"Oh…my…" Sakura breathed, looking at the heaps of steaming dumplings, the towers of pancakes, and the juicy slabs of steak. The aroma swirled around in the air, maple syrup, soy sauce and sizzling meat mixing together irresistibly. It was like food heaven, and everything was glistening, steaming, garnished with little frou-frou green crap, and it all looked so freaking tasty.
Tobi hovered at her elbow nervously, guiding her to her seat at the head of the loaded table with a steady hand.
"Does Cherry-chan like it?" Tobi asked, looking torn between excitement and hesitance, a blush staining his pale cheeks. "Tobi didn't know what Cherry liked." Tobi informed her. "Does Cherry like it?" he asked again, somewhat nervously.
She was too busy drooling to give an answer more specific than a bob of the head.
Tobi squealed, then rushed out of the dining room.
"TOBI HAS FINISHED DINNER LIKE A GOOD BOY!" He bellowed.
There was a stampede of footsteps, and the first one around the corner was Hidan. He was panting, but quickly slid into the place to her right, shooting her a smirk.
Deidara was next, with Kisame on his heels. Deidara practically lunged for the chair next to her, while Kisame settled himself across from her at the other end of the table. Itachi settled himself to the blue giant's left (when did he get here?) and the rest filed in and took their seats.
There was a great ruckus as everyone got settled.
"Oi, pass the pancakes, Baka."
"Tobi shall pass the pancakes~!"
"Kisame. Please hand me the salt."
"Mmhm."
"Are there any rare steaks, Tobi?"
"Of course, Tobi wouldn't forget you senpai~!"
Sakura grinned into her pancakes. It was a warm atmosphere, light and teasing, full of chatter and bicker. It was nice to see them interact, because they knew each other so well. She couldn't help the sharp pain in her heart as she watched them. They knew each other so well. And she knew them only through a few letters she sent when she was just a didn't know them nearly as well as they knew each other…
"Hey bitch," Hidan said through a mouthful of steak, prodding her with his fork."What the fuck are we gonna do when you run off to that chicken-shit school?"
Before she could reply, Deidara nearly choked on his water.
"But Sakura-chan was getting bullied! We can't let her go back, yeah!" Deidara protested, coughing.
"Really, It was nothing I couldn't handle, it happens all the time!" she reassured, than cursed herself as she caught her mistake.
A dark atmosphere descended over the table, and all eyes swiveled towards the nervous female.
"It happens all the time?" Pein echoed, eyes narrowing dangerously. Kisame, twirling his steak knife absentmindedly, spoke up.
"Oi, oi, whose been bothering you, Kitten?" Kisame frowned, leaning across the table to see her face better.
"Don't be afraid to tell us." Sasori assured her, setting down his fork so he could focus on her.
She blushed, and averted her eyes, scooping up some pancake and shoving it in her mouth.
Please forget the last 30 seconds. Please forget the last 30 seconds…!
"Erm…well…you see…" she began, inching her chair back, "Actually-"
And then she was sprinting down the hallway, trying desperately to remember which window was at good jumping level.
"Did she just..?" Deidara trailed off, the group of men staring after her, dumbstruck. Pein was the first to regain his wits.
"Kisame, Itachi, after her. Deidara, Sasori, front door. Zetsu and Tobi, go to the backdoor." The not at all amused Pein commanded. His men, bless their souls, took off after the pinkette, stumbling over furniture and tripping over each-other.
"Where do I hide, where do I hide, where do I hide!" Sakura chanted, swerving erratically to avoid slamming into any walls. She nearly cried with relief when she spotted the open window across the living room. Throwing herself out, she barely had time to register the sharp gravel under her feet before a triumphant cry had her snapping her head left. Tobi stood, practically wiggling with suppressed excitement at her presence.
"Now Tobi, lets not be hasty!" she reasoned, throwing a glance backwards before throwing caution to the wind and turning on her heel and ran like hell.
A heavy weight slammed into her back, and in a flash of black, she was sprawled on her stomach. She desperately sucked in air against the suffocating gravel was pressing painfully into her tummy, and she let out a grunt of discomfort. She froze when the weight shifted, straddling her carefully, and a warm breath brushed the back of her neck with a dark chuckle. She shivered, and squirmed under his body.
"Sakura…"The voice murmured, smooth and dark, sounding vaguely amused.
"W-what the hell!" she barked, and in a snap, the tension doubled and she was flipped on her back.
"Tobi!?"Meeting her disbelieving stare, he merely gave a slow, dangerous smile. His entire demeanor was changed from the over-ecstatic boy-child.
"Who hurt you, Sakura?"
The question caught her off guard. When she continued to stare, he dipped his head so that their faces were inches apart. He no longer looked amused.
"Who hurt you?" He asked again, and the thinly veiled rage made her skin prickle.
"I-"
"SAKURA-CHAN, WHERE ARE YOU, YEAH?!"
