DISCLAIMER: No matter how much I want it, I do not own Naruto. I am still only borrowing the characters and promise to return them in good condition – well, maybe slightly battered!

AN:

Well, I did rate this fic as M for a reason - so anyone that does not enjoy lemons - no matter how slight - RUN!

AZFAERYDUST

Chapter Five:
Little White Lies

Out of the shadow and into the sun
Dreams of the past as the old ways are done
Oh, there is beauty and surely there is pain
But we must endure it to live again
~Iron Maiden~

Sakura continued splashing paint across the newly built jonin station as she ignored the man who had been 'volunteered' to work alongside her. Every shinobi and civilian in Konoha seemed to be out and about that morning helping bring the village back to its former glory. She'd been doing this for two hours, hoping that the hard work and the sun would exhaust her and dull some of her anger, but so far it hadn't. She was still furious about not getting the mission to the Land of Ogres.

"I finished bringing everything inside," said Sasuke as he passed by grabbing a water bottle. He leaned against the fence and took a drink. He stared at her waiting for a response. When she didn't, he asked, "So how long do you intend on being so grumpy?"

With an annoyed little sigh she stopped painting and turned around. She took the large water bottle from Sasuke, took a long sip, and couldn't help but let out a little moan as the cool liquid slipped down her parched throat. Damn, why did she have to drink so much last night?

"I'm not grumpy," she sternly admonished. "You're the grumpy one as usual."

"Tch, whatever. Are we done yet?" he asked in a bored voice.

After taking one last healthy sip she sighed heavily and handed him a paint brush. With a frown he took it, sending her a questioning look.

"Not yet," she said, gesturing regally towards the building, "We still have to paint the other side."

Frowning mightily and about to refuse, he noted her glower. Without a word he stepped forward and dipped the brush into the paint bucket. After an hour of working silently, Sasuke cleared his throat. "You want to tell me what he did to piss you off this much or are you going to continue to sulk?"

"Who?" she asked, playing stupid since she didn't feel like talking about the big jerk that screwed her over. She pretended to study the section of wall she'd just painted to avoid looking at the Uchiha. "And I'm not sulking."

"You know who."

"If you're speaking of your roommate then you should know that he's dead to me," she said with a sniff as she dipped her brush in the paint bucket focused on her work.

"Hmm," he said as though he didn't quite believe her.

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" she demanded, perhaps painting a little more haphazardly than what she should.

"I didn't say anything."

"I know you Sasuke Uchiha. I know what every grunt, every eye roll, and every little smirk means."

"Tch, fine… It means exactly what it sounded like," he said, pausing in his work to use his arm to wipe sweat off his face.

"Meaning...," she prompted, feeling her annoyance with the man renew. If he kept this up she was going to really tell him where he could go.

The heat must have gotten the better of him because in his desire to not talk about whatever the hell was going on, he said, "You should know by now that by tomorrow night you'll forgive the Dobe for lying about that mission and the two of you will be back to... to... to... oh... shit." Sasuke's words trailed off when he looked up and met her furious glare.

"What the hell are you talking about, Sasuke Uchiha?" she demanded, gripping the paint brush in her hand tightly as she ran his words through her head again.

"Tch, what are you talking about?" Sasuke asked, trying to backtrack as he dropped the brush and stepped back out of arm's reach.

"He lied to me? Naruto actually lied to me?" she asked, stepping in front of him and blocking his exit. "Why?"

"You'd really have to ask Naruto about that," he said, shifting a bit nervously. He could practically see the chakra forming around her fists and while he knew he could take her in a fight, it would come at a very painful price.

"I'm asking you," she said, tossing the brush away so that she could cross her arms over her chest to intensify the effect of the glare.

I-I don't think I should say," he said, licking his lips as he moved to step around her only to find his exit cut off.

"You can."

An obstinate look entered his eyes and he refused. "I won't."

"I'll cry," she threatened, knowing she just might have to do the unthinkable and shed a few tears to make him confess. If there was one thing Sasuke hated more than anything, it was an over-emotional woman.

