Ohayo, all! ^.^ Well, I'm very excited for this chapter! So, let's get started!

Chapter 11

She's waiting for me?

"S-sakura?" Sasuke gasped. Aya ran up the stairs, with Naruto and Hiro right behind her. "Sasuke-chan, what's wro...." Aya's eyes followed Sasuke's gaze to Sakura's bed. "Sakura?" Sakura was staring up at everyone questionly. Naruto was jumping up and down, while Hiro had a grin on his face. Tears filled Sasuke's eyes and he ran to Sakura's side. He buried his head in her lap. "You're back! Sakura, you're back!" Aya ran after Sasuke and engulfed Sakura in a tight hug. "He brought you back to us!" She exclaimed. Naruto and Hiro joined them in a hug. Sakura looked around the room.

"Where am I?" Sakura asked.

Aya looked up at Sakura with a small smile. "Your back home, Sakura!" Sakura stared at her. "Where's Itachi-k-" Sasuke cut her off.

"Don't speak of him!" He yelled. "I will avenge my clan, and kill Itachi." Sasuke declared. Sakura's eyes grew wide. "Sasuke-kun...what happened to you..? You're so older..and.." Aya layed Sakura down on her pillow. "Sakura, you need some rest. In the morning all your good friends will be here waiting. Oh, Gaara-chan." The red head stepped to Aya's side. "Um...This is Gaara-chan. He's staying here with us. Just so you know." Sakura just gazed up at the ceiling. Aya looked at the others.

"Lets go..." She whispered. Sasuke clung to Sakura. "I'm staying." Aya nodded and her and the others left the room. Sakura looked over at Sasuke.

He looked into her eyes. "Sasuke-kun? Will you lay beside me?" Sakura asked. Sasuke blushedand climbed into bed beside her. He draped an arm around her and pulled her close.

"Night, Sakura-chan."

".......night......"

It's not the same...When Sakura was sure Sasuke was asleep, she crept out of bed and out the bedroom door. She heard small crying. Like a baby's. She tiptoed up wrecked stairs and into a shabby room with a small crib. It was white and had the name "Akira" printed on it. Thunder boomed and the baby cried harder.

Sakura walked over to the crib and saw the small baby with tears in it's eyes. It was clutching it's blanket. She gazed into his green eyes that were identical to her own. It was the baby from her dream.

Sakura's first instinct, was to pick the baby up. She held him in her arms and his crying ceased. "Aw, Akira. Don't cry." She cooed. "Are you my little brother? I bet you are. But, why are you all alone up here?"

Akira stared innocently up at her. Images flashed in Sakura's head of people holding Akira and dying. Sakura stared back down at Akira.

"So, their afraid of you?" Sakura asked in disbelief. She tickled Akira and he erupted in laughter. Sakura smiled. "What a handsome baby brother you are!" She praised.

Akira giggled and leaned in closer to Sakura. He touched her forehead and Sakura's eyes widened. When the vision was over Akira looked like he was worried that Sakura would die.

Sakura held him tighter. "Thankyou for sharing that with me. What a wonderful gift you have." Akira grinned up at her and thunder boomed. Sakura frowned. "I can't leave you alone, now can I?" She walked downstairs and into her room. She laid in bed with small Akira in her arms. He fell asleep quickly. Sakura stayed awake. She had a little brother to protect. But, she still missed her family. Her Akatsuki family, that is. Why was she here?

More importantly, where was Itachi? Her thoughts drifted back to little Akira. He must be her brother. He had a gift to show the future, and past when he looked into your eyes or touched you. Some people aren't meant for the visions, though. That's why they died.

Sakura couldn't belive her parents would shun her little brother. Sakura made a promise, that until she found a way to get back to Itachi, and her Akatsuki family, she'd protect her little Akira.

Sasuke awoke Sakura the next morning. He had fear in his eyes. "Thank goodness your alive. That little monster." He reached for Akira but Sakura glared. "Don't touch my little brother."

"How'd you know?"

Sakura smirked. "You just confirmed it." Sakura got to her feet, with the sleeping Akira in her arms.

"Well, Aya has some friends waiting for you downstairs." Sakura nodded. All of a sudden, Sasuke was glaring at Sakura's neck.

"Sasuke-kun...What's wrong?"

"Did Itachi give you that ncecklace?"

"Yes. For my seventh birthday." Sakura smiled. Sasuke cocked his head to the side. "Whatever. Let's go." Sakura followed Sasuke out the door and into the hallway. She could hear voices and Sakura walked slowly down the steps.

The room was filled with so many "Sakura!"s that it would be hard to hear anything else. Aya was at her side. "Are you okay, what are you doing holding Akira..?" She reached for the baby but Sakura shook her head. "Don't touch my baby brother." Aya sighed. "Well, the kids are in the living room. Go see them." Sakura nodded and headed to the living room. The first one she saw was Hinata.

