Here's the next chapter! :) Hope you like it.

Note: okay so, I've decided on a love triangle between Ino, Shisui and Shikamaru. Just a small one. Shisui will get her in the end, but I'll add a few Shikamaru and Ino moments before that happens, for all the ShikaIno fans!

Starberryblossom- Keep reading to see what happens ;) here you go!

.x-Aww, thank youu

unknow98- I will definitely add some Ino and Shisui parts :D

McKazekage- I swear. Those two are awesome!

cherryjubilee- yes they would. It would be sooo much fun!

Infinite Nosferatu -thank youuu. Haha, yes the spider thing has a funny explanation. Well, funny for us, not for Sakura! ;)

ImmaPiratte- THANK YOUUU. Haha. Yeah, they both are like double trouble. I most probably will pair them up.

xxxSoulmates4everxxx- I love crazy Mikoto. Yes, I do. Hehe. You'll get your wish :)

ovelakettu- Oh yes she is. You know, you're the only person to say that, but since you are an awesome reviewer and I love you, I'm going to add more ShikaIno moments. Just for you ;) enjoy!

Daughter of Hatake- Hehe. Yes they'd be great together! I'll try to make the chapters longer :) or at least try to update faster to balance it, hehe

Yashiru Kusajishi- Alriiiighty, here you go! :D

animelover171- I'm glad :) I think you're going to be happy with what I have in mind. :D

Those-carrots-they'd create so much trouble, it'll be fun. You did? I'll be sure to read it :)

ayingChan- Your excitement motivates me. Seriously. Heh. HEREEE! :D

angelchild001- OKAYYY :)

Chapter 11- Love Makes You Weak

"Ino, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked. Her best friend had come barging in, Shisui following her like a minion.

Ino grinned at her. "I've come to tell Mikoto-San the good news!" She winked at Sakura.

"What good news?" Mikoto asked eagerly.

"Itachi and Sakura are finally together," Ino an Shisui announced together. Mikoto gasped dramatically and looked at her son, eyes shining with hope.

"WHAT? We aren't together! I mean..uh.." Sakura didn't really know what to say. Sure, they both had confessed and everything, but it's not like they had made anything official. She didn't even know if Itachi wanted a relationship! 'What if it's not even allowed? I mean, he's the Uchiha heir and all. I'm just a normal ninja from a civilian family.'

Sakura felt her eyes burn slightly as they watered and she turned away from everyone. This didn't go unnoticed by Ino who felt her protective instincts kick in. Shisui looked worried.

"Itachi, is that true? Why didn't you tell me?" Mikoto tried not to jump up and down in happiness.

"No, it's not true. I don't know what these two are talking about. There's nothing between us," Itachi muttered. 'Yet' he added in his head.

'I CAN'T TAKE THIS. Let me know when you guys finally get together, okay? I'm going to take a nap'

Sakura tried to smile at Mikoto but wasn't quite successful. Mikoto suddenly had the urge to slap her son for the first time in her life. Ino glared at Itachi and grabbed Sakura's hand. "Well, then we don't really need to be here." She dragged Sakura out. Shisui was about to follow the but Mikoto shook her head and nodded towards Itachi, and reached for the newspaper lying on the sofa.

Itachi was still staring at the spot where Sakura had been just five seconds ago. Shisui watched as Mikoto rolled up the newspaper and smacked Itachi on the head with it. Itachi held his head and looked at his mother in disbelief. "Why did you do that?"

Mikoto huffed in an indignant manner. "Because my son is an idiot."

Itachi continued to look confused as Mikoto stomped away and Shisui just sighed wearily.

At Ino's Apartment

Yes, Ino has her own apartment. She can't live with her parents, especially with all the guys she dates. 'Must be nice. Having such good luck with guys,' Sakura mused to herself as she sat on Ino's couch while her best friend rummaged through her cupboards and refrigerator. She found what she was looking for and brought the stuff over to the couch. Cookies, chocolates, ice-cream and two spoons.

"So, tell me what's going on," Ino commanded. She handed Sakura her caramel biscuit ice-cream, and dug in to her mango ice-cream. Sakura took a bite and started telling Ino whatever's happened since the last mission to Kusagakure, including what happened there.

With Sasuke and Naruto

Naruto whistled as he lay down on the cool grass, tired but feeling good about himself. 'Nothing like an intense spar to spice up your day', he grinned. Sasuke came over and sat down beside him.

"What's up ice-prick? Usually you just make a nasty remark and disappear after our spars," Naruto said casually, like it was the most normal thing to do. But after so many years, they'd all gotten used to Sasuke's tantrums and princess-like behaviour. He was a good friend, after all.

"Shut up loser. Hey, don't you think Sakura's a bit too close to my brother these days?" Sasuke asked, watching Naruto carefully.

Naruto just shrugged and started whistling again. Sasuke frowned and continued to frown until Naruto noticed and stopped whistling. He sighed and patted Sasuke's shoulder. "Look Sasuke, since you're like my brother and everything, I think I should tell you this. Sakura has the hots for your brother. She's had a crush on him since she was sixteen and worked with him for the first time."

