A/N: Oh my! Sorry everyone for the late, late chapter. Thanks everyone for being so patient. I could give a million excuses for my absence but I am pretty sure you don't want to hear those so I'll end my note here. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about this chapter. Thanks again for wonderful reviews from before. Hope you enjoy!

The What Girl?

Chapter 8: Confession, Confusion, and Sakura

She was growing restless.

Truly, restless.

As she sat on the sofa in her small living room 5pm that evening, Sakura couldn't believe just how much the press had found out about her. Not only were they up to date on her favorite movies, food, and activities but they even knew her college GPA.

She groaned as she picked up a chocolate chip cookie and brought it to her mouth.

Could this situation possibly get any worse?

The sound of the doorbell reached her ears as she contemplated moving. She was tired of the phone calls, emails, and text messages from people she once knew.

Hell, her old college boyfriend even came out of the woodwork to congratulate her on her "relationship."

The doorbell rang once again as she finally pulled herself into an upright position and slid off the couch.

Her shoulders slumped as she thought of who could possibly be at her door.

Was it the press...again?

She sighed as she brushed back a fly-away strand of rose locks from her eyes.

She shifted her shoulders she raised on her tip toes and peeked through the peep hole.

It was with that one look her eyes widened.

"I'm in deep crap now." She muttered as finally pulled open the door before her guest could ring the doorbell once again.

On her doorstep stood a woman in her late forties with bright blond hair with a single bang in the front. Even though the bangs obscured most of her face, it did not hide the beautiful jade of her eyes.

A bright smile slid across her features as she noted the pink haired woman in front of her eyes.

Sakura had a moment's notice before she was wrapped swiftly into a hug.

A deep sigh left her as she embraced the woman she had known her entire life.

"Mom, if you squeeze any harder I am going to break." She muttered as she tried to pull away from the woman.

The blond woman pulled away swiftly but continued to keep a firm grip on the young doctor.

Sakura watched as her mother's jade eyes narrowed.

She knew what was coming.

All she had to do was wait for it.

3, 2, 1...

The reaction was just as expected.

The blond woman gripped the woman and gave her a sticky sweet smile that sent a chill down Sakura's spine.

'Shit.'

"Sakura Haruno! When were you going to inform me that you were engaged to Uchiha Itachi!" She screamed loudly as her face turned a bright red.

Sakura groaned as she tried to back away from her ranting mother.

"But, mom..."

The blond, formally known as Mebuki Haruno continued to glare at her child.

"Don't you but mom me, Sakura! Shouldn't I have known first!"

"Mom!"

"You're pregnant, aren't you? Is that the reason why you didn't want to tell me!" Mebuki said with a soft smile.

"I'm no..."

"Oh, we have so much to do!" Mebuki cut in with a bright smile as she finally let go of her confused daughter.

"But, mom.."

"Have you found a wedding dress yet?" Mebuki said with a smile as she clasped her hands together as she tried to imagine her only child getting married.

"Mom, I haven't..."

"Good then! We can go tomorrow!" Mebuki cut in quickly as she turned to the doorstep to grab the suitcase she had left outside.

"But.." Sakura tried again to no avail.

"No butts." Mebuki said with the same sticky sweet smile.

Sakura sighed.

"Yes, mother."

Mebuki smiled at her daughter once again.

"Good. Now come help me with my bags." She demanded.

Sakura looked back longingly at her chocolate chip cookies and comfortable couch.

She had a sneaking suspicion that this would be visit from her mother would be one for the record books.

She hated that feeling.

One hour later, one blond haired blue eyed woman opened the door leading to her best friend's house.

After the scene at the clinic earlier, she and Itachi and decided to get the hell out of the place.

Unfortunately, that was easier said than done.

Not only were the paparazzi were hounding for picture after picture but they apparently had no intention of letting the elder Uchiha leave.

Of course, she had been worried about Sakura which was the reason why she was there in the first place.

"Sak, are you here?" She called out as she walked into the living room.

