Yay!  Thank you all for the reviews, lol. I am so happy people are reading this fic

Pairing: Kiba x Sakura and a little of Lee x Oc and Choji x Oc

Rating: PG-13 Tis gone up now

Dedicated: Kathy-chan, who sent me these two songs... I can fly and Simple and Clean which is where the inspiration for this fic. Also, because she hates Sasuke/Temari and so now she has to love it  :: is evil::

Summary: Sakura has always loved Sasuke and Kiba has feelings for Hinata but the world doesn't always go the way you want it to… but no matter what they would never give up… right?

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto… Just my OC's if any, oh and the plot

Cry

Chapter 3

By Kaz

He had no idea how long they had been walking for but he could feel the wave of exhaustion pass over him. He could feel his breath become slightly heavier and the lower parts of his limbs hurting. Not that he would admit this or anything, there was no way in hell he would be the first to admit they should stop and rest… 'I should wait until one of the others say something,' he thought.

He knew they were all tired, after all, Choji had stopped complaining about food and Lee has stopped doing his various poses to Sakura. Just the thought of those poses made him shudder, he had no idea how Sakura dealt with it. Speaking of Sakura, Kiba turned his head to the right to take a glance at her. She was breathing harder than he was and the look of exhaustion was pasted all over her face. 'Shit, she looks tired, maybe I should say something before she passes out or something.'

However, before he could open his mouth someone beat him to it. "Ah Sakura-san! You look so tired, I can't have the beautiful face of yours carry such exhaustion, Asuma-sensei perhaps we should rest?"

The group stopped and Asuma took an amused look and was about to say something, when someone stopped him.

"No Lee-san I am fine. I have walked much more than this, besides the more ground we cover now the less time it will take to get to Sand."

"But."

"Lee-san," She chided, "I told you I am fine, now come on, we are wasting time."

As she past him smiling, Lee couldn't help but feel slightly proud. He knew that if this was a few months ago she would have agreed with him and started complaining long before hand. She really had changed.

Nodding his head, he chased after her, the five carrying on not once looking back at the life they were leaving behind.

It was several hours before Asuma decided that they should rest and Kiba couldn't have been happier upon hearing those words. Resisting the urge to hug his sensei, he went about setting up his tent. It didn't take him long as he as Akamaru were used to being out doors, the both of them camping outside in the forest when they were younger. Smiling at the lost thoughts spring up, he was jolted out when he heard his female teammate cuss out loud.

Glancing around until he stopped her, he smirked when he saw she wasn't having much luck setting her tent up. Walking up to her, he studied the scene, fighting the urge to laugh.

Sakura was steaming as she tried to set up the tent. She had done what she saw Sasuke-kun do all the time, stick the poles in ground and then…well  something to make it stand up. Of course, she had never really paid much attention when he set up the tents, she was too busy staring at him but she remembered that he first started with these metal pole things. Of course, though, the tent wanted to difficult and not stand up. Getting frustrated, she grabbed the cloth in her hands and started her death rants. "You stupid annoying piece of pathetic material! Set up damn you! I swear once I get to Sand I am going to cut you into tiny piece and dance all over you…"

"I don't think death threats are going to work on this."

Kiba did indeed laugh when he saw the cherry hair girl up jump in fright, though he ceased the smiles once he saw the death look on her face… he reminded himself to never get this girl mad again.

"So," he smiled jokingly, " What seems to be the problem?"

"It won't set up," she replied in a monotone voice.

"Well that would be because you need to push the poles further down and you can't set up the tent when you are half sitting on it and…." He trailed off sweat dropping as he saw the look turn into a complete murderous one. "Heh heh, why don't I show you how to set up?" And without waiting for her to reply, he began to fix the mess Sakura had made, not seeing the smile, which graced her face.

Lee examined the interaction of the two with some interest. In all the time he had know Sakura she had never been really polite to any other males, except him once he had saved her.  If he didn't know any, better he could have sworn that something was going on between these two. "That's ridiculous," he mumbled. After all, everyone knew how hopeless obsessed Sakura was with Sasuke. 'As a fighter,' thought Lee, ' I really respect Sasuke but as a person I can't help but be upset with him. How dare he hurt someone like Sakura-san? All she had ever done was remain loyal to him and he tossed her aside like a forgotten object or something. She deserves so much more.' He concluded. He knew he had feeling for her but she didn't return them. Though at first it had hurt, he decided that he would rather remain her friend and protect her than lose her. "Who knows," he said, "Perhaps one day someone will be able to take the place of Sasuke in her heart and I would finally see a real smile on her face." Falling back on his sleeping bag, he began to think about his training schedule tomorrow… after all he was all on his own now, no Gai-sensei to help him out. 'Gai-sensei,' he thought, 'I will make you proud.'

Asuma and Choji had gone in search of firewood and food, much to Choji's delight.  "So Choji," began Asuma, "It's just me and you left now, no Ino and no Shikamaru."

"Yeah, but then I think we both knew that if anyone was going to make it would be Shikamaru…"

"That's not true, you and Ino could as long as you both tried harder. You have a deadly attack you just need to train to increase your stamina. Beside from what I heard from Shikamaru when you guys went to defeat the 5 sound ninja's you defeated him all on your own."

Choji smiled and asked, "Shikamaru said that?"

"Yeah, he did."

"He always did believe in me, even when we were younger he was the first friend I had."

