Bound To Another

by Kura_Akasuna

Summary:

Sometimes Sakura wonders if she's cursed with bad luck. First of all the Uchiha returns after he killed his   brother,  bringing trouble with him that starts with the capital T. Causing those she had thought as friends to turn their backs on her.

Second, there was unknown monsters invading their peace and a real hot orange haired man that cane with chaos.

Sakura wonders if she's blessed with good luck or a curse to fall for men with a bad boy appeal.

Chapter 1

"Sakura?."

Sakura hummed in question, not bothering to look up from where she was scribbling down prescriptions on her patients files.

"Did you have lunch?."  The brown haired, pearl eyed man asked, crossing his arms over his chest, giving her a stern look that passed right over Sakura's bent head.

"..Mhh, gimme a minute. "

Which means, translated in Neji's book of Sakura's mutterings as no.

"Tenshi... you need to eat." He sighed. Seriously, if any one of them makes the mistake of leaving Sakura to her own devices, it would be trouble. He's not kidding.
"Do you want me to tell Naruto?." Or worse yet, Sai? He didn't say it outloud but the question went unasked.

At that Sakura let out the most pitiful whine Neji has ever heard, throwing her arms out to slump against the desk, her cheek smooshed to the surface of the cool polished wood.
"Ugh, I need to get this done today Neji! All my patients need their medication, do you want them to die?."

He scoffed, reaching forward to flick her on the forehead.
"How are the patients going to get their medicine if their doctor is the one who died?." He said, raising an eyebrow at that logic, watching as Sakura pushed her bottom lip out in the most adorable pout he has ever seen, once she had figured out she couldnt fight him and his stupid logic.

"Finnneee." Said girl huffed, pushing herself up, back audibly creaking making her wince.
"Ugh, I'm getting old before my time. What are we having?." She asked pointedly ignoring the way he was staring, as if to make his own point across.

"Anything you want."

Sakura shook her head, her family indulged her whims all to often, she was getting rather spoiled.

"...Teriyaki Chicken." She decided after a solid two minutes of pretend thinking. Neji gave her a fond look, knowing very well that she was just messing with him.

"Teriyaki chicken it is then." He confirmed, then jerked his finger forwards.
"Now stop stalling and let's go already, I have a feeling that today is going to be a pain."

"You sound like Shikamaru. " She snickered, hastily putting away her folders and notes, when she gets back then she'll finish up her prescriptions.
"And you find everyday a pain."

"The struggle is very real." He deadpanned.

Sakura bursted out laughing, one small hand coming up to cover her mouth. Was he trying to kill her? Saying that sentence with a god damn straight face, tone dry as the desert dust.

"Come on." Neji huffed, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her against his side.
"You can laugh about it all the way to the restaurant. "

That made Sakura laugh even harder, so hard that tears were beginning to wet her lashes, her body vibrated with her mirth.
However as soon as they stepped out of Sakura's office, her laughter stopped abruptly. Sakura cleared her throat at the sight of the woman in front of them, she wanted to laugh again but for a whole different reason.

Kurotsuchi Ayumi, Brown haired, blue eyed, fair skinned, the most vindictive, most envious and vengeful woman Sakura has ever had the displeasure of meeting.

She also happens to be Sasuke's Fiance.

Now that had been a day to remember, the day Naruto had dragged Sasuke back to Konoha had been a day Sakura nearly died of laughing to much.
Naruto had brought him back with his Chakra sealed and cuffed slapped onto his wrists, along with four other people from Sound that Sakura had no idea who they were.

A tall guy with purple eyes and a light orange shade for hair, A white haired man with sharp, shark like teeth a huge ass sword strapped to his back, a woman with glasses and red hair, the same shade of red for her eyes. And lastly was the woman currently standing in front of her, probably with the intention to sour the rest of Sakura's day.

"Ehhh?. Can I help you, Ayumi-San?." She asked, tilting her head to the side, the long strands of her hair falling over her right side shoulder and down to her waist.

Said woman scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest and giving them a look as if she was the boss and Sakura was her employee, it was the other way around actually.  The only reason Sakura accepted Ayumi to work in her hospital was beacuse the woman knew a bit of Medical Ninjutsu and basically she needed to work if she wanted to stay here, which wasnt bad but she was nowhere the level of Sakura's other nurses.

"Is this how you behave with the men around you?." She question, gesturing to the close proximity between Neji and her.
"Makes me think that you're sleeping with them."

Sakura's eyebrow raised up to her hairline, placing a hand on Neji's arm to stop him from saying anything, his words were always sharp, cutting to the very core and Sakura knew if she allowed him to say anything to Ayumi, they would have a crying girl on their hands and a angry Sasuke later on.

"I wasnt aware you had the right to question me." She began coldly.
"Last time I checked, you were engaged to Uchiha Sasuke, my wayward teammate, not us."

Ayumi's face flushed red in embarrassment, it made something dark inside Sakura feel immensely satisfied . This woman needed to be taken off her high horse for the longest while now, just because she was about to be Uchiha Sasuke's wife didn't mean she had any power over them, this was Konoha and she was merely a guest in their village.

"Furthermore, what right do you have to question me about my relationships?" Sakura sneered.
"If I wanted to plaster myself over my brothers, its non of your God damn business."

Neji chuckled, rolling his eyes.
"Its not as if you don't already do that."

"Hush,." She said, smacking  the back of her palm to his chest.
"Ayumi, in this hospital, I'm the boss and you are the one that I employed, the next time you feel like questioning me about my business, I suggest you think it over."
And with that they left a fuming woman behind them.

"Where did the Uchiha even get her from?." Neji asked as they walked.
"Its like talking to a wild animal, one wrong word and it goes feral."

Sakura choked on the laugh that was bubbling up, she would have pitched forward if Neji didnt have a good grasp on her arm.
"Are you trying to kill me today?." She gasped out between laughter.
"Did you randomly decide that today you'll become a comedian?."

"What comedian?." He scoffed.
"I'm calling it as I see it."

"Sure, sure." She patted his arm.
"Let's go eat."

Out of all Sakura's adopted siblings, she has to admit that, Tenten, Naruto, Sai,  Neji and Shikamaru were the ones to nag at her the most. Hinata, not so much, Shikamaru may call it a pain but he sure does enjoy poking at her until she either gives up and do it or he uses his shadow Jutsu to male her do it.

The last option is and always will be the most annoying.

During the years, Sakura has lost some things and she had gained some things.

People who she had trusted, as a matter of fact. People who knew her struggles, who knew how hard she worked, who knew her most vulnerable secrets.

When Sasuke had returned to the village four years ago, Sakura had already dispatched of those feelings for him that were constantly weighing her down. The third day after he had returned,  he announced his intention of rebuilding his clan. Which Sakura wanted nothing to do with.

Yamanaka Ino however, was a whole different case on her own.

It seemed that Ino wasn't quite successful in getting rid of those feelings like Sakura had.  Now Sakura didn't have any problems with that,  Ino could take Sasuke for herself as far as Sakura was concerned. But Ino started to act like Sakura had betrayed her, like Sakura had  broken all links between them. Ridiculous if you asked her, seeing how it was Ino who had broken their friendship in the first place.

The minute she met Ayumi, Ino had turned her back on Sakura without a backwards glance.
At first she wasn't to  bothered, honestly, she could care less, but the next time she had run into Ino and Ayumi on the streets, it was a totally different story.

Sakura remembers the exact words Ino had said, her taking the side of someone she had now met over someone she has known her entire life.

The main problem, was that they kept thinking that she wanted Sasuke, pftt, how stupid, Sakura was over Sasuke before he was even back in the village. So she honestly doesn't know where the hell they came up with that ideas from,  Sakura was honestly going to leave it alone, but it progressed to a point where even the villagers who Sakura dealt with on a daily basis starting giving her dark looks.

Fucking ridiculous.

A soft kiss to her temple had Sakura blinking out of her memories. Jerking her head backwards to look at Sai upside down.

"...Hello.".

Sai gave her a blank stare and Sakura can't recall what she did that probably pissed him off.

"...Neji just told me that the bitch spoke to you today?." He said, eyes narrowing at the corner.
"Do I need to make her regret her words."

