Ok! Yes, this is rated M - which means violence...and whatever else M entails. You are warned. Lol.

Stand By Me

Chapter 19 - Here With Me

''I am what I am, I'll do what I want...but I cant hide...I wont go. I wont sleep, I cant breathe - until you're resting here with me.''

Sakura watched the last rays of sunlight disappeared, as she continued to feel miserable. Could she have been more stupid? Couldn't she have said 'I care about Sasuke.' instead of...what she had said.

Geez, this just couldn't get any worse. She held her face in her hands, but the tears of her heartbreak just wouldn't come.

She let out a sigh, a light tap brought her out of her self-pity for a second as she looked up. Sasuke was at the front door. Looking away from her.

Sakura could feel herself begin to tremble as she took slow hesitant steps towards the door. She pushed the door open and without looking at her, he stepped inside and closed it behind him.

Sakura backed up, dread filling her as she stepped back into the room.

He looked around, anywhere but her, his eyes seemed emotionless but there was a twinge of something there, something she couldn't decipher. And that scared her.

The silence stretched on as he stared out of the window. Night had fallen.

''Sasuke...'' she whispered and finally his eyes met her's.

He swallowed. ''Sakura.''

Sakura's heart stopped. His eyes held resolve, and pity. Fucking Uchiha Sasuke, pitying her?...She could feel her eyes become wet with tears.

''This,'' he mentioned between them. ''Has to stop.''

She closed her eyes, allowing her tears to fall. It didn't matter anymore, did it? He knew who she was, her crying wasn't going to change that.

''Emotional entanglements will only distract me from my goals.''

Sakura's eyes widened. Emotional entanglements?

Her lips parted in a soft gasp. Emotional...he felt something.

Even if everything was a complicated, confusing mess. He felt something.

Yes, usually emotional entanglements were described as simply going along with your emotions and losing perspective where you're unable to discern what you're doing, but it was understandable, since she was sure this was confusing for him, and terrifying - letting someone in.

''You know, Sasuke-kun.'' she said, wiping her tears that still wouldn't stop as she approached him. Sasuke tensed and stepped back, but his back hit the wall and Sakura felt like the odds were in her favor...and so was Uchiha Itachi. He truly was never wrong. 'You will make him feel.'

''You really piss me off sometimes.'' she stopped in front of him, and he stared down at her, nothingness in those dark pools.

Sakura pulled him down to her lips, he fought her, but she had the strength.

''Stop fighting it, feel something,'' she mumbled against his lips as she closed her eyes. ''Feel me, Sasuke-kun.'' and then she kissed him.

He resisted for a second, before his will left him and he returned her kiss with fervor, his arms going around her ribs as his tongue tentatively entered her mouth. Uncertain at first, until her tongue met his, a shock of a thrill going through them at the contact, and Sakura let out a soft moan, pulling him closer as their tongues began a slow stroking of sensation. Following instinct, his hand skimmed her ribcage, up...just skimming the swell of her breast, before he stopped, unsure of what he was doing.

''No,'' she gasped breathlessly, ''Don't stop, touch me, Sasuke-kun...feel me.'' she whispered in a loud, breathless voice against his lips as her hand trailed down his chest, to his arm and the on to his hand.

''Please...'' she whispered, putting a hand over his and leading him up.

Sasuke's fingers ran over her breast with interest, feeling her as his breathing increased. The only layer was the shirt he'd given her, he could feel her nipple harden in his palm.

Slowly, he cupped her and squeezed. Sakura gasped and her hips bucked into his, creating a most delicious friction that Sasuke hadn't expected. He could feel himself twitching in his pants. The sensation had them both pausing, staring down at each other, breathless and flushed.

Sasuke looked into her eyes, there was no uncertainty, only...what he assumed could be...love.

His free hand went around her head, as he pulled her to his lips, kissing her with deeply, as his other hand trailed from her breast, and around her waist, pulling their hips together once more, grinding himself into her. Sakura moaned, her head falling back of its own accord. Heat pooled low in her belly and there was a slow, aching throb between her legs.

''Sasuke-kun...'' she whispered, unable to catch her breath as she rocked her lips into his. His head fell into her neck, a low groan escaping his lips.

He continued rubbing himself against her, his lips running up and down the side of her neck in sync with his lips and soon he was rock hard ready for attention.

Sakura could feel his erection, hot and heavy on her stomach. An ache shot through her and she could feel how soaked she was and so ready for him.

''Oh, yes...'' she gasped as he increased his speed drastically, desperate for a release. ''That feels...ahh...''

