Chapter Four - Days of New

Sakura stretched languorously, hands sliding over the feather pillow tucked under her head and back arching up and off the mattress as her mouth opened in a wide yawn. She always found a bed especially pleasurable after a long mission, even if she had stayed in special accommodations at the Kazekage's demand, the three days of travel back home wore her down. The rain hadn't helped matters either.

But, for some reason, this had been a particularly comfortable night. Warm, soft, secure. And Sakura had no idea why; it'd only been that way once, when he'd held her through the night, breath kissing her temple and hands tangled in her hair. That was definitely a night she'd never forget, even if he'd been unsure and acted like a guilty schoolboy caught with something he shouldn't have afterwards.

And yet, despite the anger that had come with the knowledge that it had only been sex after all for him, she'd known before that's all it had been anyways. Still, it had been amazing.

He had been careful with her, knowing she was a virgin, much to her immediate discontent, which quickly changed to appreciation because he'd understood everything. He'd met her pained gasp with soft touches and gentle caresses; he'd planted kisses on her lips, nose, cheeks, shoulders; made her feel absolutely safe.

It still hurt seeing him though. And she did see him; maybe not as often as her teammates, they were, after all, with her more than not. But it was impossible to get out of Hokage tower without seeing him. Her visits to see her shishou were not as frequent as they used to be, but still significant enough and he always seemed to be there. After the third time she'd begun to wonder if he didn't purposely show up, but that was far too unlike the Jounin; he was never purposely cruel. He was, in fact, altogether too nice. But perhaps that's what had drawn her in, taken over her senses just as sake seemed to have taken over his usually very alert, very cautious ones.

Time and time again Sakura told herself she was a shinobi, that she couldn't afford to dwell on the past, nor look to the future; there was only here and now. Her sensei had taught her that well, even though she'd be the first to tell him he should take his own advice. But none of her boys knew about her rendezvous with her secret lover, and they didn't need to either, especially Naruto. Kami only knew what he'd do if he found out. He should hate her for it, but she knew Naruto was almost incapable of hatred even if she deserved it.

Sakura breathed deeply through her nose, eyes still clenched shut against the infiltrating sunlight and tried to think about something else. Like what was on her agenda for the day; what she was going to have for breakfast, since most likely the boys wouldn't cook anything; the mission report Tsunade would require of her as well as her work at the hospital; how nice that hand felt on her half-bared hip…

"Naruto," Sakura warned, still half asleep and not really protesting. He never meant anything by those touches; he just needed the contact, as she herself often did anymore. But that didn't mean she liked his hand being quite so intimate, usually he just flung it over her waist or she'd rest her head against his bicep, but it wasn't unlikely that he'd moved in his sleep and thus his hand had arrived at its current location.

Sakura reached down to grasp his hand, fingers sliding between his own and squeezing…

Promptly Sakura rolled to the side, shifting his weight and catapulting him over herself and onto the floor where she scrambled to roughly pin him, hands behind his back and wrists gripped in her fists.

"And who the hell are you?" She growled, bent forward over this strange man, mouth next to his ear.

He didn't fight her, surprisingly, but she could feel him shift beneath her, fingers wiggling as he tried to loosen her bruising grip. Those fingers had given him away; far too slender and far too soft. She knew Naruto's hands were calloused and powerful from using the Rasengan so often among other techniques of his that were quite damaging to his hands. Sakura often found herself healing those hands because of them and had even gone so far as to ask Naruto to refrain from using them.

She was startled by the handsome profile that greeted her vision. Sharp straight nose, a strong jaw line, and, from her angle, one very clear and chocolaty eye fringed with short but thick lashes. His similarly chocolaty and ridiculously silky hair, especially for having been abruptly woken, was pulled back, tied at the nape of his neck with a thick band. Sakura couldn't help but admire the thick strand tucked behind his ear as it curled softly, but a pretty face wasn't something she fell for quite as easily anymore.

