Chapter Eleven

The Beautiful Ones

"The beautiful ones always smash the picture. Always. Every time." --Prince

Naruto didn't mind traveling behind Sakura. In fact, if he had his way he would bring up the rear, so he could look at her rear, more often. Of course, he was supposed to be watching their backs, which as their journey moved on, was becoming increasingly difficult. Her toned, muscled thighs were just as distracting as the rest of her.

His inattention was becoming unacceptable because, although he liked looking at Sakura, her safety came first and foremost. So, Naruto made a valiant effort to pay more attention to his surroundings.

That is, until she looked over her shoulder and winked at him. Then he almost plummeted to his death. In response to his near death experience,she grinned at him cheekily and sped onwards after Sasuke.

Grabbing a nearby branch, effectively stopping his fall before Sasuke noticed anything was amiss, Naruto sped after the little minx.

Finally, finally they reached Port City. Naruto had grown to hate traveling if there wasn't any action involved. It made him a bit restless and jumpy. He knew he needed a way to dispel the excess energy,otherwise Sakura would knock him clear to Water Country.

No need for a boat then.

As it turned out,they had missed the last boat anyway. Naruto couldn't bring himself to be upset about it because sleeping in a bed was a wonderful thing.

Sakura turned around and gave them both a sunny smile. Naruto couldn't help but think that something was off about it. He had become quite adept at reading Sakura's moods. Some called it survival of the fittest. If he didn't learn, Sakura would kill him. She never had much patience where he was concerned. As she grew older,the more violent she became,so Naruto had to come up with a plan.

Project: What Makes Sakura Tick

After several,and he meant several, beatings he slowly began to understand what triggered her fits of anger. And he was reaping the benefits of that right now.

Something was wrong with Sakura.

"Well, it's better this way. I want a shower. I'm so icky."

"Can I join you?" Naruto asked with a cheeky grin trying to bring a smile to her face. He watched as her lips quirked slightly. She was trying to fight the smile,and it only served to make him grin happily at her.

Sakura hit Naruto playfully on the back of the head but briefly tangled her fingers into his hair before pulling away.

"You perv." Naruto presented Sasuke with his back so Sasuke wouldn't see him wiggle his eyebrows suggestively at Sakura. Sakura's eyes widened before she turned her back on Naruto. "Come on, boys. Let's get a room."

Sakura walked off with a sway to her hips that drew Naruto's eye. A small chuckle escaped his lips before he was hit against the back of the head throwing him forward slightly.

"Ow! What did you do that for, you bastard ?!" Naruto said, whirling around looking at Sasuke with hellfire shining fiercely in his eyes.

"Hn." The Uchiha's response only served to infuriate him,but he paused in his actions as Sakura looked over her shoulder at him pleadingly.

"Come on, you guys. Stop fooling around!"

Naruto let the situation go, which, years ago, was something that he couldn't have done, and picked up his pace.

There was something more than a little disturbing about the way the innkeeper was looking at Sakura. He wouldn't say he looked at Sakura with malicious intent but more lascivious intent. Needless to say it was something that irritated the hell out of him.

"One room, please." Sakura said primly and politely, even though the guy was staring directly at Sakura's chest.

Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but he caught Sakura's eye before any words came out. It let him know that she was aware of the innkeeper's eyes on her and wanted him to keep silent. He didn't understand why she wanted him to keep quiet but he would--begrudgingly.

"One room? Double beds or--" The middle-aged man asked looking back and forth at Naruto and Sasuke. A speculative look flickered across his eyes. As if they were a threesome and perhaps looking for a forth.

"One room. One bed." Sakura replied with a slight smile on her face, drawing his attention back to her, which, in Naruto's opinion, was the worst thing to do.

"She speaking for the two of you?" The innkeeper asked Naruto and Sasuke, using his thumb to point at Sakura. Naruto's eyes widened as he gazed a little panicked at Sakura because the innkeeper completely glossed over Sakura. Her shoulders were tense and she looked as if she were just about fed up.

He really didn't want to have to hide any bodies….

"You will address me, sir, for I am the one paying you."

