Decisions of Love.

Chapter Four. Disastrous meetings.

"Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again Tomorrow." -Mary Anne Radmacher.

-Sakura's prov.-

I'd been sitting down for hours just taking in the nature around me, the silence was starting to kill me, I didn't know if I was over thinking or if I wasn't thinking at all. Why give up? Because someone will catch you either way. Who do I want to find me first?... Preferably Sasuke...

I looked at my shadow clone I had summoned, I split my conscious into two different parts my creative and daring side still in my head and my logical side was placed in the shadow clone. It helped me answer questions I didn't want to admit, or answer.

What if I'm captured by the Akatsuki first?

Its Simple Really... Fight... Stall... Run? Make Sasuke and Team Hebi find you first.

I sighed and got up, I dismissed the clone and started walking back towards the town, I knew Hebi was following me, I just didn't really care anymore. I'm screwed either way. I took small steps through fallen tree branches and large Roots and made my way towards the Uchiha. Hopefully I'd meet up with them before I met up with Deidara.

About an hour ago, the Akatsuki member was close enough for me to make out his physical features, and conclude it was in fact my number one fan. Deidara had a obsession with me... Always talking about how when Pein was done with me... He could have me... You have no idea how much that irritated me... Being thought of as a damn possession!

Deidara's partner was once Sasori... Long story cut short I killed him... Deidara was a little pissy about that for a while... But hey whatever I can do to protect Naruto... You sure as hell can believe I'd do anything... And these two decisions Im going to have to make wont protect him at all... Possibly Harm him... Physically and mentally.

That's why I vowed to fight when the time came... I'd fight with everything I've got... And if all else fails... Well I'll join the son of a bitch and his team for a little while before I can escape. Hopefully my carefully thought out plan would work.

-Sasuke's prov.-

My team came across yet again one of her little toying tricks, she had burnt 'U don't know what your getting into.' in the ground as a attempt to scare us off. We continued forward, ignoring her little warnings and threats.

Karin alerted us that she could suddenly feel Sakura's chakra, we questioned if it was are distance or not, but somehow I came to a conclusion... She wants to be found... Karin had weird expressions on her face while she tried to locate the missing girl. Grant it her face is weird a lot of the time... Considering how much make up she wears... It was worse than normal. If that was even possible.

Karin told us that Sakura was walking towards us... That confused me in tell Karin mentioned the Akatsuki member not to far behind Sakura... Was she running from the Akatsuki... He didn't know why... She'd mentioned a few things but not enough to put the pieces or the puzzle together.

"I think it's ... Deidara." Karin said while jumping in between Suigutsu and Juugo, behind myself. We got in formation and increased are speed... If Karin was right and hadn't been lying we would reach Sakura in a hour max. Id turned on my Sharingan and Saw Sakura's chakra... And Deidara. Hopefully we'd reach her before the Akastuki member.

-Deidara's prov.-

My cloak was becoming such a bothersome thing, the Red cloud patterns where so old... The straw hats to mainstream for my liking... I walked alone towards the prize possession of the Akastuki. The girl had been claimed as Pein's own... To be wedded to the leader of are organization. She was a very beautiful woman... But Pein didn't only like her for her extravagant looks but her strength, determination, power, attitude and Intelligence the young women held.

She truly was a prize... One he hoped he could be with one day... Possibly when Pein got tired of her... I had a few run ins with the girl... She's the kyuubi's best friend, thats another benefit of her joining the Akatsuki the beast would come to them... Looking for the girl... She would be the downfall of Konoha and the Ninja world... All he had to do was capture her.

-Sakura-

I knew Sasuke and his team was close... I also knew Deidara was moving

faster than before from my behind... He was approaching at great speeds and would be here any minute. I feared Sasuke might not even make it in time... That we might already be gone by then... That I'd already be doomed... Along with Naruto and Konoha.

I knew some of their plans... Hell I knew a lot about the Akastuki, I'd gathered a lot of information about them and Orouchimaru over the course of three years... I learned something new and valuable almost every mission I went on. Many people wanted me for my information and intelligence.

