A/N: A short chapter

It was early morning when she finally woke up. Her head ached making her get a nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach. Sakura slowly leaned up on the bed and gripped the side of her head with one hand. She looked around the room with emerald eyes but stopped when it landed on an orange and black blob with a tuft of blonde hair.

Naruto sat slumped in a chair half asleep, drool dribbling down his chin. His head tilted and resting on his shoulder to keep balance while he was leaned back trying to stay in the wooden chair. It was no real surprise to her that he was trying to sleep yet still attempt to spend every waking moment with her.

Taking in a deep breath, she got out of bed with slightly shaky legs. Sakura walked over to the other side of the room where her teammate sat, his features looking calm for the first time in days. It was good to see him not appearing stressed.

She leaned over him and shook his shoulder slightly.

“Naruto…Naruto, get up.”

His response was to mumble something she couldn’t make out and sigh. She shook him again but got the same reaction. Sighing, she pulled his arm till he stood being supported by her, his arm around her shoulder. She walked him across the room to her still warm bed and lad him down gently in it.

Almost immediately he rolled over making her have to use effort to keep from smiling. Even when situations seemed bleak, he always had a part of him that seemed goofy and laid back.

She leaned back up and proceeded for the door.

--

Naruto tossed and turned, his face contorted in concern and anger.

“Sakura-chan…Sakura-chan….”

He shot up, his eyes popping open.

“Sakura-chan!”

Sitting in silence for a moment, Naruto took in his surroundings. Sakura’s room. He noticed he was lying in her bed too and stumbled out of it onto the ground ungracefully landing on his head.

He rubbed the back of his head and sat up finally noticing something very important.

Sakura wasn’t in the room.

He sputtered and hurriedly got to his feet. Naruto dashed for the door but when he advanced to go out the door it opened with Sakura holding a tray of food.

He ran straight into her when she said ‘good morning’ making the tray, her and Naruto fall to the ground. He winced slightly and looked up to see Sakura’s surprised face, little pieces of rice and fish sticking to it.

Naruto, flustered, quickly got off of her and leaned in front of her.

“S-Sakura-chan! I’m sorry—“

“Naruto,” she cut him off with a slight glare.” What’s your problem? I just got dressed and went to get breakfast and even though I was nice enough to bring you some, you tackle me.”

He looked a little embarrassed.” Sorry, sorry…But—wait! It’s not my fault! You weren’t supposed to leave without saying anything.” He pointed accusingly at her making her pull her head back farther so his finger wouldn’t poke her face.

“For your information, Naruto, I have a pass remember?” she pulled out the card with Tsunade’s signature on it for him to see.

Naruto stopped overreacting but still looked slightly irritated.” Well, I only got that for you because I wanted to know where you were going.”

Sakura saw his blushing cheeks as he looked away and sighed. She poked his forehead making his attention turn back to her.

“It’s fine. For your information I feel great today. So much so, I could go up to the Hokage heads or even train.”

Naruto didn’t buy her grin and slowly got to his feet. He grabbed her hand gently and pulled her up to her own. Sakura was about to bend down to pick the tray up when Naruto pulled her close. She looked up at him with eyes full of shock.

He reached out and calmly wiped the food off her cheeks. He thumb brushed over her cheeks getting every last grain of rice. His palm glided under her chin to remove a small piece of fish.

Sakura’s face felt hot at the feeling of his soft hands running over her face. She had no idea why. She didn’t think about Naruto like that…did she?

She unintentionally sighed slightly and was halfway leaning her face into his palm when she realized what she was doing. Immediately she grabbed his wrist making him look into her eyes.

“That’s enough. I can clean myself.”

Naruto paused before stepping away and smiling.

“Alright. Sorry, just caught up in the moment.” He placed his hands behind his back as if he was hiding something. He was. The feeling of her skin under his could still be felt on his fingertips.

“Sigh…I guess a nurse will have to come get this later,” she mumbled and set the food tray on the nightstand.

“After breakfast, what do you want to do?” she turned around cheerfully and looked at Naruto. He pondered for a second.

“How about we sit and take it easy today? I would like to just sit in here and talk or something,” he smiled. Sakura pouted.

“I don’t think so,” she said to his displeasure.” How about we go on a hike or something?”

Naruto frowned.” Sakura-chan I don’t think you should be taking a hike in your condition—“

“I already told you, I feel fine. I even got a check up from one of the nurses downstairs while you were sleeping. She said everything seemed pretty stable as of right now.”

“But Sakura-chan! What if you have an unexpected attack again?” Naruto whined.

“Since when are you one to want to hold back? Fine…what if we play a simple game ok? Nothing life threatening. Go down and eat breakfast and when you come back up I’ll have thought of something.”

Naruto hesitantly nodded before going out the door.

“But nothing too hard, alright?” he called.

She smiled.” Alright.”

Naruto had breakfast quickly downstairs. Fish, rice, misou soup. The basic food groups. When he walked back up into Sakura’s room he saw it empty again.

Surprised, and slightly irritated he looked around and saw the window was open, the wind blowing and hitting his face. A note was taped onto the window and Naruto groaned when he read it.

We’re playing Hide and Seek