Sasuke looked stunned. Then he started turning red. Naruto looked alarmed as he realised that Sasuke wasn't breathing. He shook him slightly. "Oi, teme! Breathe."

Sasuke looked horrified and gulped in some air. "My..my brother? Wait, is it because he's my brother? You know, my brother?"

Naruto laughed and shook his head. "I thought so too, but she said it wasn't like that. She was all 'it's because he's Itachi' but I didn't really get it." That was a lie. He did get it, but he didn't really want to tell Sasuke that Sakura believed Itachi was like a better and improved version of him. And a date-able one too. 'Sasuke is good looking and all, but he's like a brother. He's all adorable. Itachi, on the other hand, can make me go weak in the knees with one look' was what she said when he asked her to differentiate.

Sasuke glared at the ground. "I thought she'd...wait for me. That in the future, we'd end up together or something.." Naruto burst out laughing.

"Teme, you're like a brother to her. There are no romantic feelings involved. None at all."

Sasuke looked a bit depressed, so Naruto tried to think of something to cheer him up. "Look, I might be wrong. Maybe she still likes you, and is in denial-mode."

He wanted to kill himself when Sasuke smiled slightly and said, "Yeah, maybe.." Because he knew very well that Sakura didn't see Sasuke as her Prince Charming anymore. In fact, there were higher chances of her seeing Sasuke as her fairy godmother than seeing him as Prince Charming. Suddenly there was a poof.

"No, I don't think Sakura is in denial," said a casual voice

Naruto glared at Kakashi as Sasuke started frownig again. "She's not?"

Kakashi smiled brightly at them. "Nope. She's totally in love with your brother." He chuckled when Naruto muttered 'traitor' under his breath. "Sasuke, she isn't a child anymore. It won't be fair to her if you suddenly go and accuse her of abandoning you. You never gave her a reason to wait."

Naruto silently agreed with Kakashi but didn't say anything as he watched Sasuke.

Sasuke took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright, I won't interfere. But one wrong move from Itachi, and I'll be there to take Sakura away from him."

Kakashi laughed. "I don't think that will happen any time soon. You should see the way he looks at her. It's like a real-life Icha-Icha Paradise scene every time." Naruto and Sasuke paled suddenly and shuddered violently.

"Thanks for the nightmares, baka-sensei!"

With Sakura and Ino

Sakura sighed for the tenth time as Ino stared at her. "Okay, so you've cuddled. And he's asked you out on a date, twice. And he even apologised for his random but annoying behaviour! And here I thought there was nothing from his side."

Sakura shook her head. "Ino, someone like him would never go for someone like me. It's against the laws of nature." Ino rolled her eyes and snatched Sakura's ice-cream away.

"You have no reason to drown yourself in your tears while stuffing your face. The love of your life loves you too."

"What, and you have a reason?" Sakura muttered. Ino paused and glared at her ice-cream.

"Shikamaru will never love me back. I guess that counts."

Sakura smiled at her sadly. No matter what guy Ino dated, Shikamaru would always occupy that soft spot in her heart. They had dated briefly for a few months, and it ended on good terms but Ino never really got over him.

"You don't know that, Ino."

"He doesn't even look at me when Temari is around. It's like I'm invisible." Ino was bright and bubbly, but every time Shikamaru came up, she was quiet and thoughtful. 'That's what it does to you. It makes you happier than you could ever be, but at the same time it makes you vulnerable.'

"That's not true! But forget him. Shisui's pretty cute, huh?" Sakura tried to change the topic. To her surprise, Ino actually blushed.

"Yeah..he is."

Sakura smirked slightly. Shikamaru was her friend and all, but she was glad that another guy might just come into the picture. It might make him realise what he could lose. "Your children would be beautiful." Ino smirked.

"Yeah, if I marry Shisui, you and I would be relatives. Since you're going to marry Itachi."

Sakura gaped at her and smacked her with a pillow. Both friends giggled at their immature behaviour and teasing each other.

With Itachi and Shisui

"What the hell is wrong with you? You can't just say stuff like that to a girl's face, especially when you both have confessed!" Shisui shrieked at Itachi.

Itachi had told Shisui about everything that had happened. Shisui honestly wanted to strangle his cousin. "I want to do things properly. I can't just announce something without confirming it and making it official," explained Itachi.

Shisui sighed and nodded. "That is so you. But you better do it fast. And what about the elders?"

Itachi stared at him. "What about them?"

"Aren't you worried they might not approve?"

Itachi chuckled and shook his head as if to say, that's cute. Shisui laughed. "So..this thing with Sakura. It's serious, right? You're not just looking for a fling?"

Itachi gave a small smile. "Shisui, do I seem like the sort of person who has flings?" Shisui grinned and shook his head.

'Ah, it'll be nice to have Sakura in the family.'

So what did you think? Let me know with a review.! ;)

Ryuu is going to make an appearance in the next chapter, with his mysterious scroll.