Oh wow, so it's been almost a month since I last updated, I am SO sorry guys! DX I completely lost track of time, I did not realize it had been that long lol. My bad! Maybe a really rather fluffy chapter will make it up to you...? :3
Disclaimer: I do not own "Naruto" or any affiliated characters; all such belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
Chapter Six
The weeks passed gradually, both Naruto and Sakura falling into specific routines to help the village in their own ways. Sakura was often at the hospital or running from home to home from before sunup until after sundown, returning to Amaya's only for a quick dinner before falling into bed; Naruto was put to work helping to rebuild the town, often gone even before Sakura woke and usually returning as she was falling asleep. Sakura chose to ignore the nagging sense that his schedule worked out this way less because of how long the villagers needed him and more because he was avoiding her; she knew due to her own hectic schedule how unpredictable their current lifestyle could be. Still, she found herself missing him as she climbed into an empty bed every night...another nagging sensation she chose to ignore.
Sakura managed to finish up with her now-regular rounds at the hospital a bit earlier one evening and, after deciding to make some quick house-calls, headed back to Amaya's home. She took her time wandering throughout the village streets, which were still relatively empty with so many sickly or working villagers out; those who were home often gave her a genuine smile and a joyful greeting, which she returned without stopping. It was amazing how quickly the majority of the villagers had changed their minds about their initial negativity towards the newcomers; but then, once they realized they were only there to help, they began to instantly warm up.
Normally Sakura would have paused and conversed a while, building rapport with the villagers, both to be nice and to gain their trust in case the need ever arose for her to have to care for them or their loved ones. However, today was a bit more special than the rest and she had to take advantage of the extra time she'd received in order to prepare for the plans she'd made with Amaya-san earlier in the week. A grin made its way merrily across her lips as she thought about it; hopefully everything would work out perfectly!
Once she reached Amaya's, she discarded her jacket and work clothing, changing into something more casual; a mint-green sweater over white pants, feet bare. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail, its length now reaching the nape of her neck rather than its usual short, spiky style from when it was cut. Hurrying to the kitchen, she greeted Amaya warmly with a kiss to the cheek and began to help her with preparations for dinner.
The next time Sakura got a chance to glance at the time, it was past nine o'clock and there was yet to be any sign of Naruto. She frowned, hoping that he wouldn't return as late as he had been lately; dinner would be cold and she wasn't sure she could stay up all that late, even if she had gotten off work early. However, fifteen minutes later she heard the front door open and slide shut, the shuffle of shoes being removed, and then bare feet padding towards their bedroom before returning a few moments later heading towards the kitchen. Sakura grinned at Amaya, who grinned back, and the two remained silent as Naruto approached.
"Oi, Amaya-baa-chan, sorry I'm late; is there any dinner left...?" Naruto's voice carried down the hall, ending abruptly as he entered the kitchen to be met with the two females exclaiming, "Happy birthday Naruto!" as they grinned with all their worth.
"S-Sakura-chan...baa-chan...?" the blonde stuttered in confusion, looking from one female to the other and back again. Amaya laughed heartily and waved him in, motioning towards the small feast on the table before them.
"Come, eat, Naruto-kun! There is plenty to be had," she told him, beaming with pleasure at the surprise still evident in his eyes. Naruto took a hesitant step forward, glancing at Sakura, who grinned at him, pulling him down to sit once he got close enough. She placed a large bowel of miso-pork ramen in front of him and gestured, saying, "Eat up!"
"Ramen!?" he cried in delight. "But I thought the village didn't sell it here?" He grinned finally, happiness lighting up his blue eyes as he dug into the noodles. Sakura smiled secretively before giving in to his question, replying, "They don't, but I packed some for the trip; I knew you'd go crazy without at least one night with your favorite meal; what better night than your birthday?" Naruto gazed at her silently for a moment, his blue eyes wide with something akin to shock. Sakura's smile began to fade as she recognized the emotion and she placed a hand near his elbow questioningly. Naruto's grin instantly reappeared and he replied, "Arigato, Sakura-chan!" before digging into his birthday dinner.
The three ate, talked, and joked throughout the meal, which provided a great outlet for some of their stress; Naruto complained about his 'boss', the lead architect of the village, who continuously ran him into the ground with work, while Sakura reported on some of her patients progress as Amaya listened intently to them both, the wide smile on her lips never faltering.
Finally dinner ended and the two Konoha ninja helped their hostess tidy up before the two women presented Naruto with yet another surprise; his birthday presents.
"Aw, baa-chan, Sakura-chan, you didn't have to get me anything!" Naruto protested, a faint flush staining his cheeks as though he were embarrassed. Amaya simply laughed at his antics, thrusting a wrapped package into his hands and insisting he open it. With one last look towards the old woman as though for permission, Naruto ripped into the package, laughing in delight at what he found.
"Oi, baa-chan, this is awesome!" he grinned, holding the black sweater up for all to see. It was hand-knitted, a large orange spiral accenting the middle of the fabric's front while 'Uzumaki' ran across the back under the neckline. Naruto fingered the material gently, giving Amaya the most sincere smile Sakura had ever seen; she wasn't certain, but she thought she even saw the glint of tears in his cerulean orbs before he looked away, gazing at the sweater.
"Here," Sakura said gently, smiling at him as she handed him her gift. Naruto's gaze held hers for a moment, gratitude and unpretentious happiness reflected there. Sakura blinked, slightly stunned by the intense emotions he allowed her to witness after so long being stonewalled by him, and then he was ripping into the paper and grinning in delight once more.
