Growing Relationships

Warning lime will be seen in this chapter, so if you don't like it then don't read it. Please no more private messages on how my earlier chapter was just so inappropriate. You have been warned.

With Kagome

'Finally, we're finally heading home.' Kagome thought as she then paused when she realized what her mind had said. 'Home, seems like it has been such a long time since I had a place that was truly home.' She smiled in thought as she followed closely behind Sasuke. Gaara had found her the moment he had awoken and thanked her profusely for the sealing. With some testing they found that he still had his automatic defense, but he had to concentrate a little more when it came to his control over sand. Overall the sealing didn't have much effect over his skills. He hadn't used the demons chakra since his fight with Naruto during the first chunin exams so learning to access the demons chakra threw mediation wasn't much of a concern. The biggest concern for Kagome had been avoiding the traps the old lady Chiyo had continually set for her. It seemed that the old lady didn't like Kagome looking down on her skills in regards to sealing the demon inside Gaara. Dealing with that old woman was enough to drive Kagome insane; it was only luck that saved her. It seemed that Gaara ordered Chiyo to stop attacking Kagome; otherwise she wouldn't be the one to scatter Sasori's ashes.

"What are you thinking about?" Sasuke asked as he stopped, it was late and time for them to make camp and rest. He hadn't spoken that much to her in all the last two weeks, she was almost surprised to hear his voice.

"Why do you ask?" She asked him as she turned to give him her full attention. The night was warm so they would sleep up in the treetops.

"You're smiling." Came Sasuke's simple reply. Kagome almost sighed when she heard his answer; he certainly was never one to beat around the bush.

"I'm just looking forward to being home." Kagome was too tired to play around and mess with his head, so she just gave him his answer. She never heard a reply as they both settled down for a few hours of sleep.

Kagome woke with a start four hours later, she had that dream again. Her mind was constantly being plagued with the faces of her friends while she slept. She knew that they wouldn't really think those things; they weren't that type of person. Her friends would never really feel such hate towards her, would they? 'Stupid Kagome. They knew how much I loved them. They knew that I would give my life to save any of them. They wouldn't want me to beat myself over their deaths. I need to stop thinking of them like that, they were better people. I need to focus on protecting everyone in this world.' Kagome was brought out of her thoughts as she felt a hand on each shoulder. She looked up only to see Sasuke kneeling next to her with concern in his gaze. She smiled faintly as she tried to assure him that nothing was wrong. By the frown that formed on his face, he didn't believe it.

"You've been quiet and respectful for almost two full weeks. Tell me what's wrong." Sasuke said in a commanding tone. Kagome frowned at his first sentence, it's not like she was a rude person.

"I'll have you know that I am respectful to most people that I encounter." Kagome said in a hoity-toity way. As she crossed her arms and looked to the right. She flinched when Sasuke right hand softly held her chin and forced her to look him in the eye.

"Tell me what is bothering you." His commanding tone was still there, but it was softer and his voice was surprisingly gentle.

"I dream of my family and well it just isn't very pleasant, the things they say. I never had these dreams until recently." Kagome said as she closed her eyes and felt a lone tear slide down her face. She cringed at the weakness she was showing but she didn't have long to rest on those thoughts. Her eyes opened in surprise when she felt Sasuke's lips on her own. Her eyes soon disappeared as she gave in and deepened the kiss. Their tongues battled for dominance as their hands traveled. They only stopped when the demand for air could no longer be ignored. As they breathed in air they looked at each other with a meaningful look neither had seen before. It was then that Kagome realized her arms snaked around his neck, one had held Sasuke's head while the other stroked up and down his back. Kagome could also feel how Sasuke's right hand had moved from her chin to her right check, his other hand had moved down a bit and was stroking her left breast in a way that sent shivers down her spine.

"We should start heading home." Kagome managed to say shakily as she stood up along with Sasuke. With a nod Sasuke took off and she soon followed.

