Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Warning: Mild lemon

Chapter 4: The Seen And Unseen

Daisuke awoke from standby status and picked up his head, something was amiss. Sakura was not in the bed... his head snapped to the sound of something falling. Daisuke gracefully leaped out of bed and ran down the hallway, pausing to see a male bending over and shaking her.

"Sakura-chan, oye!" Naruto said worriedly, though he supposed jarring her brain from all the shaking he was doing wouldn't hurt her too much.

"Hey!" Daisuke yelled and charged at the man.

Naruto let Sakura go, standing with a shock look on his face,

"Sasuke? What're-"

CRACK

An artful kick to the face sent Naruto reeling. Grasping his now throbbing jaw, he glared at the man. Daisuke knelt down to her and gathered her up, keeping her close.

"What did you do to her? You hurt her didn't you?" Daisuke spoke in a very dark voice, shielding his precious Sakura.

"Nande? I was not! She fainted... and you...." He shaky pointed a finger, "Are an imposter!"

A perplexed look overtook Daisuke's fine face. What?

"Imposter? I don't know what you are talking about." Daisuke took a moment to gaze down and sweep his eyes over her face. She didn't seem hurt, although he didn't trust the man standing before him.

"You made yourself to look like Sasuke-teme to steal Sakura-chan's heart didn't you? I will not have it, I'll save her from your evil clutches!" Naruto lunged to grab Sakura from Daisuke, only he gracefully adverted, in which Naruto's head went through the front door. Growling like a cat whose tail got caught in the door, he tried wriggling himself free.

The colorful cursing brought Sakura back to the land of the living.

"Mmmm..." A warm body held her close, "Daisuke?" She whispered, opening her eyes.

"Hai, you are safe." He smiled down at her.

Safe? Sakura blinked, and then the sound of struggle drifted her green eyes to the door. If it wasn't her door, her apartment, and this situation, Sakura would have thought the scene to be comical. All she could see was Naruto's butt, arms, and legs trying to free himself.

"My that look is you," She picked on him with a grin.

"Sakura-chan..." Naruto fought the urge to beg, "Please help me out!"

Sighing, she walked over and pulled him free with one arm. Thank god for her super human strength.

"You owe me a new door," She crossed her arms, looking miffed.

Naruto rubbed his now aching head, then his throbbing jaw.

"Sakura-chan, who is this?"

She totally forgot that Daisuke was in the room, he wrapped his arms protectively around her middle.

Releasing herself from his embrace, she waved her arms in front of the blonde man, "Nothing Naruto, you are having a dream." She tried to convince him.

"Nice try Sakura-chan, but with my head and jaw smarting, I know I'm awake." Naruto's blue eyes shifted to the man who looked identical to Sasuke.

"Again I'll ask you, who is this?"

Sakura knew there was no use trying to weasel her way out of it now.

"Would you like some ramen?" Sakura asked, dusting off his head and removing the lodged twig.

Instantly Naruto's mood changed, "Thanks Sakura-chan, I haven't had it since I left!"

"Let me make it Sakura," Daisuke touched her shoulder softly.

"Ok," She turned with a smile; Naruto watched the two with interest.

As they sat down to dinner, Naruto noticed Daisuke never made a move to eat anything laid out on the table.

"Not hungry?" He twirled his chopsticks, pausing to add a few dumplings to his plate.

"I can't eat," Daisuke's eyes never moved from Naruto's ramen bowl.

"He's a perso-con," Sakura dabbed her lips.

"Perse-what?"

"They are fully functioning artificial life forms that can be made to look like humans." Sakura swirled her chopsticks in her own ramen bowl, hoping he wouldn't ask too many questions.

But that's asking a saint to be a sinner.

"Why does he look like Sasuke?" Naruto set down his eating utensil and sat back.

"I...I..." Sakura was at a loss for words.

"Who is 'Sasuke'?" Daisuke leaned forward, hoping to get an answer.

"I think that is for Sakura to answer," Naruto's blue eyes grew serious, almost sad.

Sakura stayed quiet.

"I think he has a right to know about this," Naruto stared Sakura down, making sure she wasn't going to dodge him this time.

She slammed her chopsticks down, breaking them in the process.

"Why should I have to owe him anything? He abandoned us Naruto!" She spoke viciously and out of turn.

