A/N: Hello everyone! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! You guys are awesome!

Just a note, I probably won't be updating until next Thursday because we're traveling. So, I'll try to make this chapter extra long to make up for the week I'm missing. Okay? All right.

Disclaimer: No. I'm not Masashi Kishimoto. I don't own Naruto. Got it?

"It would be my pleasure."

He smirked, satisfied, and faced front again.

"When are we going to do it?" she asked.

Sasuke shrugged, considered a while, then said:

"Probably during dinner. We'll just eat out here."

"Will your parents let us?"

"Dad's going back to work in a little bit—he's in charge of the police force, just took a couple hours off today—so he won't be here…and… I think mom would."

Sakura was beyond thrilled, giddy with excitement.

After another moment—

"Do you wanna go back?" Sasuke said this.

She looked at him.

"We never told them we were up here. They're probably worried."

"…Yeah."

He stood up.

Sakura faltered to her feet.

Sasuke pushed his hands into his pockets.

This time, he gestured Sakura forward, ahead of him.

He followed her across the roof, the top of her head passing under his eyes. Sasuke closed the metal hatch and turned it so it was locked, going down the steps with Sakura. This time, she had a better look at the hallway with the big windows. It was almost like they were suspended above everything (except the roof). Sakura looked out of one, and noticed the sun starting to set. Lunch seemed like…so long ago…

They walked down it in silence.

Sakura cast a look behind her at Sasuke.

She tried to put her hands into pockets like he always did.

Her pockets were too small.

Of course, they were.

Sasuke allowed himself a chuckle.

He shut the other door behind him, and they were drenched in darkness, there was nothing but the thin line of light coming from under the door. Sakura stopped then at the first landing. The same, nameless fear gripped her again, the kind of fear she felt at the beginning, standing in front of the closet door. The darkness was so… so thick and—

What's that?

That shadow?

What is it? A monster? Is it coming this way? She could almost hear it's hungry footfalls coming up the stairs, the growling, snarling howl—

"I can't do this." She whispered suddenly, taking a step back.

Naturally, onto Sasuke's foot.

There was an almost silent sigh.

"Sure you can, Sakura."

He put a steadying hand on her lower back, nudging her slightly forward.

"There's nothing there. What are you afraid of?"

Shivers went up her spine as his palm lay flat against her back, his fingers lightly grazing her shirt.

Why am I so scared?

She could tell the spiral stair case was close, but the fact that she couldn't really see it unnerved her. And the monster? What happened to him?

It's your imagination, Sakura! Wake up!

She blinked, hesitated, then took a few weary steps ahead.

Sasuke was close behind.

She went further-

And she gasped as her foot fell onto air.

She was going about to go down, down, down, to her sad, unfortunate death at the bottom of a staircase in a guy's closet—

Sasuke yanked her back, his hand around her wrist.

"Whoah. Okay. Sorry. Not that far."

Sakura's heart hammered in her chest, as she stood there, knees shaking.

Sasuke spoke: "I think I'll take over now."

He stepped around her, his hand slipping down her wrist and to her palm. She gripped it tightly.

"I guess that's enough lessons in bravery for one day, huh?"

He led her calmly down the spiral staircase.

Sakura heard a small something crawl down the wall behind her.

She cringed and leaned in closer to Sasuke.

She'd never be able to lead, but following wasn't much funner, either.

Down.

Down.

Down.

"If you think this is bad," Sasuke said, "it'll be worse at night."

Yikes.

At night.

And just then, he stopped.

Sakura ran into him.

Her face was hot.

He must seriously enjoy doing this to me!

"But then again," he whispered, "…I did promise I'd be here for you forever. So don't worry about it."

She was going to worry about it, but it made her feel better to have Sasuke by her side.

They were on the second landing now, climbing down the flight of stairs behind the closet door in Sasuke's room. Down again…

And then the lone lamp came into view.

Sakura was relieved.

Her steps became eager and faster.

Right when his socked feet came into contact with the floor of the hallway, he stopped.

She was a step above him.

This time, Sakura didn't just run into him, she knocked him over, so that he was flat on the ground, Sakura on top.

They fell with a thud.

Sprawled over Uchiha Sasuke in a closet.

Shoot.

Sasuke coughed, his face in the dust of the old floor boards.

Sakura scrambled backwards and off of him.

