Disclaimer: Naruto is the property of Kishimoto Masashi.

A/N: Hi everyone! The next chapter's up! Hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it.

Chapter 31: When In Doubt, Brew Up

"Tea is instant wisdom…just add water." – Astrid Alauda

10:00 PM

Haruno Household

The sweet familiar scent permeated Sakura's nostrils as she accepted the mug. While relishing the sweetness of the tea, she gave her stoic companion a fleeting look who sipped his own drink. He should really consider making tea his business venture. It would seriously be a great hit.

On the other hand, Sasuke calmly drank his tea. His mind kept nagging him to confront Haruno about her breakdown earlier but after seeing her tense shoulders and quivering lip, it made him think otherwise.

So he decided to choose the safer route: Pretend the incident earlier didn't bother him & engage the target in a subtle conversation.

Enter the undisputable MILK TEA TACTIC.

And watching the pinkette relishing with every drop made him smirk.

'My calculations were right. She's really a sucker for milk tea. Now, on to the next tactic...' He cleared his throat.

"How's the tea?"

Her features lit up. "It's delicious. I love it."

He put his cup down. "Is that right?"

She smiled back. "You should really consider opening a business. It'll be a huge hit someday."

He shrugged. "Not interested."

"Why?"

"Managing a business is not my cup of tea."

Sakura stifled a laugh. "You're good in making one right now."

His eyebrow rose up. He didn't expect the conversation to shift towards him. "Making tea is my hobby, Haruno. I'm not gonna share it to the entire world," he retorted.

'Geez, so much for having a decent conversation,' she thought half-heartedly. Her fingertips traced the patterns etched on the cup's rim. How like him, always cutting the conversation short. "But you're in this. Aside from that, you're a great cook. Is there anything that you can't do?"

He smiled languidly. "I can do anything, Haruno."

"You suck at socializing," she countered, her smile sickeningly sweet.

Ah, he hated that word. "I'm working on it."

"Yes, like you're being forced."

Now, his eyebrows furrowed. She deliberately pulled that reverse psych move by making him look like he's the one who needed help. He didn't need advice in socializing. 'Ah, fine. I'll just drop the bomb.'

That slight increase from the sugar level began to kick in Sakura's system. She closed her eyes, gradually forgetting the events that transpired earlier…

"Why did you cry?"

Green eyes opened but didn't say a word.

Sasuke idly lifted a hand. With a thumb and forefinger, he unceremoniously flicked her forehead.

She yelped in pain and rubbed her reddening forehead.

Wholly satisfied, he tucked a hand under his chin. "So, why?"

Miffed, she ignored him. Since when did he become so persistent? Here she was, trying to forget the incident earlier and now, he's trying to pry information from her! She cursed her hyper emotional self. If only he were Ino, she could've vented right away. But feigning ignorance by not telling him is not a good idea either.

And there's absolutely no way she can play him for a fool.

Sasuke had that uncanny ability of reading people like an open book. Common-sense wise, her tear-streaked face and stuffy nose would've attested that her breakdown earlier was no act. He would still sense that something is wrong with her. And he wouldn't stop from asking her about it.

'What am I doing? It's only Sasuke-kun. I'll just meet him eye-to-eye and…' Sakura chided herself. Gathering her remaining courage, she took a deep breath and faced the lad squarely in the eye.

She gulped.

Uchiha Sasuke, also known as THE handsome pin-up boy extraordinaire was sporting an unusual concern on his face. Though his expression was more of a challenge, to see who breaks down first. And judging from the smirk on his face, it seems he already knew who'll end up as the victor.

Damn those smouldering onyx orbs filled with inquisition.

She gritted her teeth. Remembering the huge amount of effort he put through by brewing milk tea and keeping her company…she felt guilty for not considering his intentions of being a good friend. After all, wasn't she the one who told him to open up to others as the first step to friendship?

Her shoulders slumped. She was utterly defeated. Well, there's no harm in telling him about it, right? She stared at his face again. It's a wonder he kept his poker face on.

Fine, he wins this one. "I'm not quite sure how to break this to you…but my family is having a financial crisis…" she briefly stopped, looking at him for any changes in reaction.

He only nodded, adding more fuel to her anxiety.

If only he'd been Ino, telling him will be much easier. She continued. "A few days ago, I found a letter from my mom. She wrote that the reason my dad never called or came back was because he amassed a huge amount of debt from the loan sharks. His whereabouts are currently unknown, although there are some people who said that he might be hiding from them in case they want payback."