Sakura snickered.

Overprotective brothers.

"Nah, it's fine." She sighed, man she's been laughing all day long.
"She's not worth it, and I don't want you getting in trouble for stupid nonsense like that."

"Like dad would take her side instead of ours." Sai said with utmost certainty  Sakura knew was true.
"My hands are itching to be soaked in blood." He said dully.  Sakura laughed out loud at that.

"What is with you and Neji being comedian's today?My back is killing me with all this laughing."

"Maybe because you're getting old?."

Sakura swung her feet out to connect a solid kick to Sai's shin.
"I'm only 18, you ass." He hissed, hopping on one foot to ease the sting, yet there was a grin on his that told Sakura that whatever he was about to say again was going to earn him another kick.

He was saved however, as the door to her room was shoved open. Both their heads twisted around to look at the new comer, Blonde haired shone like the sun, ocean blue eyes dark.

".... Should I kill someone. " Naruto growled, stomping into the room to collapse at her feet, wrapping his arms around her middle to bury His face in her stomach.
"There's nothing I regret more than bringing those.... Creatures back here."

"Oh, well-"
They were cut off by a screech they have never heard before. Naruto and Sakura flew to their feet, heads snapping in the direction of the window outside of Sakura's room.

"What the hell was that?!." Tenten's voice came from downstairs.
"Oh hell there's a giant foot sticking out from the trees, what the heck is that?."

Ah, classic Tenten, trust Sakura's sister to be fascinated instead of panicking when she sees something that shouldn't be there.

"What is it?." Sakura yelled back, running out the door to lean over the staircase to look down at her sister.

"Beats me, it looks like a giant clown." Tenten said  before her eyebrows frowned.
"Okay, someone's gotta get their ass moving, Sakura that thing is heading towards the village."

Shit, that wasn't good.

"Come on guys, let's go. " Although their home was a bit far away from the village, Sakura really couldn't find it in her heart to abandon the villagers even if they were the ones to turn their backs on her first.

"What are those things?." Neji asked as they sprinted, trying to cut off the thing's pathway.
"I have never seen this before."

"Yeah, me neither. " Sakura huffed as she reached the feet, with a war cry she reared her fist back and slammed it right into the ankle, does it even have an ankle?, and watched as the entire bone structure crumble, the creature screeched as it went down.
Naruto's Rasengan whipped past her head to slice the body in half, it only took a second for the creature to burst into tiny Crystals.

"Huh. Did not expect that to happen." Sai commented.
Sakura scoffed at her brother. Seriously, that was his main concern?.

She was about to open her mouth to give him some sort of witty comment when there was a creak behind her making the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
Sakura whipped around with a snap, eyes widening as another one, there was two of these bastards!, grabbed her around the middle.

"Sakura!."

"Sakura-Chan!."

"Sakura!."

There was three different voices  calling her name, but Sakura couldn't answer, her middle was getting crushed and her brothers cries were making her heart hurt.

"Put me down, you over grown flagpole." She hissed through clenched teeth, easily breaking off a bony finger. In response it tighten it's hold, Sakura grunted as the pressure Increased.

Sakura was about to break off another finger, because heaven above knows if she was going down she was taking this thing down with her. Next thing she knew there was bright light heading straight towards her. Instead of hitting her though, the flash pierced through the middle, a slashing sound echoing around them all before Sakura suddenly realized that the pressure around her middle was gone and........she was falling.

Okay, whoever decided that it was a smart idea to kill that creature while she was in its hold was going to die by her hands.

A fierce scowl took over her face as she fell. She even had the audacity to cross her arms over her chest as she went. She was expecting the cold hard ground, yet her scowl didn't lessen one bit as she landed in a pair of arms she wasn't familiar with.

"Huh, should a pretty girl be scowling like that?." The voice was also unfamiliar which had Sakura snapping her eyes open to stare straight up into amber orbs.

Her heart honestly skipped a beat, because holy shit this guy was seriously, dangerously good looking.
"I won't be pissed off as I look if I wasn't falling midair if someone didn't do what they did just now."

"Heh, feisty little thing aren't you. "
He smirked.
"Sure, sure, I'll take my fault,  even if I did technically save you." He sighed loudly placing her on her feet before he raised up to his full height causing Sakura to swear Internally  because Dayum, he was fucking taller than her and Sakura honestly didn't know if she wanted to climb him like a tree or run away.

She'll make a decision later.

"Who are you anyways." She asked, stumbling slightly on her feet.
His hand landed on her arm to help her steady and was about to answer her when three pairs of arms ripped her away from his hold.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere." Sai asked, hands patting her down frantically.

"I swear to god, I will be getting gray hair, Sakura." Neji groused, his nose buried in her hair.

"Make that two of us."  Naruto said from where he was hugging her.
Sakura snickered at them.

"I'm fine, you big worrywarts." She teased.
"No injuries what so ever. "

"If you're lying, we're telling mom." Sai threatens, his brow frowned in worry.

"Its true." She protested, her small hands grabbing onto his hair.
"Why are you bringing mom into this?."

"Because you can't lie to her." Naruto piped up.
"And if she finds out you are lying to her, she's gonna break every bone in your body before healing you."

Fucking touché.

"You guys are so damn-." The unknown male behind them cleared his throat causing all four of them to whip their heads in his direction.

Shoot, Sakura had forgotten that he was there.

Ichigo was a bit stunned when the gorgeous little minx was ripped away from him by the three males currently fussing over her. He tampered down the urge to grab her once again and instead simply stood watching as they bickered.

He was wondering who the hell was these guys when the word 'Mom' was thrown out giving him the answer that he needed. They didn't look alike though, except the pale one who resembled the feisty little pinkie, eh, who was he to judge?.

Having enough of their bickering and being ignored if he was being honest, he made a point to clear his throat loudly, watching with an amused eye as they all seemed to snap back into reality.  All four heads turning in his direction at once.

One set of ocean blue eyes, a pair of black charcoal eyes, a pair of pearly white eyes looked back at him but the one he really was captivated by was the pair of emerald green orbs, the prettiest set of eyes he has ever seen on someone before.

"Huh, didn't realized someone was here." The blonde hair one with the blue eyes said, a sheepish grin on his face.

"You guys were having a moment, I didn't exactly want to interrupt. " Ichigo couldn't help but tease these guys, they looked pretty cool.
"The name's Kurosaki Ichigo."

"Uzumaki Naruto. These are my brothers Neji and Sai, one of our sisters, Sakura. "

Sakura? God lord a pretty name for such a fiery minx.

"I assume you know something about those... things you just killed?." The one with the pearly eyes asked, Neji was it?. He still had an arm around Sakura's shoulder... huh, he couldnt stop repeating her name now.. Sakura...Sakura...

"Pretty much, basically-"

"Oi airhead!." Another voice shouted cutting Ichigo off from what he was about to say.
"Ichigo you punk, how many times have I told you not to run off on your own."
An arm was thrown over said man's shoulder, belonging to red haired guy that looked kinda like Shikamaru.
"Do you ever listen to me?."

"Why should I?."

Sakura and Neji turned away as the two started bickering, watching as Tenten and Kakashi approached. Along with a whole bunch of others that she didn't know.

"Hey," Tenten greeted.
"We bumped into these guys when we were helping the villagers. " Sakura could tell she was quite reluctant to even do that.

"Do you plan on giving me a heart attack everytime you run off to some dangerous situation?." Kakashi asked, sweeping her into his arms.

"Not particularly. " She mumbled, aware that everyone they didn't know had their eyes on them.
"Naruto made me do it. "

"Sakura-Chan!." He exclaimed, the mock betrayal in his voice making her snicker.

"Alright, Alright. " Kakashi laughed pressing a kiss to her forehead as he pulled away.
"Lets head back to the tower, then we can discuss what just happen."

Huh, well this was going to be a long discussion.

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Sakura must be crazy. Yeah, that's right. That could be the only explanation why everytime she blinks, orange hair and amber eyes flashes before her mind's eye. Ahh, whatever. Ugh, it's not like she was going to see him again after all.

That narcissistic bastard.

