Be Careful What You Wish For

By: Poison Ivy

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

AN: I would just like to say thank you to all my faithful reviewers (you know who you are ^.~) I'm so glad that so many people like this story! In fact, I'm even planning out a sequel! Though, if you think about it, it is pretty stupid thinking about a sequel when I haven't even finished this one… -.-;;;

I would like to thank all of you, even the people who read but don't review (I know you're out there!)

This chapter is dedicated to all of you. And just your luck, it's slightly fluffy!

Notes:

Thoughts
"Speech"
Chapter Five

~

When Sakura arrived at her house, the rain was really coming down in buckets, and she was as soaked as her teammates.

Blowing a wet strand of hair out of her face, she unlocked the door and ushered everyone in.

She headed for her linen closet, calling to them, "Try not to drip too much." She handed them the towels, and put water on boil.

"I'm going to go change. And Naruto, if you even _think_ about peeking, I'll cut your throat out."

The ninja in question gulped visibly while Sasuke smirked in approval.

*

He had been surprised at how clean the house was, since from the looks of it, nobody else was there except for Sakura. Sasuke wondered briefly when she had the time to clean.

He walked over to where Naruto was drying himself off vigorously, and grabbed a towel, trying not to drip on the furniture. Naruto had no such scruples and he plopped on the couch, obviously forgetting Sakura's earlier words already.

Not for the first time since they had departed, Sasuke wondered why he was even here. And what he would do next.

*

Sakura changed warily, keeping an eye on the door. But she had a feeling the Naruto wouldn't peek. Not if Sasuke was there. And especially not after the events of the last few days.

She stepped into the kitchen, toweling her hair dry, and poured tea into three cups.

To her surprise, when she arrived in the living room, she found Sasuke sitting stiffly on the couch, and Naruto asleep, his arms and legs flung out in all directions, a snot bubble balancing on his nose as he snored softly.

Sasuke must have sensed her arrival, because he looked up.

Their eyes met, and Sakura was surprised at what he found there. If I didn't know better, she thought, I would've sworn that he's _amused_.

"He just kind of…collapsed." Sasuke said apologetically, smiling (Smiling! Sakura decided that today was yet another day to add to her list of strange days) slightly.

They both glanced at Naruto.

Sakura set her cups on the table. "Maybe today tired him out." She offered, not quite sure what to say.

"No. The dobe's always like this. Except now, his eyes are closed."

Surprised, Sakura laughed. Did Sasuke just make a joke?

She handed him a cup. "I noticed." She said ruefully.

They sat sipping silently, neither quite sure what to say.

"This is good!" Sasuke said, unintentionally breaking the quiet.

Sakura smiled wryly. "Thanks! My parents aren't always home so I had to learn to make tea. And clean." She gestured around the room vaguely.

"What about cook?" Sasuke asked, watching her.

Sakura laughed a little. "It's mostly instant ramen for me. I _can_ make some other things, but mostly I'm too tired. Most nights you'll find me at Ichiraku. What about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah. You live by yourself, don't you?"

"The house is mostly a mess." Sasuke admitted, "Cleaning annoys me. But it's not too bad. Once a month I force myself to clean it. I tell myself that it's mental training. Sometimes, it even works."

Sakura laughed again, and they lapsed into silence, though this time it was a more comfortable one.

Once again, Sasuke broke it first. "Sakura…" he began awkwardly.

"Hmm?"

"…that night, when you yelled at me…"

Sakura blushed. "Oh. Don't take that too seriously. I tend to yell things in the heat of the moment."

"I just wanted to let you know…that night…I wasn't following Naruto for a fight."

"You weren't?" Sakura's blush deepened slightly as she stared at her cup.

"No. I heard you scream, so I…"

"Oh." Her voice was small as she remembered Sasuke rushing in to protect her. "I guess I made a fool out of myself then, huh?"

Sasuke blinked and smiled. "Only a little."

They looked at each other, and burst out laughing.

Sakura hadn't felt this good since…since she and Ino were friends. Thinking about her ex-best friend brought a twinge of sadness into her, and she stopped laughing abruptly.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked her carefully.

"Oh…just thinking about how many friends I lost to a silly little crush."

Sasuke winced slightly, having a flashback to his conversation at the lake earlier that day.

She doesn't like you anymore! The voice repeated itself over and over in his head, no matter how hard he tried to shut it out.

Sasuke looked at Sakura gravely. "Maybe it wasn't so silly after all." He told her, staring into her eyes.

Sakura was startled. "What?" she whispered.

Sasuke leaned in closer. "I said…" he began softly, gently tracing her chin with his thumb, "that…" their lips were only an inch apart.

Oh my God. Sakura thought wildly, he's going to k—

"What do you mean you're out of ramen? Ichiraku can't be out of ramen!"

Startled, they sprang apart, and glanced at Naruto, who apparently, was having a nightmare…about ramen.

Sasuke leaned over and pushed at Naruto's shoulder.

"Wake up dobe." He commanded.

Naruto opened his eyes. "What? Why are you saying stupid things Sasuke? I am up!"

"You were asleep." Sakura said gently, setting down her teacup.

Naruto scoffed at her. "And let down my guard? With Sasuke-bastard right here? Yeah right!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "We should go." He said, dragging Naruto to his feet, "We all have training tomorrow, and we'll need our rest."

Sakura saw them to the door, all the while trying to read some hidden emotion in Sasuke's eyes.

After they left, (Naruto yelling loudly, punctuating his arguments with wildly waving arms, and Sasuke smirking calmly at him) she leaned against the doorframe, trying to think.

Nothing happened tonight. Nothing was going to happen. She chided herself gently, straightening and walking into the living room, gathering the teacups.

It's just some leftover nerves. After all, you just got over him. You imagined the whole mess.

She went to bed, dreaming of dark eyes, a husky voice, and a fleeting laugh. She woke, remembering nothing.

~

AN: Well, that's another chapter done! I just want to know, was it too awkward? I'm not so good at writing romance scenes. And I suppose I really am cruel, five chapters into the story and not a single kiss. Oh well, there will be explanations for that in the Author's Notes for the next chapter.

Please review! They are my bread and butter!