"Aa."

"And then a group of suspicious men arrived in our house. They demanded that we pay the debt in our dad's stead. So my mom secretly withdrew money from our joint accounts every month just to appease their anger." She was tearing up but she stopped herself. It wasn't the time for weakness.

"This continued for several months until all our savings were used up. She then decided to go back to Sunagakure in hopes that our relatives might be able to lend us money. Up until now….there's still no word from them. Quite an unexpected turn of events, don't you think so?" She gave a low laugh, silently hoping a response from him. Surely after hearing her miserable plight he will be looking at her with shame and pity.

Instead, it was the same poker faced reaction.

It was annoying.

Not to mention unnerving.

Annoying and unnerving.

The combination of the two is unsettling. His coal black eyes didn't even lose its sheen, even after she vented at him. He, being attentive during the entire conversation was unfitting. Her gaze fell back to her empty cup. 'What is he thinking? He's too quiet. It's as if he's formulating some sort of plan in that brain of his…' she trailed off, as if something is amiss.

'Some sort of plan…

A plan...'

She blinked at the realization.

He knew.

Using her fondness for milk tea as diversion, he waited PATIENTLY for her to lighten up then at the right moment, went for the kill. Even if she showed stubbornness, she'd have to consider the efforts he made earlier. Therefore, by feeling guilty, she will eventually have to tell him the truth. She mentally killed herself for being an easy prey. 'Kami-sama, am I really that easy to read?'

On the other hand, Sasuke's thoughts were elsewhere. Even though he paid close attention to their conversation & picked up even the smallest of details, he was positively sure that there's more to what the pink-haired girl said. From the slightest hesitation in her voice and the unintentional quake of her shoulders, he deduced that whatever problem she's facing must be taking quite a huge toll on her.

As always, she expressed herself through crying. Apparently, there was something wrong with her. It wouldn't take a lot of logical thinking to figure that out. For every emotion she'd display, crying would follow. Oftentimes, he'd get mislead by her unclear sentiments.

The Uchiha smiled inwardly. There was no doubt about it. She and his friend Tenten were very similar. For Sakura, her emotions are always out in the open. And clear, like it was made from glass - easy to read yet it can be shattered easily if mishandled.

Tenten on the other hand, prevents her feelings from surfacing. Although the more gutsy type, when it comes to her mood swings she would tend to habitually resort to physical violence. It would explain the numerous bruises and welts he and Naruto would receive each and every time they aggravate the impulsive brunette.

Moreover, even overexcitement can lead Tenten to do the same thing.

And Haruno, with her too fidgety, too self-conscious, too needy attitude…now, that definitely annoyed him in most cases. Actually, he had absolutely no idea why he accepted her offer of friendship in the first place. And to think, she was the only outsider that he let inside his personal circle. Yet, hanging out with her during the past few months certainly proved that she was taking their friendship rather seriously. He wouldn't admit it, but he was grateful for her steadiness.

Lucky for them, he's a very tolerant individual.

A question nagged his brain. Did he accept her friendship just to spite her always-on-the-warpath boyfriend?

He saw the pinkette unexpectedly glaring at him.

A smirk lazily formed on his lips.

'Who knew understanding the nature of girls would be this thought-provoking?'

On the other hand, Sakura was upset.

Upset.

The very bad kind of upset.

He stared at her as if she suddenly grew two heads. Doesn't he know that staring weirdly at women without saying anything is downright rude?

She gave him her own version of a deathly glare and was about to give him a piece of her mind...

"Are you done checking me out?"

She fumed. "You wish!"

Yep. Clear as glass. "So, why'd you cry?"

Frustration got the better of her. "I already told you the reason why!"

His deep set gaze locked into hers. "Your parents' financial situation is not a good reason why you used my shirt as your hanky."

She seethed. Damn quiet men and their perceptive gazes. It was pretty clear to her that he wouldn't let her off so easily. Noticing the empty cup on her hands, she quickly thrust it at his face. "More please."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her pitiable attempt of diversion. Nonetheless, he did what she asked. Sakura accepted the cup and cursed inwardly when the tip of her tongue made contact with the hot liquid. It rapidly spilled on the front of her shirt and some parts of her face. Embarrassed of her clumsy antics, she excused herself and hurriedly dashed for the bathroom.

She heard him snicker.

'Great, just great.'

10:30 PM

"And that's the last of it!"

