I literally have no excuses.

Akatsuki's Blood Blossom

Chapter 15

Previously;

"I see you're feeling better." I nearly jumped out of my skin before spinning around and coming face to chest with none other that Itachi Uchiha. I nodded a bit as I felt butterflies in my stomach.

"Your mother had cooked not to long ago, there's still some food left in the kitchen if you wanted any." He offered. I was about to decline when my stomach grumbled loudly making me blush and Itachi smirk.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Now;

I let Itachi guide me to the kitchen where my mother's home cooked meal was.

"I'll allow you to enjoy your meal then." He said as he left me to eat. I frowned a bit.

'It would have been nice to have some company.' Just as that thought crossed my mind the door opened again. I found myself smiling at the man that had just walked in.

"Panda!" I squealed as I ran and tackled Gaara into a bear hug.

"What was the Uchiha doing in here with you?" A little startled at the harsh tone of his voice I took a step back to look at him.

"He walked me here so I could eat." I stared wide eyed at his narrowed eyes.

"Why did he have to walk you, I'm sure you could have walked here by yourself."

"Technically I did. He just walked the same path as me and left me as soon as I got here."

"That still doesn't explain why-" I cut him off.

"Yes it does. That's all there was to it. Nothing more nothing less. What's this all about?" I spoke as I took his face in my hands and pulled his head down so our foreheads were touching.

I watched as he closed his eyes as I ran my fingers through his hair.

I let out a gasp and a small smile when I falt his arms wrapped around by waist. I saw a smile tug at his lips at my reaction.

"What's with that smile?" I ask as I griped the ends of his red shirt by his hips.

He shook his head.

"No reason, just that were together."

My cheeks started to cramp by how much I was smiling.

"I know what you mean. But you still didn't answer my question, what was that all about?"

Gaara sighed. "What would you do if I asked you to pick between me and the Uchiha?"

My jaw dropped. 'That's what this was about?'

"No dumbass, Gaara freaking loves you and thinks you don't like him that way but that you like Itachi!" Inner?

"Not only that but he's afraid that if you do like the Uchiha you'll leave him." Nibi?

'But doesn't Gaara know that I'll always choose him?'

"You have to tell him that. He might know you care about him, but it's one thing to think you know and another to hear it."

I looked up into Gaara's sea foam green eyes and cupped his cheek.

"Gaara, haven't you learned by now, that it will always be you, I will always, pick you." His eyes widened and almost seemed to glow.

He pulled me closer and looked at my lips like he wanted to kiss me. I felt my breath hitch and I licked my lips, catching his attention. His eyes seemed to darken.

"G-gaara..." His eyes found mine once again. "Kiss me."

Not even a second later did he crush his lips to mine.

My eyes drifted closed and I felt fireworks.

I felt my feet moving back till I collided against the counter behind my causing me to gasp.

Gaara used it to his advantage and shoved his tongue in my mouth. His arms caged around me, my arms around his neck.

It was perfect.

"Sakura, there you are. I've been looking for... you."

Gaara and I jumped apart and stared in death's eye.

"Hi daddy."

~•~

3rd Person POV

Sakura and Gaara stood in the kitchen, both fidgeting under his intense stare.

He leaned back and crossed his arms. He kept looking back and forth between the two of them. Several emotions flashed in his eyes before settling on, what was this? Approval? They couldn't believe their eyes!

Suddenly, he smirked.

"Well, better than that damn Uchiha in there."

Gaara smirked and looped a hand around her waist.

Pein nodded his head once before moving to go back outside.

"I approve. But I still need to have a word with you. So eat, shower, take a nap or do whatever it dis you have to do then come into my office." Sakura nodded just as her father walked out the door.

She leaned in closer to Gaara who still had a hold of her waist and hummed.

"I thought there'd be more of a reaction there." Gaara said offhandedly.

"I don't think it's sunk in just yet." At Gaara's look Sakura quickly changed her answer. "Or maybe he just really likes you and approves of us being together?" She started off strong but it ended up as a question.

