Back to Camping

When Sasuke and Sakura realized what there, "True mission," was, they were not happy. Sasuke had finally thought he was going to see some real action and he ends up with this half a mission. When they had reached the landmark, the pair was met up with an old woman. Apparently she was some kind of, "Matchmaker Extraordinaire," who needed to be escorted back to Iwa (Hidden Rock.) When Sakura asked her why she replied, "Because the little people are coming." Not a very convincing statement. So here they were, walking through the forest with this tiny old lady flanking them. She was a small frame and slightly overweight. Her hair was long and silver, her eyes a steely blue. Her name was Chuuko Furui.

Sasuke had spent the entire time figuring out just how hard it would be to kill a Hokage. The fact that Furui-san had spent the entire time analyzing him was even worse. Of course she completely ignores Sakura and orally attacks him.

"Such a handsome boy, so tall and muscular."

Sasuke had learned within the first thirty minutes how to tune someone out while still paying attention to his surroundings. Event though he highly doubted an attack, who would ever target this crazy old hag? Plus, they had to go at a speed that accommodated their, "Client." This meant walking painstakingly slow since there was NO way he was carrying her on his back and he didn't think Sakura would either. Stone was already far enough away, so adding on their pace to the distance only extended his stay with the senile woman. It didn't help that Sakura hadn't even tried to do anything to help. She spent the whole time giggling under her breath. Whenever he could, Sasuke sent death glares over his shoulder at her. They weren't long, drawn out ones, but they were hateful enough to get his point across. To bad Sakura seemed to have grown immune to them.

After five hours of walking, the day started to turn to night as darkness crept it's way across the sky.

"We should set up camp here." No one argued. They were tired and rest, even for a few hours, sounded like heaven. Sakura shouldered off her pack and sat down on a log. She started going through the supplies given to her by Tsunade.

Uh oh. Is it just me, or is there only one tent in here?

She checked, checked again, and, because the third time's the charm, she checked another time. Just one tent. Great. There was no chance she was sleeping with the crazy lady (she looked like a restless sleeper and the last thing Sakura needed was a foot in her face). This meant she and Sasuke would have to sleep inside the same tent. It wasn't even a decently sized tent. There would barely be enough room for her in there, let alone her and Sasuke.

After Sasuke had managed to get a fire started, he though to check on Sakura's progress with the tents. When he turned around to do so, he found her staring bewildered at the tent in her hands.

"You do know you're supposed to set it up yourself, right?"

"...Huh? Oh, yeah. I was just, it's just..."

"Just what, Sakura?"

"One. There's only one tent, Sasuke."

Well, that was not something he wanted to hear.

"What do you mean only one tent? Did you search the entire bag?"

"I'm sure. Do you think I want there to be only one tent?"

"Well ... no."

"Good, we're on the same page. Looks like you'll have to sleep with Furui-san."

"And why exactly am I the one sleeping with her when you're the woman?"

"Because I'm the woman. The man is supposed to be the chivalrous one."

"That's crap. Neither of us will sleep with her, I'll just sleep outside."

"Fine, have it your way."

A faint chanting disrupted the glares being fired between the two.

"Aye yo, ching po pui, aye yo, aye yo, dain tri dain..."

Both Sakura and Sasuke whipped around to see what was going on. They found Chuuko dancing around her tent, hoping on one foot, waving both her hands in the air. When she noticed them staring at her, she stopped. Looks like she felt the need to explain, so she did.

"I was casting the protection chant. It is safe now."

"Well, thats, good." Sakura stated while sending a questioning look at Sasuke. He merely shrugged his shoulders and resumed kindling his fire.

(Diner)

Both Sakura and Sasuke had eaten solider pills and energy boosts for diner. Given the fact that it was nearly winter the earth had already been frosted over countless times. Meanwhile, Chuuko had taken a mysterious green goo out of her bag, spread it on her hands, then drew on the ground. Sakura offered her food, but she claimed her spirit was already fed. Well, neither of them were in the mood to argue (or reason) with that.

Just before they were all going to get ready for rest, Chuuko said something out of the blue.

"Are you two together?"

Sakura felt her self choke on air. If it had any impact on Sasuke, he barely showed it.

"Well, no. I mean, it's not that, it's just ... yeah."

Smooth, Sakura, smooth.

"Ah, funny. There are very strong love waves coming from both of you."

Managing to gather her thoughts, Sakura mumbled, "Love waves?"

"Yes, a love wave is when a feeling, love in this case, is so strong it literally emanates off said people. It is rare that it comes from both sides in such passion."

Sakura felt a blush tinge her cheeks. Love waves? Yeah right. Not to mention that the old lady felt them coming from Sasuke too. Like that would ever happen.

