Decided to attempt SasuSaku month this year. I'll try and keep it interesting! Thanks for reading Please read and review.

Do not own Naruto in anyway shape or form.

Prompt: Holding Hands

Summary: A long mission has got Sasuke drained from the heat and from a distracting teammate.

It was stifling. The only thing that could help in this heat was an ice cold beer or maybe some shade. Definitely some shade. Coal eyes peered out across the yellowing landscape. Nothing but grass for miles and miles. Not a single tree to collapse under. Not a single cold beverage in sight. A small groan left parched lips as Sasuke wiped the sweat from his brow. If only they could just finish this mission and be done with this god forsaken land.

"You know it's not that bad." A small frown marred his face. "Try spending a whole year in Suna and then you can complain about the heat.. This..." Small sun baked arms waved around in lethargy. "Is nothing." Sasuke just eyed her like she was crazy. Her small frame had lost it's clothed layers one by one as the days heat jumped up the scale. She was left with only her bindings and small shorts. Even her boots were untied and opened to let what little breeze there was in. Apparently she had found a way to cool off a bit. Though it was not helping him at all. Damn woman.

Damn Naruto too, and his stupid diplomacy mission. They'd been out here in Grass for two weeks now. The dobe had run his mouth off in front of the Hokage again. So here they were, team seven in all their sweaty glory, out on a goodwill mission with no point. Sure they were supposed to incapacitate some rebel faction. But, they were simple genin who ran away, too afraid to fight in the fourth shinobi war. Deserters. Nothing more. God, he wished for anything to just not be here.

Soft baritone laughter was heard from his left, where his two half naked team mates stood laughing over something. Idiots, don't they know that they were just going to get sunburned. Pink had stained most of their skin. Including parts of Sakura that were not normally part of his view. Another groan left his lips. That woman had infested his mind. There was no getting her out, especially after that one incident that he was not going to think about.

"Don't worry Sasuke, the canyon should be close. Only another mile or two." Her small frame moved in front of him, a knowing smile plastered on her face. Damn woman, now he had no choice but to stare at her bared skin. Soft, slightly tanned skin. Nope not going to think about that. The heat was definitely getting to him.

After another hour of her not so subtle torture, the trio made it to their destination. The canyon ran the length of the horizon. Dipping into the edges of the world. Vast colors of reds, oranges and yellows played across their eyes. "Wow this is amazing" piped up Naruto. "If I had to hide, this is where I would choose."

"Tch, better to leave the country all together."

"Well not everyone likes the creepy underground lairs that ooze of stale mold and unknown horrors."

"That would be your apartment, Dobe." Blue met coal in a battle that could melt mountains.

"Boys" Sakura's soft but sharp reply stopped both males short. "We should split up to cover more ground. According to the map the Daimyo gave us, there are three possible positions that they could hide in. Naruto you take the south down here, Sasuke the north and I'll head east. Just do reconnaissance for now. We'll meet back here in an hour to report and then go from there."

"Yes, captain." Barked Naruto with a mock salute in Sakura's direction. She merely laughed a little before jumping off to the east. She didn't even look at him. Now she's trying to be coy with him. He saw her game. Trying to play hot and cold. When he really knew that she was all hot. Damn it! Not supposed to think of that. The sad part, Sasuke thought, was that despite knowing her game, he was playing along with her all to willingly.

Sasuke had found them in a matter of minutes. How these genin had survived these last few years eluded him. Their camp was nothing but lean-to shacks. The genin themselves looked half starved, some about ready to collapse. He could take them out easily but their mission did not include using lethal force. Something about being given a second chance. The Dobe and his redemption ideas.

An hour later found team seven huddled close drawing battle plans in the dirt. The operation was simple and went about as smoothly as they all had hoped. Except for one tiny detail. Sasuke got himself blown up and over an edge of the canyon. His arms automatically reaching out to find some kind of hold but could not find any. As Sasuke found himself falling his mind drifted thinking about how simple his death was going to be. Defeated by lack of paying attention to what he was supposed to. He smirked to himself. Suppose he's doing the same thing right now. He should be thinking about how he's so young and so much to live for. Fighting to survive one more day.

But all that he could think about was soft green eyes. Long slender legs and a mouth that was irresistible. She had captivated him. He could never tell her that. Supposed he never could now. He could see the ground getting closer. A million ideas and plots went through his head but nothing that could slow him down in time to save his life. He would miss her.

"Sasuke-kun!" Long slender fingers gripped his hand. The pull of his weight and the strength of her arms yanked his shoulder out of place. The pain was bearable. But the gentle swing of their bodies sent shivers of pain down his arm. She had saved him, again. Her gentle hand clasped tightly around his, had pulled him back from death again. Just like she had when he was bleeding out on the final battlefield, all while one hand was weaved tightly with one of his.

"Did you really think that you were going to get away from me that easily?" A large smile bloomed across her face. "Not even death can save you from me." She was right. He belonged to her. She had wrapped herself so tightly around him there was no letting go. Just like how her hand held his in a hold so strong and warm, that he couldn't shake her even if he had the will to try.