She felt like cursing as she helped him up, hissing: "Confound it, Sasuke! Why do you always stop like that!"

He stood and brushed off his clothes—

Then turned and smirked at her.

"'Confound it?'"

"Shut up. I like saying that."

Sasuke shrugged then cleared his throat, saying:

"I stop when the need arises. When I have to say, ask, or do something dramatic and important. Or when I see a spider the size of Jupiter hanging from a light bulb."

Sakura snapped her eyes to the light.

There was a thin, almost invisible string of web attached to the bulb, and at the very bottom, resting peacefully and probably asleep, was a spider.

Way bigger than the one she had seen when Sasuke first opened the door in the closet.

This one was dark orange with big fangs.

Probably harmless.

Probably.

Sasuke and Sakura just went around.

They put their backs flat against the wall and skirted around the spider.

Sakura hopped out of the door and out of the closet.

Almost too fast.

Sasuke flicked the switch off, causing the spider to stir slightly, and stepped into his closet. He shut the door and turned a lock Sakura hadn't noticed before.

He picked up the fan that was leaning against the wall and hung it back up, so that the door was covered completely.

He pushed his clothes back aside, then stepped out into his room, sliding the closet door shut.

He thrust his hands into his pockets.

Figures.

Both of them were covered in dust, with pebbles and grit on their socks.

Sasuke stretched, then, flicking his bored, onyx eyes at Sakura.

"I'm gonna shower."

"Uh, okay. I think I'll take one, too."

"All right. I might as well show you how to work the shower thing, then."

He walked across his floor and out of his room, Sakura following close behind.

When they reached her door, he stopped.

Sasuke took off his socks before entering Sakura's room.

They were, after all, dirty.

Sakura wondered why she didn't take her socks off when she was in his room.

Well, he didn't take his own socks then.

Regardless, she took her socks off now.

Naruto was still on the bed. He meowed, loud, and jumped onto the floor. He pranced out of the room.

Bare foot, Sakura followed Sasuke into her bathroom.

Sasuke got into the tub while Sakura kneeled on the floor on the other side.

He crouched down and pointed at the one of the two handles on the wall.

"This ones to turn it on. Just pull it out, then turn it to the right or left for temperature."

She nodded.

He jerked his thumb at the other one.

"By spinning this around, you can change how the water comes out of the shower head. Like relaxing, or strong, or force, or…whatever."

He looked at her.

"Good?"

Sakura reached over and put her hand on the first handle.

"Yep, I got it. I think. So you just pull it out and…"

"Yeah," Sasuke said, "but don't do it right no—"

And the water came down.

It was on the 'strong' option.

The shower head shot ferociously cold water, whip-like water straight at Sasuke's forehead.

Sakura gaped and leaned over the handle to stop the water—

Her fingers grappled the second handle, and she spun it around:

Now the water was on force.

Which was basically the same thing as 'strong' except it had a wider radius.

Sasuke swore, loud, and squinted through the water, reaching for the first handle, and it turns out Sakura was reaching for that handle right then, too—

His hand closed around hers.

Both of them pushed forward to shut the thing off, (Sasuke using a reasonably greater force than Sakura, of course).

And the water stopped.

For a second Sasuke just sat there, panting.

And then he pulled his hand away when he realized hers was under it.

Oops.

Sakura slowly drew her hand away, clenched her fists, put them on her knees, and stared at the floor.

She looked like she was about to cry.

"God, I'm so sorry, Sasuke! I told you, didn't I? I always make these stupid mistakes—"

"Its fine, Sakura." He said, pushing wet hair out of his eyes, "at least I won't have to take a shower anymore."

Actually, he felt worse than before, because his clothes were sticking to him now, and all the dust and stuff was flowing in a little stream down Sakura's bath tub.

He was probably going to take another, real, shower in a minute.

She managed a weak, watery smile at him.

He stood and pushed his hands into his pockets.

Sasuke stepped over the tub wall and started walking away, when he paused at the doorway.

The raven haired boy jerked his thumb at the bathroom closet.

"Towel's are in there."

He turned his onyx eyes to the rosette.

"Okay?"

"Okay." She said it not looking at him.

Sasuke sighed lightly, then left her room.

