The Heart's Battlefield

Chapter 4

Sakura groaned as she woke. Yet again she had cried herself to sleep and yet again she woke with a headache. She looked around the room she was able to call her own now and grimaced at all the dust on the unused desk, dresser, and everywhere in general. It was then she realized the bed was no different. It wasn't soiled, but it had a light layer of dust that still clung to the surface.

Sakura got up from the bed and a cloud of dust came with her causing her to sneeze. "Okay no..." she said to herself.

Immediately she got up and gathered the blankets and sheets up. She figured that if the Akatsuki were living in the building together, there had to be a laundry room not far from the bedrooms. After taking inventory of the room, she concluded she had everything and left.

It didn't take long for Sakura to run into someone, literally. The bedding went everywhere, and Sakura landed on her back, the pillowcase landing on her head as the blanket found its way on top of the person she ran into, him still standing but shocked at the new development that plagued him. After all, Hidan knew not many people could stand him, but this was a new thing even for him.

"The fuck just happened?" he asked as he took the blanket off his face.

Dust invaded his nose, and he sneezed causing him to drop the offending fabric in distaste. He looked down to find Sakura peeling the pillowcase from her face and the bedsheet from her body. He couldn't help but notice her figure but quickly threw those thoughts from his mind as he sighed.

"Need a bit of help there Cherry?" he asked with a mocking smile.

Sakura huffed as she looked up at the magenta eyed man, one pink eyebrow raised. Of all the people to offer help, she didn't expect it from Hidan from what she heard of him from Shikamaru and Naruto.

"Help with what?" she asked. "My sanity?"

Hidan gave a more genuine smile and snickered at her answer though she said it in a monotonous tone. "I'm just offering, pinky," he said as he extended his hand.

Sakura gave him a deadpan expression causing him to grin a bit and shrug as he took back his hand.

"I could just leave ya then," he laughed as he turned his back like he was leaving.

Sakura gritted her teeth and sighed. "Fine," she said through clenched teeth. "I do need a little help."

She put out her hand as he turned back around with a cheshire grin, satisfied in himself. It didn't take much effort to pull the pinkette up, though her grip on his hand surprised him. She had a stronger grip than he anticipated. He shook the thought from his mind and picked up the blanket he dropped before.

"So, we goin' to the laundry room then?" he asked her.

"I just don't know where it is," Sakura muttered.

"Gotta speak up there, Cherry," Hidan said in a teasing manner.

Sakura sighed in frustration. "I don't know where it is, Hidan!"

Hidan smirked to himself as he led the way. It wasn't until they got everything in the washer that he had an idea though.

"Why not ask Leader to go to the store to get new stuff instead?" he asked.

Sakura looked at the bedding in the wash in surprise then looked to Hidan. "Why didn't you think of that before I wasted water?"

Hidan just shrugged and left the room, leaving Sakura feeling like she just got smacked upside the head. A headache was still rearing its head at her and she pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers in frustration. It really was a good idea because she could organize the room how she wanted to while cleaning it. She stayed in the room a little longer, enough to switch the bedding into the dryer, then headed on her way to the office.