Tenten sighed, watching Naruto throw the last garbage bag in the dumpster. She glanced at her watch then winced. It was definitely not good. HE was supposed to be at the shop 3 hours ago! This would be the first time HE ditched a party - no matter how ridiculous the reason was to celebrate.

The brunette avoided every aspect of doubting her best friend. Yeah, their friendship was supposed to be built on trust right? There must be a reason why HE didn't show up. Her thoughts began to play the following scenarios on her head…

Scenario 1: HE was embarrassed to show up at the party smelling like garbage.

'According to Foxface he stayed a little longer at school due to his cleaning duties…but even so, there was plenty of time for him to take a shower and get dressed, right? That's not a reason to miss a good party!' she thought angrily. 'Hmm, moving on…'

Scenario 2: Chouji and his thugs dumped their homework at HIM. They gave him an ultimatum that if he didn't finish by tomorrow, he'll get thrown in the dumpster for the twentieth time this month.

She curled her fists. 'Fat chance! He'd inform us about that ahead of time! It's just fucking homework! Wait a minute! Kurenai-sensei mentioned something about a reading assignment for tomorrow in English! There's nothing to write about there!'

Amazing how the female mind works. Next situation!

Scenario 3: Itachi pulled a prank on him again!

Tenten crossed her arms. Itachi regularly made fun of him at HIS expense. It's like a day-to-day activity for him. Though she didn't understand why the elder Uchiha would often involve the pink-haired hussy in his pranks. Her brows furrowed. Pranks were supposedly harmless. But of course, Itachi never missed a chance in exploiting his little brother's weaknesses.

What are those weaknesses, you ask?

GIRLS, KISSES and COOTIES.

And those are not secrets.

"But I'm a girl too!" she muttered angrily. She was supposed to be happy that she was an exception to his terrors. But Itachi exploiting HIS stupid weakness to that pink blockhead is definitely a NO-NO!

Scenario 4: He's just too damn lazy to attend.

'I'm gonna kill him.'

Scenario 5: He's out with someone.

Before Tenten could ponder the fifth one, Naruto immediately latched onto her arm. "Whatcha thinkin'? That better not be Sasuke-chan!"

She glared at him. "Shut up, dumbass. I wasn't thinking about him."

He grinned slyly. "Oh suuuuure! So then, why is your face all ugly and crumpled up? Admit it! You're worried that he didn't show up at the party!"

"I'm not…" Worried? Her? Naruto must be joking! She wasn't worried! Sasuke's a big boy now! If he prefers to be bullied by Chouji and his thugs then that's his own decision. He's strong enough to beat them all up anyway. See? There's nothing to worry about!

A flash of pink caught her eye.

"T? Are you okay?"

She blinked.

Naruto wrapped an arm around her shoulders. His voice hushed. "It's not good to space out in public. Don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure Sasuke-chan has some sort of explanation regarding his absence. And besides, this is the first time he didn't attend the party. So cheer up and let's go home!"

She made a wry face.

11:45 PM

Haruno household

"It still won't come off."

Sakura turned the faucet off. She already rubbed her shirt with soap and rinsed it a couple of times but the stubborn stain still endured. "And this was dry clean only…"

A knock on the bathroom door broke her thoughts. "You okay?"

"Uh, yes! Just a second," she replied hastily, grabbing a terry cloth robe from the linen closet. She quickly wrapped it around her body then opened the door. She found the tall obsidian-eyed male standing directly in front of her. "What is it?" she asked.

Taking note of her semi-clothed state, his eyes wandered to the dripping shirt hanging on the towel rack. He cocked his head to one side. "Were you able to remove the stain?"

"I…no."

"Hn." He made his way past her, plucking the shirt from its hanged position. He eyed the brown spot on the fabric. "This won't do. Since the shirt is dry clean only, you need something stronger to remove the stain."

"Any ideas?"

He said nothing. He stepped out of the bathroom then padded his way back to the kitchen. The pinkette followed, and saw him rummaging inside the overhead cabinets. "What are you doing?" she asked.

He rolled his sleeves up then opened the bottle of vinegar. "Isn't it obvious?" he said dryly, pouring some of it in a bottle of water. While spraying the mixture on the spot, he added, "We'll sit this out for ten minutes. Afterwards, we'll rinse it with cold water."

She let out a sigh of relief. Watching his handiwork, she was amazed at its effect. Sure enough, the stain was lightening up. "Wow, it really works. Where did you learn to do this?"