His gaze narrowed on Sakura's petite frame. "You're one of those women from Water country, aren't you? Know-it-alls--the lot of them."

Naruto found himself vastly relived when Sakura didn't respond to his taunt as he slammed their room key down on the counter. He knew Sakura wasn't going to let it go at that. The kunoichi tossed the money at the innkeeper and it hit him against the chest and made it's way to the floor.

Sakura whirled around and stalked away, and Naruto, knowing it was wise to just keep his mouth shut, followed behind her.

The look on Sakura's face as she 'calmly' closed the door was enough to make him cringe. He slowly began moving backwards out of the line of fire.

"That ass!"

Naruto sighed inwardly as Sakura paced back and forth.

"How dare he?" Sakura said, becoming more outraged by the moment.

"It was a natural reaction."

Naruto brows shot up on his face. He couldn't believe Sasuke just said that.

Sakura whirled around on Sasuke, her eyes narrowed, hands on her hips.

"Natural? To ignore a person that is talking to you? To ignore a customer?" He could tell she wanted to say something about him ogling her but she was choking on her own anger.

"We're men, Sakura."

Was he trying to get them killed?

"And what has that got to do with anything?" Sakura asked, her voice dangerously calm.

"Tch, if you don't understand then there's no use explaining to you."

Naruto frowned. Wouldn't that be a reason he should explain?

Naruto began to mentally swear. He had to do something before she exploded and brought the roof down on them. So, Naruto stepped forward and put a reassuring arm on her shoulder--not to placate her, just to calm her down. Sakura was often soothed by touch if done the right way.

"He had no right." Naruto said simply and soon felt the tension drain out of her shoulders. Sakura nodded her head and placed her hand on top of his letting him know that she was in control once more.

"I'm going to shower now." She said, grabbing her bag and heading to the bathroom.

When the door had closed, Naruto looked at Sasuke.

"Stop provoking her."

"Hn."

Sasuke replied, but his eyes weren't on him they were on the closed door that Sakura had disappeared behind. It was then that Naruto realized it. The bastard really had no idea what had happened. His attention was so focused on Sakura that he truly didn't understand why she was so upset.

"Why hasn't she gotten rid of you?" He questioned then proceeded to throw himself on the bed, bouncing a little as he hit it.

"It's called being the better man, loser. You wouldn't know anything about that." Sasuke replied, turning his head to look at Naruto.

"Better?" Naruto began to laugh. The bastard, after all of this time, didn't know anything about Sakura, and he thought he was better. "You go on thinking that, Sasuke. Make things easier for me."

"She didn't want you on this mission with her."

"No, she didn't want us on this mission together. She finds us annoying when stuck in confined places with her." Naruto replied shaking his head.

"You're annoying."

"Yeah, well, you're a bastard."

The sound of the door creaking open caused both of them to turn their head to the door.

"Sasuke and Naruto! If you two are fighting, I'm going to come out there and kick your asses."

"Will you be naked when you do it?" Naruto asked eagerly.

"If I am you won't be conscious long enough to notice. Ugh. Sometimes you're just as bad as Kakashi." Naruto frowned.

He was nowhere near as bad as Kakashi.

Sakura exited the bathroom shortly thereafter. Her hair was still a damp from her shower. Sasuke went into the bathroom next, so Sakura lay on the bed and snuggled close to Naruto, who happened to be upright and leaning back against the headboard.

"You want to tell me what's going on?"

She looked at him a little startled. "What are you talking about?"

"Something is on your mind. It has been since we left for this mission."

Sakura sighed.

"And if I don't want to talk about it?"

"I can't force you to do anything Sakura. I just worry, you know?"

Sakura gave him a sad smile.

"Yeah." Sakura replied trying to move closer to him but that was impossibility. Sakura was silent for a while. "Sasuke wants me to choose when we get back home."

Naruto froze. That was the last thing that he expected her to say. Knowing the bastard he probably told her she had to choose as soon as they returned home.

"Are you ready to do that?" Naruto asked, his body full of tension and perhaps hope.

Sakura didn't reply which was an answer in of itself.

"You know I love you, right, Sakura?"

"I know."

"And if you don't choose me…well I won't be okay with it, but I'll understand."