Most men over looked my knowledge, and only saw me for a sweet little girl... I was so much more... I wasn't some one night fuck... Hell I was still a virgin, I'm only sixteen after all. Yeah virginity didn't really matter when it came to seduction missions and such but for me I could get the job done without getting into someone's pants.

I'd only kissed men, I've never gone farther... I doubted I would go farther. In my opinion I didn't like men... I'm not a lesbian oh hell fucking No! No I just think their all the same... They say nice complements in your ear... They tell you what you want to hear and think their going to get 'lucky' well I'm the girl that breaks those type of boys.

I don't let boys be dominant, I don't let them tell me what to do or make goddamn sandwiches. I look a sweet innocent girl to the human eye but underneath I'm a hellion, a girl that likes to flirt, kiss, dirty dance. I love doing all those things, including play with boys hearts, yes not the sweet good boys the bad assholes that think their all that.

Men and boys everywhere take the 'Haruno challenge' to try an bed me... To tame me... Or to make me fall Inlove with them... It never works... I just can't trust men anymore not after Sasuke left and Hishrou, well Hishrou is still to painful to think about. Two heart breaks were enough to keep me at arms distance away from men.

I developed a emotional shell, which only fell when I was around the original twelve and my Sand Shinobi friends, or at home... Konoha. On missions it was up, I was still nice and polite and showed a good side of me... But I had this hidden side that drove men crazy and my female friends green with envy.

I also had a dark side... That I didn't visit anymore... It took a lot and I mean A LOT for me to bring that side out. I became a medic ninja to heal and help people... I also did many powerful deadly jutsu on the battlefield... But my dark side was... Just dark... Plan evil... Painful.

I hoped I wouldn't have to use it... It could become addicting.

-Sasuke's prov.-

I could see her only a mile away we'd be there in a few minutes... I knew we were a little late, when I saw the Akatsuki member enter the clearing she had just left. I increased my speed leaving my team behind. They were already going as fast as they could and now I was to.

-Sakura's prov.-

I heard a twig snap behind me... I knew Deidara was close... I knew he'd be here first but somehow it didn't feel like reality... I felt like I was in a dream state and I could blink my eyes a few times and I'd wake up in my bed...at home. I ran forward through a clearing before a rough voice caught my attention.

"There's no point in running... The second you stopped at that clearing... You were caught." Deidara said with a large smile on his face, his blonde bangs covered half of his face so I guess it could have been a large smirk... Somehow I guessed it was a smile.

I turned towards him, my full body now in view. His eyes roamed over every curve, straight, and my female lumps across my body, he was undressing me with his eyes and I wanted to kill him... The rage and debonair rushed through my body, I held myself in a confident manner while my eyes showed my rage and determinations along with the Gleaming smirk that I had been using a lot lately.

I waited for him to make the first move, the first word, after a minute of waiting nothing came, he hadn't taken his eyes off of my alluring figure. I fisted my hands and dug my nails into the soft skin in the palms of my hands, I felt a light warm substance in my fists.

It was blood... He was driving me insane. Why couldn't he do something? Why couldn't he initiate a fight either verbal or physical, silence was pure torture for me. That's the reason I left the to peaceful clearing, the silence was loud, almost intimidating. I decided to speak up and bring the man out of his dirty thoughts "Deidara-kun... It's been so long." I purred seductively... My looks, and body really did come in handy when I had to deal with men.

"Sakura-hime. I'm quiet grateful to you... I hope you know that." Deidara stated and laughed when I had a confused expression, trying to figure out why he'd be grateful... To me?

"You killed Sasori my partner... It gives US a bigger chance of being partners.. " Deidara said with hope and delight twinkling in his eyes. I registered what he meant and what he wanted right off the bat... Sex... Isn't that what Every man wants?

"Oh that would be quite delightful indeed... Think of all the places we could go... It would be... Animated." I said with all the ambiguous I could think of.

"Yes... Now let's get going we have a long journey ahead of us... Your already low on chakra." Deidara said locating one of my weaknesses at the moment.

