Chapter Two

Fire and Ice

"Hey! Stop it dude!" Naruto blocked a small red couch pillow from hitting him in the face with his forearm. Naruto and Sakura were both laying on a make shift mattress on Kakashi's floor made of folded blankets and couch cushions . "Come on Naruto! Lighten up!" Sakura said while laughing. Her pink tresses were tied up in a dishevveled bun. She wore a pair of boxers and a grey tank top that Kakashi allowed her to borrow.

Sakura was laying on her back with her knees bent towards the ceiling. Naruto was dressed casually in a navy blue T-shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans. He wore no shoes on his tan feet. Naruto lie on his back with hs arms folded behind his head. A scowl was plastered on his face as he chewed on his lower lip. "Sorry." Naruto said through his teeth. Sakura sighed. She was used to Naruto being grumpy with others but not with her. She was trying to start a pillow fight to lighten the mood but that idea failed miserably.

"It's okay. I just wish you would tell me what's wrong." Sakura smiled and ruffled his blonde hair. She always treated him like her little brother despite his feelings for her that developed over the years. Of course he was forced to think of her that way after she and Sasuke started dating. "I just don't know why we're not allowed to be friends." Naruto rolled on to his side so that his back was facing her. "Huh?" Sakura's right eye brow raised. "What are you talking about?" She stared at his back. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well when you and dick head Uchiha starting dating WE stopped talking." Sakura noted the subtle hint of anger in his voice. She could tell he had been pondering about this conversation for a while.

"That's not true Naruto," Sakura reached over and grabbed his shoulder and forced him to roll on to his back again. "You, Sasuke, and I all went to Ino and Shikamaru's one year anniversay/ new years eve party last year." Naruto cut his eyes at her and spoke sarcastically. "Yeeeah...LAST YEAR! Sakura you can't tell me we're still close. You're so different, you're not the same, and our friendship isn't the same." Sakura felt a pang of pain in her heart. His words hurt and cut her like a knife. She also saw the pain reflecting back on herself in his ocean blue eyes. She felt horrible.

"I...I'm sorry Naruto. I didn't realize..." Naruto's facial expression and eyes softened and he smiled. "Ah...it's alright. Just glad I get some time alone to talk to you."

He snaked an arm behind her head and pulled her close to his side. She rested her head on his shoulders and sighed. The two stared at the ceiling and said nothing. Sakura listened to the sound of Naruto's heart beat and closed her eyes. 'Why can't Sasuke be like this with me?' Sakura's voice echoed in her own mind. Naruto felt his eyes start to close as exhaustion began to take over. He opened his mouth wide and yawned. "Damn!" He blinked a couple of times and Sakura giggled at his side. "Today's been a hell of a long day for me." "Haha...I bet." Sakura tried her best to keep her thoughts from wandering. She didn't want to give Naruto any reason to ask too many questions. She didn't want to trip over her own sentences or accidentally lie to him. So instead of thinking she just closed her eyes and allowed the beat of Naruto's heart to sing her a lullaby.

The hairs on Naruto's neck and arms were standing on end. He still loved Sakura and he knew he would until the day he died. Fate dealt him a cruel card because he knew she would never feel the same way. He felt Sakura's breathing pattern slow down and he knew, without looking at her, that she was asleep. Naruto gently reached to the right of him and grabbed a black blanket. It wasn't too thick or thin but just right to keep them warm without causing them to sweat. He adjusted it so that it covered Sakura and himself.

"Goodnight Sakura." Naruto adjusted his shoulders a little to make himself comfortable. After about ten minutes of lying there with his eyes closed he drifted into a deep sleep.

- - - - Next Morning Kakashi - - - -

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Kakashi slammed his hand down on the clock hard enough so that the plastic cover cracked near the screen. He groaned and rolled on to his stomach so that his face was buried in the pillows. His shoulders and back ached terribly. Kakashi took a mental note that he was in need of a new mattress. "Ahh..." Kakashi's groan was muffled by the pillows. His tan bare back was beaded with sweat. Kakashi didn't want to wake up because he knew what was in store for him that day. "Get up Kakashi."