He narrowed his eyes on her. "You wouldn't."

Oh, but she would. Her bottom lip wasn't quivering ten seconds before Sasuke broke down and confessed. Fifteen minutes later she was sitting on the steps, sipping from another water bottle and contemplating all the ways she would kill him.

~o~O~o~

She was going to be calm and rational. She was going to state her case in a professional manner. She was going to…

"YOU!" shouted Sakura as she caught sight of Naruto heading up the stairs to his apartment. Sasuke must have warned him because he did the only smart thing he could think of… he immediately tried to rush into his apartment.

He was fast, but righteous fury made her faster. She tackled him to the ground and sat on his chest. Green eyes ablaze, she demanded, "I want to go on that…"

Naruto's eyes widened at her position on top of him and he flushed, but still he was shaking his head before she even finished. "No."

Her brows snapped together. "What do you mean no?"

"You're needed here."

"But…"

"I-I, I'm sorry Sakura-chan, but I still say no. You haven't been yourself lately. Have you looked in the mirror lately? You're exhausted. You've been working way too much lately and I can't let you travel across the nation in your condition."

She couldn't believe it - he actually said no to her. She felt confused and a little hurt, but mostly she was angry… really, really angry. "Now you listen here, mister," Sakura gritted out, "The only reason why I'm so exhausted looking is because of you! My room is right next to yours you know. Every single damn night I have been forced to listen to you trying to send some poor girl's head through my bedroom wall with the power of your dick alone!"

Naruto turned bright red. "Um…you heard that?" he asked in a very small voice.

Sakura leaned in closer and carefully enunciated each word in a low hiss. "Every spank. Every meow. Every giggle."

"Oh god," he moaned and covered his face. He slowly lowered his hand and, looking away from her, said, "The answer is still no."

She jerked upright, eliciting a small groan from the man under her. Her hands landed on her hips as she glared at him. Not even pausing to wonder why he made that noise, she demanded, "Why are you being so stubborn?"

"It's too dangerous."

"Damn it." She leaned forward, poking a finger into the center of his chest, too infuriated to be professional. She was so mad her forehead throbbed. "I'm sorry if it offends your male pride that I'm not a helpless woman who needs a big strong man to take care of me, but this is who I am. I'm a Kunoichi, and that means I'm stronger and I'm faster and I'm better trained than ninety-nine percent…"

He was moving before she could react, grabbing her upper arms in a punishing grip and flipping her over so that he was now on top.

"This has nothing to do with my pride!" he shouted.

She made a sound of disbelief. "Really?

"Really." His glare seared over her reddened face. "Okay I'm man enough to occasionally want to flex my muscles just to prove I have them, but I would never want you to be any less, Sakura-chan."

Sakura stilled, savoring the feel of his warm hands against her skin. It was then that she finally realized the position they were in. She could feel every inch of his body pressed against hers. It didn't matter that he held her in anger. She was so hungry for his touch she would take whenever she can get.

Pathetic.

"What does that mean?" she demanded, trying to ignore the rush of pleasure.

"It's your power and your beauty and your stubborn independence that makes you who you are," he said, as if the words were being yanked from him. "I would never change that. Not ever."

His words touched the vulnerable place deep inside her, but Sakura fiercely refused to be distracted. "But I…"

"No and that's final."

"Fine," she growled out reluctantly, "just get off me now."

~o~O~o~

That evening Naruto just couldn't sleep. He had to make things right with Sakura. It was just an abandoned hideout. The possibility that she could get hurt was minimal, plus Sai would be with her. He knew that he had to trust in her.

She wasn't at her apartment, which didn't surprise him. He found her in her office at the hospital. Knocking softly, he quietly asked if he could come in.

Bent over her paperwork, Naruto smiled. She looked so pretty. He let out a little sigh and said to her softly, "Please forgive me Sakura-chan. I just wanted to keep you safe."

Green eyes slowly narrowed. Naruto wasn't at all certain that was a good sign.

