Author's Note: It's pretty late now and I figured while my computer is actually working now, I might as well post this up. My computer just stopped working since the last time I updated...though I was really hoping to put this up much sooner. I was on a roll! So here is is. Please enjoy and don't forget to let me know what you think. I really appreciate all of your comments :)

Disclaimer: Just when you thought Sasuke finally got his senses...Don't own Naruto.

Requested by: Crazy Neko Girl

Previous Chapter: As he took a moment to reflect, he heard a small rustling sound. A bit surprised he stood up, preparing to leave if need be. As he peeked around the tree, he was able to make out a figure approaching the plot. Narrowing his eyes slightly he continued to watch, wondering who could out out here this late. As he continued to watch the person, the person unknowing that there was someone else there continued their way to the plot...more specific the tree where Deidara was hiding behind. Noticing this, Deidara was about to leave when something stopped him dead in his tracks and knocked the breath out of him. Just then, a sliver of moonlight lit up the whole plot and there standing in front of him in a white sundress was the very girl who haunted his dreams for the past year and a half.

"Sakura.." He gasped under his breath.

Earlyer that night

Laying on her back in bed, she looked up at the ceiling. Her eyes drifted over to the pink rose in a small vase on her dresser. Her eyes narrowed. She was starting to get annoyed. She remembered a few weeks ago that Naruto hinted to her that she was starting to get obsessed over the roses. Since that day they didn't talk about it, but it continued to dig in the back of her mind. She wanted answers now!

So it started out with her going early in the morning but there was no rose. Then she tried very early in the morning, yet again the rose was not there. So she tried early then late in the afternoon. Still the rose wasn't there. Perplexed, she eventually concluded that the person must be coming once a week and it was always the day before she would go to the lot to change the flowers.

What troubled her so was not the fact that the rose was so isolated. She couldn't put a finger on it, but something about that rose brought up memories of the past. As much as she tried to remember, she couldn't and that got her to be even more obsessed with wanting to know.

So with her mind made up, she got out of bed and threw on the fist thing she saw, which was a white sundress and grabbed her slippers and keys by the door and left the house. It was a very beautiful and slightly musky night. It didn't feel too cool or too hot but there was a sweet and thick smell in the air. As she got closer to the lot, the sane part of her contentious kicked in. what the hell are you doing out here at this time of night?! Are you crazy?!

Guess so. She thought nonchalantly as she continued to walk. There's just something I need to know...and until I get those answers this is just gonna continue to bother me. When she got there, she walked towards the tree both to check if the rose was there and to wait. As she got a bit closer the light of the moon suddenly lit up the place slightly and she saw the rose sitting on the swing. She sighed deeply. Again she missed the person! Feeling discouraged, she was about to turn and walk away when she stopped. It was faint...but she could have sworn she heard someone whisper her name...but upon looking around she didn't see anyone. Was she imagining things? A little scared she called out in a small voice "Is someone there?"

A Ghost. Has to be a ghost. But after all this time, why on earth would I finally see her ghost? Frozen stunned, he continued to look at what he swore was a ghost as it drew closer to him. He held his breath and started to back away slowly so as not make a sound.

Sakura reached the swing and picked up the rose, then sat down on the swing and rocked back and forth. She wasn't sure how much more of this she could take. She was able to narrow down the day which helped a little on her sleep, but not by much cause she'd be up at night with thoughts on who ever it must be leaving those roses.

"Are you leaving those roses for me?" Sakura asked softly to no one in particular.

However to Deidara, his eyes widen in shock. Upon looking at her, he was starting to get the idea that she probably wasn't a ghost. A Hallucination? His mind was whirling. He didn't know wither to confirm if he was just seeing things or if it really was her. But he was so sure it wasn't. Besides, it's dark out, he could barely make out the features. He was so sure that she was home during the explosion and thus she was dead. However, something suddenly came to his mind that should have been so obvious then...