'Oh, boy.' Came Kagome's only thought, as she looked nervously at Sasuke's back. This was one of the things she was hoping to avoid. She was becoming attached and she knew that if she wasn't careful this would only lead to heartbreak. How could she let a relationship begin if she couldn't even deal with her past? Speaking of which, she would have to tell him if he wanted a serious relationship that was something that she didn't know if she could do.

'Why do things have to be so complicated?' Kagome whined in her mind as she matched Sasuke's increasing speed.

With Naruto

"Hey Sakura!" Naruto yelled as he started heading toward the Hokage tower. Team Kakashi had only received simply missions since they returned from Suna. But even so, Naruto had been so busy practicing all his sword stances he had barely walked around his home.

"Naruto, where did you disappear to yesterday?" Sakura questioned, neither she nor Kakashi were aware of his training habits.

"I have to practice so that when Kagome gets back, she doesn't completely kill me with training. I never thought that wielding a sword would be so hard." Naruto said happily as they started walking to the tower together. Today was the day that Sasuke and Kagome were returning. They would all have the next week free of missions so that they could train and spend time together. The entered the tower and made way for Tsunade's office, when they opened the door they were surprised to see Kakashi there along with Kagome and Sasuke.

"Kakashi isn't late." Naruto and Sakura said at the same time in shock. Everyone chuckled with the exception of Kakashi.

"We're you guys supposed to get back in the early evening?" Sakura asked as she looked at Sasuke with a slight blush.

"Sorry if our early arrival disappointed you." Kagome said without turning around. She and Tsunade had been speaking when Naruto and Sakura entered. Before Sakura could reply Sasuke decided to answer her question.

"Kagome decided to avoid any more attacks so we left a few hours early with the permission of the Kazekage." Sasuke said as he looked at Sakura for a brief moment.

"Attacks?" Sakura questioned as she looked at Sasuke in confusion.

"It seems that the old woman who did the sealing on Gaara didn't like it when Kagome insulted her skill." Sasuke said as he looked at Naruto seeing that he had a question as well.

"Did the extra sealing work?" Naruto asked with hope, he was praying that Kagome had helped Gaara like she had him.

"Of course it did." Kagome said in a hurt tone as she looked over her shoulder. Kakashi cringed; his student was the only one who could be so disrespectful to the Hokage and live to tell the tale. He had no idea what type of relationship Tsunade and Kagome have but it seemed that it was a strong one. As strong as it was strange, Tsunade was the only one Kagome had ever seemed confide in. Kakashi just didn't know exactly what Kagome had shared with Tsunade. No matter what the Hokage wouldn't share, even Jiraiya hadn't been able to get Tsunade to share any of Kagome's secrets.

"You all have a week starting tomorrow before you will be assigned any missions unless there is an emergency, of course." Tsunade said as she dismissed them all.

"Yay! Time to train, right Kagome?" Naruto yelled in happiness as he started heading towards the door.

"I don't think so." Kagome said as she turned around and slowly made to follow everyone else in retreat from the mission room.

"What? Why?" Naruto asked in a mixture of confusion and disappointment.

"If I know you like I think I do, then you have been training constantly since returning. That means you haven't visited with anyone, it's been three years you should get to know everyone again. Team Gai should be practicing in training area five." With that Team seven headed out following Kagome. Naruto shared stories of everything he had encountered with Kagome while she asked questions every once in a while. Sakura tried asking Sasuke about his two week stay in Suna, but his thoughts were else where. Kakashi just read his book as he gave his team knowing glances every now and then.

"It was all fine until the Perverted Hermit got caught and we had to run for our lives…." Naruto was cut off as Lee appeared right in front of Naruto and gave him a hug.

"Naruto, my friend you have returned looking for youthful than ever!" Lee said in a happy voice as he then did the nice guy pose.

"Naruto." Neji said as he nodded his head at the smiling blond.

"Hey, Neji." Naruto said as he walked over, "Sorry to bother you during training but Kagome…" Naruto stopped talking as he looked around. "Where did Kagome go?" he questioned after a moment, he saw Sasuke starting to walk off, Sakura was chatting with Tenten, and Gai was challenging Kakashi to a race around Konoha.

