A.N.- Oh my gosh! Thank you all so much! I absolutely love your reviews! Like really, they made my day! Thank you.

To MissLadyLaura- Yep you guessed it! Good job. I was worried I hadn't made it obvious enough. but maybe i did. And thank you so much for saying my story is cute! i love to hear that. And with Gaara, I honestly feared I had made him too...out of it. I had wondered if i had made him corny but thank you for saying i didn't. that made me so happy. i spent so long trying to get his character right for this part. it is nice to hear i didn't mess him up.

To HalfBloodPhoenix-Thank you so much! Brilliant is ...a shocking thing to hear. But oh so very wonderful. it made me almost giddy to see you think that about my story. i am glad you will be continuing to read it. BTW- Dokuhime Kobura is an awesome name! does it mean something?

To JPLteen- Thank you. i'm really glad you like it. and i will try my best to update as much as i can. in fact i'm already almost finished with chapter 5! i hope you further enjoy my story. ;)

To superme383- THANK YOU! that means so much to hear you say that! i would love to get many many more reviews but at least the ones i am getting are great. thank you. you really think i got all the personalities?! -giggles- i tried very hard to. and to find that you think i did it perfectly well to be honest i blushed a little when i read your review i was like...'wow really? gosh, thank you.' i kid you not. i actually said thank you out loud...to my computer...but really to you. anyway...i am very very happy you like my story and i will update as soon as possible i swear it but i dont know how long all my chapters will be. 3 was just very long because it was meant to be two but i just couldn't find a good breaking point so i said what the hey! just post it all together. i think it might have ruined the moment if i'd cut it in half or something.

To xoLovelyEyesox- a healthy hobby with a smidge of obsession? lol thats great! i love that! i truly laughed out loud at that. hope you don't mind if i use that next time my friends tell me i'm addicted to this stuff. and yes school at least did something right as far as teaching me to read and write, to them for that i guess i am grudgingly grateful...hee hee. 2 seconds away you say? maybe i can write another scene soon where you actually will...oh well i think i just may have to try to. :) but thank you for saying gaara was cute. i thought so, but i figured since i loved the guy enough to try writing about him he could do anything and it be cute to me...except that wearing green spandex thing. that will always be scary to me. and i'm glad you won't stop reading my story i hope it continues to make you happy. and long reviews are great. to me the longer the better okay? ;)

To TOTAL RANDOM- You guessed it right! go you! i'm glad you loved the gaasaku-ness. and dont worry, Naruto and his girl will definitely get their moment of romance...many moments most liekly. heh heh. i just can't help myself. i love the romance. i loves it alot!

Okay so that's it for now. Keep up the reviews guys! i just love hearing from you! and those of you who aren't reveiwing...please? pretty please? i really want to know if you like my story. if you don't like it please let me know how i could fix it for you and i will try to...if i can

anyway i really have almost finished chapter five and if enough of you ask me nicely i just might work hard enough to post it today! would you like that? let me know if i should alright?

well alright i have delayed you enough on with my story and i hope you enjoy!
Fanggirlx;)

Disclaimer: Sigh...no...Naruto and co are not mine...

Sakura made it to her room and was glad to see Temari and Hinata both asleep.

She quietly changed into her pajama pants and tank top to sleep in and went to brush her teeth.

As she was coming back from the bathroom she heard a small knock on her window.

Thinking it was Gaara she hurried to her room closed her little bamboo flap that she'd made a makeshift door out of and flew to the window.

She pushed it open with a bright smile. A smile that instantly fell from her face in shock.

Her mouth dropped open and tears formed in her eyes as she stared out her window at her visitor.

It was him!

She fell to her knees when her legs suddenly gave out from under her.

"Sakura?" his voice whispered. He sounded worried. He sounded broken. That wasn't like him at all. He was strong. Untouchable it almost had seemed. What had happened?

Worried, she crawled back up to the window sill and motioned for him to come in.

With a small smile he quickly obeyed.

She wanted him in! This was a good sign.

The minute he was in her room she was holding him. A tight hug like she would never let go. And if she didn't that was just fine with him. He returned the embrace taking in everything about her. She'd changed some physically. But she was still the same Sakura, she was still his same Sakura. The relief was almost too much for him.

