I OWN NOTHING! It's just a story that I like, and has been tickling my brain.

Chapter 21
His breath hitched in his throat.

"Hello, Sakura." He struggled to keep his face straight and his eyes from showing the whirl of emotions. She gave him a strange look but then got to work. He felt the gentle trickle of her chakra enter his system. After a moment or two, she spoke again.

"He's fine. He just needs rest." She said and stood up.

"Huh? That all? Hmm..." Biting back a vicious retort, Sasuke gave the blond a glare.

"What, Dobe?"

"Mmm... well you were fighting Itachi." The stark realization hit him hard, and he looked at himself.

"Heh. You actually said something intelligible Dobe."

"Yeah. Yeah. So ok! Everyone come on out." Naruto yelled and the other members of their team appeared. Sasuke felt his eyes drawn to a smiling blue man.

"Well, Naruto. I would like to stick around but its kinda obvious that it'd be pretty stupid of me to try and get Itachi from ya." The Shark man said still grinning.

"Hmm?"

"I'll be leaving now." Naruto appeared in front of him, smashing his fist into his chest. The man still grinning disappeared with a plop. Naruto stood up cursing colorfully. Then, he turned his angry blue eyes on Sasuke's team mates.

"Alright. I gave you enough bloody time. What's your answers?" He snapped at the three. Karin gave Sasuke a short unsure glance before speaking.

"I go with Sasuke."

"Same here." Suigetsu said without missing a beat, somehow causing Naruto to smile.

"I will go with Sasuke." The orange haired boy said. Naruto let out a sigh of relief.

"Good. Then you're all coming voluntarily. Ok. Now All of you will be recieving a guard. Nobody moves without their guard, got it?" Naruto said with a big smile. He pouted quietly in thought.

"OK! So Shino and Sai, you watch that red head. Kiba, you and Yamato-taichou keep an eye on that guy." he pointed at Juugo.

"And... Kakashi-sensei? Would you mind watching the silver haired guy?" Naruto said while walking towards Sasuke and Itachi.

"Hinata and Myself will watch over Itachi personally." Sasuke grimmaced.

"So who's watching me?" Sasuke growled, already knowing the answer. Sakura gasped quietly as she realized who was left.

"Uh... I think Sakura can handle you." Naruto waved his hand impatiently.

"Uh UH! WHO DIED AND MADE YOU KING?" Sakura yelled loudly, and stomped over to Naruto.

"Huh? Well think about it, Sakura-chan. Sasuke is the most damaged out of all of us. It's only logical that you, a medic, watch him." Naruto said with a sly smile, and Hinata smacked him.

"Ow! Hina-chan! What did I do?" He moaned theatrically, as she stared him down. Naruto muttered quietly to her, and she nodded, but sighed.

"Sakura think rationally please." Hinata said quietly, making Sasuke's eyes widen.

"Nuh uh! Not happening!" Sakura was shaking her head, her eyes panicked.

"Sakura. Thats enough. That girl over there is obviously quite skilled. That boy has very power chakra. And the one with the sword uses water techniques. Naruto chose good guards to react to them. You just need to fulfill your role." Sakura shook in her place, but didn't speak. Slowly she turned back to him, her eyes were cold and calculating.

"Fine. I'll be his guard until we get home." This caused a massive smile to bloom across the blond's face.

"But when we get home, you're buying me breakfast and lunch for a year." she hissed, immediately humbling the blond. She hissed and turned to storm off in another direction. Naruto rubbed his head and mumbled before smiling down at the Raven.

"Hey! At least she didn't kick your face in!" He said excitedly.

"Oh yes. Because that was so much better." Sasuke lashed back. Naruto looked afronted, but Hinata spoke first.

"Sasuke-san. I know you don't think this is my place, but I have to speak. She is scared. I don't think she ever really thought about what would happen when you actually came back. She's.. just afraid." Sasuke nodded, averting his eyes.

"I know."

That phrase pissed Naruto off.

"So? You know! Go and do something about it you ballless prick!" He hissed down at his best friend.

"Honestly! You call me an idiot." He rubbed at his temples feeling that squeamish feeling entering his brain.

"You have two days, that's as long as I can drag this out. After two days we'll be in Konoha, you and Itachi will be in trial and a couple days later, you'll be back being a shinobi again. So hurry up and prove that you're a man, and apologize." Naruto huffed and snatched Hinata's hand.