"Well, we're not, and I don't feel that way."

The coldness and detachment in Sasuke's voice made Sakura flinch. She knew he didn't feel the same but hearing it out loud, and in that tone, just made it so much worse.

When Sasuke saw the look on Sakura's face, part of him wished he could take back what he had just said. Then again, it was only part of him. The (less responsible) part of him decided he didn't care what she felt. He could say what he wanted. Why would her feelings even matter to him?

(An Hour Later)

Chuuko had already taken the liberty to settle herself inside her tent. Sasuke was busy putting out the fire and cleaning up the sight. They wanted to be able to leave first thing in the morning. Meanwhile Sakura had started unrolling her sleeping pac, settling into the small confines of her tent. There would be no shifts since it was not a high ranking mission and they all needed their rest to get to Iwa faster. Sasuke had decided to sleep directly outside Sakura's tent. This would make it easier to reach each other in case something went wrong.

Sasuke was the last one to go to bed. Chuuko had retired to her tent an hour ago and Sakura had went inside hers not long after. Just as Sasuke was about to lay down on his sleeping mat a white flash streaked his vision accompanied by a crack of thunder.

"Sasuke, it's storming."

He turned his head in the direction of Sakura's tent. There was a faint light radiating from the inside and he heard some rustling.

She's still up?

"Aa."

He turned his attention to the clearing. The way the moon reflected on the patches of grass, the slight sway of the trees in the wind. There were scorch marks left on the ground from the fire pit. Chuuko's and Sakura's tent were relatively close in proximity. This is where the group had decided to keep their bags. The flaps overlapped providing just enough shelter for them. The next flash of lightning and clap of thunder was proceeded by rain.

Great. Well, this is ideal.

"Sasuke, it's raining."

Once again her voice penetrated the night air.

"Yep."

Sasuke could withstand some rain. It was just water. Besides, it wasn't even coming down that hard.

As if mother nature was determined to prove him wrong, the gentle drizzle turned into an angry barrage of water being thrown from the heavens with tremendous spite.

"Sasuke, you're crazy if you plan to stay outside in this."

"Pretty much."

The next thing he heard was the unzipping of Sakura's tent. She poked her head outside, gesturing for him to come inside.

"This is ridiculous, Sasuke. Just come inside my tent. If we scoot really close to the sides we can both fit."

"Sakura, I think I can deal with a little rain."

She was really losing her patience. Here she was being completely selfless and he still decides to be stubborn beyond reason. Not to mention the rain was starting to blow in her face.

"As the medic of the team, Sasuke, I must protest. I refuse to waste my chakra healing your cold tomorrow. Furthermore, if you get sick you'll just slow us down."

Now that she had brought the completion of the mission into question, Sasuke was more reluctant to turn down her offer.

"Fine."

He shuffled his way over to the opening. Once inside, Sakura closed the exit of the tent and turned around. She took the presence of the Sasuke in front of her in.

"Take off your shirt."

"What?"

The bluntness in her voice caught him off guard.

"Your shirt, it's soaking wet. There is no way I am going to get wet, or my sleeping mat, for that matter. Plus, you sleeping in a wet article of clothing defeats the point of you not getting sick."

Seeing the logic behind her reasoning, Sasuke lifted his shirt over his head and placed it near the exit. Sakura couldn't help but mentally smack herself for ogling at his bare chest. There is no way one man should be that ... toned. With her back facing Sasuke, Sakura laid down to sleep. Sasuke did the same thing. Both of them had their faces towards the sides. Once, their backs brushed. Both of them tensed up, freezing where they were. It was like the two of them were walking on eggshells. Neither of them wanted to make the other feel uncomfortable. Of course, they were both already uncomfortable to begin with. Finally the two of them fell asleep, making themselves comfortable where they were.

(Chuuko's Tent)

Chuuko Furui may have been old, but she was no idiot. She knew exactly why Tsunade asked her to go on this mission.

(Flashback)

"You called, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade looked up from her work and greeted the woman in front of her.

"Ah, yes, Chuuko. I have a favor to ask of you."

"This favor would be?"

"Let's just say, giving two shinobi of mine a wake-up call."

(End Flashback)

Chuuko listened to the steady breathing coming from the next tent over.

"Yep, love waves."

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HEY! This took me longer to write then most. Hope you guys liked it =]

btw:for those of you who reviewed asking for danger in this mission to bring the two closer, it's coming in the next chapter or so. fret not! your frequenting of the review page is very much appreciated!

musicXinXtheXdark

(p.s. I'm pretty sure the next chapter will be Back to the Past, or something along those lines)