"I have missed you so much, you just…you have no idea." she whispered into his chest as she clung to him.

He still smelled the same.

Like the forest and his favorite food, and of course the scent that was kind of only his. Every guy had one but his had always been nice.

Sakura laughed quietly and met his eyes.

Chuckling he placed a hand on top of her head. "I missed you too, Saka-chan. You have no idea."

His voice broke and tears formed in his eyes. He dropped his head hoping to hide them from her.

Not possible with Sakura though. But she didn't condemn him. She hugged him tighter and kissed his cheek.

"Sssh its okay. What's wrong?" she whispered still holding onto him.

It was too much for him to handle. The relief was overwhelming!

He crumbled to the floor and pulled her to his lap, burying his face into her shoulder.

"Oh Sakura I…I thought you'd hate me."

She gasped, "Why on earth would I?"

"I…they…you…" he hiccupped.

Sakura brushed away his tears and kissed his cheek again as she settled in his lap leaning against his strong sturdy chest.

This was home. His lap like old times, in his arms where she didn't feel safer anywhere else.

Except maybe with Gaara, but it may still be too soon to tell with him.

She brushed a hand through his shaggy bangs.

He wasn't wearing a headband.

Why?

"I left."

Oh. He'd answered before she'd asked. As always.

"Why?"

"I…I just had to."

"I see. I knew my moving would hurt you. I'm so sorry."

"No. You had to. You had your mom. I understand." he laughed, uncharacteristically bitter, "Trust me I understand. It was everyone else that didn't!"

Sakura watched as her closest friend fell to pieces.

"Naruto, tell me what they did to you." she ordered gently.

He gripped her tightly.

"They all believed I hurt you. Or raped you or something. That I chased you off. They all said it was my fault you left. That after being around me for so long the thing they'd been waiting to happen finally happened. None of them believed me when I said it wasn't my fault you were leaving! None of them. Our friends tried to convince them it wasn't true. At least they knew the truth. But…they just didn't stop. It was like when I was a little boy again. Only this time it was worse… this time I…I just snapped. I couldn't take it. So I ran."

Sakura ran her fingers through his blond hair holding him to her as he trembled with quiet sobs.

Tears ran down her face as she pictured the kindhearted boy who was trembling beneath her being treated so badly.

"Oh, Naru-kun, I am so sorry I left you. I begged mama to let me bring you with us but she said you'd prefer the village to the modernized area." she wondered if he noticed how much of a pet she'd just made him sound. She hoped not. Unless it would make him laugh.

He shook his head, "Any where with you would have been better, Sakura. I tried. I did. Really. I tried to ignore them. To just do my work and go on. But I couldn't. So I left to find a place that wouldn't be like that. Somewhere that didn't know about me. But they were all the same. Everywhere. And I didn't come to you because…I thought I might bring it on you. So I never visited. And then…I just figured maybe you really did want to get away from me."

"I wondered, but didn't want to get angry without knowing what was going on." Sakura began but her eyes flashed when she caught that last part he'd said. "Naruto, you big dummy! How could you think I would care what those people thought? I would want to help you! You always protected me why wouldn't you let me return the favor, you idiot? And of course I didn't leave because of you, you baka! What on earth would have made you believe such a thing?"

He flinched under her anger.

"Sorry, Sakura." he whimpered as his arms around her waist unconsciously pulled her tighter.

She stopped suddenly. He'd probably had enough people yelling at him.

She snuggled into him. Naruto seemed surprised she would do this, but held her to him nonetheless.

"Its fine. Just don't be such a dummy from now on. Friends help each other, right?"

He nodded against her shoulder where his head rested once again.

"Naruto. I am so happy you are here."

He sniffled as his tears began to slow, "And I am so happy you are happy I am here."

"You really thought I wouldn't be?"

"I just wasn't sure. I wasn't sure of anything anymore."

He still sounded broken. He sounded…so…un-Naruto-ish.

Hopefully she could fix that. She thought as she taped his nose with her finger and grinned at him, "Well duh, you oaf, I am always happy to see you. Except for those times where you used to spy on me in the bath house."

"But Jiraiya paid me to."

"I know, but even still."

"And I used that money to buy your birthday present." he argued.

