Reminder

Summary: Naruto and Sakura have a complicated relationship. Their friendship is beautiful, full of trust and caring, but it's plagued by memories. The wrong kind of memories, the kind that make them want to break the rules. Maybe they shouldn't have done what they did… Or taken the decisions they took. Confusion, mistakes, and broken hearts will eventually guide them back to where they belong.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

A/N: If you've read my other story, or any of the others I deleted from way back in the day, you will notice this one's very, very different. This story won't be sweet. This story will be very messed up, and full of mature content. I know most of my audience might not enjoy it, but I'm sure there's some of you out there who will. This won't be the conventional NaruSaku fic, and it won't just be NaruSaku throughout the entirety of it. You'll see what I mean as you read. Either way, if you do give this story a chance, thank you very much in advance and please, enjoy!

Hers (1)

It didn't rain very often in Konoha. Today, however, it was raining so hard that she could barely see ahead of herself as she made her way to work. At 23, being the head medical-nin at the Konoha Hospital was a difficult task, especially when you also had to tackle the needs of medical-nin in the field. It had been a week and a half since she'd been at the hospital, leaving all its necessities on the hands of Shizune-sama. She hadn't been to a mission in months and she'd been excited for it as soon as she got the chance to finally go on one, but nothing could be compared to the excitement to come back to work, and nothing could ruin it. Not even the rain.

She didn't even wait until the next morning, as she should have. Instead, as soon as she reached the village, she reported the mission quickly and ran, happily thinking of the comfort of her office, to her favorite place. She dreaded momentarily thinking about all the paperwork that surely awaited her, but the dread went away remembering that her favorite patient was probably there still, and she'd get to see him. He was always there, even if not as a patient. He'd always visit her, if he was at the village, and wait for her in her office when he heard she was coming back from a mission.

She rushed through the doors and breathed in the cool air, feeling at home and calming down, finally. Slowly, she greeted everyone who welcomed her back warmly, signed some paperwork that was handed to her as she walked past, and continued her way to the office. She asked one of her co-workers if her patient remained in the care of the hospital, but he'd been released a few days prior to her arrival. She didn't fret though, she knew he'd be there. And he was.

"Hey, Sakura-chan!" He greeted her, as excitedly as ever, with the same huge smile as always, as she opened the door to her office and closed it behind her. He was standing next to her desk by the window, with a hand in his pocket.

"Naruto," she replied simply, smiling brightly. She was always happy to see him. They had grown very close since the time before the war. Maybe a bit too close. But she didn't regret any of it. She sat at her usual spot on top of her desk, and he dragged a chair to sit on front of her, as he always did.

"So, how did it go?" He asked her tenderly, grabbing one of her hands with both of his and looking her in the eyes. "I heard Sai got hurt."

"It was just as expected," she began explaining, not breaking eye contact. She never could tear her eyes away from his when he looked at her this way. "The bandits stole all the food from the warehouses, lit fires, destroyed crops… same as always. Few people were hurt. Sai wasn't one of them, by the way, he just cried a little because of a kid who lost a finger."

"He cried?!" Naruto asked incredulously with a chuckle.

"Just a bit," she told him with a bit of a giggle. "The boy was perfectly fine after I treated him though, so everything's okay."

"You're amazing, Sakura-chan."

"Just doing my job," she waved the compliment away shyly. He intertwined his fingers with hers and gave her hand a little squeeze. It had become so normal for them, routine, to hold hands this way. It was meant to be innocent, friendly. But every time he touched her this way, or in any way, for that matter, she would feel the same familiar electricity, the same longing, the same desire that brought them together all those years ago. She never said anything though, she knew she shouldn't. He probably didn't feel the same anyway, she thought.

She had missed this; how close and comfortable they were with each other. It had only been a little over a week, but she still missed it. They could talk about anything, or about nothing at all, and they'd still be just as content just being together. Finding the time to be together was starting to become a little difficult though, especially now with their relationships moving forward and therefore, more demanding. Sasuke had started talking about how many heirs he wanted to make, and Hinata was strongly hinting at marriage, she knew.

