Hello, dear Naruto fans! Welcome to the story of the year-but not really. I am on vacation and I am writing this story as a back up for when I get tired of writing on my fruits basket story. So, just so you know, I REALLY like reviews. So make me happy, and REVIEW!!!

Sasuke-kun!" cried Sakura as she ran after Sasuke in the forest. "Please! Please don't leave again!"

The tears came, but Sakura refused to let them slow her down. She wasn't going to let him get away this time, and she was gaining on him now.

Blood splattered the ground and the surrounding trees from the hole that Naruto blew into Sasuke's abdomen with the Resangan.

"Sasuke! Please! Let me help you!"

Sakura, exasperated, gave herself one more burst of energy and managed to tackle Sasuke. Upon impact, the last bit of Sasuke's energy was spent.

Sakura gathered her senses and quickly turned to repair Sasuke's wound. She summoned the proper amount of chakra needed and began to operate. The process only took Sakura a few minutes, but it drained her of what Chakra she had left. Naruto and Kakashi must've done a great deal of damage to his body.

Sakura knew she needed rest, and if she were to stay up, it might mean even more damage to her own body. If Sasuke were to wake up before her, then he would most likely take off and just leave her there. But, she really needed to get some sleep. She layed down and rested her head. Just a little sleep should be too long…

"Sakura-chan?"

Was that Naruto's voice?

"Ay! Sakura-chan!" shouted Naruto happily. "your waking up finally!" The yellow haired ninja smiled down at his friend. "Howya doin'?"

"Naruto?" she asked quietly. "Where is, Sasuke-kun?"

"Don't know. He wasn't anywhere near you when Kakashi and I were finally able to find you."

"I see." she said sadly.

Tsunade walked in just then and sat down on the opposite side of Naruto.

"How do you feel?" asked Tsunade.

"Fine. When can I go home?" Even an idiot could tell she wanted nothing more than to hide in a corner and cry.

"What's wrong, Sakura-chan?" asked Naruto, being his normal, stupid self.

"Nothing, Naruto." she answered with a sigh. "Can I go home now, Sensei?"

Tsunade knodded her approval, so Sakura got up, grabbed her stuff and went home.

Sakura no longer lived with her mother. She had moved out a few months earlier, when she turned fifteen. Now she lived on her own in an apartment on the far side of the village, overlooking the vast forest area surrounding the vast forest area.

It was small, but it did the job. Her favorite aspect of the place was the balcony outside her room that looked out over the treetops. The city life was beginning to get to her and now she enjoyed the wild more than anything else. she enjoyed the quiet, most of all.

At the end of each day she was able to spend at home, she would sit out on the balcony railing as the sun would set, and watch the colors dancing in the sky. The cool breeze would help to cool her aching senses and renew her spirits.

But, it was only midday, now, when Sakura arrived home from the medical clinic. The sun was high in the sky shining brightly.

Even though she had already slept all night, she was still quite tired and wanted to sleep more. Sakura didn't even bother taking off her sandals before she crashed on her couch.

the day slowly waned as Sakura slept peacefully in her livingroom. She finally stirred as the last of the sun's rays vanished behind the trees.

"Oh," she said surprised. "I slept longer than I expected." she had a nice long yawn with a relaxing stretch.

Her nap left her feeling fresh and energized. The apartment was now dark, but Sakura knew her way around okay and located the light for her room. the sudden brightness caused Sakura to flinch and cover her eyes.

After the shock wore off, she moved to her balcony doors to let in a breeze. The day had been hot and now her home was roasting her alive.

Sakura sighed happily as she gazed out over the horizon. The trees looked dark and eerie, yet it also seemed welcome to her, since she was so familiar with that area...

The wind picked up a little bit, repinding sakura that she still had a few things to do before she could relax. First, and foremost, she needed something to eat.

To her dismay, Sakura found that her refirigerator was empty aside from some sour milk and week old pizza.

"Instant ramen, it is." she wined as she pulled out a package from the cubbord.