Sakura jumped up right when she heard her door close. She walked into her closet, selected a pair of black jeans and a loose-fitting blue T-shirt with a logo on it. These two came from Mikoto's bag of gifts. She grabbed clean socks and underwear and all that, and zipped into the bathroom, locking the door.

She took a long shower, nice and refreshing.

She stepped out of the bathroom when she was done, putting her dirty clothes in the hamper which she discovered in her closet.

She felt so clean.

Outside the sun had completely set, it was dark now, completely so.

Sakura was thrilled.

Just a little bit longer.

She ran a hand through her damp, pink, hair.

Then she went into her closet and reached for the velvet box Mikoto had given her.

Flipping open the lid, she pulled the silver necklace out of the box.

The emerald star hung there, shining and twinkling.

She unclasped it, then reconnected it around her neck.

There was a knock at her door.

Sakura bit her lip to keep the grin from splitting her face open.

She dropped the necklace down under her shirt and put the box back into the bag.

"Yes?" she asked.

There was a pause from whoever was outside her door. And then:

"Dinner time."

She hear Sasuke smirking.

In a few minutes, they were walking down the steps to the dining room.

Sasuke was wearing plaid red and black shorts with a white, long sleeve T-shirt, but the sleeves were rolled up.

In a moment, they were in the dining room.

Mikoto and Itachi were putting plates and things down on the table.

Fugaku was at work.

They looked up when Sakura and Sasuke entered.

Naruto appeared from behind a couch. He stretched and flounced over to have his meal on the floor.

"Is everything all right?" Mikoto asked, smiling, looking at Sakura.

There was a flicker of concern in her eyes.

She was talking about lunch.

"Oh, yeah, mom, it's all good."

Good thing Sakura spilled her guts to Sasuke.

Good thing Sasuke did the talking.

"Good, Good!" Mikoto said, resuming her work.

Itachi, however—

"So how'd it go, little brother?" he whispered, narrowing his eyes at Sasuke. "The talk?"

"I need you to shut up, Itachi."

"Went that well, huh?" he hissed, grinning.

Sasuke ignored him.

But just barely.

"Hey, mom…"

Mikoto looked up.

"Yes, dear?"

"Um—Are me and Sakura allowed to eat on the roof?"

Mikoto looked slightly taken aback.

"The roof?"

"Yes."

"Just to…eat?"

"And look at the stars," Sakura provided, "it's a stargazing session."

"Ooooh," Itachi said, "in that case, am I allowed to come—"

"No." Sasuke snapped.

Itachi grinned in his way, eyes narrowing.

"Sakura and Sasuke!" he commentated, "Alone! On the roof! Under the stars—"

"Shut. Up."

Sakura's face started burning at 'Alone.'

Good thing Sasuke's good at snapping at his brother.

Mikoto ignored Itachi.

"Well…I don't see why you can't." She said, "Just be careful up there. There are spiders and all sort of scary—"

She stopped when Sakura blanched.

"Oh. Right. Sorry."

Sasuke and Sakura took some food, drinks and desert with them (cheesecake) and went back up the stairs.

"Have fun!" Mikoto called.

"Together!" Added Itachi.

Sasuke gritted his teeth.

They went all the way up into Sasuke's room, into the closet, moved the fan, opened the door, and—

Sasuke reached in and flicked on the light switch.

The spider was still there.

It woke up.

It made a weird, hissing sound, then crawled up the string of web and up the light bulb.

They were surprised it didn't get fried.

Sakura grabbed the telescope Sasuke asked her to bring along, then they went in and shut the door behind them.

Sasuke looked at Sakura.

"You ready?"

She swallowed hard. "Totally."

And they went up the stairs.

They weren't holding hands this time, seeing as how their arms were laden with food and other things.

Sakura was nervous and sweating, as she followed Sasuke up the stairs, to be swallowed by the same darkness again. She pushed the telescope up into her arms, then put her hand out and grabbed the back of Sasuke's shirt.

He paused slightly, but didn't say anything.

It gave her some comfort to know he was close.

They went up and up and up, left, up and around and around… through the door, and entered the hallway.

"Close your eyes." Sasuke said suddenly.

She did as told.

"Why?" she whispered.

"I don't want you to see what it looks like until we're out there."

She felt herself smile and go warm.

Inside she was shaking like a hummingbirds wing.

They went down it, then up a few steps, Sasuke turned the metal hatch and pushed it open.