"You don't know the whole story--"

She didn't know about Itachi being good and the elders ordering the slaughter of the entire clan.

"--I don't care." Sakura snapped back.

"Sakura, the real Sasuke has come back--"

"Naruto," she whispered, "I know he hates me. He's never said a kind word to me. With Daisuke, it's different. I'd rather swim in fantasy than drown in reality."

Daisuke felt a small sting in his chest, maybe a wire short circuited?

"But Sakura... this is reality." He reached across the table to touch her hand comfortably; she withdrew it. Obviously there was no talking to her at the moment.

"What do you know about reality? Dreams of being Hokage.." Sakura scoffed, then instantly regretted it.

With a hurt face, Naruto stood, "Che, right."

"Naruto--" The front door already had shut, "I'm sorry."

What she had said was unforgivable.

Daisuke quietly cleaned up the table while Sakura numbly sipped her tea. Grabbing the cup from her and setting it down, he scooped her up bridal style once more. She clung to him like a life line. Glancing at the clock in the darkness revealed it was almost sunrise. Still, Sakura needed her sleep. With her eyes closed, she searched for his hand.

"Daisuke..."

"I'm here, I'll always be here." He held her hand, sitting by the bedside.

With a word of gratitude, she slipped off into a fitful sleep.

Two weeks past by and she didn't have the courage to stop by Sasuke's room in the hospital. Her heart was already in pieces, she did not need to rip open old emotional wounds. The naïve twelve year old girl was gone, replaced by a woman with broken dreams.

"Sakura-san, we need these papers delivered to the third floor." A nurse handed her the paperwork.

"Can't you do it?" After all, Sakura was a resident doctor, she should not be subjected to such mundane tasks.

"I'm sorry, but we are short staffed today. Please?"

A sigh, "Alright."

After delivering the papers, she wandered down the hallway. Somehow, she found herself standing in front of room 108; his room. ANBU flanked both sides.

"Sasuke-kun want some apples?"

SLAM! A cutting glare.

The door to his room closed, someone had come out.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto broke her daydreaming.

"Ne, have you come here to see him?" Naruto grabbed her hand with the intent to pull her into the room. She swiftly dislodged herself and started to march down the hallway at a clipped pace. Avoidance was the best factor right now.

"Sakura-chan, can we talk?" Naruto managed to get in front of her, grasping her shoulders.

"Fine," She guided him into a lounge.

"Talk," She crossed her arms once more; a defensive posture.

"You know he's asked for you." Naruto smiled slightly, hoping to get a positive response.

Sakura's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

"He wants to talk to you; you at least owe him that."

Sakura snorted very unlady-like, "I thought I told you I didn't owe him anything."

"Then do it for me," Naruto looked determined. She did owe Naruto for her awful behavior she exhibited at her place.

"Ok.." She finally caved.

"Of course he won't be off probation for awhile, and then there are matters of the Elders to deal with," his voice grew very dark.

"The Elders? What did they do?"

"I think it's for Sasuke to tell you," Naruto went to the vending machine, selecting a candy.

Speaking of telling... Sakura froze.

"You didn't tell him about Daisuke did you?" Sakura gripped her white coat.

"No," Naruto bit into a candy bar, "If anyone tells him, it'll be you."

Naruto matured out of the tattling, brown nosing faze. He would not meddle in affairs of the heart.

She hugged him, in which the chocolate bar he'd been eating smashed up against his face, creating a dark streak. Instead of getting angry, he was happy to have a hug from one of his best friends. Parting ways, Sakura felt the world lift off her shoulders just a tiny bit.

Naruto walked back into room 108,

"Dobe, what is on your face?"

"Ugh, what a day," She slipped off her sandals and stretched.

Daisuke exited the kitchen, wearing a pink apron.

He greeted her with a kiss, Sakura giggled softly.

"What are you wearing?" She touched the pink apron.

"I found this in the pantry," Again, Daisuke found nothing wrong with his appearance.

Smiling at his innocence, Sakura leaned up and whispered in his ear,

"After dinner, would you like to bathe together?"

Daisuke wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her lips.

"Why not now?" He asked, kissing the apex of her neck.

"Mmm.." She reluctantly pushed him away, "I'm hungry."

