Okay, it's been a while since I've written anything decent or anything at all!

But the whole pairing between Yamato and Sakura is kind of sweet on me at the moment and I couldn't help myself at wanting to try a story with them

Anyways please read and review if you wish!

Many thanks

YOU CAN SEE ME

"I'm sitting down here but hey you can't see me..." Sakura sung quietly to herself as she swung her legs beneath her slowly.

Konoha festival raged below with its wild dancing dragons galloping along the streets, people crowding around each other taking in the hustle and bustle of all that was exciting and the music; oh how it resonated through the air!

"Just thought I would join you for one day..."

The sun sitting high in the sky, the wind cool and gentle, nature lush and green it was the perfect picture of a summer's day. It was the kind of summer day where sandals and a hat would have gone perfectly and a double scooped tub of strawberry ice cream – Sakura could almost taste it as she pictured it in her mind.

"One day..."

The faint sound of chimes drifted over the roof tops almost lost to the noise below, Sakura sighed to herself and taking another minute to savour the sight before her, she stood slowly still singing quietly to herself. Showing a small sad smile, she vanished.

Yamato stepped out onto the street and looked about himself, taking in the rush of life everywhere in sight. Children ran excitedly waving flags and small banners of various colours, mothers carrying smaller children laughed and chatted happily with their neighbours. Music flowed from every alley and street, carried on the back of the gentle wind that breezed through Konoha. Yamato couldn't help but smile to himself, the exhilaration in the air could only mean the festival was here.

He allowed himself a moment to watch the world buzzing away peacefully around him before glancing up to the sky and shielding his eyes from the warm blaze of the sun.

Almost time then...

Checking his pockets and reshuffling his backpack Yamato turned and headed away from the steady stream of bodies that moved eagerly to join the excitement of the parade. As he walked he thought briefly of the mission that lay ahead checking and rechecking the details to make sure he hadn't forgotten all he had memorised. Nodding to himself here and mumbling there he was satisfied that all was as it should be.

He turned the corner and was swallowed into the shadow of the mighty wall that encircled the village and just up ahead the tall front gates had been thrown wide to the world beyond allowing passage to visitors travelling to the festival. On the way towards the gates Yamato was stopped by an elderly figure huffing and puffing as she pushed her cart of treats in front of her.

"Greetings kind sir, would you be interested in purchasing a cold beverage or frozen treat?" the women was bent at an odd angle due to her age but she smiled with such warmth that Yamato couldn't help but return the smile.

"Well thank you but I..." Yamato trailed off as he caught sight of his team coming into sight just up ahead. The yellow blonde hair of Naruto bounced energetically on top of his head as he walked quickly ahead looking eagerly about himself. Sai drifted along trailing Naruto and appearing disinterested in his surroundings, in one hand he held a scroll and in the other his forever present paint brush.

"...or maybe some ice cream, on such a warm day how could one refuse..." the old lady carried on bustling about her cart and shifting large tubs and small cartons around. Yamato glanced about but could not find the usual pink haired kounichi with her companions.

Why am I even bothering to look, she'll be here imminently...

But without Sakura in tow Naruto and Sai looked vaguely odd in each other's company, Yamato thought it strange that he was searching for her and even more surprisingly found himself wondering if she were safe and well. It had been a stretch since he'd seen any of them last and he chided himself for not making more of an effort to train with his newly formed team.

It couldn't be helped if he did have concerns about them all and in particular Sakura he told himself logically. After all Sakura's female and the only medic-ninja on the team. But that wasn't just it; was it? He became suddenly aware of just how strong his protectiveness was towards her...

He shook his head and turned towards the elderly woman once more, politely refusing the ice cream she was thrusting under his nose. The lady smiled and tried once more but Yamato smiled thanked and waved at her as he turned to catch up with his team.

Up ahead both shenobi had reached the gates and Naruto was protesting at the lateness of the rest of the team.

"...and usually me...always getting in trouble...not today HA!" he was exclaiming to Sai who continued ignoring Naruto in favour of his scroll. Yamato slowed his pace and staying out of sight, he listened amusingly to the rants of the Uzumaki mentally noting his words as punishment for later.

"It's about time!" Naruto huffed as a streak of pink shot from the tree's and down the path to the gates. Immediately Naruto clamped his hand over his mouth and back tracked as a very angry kounichi raised her fist in a threatening manner. Yamato found himself smiling.

"Ah ah I was kidding Sakura-Chan...He he" Naruto apologised the sweat glistening on his forehead as he cowered behind Sai. Sai glanced up momentarily nodded once to Sakura and returned to his drawing.

Sakura put down her backpack and bent to readjust her kunai belt which had fallen askew, Yamato noticed she was breathing rather heavily and noted she must have run all the way here.

"Sakura, Sakura did you see the festival, and the ramen...I could smell it from my room this morning..." Naruto babbled away but remained behind Sai trying his best to lighten the mood.

