Ok! Heeeey! Yes, another update! I couldn't leave you guys hanging like that...

But seriously...review. I'm dying here! I'll dry up...and spiral and...die -.-'' which means, no more quick updates.

Omk...im in a spiral Aiyaaa!

OK! On to another matter!

So I'm doing my own original manga.

And I'm looking for an artist! Please help guys! Pleaaaase! I'm seriously begging over here!

I want to get it published and everything, and obviously your name will be on it and all. So if you're interested and want more details, please PM or email me?

hell (underscore_) butterfly

Stand By Me

Chapter 14 - Take Me Out

''Hatred is blind as well as love, you have to turn hate to love. Get me out...from this world of anger and rage.''

Sakura began babbling about shit he couldn't care less about. Why did he care who was seeing who since they were dead and all. Sakura unconsciously licked her lips before she fell into the next couple and Sasuke blinked. He'd never actually looked at her lips before. Full, curved, slightly thicker bottom lip. They were a slight pink, light coral color. Not too much. As she spoke they pouted and curved with her words. No matter how many times Sasuke told himself to look away he couldn't. Fuck.

He wondered if the were a soft and smooth as they looked. He wondered how warm they would be against his own. Which was ridiculous. Kissing was not on his agenda, now. Especially not with Sakura. Where the hell did these fucking thoughts come from? First that very fucking, distractingly sexual day dream about that day she'd been in the bath while he'd showered, a mere few feet away, both of them very naked. He couldn't look at her at all after that.

It had no base, right? Stuff of that nature did not matter to him at all.

Still, he couldn't look away.

She spoke on and on and honestly, he didn't hear any of it. And he didn't regret it either. If he'd been different...better. He would have kissed her right now. Because he could. Just for the feel of it. But he was himself. Anything other than his goals did not matter.

Sakura leaned in with such speed he didn't have a hope of getting out of the way, and then her lips pressed into his.

A tingle, something hot and cold at the same time, went up his spine. A fucking tingle. Shocking his entire body.

Seconds passed and her eyes fluttered open and he saw it in her eyes, she wanted this so much but Sasuke regained his control.

''Sakura!'' he snapped, pulling away with a jerk, but she'd already hopped off the bench and was already walking around it. She paused about half way there and turned to him.

''Your concentration skills need work, Genin.'' she smirked at him before going inside.

Sasuke stared at the door. That comment was meant to distract him, he knew it, but he couldn't care less.

He took a deep breath and it left him as a very unsteady shudder.

Fuck, she kissed him. Sakura actually kissed him. He wasn't pissed...much.

It scared him.

The thought that his lips felt like they were on fire and his hands were shaking like a fucking weakling, pussy's hands.

And he liked it.

Fuck him.

x-x-x-x-

Sakura practically ran to her room, closed the door and hugged herself, grinning like a mad woman. Oh Kami-sama! She kissed Sasuke. Her heart was soaring in her throat. She spun around the room, containing the giggle that wanted to escape.

It was just her lips pressed to his, but still...so much.

He was probably gonna be pissed but she couldn't care less.

She'd waited all her life for that and it hadn't disappointed, in fact, she'd underestimated the effect it would have on her. Geez, she wished she'd stop shaking like a leaf.

She fell down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

Kami-sama.

She hoped she could do that again. Soon.

x-x-x-x-

Sakura made quick work of preparing dinner. She'd set the table and made some tea when Sasuke came in. She risked a glance at him, he was stiff and his face was void of any emotion. Ok...so he was still pissed about what happened earlier. Whatever. She'd expected this.

He sat down and began eating without waiting for her. Sakura took her seat and ate slowly...wondering what the hell was really eating him.

Once his plate was cleared, he set his chopsticks down loudly and Sakura swallowed. Here we go.

''You need to stop.'' he said, an eerie edge to his voice.

''Stop?'' she asked softly, uncertainly.

''Whatever game you're playing at, Sakura. Stop wasting your time. Once Tobi and Kabuto are dead, you will never see me again. Don't hope, don't wish, don't pray. And stop pushing your luck.'' he stood up, his chair scraping the floor and then he stalked out of the room.

Sakura stared at his chair for a while, she wasn't sure how long, before she continued eating slowly. Washed up the dishes, took a shower and crawled into bed.

