Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Naruto or any of its characters, so you can't sue me, ha, ha!
Warnings/Notes: SasuSaku(eventually…) and the characters are very OOC
Another Naruto Episode that hasn't happened yet (Grrr…)
A lost love story
In the distance Sakura could make out a shadowed figure beyond the bridge to Konahagure. She shuddered from the cold and slowly eased her way onto the bridge. As the figure moved in closer, she didn't' know how to react, she just kept moving. Halfway across the bridge she noticed the creaking boards underneath her feet crack. She grabbed onto the knotted rope that held it up to keep herself from falling into the icy waters beneath her, and gasped as she felt the bridge shift suddenly.
She bit down on her lip so as not to scream as the boards beneath her finally crumbled, pieces falling into the roaring waters, seven feet below her, she clung to the rope, beads of sweat running down her forehead.
"Help me!" She exclaimed as she caught sight of the rope fraying. Over the sound of the roaring water she heard the footsteps that were approaching her quicken, "Help me please!" She screeched, sensing the tentative pause the other was taking in trying to figure out a way to get to her.
Her sweaty palms futilely gripped at the part of the rope that was ready to snap, as if to hold it together. She heard the wind howl as the fibers in the rope stretched farther apart. She grabbed at the top part of the rope as the bridge was divided in two. She screamed in surprise and clutched at the rope on either side of the dangling bridge, Above her, she saw the figure, on the ledge closest to her, she tried to find the strength to hoist herself up the bridge boards when most were not sturdy. She hyper extended her arm when she tried to keep a hold of the bridge as she fell, and the siring pain when she used it was beginning to wear on her.
"Hold on." The person from above called to her, she knew it could only be one of two people, because the tone was so stoic and unconcerned, either Shino or Sasuke stood above her, and she didn't know who she should pray for it to be. In any case, she didn't think either would be able to be of much help to her now. She watched as he eased his way down the cliff, he plunged a kunai knife deep into the dirt, hoping it would support his weight, onto it he tied a thick rope which he retrieved from one of the pouches in his backpack.
"I'm falling!" She shrieked desperately as he reached out his hand to take her mangled one, "Hurry!" She squealed as she struggled to grasp the rope with only one hand.
"Hang on Sakura." Sasuke repeated as he forced himself to get close enough to grasp at her hand, the tips of their fingers touched as she felt the rope slip the rest of the way out of her grasp. Before she could register what was going on, she was plummeting down the reveign towards the icy waters. "SAKURA!" Sasuke bellowed down to her as he let go of the rope, allowing it to unravel so that he could fall as she was.
"What're you doing, you'll never get back up now!" Sakura snapped as she hit the water. The frigid waters immersed around her, consuming her. Her very breath escaped her as she hit the water.
"Shit!" Sasuke seethed as he cut the rope around his body that was constricted around his waist rather painfully, keeping him from reaching Sakura. Using his wits Sasuke maneuvered a few hand signs to create a geyser in the water, which shot Sakura up into his arms. From there he apparated to the above ledge.
"Sakura. Are you alright?" Sasuke placed her gently onto the sod nearest to him. He carefully approached her to check for any vital signs. "There's no pulse," Sasuke thought as he again scooped her up and apparated to where Kakashi sensei was deep in battle. "Kakashi sensei Sakura isn't…" that's all Sasuke managed to say before he dropped Sakura to the ground and clutched his shoulder blade.
" Sasuke you really are putting me in a bind here. You'll have to figure something out! I'm kind a busy!" replied Kakashi as he raised his kunai knife to avoid Jiriaya's attack.
Sasuke stared at Kakashi in disbelief. "Sakura's dying, and you can't get your lazy good for nothing ass over here long enough to wave your hand around a little and save her."
"Go save your genin Kakashi. But you'll still be paying full price on the next edition of Make out paradise." Jiriaya declared.
"Nooooo…" Kakashi squealed," heart failing ugh, cough can't go on."
" KAKASHI SENSEI GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE AND SAVE HER OR I'LL BE YOUR "BIND"" Sasuke ordered.
"Alright I'm coming. Who's dying?"
Inner Sasuke "Die Kakashi Die Mwahahaha"
"Well Sasuke? What's wrong?"