Sasuke shrugged. "Itachi. He's a stickler for home-made remedies."

She had a hunch that it would be his elder brother's idea. Leaning against the granite countertop, she commented. "He taught you well."

He almost laughed at her statement. Actually, he saw the remedy at an article which was featured on one of Itachi's magazines. Glancing at her, he could clearly see the admiration for his brother reflected in her emerald orbs. "You must admire him a lot."

She looked back. "Well, he's a very nice person."

"And lazy."

"Still nice."

"Not to mention he's vain, narcissistic and self-centred…"

Her eyes crinkled with wit. "But you're always there to take care of him."

Sasuke lifted the fabric and inspected the stain. "Yeah, as if I had a choice."

'It must be nice to have someone to take care of…' the rosette assumed. She wasn't the only one. One could clearly see the vast amount of respect that Sasuke-kun has for his brother. After all, if it weren't for Itachi-san, he wouldn't have a life of his own. Despite the fact that they bickered over trivial matters, the loyalty they had for each other was beyond measure. Since Sakura didn't have any siblings, the fact of having someone to rely on seemed new to her.

"It's gone now."

She looked at him in confusion.

He showed her the spot where the stain used to be. It was remarkable. She made a mental note to look for home remedies on the internet. As he began rinsing the water-vinegar mixture off the shirt, she continued watching him. She was impressed on how he easily dealt a common mishap. Truly, the man was so domesticated. Watching him work with that look of concentration on his face, somewhere in the back of her mind he reminded her of someone…

She leaned a bit closer. His tall build, spikey raven locks and broad shoulders silently spoke of his inherent prominence. No doubt about it, he was still the same unsociable guy that she met at his family's house party a few months ago. However, his actions proved otherwise. It was highly astonishing that an Uchiha with his thoroughbred background is in her kitchen, removing a stain on her shirt. Seeing him like this showed a sense of normalcy.

Based from Itachi-san's story and witnessing Sasuke-kun's regular routine, it was pretty obvious that he wanted to break free from the high pedestal that his family chose for him. A sense of sadness washed over her. She clearly underestimated him. Here he was; a person who wanted nothing more but to be recognized by the society as his own individual.

"All done."

She broke free from her stupor. "Eh?"

He held the shirt up, a mere inch away from her face. "You better hang this up to dry or else my hard work will go to waste."

She yanked her shirt away from his hand. "I wasn't looking at you! I was…" she trailed off, noticing the dried spots on the front of his shirt. She blushed, knowing that her tears and snots on the fabric were already dry and stuck on his skin. 'No! Now's not the time for that, Sakura!' she scolded herself. She turned on her heel then went to the bathroom to hang her shirt.

Unaware of a pair of onyx eyes are watching her every move.

11:58 PM

Tenten's house

"T…? You okay?"

"What is it, Foxface?"

He leaned back on the leather upholstery. "You look so glum, T. Is something wrong?"

She faked a yawn. "Nothing's wrong, idiot. Just a little tired that's all."

"Uh-huh. I'm not falling for that I'M-TOO-SLEEPY excuse. I've used that on Sasuke-chan countless of times; it's not 100% effective."

"That's because you've been using it as an attempt to jump on Sasuke as he sleeps!"

Deidara grinned, flipping a lever to signal left. He volunteered to give the two teens a lift back to Tenten's house. "You guys are so into him! Don't tell me you both have feelings for that stuck-up brat."

As if on cue, heart signs appeared on Naruto's eyes. "You're so right, Deidara-san! He's my one and only love!"

The older blond laughed sheepishly. "I meant that as a joke…"

"But it's true!"

The brunette looked as if she was ready to kill someone. "Stop it, Foxface! Your devotion is beginning to annoy all of us."

Her friend grinned evilly. "Then how about you, T? Why don't you show some of your devotion to Sasuke-chan while you're at it? You're so protective of him."

She sputtered. "That's…that's none of your business!"

"That's pretty interesting. I've always thought you're a tomboy but I guess I was wrong, huh?" Deidara chided, as he finally made a stop in front of a two-story bungalow. "We're finally here."

The two teens reluctantly broke their staring contest. After unbuckling their seatbelts and stepped out of the vehicle, they thanked Deidara for the lift. As they made their way towards the house, Tenten's thoughts drifted back towards Sasuke's absence from the party.