She stopped in her tracks as she noticed the very tidy living room.

A tingle raced down her spine as she tried to recall the last time she saw Sakura's living room so tidy.

The only time she could recall such a thing a happening was when Sakura's mother was in...

"Oh shit." She muttered as she tried to back away slowly as to not make a noise.

She was almost to the door when a chipper voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Ino-chan, is that you!" A voice called.

"Damn almost made it." She said softly as she turned around to notice the blond haired woman standing at the doorway of the living room.

"Mebuki-san!" Ino greeted politely.

She nodded her head in greeting.

She was, however; unprepared for the bone crushing hug the woman inflicted upon her poor body.

"Ino-chan, it has been so long since I saw you! How have you been?" The woman rambled as Ino closed her eyes to keep the headache at bay.

Now, Ino could admit that Sakura's mother was a fantastic woman but she had never met someone so over-exuberant in her entire life. Not only was Mebuki Haruno kind-hearted and gentle but apparently she loved everyone she came into contact with and unfortunately that included her.

"I've been good." Ino muttered breathlessly as she tried to escape the hug.

"That's so good to hear dear!" Mebuki said with a smile as the blond finally escaped her grasp.

"I am surprised to see you here." Ino commented with a smile as her eyes scanned the room for her friend.

"Of course, I couldn't miss my only daughter's engagement." Mebuki said with a smile as Ino looked back at her with a blank stare.

She inwardly groaned.

Geez, the paparazzi really did a number on Sakura's life.

In less than two days, Sakura had gone from unknown doctor to Konoha's It Girl.

"Even though the proposal is very recent, I feel Sakura should have gone shopping for her dress as soon as he proposed!" Mebuki rambled on completely ignoring the confused look in the other blond's eyes.

"Where is Sakura right now?" Ino asked as she looked around the very neat living area.

"Oh she is one the phone with that fiance of hers." Mebuki answered happily.

The woman was so caught up in her own thoughts that she completely missed the look of panic in Ino's eyes.

Sakura was on the phone with Itachi?

Ino groaned inwardly as she continued to block Mebuki out.

If Sakura was on the phone, then surely hell must have frozen over.

As she watched Mebuki continued to ramble about bridesmaid's dresses and flower girls, Ino felt as if she had slipped into the twilight zone.

'Yep' she confirmed.

Hell must have frozen over.

At 6:15 pm one bubbly dark haired woman smiled as she saw the various images on the screen. As she clicked the picture of her handsome son and his future bride, Uchiha Mikoto clapped her hand in happiness.

"They are so beautiful together." she squealed happily.

She clicked on the large sized picture on the Itachi Uchiha fanclub Facebook page and was amazed by the immediate backlash against her future pink haired daughter.

The smile slid from her features as she read the comments. The comments ranged from words of congratulations to tear filled, angsty love letters to her son.

But, one comment on the page stood out to her as she scrolled down the page to read it once again.

One person apparently still thought Itachi was gay.

Not only did she not believe in Itachi and Sakura's relationship but she inferred that Itachi was using Sakura to pretend that he was not gay.

A frown lined her features as she continued to read the comments, the woman was so focused that she never noticed the door opening.

Black heels clicked against the marble floors as the red haired woman stood in the doorway watching her best friend click frantically. A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she watched the anger that filled Mikoto's face.

"Hmph, is this how you greet your best friend?" The redhead blurted loudly.

A squeal left the black haired woman stood up from her laptop and rushed over to hug her best friend.

"Kushina, I thought you wouldn't be here until tomorrow." Mikoto said with a smile as she finally pulled away from her friend.

If the vibrant redhead was tired from her flight from Suna then she didn't show it as a mischievous smile slid across her pretty face.

"I was going to leave tomorrow but Minato wanted me here today." Kushina replied with a smile.

She looked Mikoto's shoulder at the still open Facebook page as she stepped around her friend.

"I heard about Itachi's predicament." Kushina said softly as she walked over to the laptop and slid into the plush seat.