" Sensei Sakura is dying if not dead already because you couldn't break away from your battle for 30 seconds to revive her." Sasuke steamed.
"Oh. I forget sometimes that you're not Naruto trying to get me to the ramen booth to pay for 10 million bowls of ramen."
" Well I'm not. Can you save her?"
" I don't know. Please would be nice." Muttered Kakashi
"You're just a lazy good for nothing hobo that is so wrapped up in his porn that he can't even save his student."
" Healing Jutsu," Kakashi cried before Sasuke could finish.
As a white light engulfed Sakura's limp form Sasuke held his breath, he wanted to believe those simple words could revive Sakura, but after that long of a time elapse, he wasn't so sure. Kakashi crouched down beside his rose hared student to check her pulse. It was faint, but at least it was something. His gaze traveled from her to Sasuke who was looking unusually emotional. Kakashi smiled to himself half fondly at the very thought as he took Sakura into his powerful arms and laid her on his couch so that she could regain her strength. AN: Yeah, they were fighting in Kakashi's house, why not, it's my story?
Sasuke drew nearer to her, standing just to the right of Kakashi, who'd seated himself on the arm of the couch, monitoring Sakura's breathing that was becoming more leisurely. Sasuke shot him a look, which Kakashi interpreted as, "If you wouldn't have been such an ass, she'd be awake and alright." He felt the guilt rising in his chest again, but he forced it away so that it wouldn't show as Sasuke shifted his weight to the other foot. Kakashi couldn't help thinking to himself that Sasuke could be in love.
"What do you plan to do Sasuke, she'll have to stay here at least overnight before she's recovered?" Kakashi asked.
"Phfft, if you think I'm leaving her here alone with you when all you've ever had before was porn you're out of your mind." He snapped.
"So you do have a thing for her!" Kakashi teased.
"And you have a thing for pornographic pictures of whores that are twice as good as any woman that's ever said two words to you, got a point?" Sasuke growled.
Kakashi pouted, "Not true, anyway, someone has to tell Naruto." He pointed out.
Sasuke grinned slightly, "You were the one that almost killed her, you tell him, if I do, it'll involve elaboration on how you had to drastically give her mouth to mouth." He replied.
Kakashi furrowed his brow, "You play dirty." He replied as he slid off the couch.
Just before he apparated away Sasuke commented, "And you ARE dirty, again, what's your point?"
Kakashi grumbled under his breath at the remark as he shook Naruto awake to begin the explanation, of course he wouldn't tell him about the fight with Jiriaya.
Kakashi spoke quietly "Naruto. Naruto" He called thinking to himself," Ugh… I have no choice." Naruto I have ramen." He said.
"Ramen! Where?" Naruto exclaimed in excitement.
"Sit down. I have something to tell you." "idiot!" Kakashi thought to himself. " Earlier tonight while you were tucked away in your cozy little bed here, Sasuke, Sakura, and I were um… how should I say this. Let me think . Oh yeah busting our ASSES!"
"What? Kakashi sensei! You did work?" asked Naruto inquisitively
"That's besides the point." As Kakashi continued his version of the story Naruto seemed to get even more upset. Kakashi concluded," But don't worry though, she's resting. Sasuke's with her."
"SASUKE!!!" Naruto growled as he threw on his orange jumpsuit and followed Kakashi to were Sakura was resting. "SASUKE!! How dare you…"
"Shut up idiot she's sleeping" Sasuke snapped.
" Boys play nice." Kakashi remarked, unable to resist.
" Oh don't worry I wasn't going to waste my time on him." Sasuke remarked as he flashed Naruto a smirk.
" Sasuke?!" Sakura called questioningly as she stirred awake.
"Huh?" Sasuke turned around to see Sakura awake. A feeling of relief swept over him.
"Sakura. Do you remember what happened?" inquired Kakashi.
"Sort a. I remember falling and then I couldn't breath, and." Sakura started to panic and nested her head in Sasuke's chest. Naruto shot Sasuke a look of contempt.
"I'll be right back." Sasuke told Sakura. Sasuke followed Naruto out of the room. "What now loser?"
"How dare you!"