"I don't know she was right here a minute ago." Sakura said as she was pulled out of her conversation. Everyone looked around for Kagome but there was no sign that she was ever there.

"I hate it when she just disappears like this." Sakura said effectively breaking the silence.

"What do you mean, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked as everyone turned towards her.

"It just seems that when ever there are more than four people gathered Kagome disappears. I know that she's not a social person, but it surprises me the way she can't stand being in a group for very long." Sakura further explained as she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Everyone turned and they saw that Teams Eight and Ten were coming.

"What are you doing here?" Sakura questioned as Ino came closer.

"Kagome showed up and said that Naruto had returned and was at Team Gai's training ground. We all decided to come and see how he's changed." Ino said as they turned and saw that Naruto and Kiba were already bickering.

"Where is Kagome?" Sakura asked her friend.

"I don't know she disappeared on the way here." Ino answered as she turned her attention to the bickering duo. Sakura was soon able to forget about her missing teammate as the group headed over to a local barbeque shop for lunch.

With Kagome

'Nice to see so many smiling faces gathered in one spot.' Kagome thought as she watched the group welcome back Naruto and chatter amongst themselves. She backed up from the roof she was on when it looked like Kakashi was going to turn his attention towards her location. She sighed as she headed off to visit with Tsunade.

"Tsunade the girl single handedly beat a member of Akatsuki and held off three others for over two hours. She had a one on one taijutsu match with Itachi Uchiha and was able to come out of it without injury. You know something about her and you need to share it with everyone." Jiraiya said in a voice that made it easy for Kagome to hear through the solid oak door.

"You don't have to worry, Jiraiya. Kagome can be trusted; in fact I would trust her with my life. That girl doesn't have what it takes to betray anyone, she can be a ruthless fighter but even the thought of killing bugs her." Tsunade said to her old teammate trying to calm her down.

"It can't bug her too much, she killed her opponent in her chunin exam and I seem to recall that she was the one to kill Orochimaru. I don't know if you remember but the feel of the energy was different than anything I've ever felt. There is something different about that girl and I need to know." Jiraiya's voice had risen and Kagome could feel the anger travel in the air. At least she knew why no one else was around the tower.

"You're so paranoid, Jiriaya." Kagome said in a cheery voice as she opened the door and walked fully into the room. She smiled when she saw their shocked expressions as she continued to walk forward.

"What are you doing here; shouldn't you be with your team?" Tsunade asked as she gave Kagome a soft understanding smile.

"All four teams got together and I hate being in a group. You know how I hate being in groups, did you really think that I'd stick around?" Kagome said as she stopped within three feet of Jiraiya.

"I didn't expect you to come here." Tsunade said answering Kagome's true question. Tsunade watched as she saw Jiraiya give the girl a searching gaze before he turned towards the front of the room once again.

"Now that you are here maybe you can answer a few questions." Jiriaya said in an untrusting tone.

"I suppose I could." Kagome said in a kind and gentle voice.

"How are you so strong?" Jiriaya asked immediately.

"Every day for the past ten years I have spent at least nine hours training." Kagome answered as she crossed her arms and leaned her head back.

"Why?" Jiraiya said in a questioning tone, it was hard to imagine a seven year old training for nine hours a day.

"For power of course." Kagome said simply.

"For power? How can one you wants only power be trusted. Naruto is like a son to me, if you do anything to harm him I will come after you." Jiraiya said in an angry tone as he looked down upon Kagome.

"You needn't worry, I do want power. However, I want power so that I never have to watch some one I care about die." Kagome turned on her heel and walked right out of the tower towards her favorite place of thought.

"Are you happy Jiraiya?" Tsunade asked as she glared at her long time friend in anger.

"I wasn't thinking. When we were kids Orochimaru held such a similar attitude when it came to battle. I didn't want to see things come out like they did in the past." Jiraiya said in a guilty tone.

"Kagome lost her family at a young age, and she believes that if she had been stronger she may have been able to save them. She is the complete opposite from Orochimaru; he never worked to protect those close to him. Orochimaru was all about being the best." Tsunade said as she thought about her past and some of her better memories.

