A/N: Hi everyone. Sorry for the short chapter and slightly late chapter (Sunday). I am down for the count with the flu at the moment so this chapter is going to have to be short. Thank you so much for the great reviews. I am shocked The What Girl has gotten such a good response. Thank you again and I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Don't forget to review!

The What Girl?

Chapter 7: Laying Claim

It was amazing how fast the media worked.

Truly, it was a work of art.

As Sakura and Itachi embraced in the middle of a deserted hall, the world was greeted with surprise after surprise as new developments hit the airways.

It was quite fortunate that the two remained oblivious to what was going on with the media. Otherwise, they would have to deal with a pissed off Sakura Haruno.

And a very peeved Itachi Uchiha.

Fortunately for the two, they continued to live and operate inside their own little bubble as the world was astounded by the developments.

Unfortunately for the two, their worlds had turned inside out.

Too bad they didn't know it yet.

"Itachi, I really think you should let go now." Sakura mumbled as she tried to push away from the strong arms wrapped around her slim frame.

If she was completely honest with herself then she would admit how much she enjoyed being his Itachi's arms.

Too bad she wasn't completely honest.

"Hn." He responded before fully letting her escape from his embrace.

He watched in silence as she took a moment to push an errant strand of hair from her forehead as she looked back at the handsome man in wonder.

Again she was reminded of the question she asked herself earlier.

'Which was the real Uchiha Itachi?'

"Thank you for comforting me." She said finally as the two locked eyes.

Even though his gaze remained stoic, she could see something in his eyes that she hadn't saw before.

"You are very welcome." He said as he turned and ran a hand through his dark locks.

For a moment, Sakura watched in silence as she watched the gorgeous man run his fingers through his inky locks. She was tempted, oh so very tempted, to run her hands through his hair just to see if it was a soft as it looked.

"It is impolite to stare."

Those words brought her back to her reality as she locked eyes with the knowing onyx eyes once again.

She inwardly groaned.

Itachi was a complete pain in the ass!

"Whatever." She muttered as she turned on her heel to stalk down the hall in frustration.

She wanted to go back to check up on Sayuri's mother. She had been gone for a while and she wanted to check to see if the young woman was alright.

She rounded the corner and walked slowly back to the waiting room and looked around. She no longer saw the blond woman and felt disappointment bloom in her heart.

She really wanted to comfort the young woman but she knew she had to remain professional.

She sighed as she picked up her pace and made a turn down the hall toward the nurses desk to pick up her charts.

Her mind continued to wander as the though of Itachi's hug flooded her mind.

He was so warm.

A faint blush settled on her cheeks as she finally made it to her destination.

The sound of the television blaring in the background caught her attention as she noticed a group of nurses surrounding the desk. She groaned inwardly as she realized it was the entertainment network.

She was fairly sure that the topic at her was none other than herself.

Her jade eyes moved over the documents before her eyes as she tried to tune out the sounds of the television.

She was tired of hearing about her so called relationship with Itachi.

Couldn't the paparazzi mind their own business?

She continued to look over the documents with a critical eye as a vibe shook her frame.

She paused in her perusal of the documents and pulled her small phone from her pocket. Sure enough a picture of Babe graced the screen as she stifled a giggle.

She rolled her eyes as she watched the nurses continue to stare at the screen completely oblivious to the actual woman behind them.

"Yes, Pig." She answered finally before the pig left a message.

"Sakura, where are you?" Came a breathless voice over the line.

Her pink eyebrows rose in surprise.

"I'm at the clinic. You know that Pig." Sakura responded as she picked up her charts and began to make her way down the hall toward her small office.

"I know that! Tell me, is Itachi with you?"

If her eyebrow could reach any higher then it could literally be called the people's eyebrow.

"Yes." She muttered as she looked around for the handsome young actor.

"Good. Stay there!" Ino snapped.

"Pig, what is going on?"

The sound of screeching tires and the honk of a horn reached her ears before Ino spoke once again.

"You will find out when I get there. But, whatever you do, don't go outside." Ino said before the line went dead abruptly.

Sakura could only stand there in shock as she thought of her conversation with Ino.

Something was definitely wrong if Ino was coming to her place of work.

She could count on one hand how many times Ino had actually visited the clinic.

Sadly, she only needed one finger to count.

As she continued to stare at her phone, the smell of honey invaded her nostrils. She didn't have to turn around to notice that he was standing behind her.

Hell, she didn't have to turn around to know that he was staring at her.