'What did Kakashi sensei tell you?" Sasuke asked, hoping he wouldn't regret doing so.
" You gave her mouth to mouth!!! I'll kill you!!!" screamed Naruto. Sakura and Kakashi heard a noise in the hallway.
"I'll go see what they're up to." Kakashi reassured Sakura. Upon stepping outside, Sasuke seizing the jounin by his collar.
" You perverted- Why I'm gonna kill you. Tell him what really happened!" Sasuke demanded.
" Well you see I was at home reading my book. And Sasuke and Sakura were supposed to be on a mission! But some…"
"What there was a mission and you didn't wake me?" Naruto growled out feeling a little betrayed.
"Shut up! Finish the story." Sasuke snapped, first at Naruto, and then at Kakashi.
"Any how they got separated and Sakura fell off a bridge but Sasuke saved her right Sasuke?"
"Grr.. Yes." Sasuke admitted.
"Then at this point Sakura had fallen into the water and wasn't breathing so Sasuke brought her to me. And I was uh. "
"YOU WERE READING YOUR PORNO WEREN'T YOU?" Naruto growled.
Sasuke smirked, "More like fighting over a discount for the next installment." He corrected.
Naruto's eyes narrowed to slits, "Kakashi sensei!" He roared.
"Yeah, and I never gave her mouth to mouth, Kakashi just waved his hands a little and she was okay." Sasuke pointed out as he leaned against a wall.
Naruto jumped in the air and shouted happily while on the other side of the door, all three could hear Sakura's groan of disappointment, which changed the hyperactive blonde's mood immediately, "But Sakura chan!" He whined loudly as they all filed back into the living room. "What's so special about Sasuke?" he complained throwing himself down on the floor in front of the couch Sakura was now back to lounging on.
Sakura growled aloud and stomped Naruto's face into the ground indignantly, "You stay out of my business!" She fumed, "You're so nosy!" She continued in exasperation causing Sasuke to burst out into a fit of laughter.
"Oh and you weren't when you were crushing on me, puh-lease you were worse than rabid Neji fangirls, I couldn't even take a crap in peace!" He exclaimed, not really meaning to defend Naruto, and only doing so because he took amusement out of tormenting Sakura. After all, he didn't want to make it obvious that he liked her just yet.
"B-But Sasuke!" Sakura wailed, "I thought… you, you, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON MY SIDE!" She pouted.
Now, Kakashi took a turn at bursting out into a fit of hearty ringing laughter at the very sight of his toddler- like genin arguing. "Well, the good news is, we'll be taking off training for a few days because Sakura's still not recovered, even though you are lead to believe otherwise." He announced between gasps for breath as he clutched at his aching ribs, "The bad news is Sakura is also bedridden for the next three days, and I have somewhere to be tomorrow." He finished after regaining his composure.
"What!" Sasuke exclaimed outraged.
"Alright!" Naruto gushed in excitement, springing to his feet, massaging his head where the imprint of Sakura's blue sandal had been left.
"You heard me, now all of you are welcome to sleep here." He said gesturing towards a small closet filled with blankets, "So that you don't have to make your way back here first thing in the morning." He added as he shuffled off towards his bedroom, "Oh." He noted seeing the mischievous look plastered across all three of the genin's faces, "My books are in a secure place, and if you get too close, the heat sensors will go off, and I will torture you all until you wished you were never born."
All three of their faces fell, "Jeez, he pays more to protect those damn books than he does to protect himself and all of us when we go on missions." Sakura whispered to Naruto and Sasuke as she heard Kakashi slowly and noisily close his bedroom door.
"I heard that!" He called out to them.
"So answer me this then, are those books more important to you than us?" Sasuke asked, just to annoy Kakashi, much to his surprise though, the question left the silver hared jounin unfazed.
Kakashi chuckled, smiling behind the blue fabric of his mask before replying, "No, they're just more pleasant to look at!" He called, and with that he slammed the door, listening to all three as they threatened to hurt him in ways he'd never before thought possible.
