I'm here to bring you all another installment of Life, love and the problems they bring. Before I begin I'd like to think everyone who's reading and everyone who reviewed. I really appreciate it. Thanks! Now, ON WITH THE STORY!

Disclaimer; Don't own Naruto.

Sakura tossed and turned in the bed. The image of Sasuke kissing Temari haunted her even in her sleep. She woke up panting and gasping for breath. She looked around and knew that this couldn't be her room. It was a mess and there was a pair of boxers on a lamp across the room from her. She covered her eyes as light came flooding in through a window abover her head.

"Where am I?"

Shikamaru walked in through the door on the other side of the bed. He was carrying a tray of food, but stopped where he was when he saw that she was awake. He blushed slightly at the confused look on her face, but continued to act as if this was all a bother to him. He walked over to the bed and lay the breakfast before her.

"Here. I thought you'd be hungry."

Sakura mumbled her thanks and put her hand to her temples. A few images from last night came racing to her mind. Most of them was what she had seen at Sasuke's apartment, but some of them were of her, in Shikamaru's arms. Her thoughts were still muddled and she couldn't quite grasp everything that had happened that night. It even took her a moment to realize that she must be in Shikamaru's house. Her eyes widened in shock.

"Shikamaru..."

He had been sitting on the bed the whole time, waiting to see if she would need anything else. Now he turned his head towards her, the irritated look in his eye, not revealing what was truly underneath.

"Hmm..."

"How'd I get here?"

This time Shikamaru was shocked. How could she forget what had happened last night. Had she really forgotten that he had been there to hold her and comfort her until she had fallen asleep in his arms? He felt a little anger rise, but quickly shook it away with a shrug of his shoulders.

'I suppose that makes us even. I forgot that she helped me, and she forgot that I helped her. Makes sense.'

"You feel asleep after crying. I couldn't leave you in the streets, and my house was closer."

He stood and caught a glimpse of a scared look in her eyes. He turned and started towards the door, but stopped before he went through it.

"And don't worry princess, Nothing else happened."

He left with mixed feelings. He felt a small bit guilty for assuming that what she had been thinking, and also feeling annoyed at the fact that that was probably what she had been thinking. He also felt something else, but he didn't yet know if he could identify what this new feeling was towards her.

'I don't think anything with this girl is going to be easy.'

Sakura sat on the bed gazing into her breakfast. If this had been a different situation, she may have laughed at the food that Shikamaru had cooked. There were a pair of scorched eggs and a piece of almost completely raw bacon that were suppose to be a smilie face, but looked more like it was scowling at her. At any other time she definatly would have laughed at this, but she didn't feel like it that morning. It wasn't just what she had gone through with Sasuke, it was also the fact that she was ashamed of herself. Her mind had assumed that something had happened last night, and Shikamaru had picked that up right away. She rubbed her temple with her hand, she could feel a headache coming on.

"I must seem like some kind of idiot."

'Why should I care what that jerk thinks anyway. It's only fair, he made a stupid mistake without meaning to and so did I. We're even.'

Without thinking she picked up the fork on the plate and brought some of the burnt egg to her mouth. She started to choke and gag as she tried to swallow it. She let out a raspy cry for help Shikamaru entered th room irritated as usual, but ran to her side when he saw her choking. He hit her on the back, but it didn't work. She was quickly turning a pale shade of blue. Shikamaru started to panic. What was he going to do?

"S...Shika...Shikamaru...Please."

He picked her up and squeezed her adomen from behind. She spat out the egg, but she still wasn't breathing regularly. He lay her back down on the bed. She had gone from a pale blue to a darkening shade of purple.

'Oh, man.'

He didn't hesitate again. He opened her mouth and took a deep breath. Then he brought his mouth to hers. He breathed into her mouth, until he felt her chest rising and falling in a steady pattern. He pulled back and put his head to her heart. It was beating softly and her chest was still rising. He sat back and sighed with relieve. He closed his eyes, but opened them immediatly when he felt gentle lips against his. He opened his mouth to say something, and felt her tounge caressing his. He moaned in protest when she pulled back.

"I'm glad you saved me, but do me a favor. Never cook again."

He looked down at the plate he had made and rolled his eyes.

"Don't worry, I won't bother next time. It was a pain to get up that early anyway."

'but, if it means being kissed like that again, I'd happily burn the eggs every morning.'

That's it for now. I'm not particularly proud of this part of the story. It just kind popped up from the queen of fluff part of my mind. You know, the part dedicated to near deaths and cotton candy romance. If you've already read Tears of Sand, your probably already familiar with that side of my brain. Oh, well tell me what you think. Review.