She closed her eyes before finally speaking.

"What is it, Itachi?"

She could feel him hesitate in responding as she finally opened her eyes and faced him.

Once again she was reminded of just how gorgeous this man was.

Serious dark eyes locked with jade as she noticed the way his strong jaw clenched against his elegant features.

"Hn. We have a problem."

The smell of burnt rubber filled the parking lot as the paparazzi stood outside the Minute Clinic of Konoha. Of course, they were there to take pictures of Konoha's newest "It Couple."

If they would have taken time to notice the fearsome blond stalking in their direction then they would have run away in panic. For a pissed off Ino was a sadistic Ino.

As she stalked up the stairs leading to the clinic, she was highly aware of the paparazzi stationed at every single window at the facility. Fortunately for her, they hadn't noticed her arrival.

Good.

It would make the operation of getting Itachi and Sakura out of the place that much easier.

"I don't understand." She snapped as she glared at the dark haired man.

She could feel the panic clawing at her throat as the thought of the latest headline floated through her mind.

"What in hell do you mean the world thinks we are engaged?"

The mounting frustration as well as the stress was beginning to get to her.

Couldn't the paparazzi just mind their own business!

"This picture was sent to me by Sasuke five minutes ago. Apparently the paparazzi has caught wind of our "engagement."

With trembling hands, she snatched the phone from the man's hands as she stared at the picture in shock.

The picture of her and Itachi hugging graced the front page of every single tabloid in the country. She flipped over to the next picture and almost dropped the phone in shock.

Anger flooded her face as she stared down at the picture of Itachi kissing her forehead with a peaceful expression on his face. Anger continued to boil over until she could no longer see straight.

"What in the hell is this?!" She screeched loudly.

Silence was her answer as the dark haired man just continued to look back at her.

"It looks like a picture of you kissing my forehead when I was unaware."

"Hn." He answered.

Anger filled her features once again.

She stepped closer to the man and reached out and poked him, enunciating each word of her statement.

"You. (poke) Knew (poke) This (poke) Would (poke) Happen (poke)!"

She hissed angrily.

She was five seconds from exploding as she felt her head pound.

"I had no idea this would occur, Haruno Sakura."

Sakura grimaced.

Oh now they were back to a last name basis?

Seriously?

"You knew this could happen!" She yelled as the frustration continued to build.

"I am not a mind reader, Sakura."

"I didn't ask you to read my mind!" She snapped as she got even closer to the man. She was five seconds from fulfilling her wish to kill him.

"Then what are you asking me to do?" Itachi remarked coldly as he crossed his strong arms over his chest.

"I am asking you to end all of this!" She hissed back in annoyance.

She hated how her body continued to respond to his even though she hated his guts at the moment.

"How would you suggest going about that?" He said coldly as his onyx eyes locked with hers.

Anger and frustration was evident across her features as she stared back at the man.

"I want you to tell the world that I am not your girlfriend! I want you to tell them that this was all a hoax! A mistake, anything! I just want my life back!"

Itachi stood there stoically as he watched tears fill the pink haired woman's eyes.

For a moment, his mind and heart conflicted.

Could he really admit to the world that this had been a hoax and he had been only using her?

The idea didn't sit to well with him as he continued to gaze back at her.

"I cannot do that." He answered finally.

Shocked green eyes snapped forward as she stepped inside his private space. If he was a lesser man, then that look would send him running but unfortunately he was Itachi Uchiha.

He never ran.

"Why can't you huh?" She ranted.

She turned on her heel and began to pace back and forth as he watched in mild amusement.

It was quite entertaining to see her so worked up over a kiss to the forehead.

He vaguely wondered how she would respond to a kiss to something else.

"I just cannot." He answered finally as his eyes locked with hers.

She could only watched fascinated as he finally stopped her with a pull to the wrist. She stopped in her tracks as the suddenness hit her.

She felt her mouth drop open as she finally noticed that he was now inside her own personal bubble.

Amused onyx eyes locked with shocked green as the grip at her wrist tightened.

"What are...you doing..." She whispered as the two continued to lock eyes in a soundless battle.

"Hn."

A squeak left her lips as a smooth arm slid around her waist in a moment reminiscent to a prince claiming his princess.

She could only stare as a smooth smirk slid across his lips.

"Claiming." He answered before he smoothly leaned forward and claimed her lips with his own.

For Sakura, the world stopped on its axis.

She felt the tingles run down her body as her mind exploded in bliss.

It felt so right, yet so wrong at the same time.

