AN: Heres the next chapter! Hope you enjoy it!

Friday, July 30

Agonizing pain. That was the only thing Sakura could comprehend as she gained consciousness. Slowly turning on her back she lifted her hands and rubbed at her temples. She let out a long breath hoping the pressure would ease. But to her dismay it only seemed to pound harder. The use of her chakra would be nice right now but from a bad past experience she learned not use Medical Ninjutsu with a hangover. It hurts like hell and slows the recovery time.

She squinted her eyes open, cautious of any bright light. Finally luck was on her side, the room was only dimly lit by the small bedside lamp. A frown marred her features. She didn't own a lamp like that. She glanced across the room towards the door. Realization set it in that this wasn't her room at all. Panic gripped her and she flew off the bed, the pain was instant and before she could even wince in pain she hit the edge of the bed and tumbled to the floor. She groaned in pain and was sure her head was about ready to explode from the added pressure.

"Sakura!" Loud bangs echoed through the room. "Are you okay?!"

She winced at the earsplitting sounds and let out a hiss between her lips signaling for silence. "Sorry." The voice came out as a low whisper this time. It seemed…familiar, but before she could consider who it was arms wrapped around her and warmth surrounded her when they lifted her in the air. It was only a short time before she was laid gently on the bed, but she noted through squinting eyes how tan and smooth the skin was on the man's bare chest. Another wave of panic came over her as the bed shifted with more weight. Did I go home with a guy? She groaned and shut her eyes tight, suddenly she felt nauseous and she wasn't sure if it was from the alcohol. She couldn't remember anything about last night. The last she remembered was finishing her first bottle.

"Did you get hurt?" He whispered again and her breath caught in her throat when a gentle hand ran across her forehead and then ventured to the back of her head lifting it slightly to look for any signs of injury. It wasn't until he laid her head gently back down that she took a breath and slowly opened her eyes.

The figure hovering over her was out of focus. She blinked a few times painfully holding back a wince. Then her eyes widened and her heart skipped. "Ko...Kotetsu? What are you doing here?" Her voice came out raspy and it wasn't till now she noticed how dry it was.

Kotetsu gave her a small smile. "This is my old room. You got drunk at my father's pub and passed out. He thought it better that you just sleep here."

She blinked at his words, trying to comprehend what he said, but her head again pounded in her ears. She closed her eyes and scowled, a small whimper escaping her throat. She didn't know what was going on and right now she didn't care. She just wanted the pain to go away. She felt the bed shift again as his weight disappeared and then the creak of a door. She squinted her eyes open but shut them quickly as a bright light from the doorway filled the room. Covering her eyes with her forearm she turned her head to hide them in the crook of her arm. What the hell is he doing? She thought and her frown deepened. Was he just gonna leave her there in pain? A small pain found its ways to her chest. He wasn't required to stay here and take care if here. The next thought that drifted through her mind was did they sleep together. Her cheeks heated. Now she wished more than ever that she could remember last night.

Minutes slowly ticked by and at some point without realizing it she drifted back to sleep, because she woke again with a gasp when a cold cloth covered her forehead. Quick to let out a sigh as it soothed back some of the pain.

"Sorry for waking you." His whispered voice drifted to her ears and he gently patted his fingertips across the cloth. "I was hoping since you didn't wake up when I moved your arm you'd stay sleeping."

"It's alright." When he withdrew his fingers from the cloth she replaced it with her hand, applying just enough pressure to take in all the soothing chills it delivered.

"I also brought you some medicine and a glass of water."

Her eyes opened a little easier now and the sight before made her breath hitch. Kotetsu was shirtless and his hair was tousled, a small sexy smile curved his lips as he held medicine in one hand and a glass in the other. She licked her dry lips and it wasn't because she wanted the water. The action wasn't lost on the man because his gaze lowered to her lips and his eyes darkened. Her heart did a funny jump against her ribcage. Has he always looked this sexy? The thought took her by surprise and a blush crept across her cheeks.

His now half-lidded gaze met hers and for moment she thought he would lean down and kiss her. Instead he turned away and stood in an instance. "I'll just leave it here." He set them down on the side table so quickly water splashed from the glass and before she could even take another breath he was out the door.