"You think I can't protect myself?" Sakura demanded.

He suddenly felt as if he had fallen into a hole he didn't even recall digging. "You are a medical kunoichi. I think you would sacrifice yourself before harming another," he warily admitted.

"I don't need a kunai or shuriken to defeat a shinobi." Without warning, she stood up, stepped over to him, and placed her hands flat against Naruto's chest. He hissed sharply as she boldly began to explore his clenched muscles. "There are all sorts of weapons that are far more fearsome."

"Sakura...?" His voice choked off as she tore his shirt open and leaned forward to put her tongue over his hardened nipple.

"Yes?"

His arms whipped around her and he pressed her fully against his aroused body.

She had made her point. He was well and truly defeated by this tiny slip of a woman. He didn't understand what was going on and he couldn't care less.

"Yeah, those really are dangerous weapons." His arms tightened. "But I would hope I'm the only shinobi you would use them on."

She chuckled at his fierce tone. "You're the only one I've ever wanted to use them on. And since all the other men around here know what you are capable of, I think I can safely make that promise."

Naruto was shocked by the unexpected, dark motion that clenched his heart. Possession. There was no other word for it. Not that he was jealous of the thought or anything…

"Maybe I should tell you that I mean all shinobi, civilians, and anyone else who might look too."

She tilted her head to regard him with a searching gaze. "Oh really? That's very… inclusive."

"Yeah," he breathed, "completely and totally."

Her lips twitched, as if she had found something amusing in his unnerving reaction. But before he could protest, her head once again lowered and her lips where skimming over his chest.

"So you don't want me doing this…" Her fingers trailed tantalizingly down his stomach to the waistband of his pants. "Or this." With a tug she had the button opened and then pulled his zipper down. Naruto gave a strangled groan as her fingers softly curved around his hardness. "To any other man?" She stroked him from bottom to top.

Naruto buried his face and the sweet curve of her neck. "By god, you are lethal," he rasped, silently adding that he would kill any man she touched in such an intimate way. There didn't seem to be any need to trouble her with that thought.

"I did warn you," she breathed.

She had. But her warning hadn't included her lips brushing his nipples, his sternum, the small depression running between his abs, and then shockingly she was on our knees and her mouth closed on the tip of his erection.

His fingers threaded through her soft, pink hair as she impatiently tugged down his pants and her hands cupped him with a knee-buckling touch.

"Oh god."

Ignoring his strangled words, thank god, Sakura pulled him deeper into her mouth. His eyes turned red, closed and then his fangs fully extended at the feel of tongue tracing over the head of his erection.

Nothing had ever been meant to feel so good.

So damned good he was certain he could die in that moment with a smile on his lips.

Groaning as she squeezed and licked him with an enthusiasm that threatened to bring a swift end to his shocking pleasure, Naruto struggled to keep the climax at bay.

He had always claimed that danger made him feel truly alive, but it was nothing – nothing – compared to this. And he wanted it to last more than a handful of blissful strokes.

"Sakura…enough," he groaned, lowering himself until he was on his knees before her.

She smiled with small pleasure of the site of his extended fangs and animalistic eyes.

"You don't like?" she teased.

"I like too much," he breathed, his hands running down the curve of her back until he could grasp the bottom of her shirt. With one smooth motion he yanked it over her head. "Now, it's your turn."

He could hear her breath catch as he tugged free her bra and at last cupped the soft mounds of her breasts. Thank god he remembered how to breathe, he acknowledged as heat burst through his body. How can a man remember such stupid things when confronted with such beauty?

With tender care his lips brushed over the high peaks of her nipples, his fingers savoring the curve of her breasts. He had touched countless women before, but never had he been so intrigued by the texture of mere skin.

Just like warm silk he realized in fascination. Warm silk with a faint tingle of pulsing life that made his every instinct roar with need.

Perhaps sensing his odd bemusement, Sakura slid her hands up his bare arms to his shoulders. "Naruto," she questioned softly. "Is something wrong?"

