Babysitted by the Uchiha Avenger

The Finale: Chapter Twenty Five

I coughed myself awake on the warehouse floor. My body was stiff and achy, but miraculously, other than that, it was fine. I sat up as quickly as I could and looked around. Naruto was passed out on the floor beside me. Sasuke lay beside him, bandaged up but conscious.

"Sasuke—" I choked. His eyes darted to me. He couldn't seem to be able to move. "Lucy? You're alive?" He smiled weakly. "Thank fuck. Oh, god, thank fuck."

I shakily stood up, and stumbled over to him. "I killed her, I killed the jinchurikii, she's gone oh god I'm so sorry Sasuke I didn't know she was going to do that to you are you alright are you okay—"

I had been too panicked to notice Sasuke's fingers gently tangle in my hair and lower my face to his. Honestly for a second or two I didn't even realise we were kissing. It was my heart that alerted me to this fact. It skipped a beat, then two, then decided to make up for this my racing faster than it ever had before.

I blinked. Then I let myself relax, finally, and just concentrated on the little bit of love I was receiving.

When I pulled back, Sasuke kept one hand on my face.

"This is the weirdest babysitting gig I've ever had," he muttered. I laughed, letting a few tears spill out, and put my hand over his.

Kiba put his hand on my shoulder, appearing out of nowhere. "You're awake."

I jumped. "Y-yeah. Naru..."

Shikamaru patted me on the head. "Don't worry, he's fine. He's taking a nap. Legitimately, he's asleep right now."

Sasuke and I burst out laughing.

"What an IDIOT."

"I know. "

I giggled a bit more, then sighed. "Not that tonight hasn't been amazing and all, but...I need to get home."

Sasuke's eyes widened. "Oh my god what time is it?"

"Close to midnight," Kiba answered. "Are you guys fucked?"

"Not if we hurry."

Despite having had life-threatening injuries an hour beforehand, Sasuke was back in my house looking healthy as ever. The magic of ninja meds.

We were standing at the base of my staircase. Any moment now, my parents' car would pull up outside and this incredible adventure would be over.

Sasuke and I looked at each other for a long moment.

"One hell of a night."

"Yeah."

My heart felt heavy. "But that's all, huh?"

He averted his gaze. "I...don't want to see you in the hands of Itachi again. Or any of the Akatsuki. I don't want you to get involved in all this street gang shite."

I lowered my head. "So...this is goodbye?"

"Yeah," he whispered.

Silence again. I couldn't bring myself to looked up. I turned to go.

He caught my wrist, and tilted my chin up to meet my gaze. "Thank you for everything Lucy." He pecked me.

I gave a half-hearted smile.

"Dattebayo~"