Naruto grumbled under his breath, crossing his arms over his chest as Sasuke grabbed three blankets, tossing one to Naruto, one to Sakura, and keeping one for himself. Sakura laid on the couch and comfortably rested her head against the arm, falling asleep almost instantaneously after she'd gotten covered up. However, Naruto and Sasuke were stuck on the floor with no pillows, and Naruto was already tossing and turning on the hard wooden floor.
"Naruto knock it off!" Sasuke growled in annoyance.
Naruto grimaced and laid on his back, accepting defeat and figuring he was about as comfortable as he was gonna get, "This blows." He whispered.
Sasuke rolled his eyes and turned over on his side so he wasn't staring at Naruto, "Get over it." He mumbled as he reached up and turned off the lamp on the end table just above him next to the couch. It had been the only source of lighting before, and he for one was glad he could finally be surrounded by thick and tranquil darkness.
He growled loudly as Naruto grumbled in his sleep, disrupting his peace, "This is so frustrating." He mumbled.
Sasuke clenched a fist, "Tell me about it." He growled through bared teeth as he moved his blanket so that it even covered his head, miraculously, Naruto shut up ten minutes later, but Sasuke still had to deal with his snoring, which wasn't exactly any more pleasant than his never ending chatter. He drown out the sound and drifted off into a deep sleep, after all that'd happened, he knew some rest would do everyone a lot of good.
The three of them slept soundly, and only Sasuke and Sakura blinked their eyes opened when Kakashi noisily stumbled out the door at around nine, "I'd have been so pissed if I'd have gotten here first thing in the morning and he didn't leave 'till nine." He spoke up softly.
Sakura smiled and brushed a lock of her pink hair back behind her ear, happy that it was finally long enough for her to do so, "That's Kakashi sensei for you though." She pointed out as she leaned back against the couch and got comfortable.
Sasuke nodded and laughed as Sakura jumped, startled by Naruto's freakishly loud snoring, they both shot each other a look, Sakura blushing from embarrassment, Sasuke still fighting back his giggles. Sakura wanted to tell Sasuke that Naruto sounded like a goat giving birth, but she figured she'd save that one for when Naruto was up to hear it. She was rather proud of this new one, after all.
Out of boredom Sasuke got up to go raid Kakashi's freezer, expecting to find a tasty treat, "I'm gonna go see what Kakashi has to eat in this place, you want anything?" He asked.
Sakura nodded slightly, "A drink would be nice, thanks." She replied softly, yawning and stretching a bit before sitting up and hugging her knees to her chest with the green blanket still wrapped tightly around her skin that was covered with goose bumps.
"Let me see what all he has… OH MY GOD!" He exclaimed.
"What, what?" Sakura asked in concern.
"He's got a bra in his freezer!" Sasuke exclaimed.
" Just when I thought he couldn't get any weirder." Sakura replied. Naruto began to toss and turn again. " This idiot drove me nuts last night." She told Sasuke as he closed the freezer scared for life.
" Maybe eating here isn't a good idea. There's probably not any food here. And if there is I don't want to eat it."
"Good point. There's no telling where it's been!" Sasuke made his way back to his blanket on the floor. " You can sit up here if it's more comfortable." Sasuke started to step over Naruto when he flailed his arms knocking Sasuke on top of him. Of course this is when Naruto decided to wake up. And to his surprise there was Sasuke!
" Hey Sasuke um this is getting a little weird. I mean I know you like me but isn't this a little extreme?"
"Just because you go that way with Lee doesn't mean I do." Sasuke retorted. Now Sakura would've usually broken the two apart, but found this very amusing.
" Yeah well at least I'm not saying peoples names in my dreams all night. Sak…"
" Oh you're so dead!" Sasuke said as he tackled Naruto.
" Well you two have fun with each other. I'm going to get some breakfast."
" Don't leave me here with this loser," exclaimed Sasuke as he arose from the ground and started to follow Sakura. " Sakura you really shouldn't be walking around."
"Well are you gonna carry me? I'm not an invalid. I can take care of myself."
" I'll carry you Sakura!" Naruto added picking himself up from the ground.
" You take one more step towards me and I swear that I'll kill you! Try me."
" But Sakura I…"
" Naruto I don't think she's kidding."
" Sasuke keep your nose out of it. At least I don't mutter her name in my sleep."