Now he sounded more like his old self. That was better.

"Yeah, yeah." she egged him on.

"And you loved it! I know it, you said so." he whispered fiercely. Sounding just like the old Naruto.

Perfect. Sakura thought happily. "I did. I do. I still wear it."

"You do?" he asked excited.

Sakura nodded, "Umhmm."

She drug a hand down to her chest and picked up the necklace that hung there.

The small thin gold chain shimmered in the moon light and the little pink gem stones that made up a blossom twinkled. He smiled a goofy little grin as he reached for it and held the charm on his finger tips.

"You still wear it? Even after all these years?"

"Yep. Ever since you gave it to me that year for my fifteenth birthday." she answered as her voice grew heavy with sleep.

Naruto noticed this and moved to stand up with her.

"What are you doing?"

"Moving to the bed."

"Oh, okay."

She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck and sighed happily.

"I'm glad you're home, Naruto."

Naruto nearly dropped her because of the shock.

Home.

Sakura was home, he realized with a wide smile.

Naruto settled on her bed and held her to him. Burying his face in her sweet pink hair. Pulling back he watched her for a moment, staring at her as she drifted off to sleep he finally felt peace curl pack up inside him.

Happiness.

He was happy again.

"Thank you, Sakura."

"No problem, you big dummy. We fit…" she held out her pinky. Just like they'd done when it was just him and her on a team. Just the two of them facing down anything.

He wrapped his in hers.

"Yeah, we fit."

"Better than anyone else."

"Yeah." he answered getting choked up again.

How could he have even questioned her? Of course she would want him. And miss him. And be happy to have him…home.

He lay her down on the bed beside him.

"Naru."

"Yeah, Sakura?"

"You better be here in the morning." she warned, even drowsy and half asleep her threats sent chills of fear tingling down his spine. Because even half asleep, she'd knock him out.

"Don't worry, Saka, I'm not going to leave again. And you aren't either, right?" he chuckled.

"Right."

He smiled at her and situated himself so he was sitting beside her on the bed legs stretched in front of him as he leaned back against the wall her bed was on.

"Naruto."

"Yeah, Sakura?"

"Hold me like you used to. You know when it was just you and me and Kakashi-sensei."

Naruto smiled as he scooted down to lay on his side beside her and pulled her to his chest, wrapping an arm around her from underneath and draping the other over top of her. Gently resting his chin on top of her head.

"You mean like this?" he asked with a hint of teasing in his voice.

She didn't take his playful bait, instead she simply sighed with content and whispered, "Yes. Thank you."

Smiling down at her Naruto nuzzled her hair a bit, "Good night, Saka-chan."

"Night, Naru-kun."

He knew he'd be in huge trouble when morning came, probably with the one he was cuddling right now in fact. But for now, this, all of this made it worth it. Smiling down at the pink head tucked against him, he sighed. Yes. So very worth it.

He was home.

"Naruto…"
No…he didn't want to get up yet.

"Naruto, you have to get up."
Says who? He was finally sleeping good. He'd be damned if he gave that up so quickly.

"Naruto, if you don't get up right now I will kill you!"
No they couldn't. He'd stop them. He was stronger.

"Or even better. I'll just throw away all this ramen I made for you. So say bye-bye."
Was that Sakura's voice? No way was he with her again. This had to be a dream.
Wait. Getting rid of ramen? This was no dream, it was a nightmare! No! He was with evil Sakura!!

Naruto's eyes flew open and he sat up to see Sakura sitting there giggling at him.

Well maybe this dream wasn't too bad if Sakura was really here. And she was giggling, so she was definitely not the evil one.

He then caught the whiff of ramen in the air. But dreams didn't smell this good! He really was back with her! And even better…In her hands Sakura truly held a cup of ramen!

He thanked his good fortune and dove for it and her all in the same motion.

In one hand he took the bowl with his other he wrapped his arm around Sakura and held her to him.

Slurping happily at the slice of heaven in the form of noodles Naruto laughed cheerfully.

Life was good again.

"Good morning, Saka-chan! This ramen is great! Thanks!"

Sakura giggled. "No problem. But you really need to get out of here soon. There are only certain hours boys can be in the girl dormitories and I assure you six a.m. is not included."

