A/N: Heeey sorry for the long wait for me to finally update! Life happened so it took me a while to actually get to a computer. It took me a while to find inspiration also. Ever have those days where you just dont feel like writing? Even if a moment to write is right in front of your face? Happens to me all the time.

Its almost SuperBowl Sundaaay!! Anybody going to watch to game? Go Patriots! (and Giants!)

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto!

Throughout the entire training session I could not stop giggling. At first it was harmless snickers but then it became full on laughing. I just randomly clutched at my sides and burst out laughing until I became sore and out of breath.

I couldn't see their faces but I know they were staring. The elongated silence told me just that.

"Sakura, are you alright?" asked Kakashi, sounding quite concerned.

"Oh," I could feel a wave of giggles coming so I bit down hard on my lip, almost drawing blood. "I'm great!"

"Are you sure, Sakura?" Kakashi raised his visible brow, clearly unconvinced. Sasuke looked at me funny and Naruto just sort of stood there. Not like I was really paying too much attention. My focus was mainly on...well...trying to stay focused.

"I'm sure!" I smiled a bit too brightly for them to be comfortable.

By the end of training I had hardly accomplished anything of good use and I'm sure I at least managed to weird out my teammates a little more than necessary.

Kakashi suggested I go home and get some rest and I couldn't agree more. So that's exactly what I did. Not the resting part…but I went home all the same.

I twirled and skipped all the way to my house, jumping through the doorway. Not surprised that the house was empty, I kicked off my shoes and raced upstairs. Plopping down on my bed, I let out a dreamy sigh and stood up again.

I was restless. Too restless to do anything but not restless enough not to do anything.

I decided to poke around my own room. It was a typical room, with white washed walls and blowing, green curtains. I had a dresser stacked with numerous things on top and clothing leaking out of the drawers.

I immediately spotted our team 7 photo. The one with me in the middle surrounded by Kakashi, Sasuke and Naruto. It was back then that I still had my long hair. I unconsciously tugged at my short locks, remembering the events that took place to have shortened them to such a length.

"Oh, Sasuke-kun…" I sighed, "If only you were awake to see my sacrifice for you." My hair. That was my sacrifice. To say I missed my long hair would be a lie.

I traced my fingers lovingly over his forever scowling face and smiled. But that smile quickly turned into a grimace and I slammed the frame facedown onto the table.

"But I was apparently," I frowned further, "too weak to save you myself."

Maybe I should have been concerned that I was speaking to myself but I wasn't too worried. Instead I slipped back into my shoes and stomped outside into the cooling breeze. I couldn't stay in my room any longer.

After walking through the streets for a few hours, I realized one thing: This morning's chipper attitude I had was completely wiped out. I was dragging my feet one after the other and I struggled to keep my eyelids open. Perhaps leaving my safe and warm home was a bad idea and walking for an extended period of time was an even worse idea.

I wanted to go home but I didn't want to go home. It was just one of those times where nothing I did would satisfy me. But I was tired and my legs ached and screamed at me to at least sit down and rest.

For a few minutes I contemplated just fainting in the middle of the street. If I did then I might get some well-needed rest. Or maybe that rest wouldn't come as it hasn't for the past few days.

But if I did faint, maybe someone would carry me home.

I don't know if I could even call what I did at night, sleeping. I sort of drift in and out of consciousness. I don't know if I'm asleep or not or if I'm imagining even closing my eyes. If I did get any sleep at all, I would never be sure because I am always exhausted the next morning. It was indeed frustrating.

But now my dream-less behavior is catching up to me. I'm finally feeling the effects and I am not sure whether to pass-out or stay-awake.

Somehow my feet managed to drag me over to the Ichiraku Ramen stand and I gratefully plopped into an open stool. I wasn't surprised at all that Naruto was there, already scarfing down a third bowl of ramen.

Doesn't he ever go home? But what is there to go home to? He is alone as I am but worse. I can't imagine how alone he is all the time...or how alone Sasuke is.

He didn't seem to notice me until I spoke, ordering my own bowl of noodles. I wasn't too hungry, but it was like a distraction.

"Sakura-chan! ...hey…are you alright?" his voice was laced with pure concern and I could only smile and nod slightly in response. He was always so worried about me when he should be more worried about himself.