Its been two weeks, two whole weeks since the talk about Hallows and Menos Grandes and how soul society works, Sakura and her family got the entire run down which quite frankly still boggles her, she really shouldn't talk, they use Chakra, Shinobi techniques to fight and kill.

So in a way she could find it cool and she could find it strange.. she'll stick with the cool part.

"What are you day dreaming about, Sakura-Chan?." Naruto asked, startling her out of her inner monologue.
"You have this look on your face that just screams 'kiss me while I'm distracted."

Said girl snorted, flinging a hand out to smack her blonde haired brother in the arm, causing Naruto to tip back against the couch, cackling.

"Don't be ridiculous, I don't make such a face."

"You were doing it just now."

Sakura let her lip curl in playful warning.
"I was thinking, you idiot fox. Thinking. "

Naruto wiped his eyes of the few tears that managed to escape and sat up.
"Kurama says that he isn't a dumb fox and what exactly were you thinking about." He paused, eyes calculating before a wicked grin lit up his face in seconds.
"Or rather I should ask who were you thinking about."

Sakura's entire face bloomed red at that, the damn knuckle head hit the nail on the head with perfect precision.
"What the heck are you saying?!." She exclaimed, flushed and flustered as fuck.

Naruto laughed dodging the swipe she aimed at his head, he ducked behind the couch a safe distance away from Sakura and her tiny hands of destruction.
"Oh come on, you can't deny me that you never noticed the way he was staring at you."

He was what?!. Wait... hold up a god damn minute. He was doing what?!. Her surprise must have showed on her face, seeing how  Naruto rolled his eyes to the heavens.

"You really didn't?." Naruto scoffed.
"Pfft, this is hilarious. The ever observant Sakura-Chan, didn't even realized that a guy was trying to bore a hole through her with his eyes."

You have to be kidding with her. Sakura cannot believe she's hearing this from Naruto. He really shouldn't be one to talk.

"Oi, I can see all the bad things you're thinking about me, stop it." Said guy exclaimed pointing a finger directly in her face.

Sakura swatted his offending appendage away, getting up from the couch with flourish.
"Do you even have room to tease me?." She asked, sending him a raised eyebrow.
"I seem to recall a blonde staring at Rukia as she spoke."

Naruto's cheeks burned red as he rushed to his feet.
"That's cheating Sakura-Chan!."

"Hey, if you can tease me, I can tease you back."

He groaned, rubbing a hand down his face because he was staring for fuck's sake. He just didn't realize that his sister had caught him in the act.
Sakura snickered at him, reaching forward to wrap her arms around his waist, tip toeing to press her forehead against his.

"You like her."

"Isn't it obvious?." He whispered back.
"I mean she's so short... and adorable."

"Just because you're tall as a tree doesn't give you the right to call others short. "

Naruto wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed. He must be going mad as well, there wasn't a time in his life he could remember feeling this way.

"Should I ask? Or just pretend I didn't see anything?." Sai's dry tone came from behind them, Sakura turned to look at him, jerking her head for him to come closer, once he did, Sakura and Naruto both wrapped him in their hug as well.

"We were just discussing how Naruto has a massive crush on Rukia. "

"Is that something that needs to be discussed?." Sai, ever the smartass. Sakura swears he's just asking to be smacked.

"Can we not speak about this?." The victim of their discussion moaned, face back to being buried in his hands. How did this turn from teasing Sakura to teasing the hell out of him.

"Why not? You seemed perfectly happy to talk earlier."

Sai's eyes seemed to sharpen instantly at that, protective brotherly instincts showing.
"Talking about what?." He asked, narrowing his eyes at them both.

Sakura laughed nervously, sharing a look with Naruto, there was no where to run either seeing how the three of them were still tangled up together in a hug.

"Its nothing."

"Doesn't sound like nothing to me." He said, narrowing his eyes further.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with Kurosaki Ichigo, now would it."

Sakura squeaked, literally squeaked, why the hell did all her brothers have to hit the correct button.
Was she broadcasting it? Was she? Like hey, all you men and women, I like the really hot looking guy with the orange hair and amber eyes who has a body to die for.

"..Sakura, you're drooling." Said girl snapped out of her thoughts at Sai's droll tone. She squirmed, trying to get out of their hold. Naruto was snickering like never before.

"Shut up!."

Why did they have to notice she had a crush on the orange haired hottie?.

□X□

The pen tapping on his notebook seems to encourage Ichigo to get lost in his daydreaming even more.
Why was it he couldn't concentrate even on one of his damn assignments with his mind wondering back to pink hair and green eyes?. This was seriously going to mess up his grades and his father was going to be a even bigger pain in the ass than he already is.

But fucking hell! This was torture of the worst kind imaginable. Sakura plagues his thoughts every minute of everyday and every night since they have left Konoha no Sato.

He just wanted to go back there and-

"Whoa there speedy." Zangetsu said interrupting his sentence. Ichigo could feel him manifest on the left side of his face.
"I'm pretty sure the little minx would end you if you even try that."

True.  Ichigo could still remember arriving on the scene a minute before witnessing the pink haired woman punch a Menos Grande, a hollow ten times her size, into dust particles.

Ichigo had just stared, what else could he do?.

"Yea, and that was one hell of a turn on." Shiro sighed dreamily. Ichigo shook his head fondly at his perverted hollow, who was really his Zanpakuto.
"Wonder if she'll freak out if she finds out what we really are?."

Ichigo stopped short at Zangetsu's musings. Huh, why was it that this didn't cross his mind before?. Finding out that he and his sword spirit shared the same body would certainly freak someone out. But Ichigo had a feeling that Sakura's wouldn't even bat a pretty eyelash at learning this.

"Doubt it." He sighed, leaning back in his chair, letting his pen drop onto his book with a small clang.
"She looks like she's seen worse."

"Heh.." Zangestsu was quiet for three seconds flat before he spoke again.
"I wanna see that vixen again."

Ichigo did too, it wasn't long but Sakura's fiery temper, her quick wit and sharp tongue left him desiring more.

He wanted to see her so badly.

"Ichi-nii." Karin drawled, pushing open the door to her older brother's room.  Not even flinching at the sight of half her brother's face covered in white and one of his eyes were black and gold.
"Zan-nii. Yuzu says that dinner is ready, you better get down there before pops decides to come get you himself."

Zangetsu cackled at that, his voice getting smaller as he faded back into Ichigo's body, Said man rolled his eyes at his hollow, getting up from his chair to stretch his cramped legs.

"What were you guys talking about?." Karin asked as she watched her brother close his book and push his desk chair in.
"All I heard was..'She'."

"Ah." Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck, feeling it grow hot.
His sister was curious, and Ichigo really didn't want to hide anything from his family. So he gestured for her to come inside, letting the door swing shut.
"You remember I went to another place a couple of weeks ago, right?."

Karin nodded, she did remember drilling her brother until he fessed up where he had dissapeared to for an entire week.
"Yeah, what about it?." She question before her eyes widen briefly in understanding. On why she heard a 'She' in the muffled conversation.
"Haah, what's this? Met a pretty girl huh." She smirked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What's she like?."

Oh fuck.  Ichigo Internally despaired.  How to describe just how utterly mother fucking  gorgeous Sakura is.

"..Pink hair. "

"What?."

"She has pink hair. Her name is Sakura" He repeated with a tortured groan, rubbing a hand down his face
"..With the most sexiest pair of green eyes I have ever seen, pale skin that just begging for me to bite, she's short but in a super cute way, she has a mouth on her that would make a grown man cry and all I want to do is just..... Ughh."

"Sounds like you're obsessed to me." Karin has to admit though, she would like to meet this chick, she sounds cool.

"Shut up." He huffed, reaching out to ruffle her hair, making Karin squawk.
"No one asked for your opinion. "

"You little.." Karin grunted, aiming a punch at Ichigo's stomach but her bastard older brother dodged with a grin.

"Little? Can't you see I'm obviously taller than you." He taunted.

Karin growled, struggled to at least land a punch on him, but he kept dodging which was pissing her off, and the short comment was pissing her off even more!.
She paused however when a thought came to her mind, her hands stopping mid air.

"What's wrong?." Ichigo asked.

Karin looked up at him, her eyebrows frowning adorably.
"...You say you like this Sakura girl right?."