As she ate, she began to loose her appetite. the thought of Sasuke leaving her, even after she had saved his life, was too much to bear. Why would anyone want to leave the person who saved thier life? Was Sasuke really so selfish and stuck up that he couldn't even say 'thank-you'?

Sakura huffed in her frustration, but her anger quickly faded away and was replaced with sadness. She just didn't have it in her to hold grudges.

She was no longer hungry, so she set her bowl on top of an ever growing pile of dishes and rotting food. It was surprising how it didn't stink up the apartment.

She went back to her now, cool, room and sat on her bed for a moment to catch her straying thoughts. She took a deep breath before going into the bathroom to take a shower.

The water felt great on her aching muscles and it helped her to wake up a bit. When she was done, she towled of and then realized that she hadn't brought any clothes in with her.

Her window only looked out into the forest, so there shouldn't be anyone outside of it, so she just went to her room and opened up her dresser to find something to wear. All her pajama bottoms were, of course, dirty, so she had to wear a pair of spandex shorts and a tank top.

She got dressed quickly because the room had gotten chilier and she was wet.

when she was ready, she turned to acomplish her last task on her 'to-do' list-go take her evening stroll in the forest.

Sakura slid back into her sandals once again after having turned out all the lights in her house to make it seem as if she were sleeping.

Her nightly strolls were n't exactly...legal. In order to leave the village, you needed permission from Tsunade. Sakura knew that the Hokage would never allow Sakura to go outside the village alone as she pleased, especially not at night.

Sakura jumped boldly from her balcony ledge and landed quietly on the wall. Before the lookouts could spot her, she lunged again and found her way into the familiar surroundings of the forest.

-----

Following Sakura around hadn't exactly been easy for Sasuke. If he were to be spotted in the village, then the hope of ever overthrowing Orochimaru would be gone.

Sasuke Hadn't expected Sakura to help him. He thought she was following him to finish off what Naruto had started. That damn Naruto! thought Sasuke angrily. I thought he would help, of all people, but instead, he attacked!

Sasuke fumed for a couple minutes before Sakura's sleeping form calmed his fury. He was absolutely stunned when he awoke to find that his wound was completely healed, with Sakura laying next to him, out cold. He would've taken her with him if he had been sure that it was truly Sakura who had helped him, but he was unsure and so he fled.

Sasuke chose to follow her around to see her use her healing abilities again, but so far, all she had done was go home and crash in her sitting room.

He watched her as she awoke and as she got up to go to the other side of the house. To his dismay, her window curtains were closed, but just as soon as his dissapointment set in, it was gone and replaced with satisfaction as Sakura opened them up and then, opened the doors. Sasuke couldn't help but grin as he watched Sakura open up the doors to walk out and breathe in the fresh air and gaze into the forest.

When the idea of Sakura spotting him in the trees came to Sasuke's mind, his heart skipped a beat and his lungs closed, with his mind frozen in fear. Have I sat far enough back, to where she can't see me? Thought Sasuke

Only a few minutes had passed, but it seemed like years to the panicing boy. When Sakura gave a sigh and walked back inside, Sasuke was finally able to breathe easy.

\

He watched her move around her kitchen, and he noticed that she really seemed depressed. She began to eat, but didn't finish before she got up again to go do something else.

For a little while, she dissapeared from Sasuke's view, to his very dissapointment. When she reappeared in nothing but a towl, his eyes widend.

"Is she going to-" he thought aloud, but his answer was found before he even had a chance to finish.

All he could do was gape at her curves. She's so beautiful, He thought. How could I have not noticed before, when we were still in the team?

Before he had a chance to recollect himself, Sakura began walking through her house, turning off all her lights. Before he knew it, Sakura was back on her balcony. With one graceful leap, she landed on the village wall, and then into the forest.

-----

Before continuing on, Sakura took a deep breath as she stretched out her tired muscles. Feeling more refreshed, she began to run to help free the tension. Smalls animals watched her in hopes of finding food.

Running helped Sakura keep her mind off of Sasuke for a little while, until she came across an injured bird. As she nelt down and began to repair the broken wing, whe couldn't help but cry.