That idiot better have a good reason why he didn't show up…

"Looks like someone's missing Sasuke-chan again…"

She fished the key from her pocket. "I don't!" The door opened with a soft click and she ushered Naruto inside. She flicked the lights on and a soft glow emanated in the living room. She pointed at the leather couch. "You don't mind sleeping there right?"

"Yup, no worries." He sat down, eyeing his friend. It was definitely a long night. Even though the party went on as planned, it wasn't fun without their party pooper friend. "In my opinion," he began, "I think you're deeply affected by his no-show at the party."

Still standing, she fingered a loose thread on her shirt. "I'm not."

He crossed his arms. "Deny all you want. So, what's wrong?"

"I told you, it's nothing!"

"T, we've been friends for a long time right? I completely understand what you're going through." He stood up then pulled her into a comforting hug. "So don't be a dick and tell me what's on your mind."

Her eyes went misty. She returned the hug with a tight squeeze. "Quit being mushy, stupid fox! But, thank you." Pulling back from his embrace, she plopped down the couch. "Foxface, you and Sasuke have known each other since kindergarten, right?"

He sat next to her. "Yeah."

She smiled. "Then afterwards, we became friends. You guys were the best thing that ever happened to me." Her expression darkened. "But now…I feel like he's leaving us out in the open."

"Is that why you're so worked up during the past few months?"

She hated to admit it, but she nodded.

The blue-eyed blond sighed, running a hand through his spiky locks. "To be frank, you and I are on the same wavelength. I didn't like it too. But you know just how he is, making his own decisions without telling us."

She huffed. "I really don't like her. I have a bad feeling that she's gonna take him from us someday. Sasuke's our best friend. He should've known better."

Naruto shook his head. "T, don't be like that. I'm sure Sasuke-chan has his own reasons for letting her join our group."

"Whatever those reasons are, they're not good enough!" Her fist curled. "Ever since that hussy came along, he began acting out of character. He…he chose to protect her from Hyuga! He should've learned not to cross that bastard's path a long time ago!"

He smiled knowingly. "Deciding to protect Sakura-chan from her aggressive boyfriend was his own decision. But we have our own choice to accept her or not. And based from your actions, you found your answer. Yes?"

Tenten turned away. "And you've also decided?"

"Yeah."

She slumped back on her seat. "I hate you guys."

"Look," Naruto wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Sasuke-chan made that decision because he completely trusts us that we'll always get his back. We're the ones who should be more understanding of the mess he's in. And knowing that self-centred, snotty bastard of ours, he never runs out of plans. So, let's just leave him at that."

Too tired to argue, she nodded.

She'll just have to Sasuke about it tomorrow.

12:30 AM

Haruno household

Sasuke stared his watch. It was already time for him to go. He mentally ticked his list, taking note of the things he did earlier. All of the cups, teapot and pan are washed and currently on the drying rack. Check. The granite countertop and the sink are wiped clean as well. Check. He wrung the dish rag then put it aside. 'Guess that's all of it,' he mused.

"Sasuke-kun?"

Sakura was standing near the doorway. She held the shirt up. "It looks okay now. I used the hairdryer to dry my shirt."

He took the shirt from her and inspected the fabric. Sure enough, what she said was true. "Hn, amazing. I didn't know you can also use that."

"You can now add that to Itachi-san's list of homemade remedies."

He smirked. Who knew she had a knack for sarcasm? He handed the shirt back to her. "Well, that means I'm done here. Since it's already late, it's time for me to go home."

Hearing his words made her sigh in relief. With him there with her, there's a chance that he wouldn't stop badgering her about the crying issue. He may never say it out loud but his eyes did the talking for him. She greatly appreciated his efforts of keeping her company and giving her tea but if she told him about the real reason, he might think of her as a weak and clingy individual who always needed his help.

Her eyes drifted to the wall clock and winced.

12:55 AM

No way.

She turned to look for her raven-haired friend but he already left the kitchen.

She followed after him. She found him taking his faded leather jacket from the coat rack then sat down to put his shoes on. Panic welled up inside her. Wait a minute! He can't leave at this time of the night! It was already late! She opened her mouth to speak but immediately clamped it shut.

If he leaves then, he wouldn't bother her with questions regarding her breakdown earlier.

But, it was so late…

He stood up. With his hand on the knob, he looked back at her then opened his mouth to speak.

Wait…

Did he just order her to lock something?

Wait…

He stopped talking.

The door swung open.

Wait…

His back turned.

Wait…

"Haruno."