Mikoto rolled her eyes as she followed her friend. Of course, Kushina heard about Itachi's predicament! She was the one who published the story about Sakura being a heart-breaker.

"Kushina, there are some people who still believe Itachi is gay." Mikoto said sadly as she still onto the plush sofa of the den.

"I see." Kushina said quietly as she looked over at her best friend who was looking down in sadness. She knew Mikoto was craving grandchildren, especially after her husband died.

She knew that look.

Her best friend was lonely.

In her own way, she understood. Naruto was her only child and he had chose Sasuke as a mate. Sure, she would never get biologically grandchildren but she was gaining Sasuke as a son.

She was just happy her son found love.

Most people never found love.

She loved Sasuke like he was her own and she was happy to have him.

She understood why she was now pushing for Itachi to have children. She was afraid that she would die before it actually happened.

"Well, I have a suggestion." Kushina mumbled as she looked at the picture of Sakura and Itachi holding hands as the paparazzi surrounded them from all sides.

"What is it, Kushina-chan?"

The violet eyed woman smiled as she turned away from the screen.

Mikoto inwardly groaned as she noted the look in Kushina's eyes. She knew that look. It was the same look Kushina kept on her face as a child when she was up to something.

"What you need here is a good old fashioned passionate kiss." Kushina said with a twinkle as she smiled at her best friend.

Mikoto shot to her feet so fast that her heels screeched against the marble floor.

"What?!"

"Oh don't look so surprised." Kushina said with a laugh.

"But, Itachi wouldn't do that if his life depended on it."

Kushina chuckled once again as she watched the outraged look on her best friend's face. She knew Itachi was old fashioned like his father but as she scanned the pictures from what the media called the "Uchiha Massacre" she noticed the look in Itachi's eyes before Sakura threw the water in his face.

She knew that look.

She could recognize it anywhere.

It was the same look her husband gave her when he wanted to...er kiss her.

Itachi desired Sakura Haruno.

She was sure of it.

She was willing to bet her media empire on it.

"Listen to me, Mikoto." Kushina said suddenly as she enlarged the picture of Sakura and Itachi walking together toward the clinic. She turned the screen in Mikoto's direction as the woman watched with a blank look.

"Mikoto, you were married 20 years. Surely, you recognize this look." Kushina said with a laugh.

Mikoto walked over toward the desk and looked at the laptop in mild interest.

She stared at the screen for a full minute before a her eyes light up in laughter.

"I don't know how I missed this before!" She grumbled as she picked up the phone to make a phone call.

Kushina laughed merrily as she clicked through the next set of pictures.

She was momentarily startled as the Facebook page updated and a new picture flooded the site.

She gasped as she glanced at the screen in shock. A few seconds passed before laughter bubbled in her throat.

'Well, that was quick.'

She turned to Mikoto to notice that she was still on the phone.

"Mikoto." She hissed loudly.

Mikoto only had a few seconds of notice before a paper ball collided with the back of her head.

"What?"

She turned and glared at her friend before Kushina stood up and stalked over to where she stood with the laptop in hand.

"Yo, get off the phone!" Kushina said happily before she shoved the laptop into Mikoto's unwilling hands.

The sound of an IPhone 5 hit the floor as Mikoto gaped at the image before her eyes.

Kushina's violet eyes twinkled as she noticed the surprised look on her friend's face.

"I'm a genius, dabattyane!"

"But..." Mikoto began, as she continued to stare at the picture.

"But, nothing!" Kushina said loudly before holding her side in laughter.

"I can't believe he..."

"Damn straight!" Kushina said happily as she picked up her designer bag.

"But..."

"He did." Kushina said with a smile as she looked at her shell shocked friend.

"But...I.."

"Oh C'mon Mikoto! They have been dancing around this for a while..It's only logical that he would act on instinct."

"He..."

"Yes, he did." Kushina said with an evil chuckle.

"Well, that certainly changes things." Mikoto said with a smile.