'No!' Her mind screamed.

The heat from his lips awed her before she pulled away suddenly.

She couldn't do this!

"I can't." She whispered as she stared back at the man as anger tore through her.

"Why can't you?" He whispered softly as he continued to analyze her features.

The answer never came as a loud screech was heard and soft arms wrapped around her.

"Forehead!"

Sakura muttered in surprise as Ino grabbed her from Itachi's arms to hug her as if she was going to fly away.

"Pig. What. Hell?" She exploded as the blond continued to squeeze her tightly.

"I just saw the news and I knew I had to get down here ASAP. " Ino squeaked as she finally noticed Itachi glaring at her.

She gazed back and forth between the two as she finally felt the tension in the room.

"Did I just interrupt something?"

Bright baby blue eyes watched the scene unfold before her eyes as she slid her IPhone into her pocket. It was amazing just how much the two acted like a couple when no one was watching.

Sure, she had her doubts the moment the two walked into the clinic but as the day went on she was convinced the two were in love with each other.

As her pager vibed, the brunette thought about the picture she had just took.

She was fairly sure the paparazzi would pay by the boatload for these next pictures.

As she turned toward to make her way back toward the nurses station, she pursed her lips in thought.

If Sakura or anyone else found out that she was the one behind the pictures then surely would lose her job as a nurse.

Luna paused as she looked back toward the scene once again.

Even though they couldn't see it, she could see the love developing there.

Luna smiled as she walked away.

She would send those pictures to the press, only because she wanted them to see just how much love really did exist between the two.

She was doing Sakura a favor right?

I mean, after all she was Konoha's newest It Girl.

"Did I interrupt something?" Ino asked again as she continued to look back and forth between the two people staring at each other.

She felt her best friend tremble as the dark haired man turned away coldly.

"You did not." He answered coldly as he turned to walk away.

Ino moved forward to stop the man before a tug at her arm topped her in her tracks.

"Ino-Pig, what are you doing here?" Sakura said softly as she stared at her best friend who was looking in the direction where the dark haired man went.

"Sakura, what the hell just happened?" Ino snapped.

Silence filled the area as the two women continued to lock eyes.

"Nothing."

"Hmph."

"So, why are you here?"

The blond remained quiet for a moment before answering.

"The media thinks you are engaged."

Silence.

The blond watched the uneasy look fill the pink haired woman's eyes, before it cleared completely.

"I..."

"I am here to get you two out of here."

The pink haired woman remained quiet as she continued to stare at the blue eyed woman.

"No." Another voice cut in.

"But..." Ino began as she turned toward the voice.

"I think it is appropriate that I speak with Sakura about what is happening." Itachi cut in swiftly.

"I don't want to speak to you anything Itachi Uchiha!" Sakura snapped suddenly.

Ino continued to watch in silence as she watched her best friend glare at the man who was now her "fiancee."

"Haruno, you do not have a choice!"

"Like hell I do!" She screeched as she turned on her heel ad stalked down the hall angrily.

"Where are you going?"

The two people followed closely as the pink haired woman continued to fume as she walked down the hall. She only paused for a moment, to glare at the dark haired man before continuing on to her destination.

The three drew closer and closer toward the exit as Itachi tried to grab her hand in protest.

He had a clue as to what she was going to do and he was not going to allow it.

"What are you doing, Forehead?" Ino hissed as the pink haired continued forward her green eyes blazing.

"I am finally putting an end to this mess!" Sakura threw out as she continued down the hall.

"Haruno, stop this at once."

Sakura stopped and turned back to the man who had made her simple life a living hell.

"I won't."

"Forehead, you're only going to make things worse by announcing this." Ino cut in as she looked back between the two once again.

She had a sneaking suspicion that something happened but she knew Sakura would tell her when she was ready.

"How would I make it worse, Pig! I would finally get my life back and this jerk could finally leave me alone!"

"Sakura, I think you are overreacting."

"No, Pig." Sakura said softly as she stood at the front door. "For the first time, I am doing something correctly."

Those were her last words as the door opened and the pink haired woman was tossed into the world of flashing lights.

Beyond the door, the dark haired actor watched as Sakura took a step into his world. For a moment, he longed to save her but he knew this was something she needed to do.

He was fairly sure the press was not going to believe her words but he decided to allow her to continue anyway.

He had learned a long time ago that when it came to the press, they would spin any story to make a story.

He watched as the paparazzi continued to scream at the woman for more pictures and a glance at her "engagement" ring.