Kakashi heard Asuma's voice from some where nearby. Kakashi assumed he was in the bathroom. He rolled over on to his back and sat up in the bed. Kakashi shielded his eyes with his hand to block the offending sunlight that shone through the three windows in his room. When his eyes were fully adjusted he looked around. The white paint on his walls was peeling in some spots. He wasn't too worried about it because he was the only one who noticed. His beige carpet needed some vaccuming. Kakashi sighed and dubbed his room pretty ordinary and boring. Then again that's what he considered himself so it was perfect for him.

Kakashi heard Asuma turn the water on in the shower. Kakashi threw his legs over the edge of the bed and he stood up. He stretched his arms over his head and arched his back. He popped all ten of his knuckles in unison before walking out of his bedroom wearing nothing but a pair of black boxers. His chest was toned and his arms were built well for his body type. Kakashi was confident with his body. He was told by plenty of women that he was sexy. He had a few battle scars on his chest and back. The ANBU tattoo stood out on his left shoulder. His face was hidden behind the mask and his Sharingan eye was instinctively closed. The wooden floor boards creaked underneath his weight as he entered into the livingroom. He caught a glimpse of Naruto and Sakura who were still asleep on his livingroom floor.

At first he thought nothing of it then he had to do a double take once he saw how they were laying together. Sakura was semi balled up at Naruto's side with her head on his chest. His arm was behind her head with his hand on her back. Naruto's mouth was slightly gaped as he snored loudly. Kakashi swore that Naruto's snore was what was causing his paint to peel. How was he not waking Sakura up? Maybe Sasuke snored so she was used to it? Kakashi didn't know. He just shrugged his shoulders and continued to walk into the kitchen. He opened the refridgerator and took out the gallon of milk on the top shelf. He took off the cap and drank straight from the carton. It was a regular thing for Kakashi to do. He was at least polite enough to warn people about the habit before they help themselves to his milk.

Kakashi put the milk back and shut the fridge. He leaned up against the closed refridgerator door. "Ahem.." He cleared his throat and watched as Sakura lazily sat up and looked over to lock eyes with him. "He-y." Sakura yawned. He nodded and smirked beneath the mask. "Morning." Sakura laughed and shook her head. She finger combed her bangs before playfully punching Naruto in the chest. "Wake up! Your snore is so annoying." Kakashi shook his head as he recalled on all the previous missions they did together over the years. Sakura was never a morning person.

At least that hadn't changed. He thought her rants served for good entertainment. Kakashi couldn't help but notice how she much of a natural beauty she had become. Her body was toned but not stick skinny. She had decently high cheek bones. A beautiful pair blue-green eyes. Her nose was not too small but not to big and it had the perfect angle for the bridge of her nose. It came to a fitting round tip. Kakashi thought her best feature, along with her eyes, were her plump pink lips. Her eye makeup was slightly smeared but it didn't matter. She flashed him a small smile. Kakashi realized he had fallen into a slight trance and was staring at her. "Well that's embarrassing." Kakashi inwardly smacked himself. "She's like one of your best friends you moron." He argued with his conscience. Kakashi couldn't blame himself though, he was indeed a man.

Suddenly a phone started ringing. It was a high pitched and annoying ring tone. Naruto groaned at the sound of the phone ringing. He didn't want to wake up. He barely slept because he woke up quite a few times during the night. Sakura's eyes widened and she scoped the room. "Shit!" Sakura hissed and got down on her hands and knees to look for the phone. "Sasuke?" Kakashi scoffed. It was eight in the morning and Sasuke was already blowing up her phone. "Yeah! Damn it where is the fucking phone?" Naruto sat up when she started throwing pillows. After the fifth ring she found it wrapped up in a red throw blanket. "She quickly flipped it open and put it to her ear. "Hey honey! Good morning." Sakura laughed nervously and ran her fingers through her bangs. "I was actually just thinking of calling you." Kakashi smirked underneath the mask. "Liar." He thought.