Leaning against the door Kotetsu let out a long breath. He almost kissed her. Heat spread through his body at the thought. How badly he wanted to taste her again, but he couldn't. After butting heads with his father last night he agreed that he needed to approach Sakura cautiously. He didn't want to hurt her and if that meant he was just gonna have to slow down and try things differently that was fine with him. He's waited this long he could wait a little longer.

A knock sounded at the backdoor snapping him from his thoughts. Who the hell could that be this early? He frowned; it wasn't even 6 am yet. Pushing off the wall he made his way to the door. When he opened it up and saw two Anbu masks staring back at him he grimaced. "What is it?" He was pretty sure it he didn't want to know, but it's not like he actually had a choice.

"Kotetsu Hagane?"

"Yeah?"

The two came at him and before he could even react they had him pressed against the nearest wall. "You are under arrest." The man holding him stated.

"What!?" He exclaimed fighting back the urge to struggle. Knowing it would be a futile act.

"What the hell is going on here?" Kotetsu heard his father storming down the hallway. "What's this about?"

"I'm sorry sir but you'll have to stay back."

His father halted. "What the hell are you doing to my son?"

"He's being taken into custody."

Kotetsu growled in irritation as he felt the chakra binding shackles lock around his wrist. "What the hell for?" Kotetsu hissed. "I haven't done anything wrong."

"Charges have brought against you for assaulting a civilian." Distain laced the Anbu's voice. "Let's go."

He pulled Kotetsu away from the wall and he was finally able to look at his father. But his heart sank as he saw Sakura now standing in the hallway staring at him with wide uncertain emerald eyes. He averted his gaze. How bad this must look to her he didn't even want to fathom. His restrained hands clenched into fists behind his back as they pushed him out the door. "This is absurd." He scowled. "I haven't done anything wrong." He defended again.

"Tell that the Hokage." The Anbu him forward to keep him walking.

"Do you recognize this woman?" Tsunade frowned holding up a picture of a very familiar brown hair, blue eyed woman.

It knocked the air from his longs. That little tramp had slapped assault charges on him. For what? Grabbing her arm?

"Answer me." Tsunade ordered her anger flaring.

Kotetsu nodded his head. "Yes ma'am."

The comment made her eyes flash with displeasure. "Is it true you assaulted this woman yesterday morning?"

His mouth flattened and he squared his shoulder defiantly. "No ma'am."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "What do you mean no? She claims you assaulted her physically and verbally. Explain yourself."

He couldn't. Not in all honestly, if he told her everything that happened then he would have to reveal what he knew about Sakura. "I just grabbed her arm ma'am. I didn't hit her."

She stared at him a moment before reaching for a file and pulling something out. "Does this look like just a grab?"

Kotetsu grimaced. A picture of bruises in the shape of fingers wrapped around an arm suddenly became his worst enemy. He didn't remember grabbing her that hard. "No ma'am" He looked from the image to her. "I had no intention to harm her."

She slapped the picture down on her desk. "Exactly what was your intention?"

He had to choose his words wisely. "She needed to be set straight on a few things ma'am."

"That's it?" She narrowed her eyes again.

He nodded.

Letting out an irritated sigh she waved her hand. "Get him out of here."

With that the two Anbu escorted him out of the room and in the direction towards the basement stairs. His fate for the moment was to sit in cell until his figure this whole thing out. The look on Sakura's face as they hauled him away flashed in his mind. He frowned. Could his day really get any worse?

It was ten in the morning before Sakura had finally made it home. She tried to go home right after the incident with Kotetsu, but Shin had insisted she stay and get some more rest. She didn't have much fight in her so she didn't try to stop him when he scooted her back into the bedroom and wouldn't leave till she lay back down. Apparently it was the right choice because it didn't take much to lull her back to sleep. She woke again around 9 am and was caught trying to sneak out and again he insisted, only this time to stay for breakfast. Her stomach didn't want to eat still feeling slightly queasy now that her headache had subsided. However Shin produced a cup of tea and a small plate of toast as if knowing she was still slightly hung over.