"Sasuke, you stupid, stupid-" she was so upset and frusterated that the words couldn't find their way out. The bird was now healed as it popped up from the ground with a small chirp of joy. It took one look at Sakura and then flew away. This only caused her to sob all the more.

"Sakura..."

That voice sounded so familiar, so sweet. It was as if it were part of her imagination. It was too good to be true.

A sudden rush of wind and cloth came in contact with her back making her shudder. Was her dream really too good to be true?

"Sasuke," she sighed sadly. "If only it were really you..."

Sakura figured it was just someone from the village who followed her out into the woods.

"I wasn't trying to run away." she stated plainly. "Don't worry about me."

She went to stand, but the firm grip of a hand kept her down. It worked it's way up and over her shoulder and then reached across her chest, pulling her into a one-sided hug.

"What is your problem!" screamed Sakura angrily as she brushed her tears away.

She turned and launched a punch back wards, but she missed as her opponant dodged it. She sighed as she watched the tree fall over.

Sasuke stood there, wide-eyed and amazed at Sakura's newfound strength.

When Sakura finally recooperated, she turned to see her opponant, but stopped midstep at the sight of the raven-haired boy she once knew.

"Sasuke-"

Has he come back for me? she thought

"I have come to ask a favor of you." he stated coldly, making it seem more like an order than a request. "Come back with me."

"How can you expect me to just run away with you?" Sakura said defiantly, but not rudely. "You got to go away for two years, while I stayed in Konoha and built myself a life." she folded her arms and added slyly, "and besides, I need permission first."

"come or die."

"And what will happen if I come with you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I promise you," he replied with a grin. "You will enjoy what lies in store."

"And what will they be?" She asked becoming a little more comfterble with the situation.

"I plan to overthrow Orochimaru." he stated plainly, looking bored. "when i came back to the village for help, I didn't exactly get a warm welcome."

Sakura flushed. She was the one who had alerted the village for an attack becase she saw Sasuke aproaching at lightning speed.

"Of course, I thought i was done for when you tackled me and I blacked out. I was surprised to find my wound completely healed with you laying next to me. I would've waited for you to wake up, but Kakashi and Naruto were coming and I didn't have the energy to get both of us out of here without those two seeing." he paused and looked into Sakura's eyes as she was beginning to cry.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked, frowning.

"I-I," she began as she choked on her tears. "I'm just so glad that you didn't leave me behind!"

She burst into even wilder tears as she clung to her old friend.

"I didn't think I'd ever see you again. I had thought that Orochimaru had you for good."

Sasuke wasn't really surprised at Sakura's outburst, but it made him feel happy that she still cared about him that much.

He wrapped an arm around her small frame and embraced her.

"I missed you so much." she spoke softly to him as she wiped away her tears and pulled away from the embrace. "would you like to stay at my-"

She was cut off as Sasuke picked her up and dove deeper into the forest.

"Shhh." he said. "The village knows you missing. They're coming to look for you."

I guess that's a no, thought Sakura as she held onto Sasuke.

Sasuke ran on and on and Sakura began to think she was slowing him down.

"I can run too, you know." she said to him.

She thought that he may have declined her request to walk on her own two feet, but then he slowed to a stop and set her down.

"Keep up." he said as he grabbed her hand and took off.

They ran for, what seemed to Sakura, all night, although it really wasn't all night. She was beginning to slow Sasuke down as he had to pull harder and harder to keep her going.

"We're just about there," he said, gently. " Just keep going; you con do this!"

Sasuke's words rang true as they neared the edge of the forest. The vast expanse of the desert lay before them and the star filled sky came out to shine. Sakura sighed happily when she got her chance to sit and rest.

Sasuke smirked and turned away. He bit his thumb and performed the proper seals for the summoning justu. There was a large plume of smoke, and then there was a snake.

"Greetings, master." he hissed as he bowed to Sasuke.

Sasuke knodded and said, "I need you to carry her." he gestured to Sakura, who was currently, half asleep already.

"It is done." the snake replied as he slithered over the Sakura. He rolled her onto his back and they continued on into the night.