NS A-Z

Character spoilers, btw. And 'T' rating is also apparent here.

Don't worry though. It'll calm down for the next few chapters

D: Denial

"Your ankle better now Sakura-chan?"

"Yeah, it's fine now," she replied, smiling.

He beamed at her as they made their way through the hospital corridors.

Sakura had just ended her shift at the hospital, and had literally opened the door to leave a patient's room to find an embarassed Naruto though. He'd got her hot chocolate, and she'd really appreciated the gesture.

She'd shown him via wrapping her strong arms around his neck and pulling him to her.

Out of surprise, he'd dropped the mug.

Sighing, Sakura had cleaned it up while Naruto stared in horror, though she blamed herself as she should have known better than to randomly hug Naruto.

At least it hadn't fallen on either of them.

Naruto had began apologizing profusely, the words coming out a jumble of 'Sakura-chan' and 'forgive me'.

As he rambled, she merely closed one eye and stared at him expressionlessly, until she cut him off by poking his thigh.

He paused and blinked down at her.

"Sakura-chan?"

"It's alright Naruto," she'd told him. "Let's just go out for some."

He was very thankful his nerves had made him drop the stuff now.

But had an onimous feeling when a red head and blond hair who were familiar faces around Sakura came into view.

"Hey," Ino greeted them, Karin in tow.

Sakura blinked at them while Naruto turned away, brow twitching. Just as they were about to go out...

"What are you guys doing here?" Sakura wondered aloud.

"Geez, wasting our time to come see you. Or were you so Naruto minded you really didn't realise?" Karin asked dryly.

With her skin tone matching her hair well, Sakura shook her head and glared at the near wall, choosing not the respond. Her decision made Karin smirk and Ino roll her eyes.

"Where are you and Naruto off to?" Ino sniggered, exchanging glances with Karin.

"A friendly outing," Sakura explained, bristling. Naruto pouted at this in a very obvious manner, which caused Sakura to be the one rolling her eyes.

"A romantic date in disguise, more like," Karin teased.

"We're just getting hot chocolate," Sakura muttered.

"Oh, so then can we come along?" The female blond questioned, trying to stifle her laughs at the look that grasped Naruto's features.

Sakura opened her mouth to reply 'Of course. It's just friendly,' but an intense feeling that slammed into her gut made her mouth form a line instead.

"Well Sakura? Or are you going to...invite Naruto in for coffee after your outing?" Karin taunted.

"YOU'RE ALL COMING, SHANNARO!"

"Sakura-chan, you look cold. Do you want my jacket?"

"What about you Naruto? You're just in a flimsy shirt if you take your jacket off," she responded, indicating to the aforementioned.

He cocked his head to the side and flashed her a smile.

"What kind of Hokage will I be if I can't handle a little cold?" he asked her.

"A warm one," she giggled.

He slipped off his jacket. It was a red colour, with a simple flame design on its back. He had seen it in the shops one day when carrying Sakura's shopping. When she had cornered him about he was sad, he'd eventually told her because he couldn't afford it.

When he'd gotten back to his apartment that night, on the front porch was the jacket neatly folded and covered in clingfilm, with a note from Sakura.

He couldn't tell her how much the jacket meant to him, and how only she was allowed to borrow it. She'd probably think he was so unmanly if he confessed.

"Here you go, Sakura-chan," he grinned as he shoved it right into her face, a weird smile on his face.

"Hold up," Sakura said, pushing it away.

"Aww. Naruto, are you trying to suffocate Sakura with your love?" Karin called from where she and Ino were walking behind.

"N-no. I'm just...a bit...ner-ner..." He pulled the jacket away and forced a massive grin, entire face twitching.

"Nervous?" Ino finished for him, chuckling.

"Oh Naruto," Sakura sighed.

"Y-yes Sakura-chan?"

"Heh, you are going to give me the jacket, right?"

"I want some rich stuff!" Ino decl

"H-hey! All of you quieten down!" Naruto exclaimed.ared for everyone's benefit.

"I'm having the richer stuff!" Karin challenged her.

"I'm having a headache," Sakura grumbled.

"You're the one making her headache worse by yelling at us to shut up," Ino said.

Naruto immediately silenced himself and relaxed, scanning the area.

