So my next chapter of Maelstrom numero cuatro cool neh sooo it's a bit more...intimate in this chapter I tried to get some humor worked in but...yeah don't know how well that worked out. So read and enjoy.

Disclaimer: Don't own, whata pity!
Choosing to ignore the comment was looking like a good idea for her,

"Kotetsu-san, go to sleep you'll feel….better tomorrow" she said better with hesitance actually he'll probably be bringing up everything in his stomach with a pounding in his head that could drive someone to suicide.

His eyes slid half-way open and focused on her, they were unnaturally bright, glimmering in the light flooding through the uncovered window. Swallowing thickly, she couldn't identify what emotion was swimming in those obsidian irises. What he did next caused her to almost shriek with surprise, who knew drunken men were so quick, weren't they supposed to have bad coordination.

He bolted up in bed at the same time tugging on her hand that was still wrapped around his in comfort, pulling her to his chest in a rib-crushing hug. The impact of her body against his chest was a bit jarring. He had a firm physique, his corded arms wrapped around her sides clasping the back of her red shirt in desperate fingers.

A puff of breath swept along her neck in a warm current of sage, it was spicy but not unpleasant, his mouth was dangerously close to her as though he had a moment of indecision of whether to place his lips there or refrain. Silky strands of hair slid along the underside of her jaw, tickling the bottom part of her earlobe.

Warmth exuded from his body inflaming her own she could feel the hot flush spreading along her face like a disease. She couldn't move very much, maybe a few finger and toe joints and that was if she could get her body to respond. This was rather new, she could honestly say she'd never been hugged by a drunk man.

Of course it was rather…nice coming from Kotetsu she actually preferred him over some others, at least she knew him. Releasing a trembling breath, her body shivered with each gust of air ghosting over her skin, it left a pleasant tingle whenever it struck, should she be embarrassed? Outraged?

Her emotions were tangled he hadn't said anything once he had latched on to her,

The flow of panicked thoughts stilled

That's right he was inebriated and emotionally wrecked he was latching onto comfort, comfort she was offering, now it made sense, the whirlwind of emotions stilled and settled with the knowledge, nothing to worry about…except getting him untangled from her and back to bed the sooner he fell asleep the sooner she could go home and do the same. She didn't mean to sound so callous but she was still tired.

He needed comfort and that's what she would do before she left, her arms that had hung limply by her side rose and settled around his sides, clasping him closer and encouraging him to take solace in her. An unknown tenseness in her relaxed and uncoiled, loosening muscles, laying her cheek on top of his head, the spikes flattened and gave way, yielding and smooth, she delighted in the soft texture.

The scent of sage grew stronger mixed in with the vibrant fragrance of a male's constant muskiness. Her fingers plucked at his black jôunin shirt, it was nice fabric hardy but not coarse, soft but not delicate it was a simple… jôunin shirt.

'Can't wait to get one of my own' she had hopes and dreams of getting to the next level, Neji was almost there, he was older of course but still it was a nice goal to look forward to, and one in her reach. Maybe Naruto would be back by then both of them could take it together hopefully.

Potential dreams that would be realized with time, for now…it was the present, let the future wait a while, she had patience.

Rubbing the fabric between her digits and memorizing the feel of the black clothe, as it slid between the calloused skin of her fingertips.

He'd relaxed while she'd been admiring his shirt, sinking into her hold with complete trust. Taking a deeper breath then usual and inhaling the scent of the green herb,

'From now on I'll probably see sage and think Kotetsu' Sakura joked with herself, she liked sage it was a pretty tasteless plant but it was still important, tea could be made, medicines that calmed you, a helping cooking herb, the list went on. Some how the little plant seemed to have a particular appeal to her at the moment.

There was nothing wrong with this, anyone could feel the desperation in the contact between them, it sang a sorrowful tune along his skin, sunk deep in his bones, and carved into his soul. This hug, this inconsolable need to have contact, was an action spurred by want and need of having someone else's body, a warm touch giving support with no hate, contempt or scorn for showing weakness, just ….understanding.

She offered it willingly with no want of anything in return, Sakura was just like that. Giving much and still want to give more, she strove to be like that. Watching, admiring how Naruto acted, how naturally he wanted to keep his promises no matter how small or difficult, it was so… heart-warming and inspiring. He was charismatic, Naruto was, his dedication to help people, he was too kind and Sakura, Sakura wanted to be able to look him in the eye when he returned with complete affection for him in her heart and a clear Conscious.

Staying silent, she wrinkled her nose when the sour redolence of alcohol wafted to her nose, he was breathing deeply, his chest pressing on hers with each intake of air, was he asleep?

"Thank you Sakura" he whispered, this time she wasn't so taken aback when he astounded her with being still awake, he'd had a lot of sake, she was sure he should have been passed out by now, maybe he was used to it or had a tolerance for it?

