Author's Note: this is an edited version of Chapter 4. I was sleepy when I typed the first draft (it was 3am). I hope this one is better. I changed the part about Sakura's dream, plus some sexy glares from Sasuke, hehe. So tell me what you think!

Disclaimer: We all know that I do not own any part of Naruto, so let's get on with it, shall we?

Chapter 4: Sweet Dreams (Part 1)

Sasuke shadowed over Sakura's slumbering form. Serious eyes assessed the situation. His arm was still held down up to his elbow under her heaviness. But he had a plan now, an 'ingenious' scheme indeed. It was one hundred, no, one hundred ten percent foolproof.

The clock ticked.

One thirty-seven AM.

Sakura stirred. Sasuke felt the weight on his arm shift. He had less than an instant to carry out his plan.

It's now or never!

In one breath, Sasuke slid his right arm up to the back of her neck, providing himself just enough space to pull his limb free. It tingled at the sudden release of its load, like thousands of needles pricking him relentlessly. It was a good sign. It meant his plan was working, finally.

Damn it, why didn't I think of this sooner? This is way too easy…

Feeling triumph close at hand, Sasuke glanced at her with narrowed eyes. A sort of smugness lingered in them, the natural coldness glazing over handsome obsidians. It was a very sardonic gaze, one that had such finality and intensity that it would make any female shrink and swoon at the same time. It wasn't cute in the least. It was definitely scary, but goddamned sexy.

If Sakura could see it, she'd probably melt on the spot. Unfortunately for her, she was unconscious, and his stare was not meant to woo her, but to mock her furtively.

Thought you could keep me here, huh?

Prompted by instinct perhaps, she shuddered under his fixed stare. He noticed it, but was indifferent to her response, claiming it was her illness that caused her to shiver, no doubt.

He felt so confident about the outcome—cocky even—that he almost smirked. He would've, since it was second-nature. Except he realized his only audience was oblivious to him. This wasn't the time for him to smirk. Instead, he slipped into his aloof façade and spared her from further ridicule.

Returning his full attention to his position, he exhaled.

…Now I just have to pull myself free and I'm out…

He mused. It would be a lifetime before he'd want to go back to Sakura's room again. He would forget about this whole incident—like it was some bad dream, one that didn't involve death or violence, but was certainly just as disdainful. Already, he could see himself lying down on his own bed. The thought of satisfying his rebelling stomach was so vivid he could nearly taste the food. Tomatoes and rice balls had never seemed more appetizing until this moment.

Then out of the blue, something happened.

"STOP!"

The voice shattered the stillness of Sakura's room. It was so loud, so angry and so startling that it rang intolerably in Sasuke's ears, ripping him away from his little delusion. Being so sure of himself just a split-second ago, the uproar caught him completely off-guard!

His wits went blank. As if he were intentionally following the order, he froze in his tracks, too surprised to move. For the first time in a long while, his mind panicked. He just couldn't believe it.

Impossible! Did I wake her up?

There was a flurry of blankets tossing in the air, white and yellow sheets hugging his eyes, blinding him momentarily. His query was answered with Sakura's left straight punch!

Still dazed but alerted by her assault, his body moved on its own, reflexes taking over him. He swung his head to dodge the attack. The blow missed him by a hair, her knuckles grazing his jaw, jolting him back to his senses.

No way! I couldn't have woken her up…what the heck is going on!

His head then whipped down to look at his teammate who still lay supinely on the bed. Ruffled blankets revealed clenched fists. Her brows furrowed, her slightly open mouth brought to a childish pout. But what surprised him were her eyes…they were closed shut!

Wait a sec, she ISN'T AWAKE! She's…

"I said STOP IT, Ino-pig!"

A lightning-fast right hook solidly connected with Sasuke's stunned expression.

..She's dreaming!

Sasuke's head recoiled at the impact. Humiliation mixed with pain, surging to his face, and instantly tinted his right cheek a bright red.

Following through her motion, with her right hand still in the air, Sakura rolled to her side, snagging even more of Sasuke's upper limb, pinning him up to his shoulder against her bed. He is pulled down by the weight, shaky knees dropping to the floor. He slumped by her side. His vision spun momentarily.

Oww, that hurt! Gods, she can punch THIS hard?

Then, another striking realization.

No wonder Naruto's dumb as a rock sometimes…all his brain cells must be dead from her head-bashing.

The place fell into a hush once more, save for the muffled sounds of the rain from a distant window.

