*Disclaimer: I do not own "Naruto" or any related characters*

Sakura had never been able to hold her alcohol well, and tonight was no exception. Temari had challenged the Leaf girls to a bit of a drinking game. Hinata barely lasted the first two rounds. Tenten was holding up surprisingly well, Ino right behind her. Sakura however, was a tipsy mess. The kunoichi was stumbling all over the place and seemed to have lost all her inhibitions.

Shikamaru elbowed Naruto, "Someone should make sure she gets home safe." Naruto glared at his friend.

"Well then, why don't you?"

"I've got to convince that one (pointing to Temari) that she needs to put down the sake bottle; not looking forward to that actually," he let out a sigh. The sand kunoichi rather enjoyed her sake. It would be a bear getting her to call it a night.

"Well what about you?" Naruto asked in Kiba's direction. He and Choji were leaning up against each other trying to remain vertical. They both were barely in shape to get themselves home let alone a drunken Sakura. "There's gotta be someone else who can take her…" the blonde looked around the room. Neji was sure to take Tenten home; Lee was long since gone; Shino would probably flat out refuse; Sai was going to take care of Kiba and Choji… There really was no one else who was fit enough or trustworthy enough to take the pink haired woman home. Naruto sighed.

"Come on, you're her teammate. Isn't it your job to take care of her?" Shikamaru, despite being the genius he was, had no clue how deeply those words cut into Naruto's soul. Naruto said his few short goodbyes before making his way toward Sakura.

"Uh, Sakura, maybe I should see you home," the blonde asked tentatively. Sakura looked at him.

"You want to take me home? You?" She tilted her head to one side in disbelief. "Why do you care?" Her voice was steady; the alcohol in her system let the words form freely in her mouth.

"Come on, let's just get you home," Naruto encouraged her. But the woman just looked at him blankly. Naruto gently put his hand on her back and led her away. He put on her coat for her and made sure she had all of her belongings.

She was wobbly and unsteady on her feet, and the winter snow and patches of ice did not help. He was going to have a little bit of trouble making sure she did not fall. For a while the pair simply walked on in silence the snow crunching beneath their feet.

"Naruto," Sakura broke the silence, "you know, I really care about you." Naruto rolled his eyes; why was it that when intoxicated, people seemed to love anyone around them. The ninja chuckled lightly as he remembered the night Kiba declared his love for him and Ino and Sai and then a lamp… good times- the shinobi thought to himself.

"You don't understand; I really like you Naruto. You've always been there for me and you care about me." Naruto tried his best to ignore what his teammate was telling him. He tried in vain to remind himself that it was the sake speaking, not his Sakura. Still she continued.

"It hurts that you don't like me anymore. I miss …" she stumbled. Naruto reached out for her and held her close. Her green eyes searched his. "I miss you." Naruto grunted and helped her to her feet again. They were almost to her apartment. Once there he could drop her off safely and be on his way. He wasn't sure he could take much more of this.

The stairs were out of the question for Sakura tonight; she had enough trouble with flat surfaces as it was. He scooped the girl into his arms and carried her up the stairs. The girl in his arms wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled into his warm chest. The smell of her hair, the warmth of her body, the feel of her light frame made Naruto blush. He fumbled with her keys trying to unlock the door. He looked around her modest apartment; he thought twice about turning on the lights. His drunken teammate would not appreciate the burning light right now. He carried her down to her bedroom and set her down on her bed.

"You'll be ok right?" he asked. She did not answer. He was not completely sure how much she had to drink. Sakura tried to take off her coat and was finding it rather difficult. Naruto looked down at her; he really should help. He reached his hands out cautiously to help her undo the many buttons on her winter coat. He took her coat and hung it up in her closet. He scanned her room for some sort of nightgown. He quickly found a baggie T and flannel pants. He grabbed the items and handed them to his dazed teammate. He guided her to the bathroom and stood outside, listening in case she fell. She emerged after a length of time.

"Ok, now get some sleep. You need it." The girl looked up at him from where she sat on her bed.

"You don't care about me anymore," she stated bluntly.

"Of course I care about you."

Sakura shook her head, "No, not like you use to. You don't love me anymore do you?" Naruto froze. How was he supposed to respond? Green eyes pierced his heart. He could not lie to her.

"Sakura, I do love you, and I always will," his voice low and soft.

"That's what Ino said too, but I don't know. I think it's funny. I finally start falling for you and you don't seem to want me around. Maybe that's just my luck when it comes to love…" her voice trailed off.

Naruto repeated to himself that this was only the sake speaking. She probably would not even remember saying all this to him when tomorrow came. Silent tears fell down the kunoichi's face. Naruto could not stand it. He sat down on her bed near her and gently wiped away her tears. Sakura reached her arms out to him; soon she found herself wrapped up in his strong arms.

She had no idea how this was killing him inside. He should not be here; she should not be saying these things to him. She deserved so much better than him; he had to walk away, that was best for her. But for the moment, he could not let go. He held her close and took in her sweet sent. He loved her so much it hurt.

"Naruto," she whispered, her eyes shifting to reach his. There was a tenderness in her voice, a softness in her eyes that captivated him. "Naruto, I think I love you." Blue eyes filled with tears.

"Sakura," his broken voice called out to her. She moved closer to him, their faces inches apart. She gently tilted her head and closed her eyes, her long lashes resting lightly on her cheeks. Instinctively, he closed his own. Her soft pale lips met his. Pleasure and warmth coursed through his body; never before had he felt this way, so alive, so complete. Sakura leaned into him as if asking for more. He wrapped his arms tighter about her and pulled her into him. Years of desire were expressed in that one kiss. He had waited for so long to kiss the girl he had loved for ages. The pair broke apart to look into each other's eyes.

Naruto shook his head. "I have to go."

"Don't go, stay," Sakura pleaded. Naruto gently pushed the girl away from him. He held onto her shoulders and he kissed her forehead, tears slipped down his cheeks.

"I can't, Sakura. You can't love me." He rose and turned his back on her. She looked at him confused and hurt.

"But… Naruto…"

"Goodbye Sakura." He left her there alone in the darkness.