Be Careful What You Wish For

By: Poison Ivy

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

AN: Thank you for all your wonderful reviews! I love you all! *gives reviewers cookies* I never expected so much feedback. I've only watched up to episode 19! ^.~

Notes:

Thoughts
"Speech"
Chapter Two

~

Sakura finally found Naruto, not at home, but at the ramen stand. {1}

She sat beside him. "Hey." She said quietly.

Naruto finished his bowl, and pushing it aside, buried his face into his arms. "How did you find me?" his voice was slightly muffled.

Sakura smiled slightly. "Well, at first I asked Sasuke-kun," the misshapen mess of arms and blonde hair winced. "But he was wrong, so I just had to think about it. What does Naruto love more than anything else?"

Naruto looked up hopefully into Sakura's beaming face. "Ramen, of course!" she exclaimed.

Naruto looked down. "Oh." He said, quiet for once. {2}

"Look Naruto, I came to find you to apologize. I'm really sorry for what I said this afternoon. I didn't mean it, but you just made me _so_ mad, peeking at me like that, I mean, how low can you get?" she picked up steam, warming up to her topic, waving her arms around. "I mean, I always knew that you were a little bit on the perverted side, but _this_—"

"Eh! Eh!" Naruto held up his hands in self-defense. "I already told you that it was an accident Sakura-chan!"

Sakura changed moods quickly, beaming at Naruto once more. "I know. But I'm really sorry. So, friends?" She held out a hand to him.

Naruto blushed, then grinned hugely and shook her hand heartily. "Friends!"

*

Sasuke decided to do some extra training after dinner. He needed to clear his mind. Something about that conversation with Sakura had unsettled him. He jumped from treetop to treetop, quickly heading for the clearing where he trained, when he heard a scream. A very familiar scream. He changed his direction and sped off toward the sound, hoping that Sakura was all right.

*

After sharing a hesitant bowl of ramen with Naruto, Sakura was heading home by way of the forest trail.{3} Her parents were rarely, if ever, home. They like to travel, being rich enough to afford it and still leave their daughter with enough money while they were gone. So Sakura knew how to cook and clean, being used to looking after herself.

She walked along leisurely, not wanting to overexert herself after her meal. She had been surprised at how easy Naruto was to talk to. He's really not a bad guy, once you get to know him, she thought pleasantly to herself.

Just then, a dark shape jumped in front of her, reaching with its arms. And Sakura, forgetting her ninja training, screamed.

*

Sasuke reached Sakura, and seeing the situation, instinctively flung himself in front of her.

"Not one step further." He growled, reaching for his kunai.

A pale moon showed itself from behind the clouds, lighting up the face of Sakura's would-be attacker.

Naruto bent over laughing, supporting his hands on his thighs to keep from falling over.

"Oh man, Sakura-chan!" he gasped out, "You shoulda _seen_ your face! It was priceless!"

Sasuke let his hand drop with a sigh. It was only the dobe.

Sakura stepped out from behind Sasuke, and slapped Naruto. "Baka! You scared me to death! I thought you were a perverted rapist or a—" she was literally shaking with anger, and, Sasuke noticed, fear.

Naruto held the side of his face in surprise. "Hey! I was just having fun, Sakura-chan! There's no need to slap a guy!"

Sakura snorted. "I actually thought you _matured_ Naruto. But I guess you'll always be loudest and hyperactive number one."

Sasuke waited apprehensively for Sakura to mention the fact that he was the number 1 rookie, but to his surprise, she didn't.

He stepped forward, holding up his kunai into the light. "Dobe." He growled threateningly, "I was about to stab you with this."

Sakura turned to him. "And _you_. Do you ever stop thinking about fighting for _one minute_?" it was Sasuke's turn to gape in surprise. "Can't you ever give it up? If you hadn't been always harassing him, maybe Naruto wouldn't be such a big idiot!"

"Hey!" Naruto protested, while at the same time Sasuke stepped forward. "But—"

Sakura turned on her heel and flounced off in the direction of her house, leaving the two boys flabbergasted behind her.

"She's changed." Sasuke muttered to himself, watching her disappearing back through narrowed eyes.

"I still don't think it's any reason for her to slap the next Hokage."

"Dobe." Sasuke muttered, vanishing back into the trees. He had about enough strangeness for one night.

*

Sakura's thoughts were in turmoil. Did I really just yell at Sasuke-kun? She wondered, "Perfect Sasuke-kun? And before, I blew him off for Naruto. What does this mean? Am I over him?

She took another sip of her tea and conjured Sasuke's face in her mind, expecting the butterflies in her stomach, and music to play, but nothing happened.

"Oh Sasuke-kun, I guess I really am over you." She whispered, still not quite believing it. "I guess it was a childish crush after all. And I was so sure that it was something more." She began to sob into her hands, tea forgotten. One last cry for Sasuke, she told herself, because I never want to cry over him again.

~

Notes:

{1} Does anyone know the name of the ramen stand? Please tell me! Leave it in a review or something. Arigatou!

{2}He thought that Sakura was talking about their relationship!

{3} I know she doesn't really live near a forest trail, but lets pretend that she does ok? Artistic license! *sing-song voice* lets play pretend!