She didn't bat an eyelid.

A sigh.

Still not responding.

He flicked her on the forehead.

"Ow!"

There.

"That hurts!"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. What the hell's she doing? He wasn't out of the house yet and here she was, not paying attention to his instructions regarding her security! "Didn't you hear what I just said? I told you to lock the door once I'm out."

Her cheeks flushed pink, registering his words in her brain. "O-Of course…"

He leaned a little bit, their faces mere inches from the other. She squeaked at their sudden closeness. "Make sure you close the windows as well. You better not be lenient on these things, Haruno. You're the only one here and I'll be damned once I find out you didn't follow what I said."

Goodness, he was treating her like a kid.

She only nodded.

"Good. I'll be going now."

She was fretting. Should she or shouldn't…?

Sasuke zipped his coat shut and grasped the knob again. "Okay, I'll be…"

"Stay."

He stopped.

She quickly brought her hands over her mouth.

Oh no.

Did he just hear her say…what?

He was unfazed even after hearing her sudden invitation. "Don't be crazy Haruno. I have school tomorrow. And besides, Itachi will be worried sick." He patted her on the head as if to reassure her that he'll be alright. Why wouldn't he be? Despite his looks, he was a good fighter. And he doubted that any crazed loon who dared to cross his path would be a match for him.

Sakura gaped. No way was she letting him out! Looking out the window, she gasped as she saw rustling movements behind a bush. Did she just saw…? Her cruel mind began to play awful situations on her head. Remembering the supermarket incident and their encounter with the female horde, she shuddered. His fangirls might be there, stalking his every move. Earlier, she saw an article about a famous celebrity who got stabbed by an avid fan.

Uchiha Sasuke had gazillions of fan girls.

He needs to be protected!

She clutched his arm. "Wait, Sasuke-kun! It's pretty dangerous if you go now. It's already late, so why don't you stay?"

He yanked his arm off. She can't be this stupid. If he doesn't come home, Itachi will have his head. Or worse, his perverse brother will burn his precious geek attire. Not to mention they have school in the morning. "Haruno, that's absurdity. I'm a guy and there's no way that I'll get killed by someone out there."

"Your fangirls will!"

That got his attention.

Seeing his tall frame turn rigid, she briefly touched his arm. "From what I've heard on the news yesterday, there were incidences of stalking reported here in the area. I know that it's already late but if I let you leave Itachi-san might kill me and…"

Sasuke eyed her suspiciously. Hearing his brother's name being used as a threat was ridiculous. And coming from her, it was indeed ridiculous. It's not like he had a problem walking by himself before. And he doubted that a stalker let alone a fangirl would even try to go after him. His surname bears a lot of legal benefits in any case he encounters one.

He was about to say goodbye to the panicky girl when his senses warned him to full alert. Turning slightly, his eyes caught the slight rustling coming from the bush a few metres away from Haruno's house. His gaze narrowed. What was that?

"…right, Sasuke-kun?"

He didn't move his scrutiny from that spot.

Sakura flicked him on the forehead. "Are you listening Sasuke-kun?"

It didn't hurt. He glared at her. "Aa."

Her pink tresses bounced slightly when she also turned her head, following his gaze. She could've sworn he was trying to kill the harmless bush with his glare-o'-death. "Is there something wrong?" she asked quietly.

He paid no heed to her question. The rustling movement behind the bush eventually stopped. His expression wary, he focused his attention to the girl behind him. If what she said about a stalker lurking around the area was true, then…

"Haruno."

"Hai?"

He quickly ushered her inside, closing the door behind them.

Looks like Haruno won this round.

'Hn, I guess she wasn't kidding this time.'

A/N: Hello again folks! Once again thank you for reading Yokoso! Actually this was supposed to be posted on Valentines Day but it took a long time for me to do the beta'ing so forgive me for the slight delay. I even made a special Valentines Day chapter for this story but that'll follow soon after I finish beta'ing it. I decided to give Naruto and Tenten a lot of screentime since Sasuke ditched them at the party. I'm really crappy when it comes to mushy stuff but that's not really my intent. I'll try my best to feed my brain a lot of romance in the future hehe.

Anyways, I'm planning on doing rewrites for the previous chapters. I realized that there were some plot holes that need filling so I'll give you guys a heads up once I post them. I love this story so much and I promise to continue this until the end.

So, thanks again for reading and here's a belated Valentines Day chocolate from me! Ja ne!