They had chosen a small little resatruant, which was renowned for its ability to serve food made from scratch at a fast rate. Its colours were a little drab, but Naruto personally enjoyed it. It was simple and cosy, much how he liked it.

"Sakura-chan, what are you having?" Naruto asked her as she peered intently at her menu.

She looked to the boy as he gazed over her shoulder, and felt a tad jittery at his close presence.

She felt Ino's leg shaking with laughter under the table though, so she guessed her expression was priceless.

"Hot chocolate and sushi, I suppose," she said, collecting herself.

"You gotta let me buy it, ok?" He beamed at her.

"I have enough money to buy my own dinner, you know," she reprimanded him, though the gentle expression and weird light in her eyes belied her voice.

Ino and Karin's eyes widened.

"Shit," Ino whispered suddenly and frantically, scooting right next to Karin. "She looks like she's about to eat him."

"I think she'll put me off eating if she carries on with those expressions though," Karin moaned in relply, observing the two others in their own little world.

"Look...we're here for a reason, aren't we? Why aren't we implementing our strategy?"

"Because I don't want to puke all over my lovely dress."

"Aww c'mon Karin. Naruto isn't that bad."

"But I love Sasuke."

"You'll get Sakura riled up."

"Hey Naruto," Karin said in a very flirtatious tone which received a very annoyed glare from Sakura, "you know, your eyes look really blue tonight. What have you been eating lately?"

"Ramen," he replied, giving her a confused look.

Karin blanched. She hated the stuff.

"What Karin means is...that's a very nice shirt you have there Naruto. It shows a lot," Ino complimented him in a suggestive tone, leaning forward on the table and planting her elbows on it, clasping her hands.

Naruto blinked.

"Thanks, I guess."

'What the hell are they up to?' Sakura wondered to herself, gritting her teeth.

"What's up Sakura? You look a little...green there," Ino remarked.

She and Karin flinched at the glower she directed their way.

Naruto frowned in bewilderment.

"What on earth is with you two? Sakura-chan doesn't look green. There's no green on her except her necklace and eyes."

"The necklace you gave her, right?" Karin cut in, changing the subject.

"Oh. Yeah!" Naruto confirmed proudly, unperturbed at the fast change.

"It cost quite a bit. I've seen it in the shops," Ino decided to contribute.

Naruto froze and felt Sakura tense against him.

Crap.

"...Expensive?" she said.

"Yeah. It explains where Naruto's money went though," Ino explained.

She did not turn to Naruto, but instead her hand wrapped its fingers around the necklace hanging around her neck. It was an emerald, with a polished, pattented oak around it.

"You told me Shishou gave it to you," Sakura finally spoke to Naruto, in a soft voice.

"I...well, I knew if I told you I spent a lot-"

"All of," Karin interjected.

"...Of money," Naruto continued, eyebrow twitching, "you'd get angry at me."

"...And you didn't think I'd get even angrier if I found out you lied to me?"

"I, uh..."

"I guess he didn't think it through well," Ino supplied helpfully.

"At all," Karin added.

"You two can focus on ordering instead of talking," Naruto growled.

"Naruto..."

All three snapped to attention at Sakura's tone.

Naruto sunk in his seat, while Ino and Karin leaned forward, engrossed in the unfolding scenario.

Sakura turned to Naruto and grabbed his arm.

Naruto, with his face turned away in case she reacted negatively, tried to look at her out of the corner of his eye.

Her face was coming nearer.

And, instead of her palm touching his skin, it was her lips.

And Naruto's desire to see if she was annoyed at him had overwhelmed his fears, so at the exact same moment he had decided to turn his head.

Karin and Ino's eyes bugged out of their heads.

Sakura and Naruto's merely widened.

'What the-the-I go to kiss him on the cheek and this happens?'

'She goes to kiss him on the cheek and this happens?' Karin and Ino thought.

Naruto was not capable of coherent thought.

He had yet to kiss anyone, so he was clumsy. Sakura herself, for all the boys purusing her, had yet to experience a kiss either, so she shared Naruto's skills in the matter.

However, Naruto acted on his heart and instinct a lot of the time, and the case was no different here.

Sakura's muscles bunched up when she felt Naruto slip one hand around her shoulders and when he planted one on the back of her head. Her heart raced and pounded painfully against her rib cage, so loud it could probably be heard.

