Thanks for the reviews and 1,000+ page views! This chapter may seem a tiny bit out of character. I try to keep my stories as in character as possible because we've all read those ones where Sasuke is a chatterbox and Sakura breaks into peoples houses and Naruto is a bloodthirsty killer. I know those type of stories are more interesting...but…they sometimes scare me.

Anyways, I'm going a little bit out of character. What's a fanfiction without Sasuke doing something un-Sasukeish? Plus, he needed something to do to pass the hours while waiting for his Sakura-Chan. I also need to ask, is it true he really likes tomatoes? People keep telling me that and I'm thinking that I missed something…

I need to say a really big thanks to 4ever2belove for pointing out my little typo in the title. 'Portection' was really meant to be 'Protection' and I've changed it now so it's all good. Thanks big time!

Now the never-forgotten Disclaimer: If I did own Naruto or anything related, I don't think I'd be a caffeine addicted little girl who spends her time drinking Lipton Iced Tea and painting one nail orange while writing stories about my own fantasies with miss spelled titles. In other words, I do not own Naruto or anything closely related.

Chapter Three: Hidden Kiss

"I must restore my clan and seek out revenge." Naruto said while crossing his arms and leaning against the wall and Sasuke wandered aimlessly around the room, sighing occasionally.

The wind howled through the halls and caused the Haruno residence shudder. Moonlight escaped through holes in the drawn curtains, casting long and lonely shadows. Sasuke sighed again and walked into Sakura's room. He came back out holding one of her sandals and held it against his chest.

"I miss my beloved Sakura-Chan," Sasuke sighed deeply and held the sandal out in front of him. "Now I can only await her return and stare at her sandal."

"Get a life, Sasuke," Naruto said tonelessly.

"I should get some ramen!" Sasuke said, smiling wide and bounding into the kitchen and bringing back a bowl of ramen. He placed the shoe on the table and began to shovel mouthfuls of ramen into his mouth.

Naruto drooled a tiny bit but then attempted to look at Sasuke in disgust. "You eat way too much ramen. No wonder you're a hopeless ninja."

"Yes, but nothing can suppress my grief. I long for my Sakura-Chan," Sasuke grabbed the sandal.

Sasuke did not notice the jiggling of the front door handle until it was too late. The words left his mouth and seemed to echo endlessly in her ears. "I love my Sakura!" That was when he saw the shocked face of Naruto. Sasuke swung around where he saw Sakura wearing a similar expression as Naruto.

"Sasuke…why do you have my sandal," Sakura spoke timidly trying to get the situation to make sense in her mind. It didn't register. Sasuke announcing his love for her and worshipping her sandal just didn't register in her mind…at all.

"Sakura…um…" Sasuke's dreamy look faded and he dropped the sandal which landed on the ground. They were stuck in a moment of awkward silence. Sasuke focusing on the sandal, trying to avoid any eye contact, Sakura not knowing whether to be confused or overjoyed, and Naruto glancing back and forth.

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"Me and Sasuke were just fooling around," Naruto enlightened Sakura while she made tea. Again. "We were bored so we got into this fight and I said I could be him and day. I mean all he does is glare at people and not talk." Sasuke glared at Naruto from across the table. "And he said he would never want to be as hopelessly clueless as me, but he knew he couldn't resist trying to impersonate me while I emulated him." Naruto beamed.

"Sakura," Sasuke spoke finally. The serious look was now back on his face.

"Yes, Sasuke-kun," Sakura cooed. She placed the cups in front of each of them and sat down.

"Where were you?" Sasuke tried to stay calm, but it wasn't working.

"I was just out at the park. The cherry blossoms are blooming and I wanted to be there to see them." Sakura smiled her innocent smile that almost drove Sasuke mad.

"And did you meet anybody there?" Sasuke said coolly.

"Someone did say hello to me. Why?" Sakura focused on her tea. She could tell Sasuke would be getting mad if she said anything else.

He didn't answer. He stood up again and crossed the room. Before he left the kitchen he turned around and spoke tonelessly like Naruto had done before, "We're staying here for the next few nights, Naruto." Then he strode from sight.

In the morning, Sasuke woke earlier than usual. He had heard something strange and noticed that he had been pushed away from his usual spot, guarding the front door. A note lay by his pillow and he picked it up.

I went to the park again.

Don't be angry.

I hate it when you're angry with me.

Sakura

Sasuke's throat emitted a growl. Naruto was fifty feet from his usual spot, snoring and mumbling once again about ramen. Sasuke sighed and stood up drowsily. He swayed to Sakura's room, his head pounding.

He knew it.

On the window seat was a white tulip and an opened note. Sasuke immediately recognized the same untidy words and furiously stormed out of Sakura's room. He forcefully threw the note at Naruto's head and Naruto groggily unfolded it:

I saw you yesterday,

By the Sakura tree.

And I knew

I must talk to you again.

Sasuke waited for Naruto to finish reading the note before he tore open the front door and walked speedily down the path to the park, waiting for Naruto to catch up with him. They continued walking in silence, Naruto taking a second to stare at Sasuke.

He really looks determined, Naruto thought.

They saw Sakura's unforgettable hair from over the hilltop and Sasuke growled at Naruto, "Stay here." Naruto did as he was told while Sasuke went to retrieve Sakura who had not spotted them yet.

Sakura was conversing with a young man whose face was hidden from Sasuke's view. Sasuke didn't think to try to get a better look at this man; his brain didn't seem to be working properly.

He grabbed Sakura's elbow and dragged her up back to Naruto. They walked the rest of the way back to Sakura's house in silence, Sasuke still gripping Sakura's upper arm.

When they reached her home, Sasuke proceeded to drag Sakura into her room. When Naruto tried to follow them in, Sasuke slammed the door in his face. He let go of Sakura's arm and stared at her in the eye.

"Sasuke…I told you not to be mad," Sakura's eyes watered in the corners just a tiny bit. "Please, please, please don't be angry."

"Do you know what could've happened? Someone is after you Sakura, don't realize that?" Sasuke glared at her. "Don't ever do that again." He said is so calmly, but so powerfully.

Sasuke turned around to face her window. She began to walk towards the door, but he grabbed her wrist again and pulled her into a…

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…tight hug. He wrapped his arms around her and she rested her head on his shoulder. Even if it was just a hug it was all Sakura needed and it meant more to her than anything else in the world right now. Besides, she got the feeling that maybe he really was sending her a kiss. A hidden kiss.

Thanks for reading! Sorry about the commercial breaks, but I needed to add to the suspense. And it worked! You thought I would seriously make them kiss in only chapter three! I did this for my sister because she was begging me to make them kiss so I can't wait to see her face when she reads this. I can be so cruel sometimes. Plus, if they kissed now, it wouldn't really be a story; I'd be too tempted to just end it right then and there.

Note about the commercials: Those aren't the actual words. I just needed something to build up the angst so I used snippets from commercials I've seen.