"Come on, love. I need you to check up on Itachi." He dragged the Hyuga away from the surly raven. As soon as they were next at Itachi's side, who was laying against the temple wall, Hinata spoke.

"Is this ok? Should we be doing this?"

"Ah, don't worry so much. Sakura and the teme need space to think, to remember. Actually, I think Sakura needs the space to calm down and Sasuke needs it to work his nerves up." he flashed her a heart melting smile.

"Not everyone, is as simple as we are, love." He brought her hand to his lips, still carrying a small amused smile. As he did that, she seemed to remember something.

"Naruto, where did you learn that technique?" Naruto opened her hand and ran his index finger across her palm.

"I didn't really learn it. Actually, it was more like it popped in my head, or like I remembered it." He said slowly.

"I was able to perform it on something like instinct alone." He said and gave her a smile.

"But how-"

"I think it was that masked man. When I killed him, something happened. We kind of dumped everything we had into each other. While I dumped all of the Nine tail's hatred and anger in him, I guess, something of his was pushed out? Since I happened to be empty on energy, it jumped right on in. And ever since, I've been able to do some really incredible stuff!" He smiled at her, and she watched him carefully.

"Like teleporting?"

"And the Chakra seal on Itachi as well. Both of them, just kinda popped into my mind, and I knew I could do it, so I did." He shrugged, and reached down to take Itachi's pulse.

"Its a very powerful seal, Naruto. I don't know how you even were able to construct a seal like this?" She gave him a wry glance, her Byakugan activated.

"Heh. The only thing I want to know right now, is what Sakura and Sasuke are going to do." As he said it, said pinkette walked calmly back into the camp.

"Uh oh. She looks very scary. Actually this looks very very interesting." Naruto mumbled, unable to keep a smile of his face.

Sasuke bit his lip as the pinkette walked slowly up to him. She watched him carefully before speaking.

"Sasuke. I only have three things I'm going to say. First, I will say that I am happy you are coming home." Her eyes glinted softly, sending small shivers of happiness through him.

"Second, I want you to know I have not forgiven you." Her green eyes were hard.

"You've caused me a lot of pain, and I'm not ready to accept you back into my life." He swallowed the lump in his throat, but nodded. She took a deep breath, and seemed to steady herself.

"Lastly, I don't want you to speak to me unless it is completely necessary." As soon as the words came out she breathed a sigh of relief. Sasuke couldn't breathe, it hurt a lot more than she would have realized. She stared at him waiting for his answer.

"No." As he said it, he closed his eyes. Unwilling to see her face.

"No? What do you mean no?"

"Exactly what I said, Sakura. I will allow you you're others, but right now, I don't think I could follow that last request." He allowed his eyes to slide open, and take in the scene before him. Her eyes showed some shock, and her mouth was slack jawed.

"What are you saying?" She whispered.

"Sakura. I'm tired. I'm not going to repeat myself." She snapped her mouth shut and backed up, glaring at him.

"Then, go to sleep. I'm sure that we can leave tomorrow." She said jerkingly, and fled from the scene again. Sasuke closed his eyes to the sharp internal pain from watching her go.

"Heh. Way to go, teme. You're still the only one who can get her to shut up." The blond called from watching his brother. Sasuke's only reply was a death glare.

"Hmmm... Thats Haruno Sakura?" A lilting voice called out.

"Shut up Suigetsu." The raven bit out.

"Hahahaha. What ever Romeo." Came the chuckled reply. This earned several raised eyebrows from the Konoha people, and Sasuke cursed every god and goddess he could think of, for placing him in this situation.

Letting loose a loud scream of frustration, Sakura slammed her fist into the nearest tree, and smirked in release as it exploded under her fury. Breathing heavily, she leaned against one of the few unharmed trees in the devastation area. Even furiously pulping trees, wasn't able to turn her thoughts from the raven haired boy. She slipped to the floor with a sob, just letting out her pent up emotions. She pulled her legs to her chest, and placed her forhead on her knees. The tears came in a rush, like a dam overfilled.

Dang, it! I thought I was done crying over him! She thought furiously to herself.

If anyone were to step in on me like this...

"Sakura?" Her eyes snapped open at the sound of that voice.

NO! NOT HIM!