A mischievous look passed through Gaara's eyes and he turned to look at her like a predator would it's prey.

"G-gaara?" Sakura squeaked making him grin. He licked his lips and Sakura blushed.

'Oh my.' She thought.

~•~

After about twenty minutes of playing cat and mouse Gaara had finally caught her and proceeded to kiss her senseless. Now having since eaten and showered and deciding to nap later, Sakura made her way to her fathers office.

*knock knock*

"Come in." Sakura took a few steps forward and smiled at her father.

That smile however was quickly replaced with a frown.

"What's wrong father?" Sakura asked upon seeing her father look more exhausted than he's probably ever been.

"Several things sweet heart, several things. Take a seat." He sighed. Slowly nodding she closed the door and took a seat in front of her fathers desk.

"As you know, that little fiasco has destroyed the village, again. It has several villagers in a panic and the council in an uproar." Sakura frowned at the mention of the council.

Yes, even her own father has people he, sometimes, takes orders from. The council was the same members from when Hanzo the Salamander was still alive and Pein wasn't leading the village.

"What do they want?" Sakura asked, slightly afraid. The council never really liked the Akatsuki, they merely tolerated them because they were frightened of them. But when Sakura was born and soon after sealed with the beast, they practically demanded her confinement, imprisonment, and execution. But with the village and its people on their side and the Akatsuki that they so feared, they allowed he to live.

"They're not demanding my beheading again are they?" Sakura asked with dry humor.

Pein scowled at the mention of that before sighing.

"No, but they are demanding you get exiled from the village." Sakura gave an animalistic growl that was easily distinguishable as the Nibi.

"Those rotten old bast-"

"Sakura." Her father warned, making her click her tongue.

"So what are we going to do? They're going to fight tooth and nail for my exile." Sakura asked as she crossed her arms and leaned back against the chair she was sitting in.

"I'm aware of that, there are actually a few options."

"Let me guess, they all require me leaving the village?" Pein pressed his lips together.

"Just until things for down, the village is back up again and the elders have had a chance to cool off." Sakura frowned but nodded. She didn't want to leave for such a long time but, whatever was best for Amegakure.

"So what are my options?"

"Your first option is to stay in Konoha, the Hokage, and only the Hokage knows about what's happened and what the council is demanding of us. He's already agreed to put you into their system and active ninja roster as a Jounin."

"But I'm an Anbu?"

"I'm sure they'd rather have that tested before sending you on such high ranking missions, and to see what skills you possess in order to give you missions based off of what's best for you." Sakura nodded again.

"I guess that only makes sense. Alright, option two?"

"The same thing applies, only to the other villages we are allied with, should you choose one we can either explain, or make up some kind of excuse or fake mission for you so you can stay in the village. This includes Suna, Kiri, Iwa, and every other allie." Sakura pondered for a moment.

"Third option?" Pein smirked.

"I feel like you'd like this choice best." He leaned forward in his elbows, his chin resting on his laced fingers. "You can take a leave of absence."

Sakura's jaw dropped.

"You can leave and be gone any time between now and the next five years." Sakura's jaw was still open.

"Close your mouth while you think sweetie, you'll catch flies." Sakura's mouth snapped shut and grinned mischievously.

"I think I like that idea." He grinned back at her.

"I thought you would."

"You know dad, you're full of surprises today. First the thing with Gaara and now this. So lenient. What's next I wonder?" Pein cringed. Sakura's grin dropped. "What is it?"

"It's not exactly a pleasant surprise."

"Dad..." His next words had her rushing to the hospital.

~•~

Sakura's POV

'Why didn't anyone tell me?' I thought as I looked to the two men in the hospital bed. Both right next to each other, two different beds, a small coffee table separating the two. I held both of their hands in mine.

'This is all my fault. Uncle Nagato, uncle Yahiko. I'm so sorry'