"So we'd have a bad break up?"

"Yep. I'd yell and scream and throw stuff."

"And you'd slam a few doors?"

"Anything for you. In fact, I'd throw in a few months of stalking afterwards, if you'd like."

"You'd go that far for me?"

"Of course."

The two erupted in laughter a few moments later. Tears streamed down Sakura's cheeks she was laughing so hard.

"Ah, Naruto. I love you, too."

Naruto's laughter died down at that. She sounded so serious, so honest when she confessed to loving him. Even her eyes became more vibrant. Naruto reached out and touched her face. Sakura soon found herself sobering as well. They stared at each other in silence for a moment. Sakura propped herself up on her elbow. And gave him a look that he couldn't discern.

"And if I do choose you?"

Naruto froze. What did she mean by that? He looked down into her emerald eyes and saw the searching look she was giving him. He opened his mouth to question her but the bathroom door opened signaling Sasuke's return.

Naruto met Sasuke's gaze over Sakura's body. The look in his eyes was harsh and cold. Naruto said nothing but headed inside to the shower.

When Naruto exited the shower it was only to find Sasuke and Sakura asleep. Sasuke had an arm thrown over Sakura's waist. Locks of her hair were strewn over Sasuke's face. It didn't seem to irritate him rather it made his sleep seem more peaceful.

Of course it would. Who wouldn't sleep well with Sakura in their arms?

Naruto stared at the pair and without a trace of jealousy thought:

Who knew Uchiha Sasuke cuddled?

A chuckle escaped from his lips.

Naruto lowered himself to the bed trying to keep from shifting too much and waking the pair. Instinctively, Sakura noticed that he was nearby and tossed one of her legs over his thigh murmuring him name sleepily.

"Mmm?" Naruto asked questioningly.

"Is the room secure?"

"Yes."

"G'night."

"Good night."

Morning came all too quickly for Naruto's taste. The sun had not yet risen, but Naruto knew it was time to get up. The blankets were strewn across the floor, but it wasn't a problem because they were Sakura's blankets.

Sometime during the night Sakura had snuggled close to Naruto, wrapping her arms around him as if he were a teddy bear. Sasuke--not being a person that could easily let go-- followed Sakura unconsciously in the night. Their position hadn't much changed from when Naruto had first joined them in the bed. It was just that while Sasuke was wrapped around Sakura, Sakura was wrapped around him.

Naruto eased out of the bed trying not to disturb its occupants. It was better that he had awakened first. If Sasuke realized their sleeping arrangements he would have provoked a fight and Naruto would have given him one, therefore upsetting Sakura, and that was the last thing Naruto wanted.

His plan was foiled when Sakura's eyes opened as soon as he lifted himself off the bed.

"Naruto?" Sakura asked, her eyes bleary from sleep. "Come back to bed."

She shifted her body to get more comfortable then extended her hand to him. He stared at her slim digits, wanting desperately to take the hand that was offered to him. He wanted it so badly but….

Naruto shook his head at Sakura, who managed to pout prettily at him. She even went as far as to let her eyes well up with tears. Truthfully, the tears almost got him. She was becoming rather manipulative, but he guessed it served him right.

Naruto shook his head once more and moved away before she tried something else. He shouldn't have worried. A soft sigh escaped her lips shortly thereafter and her eyes fluttered closed as she drifted back to sleep.

Naruto took the time to study her then. He settled himself on the floor next to the bed and gazed upon his little enchantress. He was bothered. He had told Sasuke that the only reason why she requested Kakashi and Sai for this mission was because she didn't want to deal with the fighting but did he truly believe that? As he sat he came to the conclusion that he did believe it. However, he didn't like that they stressed her out thatso much that she would deliberately seek to avoid them. He would do his best to keep the peace on this mission so that she would worry less. Naruto was smart enough to know that it was an effort that he could only put up when she was around. When she wasn't…all bets were off.

Naruto returned to their room after securing their passage on the first boat to Water Country. Sakura was still in bed and Sasuke was gathering their things to go.

"Did you handle it?" Sasuke asked curtly.