Naruto began dating Hinata 4 years ago, two years after the war. It took a lot of courting, she remembered. Hinata had been eager from the start of course, but Naruto wasn't so sure until after a while when he finally figured out he loved her. Sakura and Sasuke took longer, although they'd secretly shared some time as a couple only a few months after the war ended. They didn't officially get together until 2 years ago, when he came back from his first expedition to what he called "seeing the world." During her time of loneliness, Sakura reflected about what she should do, be with him or not when he returned, but even when she hesitated, he found ways to convince her. He was very good at convincing her to do many things.

Her thoughts were rudely, yet lovingly interrupted by the feeling of Naruto's lips on her hand. "I missed you, you know," he told her sincerely, engaging once more in that unbreakable eye connection. "I have a lot to tell you. A lot happens in a week.

She struggled to find words momentarily, the innocent kiss reminding her of the other places where those lips had been before. She battled with herself in her head to control her damn self and stop thinking of him in that way. She was way out of control lately, she noticed. Maybe she should take a longer mission… As soon as she regained her composure, she said, "well, I'm all ears. Tell me everything."

He was right, a lot does happen in a week. He told her about everything she missed. He'd witnessed Kakai-sensei flirting with Shizune in the hospital before he was released, and flirting with Anko afterwards. Tsunade had lost again at gambling and threw a fit so big she tore the entire casino in half and now had to pay for it. Shikamaru and Temari were official now, even though everyone knew about them the entire time anyway. Apparently, the sudden seriousness of their relationship was because she was pregnant, or so everyone gossiped. A dumpling shop just outside the village was robbed and Naruto had to take care of the criminals. He told her many more tales, but she found her mind suddenly distracted. He had started rubbing her leg slowly as he spoke, apparently unconsciously. The control she had forced in herself vanished. She felt the blood rush to her face as her mind wandered…

They had been sitting on his sofa that night, chatting happily, completely ignorant about the war that was about to come. They had shared a meal together before that, and decided to continue their conversation in a more comfortable place. His hand was on her leg back then as well, although that time it was on purpose. His hand traveled up and down her thigh slowly, and he stared back and forth between her eyes and her lips, ready and eager to kiss her again, she knew.

"Naruto, just kiss me already," she begged, and that had been it.

He kissed her hungrily, not wasting time to explore her mouth with his tongue. She responded to him immediately, tangling her fingers in his hair and kissing him back passionately. He tasted so good, his mouth often salted by his relentless ramen consumption, but usually soothingly sweet and minty. It made her mouth water, even now, just remembering.

She recalled how quickly he'd gotten rid of both of their clothes, how his hands, slightly rough and calloused, sent shivers throughout her body as they explored every inch of her skin, from her face, to her breasts and the valley between them, to the subtle shape of her abs, her legs, and finally, her core, which was wetly waiting for his arrival. She'd moaned so loudly when he touched her there that she'd been sure that the whole apartment complex had heard. She was even louder when his mouth finished following the same path as his hands. The memory became a little hazy then, her mind probably too crowded with pleasure to record the details. However, the feeling of him stretching her when he entered her, she would never forget. Even now, after years of not feeling that stretch again, she could feel herself getting wet just thinking about it.

A few taps on her leg woke her from her sleepless dream. "Sakura-chan, am I really that boring?" he asked in a weird, almost shaky tone, a playful smile on his lips. A smile she knew well.

"No – Sorry I was just..." she stammered nervously.

"Remembering, I know," he said softly, "I can tell…" He looked at her with those eyes, she knew exactly what was on his mind. She knew that if she looked, she'd see evidence of her suspicions between his legs. She kept her eyes to herself though, to try and not make the situation any more inappropriate than it already was. He looked away from her, and removed his hands form her skin, tucking them safely in his pockets. He kept his hands to himself from then on.

They resumed their conversation, somewhat awkwardly, not daring to look at each other more than necessary, trying to ease the tension that rose between them. After their usual 30 minutes together, Naruto stood up, said goodbye, and went to jump out of the window as he usually did. Before he did, though, he said something he shouldn't have, "I remember often, too." Feelings stirred up inside her, and she knew her self-control was as out of the window as her friend now was.