My lids half-closed, I accepted my steaming bowl of ramen and started to chew and swallow without noticing the taste. The warm soup relaxed my nerves and I sighed contently.

A few minutes later of silent eating (on my part, anyway), I listening to Naruto start calling out to someone.

"Teme! Hey teme! Come 'ere!"

I sighed and rubbed at my temple trying to ignore his irritating screams. Sasuke was coming now and I honestly didn't care at the moment. How was it that we always met like this? I come and meet up with Naruto…only to have Sasuke bounding in a few minutes later. Maybe it's fate. Or just coincidence.

I closed my eyes and drifted in and out of the argument going on between the two before I felt someone sit down beside me. Three guesses who.

I didn't even grace Sasuke with a decent hello and only mumbled with my eyes still closed and my face in my hands.

Even with my eyes closed I couldn't will myself to let the exhaustion fully take over.

I could feel both pairs of eyes staring at me silently rock my head back and forth trying to lull myself to sleep. It wasn't working and I was positive the whole time that I was still awake.

"Sakura?" said Sasuke this time. He sounded sort of weirded out and I actually began to grin. A weirded out Sasuke is always worth a smile.

I finally opened my eyes and tilted my head to look at him. My grin grew when his face became even more contorted at seeing my expression. My expression was practically maniacal. It was such a contrast to my dull, tired eyes.

"Yes, Sasuke-kun?" I slurred. My words took all my effort to say them.

"What's the matter with you?" he scoffed and raised a beautiful eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" I lied. "I feel fantastic." I waved my hand toward the sky as if it excused my strange behavior.

"You don't look so good." He said, noticing my head drooping with every passing second. I took a moment to smile warmly. It almost sounded like he cared.

"Yeah, Sakura-chan! You don't look too good at all!" piped up Naruto from my left.

I straightened out my slouched posture and gave a lazy smile as reassurance. "No…no…" I trailed off and my sentence began to die.

My voice grew soft and I could feel my eyes slowly drifting, "I'm…."

I fainted head-first into my bowl of half-eaten ramen.

xXxXxXxXx

Before I knew it, I had awoken inside my very own bedroom.

I knew I had passed out but I did not feel the wanted relief of sleep. I did not feel the refreshed feeling you get after waking up.

I just felt…tired. Maybe a little less tired than usually but still so tired.

I groaned quietly and pulled my cheap, scratchy covers over my head. As soon as I did that, I heard the noises of other occupants in my room. Who could it be? My parents wouldn't be home for a while if they ever came home.

Oh that's right. I fainted in front of Sasuke and Naruto. I concluded that they were the ones that carried me home.

What would they think of me now? Naruto would just be worried but I already knew that Sasuke would think I was weak and weird and whatever. But that didn't matter so much right now. In the end, I was carried home by someone.

Now I was wondering what they were still doing here…in my house…in my room.

I groaned again in irritation at my lack of rest and finally someone spoke up.

"Sakura-chan?"

I tugged the covers down to reveal only my eyes and huge forehead and I noticed Naruto standing over me with concerned blue eyes. I could see Sasuke in the back, looking slightly miffed. At what he was miffed at, I could not be sure. Probably for being dragged along.

"Naruto? Sasuke-kun? What are you guys doing here?" I choked out.

"Oh! Well, as soon as you fainted…I carried you to your house!" said Naruto almost proudly. "Sasuke-teme here came along too." He said with distaste.

"Oh…well…thanks Naruto." I urged out a smile then turned to Sasuke looming in the corner, hands stuffed in his pockets.

"Thanks Sasuke-kun…" For willingly coming.

"Hn."

I inwardly groaned at his minimum response.

"Are you alright though? You were out for a while…what's the matter?" prodded Naruto urgently.

I flicked my wrist to dismiss his concern and shook my head slowly back and forth, rubbing against my favorite pillow. Naruto was so concerned for me when it really wasn't necessary. "No Naruto…I'm just tired is all. I haven't been getting much sleep."

Naruto frowned deeply, marring his usually smiling face. "Get some sleep, Sakura-chan." He frowned some more and I inwardly think that frowning just isn't right for Naruto. He should always be grinning and happy and I wish I would be the one to make him do so. I wish I wasn't the one that caused such frowns to appear.

