Sorry if this isn't very good I haven't slept yet and I'm now running on fumes. I'll probably update tonight. I gotta go I'm sorry. Please review.

By the end of the day Sakura had a headache. Deidara and Haku had come by to say goodbye. Haku wasn't comfortable with the thought of marriage especially to someone he didn't know. Deidara simply stated that he thought she was a masochist and he was no sadist. He told her if she liked that sort of thing she should have drug Hidan out of his hole. This earned him a face plant into a tree after putting a hole in her wall. He didn't understand that she was trying to give them a new start. She knew that he wouldn't be the man to marry her in the end. She was giving him an opportunity to experience life without the restriction of being a missing ninja. She had no idea why he had even come back to participate if he wasn't at least confused about how he felt for her.

Next came the messengers in droves. Each handing over packages from he admirers. Some were peace offerings to stay in her good graces while others were to win her favor. Iwa sent rock rice cakes the regions specialty. Kiri sent Kirin Nectar another regional specialty. Gaara had sent her sand dumplings his village's specialty. Kankuro sent her a top that when spun gave the illusion of a cherry blossom on its face

She met up with Mangetsu Hozuki for lunch as planned. He was a gentleman but that's where the pleasantries ended. He didn't talk unless he was ordering or when he needed water to stay hydrated. Trying to make the lunch pleasant was a waste of time and energy. As soon as they had finished their meals he told the waiter that she would be paying for the meal and abruptly left. Quickly she paid and walked after Hozuki with a growl. When she caught up with him she promptly handed him a black scroll and slapped him. The look on his face was priceless. It felt almost as good as crushing Sauske's ribs the day before.

Yahiko had spotted her on her way back to the compound and stopped her. By this time all she wanted to to was go to bed. He had asked her what was wrong the second he looked into her eyes. This only served to make her both angry and tear up. Seeing this Yahiko pulled her out of view so that no one would see her moment of weakness. She explained that she hated to date, and that the elders were the ones behind the stupid competition. She began to open up about the horrible date she had just been subjected to. This just caused him to pull the slender woman into his arms and hold her as she continued on. She spoke of Deidara and Haku's visits as he stroked her hair. When she had finished her venting he just smiled at her and said: 'They are fools if they cannot see how wonderful you are. Lets go to get some ice cream my treat. Now take off that silly makeup. It hides your true beauty and you look uncomfortable in it.'

Yahiko's smile was infectious and he gave her a sense of safety as he stood by her no more than a few inches away from her. He allowed her to feed off of his strength so she could rebuild her own just like Kiba and Akamaru did. He paid for the sweet frozen treats drew her away from her problems just for a little while at least. He told her what it was like when he was growing up, about Nagato, and Konan when they were children. Then he told her how the village was doing and how he accidentally walked in on his friends in the middle of sex. Sakura laughed as he recounted his tale of mental scaring and he found that he liked it. He found himself telling her things just to hear it again. When the sun began to set he kindly walked her home and was rewarded with a smile and a warm hug that he wished lasted longer. She smelled of warmth and strawberries, the flesh of her arms were like silk, and her eyes were like sparkling emeralds. Then he heard the one phrase that made him feel the looming doom. 'Your such a good friend Yahiko.'

When Sakura entered her home she found Lee attempting to bribe Naruto with sake. Quickly removing the danger from the room and giving both men a black eye she huffed. Naruto started to ask her about her preferences in a man. Tall or short, blond or brunette, how tall was to tall. She answered suspiciously while prying Lee from her person and kicked him out. Naruto nagged her for hours about dating, when was the right time to make a move, and many many many more things. She assumed he was asking her this so he could give Hinata a date to remember. All in all she was tired and had a headache. So she pushed him out the door and locked it for good measure. Now she sat in the sitting room trying to go over more arrangements for dinners and any extra activities they had planned. She also got the black scrolls ready.

An hour later she was interrupted by a servant with a towel and her bath soaps within a bucket. A soft understanding smile on her aged face as she motioned for Sakura to follow. Following her to the bath she sighed with to much on her mind. Sitting waist deep in the water she felt her muscles relax a bit. The servant began to wash her back humming gently like her mother did when she was a child. When her bath was finished she was led to her room and began to brush out her long hair. The comb was soothing as it ran across her scalp. Her eyes became heavy and soon she was asleep. She was tucked in gently and the lights were turned off. As she began to drift into slumber she heard the maid speaking just beyond the door.

"You were right Uchiha-san all she needed was a little TLC and she's fast asleep." The maid voice was tender and loving.

"I am glad to hear that she is resting peacefully. I will take my leave now. Shisui don't play with Sakura's tapestries. " Itachi's voice drifted to her ears before she completely blacked out. Itachi glanced into her room once more before they left.

"Are we sure that this plan of Nara's is going to work?" Shisui asked with a sigh.

"No we are not that is why I am taking extra precautions to ensure success." Itachi shot back.

"Your upset? Why?" Only Shisui, Mikoto, and now Sakura could tell when he was upset. It was honestly a little unnerving but comforting at the same time.

"It's nothing Shisui."

"You dont like how close the guy Yahiko got to Sakura right. It's either that or the Hozuki kid treating her like crap." Shisui continued.

"I will deal with them later Shisui now drop it." Itachi growled.

"Fine but you know Aunt Mikoto isn't going to let it go so easily."

"I will deal with my mother when I am ready." Itachi growled knowing that it was going to be a very long night.