I can tell you guys are enjoying this; me giving off teeny hints to the real plot of the story. It makes me feel so good to know that you guys enjoy reading this! This is, after all, my first Sasuke/Sakura fanfic, but I've read plenty to help me get started! Also, I just want to remind you all that I do want this to be quite a long story, with more than 20 chapters completed when it reaches it's end (but hopefully more than that).

Also, what did you guys think of the lemon in the last chapter? Was it good? I mean, did I type it properly? Please let me know!

PS – I'm going to add a little humour in here for you, just to lighten things up! Not too much, just a bit of good-natured humour.

ENJOY!

The day was surprising. Not only had the rain stopped, it was actually sunny enough to stay outside. People walked the streets, free of the black, synthetic tools hung over their heads like a dark rain cloud itself. Although, some suspicious glances were passed up at the sky. Some waited for the sudden downpour. Thankfully, it never came. So, Naruto had taken this chance to invite Sakura out for coffee after school.

He had saved her a seat outside the café, bobbing anxiously, awaiting her arrival. They exchanged pleasantries. Soon, Sakura tugged off her scarf as her snack had arrived. It was a hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin. It looked delicious! Naruto had ordered a massive bowl of fries and a smoothie. Since the place didn't sell ramen, this was his next choice—which he reluctantly accepted.

They enjoyed their meal in silence. It was comforting, really. Most of their get-togethers were all silence, ever since Sasuke had left. Naruto didn't mind. He had learned to turn off his boisterous nature in Sakura's presence after that day. And ever since, he dealt with it all; the crying, the fits of rage, and the various mood swings. But after the day when she finally got over him, Naruto was happy to see his best friend back to her old self. It was like she had risen from the dead.

All in all, Sakura was eternally grateful that she had Naruto by her side. He was always there; rain, hail or shine. That was exactly why Sakura kept him around. She needed a punching bag—in a good sort of way.

After a long silence, Naruto piped up.

"So, how is he doing, anyways?"

Sakura choked on her mouthful of blueberry muffin.

…What did he just say?

People were beginning to stare. So she quickly took a sip of Naruto's smoothie after she stopped choking. She looked at her best friend. His expression was completely serious, albeit the little smirk playing on his lips. Sakura was stuttering for an answer. Before she could muster up anything that seemed half-believable, Naruto leaned back in his chair and lazily folded him arms over his chest.

"Don't think I haven't heard, Sakura," he said, this time his tone serious. His big, cobalt eyes drilled into hers from across the table. She kept stuttering for an answer, but she stopped, uttering an exasperated sigh.

"She told you, didn't she?" Sakura asked, glaring at a suddenly very interesting stone on the pavement. Naruto nodded solemnly as he agreed with her reference to Ino.

Suddenly, Naruto leaned forward, and he caught her gaze. He noticed little tears forming in the corners of her emerald orbs, so he spoke softly.

"Sakura, listen to me," he pleaded. "I am happy for you, I really am. I mean, you've wanted this to happen for years, and so did I. And I understand what you're feeling, but you need to know something."

Sakura blinked away the tears.

"I want you to be careful."

Sakura blinked again, this time, in slight shock.

Since when did Naruto ever become this serious?

"Why?"

"Listen, Sakura. I know you're happy and all, but be careful. He may not be the boy you knew the day he left. It's been three years, Sakura. Things change, you know?"

No matter how much she wanted to dismiss it, she couldn't. Sakura knew Naruto's words held no lies. True; there was something amiss about her suddenly-returned best friend. He was more reserved, more brooding. Even more complicated than before. Despite the fact that he had been gone three years and hadn't spoken to her in two and a half, Sakura definitely knew he was hiding something. Something had to cause his sudden arrival, and whatever it was, it had to be huge.

But what was it?

"Naruto, I understand where you're coming from, I really do. Just… just let me handle this on my own. I promise to be careful, okay?" Sakura said, giving him a reassuring smile.

Naruto almost beamed.

"Good, but what about Kiba?" he asked.