"Indeed. So, what is your next step Mrs. Uchiha?"

"Hn."

The room was quiet as the two women stared at the picture in awe.

"So, how much you wanna bet Sakura is freaking out right now?" Kushina said with a snort.

Mikoto was quiet for a few moments before looking back at the picture.

"Hn..Honestly, I don't think she looks too upset."

Kushina laughed as she turned away from the picture and began to make her way toward the kitchen to make a meal.

"I wouldn't be too upset either if a hot guy was kissing me either." Kushina said with a chuckle.

Mikoto smiled softly as she looked down at the screen.

She was looking forward to planning the wedding.

It was going to be the biggest thing to hit Konoha since...well ever.

"Shusui, you have to tell Itachi about what you did." Hana commented as she slid her arms into her posh leather jacket.

She watched with curious eyes as she watched the curly haired Uchiha turned a sickly green.

She could imagine the images floating through his head.

"But, that would involve me telling Itachi what I have done." Shusui pouted as he watched his friend continue to get dressed.

"Damn right." Hana retorted with a raised eyebrow.

She could understand Shisui's logic for wanting his cousin to get involved with a woman but this was absolutely ridiculous. Itachi was a 32 year old man.

Surely, he doesn't need his 34 year old cousin playing matchmaker for him.

"But..."

"No butts, Shisui." Hana snapped. "Either you tell Itachi what you have done or the press tell him."

Shisui dropped his head in defeat as he mentally made out his will.

Itachi was going to murder him.

"Besides..." Hana chirped. "Either way Itachi is going to kill you regardless."

Shisui gulped.

That was the one thing he was worried about.

That evening one dark haired Uchiha sat in a chair backstage as he allowed the makeup artist to put makeup on his face.

The silence from the makeup artist was a welcomed change from the usual makeup artists he had met. Many of the makeup artists were fangirls or fanboys who were always trying to seek an autograph or his phone.

He sighed mentally as he thought over what he was going to say during his interview with Konan this evening.

Not only was she the most popular reporter in country but she was notorious for dropping bombshells on her guests in order to get the jump on her competitor.

A chill raced along his spine as he tried to imagine the type of questions she would ask.

Would she ask about the whole Sakura situation or would she ignore it completely?

Even though he was originally there to speak about his new film, he knew the burning question would come up whether he wanted it to or not.

He closed his eyes for a few minutes to meditate as the makeup artist finished her task and slipped out of the dressing room unnoticed.

He had to prepare mentally for this interview even though he really didn't want to.

Bright lights filled the studio before it exploded in applause.

On this stage, stars were born. Dreams were crushed. Secrets...well they were pesky little things that never stayed hidden for long.

As she clutched her notes in between her fingertips, Konan internally squealed in excitement at being the one to break the news of Uchiha Itachi faking his relationship with Sakura Haruno.

On one hand, she felt sympathy for the young actor who valued his private life.

She understood the need to be away from the spotlight even though she was born to do so.

But, what she couldn't understand was why Itachi just didn't tell everyone that he had simply misspoke.

If he had been honest with the public then they would have forgiven him for such a comment.

As she walked out and addressed her audience she could feel the room buzz in anticipation.

Tonight would be one for the record books.

With the information she held in her hands, she was sure that this would be the moment that defined her career.

To think, when it was all over, she had Uchiha Shisui to thank.

The moment he stepped onto the stage, he felt it.

That impending sense of doom that seemed to follow him around lately.

As he shook hands with the beautiful, blue haired host, his mind drifted off to the moment where he kissed Sakura for the first time.

He knew he was supposed to pay attention to his host but his mind continued to drift.

He wondered what she was thinking.

When she pushed away, the only thing he felt was a feeling of something...

What it was, he wasn't quite sure.

"So, Itachi tell me a little bit about your relationship with Sakura?" Konan asked as she waved out at the clapping crowd.

Apparently, he had missed the moment where she steered the conversation toward his relationship.

"What is it you wish to know?" He said suavely as he smiled at the crowd.