He leaned his head down to press his forehead to hers. "Each moment you are near, I forget everything but you," he confessed in a husky tone. "If I could lock the doors and keep out the world for the rest of our lives I would, just so we could be alone."

Her fingers slid over his shoulders and down his back. "And that troubles you?"

He groaned, his lips skimming down her slender neck and rushing over her mouth. "Not nearly as much as it should."

Unwilling to brood on his strange obsession with this woman, Naruto claimed her mouth in a hungry kiss, his tongue slipping between her lips. In this moment he was ready and willing to forget about the world, and the responsibilities awaiting him outside the door. His duty would find him sooner or later.

He wanted it to be later.

Much, much later.

Cradling Sakura in his arms he propelled her backward, laying her on the matted floor next to her desk before covering her with his body. Her nails dug into his back as he kissed his way down the curve of her neck and lingered on the line of her collarbone.

"You taste so sweet," he murmured as he trailed his tongue down to the tip of her nipple. "Like spring."

Sakura moaned as she arched her backing silent invitation. "What does spring taste like," she demanded.

"Blossoms," he whispered, his tongue continuing to tease the hard nub, "and sunshine."

Her eyes squeezed shut at his insistent caresses. "Oh god."

"I've only started, Sakura," but he promised, his hands following the slender lines of her waist.

With a minimum of fuss he had her skirt undone. Pulling them downward he took them off, along with her sandals. Then; as long as he was down there, he nibbled the tender arch of her foot and sucked her toes into his mouth.

She gave a soft cry as he slowly meandered up her calf, pausing to tease the back of her knee. He hadn't lied. She did taste of blossoms. Sweet enough to cloud the mind of any man.

Dragging his tongue along the tempting skin of her inner thigh, Naruto shuttered with longing. This time was for Sakura, but soon he intended to return to this precise spot in taste her as only a Jinchuriki could.

Giving her the lightest of nips, he worked his way upward, spreading her legs to seek out her most sensitive flash.

"Naruto." Her fingers clenched in his hair as he stroked his tongue through the moist heat. "Oh…"

He smiled a she nearly pulled his hair out by its roots. The pain was a small price to pay for her husky moans of desire.

Dipping his tongue into her, Naruto pleasured her with a steady rhythm. Her hips writhed as her moans became breathless pants. She was close. He could taste it on his lips.

With a last, loving stroke Naruto pressed himself upward, claiming her mouth in a fierce kiss. Her legs wrapped instinctively around his waist as he lifted his hips and with one smooth thrust buried himself deep inside her.

They clutched at one another as the pleasure rolled over them in searing waves.

"You must truly be an angel," he breathed as he slowly pulled out of her to thrust back with a roll of his hips. "Because you have shown me heaven."

She gave a soft laugh at the corny line that was choked off with a groan as her back arched in building excitement.

Spreading kisses over her beautiful face, he pumped himself into her heat. This was heaven. And she was his angel. He buried his face in the curve of her neck. Continuing his relentless pace, he waited for her to tense beneath him.

It was when she gave a soft cry of relief that he allowed his fangs to slip into her skin and he sucked in the very essence of her. With one last thrust he buried himself as deeply as he could reach and allowed his climax to slam into her electric force.

Damn.

He finally felt complete.

"Wow, I think I feel the earth moving."

"It is moving! Look." Wide eyed and breathless, she pointed at the other side of the room. Wind was causing pictures on the wall to move and the bed was lifted off the floor. It slammed down in a loud thump, jarring them both. And then… he woke up.

Damn.

Naruto sat up in shock and looked around. The whole room was in shambles. He put his head in his hands and slowly, he ran his tongue along his teeth until he felt the pointed canines. "What the hell?" he whispered and then jumped when he heard banging on his front door.

~o~O~o~

Sakura was dreaming when the first thump woke her. "Not again," she said through gritted teeth. "This is getting ridiculous!"

She didn't hear any meows, giggles, or spanks but she could hear his low moans. First she felt embarrassment and then fury took over again. Finally she couldn't take it anymore and decided it was time to confront him.