This was his defense mechanism. She was sure. Even if it was true, he was trying to push her away from whatever was going on in his head. Tomorrow she would...well, she wasn't sure what, but as for right now - she was tired. She allowed sleep to claim her.

x-x-x-x-

Itachi was no where in sight again. Probably wanted to give her space, after he last mental fucking freak out. She sighed and wandered aimlessly, and soon, way to soon, she was pulled from her dream.

She sat up in her bed with a strangled gasp, and was up in the next second.

Sasuke was screaming. It was a terrified scream, and she stumbled from her room and down the hall to his, throwing open his door.

''Sasuke...'' she gasped. He was thrashing around, trying to get away from something.

She pushed herself forward, running to his bed without thinking it through and pulling him to her with one hand while trying to restrain him with the other.

''Sasuke-kun...-'' what could she say, surely she couldn't assure him that everything is ok because...it wasn't, clearly.

''Sasuke-kun...just breath through it...im here...'' and then all together he froze and she knew he was awake.

''Breath...'' she whispered, still holding him to her chest. ''In and out...in...and out...''

Soon, he was following her voice, breathing in sync.

She believed the reason he allowed her this was because his guard was down and he had no will to push her away.

Sakura had no idea what she was doing or why, but she followed instinct.

''That's enough.'' he said gruffly, making no move to push her off, but Sakura sat back, taking her hands off of him.

She didn't ask if he was ok, she felt like it wasn't her place.

''Wanna go train?'' she asked instead, forcing a hopeful face.

''Shouldn't you get more sleep?'' he asked, scowling.

''Not much going on in dreamland for me.'' she said in an offhand manner and shrugged. ''So are you up for it?''

Sasuke watched her for a moment, wondering if he really could train with her before he gave a curt nod.

Her eyes brightened and she grinned.

''Ok! I'll meet you outside in five minutes, ne?'' she hopped off the bed and retreated from the room and entering hers, shutting the door...and the she collapsed against it.

Kami-sama...no...his face...when he'd looked up at her. He'd been trying to hide it...Kami, he must have been so close to tears. She'd never seen that look on his face...so sad and lost.

What had he been dreaming about?

Somehow she needed to know. Itachi would tell her. He had to.

With that decided, she pulled on some training clothes and went outside. Sasuke was waiting against the wall.

The sea looked black in the night and she felt a calm come over her.

''You ready?'' he asked, lifting an eyebrow - his bravado seemed to be back.

''Lets do this.''

He put up a hand. ''Rules?''

''No weapons.'' she said, eyeing his Katana.

Sasuke smirked, like that wouldn't make a difference and Sakura frowned. ''No Sharingan.''

''Sakura, why does it seem like all these rules are only limiting me?''

He was goading her. Fuck.

''Fine, no weapons, no Sharingan, no ninjutsu or genjutsu of any kind.''

''So basically this is strictly taijustu.'' he said and Sakura nodded.

''But we can use chakra.'' she clarified.

''Of course, fucking hell...we wouldn't want to hinder your abilities in the slightest.'' he said sarcastically.

''I'll take whatever advantage I can get.'' she said with an extra sweet smile, taking a step back as Sasuke rid himself of his weapons.

''Lets begin.'' he murdered and disappeared.

Sakura looked around. Above, behind,...he couldn't be under since he couldn't use ninjutsu.

She stilled herself and listened. The rush of the ocean, the icy wind blowing through the leaves. An owl hooting, the slither of a snake.

''Hey! No summonings either!'' she snapped. ''Its ninjutsu!''

Suddenly she felt him behind her and she spun around, swinging an arm at him. It hit him square in the jaw, she heard a curse, if he hadn't grabbed her wrist, she wouldve undoubtedly broken his jaw. Sasuke twisted her arm around, and pushed her into the wall of the house.

''How will we determine the winner, since I already have you pinned within a minute.''

Sakura used her other arm, laced with strength to push away from the wall and into him, her force threw him off balance and he fell back, his grip loosening and she flipped herself over, grabbing his wrists and pinning them to his sides.

''Obviously pinning your opponent does not make you the victor. Unless, of course you can hold it for ten seconds.'' she smirked. ''10, 9, 8,'' Sasuke glared and twisted his palms up to grab her wrists but she pushed herself up and blocked his hands in with her thighs.

