Chapter Eleven: Resuscitate
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or FMA.
"Damn it!" Ed cried, seeing her eyes clothes and hearing her already faint breathing cease.
Kneeling down beside her, he rested his two hands against her sternum; pushing back the natural embarrassment at being so close to her breasts, he pressed down. Her ribcage caved slightly but, much to his relief, he didn't hear any of her ribs snap. Gently pinching the bridge of her nose, he brought his lips to her's and forced air into her lungs.
He continued in the broken rhythm, refusing to give up on her. And, after what was most certainly an eternity to them, her body was racked with violent convulsions as she hungrily gulped down air on her own accord.
Gasping, she rolled instinctively onto her side and pressed a hand to her bruised breastbone.
Ed grabbed her, gently rolling her against him into a better position until she finally cleared her lungs.
A collective sigh of relief escaped the group.
"Th...thanks...." Sakura smiled weakly, unable to think of anything else.
"You're incredibly reckless." Ed replied, smiling despite his harsh words.
"We should find some cover." Al suggested from the background.
"Good idea." The elder Elric replied as he slung Sakura's arm across his neck and slid one arm under her back and another under her knees.
Sakura's form continued to tremble fiercely against his.
"Are you alright?" He asked despite the obvious answer.
"I'm fine." She replied sleepily.
He nodded-he wasn't totally opposed to lies that did more to comfort him than to harm him.
"We're going to finish the search. You two stay here." Paninya said as she led him back into the tunnels of Rush Valley.
"Alright. Be careful." He replied as she rolled a pile of debris over the entrance.
"We will be." Al assured him before the darkness closed in on them.
He sighed and sat back, Sakura still seated comfortably on his lap.
"What happened out there?" He asked finally.
"An...unforeseeable....side effect of my...alchemy." She replied.
"Well, don't do it again!" He huffed, tightening his grasp on her.
"I won't." She promised as she leaned against him.
And suddenly she was very aware of the way her body fit against his and his hot breath against her neck...the rise and fall of his toned chest...the grip of his hand around her waist...
They were so close...their lips were brushing....
It happened so fast, Sakura didn't realize what was happening for a moment. And then she began fighting for dominance, her hands roving his body just as freely as his did her's. She pushed back against him as he cradled her, their tongues fighting again.
All too soon, the need for oxygen arose and they were forced apart, their labored breathing piercing the silent darkness.
"So...what does this mean?" She finally asked.
"I think you know the answer to that." He smirked.
It was funny how the sudden turn towards death could so radically redesign a friendship into something so much more...
"If you want, you can go back." She said.
"I think my place is here for right now." His hold on her tightened ever so slightly.
The next morning, Al rolled aside the pile of debris again...and smiled to himself.
They were lying there, Edward propped up against the wall with Sakura seated comfortably on him; both of them fast asleep.
TBC