"Sakura... I just... I just want to talk... Please..." Her eyes watered up at the sound of that voice pleading.

"Sakura?" This time she knew he was in front of her.

"What?" She mangaed to spit out. She heard him back up a little.

"I.. I wanted to make sure you're ok. It's almost dark." She brought her head up, and finally noticed the lengthening shadows.

"I'm fine. Go. Back. To. Camp." She bit out every word, trying to sound dangerous and not broken.

"I can't. You're my guard." He sighed and settled down, across from her. She let her head fall to her knees again, too tired and worn to care about her appearance anymore.

"So... are you?" His sincere question almost made her burst into tears again. Instead, she let out a bark of harsh laughter.

"Oh, so now I matter? No. I'm not alright. I have just realized that I have to confront the cause of all my problems. The reason for all of my insecurities and nightmares, I'm just peachy!" She spat sarcastically, looking up at him. Her angry eyes, betraying her, managing to drink in the sight of Uchiha lounging against the tree, with a carefully schooled expression.

"Yep, just sunshine and daisies. Honestly, What did you expect Sasuke? You left me behind, after I confessed my love for you." She hissed. He looked up at her, his eyes stopping her breath, with a momentary glimpse of... Pain?

"You were desperate. You would have said anything to keep me back..."

"But it was the TRUTH!" Her eyes sparked, and he locked eyes with her for a moment.

"You could have at least taken me with you..." She finally spoke after a long silence.

"NO!" His eyes widened in panic, then they cooled in the next instant.

"No. There was no need for you to dirty yourself." He said in a shaky voice, causing her curiosity to raise its head.

"Dirty myself?" His eyes widened and he looked away from her quickly.

"Yes. There was no need for you or Naruto to fall into darkness with me." He said it almost silently.

"Wait... You're not making any sense... Why would it matter if we went with you?" Her voice carried her confusion, he sighed and stood up.

"Its a bit confusing.." He muttered and sat down next to her. She cursed herself for warming as he lowered down next to her, for her weakness, for her inability not to truly hate him.

"What could be so confusing? You said it all that night." The dark memory flashed before her eyes.

"Thanks, but no thanks." She spat venomously. She turned to glare at him, but found her breath stolen away by the forlorn boy she witnessed. He looked so lost, so unsure of himself, then those confused onyx orbs locked onto hers.

"No... I did not say everything that night.." He whispered, inching closer to her, his breath sending shivers down her spine.

"What are you saying Sasu-" He cut her off, by pressing his lips to hers. For a moment, she was completely lost, bewildered, then the insistent pressure on her lips caused her to kiss back with a passion she had long locked away. She felt his hand cup her cheek and slide around her waist, heightening every sensation, including the soft half moons of flesh on hers. Then reality crashed down hard on her.

"NO!" She screamed and pushed the raven back with all of her massive strength. He hit the tree on the other side of the small clearing with a grunt. She pressed her back into the tree behind her in panic, and held her hands to her mouth.

Curse HIM! She thought wildly.

HE kissed me... and I kissed him back.. She closed her eyes striving valiantly to tame her beating heart, and her desire to throw herself back onto the raven.

"Sakura..."

"Stop. Please." Her voice came out low and broken.

"Please. Just.. Just go back.."

"... As you wish..." She heard him get up, and start walking, then he stopped.

"You may regret that, but I will not. Not ever." He said softly, just barely carrying to her. As soon as his footsteps faded, she leaned back against the tree and sobbed once more. Pain and confusion, swallowing her whole.

"What the hell is going on?" She gasped at the rising moon.

Sasuke glared at the plate of food before him, as though it were the center of all his problems. He heard a sigh, and some whispering before a small voice asked.

"Anou.. Sasuke? Are you ok?" Suigetsu's violet eyes radiated concern.

"I'm. Fine." He bit out. The silver haired boy shrugged to the blond sitting across from them.

"Alright, teme. Just spit it the hell out. If you don't I won't stop annoying you until you do." Naruto said tiredly. Sasuke took a moment to consider, whether it was worth it, and decided against it.

"Fine." Suigetsu's eyes widened in surprise.

"WOW! You got the ice prince to talk about his feelings! And with just words!"

"Do you want to hear it or not?" The raven hissed. The blond, silver haired, and orange haired boys nodded to him.

"I... I... I-I k-kissed Sakura."