Chapter 8:

"Hinata-chan? Who's that?" Naruto asked Sakura, cocking his head to the side.

Sakura grinned. "She's only the most wicked awesome person on the face of the planet!" Sakura grabbed Naruto's hand. "Come on, we have to hurry, we're running out of time!"

Naruto looked confused. "What are we running out of time for again?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Wait till we get back home, and then I'll explain everything again."

Sakura and Naruto sprinted out of the palace gardens back to the Haruno mansion. Upon arrival at their destination Sakura quickly pulled Naruto into the back garden to find Hinata.

"Hinata-chan," Sakura called softly into the cool autumn night, "I need you to meet someone!"

There was a soft 'pop' from behind the bushes and a flustered fairy appeared before the two.

"S-s-sakura-chan! What are you doing back here? The ball will end in a few hours, you need to be there!" Hinata stuttered with a horrified look plastered onto her porcelain features.

Sakura gave her an apologetic smile, and then quickly turned to Naruto.

"Naruto, this is Hinata-chan, my fairy god mother," Sakura stated, like it was old news, "and Hinata-chan this is Naruto, my best friend. Okay, now that you tow have met, let's get down to business!"

Naruto and Hinata exchanged glances, which caused Naruto to grin goofily and Hinata to blush like a mad man.

"Ne, Sakura-chan, Hinata-chan is pretty! Where did you find her? I've never seen her before." Naruto whispered into Sakura's ear.

"Shut up Naruto, we're not here for you to swoon over Hinata-chan. And I didn't find her, she found me! She's a fairy for god's sake! That’s why you've never seen her before!"

"A fairy?"

Sakura nodded her head.

"There are no such things as fairies!"

Sakura sighed and Hinata hit Naruto over the head with her wand.

"I-I am a fairy, fairies exist, end of discussion, I win!" Hinata said, over coming her usual bashfulness.

Naruto rubbed his sore head and looked at Sakura with puppy dog eyes.

"Sasu-chan, she hit me!"

"Stuff it Naruto, that’s not my problem, you provoked her! Are any of you helping me? I think not! Stop fooling around and get your heads back down here! Please, I only have three hours till Sasuke and Karin become married!" Sakura cried dejectedly.

"Hai!" Hinata and Naruto said together.

The three got back to work, coming up with ideas on how to get Sakura and Sasuke alone before the end of the night when a large shadow closed in over the group.

"Naruto, what the-" Sakura started.

"Forget about me, you half brained twit?" Tsunade slurred as she loomed over the group.

Hinata cowered in fear, and disappeared, a plus side of being a fairy. Naruto shook in his shoes, glancing nervously around the garden, not wanting to meet Tsunade's gaze. Sakura sat there, completely defenseless. She was shell shocked, what was Tsunade doing out of bed.

Sakura began to laugh nervously. "I didn't forget about you, Tusnade-sama! I just thought you were still indisposed…"  

SLAP.

"You disobedient child, how dare you leave your sick mother alone in the house while you frolic outdoors. How dare you think you can leave me?" Tsunade boomed.

"I wasn't thinking, Tsunade-sama, forgive me."

SLAP.

Sakura winced with pain as the same cheek was struck.

"Get inside the house and go to your bed room. I've had enough of your foolishness tonight," Tsunade put a hand to her forehead "as for you, boy; get your ass off my property before I call the cops on you."

"Hai, ma'm."

::_+_::

Sasuke sat uncomfortably on his throne, watching his guests dance around the ball room in pure ecstasy. He sighed inwardly, shifting his gaze over to Karin, who was chatting amongst her friends. His eye lids started to droop and Karin's head began to morph into another person. Her red hair became a soft pink, her eyes turned an emerald green, and they turned to look right at Sasuke.

"Sasuke-kun?" The melodic voice asked.

"What is it Sakura-chan?"

"Say what?" Karin asked with her eye brow raised.

"Muh, hum, meh…" Sasuke rubbed his eyes and sat up straighter, "I didn't say anything, what is it Karin-chan?"

"I asked you if you wanted to dance." She said as she grabbed his hand. Sasuke shook her off.

"I don't think so, I'm feeling kinda tired. Go dance with Neji or Shikamaru."

Karin pouted, "I wanna dance with you Sasuke-kun."

"Hn."

"Please?"

"No."

"Fine, I'll go find Kisame or someone."

Sasuke yawned and watched her leave, waiting for her head to morph back into Sakura's. It didn't, and Sasuke frowned.

'Where is Sakura-chan?'


::_+_::

"And stay in there you insolent fool!" Tsunade yelled as she pushed Sakura into her room and slammed the door.

Sakura fell to the floor and let out a sharp cry of pain. Looking up at her window she let a tear roll down her cheek.


'Please wait for me Sasuke-kun…'