Like would be an understatement at this point, he wants to see her every minute of the day, touch her every chance he gets.
"..Yes." He settled for instead.

Karin frowned even more.

"What's on your mind?."

If he wasn't aware of a certain girl's feelings for him, Karin really shouldn't bring up this topic, if her brother likes someone she could do nothing but support him,  because come on, in all her life she has never seen Ichigo hung up on something,  much less like a girl. So she was going to keep this secret for now.

"Nothing,  come on let's go eat." She said tugging her confused looking brother out the room.

She's also going to have to keep an eye on that Auburn haired girl, something doesn't sit right with her. Jealously is a strong emotion and it can make you do awful things.

□X□

Sakura was in need of a hot bath, a warm meal and some much needed rest. Today was tiring, she had three patients with broken bones that needed mending, and an elderly woman that needed treatment for an ulcer she had on her feet. To say that Sakura wanted to fall asleep where she stood would be a joke.

"Welcome home, Sakura-Chan. " The soft spoken voice of her black haired sister had Sakura blinking tiredly from where she was gripping the doorknob.

"...I want to sleep."

Hinata smiled gently, taking Sakura's hand in hers to pull the pink haired girl further into the house.

It was no surprise to anyone that Ino had tried to make corruption between Sakura and Hinata, and it was certainly no surprise when Hinata chose Sakura's side over Ino.

"She looks like a zombie." Tenten added,

"That's not nice, Ten-Chan." Hinata said.

"You can't see how she's looking." Tenten exclaimed with a quick jerk of her hand.
"She's dead on her feet, anyone can see that."

"Yes, yes." Sakura snorted, slumped onto Tenten's chest and making her hold her entire weight.
"No need to rub it in that I look horrible."

"And you stink too."

Sakura laughed at that, rubbing her face tiredly onto Tenten's shirt, it was probably true, she must be smelling of disinfect, rubbing alcohol and dried blood, not the nicest of smells, she knows.
After that, Sakura honestly had no idea how she made it up to her room, and into the shower. Her eyes were closing on her now that she was home and she could vaguely make out the color of brown hair along with black at the corner of her eyes.

She could rest now, knowing that she was in the care of her sisters.

Her dreams were once again filled with orange and smouldering amber eyes, this time with hands roaming her body, fingertips touching places that even she hadn't touch before, lips and teeth leaving red mouth shaped bruises on her skin that Sakura wished would stay, hot breath flowing down her neck, sending literal vibrating chills up her spine. Lips pressed itself to her ear, tongue flickering out to have a little taste.

"..Sakura."

Said girl eyes flew wide open as she bolted upright in the middle of her bed, chest heaving and panting for air.

What. The. Fuck.

You cannot be serious, what in Kamisama name was that?. Sweat was trailing down her temple like twin rivers as she clutched her shirt in her fists, struggling not to rip the fabric in pieces. She has never, in all her life, ever had such a dream about someone. It left her feeling tingly, her limbs were still trembling.

"I'm either losing my god damn mind or I need some sex." She muttered, flopping back down onto her pillow and rolling onto her side heartbeat echoing loudly in her ear as if it was still on a race track.

Sex huh? Strangely, the thought of getting intimate with Ichigo didn't bother her like she thought it would. Instead it made her eager to do it with him, despite her being a virgin.

With a burning face, Sakura slammed a pillow onto her head and screamed. Something she rarely ever does.

"Should we be worried, you'll suffocate like that." Tenten's voice said dryly making Sakura toss her pillow to the side and look up, her brother and sister were standing there at her doorway, arms crossed and eyebrows raised to their hairline.
"Death by suffocation of pillow, I could see it now."

"Please don't." Sai deadpanned, he then turned to his pink haired sibling "Dinner is ready, unless you rather be eating bedding instead." He had to move a bit to the side to evade said bedding as it came flying to his face.
"Well that answers my question. "

"Gee, you think." Tenten scoffed.

Sakura ignored her siblings bickering, too lost in the revelation of her dream, her God-fucking-damn-it.. Wet dream. Because let's be real, what else could it be...
She pressed her palm against her chest and curled slightly into a small ball, heartbeat starting its rapid pace once again.

Oh fuck, this could only mean one thing.

She was attracted to Kurosaki Ichigo.

Just Great.

Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Keigo was going to die by Ichigo's hands if he didn't stop talking while Ichigo was trying to concentrate on the stupid assignment in front of him. Seriously, who gives someone a paper to work on, two days before the deadline!.

"-And then this busty babe just walks by and when I say busty I mean huuuge."

Ichigo could feel his eyebrow twitch, couldn't this dumbass find somewhere else to talk crap like that? He was trying to focus on his work here, he has a life outside of  fighting hollows and waging wars you know. He has to get his education, finish college, graduate, get a job while he's-

"-And part of her hair was dyed pink, can you believe that."

Annnnd there goes Ichigo's focus, just at the mention of pink hair. His pen hit the notebook on his desk with a small clang, making Keigo look at him, a questionable look on his face.

"You okay, Ichigo?."

"Just peachy." He was not making the mistake of telling Keigo of all people about his feelings for that Pink haired fire cracker. That would be one decision he would regret for his entire life.
"You know what, no I'm not, get out of here with your rubbish. "

"Oi. What are you calling rubbish?."

"Your entire conversation is rubbish Keigo."

"I have to agree with Ichigo on that one." Uryuu commented form where he was sitting knitting a pair of big boy pants for Kon.
"Do you always start a conversation using the body parts of women."

"Well excuse me if you both are so boring." Said boy rolled his eyes at them like they were the ones talking shit Instead of him.
"Its not my fault you guys are single."

"You don't have a girlfriend either, dumbass." Ichigo said with a deadpanned look.

"Shut up, I will one day!."

Ichigo determinedly tuned out Keigo's lies, anything that comes out Keigo's mouth is garbage, why doesn't that idiot stop chasing after women he certainly can't have and study his notes? It's a miracle he even got in here with Ichigo and the others.

He turned his head to stare out the window, reeling back immediately as Rukia's face greeted his view, plastered to the window with a stare that was starting to creep him out.

" ..What is she doing?." Uryuu asked, a bewildered tone to his voice, after having nearly knock the needle out of his hand.

"Hell if I knew, I just wanted to look out the window." Ichigo huffed, sending Rukia a narrowed eyed look.
"What's your problem midget, got a job as a creep now?."

Rukia's response was to phase through the glass and delivery a sharp smack to the back of his orange head. Ichigo vaguely registered the muffled snicker from Uryuu as the sting seemed to wreck his brain.

He'll get his cousin back later.

"You're telling Keigo about rubbish, but to me the same amount of rubbish comes out of your mouth." She said, propping her small palms on her petite waist,, giving him a look full of judgement.

So the midget was eavesdropping.

"I think he's worst, if you really look at it." Uryuu just had to add his two cents, didn't he?

"Shut up." Ichigo growled, aiming a swipe at his smart ass cousin, who ducked out of the way with a small smirk on his face.

Grrr.

"Something you need, Rukia?." Sado asked, usually the quiet one of their little group.

"Renji and I were thinking of having Sakura and the others come over for a visit, seeing how we were in their dimension. What do you think, in or not?"

At the mention of Sakura's name, Zangetsu perked up, immediately materializing on the left side of Ichigo's face.

"Count us in." He said.
"A chance to see that little minx again, we are definitely in."

"Zangetsu!." Really did he have to say that? His Zanpakuto just literally blew Ichigo's cover to smitterins.
"Shut up." But it was already too late, Keigo's attention snapped to that sentence so quickly, like a dog trying to get a treat.

Ichigo really wanted to punch that dumb grin growing on Keigo's face, off. This was trouble.

"Oh ho, what's this I hear? Who is this Sakura person?." He asked, grin still in place as he tried to shift closer into Ichigo's personal space. Zangetsu was eyeing Keigo, probably debating if he could bite him or not.
"Do tell me."

"That's none of your business, forget you even heard that name." Ichigo badly wanted to high tail it out of here.

Really, Rukia was a little devil of a best friend, with that smug little smirk she was giving him as if she wasn't the reason he was in this predicament right now.