"Sakura-chan!" Hinata gasped. Sakura stared. "You look alot older."

Hinata blushed. "Y-you do, too."

Neji and Shikimaru were standing in front of Hinata, their mouths agape. "Sakura!" They both said. "Shikimaru! Neji!" Sakura giggled.

Ino was pouting on the couch. "Hello Ino!" Sakura said.

"Shut up, forehead." Ino yelled. Shikimaru rolled his eyes. "She's kinda jealous." Sakura nodded and felt baby Akira stir in her arms. "Let's sit down, okay?"

Sakura sat in between Neji and Hinata. "So, Sakura what was the Akatsuki base like?"

"Did they torture you?"

"Their food must of stunk!"

"What about Itachi?!"

"Ya. Where was he?"

Sakura shook her head. "I loved it there." Her eyes filled with tears. "They were my family. I had a lovely tiger named Yumiko and Itachi-kun...Itachi-kun.." Sakura broke out sobbing. Sasuke had her in his arms instantly. Akira had woken up and was looking around curiously. Sakura wiped her tears once she saw Akira. "Aa! Akiras up. I should make us some food, ne?"

"I'll come, too." Hinata said quietly standing up and leading Sakura to the kitchen. Sakura found her old high chair and put Akira in it.

"Hm...What do babies eat?" Hinata smiled. "Well, baby food is in the cupboard." Sakura blinked. "How do you know?"

"Well, when you left your mother had us specially trained for yor retrieval. I guess we'll still be trained for Anbu, too."

Sakura nodded. She pulled out the baby food, put it in a bowl and gave it to Akira. Akira shoved the food in his mouth. Sakura and Hinata giggled.

"Do you think I should make sandwiches? Kaa-san taught me how when Itachi-kun....."Sakura trailed off. Hinata frowned. "S-sure. I'll go tell the others." Sakura searched around the kitchen for the ingredients. Hinata came back when Sakura was almost done. "That was fast!" Hinata exclaimed. Sakura smiled. "Thanks."

Once the sandwiches were done, Sakura called her friends in to eat. They chatted to Sakura about what was going on in their lives but Sakura didn't listen. She was busy thinking of Itachi. Why wasn't he here?

"Sakura, Akira fell asleep."

"Huh?" Sakura moved to look at Akira. He was fast asleep in his food. She smiled and put him to sleep on the couch with pillows surrounding him.

When she returned to her seat beside Sasuke, he asked her a question. "So tell us about your 'family'."

Sakura flinched. "Okay. Well, first there was Otou-san. Or Pein. He was the best dad ever! He always took pictures of us and although he was strict he risked his lifefor me. Then there was Kaa-san Konan. She would always yell at other people alot, if they did something to me. Or not. She gave me my tiger, Yumiko. She was like my daughter and was a very talented feline! Then, there was Sasoi-san. He was really quiet and made puppets. He was a really good friend and helped me make my puppet. I named it Sasuke." Sasuke blushed and Neji's eye twitched. "Kisame-san is a fish. A drunken fish. Who a can talk. Who can talk. He's weird. Deidara-kun is like my best-friend." Hinata looked at the ground. "He was my roomate and helped me make clay things! We did almost everything together. He was my roomate, too. But it's not like Itachi ever let me sleep in my own be-" The boys all glared at her.

Sakura shut her mouth.

"Sakura, what was Itachi to you...?"

Sakura's eyes widened. "Well...."

"Sakura?"

"....."

"Tell me!"

"I don't want to make my heart hurt, anymore." Sasuke's eyes widened and Neji and Shikimaru glared at him. Sakura stood up.

"I'm tired. I'm taking Akira upstairs and I'm going to take a nap."

Sakura layed Akira down in his crib, which she moved to her room. She sat on her bed and stared at the lumpy pillow. She lifted it up and stared at the picture of her with the Akatsuki. She threw the pillow at it and started sobbing. The door opened and she felt Shikimaru holding her.

"Shika?" Sakura sobbed.

Shikimaru stroked her hair and rocked her back and forth gently. "It's okay. It's okay." Sakura cried into his chest. "I-Itachi said he loved me! But he-he leeeft me!" She sobbed. Shikimaru sighed. "You belong here. With the people who really love you."

Sakura sniffled. Shikimaru layed Sakura down on the pillow. They stared at each other for a moment. "C-can I kiss you?" Shikimaru asked. Sakura stared up at him for a minute. She thought about how Itachi let her go, and how she'd never see him again. Sakura nodded. "Yeah."

Shikimaru leaned in and kissed her softly. When their lips broke Shikimaru was red all over. Sakura just stared up at him. It still wasn't like Itachi's. She grasped his hand. "Will you be here when I wake up..?" She asked. Shikimaru sighed. "That sounds troublesome." Sakura looked up pleadingly. "But, I guess I could wait." Sakura smiled and closed her eyes. She fell asleep to the sound of Shikimaru's breathing.

END