"Ah... Here's the thing... Babe." I said putting as much sarcasm into babe as possible with a seductive and devious smirk. "I'm not going anywhere with you or any of those damn Akatsuki members... Ha no thanks I don't feel like betraying everyone I love today... Check with me tomorrow." I said with sarcasm in my voice and a new confidence when I felt Sasuke appear on the tree a few yards away from me.

"Sakura... I don't want to hurt you... Your at a total disadvantage with your Chakra being so low... Just take the cloak and let's go." Deidara stated with a smirk, knowing he was right... It didn't take long for his smirk to disintegrate when he saw the youngest Uchiha standing a few yards away.

I looked at the cloak for a minute almost questioning if I should take it or not... Even though he was a douche and his team were chickens with their heads cut off... Maybe I wasn't as heartless as I thought, I didn't want them dragged into my awful problems.

Again either way I was betraying Konoha, maybe if I was with the Akatsuki, and making Pein happy he wouldnt care so much about killing humanity and the beasts. I slowly reached my hand out to take the cloak. Deidara smirked at my decision.

"Good Choice Sweetheart." Deidara purred while he took a few steps closer to me.

"She's not joining the Akatsuki. She's already on Team Hebi." I heard Sasuke's emotionless voice flow through the tension, and stab Deidara. He looked abashed by this and I realized that this was my chance, they were both to busy to really pay attention to me Or so I thought.

I ran for the small dirt path that lead down a hill, as fast as I could. I saw Sasuke move from the corner of my eye and I saw Deidara running after me, I had know clue if I'd actually make it.

Deidara grabbed my wrist and pulled me to a stop one foot before I could escape, in a split Sasuke had separated are connection and stood in front of me. It took me a few seconds to realize what he was doing. He was letting me go... Giving me a chance to. Escape. I ran as fast as I could down the hill, while the Uchiha and his late team fought. My. Battle.

-Sasuke's prov.-

I can't believe I let her go, I should have kept her in my sight, she aw shard to track once she could be impossible this time, when she won't want to be found... Somehow I think she new the Akatsuki member was coming from her, and she met them a forth of the way. For whatever reason, help, escape, reinforcement, whatever it might be she depended on them, she'd helped him and his team at one point now he was helping her, returning the favor.

After that... They could go their seperate ways. I knew it would be hard to fight the Akastuki member he was at full strength and I barley had half of mine. My team was low on Chakra too, and would prove to be useless in everything but tiajutsu in this fight. No one would land a hit with tiajutsu, Deidara specialized in bombs, a long distance attack. It was up to him.

-Sakura's prov-

I ran and ran and ran, in tell I no longer could run. Why was I always being protected, even by my enemies, they help and protect me. Why can't I be strong enough to take care of myself. Sasuke had pretty much offered me a spot when he claimed I was apart of his team... I hadn't decided to notice in tell I was on the ground in tears.

My world I had created, my perfect life, perfect friends, family, emotions, were falling all around me. And I couldn't do a damn thing about it.

I cried while I watched the sunset, realizing I was going to have to do something run? return? Fight? I couldn't sit around and wait for someone to help me. No! I wouldn't, I had made drastic changes sense I was a Genin, I wasn't going back to being that weak little girl. I was Sakura Haruno, and I was going to help my temporary team.

I picked myself up, and ran back to the clearing I had exited minutes ago. Things were in slow motion all around me, while in reality I zipped past trees at a inhuman speed. I saw Deidara throwing bombs at Sasuke, he through on behind the teenager, and one to his right. I doubted Sasuke's skills for a moment, not sure if he could dodge both of those ticking time bombs.

Sasuke disappeared in a poof of smoke as the bomb went off and I felt his presence behind me, I didn't resist when he pulled me behind a tree, away from the flying debris. His breath fanned my neck while he leaned his body and all his muscular glory against my small frame.

"What are you... Doing back here... You should have ran for Konoha by now." Sasuke sneered at her, his Sharingan boring into her emerald green iris.

"I-I decided to take you up on your offer... About joining the team... If the offers still there?" I said with as much confidence as I could muster, but somehow ended up pathetically asking and ending with a small smile.