Their conversation had included Sakura thanking him several times and apologizing for being a burden, which he quickly would wave his hand dismissingly saying it was no problem and she was welcome in his home anytime. It swelled her heart, his kindness humbled her. He didn't have to be so nice to some random woman who drank herself senseless in his pub. She had asked if she had made a fool of herself, but he smiled gently and informed her she did no such thing. But she had a feeling he was just being kind again. Then there conversation turned to Kotetsu. Saying he was a good kid and practically growing with pride at how well he had grown up despite the hard time he had given him growing up. Despite her curiosity Sakura didn't question him on the past. Instead the incident from this morning came to topic. Neither knew what exactly was going on and it worried Sakura. Shin informed her he was going to look into it and have him released before she knew it. She smiled at his determination but she had a bad lingering feeling that it wouldn't be that simple.

And that's why she took a quick shower, a change a clothes and headed out the door headed to the Hokage tower. It was probably none of her business and she probably wouldn't be able to do anything about, but the least she could do was try for Shin's sake. He did his best to smile all morning but Sakura knew all too well it was forced. And Kotetsu….she wanted to be of some kind of help to him.

"Sakura, you're just who I wanted to see." Tsunade said as Sakura appeared in her doorway.

"I am?"

The older woman nodded. "I wanted to talk to you about this." She held up the letter Yuka had delivered to her yesterday.

Sakura tensed. For a while there she had forgotten all about her own problems concentrating only on figuring out Kotetsu's ordeal. "What about it?"

Tsunade held her gaze but finally let out a sigh. "What brought it on? Why would you want to return to active duty all of a sudden?"

"I need a change of scenery." She stated with a shrug hoping the answer would suffice.

Tsunade pursed her lips. "I doubt that. What's this really about Sakura?" She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed under her bust.

Sakura frowned. What could she say without going into detail about what was going on in her life at the moment? There really wasn't much, so that left the truth. But was she ready to divulge that kind of information to her mentor? Something Shin had told her earlier suddenly hit home. "Sakura, I just want you to know that there are people you can trust and who care for you. Don't try to conquer the trials of life all on your own." Sakura sighed and closed her eyes. Perhaps he was right, she had chosen not to depend on anyone, but maybe that's what she needed the most right now. "Actually there is something I'd like to tell you."

Kotetsu paced the small space of his cell. Izumo had already stopped by poking fun at him for being locked up. But his longtime friend believed him when he protested that he had not meant to hurt and that he knew he didn't grab hard enough to bruise her. He knew his own strength damn it! Kotetsu also felt safe mentioning it was over Sakura knowing his friend would understand and not press for details. And before he left he promised to drop by and talk to his father for him and also check on Sakura, because even now Kotetsu was still more concerned about her. He couldn't help himself. His situation would be dealt with in time, Sakura's on the other hand….He ran his hands through his disheveled hair for the hundredth time, his irritation reaching his limits.

"I can't believe she actually went through with it?" A feminine voice laughed.

Kotetsu stilled and snapped his gaze to a young girl standing outside his cell grinning. "Who the hell are you?" She had to be no more than 15 years old.

She smirked crossing her arms. "Is that anyway to talk to someone who came here to help you?"

Kotetsu raised a questioning brow. "Help me?" He walked to the bars to get a better look at her. "How could you help me?"

She also took a step forward and looked him over as if sizing him up. "I happen to know something you don't."

She had to be messing with him. He frowned. "Ok then." He refused to play her game. She looked familiar, but he couldn't fathom why. He was sure he had never seen her before.

She stared at him another long moment before finally jutting out her hand. "Names Kiara."

Hesitantly he reached his hands through the bars and took her smaller hand into his. "I'm guessing you already know who I am."

She smiled small and sadness flashed in her eyes. "I've known who you are for a long time."

"Oh?" Kotetsu withdrew his hand not sure if that statement was a good thing or bad.

She nodded, smile growing. "Ever since mom told me I had a half-brother I've wanted to meet you."

AN: Will the twists never end?! :-) So what did you think? It's going to get more juicy now! Please let me know what you think! Luv Ya!