Meanwhile, Kagome had reached the top of the Hokage monument. She gazed at the stars as she thought over Jiraiya's words. 'Am I so distant that I really appear to be such a threat? Do I really seem so cold that I could betray Naruto so easily? Is this the reason that I have the dreams of my old friends and family, am I becoming what I thought to destroy? Am I really worthy of their memories?' As she thought she felt tears fall down her face, she wiped them away and started walking.

; ) ; ) ; ) ; ) ; ) ; ) ; ) ; ) ; ) ; ) ; ) Several hours later. ; ) ; ) ; ) ; ) ; ) ; ) ; )

"Kagome?" Came a questioning voice that brought her out of her thoughts.

"Sasuke?" She questioned as she turned to the left and saw him approaching. It was then that she realized the sun and fallen on the horizon and it was rather late in the evening.

"What are you doing out here?" Sasuke asked as he walked toward her and stopped just within arms reach.

"I was just letting my feet take me to where ever they felt. I didn't even realize I was here until you called my name." She said as she smiled at him. He sighed and grabbed her arm as he led her to his apartment.

"You never eat lunch, this morning we didn't bother with breakfast and I bet that you didn't have dinner tonight as well." Sasuke said as he left her in his hallway and went straight to his kitchen.

"I've never been inside your apartment before." Kagome said as she followed him into his kitchen, "You don't need to make me anything, I'm not hungry. You could however show me around your apartment." She said in a happy voice, Sasuke just stopped and looked her in the eye before nodding.

"This is my room." Sasuke said as he showed her the last room in his medium sized apartment. She walked in and looked around, her gaze stopped on a picture of Team Seven. She picked it up and smiled as she stared at all their faces. The picture was kept on a night stand on the left side of his Queen sized bed.

"Do you remember the day this picture was taken?" Kagome asked as she looked him in the eye.

"I suppose." He answered after a moment.

"Tell me what's wrong, Sasuke. Ever since we entered Suna, you've been acting strangely." She said as she held the picture even tighter.

"I was worried that my brother was after you. Then the way that Gaara tried to have you constantly in his company I thought that you may make the choice to stay away from Suna. The thought of losing you is terrible; I was trying to tell myself that there is nothing to worry about." Sasuke said as he turned his gaze elsewhere and say on his bed just a little ways from Kagome.

"Sasuke you have nothing to worry about, I'm not about to go anywhere." She said as she turned away from him for a moment.

Lemon Warning!! Don't read if you don't like!

Lemon made by Chibes.

Kagome looked at the photograph in her hand, smiling before she set it down; the conversation they shared about the photo brought into light certain aspects of the Uchiha she normally didn't see. Sasuke sat down on his bed near to where Kagome was standing and watched her discreetly. She had blossomed during the three years she had trained him. Sasuke gestured for her to sit down beside him on the bed and once she had he leaned over to press a kiss on her cheek but she had turned and both teens touched lips. Sasuke realizing that she wasn't opposed to his advances deepened the kiss his hand reaching to cup the back of her head.

Kagome moaned softly at the sensations invoked through his surprisingly skilled lips when she felt him pull her closer and pressed his tongue against her lower lip, running it along the edge asking for permission for her to open up. She did and their tongues twisted around each other and exploring the other's mouth. Kagome eep'ed, slightly surprised when throughout the kissing Sasuke had begun leaning forward forcing her to lean back, and over balanced she fell back against the bed the Uchiha pressed on top of her.

Sasuke pulled away to look at her panting features, her pupils dilated and irises darkened. The hand not behind her head skimmed underneath her shirt and rested on the gentle swell of her bra-covered breasts and his mouth ghosted over hers before he began trailing kisses along her jaw and reaching the apex of her neck where he began to nip and suck at the flesh. Kagome moaned and tilted her head to the side giving him clearer access to the spot, her back arcing from the jolts of pleasure running through her.

His hand tightened it grip and he was rewarded with Kagome's back arcing even more and a tiny mewl of pleasure escaping her lips. Kagome's hands ran along the outside of his shirt before they went underneath to trace the muscles of his back. He paused and groaned against her collarbone at the feelings of her hands touching him softly.