Sasuke paused. ''Sakura- I don't think-''

She reached up, cupping his face and bringing it down to hers. ''Don't think.'' she kissed him again with a searing intensity. Sasuke growled, hands going around her waist and trapping her against his hardness as he lifted her feet from the ground, taking her the few feel to the bed, stopping just at the edge and with clumsy hands he pulled the shirt off and tossed it away. His eyes went down to her breasts. His hands reached up, grabbing her rosy peaks and rubbing them between his thumb and index fingers. Her head fell back and she sighed deeply. Sasuke had the sudden urge to feel her against him, he ripped off his shirt, tossing it aside as he slipped one arm around her waist and pulling her against him. Her chest met his and his erection twitched as her nipples scraped his naked skin.

''Fuck...Sakura...'' he groaned and her hands went to his pants giving them a violent push as she pushed them down his thighs. They dropped to the floor and her eyes went down to his black boxer briefs. His erection straining against the material. Sakura swallow and looked back up at Sasuke. ''Let me take them off you.'' it wasn't a question, more like a request and fuck, it felt good to know that she wanted to same thing.

''Yes,'' he answered, his voice deep and husky.

Sakura bit her lip and she hooked her fingers into her waistband, lifting it over his hardness and pulling it down, letting it drop.

Her heartbeat sped up at the magnificent sight of him.

Kami...she...she, what did she want, need from him?

Her breath left her and his arm went around her, pulling her against him, and his hard erection rested against her naked skin.

She shivered at the contact. She wanted...that...inside of her.

''Sasuke-kun...I...'' she whispered, pressing a wet kiss to his chest with parted lips.

''I know.'' he groaned and pushed her down onto the bed. ''Fuck, Sakura, I know...'' he breathed over her ear as he hovered over her. His hands grazing down her sides and onto her hips, he shifted down and looked up at her, Sakura nodded and he pulled her panties off completely, carelessly throwing them to the side.

A thin patch of pink hair covered her and Sasuke, took a breath before spreading her legs. She was wet and glossy, and...strangely beautiful to him...down there. He swallowed, he'd heard of what men did to woman...using their mouths to taste them and make them feel good. His erection gave a jerk and Sasuke groaned, dropping his head onto her stomach. ''Sakura...have you...ever?'' he asked, his breath fanning over her skin.

''No...'' she whispered, fear suddenly striking her...but somehow she wanted this more than anything still.

''Have you...?'' she dared to asked.

Sasuke pressed his wet forehead onto her chest when he moved up, he shook his head, his hair tickling her breasts. She breathed a sigh of relief as she allowed him to lay in the cradle of her hips. His hot erection against her thigh and so...so close to where she wanted it to be.

She could feel the strain in him as he moved, positioning himself, the head at her entrance. Sasuke let out a strangled breath, and then with a powerful thrust, his pushed himself all the way into her. Sakura hissed, clenching her eyes shut, as unwilling tears poured from them. Kami, it hurt. So fucking much.

''Sakura?'' he asked, sounding...shocked.

Sakura gave a shaky smile and opened her eyes.

''Just...give me a minute.'' she whispered and closed her eyes, focussing chakra to where it hurt.

The warmth of her chakra around him made him jump and Sakura felt the pain ebb away until there was only invasion.

''Sakura...'' he groaned. ''Its...so tight.''

''Move...'' she told him.

Sasuke knew what sex was. It was this. Well, that's what he knew until he'd walked in on Orochimaru, only once. It had made him want sex less. What he'd seen had been a tainted thing. Ugliness that had made him sick. But this was different. This made him feel...something epic.

Sasuke pulled out the friction was...amazing, making him feel like he was about to explode. Their ragged breaths filling the room loudly. Sweat bloomed on his body, slick against her's.

''More...'' she begged, clutching to him. Sasuke pushed back in, slowly, and Sakura cried out. He pulled out again, moving faster now, and Sakura's hips bucked into his, meeting him at every thrust, allowing him to enter her deeper.

''Sasuke...Sasuke-kun...Sasuke-kun...'' she moaned, each louder than the previous, as she felt herself build up.

Sasuke bent down, pulling her nipple into his mouth, needing something there, as he sucked on it.

''Ah! Sasuke-kun!'' she cried, bringing her legs up and locking them around his waist.

Sasuke lifted his head as she arched against him, and then he captured her mouth again, her arms went around him, her fingers burying into her wet hair, as she tensed and shook beneath him. He thrust into her hard and she came undone beneath him, arching her head back, as she gave a hoarse cry. Sasuke pulled out as she squeezed him and when he pushed back into her, his orgasm slammed into him, his head fell into her neck and he bit into her as he groaned, the tension in his body finally smoothing out as he emptied himself into her.