"Kiba knows fully well what this means to me. He… he actually knows about Sasuke coming back. The two almost killed each other," she exclaimed, remembering the deadly aura radiating from both her boyfriend and her best friend. She had to shoo Kiba away before they lunged at each other like ravenous dogs.

Naruto snickered.

"I've given Sasuke three days to open up. It's already been two, so he has just over twenty-four hours to talk, or I'm throwing his stuff in the street. Simple as that," she said, flashing her blonde haired best friend a confident smile.

"Glad to hear it," Naruto said, giving her a warm smile, flashing his perfect, white teeth.

An annoying, buzzing sound rudely awoke the sleeping Uchiha. Groaning, he shifted his position on the couch and continued to sleep. Or at least, he tried to. The incessant buzzing continued, and actually seemed to grow louder. Even the rain outside couldn't compete with this noise.

After a few seconds of processing, he realized it to be Sakura's alarm clock.

Sasuke groaned childishly. For every day he stayed here, Sakura was always up at the sound of her alarm. She'd let it ring; once, maybe twice. Then, she'd press the snooze button and get up. Never once did she sleep in during school. Maybe something was wrong.

The alarm clock continued to buzz.

Maybe she got up early, he thought. Maybe she got into the shower and forgot to turn off her alarm. So Sasuke sat up, and listened for the hissing of the shower. When he confirmed the shower was not in use, he reluctantly rolled off the couch and headed upstairs.

That alarm wasn't going to turn itself off.

Silently, he padded up the wide, wooden steps. He was afraid that he might wake Sakura. He remembers that the pinkette was never a morning person. She always left the house with a sour look on her face and a quick 'bye'. He didn't blame her. Every single teenager these days loathed the prospect of school.

Especially on a dreary day like this.

Finally, he neared her bedroom. Her door was ajar slightly, letting the beeping echo throughout the large house. Sasuke stopped, and leaned his head closer to listen. He heard something rustle under the sheets and moan quite loudly.

Cautiously, Sasuke pushed open the door. There, tousled in between blankets and a doona, was the pinkette. From the lump she formed, he could tell she was in the foetal position. Her face was twisted, and her eyes shut quite tightly for someone who was supposed to be sleeping.

The Uchiha opened the door fully, letting it creak to signify the girl that somebody was approaching.

Sakura groaned and rolled over.

"Go away," she mumbled into the puffy, white pillow. Another sharp groan erupted from her mouth. It sounded like… like she was in some sort of… pain?

Sasuke refused to obey her wishes. Instead, he walked over to the side of her bed and looked down at her. She was facing away from him, and her breathing had become very audible. Again, she groaned and whimpered, pulling the doona closer into her chest. She was definitely not alright.

"You okay?" Sasuke asked rather cautiously.

"Do I fucking look okay?" she hissed loudly, groaning again.

I'll take that as a no.

"You're in pain."

It was more of a statement rather than a question.

Then, the pinkette rolled over, flashing a sarcastic glare at the Uchiha.

"Why, what ever gave you that idea?"

"I'm only trying to help," Sasuke said darkly, glaring back at his best friend.

Instead of arguing any further, Sakura groaned. From pain or exasperation, he did not know. She then pulled the doona over her head and mushed her face into her puffy pillow in a rather childish manner. Sasuke raised his eyebrow. He almost had to stifle a smirk. It had been a long time since he'd seen Sakura act childish.

So, like the loveable bastard he was, Sasuke decided to have a little fun.

"You're going to be late for school."

"…"

"Hn?"

"I gomphmmmperroh."

Sasuke smirked. "Sorry, didn't quite catch that, Sakura."

"I gomphmmmperroh!" she shouted into the pillow. Well, he figured she shouted. It just came out muffled like the last time. Sasuke refused to stop.

"Speak up, Sakura. I don't like it when you mumble. You know how I hate the mumbl—"

"I got my bloody period, you dickhead!" she screeched, lifting her head off the pillow. She then curled further into her self and groaned loudly.

Sasuke, honestly, was flabbergasted.