To him despite everything, Sakura's parents meant a lot to him. They were more like parents to him then his own parents. Losing them, although not the same as losing Sakura, was really hard. Besides visiting this plot, he would also go and visit their graves. But never once did he see Sakura's grave. At first he thought that maybe he was so distraught over her her death that he mentally blocked out ever seeing her grave. What if she never died?

The sudden thought was too much for him to bare and suddenly he found it very hard to breath. As quietly as he could he managed to get away. As he got back into the forest, he took off running. His heart felt like it would explode. He was confused, happy, angry...just about everything rolled into one. He stopped for a moment so as to catch his breath. It was just then he noticed the hot tears rolling down his cheeks. Unable to hold it in any longer, he burst out in sobs, his body shaking uncontrollably.

She was alive. She had to be. Why right now of all times would his mind play tricks on him? He wasn't one to believe in ghosts or anything like that. So why?

Slowly he stood up and made his way back to where he left Tobi. Once there, Tobi was still where he left him, curled up in a ball under the tree. Deidara rolled his eyes. Hasn't anyone taught this guy that he shouldn't be sleeping with his guard down? It seriously must be some sick joke that he ended up with this guy as a partner. However at the same time it was for the best, it was so easy to sneak back and forth between the village where ever they camped for the night. Had it been anyone else he would have a harder time.

"You know, you shouldn't leave your guard down." He suddenly heard a voice coming from behind him. Gasping, Deidara whirled around to find someone leaning against the tree about 100 feet away, hidden in the shadows. Before he was able to question who it was, they stood up straight and took a few steps forward. As if on cue, the moonlight shone down on the new comer. Itachi gave the young man standing in front of him a blank look.

Deidara remain silent so as not to betray the surprise that he felt. He watched as Itachi walked closer and continued to speak. "I've been watching you for a while now." He said as if to answer Deidara's unspoken question.

Eyes narrowed it was now his turn to speak. "Why the hell would you do that?" He asked with an annoyed tone.

For a moment, Itachi said nothing but then shrugged his shoulders. "You really shouldn't let your guard down. If you don't watch out, you really will lose everything dear to you." With that said he turned around and started to walk away.

Deidara's eyes narrowed more and now he was starting to lose his temper. "Just what do you mean by that? Are you threatening me?!" He demanded as he started after the other man.

Itachi paused for a second as he looked over his shoulder. An annoyed look on his face. "How the hell did you make it in this group if your so damn clueless?!" He sighed deeply as he turn his back to Deidara. "Just remember this. Not everything is what it appears to be." With that, he walked away without another word. Leaving a pissed off Deidara to ponder on his last words.

"Sakura? Are you ok?" a worried Naruto asked.

At hearing her name, Sakura blanked a few times to see him sitting across the dinner table from her giving her a concerned look. Looking around quickly she reminded herself where she was. She was over at Naruto's apartment having lunch with him. Looking down she realized that she barely touched her lunch. Looking back up at him she gave him her best smile and started to eat.

"Oh yea, just have my mind on things at work. No need to be worried." She said as she started to nibble at her food.

He gave her an unsure look but then brushed it off taking her word as truth. The two of them continued to eat and when they were done, Sakura picked up their dishes and took them in the kitchen to wash them. Naruto stood up and walked into the kitchen after her. Leaning against the entrance he looked at her as she placed the dishes in the sink and turned on the water. The unsure feeling still with him even after lunch. It wasn't normal for her to be so quite or secretive for that matter. For the past few weeks he noticed a slight change in her. She just looked more and more tired and distracted.

He sighed deeply as he walked over to her and grabbed a dish rag. He stared to dry of the dishes as he spoke up. "You know...you've been acting a bit differently lately." He said softly.

Sakura didn't say anything as she continued washing the dishes. How could she cover that up? She even felt different. Two weeks and no roses. Since that night when she went, she stopped seeing the roses all together. It should have made her happy that she wouldn't have to worry about them anymore or who ever left them but that wasn't the case. She couldn't help it but she felt like she lost something very important to her. Maybe it was because she was so used to seeing them. She couldn't put a finger on it and it troubled her deeply

She turned off the water and dried off her hands. She sighed deeply before speaking up. "The flowers stopped coming" She whispered softly.

