Disclaimer - I don't own Naruto

A/N - This is a short chapter, it was originally supposed to be part of chapter 3 but i wanted to make into its own chapter, hope you don't mind - by the way I go back to school Thursday so if I don't update for a little, please don't hate me! R&R please!

Aftershock Gone Soft

Arashi stood frozen through the entire event. 'Sakura?'

"Sakura! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! I mean, you just – and then I couldn't, why did you do that!" Naruto panicked

"S-s-sakur-a are y-you ok?"

The fox boy lifted his hand to touch her, but recoiled when he saw her lift her own hard to her jaw. Silence descended for what seemed like forever to all of them, until the green eyed kunoichi spoke, lifting her head so her bangs slid to side as trained. Her face was sad in Naruto eyes.

"I think Hinata should take you home to cool off, I can't have you beating up Arashi when he just got better, that would just mean more work for me." she smiled

"I-I think S-akura i-is r-right Nar-naruto, come on l-lets go h-home." Hinata nodded in agreement.

"Wait no…Sakura…I'm sorry!" he tried

Still smiling herself, "It's ok, just go with Hinata ok?"

"C-common N-naruto…"

Shaking his head with anger , he made some hand signs and quickly disappeared in a cover of smoke, with Hinata quick on his trail.

Sakura sighed as she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders twirl her around. Arashi's eyes betrayed his still expression. "Why did you do that?" he asked

Sucking a breath in she looked down, "Like I said, You just got better, I can't have you getting hurt again, your not the one healing you, you know."

'Is that all she feels, is that the only reason?"

'That's all your gonna say?! Common show a little more compassion!'

"Oh, I see." Was all he said, almost sadly, 'I don't care if she doesn't feel the same way...'

Pulling her a little closer, he licked his thumb and with it wiped away the stray blood from her mouth. He emerald eyes widened a little and stared into his own. Showing a smile, she looked down again, then grabbed his hand to make him follow her.

They walked in a comfortable silence for minutes on minutes. 'Where is she taking me?'

A bridge came into view as they kept walking toward it, team seven's bridge.

On arrival they stood silently on it for a moment, he watched her turn her back to him.

"Arashi, can I ask you something?" her hands clutched in front of her.

Raising an eyebrow he moved closer to her, so close they where barely inches apart. "Um sure, what is it?"

"You've been in love…how did you know you held feelings for someone?"

He was taken back by her question, but thought about it none the less. 'What is she getting at?'

"Well, every time I would see them my stomach always flipped and when I was around them I wanted to protect them from everything. Why?"

She took a moment to answer, "I thought I was in love once…every time I saw him, I wanted to talk to him, get to know him, I wanted to help him with everything and give him anything. But he rejected me and it broke my heart, he left and I soon got over him, but ever since then I've never felt that way about anyone else." Her fists clenched, "Then you came along, half dead…again…and just…there. The moment I saw you, in your mind, I wanted help you, your eyes seemed to cry out and I just wanted to hold you. That barrier around you, it scared me because I thought I wouldn't be able to get to you."

He listened intently and cut her off, "What are you trying to say?" he mumbled

Sighing she started again, "I…I think that maybe…even though we haven't known each other long, I think that maybe I have feelings for you…"

Arashi stopped breathing with his eyes were set on her shiny hair. Gaining some backbone and composure he lifted his hand and played with her hair. "You know, when I first saw you…in my head, I thought two things: How the hell did she get in here and Damn, she's beautiful." He could feel her shift a little as an eerie silence came, "Sakura…I…" he began to see her sway back and forth before he heard a tiny 'Arashi'.

"Sakura..?" "Arashi…lets go home I'm not feeling so goo—" "Sakura!" she fell backwards onto his chest unconscious. "Sakura…Sakura…Are you alright…Sakura?" he shook her shoulders.

'What's wrong with her, she was fine a minute ago!' Then it hit him.

-Flash Back-

Violently shoving the food in his mouth, he stopped a moment to stare at his pink haired waitress, "Aren't you eating?"

"Err…no I'm not very hungry this morning, keep on eating, I'm going to get ready. After we go see the Hokage, we can go get you some more clothes and things you need."

He stared at her questionably but nodded as he finished his plate.

-End Flash Back-

He growled, how could he be so stupid! Why did he let her leave without eating!

"Its ok Sakura, I'll take you home and when you wake we'll get something in that tiny stomach of yours!" he said, picking her up bridal style with the bags they carried from shopping, and ran off in the direction of her house. 'Wow I can't believe I actually remember where it is…'

When they arrived at the front door, he stopped, 'Key…I need a key, where'd she put the key…' Think for awhile a tried to remember back to the morning. 'Ok we left, she locked the door then put the key in her….front pocket…damn it!'

Blushing madly he shifted so his hand could reach her pocket, "Excuse me…" he blushed harder as she shoved his hand in the pocket quickly to find it wasn't there. 'What!' he remembered her putting the key in her pocket, why wasn't it there? 'Wait her right is my left…damn!' He repeated the process to the other pocket and retrieved the key.

Unlocking the door, he stepped in and laid her on the couch. Arashi through the bags on the table then went to the kitchen, upon entry he saw a familiar fruit in a bowl on the table – and orange, reaching for it, he started to peel the skin off while walking back into the room where he left her.

When she didn't wake up right away, he decided to eat the orange. He sat down beside her and pulled her to him so that her head was comfortably placed on his lap as he began to think of ways to talk to Naruto.

TBC

Like I said, it was short...sorry