Never, in the eleven years that they had been best friends, did Sakura ever once mention the 'p' word. It was the one thing they never spoke about. And he never asked about it. Rather, he didn't want to know about it. Although, the only thing he knew about them was that it wreaked havoc with a girl's mood swings. He never actually assumed it could be… painful.

Sasuke inwardly shuddered at the other thoughts that crossed his mind about girls and their… things.

Nonetheless, something in the back of his mine told him that had to help her. There was no way he could leave her like this. He could see it in the way her face was twisted that she was in a lot of pain. Her jaw was clenched and her breathing was a little short. She moaned constantly as well.

"Is there anything… I can do?" he said softly, breaking the silence.

After giving Sakura some… thing… medication, Sasuke trotted downstairs. He then called her school—posing as her cousin—informing them that 'Sakura would not be attending today, due to succumbing to an illness'. They seemed to believe it; never once did they ask for any confirmation on the fact if he really was her cousin. Nonetheless, he hung up before they even could.

Right now, Sasuke was in the kitchen, stirring away at a small pot of soup. Chicken noodle soup, to be precise. He remembers Sakura's mother cooking this dish when someone fell sick. She cooked it for her own family, and for Sasuke's family too. It was her own, special recipe. It was the only remedy she prescribed—alongside with the… thing… medication.

The warm, lemony scent of the soup sent a warm vibration through his chest. The combination of chicken and lemon was genius. It was perfect for sickness. It was always said that chicken soup actually makes you feel better while ill.

Suddenly, the faint shuffling of footsteps sounded in the foyer. Sasuke turned to see Sakura rugged up in her pink dressing gown. Her slippers scuffed noisily on the tiles as she approached the bench that separated her and the brooding Uchiha. Sasuke gave her a once over, then turned back around to monitor the soup.

"How're you feeling?"

"A whole lot better than you look."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and stifled a snort. That was just like Sakura, he mused to himself. Just when you think she's down for the count, she proves you wrong.

The shuffling resumed. In seconds, the pinkette was standing beside the boy, hovering over the pot. He heard her inhale deeply, glancing at her as she closed her eyes.

"Hmm… Needs more lemon," she said, walking to the fridge and fishing out a said fruit. She proceeded to cut it in half. Then, holding it above the pot with one hand cupped an inch beneath it, she squeezed. Once the juice ran out, she discarded the rind and the pits that were in her other hand.

Sasuke reluctantly stirred, inhaling deeply as the added lemon filtered through his nostrils. He hated to admit it, but she was right. Now, it smelled ridiculously irresistible.

After a while, both teens downed the soup rather quickly. Sasuke insisted Sakura take more of the soup, as she needed it. Earlier, Sakura had told him that she was in pain due to dehydration. Giving the girl a questionable look—and pleading for no more information—he decided it better for her to have fresh soup, rather than the leftovers from the other night.

Once the dishes were washed, Sakura stepped infront of Sasuke as he was leaving the kitchen. He saw that her face was serious. He mentally swallowed, preparing for what was coming next.

"It's been three days," she quipped, crossing her arms over her chest. Emerald orbs drilled into deep, onyx ones as a reply was waited on.

"I know," he replied.

"Well?"

"Your parents called."

Sakura blinked.

"And you answered it?" she gaped incredulously.

The Uchiha snorted. "I'm not an idiot, Sakura."

Said pinkette breathed a sigh of relief.

"They left a message, explaining that some paperwork went wrong. In short, they'll be home next week Tuesday; precisely a week from today," he reported, trying to sustain his triumphant smirk.

Sakura narrowed her eyes at him. She hated the way his onyx eyes glinted when he got cocky.

Sasuke then allowed his smirk to surface.

"So, does this mean I have until next week?"

Okay, this chapter was to mainly open up the relationship between Sasuke and Sakura; you know, getting used to each other's presence. The wall is slowly coming down, though there are still doubts. They shall be talked about, hinted and revealed in later chapters. But next, I'm going to write more Kiba/Sakura, and maybe, MAYBE, if you all review alot, I may even add a lil something between Sasuke and Sakura!

So, you guys know what to do! Just hit that little 'review' button, and your next chapter will be up very, VERY soon! xx