Disclaimer : Nah, I don't own any of them.

Four Friends, Two Couples

Four friends - two couples - were having barbecue dinner. It was customary for the four to meet up the day before anyone of them had to go for missions and the day after, Naruto and Sakura will be off for their missions. The four were in a relationship for a year since Sasuke's returned - dragged back to Konoha by his best friend Naruto. Many would call their relationship "opposite attracts". Uzumaki Naruto the loud hyperactive ninja with the shy, soft-spoken Kunoichi, Hyugaa Hinata. Uchiha Sasuke, the quiet mysterious guy with Haruno Sakura the bubbly pink haired girl. Naruto as always, had bad table manners, shoving the food down his throat. Sakura had nagged at him without resorting to violence. Sasuke snubbed him for his behavior and Hinata profusely apologize to the other patrons for his behavior and help wiped the mess Naruto made on his mouth and cheeks with the napkins.

Sakura watched as Naruto made a fool of himself and all she could do was to nag at him. If it wasn't for Hinata, she would have hit Naruto hard on the head but even if she did hit him, Hinata would always be there to care for Naruto. She watched Hinata cleared the food from his cheeks - so gentle and kind. She was happy for her friends and for herself- she should be - she is finally with Sasuke, the man she love since the academy and Naruto and Hinata got together. But why is it that she, herself is feeling incomplete?

Sasuke had long learn to accept Naruto's childish behavior – Loud, fidgety and hyperactive – but he could never stop himself from giving his best friend mock insults whenever there is a chance. Naruto had made a mess of himself and Hinata helped him. Hinata - the gentle soul of Konoha. She reminded him much of his late mother and he knew she would make a wonderful wife and mother someday. He knew Sakura would be a great wife too but somehow why is it that he is envious of Naruto for being with Hinata?

Naruto was hungry. He really don't care what other people think of him as he ate his food. He knew he was making a mess but he really didn't care. Hinata would take care of him – she always had – and he was grateful. He couldn't be more happier to have a girl who care for him deeply, but why is it that he wanted badly for Sakura to hit him for his stupidity like she used too? He understood that Sakura would not do it in front of Hinata but still, why does it bother him so much?

Hinata apologized to the people who were watching her boyfriend making a din. This is whom she had fall in love with. She knew he wasn't perfect but she doesn't care all that. And it may seem that she took care more of him than he took care of her but she don't mind. There was a spot on his face that she missed and as she cleared it, she wondered, why does it felt like caring for Neji?

..-..

Whenever there was a mission for a two men team, usually Naruto will be paired with Sakura, Hinata with Sasuke. Every time Naruto and Sakura were sent for missions, Hinata would always train further out in the forest, out of Konoha - hours before sunset. She would stood at the cliff and waited for Naruto and head back after sunset. Initially she would be alone for the first eight months of their relationship. Now Sasuke would always keep her company. It's funny how he could put her at ease in the silence. And she noted how warm he feels when he stood beside her or when he held her hands to comfort her throughout their wait.

Sasuke never really bothered to wait for Sakura whenever she was out for missions. He knew she is capable of taking care of herself. It was after their eight month's relationship that he started to do what Hinata had always done. He had accidentally met Hinata training in the forest and he joined her. When they were done and supposed to head back, she stayed. He told her that he would head back alone but when he saw how serene she looked standing at the cliff over looking the lush green below, he could feel his heart skipped. He walk up to her, held her hands and gave her an reassuring squeeze. "They'll both be fine." and she gave him a smile. Since than, he waited, Hinata's hand in his. He was just giving comfort and assurance to a friend, he reasoned.

Sakura had not hit Naruto for eight months since they had their own relationship. But now, whenever Naruto and herself are out on missions, she would do just that whenever he was being ridiculous. She seriously think that he needed to be controlled of his hyperactive nature. She knew, Naruto was just being Naruto and she was glad that he never really change even if he was with Hinata. He may act like and idiot, but she knew that he was actually smart - in the most unexpected way - and him being himself actually made her happy. Like the times they were younger.