Something was trying to register itself with her sleep-clouded mind as she stared at this man's face. Something was familiar, but she just couldn't place it.

"Hey, answer the question," she demanded, her voice leaving no room for objections.

"Sa-Sakura-san…"

He'd never expected this turn of events. She was real; his dream was real; made of flesh and bones not some hollow picture his mind had conjured to taunt him. And he'd been sleeping with her!

However, his throbbing hip, restrained wrists, and awkwardly bent neck didn't seem to care much. If he could just get his hands free, he'd feel a lot more comfortable, and somehow being so, well, weak in front of Sakura, it didn't sit well with Idate. In an attempt to free himself, he forced his arms out to the sides, which only resulted in strained muscles and his fingertips sliding across one bare inner thigh.

Sakura, the real Sakura stiffened above him and he felt her hand press down heavily on the middle of his shirtless back.

"You should value your life a little more." The threat was evident in her voice as well as the fingers digging into his skin.

"Sakura-san, wa-wait," Idate began, stuttering over his words, nerves on end. "It's me, Morino Idate; do you not remember? In Tea?"

Her eyes were already wide; she was taken aback. In fact, she did remember him as his voice had registered with her brain quickly and let her know she was an idiot for attacking someone who was obviously unarmed as well as sleeping in her home. Although why he had shared the same bed for the night was a bit of a question.

Sakura removed her hands from Idate's back and wrists, placing them palm-flat on the wooden floor and pushing herself up and off of her previous captive. Idate rolled over onto his back, ready to sit up and the site that greeted him made him bite his lip and stare. The pink haired woman in front of him only had a short silken robe on, a robe which hung open from the waist up where it was belted. He couldn't control the pace his heart set then and the heat engulfing his body.

His stare was too intense and it made her nervous. Sure, she'd known a bit about this boy…

Correction, man, Sakura's mind assured her.

But that was several years ago. Of course, any guy that proposed to her the moment he saw her had to be intelligent. But still, why stare so ardently at her? She couldn't look that haggard even if she'd just been abruptly woken or only returned from a rainy mission last night.

And he certainly wasn't a poor sight for her to behold. Bare toned chest with a rippling muscle or two when he moved. Tousled dark hair down to his shoulders and still slightly spiky even pulled back, a small factor that she quite appreciated in men; sometimes she had to wonder if that was because of her boys. He had a handsome face as well, smooth, defined.

When Sakura finally averted her own stare, she gave herself a once over, feeling a bit inadequate in this man's presence. At which point she let out an indignant screech, jerked her robe shu,t then gave Idate a furious glare as she'd obviously figured out his motive for staring.

"You," Sakura snapped, pointing one slender finger his way, "don't go anywhere." And with that she left the room, wrenching the door shut in her wake.

First, she had to get dressed. Then, then she was damn well going to get some answers. She'd drag Naruto out of bed if she had to; he always had an open mouth. Although Sakura could see no reason for Idate to withhold information when he was in their house and even Konoha for that matter. Why was he here and not in Tea?

So damn many questions…

Idate wouldn't say it was fear that was wrapping itself around him stomach now, but then again he didn't know what else to call it. It couldn't be helped though, after all hearing the tales of Haruno Sakura, the next Slug Queen, or so they said, could certainly strike a little fear in anyone. But Idate's fear seemed to lie more in rejection; he feared her words, words that would tell him he wasn't worthy enough to be in Konoha again, let alone be around her. Where he got that idea Idate didn't know; Sakura had been anything but cruel or heartless when he'd met her.

Her glorified name threw him off kilter. Glorified. The only people he'd ever met who were said to be so had been haughty, uncaring, ruthless tyrants who tried to conquer everything and everyone. It wasn't possible that Sakura had turned into one of those monsters, right?