The screaming continued as Sakura tried to speak with no avail.

The paparazzi didn't want to hear anything she had to say.

"Aren't you going to save her?" Ino asked from his side as they stood and watched as Sakura tried repeatedly to talk with the press.

"Hn." He responded as he watched Sakura wave her arms in frustration.

"They are going to eat her alive." Ino commented as she continued to watch in awe.

Now she understood why so many stars were hesitant to speak with the press. They only took what they wanted and didn't make time for anything else.

"Hn." Itachi agreed, as he finally took a step forward to join the pink haired woman on the concrete sidewalk.

The cameras flashes exploded in high volume as he finally stepped into the picture next to the woman. He could hear the comments from the paparazzi as they continued to hound for photograph after photograph.

He leaned forward to whisper in his companion's ear, as she continued to watch the flashing lights around her. He could tell that she was frightened by the amount of pictures being taken, which was why he stepped out to join her in the first place.

"It is not as you imagined." He whispered softly into her ear as she continued to stare forward with glazed eyes.

She turned to him with a blank gaze as she finally caught the dark eyes looking back at her.

The flashes continued at a rapid pace as the world was graced with picture after picture of a young couple in love. Or rather a young couple that "looked" like they were in love.

"It is not." She whispered as she nodded toward the flashes and paparazzi.

"Will you still announce it?" He asked suddenly as he continued to stare at her.

A thoughtful expression crossed her features as she began to reevaluate her thoughts. Maybe Ino was right.

She was overreacting.

"Not at the moment. " She whispered softly as she leaned forward to whisper in his ear once again.

That single moment was captured for the world to see as they watched the exchanged whispers and soft touches.

"Hn."

"What are we going to do?" She muttered as a bout of claustrophobia began to set in.

She wasn't claustrophobic by nature but with the way the paparazzi surrounded her, she was beginning to feel uneasy.

"Follow my lead." He said softly as he reached out and took her hand.

The warmth of his hand was comforting as she was pulled even deeper into the crowd. She entwined her fingers with his as they bypassed the paparazzi to the limo waiting a few steps away.

They had finally reached the car when a tug stopped her progress.

She looked up into those smoky eyes as he leaned forward to peck her at the corner of her mouth.

Heat rushed to her face as the camera flashes continued to explode around them.

Flash after flash was taken as the door finally opened and she was pushed into the car.

She could only see the fleeting look in his dark eyes as he pushed her in and he stood outside blocking pictures from being taken.

With a tap on the hood of the car, the limo shot forward and the pink haired doctor was taken way.

Safe.

Far away from the prying eyes and the paparazzi.

He sighed as he turned back toward the cameras.

He had to find a way to fix this.

He like Sakura wanted one thing and that was his life back.

But, unlike Sakura he wanted his life back but he wanted one thing added to it.

That one thing? You ask?

Was none other Sakura Haruno herself.

As the world was graced with picture after picture of the young couple, a young Shisui Uchiha sat in front of his dear friend Hana Inuzuka who was ranked at one of the best actresses in the entire country.

"Please, Hana! Please!" Shisui asked he groveled at his friend.

The beautiful brown eyed Hana glared back at Shisui before shaking her head.

"Shisui, I will not pretend to be Itachi's girlfriend to make Sakura jealous."

"But, you saw the pictures...they- they-re perfect for each other!" Shisui howled as Hana threw a small pillow at him.

She rolled her eyes as the thought of her two best friends from childhood. She knew it was pretty much uncharacteristic for Itachi to talk about anyone he dated. But, she had no idea where Shisui got the idea of making Sakura jealous to prove a point.

Didn't he realize that if a woman wanted a man then she would claim him?

"Shisui, Itachi has never been interested in me. I don't see why you feel the need to resort to something like this."

Shisui's dark eyes gleamed as he looked back at his friend who was looking back at him in confusion.

"I am doing this because I want them to become a real couple."

Hana looked back at her television as picture after picture floated across the screen.

"If you are worried about that then there's no need." Hana remarked dryly, as she pointed at the screen.

The two looked as the pictures continued across the screen.

"Shit." Shisui muttered as he watched the pictures.

His phone lit up brightly as a cursed slipped from his lips again.

This was bad.

Really bad.

He was pretty sure the interview he had just given Konan about Itachi's situation had just reached the press.

He had a bad feeling about this.

He was pretty sure Itachi was going to kick his ass.

A/N:Yes, Shisui has been a bad boy. Shit will really hit the fan next chapter. Until next time!