Chapter 5 - Love Konoha (Yes, Horrible Title!)

“What?”
Four voices all said the four letter word. Each voice sounded shocked.
“Did you just say…” Ekyt and Sakura said in unison. This time their voices held wonder. Ekyt, in shock, had leapt to his feet, but flopped back down, since he had a hole in him from a sword.
“I…never knew…” Sakura was still on her knees. She had been tending to the hole Sasuke had put in Ekyt. Did I hear him right? Did he really say…that he loved me? I-I can’t believe it! I’ve wanted to hear that for so long! I never knew he cared like that…How could I have not noticed? He’s done everything for me, saved my life, protected me, stayed up all night when I was having those dreams…

Ekyt was still thinking clearly, despite his pain. I…I said it. I can’t believe I said it. I’ve been close to death so many times, and never backed down, but I couldn’t say ‘I’m in love with you’ to this girl, even at a time when she needed it the most. And…she loves me back? How did that happen? I mean, she’s out of my league! I counted myself lucky to just be friends with her. But in love? Is this a dream? Did I pass out from the fight? If this is real…truth really IS stranger than fiction…She loves me…Wait, what about Sasuke. Oh man! But Sasuke was gone.

Lee and Naruto’s mouth’s were on the ground. They couldn’t believe it! They had poked and prodded their friend into saying how he felt, and he had finally done it, at the weirdest possible time.

Sakura, eyes brimming with tears, propped an arm under Ekyt’s shoulder, helping him to his feet. She was sporting the biggest smile she could, and the biggest since Sasuke had left. Now, it all came to her. Ekyt’s blushing, his chivalry, his actions, his words…He’s felt like this for a long time. Nearly four years? And he never said anything? He’s been alone…but he wouldn’t say anything.

Ekyt blushed at Sakura’s touch. They might have admitted they were in love- but where the hell did they go from here?! I’ve been horrible…Sakura’s been like me, spending her time training, or alone, and I didn’t think to notice. How could I not notice the symptoms of loneliness. I’ve almost made being a loner into an Olympic sport!

“Sakura-chan…I’m sorry…” Ekyt coughed under his mask.
“Huh? For what?” Sakura was still half-dragging him back to the Leaf Village. He needed surgery, for sure.
“For not saying anything sooner. I’ve had…a crush on you almost since I first met you. I thought back to how I acted…I should have noticed that you were lonely…I was afraid you’d turn me down. But I was MORE afraid that you’d feel guilty that you turned me down. The last thing you needed was guilt…that’s why I’ve kept this to myself…I’m sorry.” Ekyt bowed his head.
Sakura smiled at him, then ruffled his hair. “It’s sweet of you to worry about my feelings. But, Ekyt-kun, you’re a person to. You deserve to be honest. And I was feeling sorry for myself. ‘Oh, poor me, no boy will date me’. All the times I vehemently denied there was anything going on between us. I’m sorry for that. But now we’ve both been honest. It took me this long to realize that you’re ten times the man Sasuke could ever hope to be. You treated me so well, you put me on a pedestal, and you protected me. When you took that attack for me…it hit me. I knew. I had always liked you. But that feeling had matured, long before that. Into love. I just needed to realize it.”

Lee and Naruto, sensing that this was a private moment, said they’d catch up later.


Ekyt could soon walk under his own power, even though the devastating injury had occurred under an hour ago. Sakura really was an excellent medic-nin. Now they were walking through the a path lined with cherry trees. Ekyt realized it wasn’t an accident on Sakura’s part. He turned to her, blushing horribly.
“Sakura…can I…I mean…if you want…” Ekyt opened his mouth, tried to speak, then shook his head when it didn’t happen.
Sakura smiled sweetly (She couldn’t help but giggle a little bit; the awkwardness was cute!) and wrapped Ekyt in a fond hug. She found she was tired. Really tired. She buried her face in Ekyt’s chest, right near the newly-healed wound. She snuggled in as though it was the most comfortable place in the world.
Ekyt looked down at Sakura curiously. Did she mean to do that. Wait…she’s asleep…wait…she’s having one of those dreams. I’ve got to snap her out of it. Oh no, she’s passed out!
Ekyt picked Sakura up, holding her like you would a box, and took off. He had to get her home, to get some rest. Or worse, is those dreams came true…