She preferred the latter over the former, if he was used to it how many times had he gotten drunk after Izumo-san was injured, did Izumo-san do the same thing?

She was getting a small headache from too much thinking, she needed sleep.

"It's nothing" she said to his voiced appreciation.

"You're…beautiful Sakura-chan" he mumbled, it came out fuzzy, a bit garbled and somewhat hard to understand, the reason he was finally drifting asleep.

Amused by his compliment, Sakura ran a hand through his dark locks, secretly fascinated that his spikes never stayed down there was no gel on them to make them splay out. An interesting puzzle, would he tell her since he didn't know what he was really doing now he probably wouldn't remember in the morning either, tempting but he was gone, taken away to sleep the sleep of a drunken man. Running an indulgent hand through his hair once more, it felt like cool water, similar to placing your hands in a stream and letting the current take care of them, the element just slid through with no difficulties.

She felt him fall asleep more than she saw him; his muscles seemed to all relax at once, a puppet with his strings cut. His face rested at the apex of her shoulder and neck, the side of his face leaning against her in open comfort and trust. His breathes came deep and even, in a natural rhythm. With all gentleness possible she moved him back to his bed, his inebriated state was proved a blessing in this case with how deeply he slept.

Laying him straight she had already taken all uncomfortable clothing off and he was left in simple black pants without the shuriken and kunai holster and a jôunin shirt. Stepping back Sakura paused a moment to just look at him, he looked peaceful. The previous anguish was replaced with the tranquility of sleep. Turning with a pivot she headed toward his front door, closing it behind her with a click, stepping jauntily off to go home for her own rest.

It was the sunlight that woke him, intruding and abrasive rolling onto his side for a retreat from closing wakefulness and promptly groaned with the action. His head pounded. Forced to open his eyes to slits, he blinked them open and closed before focusing on more than the pain in his head.

He felt like he challenged twenty S-Class criminals to a fight, lost, then had a mountain dropped on him, not a pleasant feeling. Sitting up required force of will and concentration on moving his muscles in the appropriate manner, looking around it took him a moment to recognize he was home in his bed, laying in his clothes granted but still he was home. Clearly he remembered seeing the bar's lights and going for a drink to take the edge off his thoughts.

He didn't remember much after his 3rd bottle or was it 4th?

One thing he did not recall was walking home, so mystery was how'd it happen. Placing a palm on his forehead to help him think, he was vaguely surprised to find his hitae-ate gone…along with his vest, sandals and leg wrappings for that matter. Casting his eyes along the lines of his room, the nightstand to the left of him answered the question of where his gear was.

Folded neatly and placed in an ordered pile of biggest to smallest, did he do that?

Now he really wanted to know what happened, the need to know pressed like a heavy unmovable weight on his mind, obviously he didn't sleep with anyone his clothes were still on for the most part and there wasn't another warm body in bed next to him, a thing he was unfathomable grateful for.

Promising to himself in a mental side note that he'd never touch a drop of sake again gave him slight hope for the salvage of himself. Running the hand on his forehead through his messy hair and giving a jaw-cracking yawn that drowned out the headache in his head until his mouth closed.

Feeling inexplicably dirty, Kotetsu swung his feet off the bed to thump squarely on the wooden floor and stand, steadying himself with a hand on the wall, making his way to the bathroom in slow shuffling steps that seemed to take forever.

The warm water that struck him squarely on his head felt good and muted the headache to just a small throb, it was while scrubbing his hair with pale pink shampoo that the first image of what happened last night or this morning assaulted him.

Pink it had something to do with the color pink and ….red? Arms he remembered those around him and a smell like…like it skirted away from him and was lost to the depths of his mind as soon as he tried to focus on it. Pink and red though, scanning through the memories that he knew were true and happened earlymorning today,the only thing he could remember was Sakura she had pink hair and a red shirt.

"What the hell happened last night," he asked in a wide-eyed whisper of perplexity, it couldn't be anyone else but Haruno Sakura, the young apprentice of the Godaime who he liked to joke around with and tease. He'd give almost anything to know what happened.

"Kotetsu-san" he dropped the soap with a thud.

The voice was muffled by the bathroom door and the running shower, but he recognized it anyway, cursing as he fumbled picking up the bar at the same time reassuring Sakura that he was alright, when she had called with concern hearing the sound of something striking the floor.

"Alright, I'm going to go make some tea for your headache and stomach"

"Sure" he called back hesitantly

"Oh shit" he breathed out when she walked away, staring at the bathroom wall opposite him in shock, did something happen with Sakura and him last night?

While I was writing this, the whole time I was listening to the soundtrack from Lord of the Rings, I like one of their songs called Into The West, it's the last song on the track so hmmm guess we know where their taste in songs lie. Most of it is melody but that's cool I use it to get in the mood to write.

It's surprising how effective it is to get four pages out instead of just 1/2 cough cough...yeah so it's all good and Read and Review, would very much 'ppreciate it if you would.