I do not own Naruto so please don't sue me!

This is my first time participating in SasuSaku month so please be gentle when reviewing!

I will try to update as often as I can but there are no guarantees.

Day 11 – A Night with No Stars

Team 7 had finished a B-ranked mission in Water Country to capture a small group of assassins that were after the Mizukage's life that ended successfully and were heading back home. The journey was tiring and they were a day away from Konoha when they decided to set up camp for the night.

The sun was beginning to set when they had finished putting up their tents and decided to relax for the majority of the evening. Naruto had started heating up some instant ramen that he had pulled out of his bag while Kakashi hid in his tent reading his perverted books again.

Sasuke was lying on top of his sleeping bag in the tent while Sakura announced she would be going for a stroll to observe her surroundings.

A few hours later Sasuke woke up, surprised at himself for dozing off and got out of his tent. The sound of Naruto snoring would have altered him and every possible enemy nearby of his presence and the light emitting from Kakashi's tent showed that he was still reading.

He turned to look at the tent next to his which was Sakura's. Approaching it, he could not feel her chakra signature and dread began to build up in the pit of his stomach.

Remembering that she mentioned that she was going for a stroll hours ago he dashed toward the direction she had headed.

"Sakura!" Sasuke called out hoping that nothing had happened to her. He came across a large hill in the distance and saw a flash of pink at the top. Without hesitation he darted towards her.

He neared her and saw that she was laying on the grass with her eyes closed. A faint noise emitted from her that let him breathe normally again; she was just sleeping.

Feeling relief wash over him, followed by slight anger, that she had not given a second thought to falling asleep in the middle of nowhere. It was too dangerous even though she could clearly protect herself as he had seen firsthand on several missions together.

Kneeling down beside her he grasped her shoulder and shook her gently. "Sakura, wake up."

The motion had stirred her awake and she looked up to see Sasuke.

"Sasuke-kun, what are you doing here?"

"Trying to find you but what about you? Don't you know it's dangerous to leave yourself open like this?"

She rubbed her eyes and kept her eyes fixed on the night sky, averting the question. "It's a night with no stars."

His eyes followed hers and looked above; it was cloudy and not even the moon was present. "You won't be able to see anything tonight."

Sakura pouted slightly. "It's hard to see the stars in Konoha and I thought I might be lucky on our mission but it was just wishful thinking."

"Next time you'll see the stars."

She looked over at him. "How can you be so sure?"

"A feeling. And if you truly want something and desperately believe it will happen then it will."

Sakura smiled at him and he returned it before she patted the space next to her. "Lay down next to me. Even though there are no stars it is still a wonderful feeling to lay down and stare at the sky."

Sasuke obliged and lay down watching the sky. "Actually it is calming."

"Right and when I'm having a bad day I imagine that I'm a bird that is soaring in the stars that never wants to come down."

He turned to look at her. "You're having a bad day?"

"Not anymore."

"Sakura, if you ever need to talk just come to me and I'll help." Sasuke offered and she look at him softly.

"That's…very spontaneous of you."

"You did the same thing for me when I came back to the village. To me you had the same effect."

"I did?" Sakura asked curiously, he was never one to speak his innermost thoughts to anyone.

"Yes, it was like you were my star on a starless night." She looked over at him and felt him grasp her hand. "If it wasn't for you I would have been all alone and never opened up to anyone."

"Sasuke-kun..." She breathed, giving his hand a slight squeeze.

"You taught me how to live again as a human and I'm grateful for that."

They shared a smile together and Sakura placed her free hand on his chest turning her body towards him. He in return, placed his on her back not wanting to let her go. Together they watched the starless night sky before dozing off in each other's arms.