I immediately abolished such thoughts of Naruto and nodded tiredly and gratefully shut my eyes; hoping sleep would come quickly or come at all. I rolled over, back to the wall and buried my face in my blanket. I smiled and took a deep, relaxing breath.

"Thanks Naruto…-Kun…you should smile…all the time..."

Before drifting off, I thought I heard a small choking noise. My smile grew and I had a feeling I had forgotten a certain someone.

xXxXxXxXx

The next day, I felt refreshed. Finally being granted the wonders of real sleep. Though I did not remember dreaming.

I was curious what suddenly brought on this relaxation. That just made me feel so warm and comfortable. Maybe it was the fact that I haven't been sleeping at all…but I reasoned it was something else. It had to be something else.

Something else triggered my warm feeling. Something bubbling in my chest made me feel happy and at ease.

I stood up from my tangled blankets and stretched, sighing happily to myself. Not bothering to make my bed, I combed gently through my pink locks and got ready for the day.

I arrived at the bridge, content and calm. Very different from my performance the day before. From being way too giddy all the way down to pure exhaustion.

Sasuke, of course, was already present on the bridge. His usual stance in place, his eyes focused on the wooden planks. I smiled at the assurance of normality. If Sasuke wasn't doing what he is doing now, I wouldn't feel comfortable.

I swallowed my 'good morning' and instead opted for silence. I leaned on the railing opposite him, and perfectly mimicked his position.

He knew I was there, copying him, and I let out a smile when he looked up at me. His expression didn't change when he looked but I wasn't bothered one bit. I didn't squirm under his hard gaze and I stared right back at him. I wouldn't be crushed under his eyes. I wouldn't give in even if he activated his sharingan.

Our battle of eyes ended abruptly when I turned away at the sound of a booming voice.

"Heeeeeey, Sakura-chan! How are you feeling today?"

I unconsciously grinned at Naruto, unable to control my smile. I suddenly felt better now that Naruto had arrived. Like a pressure lifted off my shoulders and I could finally relax.

"I feel fine Naruto-kun," I let out a microscopic gasp. When have I ever added that honorific at the end? I know that without the honorific it meant you were closer but to me it was different. Adding a –kun to the end was almost like a sign of…affection.

While my smile began to shrink…Naruto's couldn't have possibly gotten any bigger.

"That's good," he breathed out in relief.

To pass the time, Naruto and I actually engaged in conversation. A conversation that didn't lead to punches and yelling or crying. Just a normal, decent and true conversation. Throughout the entire thing, I resisted on even saying his name, afraid a very certain honorific would slip out.

"Did you have breakfast today, Sakura-chan?"

I didn't recall eating that morning. "Hmm…no I didn't. I seemed to have forgotten."

"Oh," his grin became somewhat mischievous, "Maybe after training, we can get some food…? Together…?"

I rolled my eyes at his attempts at gaining a date and I laughed, "But Nar-," I stopped myself just in time and continued, "I ate food with you yesterday."

"Awww Sakura-chan! That didn't count because Teme showed up!" He whined.

I playfully slapped his shoulder, "You're the one that invited him!"

"Oh…" he scratched his head, "…I did?"

I let out a laugh and soon we were both laughing together. It reminded me of yesterday, where we both giggled hysterically but instead, today it was normal laughter.

"So…you still wanna get some food later?" he asked earnestly.

I let out a short sigh. Why do I resist him so much? It's just food among friends, no big deal. I have rejected him enough in the past and I didn't even have a good enough excuse not to. To be honest, I actually almost wanted to go.

"Sure, why not?"

I thought in that moment that Naruto would explode in happiness. His smile so wide I thought it would fall off his face and I couldn't help but smile back. It made me happy to know that I was finally the one to make him smile like that. No frown was present on his ever-happy face.

Throughout the entire exchange, I failed to notice the onyx eyes burning into my backside. I failed to have noticed a presence there at all.

A/N: So what do you think? To be honest...I dont really know where this story is going...I know where its heading but Im not sure how to get there. Haha.

Anyway, I actually like this chapter. It kind of feels like I am getting better at writing. Hmmm, maybe better isnt the right word. Maybe less bad is more accurate.

Well, please review! I hope you enjoyed.