After the Storm.

19.

*One Year Later*

"I'm sorry." Sakura cringes as she stuffs her face into Sasuke's shoulder. They'd been walking together, when she stepped in a hole, and spranged her ankle. She used her medical tactics to reduce the swelling, but Sasuke wanted to carry her untill she could fully walk on it. As resistant as Sakura was about it, Sasuke wasn't taking no for an answer. It was a sweet gesture, one that forsure had the pinkette's heart racing.

"Stop apologizing for something that was out of your control." Sasuke find himself mumbling. He feels her chin land on his shoulder as he carried her. He found himself getting  flustered, but closed his eyes to hide it. They've been traveling for about a year now. They've sent their congradulations to both Naruto and Hinata for their marriage, Sakura feeling more sorry that she missed the wedding in the first place, but knew that gathering whatever intel she and Sasuke could to protect the village would be more valuable.

"Are you sure you're okay with doing this?" She asked, turning her head slightly to see his face. His eyebrows furrowed, seeing her deep emerald eyes from his periphial.

"I keep saying I'm fine Sakura, stop worrying about me." He orders her. Sasuke continued to trudge through the forest of yet another one of the thousands of demensions. The both of them trying to gather as much intell as they can.

"I think I'm fine now." She says softly, wanting Sasuke to put her down, but wanting to stay as close to him as she was. Sasuke smirks, knowing Sakura was becoming embarassed, but he decided to play along with her. He stopped, and kneeled down for her to climb down. She did so and quickly stopped herself from blushing. She looked towards Sasuke who fixed his pancho.

"Ready?" He asks her mainly focusing on her ankle. She smiled warmly.

"Yes, thank you."She answers. "Are you hungry?"

"I'm fine." He answers as he takes a step ahead of her. He was a few paces ahead when Sakura began to catch up to him. She clasped her hands behind her back as she took in the scenery of the forest. Sasuke couldn't help but look at her. He found himself doing that alot lately. He found himself doing things he'd never normally do when it came to Sakura. Like hold conversation. Hating to be be in silence with her although it was a comfortable one. He always wanted to hear her voice, rather than becoming a victim of his own thoughts. He'd say trivial things, sometimes bringing up old times the two of them shared with Naruto just to get her to laugh. He found that the more he did it, the more natural it came.

"Are you hungry?" His eyes find their way to her face, seeing her pursing her lips together.

"No, I'm okay." Soon as the words left her mouth, the sound of a grumbling stomach broke their silence. Sasuke raised an eyebrow as he watched Sakura shrink in that moment.

Sakura seriously wanted to facepalm herself for looking like a complete idiot in front of Sasuke in that moment. It wasn't no telling when she wouldn't be able to hide her hunger anymore, but she didn't think her stomach would betray her so soon. She'd been hungry for about thirty minutes, usually being able to hide it for at least an hr or so before Sasuke wants to stop for a break. But this time, this particulara time, her stomach failed her.

"Hn, your stomach says otherwise." He says with a small smirk. "I'll find somewhere for us to set up camp and we'll eat. I smell river water somewhere close so we should stop there."

Sakura coyly nodded her head as she trailed behind Sasuke. Although she's been with Sasuke for a while now, you would think she'd be used to Sasuke doing the things he does for her, but it was all just so cute at the same time.

They finally found a decent place to set up camp. As Sasuke fished for food, Sakura started a fire. She looked up, in time to see Sasuke looking at her. She watched his eyes get big before he quickly turned his head away from her. A small smile found it's way to her face. She's been catching him doing that a lot lately. It made her happy seeing him look at her. She wanted to know what he'd be staring at her for, but she also didn't want to call him out.