochimaru to finally train.

Sakura grew tired and dropped to her knees. Ryu joined her and noticed her eyes changing back. He grew nervous, 'she can't be. It's not possible...'

Sakura shook her head, "Sorry. Let's get back," she stood up and noticed Zetsu disappeared, "Where's...?"

"He left a minute ago. He probably went to join the group. C'mon, we have to go back. You can tell me about everything later when you're ready."

Sakura nodded and together, they left the town. Once they got there, Hidan and Kakuzu were making bets and Deidara was yelling at Sasori for being so apathetic. Sakura was unbelievably happy, and called the guys, "Let's go home!"

The guys looked up, and it grew silent. Hidan sat up straight, "She said 'home', didn't she?"

Kakuzu nodded, "She did."

"Home?" Deidara said, questioningly. Sasori looked up and his face had a surprised expression. Even Ryu was looking at Sakura oddly. Sakura stood there awkwardly, looking at them staring at her, "… What?"

Kakuzu cleared his throat, "Nothing. It's just been a long time since we heard that...word."

Deidara nodded, "Man, that takes me back."

Sasori stared at the horizon, "Home seems like such a lost and forgotten place. Nothing but a faded memory..."

Hidan shook his head, "C'mon, Sakura said let's go."

Sakura gave everyone a shaky smile, but they reassured her with a sad smile of their own.

Itachi and Kisame were on a cliff, with the Leaf Village in the distance. As they were about to depart, Zetsu appeared, "Itachi, Kisame, how's the mission?"

Kisame greeted Zetsu, "We're about to start. What are you doing here?"

Zetsu looked over at Itachi, "I came here with news I think Itachi should know about."

Itachi, who was staring at the village, moved his gaze to Zetsu, "Sakura knows Sasuke, and they have some sort of history. You may have known already, but it seems like they'll meet again." And with that, he disappeared.

"Wow," said Kisame with a laugh. Itachi blinked, "What?"

Kisame was still laughing, "Who knew?"

Itachi looked back at the village, "She was in his team before he left. When he left, she decided to leave and came to us." Kisame stopped laughing, and looked at Itachi, "Interesting. I wonder how you're going to handle this."

Itachi ignored him and left to finish their mission.