Sasuke easily hopped off the wall and turned back to it. Sakura couldn't move so nimbly yet as she slowly climbed down the rock face. He went to give her a hand but she said, "I've got it," and jumped down the last couple feet.

They wrapped up their things in the spare cloths. Sakura had applied a new bandage to her side. She said the skin was healed but fragile and tender. She picked up her "walking stick" and they headed to the road back to the cottage.

They talked about this and that. Sasuke noted that the river brought trade and news from several different countries to the village. There were people who had settled in the village who were originally from other countries. And that was why the village barely recognized itself as belonging to the Land of Fire. Sakura talked about changes to Konoha and how several of their classmates had grown, who had become jonin and how they had distinguished themselves. Sasuke had heard several of the details before, but largely as rumors that couldn't be confirmed.

The afternoon was stretching out before them, just shy of sunset. Sasuke realized he was quite hungry and Sakura was slowing down, clinging to the pole.

Sasuke stopped Sakura and offered his back. "You look like you're going to fall over, let me carry you."

"Oh come on, I can do this." She tried to step around him but wobbled slightly and put her foot back down.

"I don't think you can. Just let me help you already." Sasuke felt impatient to get back to the cottage where they could rest in a less exposed place.

"Jeez, I have to walk slow and all of a sudden you treat me like an invalid." Sakura adjusted her pace and moved around Sasuke.

Sasuke frowned at her back. Why did she have to act so independently all the time? Didn't women like it when men did things for them?

But Sakura misjudged where she placed her pole and it rocked in her hands, pitching her off balance. She toppled over but before she could crash to the ground Sasuke got under her and wrapped her up in his arms. "Got you."

Sakura looked up at him from his shoulder. Her mouth opened slightly.

"Now will you let me help you?"

Sakura closed her mouth into a line. She moved to get out of his arms and Sasuke set her down. Finally she said, "How will I carry the pole back?"

Sasuke gave a laugh. "It's kind of pointless. We're leaving tomorrow. I won't need it again."

Sakura saw she had no more excuses and sighed.

Sasuke tucked away a smile and moved so Sakura could wrap her arms around his chest. He hoisted her legs around his hips and let her settle against him. He could feel her move against his back as she coiled an arm over his collarbone. Her breath fell on his neck as he set out and he tried not to think about it.

"As if you'd ever let me give you a piggy back ride if you were injured," she groused.

"Weren't you saying that you finally understood why your patients were grouchy when they couldn't move on their own?"

"Yeah, because it's making me grouchy too."

"Hn." Sasuke felt his stomach rumble and he picked up the pace. Afternoon insects were starting to come out. "Then talk about something that will take your mind off of it."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. What do you do for fun? Was there a party when Naruto become Hokage?"

"Heh there were lots of parties. And lots of drinking." Sasuke could feel Sakura shake her head. "I kinda went overboard with the drinking and ended up doing stupid things."

"Hn."

"Well, not that I ended up getting married or anything!" Sakura twisted lightly on his back. "I just went along with some stupid suggestions. Ugh..." She pressed her forehead to his shoulder.

"Like what?"

"Mhh...it's embarrassing!" Her voice was muffled in Sasuke's kimono.

Sasuke couldn't see how it was more foolish than his story but he stayed quiet.

Sakura put her chin on his shoulder. "I guess you know how drinking leads to bad choices... In this case Kiba, Ino and I were hanging out in a corner and." Sakura stiffened as if to force the words out. "Kiba dared Ino and me to kiss each other. Oh man... and then we did." She put her face back into Sasuke's shoulder.

She spoke into the cloth again. "Ino passed out soon after that and Kiba left. I don't know how I made it home. I remembered it happened in the middle of the next day and nearly screamed. I mean, Ino's pretty but I'm not... you know!"

Sakura sighed and relaxed. "So I figured out I should be more moderate about how much I drink, and I definitely shouldn't get too trashed around Kiba. Ino figured out she should date Kiba."

Sasuke grunted. "I don't drink as much as I used to." He had finally realized the direct connection between drinking and increased desire for female company three years ago. "And I always have several condoms with me."