"That's our business, brat don't stick your nose into it." Zangetsu said with a growl.

Keigo merely stuck his tongue out at Ichigo's manifested sword, not showing one ounce of fear at seeing half of his friends face covered in white and his eye golden.
"But I want to know, it's not everyday you hear some juicy news about Ichigo, much less his interest In a girl."

Why did that sound so...?
"Oi, I didn't know you were so intrested in my life story." He jerked his foot out, connecting with Keigo's shin.
"Nosy bastard, and you!." He said turning to face the little demon who started this, ignoring Keigo's hissing.
"Don't play innocent, you knew exactly what you were starting when you mentioned her name."

"Did I?." This little witch said sweetly.
"I'm sorry if you thought that was my intention."

"Come on, I wanna know who this Sakura chick is." Keigo said, ready to get on his hands and knees and beg if he needs to. That's how desperate he was.

"Don't you understand that no means fucking no." Zangestsu hissed.
"Why is he so annoying?."

"You have known him for just as long as Ichigo and you're now realizing that?." Rukia asked, an eyebrow raised up to her hairline.

"Forget Keigo." Ichigo scoffed as Zangetsu started to fade back into him.
"When is this happening?." Because seriously, Zangetsu was right, miss a chance to see that minx again? No way in hell. And Ichigo has been to hell.

"Sakura said she'll give me a thumbs up when they're ready." Rukia said, she looked mighty proud of herself.

"And how's she's gonna do that?." Uryuu asked, using his pointer finger to slide his glasses back up his nose.
To his question, Rukia held up a mouse that she pulled out of nowhere,  the whitest little mouse they have ever seen.

"Her  brother can make anything he draws come to life, Sakura and Tenten gave me this before we left." The tiny creature even squeaked like a real mouse and started sniffing at her palm, making Rukia giggle.

"Anything he draws." Uryuu asked, a interested gleam in his eyes.

"Yes, this little thing here starts to run like crazy whenever Sakura sends a message. I always have to have a blank peice of paper ready."

"Why?." Sado asked, he was all fine and dandy just listening really.

"Because he's made of ink. He splatters himself over the paper and then words form. Its pretty cool because once I got the message he immediately reforms." She sounded so fascinated, Ichigo couldn't find himself to tease her about it.

"So you and Sakura have been. talking since we left Konoha, and you didn't bother to let me know?!." He growled, reaching forward to grab the midget, yet she dodged him, stepping back like a ballerina on her toes.

Che.

"Must have slipped my mind, Sakura has so- "

"Who is Sakura?."

Every one of their heads whipped around to stare at the door, Orihime and Tatsuki stood there, bundled up in coats with scarfs around there necks.
They made their way over to where Ichigo amd the others were, puzzled looks on their faces.

"Hey, I asked who was this Sakura person you were talking about?."

"A friend of mine." Uryuu said, clamping a hand down on Ichigo's knee, letting his cousin know silently to keep his mouth shut. He didn't need to tell Rukia and Sado that, and they seemed to have taken care of Keigo opening his mouth.

"Really, I didn't know you had friends outside of us." Tatsuki teased, jabbing him in the shoulder.

"Just because I don't mention it, doesn't mean I don't have friends. " He scoffed.
"Besides, she's not from around here and is coming to visit soon with her brothers." A half lie but, somehow, Uryuu felt they couldn't exactly tell Tatsuki the truth in front of Inoue. It would only cause complications.

Why was Kurosaki Ichigo so dense when it comes to girls and feelings?.

"Really, never would have guessed. " Tatsuki said, a skeptical look on her face.
"Why now though?."

Rukia took that opportunity to grab Ichigo's and Uryuu's bags then she turned to hightail it out the window, knowing damn well the carrot top and glasses boy would follow.

"Rukia!." Twin shouts echoed from behind her.

Good, let them follow, because they had some serious talking to do.

□X□

Sakura was kinda excited and kinda nervous, this was a big deal okay?, it's not like she often goes to a different world, okay those two times she and Naruto ended up in different worlds doesn't count okay, it doesn't.

This was Ichigo's world she was going into, she and Rukia has been exchanging messages back and fort, yet she never dare asked about him, because once she started, that would be it, her heart would be beating so fast, nothing else would be on her mind but him.

So yes, she was excited and nervous at seeing him again.

"Seriously Sakura." Tenten said, sounding exasperatedly fond.
"You look like a puppy waiting for a treat. Calm down."

"Whose waiting for a treat?." Sakura huffed, willing her face not to turn red.
"I'm just nervous. "

"Sure." Tenten said, giving her a raised eyebrow, clearly telling Sakura that she believed not a word she said.
"I'll let Naru know to prepare in advance."

"Prepare in advance for what?." What was Tenten on today? She was sprouting nonsense.

"Oh you know." She said, waving a hand around in gesture.
"In case the minute you see Kurosaki Ichigo again, you faint."

Sakura immediately sputtered out a protest, reaching forward to smack her laughing brown haired sister on the arm, that did not help in one bit, because the witch kept laughing.
"Shut up. I would not."  She huffed.
"Why the hell would I faint when I see him?."

"Because his gorgeous face would be to much for you. Your heart would stop at the mere-."

"Tenten!." Sakura exclaimed, said girl bursting into peels of laughter, holding her sides as she collapsed onto Sakura's bed, her entire body shaking with mirth.

"Sakura, what are you doing to Tenten?." Sai asked dryly, entering his sister's room with the blankest face.
"And what's with all the noise?."

"I didn't do anything." Said pink haired girl responded.
"She's the one laughing like a hyena and teasing me."

Sai took one look at Tenten's form and could immediately tell what she was teasing Sakura about, because it was so very obvious, Sakura was like an open book sometimes.

Shikamaru poked his head into the room at that moment, a scowl on his face.
"I'm going to tape her mouth, why is she laughing so loudly?."

"She's teasing Sakura about Kurosaki Ichigo again." Sai deadpanned, gesturing to said girl's red face.
"Its a normal thing these days."

"All of you can get lost." The girl of their teasing scowled.
"What time are we leaving anyways." Really, she would like to move past this topic now.

"Impatient much?." Now it was Shikamaru's turn to join in the fun, making Tenten nearly die with laughter.

Sakura was going to kill them.

□X□

"Are we going for lunch or not?." Ichigo asked packing up his bag.
"Cafeteria is serving this killer chicken sandwich and I want one."

"Sometimes I feel all you think about is your stomach." Tatsuki said with a huff.
"Is that all you're concerned about?."

"Its lunch, should I be concerned about anything else?." He asked, poking Uryuu behind his head.
"Oi nerd, hurry up."

"I will snack you, don't think I won't." Said nerd growled.
"Can't you wait five more minutes?."

"Tell that to my stomach, its trying to eat me from inside out."

Uryuu shook his head, quickly tossing his stationary into his bag.
"I sure hope it does, one less annoyance to worry about." He said side eyeing Keigo who was busy chatting up some girl who was looking a second away from slapping him across the face.

"Ouch, what exactly are you implying, cousin of mines." Ichigo said.

"Exactly how you wanna take it, cousin of mine."Uryuu shot back, blinking as the chattering of students registered in his mind.
So caught up on their bickering, he didn't realize that they had already reached the cafeteria.

Huh, talk about distracted while walking.

□X□

KaraKura was beautiful, if you excuse the occasional gang fights here and there as they arrived, but it was a quiet little town. It was totally different from where Sakura lived that's for sure.

"Didn't think that loud mouth idiot to live in a place like this." Naruto commented. Should he really be calling someone a loud mouth when he's one himself?
Renji, the red head who came to pick them up, snorted.

"Seeing is believing. " He said.
"Most wouldn't believe Ichigo lived here if they didn't see it."

"Well he does behave like a hooligan most of the time." Sakura muttered, but can a hooligan be considered sexy?. If not, then Sakura's doomed.

Renji snickered, leading them all the way the to the university that Ichigo was currently attending with the others.
"Calling him that is a bit harsh, don't you think?."

"....I call it as I see it." Although those dreams she gets every other night says otherwise.

"Heh." Renji then perked up, a hand shooting up into the air in a wave.
"There they are now. Ichigo! Rukia!."