Sakura woke up suddenly. She was in her bed, she was safe. That dream had been a bad one. She had to warn someone. Sakura realized that there was someone at her bedside. She hadn’t felt threatened, so she instantly knew who it was.
“Are you alright?” Ekyt asked her immediately.
Sakura leapt out of bed and hugged/tackled Ekyt. Ekyt, who had been sitting on the floor, caught Sakura. They both went tumbling away, and landed in a way that was a little on the ‘provocative’ side.
Sakura had a death grip on Ekyt. She buried her head in his chest. She felt his arms return the embrace, leaving a trail of warmth first on her bare shoulders, then on her vest-covered back. (She’s wearing her normal Shippuuden clothes). She didn’t particularly care how things looked right now. She shifted as close to him as possible and curled up into a ball, still shaking.
“He’s mad. Sasuke. He’s really angry,” Sakura managed to say. She found she didn’t care. I’m cuddling with my new…boyfriend? Are we at that stage? You just tackled him, I THINK you’re boyfriend/girlfriend now.


NOTE: THIS MIGHT GET A LITTLE LOVE HINA- ISH, so heads up for PG-13 provocative scenes, with moderately suggestive content.

Sakura got off Ekyt and got to her feet. She had a good grip on his hand, and led him to her bed.

Ekyt had never blushed so much in his life. Huh? The b-b-ed? Wait, wait, wait, what? I’m clueless! Oh man! Calm down, calm down, think! Sakura’s not like that!
Sakura picked up on Ekyt’s apprehension, and couldn’t resist playing with him a little.
“Come on Ekyt-kun, I don’t bite. You’re my boyfriend now, you’ve got obligations…” She laid on her side and patted the bed next to her. “Come on, don’t keep your little Sakura-chan waiting…” This is so funny! Ekyt’s eyes are gonna pop out of his head! I’ve got to stop doing this…eventually.
“I’m sorry Ekyt. I couldn’t help it, that innocence of yours! I mean, would you mind sitting with me for a little while? The dream was really bad, and, well…I feel safe with you. Like I could tell you anything without you laughing.” Now Sakura was blushing.
Ekyt obediently sat on the edge of the bed, his posture rigid. Sakura grabbed his hand. She sat up, next to him, her head on his shoulder.
“You’re a rock, Ekyt. I mean, you’ve got these emotions, but even other people have told me, when they’re battling on the same side as you, they’re so sure they’ll win. You’ve just got this way about you. And I feel the same way…”
Sakura was suddenly overcome with a rush of affection toward the akward boy holding her hand. Everything about him suddenly seemed perfect. She couldn’t help herself.
“Ekyt…”
When he turned, Sakura pulled him into a fond embrace, using one hand to hold his chin. She pulled his mask off, then hesitated. I’d forgotten…he’s cute without his mask… She looked into his hazel eyes, searching for an answer to ‘is this okay?’. Apparently, she found one, the right one, because she put a hand on the back of his head. To her surprise, she found him kissing her. In her mind, it surprised her, that the shy boy who hadn’t spoken of this emotion in four years had kissed her first.
When they relinquished their lip-lock, Sakura couldn’t help but hold on to Ekyt. She rubbed her cheek against his. She gave a contented sigh, feeling as if she finally had someone, something, a relationship, that she could hold on to.


Ekyt tried to guess what Sakura wanted. Eventually, he just let her do the hugging and kissing, and he followed suit. When she stopped, she apologized, then looked away, blushing. Ekyt couldn’t imagine a reason on earth for apologizing for something so great. He assured her that it was okay, and ‘my fault, I started it’. But she was calmer. That was the important thing. The fear of the dream had passed. Sakura’s hair and skin were still decorated with a sheen of cold sweat. But Ekyt figured that, if he had been covered in sweat and blood, not to mention that nagging hole through him (He made a mental note to have the hole closed up pretty soon), and she could still hug him, he could give her a hug at a time when she needed it the most.