"Handle what?" Naruto said his eye on Sakura's sleeping form. Sasuke had tossed a blanket over her to keep her warm since neither of them was at her side. She needed to be awakened, and he didn't want to be the one to do it. She was particularly evil in the morning when someone woke her up before she was ready.

"The ship, you idiot." Naruto heard the irritation in his voice so he turned to look at Sasuke.

"You know, Sasuke. You're a bastard. You always have been a bastard, but since this whole thing with Sakura started you've become more of one."

"Tch."

"I'm your friend."

Once upon a time, people thought of Sasuke and Naruto as best friends. Others called them brothers. As children, they fought constantly. When they grew older, nothing much changed, but beneath it all was a camaraderie that was believed to unbreakable. Lately, they had learned that their friendship was more fragile than what they initially thought--because they both loved the same woman.

"Your idea of friendship and mine are different."

"You have no concept of friendship."

A tense silence settled between the two before Sasuke finally spoke. His words were simple and curt yet they said everything about the current friendship between Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto. "You're right."

Sasuke then walked over to Sakura gently shaking her shoulder and effectively closing the conversation.

"Mmm?" Sakura muttered.

"It's time to go."

"'Kay."

Sakura rolled out of the bed as graceful as a cat and headed to the bathroom. The door closed softly. The occupants of the room silently glared at each other, unaware that their third member was in the bathroom silently crying.

Sakura was unusually quiet as the ship set sail. She had left them shortly after they boarded with a few short words and a morose look in her eye. Naruto didn't need any convincing to go search her out and find out the source of her woes. He found her on the dock. She stood leaning against the rail. Her hair was unbound and the breeze was lightly caressing her locks. The sun sparkled like diamonds on her skin, and, in the moment, Naruto knew that a part of him would be smashed to pieces if he could not have this woman as his own.

She turned, finally seeing him out of her peripheral vision. She smiled at him, but the brilliance of her smile was lacking. Shoving his hands in the pockets of his black pants, Naruto approached Sakura slowly. He snapped his eyes shut as a strong gust of wind blew directly in his eyes, causing tears to form. He reached up and wiped the moisture away.

Finally reaching Sakura's side, Naruto leaned down and placed a light kiss on her neck. Briefly, before pulling away, Naruto inhaled her sweet scent.

"You smell good. Did you change your fragrance?" Sakura only smiled at him enigmatically. "What are you doing out here?"

Sakura shrugged. "Nothing really. Just enjoying the view."

Naruto looked out at the waves as they crashed against the boat.

"It's just water."

Sakura tossed Naruto a dirty look. "It's not just water."

"Then what is it?

"It's life." A blank look crossed Naruto's face. He waited expectantly for her to explain but she didn't. Instead she changed the subject.

"What are you doing here?"

"I got tired of Sasuke and went looking for more pleasant company."

"You're fighting again." It wasn't a question. It was a rather sad statement that gave Naruto a clue as to what was bothering her. It was a subject that he didn't want to discuss and he knew she was leading up to it.

"Look there's a dolphin!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing.

Distracted, Sakura whipped her head around looking out at the sea.

"Where?" She said, scanning the sea eagerly to no avail.

"I guess it was just my imagination." Naruto replied raising both hands and placing them behind his head. A mischievous grin graced his lips, which made Sakura take a dangerous step towards him.

"Na-ru-to." She growled but Naruto grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward quickly. He then proceeded to wrap his arms around her and hold her tight.

"What did you mean?" He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Why did you ask what if you chose me?"

At his question her whole body tensed. His initial thought was that she wasn't going to answer the question, but she surprised him first by pulling out of his arms. Then by beginning to answer him.

"I'm going to choose soon. The fact of the matter is that I love you all. So love cannot be a deciding factor for me. I have to rely on logic which is a difficult thing because love tends to cloud my judgment. Logically speaking, there are two of you who are better suited to me. You are one of those two."

Naruto's brow shot skyward.

"I want to know if--" Sakura broke off. Despair wove its way into her eyes. Her gaze was fixated upon something behind him but when he turned to see what had caught her attention…nothing was there.

And when he turned back to look at Sakura, she was gone as well.

Thanks to Endoh for beta-ing this chapter for me.