Sakura tossed and turned in her bed, then sat up deciding that she wasn't going to sleep tonight. She'd just gotten back from a mission. Her mind was more revved up than usual.

You suck. You made a fool out of yourself in front of Sasuke! Inner Sakura wailed in the recesses of her mind.

Sakura sat up on her knees, laid her hands in her lap and breathed deeply, attempting to meditate. Meditation proved as fruitless as her pursuit of sleep. Though she managed to somewhat calm her mind, she still felt frustrated and depressed.

She could still see it clearly in her mind. They had been sent to escort a prince. A group of bandits, probably sent by the prince's rival, had leaped out at them. While Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura fought off the bandits Sakura had grabbed the prince's arm and they'd hurried off together towards a hiding place. A bandit had noticed her and taken off in pursuit. She'd charged towards the pursuing bandit, kunai in her hand. She remembered plunging the kunai in the bandit's ribs-a fatal hit!-but then feeling the clang of metal striking metal.

The bandit was wearing armor beneath his tattered rags! She'd jumped back as the bandit had slammed down his monstrously sized sword. The next thing she recalled was Sasuke striking the bandit dead with the chidori.

"You alright?" He asked Sakura while standing atop the fallen bandit in a tone of voice that suggested that he didn't really care about her well-being. She had nodded before guiding the prince to a safe hiding spot in a cave.

Sasuke probably thought she was a moron.

Maybe I shouldn't even be a shinobi…She thought as she lay back down. She wasn't that great at it. She was just a burden. She sighed and headed towards her bedroom door then slipped into the hallway. A few moments later she was outside. The road was deserted and the moon was full, bathing the village in silver light. She began walking aimlessly. As she walked she realized she wasn't alone. She was nearing the Uchiha compound and sensed Sasuke's chakra, natural enough since that was his residence.

"What are you doing out this late?"

She turned around. Sasuke was behind her.

"I couldn't sleep. How about you?"
"I never sleep till late." Sasuke said.
It was twelve o'clock. Sakura guessed that was the advantage of being an orphan. If her parents caught her out of bed at this time she'd get a scolding at the very least. Luckily her parents could sleep through anything, and she was a ninja, so she'd managed to get out without waking them.

"Sasuke…" She trailed off. "Sasuke, do you think I'm useless?"

He was silent.

"C'mon, Sasuke talk to me." Sakura growled. "I know I am. I'm useless and of no help on missions. I should just quit being a shinobi. I should…I don't know become a baker or something. Maybe I'll go see if Ino needs anyone at the florist sh-"

"Don't." Sasuke cut her off. "The team needs you."
Sakura's mouth fell open. No one had ever told her she was needed before.

"Do you need me, Sasuke?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "If this is some kind of a hairbraned scheme to get me to confess my love it's not going to happen." His voice softened as he noticed the tears shimmering in her big, green eyes. "Look. You're a good ninja and…and I couldn't imagine Team 7 without you."
"You always have to rescue me." Sakura pointed out.

"That's why it's called a team, Sakura." He pointed out. "Because we all help each other out."
"You don't mind having to help me?"
He shook his head. "I know you'd do the same for me. Besides, you're smart and talented and b…" He trailed off. He was sleepy and had been drinking so he had to stop himself before saying something really embarrassing.

"B…what?" Sakura asked

"Nothing."
"Sasuke, what was it? Bitchy? Bratty? I'm a big girl I can take it."
"Beautiful." Sasuke sputtered. "Sakura, you're talented and smart and beautiful and I couldn't imagine the team without you." Or my life. Sasuke decided right then that he was going to have to stop doing sake shots.

Sakura just stared at him. She'd figured out he was drunk, but he'd just called her beautiful and she was on the verge of breaking out into a happy dance. She flirtatiously ran a finger down her hair.

"You really think I'm beautiful?"
He nodded. "And…and you're really good at first aid and…I probably wouldn't enjoy anyone else giving me first aid as much as I enjoy you giving me first aid…" He trailed off as a blush covered his cheeks.

His ebony hair gleamed in the moonlight and his boyish face shone. He looked more handsome than Sakura had ever seen him and the mood was just right so she leaned close and kissed him.

Sasuke's eyes widened, but her lips tasted good so he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. His embrace was warm and inviting. She could fall asleep like this easily.

"This won't work." Sasuke told her.

"What won't work?" Sakura asked, not moving her head from her new favorite pillow.

"A relationship with me. One day, one day very soon, I'm going to leave to get revenge on my brother."
"I'll come with you." Sakura promised.

"You can't." Sasuke said. "It's my path and only I can walk it."
"You just got through lecturing me on teamwork." Sakura pointed out.

"This is different." Sasuke protested. In spite of his words he didn't release her from his protective embrace. She tightened her grip on him.

"Stay with me." She begged.

"I don't know if I can." He told her. "You should be getting home."

"I want to stay with you."
"It'd be better if you didn't." Sasuke said. "You need to go home."

"Please? I couldn't sleep. Maybe if I'm with you…" Sakura gave him her best puppy dog eyes.
"You're annoying." He snapped.

"Is that a yes or a no?" She asked, playfully, giddy from the taste of his lips.

"Alright, but nothing inappropriate." He warned.

She jumped up and did a happy dance. Sasuke gave a very slight shadow of something that might have been a half-quarter smile. He started walking. She took his hand.

…

Sasuke noted that Sakura was a rather good bed partner. She didn't snore, didn't excessively move and her clingy embrace was not unpleasant. In fact he rather enjoyed the feeling of her warm body pressing up against his. He smiled at her and held her close before drifting off to sleep.