Sakura felt a cool breeze on her face-

As they ascended onto the roof.

"Don't you dare look up," Sasuke muttered. "Wait for me."

And Sakura opened her eyes.

She let go of his shirt.

They walked out to the old blanket, and Sakura sat.

The sky was the darkest she'd ever seen it. And she didn't even look up yet. Down in the backyard, the lake sparkled with the dim light shooting up out of the fountain. The forest swayed in the wind, the soft breeze hitting their faces. Far away (really far away) past the trees, the city lights shone, definitely not as bright as the stars. The city was too far away too damage the view they had on the stars.

Sakura hoped.

Behind her, Sasuke was getting the food all organized.

Sakura twisted around to look behind her at the fields and meadow. And right then, she heard the same, faint mellow scream again. The train came back, zipping across the tracks. It's light was on now, making it look so awesome. It's blearing horn sounded as it skidded away. Sakura turned back to face the front. She stared at the horizon.

Sasuke sat down beside her now, he had two plates with the same amount of food in them. He brought the drinks, too. Sakura picked up her plate and started eating.

"Now can we look up?" she asked.

"Not yet." Sasuke muttered between mouthfuls.

They ate in silence.

A cool breeze blew.

It was almost completely dark, save for the lights of the city on the far horizon.

"Now?"

"No."

"Come on, Sasuke! When?"

"Just wait. We have to do it at the same time."

Sakura grinned.

And they finished their food, along with the cheesecake desert.

She lifted her cup to her lips, drinking her water.

And then Sasuke said:

"Okay. Now. Just close your eyes and lay back."

And that's exactly what she did.

She heard Sasuke lay down over to her left somewhere.

"Okay. Open."

That's exactly what Sakura did.

And it was breathtaking.

There were so many stars, Oh, my God. Tiny pinpoints of light way up there. There were so many. She couldn't even make out any constellations there were so many. She saw some of them twinkling, but all of them were silver dots spread out upon a black, velvety night. The occasional light purple, thin, wispy cloud passed by, but besides that…

"Oh, my God…" Sakura whispered

The sky was darker and lighter in some places, a background to the lovely glittering of the stars.

And they just lay there.

Just staring.

So much beauty…

Sasuke and Sakura said nothing for a long time.

And then, the same clock tower rang it's bells, far away.

The wind blew.

They lay there for a good 25 minutes.

And Sasuke sat up.

"Do you want to look through the telescope now?"

"Sure," Sakura said.

He reached for the box and assembled it quite fast, propping up the stand.

Sasuke got up then bent down, over it, spun the eyepiece around a bit, then pointed the body towards a particular direction. He looked up at the sky, then back in the lenses. Sakura saw him grin lightly and exhale.

"Look at this."

He stepped back and gestured her forward.

She stood and leaned in to the eyepiece, shutting her left eye. She peered in, and… darkness?

"No, like this." Sasuke muttered, and nudged her chin slightly to the left so she had a better angle and—

There was a really bright something right there. It was almost yellow… could that be…

"It's Venus," Sasuke said.

Sakura's chin felt hot where his hand was a moment before.

"It's beautiful," Sakura said, straightening up. "All of this," she waved her hand through the sky, "is…amazing."

"Sure is."

Sasuke leaned back over the eyepiece, moving it around some.

The wind blew.

Sakura stared back up at the sky, soon getting lost in the wonder.

She sat down in front of the wall, putting her elbows up on it.

"Thanks for inviting me to your stargazing invitation, Sasuke."

She said, staring straight ahead.

He sat next to her.

"My pleasure."

He sat closer than on the balcony so long ago, his shoulder grazing hers.

He blinked up at the sky.

"Oh, look. A shooting star. Huh. This is kind of perfect."

Sakura looking up, her mouth slightly open—

And she saw it.

Streaking across the stars, a bright tail of fire lacing out from behind.

And just like that, it sped away, past the horizon.

The first time she'd ever seen a shooting star.

After about half an hour of staring and looking up, Sasuke said:

"So, we can stay out here for a little longer, or we can go back, or…what do you want to do?"

"Fly."

Sakura turned to him, emerald eyes glinting with starlight.

"I want to fly."

A/N: Hi everyone! So I won't be updating until next Thursday! Hopefully, I'll write then. But please review!