His other hand joined its brother and pushed her brassier up so that her mounds could be free and he kneaded the flesh then concentrated on her nipples which had stiffened under his ministrations. Kagome pushed him off her and pulled her shirt off and removed her bra allowing him to glimpse the flesh he was worshipping. The female ninja then tugged at his shirt telling him silently to remove it. He did allowing for the blue top to hit the ground in the pile Kagome's clothes had made. Kagome examined his body noting with a smile that he was sporting a tent in his pants. Sasuke noticed it and leaned to whisper, "I wouldn't speak, Kagome, you're damp."

She smirked and raised her hips so that she ground against his erection and he moaned at the friction resting his forehead in the valley her breasts created as he struggled to maintain control of himself. Once he did, he looked at her and the impish expression on her face.

He retaliated and began rubbing her core through the material of her pants and Kagome's hips bucked, trying to press closer to the sensation. Her expressions torture for him until he couldn't handle it and removed her pants and panties before doing the same to himself and Kagome was treated to the sight of his pulsing erection that was already glistening at the tip.

He gazed at her body, her face flush from his attentions a hickey already forming on her neck, her breasts erect and red from his ministrations before his gaze dropped to her stomach his hands running along the toned flesh mentally noting her scars which he assumed came from her training with her second family then the gaze dropped to her pelvic area noting that she was glistening slightly with her juices. His lips pressed back to hers as he thrust against her. Kagome raised her hips to angle better so that it would be easier to enter her. When he finally slid his pole in, she gasped at the foreign sensation.

Panting, Sasuke paused after he entered her to the hilt so that he could regain control because the feelings of her vaginal walls contracting around him almost sent him over the edge. He slowly pulled out to ram back in setting a pace he felt comfortable with. Kagome, after getting used to the odd feeling of having someone within her, let the sensation of his pounding wash over her hips rising to meet each of his thrusts. Sasuke, groaned as he realized that he was going to ejaculate and she wasn't near her orgasm, raised her legs setting them on his shoulders and began to thrust with renewed vigor.

Kagome gasped at the new angle and she could feel the coils within her that were slowly tightening, tighten much faster. Sasuke's back stiffened as he came violently. Kagome came soon after him when she felt his seed enter her it had pushed her over the edge and her muscles clamped down on him milking every last drop from him.

Sasuke pulled out, his cock softening and propped himself up with his arms as he watched her recover.

End of lemon, but beware of lime!!

Thanks again for the help, Chibes.

"Did I hurt you?" Sasuke asked as Kagome came down from her high.

"A little at first, but don't worry it was soon forgotten." Kagome said with a smile as she looked up at him. He gave her a satisfied smirk, and then he leaned down and gave her a long, deep, passionate kiss that curled her toes. Without even thinking she wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him closer. Neither paid any attention to their naked state as their kiss took all thought away. They only stopped when their lungs almost burst from the lack of oxygen.

"You should eat." Sasuke said as he settled for just holding Kagome in his arms.

"I should head home." Kagome said after a moment of comfortable silence. She sighed after a moment before she sat up and looked around for her clothes. Sasuke watched her as she started dressing.

"Kagome, don't regret it." Sasuke said as she finished dressing and started heading out the door. She stopped and froze for a moment before she turned and looked at him. He felt like his heart was about to stop, she regretted it already.

"Of course not, Sasuke." She said softly as she gave him a soft smile, before leaving for her own apartment. Sasuke allowed himself his first true smile since the death of his family by his brother's hand.

"Sasuke!" Kagome said in a worried voice as she drew Sasuke's attention to her. He was sitting on his bed and Kagome was kneeling to his side, looking up into his face with a worried expression. In her hands was the picture of team seven.

"Are you okay? You had me worried there for a moment." Kagome said as she stood up and placed the picture back on the night table.

"What happened?" Sasuke asked as he looked at Kagome with confusion. She didn't look like they had a passionate travel in between the sheets with him.