He knew he looked like an idiot being hyperactive, loud and short-tempered. But that is just who he is. Sakura had not hit him at all since he was in a relationship, only the constant nag like she used too when they were younger. Somehow, he was not happy seeing her suppressed all that itch to hit him. It wasn't healthy for her. He knew her too well - just as hot tempered as he is but underneath she really is smart and kind. So when she started to release all the itch of hit him during one of the mission - and never stopped since but only when Hinata or Sasuke was not around - after the eighth month, he told her that he was truly glad that the Sakura, the girl he once loved, is back to her actual self.

..-..

It was a mission gone bad. Naruto was angry. He was beyond angry. He was furious to see Sakura got badly injured and he went on a rampaged against his enemies. Pushing his mind and body, combining his own chakra and the fox's to form the deadliest move ever. He knew he could be seriously injured or worst, die. The last time he had done this had ended him in the hospital for almost two weeks. And this technique was forbidden for him. But now he didn't care. He saw Sakura's limp body by the tree. She was hardly breathing. He hated to see her in such a state. He hated knowing that he might lose her. He just didn't want to lose her, ever.

Sakura was down beside the tree. They got what they came for but to fall into the powerful enemy trap was unexpected. She held tightly onto the scroll, her breathing painful. She had broken ribs and few stab wounds. She could heal herself, but barely. She saw Naruto fighting off the enemy. She never seen him so angry and she was afraid for him because she knew when that happened, he would resort to that deadly technique. How he managed to combine his already powerful chakra and the fox's chakra was beyond anyone's comprehension. If his Rasengan Shuriken was already so powerful and caused him to be badly injured, this next technique could even brought death. There's no point in telling him to stop, to make him calm down because he never listen. He would do anything to protect the ones he cares. She couldn't find him anywhere. He had probably lured the enemies to a place further away - to keep her safe from what to come. There was a blast. the debris of trees and leaves rushed by her limp body.

"Naruto!!!" she screamed out his name, stumbling her way to where the blast happened. She had just enough chakra to heal him, of which ever part of him that is necessary. Her wounds can wait. Naruto. She need to get to Naruto. Her eyes watered. She didn't want to lose him again - once to Hinata. He just meant too much to her.

The cup cracked, then the news came. The enemies were dead. The scroll reached Konoha but not them. It is said that they survived but critically injured, or at least one of them are but they were safe. They couldn't come back yet. They need to recuperate and get slightly better before they could head back to Konoha. She excused herself and headed straight for the cliffs. She was worried about them but Hinata always worried about her friends and family. Naruto and Sakura are no exception to her. Footsteps were heard, his chakra were felt. She knew who he was without looking. He had became her familiarity.

Sasuke heard of the news and he thought of Hinata. He knew where she would be and his feet carried him to her as fast as he could. He reached his destination and he saw her stood still as always at the top of the cliff. Wind blowing her hair gently. He knew, that she knew he came for her, even without looking because every time, he neared her she would lower her head slightly to hide her blush. She became familiar to him. He stood beside her and he reached for one of her hand which she held together in front of her. It had become a common gesture to both.

"I'm worried." she said in her small voice.

"They'll be fine." and he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her petite figure and she accepted his gesture by wrapping her hands around his waist. Her head against his chest, and his cheeks atop of her head. He didn't want to let her go and neither did she. They were just comforting each other - or so they reasoned.

..-..

They were in an old small hut in the forest. Sakura had found the place and decided that it is more convenient to stay in the forest than the village. It would be easier for her to gather herbs and make her medicine. Naruto opened his eyes. He finally came around after a week. Sakura was by his side, sponging wet cloth on his forehead and body. she was covered in bandages and bruises on her body. She helped him up into a sitting position. She needed to change the bandage on his arm. Her wounds doesn't matter. It will heal naturally without the need of chakra. He almost died. It was lucky that she had just enough chakra to save him and unknowingly her tears rolled down her cheeks.