She had felt his going at the same rate, but it seemed to be slowing down now.

"Oh gosh!" Ino squealed, grabbing Karin's hands as she gushed. "They're so cute!"

Karin's face, however, did not share the same sentiment.

"Indeed, but...I want Sasuke to kiss me like that," she commented, a well rehearsed put on her face.

Sakura's stomach lurched when the hand on the back of her head gave quite a forecful shove and the kiss was deepened.

A blush dominated her face, as she tried to decide how to respond to this.

The tentative kiss they had been having previously was something she could have pulled out of easily enough, even though it was pleasant. However, shock had barred that path.

Long enough for Naruto to become more confident, and for the intensity of the kiss to increase dramatically.

As well as her enjoyment.

She knew for a fact she wasn't sure if her body would respond to what she wanted right now.

And she was torn, regardless.

Initially, fear had licked her spine. Fear of the unknown she was venturing to.

But, desire and something else had been building up, so much so that it was threatening her need to escape.

And when a hesitant sweep of something against her lips happened, she gave in.

Gobsmacked, the other two who were obviously forgotten by their friends watched Sakura moan loudly and throw her arms around Naruto's neck, pulling him down nearer her level. Her eyes closed.

Her hand then slithered up to his blond tufts and threaded through them almost desperately. Naruto made a noise, which seemed like a wheezy moan, rubbing her tongue with his.

"God damnit, you can stop now!" Karin yelled. "Or if you want to go eat each other's faces off, please just detach your mouths long enough for Sakura to ask you home for coffee, Naruto!"

Ino choked on her breath as a surge of laugther followed right through her body.

Their mouths stopped moving.

Ino groaned.

"You made them stop, damnit!" Ino chatised.

"And I'm the slutty of the trio?" Karin said rolling her eyes.

Naruto and Sakura parted, with one of Naruto's arms having dropped to Sakura's lower back. Both were a brilliant red, but they were yet to make movements away from physical contact, which was odd considering what had just occurred.

"I take it you're going to make buying Sakura jewelry a habit, eh?" Ino said, waggling her brows.

Sakura's eyes shot open fully and she removed her hands from Naruto's hair and neck, instead sitting in his awkward embrace.

She then noted the multiple pairs of eyes gawking at them.

"Ah...Sakura-chan? What just happened?"

She could only redden further and avoid looking at his bemused, red and excited features.

And because she had a bad feeling she wouldn't be able to control herself if she was so near that adorabley dishevelled face.

And no, she was too frazzled to deny her previous thought.

"I think she's gotten past the denial phase," Karin laughed.

"What denial Sakura-chan?"

"N-no denial."

"Like you'll deny your dreaming of Naruto at my apartment?"

"It wasn't that kinda dream, damnit!" she suddenly yelled, pointing a finger at Ino.

"Sakura-chan had that kind of dream about me?!"

"N-no!"

"Yes!" the other girls chorused.

"Ah...hey, Sakura-chan?"

"What?" she replied in a despondent tone.

"You were dreaming about me when you were at my house."

Shock flashed across her face.

When she was on the...?

And she was having a dream where she was about to tell him she loved him then got cut off by the arrival of a mutant?

Shit.

L-loved him platonically, mind you.

"At his house?!" the two girls roared, leaning right over the desk. "Just what have you not been telling us?!"

"There is nothing to tell!" she ground out, slapping her hand to her very hot forehead.

"Hey, Naruto, go to find the waiter and order our food," Karin commanded.

He frowned a bit, tightening his grip on Sakura.

She recalled she was still attached to him...

And made no effort to move.

Ino, playing by different tactics, leaned forward, a solemn expression on her face.

"Ok, Sakura...about your period pains-"

The pinkette slumped down against the seat, lacking the warmth of Naruto's body behind her.

Ino smirked and Sakura scowled.

"So, was it good?" Karin questioned.

"...You don't need to know," she growled.

"Oh dear," Karin tutted. "It's not like I'm asking because I want to kiss the guy. So possessive..."

"I'm not. I'm just saying, it's none of your business," she grumbled.

Ino stretched lesirely, before resting her cheek on her hand and relaxing one arm along the table, tapping it with her fingers.

"Oh Sakura," she smiled, "we'll get you out of your denial eventually."