W a r m vs. C o l d

A tale of a boy's quest for the love of a girl.

Disclaimer: None of the characters in this story belong to me. They are all property of Masashi Kishimoto. And also, just for future reference, when you see "(| ... ... ... |) ", those are the thoughts of inner Sakura.

Chapter 2: Not you again…

Naruto twitched for a moment as he glared at Sasuke who was on the other side of the door.  Please don't knock you bastard.  *Knock. Knock.*  Great, like he ever came by to visit me before!  Maybe I should kick his ass and he'll go away, eheh.  Naruto glanced over to Sakura to see if she had noticed him yet.

"Sasuke-kun!"  She quickly turned to glare at Naruto.  "Get the door…NOW!"  (| Yeah!  That's the spirit, Sakura! |)  Oh no.  What am I doing?..  Maybe I still do like Sasuke-kun…  Or maybe I'm just doing this because this is what I want to believe.   Damn.

Naruto sighed, and he turned to the door.  He thumped down the hallway to the door and swung it open.  "What do you want, coward," Naruto teased.  He chuckled a bit to himself after and folded his arms.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes and then spoke calmly, "Kakashi-sensei needs us to meet him at the bridge.  He says it's urgent so yo---"  Sasuke was interrupted by Sakura who ran between Naruto and him at the doorway. 

"Sasuke-kun!  It's so good to see you!  How are you feeling?"  She smiled at him sweetly.

Sasuke looked at her for a moment.  What is she doing here?  "I'm fine."  He turned back to Naruto, "Anyways, he says it's urgent.  So let's go, idiot."  Sasuke turned and walked towards the bridge.

Sakura's head hung low after such a cold response.  She sighed and didn't say anything.

That…Son of a bitch.  Such a show-off.  Naruto turned to Sakura, "I guess that we'll have to eat together later, eh Sakura-chan?"  Naruto laughed as he always did when he asked Sakura a question like that.  That would really not be good if she were to say no.

Whatever.  "Yeah, we'll eat together later Naruto," she said in a very melancholy tone.  She then proceeded to walk towards the bridge after Sasuke, her head hung low and her feet dragging.

Naruto just looked at her for a moment and then sighed again.  I'm not very lucky, huh?  That's okay!  Naruto laughed.  He could always cheer himself up just by thinking about becoming Hokage, or eating ramen.  When I become Hokage, EVERYONE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE ME!  And I will probably become luckier with Sakura-chan too!   He slipped into a day dream where he was dressed in the Hokage's traditional attire.  He was laying down on a plush orange couch with his head in Sakura's lap.  She was feeding him ramen and she seemed to have a larger bust than usual as well.  Around them were women, with large bosoms as well, fanning them both with paper fans.   Ahhh….So…Close…   Naruto quickly wiped away the drool off of his chin and he skipped after Sakura and Sasuke.

I hope they won't be too mad that I'm late.  Kakashi chuckled as he read through the 24th chapter of his book.  He quickly glanced around to make sure no one was looking, and then he laid back in the hammock and began reading once again.  I lost my way..  They fall for it every time.

"It's been two hours.  Kakashi-sensei always does this!  Damn him!"  Naruto paced back and forth on the bridge trying to think of a good prank for the most fashionably late Jounin in existence.

"Shut up, moron," Sasuke grumbled as he leaned up against a tree next to the waterside.  He was in the shade, and just staring off somewhere.  Why must he always be so noisy?...  He knows Kakashi-sensei is always late, why bother even mention it anymore?..

Sakura sat silently against the railing of the bridge.  She gazed at both Sasuke and Naruto.  Why am I so confused?  (| I don't know?!  LOOK AT THEM SAKURA!  It's like comparing night and day!  Naruto is a bastard!  Sasuke is a hot boy!  How can you even compare them?! |) "BECAUSE I THINK I LOVE NARUTO!"  Sakura yelled out loud unintentionally.  She blinked for a moment, afraid to meet eyes with either of the boys.  Oh no, what have I done?  (| IDIOT!  JESUS!  THIS IS THE END FOR ME! |)  She could feel Naruto's heavy gaze set upon her.  She slowly looked up to meet it, her eyes tearing up.

"Because I think I love Naruto?" Did she really say that?  I hope I'm not so in love with her that I am starting to hear things.  Haha!  Yeah right, Sakura-chan would never say that, this must be genjutsu…  Sasuke…You bastard.  Naruto mockingly looked at Sakura, but then he noticed her tears.  "Sakura-chan?"  …Maybe..Maybe this isn't Sasuke's doing?  Naruto just stared at her for a moment, not even able to comprehend what was going through her head.  "Sakura-chan?" he repeated.