He felt his fingers wet and he looked over at Sakura. She was redressing his bandage with her head down but he knew she was crying. He reached out for he face and lifted up her chin so that his eyes met hers.

"I'm sorry that I hurt you and made you cry." He said when he noticed the cuts and bruises on her body.

"You almost died." she closed her eyes. She tried hard not to cry but she couldn't stop.

"I am here, am I not?" He cupped her cheeks with both hands and wiped her tears away. "It takes more than that to kill me. As long as you are safe it doesn't matter."

She looked up to him, her hands on his. "Promise that you won't leave me." She sobbed "You- You mean so much to me"

"Ah." He nodded. "I promise." They knew what would happen next. They knew it wasn't right. But they kissed. They kissed like a long lost lover. Desperate and needing. And for the first time in their lives, they made love.

..-..

Hinata and Sasuke were at their usual place, holding onto each other. Inwardly, that was what they told themselves - their place. It has been a week but Naruto and Sakura still have not come home. They stood there, at peace and contented, waiting. Weird as it seems, but that is how they felt when they are together. Hinata was a strong Kunoichi, Sasuke acknowledged that, just like Sakura, but in her own ways. Yet he felt that he needed to protect her - be there for her - more than he had for Sakura. And he would do that with no obligations. He wrapped his arms around her tighter, one hand on the small of her back, the other, his fingers into her hair and he inhale her scent. She smelled of lilies.

Hinata had never felt more protected yet at east when she is around Sasuke. He do not have to say much but she knew that in his silence, he believed in her most than anyone else had. Naruto believed in her, had always told her so. Yet she find Sasuke's silence carries more depth than others' acknowledgment. She buried her face more into his chest, eyes closed and hear the rhythm of his heart.

It was a sudden heavy downpour and they hurried back to the village. It was too far, and and were soaked. They knew that if they do not find shelter they would be sick. It was lucky that they happened to came across a cave. One that was once Orochimaru's hideout. There wasn't much but there were some candles and some white sheets, in a not so bad condition and a makeshift bed. They were thoroughly soaked and so they stripped down their clothes and wrap themselves with the sheets and leave their clothing to dry. They had their back against each other while they changed but both could see each other shadows dancing on the wall against the flickering candles.

She was wrapped around her chest with the cloth and him around his waist. They took their place on the makeshift bed, sitting beside each other, not too far, not too near either but enough to feel each others warmth, their backs against the wall. The floor would be too damp. He held his body around himself for warmth, he could see her blowing warm air onto her fingers and he saw her shivered.

"You're cold." He pulled her hand to his, rubbing and blowing warm air from his breath. She shivered again and he pulled her close to hm, her body positioned sideways, in between his legs and he rubbed her arms. "Go to sleep" He commanded. And she closed her eyes in his warmth.

He took his time to look at the sleeping form. She fitted perfectly in his arms. And he never had seen someone as beautiful as she is now. So peaceful in her sleep that he could taste the calmness of it all just by looking at her. He stroked her cheeks then to her lips. The lips that were tempting him to kiss. He can't, she belonged to another. And himself with...The realization of that made his heart clenched. He knew it wasn't right but He lean in and kiss her lips lightly. It would probably the only chance to do this.

Hinata's eyes fluttered to see a pair of onyx eyes looking at her. Something woke her up - something warm and nice that feels like a kiss. Their face were inches apart and from the look that he gave her she knew what she felt was real. She instinctively reached for his face and stroked his lips. She shouldn't be doing this. But she lean forward and he captured her lips with his. It was soft, slow and gentle before their hands began to explore each other. For the first time in their twenty years of life, they made love. They knew it was wrong, but it had felt so right.

A/N: I wanted to make it into a one shot. But I'm out of time coz I need to rush for appointment. I know I can save this and continue later. But then I'm just too excited. So I guess this will be a two shot. Do review okay!