When he came down, Sakura was holding his head, stroking his wet hair. He leaned forward, pressing his lips to the skin he'd bitten into and she sighed deeply. Sasuke felt exhaustion creep over him, but he pulled out of her, feeling a loss at the heat the was around him, before he rolled over, pulling her to lie in his arm.

Sakura lay with him, listening to his pants become deep and even as he slept, before she allowed herself to fall under.

x-x-x-x-

Naruto walked around the small village aimlessly until he found himself back where he started, his heart heavy in his chest. He had no where to go, and yet here he was.

''N-Naruto-kun...''

He turned, seeing Hinata come out of what appeared to be her apartment.

''Would you...like to come inside?''

Naruto watched her, letting his head dropped.

''Yeah, please...''

Hinata smiled, holding the door open for him and he walked past her. She saw the pain on his features and her own heart ached for him.

''Sit down over here, y-you must be hungry...''

Naruto shook his head. No, not really.

''I-I'll be right back.'' she said anyway.

He heard her moving in the kitchen and a minute later, a delicious smell assaulted his sensed and Hinata emerged with a bowl and serving tray.

''Hinata...'' Naruto felt like he couldn't breath, their eyes met and despite her blush she gave him a sad smile. He swallowed, ''Ramen...''

Hinata set chopsticks down on his tray and sat on the floor next to him, with her legs tucked under her.

Naruto slowly picked up his chopsticks, the pain in his heart now feeling entirely different. He began to eat slowly, it was home made and he wondered when she'd prepared this.

''I-I made it...I-'' her head dropped. ''I was h-hoping you would come by.''

He nodded, and continued to eat. No one had made him ramen before, especially for him...he knew that his mom wouldve but this, he had to acknowledge it, Hinata had done something for him, something caring, something that she knew he would love.

He looked up at her, ''Hinata,'' she looked up at his voice, her cheeks flushed, ''Thank you...so much.''

Her eyes widened. ''N-Naruto-kun...'' she smiled. ''Y-You're welcome.''

He continued to eat until the bowl was empty and Hinata got up to take it away. He heard her washing up and then slowly, she returned.

''Naruto-kun...'' she whispered, unsure of where to start.

Naruto stood up, needing to move. ''Sakura told me she loves Sasuke...I always knew it...and somehow,'' he shook his head and she knew what he meant. ''I sent Sasuke to her.'' he admitted, sliding down against the wall opposite her.

Hinata sat down, leaning against the wall.

''N-Naruto-kun...you...just let Sasuke-san go t-to her? Don't y-you...'' Hinata paused, her eyes finding the ground. ''Love her?''

Naruto's eyes widened and then he looked up at her. Hinata couldn't hide it. She looked heart broken.

''I can't make her happy. I want both of them to be happy, and if they make each other happy, and won't stand in their way.''

Hinata watched him with a strange gentleness. ''W-What about...your happiness?''

Naruto have a hard smile, shrugging. He had no answer for her.

''You know, N-Naruto-kun.'' she began softly. ''During the war, when y-you saved me..., do you r-remember that?''

Naruto nodded, an interest bubbling up inside of him.

''I...I always seemed to...be chasing after you, never touching you, b-but always just out of reach...and I m-made a decision. T-That the next time I saw you...I would be walking next to you.'' she confessed.

''T-that...I would be walking n-next to you...holding your hand.''

Naruto's eyes widened.

''Let...'' he head dropped and she seemed to be building up the courage to say everything. ''Let me be there for you this time.'' she looked up, a shaking hand reaching for him.

''Hinata...'' Naruto looked at her outreached hand, and slowly lifted his own into hers, and before he could stop himself, he pulled her to him, and she fell into him.

Naruto just held her, needing the comfort she so willingly gave. Hinata reached around him, hugging him as he whispered a soft thank you...and the strange closeness he shared with Hinata right now, slowly numbed that ache in his chest.

x-x-x-x-

Sakura's eyes fluttered open. The bed beneath her was still warm but Sasuke wasn't there. The shower came on and the bathroom door opened. Sasuke stood there dressed in his boxers, their eyes met and Sakura's face flushed as she looked away, smiling shyly.

''O-Ohayo...Sasuke-kun.''

She heard him come over and the bed dipped. An awkward silence followed. ''Yo.'' he greeted and her heart skipped a beat, as her eyes went up to meet his.

''Sasuke...'' she breathed his name and pushed herself up, her lips meeting his in a slow kiss as he dipped her down.

''Sakura...wait.''

Immediately, she stopped, looking up at him. ''What...?''