At the mention of said short girl's name, Sakura felt the moment Naruto's body tensed up besides her, his fingers tighten on the edge her shirt, making a small creaking sound as the black haired girl turned their way, she heard the exhale Naruto let out the second amethyst colored orbs glanced in their direction.

Heh, Sakura could safely say that her brother was doomed, he could deny all he wants, yet his body language never lies.

Yet the second her eyes looked up once more to connect with Amber orbs that were slowly growing darker.

Sakura knew she was doomed as well.

Chapter 4: Chapter 4

She was standing right there, Ichigo thought in a daze, Sakura was standing directly in front of his being and it was taking every ounce of Ichigo's self control not to rush forward and scoop her up in his arms, take her somewhere the two of them could be alone and make her feel so good that the only thing that she would remember will be his name.

Zangetsu egging him on, wasnt helping.

"Yo, carrot top." Naruto called, raising a hand in greeting, a bright smile on his face.
"Its been a while since the last time I saw you."

"Likewise, you annoying blonde." Ichigo snickered, reaching a hand out to clasp Naruto's.
"Its only fair if you give me a ridiculous nickname."

"Touche."

"I see your habit of giving people ridiculous nicknames havent changed." Sakura said with a raised eyebrow, she was wearing a soft grey cotton pants with a baby pink sweater on and sandals on her feet.

Her very cute feet.

Sakura wanted to reach over and touch him, run her fingers through that wild orange mane, over his chest, feel the muscles she always dreams about directly underneath her palm. That would totally beat the fantasy, to have the real thing,

"My habit?." The object of her thoughts asked, snapping her back into reality, his eyes were glued to her when Sakura looked up, his gaze never leaving hers even as he spoke.
"May I remind you that he's the one who started it."

"What is this? The blame game?." Naruto piped up.
"Sakura-Chan that's playing favorites."

"Like hell I am." Said girl protested.
"Have you forgotten that I wanted to punch this guy the first time we met?."

"You would have shattered his bones if you had." Uryuu said appearing behind Ichigo, sunlight glinting off his glasses, making him look wicked for a brief second.
"That would have been nice."

"Shut up Uryuu." Ichigo growled, his eyes immediately settled back onto Sakura, nodding his head to the building behind him.
"Come on, we were actually just about to grab lunch." He held his hand out for Sakura, watching as she slid her small palm into his much bigger one, fingers clutching on tightly.

God, she was just cute.

"That sounds good." Naruto laughed  offering his elbow to the petite woman standing besides Renji.
"Join me?."

Smooth Naru, really smooth. Sakura thought, watching as Rukia's cheeks bloomed a lovely shade of red, she didn't hesitate to  wrap her arm around Naruto's elbow though, so that's an A+ in Sakura's book.

A squeeze to her palm had her head snapping in that direction immediately, Ichigo was looking straight ahead as he walked but Sakura could somehow feel eyes on her.
"How about we hook those two up?."

"Its that obvious?." She asked with a grin.
"I mean, Naruto makes no move to hide."

Ichigo used the grip on her hand to pull her closer to him.
"Rukia thinks she's hiding it, but I can see it clear as day." He then leaned in, lips touching her ear, making Sakura's heart skip multiple beats at once.
"Its also obvious that you seem more pretty than the last time I saw you." He raised back up, nose brushing against her warm ear.
"Ah, that reminds me, Why wasn't I aware that you,Tenten and Rukia were talking to each other all this time?."

"....Its a secret?." She phrased it more like a question than the answer Ichigo wanted. He gave her a side eyed look, clearly showing her than he wasn't buying the nonsese she was selling.
"Ugh fine, I told her not to tell you."

"Now that's more like it." He said triumphantly.
"Though I should have figured, the midget keeps secrets from me all the time."

"I heard that, baaka!." Rukia yelled from where she was in front, twisting her head back to shoot Ichigo a glare.
"And stop calling me Midget!."

"You were supposed to." He called back nonchalantly.
"I spoke loud enough just for you to hear."

Rukia bared her teeth at him with a hiss, her head snapping back to the front, Naruto giving them a wink as Rukia started to drag them away, it looked really cute, seeing how Naruto was twice her size.

That's another thing, her blonde brother has grown taller and has gotten more handsome the last time Rukia saw him, so Sakura is sure her heart must be beating away in her chest, her ears blooming red every few seconds told Sakura that much.

"You guys are like cats and dogs." She said, amusement clear in her voice, remembering how she used to be like that with Sai and Naruto.
"You better sleep with one eye open."

Ichigo merely scoffed.

"Seems so different from when we were back in the academy." Sakura mused leaning against Naruto as they were having lunch, Ichigo was shooting her heated looks from where he sat next to Renji, case one why she didn't sit down next to him.

Sakura didn't trust him to keep his hands to himself.

But... it was a relief, a strange feeling knowing that the person she likes shares the same feelings as her. That it wasn't a mere one sided love anymore. Sakura knew she went through that more than enough.
Sasuke... was her first love, and she had let go of all those feelings before he had returned to the village, bringing with him a brand new team and a fiancee. Good for him, she says.

"We were like 12." Naruto huffed, shaking his shoulder to juggle her head on it.
"These kids are way older than we were. Besides, our school was the Nonja Academy, I don't think anyone here even knows how Chakra works."

"True."

" You guys have some interesting ways of fighting." Renji smiled.
"What's with the brute strength, can you control it?."

"You mean if I mistakenly break someone's bones when I touch them?." Sakura laughed.
"Yeah, I can control it, I am a doctor after all, I have to deal with patients on a regular basis."

"I didn't know that you were a doctor, you look so young." Uryuu asked, amazed.

Sakura beamed at him, pleased.
"Thank you, I have been training with my mom since I was 13."

"Tsunade?." Ichigo guessed, watching as she nodded her head in conformation.
"Have no doubt about that."

"You do not want to feel her fists." Naruto shuddered.
"Our mom has a killer left hook, just don't piss her off and you'll be fine."

"Tell that to all the office desk she has destroyed over the years." Sai's dry tone interrupted.
"What did they do to piss her off?."

"Well, you know when she opens her secret draw and it doesn't have- "

"Kurosaki-Kun!."

Sakura watched as Rukia and Uryuu immediately tensed at the sound, Ichigo had a complicated expression on his face, like the voice calling out his name physically pained him.

"Oh.." An Auburn haired girl came to a stop at their table, she was pretty, Sakura admits, pretty and looks a bit naive.
"I didn't know you had company. "

Uryuu cleared his throat, pushing the glasses up on his nose.
"These are my friends I was speaking about earlier." He gestured to said people.
"We were having lunch before we showed them around town.,"

Sakura and Naruto shared a look with Sai,  having already caught on to what Uryuu was doing, but why would they lie about this? Didn't this girl know about the Soul Society already? Otherwise she wouldn't be so.... unless...

Sakura glanced at Ichigo, who had his palms covering his eyes and nose, but from where Sakura was sitting she could see the grimace on his lips.

Unless this girl liked Ichigo.

He didn't like her more than a friend, Sakura could tell, but he was aware of her feelings and didn't have one clue what to do about it.

"Oh... I'm Inoue Orihime. Nice to meet you." She even bowed a little which was a bit overkill.

"Uzumaki Naruto, this is my sister Sakura and my brother Sai." He smiled.
"Nice to meet you as well, Inoue-San."

Naruto didn't miss the way her eyes seemed to linger on Sakura before she nodded her head at him, it seemed like this girl was trying to assess if Sakura was a threat or not.

A little too late for that assessment.

"Let's go." Ichigo said, standing up abruptly, he grabbed his bag without another word and walked off.

Rukia and Renji were soon to follow, both waving a palm to Orihime, who looked a bit stunned at Ichigo's actions. Sakura hurriedly grabbed Sai's arm as they walked behind Ichigo, what a temper that man had.

"Go." Sai said nudging her in the direction the orange head was stomping towards.
"Cool him off."

"What!?" Was her brother nuts.
"You're sending me on a suicide mission."

"Don't be so dramatic." Naruto huffed.
"Smack him on the head so he could get back in his senses."

"I'm pretty sure you're the only one who can calm him down right now." Uryuu added.

