Reflections in the Desert

Sorry for the late update but I couldnt help it. Oh yes pls R&R as I am in half a mind to discontinue. Thanx! Enjoy.


Shikamaru lay on top of the hot sand, looking at the clouds. He turned his head to the person lying next to him, laying amazingly silent for such a troublesome woman. Temari. They never talked. Words were troublesome. They would just watch the clouds float by. It had been a long time since he had seen such a nice day. That day had been troublesome. Both Kiba and him had only been able to handle that troublesome girl with difficulty. Her summon was troublesome and her movements had been unpredictable. She would have been a good shougi player if she were still alive. Still they managed to defeat her. Once more he looked at the blond next to him. He turned back to face the clouds. One looked vaguely like her. That one was prettier than the rest, he thought absent-mindedly. Shikamaru liked clouds. He liked them a lot indeed.
Chouji trapped another piece of meat between his chopsticks and devoured it whole. The fight with that white-haired man Kakashi called Kabuto had left him tired and hungry. Not that he wasn't always hungry anyway. As he picked up the remaining piece a pair of chopsticks slapped his hand, hard. "Chouji! It's rude to leave nothing for the lady" an irritating voice admonished him. He merely chuckled as he took the piece of meat and put into the mouth of a furious Ino. For a moment she stopped talking. Then she shouted, angrier than before, "Baka! You know I don't like pork!" Chouji merely chuckled.
Tenten watched in silence as Neji inhaled slowly and exhaled. He looked so peaceful when he was meditating.

"What is it Tenten?" he asked without bothering to open his eyes.

"Nothing," she replied as she sat next to him, uninvited. The tomboy placed her head gently on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She sighed, tiredly. She must be tired, Neji thought to himself. He was tired himself. Though he had improved tremendously that spider person was as difficult as ever. If Shino had not arrived, he wouldn't have survived. He let his muscles relax and put an arm around the chocolate-haired kunoichi. Slowly, he rested his head on hers and drifted off to a blissful place.


Kakashi lay on his hammock trying to focus on the amazingly graphic image in front of him. Somehow Icha Icha wasn't engaging him. His mind always strayed off to the events that had occurred a week ago. He closed his eyes at the painful thought. He had been a bad captain. He had not been able to protect any of them, not even Ino or Chouji. Not even Naruto or Sakura. I'm sorry…. Sensei…
Sakura watched Sasuke, his face slick with sweat. She bit her lip worriedly. It had been a week since the fight. Neji had arrived at the perfect moment and blocked out Sasuke's tenketsus. Sakura bit her lip at the thought of what would have happened otherwise. He had remained unconscious for a week, constantly being plagued by horrible dreams. Tsunade-shisou had taught her that in situations like these, physical contact was to be avoided at all costs. She could do nothing but watch him slowly sink into his horrible nightmare. Suddenly his breathing had become irregular. The curse seal awakened, slowly devouring his skin.

She couldn't take it anymore. Bracing herself for the events to come, she ran her hand through his silky hair and whispered into his ear " Shh. It's okay Sasuke, it's okay."

She wasn't able to call him Sasuke-kun anymore. It didn't feel right. Not after what he had done to Naruto. She winced at the thought. Naruto wouldn't have survived if the Suna-nins had arrived a moment later. Hinata had sat by Naruto throughout the days. She smiled at the thought. Hinata loved Naruto and he loved her. She loved Sasuke. And even if he did not love her, him living was enough for her.

Stay alive Sasuke. Please.


Sasuke ran down the dark alley, his breathing ragged. He had to run, he had to! He raced on trying to flee the horrible person he was sure was chasing him. Suddenly he stumbled over a stone. He turned around and saw him, perfectly balanced on a lamppost, the bloodstained sky behind him. Itachi. He tried to look away but he could not. He was the scared eight-year old again. The man slowly raised his head to face Sasuke. But he did not see the Mangekyou Sharingan, but he saw himself slowly being devoured by an all too familiar face. Orochimaru. Pure horror overcame him as he let out a scream.
Sakura, frantically checked his pulse. It was quickening at a rapid pace. Her soothing touch and words were doing no good. All she would do was watch. It was then she realised how good he looked in his sleep. Her eyes trailed down to the defined curves of his lips and to his rough yet fascinating neck. She found herself reliving her childhood fantasies as she leaned closer to him. She hesitated. She tried to stop herself but she still found her lips gently pressed against his.
Sasuke was shaking as the looming faces of Itachi and Orochimaru towered over him. He was slipping away. Slipping into this abyss of horrible dreams and nightmares merging into one warped and twisted reality. Suddenly, he felt warm flesh pressed against his lips. For a moment he froze. Slowly he let himself go, even as a part him screamed that feelings would get in the way. It was a gentle kiss. Neither demanding him nor rejecting him. Not one of passion but one of affection and healing. And he lost himself in it.
Sakura broke the kiss, slowly, hesitantly. The faint taste of Sasuke lingered, not wanting to disappear into the plainness of her fading memories. She touched her lips, reluctantly, as if it would make the wonderful sensation disappear. She saw Sasuke's eyes fluttering open. For a moment, just a moment she saw the innocent child Sasuke used to be. He smiled a slow blissful smile. Then slowly, he returned to his slumber, a dreamless slumber.
Yay I did it! I wrote Sakura-chan's first kiss. Goes to a Sakura shrine and does a little dance But OMG its filled with fluff! Next chapter will be angst and only angst! Muaahahahaha.. Anyway Gaara will be making his appearance very soon and I am going to slow the story down as I feel its progressing too fast.. Oh and for NaruHina fans i didnt do them bcos i had already given them quite a lot of screen time. Heres a little bit about every part.

ShikaTem: I like this one a lot but I think I ruined Shikamaru and made is way too sappy. But since its my first fanfic i guess it wasnt too bad.

InoChou: The only reason I decided to do this couple was bcos I felt Ino needed some one to love. But now that I have written it I profess my undying love for this Kawaii couple!

NejiTen: I think this one was quite good. I wanted to Neji to be shocked and stiffen and Tenten to say "Relax, Neji" but I could not fit it into the para.

KakaIcha: LOL! anyway making Kakashi moody was fun. And did anyone notice that Kakashi was apologising to Yondaime for not being able to protect Naruto hinthint

SasuSaku: I liked Sasuke's nightmares a lot. I think he really would have had those nightmares and Sakura's thoughts seemed real enough to me.

Anyway my updates may become slower since I have major exams around the corner . Until next time Ciao!