"Hn... I don't understand you... You had the opertunity to run... And stay safe... Go home...yet you chose to come back here in a life or death situation." Sasuke stated what was meant to be a question, in a emotionless voice.

"I do crazy things sometimes... Plus I'd never really would have gotten away... It's about time I stop this damn circle were all walking in and do something mildly productive... Or end up failing miserably." I said with a small unknowing smile.

"Well... Get prepared... We're going to need some healing when this fights over..." Sasuke said with a smirk of his own, he was about to jump away before my arm stopped him and pulled him back.

"Hey Uchiha... Thank you..." I had to make sure I had the scowling mans attention before thanking him properly. I whispered the thanks part, but I meant every second of it, and he knew that.

I wouldn't forget the look on his face when I jumped out and punched the ground. I built up Chakra In my fist, while I was talking to the Uchiha... If you consider it talking, in my opinion it's more of a one sided conversation. I had jumped onto the battle field and hit the ground with all I had.

I didn't bother to aim my punch at Deidara, with my luck he'd blow me up before I even got in a four foot range. I'd punched the ground, it had taken a minute to have a effect but the tectonic plates pushed together making high ground in front of me, it would level the playing field. I'd sent a strong Chakra wave out to my right where Deidara stood, separating the tectonic plates and effectively making a large trench, the only normal piece of land that wasn't destroyed in a two hundred foot radius of me was the four by four piece i was standing on.

The punch left me in a small pant, I had done much more than just punch the ground and let the area be destroyed, I had imagined what it would look like after I had punched it, I'd made the field into my advantage, and successfully made a few underground tunnels I could navigate around if needed.

I stood in a offensive postion, knowing Deidara, he wouldn't harm me unless completly necessary. I readied myself and was about to attack when Juugo had taken my chance. The rather larger, and different? Looking man had stormed at Deidara, he was fast but sloppy, strong but no control. He was under the power of his curse seal, he proved useless in this fight.

Suigutsu had taken Juugo's sloppy movements in account as he attempted to slice the bomb user. Deidara skillfully dodged and threw some bombs at Suigutsu. The water boy had no problem with the bombs, his body would vanish and then reappear, his gift was water manipulation. Sasuke had been sending little Chidori's at Deidara's back, but the Akastuki member seemed to always be one step ahead.

Karin stood off to the side, watching the fight play out. I decided it was now or never I would be the least expected. I ran at a inhuman speed and appeared in front of Deidara before he could recall what happened I had flipped half of my body towards the ground and kicked him in the jaw with my right foot a bloodcrackling noise was sent through the spring air, his jaw had been broken he was sent flying in the air, with no clue what had happend.

I had twisted my body yet again and stood tall as I watched my enemy soar closer to the ground. When he started to flip himself over to properly land, I took action. I appeared behind him and moved my flexible leg with his, pulling it at a odd angle. I was rewarded with a snap and a cry of pain.

He fell to the ground and I fell with him, are legs were still tangled together, and a small fear bubbled its way up to my brain. What if i broke my leg on the rough fall. I closed ,h eyes and hoped for the best, I didn't have to worry for long, for Sasuke had caught me and set me down while Deidara fell to the ground uncouncious.

I slowly got up from where I had been seated and made my way over to the limp body of the Akatsuki member. I check his pulse, it was still there a little slow but that was normal after a fight. Then I check his Chakra levels, he had three fourths left, I placed a hand over his lower abdomen and started sucking the Chakra from him, and taking it into myself.

My chakra levels were slowly picking up while his demolished, in a matter of minutes he had barley any Chakra and I was nearly full. That's one thing I loved about being me... I was one of a kind... Literally.

-Sasuke-

I watched Sakura skillfully use gymnastics and tiajutsu to take Deidara off guard and follow through with bone shattering techniques. She had let him drop unconscious and then she placed a hand to his chakra points. It looked like she was healing him... I knew she wasn't, but I didn't have another conclusion for what she was doing.

She stood up fully before addressing myself and my team.

"It was really great... Umm.. Meeting all of you... And fighting together was interesting enough...but... I have to be going now.. BYE!" Sakura said before she tried to run down the shaded path, she had once escaped from.