''7, 6, 5,'' Sasuke let out a curse and kicked up with his legs, planning to grab her head with his knees but she shot up, using her hands to block her fall, as she flipped away, once, twice, her bare feet hitting the wet sand - keeping her eyes on him the entire time. Sasuke used a hand to flex his jaw and dropped a curse. He began a slow stalk around her with narrowed eyes, as if caging her in. Sakura tracked his movement, dropping into a defensive crouch.

Somehow she knew he wouldn't attack, he was waiting for he to move, to make a mistake.

Sakura launched himself at him, knowing he would dodge at the last minute, she was ready, twisting her foot around and grabbing his shirt, giving it a good yank. Sasuke turned, the force made her stumble towards him, he grabbed her arm and turned her around, pushing her down into the sand, twisting her other arm around too and pinning her down with his knee to the small of her back. Sakura pushed chakra to her legs, intending to lift him up and off her as a smirk spread across her lips. This could really get fun.

x-x-x-x-

They lost track of time and soon the sun was setting. Sasuke had Sakura pinned to the side of the house again, holding both arms above her head, his thighs on either side of hers, blocking her in and his body weighing down on hers.

''5, 4, 3,'' he breathed, and she knew she was going to lose and the only conciliation was that Sasuke was out of breath and seemed as tired as she was.

''2, 1.'' he waiting a breath before he released her hands and dragged them down the wall next to her before stepping away.

Sakura turned around, fully expecting his smug expression. ''Yeah, yeah,'' she muttered and shook her head with an unamused huff.

''Lets go inside. I'm hungry.''

Sasuke followed and just as he closed the door, Sasuke grabbed his wrist and pulled him along to the living room.

''Sakura! What the hell?'' he demanded and she ignored him, making him sit down and sitting herself down on the arm rest.

''Lets have a look see...'' she said her hand going to his jaw.

''Im fine.'' he snapped.

''Of course you are, have you seen your face?''

When he said nothing, she nodded. ''That's what I thought.''

She prodded around his jaw and bit the inside of her cheek.

''Its not bad, lets get the swelling down before I heal it.''

Sakura didn't wait for a reply as she left the room and returned a minute later with a bag of frozen peas and Naruto's forehead protector.

''Here.'' she said, folding the bag under and folding it around, before tying the forehead protector - metal under to hold the bag in place - on his head.

''How long will I have to stay like this?'' he said, clearly irritated.

Sakura rolled her eyes. ''Until the swelling goes down.'' she told him in a voice reserved for stubborn children at the hospital, she almost offered him a lollipop butilities held back, that would not end well.

Sakura entered the kitchen and started dinner, immediately heating up the strove and starting to chop the vegetables.

She threw them into the pan and opened the cupboard, going through various spices. One bottle, was not marked but it seemed to look like the spice she was looking for. Sakura twisted the lid and sniffed. The smell was a bit off.

''Sasuke! Come here for a minute.'' she called and she heard his grumble. ''What?'' he snapped.

''Whats this?'' she held the bottle out to him, Sasuke took it from her and without checking it, he threw half of it into the pan.

Sakura gasped and grabbed his wrist. ''Sasuke!'' she yelled, outraged.

''Don't bother me until the food is ready.'' he said, giving her a dead glare before putting the spice container on the cabinet counter and walking out.

''You,'' she seethed. ''You're such a fucking child! Fuck!''

When she heard no reply he eyed the pan. Fuck him. He'll eat what she gives him. Sakura eyed the door before ducking down and grabbing a bottle of sake. She wasn't sure how old the sake was, but it was probably still fine. She opened the bottle and dumped about half the bottle over the vegetables and spices. Ha-ha-ha, fuck you Sasuke.

She quickly finished the rest of the meal and set the table.

''Oh your majesty! Dinner is served.'' she called sarcastically.

Sasuke entered the room, looking at her as if she was crazy before he sat down and picked up his chopsticks. He took some vegetables first, obviously figuring she'd thrown the ruined ones out, and wanting to give her a big 'fuck you'. He chewed and then swallowed, trying and failing to hide his cough.

He pursed his lips and eyed the vegetables, before taking some more and smirking at her.

Sakura clenched her jaw and took some too. The alcohol was so strong it burned down her throat. Luckily, she could handle alcohol. Tsunade had been her sensei after all.

