Title: Holding my Own

Rating: K+

Summary: A Sakura-centred fic that will give you a new-found respect for our favorite pink-haired ninja.

Holding my Own

Chapter 5: Hands

Kakashi landed on the treetop with a lightness and cat-like grace that belied his weight and size. Taking a moment for his bearings he felt his biggest wound, three shallow slices along his ribs, begin to itch as new scabs formed under the hasty bandaging.

"What an interesting battle," he said aloud.

He replayed parts of it in his mind. Kabuto and his master were an almost invincible team and for most of the fight he felt purely on the defensive. Jiraiya had begun to take it to a whole other level with a summoning jutsu when for some reason Orochimaru called for a retreat.

"It probably had to do with Sasuke's defeat," he thought, looking at the small, delicate-looking girl that was bundled in his arms. She seemed so helpless at that moment, yet to judge her by appearances now would be an error.

"Who would have thought you would grow so strong so quickly, Sakura." Kakashi had known deep down that those two could handle Sasuke, but to see Naruto like that...

He still felt an odd swell of pride as he briefly as he checked her for a normal pulse before continuing their journey.

"This must be what having a daughter is sort of like." He laughed to himself, "The blood loss must be making me sentimental."

Kakashi shot off again back to the heart of Fire Country, He needed to get her to the hospital as he knew that's where Jiraiya would almost be by now with the boys.

The dappled shadows and rustling forest were their only traveling companions.

Sakura was extremely disoriented went she woke up in the Konoha recovery ward.

"Ah! Ohayou Sakura."

Her eyes watered a little, slow to adjust as she stared at the window. Sensei's form lounging in its frame came into blurry focus. He appeared at ease with his favorite novel in hand.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Her eyes widened "Where?"

"Relax. You've slept for three days. Both Sasuke and Naruto are safe and sound. All thanks to you Sakura."

His words sunk in and she blushed, "Me?"

Kakashi put the book away and stood up. "Yes, I gathered from Naruto what happened and it sounds like without your support and teamwork the demon that Sasuke had become would have defeated you."

"It's all thanks to Kurenai-sensei. I really..." Sakura was cutoff a blond-haired whirlwind entered the room.

"Sakura-chan! You're awake. I knew you'd be alright!"

Naruto looked well and in high spirits as he burst in the room. Sakura felt relief to see him again despite having just heard from sensei that he was fine.

"Naruto! You're ok too! I am so glad."

"Of course! After one night of rest I am always ready for anything!"

"Well no," Kakashi cut in. "Actually Naruto looked like some tried to make him into teriyaki when we found you guys. Hokage-sama had to administer to him herself."

Naruto put a hand behind his head and he grinned unabashedly.

"But what about..."

"Oh Yeah, Old Lady Tsunade said she put a better counter sign..."

"That's counter-seal Naruto..."

The fox boy waved his hand at him dismissively.

"Whatever sensei...like I said, counterseal on Sasuke. It shouldn't take over his mind like that again. But until Orochimaru is toast it will always bother him."

Sakura was unused to all the attention. She couldn't help it as her thoughts turned to him and she distractedly looked to gaze out the window.

"Umm, is he...where can I..."

Turning back she recognized the brief wave of hurt that passed over Naruto's face before he looked sympathetically at her.

"He's been waiting outside for you everyday," he answered in slightly sullen voice.

It was difficult to see that.

"I care for you Naruto," she thought sadly. "just not the way you want. Don't worry. Someday you'll wake up and realize that there's a pretty dark- haired girl waiting for you to see her in a different light."

Sakura dragged herself out of the hospital bed and walked over to Naruto throwing a big hug around him.

"Thank you." She felt his surprise at the gesture as he returned the hug gently.

"Now get out the both of you," she commanded giving Naruto a slight shove. "I've been passed out naked covered in only a thin sheet while a dirty old jounin has been reading porn in my room."

"Sakura, I'm hurt...I brought flowers too," said Kakashi feigning injury.

"I'm touched sensei truly, now out."

Sakura watched the door close behind them as she spun to find her clothes and hair brush. After changing out of the hospital gown and checking herself in the room's only full mirror, (Honestly you can't properly assess your beauty in less than three reflective surfaces set strategically around a room!) she prepared to finally see the him again as she set out for the stairs down.

Kakashi stood on the roof of the hospital with Jiraiya watching the street below where a pink-haired girl walked with hesitation towards a dark young man on the corner.

"She's changed so much in just two years," he said leaning on the railing.

"You should know her strengths better than anybody Kakashi," scoffed Jiraiya. "and you should have been able to pick up on her potential for illusion and space-time jutsu well before this."

"That's because you men always measure strength in things like muscles and chest hair!" came a wry voice from behind the two men.

They turned as the Hokage walked up to them. She slapped Jiraiya playfully on the back which cause the giant man to stumble forward a little. He glowered at her ogre-like strength. "That's a joke coming from you, Tsunade."