"Yeah, we go near him now and we get our heads bitten off." Renji said, wiping his eyes in a dramatic fashion.

"You guys are a bunch of traitors."
She scowled.
"I shall remember this when I get my revenge later."

"Sounds scary.." Was the dull statement from Sai, making Sakura laugh as she head in Ichigo's direction.

Okay, so another person likes Kurosaki Ichigo, strangely the fact doesn't bother her as much as she thought it would, maybe because she knew that he wanted her as well? That they had each other in mind.

He looked like the type to analyze what he was about to do before going for it. That was kind of attractive to be honest. Besides that, he was kind, even in his gruff, grumpy manner, he was kind and cared very much for his friends and his family no matter how much they get a kick out of teasing him.

Sakura poked her head around the corner of the building she saw Ichigo stomp off to. Blinking at the sight of him leaning his head against the wall, one hand ruffling his hair and he seemed to be...talking to someone?.

"Ichigo?."

His head whipped towards her in an instant and Sakura had to take a minute to register what she was seeing..

Half his face was covered in a white mask two red stripes running down the sides, and one of his eye was golden.

Oh......

Ichigo wanted to punch something, anything really, Rukia and Uryuu had talked to him about this, they had sat him down and given him the entire god forsaken explanation, then told him he was an imbecile for not noticing.

How the fuck was he to know that Inoue liked him? Did he have to develop a specific skill to read her mind to know she liked him?. Ridiculous, first of all he saw her as a friend, only a friend, Ichigo can't force himself to have romantic feelings for someone who he had no romantic interest in.

"Considering that you dont pay attention to those things, I'm not surprised. " Zangetsu deadpanned, manifesting on his left side cheek
"The only woman we have an interest in is that little minx back there with the pink hair"

"Tell that to Inoue, what does she expect me to do? Magically like her back?." He growled.
"The one we want is Sakura, not Inoue."

"What are we going to do about her then?. The last time I showed up, she freaked out... wait that's not a bad idea.," Ichigo rolled his eyes at his Zanpakuto's ridiculous imagination.

"No scaring anyone, that's not a-."

"Ichigo?."

Hearing that voice, he really didn't think as his head automatically turned to the sound of her voice, attracted to it like a moth to a lamp.
He realized a second later that Zangetsu was full on display and from the way Sakura's eyes widen, she was seeing everything.

Internally panicking, because fucking hell, he didn't want her to find out like this, Ichigo opened his mouth to at least explain, but found himself stunned into  silence as she hurried towards him, small fingers reaching up to touch Zangetsu, eyeing him with a fascinated gleam.

"...So cool. Is this part of your powers?."

She...wasn't afraid?.. she wasn't turning tail and running like many others, Sakura was  twisting his head left to right in awe. His hand reached up to grab her wrist, well Zangetsu did, Ichigo was going with the flow.

"Woman, I am a part of him." Zangetsu cackled, he was trying to scare her, Ichigo realized.
"Arent you afraid?. We are not what you expected."

To both their surprises, Sakura ripped her hand away from his hold, snatching his face in both her palms to pull him down to her level.
"You gotta try better than that to scare me buddy." She grinned, thumb swiping under both his mismatched eyes.
"Name?."

Ichigo and Zangetsu both stared at her in a bit of surprise, raging arousal and the strong urge to kiss the living daylights out of this woman.

"Zangetsu, King's Zanpakuto.". He  breathed out.
"How?."

Sakura scoffed, tugging his face closer, They went willingly, like a puppet on a string, she was also giving them a clear view of her collarbones where the sweater was slipping down one shoulder.

The urge to bite was also strong.

"Should I be?." She asked in a raspy voice, head tilting one side, basically pushing Ichigo's buttons without saying anything.
"I have seen enough out of this world things, it doesn't faze me anymore. I'll have you know, there was a time I went to another dimension."
She trailed a finger along his jawline, smiling in triumph when his arm latched around her waist in a vice grip.
"Besides, Naruto has a nine tailed fox sealed inside of him, and believe me, Kurama was a handful when I first talked to him, who knew a fox so much sass. Another thing. " She leaned forward, lips brushing against his cheek.
"Your little scare tactic won't work onme, you're gonna have to try really hard if you want to get rid of me...Zangetsu.."

That seemed to be the breaking point of their patience, Zangetsu faded away with a wicked cackle as Ichigo snaked a hand into that long, luscious pink hair, tugged her head back and slammed his lips on hers.

Fucking Finally.

Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Ichigo felt as if he was on cloud nine right now. Her mouth was hot against his own, her lips soft and moist, sweet with a hint of mint flavor. If Ichigo could help it, he would spend the entire day just kissing her. Those lips were irresistible and he really had no plan to resist such a delectable gift that fell into his lap rather comfortably.

Unfortunately, he couldnt spend the day kissing her because they both had lungs and they both needed to breathe, which was just too bad.
Pulling away from her addicting mouth, a cute little 'pwaah' sound making itself heard. He glanced down at her and felt his heart skip a beat.

God she was absolutely stunning.

Sakura's breathing was ragged, her hot breath was hitting his bottom lip from where he was still bent over her body, her eyes were still closed, face an adorable shade of red.

Ichigo couldn't resist, he leaned down once again to sneak in a bite to her cheek, making Sakura yelp.

"Oww!." She huffed, opening those pretty jewels to glare up at him.
"What was that for?."

"Well.. " He said, stretching the word
"There were right in front of me, red as a cherry, I couldnt help it. I had to have a taste."

Sakura gave him an unimpressed look, smacking at his chest, telling him wordlessly to let her up.
Ichigo, that annoying bastard, ducked down once again to place a heated smooch on her lips before he raised up, bringing her with him.

Sakura swears, he was a giant.

"So." She asked, brushing the few strands of stray hair away from her face.
"What were you having? A mental breakdown?."

Ichigo groaned as if he was answering a really hard Math question instead of something that simple.
"Do I have to answer that?."

"If it was someone else besides me to come after you, they would have labeled you as a weirdo."

"That's kinda rude, don't you think?." He gruffed, fingers digging into the skin of her waist playfully.

"I call it as I see it, now spill. "

He sighed, long and tiring, dropping his head back down, snuggling against her neck.
"Rukia and Uryuu told me that Inoue liked me." He said, voice slightly muffled.
"What the hell am I supposed to do with that? It's not like  I could magically return her feelings, I dont see her in that way."

Sakura hummed, a hand coming up to pat him on the back.
"She seems to be totally head over heels for you." She grinned.
"Besides, the size of her boobs, astounds me."

Ichigo pulled back to stare at her and the look on his face had Sakura cracking up. She clutched her stomach as laughter racked through her body, he was giving her the most scandalous look she has ever seen.

"What?." She snickered, wiping the few tears that escaped her eyes.
"You look as if you have never heard a girl talk about another girl's boobs before."

"That's what you're concerned about?." He asked, brows frowning adorably.

"Well, Is there a reason I should be?." She asked, cocking her hip to the side and resting her hand there, her turn to raise her eyebrow at him.

Ichigo felt his self control starting to slip again even as they were having  such a serious conversation.  Did she have to be such a sexy little thing?.
"Like hell, how much times do I have to repeat myself?. I do not like her that way for fucking hell's sake."

"I never said you did." Sakura pointed out, somehow hearing him curse was amusing.
"So stop making it sound like I do, first of all, what is her ability?."

"Healing mostly, I think." He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"That's the most I know, and she could make a defense shield."

"I see." Sakura said, thoughtfully.
"You see this?." She said poking at the purple diamond on her forehead.
"Its where I store my Chakra, it gives me the power to regenerate a decapitated limb, if my body is sliced  in half I could still heal myself, it's the source of my strength.  I can also heal thousands of individuals in one go, do you really think I have something to worry about with a girl like that?."

Ichigo was stunned silent, he knew that she was strong, but to hear the extent of her strength was honestly super amazing.
"Right, how stupid of me to say that." He muttered, ignoring Zangetsu's cackling at the back of his mind.
"Still though, why would Rukia and Uryuu even warn me about that?."

"I think you're pretty dense when it comes to the feelings department. " Sakura deadpanned, side stepping out of his reach when he made a grab for her.
"Can't exactly blame them." She shrugged.