I disappeared and reappeared in front of the retreating girl, making her stop and slid to a stop in front of me. My own obsidian eyes questioned her emerald orbs, after a minute of staring and her avoiding my piercing gaze I spoke. "You joined team Hebi." I stated.

This statement was enough for her to shoot he gaze to my onyx eyes. Her whole body whipped upwards to the sound of my voice. Her dark green eyes wide and almost nervous, they held sadness. "I know..." She said while a defeated look crossed her face before she sighed and walked back.

"Where are we going?" Sakura asked before I could take off into the trees, She had been observing Deidara's body movements very intently as if expecting him to wake up.

"Don't as questions." I demanded coldly while I watched her.

"Okay... Okay... Who shit in your cereal?" Sakura mumbled a rhetorical question towards me while I growled at her, god she might be even more annoying as this woman who can't agree with me than the girl that clung to me.

"Formation...Sakura and I will be lead... Followed by Suigutsu and Karin.. Juugo take up back." I ordered and them jumped to the trees with everyone following behind me. I saw Sakura move to my right she kept up with me pretty well, while avoiding trees and other mishaps.

-Normal prov.-

After a few hours of traveling and a lot of complaining from Suigutsu, we took a break. Sakura didn't say much throughout the day, she stayed a good fifteen feet away from all of us, on breaks she'd grab some water and sit in the highest tree. She was a lot like Sasuke, he couldn't help but wonder what had changed her, and if any part of her was the same.

After arguing for thirty minutes we decided to stay in a rental house for a few days. The women would get supplies and food for the visit, while the men would train and gather information.

They reached their little house and walked up the wooden stairs to the porch, each floor board gave a creepy creak as the team walked on them. Sakura walked behind Sasuke with her hand planted firmly on the rough wood hand rail, she started to slide her hand up before pulling away and letting a stream of curses flow from her mouth.

"Fuck my ...life... Ugh... Dammit..." Sakura mumbled while she stomped up the stairs pulling out long splinters, and angrily throwing them down on the porches wooden platform.

Sasuke unlocked the door before walking in and assigning everyone rooms, and jobs. Karin angrily stomped to her room throwing things out of the way. She was obviously angry that Sakura got to join the team.

"Karin... Use your words.." Sakura mocked a mother talking to a child throwing a tantrum.

Karin screamed and slammed her door shut while Suigutsu and Juugo were laughing and chuckling at her small joke.

"I do impressions to." Sakura said with a smile before joining the men in laughing.

"Ya know pinky I could really get use to you." Suigutsu said with a smile while he tried to hug her. When his arm draped on her shoulders she grabbed it furiously and twisted it, pushing his face against a dusty coffee table that croaked and threatened to break.

"One, Don't call me PINKY and two, don't touch me, we're not friends were casual aquatints, which after a week or two I won't have to deal with." Sakura sneered at him, showing her dissatisfaction.

"geez girl... Your tough... I'll give it a week before I break through." Suigutsu said remaining in a light positive attitude while Sakura dropped his arm, and walked to her respected bedroom.

Sasuke and Juugo had watched her take down Suigutsu, even though Sakura showed no real threat she could catch him off guard that quick an have him in a deadly position. Sasuke went to his room while Suigutsu chatted with a non-caring Juugo.

After an hour of pacing the room, Sakura got up and walked into the silent house. Karin had left to go shopping for herself and her precious Sasuke-kun, The men in team Hebi excluding Karin had gone to train. Sakura was left in the house alone.

"What's the worst that could happen?" Sakura asked out loud.

"A lot my princess... A lot." Deidara's voice echoed from behind her.

"God places the heaviest burdens on those who can handle them." -Muhammad Ali.

I'd like to think my Readers and Reviewers for staying with me through out my story, I know I have some issues and it can be hard to read at times, but I promise I'm getting better and I took the advice I got. Thank you so much Darkshadow400 & Betty69blue & LilyOfTheValley. Please continue to read and Review. I also welcome and recognize other Reviewers, just going to say its awesome when your names written in a story ;)