He paused as he placed the dish down and pulled her into an embrace. He rested his head on top of her head and rubbed her back gently. "So that's what's been on your mind? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because, I didn't want to get into an argument with you over it. I was still wondering who left the flower and..." She paused as she bit her lower lip and looked up at him. A pout on her face. "I know you told me not to worry so much over it, but I couldn't help it. I just really wanted to know. So I started to go to the plot at different times to see if perhaps I could find them before they left the flower. After many trials and errors, I finally found out when they were leaving the flower. Always the day before I go to change the flowers."

she shook her head as she stepped back and looked up at him. "Even so, I was never able to catch them in time. Then two weeks ago, they just stop. I'm just, I really wanted to know who it was. I'm sorry I wasn't honest with you from the start. I just thought that maybe you'd get annoyed that I was still obsessing over it."

A frown came across his face as he looked down at her. How could he be annoyed with her? It was one of her many little quirks. Soon the frown melted away and he place a finger under her chin. Drawing her face close to his, he captured her lips with his and kissed her deeply. Afterward he rested his head against hers and smiled softly. "It's one of the many things about you I love the most. I had a feeling that might be the case. Really now Sakura...I figured you know me well enough now to know that I wouldn't get upset over something like that. Just don't hide anything from me anymore ok? If something is troubling you I'm here to hear you out. Just remember that." With that he kissed her forehead and stepped back giving her a boyish smile.

A smile of her own cross her face. "Agreed." She looked at her watch and when she noticed the time her eyes widen in shock. "Oh my gosh, I've gotta get going! I forgot I told the girls I'd meet up with them in town." She kissed his cheek as she rushed out of the kitchen to grab her purse. "I'll see you for dinner tonight! Thank again for lunch!" she called out over her shoulders and with that the front door closed behind her.

Naruto continue to stand where he was. His thoughts still on their earlier conversion. He didn't know why, but he suddenly had an uneasy feeling.

As Sakura walked down the street towards the lot, she questioned herself why she was doing this again. Clearly the person stopped sending the flower. How long would she do this to herself? At what point will she just give up? For three weeks straight there had been nothing. What made her think that this week would be any different? The truth is that she didn't know. There was no sense what so ever to her actions. She was losing sleep, her mind was always preoccupied in regards to this, thus interfering with her job and even her relationship with Naruto. For some reason since that lunch they had last week, he suddenly seemed too busy and they only spoke just once. It sadden her greatly. Talks about their wedding gradually became less and less. All of this stemming from a rose. She was deeply in love with Naruto and didn't want something as small and insignificant as a rose to destroy the best thing life could give her. Thinking that over, she found a new determination. After tonight, this was it. She would put the issue of the rose behind her and focus on the more important things in life.

As she approached the lot, all was still and quite. Slowly she walked towards the swing, half expecting not to see anything. However, she was shocked at what she saw. It was not a rose, but instead a letter tied by a pink ribbon to the rope of the swing. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she reached out for the letter and sat on the swing. She then opened the letter and read the contents out loud:

"Turn around."

Eyes widening slightly out of confusion, she stood up, clearly startled by what the note said. Very slowly, she followed it's instructions and turned around. She gasped in surprise when she saw a figure standing about 100 feet away. As the person walked towards her, her legs suddenly gave away from under her and she felt her heart jump to her throat. Tears swelled up in the corner of her eyes but she didn't dare give him the satisfaction of seeing those tears.

At that moment anger flowed through her veins as she stormed over towards him. She saw the surprised look on his face by her sudden advancement and before he had a chance to say a word, she threw her fist back and punched him hard in the face, sending him flying a few feet. Almost as soon as she punched him, dispite her best efforts the tears came rolling down her cheeks in a steady stream. She dropped down to her knees, this time sobbing uncontrollably.

"Dai-kun." She cried out between sobs.