She ignored the remark and joined Kakashi at the rail in watching the teenagers down below.

"She's got a great potential too you know," she said in a serious tone. "If anything I'm willing to bet he's going to need her if he wants to make through all this."

Kakashi smiled underneath his mask. "I would have to agree with you on that wager Hokage-sama."

"There he is," she thought as she made it to the revolving glass doors.

Sakura passed out the hospital and watched Sasuke leaning on the wall near the street corner. Seeing her he flinched a little before looking down like he hadn't noticed her come out.

She took a deep breath before walking over to him.

"I am serene," she said to herself. "I am calm. I am like a still pool of water. I am forgetting to breath."

Sasuke looked up as she got closer. His face was paler than usual and it looked as if he was about to run before he dug his fists into his jacket and hunched his shoulder preparing for the worst. His entire body language spoke of hurt and anguish.

"She's looks so vulnerable," he thought, "almost on the verge of tears."

He cleared his voice a little as he started slowly to speak.

"Sakura, I want to say..."

HE was abruptly cut-off as his head whipped sideways from the sudden blow that caught him on the side of the face. His ears were ringing as he realized she had slapped him. WOO! YOU GO GIRL!

He goggled at her and checked his mouth quickly. He had to be bleeding.

Sakura was holding her hands behind her back and smiling sweetly at him.

"What did you do that for!" he yelled at her.

"I just wanted to make sure you weren't feeling sorry for yourself, before you declared your undying love for me."

"What?!"

Sakura got serious finally and her tone changed.

"I don't want to be a burden to you anymore, Sasuke."

With that she started to walk slowly down the street away from him. Sasuke hesitated before catching up to her.

"Sakura, you're not a ..."

"Burden? Yes, I am. I'm not as good a ninja as you are and you felt I was weighing you down."

"That's not it at all," he stammered.

She stopped abruptly and turned to him. Sasuke winced preparing to get hit again.

"Then apologize and this time tell me the truth," Sakura asked reaching out to take his hand.

Sasuke tensed up, but didn't pull away. With a slight gulp, readied what he had wanted to say to her.

"I'm sorry, Sakura. I never want to see you hurt again. I don't think I should continue on the team with you and...ouch, oww, my hand Sakura, geez!"

Sakura loosening her grip, but not releasing him looked deep into his dark eyes.

"Damn, I love his eyes," she thought, "Focus, must focus..."

"I know you are afraid you won't be able protect me... from powerful enemies, your brother, yourself but guess what? Get it through your thick head, I...don't...care! You can't hold me at arms length anymore. We are teammates Sasuke and nothing can change that..." Letting go of his hand she finished gently, "and I like you, and if you don't like me just say so."

Sasuke was bewildered and began to rub his hands over his face. He looked up to see her standing there watching him expectantly. She was so tough, yet so breakable at the same time.

He was scared. He was frightened of her and frightened for her. He wanted so strongly to protect her from the world, from him. He wanted her to be happy. All at once, he began to admit things to himself he had never allowed before. His vengeance had consumed everything and it had blocked everyone out.

"She expects me to reject her," he realized.

Sasuke let his hand drop back into his pockets. This was annoying. He knew what he wanted to say. "So just say it, idiot," he thought to himself.

"I...like you too, Sakura."

He averted his eyes for a moment as he fell his face flush with the admission. In his moment of weakness Sakura stepped forward and placed a solid kiss quickly on his lips. SCORE!!

He looked up in surprise putting a hand to his mouth as she danced back. The pretty red in his cheeks spread. LIKE A DEER IN HEADLIGHTS, BABY!

"Good!" Sakura said brightly, her own face blushing. "Now you can walk me home. My mom must be going crazy about me by now."

Together they turned down the street to continue towards the part of the village where she lived. They walked casually, their discussion drifting away as the distance increased from the infirmary.

Tsunade leaned forward on the rail and squinted in the early evening sun to watch the two figures shrink from view. She watched as the Uchiha boy hesitantly reached out to take the girl's hand in his just before they turned the corner.

Tsunade laughed out loud as she caught the scene and slapped the jounin enthusiastically on the arm.

"Hah, Hah! Did you see that, Kakashi? God, I'm such a romantic!"

"Umm... that really hurt Hokage-sama."

E V I L A N G E L N U M E R 1 3

Hey peoples sorry ror taking so long to update thanks for waiting so long its been really stressful especialy this week because today is the last day to turn in stuff for this nine weeks before report cards come out and im really worried about my grades and i have a really bad feeling that there not going to be very good so again i am SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOO sorry for taking so long and i hope you can find it in your wonderfully big hearts to somehow forgive me for taking so long PWEZ -makes puppy dog face- well anyway i really hope you enjoyed this chapter don't forget to read and review and just a little reminder i do take criticism to a certain degree still don't have any ideas so...well see you next time i guess,bye!! ) LUVLLES!

EA#13