NaruSaku Her Arms Part 2

Sakura gasped as Naruto sunk his claws into his own flesh to save her. Among the howls and growls of the Kyuubi she heard Naruto's voice. The one word made her heart clench and mind to race in panic, "Run." The fourth tail formed after a huge explosion of chakra. Sakura looked up in horror at Naruto roaring in primal rage. The memories of the last time she saw him like this ran through her mind. Only this time Yamato wasn't here to seal him, this time she was on her own.

Sakura could feel the evil presence in the air. It filled her chest with pain and despair. She watched as Naruto stood four tails whirling behind him. "Naruto!" Sakura screamed as he roared into the air. Sakura flinched as his head jerked down at her as she yelled his name. His eyes were not Naruto, yet they did posses a certain familiarity. This wasn't like last time, those cold uncaring eyes when his tail struck her. Naruto was still fighting the kyuubi; she still had a chance to reach him.

Sakura slowly walked towards Naruto. He was crouched low on all fours growling. "Naruto… Naruto it's me Sakura." Naruto cocked his head slightly before taking a step back and roaring. Sakura was holding back the tears that blurred her vision and burned her eyes. She took another step towards him and stretched out her hand. "You're my best friend Naruto… Don't you remember? It's me your Sakura-Chan…" Naruto growled again as he shook his head, and sank to the ground. "Naruto please come back to me… I need you." Naruto's cloak began to lighten and his fourth tail started shrinking.

"Come on Naruto we have to get back to Konohoa… I'll buy you ramen, hell I'll even feed it to you. Just come back to me Naruto-Kun." Sakura was now sobbing as Naruto clutched his head in agony. "Please Naruto-Kun, I cant be myself with out you here." Naruto looked at her his eyes briefly flickered blue and the cloak began to disappear. Naruto was down to two tails and the cloak was vanishing quickly when a sharp pain shot through her shoulder. Naruto's eyes went from a soft red to a dark blood color instantly. Sprouting a third tail instantly he lunged at Sakura. Sakura flinched as Naruto's claw shot by her head and sank into the barley living man who stabbed her.

Naruto was losing control again and fast. Sakura couldn't bear to see him go back to how he was so with all her strength she reached out and wrapped her arms around his torso. Sakura had braced her limbs with healing chakra but the demon cloak was searing her flesh. Sakura cringed at bit back a scream as her arms began to burn. Naruto thrashed in her embrace, slowly his cloak faded and he almost slipped into darkness. Sakura looked down at the semi-conscious blond lay in her arms. His ocean blue eyes looked at her "Sak…ura." The anguish her arms were in suddenly seemed so far away as a smile graced her lips. "I'm here Naruto-Kun…" Naruto managed a weak grin as he passed out.

Naruto awoke on the ground next to Sakura. He was lying with his head in her lap. He didn't remember what had happened and that terrified him. Naruto groaned as he opened his eyes, only to find two beautiful green orbs gazing at him. "Sakura-Chan…" Naruto breathed out almost as if he thought this were a dream. Sakura's face lit up into a heat-warming smile as Naruto woke up. She had been carrying him for two days now and his fever showed no sign of breaking. She had heard him talk in his sleep, even in his dreams he was haunted by the demon within him. Sakura also noticed that he called her name often. At first this made her worry for him but she soon began to blush as he spoke her name as if it were the one constant thought in his dreams.

Naruto unconsciously nuzzled closer into her as he began his questions. "How long was I out?" Sakura looked down at him, he seemed to be shaken up very badly. "Two days Naruto." Naruto nodded into her before asking his next question. "Did" his voice died in his throat and he had to choke back his emotion. "Did I hurt you again?" Naruto could barely get the words out of his mouth before he began to silently sob. Sakura looked down at the trembling Naruto with a sad smile, "No Naruto you saved me." Sakura hated seeing Naruto so broken it was not like he was meant to be. Naruto was supposed to be her rock, her strong shelter when she needed refuge. Seeing him break like that gave her the chills, he is without doubt the strongest man she has ever known.

Naruto dried his tears and moved to get up; it was then he saw her arms. Naruto stopped and stared face going blank, as his eyes widened in horror. Sakura noticed his face and called out to him. "Naruto?" Naruto was having difficulty breathing as he looked at the awful burns her had given the woman he loved more than anything. "I really am a monster…" Naruto asked head bowed in shame. Sakura didn't know what to say to him, she had never seen him like this. His body was stiff and moved like it was unaware of it self. His eyes are what made her cringe, they had no light, no hope, no Naruto. His eyes were dull and void of any life, only sorrow and regret were visible in the murky blue/gray eyes of her teammate.

"Naruto it isn't your fault, if you hadn't done what you did we would be dead right now. You saved us Naruto, you saved me…" Sakura moved to his side and wrapped her arms around him and held him close. "You are not a monster. You are a good man Naruto-Kun." Naruto shook, "Why do you try to comfort me after I caused you so much pain." Sakura kissed the top of his head "Because you would do the same for me…" Naruto's eyes widened and he struggled to hold back tears as he turned into her embrace. "I'm so, so very sorry." Naruto kept repeating that over and over as she buried his head into her chest, clutching him as though he would run away of she let go.

Sakura held him there well into the night until they both fell asleep. The embrace had done wonders for the two of them. It was the only thing that could heal what had taken place. Because Sakura could never blame Naruto for what happened she knew it wasn't him. She knew that he would never hurt her, and he had always done everything in his power to protect her. Naruto could only apologize to her over and over, but no matter how many times he was forgiven he could never forgive himself. He had harmed the woman he loved, the one he swore to protect. So they clung to each other, one out of gratitude and companionship, the other out of despair and the need for forgiveness.

---End Flash Back---

Naruto's shaking had awoken Sakura, she looked up to see the man she loved crying silent tears as he slowly rubbed her arms. Sakura knew exactly what was wrong. It hadn't been the first time he had broken down because of that night two years ago. So as she normally did she shifted upwards, allowing her love to fall into her arms. She gently yet firmly enclosed him in a loving embrace as she whispered soft words into his ear. "I love you, it's not your fault, and you would never hurt me." Slowly the pink haired woman eased Naruto's troubled mind, and he fell into a deep peaceful sleep. Sakura smiled seeing the blond smile in his sleep and tighten his hold on her.

Sakura dozed off shortly after him and the two slept soundly entangled in each other. The smiles on their faces were a testament to the love they had for each other. Naruto's arms were Sakura's shield. She knew as long as she was in his embrace nothing could hurt her. It gave her a peace unlike anything else, and she loved to be held by the man of her dreams. Those arms had saved her life more times than she could remember. Even if one was in a cast she knew that is where she belonged and longed to be.

Sakura's arms were small and delicate. Her skin was smooth and warm to the touch. To Naruto Sakura's arms was his hiding place. In her arms he was able to escape his pain, worries, and stress. Naruto knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that those arms were always open to him, and now they were his to call his home. It is a fact that Naruto's arms had Saved Sakura time and time again in the past. Naruto knew her arms had done something far more difficult, they had saved him from himself. Who would have thought that those tiny delicate pale arms could have held the mighty Hokage together. So the two lay clinging to each other, wrapped in the others arms. Each knowing full well that's where they wanted to be.