Ichigo growled, lurching forward to grab his little minx, only to meet with a face full of smoke and no Sakura in his arms. He huffed, sticking his hands in his pockets before he trudged around the corner, immediately spotting her next to her black haired brother, her arm latched around his as she snickered.

"Ah, no wonder Sakura-Chan ran away, look at that face... scary." Naruto mocked shuddered, grinning brightly when Ichigo shot him a narrowed eyed look.

"No, no Naruto you have it wrong." Renji said shaking his head like he was some wise old sage.
"That's the look of when a man's sexua-."

"Ichigo! There you are!." Tatsuki's voice had said man sighing out loud as he turned to face his oldest childhood friend, she was heading his way with a confident stride and a determined look on her face.

Oh for hell's sake.

"Tatsuki." He said tiredly, bringing a hand up to rub at his temple, already feeling a headache coming on.
"What's up?."

She came to a halt in front of him, not noticing the crowd of people behind as she reached forward to stab him with her pointer finger in the chest.
"Hime was looking for you earlier, she said you stormed off before she could ask you to have lunch with her."

"Why? I had already eaten." He said plainly, Sakura honestly didn't know whether to laugh or smack her forehead at this point.
"Do you want me to over stuff myself?."

"You could have just sat with her!." Tatsuki said throwing her hands up in the air, Ichigo was the most annoying, difficult person to deal with. Tatsuki wanted to smack him.

"It wouldnt have hurt to-."

Uryuu cleared his throat noisily, gaining the attention of the dark haired female immediately, who just noticed that they had company.

"Oh.. hello." She said with a awkward smile.
"Didnt see you there."

"Obviously, you were so engrossed in chewing Ichigo's head off, I dont know whether to feel insulted or not." Renji said crossing his arms over his chest.

"Who asked for your opinion, pineapple?." She shot back, making  Sakura raise an eyebrow at them, was it just her or does anyone else feel the tension?.
"I'm here to talk to Ichigo, is your name Ichigo?."

Sakura shuffled over to where Rukia was standing next to Naruto, her arms over her chest and the most amused expression on her face.
"Psst." She whispered.
"What's with all that aggression?."

"Tatsuki likes Renji. " She grinned.
"She makes it so obvious from the way she behaves, I mean, do you have to be so forceful with him?."

"Renji knows?."

"Why do you think he likes provoking her?."

"Machocist much?." Sakura said dryly.
"What's he gonna do when she finds out that he knows?."

"Probably punch him." Uryuu said dully.
"Its what he clearly deserves."

Sakura gave him a look, she's actually pretty fond of Ichigo's cousin. He got this 'mightier than thou' kinda aura, but he genuinely shows concern for those around him be it friend or family.
"Don't tell me you never had a crush on anyone before."

He used his pointer finger to push his glasses higher up his nose, making light glint off them for a brief second, before he turned his head in the other direction.

"Seriously?."

"Leave me alone." He scoffed.
"I didnt have time for romance. "

"Not even your first love?." Naruto asked, obviously keeping an ear on their conversation.

"Does that really matter?." He asked, starting to get flustered.

"Alright, leave him alone." Rukia said, shaking her head.
"Sakura, wanna go shopping with me? Seeing how these two have classes I could keep you guys company."

"Sounds like a great plan." Sakura said, glancing back at Ichigo, who was still standing with Renji, bickering with Tatsuki.
"Let's go, if they need us, they could come find us."

Rukia snickered, Ichigo was going to throw a fit, but oh well.

□X□

"So... this Inoue chick. " Sakura began as both she and Rukia stood in the dressing room of the clothes store they were in, Naruto and Sai were in the sweets shop just across from them. Saying that there was no way that they were coming in there with them.
"What's her issue?."

"Hmm?. Oh, She's in love with that knucklehead." Rukia responded.
"She tries to hide it, but I saw right through her."

"...Why didnt she try to confess?."

"I don't think Ichigo would reciprocate her feelings." Rukia sighed, folding the dress she just tried on neatly.
"I know she likes him, let's say she did confess but Ichigo being Ichigo, didnt see her in that way, did she expect him to force himself to like her back?."

"Good point." Was this how Sasuke felt when she tried to force her feelings onto him? No wonder he always called her annoying.
"Think they noticed by now that we're gone?."

"Pretty sure they did." Rukia replied, awfully cheerful.
"Too bad for them though." She gathered the stuff she wanted and looked over at Sakura.
"You ready?."

Sakura hurriedly grabbed the few articles of clothing she actually liked and followed Rukia out the dressing room.

"By the way." Rukia began conversationally as they waited until the cashier rang everything up.
"Did you guys kiss?."

Sakura let out a surprised laugh, clamping her hand over her mouth, she should have know Rukia would ask something like that. Sakura didn't know whether to be embarrassed or smug as the cashiers ears turned red.
"What brought that up?."

"Nothing, but knowing Ichigo, being alone with the person he likes uninterrupted? Of course he's gonna try something. "

Sakura scratched her cheek, her flesh warm.
"We did. I kinda provoked him into doing it."

"Sly, Sakura, sly." Rukia snickered, grabbing their bags.
"I have known Ichigo for years now, that berry boy is a hot head."

Berry? That was an adorable name and certainly does not match with the person its named after.
"Sai calls me Cherry." She said, feeling heat creep into her cheeks, okay she did not mean to say that one. What was wrong with her mouth.

"Hmm, matching nicknames now? Its like you two are a match made in heaven." Rukia snorted as they walked out the store.
"That does not surprise me, to be honest."

"Oh yeah." Sakura poked her in the arm teasingly.
"When are you gonna make a move on my brother?."

Rukia sputtered in reply, turning her head to give Sakura a squinty eyed glare.
"We are not talking about this." She stated firmly, making a wicked grin grow across Sakura's lips.
"No."

"Eh?, I haven't said anything." Sakura smiled teasingly.

"I can hear you thinking it, so stop it." Rukia said, slapping Sakura's arm, making her laugh.
"Hush."

"Why are you beating my sister?." Naruto asked, popping out of nowhere with a chocolate pocky in his mouth. Sai was behind him, munching on what looked like sour gummy worms.

"Naruto~." Sakura sang, latching onto his arm, pulling him down to her height to whisper in his ear.
"Carry Rukia on a date." She pulled back with a smile, watching as his eyes lit up, Sakura huffed, pushing him forward so he could take her place next to Rukia.

"Playing matchmaker already?." Sai said, pressing a kiss to Sakura's temple as they watched Naruto offered his arm to a blushing Rukia, who accepted his arm with a shy smile.
"They actually look cute."

Sakura grinned.
"Tenten would have been teasing the hell out of them if she was here."

"She would have. Neji wanted her with him though, was he afraid she would fall for someone else from another dimension?."

Sakura snickered, leaning against his side for a second.
"Dont tell her you said that, she would skin you alive."

"If she can catch me that is." He scoffed, taking the bags from her hands.
"Its almost time though, to go home." He side eyed her quietly.
"So? Did he confess his undying love for you, promising to never leave or betray you until the end of time?."

Sakura doubled over with laughter, arms wrapping around her stomach as she laughed. Looks like her brother was trying to kill her, wasn't he?.

"What on earth is going on in that head of yours."

"Seeing my sister glow is pretty refreshing, I wanna know the reason."

"...We kissed." She admitted a bit shyly, wrapping her arm around his.
"Nothing much, we kissed, he told me that I had nothing to worry about, well I told him he had nothing to worry about."

"Why?."

"Inoue likes him." She shrugged.
"He sees her only as a friend though, he was worried I would feel uneasy."

Sai hummed in thought. It was true, he could clearly see how the amber haired girl behaved.
"She's going to cause trouble once she finds out that you guys are together. "

"She could try." Ichigo's voice came from behind them, making Sakura and Sai twist around immediately, the orange haired man was walking towards them as he scratches his head.
"I can guarantee it wont be easy." He came to a stop before them, leaning down to press a kiss to Sakura's forehead. Sai nodding his head in approval like the overprotective brother that he was, and exchanging a quick fist bump with Ichigo.

"Besides, it seems we need to have a serious talk with Tatsuki. "