His free hand soon found his sore appearance, cupping the tender injury. He flinched at the touch, producing a small hiss at the bottom of his throat. He did not struggle to his feet, but instead continued to kneel beside her as he let the unharmed side of his face rest on the soft mattress. For a long while, Sasuke remained like this, welcoming the small comfort the silky bed sheets offered. His body was growing heavy. The fatigue from training had finally taken over him. Not only that, Sakura's little number on his face had brought down all the stars from heaven high. Lights twinkled in front of his eyes, making him lightheaded, distracted, and strangely oblivious. For a moment, he imagined he was in heaven. It seemed real enough, except for one minor detail.

Does heaven…smell like apples and oranges?

He nearly smiled at the thought. But this wasn't the time for him to smile either. He was aware his situation hasn't changed at all. Sasuke still needed to get out, and soon. Slow eyes glanced up to check the clock again. He sighed deeply.

one thirty-seven AM

What a long night.

His half-lidded onyx gaze wandered back to Sakura. She was suddenly quiet once more. Amid the shouting and the punching, she had rolled over him for a second time. Now she was curled in a fetal position near the edge of the bed, her head firmly resting on his arm. Her shoulders rose and fell rhythmically as she breathed. Warm, moist air from her nose brushed gently against the skin of his arm. It tickled him, making the hairs stand on end.

Astonishingly, he didn't appear irked at her in the slightest. He was just a little thankful that she didn't wake up. That and the fact that he was too tired to be angry with her. She was still asleep, and that was all that mattered to Sasuke at the present.

A few seconds later, her breathing abruptly stopped. Sensing this, Sasuke tensed but remained still, bloodshot eyes jadedly looked towards her. He growled under his sleeve.

…now what?

"s..top…don' touch…him," The slurred words tumbled from her mouth softly. Sasuke raised a perfect brow, slightly amused at his companion.

She's still dreaming. Hm, she never talked in her sleep during our missions. This is kind of weird. Annoying, too…in a cute kind of way.

Hey…Did I just think that?

"…pig, I…asked…first…" Her voice fell to barely whisper. Maybe her dream was ending. He still couldn't make out what it was about, though.

A dream about fighting Ino? Wait, I think I know where this is going…this dream isn't about Ino at all. it's really about...

"ne…Sasu…ke…kun?"

The way the syllables escaped her lips were so agonizingly slow that he seemed to hang on to them in anticipation, though it was very obvious to him that it was HIS name she would call. The endearment was pronounced in a high-pitched, almost childlike tone, like pink cotton-candy while on a bench for two. A blush mysteriously forced its way to his cheeks, fleetingly making both sides of his face equally red. The way she said his name that night was perfect, he thought. Perfect.

"wil…you..goutwid...me?" she asked shyly to her dream date.

There was a long pause.

A smile crept unto her lips. She spoke no more. The 'dream Sasuke' was apparently a bit more open to dating than he was. Did this mean he lost the opportunity of being Sakura's first date to a dream version of himself?

He shrugged uncomfortably. It was still him she dated in her dream, right? It was hard enough to be jealous of Naruto…but being jealous of himself?

Sasuke moved to tuck the edges of the muddled blankets under her once more, muttering a flat "Hn," as he finished.

Wearily collapsing at her side, he wondered if he would ever get out. It was a silly question, he knew, but for some reasons all his plans kept backfiring. Maybe there was such a thing as 'fate', he supposed. Neji often mentioned that. But for what reason would fate keep him trapped with Sakura? He didn't know the answer to his own inquiry, and quite frankly, he didn't really believe enough to care; he was too tired, too hungry, too frustrated, too pained, and now, too sleepy, to be concerned about 'fate' or 'reason.'

Sasuke closed his eyes, succumbing to deep sleep.

Thanks again to the following authors for reviewing my work! I never grow tired of replying to them!

laussica – Oh? you think he's sexy already at this point? hahahaha…

Zuan - thank you! hope you will read on. )

ligice76 – I will try. But I may not be able to update this week due to exams.

InuyashaObsessed101 – About Naruto rubbing off on him…yeah I think Sasuke and Naruto do rub off on each other, although the anime doesn't expound on that. I'm happy you like that idea.

Lone Sakura – I prefer to write shorter episodes because that's the way I write, hehe. I tend to come up with one idea or action per chapter, and then expand on that. But I do write more chapters to compensate for the length. I'm sorry if it seems too short for you. As for the romance part, I will put that in, eventually.

daydreamer53221 – thank you very much for always reading! )


sasukefurever – oh yes, expect more embarrassing moments in this fic…thanks for the review!

PrincessChii – well, I didn't think it was right for Sasuke to say that "patay-gutom" line at first, but I thought it would be funny. Besides, ABS CBN is always messing with characters' lines in all their dubs, why can't we? hehe.

little wolf blossom – Haha, I think green apples are nice! I don't know of any anime character having/eating GREEN apples or oranges!