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Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Poo.

Intoxication

Say What?

They went back. Back to that place. Back to the place where the cockroaches ran rampant over sticky pools of unknown substances on the floor. Back to the place where endless numbers of forlorn messages were carved into the tables. Back to the place where their hearts broke every single time they stepped in.

Haruno Sakura sighed as she gazed at her surroundings. Here they were, once again, in that disgusting bar that she hated with the smoky air and the foul odor. If it hadn't been for her teammates, she would never have come to the dilapidated drinking establishment. The whole place depressed her. Speaking of teammates, she turned her attention back to the two silent boys. What she saw depressed her even further.

Naruto was busily working on his third bottle of sake, face turning pinker with every sip. His usual energetic, boyish look was replaced with one that appeared tired and sad. He hiccupped and rested his chin on his hand, but continued to drink.

"He looks so different now," she thought, "definitely more mature."

And it was true. He had transformed into a more thoughtful man, and although he didn't flirt as much with Sakura anymore, she was pretty sure that he was still infatuated with her. It showed in his eyes every time she told him she couldn't hang out with him because she was going on a date with some other guy. She felt terrible whenever she had to say things like that, but it was better than lying. Her suggestions to him of asking other girls out just went in one ear and out the other.

Sitting next to the blonde was Sasuke, on his fourth bottle, even moodier and darker than usual. In her eyes, he became more beautiful as he became broodier. But despite these thoughts, she had truly gotten over her girlish crush. Sure, a few strands of the old affection remained, but it was softened and nothing close to the infatuation that was present when they were younger. Besides, Sasuke had come back to Konoha… a different person. He came back….a player. A manwhore. A pervert. A playwhorevert. He had dated at least half of the girls in the village, and based on Ino's "completely-and-totally-factual" reports, at least half had their "first time" with him. The thought made Sakura want to gag. Honestly, how had she ever fallen for a guy like that?

They had been doing this for a few months now. After some particularly hard missions, they would come out here and have a drink to "relieve stress." Most of the time however, it was Sasuke and Naruto getting seriously drunk, fighting with each other, sobbing out their troubles, acting stupid (which was rather hilarious for other customers), and leaving Sakura to walk/drag them home. But not once did she complain.

Those two have been through a lot. If drinking helps them, well, it's better than other things.

Still, she couldn't help but wish that sometimes she could just get completely plastered, enjoy herself, and know that someone was watching her back.

Struck out of her reverie by a loud crash, she realized that Sasuke and Naruto were fighting on the other side of the bar. Again. Sighing for the seventy sixth time that night, she walked over to the two to break them up. Loud shouts were heard and she quickened her pace.

Better get there before the Rasengan and Chidori come out.

Reaching the site of the brawl, she found them both on the floor, the blonde trying to rip the other's hair out while being snared in a headlock.

"Hey!" she yelled, "Quit it, guys!"

They immediately pulled apart and looked up at her with apologetic eyes.

"Oooh, sooorry Saaakuuura," slurred the blonde, "but that dobe was soooo…eh."

"Saaakuuuraaa. Naruto is such a teme. Don't get near…hic…him."

Upon these strange utterances, Sakura shook her head.

Did they just say...? Yep, they're good and drunk.

"Come on boys, it's time to go home," she stated, "You're completely hammered."

"Yea-ah!" exclaimed Naruto, "whattaya think happens when we d-drink?"

"Heh, I wish you knew," she muttered as she helped them up and leaned both of them on her shoulders.

Struggling under all the extra weight, but happy to be going home, Sakura felt a few small drops from the sky.

Oh, hell no.

It was rain. Rain was coming down. Rain was coming down now. Now, of all times. Cursing her bad luck, she tried to strategize a way home.

Okay, it's about a five mile trip from here to their houses and back to my house….. Don't tell me I have to walk about five miles in the rain carrying these guys!! Maybe the rain will stop soon…

Thunder boomed across the village as the storm's intensity increased. Sasuke stuck his tongue out trying to catch the drops. A light smack on the head and his tongue immediately receded.

Oh, great. So it's not going to stop anytime soon. That's just wonderful…… I don't want to dump them at an inn, and we certainly are not staying in this bar… so I guess….oh man.

Breathing sigh number seventy-seven, she oriented herself towards her own home and started walking, pulling her teammates along. It looked like they were going to have to stay the night.

Well, we're back in business, folks. Reviews are greatly appreciated.