Deidara's shout shattered the tense atmosphere and before she could fully register what was happening, Tobi was off her in a flash, and the others rounded the corner at top speed.
"SAKURA!"came the collected yells, and she was instantly surrounded before she could even think of escaping, mind still reeling. She hesitantly raised a hand to her cheek, feeling the searing heat of her blush.
That didn't stop Hidan.
"Up you fucking go, Pinkie!"
With a startled shriek, she was yanked into the air, then tossed over a hard shoulder like a sack of flour. She internally snorted, 'how dignified'. Time seemed to freeze as Hidan whistled tunelessly and headed for the front door.
3…2…1…annnnd-
"HIDAN!"she screeched, pounding her fists on his back as she broke out of her stupor. He winced, but continued through the door and dumping the raging girl onto the couch as the others circled like a pack of wolves.
Kakuzu smacked Hidan upside the head.
"Be more gentle!" Kakuzu barked.
"Ow, you fu-!"
"Thank you, Kakuzu-kun." Sakura cut in. The stitched man gave her a faint smile, while Hidan merely huffed and looked away.
Itachi cleared his throat, and every ones eyes swiveled to stare at the man, who only had eyes for the hesitant pinkette.
"Who is it that torments you, Blossom?"
She tore her gaze away, cursing the hypnotic effect of his eyes, instead focusing on his hair. It was pulled back in a low ponytail, but strands had fallen loose, clinging to his neck and sculpted features...
The boys shared long glances, noting the rising heat in Sakura's cheeks, and the panicked way in she snapped her head down to stare at her lap. Finally, Zetsu, surprisingly, broke the silence.
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." He said softly. Sakura looked at him in shock, her embarrassment forgotten. The multi colored boy shuffled uneasily, and clarified.
"We understand…that we…you don't…" Zetsu struggled with himself, and so quietly that she had to strain to hear, he murmured. "We may have over-stepped our boundaries. I apologize. It's just…you're very important to us, Sakura. We can't help but worry about you."
Guilt crashed over her, and with it came a weight that made her heart drop and shoulders slump. These boys…her boys…
"I'm sorry." she sighed, and she motioned for everyone to sit. Once everyone was comfortable, she continued. "I'm being stupid. It's really nothing. Some kids just like to screw around with me sometimes. It's no big deal. Wanna watch a movie?" she asked hopefully, praying that they would take the distraction.
"What movie do you have in mind, yeah?" Deidara asked cautiously, looking apprehensive.
"Saw, you bitches!" Hidan roared, brandishing the DVD like a weapon.
"No way, un! Let's watch something with action and explosions, yeah!" Deidara shouted back.
"Let's watch Contagion." Kakuzu suggested, looking mildly interested.
"Jaws!"Kisame stated loudly, lounging on the couch and watching the carnage with a grin.
"Little Shop of Horrors sounds interesting. Yeah! Bloodthirsty plants are much better than some shitty chick flick." Zetsu piped in. 'He's obviously opinionated' she thought internally. Sasori looked bored, watching the arguing like a tennis match.
"What about a murder mystery?" Itachi inquired.
"Can't we watch something peaceful?" Pein sighed, shaking his head.
"Beauty and the Beast!" Tobi wailed, looking heartbroken. Sakura merely shook her head, and claimed the center of the couch, Itachi and Pein smoothly filling the spots next to her.
"Hey!"she interrupted, and the arguing ceased.
"What?"Hidan barked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Why don't we just watch them all?" she suggested sweetly.
There was a beat of silence.
"…Fine."
Kisame quickly claimed the spot next to Itachi, while Deidara and Sasori settled themselves on the ground. Tobi huddled in front of Sakura, cocooned in quilt. She watched him warily, still not over the earlier incident. Kakuzu and Hidan glared at each other before sitting in chairs on either side of the couch. Zetsu took the liberty to pop in the first movie he grabbed, and flicked off the lights before settling next to Pein without complaint.
Pein took the liberty to enfold the both of them in a thick quilt from the back of the couch, and Sakura eagerly wiggled into a comfy position so that she was cuddled against Pein, her feet brushing Itachi's thigh. She hid a smile as the Disney logo popped up, a dead give away for the first movie.
"For the love of Jashin!" Hidan cursed, while Tobi clapped ecstatically.
"Tobi knew Beauty and the Beast would come to good boys who wait!"
HELLO MY CUTE LIL READERS!
SORRY FOR THE WAIT!
This chapter must be credited to my new beta, Tiger-Shif ter! She's a great help, so make sure you all apreciate that this chapter wouldhave taken forever without her!
*******IMPORTANT PLOT QUESTION!*********
Where do you all, as the readers, want this story to go? I honestly have no idea how this plot is gonna go, what I'm hoping to acheive, so I'd likeyou guys to give my some reveiws on how you would liketo see the story go, or how it should end, whoi she should end up with. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TWIST THE PLOT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE! Use it wisely!
Reveiws are love,
Mistress~