She took more, fully intending to finish before him, about halfway through her tongue began to feel a strange tingle. She looked up at Sasuke and saw the confusion of his face.

Sakura could feel her head begin to spin.

''Sasuke...-kun...'' her hands shot up to cover her mouth. What the fuck? She had not meant to say that!

Sasuke looked up, blinking rapidly as if the room was spinning.

''Maybe we shouldn't eat anymore.'' she suggested, as Sasuke focussed on her. His eyes flipped to her lips again and his tongue came out to wet his own.

Sakura swallowed.

Her body seemed to move on its own, meeting his halfway across the table, plates and glasses cluttered to the floor as their lips met again. This time, moving against each other clumsily, and slightly uncoordinated. All she knew was. She wanted him closer. He wasn't close enough.

The spice, was burned by their chakra too quickly - within a few minutes. Giving them back their rational thought, and at the same time, their lips froze and the tension cracked.

Sakura kept her eyes shut and her hands where they were. Trying to delay the awkward moment that would undoubtedly follow.

''Are you trying to drug me?'' he growled against her lips.

Sakura pulled away but he held on to her.

''You're the one who was acting like a spoilt brat and throwing an unmarked spice bottle into our dinner!'' she snapped, throwing his arms off of her.

''Kami! Why are you so conceited! Why the fuck would I drug you? Do you really think for a second that I would do that?'' she glared at him, and without giving him chance to answer she stormed off. Sasuke was right behind her though, shoving her door open before she shut it.

''Oh, I get it, Sasuke! Really I do! You're scared of feeling anything and so you'd hurt everyone around you so you don't get hurt.''

''I don't need you trying to analyze me Sakura.'' he snapped.

''That's a real fucked up way to go through life.'' she stepped right up to him, as he towered over her, but she didn't back down.

''You have no idea what you're talking about.'' his tone was menacing.

''No? Ok, how about this, you're afraid to let anyone in because you're scared they'll die on you.'' her eyes went on, they 'like your family' was left unspoken.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed and his body tensed, a violent rage about him.

''What? Are you going to hit me? Go ahead, get it out of your system, because I can't stand your fucking moods.'' she nodded, egging him on.

''Fuck...'' he cursed and ran a shaking hand through his hair. He couldn't hit her, what the fuck was she talking about?

Finally, his eyes snapped away from hers and without a word he turned to leave.

''Oh,'' she laughed, ''This is so just you, running away.''

He hesitated, his heavy sigh echoed in her ears. The sound of it was, so...exhausted and immediately Sakura felt guilty. She went over to him, he'd removed the bag of peas and the swelling was staring up again.

She cupped his jaw with both hands and a green glow enveloped her hands as she began to heal him.

An almost non-audible sigh left him and she told herself she was imagining it. His eyes were closed as she healed him and for the first time since she'd met him again, he looked...calm.

''Why do we always fight?'' she murmured softly. He didn't open his eyes but before he could formulate an answer she said, ''and if you say its cause I - we,'' she corrected hastily, ''don't leave you alone. I think we're past that. We care too damn much about you. So just stop with the pushing away. Even after what Orochimaru said, we're still sticking by you. We're all in this together.'' she whispered.

After a moment, his eyes opened.

Sakura was surprised he'd let her touch him this long, the healing was long completed. They were standing in a position she'd never have imagined. She even convinced herself that Sasuke...hated her.

Sakura bit her lip, thinking over what she wanted to say and what needed to be said. She couldn't say what she wanted to say...

''Just...try...''

Sasuke paused. ''I don't 'try'.'' and with that said, he stepped out of her grasp and turned away, moving to the door.

With his hand on the doorknob though, he froze.

''Why?''

Sakura cleared her throat. ''Why what?'' she asked, her voice still soft.

''Why did you defend me, when Orochimaru told you what I did.''

Because I love you...

''Because...I know that if it were me, and I'd lost you or Naruto...I wouldve done the same thing.''

He stood there for a few seconds, and then he closed the door behind him.

''You will find your way to heaven, I promise that I'll meet you when you're there.''

Yup, an update!

Please review!

And lol I'm really looking for an artist so, if you can draw gimme a shout!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Love you!

And to me new readers! So glad you're enjoying me story (ies XD)

Zana-Lee

xoxo