I have great ideas for this story. It's not much, but I didn't want to post an entire story and not receive any reviews/likes. 5+ reviews and I will continue, and the chapters will be much longer.

Her eyes wandered over to her piano, which stood in the tiny corner of her apartment. She knew that she was neglecting it, but she also knew that the cause of her neglegance was being in and out of the hospital preparing to accompany an ANBU mission. She could still hear Tsunade's voice rambling through her ears, giving her all of the details necessary for this important upcoming assignment. Putting her raging thoughts aside, Sakura made her way to her bedroom, where she packed several of her items that she would be needing on this month long scouting mission. She sulked as she folded her black, longsleeved middriffs, knowing that she wouldn't be able to properly shower for an entire month, possibly even longer than that. Nevertheless, she finished packing all of her essentials and placed her black and tan backpack against the doorframe to the apartment. Naruto is expecting me soon, Sakura pondered. He wanted to take her out to dinner before she left out for the mission, plus he said that he had to tell her something important. Her mind wondered off as she brushed her hair into a low pony tail, side sweeping her bangs as they fell into place perfectly. She made her way back to the living room and eyed her piano once more. Sighing, Sakura closed her door and made her way to Ichiraku.

She could see Naruto slurping on his pork ramen before she made it to the stand. Some things will never change, she thought to herself. Sakura took the bar stool next to Naruto and ordered the vegetarian special. Naruto looked up and smiled cheerfully, barely swallowing his ramen before grabbing her in a tight side hug.

"So glad you were able to make it, Sakura!" Naruto said as he continued to slurp the rest of his ramen. He was towards the end of his third bowl.

"I am as well, Naruto. I had a long day as it is," Sakura replied. She continued to eye Naruto and wondered if he would bring up what he had to tell her. Nevertheless, Naruto kept chowing down his food, ignorant of Sakura's pointed stares. He finally turned his head and saw her mint eyed stare.

"Oh...don't think I forgot Sakura. It's just that...I wasn't sure how to tell you this," he hesitated.

"Go on, Naruto, just tell me. I would hate not to know all the while I'm on this mission."

Naruto blinked and looked into her eyes with his sterling sapphire ones, "I'm...marrying Hintata."

Sakura could only look at him for a moment in time, her brain freezing and nearly cracking in half. She knew that Naruto and Hinata's relationship was progressing, but she didn't think that it was to the point where they would marry. At least not this soon. Sakura felt like she was lost in reality, but she quickly regained her sense of awareness.

"Wow, Naruto...I'm happy for you, really!" she said as she plastered on her smile. Naruto knew better.

"Thanks. I'm happy too, you know? Never thought that I'd be with Hinata like that since she was all shy and everything. But once you get to know her, she's awesome!"

"How soon will the wedding be?"

"Not too sure yet. I haven't told anyone besides you, Sakura." Naruto shifted his head back to his empty bowl and looked downwards. Sakura did nothing but smile as warmly as she could, and turned back to her bowl that was now placed in front of her. They continued to eat in silence, nothing heard except the occasional chink of a glass in the background. Sakura finished paying for her meal and sat back facing towards Naruto.

"Don't worry about it too much, Naruto. You're great for her. I think so very much," Sakura started, "besides, who else would put up with you knuckleheadedness?"

Naruto turned back to Sakura, eyes sparkling with a comeback. "Same to you Sakura! Except it's more of a stubborn thing for you."

Sakura narrowed her mint eyes towards Naruto, who immediately chuckled and looked downwards once more. He embraced her as they exchanged goodbyes.

"I'll be waiting for you when you return, always," Naruto said to his closest friend.

"I'll be waiting to see you as well. Take care of Hinata, yeah?" Sakura replied.

Naruto winked as he sauntered off, the orange stripe of his black jacket reflecting off of the dark sky. Sakura turned around and headed back to her apartment, her mind in a daze. She barely remembered opening the front door. She could harldy recall slipping off her clothes and lying down in bed. She could only remember the emptiness surrounded by a hard shell that layed in her heart.

She felt all of him, but none of him. Why is this happening? Sakura thought to herself as he placed kisses down her neck and spine. She could feel every ripple of his muscles, but they hardly raised her desire for him. Of course she loved him. She had known him all of her life. She wasn't too sure about how he felt, but maybe the way he was touching her gave her the answer to that question. He raised his hand and cupped the back of her head, slightly pulling her long pastel pink hair. He lowered the strap to her bra, exposing her creamy skin, all to his viewing pleasure. he took a moment to look down and admire the beauty that was glowing off of Sakura. She felt embarrassed, blushing as he moved his hands up and down her lithe body. He gently eased her down onto the mattress and pulled her legs apart, bringing her closer to him. She could feel every bit of his hardness, waiting to be submerged into her warmness. Soon they were both covered in a light sheen of sweat, him patiently waiting for Sakura to accept him. Sakura nodded slightly, not realizing that she was about to give him herself. He lightlly kissed her neck before placing his hardness at her wet entrance...

Sakura woke from her dream, eyes open enough to look at the red numbers on her digital clock. She had about six minutes till her alarm went off, but instead of arising, she decided to bask in the last moments she would be spending in her bed for the time being. Her window being slightly open, she could smell the rain coming in, and hear the wind beating the branch of the tree against the window plane. She felt slightly chilled, even with her blanket wrapped around her. The last minutes of her peaceful rest passed, and Sakura rose to make her bed. She tidied up her room as the soft glow of her lamp painted themselves against her small bedroom walls. Turning the shower on, Sakura peeled out of her clothes and into the warm rush of the water. After washing her body and hair, Sakura stepped onto her rug from the shower and stood in front of the foggy mirror, her reflection blurry. She wiped the mirror with one palm and stared at herself. She slowly raised her hand and pulled on her hair. Braiding her hair into one french braid, Sakura recalled her dream, her reflection slightly wincing. She couldn't quite wrap her head around the fact that she acutally dreamed about him. What happened with him. It felt like it happened so long ago, although she could remember it like it happened the night before. After finishing her hair, Sakura made her way back to her bedroom, pulling on her black bra and underwear. She wrapped bandages around her chest and abdomen before slipping on her black, long sleeved middriff and tight black pants. She snapped her firm vest into place, as well as her arm and leg braces. Pulling her sandals from her closet, she sat on her bed, strapping them into place. Her med pack was snapped on her waist, and she added her tan cape and pulled on her feline ANBU mask. She placed the hood over her head and went to her small den, picking up her travel bag. Glancing at her piano once again, she silently promised that when she returned, she would play it. Her only hope was that she would have the courage too. Sakura closed the door to her apartment, setting out for the gates.

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