Disclaimer: Naruto characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi.

Summary: Sakura is a poor factory girl, while Sasuke is the son of Mr Uchiha, a wealthy entrepreneur. Naruto is a delivery boy, while Ino is the consecutive designer of Uchiha Shopping Co. (Yes, this is an Alternate Universe!)

[Attention] ~shakes hands to anyone who reviewed~ your comments are deeply appreciated and is the reason why I continue. I think the plotline should change to a more mature stage and less sappy. More conflict and less fluff! XD

~***Loving You From Afar***~

Chapter Fourteen

[Saturday Night]

When Sakura, Naruto and Kono came back to the beach it was dark and quiet. Suddenly many coloured lights lit while some people blew whistles or clapped their hands. Then Inari came to give Kono a big hug, his eyes were glistening with joyful tears.

"Welcome back man," cried Inari.

"Don't worry I never die," replied Kono. (Durian: That was a joke, considering Kono survived twice XD)

"You're one lucky boy!" exclaimed the teacher and added, "Hurry up and join the BBQ, we're all waiting for you."

After that some joyful music was played as everyone gathered around the campfire to cook his or her seafood bouquet. Kakashi huddled near Motoko with a watery mouth; his eyes stared intently at the small lobster she was cooking.

"Motoko, can I have that?" asked Kakashi.

"Hmm… nope, cook your own one!" replied Motoko.

Meanwhile the children were roasting shellfishes, pipis, and mussels wrapped in foil. They packed some salad, which consisted mainly of lettuce and tomato. They placed some cooked fish and squeezed some lemon juice on top. Finally they added the mussels etc and prawns.

"Aww… your plate looks so pretty," said Meilin's friend and added, "Can I swap with you?"

"No," replied Meilin as she turned her head away from her.

Kono and Inari were enjoying the food before they started chucking the shells at each other. The teacher gave them an evil glare so they stopped it at once. The whole time Udon had been staring at the food in disgust. After he tried some oyster he began to make some puking noises.

"I think I want to vomit," said Udon as he turned to Akane.

Akane did not realise he was sitting next to Udon. He pushed his face aside and stood up to find a different place to sit. Inari offered Udon a tissue but his face was already a pale white colour. Soon a stench erupted near him so Inari and Kono moved aside and left Udon to his own business. The teacher came to help Udon because his parents had not come.

"Sakura I cooked a prawn for you," said Naruto

"Really?" replied Sakura before glancing at something black, "Omg, Naruto I think that's burnt."

"So you don't want it?"

"Nah, I'll pass."

Naruto took the big burnt prawn off his metal V stick. He decided to give the prawn a taste before spitting it out. "Yuk, it's bitter," shouted Naruto. He chucked the prawn and decided to cook something else. He put a medium sized octopus on his stick and sizzled it in the fire for a few seconds before offering it to Sakura. The octopus looked as if the legs were moving.

"Sakura look, it's alive," announced Naruto in amazement, "Want some?"

"Ah no, I can cook my own food," replied Sakura.

"WOW, where did you get the crab?" asked Naruto, "Can I have some?"

Sakura pointed towards a table before eating her small crab silently. "Che, you are so stingy," shot Naruto while he grabbed Sakura's drink.

"Hmm… Champaign," murmured Naruto and added, "Why didn't I get one?"

"That's my drink, give it back! The early birds get the better drinks, you were busy doodling with the food," explained Sakura.

Naruto took another gulp and dribbled it back in the cup, "Here."

"You're disgusting!" shouted Sakura.

=*=

Some time later further into their dinner session the lights dimmed. The soft shade of light created a romantic and luminous effect. Soon slow gentle music was played in the background.

"Attention parents and guardians. It is time for you guys to dance!" announced the teacher.

Everyone began to gather his or her partner while Sakura continued to glare at Naruto. He apologised over and over before Sakura finally forgave him. The two stood up and held hands but Naruto just had to make another remark, "I didn't want you to get drunk."

He waited for Sakura to reply but she only laughed, "I don't get drunk that easily."

"Really?" asked Naruto deeply in thought. His eyebrows lifted a mere fracture.

They danced slowly for a while before Naruto came closer and wrapped his arms around Sakura's waist. Sakura didn't push him away but rested her head on his well-built shoulder. She was a little tired from the day. When the music stopped, everybody began gathering the rubbish to retire for the night.

Sakura and Naruto walked slowly back to their cabin but Naruto took off suddenly.

"Omg, Sakura I want to get something," said Naruto and added, "I'll be quick."

Sakura didn't argue and just nodded, she was too tired to question what Naruto wants to get.

Naruto headed towards the nearest seven eleven and was grateful that they supplied what he wanted. After setting something up on the beach, Naruto ran back to wake Sakura. She was sleeping softly like an angel on the bed and for a second Naruto did not want to wake her. However, tonight may be his only night to win her heart…

"Sakura wake up. Wake up!" screamed Naruto in Sakura's ear.

"Who, what wa?" replied a sleepy Sakura and sat up to meet Naruto's sea-blue eyes.

"I want you to see something," said Naruto as he lifted Sakura out of the bed.

"I'm sleepy," whined Sakura, "Leave me alone!"

Naruto carried Sakura in his strong arms even though she kicked her legs violently. Finally Naruto arrived at the spot he set the candles. Sakura blinked her eyes as they adjusted to the shimmer of candles glowing warmly in the cold night. Luckily it was a windless night so the candles burnt endlessly.

Sakura realised the candles were placed so that it read, "I love you," with the love being a heart shape. She was silent for words but stuttered, "Na-Naruto I…"

"Shhh you don't have to say anything. Even if you don't like me please pretend so for one night. That is all I ask," said Naruto before he raised two glasses and added, "Champaign?"