Unmindful of the time, she threw back the covers, and leapt to her feet. She was about to send her fist crashing through the wall, but stopped herself in time. Instead she jumped down and stomped out of her room in a rage. She flung open the front door with a crash and began to pound on his door. People in the other apartments began to open their doors to see what the hell was going on, but Sakura ignored them all.

She pounded on the door, every second getting harder and harder. She didn't care that she heard the wood start to crack or that splinters were getting under her skin. All that mattered was that he come out so that she could give him a lesson to remember.

She could hear someone coming towards the door and then the rasp of the deadbolt being unlocked, but still she didn't stop. She screamed, "Open this door immediately Naruto Uzumaki or I'll break it down!" All the lost hours of sleep and that business with the mission had finally gotten to her and she'd had enough.

"I'm trying, Sakura-chan, I'm trying. Give me a second," she heard Naruto say.

The door was quickly opened by Naruto. She stared for a moment, not seeing Sasuke and Sai watching her curiously. Well, Sai was looking her curiously - Sasuke; on the other hand, had a big knowing smirk on his face, which luckily for him, she didn't see.

With just his hall light on, Naruto was dimly illuminated, It was enough to see that he stood there wearing only a pair of boxers and a confused expression on his face. "What's wrong? Is there an emergency? Did something happen? Is the village under attack?"

Frozen in place, Sakura raged at herself inwardly to move, to punch him, to tell him off… to not… to not look at him…Damn she was staring. SAY SOMETHING! DO SOMETHING, SAKURA HARUNO!

Insteadshe found herself mesmerized as her eyes wandered over his slick, slightly sweaty physique. Her hand was still fisted in the air and her was pounding louder than her fist had second earlier. She swore to herself that everyone could probably hear it. Somehow she managed to drag her eyes away from that beautiful sight - a sight which hadn't bothered her at all last year…

Finally she understood what it meant to be in Hinata's shoes. She couldn't respond as he continued to ask her questions. Her eyes lowered even further. Oh god, he did have another girl in there, I knew it!

She had to be blind not to notice the huge tent in his boxers…

~o~O~o~

The day dragged on in a haze for the blond. While he had so many dreams about her, that one was just so real. And then when she was at his door wearing the tiniest red nighty, it took all his self-control not to grab her and prove it was real. He desperately wished it was, but was confused by his reaction. That had never happened before, but earlier he had been too busy with his work at the orphanage and now the wedding to talk to Kurama.

Was the furball taking over?

As he entered the beautifully decorated garden that Shikamaru and Shiho chose for their wedding, somehow he was not all that surprised to see Ino standing there beside Lee and Tenten.

"She went and got permission from Lady Tsunade, didn't she?" he asked with a huge disappointed sigh.

He felt like an idiot… Really, he should have known better.

"Of course," replied Ino cheerfully. "Wasn't that great of her! I mean Shika is practically a brother to me so it's only right that I be here for his wedding."

"Yeah… that's… great of her…"

AN:

Thanks to everyone that followed/favorited/commented on the last chapter and especially the previous chapters! I know it's silly to be superstitious - but hey - I'm not crazy - my mother had me tested!

I also wanted to thank the guests that I couldn't respond to personally - Q-e17, kl and Gamma89 - thanks a lot!

This week's Naruto/Sakura recommendation is not exactly a great story because it unfortunately contains an overabundance of spelling errors. Still - it is very interesting and creative and has stuck in my mind for a very long time. I am actually rereading right now. It's called AnimalsUnleashed by wilkins75: With the defeat of the Akatsuki, peace seemed to have returned to the world but an unknown virus strikes. Now a virus that turns people into half animals is spreading and the uninfected are on the run from the infected. (Seriously, it's a pretty cool story!)

Lastly, I wanted to thank Konoha's Crimson Fox, who made me realize that my summary just didn't adequately describe this story and imaginativefool for rewriting it for me!

Ja Ne,

AZFAERYDUST