Sakura stood up and stretched. “I’m going to go to the hot springs, get cleaned up,” Sakura told Ekyt. He nodded, apparently unable to talk just yet. That’s when Sakura’s devious kunoichi mind got an idea.
“Wanna come with me, Ekyt-kun? Hmm? I’ll scrub your back if you’ll scrub mine…” Sakura told him teasingly, batting her eyes.
The slightest bit of blood dripped out of Ekyt’s nose.
“Uh…uh…” Ekyt’s ability to speak hadn’t returned yet, or was gone again. Huh? Is she serious? Is our relationship like that? Oh man, I don’t want to say no to her! But is this really a good thing? Kind of fast…ugh! Damn it! I’m so confused!
Sakura was going to let Ekyt wallow in that one for a while. But she thought of a way to make it worse.
“I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to come on so strong…we can wait…really…I mean, no need to rush things…” Sakura forced tears to her eyes. Immediately, she saw Ekyt’s eye change. He was caving. Sakura snickered to herself. Gotcha again! This never gets old!
But she kept her face set in one of despair and embarrassment. She slowly got up and headed for the door, waiting for the inevitable answer.

Ekyt sighed. “Sakura, hold on a sec…”
Sakura stopped. She was hurting her ribs, holding in her laughter. “Y-yes?” she sniffled.
“If you…you’d like to…do that…I mean…whatever you’d like…” Ekyt couldn’t complete a sentence, it seemed.
The poor boy was so flustered, Sakura was going to end the joke right there. But she couldn’t. She had one more idea.
“Alright, you bad boy, I knew you had it in you! Come on then, the mixed bath is open! If we hurry, we can get there before the old people come! I’d rather have you all to myself…” Sakura grabbed Ekyt’s hand and took off, leaving the stunned Shinobi to trail behind her, wondering just what the hell he had gotten himself in to.


Lee and Naruto were outside, on their way to visit Sakura (Ekyt had informed them of her dream), when Sakura and Ekyt zipped by them.
“Hey! Where are you two going?!” Naruto shouted.
“The mixed baths!” Sakura answered cheerfully, not slowing down.
Naruto and Lee turned toward each other.
“Did she say…” Lee began.
“Yeah. Wow, the mixed baths…I’ve never been in there...” Naruto smiled mischievously. “Let’s follow them!”
Lee shook his head. He put up a finger, looking like a know-it-all. “Naruto, it is wrong to spy on them. I will admit I am shocked that they are so forward, but it is their business and…” Lee looked up. Naruto had taken off. After a second’s hesitation, Lee shouted “Wait for me!” and took off, running after Naruto.


Ekyt hesitated outside the locker room. Sakura was nearly in tears, holding in silent laughter, but managed to straighten her face out.
“Come on, you ready? You can do this, it’s just a little bath, and it’s just me! You can trust me. You DO trust me, right Ekyt?” Sakura slid closer to him. She could HEAR his heart beating. Cha! This is too funny!
Ekyt opened his mouth as though to speak, but nothing came out. He simply nodded his head. Finally, Sakura cracked.
“I’m sorry Ekyt, I really am! But you’re too innocent to NOT mess with! I know neither of us are ready for this ‘bath’ thing, we’re still sorting out our relationship. But, you know, I promise, I won’t do anything that’s going to hurt either one of us, okay?”
“I trust you,” Ekyt told her solemnly. Then his eyes darted toward a bush.
Sakura had noticed it too. Ekyt walked over and reached in the bush. He fished out two familiar Shinobi. One was clad in orange, the other in green.
Sakura cracked her knuckles.
“I might mess with Ekyt…but you two are just plain perverts. Time to pay up, you little trolls!”
WHAM! WHAM!

Two punches rocketed Lee and Naruto away, into the sky. Unfortunately for them, they landed on top of a bathing Tsunade. She didn’t care how they got there. She didn’t care WHY they were there. All she cared about was payback…and that is a dog…


NEXT TIME:

YOUR CALL READERS!

1. EKYT AND SAKURA GO ON A MISSION WITH NARUTO AND LEE
2. WE FAST-FORWARD TO THE FUTURE, TO SEE IF THE ODD COUPLE OF THE SHINOBI SET HAVE A FUTURE. WHAT IF THEY HAVE KIDS? CAN EKYT SUMMON UP THE COURAGE TO EVEN PROPOSE TO SAKURA?

YOUR CHOICE! MAJORITY RULES!

AND THANKS FOR READING, EVERYONE!

NEXTGUARDIAN

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