Writer's Note: Hey guys. I finally got around to updating this dang story. Sorry for the wait. Hopefully I'll get around to updating more often. But overall, I feel pretty proud about this chapter; sorry it's a little short. R&R, babes and lads.

Chapter 7

By the time everyone got back from their trip, they all fell to the couch. The guys took up all the space so Sakura just sat in a tiny gap between Ryu and Sasori, only it was more like she was sitting on them.

They turned on the TV and were watching this TV show where people make fools of themselves.

Sakura was lost in thought, though. Ignoring all that was going on. She honestly couldn't believe what just happened. Neither could Ryu. Something was bothering him extremely, as he finally figured out why he was so focused on Sakura for the little things she did. And he was troubled by that. What he found out about her from the events of today was shocking, yet he knew it was probably coming. If only she knew that she was strong all along.

But, to Sakura's surprise, all the guys were quiet. They were watching TV silently. It seemed that not just Sakura and Ryu were lost in thought.

The guys were thinking about Sakura, when she had said, "Let's go home!"

They haven't heard that word for a long time. And for her to have said it the way she did, she was kind of right. This is their new home. The Akatsuki is their new family. All of it is home and the guys couldn't help but feel that she was the only one who understood that better than any of them.

The day went by slowly. They were all bored and didn't really have much to do.

While the guys were doing their own thing, either in the livingroom, their bedroom, or the kitchen, Sakura took this opportunity to take a bath. She's been longing for one. She stripped out of her clothing and tied her towel around her figure and brought her robe. She tried to quickly make her way to the bath so that none of the guys would notice. She was paranoid but do you blame her?

No one noticed her except Sasori and Deidara, who of which were in the kitchen and saw her slip by in her towel. Which is exactly what caught Deidara's attention but not Sasori's.

Deidara whistled, "Whoo, I spy with my little eye a girl about to take a bath. Hey Sasori, let's check it out!" Deidara had a mischievous grin across his face and Sasori never understood why Deidara took part in such stupid adventures such as these. But Sasori didn't like the idea of Deidara peeping at Sakura. It didn't seem like an okay thing to do to someone who still isn't well acquainted with everyone, let alone might not feel comfortable with just guys in this base. No, Sasori wasn't going to have it.

"C'mon, Sasori! Hurry up or we'll miss it!" Deidara was already peeking out of the doorway. Sasori stood up from his seat and walked over to Deidara.

"Idiot. Get back in here and sit down."

Sasori spoke with a bit of anger that growled out of him and Deidara didn't pretend to notice. Deidara turned to look Sasori in the eye and walked past him and sat down, "Okay, now I'm sitting. What's on your mind?"

Sasori turned to face Deidara, "I think it'd be best not to go peeping at a new recruit. That's all." He returned to his seat and watched Deidara eye him with a look of disbelief but thought about what he said, "Fine, fine. You're right. Plus, it looks like she can really pack a punch. You practically saved my life."

And the two went back about their business.

Sakura was bathing in the bathroom, playing scenes of her and Sasuke from today over and over. She was thinking about the things he said, 'All those things I said... I still can't believe I said that. Did I really talk back? Wow. Two years from now... I don't even want to think about it..'

She finished up quickly and used the towel to dry herself and wrapped it around her hair, then put on her robe. She walked out of the bathroom and walked over to her bedroom. She opened her door, and Ryu was sitting cross-legged on her bed.

He was waiting for her, but Sakura shrieked, "Ryu! I need to get dressed. Get out!" She opened the door wide open for him.

Ryu didn't move until Sakura repeated herself. He slowly walked towards her. Not to walk out, but to her. She noticed that, too, "Ryu, what are you-,"

"Close the door. Don't worry. I'm not doing anything. I just need to speak with you. Now. And no it can't wait until you're dressed." He closed the door after she released her grip on it. He motioned her to sit on the bed so he could speak with her and she sat down, unwrapping the towel from her hair and drying it while he tried to find the words to talk to her. He looked at Sakura and waited for her attention. She placed the towel on her lap, "Alright, what is it?" She sounded annoyed.

"When you were talking with your...friend," he replied with distaste, "something happened. To you. Your eyes, they changed. They changed color, to a shade of purple. And not just that, you read our minds. Do you have any idea what this means? Do you?" He was pacing back and forth in front of her. Her eyes widened, as she remembered. She totally forgot about that since all she could think about was Sasuke. Go figure.

Sakura shook her head, "What are you going on about? I know what happened but I don't know what you mean." She readjusted herself onto her bed for a more comfortable position, keeping in mind to put the towel over her in case anything tried to show itself.

"Sakura... You are powerful. So powerful that even I'm speechless as to realize what this means. And I'm trying to tell you in the most simplest of terms. Earlier, before we came to that town, you growled at me. You growled, which caught me off guard entirely, because that was no ordinary growl a normal human makes. That was a deep growl, a growl only wolves like me can pull off." He was pacing faster now, trying to make sense of what he was trying to tell her. He stopped pacing and walked towards her. He stopped at the side of her bed, lifting his knee onto the bed so that he could lean in on Sakura close enough to whisper, "You're a reincarnation of an ancient from my clan."

He moved himself away, and Sakura's expression couldn't be any more surprised.

"A reincarnation? Me? How? I'm not even apart of your clan..." Sakura held her breath. Ryu turned around to look at her, "And now you understand why I'm so anxious." He looked at her. But now he's looking at her differently. He was observing her, trying to figure out how he could have missed it. Sakura looked away, uncertain of what to say.

"Sakura, in your blood is my clan. But you are of an Ancient," he walked over to her and took her hand and pointed at her wrist, "you hold power that goes beyond limits. This power that is yet to be unlocked is feared among my clan. Greatly feared. And brings destruction," he releases his grip and gently traces Sakura's face to her chin, "if the one who wields it thrives for power. But in all honesty, I don't believe you'd use this power to destroy anyone unless neccessary."

He took a step back, letting all this sink in. Sakura was at a complete loss for words. She didn't know what to do or how to handle all this. All this time, she was this powerful? Why has it never showed itself before like it did today? She almost couldn't believe it. She looked at Ryu, confusion showing in her eyes, 'All this time, I was strong. Stronger than anyone, and it never shown. All because I never believed in myself...'

Her eyes end up at the floor, angry with herself, but confused just the same. Ryu noticed and couldn't help but feel bad.

"I'm sorry. I just thought you should know." He walked over and sat beside her, took her hand and firmly squeezed it.

Sakura looked up at him, "Don't feel bad. I rather know than not at all." She returned the grip on her hand and leaned on his shoulder. He rested his head on hers, "Just wait 'til the guys see you in action. You most likely won't need any training, haha." They laughed and Sakura dug her face in his shoulder, "I hope you're right."

As Sakura shifted to cover her face, her robe slid off at her shoulder, showing some skin.

Ryu blinked and this feeling rushed through his body. Without even thinking, he leaned in on her shoulder, and with his free hand gently grabbed her arm and put his lips to her pale skin. She twitched at the touch, "Ryu?"

He kissed her shoulder and stood up. She pulled her robe back over her shoulder and watched Ryu walk to her bedroom door, "Sorry. You should get dressed. I'll see you later." And as he said that, he closed the door behind him.

Sakura was left in her room. She noticed she stopped breathing, and inhaled, 'What was that all about?'

As she had things to think about, she dressed herself and got ready for bed. But her thoughts wouldn't let her sleep.