"So cool! A new weapons kit!" He held up the weapons pouch, complete with brand-new kunai, shuriken, scrolls, wire, and other ninja necessities, for inspection before carefully replacing it within the box to look at the other gifts. His eyes sparkled with joy as he saw the new frog-shaped wallet and matching handmade scarf and hat set. Grinning so hard Sakura began to fear his features would become stuck that way—as though they weren't already most of the time—Naruto began to thank them profusely. Amaya waved away his many thanks with a smile, insisting it was the least she could do when their presence within her village brought such joy and support.
Sakura waved away his thanks as well, smiling as she stood, stretching and announcing she was retiring to bed; the day had been long, albeit exciting, and now she was ready to get some sleep. Bidding the two a good-night, she made her way to their shared bedroom where she prepared for bed in record time. She was just about to slip beneath the sheets when Naruto came in.
"Sakura-chan," he murmured, causing her to turn around at his tone. He watched her, a serious look in his eye as he laid his gifts down near his backpack and belongings. Sakura raised a brow in question to his tenor, wondering why he seemed so solemn all of a sudden.
"What's wrong?" she finally asked when he failed to say more. She sat on the bed, one leg tucked beneath her while the other dangled over the side, watching him intently. He stood at the far corner of the room, the same place he had attempted to make his bed their first night there, just watching her, his jaw moving subtly as though he were nibbling the inside of his lip in thought. Sakura felt her cheeks heat slightly at the intense gaze; Naruto never studied her like that.
"I...want to thank you—" he paused as Sakura hurriedly interjected with, "Oh, there's no need; Amaya-san and I did it because you deserve—" she stopped as he began to take a few steps toward her. Suddenly her throat felt dry, the sensation of butterflies fluttering within her stomach and she had no idea why she was suddenly so nervous because really it was just Naruto.
Right...just...Naruto.
He stopped a bit in front of her, hands clenched inside his pants pockets. He watched her a moment more, unaware of her galloping pulse or her disjointed thoughts, before he repeated, "I want to thank you, Sakura-chan…properly." Sakura's jade eyes widened slightly, her hands clenching the bed-sheets in tight fists.
"Properly?" she murmured, eyes glued to his. He nodded silently and she tried to focus on breathing like a normal human being; for God's sake, why was she getting so worked up? He hadn't done anything to her!
'Yet' seemed to hang in the air.
"Close your eyes, Sakura-chan." Naruto said, though his words only caused her eyes to widen even more. He cracked a slight grin and lifted his hands from his pockets in the universal 'I'm harmless' gesture.
"I promise, I'll stand here and take it if you decide to punch me through the wall for what I'm about to do, but I'm not going to hurt you." He said quietly, a joking tone to his words while his eyes were all seriousness. Sakura stared at him a few moments more in silence, weighing her options before inhaling deeply and closing her eyes.
She heard his breath hitch slightly, as if surprised she'd actually obeyed, and then listened as his steps came closer until she could feel his body-heat against her legs and torso. Her fingers tightened within the bed-sheets, her mind whirling with possibilities of what he was about to do. Her heart about jumped out of her throat when she felt him lean in close and brush his lips against her forehead. She felt his lips move as lightly as butterfly wings against her flesh as he murmured "arigato" once more to her.
Then, suddenly, the heat was gone and she opened her eyes slowly, dazed to find him a few feet away, hands behind his back and a sheepish expression on his flushed face, though there was a heat in his eyes that belied the self-conscious appearance. She stared at him for a few erratic heartbeats, willing herself to grip some semblance of self-control, all the while realizing that in the dark corners of the recesses of her mind, she had wanted him to do more. Unable to think about that as well as what had just happened, she pushed the feeling away in order to focus more on the here-and-now.
"So...uhm...yeah..." Naruto trailed off, shifting uneasily on his feet. Sakura couldn't help but smile at his awkwardness; it really had been a sweet gesture, even despite the turmoil it caused within her. She relaxed her grip on the sheets to pat a hand on his side of the bed, motioning for him to sit next to her. Naruto's look was skeptical, but he didn't resist; instead, he hurriedly changed into his pajama shorts and did as she silently asked.
"Close your eyes, Naruto," she told him, a look of mischief in her own. Naruto swallowed heavily and leaned away from her slightly.
"Uhm, Sakura-chan, no offense but if you're going to send me flying through the wall, I'd at least like the see it coming." He said, rubbing the back of his head wearily. Sakura's eyes narrowed and she waited until he gulped and nodded before obeying her.
Shifting on the bed so that she faced him fully, Sakura leaned in close, placing a hand on one of the blonde's whiskered cheeks, ignoring his instinctive wince, before placing a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth and murmuring, "You're welcome."
She released him and leaned back, smiling as his eyes fluttered open, shock filling them. Without another word, she turned, slipping beneath the covers and turning off the light in a silent "good-night", leaving Naruto stunned in the silence.
Yeah...sorry if they seem OOC at the end, I couldn't help it . Apparently I was in a "fluff" mood, so there ya go. XP
I'll try not to make you guys wait so long next time! . I really need to start writing on this again, though, since I've only got 10 chapters so far...which means you guys are catching up pretty quick. :c
Well, I hope you enjoyed! R&R is always appreciated! :D Reviews = love!
~Miah-Chan