Asuma smiled, he was seeing a new side to Choji. He knew that it existed within him, he had just never seen it because he was always talking about food.

"You know what Asuma-sensei, I am going to make Shikamaru proud of me! That's my way of becoming a ninja."

And with that, he began to collect as much firewood as he could carry to take back to camp. He would make them proud… he would make himself proud.

As well as collecting the firewood, they had brought back some fish to cook over the fire. Sakura happily munched on hers, smiling at the sight before her. Kiba was sharing half of his fish with Akamaru, making sure that the pup was happy and fed. 'He has such a caring personality when it comes to Akamaru,' she thought. She remembered when Naruto had told her about him, calling him loud, uncaring and obnoxious. But she could see this wasn't the case at all, he had been so nice to her, maybe it was because they understood each other. Seeing that it was late and she was tired, she announced to the group that she was retiring to her bed, hearing the others agree with her to do the same.

She frowned as she sat up in her tent, it had been a few hours before she had gone to bed but she found that despite the fact she was tired, she could not get to sleep. Sighing in frustration, she crawled out of her tent and stood up dusting herself. Seeing Asuma to the side keeping a watch out, she looked at him before walking the other way towards a hill. She knew he had seen her and that he knew she wouldn't go far or anything.

Sitting herself down on the lush grass, she titled her head upwards, taken away at the sight. The stars were shining their brightest, it just looked like someone had tossed glitter into the sky… it was so..

"It's really a sight isn't it?"

She smiled at the voice, and looked at him. "Kiba-kun," she said, smiling as he sat down beside her.

"It really is something, ne?" he said, taken in by the sight.

"Yes it is, it's really beautiful. I bet there are loads of constellations." She replied, feeling comfortable at his presence.

"Yah of course there is, I mean there is one just over there," Kiba said, pointing in a random direction, "And there is another and and…." He turned and chuckled at her bemused expression. "Okay okay! So I am no astronomer. Though you don't have to study this stuff constantly to know it's amazing."

A brief, calm silence passed over them, both relaxed as they started out into the distance, lost within their own thoughts.

"Kiba-kun?" Sakura asked her eyes still fixed straight ahead.

"Yeah?"

"Why did you choose Akamaru?"  

Kiba smiled at her question and laid down, his hands behind his head.

"Ah that's a simple one, he's just like me." Closing his eyes, he began to tell her his tale. "When I was younger I was always causing mischief and getting into trouble with my parents. Anyway, this one time I was coming back home after visiting somewhere with my sister and the house was a mess. My mother was furious, screaming and shouting, while my dad was holding this white bundle in his hand. I found out that Akamaru had chased this cat through out the entire house and ended knocking all the furniture and everything over. My mother was so mad she was going to throw him out but I dunno, I just looked at him and I could see me in him…." He trailed off, feeling a slight sadness wash over him. Ignoring her question look, he sat up and continued, "Well anyway, I couldn't let them throw him and he has been with me every since."

Kiba looked down at his hands, Akamaru was his best friend, the only true one to understand him… he would be lost without him.  He was about to ask her about the sudden interest when he felt a weight on his shoulder. He smiled as she rested her head on his arm. There was no need for words right now; nothing had to be said as the both of them where just happy with the whole situation.

"Hey Sakura we should…." He trailed off as he saw the girl asleep, a soft smile on her face.

"Yep I was thinking the same," he said, as he got up and collected the girl in his arms taking her down the hill towards the camp.

Placing her in her tent, he pushed aside some of the wispy cherry strands which stuck to her face. "You really do deserve more," he whispered as he drew his hand back…then against his better judgment, leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "You really do," he said as he got up to leave, leaving the girl with a smile on her face, deep asleep in some blissful like dream.

Once again, they left early in the morning, despite all the complaints… mainly from Sakura and Choji. They had not much long to walk now, the desert like country already becoming visible. Sakura was rather surprised that they had not been attacked or followed but Asuma said it seemed that Sand really did want to make amends, especially since Kazekage had been murdered by Orochimaru. Lee had asked if they knew who the new ruler was but Asuma said they would find out once they arrived. Sakura had given him the smile she picked up from Tsunade and said, "You didn't bother to listen when she told you did you?"

Already knowing the temper of girls when they were mad, he gave her a laid-back smile before lighting up another cigarette.

"Yuck," she said as she moved away from him, she had no idea how Ino could stand this man but then at least he didn't read a certain book… had he of, Sakura would have ripped it into little pieces. "Just like I was going to do with that stupid tent," she remembered. The memory made her think of Kiba, he was so sweet she had admitted. However, she could not help but feel rather confused as well. She liked him as a friend that was obvious but there was this other feeling she felt around him… She just felt so calm, relaxed and well herself… She did not have to pretend to be anything with him… she was simply Sakura… and she liked that, but for some reason it unnerved her slightly as well.

Shaking out the thoughts, she simple decided it was because he has been nice to her, after all what else could it be.  She was about to ask if they were there yet, when Asuma announced. "Hey guys we have arrived."

'This is it,' she thought, 'my new life.'

TBC

Okay so this was rather pointless but I thought rather than have them just arrive there I would give a chapter of them on the journey and squeee the bit where Sakura and Kiba are watching the stars . I know I have not included much of Lee and Choji but now that they have arrived, they will have a bigger part. Anyway R&R if you can.

Ja Ne

Kaz