Sakura took the glass and gazed at the beautiful reflection of the full moon inside. Naruto sat himself next to Sakura on the soft sand and gazed at the moon, "The moon's so lovely but nothing compared to you." He took a long look at Sakura in her pale pink nightgown and realised her nipples were sticking out.

He moved a little closer and wrapped his arms around her shoulder and whispered, "You're cold…"

The Champaign was making Sakura tipsy so she did not care where Naruto rested his arms. She placed her head on his shoulder for the second time in the night. She did not notice her arms moved to wrap themselves around Naruto's waist. She cuddled in his warmth as they continued to gaze at the moon illuminating in the water.

When the candles died, Naruto decided to leave but realised Sakura was fast asleep. He carried her softly back to the cabin and laid her gently on the bed. He smiled sincerely as he watched her curl to the side.

=*=

[Tokyo Japan]

In the midst of the night a woman with short black hair cried softly. Her eyes had been swollen and she blamed herself for being so stupid. Why didn't she run away from her family, why didn't she say no at the alter. Because she was scared of the power her father had over her. Because she had no one to turn to, her mind was blank.

She had no memory, no recollection of her past but just a vague image of a figure with blond hair. Her wedding night was the commencement of her nightmare. She did not know her husband but found him an attractive young man when she first set eyes him. He had cold deep blue eyes, which gave him a powerful aurora. His hair was black and silky.

She could not forget the night her husband accused her of being a whore.

"You bitch, you've been touched and I thought you were my fiancée for all these years," shouted Itachi.

"I… I…" cried Hinata lost for words.

From that night onwards Itachi never touched her. He rarely came to the house they were supposed to live together. Hinata sniffed and tried to stop crying, tonight was one of those nights she felt lonely again. When her husband left her she had accepted the fact but she could not stop mourning for something else.

Deep down she craved for someone's touch but she could not remember his face or his name…

=*=

Sakura woke up with a slight headache and realised there was someone next to her. Terror struck her as her arm touched a smooth limb. She sat up but was astounded to find Motoko sleeping next to her.

"Motoko," shouted Sakura.

Motoko stirred and opened a fraction of her eyes, "Ohayo, Sakura-san."

"What are you doing here?" asked Sakura.

Motoko shifted her pillow and sat up to tell Sakura what happened last night.

//Flashback- Motoko first person//

Naruto came last night banging on the door. We told him to leave but he continued banging so we gave up. He demanded that he and I change rooms. Kakashi was very upset and was about to have a fight with him but I broke them off. I felt reluctant at first because Kakashi and I finally got a moment together… However, I could see Naruto's modesty in his eyes so I agreed.

//End of flashback//

"Yea so that's pretty much what happened last night," replied Motoko.

The two ladies got dressed before they went to eat breakfast. On their way they found Kakashi grunting by himself. But as his eyes located Motoko it changed to a happy grin. "Koishii, you're back," greeted Kakashi.

Sakura scanned her eyes and spotted Naruto's messy blond hair. When she sat herself across him she realised dark circles have formed around his eyes.

"Oh Sakura, Hi," yawned Naruto.

"What happened? Why did you change rooms?" asked Sakura.

"So that you wouldn't have weird thoughts but I think it was a bad idea," replied Naruto.

"Why didn't you sleep on the floor instead?" asked Sakura.

"So that you would have no doubts. Anyways Kakashi kept on grunting last night. It was so horrible! Finally when slept he snored like a pig. I couldn't sleep…" ended Naruto.

Many of the children also had dark circles on their face from playing all night. Udon didn't even sleep because he got freaked from a ghost story told by Meilin. The story was so real and then Kono just had to shine his face with a torch to scare him.

On their bus trip back the children slept peacefully. Naruto rested his head on Sakura and though his head weighed a tonne Sakura let him. She was glad that he had not taken advantage on her last night.

=*=

Sasuke had waited for Sakura to return on Saturday night. But she never came so he decided to try again tonight. He put on a sweater and some pants to keep away from the chill of the night.

Previous on the day, Kono has asked if he could stay over at Inari's house and Sakura reluctantly agreed. Rather than eating dinner by herself she decided to join Naruto down the local restaurant. The food somehow tasted delicious; perhaps food tastes good depending who you eat with… XD

When they finished and had got out of the restaurant Naruto had a devilish grin, " Sakura, are you by any chance ticklish?"

"No, Naruto don't you dare," beckoned Sakura but too late.

Naruto's hands already advanced towards her so the two half slapped and half tickled their way back. They were laughing and screaming until their eyes landed on Sasuke with a bunch of roses in his hand.

"Sakura," whispered Sasuke with cold sad eyes before the flowers dropped.

Sasuke turned his head away from them two, what has happened? Why was Sakura so close to that blond hair man? He waited for Sakura to apologise but it did not turn out the way he wanted.

"Sasuke I'm sorry, Naruto and I are going out…" said Sakura softly.

'Naruto and I are going out,' thought Naruto, 'since when?' But that doesn't matter he was too happy to question.

'Naruto and I are going out,' repeated Sasuke in his mind, 'why didn't you wait for me?'

"I think I better go," replied Sasuke shocked beyond measure.

Durian: Ah hoped you liked XD

Don't you guys agree it was about time the trip ended? Now, the conflict begins:

1) A Sasuke come back plan (any suggestions?)

2) Perhaps Hinata should pop up

3) First, maybe a spice of Ino and Shika (perfect pairing in the anime but not sure if so good in this fic)

Let's do a brainstorm, characters that have appeared: Naruto, Sasuke, Shika, Ino, Sakura, Kakashi, Kono, Inari, Itachi and Hinata. I prefer this story to move slowly and that's why not many characters appear. Also the main characters are, if you had not noticed à Sakura X Naruto X Sasuke

If you review I promise to update .