"Six in the morning!? Are you frigging nuts? Waking me up so early! God, Sakura what's wrong with you?" Naruto screeched miserably.

He finished off his bowl and set it aside and then picked back up where he'd left off with his angry rant on the indecency of being awoken too early.

Sakura shook her head at his behavior. "You've barely changed, Naruto. Why, you haven't changed at all have you?"

Stopping in his rant mid sentence his face turned a bright crimson. "None at all, Sakura? Gosh, I'd thought for sure I was more handsome at least." he replied sounding truly crestfallen.

Sakura giggled and pretended to study him a moment after a while she shook her head, "Nope sorry I still see that same idiot knuckle head I have always known. He may be a slight bit taller though."

"A slight? Oh please. I'm way taller than you now."

"Yeah, yeah. But I am no giant you know. How are you when standing up against other boys?"

"I'm taller than Gaara!" Naruto argued.

Sakura froze. "When did you see Gaara?"

Naruto shrugged as he went about stretching his still sleep stiffened muscles. "Last night."

"Last night?"

"Yeah, you know, when you were with him out in the parking lot." he answered before thinking on his words.
However he instantly remembered she wasn't supposed to know he'd been spying on her!

On no!

Sakura cracked her knuckles menacingly, "Spying on me already, Naruto?"

"W-well, no, not really spying per say. More like waiting? Yeah, Waiting."

Fire built in her green eyes, "Waiting for what!?"

Naruto's shoulders slouched and his head bent shamefully, "I…I guess I was just waiting to gather the courage to approach you. And after I saw you with Gaara I finally had enough. Are you…mad at me Saka?"

He sounded down right pathetic as his voice nearly shook with emotion.

Sakura's fire instantly extinguished and she threw her arms around his neck in a tight hug.

"Oh, Naru, I'm so sorry! I totally forgot! It'll be okay. I'm not mad…well, not this time. But you had better not do it again. That was a very private moment!"

Naruto hesitantly wrapped his arms around her. His voice trembled as he replied, "Thank you so much, Saka. I knew I could always count on you."

Resting his chin on her shoulder he secretly smirked like the Cheshire cat as she bought the whole thing.

Score!

He still had it.

In the last year he had been with Sakura, Naruto had learned the perfect way to get out of trouble.
Take on the small sad child ploy. Act as if you were truly repentant and unable to have helped what you'd done that was bad. The amount of fists to the head he'd gotten that year had gone done by half!

She was a sucker for it then, and apparently still was.

He figured she was after his embarrassing breakdown last night.

She'd comforted him then the same way she always had back then when he pulled an act like that.

It may have been an under handed tactic but it kept him from suffering Sakura's wrath many a time.

"Anyway, you really have to get out of here. Quickly before other girls start waking up. You will never get accepted to this school if they find you sneaking from a girl's dorm the first morning you're on campus."

Naruto pondered her words a moment as he sat back from their hug and stared at her baffled.

"Accepted?"

"Yes. I want you to go to this school too, Naru-kun. It will be fun with you. Please?"

"But, Sakura, how will I pay for it?"

"We'll take care of all of that. Just come with me to get accepted first."

Naruto thought it over and then decided, why not?

"Though I should warn you they were really hard on Gaara because he had the one tailed demon in him. So they may be like that on you too. Who knows. But don't worry I'll be there with you."

Naruto thought on that. Made sense that they'd be hesitant to let in a demon. But Gaara, though infamous, held some authority because of his position. Naruto, though he wanted to be Hokage some day, had no power as of the moment. What did he have that would convince them to let him in?

Sakura stood and walked over to her closet to get her clothes out.

She turned back to face him with narrowed eyes.

"Shouldn't you be going off somewhere to get ready? Idiot, get moving!"

Oh. That's right.

He had Sakura.

As long as she and her strong determination and fiery temper were on his side he stood just as good a chance as anyone else of getting in.

"Okay, Saka-chan. I'll meet you outside in a little bit." he exclaimed happily as he waved and hopped out her window, dashing off.

Sakura smiled out the window he'd exited through.

Reveling in the warmth his presence had caused within her she shook her head with a wide smile on her face.

"Naruto…" she sighed happily.

He was back.