"So noisy…" Sasuke muttered.  But what is she talking about, she loves Naruto?  Yeah, right.  I've heard her say bad stuff about him myself, she's cold towards him.

"Good morning my pesky subordinates," a calm voice said.  I hope they don't get too pissed off.  Besides, that last chapter I read was really good.  Worth making them wait.  Kakashi stood atop the same construct that he always appeared on when the bridge was their meeting point.

Naruto looked up to Kakashi, still not sure what is going on.  "It's not morning, sensei.  And you've had us waiting here for two and a half hours."

"Oh!  Really?"  Kakashi acted as if he didn't know, pulling a watch from his pocket and checking it.  "Oh, it seems you are right," he laughed hesitantly, "Well then.  Let's get down to business, shall we?"  What is going on with Sakura?  Though he noticed, he decided to keep his mouth shut.  "I need you guys to help Hokage-sama (Tsunade-sama) weed out a few certain individuals.  They are amongst your age and your crowd, so she figured you could help the most.  They are from another village.  She heard they had infiltrated a few days ago, but are laying low.  Maybe collecting information, I want you guys to play detective for awhile and see if you can locate them."  Damn, why do I got to give my subordinates these stupid chicken hunt missions.

"Kakashi-sensei.  Do you know anything about these individuals or what village they are from?"  Sasuke questioned.  He was still in his normal spot, and he didn't even seem to notice Sakura's outburst.

"I know they are…Small.  Like your heights.  And they also are very skilled with many types of genjutsu, so make sure you keep your heads on your shoulders and make sure you remain concentrated.  Other than that, Hokage-sama shared nothing with me.  You are on your own for this.  But I am confident you will do fine."  He glanced over to Sakura one more time before he waved and teleported back to the Hokage.

Sasuke looked over to Naruto.  This was the first time he wasn't automatically assuming the position of leader, or blaring about how he was going to kick someone's ass.  He was stoic, and he was gazing at Sakura.  Tears were still running down her cheeks.  Bah.  I hope this won't take too long.

After Kakashi disappeared, Naruto turned to Sakura.  "Sakura-chan.  Is what you said…True?"  This is great!  But, I don't like to see her cry.  He crouched down in front of her, his hand on the ground for support.

Oh no…What am I going to do?  Naruto…  He always cared.  She looked over at Sasuke who wasn't even looking at them.  But Sasuke never did.  Naruto tried to so hard for me, but I always blew him off.  Always shot him down and feel like a drop-out.  I was so blind..Naruto, I'm so sorry.  "Naruto!  Forgive me!"  She jumped up and grabbed him.  She wrapped her arms around him as he was pushed back to have to sit on his butt.  "Naruto!"  She was crying and sniffing between words.  "I'm so sorry!  I never meant to hurt you.  Please, forgive me."  She rested her head on his shoulders.  I'm so stupid.  Her tears rolled down off her cheek onto his shirt.

"Sa-..Sakura-chan…" His hands stayed by his side for a while, even after she had tackled him.  He finally let go and wrapped his own arms around her.  He held her tightly, and he seemed to take on a totally different personality.  "Sakura-chan.  I'm strong, don't worry.  I'm okay, if I want to be Hokage one day, I can't let a few words from a beautiful girl dampen my spirits."

Sakura laughed reluctantly as she cried on his shoulder.  "You were always there for me, Naruto.  And you always cared, even before our exam.  I…Love you."  She was still crying, but it seemed to have changed.

"Sakura-chan?"  I hope this isn't that same dream again.  But it feels too real, I can feel her tears through my shirt.  Has the time come?!  HAS IT FINALLY COME FOR ME TO TELL HER?!  Yes!  Yes it has!  Alright!   "Sakura-chan...I…I love…You." He heard her begin to whimper.  And then she pulled her head from his shoulder and gazed into his eyes.

"Naruto…"  As the final tear rolled down her cheek, she lunged forward and pressed her lips against his, holding him tightly and kissing him as they both toppled onto the ground. She talked from the side of her mouth, "Naruto…I…Love you so much…Thank you.." (| Hai!  IT'S TIME TO SHINE AND SHOW HIM HOW A REAL WOMAN WORKS! |) … That was a quick change.  I thought Naruto isn't even comparable to Sasuke.  (| You and me are the same, Sakura.  If we want to show any sort of strength, we need to work together.  So, alright!  Let's not lose this one! Heh heh. |)  It's a deal.  ..But I really do love Naruto..  I feel so…Happy.  She fell into their kiss and forgot about everything else for once.