Sakura Haruno, The Fallen Cherry Blossom

Chap. 13: We there yet?

"Hey, Tangerine-head-"

"Stop calling me that. It's Pein-sama to you."

"Ah, yeah yeah, whatever. Anyway, as I was saying, Tangerine-head-"

"Stop. Calling. Me. That."

"Let. Me. Finish. Tangerine-head."

"I told you-"

"SHUT UP AND LET ME FINISH MY QUESTION, GODDAMMIT! JUST SHUT YOUR PIERCED FACE FOR A FUCKING SECOND!"

"......... Stop giving me new names. Brat."

"THAT'S IT!"

I didn't even have to turn around to know Kibbles lunged for the Akatsuki 'Leader'. I sighed, as I halted.

The others (the rest of the Akatsuki and the Pack (the ones who'd I been traveling with)) also stopped and turned back to watch. Konan in concern, the others with worry. Sai-kun, Kono-kun, Aka-kun, and the twins turned towards me.

"Ne, Sakura-sama, do you-" (Shiro) "-want to start making bets?" (Gou) the twins asked, breaking off and starting in different parts. I blinked slightly in confusion at their talking before grinning wolfishly. "I don't see why not. Kono-kun, help me with the snacks."

"Beef jerky (Ruff ruff?)" the wolves ask in unison, looking at me in hope. I nod. "Shift to your human forms, get clothes on, and Sai-kun can give you some beef jerky."

They shifted almost instantly and I deadpanned. They didn't seem to notice they were naked. "Shiro, Gou, Toralei, Akamaru, put some damn clothes on, you nudists."

"Hai, Sakura-sama! Sorry, Sakura-sama!"

"Weirdos." (Kono-chibi-chan)

I covered my laugh with a cough as I turned to the wrestling pair. "Oi. OI! KIBBLES!"

He stopped for a second. "What? Can't you see I'm in the middle of something, Hag?"

I snorted as he continued wrestling with Pein-chan. "Yeah, I can see your busy, but unless you want all the beef jerky to be gone, I suggest you stop and get some. I won't be getting more until we reach the hideout."

Kibbles stopped immediately and shot over to the twins, Tora-chan, and Aka-kun, effectively knocking them all over as he grabbed the bag and bolted. "HAH! IT'S MINE NOW, LOSERS!"

I facepalmed at his stupidity. "Sai-kun.. your mate is stupid."

"I know. Unfortunately."

I giggled at his words. "Who's up for some tea?"

~~~~~ After their break ~~~~~

I stretched as Shiro and Gou started stripping (so they can change back to their wolf forms, not for a show, perverts) and the Akatsuki instantly turned away. Some had blushes on their faces (Konan, for example) and we (the Pack members who noticed) laughed at their bashfulness.

"Maah, you guys are so shy! You need to get out of the house more!" Kono-chibi exclaimed.

Deidara scowled as he glanced at the small teen. "Hey, are you sure you should be sayin' that, brat, un? You do remember we are S-level ninjas and could kill you with a single blow,right, un?"

"Ehh? You sure you should say that when Saku-nee is around?" Kono-kun was staring at the blonde concerned while I was raising an eyebrow at said teen. The blonde blinked before glancing at me, paling considerably.

"Uh..." The blonde tried speaking but his voice caught in his throat at my face. "Nevermind, un."

The present Pack members laughed at his fearful gaze and the other Akatsuki members were slightly (except for the more stoic members) pale when they saw my expression. "Deidara-kun, I'll tell you this now: the only times the Pack will be killed is if there's a battle, got it?"

At my words, Deidara nodded swiftly and tossed a still slightly pale-faced expression at me. I grinned slightly and climbed to my feet. "Hey, guys I'll be back, I need to write a message for Natsu."

At my little wolves' nods and Akatsuki confused sures, I left the immediate area and walked over to a tall oak tree. I peered through the leaves, carefully sensing for any kind of living thing before climbing into the foliage. My hands quickly dissappeared into my shuriken pouch for the scroll I carried for my writing utensils and other objects.

Hey, Sakura-chan?

'Huh? Oh, yeah, Kaga-nii?'

Would it be okay if I tried something?

I tilted my head slightly and gave a silent nod to the voice in my head. 'Of course, what did you need to try?'

Ah... well, uh... Forgive, little one.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. 'Kaga-nii, what-?'

My body jolted forward and a rippling pain spread throughout my body. My eyes widened from the sudden pain and the ink bottle that I'd been holding slid from my nerveless fingertips.

With a loud shattering of glass, the bright red ink I usually wrote Pack messages in was covering the branch it had smacked into and part of the ground surrounding the roots. In the sunlight, it looked like blood. A bright, yet still dark looking color that looked foreboding on the ground, almost as if someone had slaughtered the tree at its roots. And before I fell unconscious, I took in two things: The first was the powerful surge of chakra that erupted from somewhere deep inside me and the second thing...

Were the bright pink sakura cherry blossoms blooming on the tree.

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A/N Time: So... I updated... please forgive me, readers.

Sasori, the old man in a teens body, is up top.