"We were talking and then you just started staring off into space. Then you started sweating and you did moan once or twice. Care to tell me what happened." Kagome said as she turned to face him and then she put her hands on her hips and frowned.

"Daydream." Sasuke said simply without really thinking.

"Daydream? What about?" Kagome asked before she paused and looked him in the eye in pure shock.

"Oh, well I think I'll be going now. See you tomorrow at the training ground." Kagome waved as she made a quick retreat out of Sasuke's apartment.

In the depths of Hidden Sound.

A man of middle height stood staring at a basin full of water. He used it in order to search for any possible threats. The girl he had been observing was powerful and she was merciless. If he could have her on his side he would be extremely hard to defeat. He sighed as he pushed his pale blond hair out of his face.

"Batsu, Bara, Jishin." He called and a mere moment later blurs of his comrades appeared. No there weren't his comrades just his underlings.

"Yes, Lord Akegata." Came their voices at the exact same time.

"It seems that a rare gem resides in Konoha. Go and retrieve her." Akegata said as his pale bluish grey eyes fell upon each in turn. All eyes focused on the image left of a girl in the center of their leader's basin.

"You may go and rest, but I expect you to leave on your trip the day after tomorrow." With that said Akegata left the room and headed down to the medical room.

"Lord Akegata, how can I help you?" A young man wearing glasses asked.

"Kabuto, what can you tell me Konoha and its ninjas?" Akegata addressed the man in front of him. After the death of Orochimaru, Akegata and his group had taken complete control over Hidden Sound and all the ninjas in following.

"Of course, Lord Akegata." Kabuto said as a sinister smile appeared on his face.

//////////////////// Just down the hall. ///////////////////////////

"Well, he was certainly in a bothersome mood." A man of average height with a slight build said as he ran his fingers through his long red hair. His golden eyes crinkled in amusement as he and his comrades sat around a table enjoying peace and quiet.

"Silence, Bara." A short guy said as he glared at the man before him with his deep brown eyes.

"Bochan, you're so mean." Bara whined.

"Don't call me that, you worthless drag queen!" The short one yelled.

"Bara there's no need to make fun of Jishin. It's not his fault that he resembles an eleven year old." An extremely tall man with broad shoulders said in his deep voice. His face was covered in scars, most of which were concentrated on the left side of his face. He was tan and those scars were pale contrasts making his violet eyes draw ones attention. His hair was black as coal with a violent streak going down the right side. He would have been attractive if it wasn't for all the scars marking his face.

"Batsu, I don't look like an eleven year old!" The short guy, with a light complexion and deep brown hair and matching eyes, said. The newly identified man now known as Jishin. He was yelling as he jumped onto a chair and went face to face with Batsu.

"Really? Then why are you standing on a chair, Bochan?" Bara asked as he laughed to the side of the two bickering men.

"Bara, don't make me have to bury you." Jishin said in a scary voice as his eyes glowed for a moment before he stepped down from the chair and walked away from his two comrades.

"Don't you miss the days when we where just mercenaries for hire?" Bara asked Batsu as he watched the retreating form of this child-like companion.

"Ever since taking over Orochimaru's plans, tempers have been tight. I'm starting to miss just focusing on the fight to the death. However, the thought of warring with all the other ninja nations in enough to make up for the slight boredom." Batsu finished with a smile that was soon matched by Bara.

"Glad that we're on agreement. Just wonder what a young girl had to do with our plans." Bara said as he too departed leaving Batsu alone to his thoughts.

"We'll see." Batsu said to the darkness as he turned and started walking away.

Well there it is, not as good as some of my other chapters. Thought I was really going to have a real scene with Sasuke and Kagome didn't you. Still haven't chosen a pairing with Kagome, but it is down to Sasuke, Itachi, Gaara and Akegata. Might change my mind if anyone has a wonderful suggestion. There will be more lemons, and I hope to write them myself. Now nothing about them so when they do come, no flames please. Wondering how the fight between Bara, Batsu, Jishin and the ninja of Konoha should go! Looking forward to reviews, so don't let me down!

Thanks,

AliKat89