Sakura lightly grumbled like she didn't need to think about that and adjust herself on his back. They were quiet for a time.

Then, "Sasuke?"

"Mh."

"Do you think... Do you... I mean..." Sakura sighed and turned her head so her breath fell on his neck. Sasuke felt goosebumps go up his arms and hoped they stayed out of sight. "Don't you want to see Naruto? At least one more time?"

Sasuke tightened his grip on Sakura's legs without meaning to. He hadn't expected her to ask that. "Hn. Not now." He answered. He had no idea when he would want to see his old idiot teammate.

"I see. Naruto still misses you, you know." Sakura said no more and wrapped both arms around his collarbone and lay her head on his shoulder. She muttered into his kimono, "I missed you."

"Hn."

They traveled the rest of the way in silence.

At the cottage Sasuke made dinner without a word. Sakura filled the silence with chatter about Naruto meeting with the other kage. They had gotten to know him during the war, although the new Tsutchikage was a captain at the time.

She frowned when describing the meeting where Naruto was introduced to the daimyo. She had a rather low opinion of the feudal lord. He apparently kept comparing Naruto to his father and finding him lacking. Listening to Sakura, Sasuke got the impression that she was far more upset by the daimyo's bad manners than Naruto was. But then Naruto had gotten used to people murmuring insults about him when he was quite small.

They ate their dinner sitting around the fire. At the end Sakura yawned and stretched. Saskue took their bowls and cleaned up. When he turned back he found Sakura had taken the spot where he had slept (or tried to) the night before.

"What are you doing?"

"Hm? I'm sorry to be a party pooper but I'm really tired."

"So lay down in the bed." Sasuke pointed to the pallet.

"No, that's okay, I'll sleep here."

"Don't be stupid, you need to lay down to sleep."

"Don't call me stupid. If you can sleep sitting up then so can I."

"I'll call you stupid if you're acting stupid. You're still recovering so you should sleep in the bed."

"It's stupid to try and tell me how to take care of myself, I'm the medic! You should sleep in the bed tonight." Sakura crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.

"Tsch." Sasuke walked over to Sakura and towered over her. "Get into the bed, will you."

"No. You do it."

"Dammit, don't be so difficult. You're the one who needs the rest."

"I'll be fine."

Sasuke made an aggravated sound. He swooped down scooped Sakura up into his arms. She squealed and struggled as he carried her to the bed. He tried to lower her slowly but with the thrashing around he could barely hold onto her.

Sasuke had to move quickly to keep from dropping her. Twice he thought his hand may have fallen on a spot where it shouldn't, but then she was on the pallet and trying to throw him off. They wrestled for a moment and soon he had her pinned down at the hips, arms twisted away where they would have no leverage.

"Aren't you supposed to be super strong," he taunted.

Sakura growled at him. "Don't be-" She struggled again and Sasuke had to regain purchase, holding down her legs with his own.

"Until you're strong enough to beat me at wrestling, you have to take the bed."

Sasuke was positioned over Sakura. Petal pink hair fell away from her face and neck as she gazed up at him, breathing heavily. Pale skin had a slight flush of pink from exertion. It occurred to Sasuke that Sakura's lips could be fun to kiss. The column of her throat would be pleasant to suck on.

Her breath reached him and he felt desire grip him like a giant hand. He made himself be still as he looked into her eyes, the color of the forest in summer. Pushing himself away from her felt like hauling the heaviest weight he had ever lifted.

"Just stay here." His tone was rougher than necessary. He tossed the blanket over her and turned back to tidying up.

Sasuke could imagine Sakura boring holes into his back with her eyes but he refused to turn around. His stomach felt knotted as he prepared items for the morning. As he imagined it, they would have breakfast and then go their separate ways. It was for the best.

Wasn't it?

He happened to look toward Sakura as he was putting out the fire. She was lying on her side, watching him carefully. He held his breath and looked away. If he looked again he was going to join her on the pallet.

Sasuke wrapped up his nightly tasks and settled on his little nest in the corner. He closed his eyes and forced his mind into meditative stillness. It was going to be another long while before he could sleep.

-傷-

Okay there's a *slight* romantic edge to this. Because SasuSaku!

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