Daisuke was a little disgruntled she had turned him down, but he reminded himself to be patient. During dinner, she felt like a prey being watched by a predator. She knew Daisuke had been wanting to further their relationship for awhile now. Just as she wiped her lips and pushed the chair back, she found herself lopped over his shoulder. It was a nice view of his butt she had to admit, wiggling and squealed as he laughed, slapping her rump playfully.

Placing her on the counter, he started the hot bath.

Sakura tossed off her top and blushed as she unhooked her bra. This would be the first time he saw her naked. He gazed appreciatively and gently massaged her breasts, pinching the nipples.

"Ngh!" Sakura closed her eyes, and tilted her head back.

He took the chance to capture a nipple within his hot wet mouth. Gasping, she brought her hands up to splay through his dark blue spiky hair. He then nuzzled his way from between the valley of her breasts to her neck and lastly her face. Swallowing, she found her mouth to be dry.

"The bath is pretty full," She pointed out.

He turned off the tap and shed his clothes. He helped her out of her bottoms and panties.

This is it.. She blushed prettily.

Daisuke offered his hand, which she gladly took. He sat in the tub first and guided her in, so that her back was nestled up against his chest. Using the loofah, he washed her body slowly, marveling at her soft skin. She moaned softly as he swirled the sponge over her breasts then down her toned stomach to her private place. Instead of closing her legs, she opened them slightly, giving him more access. Daisuke nibbled and kissed her ear to distract her as he let go of the sponge and rubbed his fingers against her heated flesh.

"Mmmm don't stop," Sakura mewled.

Propping her slightly out of the water, he guided two fingers in. The fit was tight as she gripped him with her wet heat. Smirking, he curled his fingers in a come hither motion, making her belly jump and legs shake. Crying out, she arched her back riding out the intense blinding pleasure that overtook her lithe body.

"Did that feel good," He spoke quietly in her ear as she laid against him panting.

Sakura could feel his arousal pressing against her lower back. Turning, she grabbed the sponge (which was floating innocently among the bubbles), smiling she said,

"My turn."

As she washed him, his eyes never strayed from hers. It was a unique moment of closeness. Even though he wasn't human, they shared a very strong bond to each other. Biting her lip slightly, she concentrated.

"I love you, Sakura."

That certainly was unexpected.

The sponge slipped from her fingers as she gazed at him in wonder.

"You---" her lips trembled, "love me?"

"Do you love me?" Daisuke looked uncertain as if afraid he was going to be rejected.

Sakura's eyes swelled with tears and he immediately took it for a bad sign. She blubbered and laughed,

"I'm so happy." She encased him in a hug, their naked bodies flush against each other.

He relaxed and hugged her back.

She coyly trailed a finger down his chest, "Sit on the edge."

Daisuke obeyed, eager to please his Sakura.

She ran her hand over his erection, the flesh smooth as silk as if he was really a man and not a perso-con. As she took him into her mouth, he tilted his head back; a pleasure meter started to generate within him. This time it was his fingers that encased around Sakura's head and kept her there.

She licked up and down his shaft, jerking gently every once in awhile. Kissing his tip, she swirled her tongue around the top, giggling as he made a sound of pleasure. To up the ante, she used her breasts to help stimulate him. Sandwiching his manhood between her firm large globes, she moved them independently while continuing to service him with her mouth. Daisuke gasped and jerked his hips up suddenly, every wire within him was shooting sparks, and to him it was taken as pure pleasure.

Sakura released his member, and was surprised it didn't relax. She felt an inner sense of pride as she watched him with his head still tilted back and a blush adorning his face. After he internally reset himself, he was able to move, albeit slowly at first.

"That was great Sakura," Daisuke commented, something within him sent short fire tingles down his spine.

Sakura glanced at his erection, then back at him for an explanation.

"I am a companion, we can stay as erect as long as you have need for it."

Daisuke gathered her up in his arms, ready to set her on his lap for penetration. She stopped him.

"I'm... still not ready.." Her green eyes focusing on the soap bubbles on the surface of the water.

Kissing her forehead he replied, "It's alright. I can wait... I can wait forever."

End Chapter

Author's Note: I've slowed this story down a bit, the last chapter was kind of a filler to pass the time line (hence the reason it was a wee bit fast) to get to the better stuff. To Sakura's Indecision: No, I have not read that novel, but I will look into it. Read and review please~!