Sasuke sat up, running a hand through his hair. ''I lied.'' he said and Sakura's heart dropped. Sakura pulled the blanket up to her chest. ''Lied?'' she whispered.

''That day when you came to me, and told me you were abandoning Konoha, and you wanted to join me...''

Sakura felt her heart drop, as her hands clenched the blanket tightly.

''I knew it was bullshit. I don't know why it pissed me off as much as it did...that you would lie to me.''

''What...what are you saying?'' she whispered. She had no idea why she was whispering, maybe she was afraid what they shared would shatter.

''If Naruto hadn't saved you...I want to tell you I was going to stop, that I wouldve hesitated. But I don't know. I could have really killed you.'' he closed his eyes, squeezing them shut, his self hate swelling up with a vengeance.

''You were going to...why...did you lie?'' her voice broke and she bit her lip.

Sasuke's eyes met hers. ''I wanted you to trust me. I want you to.''

Sakura covered her mouth with her hand, she didn't want to cry.

Sasuke ripped the blanket from her, his hand going to her side a stroking the scar there slowly.

Sakura swallowed, as she felt herself calm. ''You killed me.'' her hand went to his as he stilled, trapping his hand to the horrible scar. ''You...did this to me.'' there was no hate, no accusation in her statement. Just truth.

Sasuke opened his mouth but Sakura shook her head. ''I know, I've always known. The wound, the burns on the side...Chidori Nagashi, right?''

Sasuke looked away, the confirmation she needed.

''What happened? Why didn't you let me die?''

''I was so angry, Sakura...at everyone and everything, and when you got in my way...I just couldn't control it.'' he paused, running a hand through his hair. ''I tried to block out what my brother wanted for me. All I wanted was to get to Tobi, kill him and die in the aftermath.'' he admitted easily. ''It was what I'd always planned, but when you crumbled in front of me, after putting up such a fight...I just...fuck, its like the part I was blocking out and the part I'd left in Konoha...suddenly I just hated myself more and I couldn't stand myself.''

He looked so tired, it was like the confession took so much out of him.

''I just couldn't let you die. I can't explain it. I'm not going to tell you that I loved you so much that I couldn't live without you, because that would be a lie. I just didn't want to lose anyone else I cared about. I knew that I needed you. Once I realized that, I took you to Kalika and then...I joined the battle, fighting with Kakashi and the Hokage. We tried to get to Naruto...but-''

He broke off and Sakura leaned in, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth, bringing him back to the present.

''Thank you...for telling me the truth.''

He swallowed, looking somewhat nervous.

''What is it, Sasuke?''

''When did you see my brother?''

Sakura's eyes widened and she looked away.

''Tell me.'' he demanded and she sighed. ''When...I go to sleep, I see them, people who died.'' she admitted.

''Itachi came to me...we meet often.'' she said softly.

''Does...does he say anything about me?'' When she looked up at him, he looked so lost and so young.

She smiled ''Mostly, you're all he speaks about.''

Sasuke's eyes widened.

''He's so proud of you.'' she told him honestly.

''I think im becoming the person he always wanted me to be.''

''I think so too.'' she whispered. Suddenly feeling close to tears. She'd never seen him like this. Like such a small boy, seeking acknowledgement from his big brother.

Sasuke closed his eyes. ''I still hate Konoha...I can't forgive them.''

''I know, Sasuke-kun.'' and she did. She understood.

''As for right now, there is no Konoha.'' she told him with a smile. Sakura believed all he needed was time. In time, he would be able to come home, she would do everything she could to accomplish it.

x-x-x-x-

Tobi was batshit furious. There was no other word for it. First, the person he needs desperately, doesn't come. His captive escapes. Sasuke fucks him over, again, he loses the Kyuubi and to top it all of, his second in command has been playing for the other side all along. He really thought was using her hate for Sasuke to his advantage.

''Madara-sama, I have what you asked for.'' came the voice of one of his soldiers. Tobi turned, the soldier had a girl in front of him. She was bruised and bloody. Good, he couldn't handle any more set backs.

''On your knees! Bow!'' he shoved her down, forcing her to her knees as Tobi came forward, he grabbed her chin roughly.

''So, you are the Kazekage's sister.''

Temari fought against his hold, breaking free, only to be grabbed again, Tobi's masked face coming close to her's.

''Yes. You will make a perfect sacrifice.''

''I won't leave, I can't hide, I cannot be - until you're resting here with me.''

Firstly, thanks so much to all my reviewers. I never imagined this kind of response, so thanks, love you all so much.

Yup, a planned little present.

Thoughts? Review!

Zana-Lee

xoxo