There was only one way to find the truth though. He'd just have to talk to her, interact with her, get to know the new and older Sakura. If she was anything like she had been when he'd met her… well, his heart was already gone, lost to that girl, but perhaps, if that girl was still in there somewhere…

When Sakura peeked her head in the door Idate was still sitting on the floor, shirtless and intently staring at a wall. He was obviously lost in some deep thought, or so the crinkled brow of his told her.

"Idate?" She said softly, her anger having deserted her while she was dressing. Now the concern of a medic and a kind heart took the lead. Had she hurt him accidentally? Or was there more to his being back in Konoha that she knew yet? Yet another two questions she now had to get answers to.

Idate shook his head distractedly, tied hair brushing against his shoulders. Sakura's emerald gaze trailed after the chocolate strands.

"Hmm, Sakura-san?" he spoke gently, mirroring her own tone.

"Would you like some breakfast?" Where that had come from Sakura would never know. She'd meant to get right down to business but instead she'd damn near offered to serve him breakfast. What was wrong with her? Her authoritative manner had gone straight down the drain with the water she'd used to wash her face apparently.

The surprise on Idate's face might have made her laugh if her mind wasn't still processing her own words. "Um, that… that would be nice, Sakura-san." To say Idate was taken aback was an understatement. He'd expected interrogation at the least; to be pummeled to death had been more likely in his opinion. Everyone knew of her strength, it was only surpassed by her medic skills. Both were followed closely by her known temper, which Idate didn't particularly want to be subjected to.

"Well, come on then. Follow me," Sakura commanded, finally reigning herself in and being assertive. She had always been one for words before action; although she didn't mind using her chakra-enhanced fists to get what she wanted or needed for herself, her team, or Konoha. Waking with a strange man had done more than just startle her especially with one as attractive as Idate, both of which she'd never admit to.

He tailed after her closely even though he could have made his way to the kitchen without direction since he had, after all eaten there the night before. Idate had expected to see Sasuke or Naruto when Sakura and he entered the spacious kitchen, but neither was present. It was only when he glanced at the clock hanging over the small breakfast table that he realized why. It was still quite early; he had, apparently, chosen the wrong room to stay in as the sun always shone through at early hours.

Sakura could have told him this had she been there when he'd arrived or even knew he was staying with them as she often chose to sleep there when needing to rise early. Not only did she despise squeaky door hinges but shrieking alarm clocks as well.

Eggs. Eggs were good and cheap and tasty. Sakura could only hope that Idate didn't dislike them. Snatching a kettle and frying pan from the cupboard, Sakura figured the number of eggs she'd have to cook for the boys as well. First she wanted her tea, but she figured the butter could melt while she was doing that so she plopped the pan onto the stovetop and added a slab of butter. While she was reaching into the refrigerator for the eggs she heard shuffling behind her.

Pivoting on her heel, she was all too ready to find Idate hovering with kunai or some other weapon in hand. Instead, she watched as Idate filled the kettle with warm water from the tap and then set it on the burner, heating the water for her tea.

Coincidence, she told herself. He must like tea, too.

"Do you like green tea?" Sakura said, curious to see if they had similar tastes.

"Ah, no. I don't care much for tea, Sakura-san."

He was being too nice, too polite for all that had happened only a few minutes ago in the bedroom. She'd attacked him while he was half asleep and then offered to fix him breakfast; she could have understood confusion, anger, annoyance but this blend of nonchalance and courteousness was suspicious.

"Do you like eggs?"

"Of course, Sakura-san."

"Do you like toast?"

Idate didn't understand where she was heading with these simple questions but he figured he could humor her. "Yes.

Sakura, eyes burning into his, finally snapped, "Are you here to hurt me or those I care about?"

OMG, I updated... and it's three in the morning and I'm dead tired thus a short and shoddy proofreading was done... hopefully nothing too obvious was left in there, haha. Like I always say, don't get discouraged when it takes me a while to update... I'm going to finish all my stories, because I love them : ) Just lots-o-stuff going on lately... but things will get better and I'll be able to write more soon hopefully... As always, enjoy and thanks for your patience and all that good stuff!