Sakura swallowed nervously. Sasuke sounded upset with her and it was so early in the day. "Why didn't you call last night to tell me when you got to Kakashi's house?" Kakashi watched her tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She stood up and cleared her throat before walking out of the livingroom to Kakashi's bedroom. Asuma was standing in the door way when she opened the door. Asuma greated her with a large smile. She returned it with a timid smile before he turned side ways to allow her entrance. He exitted the bedroom and walked into the kitchen to sit at the white marble island. "Is she already on the phone with him?" Kakashi nodded. "What do you expect?" Asuma just sighed. He hated that Sasuke was already stressing her out.

-Meanwhile/Sakura-

"I'm sorry I forgot to call. I didn't do it intentionally I promise." Sasuke didn't say anything for a few seconds. "Of course you didn't." She heard him sigh and chuckle darkly. "Don't let me find out you're planning anything. Don't make me have to do something dangerous. Hurt someone...or hurt you." Sakura felt the tears start to sting at her eyes. Her stomach began to churn as images filled her head. "I wouldn't. I-I won't. It's just a mission then I'll be coming home. If it wasn't mandatory you know I wouldn't be doing this, Sasuke." "Hmph. Some times I find it so hard to trust you Sakura. You know...I'm beginning to think you're useless. Then again I have to remember how powerful you've actually become. Not powerful enough to upstage my reputation in any way but...powerful enough to provide me with children with good genes."

That was the last thing Sakura wanted. She could barely stomach the thought of carrying Sasuke's child in her womb. It probably wouldn't survive three months before Sasuke would come home one night drunk and angry. "That's all you want me for?" Sakura's whole heart beat for Sasuke since she was sixteen. Sasuke and Sakura are now both twenty-three. "That's all you're needed for." "You don't love me?" She choked on her words as she started to cry. "We've already had this conversation. Now be sure to answer my calls or deal with the consequences." Sakura heard the phone click when he hung up and then the dial tone. Sakura just closed the phone shut and pressed her back to the closed bedroom door. She slid down it until her butt met with the floor. She hugged her knees to her chest and started to cry. Sakura kept her composure and cried softly so no one would be able to hear her.

"I wish I could just disappear." Trails of make up began to stain her cheeks. She wiped them away and dried her fingers on her tank top. Sakura gathered chakra to her lungs to slow her breathing so she wouldn't start to hyperventilate. Sakura didn't want to admit it to herself. She knew she deserved better, she knew she wanted better, and she knew she wanted true love.

Would she ever find it? She could only hope. Sakura felt like she was lost in a deep dark hole some where seperated from the rest of the world. She frantically searched for the light at the end of the tunnel but she often found herself steadily losing hope and faith. After a few minutes she heard a knock at the door. She jumped to her feet and wiped her face clean of tears. She sniffed and wiped her nose. "Y..Yeah?" "It's Kakashi. You decent?" Sakura felt her stomach jump at the sound of his voice. His voice was so velvetly yet husky. "Um. Yeah, come on in." The door slowly opened to reveal him on the other side. Kakashi's eyebrows narrowed. He could tell that she had been crying.

"Is something wrong Sakura?" Kakashi asked, genuinely concerned. Sakura couldn't fight the stray tears that rolled down her cheeks. "No. Not really. Sasuke is mad because I didn't call yesterday night." "Well...," Kakashi felt nervous because he knew he wasn't good with handling emotions. "You need a hug?" Sakura couldn't help but laugh a little. "Actually. That would be great." Kakashi met her half way and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He hugged her around her waste and pulled her tight against his bare chest. She breathed in his musk and sighed. "Thank you." Kakashi took a deep breath and nodded. With his chin rested on her left shoulder he replied. "No problem."