I'm sorry for taking this long to put in details I forgot about.
They are at the 12/13 age, somewhere inbetween the Land Of Waves mission and the Chunin Exams. If anyone needs me to clear anything up, let me know!
"Hey Sensei, where's this spot?" Sakura asked, breaking the silence of a few minutes. Other then Sasuke, we were never quiet. We had walked or ran all day, clearing a huge distance between the Leaf and Sound villages. Dusk had just begun.
"We're almost there, actually. There's a clearing to the right after the next…quarter of a mile, or so." Kakashi answered, head lost in his book as he walked.
My brain sparked an opportunity. "Race you!" I exclaimed suddenly, only taking one glance at Sasuke before bolting forward.
He was quick to match my pace. I could hear Kakashi sigh and Sakura cheer behind us. He caught up to me, now we were side by side. We fought for the lead, taking turns getting in front of each-other.
I gasped suddenly. My foot caught on something. I tried to catch myself, but instead ended up falling forward and landing on my stomach. "Ow!"
I didn't have enough time to react, so I didn't get up. I stayed that way in amazement.
Sasuke slowed, losing momentum. He skidded to a stop, then turned around. "Sorry, dobe."
I crawled off my stomach and to my hands and knees, looking up. "What do you mean, 'sorry'?"
"I think I tripped you," He mumbled. "Didn't mean to." He came closer and offered his hand. "Here."
I looked at his hand for a half a second too long. Why wouldn't he take advantage of the situation and win, accident or not?
"Like it down there?" He asked, shaking me from my thoughts.
"Uh…No." I grabbed his hand, and he helped pull me to my feet. His hand was hot and sticky.
He let go, and I found myself disappointed.
"Hey, why'd you stop?" Sakura called, catching up to us along with Kakashi.
"The dobe tripped." Sasuke mocked.
"Over your foot!" I growled back. Then I noticed something. He wasn't an ass when we we're alone. When Sakura and Kakashi are around, he is.
Is he hiding from them that he can be something other then a bastard?
Okay, more importantly Sakura?
"Well anyway," Kakashi interrupted before our argument go any worse. "The clearing is to the right here, hear the water running?"
"I do!" Sakura chirped.
She was happy, so now she was the one running. I almost called Sasuke out again, but thought better of it. The other three of us sighed and followed slowly behind her.
"What do you guys think? Will this work for camping?" Kakashi asked. The trees parted to a creek-side clearing, encircled by coniferous trees like we had traveled through all day. It was large enough for us all to have room to sleep comfortably. The dirt clearing morphed into rocks, some of which were big enough to stand on where the creek started. The creek was four or five feet across. There was a break in the trees across the water that gave a perfect view of the setting sun, just like he had said.
"It's great, Sensei!" Sakura answered.
"Awesome!" I replied.
"Good," Sasuke mumbled.
Kakashi reached into one of his larger pockets, and pulled out an orange cover novel. "Enjoy the sunset then get some sleep." He said, head already in his book. He lowered himself to sitting against a rock, trying not to take his eyes off the pages.
I immediately went for my sandals, pulling them off. I left them strewn on the ground, and walked towards the water. I sat down next to the edge, dipping my feet in the water. "Cold!" I jerked them out and slowly put them back in.
"No, really Naruto?" Sakura said sarcastically, but she followed suit. She left her sandals in a more orderly fashion next to one of the rocks, then sat down about six feet away from me. She put her feet in, shivering, but kept them there.
"Hn." Sasuke didn't take his sandals off, just came down to sit in the gap between Sakura and I. (Much to her enjoyment.) He crossed his legs, obviously not wanting wet feet. He seemed a little dazed to me.
"Look at the colors…" Sakura mumbled. She was looking up at the setting sun. A perfect blend of orange, gold, pink, red, purple, and a slight blue hazed the sky.
"I know, the sunset is beautiful!" I exclaimed.
"What do you think, Sasuke?" Sakura asked, for once not eyeing him. She was too enthralled in the sky.
"Pretty." He practically breathed the words. It surprised Sakura because normally he'd turn his head and make up some kind of nothing special retort.
"It really is lovely," Kakashi surprised all of us. He topped looking at his book to eye the sunset.
Moments when our team could stop bickering and fighting, and enjoy the simple things in life that made it worth living were the best. When Sakura could stop crushing on Sasuke, when Sasuke could stop being an ass, and I'll even admit it, when I'm not annoying. They were my favorite moments.
Too bad they were short lived.
Sakura got too caught up in the sunset. I knew to her, it was all too romantic to not try at Sasuke's emotions. Sasuke was not one to get taken away by the moment.
And damn, she must have been feeling bold.
Silently, Sakura slowly scooted herself closer to Sasuke. His eyes were closed and he didn't notice. Hesitantly, she slid one hand closer to his, which was on the ground. Then she quickly, before he could react, slipped her hand underneath his.
His eyes snapped open, and he slapped at her hand. She drew back, and Sasuke gave her a 'What the hell do you think you're doing?' Glare.
"Sorry…" She muttered.
"What is it going to take, Sakura?" He asked suddenly. I thought maybe he had finally snapped.
"What?" She asked, already knowing what he was talking about anyway.
"How much to I have to reject you?"
She didn't answer. He rolled his eyes, turning his head away because she had began stroking her hand like it was treasure, now that Sasuke had touched it.
I fidgeted, trying to get my own hands to stop moving. I was not jealous. Was not.
Sasuke drifted back into his dazed state. Other then for Sakura's interruption, he seemed relaxed and content in this situation. It slowly began to get darker and darker.
When it was considerably dark, I had found myself nearly asleep where I sat. I had pulled my feet out and dried them off earlier. However, my eyes shot open, and I was completely awake when I felt it. It was only for a millisecond.
I felt Sasuke brush his hand over the top of mine.
It had to be an accident.
I had thought Kakashi fell asleep, but Sasuke's hand pulled back quickly at his voice. "Get some sleep, everyone."
"Yes Kakashi," We all answered automatically. Me more dreary then everyone else.
We all rolled out sleeping mats. Kakashi stayed against the tree. Sakura curled up instantly, her mat father away from all us boys. Sasuke and I were parallel to each other and spread apart on the bank.
"'Night everybody!" Sakura called.
"Goodnight." The rest of us called in unison.
I felt like Sakura. I knew it was pathetic, but I rubbed my hand as I fell asleep. It hadn't been this way when he helped me up, because he was just trying to help me. Now…No, it was an accident.
It had to be.