Chapter 5

Somehow during the night they had laid down, Sakura's head resting on Sasuke's chest, with their limbs entangled. He awoke first, blushing when he realized arms were wrapped around her. She started to stir. He froze. "Mornin' Sasuke..." She mumbled as she raised her head to look at him. "That was really nice! I love group naps and sleep. There's something so soothing to hear another heartbeat and to just snuggle. I feel so well rested!" She leisurely sat up and stretched her arms into the air. "Mmmmmph!" So all of this was platonic? Does she do this with Ino? With Naruto? He frowned, "I guess it was alright".

"Gomen, I must be heavy, maybe that's why. Well I'm going to make breakfast now. You keep resting then." He honestly didn't need to, since I was one of the best night's sleep he has ever had.

"Ah Sasuke, I forgot to tell you I won't be in until late evening or night."

"Why is that"

"Ah... Um, I have a date, I guess." She tucked a strand of hair behind her head and looked down at her feet. The slight blush on her face annoyed him.

"With who?"

"Dr. Sakurai. Or Sho, my colleague. Do you remember meeting him? He helped patch you up as well a few weeks ago."

He vaguely remembered a brown haired man with sloping shoulders. That dork? Really? But why was he getting to worked up? He managed to utter, "Have fun."

"Arigatou Sasuke, sorry to leave you bored. Maybe invite Naruto over?"

He had not seen the dobe in a while, perhaps it would be good to have different company. He needed a break from Sakura, as she was starting to visit him in his dreams.

She wasn't sure, since he was never the cheerful type, but the atmosphere suddenly felt tense. He seemed...moody. Lunch was more awkward than usual, as his characteristic one syllable responses were replaced with silence. He picked at the food on his plate looking surly, like a young grumpy child, she remarked.

As she started to get ready for her date, looking through the closet for the ideal outfit, he leaned against the bedroom door frame looking at her intently. "Did you want something Sasuke?" He furrowed his brow and looked away, opened his mouth like he was about to speak, but closed it and shook his head. He was clearly experiencing some sort of inner conflict. She had a feeling he didn't want her to go on this date, but if he can't yet verbalize his feelings, and sort out what he wants from her, why not go and have a fun night out with a nice guy? She sighed looking at her clothes hanging. Was she trying to make him jealous? To push him to act upon his feelings? Maybe. She hardened her resolve when she saw a dress Ino had bought for her and she never wore because she was too shy. If She was going to make him jealous, she wasn't going to half ass it.

"Oi! Teme! Your house is huge! Why don't you ever have parties?"

Naruto rushed into the house poking his nose in whatever drawer he could find, making unnecessary comments.

Though it was nice to see him and hear him chatter about everyone. Sasuke wasn't interested in the trivial parts of people's lives, but it was good to keep up with bigger events like Garaa getting married, Kiba becoming high rank jounin, a few of their peers were already having children!

"Sakura-chaaaan! Who's the lucky guy?" Sasuke turned his head to see Sakura walking towards them in a floor length dark blue dress. Only in certain light when she moved could you see the hint of blue. The back was very low cut, you could see her entire back, her hair was tousled in an updo, and her eyes had smoky make up that made her eyes seem even brighter.

"Aw, Naruto you're making me blush. We are going to a pretty fancy place, so I thought I should look nice." She fiddled with her small clutch purse and slid her feet into the heels she had brought from the bed room. Sasuke knew he should stop staring now, it was past the appropriate amount of time to be looking, but he couldn't tear his eyes away. He also couldn't stop the gnawing feeling in this stomach knowing that she would be showing all of that to another man. She would be laughing with him, maybe touching his arm, maybe looking into his eyes. Sasuke's gaze really bore into her. He was aware that she had just caught his gaze and she started getting flustered. He didn't blink an eye and kept up his smoldering stare. "Um, I'm gonna wait outside. Bye, have fun!" He continued watching her back as she closed the door, and his body was conflicted with chasing after her, or the that Sho guy to tell him to fuck off.

"Uhh, earth to Sasuke? You alright there buddy?" Sasuke snapped back to reality and responded nodded resolutely. Naruto dove right back into conversation, bringing up his new relationship with Hinata. Sasuke's ears perked up at the new information. "Ne, teme, have you ever, you know, been with a girl?"

Sasuke didn't want to answer let alone be talking about this. But Naruto was being less annoying that usual today so he supposed he could cooperate. "You mean sex dobe? No."

Naruto nodded, "Yeah, same. I don't really know what to do. I mean we've kissed a lot. A lot a lot. But I think maybe she's waiting for me to make the next move?" Sasuke nodded slightly to show he was listening, but as Naruto rambled on about his doubts, Sasuke thought there was maybe a parallel here. Not with sex, he was nowhere near there, but that maybe Sakura was also waiting for him to make the next move. She had definitely seen his calligraphy papers. She never mentioned it. She brushed off the sleeping on the couch together as a casual friendly thing. Perhaps she knew he needed to be the one to make the choice. She was waiting for him to be ready. Was he ready yet? Taking in all the observations of the past few weeks, the rational conclusion is that he had a huge crush on her. Maybe even loved her. But now she was out with another man?

"Oi, teme, are you listening?"

"No. I think I need to leave."

"What leave? I know you don't need the wheelchair anymore but you still gotta rest buddy. No more missions for a while."

"That's not what I meant. Do you know what restaurant they are at?"

"Sakura and her date? She mentioned that fancy shmancy Italian place that has chandeliers. Figaru? Figero... ah!" He slammed his closed fist onto his other open palm, "Figaro."

"Sorry dove, I've got somewhere to be."

"Ehhh?" But before Naruto could get a word in, Sasuke had flown through the door, running barefoot towards the heart of the city.

She was eating something she couldn't pronounce, so it was definitely fancy. She felt slightly out of place with all the elites around them, but Sho made it comfortable with his good natured temperament. They were finishing up the meal when a dark figure appeared beside their table. "Sasuke?" She sputtered? Almost dropping her wine glass.

"My deepest apologies for the interruption Dr. Sakurai." Sasuke calmly stated, without taking his eyes off of Sakura.

"Oh, well... I guess..." Once again, Sasuke was gone in a flash before he could finish his sentence, but this time with Sakura in tow.

He had brought them up to a random deserted rooftop, with laundry gently swaying with the wind. "Sasuke?" Sakura was stunned at this turn of events. She had meant to make him a but jealous, but never thought he would come get her. "Can you... not... " He struggled again to vocalize his feelings. "I don't know... what love is. I don't know if I can give you what you want or need. I'm so confused, I don't like being confused. But I don't like you with that guy either." He felt like he was rambling, he did not plan this at all. "I don't really know if labels are good or bad, but can you not date other guys anymore?"

She smiled, "Sasuke, are you asking me to be your girlfriend?" He started sweating when he heard the word. She laughed at his clear loss of words. "Ok, if that's scary then how about we both just not date other people, and just hang out with each other all the time?"

That was pretty much dating wasn't it? Sasuke's mind flip flopped, but she just looked so beautiful in the moonlight, and he felt so safe around her. He pulled her arm towards him, bringing her in for a hug. "Aa, I can do that."