This time I wake up at night. It's fairly dark, but I can see the outline of someone slouching on my bed. Sasuke? Naw, he already visited. Kakashi? Where's the book then? If it's Sakura, I'm going to stab her where she lies! Oh wait... It is Sasuke. Why's he still here? It's 12:53 am according to the digital clock on the wall. I feel much better, and unwrap my slashed arm. All injury seems to be completely healed, so I check my hand as well. Almost gone. How long have I been in here?!

I lift my covers quickly, checking my leg under my hospital gown thingy. Healed, but with scars; they must've been really deep gashes. Without disturbing Sasuke's sleep, I get out of bed and stretch my cramped muscles. My clothes are on a nearby chair, so I take them, and put them on, happy that I have my own separate room.

I've been acting a bit too chummy with Sasuke lately; what if someone notices?! Like Sakura! She'd kill me! She'd kill me dead! Well, obviously she can't kill me alive... unless I was a zombie! Zombies are awesome! So are monsters, like the cookie monster. I love cookies. Probably not as much as Gaara, but they're yummy just the same! I'm sorry, what was I just thinking about?

Oh, right. I've got to get out of here. I probably shouldn't make Sasuke mad again by not telling him, especially since he stayed here. I hate this place; it smells like cleaning supplies. Yuck! I know; I'll write him a note.

'Ahhh! A cougar got me!!

Just kidding, don't kill me. Thanks for sticking around, but you didn't need to. Or were you sent to keep me from leaving? If that's it, I'm sorry, but you've failed! HA: P I'm going home now because I'm okay, so I'll see you tomorrow at the usual spot.

Later Sasuke!

-Naruto Uzumaki '

Written a bit messily (is that a word? Ya, probably...), but it'll have to do for now. I wonder if he'd believe me if I wrote it in blood on the bed sheets? ... No, that would just be cruel. I put the note in his hand, and jump out the window. I take one quick look around, before taking off in the direction of my house/mess/what-ever-you-call-it.

When I get there, I fling the door open, and find my suitcase just left there. Thanks guys. Just throw it in my house and leave. You idiots broke a lamp! I walk over to right the fallen object, wondering how long it'll take me to replace it. After a second I realize with a sigh, I probably never will. I'd better fix my ripped blanket later, but I'm still tired, so I go up to my room. I set my alarm for a bit earlier than usual, and fall asleep almost instantly.

Later my alarm clock goes off in my ear, tempting me to chuck it across my room. I decide against it, but give it an extra smack to shut it off. Time to get up and start fixing things. Number one on my list is to sew up my ripped clothes. I've only got seven sets of my outfit, and they stopped making them, so I have to take good care of what's left. They all have some sort of injury somewhere... (My clothes, I mean. Not the people who stopped making my outfits; even if I wish they did…)

I take off my clothes as I head to my bathroom for a shower, and throw my ripped jacket on the floor in the hall. As I feel the hot water, I suddenly wonder about the hot spring at the campsite. Hey! What happened to my tent?! Why didn't they wreck my house throwing that in the front door? Oh well... it was crap. No, worse; it was what crap wanted to be when it grew up.

After, I walk down my stairs in my boxers, scrubbing at my wet hair with a towel in one hand. My 'I-just-got-fixed-woo!' Clothes drag a bit behind me, dangling from my free hand.

"Naruto?"

Someone calls through my front door, making me freeze at the bottom of the stairs. Standing in my front door looking around, is Sasuke. Where the heck does he keep coming from?! He catches sight of me and sighs.

"Hurry up, we're going to be late!"

I look at my watch.

"AHH!! Where did the time go?!"

"Into the past, duh. Get dressed and quit gawking at your wrist watch."

I quickly oblige, grabbing a piece of now cold toast on my way out. We run down the street quickly, heading for the bridge where we'd been making our morning team meetings.

"Why did you come get me?"

"You were going to be late."

"Sensei's never there anyways! Tell me!"

"Okay, I was just making sure you didn't get lost on your way home. Or bumble yourself into trouble anywhere between last night and now."

I pout, hurt.

"I'm not that bad."

I say quietly, but he doesn't answer. We skid around the last corner, and catch sight of Sakura.

"Oh! Sasuke!"

'Oh!' ... What about ME?! I just got out of the hospital!!

"Oh, and Naruto."

Good to know I'm at least an after thought. I fume silently at them both, and look over the bridge into the water below. There're gold fish swimming around, and I scare them away by dropping a leaf in. I watch the ripples, ignoring the fact that Sakura is totally hanging off Sasuke, who's attempting to evade her to no avail. I must be having trouble shutting it out, because I'm thinking about it, but... It's bothering me.

I turn, and Sasuke is giving me an 'I'll-do-anything-if-you-save-me' look. I just can't resist that look; it's so rare.

"Hey, Sakura!"

She turns to me, and I push her off him. From his expression, we're not out of hot water yet. He's behind me now.

"What?!"

"Quit bugging Sasuke!"

"I'm not bugging him! He likes me, right Sasuke?"

"..."

His face is now emotionless.

"No he doesn't! Just give him some space to breath, or I'll throw you over the bridge!"

"What do you care?!"

"It's irritating seeing you hanging off him all the time! You're like a leech!"

She gasps, and I know I'm going to pay very dearly for this. I'd rather face another cougar. Sakura isn't even cracking her knuckles to kill me she's so mad. I can just hear the wheels turning as she conjures up some very nasty rumours. All she has to do is tell Ino, and the rest of the world will know instantly. I'm about to run away to find the quickest way to kill myself, when Sasuke comes up behind me and drapes his arms around me. I stiffen.

Both Sakura and me share the same expression of shock. He rests his cheek to mine lightly, and smirks at Sakura.

"Get it? I'm taken."

Sakura and I seem to be mirroring each other perfectly, our mouths going like a fish out of water, but not saying anything. Finally she manages.

"B-but how?! When?!"

"He did steal my first kiss after all. Don't you remember?"

That's true, even if it was a total mistake... I'm still completely shocked, and I have to fight hard not to pass out in happiness, even if he doesn't mean it. She's giving us a doubtful look, and I think she sees through the act. Sasuke discreetly pokes me to shake me out of it, and whispers

"Come on, work with me."

I still don't know what to do, but I relax instantly. Sakura notices, but doesn't seem to know what to think or believe. I mean, as a faithful fan girl, how can it even be conceivable that Sasuke could be Gay? I happen to agree with her. My god is simply trying to get out of a sticky situation, and I don't mind being in the cross fire this time. Sakura puts her hands on her hips, all-knowing.

"I don't believe you. You guys are always fighting, there's just no way."

Suddenly I find myself face to face with Sasuke, his hands on my face, and his mouth is on mine. I think I can fairly say, I can now die happy. Which I probably will soon if I know Sakura. Okay, I can go along with this. Just one little kiss, and we'll be home free. But... But his toung is licking my lips, so I open my mouth willingly. Is she gone yet? Ah, hell! What do I care?! I'm kissing the one person I want to kiss in the whole world! Universe! And it's beyond words! Fantastic or fabulous can never do this justice! He pulls away, and I try not to look disappointed. Or anything for that matter. Okay, I think now would be a good time to faint.