The woman with the pink hair smiled immediately.

"Ah baka of course that's why I was late. I couldn't help myself; I stopped by to watch the parade." Sakura said.

Naruto had not heard a word of this as he was still babbling away over the various ramen he had consumed that morning already.

"Chicken, oh and beef THE BEEF! It was...well it was so tasty and good and...and...dammit now I'm hungry!" he moaned holding his stomach and pulling a pained face.

Yamato grinned and mentally noted that ramen could be used to bride Naruto for future purposes.

"I missed my usual strawberry double scoop though...and I have it every year too, what I would give for one now. But sensei wouldn't wait would he, if I chanced leaving now to find some..." Sakura said quietly watching Naruto dance in front of her and ranting ramen as always.

Yamato watched her head droop slowly as she trudged to the wall to sit at its base; she pushed her hair back from her face and sat biting her lower lip in frustration. There was something about this that bothered Yamato. It was possible that starting a new mission with an unhappy lady could cause some friction along the way, but it wasn't this thought that bothered him.

She looked so downhearted and Yamato couldn't help himself as his brain automatically thought of ways to cheer her up.

"...perfect on a day like this!" came a high pitched voice from behind him and as Yamato turned it suddenly hit him exactly what he could do.

"Well, are we all excited about a new mission, I know I am!" chirped Yamato as he strolled through the gates past his comrades and carried on out of Konoha. There was a mumbled response from Naruto who was still brooding over ramen and silence from Sai. Yamato glanced over his shoulder briefly and noted Sakura walking along still nibbling on her bottom lip, he couldn't help but smile.

"Come now some enthusiasm, we'll be gone for some time and we don't want to start with all this negative energy!" Yamato had barely finished speaking when a flash of blonde sped past on his right and knocking his shoulder almost barrelling him into the trees.

"YES YES!" Naruto shouted with glee as he had spotted several travellers towing –it just so happens- what looked to be a food stall towards the leaf village. Already Naruto was bowing and thanking the men, praising them as if they were gods descended from the skies themselves!

Ramen would be my guess, thought Yamato brushing himself off and slowing to fall into step beside the pink kounichi.

"Come now Sakura, surely we're not all that bad of company," he spoke in jest.

"Oh...sorry sensei...of course you're not" Sakura replied flustered and tried a smile, but to Yamato it wasn't the full warming smile that she donned usually.

"You know, I once heard a silly rumour that to cure the blues chocolate was always the answer, well I'm not sure if it's woman-lore or not, I'll need to ask Kakashi is that's true. But personally I think ice cream does the trick..." Yamato grinned as Sakura grimaced beside him.

"Better than that, strawberry ice cream..." and with that he produced a small package and stopped her with it. Sakura looked at the captain with confused eyes and took the package tentatively.

Yamato turned quickly as a loud crash sounded behind them, Naruto's legs could be seen thrashing out the small window on the side of the food stall, and Sai was standing idly by shaking his head in shame.

"What do you mean you don't have beef? What kind stall doesn't have beef ramen!! I don't believe you, let me check!" Naruto shouted from within.

Yamato sighed and quickly walked over to sort out the issue before it worsened.

Sakura watched Yamato grasp Naruto by the ankles and tug before looking back to the bag in her hands.

He wouldn't have...why would he I mean it's such a silly thing to be glum about...but still

Sakura quickly unfurled the top and peered inside. There, at the bottom, sat a white container and through its frosty lid she could see pink within and a small spoon at the side.

Sakura looked up in surprise at Yamato who was currently holding off Naruto whilst apologising to the flustered servers of the cart.

"I am deeply shamed of my comrades' actions and can only apologise..." he began whilst Naruto stewed behind him still shouting he needed his beef ramen.

Sakura could feel the joy rising within her, it was only ice cream but the simple gesture touched her deeply. Having only known him for a short time, Sakura was overwhelmed with gratitude and respect for Yamato; despite all his warnings about using fear to control them, he had shown that he had a soft side to him too. Sakura genuinely missed Kakashi-sensei and wished him a speedy recovery. But she also found herself wishing that Yamato's position with them wasn't so temporary...

But how had he known?

He wasn't there when she told Naruto, or was he?

Sakura blushed as Yamato looked over and caught her staring at him; he winked once and then proceeded to drag Naruto away from the stall still kicking and screaming. Sai started intoning to Naruto that baka fit his description well.

Sakura couldn't help but be charmed, but she promised herself as she took the ice cream from the bag popped the lid and took a small spoonful that she would return the kindness in some way on their long journey.

Sakura sang to herself once more as she followed the others in a happy sugar daze.

"I'm sitting down here but hey you can see me..."

Well that was interesting to write! Wasn't sure how that was going to turn out so I went with the flow and the inspiration from the artist and song: Sitting down here – Lene Martin

More on the way

Thanks for reading!