Catcalls as well as swooning sighs filled the air, as the camera zoomed in on the handsome Uchiha with the face of an angel.

"Word is that this relationship is becoming serious...tell me were you really prepared to marry her?"

Silence filled the room as the crowd awaited the man's answer.

For a moment, it lingered before the sound of a twinkling laugh filled the air.

"Marriage. I do believe I am too young for that Konan." Itachi said with a smirk as he winked at the crowd.

Tensions eased as the catcalls continued before Konan proceeded with her next question.

"Well, since you are making a game of dodging my questions Itachi. I figure I would ask you a direct one...Are you faking your relationship with Sakura Haruno?"

Once again silence filled the room as Itachi stared blankly at the blue haired woman before his eyes.

Before a response could escape his lips, the blue haired woman continued but this time there was a bite to her voice.

"According to your cousin, Shisui, this whole thing was a sham from the beginning. You're not in love with her and she's not in love with you."

Gasps escaped the audience as Konan continued on with her evidence like a pit bull with a bone.

"This whole entire thing was a sham. If you had just mentioned that it was your little brother Sasuke in the picture then this entire thing could have been avoided. Tell me, Itachi. Do you go around mumbling random girls names when trying to find a date? If so, where can I get on the list?"

Silence filled the room as the camera zoomed in, taking in every single moment in detail.

Inside, Itachi felt this weight lift from his chest as he stared back the blue haired woman who was now glaring at him.

As much as he wanted to ignore her words, she was correct.

If he had been honest from the beginning then this entire thing wouldn't have taken place.

The image of bright green eyes filled his mind before a fleeting smile crossed his face.

If he had been honest then he would have never met Sakura...again.

He wouldn't have found the one who irritated as well as excited him.

He was thankful for this situation even though it turned his life into a living hell.

And now...now was a perfect moment to let her know...

For the first or maybe second time in his career, he was going to tell the truth.

Whether he wanted to or not was no longer of consequence.

He had to do what he had to do.

Two pairs of eyes watched the screen in worry as the dark haired man sat in silence.

Even though his death was unavoidable, Shisui couldn't help but to worry about cousin.

"I hope you know that Itachi's going to kill you, right?" Hana asked as she took a sip of her soda.

She watched as the handsome man in front of her eyes deflated like a balloon.

"Yes, I know, Hana." He said quietly as he continued to stare at the screen.

Shisui couldn't help but to wonder what was running through Itachi's mind at this moment.

One thing he knew for sure was this was by far the stupidest thing he had ever done.

He was lost in his thoughts when the sound of Itachi's answer filled the air.

"Hn..I have never said I was not in love with her. It sounds like the misconception may lie with your information source."

Somewhere deep inside, Shisui heard the sound of the angels in heaven smiling down on him.

Even though he knew he was going to die, just hearing Itachi say those words was enough to send him to heaven.

Those words were as much as a confession they could expect from Itachi...

Shisui smiled as he stared back at the screen.

For once, he did something right...

On the other side of town, two, stunned pairs of eyes stared blankly at the screen.

Silence filled the room, as the television showed commercial after commercial.

Finally, the stunned silence was broken the sound of one ponytailed, blue eyed blond choking on her own spit.

"Forehead...I think..."

"Yeah..." The pink haired woman answered as she continued to stare blankly at the screen.

"Did...just...confess?"

Silence.

"Wow..."

"Yeah..."

"So, what are you going to do now?"

Silence...

"I don't know...But, maybe now is the time to become the nun I had always planned to be..."

Silence filled the room before the pink haired woman's words hit its mark.

"A nun..."

"Yeah..."

Silence...

"A nun! Wait...what the hell Sakura!"

"Yeah..."

"So, you're going to run away Like the Sound of Music or something?"

Silence.

"Idiot, did you forget that you aren't Catholic and not a virgin?"

A sigh filled the room.

"Damnit...I knew I was forgetting something"

A/N: This is not the end...We have one more chapter left...I think...